The Sun.
London, England, 1852-08-07 00:00:00

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FRAN CE.

In consequence of a statement that appeared in
ome of the papers relative to the promotion to the
aignity of Marshal of France of a certain number of
general officers, a notice was published in the Moniteur
a few days since denying that statement, on the ground
that the general officers spoken of had not fulfilled the
conditions required by the regulations of the army—
the principal of which is, commanding in chief in the
field against the enemy. With that condition it would
be difficult, in time of peace, to fill up the vacancies
that may occur. The notice in the Moniteur was, it is
said, occasioned by a demand on the part of a gene-
ral officer who has made himself remarkable during
events of recent occurrence. The reply to that de-
mand was the publication the next morning of the
nottee in question. Since then it has been stated
that there is some idea of creating an intermediate
rank between that of Lieutenant-General, or
General of Division, and Field-Marshal—full Gene-
ral in fact, with the capability of an extensive and
into
execution command. If the idea be carried
execution it is believed that General de Castellan,
who now commands the important division of which
Lyons is the centre, will be the first named. General
Castellan forms one of the few remaining links that
connect the modern wi&h the old army of the Empire.
The Journal des Debats contains a letter from M.
de Coninck, announcing that the wheat and rye har-
vest and the bean and potato crop will produce less
than a fair average this year, and recommending the
French Government to make a change in the existing
absurd corn-laws.

SWITZERLAND.
The Basle Gazette publishes the following report
of the proceedings in the National Council on the
3d inst.:--
" The order of the day was the discussion on the peti-
tion of the popular meeting of Poesieux. M. Escher,
reporter of the committee to which it had been referred,
said, The political agitation and the petitioning, in the
canton of Friburg, are the renewal of the political
struggle which we considered to be at an end
with the Sonderbund. The constitution ofs
one
Fri-
burg, the basis of which is perfectly legal,
of the most liberal in Switzerland, and the Govern-
ment, by which it is faithfully and zealously executed,
is entitled to praise. M. Charle himself voted at the
people. a
time that the Constitution of Friburg should i.o be
submitted to the approbation of the P Schw tz
Con-
stitution of Friburg of 1831, as well as thoseof
Zug, St. Gall, and Neuchatel, and the anterior constitu-
tions of Soleure and Basle Country contain clauses rela-
tive to the mode of revision similar to those of the
present Constitution of Friburg, which its opponents
are attempting to discredit. The members of the Com-
mittee of Poesieux were for the. most part
_ the warmest
to
partizans of the Sonderbufntdhoin
hypocritical
easy
when
emuyPuical preachers
understand the lacg,ll,g_e„:_on,
of peace and conciliation, e they say, Who.
ever is not with usagainst us: M. Allet,
a deputy,
wt Valais, said—' It is desired, in the name of
a pretended raison d'etat to keep the people of Friburg
t-
in leading-strenge, under the pretext of securing to them
their liberty. I accordingly move the following resole-
tion:--" Whereas, the right of the sovereign people to
give themselves a constitution is inalienable ' - whereas
that democratic principle, recognised by the Federal
Constitution, has been always applied, as respected
guaranteed cantonal constitutions ; and whereas,the
article 4th of the transitory clauses of the Federal
Constitution guaranteed, it is true, the constitutions
in vigour without suojecting them to the for-
malities required by the article 6th, but no-
wise impaired impaired the principle of the right of
people to give themselves a constitution. The
Federal Assembly decrees—ln compliance with the pe-
tition of the Committee of the Meeting of Poesieux, held
on the 24th May, 1852, by the people of Friburg, who
complain of impediments to the free exercise of their
sovereignty, the Federal Council shall adopt the neces-
sV measures to enable the people of Friburg to express
themselves freely on the expediency of the revision of
their Constitution?' One of the representatives of that
eanton, added M. Allet; lately said that in Friburg it was
not the cantonal authorities who governed, but the Fe-
deral Assembly. A Government which is obliged to
bargain with the people for its rights is very near its
downfall.'
"M. Druey next delivered a long speech, which he
concluded by moving the order of the day on the peti-
tion, lest it might be said that the Confederation was
aivancing to its ruin by consenting to treat with a
simple committee. Messrs. Lasser and Schwerzaian sup-
ported the proposition of M. Al let. M. Lasser bitterly
criticised the acts of the Government of Friburg. M.
Bussard defended the Government. M. Dopples ulti-
mately moved the adjournment of the discussion to the
4th, which was agreed to."