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LETTERS FROM PARIS . [ Fbom oub own Correspondent . ] Letteh LXXXIX . Paris , Thursday Evening , Sept . 8 , 1853 We are in the thick of a bread crisis . Riots at Rennes , riots at Reims , riots here , there , and everywhere . ' At Rennes the women ( always terrible customers iri bread riots !) proceeded en masse to the Prefecture and demanded that the price of bread in Brittany should not exceed the price iu Paris , Some say the Legitimist influence may be traced in that disturbance . Now , at Paris the state of the corn market
required that the price of bread should be fixed at 50 centimes the two pounds . Unfortunately at that price the Government would have been upset in no time . So poor Persigny ( the dme damnee of Bonapartism , the only genuine Bonapartist in fact now left in France , as I have more than once told you ) was compelled , under pain of rejoining the ex-governments , and of going ad patres , to maintain the price of bread at ten centimes below the nominal price—at 40 cents , instead of 50 . To obtain this result he sent round to all the bakers of Paris to assure them that he would reimburse them the difference . In doing this he seems to me to be singularly like Cadet Roussel , good fellow that he is ! The Paris bakers will naturally declare an imaginary selling price , assured of the difference being
made up to them . They will put down ten loaves to one sold . At that rate our good Cadet Roussel-Persigny , whom I find tripping for the first time ( and after all , poor man , he is fighting against Heaven as well as earth this time ) will have to reimburse the bakers fabulous sums daily . Now of two things one— - either he will be faithful to his engagements , and in that case he will have to pay from 400 , 000 to 500 , 000 francs daily for Paris alone ; or he will forfeit his engagements , and then all the bakers will shut up their shops , and we shall find ourselves once more in ' 89 , plus all the experiences of the last sixty years . In the latter case the account will be settled fast enough . This is just our situation at Paris , and so ^ clear , so simple , so self-evident is the crisis , that the funds have been falling steadily for a week !
The Provinces demand , as a matter of equality ( for we are living under a regime of equality ) , to be treated on the same footing as Paris . The towns are insurgent , demanding to have bread at eight sous , as at Paris , instead of ten . sous . This has been the case at Reims , and at Rennes . At the latter town it was the women who were the ringleaders , at the former the disturbance was confined to a few noisy gatherings in the streets . Only on this occasion the Champenois have belied themselves . We have a proverb in France that ninety-nine sheep and one Champenois make a hundred boasts . This time they have proved themselves as quick-witted as the rest . In their " incendiary"
proclamations ( official style ) they have declared that la faim justifie les moyens , and incited their countrymen to upset a ( Jovernment which begins by giving them a famine . And really we are exposed to something like a famine in this fair land of France . In my last letter I was cautious enough to put the probable deficit in the harvest at out ; eighth , now there arc many who reckon it at u fourth , or about 2 , 000 , 000 of tons . Yet , for all this , everybody is gay and happy . Fetes and felicitations everywhere . It is the poor functionaries , who lmvo . staked their all on the present Court cards , who are to be pitied . They are already beginning to doubt whether Providence docs not indeed govern the
world ! Meanwhile the Government has been losing its wits . I told you that the journals wore forbidden to discuss the scarcity . Left to itself , the Government has fallen into its natural courses , and has committed an enormous folly . It has considered it an net of supremo wisdom to interfere with the regular freedom of commercial operations . It has come down upon sill the cornmtU'kotH of France with n host of Commissaims dc Police ( it had created 2280 instead of JJCJO of these oflieerei
¦—o ne per canton , instead of one per arrondissement ) , and hius declared the merchant * to be caught in tho net of a coalition to raise the prices of grain . This clever net of vigour of our infallible and paternal rulers wan followed by the natural consequences . AW tlieinerehnnts disappeared : 850 Commisaairca dc canton drew up reports ( prodhii-wrhaux ) , by order of Per . signy , against them . ' Now , after a fortnights suspensionof the markets , 1 , 1 hi l ' re , ( ec ( , H aro obliged to lower their tone . The ( Jovernment journalfl m <> I " '"' ofl ' refedoml deoreen , dismissing Commixsaire . v da Police for " abuse of authority , " for having endeavoured to interfere with the freedom of commercial transactions .
