The Sun.
London, England, 1848-12-08 00:00:00

et .4
tiring nit

LONDON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1848.

Reaction is accumulating its energies from all
quarters, and striving by every possible device to win
back the ground already conquered by the Revolu-
tion. It is doing this, now covertly, now openly, now
in the forensic arena, now in the literary ambuscade.
No slanders are too gross for its purpose. No vitu-
perations are too boisterous for its malice. These
exertions of the counter-revolutionists are visible more-
over in a thousand different directions at the
same moment. Their language is heard in
the halls of Parliament, in the courts of law,
from the pulpits of religion, from the ros •
trams of the University, from Cabinets and
corporations, from philosophers and artisans, from the
cabin of the mariner and the meadow of the agricul-
turist. All classes of the community contribute their
Tarots either of power or of virulence in furtherance of
cause which has latterly become desperate—the
cause of the reactionaires. And it is precisely because
their cause is thus desperate that its votaries are com-
pelled to resort to so many extraordinary extremi-
ties. Seeing that Absolutism must sink under
the assaults of the Revolution unless all the
siipporters of Absolutism abandon for a time
their various jealousies, and unless, in addition
to this, they throw aside all consideration of prin-
ciple, they have at length determined to coalesce tem-
porarily, and to adopt every means, no matter how
base or dishonourable, to hurl back destruction on
the heads of their antagonists, and to further the
liews of the different despots of Christendom. This
conviction it is which has resulted in an Aristocratic
Coalition more infamous than any of those; Regal
Coalitions which were first eraploycd as the arms of
the
Counter-Revolution. This conviction it is which
has • united in one homogeneous mass the many hetero-
geneous grades and sections opposed to the progress
of constitutional regeneration. Partizans of the lily,
upholders of the red flag, lovers of the white cockade
Of HENRI Cnea and ofthe
rmiappz, admirers of legitimacy,
feather of Louis
acy, aspirants for anar-
chy, the creatures battening
upon pan
tion and Croatian pillage, the courtiers
Sish corrup-
011mutz
detestationhe,
and the sycophants of Sans Souci_all of
and soul, and body, and mind, in their
unite
revolutions, and in their preference of anyresult
f
whatsoever, from the establishment of a despotism to
the organisation of the Reign of Terror, rather than
yield the palm of victory to the champions of a mo-
derate and rational system of Democracy.
To this end are striving—GulzoT, the wily refugee
---METTERNICH, his twin-brother in chicane—D'A
role Sums, the professed infideI—LAMENNAI3, the
renegade priest —NARVAEZ, the arbitrary soldier—
CABRAL, the intriguing diplomatist FREDERICK
WILHELM, the Charletan King—PROUDHON, the
rhapsodist of politics—CANlNO, the crack-brained
Quixote in search of popularity—and, beyond all
these, we are rather disposed to suspect, those
gentlemen who under the mask of Ultra-
Republicanism have caused so much anxiety, first, to
the Provisional Government, secondly, to the Execu-
tive Commission, and lastly, to the Councils pre-
sided .over by General CAVAIGNAC. Some of these
men (the conspirators we mean, last mentioned) held
office for a while under the successive revolutionary
Cabinets constructed out of the chaos of February.
Some of them were seized with arms in their hands
during the insurrection of May, and were incar-
cerated in Vincennes. Some were merely sus-
pected, were impeached before the National As-
sembly, and were forced to fly in secret from the
rigours of republican justice. While ALBERT lan-
guished in the Donjon, LOUIS BLANC disported him-
-15_14 Chg luspicia, 4.5 to the PillCOritY

