Newspaper of The New York Herald, March 19, 1855, Page 2

ud ec-kborero are principally connected with ?aowuMieeofthe Thames, theaipeet of the rtreeta With their towering, brooding population abroad, waa something awful to look upon. There might be heard, as the numbers increaaed, and ooornge warm ed by contact, that fiendish laugh and muttered oath rtoging in the ear ao gratingly of those whoee hap pier fate placed them out of the reach of sympathy; ?id there also might be seen bands of men uttering wild cries, and shouting satanic aorgs, while at their head one bore a red banner, on which waa inscribed " Bread or Blood." The cause of all this has hap pily departed, and while Lord Palmenton baa still to struggle with difficulties within ?without, a great and giowing calamity is nipped In the bud. Disas trous war abroad, cabinet dissensions, an impraeti eable House of Commons, and popular riots for bread, would have altsgethcr proved too much for any prime minister, even though be was not seventy years of age. To pretend that Lord Palmenton has not still enough on his hands to contend with, would Indeed be to deny what is too evident; but at least he has bow the opportunity of concentrating his energies. Like many a horse for the Derby who has made a fake start, and finally won the cup, the Premier may, after all, tun in and win; though I confess I have never In my experience found the opinions of elnb staWtmen so divided. A sort ot morbid sensa tion is everywhere observable, as if England were oa the eve of some great and fearful disaster? as if Mr institutions, so formidable haifacentu-y ago, and still so perfect in smooth times, were now on the point e( becoming a rope ot sand In presence of the won drous mechanical dlsooveiies of recent years? dis coveries In the press, in steam, and the electric wire, which, bridging over our Island hold, and destroy tog time and space, had brought us from compara tive ?bscuiitv into the mid-day ?un of the world, the blaze and piercing eye of which we were un sqnal to eustaln. It la said that neither Lord Pal mereton nor Lord Derby, nor any other lord or commoner can protend to go on with this alliance an equal terms, while two of tbe parties to it, France and Anstria, are despotic, and England is Parlia mentary, and that we are in this dilemma? either that we mnst withdraw altogether from active military interference, or erect a temporary dicta torship, which last would of course pat a padlock on the press. No one supposes that as yet, England wlil consent to one or the other ot these alternatives; hut. for all that, it is thought by many, that after parsing through many hnmlliattng phases, sue will ?t last be obliged to do so. As far as regards the retirement from the newly ?cnstructed Cabinet ot Sir James Graham, Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Sidney Herbert, Mr. Cord veil and Lord Cannisg, great men as they most undoubtedly are, I am clear I am right in saving that a general opinion prevails that Lord Palmenton Is strength ened by tt. None cf thaw parties will coalesoe with Lord Derby, or be of anv great service to Dim in his opposition; between the two Is the impassable boundary line which divides free trade and protec tion , and the conncils of tbe cabinet chamber will mw have neater unity, even If fewer striking talents are brought to bear npon their deliberations. In timee of emergency the pawer of one single mind is what is wanted, even though its standard may not be the very highest. With men like those who have just seoeded.lt is easy to imagine how the Premier must trim and pare down his propositions ere he submit them; and 'now, therefore, if he is really the man the country has supposed him to he, aad he can devise some good measure appealing to general patriotism and placing conildenee in the people ere time and mismanagement bave jaundiced its heart, he may gallantly throw himself u;ion the country, which will not fail to return him a Working Parliament. But, unless he be ptepared to oede even to its prejudices? to encourage its present military passion by rifle clubs? by abolishing the sale of commissions, by introducing new blood into the cabinet? men of the people with new names? by flinging himself heart and soul on the broad mass of the middle clasces, with a boll loau for the expenses, and war to the knife against protection, Lord Palmerstonjwtll fall to rise no more; a su> session of weak ministries will follow, till at last evil days will come npon the mona?tb| of Qieen Yk'toria, hitherto a bed ot roses, and the envy of all the crowned beads of Europe. It is curious to observe bow strangely throughout all these political commotions, Mr. lioebuok, the member for Sheffield, has become matter of the situ ation ; and, unhappily for his ambition, at a period ?f bia life when he is physically deprived of the power of taking any sdvanta^e from it. Brought hi to ike House on tbe wings of tbe Reform bill la 1H33, Roebuck early attracted attention by aa eloqneace which was not less distinguished for logical accu racy thin moot unflinching nural courage. Bat tbe acerbity of his temper, of whi h his thio wiry form ?ad ferret-like visage seemed the proper emblem, made bim generally disliked, if not detested. He was everlastingly in bot water, duelling, or wanting tt fight with some one. Sir William Molesworth waa his second on one occasion, tae present Minister at Woods and Forests. At la?t he lost bis neat, and wis cut of Parliament for three or four yearn, but always busy, and on some plea or other he con trived to be perpetually prowling about the doo-a of either House, either as advocate for the Canadian rebels, or political bttUe holder to young Leader, ?ember for Westminster. On his return to the House, subsequently, be seemed to manage his tem per better ; at all eventa, he had tne wisdom Jo leave off attacking tbe press, and tne Timu finally toak kin "p aa the only man in the House who had tbe courage to say or do an unpleasant thing. Proon that time, sustained by bis great talent* and unwearied assiduity, he ha* haJ full command ?f the Home; and, though hated by whig*, con servatives, free traders, peace makers, and every section of party, nothing but tbe fatal tnalaiy which, in the prime of his powers, has struck him down, hati prevented him attaining tbe Solicitor and Attorney Generalships, the proper object of his am bitioo. Y?s, with even the wooltack, the Lord Chancellorship ot England, within grasp, poor R? back Is obliged to turn bis head away. The archi tect of his own fame, he has little or no fortune, and the pecuniary advantages of such a post would be moat important to him. It is but doing him bare S- tice to add that, if be bad been disposed to barter talents, he might long ere this have risen to High place. He haa now, however, been tnmb'Jng over minis try after ministry in such delightful confusion that, it' hiM malady haa left him any of his reputed satanic ?pint, be must be smiling in hit slesve with grim ?attraction. As for the committee of inquiry, he himself knows it? thorough impracticability : oat if he were to let it drop, other parties would catca hold of it, and perhaps render It more mischievous still. Like tbe Foreign Enlistment bill, It will pro bably be found to He a natural death, if not gal vanized by opposition. Tuis, it is supposed, is Lord Palmereton'a object in giviffg way to it. In tbe meantime, the present House of Com -nous mu?t be dissolved, and nothing is more likelj than that a report from the committee, favorably constructed aa it now Is, will appear, to the effect that they And their labor* totally In