FRANCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 103, 25 December 1852, Page 5

FRANCE.

In France there has been a change in the Ministry, M. Drouyn de Lhuys having been appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs ; but as the Ministry now represent no principles and no party, being wholly the creatures of Louis Napoleon, appointed to office one day to be removed the next if it suits his convenience, a change in the French Ministry is of no more importance than a change in the household servants of his Highness at the Palace. The Ministry are equally his servants, and the people have no more to do with their appointment than with that of Louis Napoleon's cook. The death of the brilliant Count D'Orsay, has created a great sensation in Paris, and still morein London, and the uninitiated learn now far more of his talents and good heartedness, than his career and general character would have led them to expect. One thing he seems beyond doubt to deserve the highest-praise for, namely, the frank and unselfish opposition, that he seems to have maintained against Louis Napoleon's despotic acts, and which doomed him to live and die in a small apartment, provided, I believe, by the kind consideration of a friend, and furnished with pictures of exquisite beauty by the artists and connoisseurs, who thronged around the spoiled child of fashion. The office conferred by Louis Napoleon upon his friend, was given when judgment and intellect were gliding into oblivion.

Victor Hugo has put a thorn in the path of the President, which will cause him some annoyance, in the shape of a pamphlet,-entitled Napoleon the Little, containing the most stinging severities, perhaps ever penned—satire is a poor word /to represent the nature of the production; every word is ,a "dagger, and a sharp one'too. This is being circulated in the provinces in spite of all the efforts of the police to prevent it, and it will do the President great mischief. A plain tale would not be read ; this will find its way by its pungency, anywhere. The Augsburg Gazette says the matrimonial proposals of the President have been rejected, "the father, Prince Vasa, being opposed to the marriage." A letter from Paris says, lam assured, from a good source, that the marriage of the President is positively broken off, and that the rupture is owing to the intervention of Austria. The arrangements for the marriage were so far advanced, that Miss Howard had actually left the apartments that she occupied in the house of the President's private secretary, M. Mocquart, and was about to start for England. The marriage being countermanded, the lady has returned to her former home. M. Thiers was at Vevay, in Switzerland, when he received the news of the decree of the 7th August, authorising his return to Paris. This news caused him a pleasure which he loudly expressed. M. Thiers bore the weight of his exile with great grief, and the moment he heard of the decree he eagerly commenced preparation for his departure. SPAIN. • In Spain matters appear to be approaching a crisis; whether this is to be a coup d'etat or a fresh revolution remains to be seen, but all parties are evidently preparing for a struggle ; and the cabals against the present Ministry are too strong for them to remain in office much longer, unless they can by some successful coup silence their enemies, at least for a time. RUSSIA. Prince Czernichef, Avho has found benefit from the German baths, has returned to resume his arduous official duties at the War-office, over which department he has now presided more than 24 years. It is to his exertions and skilful administration that the Russian army is mainly indebted for the immense improvement that has taken place in its organization, equipment, and effecttve condition, within the last ten or fifteen years. The mighty military machine, which embnfces nearly 900,000 men of all arms, regulars and irregulars, is now so well regulated and economically administered that the expenses are reduced at least 40 per cent.; and the readiness and effectiveness foi field service increased in a much larger proportion. Abuses have been for the most part rooted out. Russian armies are no longer what they were— that is, deceptive masses on paper, rarely numbering half the given returns —but actual and effective bodies, strictly according with the regimental reports of men present under arms. Woe betide those who attempt to deceive the watchful Minister, or the scrutinising eye of his indefatigable master!