The Press. — London, England, 1858-12-11 00:00:00

,i , Esu, on the Boulevard du Temple (a fountain which has witnessed many an assemblage of armed revolutionists and many a barricade)—has just been completed, and is about to be occupied by troops. It has been recommended to the Emperor that the it inauguration " of the new fortress shall be made the pretext of a military display ; and it is urged that such a display would not only please the people—a thing always worth doing—but would afford an opportunity to the army of making, in the presence of all Paris, a manifestation of Imperial enthusiasm, which would be useful as a lesson to the adversaries of the Imperial regime. It is also urged that it is good policy to show the gentle Parisians from time to time that the Government has always at its beck and call 20,000 bayonets, many thousand sabres, and many score cannon. All which the Emperor has taken into consideration. It is at present intended that the Legislative Body, as the French Parliament is called, shall meet early in February. As, however, this body possesses no other power than that of sanctioning the measures which the Government may think fit to submit to it, and of voting the money the Government may think fit to demand from it, its meeting is of no other political importance than in so far us it necessitates a speech from the Emperor. You have been informed in previous letters that the Empress has a great dislike to residing in Paris, owing to the repeated attempts that have ‘)een made in it to take her Imperial husband's life.—" It is only in Paris," is her exclamation, "that the assas sin's hand is raised, and I hate Paris !" In conse quence of this sentiment ber Majesty tried to post pone as long as she could the departure of the Court from Compiegne, and by her influence with the Emperor she obtained postponement after postpone ment. At last, Thursday, the 2nd, was fixed for the return ; the Empress begged for another delay, but was told that it could not possibly be accorded. Whereupon her Majesty with her own fair hand drew up a petition to the Emperor, humbly supplicating for an additional delay of a week, or at the very least to Sunday, the sth, and she based her prayer on three grounds :—first, that the chamber of' the Prince Imperial at the Palace of the Tuileries having undergone some repairs was somewhat damp; second, that a new study made for the Emperor himself was unwholesome; third, that she herself and the ladies of ber suite had not dresses " fit to be seen in," and must consequently get new ones made. This petition her Majesty signed, and all her ladies of honour, by her direction, signed it likewise. And when the Emperor was about to sit down to dinner, in swept a troop of chamberlains and lackeys, carrying a gigantic silver salver, on which was a document bearing an enormous seal. " What is that ?" said the Emperor, greatly surprised. The Empress looked astonished, but demurely suggested that perhaps it was " a petition from some poor people." The Emperor broke the seal—read—smiled ; and amidst a pleasant peal of laughter from the Empress and her ladies graciously decided on remaining at Compiegne to Sunday. So, the Imperial return took place only on Sunda) last, and it was not accompanied with the pomp that some people bad expected. A special train from Compiegne—a number of Court carriages —an e-cort of the magnificent regiment of Cuiras• sters—and salutes more or less cordial from knots of people here and there—that was all. One of the first things the Emperor did on his return to Paris was, I hear, to express strong dis satisfaction at the manner in which the new arrange rnentot the Tuileries gardens has been accomplished. Some weeks back his Majesty saw the alterations when they were in progress, and did not like them, but allowed himself to be persuaded that they would produce an intim ely better effect when completed. " What has been done is not stall like what T directed !" was, however, his final observation to the unfortunate wight to whom the operation was confided, and it was made in au angry tone. But, though the changes do not please the Emperor, they are, on the whole, admired by the public. I bear that the Government has received a despatch from the commander of its naval station on the western coast of Africa, Captain Protets, stating that a new difficulty about the " free immigration " of blacks into the F , eneh colonic a had arisen—three English cruisers having by force compelled a French ship to disembark a cargo of blacks. But, after the letter of the Emperor, this " difficulty " will no doubt be easily arranged. It is asserted here in political circles that there is 110 truth in the statement ma le by some of the Lon don journals that the King of Naples has expressed a formal desire to be reconciled with England and France; but it is said that the King of Bavaria, pro bably with the consent of all parties, is about to try to bring about an arrangement. The Jewish consistory in this city, you are aware, requested permission from the Government to pro secute the Church organ, the Univers, for libelling the Jews ; but the Go vernment h as d eeme d i t expe dient to refuse the permission, in order not to aggra vate the religious excitement which prevails.) :.