compatible with tbe oub II? strvioe? the fact rea ly being that very serious considerations are involve ! in tae situation wbicti Mr. Roebnck baa reduced the II >use to. Tbe Com mnni, by thia committee, are usurping the functions ?f direction and administration, though tb?y can execute neither, k crowd of more tian six hun dred bmb, overburdened with local work, imollcated ia all kinds of private intera-ts, compelled by con stituent Influences to dabble in jobbing with public patronage, is suddenly found to be trading on the national clamor of tne day, to b? frittering asay its legitimate powers and nullfylng the action of government by a pretended democraM: control. TIm original vote was ot course a waatof Ct>afld^n:e ia tbe ministry, and h\4 not the coart interfered, In ttaggesting that lx>rd Palmernton should reonatruct tbe old cabinet, the vote for inquiry would hare been rescinded oa the change of Premier; but '.be Derhyitee, stung to madness on being so completely outstripped by Pahaeriton, stu k to it tha. ttw Cabinet was still Ideaticaliy tne sains, and ther 'fore tjhuad to submit to the ordeal of inauiry. T leir tactics have at all events succeeding ti smashing the coalition , and be is a bo d man who maid d ? lars tnay have not really opened the Cabinet for their admission , for tboug.i the retiring m"u')'r< will not join the opposition. It is certain that ex i ept in the matter of protection duties, they could aot oppose them in power. All now depe ad* on lord Palme-aton himself. Mr. Lavard, tbe member for Nineveh, at In Is aoetioualy called, has sucjsed^d In estao'ishio^ himaelf in tbe tore front of the battle, and la now t > form a part of tbe new ministry. The all powerful 7W> naa pointed hi a out as a good mm ah itr n, aad liord I'almerstoa has wisely determine! to < ve him atr<al. Many preJIot tnr Mr. LiyarJ'a Im practicable tern; er wid rend-ir H a limited on*. Witn r?spMt to the war, there it a very geu*-al understanding that Lord I'alinentoi inVindst.i llli< his whole soul into the prosecution of lu It is ?* >t bettevrd that either be or the Rape ror of tha French, nor indeed the Bnoeror of .tustrik, attach the slightest real importaacs to the r?salut ?f tbe Vienna Conference. I n ? Caar'a levy r* -n ism shows tolerably eleariy that he.toi, has little de pendence on '.h ,rn Tie Mtbntn will sjrve to wile awn* the winter, or what remains oi It, aiH that is all. Neither n?ve we the s m ??t rtllaucs sa Prussia. I bslieva, if Kogland c mid speak h r ?rfiMl the wruld say t^at the war has heen rn >st in vrMely entered into, bm being in It, sa? h*< no alternative save to goon. I believe that a latent l#alousy is creepingu reepe'timr Franoe. and thing like a suspicion cf playing Napoleon's Viae for him !? suggesting itseif to men's mind* I believe that the thinking put of the community w? to impute more am bitions motives to him min they wen at trst willing to admit, and that they are Inclined to col lect proof of thu in the more exalted tone which French journals are already beginning to take. Austria and France, says the Consiitutionnel, if the conference of Vienna fail, will be found combating aide by aide, on the upper part of the Vistula, in a common struggle which may prolong itself to the frontiers of Poland, as well as on the banks of the Danube. The people, it sayit, whwe instincts ?re rarely at fault, have chaiactertaed, in their own pic turesque language, the forthcoming spring campaign as the " War of tbe Three Emperors." While, an a rider to this, we receive news from the Crimea that the gallant B itish army, who have been a wall of defence to tbe French it Alma, Bala ktava and inker in am ? on whose buckler the cruel est blows of Russia have fallen ? wno hare done all the tightm* work, while the French rauti:>ua)y and ekilfuDy husbanded tb?lr strength? are now a mere auxiliary to Cahrobert's army; t: at they are useless in the pi at of honor; and wherever tbe towers of flfbantr pol see their own flap give way to another, i t w ill be to st e high s bove alt tee tri color of Franoe. Yes, England, with all her pride, her boast ing, hei consummate conceit, is now talked uf as tbe caitier, the mecnanic, the artwaa of tbe world- not a military power, whose actual share in the siege operations rauwt be con tint d to the sup >ly of such material resources as she has ever at command, and f r the production of wb'ch she bas nucb unbounded facilities. Ol d help us ! how are the mighty fallen, and how compla.sautly must our orthodox arch eoemy be contemplating us ! I-ord Palmerston, come wbat m?y , must hold very different language to this. That the war is fraught with revolutionary change to England, I, for one, do not doubt; but th-re is a tocslbness, a sternness and power of endurance in the English character wbich vississitude, will bring out, and enable her finally to ke?>p her bead above water. Except in lighting, in eturdiness of resist ance, hi rrmy is not the type of our character. The army iB composed of two extremes ? the vary highest and tbe very lowest class. .The great middle clssfl is as yet unknown; but once call this fairly out, and a moral courage, a combination of docility and firmness will be male manifest, as well m a p jwer of resource, tbat the French, who are now ready to turn up their lip in contempt, have little td*a of : but, for all this, there is no disputing that poor old Englaiid is just now in a grievt-ns straight. Univkrhitv Club. I London, March 2, 1865. The Palmerston Ministry-* I And Johns Mission? First Report cf the Smou? Illness of the Emper.tr of Russia ? Layard a Rising Politician ? The War ? Lot* Dtftat of the Russians at EupaUria ? I jOuis Napoleon's Visit to the Crimea ? The German Powers ? The Vienna Congress ? The Baltic Fleet ? Rot buck's Motion ? English Ex hitters at New York. Lord Palmerston bas reconstituted his cabinet? for a time-? for I do not think it can last as it now stands. Lord John Russell, as you are already aware, has gone to Vienna as representative of England at the conferences. He has already bad an interview with the Emperor of tbe French and Drouyn de l'Huys, with tbe King of the Belgians, and with the King of Prussia and Baron Manteuffel. The last telegraphic despatches leave him still at Ber lin, where a grand dinner at Court in his honor bad been postponed, (it was to have taken place this very day,) on account of intelligence from St. Petersburg that tbo Czar was danger ouiiy ill, and tbat bis life was despaired of. Should this news prove true, and the Emperor of all tbe Rnsslas die, it is not unlikely that a change would take place id the views of tbe Russian government, as the heir apparent to tbe throne of all the Rufsiis is more peacefully inclined than his sire. But retournons it nos moutons?I mean to the Eng' lish Ministry. How long Lord John will be absent on this mission no one knows; and who will take care of tbe colonies? The Under-Secretary, of course, and tbat is ? Sir Robert Feel! Thai the worthy young Baronet is a man of energy, no one doubts; be plays high? bets boldly, and even won the esteem of Lola Montes when Charge at Berne ?but certainly, his only cl?im to office is, tbat he is the sc n of his father. The appointment of his bro ther, Frederick Peel, to the Uuder-Secretaryahip of War, is also unpopular; and justly so, fo; be bad ntver any connection whatever with tbe War offioe. Sir C. lie wis is not likely to be an efficient substitute for Gladstone; nevertheless, a good deal of energy has been displayed. Indian officers who have seen ser vice are to be given command in tbe East, and a thorough reform is to take place in