M. Ric*, the French Minister of the Interior, whose death,
we regret to see, was reported on Friday evening, has addressed circulars to the Prefects directing them not to refuse or suspend the right of public sale of books or journals without serious. reason. "The Government has a genuine desire to accord to public writing, and especially to public journalism, as wide a measure of freedom as possible." He also informs the Prefects that they are not to be discourteous towards Councils-General on account of differences of opinion, but are to "respect their attributes," and resist their encroachments, when they encroach, "with judgment." They are not "to seek excuses for sacrificing individual rights," but to be "impartial intermediaries between Government and the citizens." His instructions read to English- men a little vague, but their tone, so different from that of similar instructions under the Empire or M. Buffet, will be thoroughly understood in France. The Government, the Prefects will understand, wishes to be Republican. If M. Ricard be really dead, his loss will be a grievous one to the Ministry.
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