The Press. — London, England, 1858-01-09 00:00:00

The phrase " a stake in the country " has been much laughed at we know ; but in spite of HORACE, ridicule is not always conclusive. The present property qualification does ine vitably result in this—that the large mass of voters are thoroughly national—full of all those good old honest English prejudices which, however ridiculous separately, have somehow or other in the aggregate done us no disservice. Whether it would be wise, or how far it is necessary, to temper this element bv the admixture of a new one, is a very delicate question. On the one hand, it is scarcely expedient to oppose a measure which might serve as a counterpoise to the overwhelming materialism of the day. On the other, we dread the effect of lending any stimulus to the purely theoretical school of politicians. As this is a question in which intelligent public opinion is a good deal interested, and is one that may be discussed without warmth, we hope on some future occasion to recur to it, and that in the meantime it may receive a more candid consideration in other quarters than was accorded to it by the leading journal. jortign Comsponttntt. PARI3, Jan. 7, 1858. THE report of the Commission of the Riverain States continues to occupy not only the atten tion of the French Cabinet, but that of Eng land, and even those of Bavaria and Wurtemburg. The Commissioners of Bavaria and Wurtemburg have not yet signed the report, or convention, as it is sometimes called, and 1 have good reasons for saying that should their signatures be ultimately affixed to the document, it will be done with the great est reluctance, from a conviction that it never will be ratified by the Paris Congress. The Austrian journals accuse France with putting forth several frivolous objections to the convention. This is not so ; the sole question is, has the conven tion been drawn up in the spirit and intention of the Treaty of the 130th of March, 1850 ? If not, it cannot for a moment be supposed that the Congress of Paris has not a right to examine it, and, if necessary, send it back for further investigation. Austria has in this instance outwitted herself, and would, it is generally believed, make amende honorable if a favourable opportunity could be found. Austria, notwithstanding that one of the principal articles in the Treaty of Vienna of 1815 regulated the navigation of the Danube, has always so managed: as to evade the spirit of that article in the same way as she is now attempting to nullify the intentions of the Paris Congress. She will not succeed ; she is opposed by her firmest ally, Eng land, and the Turkish Commissioner continues to decline signing the convention. Turkey must have strong grounds for thus acting in opposition to the wishes of Austria, particularly after the following note sent some time back by Count Buol to Constan tinople : RAly on me for protecting your interests. In virtue of the treaty of the 30th of March, make use of all the in fluence of your sovereign power in Moldavia and Walla chia. At Vienna the question of the Danube will be treated in the light we wish it, and l am certain of success. It is useless to enter into all the squabbles that have taken place at the different meetings of the Commissioners; suffice to say that you may be assured the question will be brought before the Paris Congress, and Austria will be frustrated in her attempt to monopolise the commerce and navigation of the Danube. Some of the German organs of the Austrian (4overnment throw out hints that France, finding herself in almost an isolated political position, is making every effort to secure the alliance of England. It is true the Emperor is most desirous that the alliance between France and England should be of the most cordial nature, and that the most sincere intercourse should exist between the two Cabinets as between the two nations ; but I apprehend that the Emperor will never be found truckling to Lot(' Palmerston, nor giving up any principle which, after mature reflection, he has de cided on, either in the interests of Fiance or in the general welfare of Europe. It is in Paris a matter of lively speculation whence arises this d )übt of the alliance not being so cordial now av it was during the Osborne meeting ? Is Lord Pal m erston prepared to sacrifice the friendship of France for that cf Austria? It is so reported, but hardly: credited. The conduct of the Emperor PRESS, JANUARY 9,1858 Napoleon has always been most frank, courteous, and loyal. Can as much be said for other eminent characters? The French Cabinet is not, and has no reason for being, jealous of that of England, either as diplomatic or administrative statesmen. Indeed, if one were inclined to be invidious, comparisons