14 OCTOBER 1893, Page 19

Nothing is talked of in France but the reception of

the Russian Fleet at Toulon, which began yesterday. The details of the ceremony prepared read exactly like the accounts of the arrangements for a grand opera, with all the notabilities in the boxes. We have noticed them sufficiently elsewhere, but must add hero that both Governments are evidently alarmed lest, by some imprudence, fire should be set to all the powder lying loose about. Admiral Avellan has evidently received orders to be most guarded ; and instructions have been forwarded from Paris to arrest all agents provocateurs, to seize patriotic leaflets, and to keep down somehow all indiscreet orators. It is perhaps vain to hope that Frenchmen and Russians, wild with patriotism and cham- pagne, will avoid every imprudence ; but the precautions taken are evidently in earnest, and it is reasonable to believe that no one will propose as a toast, "Let us sail together to Berlin." Frenchmen, even when carried away, have too much humour for that.