the army pro motions. It was expected that La'jard would have been made Undtr-Secretary of War. He was of fered tbe Under-Hecretarysbip of the Colonies, which be declined? theu the Clerkship of tbe Ord nance, which be also declined ? then tbe Under- Se cretaryship of War, which he accepted; but next day be was told it had been given to some one else. Layard has taken tbe opportunity of unbosoming himself to his constituents at Aylesbury. He men tions all these facts, and hia motto is, " the right man tor the right place." He would like to be Min ister of War, or Foreign Secretary, or Premier. HU address to bis constituents is worth perusal. He Is a rising man. He bas just bsen elected l-ord Rector of the University of Aberdeen. His views on tbe war are correct enough. In their first leading arti cle of this day, tbe Times thus pate Layard on tbe back: ? Mr. I.ayard ha* been alto in the East, and he Is, from an experience' far more varied and lingular than ap ptarx in hit published worka, thoroughly and minutely acquainted with the language*, manner', anil habitn.of thought of the nation* which dwell around the Mediter ranean and the Black Sea. He is by profession a diplo matist, and ha* at least as fair a knowleJge of the fo reign relations of Western Europe as falls to the lot of the better informed members of his class. He is a man of great energy and activity, strong in liis convictions, and earnest in carrying them out. Though not a prac ticed speaker, he is rendy and Huent, and has risen on some occasions to impressive fervour. On the othar hand, of the internal administration of this country, of the details of office, of the alTairs of our colonies, of the vast and isolated subject of our Indian empire, it is no reproach to Mr. Ltyard to say that he knows compara tively little His steps have trod in other paths, and a man who knows so mush of what other men are ignorant of may well be content to avow his ignorance of much that other men know. Such is the candidate for public offl -e whom wo wosld present to oar readers. Tin' outline* are strongly marked; there is no possibility of mistaking them. No public man can possibly plead ignorance of the special qualifi cation* and disqualifications of Mr. Layard. 1/et u.1 see bow thuee we intrust with the delicate and responsible uuty of selecting th? right man for the right place iiave discharged it in this instance, and what is tne reward which talent and merit have to expect fr<>m patron* whose vocation it 1Jj, .ioove all things, to cultivate the most friendly and intimate relations with rising mea of genius Mr. layard was for a snort time I n i?r Secre tary for Foreign Allairs in Lord John Russell's govern ment. I-ord l'erby very handsomely olTerei to continue him ill the place, but Ixird John was unwilMng to ose hi- services; and advised him to reject the o:Fer of his political antagonist? advice which, in an evil hour for his own material prosperity. Mr. I.iyard adopted and acted upon. ()a the formation of I/>rd Aberdeen's government Mr layard was olTeret a Secretary ship of the Board of Control, on the principle, we pre some, of pntting a man to do one thing because he has an especial aptitude for another. In a day or two, how ever, a gentleman with still less pretension to any know le.lge of Indian affairs, wuo had, indeed, spent liii whole life in the management of Irish politic* was found, and of course his entire ignoraoce of the subi*et was pre ferred to the partial ignorant* of Mr. Layard. This it the first illustration of pntting right man into the right place. The rext uffer Mr. Lt.rar 1 received of home employ m"nt was the Clerkship of the Ordnance, which he declined. becau-e he anew nothing shout the Ord nance and did not consider himself tne rl^ht man for the place. This is iliu tratioa No. 2. The third oJer was the 1'nder S?cri tary ahip at- war? a situat ou for which Mr l.avard m.jiht well consider himself qualified, and for which he wis indeed, marie lout t?v the a most unanlmu* opinion < f the cun'ry. Her# at last, tb?n, we f>eifin to see Ian I, ami ater si many failures and reverse- have at last got the right man in 'he rifht place I tut such a state of things w is too bril limt and too ntopian? u* much savoring of oil ro mance, to continue long, an t In two dave i.-ird Palmers ton, * ith a view, no donbt, to the *? vigorous prosecn tion ef the war." wtthlrew fpoa> Mr. I?ay?rd the otfl of Cncer Sei-reury. an t t>cstoeed it on Mr !'*?!, who b id n?ver, tnat we are iwnrs of, turned his attention to ! the subject before But, thongh M*. f-avard was not fit to S'lmlnMier -tie war the onyin of which he had wit ni^*..i nt tha three kr ?t >>attle? of wh.ch hi had been present. anl with the eonrse "of which he is perhaps more conversant then any other man in this country, his serv ce? *..r? ur#?ntlv re jn ted in another field, .ind lyird I'slnert'tn proposed to OSMpensate him hf pitting In hi. hen "a <lori ig the :?l sen-a of l?rd John Rua-eil at Vienna the destinies of our vist colonial eranlre. This overwhelm n< trust Mr Uvard much to ht? honor, refuse.! I' n Mie grenn t that his attention had never been t jroM to th~ suh ?rt. and that lie was not the r ght man for the pta.-- ,.?i this ? ? think, m>y weil serve for ttlns'ration s'o. 3. The Vnowle^s which Mr Uvard did rut posses, is doobttesl posse*a.*t In to# amplest degree by Hlr itob?rt i eel who, |t is well known, has devoted every spare ho ir of his industrious life to th* acqnistt on of colonial in ormatl n He i? ;0 fact, though not in name, our Colon il Min ?t?r. To him are to he intrusted ' he destinies of fifty dependence* ; his vigorous hen I is to quench the dames of civil war which seem ahon' to hurst forth no the colony of Vic tor a and upon him devolve" the laber of g v nj ?onsti tutions to provinces destined ta form another Catted states in the southern ocean. We th'nk we shall not be far wrr.or if we treat this appointment as illustration >o. 4 of the manner In wblsh her Majesty'* advisers , understand the maxim, that it la the duty at govern ment. above all things, at thi? time or difficulty and dis endii, to choose the right man for tba right plaee. Tbe news from the mt of wmr is mora satisfacto ry. General Oaten Back en attempted to carry Ea patcria by imilt, bat has been signally repulsed by Omer Pasba. This d'versim to the north of 9'bastopol most materially sseist tbe allies, aa it occupies a large portion of tbe Rowian force#. Lipraodi baa again tetired from tbe heights of Balaklava. Tbe railroad ia progressing rapidly from Balaklava to the En*) ton camp. Tbe health of the troopa baa Improved, and tbe weather 1a described at* quite warm. All are eager for the assault; 14 000 French aie said to have marched on Inkermann. Gtntral Niel, Beit ont by tbe Fmperor of tbe French to report ou the state of tbe siege woiks,t?s been ordered by telegraph to nmvin tbere. The rumored departure of Louis Na poleon still exists. In fact, everything ia ready. Yesterday, be left Paria and reviewed tbe oampe at 8t. Omer and Boulogne. Tbia ia regarded as a pre liminary step to hi* departure for tbe Crimea. Lord Jobn Unwell did all be c.uld to persuade h?m not to go. Tbe Emperor listened attet. uvely bat made no n ply. Tb? Anstrisn .A mDa^arlor also represented tbe gravity ot such k step. The prevaling nptuixi in, tbat be will (start someday n< xt week, and that be ba* sen orcers to Cani jber. not to attempt the assault till be arrive*. is regards tbe treaty wHh Prussia not'ilvg has, as jet, come or it. Geusrai de Wtdell, tbe Prussian Elvoj Extraordiiary, has left Paria lor Berlin for rrean instructions, t.nd onr