The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-11 00:00:00

EVENING,

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

We have received the Paris journals of yesterday.
(-Ye of them, the Pays, publishes a leading article,
the first which las appeared in an independent journal
since the 2d December, for the Patrie and the Con-
stitutimatel are avowedly the organs the Elyt6?.. The
Pays is the property of M T -.4AMARTINE7 'and as the
article i3:signed3y M. DE LA GUERRONIERF, the chief
editor, it may be taken as the expression of the opi-
nion of M. LAMIRTINE on late events :--

" Tho civil war has been put down. After so many
emotions and surprises, the country returns to calm, to
reflsction, to the hatjits and wants of social life, to
the attentive observation of the events which have
just Leen accomplished, and to the impartial examina-
tion of the ceases which led to these events,
and of the results which are to follow them. It is the
hour to resume our pen. When a great country
like France has the liberty to think, a journal
like ours, independent, honest, and moderate, is bound to
speak. e were bound at first to be silent, as every
person has comprehended. Our silence was neither an
abdication nor a desertion. It was imposed on us at
that solemn hour, not only by the state of siege, which
did not allow us to speak, but also by the trouble of cur
mind, which did not permit us to regard with coolness a
situation which we had neither foreseen nor called for.
At present we raise our voice neither to approve nor to
protest. We feel that all discussion is inipsssible, nut
only because the Government would not permit it, but
because our own conscience would prevent us. Why, in
fact, should wo discuss? To raise the cry of vengeance of
the vanquished? No, all vengeance would be odious and
impious, for it could only lead to the shedding of blood.
To raise the cry cf triumph of the conquerors? No, for we
are not conquerors. What we every day asked for was,
that France should be saved from the crisis which
awaited her in 1852. What prayers did wo not address
to the various parties! But all was in vain, for passion
stifled reason. The Assembly clung with obstinacy to
the fatal law of May 31, and that body has ceased to
exist. God forbid that we should insult it; if we are
not among the courtiers of the victors, we are still less
amongst the insulters of the vanquished. But we must
be permitted to say, that the Assembly perished pre-
cisely from two causes, the disastrous effects of which
we had in vain attempted to paralyse; the law of May 31
destroyed the majority, and socialism destroyed the mi-
nority. Between the law of May 31 and socialism,
there were the Republic and Universal Suffrage,
and it is precisely these two words which were in-
voked by Louis Napoleon Bonaparte to dissolve the
Assembly, and thus to destroy the Constitu-
tion. We were marching forward to catastrophes
amidst those two currents of passions, ambitions, ran-
cours, and hatreds, the bellowing of which scarcely per-
mitted some independent voices to make the cry of 'shun
heard which France was raising. If these voices had
been heard, if the law of May 31 had been repealed, if
the revision of the Constitution had been accepted by the
minority, if all the parties had consented to do what
Louis Napoleon Bonaparte has just done himself, that
is to allow the people to decide, we aro convinced that
what has happened would never have occurred. But
this is not the hour to complain, and still less to accuse.
We accuse no one, for were we to commence, we
should be obliged, perhaps, to accuse every one.
The present situation is not our work. Wo have not
desired it, but we take it as it is, and, with the de-
sire, as political men, to fulfill all the duties which it
imposes. It would, no doubt, suit better our inte-
rests and our sentiments to persevere in our re-
solution, to fold our arms, to weep over many things
which we loved, and which now do not exist. But it
better suits our patriotism to resume our task, to aid
good intentions, to encourage toleration, and to speak as
often as we can without betraying our convictions and
aggravating the perils of the situation. The Assembly
is dissolved, and the constitution has disappeared. But
there remain two great things, the Republic and univer-
sal suffrage. There remains, also, what we desire to
preserve and defend above all things—namely, France.
As long as she remains we shall not consider ourselves
at liberty to wrap ourselves up in sorrow for our disap-
pointed hopes, and regret them eternally. No; there
can be no eternal ruins for us but those of our country
—when we shall behold it fall to pieces at our feet, let
us fall also, and then believe in God alone. Until then
we will believe that God is just, and France great."
M. TIIIERs was sent off last evening under escort
to the frontier at Strasbourg. His police attendants
are nut to lose sight of their prisoner until he shall
have crossed the German frontier. It is said that he
is wretchedly ill, and that, had he been detained
longer in the prison of Maza, his life would have been
in danger.
The Prefect of the Seine has issued a notice
declaring that, in execution of the decree of the
PRESIDENT of the Republic, instituting a commission
for ascertaining the damage sustained by innocent
persons in the affairs of the 3d, 4th, and sth December,
claims must be sent to him on or before the 18th of
the present month.
The Constitutionnel states that in the civil hospitals
the number of wounded has never exceeded 138,

including the soldiers who have since been removed
to the military hospitals ; at present it is only 79, of
whom 10 are soldiers. The greatest number are at
the Hotel Dieu and the Hospital Saint Louis.

