FRANCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 610, 11 September 1858, Page 3

FRANCE.

The Paris correspondent of a contemporary, writing on the 9th of June, says,—

A commission appointed to enquire into the budget for 1858, has brought out the startling fact, that six millions sterling a year is nominally paid to a sinking fund, but virtually used for any purpose the Government may think proper. If it be true that this little annuity has been diverted to other purposes, then there is a nice sum to be added to the 110 millions sterling deficit, created during the last ten years!

The grand naval demonstration at Cherbourg is put off, why is not stated—but the bad health of the Emperor is- looked upon as the true cause. He is said to have a spinal complaint, and his bearing certainly encourages the idea; he walks heavily -with the aid of a stick—he lias always been subject to affection of the back, but the matter seems just now, most unfortunately, to have assumed a serious form; he will shortly visit the sea side for the renovation of his health.

The removal of the new Minister of the Interior is still talked of, and with increasing confidence and hope, for General Espinasse has not succeeded in earning a statesman's reputation.

There is a report that the Due de MalakofF has been recalled from London, on account of the civilities interchanged between him and the Duked'Aumale; this I believe to be all nonsense, but there is no doubt that the creatures of the present government would have preferred greatly that the two dukes had not met especially in that " den of infamy," London.

The other day we had a report that another attempt had been made.on the life of the Emperor at Foutainebleau; this was afterwards changed to a report of certain arrests, and it is boiieved that the French Government had notice from Sardinia of mischief being in the wind, and that four men were arrested, with revolvers and poignards in their possession. The government however issued a sort of negative contradiction, in the form of a notice at the Bourse that the punishment for promulgating false news was excessively severe, and would be strictly enforced. The 'Times' has been seized twice within three weeks, and the 'Independence Beige' is said to be excluded for an indefinite period. The Prince Napoleon is preparing to quit Paris, and enter upon his new duties as Governor or Viceroy of Algeria. The French Press is all in a ferment again, in consequence of the treatment of the Sue?, canal question in the House of Commons, and England is treated to a rare variety of polite epithets, in connection with her Foreign policy. M. Lesseps

-at Is affirmed by some, is on his way to London, ■with a permission from the Sultan to commence -the••'work which, say these very zealous advo<cates, will be commenced immediately. I suppose M. Lesseps will try and get some of the money first however-! Therels little doubt that the whole of this is simply false. Messrs. Miltun d and Go. have another little scheme, namely, -the opening up of Central America, by cutting ship canal in connection with the river St. -Juan. It is said that the people of Nicaragua -and Costa Rica have arranged their differences, have claimed the assistance of European powers, namely, England, France, and Sardinia, *in securing their independence, but the canal is vto be made by a-French company, and France is •>to have the exclusive right of maintaining ships •of war on the canaL This is the very scheme yproposed either by England or the United States, -and accepted by both some years since. It is • extremely probable, certainly, that John and -Jonathan will consent to the protectorate of France on the debateable ground of Central America. The history of this scheme will be just a copy of the Suez scheme, and probably drag France into a contest with America, or irather might do so, if it were not so absurd. France cannot prevent her commerce from falling off, her carrying trade on the seas is thrown each year into ttie^hands of strangers, her manufactures are starved for want of capital, but Messrs. Lesseps, Miland and Co., volunteer to make railways all over Europe, to cut off Asia from Africa by one canal, and to separate North from South America by another.

This extraordinary desire to fee doing grand things anywhere cut of France is not indicative of a very sound state of things; one can scarcely avoid of the rats and the sinking ship. The French Mediterranean fleet, or at any rate some French vessels of war, have entered the Adriatic, and Lord Lyons has followed them. Again, a demonstration by the French Teuton fleet against Morocco is talked of, and British ships have been ordered to keep a sharp look out. Orders have been given to increase the strength of the fortifications of Marseilles.