The Press.
London, England, 1858-11-20 00:00:00

THE PRESS, NoirmEß 20, 1858

preiga dorrtsponbcnrt.

PARIS, Thursday.
SOME alarm has been occasioned in Governmental
circles by the receipt of news that several tribes of
Arabs in the province of Constantine in Algeria have
risen in insurrection against the local authorities.
It is true that, so far as is known, these authorities
are Arabs like themselves, and that the cause of the
rising is resistance to some petty tyranny. But the
odour of gunpowder has such strange effect on Arabs
that the firing of a single musket against the French,
or the native friends of the French, may have conse-
quences none can foresee—especially at this juncture,
in which the Arab Mussulmans, like their fellow-
religionists of Turkey and Asia and Morocco, are
animated by deadly hatred to Christians.
A most important measure has this day been
decreed by the Emperor; it is that between 160 and
170 of the largest towns of France shall, through
their bakers or muncipalities, or both, or at least
with all possible despatch, lay in and keep up reserves
of grain and flour sufficient to last their population
for three months. The object oc his Majesty is of
course to be prepared against the eventuality of
scarcity, and so avoid a sudden rise in prices, which,
as seen at the beginning of the last scarcity, causes
dreadful inconvenience to the whole population, and
even endangers the public peace. But the wisdom
of the measure is denied by many persons, and as we
have nothing of the kind in England I apprehend that
it may be likely t create inconveniences as serious
as that against which it is intended to provide. At all
events it will create a sudden demand for an
enormous quantity of grain and flour, the calculation
being that each individual in three months consumes
between 90 and 100 lbs.; and to pay for this flour
and grain a large amount of money will be needed—
say between 2,000,0001. and 3,000,0001. sterling.
The Montalembert trial, which was to have come
on yesterday, has been postponed for a week, owing
to the absence from Paris of M. BErryer, the defen-
dant's advocate. Prudent people fear that it will
produce mischief to both parties, inasmuch as (as I
said in my last) the Government cannot send such a
distinguished man as Count de Montalembert to
gaol without incurring obloquy ; and the Count can-
not go to gaol without sinking to the level of those
ridiculous estaminet political martyrs at whom every-
body laughs. But, as Lamartine said, when he reck-
lessly flung France into the Republic, ales jacta est ;
and we shall see the result. The Government, in
order to prevent as much as possible the excitement
the trial is calculated to occasion, has decided that
no one shall be allowed to take a report of the pro-
ceedings except one special shorthand-writer ; so that
not only French but even foreign journals will only
be able to give the account of them which the Go-
vernment may choose. It has been reported that
the Bishops of Orleans and La Rochelle, M. Guizot,
the Duke de Broglie, Prince A. de Broglie, M.
'Tiers, M. Villemain, Count Roger, and, in fact, all
the great men of the various political parties hostile
to the Government of the Emperor, intend to be pre-
sent, in order to make a grand anti-Imperial demon-
stration ; but I should think that these distinguished
personages will not consider anything of the kind
consistent either with dignity or prudence.
Lords Palmerston and Clarendon are at Corn-
pie,,ene on a visit to the Emperor of the French.
Political wiseacres here say that the two ex-Ministers
have come to intrigue with the Emperor for the
overthrow of the Derby Cabinet : this, however,
cannot be true, inasmuch as no two men who have
had the honour to sit in the councils of England can
be so silly as to suppose that any intriguing with a
foreign sovereign can possibly upset an English
Ministry, nor would any English statesmen be so
base as to do such a thing if they could. Be assured
that the visit is of no political importance. I have
even beard it said in political circles that, so far from
being animated with hostile intentions to Lord
Derby's Administration, Lord Palmerston has repre-
sented, or means to represent, to his Majesty, that it
is highly desirable for the sake of France and of
England that that Administration should stand for
a long time to come, inasmuch as, from the state of
dissolution into which the Whig party has fallen, it
is impossible that it could form a Cabinet without
amalgamating with the Manchester and the Roebuck
Radicals, and that the absurd notions those men
entertain on foreign politics—some being all for
peace, others all for war—would assuredly produce
grave complications. . _ _

