The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-05 00:00:00

IPENING OF THE FRENCH

C:HAMCERS.

The foll.tAving appeared in a portion of our impression of
yesterday evening r

PARIS, MONDAY, FEB. 4.
The French. Chambers were opened at 1 o'clock
today by the Emperor, who delivered the follow-
ing speech :--
MESSIEUtItS LES SENATEURS,
MESSIEURS LES DEPUTES,
Le discor,r d'ouverture de cheque session resume
en peu de mots les actes passs et les projets i venir.
Jusqu' a ce jour cette communication restrainte par
sa nature ne mettait pas mon Gouvernement en
rapport assez intime avec les grand corps de l'E tat
et eeux ci etaient privees de la faculte de
fortifier le Gouvernement par leur adhesion pub-
ligae ou de l'eclairer par leurs conseils.
J'ai decide que tousles ans un expose general
de la situation de l'Empire serait mis sous vos yeux
et que les depeches les plus importante de la d iplo-
matic seraient depasees sur vos bureaux.
Vous passrerez egalement dans une adresse mani-
festee votre sentiment sur les faits qui s' accom-
plessent non plus comme autrefois par une, simple
paraphrase du discours du trona mais par la libre
et loyale expression de votre opinion.
Cette amelioration initie plus amplement le pays
a ses propres affaires lin fact ceux connaitre ceur
qui le gouvernment comme ceux qui siegent dans les
Chambres et malgre son importance n' attire en
rien l'esprit de la constitution.
Autrefois volts les savez le suffrage etait restraint.
La Chambre des deputies avait il est vrai des pre-
rogatives plus etendus. Mais le grand nombre des
fonetionnairres publics que en faisaient partie don-
nait an gouvernement une action directe sur sea
resolutions. La Chainbre despaires votait anssi lea
lois mais la majorite pouvait etre a cheque instant
deplaeee par Padjonction facultative de nouveaux
membres. Enfin les lois n'etaient pas toujours dis-
eutees pour leur valeur retell° mais suivant la
chance que leur adoption on lour rejet pouvait
avoir de maintenir on de renverser un Ministeir de
la par de sincerili, dans les deliberations peu do
atabilites dans la mnrche du Gouvernement peu de
travail utile accompli. Anjourdhui toutes les lois
sont preparees avec soin et maturite par un con-
seil compose d'hommes, eclaires qui donnent lour
Avis sur toutes le mesures a prendre.
Le Senat gardien du pacte fundamental et dont
le pouvoir conservateur n'use de son initiative que
dans lea circonstances graves, examine les lois sous
les soul report de leur constitutionnalite mais veri-
table tour de cassation politique, eat composee
d'un nombre de membres qui ne peut etre depasse.
Le:corps Legislatif ne s'immisee pas it est vrai, dans
tousles details d'Administration mais il est nommet
directement pas le suffrage universel et ne compte
dans son sein aucun fonctionaire public. Il discute
les lois avec la plus entiere liberte. Si elles sont
repoussier c'est un avertissement dont le Gouverne-
ment tient compte, mais ce rejet n'ebranle pas le
pouvoir, n'arrete pas la marche des affairs, et n'ob-
lige pas le Souverain a prendre pour conseilliers
des hommes qui n'anraunt pas sa confiance.
Telles sont lea differences principales entre la
constitution actuelle et cello qui a precede la revo-
lution de Fevrier.
Fquisez Messieurs pendant le vote de l'adresse
toutes les discussions suivant la mesure de leur
gravite pour pouvoir ensiute vous consacrer entiere-
ntent anx affaires du pays car si celles-ci reclament
un examen approfondi et consciencieux les interets
a leur tour sont impatients de solution prompter.
A la veille d'explicationa plus detaillees je me
bournerai a vous rappeler sommairement ce qui
s'eat fait au dedaus et au debors.
A l'interieur toutes les mesurea prises tendent a
augmenter la production agricole industrielle et
commercielle. Le rencherissement de toute chose eat
la consequence itevitable d'une prosperite crois-
sant mais au moins devions nous aghercher a
rendre lea objets de premiere necessite
le moins chers possible. C'est dans ce but que
nous avons diminue les droits sur les matieres
premieres, aigne un traite de commerce
avec l'Angleterre, projecto d'cn contracter d'autres
avec les pays voisins, facilite partout lea voies do
communication et les transports.
Poureealiser ces reformes economiques nous avons
ciu renoncer a quatre vingt dix millions de recettes
unnuelles et cependant le budjet vous sera presente
en equilibre sans qu' it ait etc necessairo
de recouvair ni a la creation de nouveaux
impota ni as credit public ainsi que je vous l'aysis
annonce l'annee derniere.
Les changernents operes dans Padministration de
I'Algerie ont place la direction superieure des
affaires au sein memo des populations. Les ser-
vices illustres du Marechal mis a la tete de la
colonie sont de curs gararttis d'ordre et de pro-
aperite.
A l'exterieur je me suis efforce de proveuir dans
Thee relations avec les 5 puissances etrangers que la
France desirait sincerement la paix, que sans re•
noncer a une legitime influence elle ne pretendait
s'ingerer nulle part ou ses interets n'etait pas en
jeu, enfin que si elle avait des sympathies
pour tout ce qui est noble of grand, elle n'hisitait
pas a condanmer tous ce qui violait les droit des
gees et la justice.
Dcs evenements dificiles a prevoir sent venus
compliquer en Italie une situation deja si em-
barrassee.
Mon goavernment d'accord avee ses allies a cru
que le meilleur moyen de conjurer do plus Brands
dangers etait d'avoir recours au principe de nos in-
terventions qua laisse cheque pays maitre de ses
destinees, localise les questions et les empeche de
degenerer en conflits Europeens.
Certes je ne l'ignore pas ce systeme a l'inconve-
nient de paraitre autoriser bien de facheux execs
et les opinions extremes prefereraient, les tines, que
la France, prit fait et cause pour toutes les revolu•
tions ; les autres, qu'elle se mit a la tete d'une reac-
tion generale. Je no me laisserai detour-
ner de ma route par aueune de ces excita-
tions opposees. Il suffit a la grandeur du
pays de maintenir son droit la ou il est incontes-
table, de defendre son honneur la ou il est attaque,
de preter son appui la ou il est implore en favour
d'une juste cause.

