The interpellation in the French Chamber on the circular issued
by M. Vandal, ordering suspected letters to be seized and sent to Paris, ended in an apology. M. Vandal tried to prove that Government had a legal right to open any letter suspected of containing printed matter, but allowed that his circular was illegal. This was also admitted by M. Rouher, who promised that the offence should not be repeated, but who averred that France was inundated with "seditious and obscene publications, instigating to arms and assassination," an odd description to apply to the letter of the Comte de Chambord, which elicited M. Vandal's circular. The truth seems to be that the French Government, as usual, is logical, and having suppressed publicity through the Press, now seeks to suppress it through the Post Office. The extreme irritation caused by the circular will perhaps induce more caution, but the practice will not be abandoned.
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