[Footnote 1: Since writing the above I have met with an article in the October No. of _The North American Review_, on "Louis Napoleon and the Southern Confederacy," which puts this alleged friendship for the North in a very doubtful light. Among some State Papers found in Richmond, a despatch from Mr. Slidell says,--"Lindsay saw Disraeli, who expressed great interest in our affairs, and fully concurred in the views of the Emperor." Louis Napoleon was then intriguing hard to get the South recognised.] CONTEMPORARY LIFE AND THOUGHT IN FRANCE. SUMMARY.--_Politics_: Agitations during the Parliamentary Recess--Unjust Accusations levelled at the Ministry--Reforms carried out or projected in the Public Instruction--Justice--Public Works--Activity and Liberalism of the Ministry--Its want of Cohesion and Unity--Renewal of the Socialist Agitation--Return of the Amnestied--Election of M. Humbert in Paris--M. Blanqui's and M. Louis Blanc's Addresses in the Provinces--Socialist Congress at Marseilles--Reaction against these exaggerations--Dangers caused by the attitude of the Conservative Party inspired by the Clerical spirit--Efforts to create a Republican Conservative Party--"Le Parlement"--Unfortunate effect of the Ministry's Anti-clerical Campaign--Legitimist Banquets--The Bonapartist Party and its hopes--M. Naquet's Campaign in favour of Divorce. _Literature_: Novels--Mme. Greville, Mme. Bentzon, M. Lemonnier, M. Gualdi, M. Daudet, M. Zola, Flaubert, M. Theuriet--"L'Eglise Chrétienne," by M. Renan--"Rodrigue de Villandrando," by M. Quicherat--"Mémoires de Mme. de Rémusat"--"Nouvelle Revues". _Science_: Geographical Studies--"Géographie Universelle"--"La Terre et les Hommes," by Elisée Reclus--Map of France on scale of 1/100000--Lectures on Historical Geography, by M. A. Longnon. _Fine Arts_: Subjects opened to Competition--Death of MM. Viollet Le Duc, Cham, Taylor. _Theatres_: Le Grand Opera, l'Opéra Populaire, Pasdeloup and Colonne Concerts--Professor Hermann--The Hanlon-Lees--"Jonathan," by M. Gondinet--"Les Mirabeau," by M. Claretie--Le Théâtre des Nations.