The Government of France continues its attack upon the Orleanists.
The Press of Paris is ordered not to allude to the speech of the Due d'Aumale at the dinner of the Literary Fund, and on the 13th May the Minister of the Interior directs the Prefects to "pro- ceed to an administrative seizure" of any books, pamphlets, or news- papers published by persons in exile. The justification offered for this order is, that exiles are, by their position, beyond judicial action, and protected against reply and recrimination. As the order is entirely unsupported by law, and as books have hitherto been considered en- tirely exempt from censorship, the circular is universally condemned. Even Bonapartists allow that the Government is elevating the Or- leanists into a position of importance by its ill-dissembled fears. Prince Louis Napoleon, whose speech produced the Orleanist pam- phlet, has been involved in yet another fracas. Prince Lucien Murat has been for the past seven years Grand Master of the French Free- masons,-and the office fell vacant on the 20th inst. He has become unpopular with the brethren on account of his speeches in favour of the Pope and a tyrannical decree suspending the journal of the Society and some of its lodges. It is usual in France to select the Grand Master from the reigning House, and the indignant masons. nominated Prince Napoleon. The Prince accepted the candidature, and was challenged by his cousin, who asked M. de Persigny to ,become his second.. The Minister of the Interior refused, alleging
his official position,-.and informed the Emperor, who commanded Prince Lucien to apologise. He was of course obeyed, and the affair ended greatly to the amusement of the Parisians, who, deprived of political excitement, of course discuss persons very narrowly. Prince Napoleon has been elected by a majority of two-thirds.
The French fleet ordered to bring back the troops from Sy& left. Toulon on 20th May, and comprises four steam frigates and five transports. Four more steam frigates are expected at Beyrout, and the entire army will be shipped at once, and landed at Toulon. No doubt appears to remain that the Convention of 5th September will be loyally carried out, and the Sultan left to manage Syria as he best may.
The French Exhibition of Works by living Artists is now open in the Takla de l'Industrie, and contains about four thousand pictures. A curiously large number of these are battle pieces, and there are no less than eighteen portraits of members of the Imperial family, eight of them being those of the Emperor himself. The exhibition is pro- nounced below the average.
