PARIS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 54, 3 February 1872, Page 7

PARIS.

(Frow Otrn Own Correspondent). December 2. Bossel’s execution created pity. As an example its effects are likely to he null, because the masses whose fortune—that of the Commune —he espoused, viewhis death as a political vengeance, just as the several parties which distract this country regard those in # power as usurpers. The crowd also have got it into their heads that Rossel was the principal witness against Bazaine, hence a stronger reason for putting him out of the way of enlightening France on the surrender of Metz. Rossel was tried as a deserter, and condemned as such. He has died for a crime for which eight private soldiers had previously been shot. Even-handed justice commanded the chalice to his lips also. ITe was young—only twenty-seven — most intelligent and accomplished. He ought in the natural course of things have risen to distinction. His life was correct, though many of his friends found he “ was too much given to prayer.” Dominating all this was ambition. In the chaotic state that France found herself last spring, the soldier who dared and risked all might win. The First Napoleon was once a lieutenant, and Gambetta by audacity and chance was floated to a dictatorship. Besides, every Frenchman believes himself horn not only to save and remodel his country, but the universe in addition. Rossel joined the Commune two months after peace was signed with Germany, with the mad project of recommencing the struggle. He was President of the Court-martial under the Commune, and his sentences were nearly uniformly death, for men who faltered before the national troops, and who were guilty of indiscipline. When he became Minister of War for some ten days, his heroism and energy galvanised the Federals into a prolonged resistance against France. His proclamations were exhaustive—bis men were never to cease firing, when a flag of truce appeared or foes surrendered, till ordered, and if any of his men shirked to the rear, the cavalry were to sabre them; if they ran away in crowds, the cannon was to pound them. There could he no doubt of his guilt: the mistake of the government was in delaying the execution for months after the sentence, when the law lost half of its terror, and thus subjecting the prisoner to several deaths in advance. The Communist journals —for the party has got over its “sketching”—-allude but curtly to the execution ; one paper significantly publishes the names of the Pardon Committee. a denunciation in advance—for if ever the Communists gain the upper hand, to reign for three days only (and the impossible is ever probable in France),they will exact a terrible account from their vict us.

Being under martial law, Bossel, Ferre, &e, were shot, not guillotined, execution following as in ordinary cases —tire morning following the day of the rejection of their petition for commutation. Bossel was found ready; he hastily wrote letters of adieu to his family and friends, put aside presents for those he loved ; prayed with the Calvanistic chaplain, and made a political will begging his party never to avenge his death. Ferre was a man of a different character; vain, cruel, ignorant ; there was not n spark of humanity in him, he was a savage at large. He ordered the commencement of the petroleum work: lie jeered the Archbishop and his fellow-sufferers before exciting their executioners to do their bloody work. He had not the courage to die like Delescluze, and was a revolting coward when on his trial. He was a coxcomb to the very verge of eternity. The old priest who came to pray with and for him lie begged to withdraw, his presence interfered with the making of his toilette ; besides he claimed to be a materialist. The non-cotnissioned officer Bouigeirs showed he was quite ready to die, after disposing cf a substantial breakfast and a pipe.

These three men were executed on Tuesday morning last in the plain of Satorv, a few miles outside Versailles, at da. break. Against the artillery butt were placed three upright crosses, to which the condemned would have been bound in ca n of resistance. In front, of eaon was a, picket of twelve men — four of the oldest sergeants, corporals,

and privates belonging to the prisoners’ regiments. An officer measures the distance —thirty paces, examines the ebassepots, and draws the firing party up. la the meantime three vans have dashed up escorted by cavalry ; Rossel descends with his pastor, and walks to the stake. As he passes the officers of his late regiment (grouped together) they take off their kepis to salute, which Rossel acknowledges. Ferre has arrived at his position smoking a cigar, the dense puffs of smoke representing th 6 man’s feelings ; he fumbles for his eye-glass, and insists on looking at the muzzles of the pointed rifles. Seeing Rossel has removed his hat, he does the same. Rossel takes off his top coat, gives Ip's'eye-glass and breast-pin to the clergyman as relics for his family—the sentences are read; the drums beat; Rossel takes his last embrace of the pastor and the old priest; the officers commanding the firing parties lower their swords ; a volley succeeds like the crack of a mitrailleuse, and the hands strike up funeral airs, and each regiment marches by the dead —for some 7000 troops were paraded to read the lesson.

