The Press. — London, England, 1857-08-22 00:00:00

jortign nnb Colonial Intelligente. FRANCE. THE PARIS FETES. The inauguration of the new buildings that now connect the ancient palace of the Louvre with the Tuileries was, in every sense of the word, an im posing solemnity. It had the air of a " fete de famille " as much as that of a national demonstra tion, for all distinction e rank was at the moment obliterated, and the Minister and the workman sat side by side at the same table. The Emperor correctly described the completion of the Louvre to be " &truly national undertaking ardently desired by all classes of Frenchmen for a period of three centuries ;" and the admixture of court costumes,covered with stars, with the simple blouses of the workmen, was in just character with the intention of the Emperor. This was further made manifest by the decorations to the directors and the workmen having being bestowed by the Emperor himself. This festival, perfectly " sui generis," immediately preceding the annual one of the 15th of August, drew together a large number of foreigners. Paris was full to overflowing. Nothing could exceed the anxiety of the crowd of spectators to get a close view of the troops of workmen in their marshalled array to and from the Louvre ; and they gave evident signs of surprise and satisfaction at having become on a sudden objects of such flattering attention and importance. The weather unhappily was not pro pitious ; yet the fetes were carried out, and an immense crowd of persons wended their way to the Tuileries, the Champs Elysies, and the Champ de Mars. In the latter place there were unfolded at one time no less than 100,000 umbrellas, of every shade and colour, affording a most curious and pic turesque effect. The fete commenced at six o'clock in the morning by a salvo of artillery from the Invalides. Soon afterwards provisions were liberally distributed to the poor of Paris ; and towards eight the churches were filled, as the day was also the fete of the Assumption. The theatres were freely thrown open to the public, who were admitted gratuitously, and the conduct of the various audiences was marked with a propriety that so thoroughly distinguishes LC French audience of the lower orders from that of any other nation. Out of doors the chief attraction was the military pantomime representing an episode in the late cam paign of the French against the Kabyles. There was an Arab village, with its appropriate tents and other appurtenances of desert life; whilst the inhabi tants, in lazy and unmiliwy postures, listlessly awaited events with the singular apathy of their race. Presently horsemen, galloping to the en campment from the hills, brought intelligence of the approach of a hostile force, and with due Oriental gravity the Arab tribes gathered together their soldiers and prepared to descend to the plain. And here these wild warriors gave proof of a certain pro gress in social civilisation, for, in defiance of the strict injunction of their prophet, and before under- taking serious operations, they emptied with alacrity the various " petites verres" that were offered them by a body of irregular suttlers. Reinforced by this prohibited refreshment, the Arabs shouted defiance, and the plain became animated with a mass of white bournous. The horsemen fired in the air, hurled their long carbines above their heads, catching them skilfully when they fell, and performed the several evolutions that are the usual accompaniments of coming strife among the Arab hordes. Then a squadron of French Chasseurs d'Afrique made its appearance ; and the Arabs, having been taken by sur prise, retreated to their village, rallied, and succeeded in checking the advancing cavalry. After a moment the French gallantly dashed at the village, but were driven back by a cloud of mounted Arabs charging with wild fury. Then came a hand-to-band fight, which resulted in no advantage to the French beyond the blockade of the village. Suddenly in the distance a bugle is beard, and a platoon of Chasseurs de Vincennes debouch on the plain at full speed and advance on the village. After a partial success they are driven back by the Arabs, and charged furiously and successfully by their wild cavalry. But a battery of French artillery coming up at this critical juncture turns the scale against the defenders of the village—resistance is unavailing —the artillery decides the fortune of the day—and the French flag floats on the Arab position. The whole affair was most enthusiastically received by the people, and altogether was most successful. A balloon ascent and a concert completed the amuse ments till nightfall, when the loud report of bombs and other fireworks signalled the commencement of the fireworks on the height of Chaillot. The Champ de Mars became, as it were, the pit or parterre of this magnificent spectacle. Th e E mperor an d Empress witnessed the display from the balcony