23 MAY 1896, Page 2

The Dec d'Orleans, according to Legitimist theories Philip VII. of

France, has published a manifesto which greatly interests French Royalists. It is in the form of a letter to the Due d'Audiffret Pasquier, President of the Royalist Com- mittee, and is in effect a severe and rather sarcastic rebuke to him and his colleagues for objecting to a project for running "the King" as a candidate for a seat in the Chamber. The Pretender declares that he "means and knows how to do his entire duty," that the throne was not founded and will not be rebuilt by sitting in inert dignity at a distance from France, that he is judge of his own dignity, and that in his judgment that dignity does not suffer from accepting the fact that in this century universal suffrage and monarchical right must be blended and combined. In other words, the D uc d'Orleans will seek to be elected to the throne of France,

a plan which his father also, the Comte de Paris, is said to have greatly favoured. There is a certain individuality and force in the letter, on which we have dwelt elsewhere, and it is be- lieved by his friends that the Prince intends to attempt some coup.