France.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 779, 1 October 1853, Page 3

France.

A considerable sensation has been created here to-day by the discovery of a real or pretended attempt to assassinate the Emperor, which was to have been accomplished last evening, on the occasion of the re-opening of the Opera Comiqne, which has been closed for some weeks, in order to be newly-decorated. The opera of Haydee had been announced far the occasion, and as the words “par ordre” were added, it was ol course concluded that the Emperor and Empress would

he present. This an nor nee men t seems to have "iven the idea of the affair. All that is certainly known is this :—About eleven o’clock a great number of persons were arrested on the Boulevard ties Italiens, close to the Opera Coraique; and at the same time several additional prisoners were made in the interior of the theatre. It is said that these individuals had hired a box over the Imperial box, and that they had accomplices in different parts ot the house, The police, having got wind of the affair, watched the suspected parties closely, and about eleven o’clock the whole of them were arrested, but not without difficulty, as they made considerable resistance. They were all found to be armed with daggers and loadea pistols. The number of persons arrested is fourteen. They were all taken to the prefecture of police, where they are kept au secret. An active search is being made in several suspected quarters, and it is said that fresh arrests have been effected this morning. I have just learned that the way in which the affair was discovered was as follows :—The police agents in the neighbourhood of the Opera Comique were on the alert when the Emperor and Empress were about to arrive. Suddenly one of them observed that a man, whom he had been watching, dropped something, which on examination was found to be a dagger. The man was at once arrested, and admitted that he was a member of a secret society, composed of from sixty to eighty persons, who have sworn to assassinate the Emperor. Ten or twelve of bis accomplices were subsequently arrested in the crowd, and all of them were found to be armed with loaded pistols and daggers. One of them is a medical man. 'J?liey were all well dressed. It 13 tllOllgllt that a great many more persons will be arrested in the course of to-day. Four of the conspirators who were arrested in the theatre were kept in the guardhouse of the theatre till after the representation was over, when they were conveyed to the Prefecture of Police. The Government is anxious to make out that the affair is of little consequence. The following note lias been sent to the newspapers by the Prefect of Police : “Yesterday, in the midst of the crowd assembled at the doors of the Opera Comique, at which were their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, the police arrested some ten or twelve individuals, belonging to old societies, who attempted to disturb public order. The affair is in the hands of justice.” — I J aris Correspondent of Morning Chronicle, 6th July.

In Jamaica, the differences between the sembly and the Council has brought all legislation to a dead-lock. The Assembly insist upon reducing the salaries, without compensating the office holders. The Council, which is principally composed of officials, will not allow this to be done; and the Governor, Sir Charles Grey, takes part with the Council. As the high salaries were originally established by order of the Home Government the fair course, it is considered, would be for this Government to grant the required compensation, and give the Assembly thenceforth, the entire control over the colonial revenues. Some such policy as this, it is supposed, will be adopted. In the mean time, the local revenue laws are suspended, and large importations of goods are taking place, without payment of duty. Santa Anna, the Mexican dictator, is said to have already suppressed upwards of forty newspapers. He is organising an army of ninety thousand men, and using very warlike language against the United States. The American correspondent of the Times, who has hitherto spoken favourably of President Pierce and his Cabinet, now asserts that their management of the national affairs is disappointing their friends. The causes of this change of feeling are not very clearly indicated; it is merely stated that the appointments of some of the foreign Ministers are considered to he injudicious. It is too soon, however, to judge of the character of the new administration.