of the men charged with conspiring against the
Republic and w•ith complicity in the May rebellion,
has been within the last few days somewhat con-
firmed by the appearance of a work which is little
better than the subtlest advocacy of the cause of
Reaction. The work is a companion book
to the notorious autobiography of Citizen
FoucuE—it is the " Secret History of the Revo-
lutions of 1848," by Citizen CAUSSIDIERE.#
Now Citizen CAUSSIDIERE was employed by the
Executive Government as the Prefect of the Police in
Paris ; and when we find this same Citizen CAUSSI-
DIERE striving in two mortal volumes to ridicule the
Moderate Republicans under whom he served, and
against whom he conspired—when we find this same
Citizen CAUSSIDIERE endeavouring to prove himself
to be the only honest patriot in France at the
very moment when he is revealing the secrets of his
former colleagues—when we find this same citizen
CAUSSIDIERE declaring for that Red Republicanism
which deluged the streets of the French capital with
blood in the month of June, and for that insane
Socialism which nurtured the Ouvriers of the Ate-
liers Nationaux into traitors capable of perpetrating
any atrocity towards their fellow-citizens—we may
with some reason begin to regard " Citizen CAUSSI-
DIERE, ex-Prefect of Police, and Representative
of the People," as another of those anomalous
characters who are just now devoting their
plastic and elastic talents to the encourage-
ment of the hopes of the reactionaires. To-
wards the close of his eccentric revelations this
rather confidential ex-Prefect of Police strives to
clothe himself in the allurements of pensiveness.
Alas ! he sighs, " I had golden dreams !" And over
the dissipation of those dreams he laments in a poetic
postscript—those golden dreams being such as are
associated with the men who have affrighted the
world with the blasphemies articulated at their
Democratic and Socialist Banquets men
whose watch-cries were " ►ive l'Enfer Yive
la Guillotine 1 Vice MARAT Vive Ro-
BESPLERRE I" men who coupled their impieties
of speech with a flippancy of manner which
rendered them doubly horrible, and who drank
brutal toasts, associating the awful name of GOD
with those of ATTILA and JULIAN the Apostate !
If a wholesome antidote is required to the per-
nicious " disclosures" of Citizen CAUSSIDIERE, it will
be found in a pamphlet published almost simul-
taneously with the more pretentious work
of the French Socialist—we mean the ad-
mirable " Letteet recently addressed to the
ex-Chancellor Lord BROUGHAM, by HUNTER
GORDON, Esquire, of Lincoln's Inn. In this
brief but eloquent vindication, of the results of
the Revolution, as tending not only to the happiness
of millions but also to the diffusion of the divine prin-
ciples of religion, will be recognised many passages
which afford a direct refutation to the lugubrious
howlings and cynical calumnies of Citizen CAUSSI-
DIERE, In directing attention therefore to the two
volumes penned by the French Representative, we are
particularly solicitous to refer the public at the same
instant to the pamphlet emanating from the heart o
the English Barrister

The memorial recently presented to the Lords
Justices of Ireland from the rate-payers of the West-
port Union and the reply thereto are documents
suggestive of many grave considerations. The abso•
lute necessity of prompt and energetic action is
thereby most clearly demonstrated. Something must
be done, and that speedily, or the most fearful con-
sequences must ensue—involving all classes, as well
landlords and tenants, as tradesmen and labourers, in
one common ruin. The very extent of the assistance
that has already been afforded the grants
and loans contributed alike from the national
Exchequer, and from the voluntary contributions
of Englishmen, point out most forcibly the vast ex-
tent of misery and destitution that has prevailed in
that union since the first failure of the potato crop,
which formed the almost exclusive support of the la-
bouring population. The simple facts that no less
than 93,3251., a sum considerably more than double
the valuation of the entire union, was freely and ab-
solutely granted for the relief of the suffering inha-
bitants within the last two years, and that further
sums, amounting in the whole to 40,0061., were
advanced by way of loan within the same period,
making a grand total of 133,3311., or 68s. in the
pound, on the valuation, brought in aid of the re-
sources of the union, while the rates struck
from the month of September, 1842, until May,
1848, amounted hut to 12,501/. 145., of which sum
4,1151. only had been collected—these facts,; we
say, indicate at the same time the extremity of the
distress and the poverty of the resources of the in-
babitants, and the is onderful liberality of the
British nation. We must presume then that an
absolute necessity existed for the aid that
was rendered with such profuse munificence—tha
these enormous advances were essential to the pre-
servation of the lives of the people. It could have
been no fictitious distress, no pretended destitution,
that elicited such extraordinary assistance. It would
be a libel upon the Government to assert that they
could have been so egregiously duped as to have
sanctioned such extravagant gifts and loans, save
under circumstances of the utmost pressure. It is
beyond a doubt, then, that the resources of the
Union were insufficient to support its poverty, and
let us see how far those resources have been im-
proved within the present year, so as to render that
task now practicable which last year was clearly
impossible.

The first questions that naturally arise are, how has
that vast sum been expended ? Has any and what
portion thereof been applied in the improvement of
the soil or in bringing new land into cultivation, so
that larger supplies of food may be obtained
therefrom for the support of the people ? We
regret to say that no satisfactory answers
can be returned to these interrogatories. More
than 122,0001. thereof was expended in 1847
under the Labour-rate Act and the Temporary Re-
lief Act. No permanent or lasting benefit was
thereby conferred upon the country. Myriads of
able-bodied men, with their families, were fed at the
national expense ; but no useful labour was required
from them in return. The works that were
executed were of no public utility, while the
gratuitous supply of food to strong men
had an injurious and demoralizing effect.
It is notorious that in too many instances lands that
had previously been cultivated were loft untilled and
uncropped, and that the produce of the soil was far
below the average, both in quantity and quality.
20,950/. only was advanced within the present year,
and that at its very commencement, from the funds
of the British Association. The small farmers,
the yeomanry, that constituted the most valu-
able class in the community, have been flying
by thousands and tens of thousands from the
fated districts, carrying with them all their avail-
able funds, and abandoning their exhausted
holdings to the landlords, as scanty recompenses for
rent in arrear, or perhaps assigning their farms to
paupers, in order that they might be enabled to ex-
tract further sums from the pockets of the im-
poverished proprietors, as the price of peaceful sur-
renders,. and in order to avoid the tedious and expen-
foivrerareermiyedhieelsd
aalhloiwhedposbiytiolanw:epilolyainnyg ofa thoese
ulxvhuo.
ries
have been
and comforts that wealth and influlelntche luau-
and
afford,
obligedvabf to submit to the most painful
el"tis.butT
oand
those
thanof thatany
poor-rate, of the paupers whose aUpport
has absorbed all their
resources. The comparative]
made, clearly
been collected for
notwithstandingbee the
unceasing exertions that have
n
establishes the inability of the proprietors and 0c -
piers of the soil to meet the legitimate demands that
have been made. It indicates the comparatil insol-
vency of the district, and proves that some
be rendered, or that the people will perish
by lingering and painful deaths, and that all
classes will be involved in one common ruin.
The conclusion which naturally arises from these
premises is that set forth in the memorial, that it is
the duty of the Government to avert the calamity
and that for that purpose it " should come forward

