[From the Weekly Chronicle, Dec. 16.] France.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 498, 11 May 1850, Page 3

[From the Weekly Chronicle, Dec. 16.] France.

The anniversary of the election of Louis Napoleon has been celebrated by some festi- ; vities ; but the population of Paris were disappointed of a review which had been promised for Monday, and was postponed on the ground that the President had not sufficiently recovered from a recent indisposition. M. Dupin, the President of the Assembly, gave a grand dinner on Sunday to the President of the Republic. AmoDg the guests were all the ministers, the four vice-presidents, the secretaries, and the quostors of the Assembly ; the diplomatic corps ; Generals Changamier, Oudinot, de Grammont, Excelmans, Pelet, and de Mortemart ; the Grand Chancellor, of the Legion of Honour, the Prefects of the Seine, and of Police; MM. Portalis, Barthe, Tropolong, Vivien, F. Arago, Berryer, Malleville, Mole, Montalembert, Broglie, de Luynes, Montebello, Lucien Bonaparte, C. Dupin, de Vatry, de Morny, de Noaillles, the Bishop de Langres, Admiral Cecille, Baron J. de Rothschild, the Prefect of the Seine-et-Oise, &c. At the second course, M. Dupin proposed the following toast : — "To the President of the Republic; to the union of the public powers, for strengthening of order in the interior, and the honourable maintenance of peace and good relations with other countries." The President replied, "It is a happy augury for peace at home as well as abroad, that the firßt anniversary of the 10th of December is feted in the midst of a great number of the members of the Assembly, and in the presence of the diplomatic corps. Between the Assembly and myself there is a community of origin, and a community of interests. All of us being the issue of the popular suffrage, we all aspire to the same end — the strengthening of society, and the prosperity of the country. Permit me, then, to repeat the toast of your President, "To the union of public powers ;' and let me add, 'To the Assembly — to its honourable President. 1 " It was remarkable that among the guests were all the most aristocratic names of the majority in the Assembly ; and it was said that, when M. Dupin submitted the list of guests to the President, his only remark was that he wished the Legitimists and the Church party to be properly represented. M. Thiers was absent through indisposition and Lord Normanby could not attend in consequence of the death of the Queen Dowager. The Prefect of Paris, M. Berger, gave a

dinner and ball on Monday in the Hotel de Ville. Two hundred guests were invited to the Banquet. M. Berger, in presenting a toast to the elect of the 10th of December, said that it was on the same day last year that France had chosen him for her chief; France had giren him her confidence, which he had returned by an unbounded devotion, and France, a great nation, that would be neither forgetful nor ungrateful, would long bear in mind the efforts be had made to ensure the safety of the country. Louis Napoleon, in reply, said that he hoped the new year would be more fertile in good results than that which was now expiring, especially if the two great powers of the state — the President and the Chamber — remained united. He believed they would remain so, with the grand object in view of defending the cause of civilisation, of liberty continually threatened by those who profane it, of the labouring classes, of representative government, and of the greatness and independence of France ; for if, said he, " the ideas which oppose us were once victorious, they would destroy our finances, our army, our credit, and our preponderance, and force us at the same time to wage war against all Europe. It had often been said that honour had an echo in France wherever - it was mentioned. He hoped that when good sense was in men's mouths it might find an echo in all hearts." The President concluded by a toast to the City of Paris and the municipal body. After the banquet the ball commenced, and lasted until a late hour. There wore upwards of 6,000 people present. Three measures said to have been prepared by the President himself, are to be submitted by his ministers to the Assembly. The following is a summary of their provisions :—: — " One of these projects is intended to create treasuries for mutual assistance amongst workmen. These treasuries or banks are to be founded as much as possible by trades. There would be associate- founders and asso-ciate-participators. Both would be obliged to make periodical payments. The associatefounders are to be chosen by the President of the Republic, who will name their president likewise. They should be chosen amongst the wealthy citizens who may be desirous of joining in this work of prudence and foresight. They would have to give their share only, whilst some of them might assist in the administration of the funds jointly with the commissioners chosen by the associated workmen, who alone would profit by those advantages." 'This,' (sayi the Constitutionnel) * is a means of establishing frequent relations between the wealthy middle class (bourgeoisie) and the citizens belonging to the labouring classes. This useful step would destroy every pretext for those unjust and baneful dislikes which so many socialists endeavour to propagate in the population which lives by its work.' "A second project has for its object to give to the executive power a stronger authority over teachers in primary schools. A third project proposes to give the pr4/ets the direct nomination of mayors, who should be chosen from the municipal > councils. In case the municipal council should be dissolved, the prefet would have the right to choose the mayor amongst all the citizens of the commune."