~~ THE PRESS, DECEMBER 11, 1858. la ta an Colonial Intelligence. FRANCE. THE MONTALEMBERT TRIAL. A letter from Paris say.:—" It confidently slated to-day, at the Palais de Justice, that the papers in the Montalembert affair had been deposited in the Registry of the Cour Imperiale. This cause is to be brought on an early day before the Court of Appeal of the Correctional Police, presided over by M. Perrot de Chezelles. It was added that the report on the case had been confined to Coun sellor Achille Treilhard. This afternoon the day of hearing was even said to be fixed ; it was to be on Tuesday, the 21st inst." It is not yet known whether the seat of Public Minister will on this occasion be occupied by the Procureur General, M. Chaix d'Est-Ange. The rumour is that it will. THE " CHARLES GEORGES " AFFAIR. The statement in a Belgian journal that the French Government disapproves the conduct of its Minister at Lisbon, in the negotiations on the subject of the Charles Georges, is stated to be entirely false. The Government, on the contrary, has ex pressed to the Minister its unqualified satisfaction at the course he has pursued. 1207 We hereby announce to the native princes of India that all treaties and engagements made with them by or under the authority of the Honourable East India Compaq) , are by us accepted, and will be scrupulously tnaintaiued; and we look for the like observance on their part. _ . We desire no extension of our present territorial posses sions ; and while we will permit no aggression upon our domiuions or our rights to be attempted sith impunity, we shall sanction no encroachment on those of others. We shall respect the rights, dignity, and honour of native princes as our own; and we desire that they, as well as our own subjects, should enjoy that prosperity and that social advancement which can only be secured by internal peace and good government. We hold ourselves bound to the natives of our Indian territories by the same obligations of duty which bind us to all our other subjects ; and those obligations, by the blessings of Almighty God, we shall faithfully and con scientiously tulfil. Firmly relying ourselves on the truth of Christianity, and acknowledging with gratitude the solace of religion, we disclaim alike the right and the desire to impose our convictions on any of our subjects. We declare it to be our royal will and pleasure that none be in anywise favoured, none molested or disquieted, by rea'on of their religious faith or observances, but that all shall alike enjoy the equal and impartial protection of the law; and we do strictly charge and enjoin all those who may be in autho rity under us that they abstain from all interference with the religious belief or worship of any of our subjects, on pain of our highest displeasure. And it is our further will,that, so far as may be, our subjects, of whatever race or creed, be freely and impar tially admitted to offices in our service, the duties of which they may be qualified, by their education, ability, and in tegrity, duly to discharge. We know and respect the feeling of attachment with which the natives of India regard the lands inherited by them from their ancestors, and we desire to protect them in all rights connected therewith, subject to the egnie table demands of the State ; and we will that, generally, in framing and administering the law, due regard be paid to the ancient rights, usages, and customs of India. We deeply lament the evils and misery which have been brought upon India by the acts of ambitious men, who have deceived their countrymen by false reports and led them into open rebellion. Our power has been shown by the suppression of that rebellion in the field we desire to show our mercy by pardoning the offences of those who have been thus misled, but desire to return to the path of duty. Already in one province, with a view to stop the further effusion of blood, and to hasten the pacification of our Indian dominions, our Viceroy and Governor-General has held out the expectation of pardon, on certain terms, to the great majority of those who in the late unhappy dis turbances have been guilty of offences against our Govern ment, and has declared the punishment which will be in flicted on those whose crimes place them beyond the reach of Ftrgiveness. We approve and confirm the said act of our Viceroy and Governor-General, and do further an nounce and proclaim as follows : Our clerneney will be extended to all offenders, save and except those who have been or shall be convicted of having directly taken part in the murder of British sub jects. With regard to such the demands of justice forbid the exercise of mercy. To those who havit willingly given asylum to murderers, knowing them to be such, or who may have acted as leaders or instig 'tore in revolt, their lives alone can be guaranteed; but, in spportloning the penalty due to such persons, full consideration will be given to the circumstances under which they have been induced to throw off their allegiance, and large indulgence wilt be shown to those whose crimes may appear to have originated in a too credulous Accept ance of the false reports circulated by designing men. To all others in arms against the Government we hereby promise unconditional pardon, amnesty, and oblivion of all offences against ourselves, our Crown and dignity, on their return to their homes and peaceful pursuits. It is our royal pleasure that these terms of grace and amnesty