The Press.
London, England, 1858-01-16 00:00:00

THE PRESS, JANUARY 16, 1858.

the regulations for the free navigation of the Danube
should tend to one object—the malting Austria cum•
plete mistress of the river. Such a pretension
cannot be accepted. Franca and her allies are deter-
mined not to renounce the tight reserved by the
Treaty of Paris. This right is incontestable ; for in
order to guarantee the complete liberty of the
Danube, a special article of the Paris Treaty abso-
lutely fixed the number of vessels each of the
signing powers might station at the mouth of the
Danube. The powers given to the Riverain Com-
mission were merely to draw up regulations; they
were in fact secondary, the supreme power being left
to the Paris Congress. Besides, Austria has had
the double advantage in being represented in both
the European and Riverain Commissions. What can
she require more? Surely it cannot for a moment
be supposed that Russia consented to give up a por-
tion of Bessarabia in order to give Austria sovereign
power on the Danube? England has always con
tended for the free navigation of that river, and
France on this interesting question goes hand in
hand with her ally. Prussia has adopted the same
line of policy as England, France, and Russia.
But to leave the riverian question, and to come to.
one which more nearly concerns you. Considerable in
terest has lately been attracted towards the arotestants
on the Continent; and in consequence of the remarks
made by a Paris correspondent of one of the London
morning papers, I have made inquiries into the real
status of the Protestants in France. There are in
France three different religions, not only recognised
by the Government, but the ministers of which are
paid from the public treasury, while funds are
provided for the maintenance of the Churches, &c.
Amongst these is the Protestant religion, in which
faith are to be found numerous high functionaries,
and even persons holding high office about the
person of the Emperor. These gentlemen do not
only go to Court in the ordinary acceptation of the
term, but they are invited to all the Imperial festivi-
ties, and are equally well received and honoured
as those of the Catholic faith. The number
of Protestants in France is far less than the Catho
lies, and as such, being the weaker party, they
require more protection. And I am assured
such has been the policy of the Emperor's
Government. The Protestants have always been
taken under the special care of the Minister,
but undoubtedly no undue preference has been
showu to them. f can assure you it is not
true that the education of Protestant youths is not
free, or that authority to open schools has been
refused to one professor and granted to another.
Neither is it true that the meetings of Pro-
testant congregations have been troubled by
the police agents or gendarmes. It is, how-
ever, not sufficient that I should give these posi-
tive denials to a correspondent who says he was
an eyewitness to the facts be relates. I will offer
proofs. The education of Protestant youths is so free
by law that one of the principal regulatory laws of the
public colleges expressly provides that, " Religious
education shall be conducted according to the
belief of the youth, to whatever creed he may
belong." As to the Protestant elementary schools,
they are subject to the same laws as those con-
ducted by the Catholics, and any infringement
by either party is equally punished. Before
the university laws, all religions stand on an equal
footing. France, be assured, has not two cones of
laws—the one for Protestants the other for
Catholics. The correspondent gives an aecount of a
Protestant schoolmaster in a village having had the
authority to teach taken from him. This may be
true, or not; but can this scrupulous writer affirm
that he has seriously investigated into all the circum-
stances? Can he affirm that, the master possesses
all the requisites necessary for the education of
youth ? If he has taken the trouble before bringing
so serious an accusation against the Government to
satisfy himself of the facts, let him publish them. I
feel certain that they will be taken into the serious
consideration of the Minister, and the functionary,
be his rank whatever it may, punished. But thus
much I can state most positively, from official
statistics, that Catholic professors have been at all
times treated with as much just severity as Protes-
tants. The virtuous have always been rewarded, the
guilty punished, and the incapable put aside. And
against whom does this correspondent bring these
grave charges? Against the Minister for Religion
and Education, a gentleman universally beloved,
whose integrity has never been doubted, and whose
impartiality has become proverbial.
It is said to-day that the sittings of the Divan at
Bucharest will be closed about the 16th of the pre-
sent month, and that of Jassy about the 20th.
The health of the King of Wurtemburg continues
to be far from satisfactory. Letters received this
morning state that the Grand Duke Louis, brother
to the Grand Duke of Baden, is dangerously ill, and
that his death might be hourly expected.
M. de Borqueney, the French Ambassador to the
Court of Vienna, who is now visiting on the banks of
the Loire, will return to Paris on the 17th, and leave
on the 20th for his post at Vienna.

It is given as positive that
marriage of the Prince Frederi
with the Princess Royal of
amnesty for detained political
lished in Berlin on the 25th ,
and also granting permission to
return to their homts.

The Emperor did not preside
Council held this morning, but
with each Minister separately '
his cabinet. His Mkjesty contin)
of excellent health. With trut
him he is a surprising man.
always engaged ; his body is never
early, works for several hours,
diplomatists, hunts, shoots, skates,
tros—in short, he spends -
hour. The Empress also
health, having completely recovered
attack of influenza. The little '
rosy checked, beautiful child.
almost every day in a carnage
of cavalry. The infant Prince
where he amuses himself with
sons employed at the Court.
It is now certain that the
brilliant. Several of the old
salons have been shut up since
their intention to open this year
and balls. The campaign has
Duchess d'lstrie.

There is to be a second State
at which several distinguished
invited. A bal costume is also
contemplated by nue of the leading
On the 17th Prince Jerome w;"
at the Paleis Royal. In short,
The Duke de Rivas, the Si
met with a serious accident
slipped in coming down stairs,
several violent bruises.
It is said that the jewels left
been estimated at worth more

M. Guizot is occupied in
which no doubt will be most
tions have been made that M.
position he held under Louis
will feel some difficulty in publishing
but, if I am rightly informed, he
making—although a Protestant—
In consequence of the death
Bourg, Baron Lajus has been named
Master of Ceremonies at the T

The Emperor made a presen
on the Ist of the year of a
Ghobelin tapestry, representing
ductioes of Raphael. I do not
are aware that the distinguished
the Ghobelin manufactory is "
brother to the celebrated preacher,
L'Abbe Lacordaire, who for some
late Republic was a member
Nationale.

THE COLONIES AN,
A BLUE-8008, containing extracts
spatches relative to the applications
made by the authorities in India
Ceylon, at the Mauritius, and
appeared this week, and the prom)
the application in every instance •
favourably with the delays which
On the 29th of May, Sir H.
ceived from the Governor-Genet•
the immediate despatch of as
could spare. In the island at
more than some 750 European
men. Sir Henry Ward did not
for the movement of the troops
day; the detachment at Kand,
marched upon Colombo ; instruct
Gallo to send on the steamers fro'
lombo as soon as they arrived
company at Trincomalee was
in readiness. By four p.m. of
men were on their way from Colomi
cutta on board the Cape of r
Semiramis, with 100 foot•soldiers,
Galle to pick up 50 more there,
Trincomalee for 50 artillerymen,
with only •10 artillerymen and '
foot-soldiers. Happily, however,
Malay troops was unexceptionable,
reliance placed in them.
On the 19th of July Governor
Mauritius, received an urgent
vernor and Connell at Bombay
might have it in his power to spare
with the same promptitude and
of responsibility as Sir Henry
after the receipt of the application
wrote to Lord Elphinstone
Five companies, consisting of 500
33rd Regiment of Foot, being all the
ger can accommodate, will be embarked
vessel *morrow, with orders to proceed