FOREIGN NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 79, 10 July 1852, Page 4

FOREIGN NEWS.

FRANCE,

M. 3VI. Fould, Morny, and Bouher, having resigned, the following is the official list of the new French Ministry as definitively constituted ; —M. Abatucci, Keeper of the Seals and Minister of Justice: M. de Persigny, Interior, Agriculture and Commerce: M. Bineau, Finance; General St. Arnaud, War; M. Ducos, Marine ; M. Turgot, Foreign affairs; M. Fortotil, Public Instruction and Worship ; M. Lefebvre Durufie, Public Works ; M. de Maupas, Police ; and M. de Casabianca, Minister of State. If we were to recite the substance of the numerous decrees which succeed each other from the Tuilleries, we would greatly exceed our allotted space. The organic decrees for the constitution of the Council of State have been promulgated, and the salaries of the meni-

bers are fixed. M. Baroche is appointed Vice-' President, with a salary of 80,000 francs ; the the Presidents of Sections receive a salary of 35,000 francs each; the Councillors 25,000 francs ; and the subordinate officers corresponding salaries. A decree has issued abrogating the law which abolished titles of nobility ; and also one which enacts, that the members of the Orleans family, their husbands and consorts, and descendants, cannot possess any property (moveable or immoveable) in France. They are bound to sell them within the year, and in default they will be sold by the domain. Another decree cancels the donation made by Louis Philippe on the 7th of August to his children, and enacts that their properties, of about 200 millions of francs, shall be employed as follows : Ten millions to societies of secours mutuel. Ten millions to the improvement of the lodgings for the working classes. Ten millions to the establishment of a credit fonder. Five millions for a benefit fund for the poorer clergy. All the officers, sub-officers, and soldiers in active service will receive, according to their rank in the legion of honour—the legionary, 250 f.; the officers, 500 f.; commanders, 1000 f.; grand officers, 2,000 f.; grand crosses, 3,000 f. 3VI. Dupin and his co-executors publish a solemn protest in a Belgian journal against the spoliation of the Orleans property, which they demonstrated in the clearest manner, was a violation of the law of France and of common honesty. The Due de Nemours and the Prince de Joinville have acknowledged the reception of this solemn document, as follows: — To the Testamentary Executors of King Zouis Philippe. " Claremont, Jan. 29, 1852. " Gentlemen, —We have received the protest which you have drawn up against the decree of confiscation issued against us, and we thank you very sincerely for your efforts to resist injustice and violence. We have found it quite natural that you should have directed your attention specially to the question of law, without noticing the insults heaped in the preambles of those decrees on the memory of the king our father. For a moment we thought of abandaning the reserve which exile imposes upon us, for the purpose of repelling in our own persons the attacks so shamefully cast upon the best of fathers, and we do not fear to add, on the best of Kings. But on considering the matter more maturely, it appeared to us that to such imputations a disdainful silence was the best answer. We will therefore not lower ourselves to point out how particularly odious the calumnies are, when brought forward by a man who, on two different occasions received proofs of the magnanimity of King Louis Philippe, and whose family never received anything from him but benefits. We leave it to public opinion to do justice to the words, as well as to the act which accompanies them; and if we are to believe the testimonies of sympathy which we receive from every side, we are sufficiently revenged. To the honour of a country to which the King our father has given 18 years of peace, of prosperity and of dignity—of a country which we, his sons, have loyally served—to the honour of that France which always is the mother country which we love—we are happy ty observe that these disgraceful decrees, and their still more disgraceful preambles, have not dared to appear excepting under the regime of the state of siege, and after the suppression of all the guarantees which protected the liberties of the nation. In finishing, we beg of you, gentlemen, to express our warm feelings of gratitude to the eminent men of all parties who have offered to us the assistance of their talent and courage. We accept that assistance with great pleasure, persuaded that to-day defending our cause they defend the right of the whole of French society. Receive, gentlemen, the assurance of our sentiments of affection.

" Louis d'Orleans, Duke of Nemours. "■ F. d'Okleans, Prince of Joinville."

The public has not recovered the shock which tills confiscation occasioned all over Europe. The various members of the Orleans family in Spain, Belgium, Naples and Brazils are preparing- to make protests against this violation of the law and the rights of property. The effect of the decree will be to deprive the children of the King- of the Belgians of an income of 400,000 francs. There is no question that the decree of confiscation has produced its effect on trade, as, independently of the illegality of the act, it has given rise to fears (which are very prevalent) of some similar measure which

would equally affect property; and there are many who seem to be convinced that, in ordev to fill up the deficit that may be occasioned by a reduction of taxes on articles of primary necessity, the Government will have to impose increased taxation on the rich. The truth is, that from the moment the decree of confiscation appeared, this alarm has become prevalent, and there are tradesmen who are unwilling to lay out money in the increase of theiv stock.