between the two Cabinets might be drawn which would not be very flattering to that of Lord Palmerston. Two great questions are now under discussion—the negro free trade, and the Suez Canal. As regards the negro free trade, the French Government, I am assured, is acting with the greatest loyalty. She is as opposed to the sale of slaves as much as England, but she will not give way to vulgar abuse. The free negroes from the coast of Africa put on board French vessels, and carried to the French colonies, are treated as free men, and are hired for a certain period as any other labourer would be. The Empe ror is determined to carry out his project for the supply of free negro labourers to his colonies, but you may rely be will not permit the slightest infrac tion of the abolition policy. As to the Suez Canal, it Is not easy to understand either the determined opposition of Lord Palmerston, or the vacillating conduct of Austria. M. de Prokesch in his different conversations with M. de Thouvenel speaks in high and favourable terms of the project of M. de Lesseps, but at the same time he is using all his influence to persuade the Sultan to withhold the Orman until all the European powers have given their consent. All the European powers means Lord Palmerston ! If the secret manoeuvres and intrigues brought into play to prevent the Suez Canal scheme from being carried out weeo made public, what a highly instructive picture they would offer for the study of rising diplomatists ! The conduct of the Emperor amidst all these disagrintens is pleasant to contemplate. His temper is never ruffled. In his reply to the Diplomatic Corps on the Ist of January he indicated pretty clearly that he had no fears for the future. His language, I am assured, was most conciliatory, and fell of the conviction that the peace of Europe would not be disturbed. It is reported that the Count Petrulla, who lately passed through Paris, is charged with the mission to effect a reconciliation between England and Naples. This morning the Emperor presided at a Cabinet Council, in which the question of regulating the rate of legal interest was discussed. His Majesty is in the enjoyment of excellent health, and notwithstand ing the bitter cold weather drives out each day in an open carriage. The Empress has completely reco vered from her late slight indisposition, and conse quently the ball at the Tuileries will take place on the 9th. It was reported that the Empress was in an interesting state, but this is not positively known. It is said that General Lamoriciere and his family will pass a few days in Paris previous to taking up their residence at their country seat. Orders were given by the French Government that the general's baggage should not be examined at the Custom house on the frontiers. General Lamoriciere ex presses himself in the highest terms of the kindness shown to him by the Emperor. You will already have beard of the death of Mlle. Rachel, the celebrated tragedian, and probably have read her biography. I will, therefore, only add that it is not true that Mlle. Rachel had been converted to the Catholic faith. She lived and died a Jewess, and will be buried to-morrow in the Jewish cemetery at Pere La Chaise, where her family possesses a vault, and where her sister, Rebecca Felix, has been buried. The popularity and talent of Mlle. Rachel was so great that it is a curious fact that the amount of money received at the Thi.fitre Francais on the nights this tragedian performed, from 183 A to 1855, amounted to the enormous sum of 4,394,231 francs. I do not know whether you are aware that the banker Tachmann, who lately failed at Berlin for 800,000 dollars, is the father-in-law of Miss Wagner, the celebrated singer. It is said that in consequence of this disruption of family affairs she has deter mined to return to the stage. Baron James de Rothschild has given 60,0001b5. weight of bread to be distributed amongst the poor in Paris. The number of letters distributed by the different French post-offices amounted during the last year to 252 millions. The cold is very great, and the Seine, from the Palace of the Archbishop to the lock of the Monnnie, the Canal St. Martin, the bassins in the Tuileries, and the lake in the Bois de Boulogne, are completely frozen. They are daily covered with eager skaters. Several elegant sledges have been seen in the Bois de Boulogne. The weather is equally cold in other parts of France ; the Loire and the Cher are com pletely frozen over. The inner basin of the port of Havre is covered with a slight coat of ice ; the waters of the Rhone and Saone at Lyons are very low. It is reported that the typhus is raging with great fury at Nice. The Grand Duchess Sterhanie, the Duchess of