NAPOLEON'S NEW MAP OF EUROPE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume III, Issue 518, 29 January 1869, Page 2

NAPOLEON'S NEW MAP OF EUROPE.

The latest Imperial device has been the publication of a new map of Europe, a novelty as ambiguous as any utterance could be. The Emperor was said to be occupying his leisure hours, at Biarritz, in drawing- up this map, which, strictly speaking-, is not one single map, bin three, severally representing- France and the neighboring- states at three periods—under the Restoration, under the government of lewis Phillipe, and under that of Lewis Napoleon. In the first Belgium and Holland are united, and form one kingdom ; in the second they are separated. In both the first and second the states of the Germanic Confederation are all in one color, while in the third they are shown as divided into the confederations of the IVorth and South, while ro France are added Savoy and ;\'ice. Two opposite interpretations are put upon this publication There is no secret as to the authorship; the street vendors openly proclaim that it is "published by order of the Emperor." What then is his object? Some of the booksellers hang out placards by its side, on which is written ' La France mtisfaite, 1 and this is the interpretation of those who say that the Emperor is anxious to show his subjects that France has lost nothing in the recent transformations of ' the map of Europe. On the other hand,

there are: not wanting those iwh^ impute a deeper and mdre Macchia™ velhan motive to him,.; and believe that he wishes to excite jealousy and n alarm at the Prussian preponderance in Europe, so as to justify his armaments and vast preparations. The map is preceded, by a preface which, • m point of logic, is. weak to the last degree. According to the Imperial author:—

" Prussia is materially increased, but in reality the European balance of power is not destroyed to the detriment of France. Before the recent events, Prussia and Austria united were the rulers of Germany, and they could oppose us with eighty millions of men, bound together with treaties and a formidable military organisation. To-day the states .surrounding France are independent; Belgium and Switzerland are neutral; Prussia, with thef North'german. Confederation, coufit t]ii«6y;*^||^ns, the South German^ Sta^^li&rapg- a military alliance with-Pjus'iLaJicpunt eight millions. Austriaftfiirfyi.fi.ve millions, and Italy twentymo.1 millions. France, with her Unity, and her forty millions of inhabitants, has nothing to fear from any one." If this reasoning- will convince Frenchmen, so much the better for the chances of peace; but Englishmen think it childish in the extreme. Algeria is well known to he a source of weakness rather than of strength in any military movement; and, excepting Austria be drawn into closer alliance with France, the compact organisation of Prussia, and of the South German Confederation, is universally recognised as far more for-' midable than the divided Germany - which the last war destroyed. It is, >A in fact, this evident growth of German power which has alarmed the French, and made them jealous for.J^ their supremacy as the supposed arbiters of Europe.—London Correspondent of the Melbourne Ara-us.