To relievo you of the possibility of doubt as to linn fact , I . subjoin at full leng th the decree of the Prefect of Montauban ( Turn and Garonne ) against the Coinmissaire dn Police of tho can torn of . Lafranc-aisa : — " Conbideriiiir Unit tho Sieur Loupino , Commissure
de Police of the canton Lafrancaise , has on several occasions infringed his duties and the instructions of the higher authorities ; that notably , on the 24 th instant , at the market of Lafrancaise , he did , contrary to the distinct orders of the higher authorities , interfere with the freedom of transactions in the corn : market , by drawing up a report ( proofs-verbal ) against the persons offering corn for sale , because they demanded a price above the preceding price current . " Attendu , &c . &c . " Decrees . Art . I . The Sieur Lespine , Commissaire de Police , is suspended from his functions /''
Poor public functionaries ! If they don't arrest the rise of prices , they know they will be swept away by the rising tempest . If they do arrest the rise of prices , they find themselves liable to be deprived of their functions by their own immediate chiefs . I am sure they must be all chanting in chorus just now"Ah ! quel plaisir d ' etre— -fonctionnaire !" All this time Le Hoi s'amuse—I beg pardon , L'lZm perenr . On the 15 th , after the Venetian fetes at Dieppe , Bonaparte goes to Boulogne , where he is to
give us ( and you , too ) a second edition of the famous Boulogne camp of 1804 . From Boulogne he proceeds to St . Omer , and thence to Lille and Dunkirk , where he is awaited with the greatest impatience . In the two latter towns , citizens who are . known Republicans have been appointed officially by the Prefects and Sub-Prefects to erect with their own hands triumphal arches in honour of their Majesties—under pain of being sent to Cayenne ! I pledge you the truth of this . S .
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CONTINENTAL NOTES . The Turkish spirit is being roused . Some excitement prevails owing to ' the modifications which the Divan has introduced into the Viennese note . Relying on the' support of France and Great Britain , and finding itself at the head of an army of 200 , 000 men , Turkey is inclined to go to war . The warlike preparations are continued . Fresh troops are daily pouring in . The army in Asia numbers 80 , 000 men . All the accounts from Constantinople concur in stating that the Porte will make a sort of ultimatum of the modifications which it has prepared in-the note of the Conference of Vienna , the state of public feeling in Turkey being such that the Sultan could not withdraw any of them without the risk of an insurrection of his people and a revolt in the army .
