EUROPEAN EXTRACTS. FRANCE. (From the Spectator, March 25.)

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 232, 19 August 1848, Page 3

EUROPEAN EXTRACTS. FRANCE. (From the Spectator, March 25.)

Oun last intelligence from Paris broke off at the great meeting of workmen who went to the Hotel de Ville on Friday the i 7th. The numhers present appear to have been far greater than the first accounts stated— nearly 2 0,600 men. A deputation of about forty personi from the corporations and clubs was received by the Pf ovisioiiul Govei nment within the Hotel. The demands made were— first, the removal of troops from Paris; secondly, the postponements of the elections of the National Guard to the sth of April ; and thirdly, the postponement of the National Assembly to the 31st of May. A long conversation ensued. M. Louis lUanc spoke to the delegates, and besought the citizens to leave the Provisional Government to dclibeiale with freedom and dignity on the demand. Some delegatea insiated on a reply— on something better than words. M. Lediu Rollin reminded the delegates, that they could not pretend to represent France, though they dit! repiesent its greatest and most intelligent city. He tad sent inquuies to Ihe Commisbaries of the Departments to know if the elections could, materially and politically, take place on the 9ih uf April j and the answer to these inquiries he could not have in all cases beibic the 2<llb. Paris geneially Gave ltte impulse to the rest of France, but could not uesiic to oppiess France. " Wait, therefore, till the Derailments have ducbreil," saidM. llollin ; and it we find that at this moment the elections cannot t,ike place in such a wav as to positively insure the principle wnich we have seeu pioci.iimed after the victory, then the elections ihallbe po tponed." M. Louis Bianc again spoke. He wasintenupted by a M. Sobrier, one of the delegates, who dtclired that no violence was contemplated; there was entire confidence in the Provisional Government. Some delegates—" Not in all." M. Sobrier—" In all, gentlemen, without exception, without evciusion : we have sustained the government up to this day, and we will confrnae to sustain it till the Constituent Assembly raeete. (" Yes, yes, to the last !") The circular of M. Ledru Rollin has been approved by the people : the Departments, when enlightened, will approve of it as t'aris has done." A delegate inquired if all the member of the Provisional Government approved of Ledru llollin's circular. ? M. de lamufne was called for, and he advanced as if to answer the question. He, however, dexterously en -aaed attention on other topics, throughout a brave and eloquent speech. He pictured the government standing before the delegates, wilh their venerable President at theii head, as a littlo group of men without arms, without physical siippoit, without soldiers, without guaids; and as neither having nor seeking any au'honty beyond that which the people maintained respecting t hem. What could such men oppose to tie delegates? " Only one thing— your own reason ; thai- power of general reasun which is alone here phceJ between you and us, which inspires us, and arrests you before us. It is that invisible, moral, »nd yet all r poweifu> iorce, which rcndeis us calm, ourselves independent and dignified, in presence oi thai mass which sun ounds this pa'ace of the psoplc, delended by its sola inviolability. (" Bruvo !") Thai. last barrier of our independence, as a government and as men, we will defend to the death, it the pressure of the multitude should wish to violate it ; and it is not for ourselves, it is for you, that we should ppiisn in defending it. What would be a peoi 1c without a government, and what would a degraded government become to the people ?'' (" Bravo !") To neither of the three demands would he assent on the moment. As to th«; third, indeed* he would submit his breast to be pierced with balls before such a vo;e should be wrung from him by press of foice from without. He would only promise to weigh well all the demands, ond and to decide as should appear the will, not only of the people of Paris, but also the right and will of all the Republic The deputation loudly applauded ; many shook Lamartine by the hand ; and one Baid. •• lie assured the people are only here to suppoit the Provisional Govei nment." On the retirement of the deputation, the multitude without called enthusiastically for the Provisional Government. They appeared ; and M. Louis Blanc said a few words to the crowd; concluding with the -words, " You have understood that violence is left to those who are not strong. '» (Cries of " Yes, yes I" and enthusiastic applause.) The masses shouted " Bravo !" " Vive la Republiquel" •'Vive le Gouvernement Provisoirei" and set forward in admirable order to the Column of the Uastile. Thence they marched in imposing mass along the Boulevards, that their numbers might fully strike all beholdeis. They ultimately dispersed without the slightest disturbance. Some forty thousand went to the residence of M. Ledru Rollin, and demanded again the withdrawal from Paris of the regular tioops. M. Rollin spoke to them ; assured them that there were but few troops in Paris, to assist the National Guards in their dutiei, and that those soldiers were good citizens like the rest. He brought them shortly to shout " Vive l'Armec I" «• Vive Ledru Rollin 1" and then dismissed them peBC-fuliy. As M. de Lamaitine and M. Cremieux were returning home from the Hotel de Ville, they were recognised by the crowd, and gieeted with cries of '* Vivent ies horames d'ordre!" "Vive le Gouvernement Pro* visoire!" A large body of men formed a column behind them, and followed them until they took refuge under a gateway. Here the cries were still vociferated for long time. The Provisional Government hai since postponed the elections tor officers of the National Guards, which had been already postponed to the 25th instant, to the stu of April. A deputation of Irishmen resident in Paris presented an address to the Piovisional Government, on Thursday the 16th. M. Leonard, a member of the deputation, said it came to be admitted into the £i eat French family, and to deposit the flag of Ireland in the hands of the Republic. M. de Lamariine replied— ' Your great countryman O'Coiinell created what he himself called, by a denomination boirowcd from liberty itself, peacdul agitation. This agitation has entitled Ireland for several yeais past to tie admiration of the world. And I have not the leaiit shadow of a doubt, after having successively ccnqueicu religious libeity, and arrived so near to constitutional liberty and independence, it will ultimately prccuie foi jou the full ci joyment of this portion cf your nationality." Next day it was thought necessaiy 10 explain in the jcu mils an incideiual remark made by M. &Z kjunw-