The Mintiteur contains a decree from the PRESI-
DENT of the Republic, and countersigned by M.
Rourina, the Minister of Justice, specifying the
course to be pursued with respect to cases in dispute
which had been submitted to the late Council of
State. As several decisions of the section du cont(n
ticux have remained inoperative, from not having beer/
read in public audience, and as it is important that
the parties interested should not lose the benefit of
such decisions, the decree declares that such decisions
shall have full effect, notwithstanding the informality
just mentioned. The decree also orders that such
disputed cases as should be brought before the Coun-
cil of State, had it continued to exist, are to be still
received, and en-registered at the secretary's office of
the former section du contentieax.
The Monsieur, after publishing the text of the
Lyons to Avignon Railway Bill, adopted d'urgencc
by the Legislative Assembly on December 1, gives a
decree from the PRESIDENT of the Republic, and
countersigned by M. MAGNE, the Minister of Public
Works, relative to one point of that measure. It
declares that, a 3 the terms of Art. 6 of that law,
which orders "the goods' station of La Guillotire to
be placed within the fortifications of Lyons," clash
forcibly with the system proposed by the Committee
and approved of by the Assembly, namely, that " the
goods' station of La Guillotiere is to be placed on the
principal line, which runs in every part outside the
fortifioations," it is decided that the text of the said
Art. 6 is to be modified in the following manner
The definitive situation of the said goods' station,
whether inside or near the fortifications, shall be de-
termined by the Minister of Public Works, after a
preliminary inquiry, and on the recommendation of
the mixed Committee of Public Works."
The Minister of the Interior has addressed the
following report to the PRESIDENT of the Republic :
"Paris, December 9.
" Monsieur le President—Armed bands have scoured
the department of the Basses-Alpes, and called on the
population to revolt. Acts of open violence have been
committed, and the security of property and persons has
been gravely compromised. Government has taken
measures to render the attempts of the seditious of no
avail; but meanwhile, the situation which I allude to
constitutes the state of imminent peril provided for by
the law of Aug. 9, 1849, and calls for prompt and
vigorous measures. In consequence, I have the honour
of submitting to you a decaee having fcr object to place
the department of the Basses-Alpes in a state of siege.
Accept, &c.,
" A. DE MouNny, Minister of the Interior."
A decree of the PaEsthENT of the Republic follows,
in conformity with the conclusions of the report.
Private accounts from the south of France repre-
sent these disturbances as of a very serious character.
In the department of Var a Provisional Government
has been established, and the roads are overrun with
armed men. In the departments of the High and
Low Alps they number at least 10,000 men, and
several towns are in their possession. Fears are en-
tertained that the insurgents may establish a guerilla
warfare in these mountainous districts. Galignani's
Messenger publishes the following account of the dis-
turbances :

" Disturbances have taken place in the department of
the Aveyron. Intelligence reached Rod, z on the 4th
t, at a band of armed men were about to march on the
to wn from Villofranche. They arrived about the middle
of the day, nominated a demagogic commission, and
sent delegates to summon the General commanding
the department to recognise it as the authority
of the department. But the delegates were arrests d,
and troops were sent to the town. Ou their arrival,
the insurgents dispersed; ten of them were, how-
ever, :arrested. Subsequently, a number of them,
forming themselves into a band, marched:on Villefranche
and attempted to seize on the Hotel de Ville, but they
were repulsed. Another band proceeded to Milhan,
where it captured the Hotel do Ville end a quantity of
muskets of the National Guard; but the brigades of gen•
darmerie in the district having been hastily, assembled,
they dispersed. At Regnac, a baud attempted to force
the Mayor to give them the arms of the national guard,
but by the assistance of some friends of order ho suc-
ceeded in putting them to flight. Since these affairs,
the department has not been disturbed, and the immense
majority of the inhabitants are in favour of tho cause of
order.

