The Press.
London, England, 1858-02-13 00:00:00

THE FRENCH DESPATCHES.

THE following is a translation of the despatch from
the French Minister for Foreign Affairs which Lord
Paimerston laid on the table of the House of Com-
mons on Saturday .

COUNT WILEWSKI TO COUNT PERSIONT.

Paris, Jan. 20, 1858.
Monsieur le Comte,—The preliminary proceedings in-
stituted on the criminal attempt of which the person of the
Emperor has been the object are pursuing their course, and
we shall ere long learn the definite result ; but there is one
point on which, even at present, we can have no doubt;
this attempt, like those which have preceded it, has been
projected iu England.
It was in England that Pianori formed the design of
attacking the Emperor; it was from L)ndon that, in an
affair the recollection of which is still fresh, Mazzini, Ledru
Rollin, and Campanella hrected the hired bravos (sicaires)
whose hands they had armed. It was there also that the
authors of the late consniracy have prepared at leisure their
means of action, studied and fabricated the instruments of
destruction of which they made use, and it was thence that
they started to execute their plan.
In establishing these facts, I hasten to aid how much
the Government of the Emperor is penetrated with the sin-
cerity of the sentiments of reprobation which they have
raised in England. It is equally convinced that, with such
proofs of the abuse of hospitality before them, the English
Government and people will from the present understand
how far we are justified in anxiously considering them
(fondes a nons en preoceuper).
No oue appreciates and respects more than ourselves
the liberality with which England loves to practise the
right of asylum towards foreigners, victims of political

struggles. France has on her part always regarded it as
duty of humanity never to close her frontiers to an
honourable misfortune, to whatever party it might belong
and the klovernrnent of his Majesty has no intention of
complaining that its adversaries can find a refuge on
English soil and live there peaceably, under the protection
of British laws, while remaining faithful to their opinions,
even to their passions.
But, Monsieur le Comte, how widely different is the
attitude of the adepts in demagogy established in England!
It is no longer the hostility of erring parties manifesting
itself by all the excesses of the press and every violence of
language ; it is no longer even the labour of the factious
seeking to agitate opinion and to provoke disorder; it is
assassination reduced to a doctrine, preached openly, prac-
tised in repeated attempts, the most recent of which has
just struck Europe with stupefaction (vient de trapper
l'Europe de stupeur).
Ought, then, the right of as)lnm to protect such a state
of things? Is hospitality due to assassins? Should
English legislation serve to favour their designs and their
manceuvres, and can it continue to protect persons who
place themselves by flagrant acts outside the pale of the
common law, and expose themselves to the ban of
humanity?
In submitting these questions to the Government of
her Britannic Majesty the Government of the Emperor
not only discharges a duty towards itself, it responds to
the sentiment of the country, which demands such a pro-
ceeding under the pressure of most legitimate anxieties
(qui l'y invite sous l'empire des plus legitinies pre-
occupations ), and which, in a circumstance where joint
responsibility (solidarite) between all nations and all Go-
vernments is so evident, believes that it has the right to
count upon the co-operation of England. The recurrence
and the perversity of these guilty enterprises subject France
to a danger against which we are all hound to provide.
The Government of her Britannic Majesty can assist us
in averting it by giving us a guarantee of security, which
no State can refuse to a neighbouring State, and which
we are authorised in expecting from an ally. Full of con-
fidence, moreover, in the exalted reason of the English
Cabinet, we abstain from all indication as regards the
measures which it may be suitable to take to satisfy this
wish. We rely in this matter entirely on them (the
English Cabinet) for the care of appreciating the decisions
which they shall judge the most proper to lead to this end,
and we flatter ourselves (nous nous complaisons) with the
firm belief that we shall not have appealed in vain to
their conscience and their loyalty.
You will be so good as to read this despatch to Lord
Clarendon, and give him a copy of it.—Accept, &c.,
A. WALIWSEL

The following is a translation of the despatch Sir
George Grey read before the house on Tuesday
night :
M. le Comte,—The account you give me of the effect
produced in England by the insertion in the Voniteur of
certain addresses from the army has not escaped my atten-
tion, and I have made a report of it to the Emperor. You
are aware of the sentiments by which we have been in-
fluenced in the steps we have adopted with her Britannia
Majesty's Government on the occasion of the attack of the
14th of January, and of the care we have taken, in apply.
ing for its concurrence, to avoid everything that could
bear the appearance of pressure on our part. All our com-
munications manifest our confidence in its sincerity
[loyaute], and our deference for the initiative being taken
by it ; and if, in the enthusiastic manifestations of the
devotion of the army, words have pos4ibly been inserted
which have seemed in England to be characterised by a
different sentiment, they are too much opposed to the
language which the Emperor's Government has not ceased
to hold to that of her Britannic Majesty for it to be pee-
sible to attribute them to anything else than inadvertence
caused by the number of those addresses. The Emperor
enjoins you to say to Lord Clarendon how much he regrets
it. (Loud cheers from both sides of the house.) I
authorise you to give a copy of this despatch to the Princi-
pal Secretary of State fur Foreign Affairs.