5 JANUARY 1867, Page 7

The Emperor of the French received the Diplomatic Corps as•

usual on New Year's Day, and expressed "his wish for the stability of thrones and the prosperity of nations." He "hoped we were entering on a new era of peace and conciliation?" and that the Universal Exhibition would "contribute to calm passions and draw closer general interests." So people hoped in 1851, but

• their hopes were not realized, and considering that France is arming her whole population, Austria distracted, Greer,e on the -

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR— point of declaring war, Servia threatening revolt, and Russia 1, ..orming great camps on the Galician frontier, His Majesty