15 OCTOBER 1881, Page 2

It is affirmed that M. Gambetta, on Thursday, held a

conver- sation of two hours with M. Grevy, and that the latter finally summoned him to power. M. Gambetta accepted, stipulating that he should choose his own Cabinet; but requested a delay, as he wished that the existing Ministry should meet the Chamber. Under this arrangement, he will not be Premier till November 10th. The decision upon this point is not final,. but it seems unreasonable to suppose that M. Gambetta defend the management of the Tunis expedition, for which he was not responsible, though he approved the general plan to make the Bey a vassal. He must wish, more- over, to see General Farre, who is his own man, ac- quitted or condemned by the Chamber, before finally form- ing 'his Ministry, in which it is said M. de Freycinet, his old War Minister at Tours, will be Minister at War. We take. it to be certain that the debate on Tunis will be very bitter. 'The French are excited in a high degree, and the Deputies can and will make statements about the condition of the Army which the journalists avoid. The waste of strength without results has been frightful, the regiments being depleted of their- best men until, in many cases, they can hardly work, and nothing is more than begun.