" Memoirs of Citizen Caussidiere," 2 vols., pp. 577 :
London, Richard Bentley, 1848. The work ie, at least,
a surprising curiosity.
f " Letter to the Right Hon. Henry Lord Brougham,
F.R.S., &e., on the Influence of the French Revolution
on the Church of France." By Hunter Gordon, Esq.,
8%, pp, 56; Loudon, hum ilidgway, 1645.

promptly and liberally to make provision for the
poor," obtaining all possible assistance and co-opera-
tion from the rate-payers.

It may be asked, whether we would have the na-
tion permanently saddled with the expense of feeding
this enormous mass of poverty and destitution ;
whether Ireland is for ever to remain a drain upon
the Imperial Treasury? Such is not our desire or our
wish. On the contrary, we would offer the stronger*
opposition to any suggestion of the kind. But it is
to avoid so painful a necessity, to prevent a
result so burdensome to the British and
so humiliating to the Irish nation, that
we insist upon the adoption of some adequate
measures, and that without one moment's unnecessary
delay. The people may be maintained without the ul-
timate loss of one shilling, to the national Exchequer,
without the imposition of a single pound of additional
taxation. Considerable profits may even be ob-
tained,
that will more than repay the sums
bestowed upon the Union within the past two
years. Would it not be an act of madness to
neglect the golden opportunity, to remain
inert and apathetic when there is so urgent a neces
sity for prompt and vigorous action? The reclama-
tion of the waste lands, the development of the deep
sea and coast fisheries, are the means by which these
desiderata can be obtained. We are prepared
to prove that the great bulk of the population could
be employed in draining the bogs and the reclaiming
of mountains, and that the land so ameliorated would,
within a brief space, realise more than double the
amount expended len its improvement. The only
possible objections that can be urged. are those which
Mr. RIGBY Wasori has so happily ridiculed—viz., the
impolicy of the Government interfering with private
property, or affording general employment to
the people. The owners of that property have ,
in their memorial declared their inability
to discharge the duties incidental to its position.
They must therefore yield it up to those better qua-
lified to do so. And surely it is better to employ the
people, and to obtain a valuable return, than to see
them perish of starvation or to support them in use-
less idleness; and these are the only alternatives.

Although neither Sir CULLING EABDLEY nor Mr.
DENISON is exactly the man whom we should
consider as best calculated to represent the 'West
Riding of Yorkshire in Parliament, yet, as there ap-
pears no probability of any other candidate being
seriously proposed, it becomes the duty of each
elector of the West Riding seriously to consider
the pretensions of these gentlemen, and although
neither may be the beau ideal of a Representative of
the people, to give his support to that candidate who
approaches the nearest to what the Representative of a
constituency so important ought to be; and after
the scene which took place at the Halifax meeting,
there can be no doubt but that Sir CULLING EARD-
LEY is in all respects superior to his opponent.
We cannot but regret that this contest has been
made so peculiarly a religious contest. The sacred
religion of peace should never be desecrated by
being made a weapon of secular warfare; and
it is much to be regretted that all mankind can-
not be brought to consider that every man
should be permitted to worship his MAKER after
his own manner, without let or hindrance, or
even inquiry from his fellow-man. The introduction
of the question of religion into this contest is the
more to be regretted, because, after the exhibition at
Halifax, there appears to be no very substantial dif-
ference between the two candidates on the question of
Roman Catholic endowments which has been put for-
, ward as the cheval de bataille of this contest
Sir CULLING EARDLEY, in a bold and straightforward
manner, declares that he will not consent to any grant
of money for the support of the Roman Catholic
religion, while Mr. DENISON was reluctantly
brought to admit that, although he might be
induced to vote money for Roman Catholic schools,
it would only be on such conditions as would abso-
lutely preclude any conscientious Roman Catholic
from taking advantage of the grant, so that on this
point there is very little practical difference
between the two candidates ; and to Sir CULLING
EARDLEY must be granted the merit of having
never shirked the declaration of his opinions ; while