ally, Austria, remains passive. We aie on tbe eve or a crisis. T>e Congress of Vienna le, in plain English? a humbug. W"at is tbe nre of it? Tbe EtnJeror haa distinctly stated be wonld never ooi>seni to anything derogatory Ho his dignity, nor suffer an sggr?s*ion chtx lui. The al lies demand tbe razirg o fy- baatopol as ? tine <ju* m?. One vary must gve In cr tbe sword most cut the Gordian not. If this goes on much longer, an appeal will be made to tbe nationalities of Europe? noun don.'ons sur un vu/can. Tbe want of unanimity among English atat.esmsn acts most detrimentally on rbe i?uxe of tbe allies, it encourages Piussia in ber hesitations, and makes An st ria doubt. Vast prefaiationa are being made here for the next Baltic, campaign. Tbe fleet consists of 20 sail of the line, all capab'e of t?iag propelled by skam power. Of these ships 10 are three dickers; but only two of these, the Duke of Wellington and the Royal George, are first rates, the remaining eight being all neir, o* nearly new snips, of 91 and 81 guns, rben come ten more snipe of the line, two deckers or third and fourth rites, carrying 60 Sins, and comprising what were termed tne biock ips, the services cf *hich wire conspicuous in tbe last Baltk) expedition. Tbe nnmher of steam frigates and corvettes will be increaaed to no less tban 36; and in addition to these vessels the fl^et will contain eight mortar boats, carrying one 13 irch gen each, 28 steam gunboats, carrying two or three guns, and five heavy floating batteries, elated with wrought iron on their decks aod sides, and intended to be taken into ac'ion without rigging aloft. These batteries carry 12 guns each, wnlch may, however, all be fongbt on either side of the vessel. This fleet, therefore, bas all tbat Is required to encounter the Russian navy, if it should venture to put to sea; to blockade tbe whole Baltic coast, if necessary; to catry 'he arms of tbe Allied Pow ers into tbe shallow waters which have heretofore l*en tbe place of rv.fuge of the enemy ; and to assail tbe forts and strong olaces on the ooast which have not yet been exposed t > any real attack. Russia is making every preparation to meet an invasicn in tbe northern reserves, and reinforce ments leave daily from the interior of tne empire for the frontiers, 'l'hc collection of provisions has as t-omed such great proportions in Finland and at Novogcrod that the government employes are not sufficient for the work, and provision commissions have been formed with double the usual number of employes, who have more extended powers. The Gran a Duke Constantino baa visited Croostadt two or three tim>s recently to inspect the batteries and woiks of defence. In March tbe crews of tbe gun boat fleet will resume their duties. They were pass ed in review recently at CrouBtadt, fiweaborg and St. Petersburg. Tbe dectb of the Czar might alter the w.iole as pect of ? flairs. Lord Locan, who commanded tbe cavalry to charge in obtditnee to Lord Raglan's orders, at the memorable battle of Balakiava, has arrived in town, and will demand a court matial. He asserts tbat be simply obeyed the orders of bis superior officer. Some sensation was created in the House of Com mons last night by the following incident:? Mr. RorarcK, b; leave of tbe House, appeared at tbe bar with a report uom the fleet committee appointed to inquire into tlie condition of our army before Seba'to pol, which wan brought up ami read by tbe clerk at tne table. Tbe etmmittee reported bavitg come to the fol lowing resolution Tbat, in the opinion or thin committee, the objects for which they have been appointed will be bent attained, tbe danger or injustice to individuals prevented, and the public interests bent protected, if the committee be a committee of secresy. The greatest silence was observed during the reading of tbe resolution, but at ita conclusion very distinct murmurs were audible. Great complaints are made here that articles sent by exhibitors from I/iodon to tbe New York Exit bition have never been returned. If the I act was mentioned in your lLfluectia' journal it might have effect. Tbe following letter it on the subject:? [To the Editor of tbe London limes J Influenced by tbe name assurance* as your correspon dent signing himself "An Artist," I transmitted pictures to the value of ?100 to New )ork for exhibition in tba Crystal Palace tbere. Tbat exhibition baring been broken up, and with it the office in London, 1 have applied to tbe authorities designated at tbe office by letters at in tervals or a month. To neither of these applications have 1 received tbe courUsy of a reply. My third letter 1 have addressed to Mr. Theodore Hedgwicli, late presi dent or tbe institution, a gentleman of whom I have re ceived golden opinions From bis countrymen here. Awaiting the result, I trust It will justify my confidence, and belie tbe significant inuendoes thrown out by those who repudiate repud^ators. AN tXHIBITOR. Our Pari* Correspondence. Paris, Feb. 26, 1855. Capricious WuUhtr ? Sleighing? Amazonian* on Runner s ? the Emperor and the English Ministry ? Unpleasant Prediction s to Ltyal Britons ? European Troubles and Confusions generally ? Washington Anniversary Ball ? Theatrical and Oj>eratic Items ? Curious Finale to a Perform ance, tfC. A most sadden and extraordinary revulsion in the weather baa asserted it* proverbial attributed of changeability. When I last wrote, a downfall of snow was In proceas, of anoh heaviness, intensity and apparent durability that nothing less thin an Alpine profundity of that oloriea* deposit was the general anticipation. As I passed through the Oamps Elysle with my despatch, a feature indica tive of the season aud its suDpoted continuity, mat my eye. Several ladies? the French would per haps call them Amazons? defiant of the snow dark ening the atmosphere by its thick and^heavy flakes, were amusing themselves in charioteering sleighs of slight but graceful conformation, drawn by one horse, whose hetd was ornamented with r.rumon planus, and on whose gear the musi: of bells rang cheerily, as, answering to the lash of his ftirronduc teur, he spring forward and darted up and doirn the broad avenue. Seme half dozen of theee spirited dames who, thus determined to astonish the world with noble horsemanship, uparkled like children of the mist, amidst the cald and pelting element, and diverted by thoir skilful gyra tions many a solitary individual from contem plating his own cheereu, miserable lot, at, bl iwn by the wind, saturated by the snow, and tripped up by the slippery surface, he staggered on his bleak and wintry passage. Who and what th.