The Parisians seem to believe that M. Thiers, pressed by
the difficulty of raising revenue, will consent to tolerate public gambling-houses in France. Several watering places have already -asked for permission, and it is calculated that Parisian gaming alone would yield £500,000 a year. As the Assembly is full of squires who look upon Paris as a place where their sons go to be ruined—just as the English squires under the Stuart looked upon London—there is not much chance of such a proposal ever being accepted ; but there is a very great chance that M. Thiers, who is as "firm" as a pig and as clever as a fox, would like very much to make the Mira's believe that the alternatives are a tax on raw materials or some outrageously cynical plan. He should ask the Voltairians to petition for a tax on all absolutions. Perhaps that would frighten the majority into accepting his Protectionist views.
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