was necessary to subject Mr. DENISON to a
rakingcross-examination in order to elicit from him his
notions on the question of Roman Catholic schoo.
endowment;. On all other questions there cannot
be a doubt but that the opinions of Sir CUL-
LEN EARDLEY are much more in accordance
with those of the electors of the West
Ridi►;g than are those of Mr. DENISON,
Sir CULLING EARDLEY is and has been a staunch
free-trader. Mr. DENISON is a protectionist, has a
hankering after a re-enactment of the corn-laws,
although he will not at present support such a pro-
position (k flowing very well he could never carry it),
and innocently states that he believes free trade to
mean the total repeal of all import duties, whether
imposed for revenue or for protection. If this
be really Mr. DENISON'S belief, he is far
too simple a gentleman to represent the
West Riding, he should go to school again--
if it be not he is far too casuistical to be safely
trusted. Again, Sir CULLING EARDLEY is for an
immediate extension of the suffrage. Mr. DENISON
will not vote for extension of the suffrage at present,
but he will advise his infant grandson to do so, when
he shall, half a century hence, succeed to the
DENISori property, provided the people shall
be in a proper state to benefit by such
extension, the DENISONS themselves, of course
being the judges of what is or is not a proper state.
But, above all, Sir CULLING EARDLEY supports, and
Mr. DENISON opposes the ballot. Mr. DENISON
would have the constituency slaves, Sir CULLING
EARDDEY would make them freemen. Mr. DENIsoN
would have the serfs driven up to the poll torecord a lie,
and calls the power possessed by the landholder, so
to make his serf record a lie, the legitimate
influence of property. Sir CULLING EARDLEY
would emancipate those serfs, and enable
them honestly and conscientiously to fulfil
the sacred trust confided to them by the con-
stitution, by restraining the illegitimate in-
fluence of property. Mr. DENISON in his club
seeks refuge from the Bully of society in the ballot.
The voter is entitled to the same protection,"
as was justly and eloquently observed by
Mr. HENRY BERKELEY, in his speech on the ballot,
last session—" The voter is entitled to the same pro,
tection against the Bully of Politics." That pro.
tection Mr. DENISON refuses him; and, therefore.
Mr. D.Eirsori is not the man for the West Riding.

BANK OF ENGLAND.—Another specimen of in-
genious fraud has been discovered at this establishment.
A few days ago a note of 1,0001. was presented for pay-
ment. The inspector examined it, found it genuine,
looked to the numbers of the stopped notes, and seeing
that the note presented was not among them, two 500 i.
notes were given in exchange, for which gold was pro-
cured almost immediately. On the following day it was
discovered that the leading figure of the number had
been dexterously changed, and that 94,825 was altered
to 04,825. It required the eye of a chemist to detect the
change ; and as no blame can be attached to the in-
spector, we presume the " rest " will be reduced by the
amount paid in error. Tho figure was so well inserted
that no ordinary examination was equal to its discovery,
The note thus sent in formed ono of a series of which a
bank clerk was defrauded a few years ago.
FIRE AT THE LIVERPOOL GAS WORKS.—A fire
broke out OH the premises of the Old Gas Company's
Works, in Dale-street, about twelve o'clock at noon,
which at ono period had an alarming aspect, owing to
the fears entertained of its communicating with three
other gasometers. The fire was first noticed on the roof
of the house containing the gasometer No. 2, but how it
originated we cannot at present ascertain. A small fire-
engine upon the premises was speedily put in action, and
kept up as vigorous a flow of water as its limited powers
admitted, the fire continuing to spread along the roof,
portions of which from time to time fell in. Two of the
West of England fire-engines arrived soon after, and, by
their continued play upon the roof, the inside of the
building, and the adjoining divisions, containing three
build
other gasometers, the fire was completely subdued shortly
self earstheedd. themselves after one o'clock. The damage sustained will be some-
whati
building
considerable,ha s fal
len
in,
nfor a
nd nearlyth e
windowsthe
are roof'co pole t thee ly
The l
vwe workmen r kv'emr
ye n
pbrealiosne gas-works,weinnrgthtilo.y,thaendthe
re
brigade, and their
commander Mr.
Hewitt
,were prompt
in attendance, 1 and v- '
duti T igorous in the execution of their
es. he mayor was on the ground; so also was Mr.
g i Nowlin, the head constable; and both rendered their
valuable services on
T,..._
LATE
~ the occasion.
"x. l' ALL OF AEA ' .A
ILW AY nen.--Yes-
terclay an inquest was held '
‘Verd and Joseph I as
e upon the bodies of George
the fall of a . .anoin, the two labowrers killed hr
n arch on the East and Birmingham Junction and West India bock Railway, when the jury re-
turned a special verdict of " Accidentally' killed, and that
the arches being are ;in; a
by rain the centres had been '
reilnired t 99 early."

