FRANCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 589, 26 June 1858, Page 4

FRANCE.

The most conspicuous proceedings of the Emperor Napoleon are like an allegory of his policy: while he is publicly riding on a richlycaprisoned charger, at the head of a procession to inaugurate the new Boulevard de Sebastopol, or turning over the plans of the new scheme for extending the Paris improvements, and in studied speech proclaiming the official providence which presides over the growth of the capital and the welfare of its inhabitants, he is consulting with the leading men of European joint-stock speculation how he shall retrieve the monetary condition of France, now sunk to the lowest ebb under the disquiet caused by his political tyranny. A Government of espionage and universal repression claims to know what is passing in every quarter ofthe country, while keeping its own policy a mystery. It is not wonderful that at such a season sumor after rumor should rise like clouds of smoke in a building where fire smoulders, each cloudblaeker than that before it. One rumor which has received a new impulse is too natural to be disregarded. Before his death, Felice Orsini addressed a, letter to the Emperor, repudiating assassinatiou, and holding up that august personage as the probable saviour of Italy; and. this letter _ has been published. Who could have sanctioned its publication ? Scarcely the prisoner, whose every word was uttered under surveillance and restraint. Who then but the receiver of the document ? It is " a card," readdressed by the Arch Agitator to Italy,—a testimonial to Louis Napoleon from the expiring Orsini, published just as Eisenberg publishes Louis Napoleon's testimonial ; but such, a composition has seldom been seen in the whole round of notorious advertisements. It has revived the rumor that Louis Napoleon has some great reserved card—the man is all reserve, —which he is just about to play; but nobody knows what it is nor where it will be turned up. Is it in London, where the commander of his vanguard has come to reconnoitre ? Is it in Vienna ? Is it in Italy ? Or is^ it in the direction where recently he has given no signs—the Rhine? Wherever and however this may be, his work is clearly not yet done, for the disturbance in men's hearts and minds, and the general brooding discontent of Europe, show that society requires a little more saving.— Spectator, April 10. A second letter from Orsini, after being condemned, addressed to Louis Napoleon, has been published, together with his will, in the official Gazette of Piedmont. From the tenor of the letter the authorship is ascribed by many to the Emperor himself, though it is more generally received as authentic. It is as follows,— TO HIS MAJESTY NAPOLEON 111, Sire, —Your imperial majesty having permitted that my letter written to you oh the llth of February should be produced for public comment, wliili3t.itisa4Jlear.proof-of-your./?en<»oaUj7^^,. shows me also that ;the prayers which I have offered on behalf of my country find a response in your own heart; and to me, however near I be to death, is certainly no small consolation to see how your imperial majesty is moved by genuine Italian feelings. . In a few hours I.shall cease to be; and so, before drawing my last vital breath, I wish it to be known, and I declare it with the frankness and courage which up to this day I have never * belied, that assassination, in whatever garb it may be disguised, does not enter amongst my principles, although by a fatal error of mind I have allowed myself to be led on to organise the attempt of the 14th of January. No; political assassination was not my system, and I combatted it at the risk of my own life, both in my writings and by my public acts, when a governmental mission placed me in a situation to do so. And my compatriots—far from putting faith in the system of assassination—let them reject it altogether and hold it aloof; and let them know, even by the voice of a dying patriot, that their redemption must be won by their own selfdenial, by constant unity in their efforts and sacrifices, and by the exercise of true virtue— gifts which are now budding in the young and active portion of my fellow countrymen, and gifts which alone will be able to make Italy free, independent, and worthy of that glory with which our ancestors have made her illustrious. I die, but whilst I do so with calmness and dignity, I wish that my memory may not be left stained with any crime. As for the victims of the 14fh of January I offer my own blood as an atonement, and I beg the Italians, when some day they axe made independent, to give a worthy compensation to all those who have suffered any injury from it. __et your imperial majesty permit me, in the last place, to beg you to spare the life, not of myself, but of the two accomplices who were condemned to death with me. I am, with the profoundest respect for your imperial majesty, (Signed) .Felice Orsini. Prison of La Koquette, March 18.

Prison of La Jtoquette, or Depot dcs Con- ' damnes, Paris, March 10, 1858. Near the end of my days, I write down with jmy own hand the following arrangements, which I wish to be exactly carried out, and to have the I effect of an act of my own free and independent will. 1. I will that M. Enrico Cernuschi, of Milan, | Italy, residing at Paris, should withdraw* my money which was siezed from me at the moment of my arrest,f and which is deposited with M. the Procureur-Goneral of the Seine, first deducting from them the costs of the the trial, which belong to me. 2. I will that the remainder of the money, after deducting the above costs, should be disposed of by him as follows:— a He will buy a gold watch and a gold chain to be given as a souvenir to M. Jules Favre, the advocate who defended me. The whole to be of

the value of 800 francs at lea".t. On the watch he will have the following words engraved — " Felice Orsini to M. Jules Favre, touvenir." b I will that my corpse be placed in an ordinary wooden coffin and sent to London, England because it is my wish to be buried in the cemetery where the remains ofthe Italian patriot Ugo Foscolo are to be found, and to be laid by bis side. M. Cernuschi will defray, the necessary expenses with the money above referred to. c After all these expenses are paid I will that the remainder of the money be sent to my uncle, Orso Orsini, or to my brother, Leonida Orsini, both residing together at Imola, Roman States, Italy, who must dispose of it only for the benefit of my two little girls, Ernestina and Ida Orsini, residing at Nice, Sardinian States, Italy 3. I authorise J. D. P. Hodge, of Glastonbury, near Bath, Somersetshire, in England, to take home with him my eldest daughter, Ernestina Orsini, born at Maritime Nice, Sardinian States, Italy, on the 9th of April, 1852, and residing in the same town.

4. I authorise Mr. Peter Stuart, of Liverpool, Jingland, to take home with him my second 2? ug£JS_!' H& orßini» born at Maritime Nice, on the 12th March, 1853, and residing in the same town. . °

J ..5- * with all my heart, to my intimate friends J D. P Hodge, of Glastonbury, and Peter Stuart, of Liverpool, my two little girls above-named that the education which they shall receive may be entirely conformable to the principles of honesty, of true virtue, wisdom and the true love of their country. 6. I will that all my property in clothing, books, &c, remaining with M. de Lasalle, Director of La Roquette, be sent to Miss Eliza Chancy, of London, residing in London, England, No. 2, Grafton-street, Aland-road, Kentish Newtown, N.W., London. Miss Eliza Cheney will dispose of them according to her own free and independent will, as well as of the other articles already left to her before my arrest and during my imprisonment. All that I have done for her is but a very humble and very small token of remembrance of the extreme kindness and de•yotedness which she has shown me on all occasions. I recommend to my friends in England this honest and virtuous lady. 7. I will, in the last place, that M. Enrico Cernuschi, above-named, should be the executor ofthe arrangements herein announced, at Paris; and that with regard to those which are to be executed in England, he should have the cooperation of M. Vincenzo Caldezi, of Faenza, Roman States, Italy, and residing in London. The whole written with my own hand. Felice Orsini.

• With the cooperation of M. de Lasalle, director of La Roquette, if his duties allow it.— Fines Orsini. "t In addition to the articles existing.—Felice Obsiui. [These two references approved.]