M. Montalembert, a religious fanatic, who had become an adherent of Louis Napoleon purely out of Jesuitical enthusiasm, has scornfully renounced him, and refused to become a member of the Consultative Commission. Even the truckling M. Dupin, the ex-president of the Legislative Assembly, could not sanction the spoliation of the property of which he is an executor, so he has also resigned his post of Pro-cureur-General to the Court of Cassation ; and these examples will no doubt be followed by other honourable men.

There was strong reason to suspect that Louis Napoleon had taken alarm at the revulsion of feeling the better class of his adherents, caused by his confiscation of the Orleans property. Some signs of clemency were manifested by the Executive, and a number of political prisoners had been set at liberty. The Minister of the Interior has addressed a circular to the Prelects, ordering them to proclaim by placards in every electoral circumscription, the candidates proposed by Louis Napoleon, and to warn the electors against those whose known tendencies are not in the spirit of the new institutions.

Among the guests at the Elysee, has been M. de Larochejaquelin, the Legitimatist. It is said that he will appear in the next list of Senators.

The Duke de Rohan has, it is said, appealed to the minister of Justice, to obtain an inquiry into the facts connected with the death of the Prince de Conde, for the purpose of showing that he could not have committed suicide. The application is grounded on the fact, that the trial took place at a period when it was impossible to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.

The Paris correspondent of the Daily News says, " There is established in the department of the censorship of the press a particular bureau for the examination of the English papers, and expert lawyers are employed to read the London journals, with the object of discovering calumnious news, upon which a trial for libel may be instituted before the British courts of law."

The soldiery must be paid by donatives, or they will break out into rebellion. Money must be had, and it is this unavoidable requirement which suggests war in every statesman's mind as the only means whereby funds are to be obtained. The fanatical Jesuits coolly propose that a French army of fifty thousand men should be immediately sent to Syria, to excite the Roman Catholics to arras, and then to take advantage of the troubles thus created in Turkey to revolutionize and plunder that rich country, seize Egypt, cut off our communications with India, whilst the credulous, short-sighted London editors are urging the recall of the Mediterranean fleet. The whole plan is put forth with a precision of detail which shows it has been well considered. Another scheme is for France to bargain with Kussia for the cession of the left bank of the Ehine, as an equivalent for the occupation of Constantinople by Russia; and some journals of Paris have the effrontery to state that the Emperor of Russia would gladly accede to such a nefarious scheme. These politicians merely express their wishes, without having any correct knowledge of the real views of Russia, or the great powers, in any change which may be impending. It is said that Austria and France have concluded a secret treaty, fixing the eventualities which shall cause the occupation of Switzerland by France or Austria. At Berlin this treaty has excited a sensation, as Prussia has not been consulted in a matter in which she is so deeply interested.

Everybody is prepared for a rupture of some sort, now that M. de Persigny is an official chief in the French Cabinet, which it is notorious he has for a long lime secretly influenced to a pernicious extent. The President had given a grand ball at the Tuileries, which was numerously attended, but, whilst these gaieties take place, the public mind is painfully excited. To such an extent has this proceeded, that the Moniteur has been compelled to announce officially that no further acts of severity are intended ; but in what way can the President main-

tain himself but by striking continual terror into the minds of his numerous enemies. Large bodies of Parisian workmen are making preparations to emigrate. These men perceive all the horrors of the conscription at a distance, and they are ready to go, no matter whither, so long as they can live under something like selfgovernment. It is difficult to judge accurately of the internal state of France. It cannot be concealed, however, that numerous arrests continue to be made in all parts of the country. We hear daily of the apprehension or deportation of a great number of persons, but the ultimate fate of those arrested scarcely ever comes to light from the dark recesses of the dungeon. M. Cabet, the famous Icarian chief, has been sent away by the police to Eugland. In the higher circles of Paris the most disgraceful system of espionage seems to prevail. Reports of the interference of the Prefect of Police with the amusements, and even conversation of the frequenters of the Parisian saloons, develope a state of social servitude and degradation more humiliating than even that which existed in the days offthe infamous Fouche. With regard to the foreign relations of Franco, we need only say that Spain has been threatened, and a demand made for payment of the debt due for the war of 1823. Belgium is overawed, and its honour-able-minded king has been forced reluctantly to interfere with the press, and otherwise to do the bidding of the ruler of France.