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

We have received the Paris papers of yesterday.
The Jaurnid des Debate publishes the following
latter from Naples :
" Our city is in the greatest state of emotion at the
news of the arrival of the Pope at Gaeta, in company
with the French and Bavaria% Ministers at Rome. The
King, with all the Royal Fomily, left yesterday morning
for Gaeta, to welcome his Holiness. His Majesty has
returned, but the greatest mystery prevails as to the re-
sult of his interview.
" Nothing is yet known as to whether his Holiness
will remain at Gaeta, or whether he will come on to
Naples. In the opinion of many impartial minds in
Italy, it is to be hoped that he will not leave the latter
place, as it might serve as a pretext for the ultra-
liberal party, and give a sort of colour to such of our
patriots who will not fail to accuse the Pope of having
thrown himself into the arms of the representative of
the Absolutist and Austrian principle. It is unfortunate
that the road to Naples was the only one open to the
Pope. The road to Civita Vecchia was guarded, and
to go into Tuscany was equally irapossible.from the state
of agitation which new prevails in that country. The
following is what is surmised with regard to the future
residence of the Pope:—He cannot, it is thought, re-
main long at Gaeta, where there is no suitable accom-
modation for him. The city of Benevento offers greater
advantages, and, among others, that of being indepen-
dent; but there are also inconveniences for want of
proper accommodation. The convent of Mount Cassino
would be a sort of inaccessible desert, and, besides, is
too near the Roman frontier to be inaccessible to a
coup de main ; as a last resource, the royal palace of
Caserta, near Naples, is named; but the same objections
might be raised against this place as against Naples.
When there remains Malta, Spain, and France.
"The arrival of his Holiness has caused great delight
hero, as well amongst the friends of religion as amongst
those of the Government, to whom it gives a great
moral strength and a powerful relief in Europe. The
French, Spanish, and Bavarian Ministers are extolled
to the skies for having assisted the Pope in his flight.
" His Holiness had for several days been narrowly
watched. M. de Sparn, the Bavarian Minister, presented
himself at the palace, and expressed an anxious wish to
see the Pope on the subject of a pretended marriage be-
tween the Count do Trepani and a Bavarian Princess.
He was introduced into the Pope's cabinet, but the door
was kept open, and several persons remained on guard
in the adjoining room. After some time M. d'Harcourt,
the French Minister, arrived, and was also introduced.
He entered into an animated conversation with the per-
sons who were in the ante-room, in order to take
off their attention from what was passing in the Pope's
cabinet. After a short time, one of the persons on
guard looked into the cabinet—it was empty. The
Pope had disguised himself in the robe of a
simple priest, and had been allowed to pass out as
the chaplain of the Bavarian Minister. On crossing
the Neapolitan frontier an apparent difficulty
arose. The commandant of the town, after having
examined the passport of the Bavarian Minister, in-
sisted on seeing that of the chaplain. M. de Sparn
whispered a few words in the ear of the officer, who in-
stantly threw himself on his knees before the mule on
which the pretended chaplain was riding, when he was
immediately recognised to be the Pope, and received
the acclamations and welcome of all around.
" M. d'Harcourt only arrived at Gaeta on the 26th,
by the Tenare steamer, from Civita Vecchia. It is not
known where M. Martinez do la Rosa, the Spanish Am-
bar-Adm., now is. The accounts from Rome are very
confused. According to some accounts, the residence
of the Bavarian Minister has been pillaged and burnt,
in consequeence of the part taken by that diplomatist in
the escape of the Pope. The plan of his escape had
been concocted by the members of the diplomatic corps,
and all their measures taken with the greatest skill and
secresy. Cardinal Antothelli left 24 hours before for
Gaeta, in order to prepare everything on the road, and
for his reception at that place.
The expedition to Civita Vecchia had s ailed from
Marseilles before the arrival from Paris of the order
countermanding it. A letter from Marseilles dated
Dec. 3d, says,—" The expedition for Civita Vecchia
left our harbour last evening. At one time it was sup-
posed that there would hare been a serious delay,
owing to the steam-frigate Magellon getting aground
on going out of harbour. After much exertion she
was got off, and the fleet—composed of the Magellon,
Labrador, and Montezuma steam-frigates—set sail
for Italy. The expedition is composed of 3,200 men,
in infantry, artillery, and engineers." The Monte-
zuma and Labrador took on board at Toulon an im-
mense quantity of ammunition and projectiles. A
fast steamer has, it is said, been dispatched after the
fleet to command its return to France. M. DE COR-
CELLES sailed on board the Osires for Gaeta on
the 3d.
The Committee appointed to consider the decree of
the 19th Sept., awarding public recompenses, has
been greatly scandalised at discovering that among
the persons to whom it is proposed to grant pensions
are not only those who during the former reign were
imprisoeed for political offences merely, but some of
the conspirators in the attempts of FIEECIII, DARMES,
and ALIRAUD.
In consequence of the excitement produced by this
discovery M. DUFAURE, in the sitting of the Assem-
bly on Wednesday, introduced a project of law alto-
gether annulling the decree of the 19th September.
On the announcement of this, M. ne LAROCHE`
JAQUELIN demanded that the scandalous documents
connected with the project should be deposited in the
archives of the Assembly. He declared that the pro-
ject was withdrawn before the indignation of the
Assembly. M. DUFAURE declared that he was un-
acquainted with the documents alluded to.
The ballot for the Vice-Presidents and Secretaries
of the Assembly was completed en Wednesday, when
General BEDEAU and MM. LACROSS, Bixto, HAVIN,
Gouncneux, and ConnoN, were declared elected
Vice. Presidents ; MM. LANGLOIS and LAUSSEDAT,
Secretaries,
The Minister of the Interior has just addressed a
circular to the prefects of the departments, in which,
after alluding to his former circular respecting the
conduct they were to adopt respecting the election for
President of the Republic, he says
" Your task is not yet accomplished. It is to the day
of election itself that I especially call your attention
and watchfulness. It is at that moment that you must
exert all your efforts to ensure what we have sought
for above all things—freedom in giving the suf-
frages, the truth and sincerity of election.
You will remember that acts to be regretted sig-
nalised, in certain places, the general elections in April
last, and presented a lamentable contrast with the calm
and imposing character which they had in nearly all
the points of France. In some places ignorance or cre-
dulity were imposed upon by substituting false for real
bulletins; in other places votes were obtained by vio-
lence, and the electoral urn was profaned by a misled
animosity. It may not be impossible that, if not the
perversity of some minds, the vivacity of political pas-
sions, that species of intoxication excited by the still
novel exercise of universal suffrage, may again produce
similar attempts at fraud and disorder. I need not inti-
mate to you how much it behoves you to avert them,
and how much importance I attach to their being
promptly and energetically repressed. I well know
that these disorders can arise only from a few isolated
and insensate attempts, and in the result of the ballots
they will only have an insignificant influence; but, in a
moral point of view, the election of the President ought
to be purely free from acts which may justly disturb the
friends of order—the partisans of an honest and moderate
Republic."

