THE INSURRECTION IN PARIS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 182, 3 August 1871, Page 6

THE INSURRECTION IN PARIS.

The following is extracted from the letter of the Paris correspondent of a home paper i — Paris, May 10. THE COMMUNE. The Commune has devoted itself to business during the past week. It has weeded out s, few members from its body, whose antecedents were questionable. It has .not the slightest ideaof throwing up the sponge. Its Minister for Foreign Affairs has prevailed upon the Sanhedrim to trouble itself no more with deputations for conciliation, that when Versailles desires to make peace they were ready to consider the matter. There were the " estimates " to fiat and to pass, the Chancellor of the Exchequer had done his duty so well that he was continued in his office against his will.

He was afraid of the Committee of Safety, which frightens no one except Thiera. Further, tbe bugaboo is all . but dead. Church property was onlyjk appropriated to the extent of 8000 frs., and much of this consisted of Peter's Pence, retained on the principle that charity should begin at home. Tbe altar vessels, &c, are thus untouched ; in any ease, the church is not rich, and has never recovered from its visitors of 1793. The bank of France was bled for eight millions, but it got security ; it will continue to pay when called on. SUPPRESSION OF JOUBiSTALS AND HOT BOLLS. There has been quite a clean sweep made of the remaining journals, large and small, that refused to bow the knee to the new Ciesar — seven have been suppressed. The bakers are threatened with imprisonment if they persist in making hot rolls for the breakfast table. Nor have the notaries been forgotten, their papers have been placed under seals, so many a family archive, if time permits, will be laid bare. THE CONTENT SCANDAL. The discoveries in the Convent of Picpus, situated in the Faubourg Saint Antoine, whether true or false, will unhappily tell on religious orders, and may incite the mob to finish with the clergy. Three Nuns have been found imprisoned in cages, " like leopards in the Zoological Gardens," aged respectively 6L, 40, and 30 years. Sister Bernardine avows she was thus sequestered for ten years, was not fed every day, and rarely allowed to walk in the garden. From her own confession, she was not insensible to the tender passion— her Abelard being JPere Riphael. fn an out-bouae were found some Torquemada machinery for subduing heretics, also instruments fop effecting abortion, skeletons of little j strangers, and covered passages to a neighbouring monastery. A manuscript on abortion is said to have been discovered among some missals. It is enough to make Garibaldi leave Caprera, and assume command in Chief of the National Guards. However, the story must be received with caution, till the inquiry ordered by the Commune is terminated ; the powers that be are not inclined to be swayed with many religious scruples. The scandnl was very timely; it has made us forget the troubles of Cluseret, and the carrying out of the levy en masse. THE IMITORTELLES. In every one of the twenty mayor's offices in trie city a book for tho immortelles has been opened, where the names* of those killed in the cause of the Commune are inscribed, to be hereafter transferred to a more permanent monument. The prospect of being thua embalmed in the national memory does not lead many to volunteer for the honour. So popular is the colour— red — that only silk of that shade is employed for making cartridges for tbe cbassepot of the National Guards. A DANGEROUS CALLING. Death and destruction continue to reign on the outskirts of the city. There is still curiosity manifested to view both. The shopkeepers purchase at a high figure any un-exploded shells brought to them, to place in their shop windows — the large " sugar loaf" the more valuable. A crowd of poor devils are on the watch to possess one of such bombs, and hesitate to touch it, even, when within reach Generally a gunsmith turns up, who for half the profits, unscrews and empties the shell. Yesterday a poor man, while thus occupied in his " vvordly calling," had, as he said, one of these bebes in his lap when it exploded, carrying off his legs, and tearing up his body, as well as killing and wounding several lookers on. At the cemetery ofMontMartre, a man was killed by a shell while assisting at the burial of a member of his family. After a consultation, he was placed in the same grave with his relative. THE BOMBARDMENT OP THE CITY. Whether it be owing to the increase of 50 grammes of meat daily to their rations, or to the 80 odd cannon that have commenced to speak, on behalf of '1 biers, to tbe Parisians from the : heights of St. Clond, certain it is tbe Versailles troops are showing signs of uncommon briskness. Possibly, after all, they may enable Thiers to keep this time his word by entering at Auteuill in a few days. The grand attack is expected ; better finish with, the system of checks and counterchecks, as if Trochu, not M'Mahon, were in command. The young guards practice rifle firing at butts, proof that ammunition is not very scarce. Tbe officers carry rifles, so as not to be idle in the trenches, every opponent i brought down is an- enemy less. The ; barricades are being covered with sodi* of grass, so the little Sebastapols are becoming artistic. The experiments , with the torpedoes were moat satisfac- , tory. There were five horses operated i upon in a district of the city called California, the noble animals went up sky-high, and on coming down -were past all surgery.

A L \RGE number of the citizens, representing all clases of the community, attended the fune* ral of the late Mr. John Gillies, which took" place on Thursday, 27th ult. The pall-bearers "■ were the sons, sons-in-law, and grandsons of the deceased ; and they were followed by the office-bearers of Knox Church congregation. The service at the gray;e was performed by the Rev. Mr, yVHL