'NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE Emperor of the French is said to be looking quite well again, and in very good spirits, and his delay in summoning the Legislative Body is giving rise to adverse comment of the kind which the French call severe, and which we call deadly. The last rumour is that the Emperor is to abdicate almost at once in favour of his son, but to confer upon himself—directly or through his son ?—the Presidency of the Council. This brilliant suggestion would combine all possible dangers for the Empire and evade none. It would publish to all France the qualms and irresolutions of the head of the State. It would set a mere shadow on the throne. But it would not give the most trifling guarantee for the constitutional government of the Parliamentary majority. On the contrary, an ex-Emperor as a leading Minister would be more distrusted and feared a great deal than he would be as Emperor. Behind the throne his influence would be half concealed, and, therefore, its extent frightfully exaggerated. No ; if the experiment is to be tried, let the Emperor abdicate in the boy's favour, and then leave him quite alone, to be guided by his legi- timate parliamentary advisers. Or,—if the Emperor really wants to be Prime Minister,—let him offer himself as a deputy, after his abdication, to some rural department, and try if he can gain the confidence of the Chamber. That would be strictly constitutional and above-board.
