The Sun.
London, England, 1848-03-02 00:00:00

THE NEW FRENCH PROVISIONAL

GOVERNMENT.
An useful and interesting brochure (published in
Paris), entitled " Biographie des Diputis (de
France), precedee d'une Histoire de la Legislature
de 1842 a 1846," and compiled by two " jour-
nalists," and which forms a sort of French " Par-
liamentary Pocket Companion," enables us to lay
before our readers the following particulars of the
political positions respectively occupied by the mem-
bers of the new French Provisional Government
which has succeeded the fallen dynasty of the Bour-
bons. It must be observed that the " journalists"
are both of them ardent Republicans.
M. Dupont (de L'Eure), the new President of the
Council (deputy for Evreux), is highly esteemed for
his virtues by the French people. At the elections of
1842, M. Dupont, indignant at seeing the Deputies
of the Eure servilely voting in favour of the execrated
Guizot Ministry, contested four colleges of that de•
partment simultaneously; he was elected in all four,
and chose Evreux. The votes of M. Dupont need
not be pointed out; he invariably voted against the
corrupt and dishonest Administration which has fallen
with the King, its protector.
M. Cremieux, the Provisional Minister of Justice
(deputy for Chinon), was a formidable opponent of
the late Ministry. lie exposed all its vices and its
weaknesses. He demanded, on the discussion of the
game law (orig:nattd in thq Peets), the suppression
of the article which exempts the Crown Lando from
the severe provisions of that enactment; but, although
successful in the Deputies, the Upper Chamber
restored the obnoxious clause. M. Cremieux's Par-

liamentary career has been one of the most important
and honourable; and, in short, he was a leadiug
member of the Opposition.
M. Arago is one of the first savans in France,
and his reputation as an orator is scarcely less
brilliant. lie was born in 1786, and is perpetual
secretary of the Academy of Sciences, member of
the office of longitudes, and the most illustrious
scientific man of the age. In politics, M. Arago
is an excellent patriot, a sworn enemy of privileges
and monopoly, and an ardent defender of the rights of
the people. He voted against the Pritchard indem-
nity bill, and has ever supported all the measures of
the Gauche, although he goes much further, and be-
longs to the extreme Gauche. He is now provisional
Minister of Marine.

M. de Lamartine, the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
is as famous in the republic of letters as his colleague,
M. Arago, in the department of science. He repre-
sents Macon, and his political opinions have been
freely and copiously expressed in his newspaper, Le
Bien Public, published in that town. He is every-
where a poet, even at the tribune. Like all poets,
however, he is rather fickle and inconstant, but the
elevation of his soul secures him against the greatest
dangers of versatility. M. de Lamartine for a length
of time occupied a very undecided position in the
Chamber, but he eventually ranged himself on the
side of the Opposition. The day on which he an-
nounced his intention of joining the camp of the
Gauche was as gloomy an one for the Ministry as the
memorable desertion of the Treasury bench of the
English House of Commons by the great Burke.
From that period M. de Lamartine took a decided
part in favour of progressive reform, and ridiculed the
Guizot Cabinet as the Ministry of " limitations." He
voted against the Pritchard indemnity, and was prized
by the Opposition as an invaluable acquisition.
M. Ledru Rollin, the provisional Minister of the
Interior, was elected for Mans vice the late M. Gar-
nier Pages. his speech to the electors subjected him
to a prosecution on the part of the Government, and
the trial of the case produced a great sensation. M.
Rollin represents the ultra-Radical interest ; and has
often attacked not only M. Guizot, but also the policy
of such men as Thiers and Odilon Barrot. He sits on
the extreme Left, and has defended at the tribune,
with vigour and talent, the opinions advocated by La
Reforme newspaper.
M. Carnot, the new Minister of Public Instruction
(including the administration of religious affairs), was
born in 1801, and is a son of the famous convention-
alist of that name. He is a devoted partisan of
democratic ideas, and belongs to the extreme Left.
He voted against the Pritchard indemnity bill, and
fer M. Remusat's project of parliamentary reform ;
"he would," say the authors of the work, writing in
1846, " support a large and complete reform which
would have the effect of restoring sincerity to the
Government, and all their rights to the citizens."
The other members of the Provisional Government
are not includes in the list of Deputies.

The announcement of the poem of " King Arthur,"
by the author of " The New Timon," has lately been the
subject of frequent conversation. The author of " The
New Timon," undoubtedly, possesses an imagination of
a very high order, and it has been generally admitted
in literary circles that a new legendary epic from his
pen, combining the best qualities of the verse of the 19th
century with that of the middle ages, would be likely to
be attended with much success. Every persons of taste
feels interested in the experiment, although the name
of the author has not been suffered to transpire.

THE COPPER DUTIRS.—BIRMINGHAM, FED. 2t
In accordance with a requisition from Alderman Smith,
a meeting of the manufacturers of Birmingham, con-
sumers of copper, was held in the committee-room of
the Town-hall yesterday, to consider the propriety of
taking steps to obtain a reduction of the duties on cop-
per. There was a numerous attendance, amongst whom
were Ma. Charles Geach, the Mayor ' • Aldermen Smith
and Martineau ; Councillor Clifford ; Messrs. W. C.
Alston, T. Pemberton, David Malins, Brooke Smith, T.
C. Salt, J. Cartland, S. Whitfield, Blews, S. Tonks, J.
Deacon, James Collins, J. Pumphrey, W. Barwell, R.
lleaton, and many other gentlemen connected with the
trade. Mr. W. R. Lloyd and Mr. Fleetwood, connected
with the smelting interest, were also present.. The
Mayer, having been called to the chair, addressed the
meeting in a long s;eech, in which he declared the in-
justice of the present duties, and concluded by moving
a resolution in accordance with the general tenour of
his speech. This resolution was adopted unanimously,
and the meeting separated.
DEATH OF BEETHOVEN'S BROTHER.--A brother
of this great German composer died a few days since at
Vienna, Ho had commenced business as a chemist, but
afterwards became a Government contractor, sad en-
riched himself by some fortunate speculations, particu-
larly in contracts for the supply of fire-arms for the
service of the Imperial Government. He latterly kept
his coach and four. His brother died in great distress ;
but, then, one was a lucky speculgtor—the other only
" a Dan of genius."