Untitled

Lyttelton Times, Volume XI, Issue 657, 23 February 1859, Page 4

The Fkench and the Romans.—The French ■empire is unpopular in Italy-.; the Roman govern-, mentis embarrassed^iand it is a subject of deep sorrow to the tender heart of the holy father to find that nothing-can calm the passion of hatred between the Roman and French armies. They pelt each other wifh stones, and sometimes stab to death in the public streets.' The' Swiss army does not appear to mind the hostility between them, but is popular with all parties. The French general has command over the-three armies in the holy city-; he has possession of fortifications and artillery, and compels al^ to wear iFrench uniform and play 3?rench music. Although foreigners are sometimes shocked1 at'the bloody faces and broken noses of the soldiers, they seem amused by their abusive language. The Romans-tell " the dwarfish French to ;go home to infidel France." The French reply that" Rome is a city of the French empire, and has been so for centuries-—that the cowardly, degenerate Romans, like th&Jews, are unworthy of a city •or a country." lam sorry to say these sentiments of French-domination are not confined to the army; every Frenchman you meet maintains and propagates the same doctrine. —The Roman correspondent of the * Tablet.'

With respect to the state of the French wine trade a circular announces:—"For several years past it lias been an unsatisfactory task to record a succession of failures in the vintages of the Bordeaux district. This year, however, we have it fortunately in our power to confirm the statement, which has been generally circulated, that a vintage of unusual excellence has just ...been completed. The wine is abundant, and it will doubtless develop fine "qualities; having been the produce of a "comet year," a prestige is created in its favour which will probably render it memorable in the history of the vine. This opinion is, however, merely a confident anticipation. Time alone will prove whether it is well founded. The deficiency in the yield of the Chateau Margaux is probably attributable to the circumstance that the soil there, being very light and dry, has suffered considerably

from the great heat and drought which prevailed during fcho la»t summer, The inferior growths of Mcdocaro not bo plentiful; so. that over that district the produce may be estimated at about f'our/ifths of an avorngo. Throughout tlio whole country of the Girondo, which includes that part whore Haufc Brion, the Graves, and tho Sauternos aro grown, tho cropis nob more than two-thirds of nn average. Although the prices of tho new wines will be so moderate- and tompLing as to load to some activity in trade, fine old matured wines are becoming more scarce and dear evory day." " I say, what aro you about —sweeping out that room?" "No," answers Susan, "I'm swooping out tho dirt, and leaving the room." When may a man bo said to swallow cause and effect P When lie drinks gin and—bitters.