The National Register.
London, England, 1818-07-27 00:00:00

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No. 546.—V01.. XI.

POLITICAL DISQUISITION.

CONSPIRACY AND P %RIM, IN FRAN:CF.-FORGE.

kY LAWS IN ENGLAND.

• WE cunnct understand from the French Papers,
that the plot which has so much occupied the conversa-
tions of Paris, and which seems, at length, to have
drawn down upon it the attention of the courts of jus-
tice, has produced any disturbance of the fublic tran-
quillity, or the least diminution of the national credit.
The Royal Court, at St. Cloud, is uncommonly bril-
liant, being thronged with persons of most political
denominations. On the reality of this extraordinary

conspiracy, which is said to have had fur its object the
dethroning of Louis XVIII. anti placing his brother
on the throne, with an Ultra-Royalist Administration,
it has been observed, on the one hand, that the absur-
dity of such a conspiracy is not a conclusive argument
against its reality, but it is a stmng presumption ; for
it is not readily to be supposed that the Ultra-Royalists
would play a game, the necessity of which would be
mere fatal to them than its failure could be. On the
other hand, it is alledged that the real conspiracy is
not formed by, but against, the Ultra-Royalists; that
the parties conspiring are M. Dc Caze with the French
Police and the liberal party at Paris ; and that their
object is to make the returned Emig-ants and Royalists
unpopular at the arproaching elections kr the Chamber
of Deputies, and odious in the eyes -of the Sovereigns
about to meet at Aix-la-Chapelle. We'own that we
are inclined to think this conjecture by no means im-
probable, it so well corresponds with the system of
mystification which has always been so much a favour-
ite in the weak and knavish policy of France. With
respect to the character of parties in that country, there
seems every reason to reckon the Royalists as possessed
of more private virtue and real principle (though their
principles may he erroneous), but, at the same time, of
least practical talent. Their notion of reviving the
ancien regime is wild and impracticable, and can be
only fatal to themselves. There may be, and doubt-
less is, considerable talent among them, but much of
that talent is mis-directed, and wastes its energy on
unattainable objects, which might with advantage be
directed towards others within reach. In this respect,
3till more than in number+, they are inferior to their
antagonists. The Jacobin party are the very reverse
—energetic, active, supple, they are totally •destitute
of real honesty, and arc therefore not so formidable as
their talents would otherwise make them, for they
cannot trust one another. The liberal party, or
rather parties (for they are ssimrated into numerous
sAdivisions) are liable to the same principle of
weakness, for they comprehmul all sorts an kinds
cf turncoats, from the profession of Republicanism
to that of Imperialism, from thence to Royalism,
and to and fro, up and down, through all sets of prin-
ciples, religious, anti-re'igions, anti political. This
class (tiir we can hardly call them a party) comprr-
bend the g,re'test of talent, of enlargen.cnt 4,f
views, ,Itid ( what is anti al,,ovs has b:•cn so much
want,:tl iA France) of comnum sc!ve ; hut, thon,!!, they
will re:it-lily 17,1naonize together, they will Oat at. '.ere ;
like liquid t"• will easily mix, but will not mist pros-
: ore. There is no dei.en.ling upon them alone, though
they would ',Tuve a weighty addition to a party who
hr_il principle. The error of the King's present policy
is to rely too mtch npon these men, from whom, ne-
vertheless, be must cl,nosc the majority of the pothf;e
f.;netionories. But who, eomidering what elements he
`I3S to mallow', ran blame him, if he errs?

From foreign vv~ t....r0 to domestic politieP, where
the evils a:r.inst ,ve have to contend arise fn.,
aural:, st ewe to tlin.e in Fromm—not from the
eLrtliquitke of iterolutien hes r fixed ..01 con-
a7.2. t'nings, f:an toe .antleanseti abuses et