*?e Ariel* were, whote joyous laugh and crackling thong thus beguiled stern February of his swimy pride, I have no meant of knowing. In Paris one witnesses so many stratige scenes that surprise cases to be, after a time, an emotion of the human mind, and whether tney were fair bclono of tha' aristocracy which the revolutionary fermentations oi Frtaoe have heaved up to the surra ?e fr>m th-nr long neglected bed of rest., or th? Mogadors, who, one dty the cjncsure of all ejes at the Hippodrome, on tie next dicpenae ubiqtn ous smiles, and change their 1 vee with the sun, I know n?. Thns much I only aver, that t'ae eaee with which t >ey "handled the ribbons," and the stern grace with which they appli,*d the stinging Ia?h, was the '.hems uf gen rral admiration. Instead, however, of being the me* sengers of nature's fixed resolve to confirm anl strengthen our icy c ain?, tNey proved to be, in all portability, the bright, but fading, ftnll of de parting winter. Long before night had gathr*d all to their homes and snug flresilM, the snow had changed Its character, and be some rain, and tie next matting, inatead of a gl-wjy railmai on which imperial and Amazonian oer?onage? might ? hoot along before the eyes of admlr*ng spectator*, there was nothing to be teen hut mountain* of bla k ened snow, and mud, mud, mud, in one interminable m a cl oaetinees. BtJakiava itself could only be wotre. The thaw, though determined, wu slow: and notwithstanding an anay of three thouaanJ scavengers, which, at the first symptom of chann, springs, aa It were, out of the earth tn Paris, to do tbo wcfttbfr'i bidoinjc, tbd process of nlfunlng bu beta greatly retarded; and even do*, the snow, the mad, and the rain struggle manfully to mystify the regiment of besoms ready to contend with them. We are itiil in doubt whether the Emperor is, or is not, about to leave for the Crimta, though it mppoHd that the united n monetrancee of Ltrd J ocn Russell and the English P.emier hare HU'oeed <d in inducing him to poe'pone hia resolution nntil be besrs tiuin Vienna. But the sudden nquili which his again grievously damaged, if not wrecked, the Koglibh ministry, it is thought hss proved more in fluential with tie Emperor than any argument tha. may bave hern deployed. Eoglaod is yet maeh too important, as a pomi d'appui for his policy, for him to leave Ftai.ce while the government In in difficul ties there; and the state of the ministry at the present moment is known to causa him great anxiety. It is not t^at be views with any great concern the substitution of one c)bm v I ministers for another, now that aii who are at all eligible to power have expressed themselves In such earnoKt ou the pre sent p.licy; bat hecreads these perpetual changes, knowing how tbey are mi-tnisted by the Frea<h people, who bave before this found them only tne foiercnners of a change of policy. If Lard Derby ctrna. in, Lord Miltntbmy, his former friead, is to represent England at t'aris, in Lord Cowley's place, the Countess of Malcusbury b*-iug a French woman; but the Emperor has conceived an idea that Lurd Derby wat ts the energy and determina tion in practice, exmbittd in his ipeeches, and th? bit tccession to office would only be followed, and spterfijy, by another change. "Our greatest hops is in Lord Palmeraten," was his observation to Lord John Rutsell, en the depasture of the latter on Saturday lor Vienna. The answer of Lo*d John was? "dire, I bave no doubt of his meeting ttie ccnntry's support," Ibe effect on the Parisian mind of tbes* con tinual crises is so absorbing that Sebastopol is ahnrst forgo' ten, and more than one organ of public opinion has roundly declared thai these are only the natural laws which the decadence ot England is observing. It is cer tain that many grave thinkers of a decidedly oon sei vative class ot mind begin ominously to sfcuke their heads at t^e news, aa, day after day, it arrives mm the otner side of 8t. George's channel. They do not scruple to eay tfiat the national inst.itutio.is of England have become rfftu\ that while the coildren of the State are full of manly energy, Ihey are pioved to be bat like gallant craft on the broad < cean "rudderless, afloat/' Men who nave held back fr? m the clear sweep which the Napoleonic system has made of Parliamentary government, beg.n to speak with less hesitation of it as they observe the position in which a state of political l erll finds that England who on this subject has given lavs t<> the aorld. Nay, pen oca who have hitherto looked upon her as a terrible giantess, woose embrace was mo re foimidable to Prance than her frown, begin to hold a language of defiance, and to spetk of the Nemesis of France in a strain that is not very agrtable to an English ear when it reaches it. Aid about tfte court itself, ?enUmeota are avowedly expressed which intimate that in 1ms than a twelvemonth the nation of shop keepers may, if It pleases, attend to Its own affairs. The AsstmblU Nat\*nale has taaken the opportunity of republishiig a speech of M. do Montalembert, where the decline and fall of Eng land is graphically protiayed. The Aittmbli* JSiUtcnalt conceives tn?t this parliamentary in quiry as to the conduct of the waroannot stop there ; tnat such a scene of jobbery, patronage, aristocratic blundering and self-serving, will be l*id bare, that other institutions will he involved In it; and that the whole system of aristocratic government will be brought down, amid no sympathetic tears, either lrom within or withont. J,n fact, what with Russia calling ber wbo'e popu lation to arms ; Austria, Prussia, and the Germanic confederation being, like a park of artillery, charged and awaitlrg but a touch of the match; Fiance arming to the throat, and gradually be coming alive to the prospect of a snre regeneration ; while England, burning with enthusiasm, changing btr ministry week after week, losing her little army, till scarce ten thousand bayonets live to tell or vic tories gained, is moaning and groaning and quarrel ling with herself and everybody else, yon must cer tainly think that matters in tbe Old World have rapidly c. me to a very pretty pass, and that before Jong ttey will be In a very pretty mese? a oon jeo ture, on your part, probably very near the tiuth. I" the meantime, a* If to show how fiee you in tbe New World are from care, while we burn with our intestine conflagration, the Americana residing J? P*rla gave a grand bill on Tnunday evening, at Herrs'a great room, in honor of Washington's birth day. Nero fiddled while R^me was burning, and tbe Americar s laugh and dance, and play and sing in celebration of the author ot their own young, bud ding, Vigo, ous life, while the old spirit of feudalism, emaciated, attenuated and angry, In tbe midst: of blood, and fire, and smoke, tot ere to ita grave. In the shock and clash of contrary torrents, Eng land may go down and France spring np ""J1 ?c brilliancy; but sueh throes and flashes will probably be only augment ed symptoms of an energy that struggles as it dies; and the page of history in which Napo leon the Third is to be immortalized, ouy prove only the fabled notea of the aong which tne swan utters as It jields Hs laat breath. A,1 political phi losophers seem to think that In tbe coming crash of nations there is only one which will rise from it all with increased dignity and honor, and that is Ame rica, If she but wisely bide ber time, and make somewhat better choice of her governors. To tarn to theatrical matters:? The opera of Trovatore was brought to a stand stUlby the accoucbemeat of If me. Borghimams, whi jh interest ing event took place exactly two hours after the lady had been delighting a crowded tneatre with her choicest and sweetest nr tine- almost aa heroic an exercise of mind over matter as 8u A maud's order to Death ta stand still until he became victor ot Alma! But Mm*. Vierdot Garcia, formerly Made moiselle Pauline Garcia, happened to be in Paris and haa undertaken to prepare herself to supply the m**ntin,e she haa appeared In the Barbieri with the mort nubounded applause. Her welcome back to the former scene of her triumphs waa of a cordiality quite uno Italian Pf,CT*> whoae audience bnt ? by revelling ^h which Rasainl Ium embellished this moet charming of his characters wfth a grace and finish perfectly delightful. Io the muaic _ lessen she introduced T* Noe, pne MusMo," into which she threw a series of ornaments as brtl- I liant and dazzling aa they were wonderfully exe cd ted. The departure of Mile. Rachel for America ia understood to be fixed for tbe commencement of April. At the Varieties, a little comedy, written with a care and elegance worthy of a higher