13 AUGUST 1887, Page 2

General Boulanger is determined not to let the public lose

sight of him. Daring the past week, he has sent two letters intended to glorify himself, to the papers. In the first, addressed table seconds, he states that when insulted by M. Ferry, he wanted "a real duel, and not a duel almost without danger." Public opinion will judge between the man who offers a ridiculous form of reparation for an insult, and "me Who meant to risk my fife to avenge my military honour." But for its bloodthirstiness, this pompous effusion would be ridiculous. In France, the taunts are apparently not very effective, for the politicians and journalists are not at all anxious to favour the substitution of combats to the death for their present system of duelling without danger. General Boulanger's " slagsin-a-sawpit " style of ehallenge offers few attractions, and finds very few supporters. General Boulanger's second letter is to Madame Katkoff. In it the irrepressible General apparently takes upon himself to -condole with the widow in the name of the French people. "Your grief," he writes, "becomes oars." The letter is, of course, an anti-German demonstration, and intended to keep the writer still before the public as the hero of the Revenge.