The last accounts from Malta state that Admiral Dundas had sent in the invalids of his fleet , the physicians having declared that a change of air was necessary for their recovery . The British , squadron being anchored along the coast , and being exposed to the miasma from the shore , Lad several seamen attacked with tho fever of tho country , but there was no danger . The French fleet was more healthy , being anchored further to sea , and the number of sick did not exceed the usual average amongst Buch a number of men confined in so small a space . The Paris Correspondent of tho Times writes : —
" There is reason to fear that our apprehensions as to tho nature of the reply given by tho Emperor of Russia to the Vienna note will be realized . I understand that , if the official answer lias not been received to the note itself with its accompanying modifications , wo yet have intelligence of tho manner in which the Czar received tho fact transmitted to St . Petersburg , that such modifications were appended , and that tho Porto accepted tho noto on . condition that they Avoro granted . Indeed it was positively stated this day at ; tho Russian Embassy in Paris , that tho Emperor lias refused to accept thorn . It is added , that when ho was informed that tho Porto had modified
tho noto of tho Conference of Vienna beforo accepting it , he observed , in a tono of much moderation , that ho would willingly make concessions for tho express purpose of mooting tho wishes of tho European Powers , hut that ho would not humiliate himself in tho eyes of tho world by submitting to propositions proceeding direct from tho Sultiui . if it turn out to bo true that tho Emperor thus expressed himself with respect to tho allies of Turkey , thoro is alill a hope that , out of deference for thorn , ' , it must ho said , for public opinion , tho peaco of Europo will not ho disturbed , though bo much valuablo timo lias been lost . "
Wo learn from Bucharest ( August 23 ) , that tho Russian troops aro practising and manoeuvring every day . No fresh troops have marched in for Homo timo pant , for tho Principalities aro already completely overrun with soldiorn . Ei « ldworkn and fortifications are thrown up and constructed wit . li the greatest activity , especially on tho banks of the Danube . A . letter from Bhumlah , of tho Ifith instant , states that tho anny of Omer Pasha consists of (! 5 , ()() 0 mnn and 1 RO piocdH ol ' cannon . IIo was daily receiving roinl ' orcomontM , whilst the Russians , it was said , had lo . it 1 < "J , ( K ) O mon by typhus hthI < UarrliuMi sinco thoir ontrhncu into tho Principalities . Tho Russians , to tho amount of 5000 mon , pitched thoir touts on tho 10 th at Totragoin , on tho loft hank of the Danube , ho that tho Montinols of tho two arm inn . aro within musket-shot of each other . Tho following noto , dated the 'H ) th of August , has boon son ) , by tho Ottoman ( jjovermnont to tho representatives of lOugland , I ' rance , Austria , and Prussia : — '•" Tho draft of note which has boon recently mado at Vienna and sont to tho Biiblimo Porto , has boon read and oxtuninod at the council of ministers . Tho one previously composed at CoiiHtuntinopIo and forwaydod to tho Oil rout Powers under a form adapted to put an ond to tho dill ' oronccs existing between tho Bubliino I ' orto and Ruuoia ,
oxcited hopes of a satisfactory result . The Government f v Imperial Majesty , the Sultan , is therefore greatly eri j see that this draft has not been taken into consiri ?• Although the draft of note written before by theXftr * Porte in order to be forwarded to Prince Menschikoff v been used as a basis as regards Jhe paragraph of the dp received from Vienna touching the religious privilege fh question has not been circumscribed in this circle , Q ' f paragraphs superfluous and incompatible with the -Wp ^ i rights of the Government of his Majesty the Sultan ha been introduced , the Sublime Porte is again placed und ^ the painful necessity of making some observations on tjf subject . The Imperial Government has for a lonffti past been accustomed to receive testimonies of friends !^
from the high Jfowers , its august allies . It is particular } grateful for so many efforts abounding in good-will wV } they have constantly received since the commencement ? the present question . It is evident , therefore , that it must feel a repugnance , on account of its particular respect for these Powers , to hesitate on a point which has obtained their common consent . But the Government of his Majestv the Sultan , which at the commencement of the affair was declared to be competent judge of questions relative to its rights and its independence , unfortunately not having been consulted upon the composition of the new draft , is placed in a difficult position .
" It may be " said that the Government of Russia , also has not been consulted on the composition of this draftbut the rights to be defended are those of the Sublime Porte , and it is the Porte which will have to sign the note which will be given in relation to this . It belon gs to the Great Powers themselves , in the exercise of their acknowledged equity , to judge whether it is just to treat the two parties on an equal footing in this respect . It has in consequence been thought proper not to enlarge upon this point . " The first of the points which cause the Sublime Porto to hesitate is the following paragraph . : — "' If at all times the Emperors of Russia havemani . fested their active solicitude for the maintenance of the
immunities and privilege of the orthodox Greek ' Church in the Ottoman Empire , the Sultans have never refused to consecrate them afresh by solemn acts . ' " That the Emperors of Russia should manifest their solicitude for the prosperity of the church and the religion that they profess , is natural , and calls for no observation ; but according to the paragraph quoted above , it might be understood that the privilege of the Greek Church in the states of the Sublime Porte have only been maintained by the active solicitude of the Emperors of Russia .