tiie. They s'-iteii that M, Leonard is a citizen of Sens, though of Irish ongin ; and it was Inm only i_ hat M. de Innuutme congutulated on his naturalization and citizenship in Fwuice. They also Btate that the English Ambassador had demanded amicable explanations as to the deposit of ihs Irish fljg in the Hotel de Ville. M. de lumariine explained, that the Republic acknowledged no other English natitnal flag than that of the Throe United Kingdoms. He also said that he had expressed himself only in conformi'y with that thought when sympathizing T7itb religious and liberal lielantf. What think ye of the iillesde joie goiuj,to the Hotel de Villc, with bnnners as a deputation.' They were ted into the buiMing, and then ueie all sent off to St. L./n'e! For my part, I think their petition one of the most reasonable yet presented, and that they were veiy harshly treated. They asked that theii dumes should be obliged to share their profits with them in a just ptopoitiou. — Tunes Correspondent On WetinesJay an immense cortege of citizens, with a batt.ilba of the Tenth Legion, and a battalion of the National Guard Mobile, planted a Tiee of Liberty in the Champ de Mars. The curate of St. Pierre de Giosa Caillon commenced the ceiemony of benediction, whnn a rainbow appeared. " Children," cried the curate, '• this is the sign oi alliance that God, four thousand years since, made with his people. At the opening of a new md holy tera, that is opened to us by the freeing of nations, let vs salute the faign by which God renews his merciful alliance, ami announces that he will bless our destinies." — D><ilg L T eivs. The Provisional Government has deceed a heavy additional taxation, to fall exclusively on laatl— " There shall be tempoiaiily levied, and only for the yea- 1818, forty-live centime, on the roles of the four ducct contributions of the caid year. 'I he centimes hairing on the conlrMiuon foncierc chall be at the chaige of the piopnctor alone, nUwithstaud ng ny contiary stipul.-tioT ii leases and agreement^ The amount of the temporal y centimes shall be iinaiediately exigible, without, any new notices to the lax15 ft \ t? I*C ' ' Official depots have been established for raw and manufactured goods, on which advances will be made by goveniment. Ttie f ,oods are valued ; their deposit and the advance on them are certified ; the certificates arem.idc liv.usfemble by indorsement, and arc received on discount at the offices of discount established by the Government. The Government has postponed the pciiod of payment of drafts, bills of exchange, &c, till the 15 in of April. The Governor of the Bank of Franca notifies that from the 20 ot March the bank will exchange its 10Q0 franc notes for nine of 100, or four of 200, and a coupon of 100, allowing 100 compleinentaiy francs in cash. The money-changers of Paris met on Tuesday, nnrt decided, in order to maintain the cuculation of specie, that they would pay a premium of 21. 50c. per IOOOt. cash, and change bills of the same amount at a maximura of sf. The correspondent of the Daily News, writing on Mondiy, gives a gloomy account of commercial atl'cirs— " The situation of Paris to-day is curious. The Bank of Francs continues closed. The p.ivate banks decline to pay cheques except for 500 francs, or its multiple— that is to say, 1000 fiancs, ioO'O francs, &c.«— inasmuch as they have not specie nor smaller notes to iralve up the differences "The money-changers are nio:t of then rlosed ; and the few that are open are tinsup,.hed w.th s lyer, the stock they had beloie the suspension ot the bank having been exluusud. Thei'e is some gold to be had at the i ate of 2 fiancs per 20 franc pieces, or ten per crnt. premium. I'nvate famines and individuals in these cticunistanccs are obliged to obtaia their daily supplies ot necehsjiiics of all description on credit. There aie difficulties, however, which ciedit docs not surmount. For example, the postage of leitois musi bo paid ; the pobt-officc gives no credit, and, indeed, is unprovided with the means of keeping accounts.