M. PIETRI, one of the representatives of the people,
) has received the following from an officer at Brest
" Seven companies of infantry of marine, embarked
, and ready for sail to the Antilles in the Proserpine and
Allier, were allowed to vote for ,the President of the
' Republic by anticipation. The result was as follows :
Proserpine, Louis Napoleon, 270 ; Cavaignac, 170 ;
blank bulletins, 110 ; Ledru-Rollin, 4. Allier, Louis
Napoleon, 276 ; Cavaignac, 64 ; Ledru Rollin, 28 ; La-
martine' 6 ; Lacrosse, 1 ; Lamorieittore, 1.
The National publises a circular from the mer-
chants and bankers of Havre in support of the can-
didature of General CAVAIGNAC.
They say that, "situated at the doors of England,
and of the two Americas, aad in fact on the threshold
of the immense road that connects France with foreign
countries, they feel it their bounden duty to show the
effects produced by the events that have happened since
February on their navigation, commerce, and
industry." After February, credit and confidence
were destroyed, work was extinguished, and exporta-
tion ceased. No more foreign vessels entered their port,
and the evil produced was immense. After the general
election there came an appearance of security, which was
overthrown by the invasion of the Assembly on the 15th
May, but the events of June sealed their misfortunes.
Under General Cavaignac, however, confidence revived
again, and they have no doubt would be confirmed by '
his election to the presidency. They say that from the
moment the candidature of Louis Napoleon assumed a
serious aspect, then sales of goods declined, exportations
diminished, and there has been a postponement of all
undertakings, so that at this moment their commerce lies
under an interdiction. In fine, they say, "We see this
moment every symptom of a great political calamity I"
Under these circumstances they earnestly recommend
the election of General Cavaignac. The document is
signed by about 200 trading firms.
The following notice, which is probably official,
has been sent to the journals:—
" The Estafette, of the 6th inst., in its article entitled
Chronique Politique,' says that much discussion has
taken place in the lobbies of the Assembly upon an ap-
plication made to General Cavaignac by a certain number
of members of the club of the Rue de Poitiers, proposing
to go immediately into their several departments and
canvass them on his behalf, on the express condition that
he would renounce the high function of President, in
case the absolute majority should not be acquired by any '
one of the candidates, and M. Louis Bonaparte should
have a greater number of votes than were given to the
General; but that the General refused, in the hope of
being elected by the Assembly. Wo are able to affirm
that no proposition of this kind has been made to General
Cavaignac by the members of the club of the Rue de
1)( tiers, and that the President and other officers of the
club will hasten to contradict the report, the absurdity
of which must fall upon those who have fabricated it."
Mr. Toxemic, holder of an unpaid bill of exchange
013,087 f. drawn, accepted, and endorsed by the pee-
sons contracting fur and guaranteeing a cut of wood
in the domains of the Princesses ADELAIDE, has
caused them to be cited before the Tribunal of Com-
merce, togetheg with, to the citation calls him, "M.

