FRANCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 584, 9 June 1858, Page 4

FRANCE.

Orsini and Pierri were executed on the morning of March 13. The Erageror has thought fit"to reprieve De Rudi, whose sentence is commuted into that of imprisonment, with hard labour for life. He will be sent to England in custody, to give evidence against Dr. Bernard. Count Walewski's despatch is couched in very conciliatory language. It expresses the regret felt by the Imperial Government that the tenor of the despatch of the 20th of January should have been misinterpreted. The Imperial Government (says the despatch) never meant to imply that England favored the men who elevate assassination to a doctrine, but simply that such persons were allowed to dwell in England. The request made by the Emperor was in the interest of the alliance which exists between the two countries: The French Government withdraws from the controversy, and declares that it makes no demands. It places implicit confidence in the good feeling of the English people. Although the danger of any immediate rupture with England has, thus, been averted, the internal state of France itself is anything but tranquil. The city of Chalonsur-Saone, situated 170 miles south-east of Paris, has been the scene of an abortive emeute. Risings of a like character have taken place in several other places.- The activity displayed by the Government in breaking up secret societies is believed to have instigated them. Altogether the state of France is anything but satisfactory, and a convulsion seems not far distant.

The following letter addressed to the Emperor by Orsini since his condemnation, and published in the ' Moniteur' has produced an unpleasant impression in diplomatic circles: —" To Napoleon ILL, Emperor of the French. The depositions which I have made against myself in the course of the political proceedings which have been instituted on the occasion of the attempt of the 14th January are sufficient to send me to the scaffold, and I shall submit to my fate without asking for pardon, both because I will not humiliate myself before him who has destroyed in the bud the liberty of my unhappy country, and because, in the situation in which I am now placed, death for me will be a relief. Being near the close of my career, I wish, however, to make a last effort to assist Italy, whose independence has hitherto made me pass through so many perils and submit to every sacrifice. She is the constant object of all my affections, and it is that idea which I wish to set forth in the words which I address to your Majesty. In order to maintain the balance of power in Europe it is necessary to render Italy independent, or to lighten the chains by which Austria holds her in bondage. Shall I ask'that for her deliverance the blood of Frenchmen shall be shed for the Italians? No, Ido not go so far as that. Italy asks that France shall not intervene against her, and that France shall not allow Germany to support Austria in the struggles in which she may perhaps be soon engaged. This is precisely what your Majesty can do if you are so inclined; on your will, therefore, depends the welfare or misfortune of my country—the life or death of a nation to which Europe is in a grent measure indebted for her civilization. Such is the prayer which from my cell I dare to address to your Majesty, not despairing but that my feeble voice j may be heard. I beseech your Majesty to restore to Italy the independence which her children lost in 1849 through the very fault of the French. Let your Majesty call to mind that the Italians, among whom was my father, joyfully shed their blood for Napoleon the Great, wherever he chose to lead them; and that, so long as Italy is not independent, the tranquility of Europe and that of your Majesty, will always be vain illusions. May your Majesty not reject the last prayer of a patriot on the steps of the scaffold 1 May you deliver my country, and the blessings of 25,000,000 citizens will folyou to posterity! . Felice Orsini.

Prison of Mazas, February 11."