24 OCTOBER 1874, Page 1

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

VERY little more has transpired as to the Arnim case during the week, but the consensus of opinion about it has become more complete. It appears now to be accepted that the papers in question were letters addressed by Prince Bismarck to the Count, :scolding him furiously for 'befriending Legitimism in France ; that -the Count regarded these letters as private, but nevertheless regis- tered them in the Archives of the Chancellerie in Paris, and that he is therefore, technically at all events, in the wrong in removing them. On the other hand, Prince Bismarck took advantage of this error too eagerly to crush a rival whom he had suspected for some time of influencing the Court against his policy. It is affirmed that the case will be heard in private, that Count Arnim's endeavour to obtain a civil judgment, declaring him owner of the letters, will be defeated, and that the -end may be a sentence of imprisonment. Meanwhile, the con- finement of Count Arnim is so rigorous that his lawyer is refused access to him, and his family, many of whom are in high com- mands, are sending in their resignations. The Emperor's decision, -upon which all depends, is not yet known, but he has promised :an audience to the Governor of Alsace-Lorraine, the head of the Arnim family.