scene, has been received with marked favor. It is entitled " Unttprtwr o*ant la Ittttt," the authors being tbe late M. tordier Delannone and M. Jules Berb er. The title la easi j explained by the plot, which Is simplicity itself. A young latter, over heal and ears in love with a widow as young as himself, too bashful to speak to the lady on tbe subject, decides on writing to declare his passion; but to nnk* as surance douh y sore, requests a friend to sound how the ground lies. The amicus undertakes the duty, but has the villany to make love on his own aceount to the fair widow. This, however, com pletely falls, the false friend is beaten back; but Ue Uttte is more successful, and leads to the mar riage of the ladv with the ieial admirer. The little piece is capitally acted by Miles. Duclay and Pol MBt,, _ _ Bkrtie. Paris, FeB. 26, 1855. Ctltbratien at Pari * of Washington'* Birthday ? W ho Stt the Ball in Motion, and How it R >Utd? Ait it a I cf Martin Van Burtn ? IHteoursu of Btrrytr, Salvandy and Guiznt, frc. The anniversary of the birthday of Washington was oelebrated in Paris last week by a ball at the Salle Herz. It wu a enb?cription ball, and a note requesting inbicribers to leave their name* with Mwwi. Mnnroe \ Co., Qrreae A Co., or Livingston, Wells A po., led your correspondent to st*t4 that these banker* had united in proposing it. Bat this pr< position, he has b?rn Informed, was snigeated by Colonel Murray, of your city. A twoonl note, at nounc'ng that the ball bad been determined upon, waa aigred by the chairman aal secretary of a com mittce of twelve managers? Messrs. Me Lane, United Bute* Commissioner to China; Piatt, of the Ameri can Legation at Paris; Mcllie, United States Consul at Paris; Murray, Munioe, Rlr'geway, Pos\, Corbii ] Brrkwlth, Constant, Kerry and Van Zandt Two hundred aiid forty eight tickets for gentle men ar d a goodly cumber of tickets for ladies were ?old. Seme ladies have been heard to expresi sur prise that, contrary to the traditional gallantry of tb?lr c nnirymen, their own tickets were not free bat bad to be bought. Not a few free, or compli mentary tickets, were distributed by the committee amorg the Imperial functionaries, members of the diplomatic corps, exmiristers to the I Jut ed B'.ates. Ue Lifayette family, and other distinguished per fops. Notwithstanding the opposition (which I hare prev onsly meitioned) on the part of certain neuter* of the committee to what they termed " a >u)gar American custom," the list of invited guests en braced tight or ten representatives of the prea*. The Mnntitur, Galignant't Mn>tngtr and the London Tints describe the ball as having been given by the Americana residing in Paria The Siiclt fays that it waa given by the " United SUtea embassy, (managed, during tfce akkness of Mr. Macon, by the Hon. Mr. Piatt,) and the committee of Anericans teeidirg in P*ris." The cards if in vitation were irsued, with or wltbmt thi authors* tion Mr. Mason. in the name of the " United Seated i Minister and the Committee," tnus:? '? 1* Mimtlrt \ den KtuU Unit tt It Co mtl pritnt Af dt Ltur fairt \ honntur d'as*t*itr au Bal dontii par Imr compatr io st? It jtvdi, 11 Furrier, rn commemoration dt la natuarict dt Waihtrigton," etc." The United Autei Mmintr and tbe Committee beg Mr. to do tham the honor to atteid ti e hall gven by their comott liots, Tbuudav, 22d February, in oommr moration of the birth ct Washington, etc. At the foot of tht o%id ate printed the tames of the twe.vn c mznittee men. To the n?me of Mr. Piatt waa appended, after long and solemn deliberation, no imroentom w*a the qneatirn dieenssed, a title unprecedented la di plomatic heraldry, ai<d which haa enough Latin aa well aa Preach wanted upon it to shock Mr. Marcy, who, j ou lemembsr, was horror-struck at 'Jie lac* of tiai elating tbeefticeofthe legation in oaC/ium*/ rt it. The title oonterred on Mr. Piatt by the Com mittee, ia Chargt ad interim dt* Affair t* el alia ' What a burthen be moat be charged with *1! KLa count jmen here agree that he be* a it bravely and weli. It alfo ff fined a eoroewhtf; novel deviation from the lim-. of diplomatic prect dents tor aminiaterio Invite gueste to a ball else# here than at bis owa boirl and, moreover, to a subscriot on ball. Bat nott ol ibe guests were aware u>at if the illness from which Mr. Mascn ia happily recovering, and the modefet dissensions of his h.tel, had not prevented Mm from fcivmg a bail tria winter, taey might a till bave prevented him from giviDg it there. Nor >wr? mnsible FuroietiH ho apt to be earpnaed at any dfviatk n fr< m diplomatic precedents on the pnrt of an American Minister, aa pone stiklera for court t<Mumee re em to iniifdue. In the present cms, there ia certainly room to suppose that r.he relations of tbe M'Liater.and of bia compatriots, in Paris, are rueh that ibe latter gladly mutes w.th tie former in an extraordinary entertainment, like this - .li. suupljing, if need be>, tbe alleged inadequacy of hia tala:y; or, at least, that > e gladly uoiea with ttiem, aa far as i ircumstaices perm t, in the pub'ic cs.e brationcf a conn, crated date in American history? Not every question mast necessarily be eqailataral like a square : nut many a question has mr>re thai one aide ; hi d why no> look at ail sides, each in its own best poi-aible light ? Certain itis that the* official or quasi-official cha racter imparted to tbe mvirattcus by the title of "tbe United States Mmii'er," although, perhaps, not too clcsely scrutinized by tbe invited guests, deteimined tnem to attend the bill. T.ie members of tbe diplomatic corns were, of sparse, to be ex pected, w ten hiVikd by one of their colleagues. Moreover, most, of their respective g. vernments, an well aa tbe Imperal government of France, had Fpe ial Diotivea, aside liem veneration for tbe me mory of Waahirgton, for aeiziog this occasion to shake bands and smile with Brother Jonathan. Lukewaim as Brother Jona'ban in aaapected of being in his sympathy with the Western allies, it is deemed woith while to seenre at least a neutral attitude on hia pan. as specifier of toeir oonflict with Russia. The Emperor of the French, in spe cially instrn ting bis miniaters and the officers of bis household to accept tl,e invituioos addressed to them, may also have wi?hed to remove the uufavor able impressions whioh tbe Ireident SouitS must have left on tt e mind of many an American. Whatever may have been its motivee. a more re markable dia' lay of amicable ud res.?otfui feelings te waads the United States hw not b?