" The district comprised between Clamrcy, depart-
ment of the Nievre, and Coulanges-sur-Yonne, de-
partment of the Yonne, has been the theatre of grave
disturbances. In every commune bands attempted
to possess themselves of the Mairies, in order to seize
the arms of the national guard. In resisting one of
these bands, a gentleman named Poussc aux was kill, d.
One portion of these insurgents proceeded to Clarnercy,
where they committed excesses which have been already
stated; another marched on Coulcinges-sur-Yonne, but
the inhabitants resisted, and for three days prevented
the insurgents from forcing their way into the town. A
great number of small communes were, however, dis-
armed and sacked. The tocsin was sounded. At last
.expressos succeeded in reaching Auxerre, and vigorous
measures were immediately taken. Some engagements
subsequently took place between the brigands and the
military, and the former were everywhere defeated. On
both sides there were killed and wounded. The last Re-
counts from Auxerre represented that the rioters were
eevery where routed, except at La Puisaye, but that mil:-
tary forces were being sent against them there.
" The following additional particulars bad been re-

ceived respecting the riots nt Nziers:—On the 4th,
le.re3e, competed of all the Wen ill the neigh-
b,:iirhood, began to prowl through the country, carry leg
flu ;s, preesed hy a drums. About the tnirldle of the day
who ha l i,,ereas,d la nlttn':er t.) near!
2.000, marched en Bkisrs. They Wert dit early in the
inereing of the sth, and immediately proceeded towards
the Sub-Prefecture. Before reaching it they halted, and
sent three of their body to demand that the Sub-Prefect
should resign the place and his authority into their
hands. The Sub-Prefect arrested these three anarchists,
and, accompanied by the Mayor and an examining ma-
gistrate, advanced at the head of one hundred soldiers to
meet the insurgents. The band still continued its pro-
gress towards the Hotel do Ville. On meeting it the
Sub-Prefect made the three summonses to disperse, but
the rioters, instead of dispersing, continued their march.
A shot fired by one of them struck a soldier. The
troops returned the fire, and throw the insurgents into
confusion; they did not, however, take to flight, but got
into the door-ways and other places for shelter. The
struggle lasted fur an hour. Two soldiers were killed,
and four seriously wounded. Eight or ten of the rioters
were killed. Some minutes before the insurgents
attacked the troops, one of them fired at and killed M.
Bernard Maury, of Nissan, a man generally esteemed,
who was walking towards the college to fetch his son.
'rho murderer, before firing, exclaimed, " En voila un
proprietaire."
" In the department of the Aude, the ex-Mayor of
Chalabre, a man named Les trd, dismissed several
months ago, on receiving news of the events at Penis,
assembled a band of demagogues, and drove out the
municipal administration, installing himself as Mayor
in the name of the people.' rhe sub Prefect of
Limoux, no sooner received information of these pro-
ceedings than he marched on Calabre at the head of a
detachment of 50 men. On hearing ot' his approach,
Beard and some of his adherents took to flight. One
of them was, however, captured, and in spite of au at-
tempt to release him, lodged in gaol. The municipal
authorities were re-established in their functions.
" Among the places disturbed by the socialists was the
town of Forcalquier, in the Basses Alpes. M. Paul-
mier, substitute of the Procureur of the Republic, and
Mr. Paillard, sub-Prefect, were attacked by a furious
crowd, wounded, and made prisoners. They, however,
succeeded in escaping; and the insurgents, as if terri
fled at what they had done, abandoned the theatre of
their excesses.
The official papers publish a dispatch from Admiral
Dunounnuu, dated Tangier, the 29th of November,
announcing the termination of the dispute with Mo-