O the horrible weather we have had ! Rain, heavy,
down•pouring, incessant from morning tili night,
and all night long, from Sunday last up to noon this
day, when the clouds broke here and there and
alloxed a little blue sky to be seen. In such weather
as this Paris is as dark and dismal as the realms of
Pluto; with the disadvantage which those realms
knew not, of being knee deep in mud from hideous
macadam. At Compiegne, I am told, the weather

has been as had as here, and in consequence there
has been neither hunting nor shooting nor out door
days of any kind. In place of these, however, there
have been theatrical performances, and dances, and
billiard-playing, and fun and frolic of various kinds.
Never, I am assured, was the Imperial circle gayer
than it is now; never was the Emperor in better
health, or more joyous ; never was the Empress so
lighthearted ; and never were courtiers so content
with the present and so hopeful of the future.
The newspapers, I see, state that the Bishop of
Nancy, Almoner of the Emperor, has had to issue a
circular complaining of the immense number of peti•
tions for pecuniary relief addressed to his Majesty,
especially from the prelate's own diocese. In the
early part of the Empire the quantities of begging
appeals that poured in from all parts of the country
were truly prodigious, and they have gone on
increasing since. Then the Emperor and the Empress
gave away upwards of 3,0001. a month in petty dona-
tions; the precise amount their Majesties give now
per month I know not, but it is doubtless vastly
greater than it was. In addition to what the Bishop
of Nancy distributes, there is in the Imperial house
hold a special department for receiving petitions,
inquiring about the petitioners, and conveying relief
to those considered deserving ; and though this
department consists of numerous officers, assisted by
a large staff of clerks and inferior functionaries, it is
with difficulty that it can get through the work that
presses on it. The truth is, that the French are a
begging people, and see nothing undignified in beg-
ging. Not only do the poor and lowly supplicate for
donations, but high dignitaries and men of station in
society are not ashamed to solicit the Imperial gene.
rosity to relieve them from embarrassment, help them
to portion a daughter, or make some profitable spear.
lation ; and the Emperor, being lavish to a fault,
allows them to extract from his purse sums which,
in the aggregate, are enormous.

fortipt anblenial jittelligntr.

FRANCE.
RELATIONS WITH AUSTRIA.

The report which has been long current of a cool-
ness between France and Austria has been confirmed
by a statement that Austrian subjects who fought
under Napoleon I. in the army of Italy have been
prohibited from wearing the St. Helena medal given
by the French Government to all the survivors of the
grande armee.

The Patrie states that the coinuiihsion appointed
by Prince Napoleon to examine into the French
immigration scheme will not, as reported, go to Africa
to perform their task, but will confine their researches
to the examination of such documents as may throw
light on the subject. They will then hand in their
report. The number of commissioners will be ten,
and not three, as at first intended.

THE MOLDAVIAN ELECTIONS.
The French Government has ordered its consuls in
Moldavia and Wallachia to observe a strict neutrality
in the ensuing elections of Hospodars.

SPAIN.
THE ELECTIONS.
The Madrid journals announce that the elections
had given a great majority of members for the Go•
vernment.

THE RIFF PIRATES.
The Correapondencia Autografia says that the
pirates of the Riff, tearing the threatened punishment
for their cruelties, had sent to the Spanish authori-
ties at Melilla to promise not to commit any more
aggressions on the Spanish possessions in theirneigh•
bourhood.

PRUSSIA.
THE PRINCE REGENT AND 1115 SON.
A letter from Berlin says that in a Cabinet Council
of the new Ministry, under the Prince Regent's pre•
sidency, young Prince Frederick William was intro.
duced to his father's political friends, and declares
himself in a way which leaves no doubt that he too
joins in the Liberal policy of his father.

INDIA.
INDIA-HOUSE TELEGRAM.
THE following telegram, bearing date October 25,
has been received by the Under•Secratary of State,
India-bones, from G. F. Edmonstone, Esq., Secretarl
to the Government of India with the Governor
General :

SHAD, Oct 16.
DUDE.
The following events have occurred in Oude since
the date of my last message on the 4th of October :
The rebels had advanced on Sundella with 12,000
men. and 12 guns. Captain Dawson entered a
fortified inclosure with 1,400 police infantry, sead'ag
back his 500 cavalry to Malleeabad. On the 10th of
October the rebels were driven out of Sundella,
losing one gun and 100 men killed. On the Bth s