On July 17th, there appeared in the France a letter
from General Boulanger, stating his determination to do his duty "in spite of hatreds and defections." It is enough for him, he says, to remain with those "who want to see a France which is respected." " I have had," he ends, " and only shall have, one object to proclaim to the French,—that they can and ought to bold up their heads, and that this ie the only attitude suitable to such a people as oars." This letter was sent by M. Lanr, the person to whom it was addressed, with a note to the editor of the France, stating that it throws such a light on the "attitude, intentions, and character" of the General, that he (M. Laur) could not withhold it from the country. The publication of the letter has attracted a very great amount of attention in France, since for a soldier to write to the newspapers on any political subject is the very gravest breach of discipline. Of course, General Boulanger has denied that he in any way authorised the appear- ance of the letter. This may very well be true, but is hardly of importance, since, had he really desired that it should not be made public, he would have directly forbidden Ms friend to make any such use of the letter. With the scandal caused by this letter still fresh, a series of rumours has been set on foot as to overtures asserted to have been made to General Boulanger in order to induce him to effect a Royalist coup cretat. That the story, however, is anything but a Boulevard fiction, we as yet see no reason to believe.
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