The Express.
London, England, 1852-07-30 00:00:00

SECRET TREATY OF THE THREE

NORTHERN POWERS.

It will be recollected (nays the Morning Chronicle)
that a few weeks ago several journals, both in Germany
and this country, published an analysis of a series of notes
exchanged between the cabinets of St. Petersburg,
Vienna, and Berlin, on the subject of the present posi-
tion of France, end more especially with respect to the
double eventuality of the establishment of an elective or
an hereditary empire. The conclusion to be drawn from
these notes was, that in the event of the establish
meat in France of an elective re personal empire, the
change being merely nominal, and the state of matters re-
maining in reality what it was before, the powers might
be disposed, for the sake of the peace of Europe, to make
a further sacrifice of their feelings by acknowledging it as a
government de facto ; but that in the event of an attempt
to establish an hereditary government, the powers felt it
their duty, as it was also their determination, to act very
differently, and that they were resolved never to permit
tio flagrant a violation of existing treaties and of public
law. As long as a member of the House of Bourbon
should exist, the powers were resolved, if the question
of right to the throne of France should arise, not to
tolerate its being taken possession of by a usurper.
To allow that would be to inflict a mortal blow on all
the dynasties of Europe. Such is a resume of the numerous
notes exchanged between the three northern powers in
the course of the months of February, March, and April.
In the beginning of May it was agreed that these notes
should be made the foundation of a regular treaty between
the two Emperors and the King of Prussia, and accordingly
this treaty, which is dated the 20th of May, 1852, has been
signed, ratified, and exchanged. We are now enabled to
give an analysis of this important document, which has not
yet appeared in any journal.
This convention, like the treaty of the 26th of September,
1815, is placed by the three Sovereigns under the invoca-
tion of the most holy and undivided Trinity. Their Majes-
ties the Emperor of Austria, the King of f'rumia, and the
Emperor of Russia, considering—
That the basis of European order is hereditary right, that
in that respect there is a joint responsibility and interest
(ardidaritd) between all European states; considering also
that, as regards France, the house of Bourbon personifies
and represents the hereditary right, and that the present
head of that house is the Count de Chambord ;
That the power exercised by Id. Louis Napoleon Bona-
parte is a power de facto, which cannot even prop itself up
with the pretended right of the Emperor Napoleon, since
the latter voluntarily renounced, by the first article of the
treaty of Fontainebleau, "for himself, his successors and
descendants, as well as for each member of his family, all
the rights of sovereignty and domination, as well over the
French nation and the kingdom of Italy, as over any other
country ;"
That, according to the rules of international richt, the
violation of the treaty of Fontainebleau by the Emperor
Napoleon, while it released the powers from the engage-
meats taken by them with revect to him, did not release
him from his renunciation, for himself and his descendants,
of the crown of France ;
That, moreover, the very origin of the present power of
the President of the French Republic is the negation of
hereditary right ;
For all these motives, and for many others which it is
useless to enumerate, the subscribers to the present conven-
tion consider it their duty to determine beforehand, and by
common accord, the conduct which they ought to hold in
the event that one or other of the eventualities above enu-
merated should present themselves.
In the case that the Prince Louis Bonaparte, present
President of the French Republic, should get himself
elected by universal suffrage as Emperor for life, the
Powers will not recognise that new form of elective power
till after explanations shall have been demanded from
Prince Louis Bonaparte as to the sense end meaning of his
new title, and after he shall hays taken an engagement—
first, to respect the treaties ; secondly, not to endeavour to
extend the territorial limits of France; and thirdly, for-
mally to renounce all pretensions to the continuation or
founding of a dynaaty.
In the case that the Prince Louis Bonaparte should de-
clare himself hereditary Emperor, the Powers will not re-
cognise the new Emperor, and will address to the French
government,es well as to all the other European governments
a protest founded on the principles of public law and
on the letter of the treaties. They will afterwards consult,
according to the cies:n=2moms, as to the ulterior measures
which they easy think it necessary to take. In the case that
• popular or military movement should overturn the go-
vernment of Prince Louis Bonaparte, or simply in the
ease of the death of that personage, the powers bind and
oblige themselves to aid and favour by all means in their
power the restoration of the legitimate heir of the crown,
and in the sequel they will ' no other dynasty but
that of the Bourbons, and no o r claimant but 11. Count
do Chambord. In acting thus they protest beforehand
against the imputation of wishing to attack the indepen-
dence of France. France is free to organise her internal
government as she chooses and the Powers do not reject
the systemcalled constitaional any more than they reject
any other system.
But the recognition of legitimate and hereditary royalty
does not interest France alone; It interests all European
States. It is • national principle in MI far as regards France,
and an international principle in as far as regards the
other European Powers. It is on this account that the
right and the duty devolve upon the sovereigns of defend-
ing that principle, and of assisting it to triumph in as far as
that depends upon them.
This convention is aigaid—nuaccis Josaea, FIiDZILICS.
WILLIAM, NICOLAS.

TALLOW-CIIANDLERB' BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.
—Yesterday, the annual meeting of the members of this in-
stitution took place at the London Tavern, Bishopsgats.
street, Mr. B. Breeknell Turner in the chair. A report
was read, which stated that the society had been in exist-
ence nine years, during which time there had bees distri-
buted to 72 distressed and worthy members of the trade
2,1771. 18s. More than 3,0001. had been added to the funds
from the anniversary festivals, and the total income from all
sources to the present time had amounted to 7,0101. Be. 6d.
Notwithstanding the lose of many valuable subscribers the
subscriptions still kept up in amount. The sum paid is
pensions for the current year exceeded the amount in the
previous year by 311. During the year sees new pen-
sioners had been elected, and an equal number had died,
leaving 47 still on the funds of the society. At the last an-
niversary festival, over which the Lord Mayor presided,
2431. ls. 9d., clear of all expenses, was added to the funds
of the charity. The report recommended that the
pensions of the men should be increased from Its.
to 11. a month each, and those of the women from 12a. to
16s. a month—to commence from the 9th August—an sr-'
rangement which would cause an increase in the expendi-
ture of about 601. per annum. The total income for the'
year (in lading a balance of 2121. from the previous account)
amounted to 8921. 64., and the expenditure (including
4611. 12s. paid to pensioners) to 6381. 78. 11d., leaving •
balance in hand of Mt. 18s. Id. The funded property now
standing in the Three per Cent. Console to t►e credit of the
society was 4,0001. This report was adopted, and some
routine business having been transacted, the meeting
separated.
REPRESENTATION OP LTNN.—A rumour is very
current that it is not improbable that this borough may
very soon be again the scene of contest. It is stated that,
in the event of certain arrangements succeeding, by which
• noble lord will vacate hie seat, the " conductors " of elec-
tion affairs have determined uninviting the most gallant the
Marquis of Douro to It the vacaucy.L—Norjoik