PARIS.

Southland Times, Issue 1210, 15 February 1870, Page 2

PARIS.

(from otje own correspondent.) December 4th, 1869. If Napoleon the Third was given the choice to recommence his life and reign, a refusal might be expected. Unfavorable aa the times are to the trade of kiagsbip, the present ruler of France cannot have much of this world's happiness, whatever be his magnificence and power. If he speaks, he is obliged to count his words one by one — a word too much may create a panic on Change, a word too little, and he will be regarded as an imbecile. If he keeps silent, he is plotting mischief or accused of hypocrisy. Should he assert his desire to maintain order, it is but a mark to cover a revolt of which he wishes to profit. Should he go to his country seat in summer, he is reminded of the people who perspire on asphalte. If he gives a banquet, he is shown his hungry subjects — if the salons of the palace remain closed, he is accused of that thrift which his predecessor so well exercised. In case he catches cold; the public demand that he be auscultated to find where are bis lungs ; his kidneys serve as the base of financial speculations, and the theme of revolutionary declamation. His wife, too good " for human nature' 8 daily food," is insulted, and his son, but on the threshold of his " JBes and his Kces" is voted a little Tropmann. Bearing these things in mind, the Emperor has truth on | his side, when, as he said in his speech from the throne, it is difficult to establish liberty in France. Possibly this is the pith of the whole discourse the political world has so long looked forward to. It is a document the contrary of what was anticipated — enigmatical, as a matter of course, and garnished with lame and impotent conclusions. He will maintain order. This is the old menace since 1851 — the appeal to the galleries. Hewasthenthe Saviour of Society— he intends to fill the same role for Liberty now. If passions be so wild at present as Napoleon asserts, it is not very complimentary to his eightteen years of government —if excesses prevail still, that does not justify very much the necessity of the Coup d'Etat which years ago took place to extirpate them. The address is not con- j ceived in a liberal spirit — it shows his Majesty still clinging to his infirmity — personal power — it is the door of the temple of Janus ajar. There have been restless spirits flying about of late — a few disowned journals have been piping anything but courtly music. What has been the result ? To band the well-disposed to frown down the turbulent, and to laugh at a rabid press. It is this good sense of the people that has rendered Chaasepots unnecessary, and the police force a city ornament. The nation desires the Empire, but with liberty, and order to enjoy it. But while liberty without order is the despotism of the multitude, order without liberty is but the despotism of force. Neither despotisms will the people have. The Corps Legislatif is to elect the municipal magnates for Paris — as droll as if the House of Commons selected the Marylebone vestrymen, or Congress the

