NEWS OF THE WEEK.
FaiNcE presents a singular picture in the midst of the great war by which she with the help of England is coercing the potentate of the North. The Emperor, escaping for a space from the cares of state, is rusticating with his Empress in the mountains, while his loving subjects are celebrating the fête of his anniversary in the capital and the provincial towns, and the voice of the first Napo- leon is speaking from his tomb to the veterans of the last war in accents of paternal care. M. Achille Fould, the Finance Minister, publishes a report, confirmed by the decree of the reigning Em- peror, specifying how eight millions of francs- shall be divided among the veterans of the last war, and among those who suffered in the great military events of the war, or their survivors ; a con- tribution towards carrying out the will by which the first Napo- leon appropriated two hundred millions of francs to the same pur- pose. Thus, while the people are rejoicing in their present Em- peror, the power and benevolence of the first of the race is pre- sented in an enduring form. The several camps which have been prepared to reinforce the armies of France during the progress of the war also come into the picture. Yet the great master of the land, after receiving the compli- ments of the people of Bayonne, is off to the mountains, discours- ing freely with the people whom he meets, or going to more soli- tary scenes where there are no people. Now you see the Empress sitting on a bench, the Emperor at her feet on the grass ; next he is rowing one of his faithful attendants, a companion in former and less brilliant days, across the Nive, to view the scenery from the opporite side.
There was some question as to the reason of the Emperor's ab- sence: we were sure that there was a reason, and perhaps a part of it may be conjectured from an expression which he let fall in reply to the address from the Bishop of Bayonne—
"My presence on this day at Bayonne is a fact which I mention with plea- sure; for it proves that France, calm and happy, no longer feels any of those
apprehensions which oblige the head of the state to be always armed and on the qui vire in the capital ; and it proves that France can support a distant war without her internal life ceasing to be free and regular." Thus, France, taking up arms against her enemy, feting her Emperor, listening to the immortal voice of the first Napoleon, while the present ruler exemplifies the firm order of affairs by re- tarnino to enjoy freedom and ease in rustic abodes, presents a pic- ture, a°1ittle studied perhaps, but still very striking.