>en nude in Europe (or a long time, than waa mads on the 2 2d ot February, 1865. The list of invited gue*U omi'.ted not a few natn^s whicti mig' t have found a place in it, if tbe bill had been really, as it wasfhonght to he, a Ministerial bail. No princely member of either tbe imjeri*. iamtly ot the tlvil family of the Emperor was preH'iit; the absence of Prince Marat waa partlcu laily remarked. Neitter M. Troplong, the Presi dent of the Senate, nor tbe Count de Morney, Presi dent of the Corps Legialatif, waa th. re; but nearly all tbe Ministers were presert:? M. Foaid, Ministar ot Btateandaf tbe Emperor's household; M. Drouyn de 1' Bays, Hlniettr of Fi reign Affairs; Maraha! Vaillant, M? mber of the Institute, Grand Marshal of Ibe Palace, and Minister of War; M- M??ne, Minister of Agnr.nltoie, Commerce acd Pubic Woiks; M. Fortonl, Minister of Public Instruction, and M. Barocbe, Presidert of tbe Council of rhate, with the rar k of Minister, all of them Graud Crosses ot the Legion of Honor, and all, save M. Baroone, Senators. The housenold of the Emperor wis represented by Maishal Vaillant, Grand Marshal of tbe Palaoe; tie Duke de Bsstano, t-eraUir and Grand Chamber lain; the Duke de Cambaceres, Senator, Graud Master of Ceremonies, and Colonel Fieary, First Eqnerry, Aid-de -C^mp of tbe Emperor, and Com mander ot the regtocent of Gaices; the household of the Empress by the Duchess de Bassano, Lady of Honor; Ba'Obeas oe Plerres, (an American lady, daughur of Colonel Thome,) Lady of the Palaoe, with ber htuband, Biton ce Pierres, Ivjuerry, etc., etc., etc. Tte diplomatic corpa haa cot been more fully repiescnWi at any previona ball this winter. The aNf n e ef his Eminecce Monaignor Racconi, Arch bishop < f Nice, Apostolic Nancio, and his auditor and secretary, mn*t not be complained of by any Enow Nothing, for it only indicated that Lent haa opened. The British Legation, the Prussian, the Bavarian, the Dut h, the Belgian, the Legationa of Badin, of Ib val Baxooy,of Denmark, of Sweden and Norway, of Portugal, of Sardinia of Mexioo, were jepreaent ed resoectively by I?rd Cowley, Conut de Hatz felrt, Baion de WendUnd, M. Ugatenveio, M. Fir min Rosier, Baron Ge Bchwclzer, M. deSeebach, Count de Moitke, IJeut Gen. Count de Loeven heilm, Baron oe Paiva, Marquis Pas da Villa Marina, and M. Pacheco^Envoys Kstraordioary and Minla teis Plenipotentiary. Of the other diplonatUte of the ssme tank, Barr n de Hubner, of tbe Austrian lega tion, was onwell, Don SatnatUno de Oloaara, of tne Spanish, was out of town; M. Mavracordilo, of the Greek; Marquis d'Antoine, of the Two Sicillei; Don Manuel Blanco Eucalada, of the Coiiian, and Cbeva lier Marquis Lisbon, of the Brazilian, were also ab sent; but each ot tbeir Legations was represented by secretaries and attaches. Vely-EddlnRlf<*at Pacha, Embassador Extraordinary ot Turkey, waa present with all tbe members of hia liegiuion. Among tbe res'dent Ministe<n were Count Platen Hallermnrd, ot Hanover; Baronide Daernberg, ef Hesse F'Jectoral; M. de Oertbling, of MecDenbourg Hchwerin; Baron Waechter,of Wurtemborg, and M. Hompfl, ot the Free aod Hanaeatio Toevns. M. Rumv ft married a daughter mow deoeved) of the late John Ja<u>b Amor. M. Esp*aa y Puerto, and M. Procion IVques, appeared as Charges d' \ffaires. in the absence ot the Spanish and the Greek Minfff ters. Among tbe Charses d'Affaires wers Col. Baiman, of SwitMrland; Dr. Dorado, of B ilivla; Mr. Lafosd de Larcy , of Coita Rica, and Mr. Herran, of Ran Salvador. The Charges d' A Saires of Tuscany and Hayti, were both of them, I believe, abeent. A .crowd of secretaries of legation and attache com pleted the representation cf the dipt malic corps. Among the distinguished special guests was Gmzot, ex minister of I/onis Pfilltppe, and (a higher Mile) en'oglat of Washington. I ^tmanltie had also been invited, but his health la so delicate that he Is rarely to be seen save at home, and he was not pre sent. It would have been singular to see lamanine and Guizot meet, as it were, on the other side of ihe Atlantic. I)e Toceineville, au'.hor of that va'uahle work "Democracy in America, " and l?rd John lias eell, were also obliged to decline tbe invitation wni h they received. I regret that I cannot furnish you with copies of the letters which it is said 1 amartine, De tocqueville and Ixwd Jo in Russell seat to tbe commit* e. Guizot oame quite early, amd remained bat a b' crt time. I caw him roc vetoing, for ? few nif mentn, with the Karl of Klgin, late (torernor < Central of Canada, and wl h 1) n Culrieron d<! la Ra-ca, rx-AmLautador to Washington and ex-Mini* ter of Rpaio. Among the French ex Emb<w*adonito the Halted Btatt* weie Fagot. Ponton and Poa?in. The widow of George W?bington Iiafayette, ud three gr ard dangnWre of the muatrljna friend and companion in armn of Washington, were preeent. Htverai led ten of the famill^e of member* of the diplnroat'r corpn oniied with a bright h<>*t of Airrrlcan ladies in enlivening the noene. The eyes of the hdlea cnt erarkk d th? ir diamondn, and tain in ro. crant i ratne, for the dinpUy of the latter wan aetonir birply la?i?ii and brilliant, i he fair Ameri cana, *npe;mlly,diJKlaining their and inpated beauty, to wbicli alone mont of teem might tafe'y hive trnmed, were evidently ambitiou* of equalling la ravmhing toiletten the ntmoet perf?ction of that kind afforded by Parte? the metropolin of faabon. Their ambition mont have been natinfled. " They dentmd well r.f " their dref?m?k^r?, and, It aboold be adced, of their drewing-rrmide ; f.w they wore tulr dTtfH n no Khh g.noefally taan they wete rre<i*. Tbey cauld ac?cely be dimin?ni4hed (while they kept their moatha nhut) from their Fa'inan counirn, rave thet their far**, to Anoericui ejm, at leant, were more lovely. Wren Ennpeane, whr*e ai.tionn of beauty ciiflVr coeniderably from tbofe of Amtricann, generally agn>e that the young .^rrerirsn w(m*n ia unquestionably charming lu form aLd ctanunan e. The) recogu ze ntill m ire rrad'ly the facility wi'.b which ahe aenimiiatee hor rtyle < f drew t? Failnian taahukoa. They add that In tbi* lent parti ular nhe erjoyn a marked ad ran lege OTer noet of Eegll?h women, who, tneyyiu tinne, however rich and elegant th< ir drtenen may be, oo rot krow bow to wear thrm. Bat norne t-trlktrg exception* ,0 '?** reproach were ex bib ?ei at the ball ol the 22d. The rumen r.f 'be Arttti'-an ladle* r>-#nen*. wtnld All a rclum. ?'d ? catalogue rmunnutt of tneir coitly and taetefai dre?#e* a vnume. of which I. N iag r>o man milliner, "learned in ra?n." am not Ukel* to be the author. I nead yon. however, tomenhat at ran dom, a few name*, which yon may prtat If yon deem proper. Besides Mm. Mason and the Misses Mm on. Mi*. Piatt and Ml*? Kirbj.of tbe families of the Amencan legation, there were Mm. Com nod ore fttewart, Mr*. General Thomas, lira, aod Mies Hep barn, Mrs. and Ml*s Lesienr. Mr*, firookee, Mr*. Monne Mis. Ridg?way, Mrs. Marshall Wood, Mr*. Beck. Mrs. BriateJ, Mrs. Walter Lmitdon, Mrs. Woodbury Langdon, Mine A. Jone*, Mr*. Livingston,. Mrp. J. Colford, Mre. and Mies Gorbin, Mrs. Gjor?e,. Mrs. J. K. 8ro>the, Mrs. J. L. Smith, Mrw. Po?t,M<-a. Healy, Miss Muiray , MJ*s Forbes, Miss Ftaiacbmaqn ? Mrs. and toe Mihik* Hutton, Mrs. and M("s Yorke, Mrs and Miss Henn< ri. Mrs. Pilie, M s. Fisld, Mr*. Mooie, Mrc. 8. Abbott Lawraoc?. Mm. Darning, Mr*. Morgan, tbe Berimes d<? (J) wain, tbe Baroness dc Pients, the Bareness de V*eaigne, tbe Connie* d* Boigie, (siter-ln law of Mr. McLme, Amaricaa Con<n>?'tioiier to Crina,) Ac., Ac. Of the miracles of toilette, fur which these and other isdi?x are b> be thanked, the most marvellous were two- -the one feathered with down of alight bluish color and tbe other enveloped In a miet or )*ce. Ah I have already intimated, t ie display of Jewels *a? brilliant enough to oatshine tbe <vnole K&ltxy of decorations that blazed on th* brtas's of be imperial functionaries and tho dipl imatis's. By he bye. I noticed bat two military ui itorm* at thi ball? one was that of a lieutenant colonel in tha Tuikifh army, worn by Neesin B?y (Carroll re vis) , and the other 'hat of a captain in tue dwediah army. Tbe Halle Her/., wher? the ball was given, wh? well fitted Bp lor the occasion. Lights, flowers, and. dainties, both nolid and liquid, were li nerally pro vided , although tbe champagne, it was Baid by chose who tasted it, did not Cjmefromttte -ellaraot widow Clicquot. Mr. IlesW, the artist, aud his neighaor in the rne de <t> Pali, Dr. Evanx, the dentil', con tributed, tte former tnree portraits (one of Wash ington, one of Franklin, an<l the third of Pre*tdent Pierce); aid the la'ter, in bis quality of officer ot the imjerial household, the busts of the Em ptror and Empress of the French. A por trait cf