! town council for New York. Russia is complimented upon the emancipation of her serfs — the Jews and Poles excepted — but the latter, France will herself liberate — at the Greek Kalends. John Bull must be gratified that hia "justice to Ireland " has been viewed with delight; in high latitudes, and the " finest pisanttry under the sun," charmed. If the Emperor Alexander ever makes a speech, doubtless, he will not fail to congratulate his cousin upon having allowed his subjects to hold public meetings without a permit from the police. Had England an hour of old Dandolo Pam, he would express the satisfaction of the nation at his Majesty having left to his people the management of their own affairs, and disbanded his noble army of local pachas. Apart from all this, the Imperial march in paths of liberalism, after so many years of halt, must be a little awkward for a while. The Chamber will discipline the exercise, and if Napoleon leaves in its hands the untrammelled enjoyment of parliamentary liberty, ail will go well. It has become a watchword to achieve freedom without violence. The first trial of strength in the new House gave the Ministry only a majority of 15 — bub if they introduce good measures they wiil catch votes. Parties aren* t yet. cons- if uted, except in the extreme Lrffc, whose programme is republicanism, pure and simple, and comprising the representatives of the great cities of the empire, which always vote against the Emperor. OJdfßaspail demanded the accusation of the ministers, and shook his hoary locks — but he was only laughed at. The future President of the Revolutionary Tribunal carried himself very modestly— what was not expected from Rochefort. He was dressed in black, and wore- red gloves — the color of his party. He has not yet demanded that Citizen Buonaparte be put on his trial. In the election of M. Schneider as President, the right man. has been put in the right place. But the break-up of the Moderate party under the leadership of Ollivier is only another instance of the fickleness of the French. The bark it is there, but the waters are gone. There ia nothing sensational in Continental politics. That old fox, Bistnark, still remains under co^er. France has given up the idea of unearthing . him. "When he is not sick, he is said to be about resigning, and when he has not resigned, he is reported sick. But he is the same to-day as yesterday, only more wary. At Rome, the " Economical" Council — as Mrs Partington would say — does not bid fair to be a happy family. The divisions respecting the elaboration of the dogma of the Pope's personal infallibility —as advocated by the Jesuits, and opposed by the French Bishops— illustrate the church to be truly militant. A good many apostolic knocks are given and returned. Upwards of 400 bishops have arrived, and several will only arrive at the moment of going to vote. The anniversary of the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception has furnished the occasion of distributing indulgences with an unsparing handj and good for any number of years. It is better to give these*' than to sell them, and so prevent-new -Luthera from springing up. The city is full of strangers, and the variety of costumes alone worth a trip to the Corso and the Pineio. No international exhibition could surpass the effect. His Holiness is acting up to his urbi et orbi benediction. He has inquired after Victor Emmanuel's health, and accepted a ring from the Sultan. Dr Oumming is the only exception to his benevolent sympathy. In the Farnese Palace " great expectations" reign. The ex-queen of Naples is daily expected to be confined, and all the monarchs retired from business are arriving to be present at the baptism — a ceremony which the neonato will undergo by the hands of the Pope. Indeed, in the marrying of exiled royalty — -and christening its progeny — as well as telegraphing his absolution to the great ones in articulo mortis. His Holiness is kept very busy. The expected Bourbon ought to have the (Ecumenical Council for godfather, as a set-off to the municipality of Naples having undertaken this responsibility for Princess Margherita's son and heir. The Freethinkers promise to have their Council, well attended also at Naples. . A great many delegates to it pass through Paris, and hint to the opposition Congress — " Dost thou think, because thou art virtuous, there shall be no more cakes and ale." In Italy, the new Prime Minister is not making much way — the Chamber of Deputies is still split up into fractions. One good resolve the President just elected has taken, namely, to save the kingdom from baukruptcy. It is only at Ecuador that a government says, when, the country is unable to pay, it ought to repudiate its obligations. There is a feeling springing up in the Peninsula against Florence— ie is felt that that city has too many back-stairs for a national seat of administration. In Spain the war still goes on over the possession of Duke Thomas of Genoa. Prim alone is the only one who belives the lad will be forthcoming when the Cortes calls upon him. His mother is opposed to offering up her only son to be sacrificed by Spanish passions, and Victor Emmanuel is occupied, not with the care of keeping his royal promise to hand over his nephew on certain conditions being complied with, but on retiring such assurance. The Carlists are commencing to show fight again. Stranger things have happened than to witness the Prince of Asturias wielding the sceptre that his mamma could not hold. At Dalmatia all is in stafu quo ; the old and young men of the mountains are keeping Austrian power at bay. . The Second Empire is not very rich in ceremonials, but once a-year, at the opening of the parliament, the whole strength of the establishment is pat on. Applications to take part in this annual display are sent in three months in advance — not more than one in every 290 are granted. However, everybody who is anybody manages to be there, and you always meet the same faces. Officials