of the Ecole Militaire. Nothing c ou ld ex , !ee d th e brilliancy of this varied illumination and fireworks. THE PRESS, AUGUST 22, 1857. The whole firmament appeared to be one blaze of fire. The Moniteur has published the list of persons decorated with the Legion of Honour; and, with some few exceptions, the choice seems to have been made with judgment. But nothing could have been more happily conceived to captivate the imagination of the French than the distribution of the military medal for the campaigns from 1792 to 1815. It was a just and noble recompense for long and meritorious service during an epoch that will be ever famous in French annals. The thought, the sym pathy, and the gratitude combined were worthy of the nephew of the great Emperor ; and if the sur vivors of Marengo and Austerlitz were few, the memory of those who had departed to the long hume was as fresh as the acknowledgment of the long and immortal services of the " old army of Napoleon " was grateful. The Emperor and Empress left St. Cloud on Monday, at four p.m., for Biarritz. At Bayonne, en route, on Tuesday, their Imperial Majesties were most enthusiastically received. The French journals generally express consider able satisfaction at the result of the Osborne Con• ferences. The Patrie remarks : Everything has, therefore, been regulated in the spirit of the treaty. The attitude of France, so well represented at Constantinople by M. Thouvenel, has had all the results that could have been expected; it has dissipated all ex• elusive pretensions which could not agree with the general interest of Europe, and has strengthened more than ever the sincerity of our alliances and the blessings of peace. The Dibats, referring to Lord s Palmerston's nations, observes : The interests of England are so deeply engaged at this moment in China and India that she does nut wish to lay the way for farther difficulties. England permitted the incident to attain development at Constantinople with the firm determination not to push matter* to extremities. M. Thouvenel comprehended this with an intelligence which does him credit; the French Government, being well informed, supported its representative with its instruc tions. The conference at Osborne completed the work. The Moniteur states that the following diplomatic changes will shortly take place :—Count Rayneval is to be the French Ambassador at St. Petersburg. The Doke de Grammont removes from the Court of Sardinia to that of Rome ; Prince de la Tour d'Au vergne leaves the Courts of Tuscany and Parma, and replaces the Duke de Grammont. The Marquis de Ferriere-le-Vayer, Minister at Wurtemburg, re moves to Tuscany and Parma, and is succeeded by the Count de Reculot, now Minister at the Courts of Hanover and Brunswick. AUSTRIA AND TURKEY. THE DANUBIAN PRINCIPALITIES. The Austrian Government has consented to join the European powers in recommending the Molda vian elections to be annulled. The Austrian Gazette states that this concession is a mere form, as the new elections will only terminate in a similar way. A letter from Vienna, in the Hamburg Newsy con firms the above. It says : In order to pat an end to the crisis at Constantinople, Lord Palmerston obtained by telegraph the consent of the Austrian Government to the revocation of the Mol davian elections, and then promised the Emperor of the French to endeavour, in concert with the Cabinet of Vienna, to obtain the adhesion of the Porte to that course of proceeding. In point of fact, the Austrian Government will agree to anything short of the political union of the pro vinces. RUSSIA AND AUSTRIA. A curious letter from St. Petersburg alludes to the present unsatisfactory state of the relations be tween the Governments, of Vienna and St. Peters- burg . The relations between the Courts of St. Petersburg and Vienna are very unsatisfactory, and may be judged of by the petty quibbles now indulged in by the Austrian Cabinet. Everybody is aware that the Emperor of Russia is also King of Poland, and it is very natural that he should adopt that title in official documents. This can only be objected to by those who seek a pretext for satis fying their bad feeling. Such appears to be the intention of the Vienna Cabinet, which, through its chargé d'affaires at our Court, objects that Alexander 11. should assume the title of emperor and king, which belongs exclusively, according to that Cabinet, to the Emperor of Austria. It might be argued that the title of the latter is open to objection since the unity of the Austrian empire has been proclaimed, and the loss by the isolated kingdoms of Hun gary, Bohemia, ttc., of their distinct existence. Poland, on the other hand, has a distinct A.lmiuistration. Under these circumstances, which power is in the right ? Our Cabinet has simply refused to enter into any discussion on the subject. TURKEY AND THE PRINCIPALITIES. Jassy, July 30. The elections are all finished. The