should be extended to all those who comply with their conditions before the Ist day of January next. When, by the blessing of Providence, internal tranquil lity shall be restored, it is our earnest desire to stimulate the peaceful industry of India, to promote works of public utility and improvement, and to administer its govern ment for the benefit of all our subjects resident therein. In their prosperity will be our strength, in their content ment our security, and in their gratitude our best reward. And may the God of all power grant to us, and to those in authority under us, strength to carry out these our wishes for the good of our people. Lord Canning, as Viceroy and Governor• General, has also issued a proclamation, and the principal native inhabitants of Bombay have adopted a loyAl and dutiful address to the Queen. THE CAMPAIGN IN OUDE. The following is Lord Clyde's Proclamation on taking the field : October 26. The Commander•in-Chief proclaims to the people of Oude that, under the orders of the Right Hon. the Governor• General, he comes to enforce the low. To enable him to effect this without , property, resistance must cease on the The most exact discipline will be camps and on the march; and when thei houses and crops will be spared, and no in the towns and villages. But wherever there is resistance, or , fired &gains' the troops, the inbabitan, incur the fate they have brought upon th Their houses will be burnt and their I This proclamation includes all ranks , the tslookdare to the poorest ryota. p damage r tof to t ho life people. preserved in the sere is no resistance • plundering allowed even a single shot ants must expect to themselves. r villages plundered a of the people, from THE IMMIGRATION SCHEME. It is stated, says the Paris correspondent of the Times, in a report addressed to the Minister of Marine by Captain Protet, of the Imperial Navy, who commands the French squadron on the coast of Africa, that a fresh difficulty has arisen out of the question of the importation of free negroes into the French colonies, a vessel so engaged having been overhauled by the English cruisers, and forced to reliant the immigrants, although the operation was perfectly regular. ITALY. COMING EVENTS. The National Italian Society of Turin has just published a pamphlet which states, among other matters, that the army of Piedmont on a war looting consists of 112,000 infantry, 19,000 cavalry, and 40 batteries of artillery. The pamphlet says these statements are made in " the expectation of conflicts." PORTUGAL. THE KING'S HEALTH. A letter from Lisbon announces that the King Dorn Pedro, who had been indisposed, was better, and that his recovery had filled his people with joy. RUSSIA. TRILL OF RUSSIAN ORNER.A.I.S. The trial of the Russian generals accused of pecu lation during the campaign in the Crimea is to commence in January. The principal wir.ness is a French corporal, retired from the service, who was taken prisoner in the Crimea, and having by accident discovered where a sum of 100,000 roubles was concealed, gave information to the Russian au thorities. INDIA. THE ROYAL PRO ';LAMATION. The Proclamation of the Queen, announcing that she has assumed the sovereignty of India, was made all over India on the Ist of November, and was re ceived with enthusiasm by all classes of the country. Bombay was a scene of great rejoicing on the occa sion, and the other large cities are reported to have equally manifested feelings of loyalty and satisfaction. The following is the text of this important docu ment Vicroara, by the grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and of the Colonies and Dependencies thereof in Europe, Asia, Africa, America, and Australasia, QUEEN, Defender of the Frith. . _ . Wher -as, for divers weighty reasons, we have resolved, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords spiritual and temporal, and Commons in Parliament assembled, to take upon ourselves the government of the territories in India, heretofore administered in trust fur us by the Ha nourable East India Company. Now, therefore, we do by these presents notify and declare that, by the advice and consent aforesaid, we have taken upon ourselves the said government, and we hereby call up.m all our subjects within the said territories to be faithful and to bear true allegiance to us, our heirs and successors, and to submit themselves to the authurity of those whom we may hereafter from time to time see fit to appoint to a.lminister the government of our said territo• ries in our name and on our behalf. .._ . . And we, reposing especial trust and confidence in the loyalty, ability, and judgment of our right trusty and well beloved cousin and councillor, Charles John Viscount Canning, do hereby cmistitute and appoint him, the said Viscount Canning, to be our first Viceroy and Governor- General in and over our said territories, and to administer the government thereof in our name, and generally to act in our name and on our behalf, subject to such orders and regulations as he shall from time to time receive from us through one of our Principal Secretaries of State. - • • • •- And we do hereby confirm in their several offices, civil and military, all persons now employed in the service of the Honourable East India Company, subject to our future pleihure, and to such laws and regulations as may hereafter be enacted.