must arrive, arrayed like Solomon in all his glory ; the unattached in evening costume. The proceedings open at one o'clock .to the minute ; and aware that punctuality is the politeness of kings, one sets out about four hours in advance. Armed with the monster pasteboard, laissez passer, and walking among files of soldiers, up gilded staircases, and along gaudy corridors, you get into the ruck of the invited, and in time, to your seat. The two hours you have to wait are not relieved by any orchestra before the curtain rises. Fuss and feathers pop in and pop out- — come like shadows, and so depart. The general glitter after a time palls. Some big-wigs you notice, and forget. The charming leaders of fashion have too much powder and paint — there is nothing of the wild freshness of morning about them. Still the fair sex, as they sit three deep, with robes in pink, sky blue, and the new color, sea, or "LessepV blue, grey pearl, delicate green, form a garland rarely to be matched. The Princess Metternich in a claret satin, trimmed with black lace, with a similar colored bonnet in velvet and black feathers, with a boa in zibeline, anda black velvet paletot ornamented with the same fur. The Countess Seebach wore a robe of striped blue and black silk, a shawl of black lace, with a white tulle bonnet ornamented with roses of various colors. The pretty American, Miss Jerome, who has a fabulous fortune, and has consequently all the landless dukes and penniless princes running after her, looked like an Alpine violet, in her costume of silk and crepe de China, all .garnished with violets, a coronet of same on her golden hair; the Princess Mathilde wore a robe of violet satin, trimmed with lace, and an immense train. If, like Joshua, she cannot command the sun to be still, she has undoubtedly arrested the hand of time. The Princess Clotilda was in a sea green taffeta, but she does not presume to lead fashion ; her ambition is to be an affectionate wife and loving mother, and she has succeeded. Then about the Messieurs? There is Lord Lyons, portly and popular, nods familiarly to Mr Washburne, and bows to several pretty ladies. Like all bachelor ambassadors, he is a favorite. , The ebony minister from St. Domingo is hid behind Mr Sli'dell. ' The Prince Metternich is interesting ; he carries the evidences of his late duel, he gives good dinners, keeps well with, the ladies, and so complies with the Tallyrand essentials of an ambassador. It is nearly one o'clock ; the cousins of the Emperor have filed round the throne. There is an empty j chair to represent the Empress — lost to sight till Sunday next, but to memory dear. The royal salute has been fired, and the head of the Emperor's suite appears. The Conquering Hero himself shows — the picture of health and fat. The Prince Imperial, tall, pale, but good-look-ing, in his full lieutenant's uniform, walks by his side. Having taken their seats, the spectators do the same. Napoleon reafls his speech, as methodically as a parson one of the Sunday sermons, published at half-a-guinea a dozen. His voice is not agreeable, but distinct. He waits till the applause terminates, and resumes — the monotony. On arriving at the retiring room; he sends a dispatch as to the "heartiness" of his reception to the Empress at Messina: The cousins Prince Napoleon and the Prince Imperial shake hands — very coldly.

After the reading of the address, the new Senators and Deputies were called on by name to stand up and take the oath of fidelity. The only feature of interest was when Kochefort was called, but who, believing that evil communications with imperialism would corrupt the good manners of the revolution, remained away. The Emperor gave one of his inexpressive grins, and the smile was taken up as in duty bound. Outside the Salle des Etats, which is in the I ouvre, the crowds were very orderly and good humored — if Vive VlSmpereur! was not Expressed, Vive Bochefort! was. The police did their duty well, by simply doing nothing. The discovery of the father Kinck, the eighth of Tropmann'B victims, has thrown no fresh light on this dreadful tragedy. The poison which the criminal asserts he destroyed him with, prussic acid, has not been found in the viscera, nor any marks of violence been traced. The vessels thatTropinann says he prepared the poison in, are in course of being analysed. The press loudly calls for the immediate trial of the wretch, whose presence is corrupting public manners. Another week, and he will be given in charge to the jury. Crowds of elegantes flock to the Mazas prison to see the ruffian, but only his full-length photograph is shown. Lord Lyons and the ex-king of Spain politely refused. However, there is a Chamber of Horrors attached to the prison, composed of all the photographs taken of such of the prisoners as died by their own hand. This "purgatory of suicides" ought to compensate the curious.

We have several indications that Christmas is coming, and also New Tear's day. The Concierges are positively showing symptoms of politeness, beginning to recognise your existence as a tenant, and to speculate on the value of your "tip" to them. To forget this formality is to ensure after New Tear's dpy an Inferno that Dante could not describe. These house porters are an institution in Paris — the shadow that falls across your chamber door — if not in the pay of the police, they ought to be. The first revolution ought to have baptised this month after them, and it is not yet too late for Baron Haussmann to dedicate a street to them.

The " isthmigrants" are rapidly dropping into Paris, not sorry that the wedding of the seas is over, and that the nappy conple have settled down to their every-day duties. M. de Lesseps is expected at the end of the month, to receive the thanks of the shareholders, and spmething more, and to marry his young and pretty Creole. Reports continue to be satisfactory of the working of

the canal. The next and greatest difficulty is to make it pay. The Government has 'at last taken a salutary step to put down the rage for duellings in France — as ridiculous as they are senseless. Hitherto the principals and seconds " purged their contempt" by paying a nominal fine, now they must undergo 15 to 20 days' imprisonment. Ladies with pretty feet will be glad to hear that " Podology," or the science of revealing character by the foot, is now supplanting phrenology, &c. The new science has for parent, Doctor Truntz. The seat of love is apparently in tho hnllow of the big toe in men, and on the upper part of the same member in women, which explains why feet so frequently meet under a table. A long foot indicates a quarrelsome disposition, a high instep, courage, a low one, cowardice, idleness, &c. •