" It must be remarked , however , that the fact of placing in a note to be given by the Sublime Porte the paragraph above mentioned , as it is found in the draft , touching reli gious privileges which , have been granted ahd maintained without the participation of any person whatever , would imply and would offer pretexts to the Russian Government to advance pretensions to mix itself up in such things . " No one would consent to draw down upon himself the blame of his contemporaries , as well as of posterity , by admitting the establishment of a state of things as hurtful for the present as for the future .
"No servant of the august imperial Ottoman family would dare , would be capable of placing on paper words which would tend to weaken the glory of institutions which tho Ottoman Emperors have founded by a spontaneous movement of personal generosity and mnate benevolence . , " Tho second point to bo touched upon is the parajppli in tho draft of note relative to the treaty of Kamardji . As no one can deny tho existence of thia treaty , and as it is confirmed by that of Adrianoplo , it is abundantly evident that its nrccise stimulations will bo faithfully observed .
" If in inserting tho paragraph mentioned there was any intention of considering tho religious privileges as tho natural result and tho spirit of tho treaty of Koinanlj ' , real and precise stipulation of this treaty is hm" 0 ' 1 W / T singlo promise of tho Sublime Porto of itself to proux tho Christian religion . Tho paragraphs which tho low might insert , as regards religious privileges , in tho noio may sign , ought only to express , as has boon at allPe declared , cither in writing or by word of mouth , assu ur . nu _ proper to remove tho doubts entertained by tho Jiuaua tiovormnont , and which form tho subject of tho urn *
sions . ,. q e f "lint to givo to tho Govornmont of Russia » ? " protending to exorcise a right of survcillanco ana g vontion in such matters , by streng thening by ncw t tho religious identity already existing between at , ^ community of tho subjects of tho Sublime J orto ft ^ foreign Tower , would bo in some monauro to uniu ^ sovereign rights and ondangor tho indepondone ° orn . empire . It is therefore utterly impossiblo for tn <> to > meiit of his Majesty tho Sultan to givo ltaconBOU' - unless compelled to do so . . . ^ liinin " "If , nevertheless , tho intention is merely u > l ' yoTu > renewal of tho treaty of Kainardji , tho tJ uUiu »« might do this by n woparato noto . j ] 1 () "Tho imperial government , thoroforo , a t , tac i ^ _ greatest importance to theso points , either u » " . HUJ ) . < rr . mli folnf ^ n . (/> ^^>\ a fvrtiitv . ill tllO HOtO HO"I ' , f
pressed , or olno that , if it ifl--rntiintnmo «» l "" / i ' , in , l tho protection contained in tho treaty of K « innx » j oX j , licit question of religious privilogos 1 ) 0 noparatocl M \ ixnco , inannor , bo that it shall bo understood , at mo that thoy are two distinct things . , . ponci' ^ " And tho third point relates to tlio pornriiSBM" _ - ^ d t 0 to the Greek rite to Hliaro in tho advautftf , "'" ' ^ « i o other Christian ritos . Tlioro can bo no <•« ' » flr 0 « k imperial govornmont will not liositato to pel . , C () v <» '" ; vitn to Hharo not only in tho advantage * whicu * £ () IlS of ment lms of its own will granted to othor coin ^ . ^^ htho OhriHlian religion professed by connnuii « . () i () Ill , n jeotH , but aIho in Uioho which it J « ay conco . ^ yott 0 future ) . It in duporfluouB , thoroforo , to aim , ' « fc 0 { of will bo juatiliod in not admitting tho < wnploy »
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868 THE LEADER . [ Saturday ,
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Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 10, 1853, page 868, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2003/page/4/
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