France.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 418, 4 August 1849, Page 2

France.

The following is our correspondent's letter dated Wednesday, 5 p.m. The decision come to by the National Assembly yesterday, adopting the Ministerial project for the suppression of clubs, lias given, as was expected, general satisfaction. The majority, it is true, was comparatively small, but yet not so unimportant as may be

supposed wh«n we consider the manner in which the votes were given. The members of the Mountain are as convinced as any one out of doors of the odium with which these hotbeds of sedition and seats of permanent conspiracy are regarded by the country at large. So convinced are they of the fact, that they have not dared to vote openly in their favour ; and, to save themselves from the obloquy such a step would ensuie, they demanded that the vctes should be taken in secret. I believe I am not at all incorrect in stating that, hat; nominal votirg been substituted ior the scrntin secret, the Government would, instead of nineteen, have had a majority of 200 at least. The energetic and convincing speech of M. Odillon Barrot is much admired, notwithstanding the peculiar difficulty of his situation,taunted ashe has been for having abandoned the principle of the right of meeting, which he advocated in the latter days of the Guizot Ministry, and which was followed by the revolution of February. Yet no one who has evtr witnessed the proceedings of the clubs will believe that there is any similarity between the right guaranteed by the constitution to French citizens of meeting peaceably and legally for the legitimate redress of grievances, and that of promulgating the detestable doctrines so familiar to such assemblages. Not even in those countries wheie constitutional freedom is of ancient standing, and where the liberty of speech and artion is all but unImited, would periodical meetings be permitted where language of so disgusting a kind is of constant use, and where principles subversive of all soc ety, whether under a republic or a constitutional monarchy are invariably and openly advocated. No system of government whatever, not even that dreamed of in the wildest layings of Socialism, could exist where an ignorant and excitable populace were daily and nightly urged in language themost impassioned to conspiracy and insurrection ; and where, on the fiist difference of opinion that arises, the Government were denounced as the oppressors cf the nation and the destroyers of liberty, and where assassination itself finds its warmest advocates* We have only to call to mind the question so lately put in these clubs to the candidates for the command of the National Guard to be convinced of the difference between freedom and license. Was not Lucien Murat asked publicly whether he would refuse to "-tab to the heart the President of the Republic in case he suspected him of contemplating a subversion ol the Republican Government? Has not the late Piesideut of the Club Valentino declared more than once that the 'people' must arm themselves with the dagger and the pistol, and use them without mercy against t lie 'aristocrats?' It is not necessary to inquire whether the right of association can be salely exercised by so excitable a population ; but it is undeniable that the meaning of that right is neither club law nor club licence. Were a socialist government established tomorrow in France it would find it necessary to adopt measures of restriction similar to those in force at present, and M. M. Proudhon and Pierre Leroux would be forced to put a check on some still wilder agitator than themselves. The Socialists continue unwearied and undismayed in their exertions to seduce the army ; and 1 have some reason to believe that the Government will be soon obliged to adopt still more eneigetic measures thau heretofore to put a stop to the spread of the pestilence, at least so lar as the army is concerned. I am told it . as been mooted more than once in the Cabinet to reproduce a law which was passed under the Consulate, rendering all thosp convicted of seducing the military liable to be judged by court martial, The evil is certainly great and the remedy must be in proportion. Notwithstanding the incessant vigilance of the commanding officers of regiments, it is found impossible to preserve the soldiers from all contact with those ,who are untiring in their detested mi&sion. The habits of military discipline may for a long lime baffle the efforts of the Socialist agents, but the constant repetition of these efforts, hour after hour, day after day, month after month, in every shape and form, and under every circumstance, must produce their effect, unless some prompt measures be taken. I regret to learn that fears of the kind have been expressed by some military chiefs of the capital. I am assured that, for some weeks past, M. Proudhou's journal, Le Peuple, has been circulated at the rate of from 30,000 to 40,000 numbeis daily, and that means of every kind are used to ensure their delivery in the barracks of the principal cities of France. Where the funds are procured to defray the expenses of so large a supply of that noxious drug, it is difficult to say, but the fact is so. Socialist agents, disguised as servants, commis-voya-geurs, &c. labour earnestly in the mission. The order of the Minister of the Interior to remove all caps of liberty was executed at St. Etienne on the 17th, without opposition. Letters from Bordeaux mention that the soldiers of the garrison are frequently insulted

in the streets by the Red Republicans ; and when only one or two are encountered in some unfrequented place they are attacked. It is feared that a collision may sooner or later ensue. I learn, on the authority of the proprietor of a large cabinet warehouse in the faubourg St. Antoine, that a considerable improvement has taken place in industry of that description within the last month. The complaint now made by some masters — a complaint that is as agreeable as it is novel — is that they cannot find hands enough to complete their orders, not only in Paris, but from the provinces. The scarcity of hands is attributed to various causes, of which the emigration to Algeria, the departure of a great number of aitizans to their provinces, and the employment of many on public works at a distance from the" capital, are the principal. My informant adds, that in one or two branches of a similar kind in Paris not less progress has been made. It is believed, too, that there are many workmen who prefer the dawdling, vagabond life of Socialist agents to honest laborious industr.,. The prelect of the Seine has issued a proclamation, revoking, from the Ist April next, the authority to street newsvenders for the sale of the journals as it at present exists. They have increased to such an extent as to render a modification of the license necessary. It is probable the approach of the period for the elections is one of the reasons for the adoption of that measme. General Petit delivered yesterday, at the Hotel dcs luvalsdes, into the hands of Jerome Bonaparte, some articles of value entrusted to him, viz., the sword worn by the Emperor at the battle of Aubterlilz, his hat, and his cordon ot the Legion of Honour ; the Imperial crown presented to him by the inhabitants of Cherbourg ; the crown of gold worn by fcim at his coronation ; the keys of the tomb where ! bis ashes repose ; the pall adorned wi h the j emblems of the empire, and which enveloped the coffin brought from St. Helena ; and fifty two standards taken at Austerlitz. Jerome Bonaparte distributed in the name of the President of the Republic, eight crosses of honour to as many invalids of all ranks. The Rev. Father Rootan, the General of the Jesuits, has arrived in Paris, from Rome, on his way to Portugal, where he intends establishing the head quarters of the order. The salons of M. Odillon Barrot and of M. Drouyn de Lhuys were numerously attended last night. It was remarked that several persons of all parties, members of the National Assembly, were present. Some members of the extreme Left paid particular attention to the Presidsnt of the Council. I havi reason to believe thac some uneasiness is felt by the Government with respect to Russia, and the steps that may be taken by that Power in conjunction with Austria. M. Salamanca, ex- Minister of Finance, of Spain, has arrived in Paris. He has obtained permission to pass some days in the capital, after which he proceeds to Bourges. It is believed that he will obtain permission from the Government to reside permanently in Paris. Private letters from Madrid speak again of the probability of the formation of a modified Progre>ista Government. It is stated that General Narvaez, disgusted at the intrigues of the Queen Mother in connexion with Generals O'Donnell, Pavia. and the Baron vie Meer, seems more and more disposed to throw off the pretensions of that laly and make advances to the more moderate of the Piogresista party. The same letters express some doubts as to the military expedition in aid ol the Pope being persevered in. The cause assigned is want of funds, the Spanish Government having calculated on the expenses of transporting the division being delrayed by the French Government."