LATEST INTELLIGENCE. FROM. FRANCE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1708, 18 March 1862, Page 5

LATEST INTELLIGENCE. FROM. FRANCE.

{From the Paris Correspondent of the Mauritius Commercial Gazette orgJanuary 27.) Paris, Peceihfejr 25* 1861. I have spoken so fully in the previous portion, " England," both on the melancbolj; death of . v the Prince Consort, and on the serious question, of the American difficulty, that I need-tyily touch" upon both incidentally. here. It i| most ,/ gratifying, however, to mark with what ufi£nK~ mous and unfeigned sympathy the sad event was marked, not only by the Emperor and thfe Court, but by the whole French 'nation ; ever£. paper of every shade of political feeling — everi" those so generally hostile to England — forgot for the time their hostility, and all united to express their sympathy and regret at'the great loss the Queen of England bad experienced. The telegraphic despatch announcing the Prince Consort's death reached Paris early in the morning of Sunday, 15th, when the Emperor and Empress immediately sent a telegraphic message to Windsor full of condolence to the Queen ; and during the day the Emperor sent one of his aides-de-camp to Windsor with an autographic letter, and on the following day the Empress Eugenic sent one of her gentlemen in waiting with her autographic letter to the Queen. Without waiting for any formal announcement, the Emperor, through the M oniteur, ordered the Court to go in mourning for twenty-one days ; all festivities' and receptions have been suspended at the Tuileries, and the national flag was hoisted half-mast high until after thefuneral, on Monday last Such sympathy at such a moment is indeed gratifying, and will be rightly appreciated by the people of England. Many of the Paris journals express their opinions on President Lincoln!s message, which I have given in full in another part of this month's communication, and generally consider it unfavorable to peace. The Debats in .one of>its last articles hints at the armed intervention of Fiance, and the support k ought to give to the views of England ; the Presse announced that the French squadron on the West India station has been ordered to proceed to Charleston, where Admiral Milne has already collected a portion of the English squadron ; while both the Presse and the Patrie assert that England before sending the ultimatum to , Lord Lyons, consulted Fiance and the other great Powers, and that they expressed their opinion thai the rights of neutrals had been disgracefullyviolated by Captain Wilkes of the San Jacinto. The Constitutionnel had a remarkable article on the question, from which I merely' hare space for the conclusion : — '. *■ " In conclusion we do not perceive a shadow of good reason to refuse or higgle about our sympathies with the States of the South. We see no more any plausible motive to induce us to sacrifice the alliance of England in the present conflict. The Anglo-French alliance is peace and general security; that is the foundation of civilization — the pivot of the modem world. For our part we wish with all our heart that this union of two great peoples, intelligent, strong and liberal, may be perpetual. In the particular circumstances in which we find ourselves, we cherish the wish that England, having justice on her side, may obtain the satisfaction to which she has a right ; and, ' in view of our own interest — which is natural far us to regard — we are anxious for the moment when the important market of America shall be open to our industry and to our com* meree — both languishing in consequence of a crisis which is prolonged to the detriment of the entire world." ■ ■ -.- I have already mentioned the opinion of the great international jurist. M. Hautefeuille. It was no doubt acting on this important opinion that the French Government addressed its circular to the European Powers, declaring that the arrest of Messrs. Mason and SHdell was contrary to the principles which are regarded as essential to the security of neutral flags. According to the statement of the Federal Council of Berne (20th instant), the circular states that the French Government have deemed it neces* sary to submit this opinion to the Cabinet at Washington to determine it to make thVse con* cessions which the French' Government considers indispensible. During his short stay in Paris, General Scott published a letter on the American difficulty, in which he said that it was his opinion' that the commander of the San Jacinto had acted on his own responsibility, aßd quite unauthorised by. the Cabinet at Washington. He did not think there would be any war unless England wanted to seek a pretext for one, &c. This letter from one of the oldest, ablest, and most experienced - of the. Americans shows to what a pitch of self- . conceit that nation must have reached,' when a man like General Scott could write so. [ The letter produced no effect either in Paris or London. Among the various comments^of the different papers, the Pays] remarked appears to be on the side of England, and it is impossible to deny to the English Government;*" and to the nation a virtue of which her adversaries have not always set her an example— moderation." The sudden departure of General Scott in the Aravo, the reasons and Consequences of such departure I hare already detailed. I may here, however, refer to the\pojitical article of Mr. Forcade on this subject in th e last number of the Revue des De%\x Jtifondet which is weir worthy of perusal.. The^writet takes the opportunity of General ,SpoU's Sudden > departure to say: "It mus^Be admitted that £ never have people and Government been iaaf position to offer on more honourable conditions the concessions- which-arer* now demanded of ; : -i America. By disavoiding a capture effected' by ; «5 the arbitrary act of a naval officer— without &nj, 'l £j of the guatantees of legality, witbouttb£ inter«4§ vention and sanction of an Admiralty Qdi|rt^ilp the United States, far from fenounolng^lDx ofs^ their political principles, would only do homage fS to the doctrine which thejrjhaye; at al^tioieia^S professed ..on^the rights of neutrals. 'ItWolild^sp in truth, be a real triumph .'"for this 4p£triin^oitl§ appiy,it to a nation" and .'a Government 'l^afsaTOffs always contested or violated- the righ ts fpjf |i|%^ .tralß," &c. 'r -: .—^ ; >- - ".- '^}^i&fir^m