FRANCE.

Colonist, Issue 99, 1 October 1858, Page 4

FRANCE.

The correspondent of the Times communicates the'follow ing :• — Paris, Friday, .18th June, 6 p.m. An article appears in the Pays of to-day on the policy assumed by Austria on the divers questions that have arisen since the war. It is ostensibly a comment oh some remarks in- the German press, but in reality is directed against Austria • herself, and is clearly dictated in an angry and menacing spirit. The fact that the Pays would never venture on such a discussion without superior instructions, gives it on importance it would otherwise have little claim to. It says: — '."■ln* its object and in the greatness of the interests it was called on to satisfy the war in the East was an European affair; and no power, not even that which, in our opinion, played the most important as well as the most disinterested part, can pretend to settle, independently of the common concert, interests which have agitated the world. That after .peace has been once made, and in the arrangement of secondary questions resulting from that-great struggle, each should desire to turn his own particular situation to the best account is notto be objected to; but that cannot be done except within the Conferences —between diplomatists officially charged with settling all differences and smoothing down all difficulties. Any action outside this common action cannot, we believe, be considered otherwise than an illegal abuse of influence, and would perhaps lead to complications which the efforts of diplomacy precisely tend to avoid on all occasions. This, no doubt, Austria is too clever not to divine. She is also too prudent to hasten, out of mere wantonness (gaite de cceur), to such eventualities." *

That a feeling of deep irritation prevails against Austria in high quarters is certain —a feeling which is said to be increased by the sentiments attributed, rightly or wrongly, to Austrian officials.

Orders are issued to all officers belonging to the ports of Brest and Cherbourg, absent on leave, to repair to their stations by the 15th July, to be ready to meet the Emperor. '-It is said that the climate of London does not suit Marshall Pelissier's health, and consequently that hfs return to Paris is. not far from probable/ '. The public are still anxiously waiting for the changes which are expected to follow on the very judicious step of the retirement of General Espinasse. / Accounts from Cherbourg, dated 16th inst., state that in consequence of orders received from Paris, great activity is displayed in fitting up the Imperial yacht Reme. Hortense. She is- to be ready to sail for Brest on the Ist of August with the j Emperor*and Empress. The new yacht j Aigle, which is being constructed for the service of their Majesties, is so far ad- j vanced, that the Emperor and Empress may judge of her beauty on their visit to Cherbourg in August. A*good deal is said in commercial circles of an important project which has been in hand for some time past, and which is likely to be carried into execution before long. It relates to a lateral canal of the Rhone, which, beginning in the Ardeche, will conduct the waters of that stream by various valleys, by the bridge of the Gard, and by Nimes, as far as Aigues-Mortes. By this undertaking, the projectors hope to fertilise and enrich a fine tract of country which is now deprived of water. . Nimes, which is the centre -of the "silk o-yur-.i-y, would acquire great pro^-icy in that branch, -as""also, in -the manufacture of carpets. This, however, is not the only advantage aimed at by the undertaking in question. From Aigues-Mortes to the sea, the canal would be of sufficient depth to open an easy communication with the' Mediterranean, and to diminish considerably the distance between it and Paris. The drawings and plans of the work have been recently, submitted to the Emperor by the parties asking the concession: and I learn that his Majesty has expressed the warmest approbation of the project. A letter from Mostar of the 26th ult., informs us that the Turkish authorities are devoting all their exertions to the preparation of a fresh expedition against Grahovo, unless the peasants quickly submit. The latter shew themselves less disposed than ever ; to acknowledge the Turkish authority.

Accounts from Belgrade of. the 10th inst.- state that on that day several Turkish soldiers assembled, and attacked the house of Mr. Fonblanque, the British Consul-Ge-neral, with the intention of pulling down the English flag. They were prevented by the Servian Guards placed within the house 'for the English Consul's protection. The Turks excused-themselves under the pretext that they looked on the hoisting of the flag; as a hostile demonstration. The weather has settled down to the ordinary summer heat in Paris. The thermometer marked 66-deg. Fahrenheit at. ten this morning, and 71 deg. at 4 p.m. The country: is wonderfully refreshed by the mild rain which fell, yesterday, and the crops are most luxuriant. - -.

Saturday, 19th June, 6 p.m.

'It is -to be regretted that an English journal should be the one selected to pronounce eulogies which the most servile'of the Paris press —even those used as the ordinary receptacles of official effusions— have not contained. The Moniteur of today publishes in its front page, and with all the honors of large type, an article, erroneously I trust, described as copied from one of .your contemporaries, and which expresses .a warm approval of acts which excited- dissatisfaction and even dismay among every class of society in France, not excluding the most devoted friends.of the Imperial Government, —-an.apology which, I repeat, rio journal in this capital has ventured on. The nomination of General Espinasse is therein explain^ by the agitation existing at the moment1 in consequence of the attempts made by the agents of secret

societies. We are informed that it was never, meant to. be otherwise than temporary, and the ministers of his Majesty are represented as having urged the adoption of that and similar measures, with a view to put an end to the incessant plottings of the Anarchists; and, lastly, that General Espinasse was appointed Minister of the Interior in order to carry out the famous Penal Law, which placed the liberty of every man at the mercy of a single minister. It is undeniable that much of the disquietude, discontent, and stagnation in trade and industry dates from the appointment of General Espinasse to the post of Minister of the Interior; that all the efforts made to arrest the evil proved unavailing, and that it was only when matters were assuming the most serious aspect that his removal was resolved on. It remains to be seen whether that resolution was not too long delayed. The precipe period it was intended he should remain in office I do not undertake to. say, but the mischief caused by his being there is admitted to be great and deeply felt. The satisfaction universally expressed at his removal is too notorious to be called in question for a moment. There is one phrase in the article said to be from your contemporary which will be received here with the utmost astonishment. It is tliis:—" During the time that General Epinasse passed at the Department of the Interior he acquired the esteem of all who approached him, and gave entire satisfaction to the Emperor.'* With General Espinasse as a private individual I do not meddle; I have only to do with him as Minister of the Interior; and if people wish to learn what the impressions are of " those who approached him," let them ask some ofthe persons who interceded for their relations or friends, .arrested without justifiable cause, imprisoned without charges against them or transported, without judgment. I incline to believe that the statement of his having given entire satisfaction to the Emperor is equally erroneous. If it be correct, his Majesty would not have removed him. To the eulogy passed on M. Delangle I make no objection. Coming after General Espinasse a little exaggeration is pardonable. I think it right to observe that the article on which I comment is taken on the faith of the Moniteur, as I have not seen the original, so that after all, it may be a playful fiction of the official organ. It is, indeed, hardly credible that the administration pf General Espinasse, which was viewed with such dislike by all parties in France, could find its only apologist in England. The Patrie -devotes an article to the Anglo-American difficulty, in the course of which it attributes the excitement in the United States .to the desire of the Washington authorities to divert public attention from their Kansas blunders and from the pitiful results of the Mormon campaign:— "The mania of the Americans," adds our contemporary, "is to go~ to war, but they have always indulged in more noise than deeds, and their sword is never more than half drawn. Quarrelsome but economical, they hesitate before a heavy expenditure, and prefer a satisfactory arrangement to costly laurels. We must consequently pay little attention to the noise created on the other side of the Atlantic. The warlike articles which fill the immense < columns of the American journals, the vehement speeches, the orders given for the fitting out of fleets, have already been witnessed four or five timc_ within twenty years without harming any one; and the Mayor of New-York enjoys a light conscience, notwithstanding that a jourhaldenounced him as a traitor for having drunk to the health of Queen" Victoria at a banquet recently given by the English consul."