rocco.
The PRESIDENT of the Republic visited the
wounded soldiers in the hospitals on Tuesday.
The following is the letter in which M. DE Gou-
LARD notified to the PRESIDENT his refusal to become
a member of the " consultative commission":—
" Paris, Dec. 4.
"Monsieur le President,—At the same instant that I
left the prison of Mazes, I learned that my LBlll3 figures
upon the list called by you to form a consultative com-
mission. I have the honour to inform you that I posi-
tively refuse the mission you would confide to me.
Honour and my conscience forbid me to accept it.
"Agri z, Mons. le President, etc ,
"DR Goubenn."
The soiree at the Elys6e on Monday was more
numerous and brilliant than any that has taken place
for many months. It is estimated that between
2,000 and 3,000 persons were present. Among them
were his Excellency the Marquis of NORMANDY, the
POPE'S Nuncio, the Ministers of Russia, Austria,
Prussia, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Naples,
&c., the Cabinet Ministers, and a considerable num-
ber of ex-representatives, an &nearly 100 generals.
The banquet intended to have been given on the
10th December, at the Hotel de Ville, has been post-
poned.
The Foi Bretonne, published at S. Brieuc, in the
Cotes.clu-Nord, contains an emphatic protest against
the usurpation of December the 2d, and adhesion to
the resolution signed by the representatives in the
mayory of the 10th arrondissement. This protest
was moved in the Council-General of the Cotes d'Or,
and signed by sixteen members. What is still more
important, the regiment of artillery quartered at St.
Brieuc had given votes against the PRESIDENT. The
municipal councils of Launion, Tleguier, and other
towns in the same department, had also voted resolu-
tions condemning the acts of the 2d December.
The Morning Chronicle of this morning publishes
the following in its Parisian correspondence :
"One of the most frightful episodes of the insurrec-
tion was that which took place on Thursday last on the
Boulevards. At half-past three in the afternoon of that
day, the troops extending along the Boulevard des
Italiens, the Boulevard Montmartre, and the Boulevard
Bonne Nouvelle, were drawn up the whole way across
the street, so as to touch the trottior at each side.
The foot-pavements were crowded with spectators,
and in the balconies of the houses of each side were to
be seen hundreds of ladies and gentlemen. There
was not a barricade within a considerable distance,
and certainly not within sight. Things were
in this position when, all of a sudden, a
running fire was opened on the people on the
foot-pavements and at the windows. Fortunately, it
was not by platoons, but by a running fire, so that a
considerable number had time to escape, but still the
carnage was dreadful. To ono house at the corner of
the Rue Berle/11 there were carried no less thirty-five
dead bodies, besides those carried elsewhere; end it way
truly be stated that among this mass of victims there
was not a single insurgent.
" The excuse given by the Government papers for
this wanton act was that shots had been fired on the
troops from two or three different houses, which w ere
named the Cate de Balcon, the Cale Tortoni, the Cuff
do Paris, the Hotel de Castille, and Dusautoy's
(a tailor) in the Boulevard des Italiens. It appears
however, that this was entirely a mistake. Both the
Con&tutiennel and Patrie now admit that they were
mistaken. The Patrie says:—' It is by an error that
we have announced that a shot was fired from the Caf6
de Paris, and that that house was ransacked by the
troops. We hasten to rectify that error. Nothing of
the kind happened at the Cafd do Paris. A similar
complaint has been made to us by the Maison Donee
and the card Tortoni. We hasten to do justice to them.
The cafe of the Grand Balcon was also mentioned
as a point on which the troops were fired from.
Nothing of the kind took place in that house. It
was by an error, which, under the circumstances, was
excusable, that the workshops of M. Dusautoy were
searched by the troops. The sentiments of M. Du-
sautoy, as a man of order, are well known. He had
closed his ahop,but retained his workmen. The error
was acknowledged a few minutes afterwards.'
" But if all this be true, why did this destruction of
life take place ? Why were the peaceable persons in
the streets or at the windows fired at ? If it be true,
as is reported, that the order given to the troops was
--‘ Spare nothing, but especially the balcons and the
blackcoats,' the massacre on the Boulevards will be
handed down as one of the most wanton acts of cruelty
ever committed.
The battalion of the 17th Regiment of the Line, in
garrison at Perigueux, has voted for the continuation of
the powers of the President of the Republic. Out of
822 soldiers 801 have voted for, and 21 against.
There was a large quantity of money stock offered for
sale at the Bourse, and the prices declined. The Five
per Cents. opened at 96f. 50c, and fell to 961. at which
they closed for the end of the month.; the Three per
Cents. closed at 58f. 40e ; Orleans Railroad Shares,
927 f. 50c.; Rouen, 591 f. 25c.; Havre, 221 f: 25c.; Great
Northern, 475 f.; Avignon, 203 f. 75c ; Vierzon, 443 f.
75c ; Basle, 157 f. 50c. ; Bordeaux, 380 f. ; Paris and
Saasburg, 372 f. 50c.; Tours and Nantes, 260 f.; Amiens
to Boulogne, 268 f. 75c.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, Dec. 10.
Boulogne and Amiens, 10 - Central of
,France (Orleans
and Vierzon), 1744—Dutch Rhenish, 3 ),;—Luxembourg,
3—Northern of France, 14%—Orleans and Bordeaux, 41/g..-
Paris and Rouen, 2314—Paris and Strasbourg,l2%—Sambre
and Meuse, WA—Tours and Nantes, 6%.