THE FUNERAL OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF PARIS.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 860, 12 September 1871, Page 3

THE FUNERAL OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF PARIS.

The "Times" correspondent gives the following account of tho funeral: —Tho morning was cold and threatening, and the crowd in the Piaco des Invalides and Rue de G-renelle was composed chiefly of the poorer classes, not in great numbers. The procession passed along tho quays on the left bank of the Seine, which throughout their entire length were lined with people, the crowd becoming dense in the neighbourhood of Notre Dame. Establishing myself in the balcony of a house at the corner of the Boulevard St Michel, I was in a position to obtain an excellent view of the procession, which reached that point a little before 11. A French crowd is proverbially orderly and well behaved, but the peculiar circumstances which now collected one to witness the funeral of men who had been murdered by the Paris populace rendered their demeanour upon this occasion especially interesting. Among the sad-looking women in black the careless spectators who had no other motive in being present than idle curiosity, and the respectable and devout, who were doubtless prompted to be there by sympathy and religious sentiment, were many hard, sullen-looking men, standing for the most part gloomily watching the proceedings, and doubtless congratulating themselves on the value which these evidenced of the estimation in which tho murdered hostages were held. There was some idea that the presence of a number of the Versailles Deputies might give rise to a hostile manifestation of some sort, for it was only to be expected that those who attonded the funeral belonged chiefly to the Clerical or Reactionary Party. To the Republican and Democratic mob of Paris the proceedings were eminently distasteful ; and, in fact, the general aspect of the crowd was by no means mournful or sympathetic. Nor was there any clang of martial music or imposing military display to relievo the tamo and uninteresting effect of the procession. A solemn silence on tho part of those who assisted at it, and an apathetic indifference in those Who witnessed it, were the most striking features. Two squadron of Cuirassiers headed the procession. Behind them followed General Cissy and his Btaff. The sight that elicited more interest and louder comments than miy other was half a regiment of Light Infantry in blue uniforms, followed by regiments of tho Lino. Behind them came four mourning

coaches and a group of acolytes bearing a cross, crozicr, mitre, and the other insignia of office. The hearse of the late Archbishop was a ponderous vohiclo, covered with massive silver ornaments, and drawn by six horses with plumes and housings of black and silver. Four angols in silver supported the roof, which was surmounted by another group of angels supporting tho escutcheon, wreathed with immortelles. As the two hearses passed no hat was lifted, or any demonstration of reverence or respect made by the people. A light sprinkling of rain caused tho group of mourners immediately following to put up their urn, brellas, and their limited number detracted from the effect of this part of the procession. Priests and members of the Assembly followed in a confused mass, and were in their turn followed by nuns and a few other ladies on foot.