The Press. — London, England, 1858-10-16 00:00:00

THE PRESS, OCTOBER 16, 1858. 1006 TO CORRESPONDENTS. Whatever is intended for insertion muatbe authenticated by the name and address of the writer, not necessarily for publics Um, but as a guarantee of his good faith. Advertisements sent from the country must be accompanied by remittance or a reference fur payment in town. It is impossible to aeknowle ige the mass of letters we receive Their insertion is often delayed owing to a press of matter and when omitted, it is frequently from reasoua quite inde pendent of the merits of the communication. Cutnu2unications should always be legibly written, and on one aide of the paper only. If long it increases the difficulty of finding space for them. jortign (torrtsponbenct. Pants, Thursday. WHAT may be called the " political season " has opened with a good deal of spirit. Emperor and Ministers have only just returned from the holiday excursions of the summer, and diplomatists and infe rior politicians are only just beginning to do so; and yet we have already on hand two grand affairs which are creating quite a sensation. The first is that with Portugal, the second the assassination of the French and Spanish (not English, as at first stated) Consuls at Tetuan, in Morocco. Of the latter affair we have as yet no details; it is, however, supposed that the Consuls, both of whom, by the way, were Jews, have fallen victims to an out break of Mussulman fanaticism similar to that which lately stained Jeddah with blood. Of course severe retribution will be taken for the crime ; and the crime itself will afford France and Spain an excellent opportunity of doing what they have long desired— give a good lesson to, and perhaps take territory from, the barbaric Majesty of Morocco. The Por tuguese case, which has burst on the public with suddenness, will undoubtedly, us you announced in your last, be satisfactorily arranged, and I believe that the basis of the arrangement is already perfectly agreed to between the French Government and the Portuguese Ambassador in this city, M. de Paiva. As, however, the public do not of enures know day by day what takes place in diplomatic circles, they have been rather startled by the announcement, on semi official authority, that, in addition to the despatch of two ships of war, the Donawerth and the Austerlitz, to the Tagus, the French Cabinet yesterday sent to Lisbon an ultimatum which, couched in very impe rious terms, requires instant compliance with its demands—that is to say, the surrender of the French ship, the Charles Georges, and the promise of an indemnity to its owner and crew, and which threatens that the French Minister at Lisbon shall immediately break off diplomatic relations and leave in the event of the slightest hesitation being manifested by the Portuguese Government. The alarm has been somewhat increased by the report that the two ships of war have orders, in case the Portuguese Government be not yielding, to seize the Charles Georges, or if it be out of their reach to pounce on some Portuguese vessel. But I repeat that the matter will be—in fact virtually is—arranged. An arrangement being certain, it may be thought in England that the French Government need not have carried matters with such a very high hand, especially as some little consideration was due to the Portuguese King, not only on account of his political weakness, but of his being a personal friend of the French Emperor, having twice been his Majesty's guest for somewhat lengthened periods. It must, however, be remembered that the French like to see their Government act with rough and ready military energy, and that that Government gladly seizes esery opportunity of doing what is agreeable to them, and of giving them something to talk about. " Il taut quo j'amuse mes badauds !" said the Em peror of the French to a distinguished English statesman some little time ago ; and I think you would not be far wrong in supposing that the desire to amuse the badauds has had almost as much to do in creating the " Portuguese question" as the laudable deter mination not to allow a French shipowner to be wronged. Some of the continental journals, I see, in order to make as much "capital " out of tee affair as possible, are representing that England excited Portugal to resist the French demands, and that it is consequently against her in reality that the demonstration in the Tagus is directed. Lut this is pure nonsense. Nevertheless, be not surprised if, when the affair is settled, you should hear the said journals proclaim aloud that England has received a profound humiliation at the hands of France. Strange to say, the