FRANCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 433, 27 December 1856, Page 5

FRANCE.

The French press continues mute on the subject of the accusations brought by Louis Blanc against the civil and military authorities of Cayenne, and I know that this silence is the consequence, in some instances, of strict injuncto that effect, while other papers doubtless fear to enter upon the matter until the Ministerial journals have taken the lead. .It is sometimes difficult to understand the tactics of the French Government with regard to the press. The spirit of compression and restriction seems at times to be carried to an unwise length. If M. Louis Blanc's letter contains exaggerations and mis-statements, why should the French papers be prevented .exposing them, and supplying proofs in refutation ? The cockade question, to which I yesterday alluded, is another case of the kind. Grave and influential partisans of a poli-

tical party, which if not numerically strong- is at least respectable and of some - importance descend to the puerility of a squabble concerning the colour of a riband. To have let the satmstsof the press loose upon them would have been quite as effectual and a much more damaging way of disposing of so silly a controversy than treating them seriously and giving them importance by a judicial warning.