REVOLUTION IN FRANCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 66, 10 April 1852, Page 8

REVOLUTION IN FRANCE.

By the arrival at HohartTown of the " Ahoukir" with male prisoners, we have received our files of English journals up to 26th December. On Tuesday, December 2, the submarine telegraph, and the numerous ramifications of the magic wires, transmitted over the kingdom intelligence of another French revolution. " Paris is in a state of siege. The President reestablishes his universal suffrage, and appeals to the people." Such were the sentences that startled the commercial public of these realms, momentarily checking business, and, for the time being, pulling down the prices of consols, stocks, and railway shares. Later in the day came the following despatches, under date. "Paris, Tuesday, 11,' a.m. " The President of the Republic accomplished a coup d' etat this morning. The principal streets in Paris were occupied at an early hour -by strong bodies of infantry, cavalry and artillery, and the following decree was posted on the walls of Paris : —"In the name of the French people. The President of the Republic decrees—Art 1. The National Assembly is dissolved. Art 2. Universal suffrage is re-establishe'i. The law of the 31st of May is repealed. Art 3. The French people are convoked in their elective colleges from the 14th to the 21st of December. Art 4. The state of siege is decreed in the wbole of the first military division. Art 5. The Council of State is dissolved. Art. 6. The Minister of the Interior is charged with the execution of the decree. "Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, "De Morny, Minister of the Interior." • " The Prefect of Police has addressed a proclamation to the citizens of Paris, exhorting them to calmness and order. The President of the Republic descended into the streets this morning, at about eleven o'clock, attended by a brilliant staff, and preceded and followed by troops of cuirassiers and lancers. He was received with respect, but without enthusiasm. "Vive la Re'publique !" was the only cry uttered by the crowds assembled. No attempts were made to repress the expression of the people's opinion. The attitude of the troops was calm and firm. The President has caused three proclamations to be posted up in Paris. Troops occupy the Louvre, the Place de la Concorde, the Rue and Faubourg St. Honore, and the Hotel de Ville. It is said Generals Changarnier, Cavaignac, Lamoriciere, and Bedeau, Colonel Charras, M. Thiers, and some others are arrested, '•lie greatest part of the Legitimitist representatives assembled at the Marie to the number of 30, have been arrested and conducted by a battalion of soldiers to the barracks on the Quai d'Orsay." _ The Paris correspondent of the Times, writing on Tuesday afternoon, says : "The President of the Republic was informed last night, that a meeting was held at General Changarniei's house attended by M. Thiers, M. Base, and others of the chiefs of parties, at which it was decided that the coup against the President should be made this very day—that is, that he should be arrested, the Assembly prorogued or dissolved, and, no doubt, the Republic abolished.'' The President considered it absolutely necessary to take steps immediately. Proclamations were at once prepared, addressed to the nation and to the army. In the address to the people, the President, after describing the existing order of things as unstable and unsatisfactory, says; "Persuaded that the instability of power, and that the preponderance of a single assembly are the permanent causes of trouble and discord, I submit to your suffrages the fundamental basis of a constitution which the assemblies will develope hereafter. "1. A responsible chief named for ten years. 2. The ministers dependent on the Executive alone. 3. A Council of State formed of the most distinguished men, preparing the laws and maintaining tbe discussion before the Legislative corps. 4. A Legislative corps, discussing and voting the laws, named by universal suffrage, without the scrutin de lisle which falsifies the election. 5. A second assembly, formed of all the illustrious persons of the nation ; a preponderating power, guardian of the preponderating pact, and of public liberty." The proclamation to the army calls upon the soldiers, by their imposing attitude, to assist the country, and to be ready to repress all attempt against the free exercise of the sovereignty of the people,

The prefect of police, M. de Maupas, addressed a circular to all the Commissaries of police, inviting them to watch with courage and energy over public tranquillity, and to allow no meeting' the object of which should appear to them suspicious. On Tuesday morning, at an early hour, the Place de la Concorde, the Faubourg St. Honore, the Tuileries, the Louvre, and the Place de Carousel, were covered with troops, the arrangements having been made durin»- the night. General Changarnier, Cavaignac, Becleau Lamoriciere, Leflo, Colonel Charras, M. M. Baze, Thiers, Brun, the Commissary of policeof the assembly, and many others were arrested. The first-named was committed to Tincennesand, it was said, would be transferred to the fortress of Hani. General Changarnier attempted to harangue the soldiers sent to aid the police agent, who arrested him ; hut they refused to listen to him. Colonel Charras is said to have wounded one of the agents who arrested him. The new Ministers are M. de Moray, Interior; M. Fould, Finance; M. Kouher, 'justice; M. Fountous, Public Instruction; M. Chasseloup Saubat, Marine ; General St. Arnaud, War; and, it is said, M. de Persigny will he the minister for foreign affairs. General Magnan still retains command of the army. Orders have been given to pull down the temporary hall where the representatives were wont to meet. Eight journals are suspended, among them the Evenement. A manuscript decree, purporting to emanate from the representatives who met in the municipality of the 11th arrondissement, under the presidency of M. Odilkn Barrot has just appeared. By that decree Louis Napoleon Bonaparte is declared outlawed, and the high ! Court of justice is convoked to try him for high treason. The army is relieved from its allegiance, and a General appointed to command it. A consultative commission of eighty notable men was formed on the 3rd. The ministry is coiKk^ posed of M. de Morny, Interior; Fould, Finance; Rouber, Justice ; Magne, Public Works; Chasseloup Saubat, Marine; Cassa Bianca, ; Sr. Arnaud, War; Fortoud, Public Instruct an; Turgot, Foreign Affairs. Paris is perfectly tranquil. The theatres were opened yesterday evening, and the intelligence received from seventeen departments announce the greatest tranquility. An account up to the evening of the 3rd says: " The meeting of two hundred members in the 10th Arrondissement, has turned out a complete failure. They declared the President to be turned out of office, and appointed General Audinot to command the army of Paris. Some of the national guard got up the cry of "Vive I'Assemblie" but the people only hooted them. A party of the foot Chasseurs^ arrived, when the National Guards walked quietly home, and the representatives were marched off. two and two, under escort, it is said, to the Invalides." The Globe correspondent, writing at 6 o'clock, on the 3rd, states that four regiments had just entered Paris. Two of them were carbineers, devoted to the President. The Boulevards had been cleared, and cannon sent to the Faubourgs. Other regiments have been sent for. Louis Napoleon reviewed a division in the army, and was enthusiastically received by the troops and people, on the Boulevards. The President's proceedings are very popular in the market places, which is a great point. At the Bourse the belief is that he will succeed. M.M. Barouche, Drouyn, de l'Huys, Admiral Cecio, Montalembart, Lucien Marat, and seventyfive other distinguished members of the National Assembly, form the new Council of State. These events had not been accompanied by ar\y serious disturbances amongst the citizens. Tik'.j. military, which is devoted to the President, was engaged in preserving order, and in crushing any attempt at opposition. The barricades erioted by/some of the citizens in a few localities were aKffe levelled without difficulty, and some of the instir-* gents were shot. The presidential election was not decided on the evening of the 26th December. The numbers of votes known up to that time amounted to about six millions, of which the proportions were —9 to 1 for the President.