FRANCE.

Southland Times, Issue 986, 15 July 1868, Page 2

FRANCE.

The Prince Imperial received his first communion in the Tuileries Chapel at half-past nine on the morning of 7th May. It was administered by the Archbishop of Paris, and the Bishop of Adras said mass. The chapel was profusely ornamented with flowers and choice shrubs for the occasion. Scarcely anybody was present but the Imperial family and the members of the household j but these

were almost enough to fill the chapofc. One semi-official journal says that it. wa* " regretted " that space would not allow of more* invitation? ; but according to other authority of equal weight, th© Emperor's desire was that the ceremony should have an entirely private character, in order that the young Prince should not be distracted from the solemn thought* befitting the occasion. The Prince was dressed as all little boys in Paris are for the first communion — namely in a bluo frock coat, with a white scarf and whito waiatcoh-t and trousers. When he entered the chapel the Archdeacon of Paria offered him holy water, with which ho sprinkled himself, and a lighted wax candle), which he carried very upright to a seat provided for him in front of the altar. The court journals say that the " pious. attitude "of the young Prince profoundly moved everybody present. As soon as the Emperor and Empress took their seats the mass began. The .Archbishop then made a speech to the neophyte,; which, we are told, found "an echo in every heart." When the Prince received • the "communion the corners of the cloth were held by Prince Joachim Murat, General Erossard, the Prince's tutor, tho • Bishop of Adras' principal chaplain, and tha Abbe Mullois, one of the Emperor's chaplains. Prince Napoleon's two sons, Prince Napoleon Victor and Napoleon Louis, had places in the chapel. After the ceremony the Archbishop of Paris made another speech, at which: tho audience was much moved again. Young . Conneau and some other children who have the honor of being playmates of tho . Prince witnessed the ceremony from a gallery, and when it was over they wero permitted to come down and embracehim. At 5 o'clock the Prince received the sacrament of confirmation from the Archbishop of Paris. The Emperor and Empress entirely abstained from business during the whole of the day.