of

tion

Louis PUILIPPE, Comte DE NEUILLY, living in the
chateau of Claremont, in England, general legate of
Mille. ADELAIDE D'ORLEANS, his sister." The case
is to come on in a week.

A Democratic and Socialist banquet took place at
Condom on the 27th. Covers were laid for 310
guests, but only 180 sat down to dinner, M. LUCIEN
LAMARQUE, editor of the Etoile cr Aqutaini, being
in the chair. After sitting some hours, the guests,
at the approach of dusk, promenaded through the
town, crying " Vive LEDRU ROLLIN !" "Five la
Republique Democratique et Sociale 1" " A bas les
rentiers et les proprietairesl" They separated with..
out any disturbance. The authorities of the town
had been invited to the banquet, but all had declined
being present. _ _ _

The Sernephore of Marseilles, of the 2d, says—
" The Courrier Corse, which has arrived here from
Naples, brings the intelligence that the French fleet was
anchored on the 27th ult. in the Gulf of Naples. There
were only three steamers in the port—the Pluton, the
Pingouin, end the Salamandro. Our fleet, up to that
day, had made no movement. Admiral Baudin was still
on board the Friedland. A painful piece of news has
reached us by this vessel, that the Jemmapes, ship of
the line, had gone aground in the vicinity of Civita
Vecchia. It was, however, hoped that it would be got
off. The passengers by the Courrier Corse add, on in-
formation obtained at Civita Vecchia, that the country
was tranquil, and that no new movement had taken place
at Rome. At Genoa there was great agitation, and cries
of Down with the Ministry' had been uttered at a re-
view of the National Guard."

BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT 'TIIE
LONDON STOCK-EXCHANGE, Dec. 7.
Luxembourg ( lel.), 2—Northern of France, 63 Orleans
and Bordeaux, l%—Rouen and Havre, 7.

SPAIN.
Madrid journals of the 30th ult. have arrived.
The rumours of a Ministerial crisis continued to
gain credit in Madrid.

The QUEEN gave a grand ball at the palace on the
29th, at which neither NARVAEZ nor any of the
Ministers were present, but General O'DoNrtnLn,
who is the great enemy of NARVAEZ, was there, and
was received with marked attention by the QUEEN.
MADRID BOLSA, Nov. 30.—Threes, 194 11-16 ;
Fives, 8f I. Exchange on London, 48 35.

GERMANY

AND

THE NORTHERN STATES.

AUSTRIA.
ABDICATION OF THE EMPEROR.

On the 2d of Dec. the Emperor FERDINAND abdi-
cated the Imperial throne of the Austrian empire, in
favour of his nephew, the Archduke FRANCIS JOSEPH,
eldest son of the Archduke FRANCIS CHARLES, who
resigns his claims as next brother to the Emperor
FERDINARD, in favour of his son, now the Emperor
FRANCIS JOSEPH.
In a proclamation, dated 011mutz, Dec. 2, the
Emperor FERDINAND announces his abdication. The
Emperor FRANCIS, on the same day, issued a
proclamation setting forth the principles of his Go.
vernment. This proclamation is virtually a repetition
of the Ministerial programme of Prince SCHWART•
ZENBURG. The intelligence of the abdication of the
Emperor FERDINAND was communicated to the Diet
on the 3d by Prince SCHWARTZENBURG. The ex-
EMPEROR has fixed upon Prague as his future place
of residence. Ile arrived in that city at midnight o
the 2d December. The Emperor FRANCIS Josior.o
was born on the 18th August, 1830.
The Wiener Zeitung of Dec. 1 contains the fol-
lowing official report from the theatre of war in Tran-
sylvania :--

- "Lieut.-Colonel Urban, with his large corps, had on
the 13th approached as far as Samos. Ujoar, suddenly
attacked by him with a superior force from Klausenburg,
was simultaneously threatened in the flank by circum-
venting columns. The Lieut.-Colonel, without firing a
shot, occupied the strong position to the left of Samos.
Ujoar, who also landed there, was beaten back and com-
pletely worsted. He probably lost upon from 49 to 50
dead, who were all, however, carried off; one of the
leaders also was shot dead by a ball, but it was not ascer-
tained who he was.
" The village of Zelly, to the left of the main road,
vvhich showed hostility to the Imperial troops, was
severely chastised by a column sent thither. Two of
our men were slightly wounded. We expect speedily to
send you important news.
" Everybody in Klausenberg is taking flight to Great
Wandein. Unhappily the way thither has been long
shut up against them; they cannot have known this fact.
" Alejor-General Warpener landed with his fine strong
brigade at the close of the engagement, having been a
march and a half in the rear. The enemy may congra-
tulate tht-mselves on this circumstance, for had the
General arrived sooner the enemy must have been com•
pletely annihilated."

