FRANCE.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 327, 16 September 1848, Page 4

FRAN CE.

On the 15th May, the Clubs marched to Ahe National Assembly* entered the ball, and declared it dissolved. Blanqui, Louis Blanc, Barbes,and General Courtais, were the leaders of this step. The National Guard and the "Garde Mobile" rose against the movement and expelled the intruders. Paris, Tuesday evening. — After I despatched my parcel this morning, I went to the National Assembly ; my way lay across the gardens of the Tuileries : I found the terraces which command the Place de la Concorde occupied by the Garde Mobile, and the gate opening upon the Place shut, with troops drawn up on the garden side. Retracing my steps towards the side opening to the bridge called the Pont Royal, I found the garden filled with National Guards, and on reaching the other side of the bridge, I discovered that the Quay d'Qrsay, leading to the Chamber, was closed against the public. Being provided with a ticket, I was allowed to pass, and the line of quay strongly occupied with Garde Mobile, infantry, and cavalry. The streets running parallel were equally guarded. In front of the Assembly, facing the bridge, and commanding the Place de la Concorde, was a park of artillery. On all sides the avenues were filled with troops and National Guards, and no one allowed to pass withou' a ticket ; on entering the house, I could see traces of the invasion ; panels of doors and panes of glass were broken. Within the house a rumour was current that a decree having parsed for the dissolution of the Republican Guard, a new police force, under the immediate orders of Caussidiere, resistance on their part was apprehended, and some even said that the resistance had begun, and that there was firing in that direction. A communication on this subject will be found lower down. M. Caussidiere entered about halfpast one o'clock, and went and took his seat on the Mountain. Previous to the arrival of M. Caussidiere, M. Gamier Pages asceuded the tribune, and proceeded to explaiu the steps taken by the Executive Commission to put down the insurrection of the day before. The most energetic measures had been used. The ringleaders had been taken into custody, and tranquillity restored. M. Sobrier had been arrested, the arms and ammunition which had been secreted in the house had been seized. The most obnoxious of the clubs had been closed, that usually called Blanqui's had been surrounded the night before, the meeting dispersed, and some arrests made. The prisoners were at that moment lodged in Vincennes. Barbes, Blanqui, and

Albert were in custody, as well as Raspail, Bazin, and Colonel Saisset. The Montagnards would not be allowed to exist as a body. Those wb/) belonged to that body employed at the Prefecture of Police would be dismissed. He believed, with respect to the head of the department, Caussidiere, that he had acted wiih good intentions (cries of " No, no.") Colonel Clement Thomas, in whom they all had confidence, was at the head of the National Guard, and every measure had been taken requisite to secure public safety. He called on the National Assembly to support the Executive Commission, who, to act with the necessary energy, required all their support (cheers.) — M. Bonjean made some severe remarks on the want of precaution and foresight shown by the Executive Commission. It would not do to dismiss some police subordinates unless they struck at the head, M. Caussidiere himself, in whom there could be no confidence (cheers). — M. Baroche complained of the brief character of the explanations given by the Government. The conduct of M. Caussidiere was dark and mysterious, and he knew nothing of the republican guard or any other force than the National Guard, the Mobile, and the army, and demanded that it be dissolved (immense cheering). — At halfpast one o'clock the business of the day was resumed, under much excitement, by propositions of acknowledgment of the services of the National Guards. The tribune was taken by M. Caussidiere, the Prefect of Police, who, in the midst of marked expressions of disgust, proceeded to justify himself. He was, however, allowed iair play, although derisive laughter met many of his emphatic assertions. He complained that he had been unjustly accused, which he felt the more for having .been appointed Prefect of Police by means of the barricades. He had responded to their confidence by preserving Paris for two months from anarchy. He had by his own energy and that of his friends put down many plots which had come to his ears, but which he prudently did not talk about. He declared that he was not answerable for the acts ; of the day before, for his duties had been usurped by others, and his precautions were neutralised. He pronounced an eulogium on the Republican Guard under his orders, and retired amidst marks of dissatisfaction. — M. Portalis rose and declared that he had no confidence in M. Caussidiere, and he cited two remarkable facts for his distrust. He said that one of the conspirators who had been taken in flagrant conspiracy in the Hotel de ViHe and brought prisoner to the Prefecture of Police, was immediately released. Another man, made prisoner by the National Guards was in the same way freed at once* He knew he was necessarily surrounded by people of indifferent character, but after making all allowance he could not, he declared, afford him his confidence (loud cheers). M. Jules Favre, under-secretary of the Foreign Minister, rose to say that no man should be condemned on anonymous communications. The dissatisfaction of the Chamber became so great, when it was seen that the ex-secretary of Ledru Rollin was disposed to screen M. Caussidiere, that he could hardly be heard. In fact, it was understood that the Republican Guard had been disbanded, which explains the discontent felt- at the intimation to the' contrary. M. Dupin, in a brief speech delivered wiLh great vehemence, demanded that the government should act with firmness and energy, and afford by their conduct some sense of security to the people. M. Caussidiere rose again, but the impatience of the Assembly went beyond bounds. He was understood to offer his resignation, if confidence was not felt in him. The sitting was then adjourned. . I

Tearing off General Courxais Epaulettes by the National Guard. — The Presse publishes the following letter: — "Will you be kind enough to take a note of the following fact, for the account which you will have to give of this memorable day. It was with the open complicity of General Courtais that the Assembly was invaded. We, the National Guards of the 10th legion, who, with the corporation of the Guarde Mobile re-established the Representatives in their seats, will give you numerous proofs of it. The geueral, against whom the exasperation was extreme, and who was assailed from all parts with the cry of 'Down with the traitor!' having maxima sign that he desired to speak, said, ' In th'e name of the people I" order the National Guard to leave V A National Guard then cried, * You are no longer general* oB the National Guard — you are a traitor, .and in thejpa^ce ofc-the people^ I degrade you !' So saying, Ifie same Natic«|l Guard tore off his epaulettes, whHst anotnTer^wrested from him his sword, on which he had placed his hand,* 1 An instant after he was. driven from the Assembly with cries of_ * Down with the traitor !' The National Guards and the Garde Mobile immediately distributed among them portions of the epaulettes of the infamous general. , Letters' reared by ihe.Morniny Chronicle

to tbe 19th May, announce (he probability of great changes ; such, indeed, as the writer predicts as likely to affect the stability of the Executive Government. It was said that M. de Lamartine was about to resign bis seat in the Executive Council, to be succeeded by M. Armand Marrast, the Mayor of Paris. Several riots had taken place, and a fearful state of affairs was the consequence.