The Times correspondent, on the 14th Feb., writes, "A rumour is current which, if well founded, would be anything but agreeable. It has reference to the state of feeling in certain districts in Belgium, as also some regiments of the Belgian army. If these rumours can be depended on, they would imply that a feeling unfavourable to their own Government, and too favourable to France, is apparent. I have reason to believe that something not of an ordinary nature is going on with respect to the relations of France with Germany and the powers generally. I hope to be in possession of some details connected with that subject before

long." The Univers has the following on Lord Granville's circular respecting foreign refugees:— " Lord Granville is wrong in assimilating the present refugees to other refugees, kings, ministers, and political men, who have found an asylum on the English soil, since these did not conspire. What do we say to England ? Exercise your police; watch as you like; but we cannot consent that, under the protection of your institutions, refugees shall continue to wage war against their country. Is it not evident that, in that case, the English Government is in some measure an accomplice of the undertakingswhich it could have prevented ? It would he ridiculous to deny that plots have been carried on against the continent by the refugees of all nations. Lord Granville admits in his circular that the English law punishes with fine and imprisonment foreigners convicted of having participated in taking up arms against a Government at peace with England. A plot, open and acknowledged, is singularly like a taking up of arms. If England neglected any longer to pay attention to the rights of nations, English subjects travelling on the continent would be exposed to just reprisals. Lord Palmerston has boasted of leaving the world at peace on his quitting office. Certainly it is not his fault that such is the case. Great nations do not make every petty grievance a question of war. Between war and peace there is an intermediate state, in which distrust and unpleasant acts take the place of amicable relations; and that is the present situation of England with respect to Europe. Lord PalmeYston may boast of having contributed to such a state of things. Such a situation is dangerous from its very nature, and the patience of Europe has been excessive. It is for the honour and interest of England to repudiate Lord Palmerston's policy. Let herprotect the refugees, but not countenance their plots." SPx\IN. Now that the details of the attempt at assassination of the Queen of Spain have becomemore accurately known, this -frightful deed hasexcited the deepest sympathy throughout Europe. It appears that a Jesuit monk, named Merino, approached her Majesty as she was proceeding along the gallery of the Chapel Royal, where she hud just heard mass, and presented a memorial. Whilst the Queen was taking it, the assassin struck her with a. long knife in the hip. The peritoneum was- pierced to> the extent of three or four, iiich.es. Th& Queea

shrieked violently, and the assassin was prevented from repeating the blow by the interference of Count Pino Hennozo, who closed with him, and who almost lost his fingers in the struggle for the knife. The attendants seemed to have lost their senses ; the Countess de Porar lei the royal infant fall, and it was afterwards picked up by an halberdier. For some days very great alarm existed lest the wound should prove mortal. By the latest accounts the previous unfavourable symptoms had disappeared, and her Majesty was supposed to be out of danger. The regicide was handed over to the ordinary tribunals for trial. Attempts were made by his advocates to defend him on the ground of insanity, but the judges overruled the plea, and he was condemned. The superior tribunal confirmed the judgment, and he underwent the first part of his sentence, civil degradation. The Bishop of Majorca, in presence of an immense multitude, stripped the criminal of his clerical vestments, and removed his tonsure. The judge then told him that he might consider himself en eapilla. This irrevocable decree, the certain prelude to death, shook the serenity of the assassin, who had previously exhibited the utmost insolence, having throughout gloried in his deed. He was executed outside the gate of Toledo by the garotte, the vilest punishment known in Spain. The multitude assembled was immense, and but one expression of abhorence of the crime prevailed throughout. The following letter was addressed to the Queen by the regicide previous to his death:—

".'Madame, —Martin Merino, unworthy of being counted in the number of your Majesty's subjects, for the purpose of tranquillising his conscience, humbly approaches and prays your Majesty to condescend as a Christian, to pardon him the atrocious injury -which, in a moment of deplorable madness, he had the misfortune to commit on the person of your Majesty. The infinite mercy of the King of Kings induces him to hope that he will have obtained His pardon, and, to die in peace, he wishes to obtain, and, at least, if he is unworthy of obtaining, of imploring that of your Majesty.

" ' Merino.'

" Meriuo also declared, in the presence of the Governor of the prison and of several persons that he had no accomplices. " The Queen has made a present to our Lady of Atocha of the mantle she wore on- the day she was stabbed, and which was pierced by the knife of the assassin."