No. 103.
Mr. Noyes
to Mr. Evarts.
Paris, November 9, 1877. (Received November 24.)
Sir: As announced to you in my cable dispatch of the 2d instant, the French ministry all tendered their resignations to the Marshal President on Tuesday last. The President refused to accept them, and at his request they were subsequently withdrawn. Last evening, the 8th instant, several leading senators of the right, representing Bonapartists, Legitimists, and Orleanists, called upon the President and assured him that a majority of the Senate would sustain him in his conservative policy, [Page 163] which is interpreted to mean that they will consent to another dissolution of the chambers. On the other hand, rumors are current to-day that the Marshal himself will resign with the cabinet. I have seen the leading ambassadors here and many leading men. No one ventures to predict what will be the result of the present complication. All are anxious and fearful. My own judgment is that a new administration is inevitable at no distant day; but I venture this opinion with considerable diffidence, as there has been great vacillation and many conflicting discussions as to the course to be pursued by the government party.
No one seems to anticipate any violence, but no one can see the President’s way out of the difficulties. The next few days will undoubtedly develop the policy to be adopted.
I have, &c.,