On Monday, July 13, there was a scene in the
French Assembly. M. Ernoul brought in a Bill to confer on the Per- manent Committee, which site during the Recess, the right of prosecuting persons who insult the Assembly, especially, be it understood, by demanding its dissolution. M. Arago at once jumped up and denounced the proposal as one to create a Com- mittee of Public Safety, while M. Joubert replied that the Left wanted the "liberty of the Balcony," the right to address crowds of their constituents. M. Gambetta said that he did want that privilege, which existed in England, and told them that "if they desired to crush liberty, hands stronger than theirs had been shattered in the attempt "—not a good simile, as it suggests that liberty is a sort of dynamite exploding on a little pressure. M. Ernoul . replied that the Bill was not to muzzle Deputies, but journalists, and M. Depeyre said the Left were undertaking a crusade against society,— after which, of course, business stopped. Everybody howled except M. Gambetta, who stood by the Tribune looking on, and thinking, perhaps, that when his turn came, "750 wild beasts fed with peppered tongue" would not be quite so important in France, and at last the crOture was voted, and then the Members, still yelling, passed to other business. Another scene was arranged for Monday, when M. Jules Fevre is to interpellate the Government on domestic business, and will produce certain docu- ments showing that France is governed in the Clerical interest.