official Moniteur thus far— though ao ready to talk to the public—has not had a single word on the subject. Before quitting the matter, I may notice that the Toulon journals, re ceived this morning, state that the Mediterranean squadron in that port had received orders by tele graph to prepare for sea by this day, and that its destination was supposed to be Lisbon. Even, how ever, if the affair were not certain to be arranged, this version could not be true : a whole fleet is not required to coerce a small State like Portugal, any more than a wheel is needed to break a fly. The Emperor, after spending several days at the camp at Chalons, and personally commanding the troops in some grand manoeuvres with, dit-on, all the strategical ability of ma consummate general ; and the Empress, after going down to the camp to join his Majesty, and " assisting " with him at a magnificent review, seated on a splendid charger, and looking every inch a sovereign —after this their Majesties made on Monday a solemn entrance into the fine city of Rheims, where the kings of the old dynasties were crowned, where the oil with which they were anointed was miraculously preserved for generation after generation, and where, if anywhere in France, one would have thought that the remembrance of the ancient royal race would have been preserved with respectful affection—and there, at Rheims, the royal Rheims, the population high and l ow, erected triumphal arches, and put flags at every window, and turned out in a mighty mass, and raised shouts loud and long to welcome the Imperial pair. Verily there is some strange charm in Napo leouism ; so deeply does it stir the hearts of this people, be they stoiid Flemings. or mercurial Southerns, Catholic Bretons, or winebibbing Chain. pagnese. And verily it seems that the cause of the Bourbons must be for ever hopeless, when Napu leon 111. makes a triumphal progress through that Brittany which in the great Revolution shed its blood like water for them, and is greeted with enthusiastic acclamations in that self-acme Rheims in which they and their ancestors for centuries back were crowned. The Imperial visit to the " coronation city " h as given rise to a report that the Emperor has revived a project which has long been supposed to be d ear to his heart—that of having himself and the Empress solemnly crowned, as the founder of his race and the Empress Josephine were. Although his Majesty's prestige is certainly almost as high as it well can be, a formal coronation would cast an additional halo around him , and would bring him, so to speak, more closelyinto the family of hereditary sovereigns. And— a thing not to be disregarded—it would give occupa tion to the minds of the people for months before and months after it should take place; and at the same time it would—a still more important consideration—put large quantities of money into the purses of the Parisian lieges, by attracting to this city hosts of wealthy foreigners. In connection with this subject, it may be mentioned that a vague report has lately been prevalent that the Emperor and Empress will, in the course of the spring, go to Rome to visit the Pope. If their Majesties should do so, his Holiness would undoubtedly have to return the visit at Paris ; and what can a Pope come to Paris for, unless it be to crown an Emperor? " Fast as Law and Church can make them," Marshal Pelissier and Mlle. de Paniega are now one. Their civil marriage was celebrated on Tuesday afternoon, at the Mairie of the first arrondissement of Paris; their religious marriage on Tuesday night, in the chapel of the Palace of St. Cloud. Unusual hours were selected for the performance of both ceremonies, probably to show to the public that the wedding was no ordinary one; but, on the whole, the affair was got through with much less eclat than ' had been expected. Ministers, senators, and other great dignitaries, and all the high gentlemen and ladies of the Court were present both at lay and ecclesiastical marriage, and the Emperor and Em press, and all the members of the Imperial family, honoured the last one with their august presence. But, beyond the mere assemblage of the distin guished and Imperial personages, there WAS no pomp. It is probable that, before this letter reaches you, the Marshal and his beautiful bride will be in London, via Dieppe and Brighton. The old soldier is quite impatient to present the new Duchess de Malakoff to London society. As was to be expected, the translation of Lord Normanby's spiteful—l had almost written slanderous —book about the " Year of Revolution, 1848 " has caused a good deal of irritation amongst two great political parties, the Orleauists and the Republicans, owing to the terms in which it speaks of p ublic men whom they reverence; and it has occasioned scarcely less irritation amongst Frenchmen !n general, owing to the contemptuous manner in which their country and the Government.it thought fit for a while to adopt are treated. 