_
The Allgenteine Zeitung, of the 2d, publishes the
following letter from RAOETZKY to M. EGGER, a
member of the German Parliament, on the subject
of the separation of Austria from Germany :
" How could the opinion obtain at Frankfort that the
reso!utions consvquent upon your declarations would
compel Austria to a separation from Germany? For
that must be the inevitable consequence if those prin-
ciples are to be carried out. Cast your eye over the
map of Europe and say whether it be possible to dis-
server the Austrian provinces from a Federal Imperial
union, in which for centuries they have found their hap-
piness and their welfare? Do they seriously think at
Frankfort that this can be effected by a mere vote? A
fine German heart beats in my breast, but verily at this
price I must reduce it to silence.

" I hear there is much talk in Germany of the dangers
of Panslavism, but everything in fact is done to give
this phantom a tangible form; nay, the word revolt is
almost synonimous with the word German.
" Those provinces of Austria which aro not German
contain no less than 38,000,000 of inhabitants; let not
this fact be forgotten at Frankfort, nor let us, by a sort
of headstrong Germanism, lose such confederates. Time
will prove whether my opinions be erroneous.

" BADETZE.Y.
" Head•quartera, Milan, Nov. 9, 1848."

PRUSSIA.

DISSOLUTION OF THE ASSEMBLY-A
NEW CONSTITUTION.
_ _

On the 6th December the of iRITSSIA issued
the following decree, dissolving the Assembly :
"We Frederick William, by the grace of God King of
Prussia, &c., &c., have, through successive reports of our
Ministry of State relative to the late sittings of the As-
sembly, convoked for. the purpose of concording' a
constitution, come, with profound sorrow, to the convic-
tion that the important labours for which this Assembly
has been called together cannot be prolonged without en
cro:►chments upon the rights of our Crown, or withou
trenching upon the welfare of the nation, which is inse
parable from these rights. We, therefore, on the propo
sition of our Ministry of State, decree as follows
66

1. The Assembly, called together for the purpose
coneording ' a constitution, is hereby dissolved.
2. Our Ministry of State is charged with the execu-
of this decree.

" Given and signed with our own hand, and sealed
with our own arms, this day, the sth of December, 1848,
at Potsdam.

(Signed)

" FREDERICK WILLIAM,
" BRANDENBURG,
" LADENBERG,
" SROTHA,
" MANTEUFFEL,
" BENTELEN.
" VON DER HEYDT."
A decree of the same date appoints the latter, who
was a Member of the Chamber (for Elberfeld), to be
Minister of Commerce and Public Works. Count
BuLow is at the same time appointed Director-
General, ad interim, of the Foreign Department.
This is accompanied by another decree containing
the new constitution—a constitution octroyee, be it re-
membered, and not agreed upon, and therefore not
likely to be acceptable to the people, inasmuch as the
power which granted it may take it away. The new
constitution consists of 112 articles, and guarantees
freedom of the press, subject to prosecution for
offences according to existing laws; freedom of
meeting in inclosed places ; freedom of open
meetings, with twenty-four hours' notice, and
police permission ; two Chambers—the one to
consist of 180 members, the other of 350—both
without other qualifications than age and proof of
naturalisation ; confirmation of the law of universal
suffrage; complete liberty for all religious creeds and
associations; abolition of all aristocratic privileges;
confirmation of the Habeas Corpus Act. The new
Chambers are to be elected upon the 22d of January
and 12th of February next, and are convoked for
business upon the 26th of February.
The Members of the Left met on the night of the
6th to protest against the dissolution of the Assembly
until it had accomplished its mission, and in conjunc.
tion with the KING, concorded a constitution which
should be in the nature of a pact between the KING
and the people, instead of a grant of the SOTEREIGN.
The Cologne Gazette of the 4th says
"In the old market-place, yesterday morning, a
considerable number of people assembled before a pic-
ture-stall whereon a likeness of Robert Blum was
exhibited, and were lamenting over the bloody account
of his death, and, naturally enough, spoke of their
dislike of Windischgratz in relation thereto. A well-
dressed man who was on the spot gave utterance to a
contrary opinion. Scarcely bad he pronounced the words
that Robert Blum had been rightly dealt with, before
every hand was raised against him, and he was soundly
beaten, to the great jubilation of the bystanders."