l.aiayetie was suspended opposite to tbat cf Franklin. Of Mr. Healy's r.bree por traits tbat of President Fierce was'from life, that of Frankjin a copy irom Grease, and that ot Wa-h ingtf n Irom Stuart. The latter was ornamnnted by the tricolored flag and the flag of ths stirs arn^ stripes. An ins rlption was also placed by it, but unfortur.stely the luneral oration by M iju-Ganeral tiei ry Lee, from which it was quoted, had not first b*eu col rulied, aod the final word of that fatn >uu phrase, "First in war, limt in peace, and tlrtr. in tie bears wf his couutrjmen," was tram formed info | "fellow-citizens." Bligfct as this mis-uke was, it would have been bet'er to stick to the text. I.nckily, tbe speechifying that so often rnirs e, celtbiation of this kind in foreign cities, was omit tec , with great credit to the sense and t?a\e of tie ; c'dmit'ee. I beard no ote complain that hit pat riotic emotions were not as agreeably excited by tbe spirited dancing on this occasion at they ever were by tbe arytbiag hut spiritutl speechifying on similar occasions at Home, for instance. Tre Ame rican ladies, \ anicularly, joined in the dancing with a zest that animated the ? hole aflhir, and more than anything made it what tbe Monittur c escribed it to be. one of the moat brilliant balls of the season. Home of their partner* opbeid the reputation for skill which they have won by assiduous practice under the eyes of Laborde or Sellarlne. Only one conple slipped and fell; bat both were nnhnrt, and sprang nraveiy to their feet. Strauss embroidered HaC Columbia, Yan kee Docdle, and several negro melodies, quite skllfuLy, on patterns of his own. (lis enchanting mui-ic, with tbe beauty, g> ace and court geoua pa tience of the dancers, detained me until the final ranee threatened to become interminable. ThW final dance was almost long enough to stretob across the Atlantic, traveise tbe United State*, aid rea.h tbe Pacific, if, peradventnre, it should not first lcte itself, liue a bnsle path in the back wood*, and tun up a tree like a squirrel. It was as long as this letter is in danger of be coming, if I do tot clcse it withont speaking of to* other " events " ol the week ? tbe arrival In Paris, on the evening of the ball, of Martin Van Baren, ex President or the United 8t*t?w? td?; fresh disl > cation of tbe British Minis try ? tbe discourses of" M. Berryc r and M. de Balvandy, at the reception of tha former at tbe Acideoy? and tbe difcoume of M. Gnizot at tfce Inktitute, upon tho Inteilecual Wealth of America, and in bonor of that zealous friend of America, Alexandre Vattemare, who ougnt to have been invited to tbe American ball on Thursday, bat was not ! # Figaro. Paris, March 1, 1855. The Sjnrits of the Political Storm ? Ntvolt mt Vuit to the Crimea ? Rtastns for Wu Pretence there? The tmmenne Armament of Ruiiim?The Jahs of the French Frigate? French Fleet in the Black Sea ? PujiuJaritv of the IVar in France ? England's Humiliation tn the Opinion of France, ire., Ire. Coning event* are fast casting their sh^dowo before them, and what may reasonably be assumed as the clcie of winter, wonld seem the signal for gradually raising the curtain hitherto darkly conoealing that terrible drama which the spring of 1855 will proba bly inaugurate. Wherever we turn we see the great currents of the present European policy in violent agitation and the chief spirits of the storm flit hither and thither with such rapidity th?t they are no sooner seen at ooe capital focus than the telegraph an nounces their arrival at another. Lord John Russell, for instance, is announxd as reaching Brussels and closeted with King Leopold; when lo ! his journey has been temporarily arrested by a communication of life and death from his chief, the English Prime Mil later; then, he is scarcely seen at Brussels before he i? caught at Berlin , and every bour he delay* there keeps the Viennese In a perfect fever of anxiety and expectation, till they know he is safe In the im perial palace of Austria. As for M. Von Use Join and M. d'Olberg, flieflies at Bt. Domingo are notnlng to the scintillating darlings to and fro of those busy diplomats; and poor Lord Palmers ton, with the ^usrA-like metamorphoses of his ministry, Is kept^ we bear, in such a state of oscillation that he is in some danger of discovering In his own person the great pioblem of perpetual motion. But a far greater than he? the arch spirit of the century, Napoleon the Third? has flung aside his mantle with the win ter and stepped Into the fore front of those events he plainly perceives to be hourly quickening. But a few dais since, In the midst of a Cabinet Council, he drew from his pocket a despatch be had just re ceived from Vienna, wherein the most nrgent reasons were alleged why he should lay aside all thought of repairing to the Crimea. He road it aloud, and though many who heard the arguments knew they were only a repetition of those before expreseea by themselves, yet no one ventured to say as much. By a sort of tacit unanimity, all limited their Interference to a vigilant scrutiny of the in* l*rial features, in order to ascertain the effect pro du< ed, If the oracle should decline to speak. The oracle did not speak ; and t.e perusal being finished, the Cornell broke up as wise as they sat down, at the same tlma with a certain balance of opinion is favor of the Emperor's change of purpose. But those tKa.1 twinkling orbs of Napoleoi, which seem perpetually looking every where except in a straight Itae, are tetrlble pn/.Elea ; and Independent of the prudential nature of K, he seems to h?ve a mis chievous pleasure in keeping tnose who believe themselves most necessary to him at fault as to his more important resolutions. At the hoar I am now writing, I do not believe there is a single living being that knows whether be will go to the Cri nee: though, if one may venture a oonjoc'-are, 1 can not help saying th?t 1 tllnk ue oa? made op hii mind to do so, and that very speedily. Yesterday, and tbat was not tnovn twelve hcurs bef< re, be started off" to the camp at St. Omer, where be arrived at half past seven, and I should cut be at all surprised to read ia the Monttemr, torn. rr< w roo'sing, a speejh to his sal tier*, acnoun li?ff nil determination to fly to t&elr comraces lu the Crimea, and embrace tnem cm fore te sg?in retains to i lace himse t at their he vi for ? urh further eventualities as may be in Store for the eneuu g cami aign. Napoleon na* a spice of the cfcariaun ?bou'. him, and bo ds greatly to the im pottante ol surprise ?s an Irgred ent in dramatic ' effect. Every inmg is arranged at Marseii.es fir his i e< e ptior ; tmiween fix and sev?e thousand of the Imierial (iuard are already shipped; several hon ored < i tbe (iuides nave received the nroal gratnity ?rr foreign service, aod all other preparati ma are C< mpl> te>d. Hull, this proves nothing as to '.he Kna jeroi's departure. It i?said. however, that tbe rn vn ol wfcm tbe ejea of tbe whole world a-e cUiefly fxed.is himself to repair to Sebastjpot? ao 1ms thin the Autocrat of a I the liissia* -an J tnat tie siege of Helrtstopol will have its Immortality sealed bi tte presence of the two most remarkable men of the s*e, and this, probably, before my letter reachee >ou It is calculated that Napoleon would reach the Crimea on or atont tbe 18th. and the Eupsrof of Rtimia nearly about tbe same time, if not before. Tfcei* are very Intelligible reasons why the pre sence of bctb t ere important personages may be required tbere just now. As I intimated in one of my previous le?ter? , the character of Caarobert is tboight to be scaroely on a par with his sjisbUAi}