The political scandals in France are becoming more numerous than
ever. The case of " Andrieux v. Gilly," heard at Nimes, has, it is true, fallen through, M. Gully, though ready with evidence against other members of the Budget Committee, protesting that he had not attacked M. Andrieux ; but this termination was regarded by the public as a collusive compromise. No evidence is forthcoming for this view, and there is this against it, that M. Numa Gilly, a wealthy cooper and Deputy, has published a book reiterating his charges and attacking many personages, especially M. Rouvier and M. Raynal, by name. He has absolutely refused to fight duels about his book, and it seems impossible that it should not produce a whole series of trials scan- dalous either to him or the accused. M. Wilson, more- over, has been nursing his bitterness since his fall, and threatens to publish a series of documents implicating seventy-two public men in acts of pecuniary corruption. Reputations are being dealt with in the most reckless way, and individuals are doubtless cruelly maligned ; but under all this smoke there is, we fear, much fire. The thirst for money rages in Paris, and impecunious adventurers able to become rich by a vote have been unable to resist the tempts,. tion. Every case discovered increases Boulangism, not because discontent is pure, but because the peasantry, not knowing whom to trust, fancy that a Dictator will at least refrain from stealing their money.
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