A great deal of interest has been created in France
by what is called the Limoges mystery,—in other words, the recent protest of an officer of the troops in Limoges,—Major Labordere,- against instructions addressed to the troops by General de Bressolles, on the supposition, as it is said, that these troops were likely to be used in the suppression of civil insurrection. Major Labordere, according to the statement, protested against the in- structions, and gave up his sword ; and when the new Govern- ment came into power, Major Labordere was dismissed for in- subordination to his commanding officer, and General de Bressolles placed on the list of officers unattached, apparently for the char- acter of the instructions he had given. The interest, however, of this affair centres in the supposition that the orders relating to a possible act of military violence must have proceeded from General Rochebouet, the Minister at War and Prime Minister of the short-lived " Cabinet of Affairs." And a great deal has been said tending to show that he really contemplated some act of violence against the Assembly, to which, however, it is declared that Marshal MacMahon was not a party. Probably, however, the preparations made were made only in case the Senate should have granted a second dissolution, and that this should have been resisted by the Chamber of Deputies. And if that were all, we sin- cerely trust the matter may not be further investigated, There would be sufficient excuse,—not to say legal justification,—for the use of force in such a case by a Conservative Ministry, to make it most unwise to heat party-spirit by debating such a policy, after the dangers which were involved in it had been safely weathered.
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