The topic of the hour in France is still General
Boulanger. He has formally denied, in a letter to the Minister of War, that he sanctioned the use made of his name at the elections ; but the Republicans insist that if he did not, he ought to bring actions for libel against his accusers. It is even suggested that he should be expelled France by statute, as if he had been a Prince. That is, of course, a mere threat, as his brother-officers would have a word to say ; but the idea shows a certain perturbation in men's minds. The Royalist papers are beginning to take him up, not as a partisan of theirs, but as a man who may terminate the reign of the Chamber, and introduce a dictatorship. General Boulanger himself remains silent about his projects; but in a speech to the students of the Lye& at Clermont, he informed them that France had a right to be the 'first nation in Europe, and that their efforts should be directed to make her so. A false report that he had been seen in Paris caused general consternation among politicians. It would really appear as if there were a considerable number of French- men who would submit to an inferior dictatorship in pure dislike of the Chamber, and their temper will not be sweetened by the reported necessity for another loan. So rapidly has the unfunded Debt increased, that it is stated no less than sixty millions will be necessary to make the Treasury safe, and even this amount will still leave the " deficit " a large one.
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