FRANCE. [From the Australian.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 312, 26 July 1848, Page 3

FRANCE. [From the Australian.]

The papers of the 28th February confirm the burning of Louis Philippe's Chateau- at Neuilly. The wooden bridge atAsnieres,~over which the Rouen, St. Germain's, and Versailles trains used to pass, was not only cut but burned, and the chateau of one of the Rothsj child's, at Suresnes, on the banks of the Seine between Neuilly and St. Cloud, was destroyed by the incendiaries. It is positively affirmed that the valuable pictures at Neuilly, with plate and valuables/ were carefully removed and sent to the public , treasury before the work of conflagration commenced. A volunteer guard of one thousand men were posted at the chateau of St. Cloud, which will remain a monument of Louis Phi-~ ;lippe's untiring love of architectural decoration. • The bridge at Bezons, on the Rouen line,, was also burned. ' " r * ; A*t P'ontoia, on the northern line, a million? francs Worth of merchandiit hatf beta coife Isumtd.

There were burned .twelve waggons fiear St. Denis, as well as the Decabardere. j this devastation is attributed to the passions of the people who had suffered by the substitution' of railways for other modes of conveyance. A: similar motive led nearly to the destrucr , tion of printing presses in Paris, but the efforts of tlje workmen and writers combined stopped the menaced ruin. JjLow the Provisional Government are enabled to attend to business I cannot understand. ; Shut up in the Hotel de Ville, and surrounded by a shouting people, with deputations of one kind or another arriving, and harrassed with messages, communications, and suggestions of ajl sorts. On L.amartine and Cremieux, as the most effective speakers, devolve the duties of keeping the people in good humour by their harangues. Lamartine harangued them five times yesterday, and then was accompanied home by a countless multitude kissing bis hands and clothes. Cremieux is a little or* dinary Jew with a passionate earnestness «f manner that takes well with the working classes. Marie is highly spoken of as a most able, honest man, and he keeps to the work.. Of M. Goudchoux I hear good reports ; but Ledru Rpllin is held to be very violent. The following decree was passed yesterday— "The Pro\isio l nal Government decrees ,the immediate establishment of national workshops." To restore everything to its customary appearance is still the great effort. All the colleges and schools are on Monday to resume their studies. The Archbishop of Paris has visited all the hospitals and commanded services for the sick, dying, and dead. The statue of the Due d'Orleans, in the square of the Louvre was taken down and removed without any proffered indignity. The Ambassador of the United States, as | «very one expected, has congratulated the Provisional Government. A meeting of the Peers had been held, and a resolution to adhere' to the republic unanimously adopted. Bropefty' of every kind belonging to the | <crown is confiscated, and not only is royalty j and legitimacy abolished, but Napoleonism { also, by 1 a solemn decree of the Provisional Government. The famous Abbe de Lamenais will be one of the first diplomatic appointments. He is intended for Rome. The Polish Legion is to be under the command of Genera} Dwernicki. Telegraphic despatches have arrived, announcing the proclamation of the republic at Nis'mes, Avignon, Lyons," Limoges, and Narbbnnej without any attempt being made to disturb public tranquillity. At Bayonne there was some agitation but no tumult. The National of the 28th February, has the following— "A great number of ex-Peers of France, who have already served more than one regime presented themselves, on the 26th February at the Hotel de Ville, and placed themselves at the disposal of the Provisional Government. We must, however, add that they were very coldly received." A proclamation' of great importance, and which, it is said, the Provisional Government had some difficulty in coming to a conclusion upon, is the following abolition of capital punishments — *' The Provisional Government, convinced that greatness of mind is the supreme policy, and- that each revolution effected by the French people owes to the world the consecration of an additional philosophical truth — " Whereas, there is hot a more sublime principle than the inviolability of human life — '■ " Whereas, in these memorable days, the Provisional Government bias, ascertained with pride that not a cry for vengeance or death escaped the mouth of the people — "Declares, that in its opinion, the penalty of death is abolished for political offences, ana that it will submit that wish to the definite ratification of the National Assembly. " The Provisional Government is so firmly convinced of the truth which it proclaims,, in the name of the French people, that if the guilty men, who have shed the blood of France were in the hands of the people, their' degradation would in its eyes be a more exemplary punishment than their execution."

conveyance.