The French Ultras, assisted by a good many Liberals, have
endeavoured to reduce the Budget of Public Worship, but with- out success, although they have defeated a sensible proposal by M. Dufaure for a small increase to the salaries of poor rural cures. A more stupid vote, for the interest of the Republic, could not have been passed. The debate was marked by the reappearance of Prince Jerome Napoleon, who, in a very able but very extreme speech, supported a proposal by M. Boysset for the rejection of the entire budget. He declared that if Napoleon III. would have abandoned the Temporal Power, the result of the war would have been different—Italy and Austria having previously proposed to support France—denied the existence of a clerical nation in Europe supported by the Pope, "unless it be Turkey," and asserted that to sow the Jesuit was to reap revolt. We have com- mented on the speech elsewhere, but may add here that it has been received in France as an intimation that the speaker desires the Presidency, and hopes to be leader of the Ultras. He may however, only desire to throw discord among the Liberals.
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