inhabitants of the towns, the small proprietors, and the peasants have abstained from voting. A telegraphic despatch from Constantinople an nounces that the Sultan has communicated to those European Ambassadors who had suspended relations with the Forte that he is occupied in the formation 823 of his new Ministry, and that, until the Cabimt should be constructed, diplomatic intercourse could not be resumed. HOLSTEIN. The Diet of the Duchy of Holstein was opened cn the 15th inst. M. de Levetzau, the Royal Commi. sary, made a conciliatory speech. Baron de Scheel- Plessen, leader of the Opposition, was unanimously elected President; M. Reinecke, of the same party, Vice-President. INDIA AND CHINA. Singapore, June 28. The French squadron is now setting sail for Hong Kong. Tho English frigate, the Simoom, having on board the regiment of Fusiliers (the sth), has shaped her course for India. June 30. Lord Elgin has embarked for China. All the honours were paid to him here. AMERICA. Intelligence to the 6th states that the New Grans dian difficulty is virtually settled. General Herron acknowledges the debt. The means of payment are another matter. The Government at Washington apprehended no serious difficulty between Spain and Mexico. The Spanish Minister called and delivered to Genersl Cass a draft on Havannah for 35,000 dollars, *with which to pay the interest on the Spanish debt in New York. The New York Daily Times says : A special despatch from Washington indicates that a treaty arrangement is under consideration between Loll Napier and General Cass, for the final settlement of the Central American controversy with Great Britain, growing oat of British occupation of the Bay Islands. The country will certainly rejoice if England furnishes evidence of the sincerity of her professed ch ange of policy in regard to the American continent, by retiring from her untenable posi• tion in regard to Central America. The New York Express of the 6th sap, with regard to the rumour in England of a new Foreign Legion being raised for Indid:— A rumour was afloat in the city yesterday, to the effect that certain British officials were again engaged in enlisting men in the United States to serve in the war against the disaffected in India. The accounts from the States respecting the har vest prospects are on the whole most satisfactory. IrtiatO. HIS EXCELLENCY THE EARL OF CARLISLE, aOOOl7l - by Lady Fanny Howard and his suite, left Dublin on Tuesday, to pay a visit to Waterford. His Excellency is the guest of the Marquis of Waterford. The noble earl will also visit Castletown, the seat of the Hon. Major Stuart. _ _ _ SPOLLEN, the man lately tried and found " Not Guilty" of the murder of Mr. Little, has had the hardihood to appear in public at St. Patrick's Theatre, Dublin, in order to give an account of his trial, and solicit the aid of the public to enable him to emigrate. The first exhibition took place on Tuesday, and was a decided failure. Very few per sons were present, and those only to protest against the proceedings, and to call upon him to explain who told his wife where the money was hid, to which Spollen replied, " That is nothing to you, sir," and then added that "if he was the most guilty man in existence he was not to be left to starve." He con cluded by stating that " supposing he was the guilty mtn it was a most dreadful thing to have the sacred bond of matrimony destroyed by his wife." Here he was interrupted by a request to state as formerly who told his wife where the money was, to which he re plied, "he did not know, he had no suspicion," adding further : There may be domestic fights that it would not be very fPrling to me to enter into an explanation of; perhaps it is more honourable that I should hold them, and that they should remain with myself. My position is a very severe one. In the evening Spollen made his second appear ance, but, as before, only two or three were present besides the police and representatives of the press. One of the public addressed Spollen, conjuring him to give such explanations as would remove the doubts of his innocence, or at once to declare him self guilty if be was guilty. Spollen answered, " What course am I to adopt*' when suddenly his son rushed forward, and in the most excited manner told him not to answer such questions. THE BRITISH AssocivrioN will assemble early next week Dublin, and the most complete preparations have been made by an efficient local committee to give eclat to their visit. The meeting is expected to be very fully attended. THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL (Mr. Donelly) has issued another of his useful statistical tables relating to the flax crop in Ireland. By this document it appears there has been a most serious falling off in the quantity planted, taking it by acres. The total acreage amount of flax in 1 , ;456 was 106,311 acres, this year 9t3,094, being a decrease of $3,41.7 acres.