1 ery harsh things indeed are said of Lord Normanby for having attacked eminent personages who showed him marked kindness when be was Ambassador here ; and universal astonishment is expressed that a man who has been Cabinet Minister and Ambas sador, and who therefore may be supposed to possess a certain degree of political importance, should boo o devoid of political tact, and even of ordinary gd feeling, as to publish a book calculated (so far as so small a thing can) to create dissension and revive animosity between England and France, at the very' time at which the rulers, the statesmen, and the best and wisest men of both countries are sparng no effort to draw closer their alliance. THE SEWERS RATEPAYERS' ASSOCIATION have passed a series of resolutions condemnatory of the plan for the interception of the sewage of London adopted by the Metropolitan Board of Works, in , volving a heavy outlay and consequent taxation. TERNS OF SUBSCRIPTION gbe Vrticg: (STAMPED) Per Annual .. Half Yearly.. Quarterly .. PAYABLE IN ADVANCE. L 1 6 0 0 13 0 Cr 6 6 Subscribers are requested to send their orders through News Agents; if direct to the Of accomnanied by a remittance Advertisements also must have a reference or remitutuce Money Orders to be made payable to Mr. ALFRED lys, no, Strand, London. .11) rog. LONDON, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16,1858. POSTSCRIPT. MASSACRE OF TWO CONSULS AT TETUAN, It is stated that at Tetuan, in Morocco, the Vice- Consuls of England and France have been mas sacred. The Paris papers confirms the intelligence, but the Patrie states that one of them was the Spanish, and not the English Vice• Consul. Both are stated to have been Jews, It is stated that the Toulon fleet is under orders for Morocco. THE HEALTH OF LORD HARms continues to im prove. At one time it was feared he would be com pelled to proceed to England immediately, but he will, it is said, return to the Presidency in December next. THE WEST INnix AN!) PACIFIC MAILS have arrived at Southampton. There is no intelligence of interest from the Pacific. The most important item of news from the West Indies is the holding of a great public meeting in Demerara on the Coolie question. The meeting adopted resolutions, calling on her Majesty's Government to relieve the colony from the obligation of returning the coolies to India when their period of service has expired. AUSTRALIA. THE MAIL. The overland mail brings intelligence from Mel- bourne to August 16, arid Sydney, August 11. The Melbourne Parliament stands further prorogued. The Chinese Emigration Bill, which had passed the Sydney House of Assembly, was expected to be shelved in the Upper House. The Electoral Bill may be said to have passed through committee of the whole house. Manhood suffrage has been adopted with a residentiary qualification of six months iu one district. Voting by ballot has been confirmed as an essen►ial part of the bill. The Sydney Empire reports a great increase in the productiveness of the gold fields. THE "SIR HENRY LAWRENCE MEMORIAL" will, in all probabil►ty, have to take some other form than that which, our readers will remember, had been assigned to it. In the spirit of Sir Henry's own life it had been determined to commemorate his de,ith by devoting the funds subscribed to help towards the maintenance of the two asylums for the children of soldiers which be had founded at Simla and at Mount Aboo. It is now believed that the Government of India will charge themselves with the support of these institutions, in which case the Lawrence memorial committee will have again to consult their subscribers as to the disposition of the fund. LEoMINsTEn.—i notice having appeared in the Gazette to that effect, the election of a member for Leominster, in the room of Mr. Wiloughby, who is appointed a member of the Council of India, is expected to take place in the week aft e r next. No opposition is expected, Mr. Wilde, the Liberal candidate, having resigned his preten sions. It is expected, therefore, that the Hon. Captain Hanbury, a brother of Lord Bateman, Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire and a large landed pro prietor, will be elected without opposition. Mr. Hanbury is a supporter of the present Government. Mr. Willoughby has issued an address to the electors on retiring from the representation of the borough. ^;" his