Hamilton, and other illustrious visitors, are preparing to quit it for other parts of Italy. M. de Tallevrand Perigord, the French Comr n i,.. sioner in the Danubian Principalities, is expected • t o reach Paris about the end of the month. I forgot to mention that there is no truth in the report that the French fleet now anchored near to Hong Kong will not cooperate with the English in the attack on Canton. The beat understanding exists between Baron Gros and Lord Elgin as to the con. duct and object of the Chinese war. FARLI kMENTARY REFORM. A MAXIVESTo, signed by thirty-one members of Par liament and others, was published on Tuesday. I t lays down the following as " leading features " of any Parliamentary Reform : I (a). The extension of the borough franchise in Eng land and Wales to " every maie person of full age and not subject to any legal incapacity,' who shall occupy, as owner or tenant in part or whole, any premises within the borough which are rated for relief of the poor; (b) the extension of the county franchise in England and Wales to all lot. occupiers at least; (c) the assimilation, as far as possible, of the franchises in Scotland and Ireland to those of England and Wales. 2. Protection to the voter by the ballot, on a plan similar to that adopted in the Australian colonies. 3. A reappointment of seats, that shall make such an approach to an equalisation of constituencies as shall give, in the United Kingdom, a majority of members to a majority of electors. 4. Abolition of property qualification for members. 5, The calling of a new Parliament every three years. The following are the members of Parliament whose names are attached to this document : F. Hen. F. Berkeley, Bristol Chas. Gilpin, Northampton_ John Riggs, Leicester J. Green, Kilkenny County J. A. Blake, Waterford George Hadfield, Sheffield George Bowyer, Dundalk James Kershaw, Stockport John Brady, Leitrim R. Levinge, Bart., West- John Bright, Birmingham mea'h C. S. Butler, Tower Hamlets W. S. Lindsay, Tynemonth James Caii d, Dartmouth Donald Nicoll, Frome F. M. Calcutt. Clue County Robert N. Phillips, Bury James Clay, Hull J. A Roebuck, Sheffield Wm. Coningham, Brighton Wm. Ronpell, Lambeth F. Conyngham,ClareCounty J. B. Smith, Stockport Joseph Crook, Bolton T. P. Thompson, Bradford Frank Crossley, Halifax John Townsend, Greenwich W. J. Fox, Oldham James White. Plymouth T. Milner Gibson, Ashton William Williams, Lambeth CIVIL SERVICE ESTIMATES. A cowrAaArivE statement of the votes for civil services each year, from 1852 to 1856 inclusive, was issued yesterday morning in the form of a parlia mentary paper. These civil service votes are divided into seven classes—Public Works, Salaries, Law and Justice, Education, Colonial, Superannuations and Charities, and Special or Temporary. The increase or decrease each year, as compared with the Totes of 1852, which are taken as the standard, is as fol lows : 1. Public Works.-1852, 621,2311. ; increase on 1853, 186,443/. ; on 1854, 194,5981. ; on 1855, 125,5291.; on 1856, 270.7691. 2. Salaries.-1852, 1.028,950/. ; increase on 1853, 10171. ; on 1854, 388,6211.; on 1855, 286,430/. ; on 1856, 485,243/. 3. Law and Instiee.-1852, 1.294,3741. ; increase on 1853, 87,0541.; on 1854, 1,038,3281. ; on 1855, 950,913/. ; on 1856, 962,7091. 4. Education.-1852, 468,7561.; increase on 1853, 127,6481. ; on 1854, 25 . 2,7951.: on 1855, 367,9141. ; on 1856, 408,1811. 5. Colonial.-1852, 369,318/4 decrease on 1853, 21,097/. • on 1854, 27,8571.; on 1855, 40,9741.; on 1856, 46,0531. 6. Superannuation and Charities.-1852, 213,023/.; decrease on 1853, 3,148/. ; increase on 1854, 3,3081.; on 1855, 5,3191. ; on 1856, 18,1781. 7. Special and Temporary.-1852, 312,0921.; in crease on 1853, 17,177/. ; on 1854, 395,9741. ; on 1855, 483,1771. ; on 1850, 225,4711. Total of the Seven Classes.-1852, 4,307,7541.; net increase on 1853, 304,564/. ; on 1854, 2,240,767/.; on 1855, 2,178,3081. ; on 1856, 2,316,4961. Total of the Votes each Year.-1852, 4,307,7541.; 1853, 4,702,318/.; 1854, 6,548,5211.; 1855, 6,488,0621. ; 1856, 6,621,2501. Sorrs NORTHAXPTONSIMIL—CoIoneI Cartwright and Lord Henley have both taken the field—the gallant colonel upon " strictly Conservative princi ples," Lord Henley upon the principle of "giving his humble support to Lord Palmerston." It is doubtful whether Lord Henley will go to the poll. REIGATE.—There is a vacancy in this borough by the death of the late member, Mr. W. Hackblock. A work of Earl Grey of much interest and im portance on the subject of the new Reform Bill, and giving the views of this distinguished statesman upon the subject of Parliamentary Reform, is now passing through the press, and will be published by Mr. Bentley, of New Burlington-street, in a few days. 1