FRANCE. (From the Times' Correspondent.) Paris, September 13.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVI, Issue 1274, 29 November 1859, Page 3

FRANCE. (From the Times' Correspondent.) Paris, September 13.

.Notwithstanding that so important and complicated a question as that of Central Italy is still pending, and apparently as far from settlement as ever, there may be said to be a sort of stagnation in politics at the present moment in Paris. This arises partly from the season, when so many persons are out of town, but also in great measure from the fact that the subject up to its present stage has been pretty well exhausted, and people wait until a fresh move upon the board shall give aliment to fresh discussion. It is not one of those affairs of which it is permitted to get tired ; the mind, weary of its long contemplation, may dwell upon it unwillingly, but cannot turn from and forget it. Just at present, however, conjecture seems at a standstill. The iesue of the affair is wrapt in obscurity, through which scarcely any eye is so audacious as to think it can pierce. The most that the majority of politicians seek to divine, and that very fruitlessly, is the real intention and object of the French Emperor. There seems » growing belief that he desires and expects to place his cousin on a central Italian throne. Following, some say, his usual astute and tenebrous policy, he works to place the people of the Duchies in such a position that they shall be content to take Prince Napoleon as a pis alter — as a middle term between the Archdukes whom they reject, and the King of Piedmont, who is to be induced 'to reject them. The idea has been started — but seems to me, I confess, far-fetched and improbable, for various reasons — that there has been from the first a covert understanding on this head between the French and Piedmontese Governments, to the effect that while Sardinia was to be aggrandized by Lombardy and Venice, Central Italy should fall to the husband of Victor Emmanuel's daughter. Venice being retained by Austria, the Piedmontese King, it is suggested, may have thought himself entitled to compensation in another quarter for the shortcomings of his great ally in the conquest of Northern Italy as far as the Adriatic, xnd mxy h»ve been unwilling to abandon the idea of forming a strong Italian State, such as might in time hope to contend not unsuccessfully with Austria for her last Italian province. On the other hand, although Victor Emmanuel's repiy to the Tuscan deputation has been twisted by those whom it most concerns into acceptance of their proffered allegiance, it contains nothing, as I read it, incompatible with an understanding between the French and Fiedmontese Governments for securing Central Italy to Napoleon Jerome, whose friends, as I yesterday told you, are working strenuously on his behalf among those whom they would convert into his subjects. Whatever the secret understanding that may exist, there are persons disposed to interpret-the present attitude of Piedmont as one ol security with regard to the Emperor's intentions towardd Italy. In truth, that attitude is so extremely reserved and cautious that it is not easy to understand (at least from what we can discern of it at this distance) what it really does indicate. As regards the wishes of the great moderate Liberal-monarchical party in Italy, we know well enough what those are, and thai ■they would certainly not be met by the installation oi a Bonaparte as sovereign of the disputed territoies. Nothing seemed to annoy that party more at any period of the rather long time before the war during which they made sure that France was coming to theii aid than the expression of the strong doubt which mosi unimpassioned and disinterested observers entertained that the Emperor was not going into Italy entirety pour lew beaux yeux, and of the belief that, if they got rid of the Austrians, they might probably find themselves in some way or other saddled with the French. Such is their detestation of the Austrian^ that it is not impossible that if they had been told from the commencement that the price of their riddance oi them would be the sovereignty of a French Prince ovei one of the fairest portions of Italy, they still mighi have accepted the terms. But the condition was nol laid down to them. They sanguinely believed that, after expelling the Austrians, the French would depari and leave Italy to the Italians. They now find them selves doubly disappointed. The Austrians still hold that portion of Italy which they can beßt defend, and which they assuredly will not easily relinquish; they occupy Venetia with 200,000 men, and their four formidable fortresses frown over Victor Emmanners newly acquired Lombard plains. If, in addition to this disappointment, the Italians behold a French Prince and French influence strongly established in Central Italyj they will, perhaps, begin to think that they have paid rather dearly for their whistle, and have gained little by their efforts and sacrifices beyond the temporary humiliation of a still powerful foe. Meanwhile, not only in Paris -but in the French provincial towns, it is undeniable that a Btrong feeling oi uneasiness exists, especially since the appearance of the St. Sauveur article or manifesto in the ' Moniteur.' To this is to be attributed in a great measure the uttei stagnation of commercial affairs, and a tendency to decline in the public funds. During the last two days the first question every one asks is as to what people ■ay in England of the ' Moniteur's ' article. In com-

bination with this is the fact, very well and generall known, that great activity prevails in the French mil tary posts and arsenals. Ono hears on all sides of pit parations of a formidable nature, of the application o the new invention of steel plates to a large number o vessels, of the construction (in progress or ordered) o new ships, — and Frenchmen, like Englishmen, nati rally ask for what purpose, except one, can *11 thi warlike armament be intended ? It is impossible t get at official information on the subject ofsuchpre parations, and th,e 'Moniteur de la Flotte' is ver much on the reserve of late, but you may rely upon i that there is no- belief here that France is reducing he; naval force in any way which it would take her mon than a very short time to make up again, while it ii positively known that if no very recent orders hav< been given for the building of new ships, measures aw actively taking to increase the strength (in the mannei above-mentioned) of those already constructed. Th( friends of peace and supporters of the English alliance who comprise a great majority cf the most educated and intelligent classes in France, and who comprise, notably, the Liberal party, wauld fain reassure themseives as to the probabilities of the future, and thej gladly catch at any occasion of so doing. Thus the news that reached us yesterday of the disastrous engagement in the Yellow River is made the foundation of a hope for a more cordial understanding between this country and England. It is hoped and expected that a powerful Anglo-French force will be sent to give a lesson to the* Chinese, and people wait with strong interest to hear what instructions on the subject will reach Paris from Biarritz. The Commissioners of the Assessed Taxes in Paris are already preparing the lists for next year. Paris will, on the Ist of January next, be increased by all the space comprised between the old wall and the fortifications. It will divided into 20 ' arrondissements' in place of 12, as at present. The number of municipal councillors will be increased to 60. The administrator! of the city of Paris are about to make improvements in the church of St. Roeh. The cupola, which rises in the centre of the building, is not in proportion with the remainder; the defect is about to be repaired.