After the volley the oldest surgeon present rushed forward and examined the bodies, and pronounced Rossel dead. The others still writhed, and the oldest non-commissioned officer advanced and fired a ball through each of their heads. Ferre rolled over when so struck. Two clogs that found their way through the crowd of soldiers, civilians were absent, commenced sniffling over the latter. One of the well known furniture vans of Paris, with the advertisement “ Removals undertaken for all countries,” then appeared; three coffins were placed on the ground, made* of plain deal boards, a little sawdust taken out, and the bodies lifted in. Not one of the deceased flinched before death. Rossel’s features appeared very calm, though part of the chin was shot off. Ferre had half the cigar between his teeth, which he bit in two when struck. The coffins were then numbered and conveyed under military escort, and buried in that part of the cemetery of Versailles” set apart for criminals—a little waste without a tree, without a stone, ‘ without a cross. Tims falls the curtain on the last exciting scene of the communist leaders. The Government has struck, its hesitations have ended ; aud the other executions which are to follow will prove as common-place as the court-martials trying the 20,000 insurgent prisoners, whose proceedings are rarely published and scarcely read. There is plenty of work cut out for the Assembly when it meets on Monday next; enough to keep it employed for at last two years. Opinion is pronouncing in favor of allowing matters to remain as they are, until the country bo quits with Germany. To raise the question now of a definite form of government has all the chances of provoking a civil war, and effecting no solution, for nosolution can be presented. There is no law to compel the Assembly to dissolve itself, nor is there any sign of military conspiracy to sweep it away. Should any complication arise in the non-payment of the German indemnity, the Germans might push the new frontier lines further towards the heart of France, and a Polish dismemberment, ultimately result. If parties will insist on tearing their country to pieces, what is more natural than that a powerful neighbor should pickup the morsels? France wants stable institutions ; those she can never possess while her politicians lack stability. Lord Chesterfield once sent his son to France, it is said, to study the imbecility of men who pretended to lead the world. Were he now living he could find food for study in the pretenders for office and power. The Assembly will likely adopt a law for the annual renewal of a fifth of its members, for the proposal to maintain the Assembly in a state of permanence has taken root; it is felt to be a path leading to safety by erecting a barrier against more conspiracies. It is also rumored that the Government scheme of compulsory national education will leave nothing to be desired. There will be a struggle over the position of convent and monastic schools. The Bishop of Orleans has hinted to Gambetta and his party, who will attack these establishments, that thediseussion would be simplified if they would declare beforehand whether they believed

in God or not. There will be a Waterloo fight between protection and free-trade : he friends of the former have plucked up fresh courage, as the total of the increased taxes has surpassed all anticipation, and M. Thiers, who was commencing to nibble at free trade, has gone off to his life-long love. »No one gives attention to tho army, simply because every one feels it is safe in the President’s hands, and that soon the nation will be able to chant, “Le jour de la gloire est arrive.” France is in the fair road to become rich, powerful, and, above all, wise; to govern herself by herself, and keep every pretender outside is her open sesame for all difficulties ahead.

Belgium looks to be going in for a revolution. It is true the Guards cry yct*“vivele roi!” but then in Paris such was the case when the military were nearest the point cf fraternizing. France looks on at her neighbor’s troubles, not much concerned ; there is the prospect of a republic move in Europe. The liberal party at Brussels have brought discredit on Constitutiona’ism, bv leaning on mob rule to carry it into power.

The silver currency is reappearing; hut the gold continues to be a curiosity. The Bank is reported to be daily storing ingots of gold, or what is technically called “salmon,” bars 120lbsin weight. Though a canard, like most of the reliable information in the French journals; the public credit it, and brings out the noin from hiding places. The little one and two franc notes are unanimously tabooed ; in a few days more a beggar will turn up his nose at them. The notes of five francs are very convenient, and the people feel them to be so, but refuse to admit the fact. The paper is a little thick, does not wear well and cuts like a newspaper which has undergone the widest circulation in the world. The remains of Rossel and Ferre have been handed over to their friends for private buiial. Those of the former have been enbahued, and will be placed in the family vault at Nimes. Ferre has been interred in the new cemetery at Levalloirs, a village outside the city.

His sister was chief mourner at his grave as she was his only comforter in his* cell. Being a Materialist the deceased was not “ insulted by any religious ceremony.” Even the thirty poor people who joined the cortege indignantly declined to “ sprinkle holy water over the grave,” as is ordinarily solicted by an attendant at all burials. Just now France is occupied in celebrating memorial masses for those of her sons killed last year. The present is the anniversary of the epoch when the Germans struck quickly and strong. On every site of a struggle, which is ever a sepulchre, a monument will be built. A beautiful testimonial to bravery will be erected over the dead who fell in that terrible artillery duel at Champigny, where the Parisiens endeavored to escape, erroneously believing the army of Orleans was near, and desiring to give it the hand. At each angle of the enclosing mausoleum will be angels erect, with emblems of immortality. At each side of the mortuary chapel is placed a seated figure of Grief, inclining, and from whose draped features you almost pause to catch the sobs.

Alexander Dumas, pere, is to have a public funeral—the Society of Authors claim that his remains be interred at Pere Lachaise, among tho illustrious dead. I have heard a good story of the deceased, whom it is well known was ever in pecuniary difficulties arising to his keeping rather a seraglio. He bad ever anticipated his account with his publisher. One day he was arrested for GOOfrs, and the bailiffs refused to grant his prayer for liberty, but he was free to go where he pleased till sunset, accompanied of course with Ins “ companions.” The trio drove to the publisher’s : the latter refused to advance a sous, but would pay Dumas forty francs for every written page presented. Dumas returned home, set his visitors to eat. drink, and smoke, and throwing off his coat commenced writing page after page, receiving forty francs after forty francs till the pile of GOOfrs was made up before sunset, and tiie bailiffs were dismissed ; but to whose obstinacy wo are indebted for the “ Three Musketeers.”

Suicides show no sign of diminishing, and the number of murders in the city

is on the increase. Work is more plentiful, and want very general. The tailors are still hesitating over thencontemplated strike. How unfortunate if it takes place when snow is falling and coals sixty francs a ton. The masked balls will open in a fortnight; a droll exhibition for a city under siege law. Possibly by then the Assembly will be seated in Paris. Private dinner parties and receptions are talked about, but still loom in the future. Such gaieties cannot commence too soon. The French Academy of Sciences asserts that sea water can be used in making bread, but not in cooking meat, and by the addition of sugar is made drinkable.