C'est ainsi que nous avow; maintenu notre droit
en ffaisant accepter la cession de la Savoie et de
Nice. Ces provinces sout aujourd'hui irrevocable-
ment reunies a la France.

C'est ainsi que pour venger notre honneur
l'extreme Orient, notre drapeau uni a celui dela
grande Bretagne, a flotte victorieusement stir les
/nun de Pekin et que la croix embleme de la civili-
sation chretienne, surmonte de nouveau dans la
Capitale de la Chine, les temples de notre religion
fermes de:puis plus d'un siecle.
C'est ainsi qu' au nom de l'humanite nos troupes
tont allees en Brie en vertu d'une convention
Europeenne proteger les chretiens contre un
fanatisme avengle-.
A Rome j'ai ern devoir augmenter la garrison
lorsque la securite du St. Pere a pare menacee. A
Gaeta jai envoye ma flotte an moment on elle
semblait devoir etre le dernier refuge du Roi de
Naples, Apres l'y avoir laisse quatre moil je
retire, quelque digne de sympathie que fat une,
infortune Royale si noblement supportee.
prfisence de nos vaisseanx nous obligeait a
ous.ecarter tousle jours du systems de neutralite
quo Avail; proclame et elle donnait lieu a des
in-
terpretations erronees. Or vous le saves en poli-
tique on no croit, gnere a une demarche purement
desinterelywe,

Tel est rexPelle rapid° de la situation generale.
Quo aPkrehensions Ise dissipent done et quo. la,
confiance setaffernaisse_ pour quoi les affairs corn-
inereiales
un non el et industrieliesne reprendraient-elles pas essort ?

Ma ferme resolution est de wentrer dans aneun
conflit ou la cause, do la
.Potnceau, eaveeoruasitnpouass l.)da:nee' sur le droit et Ie justice., .Q
a craindre ? Est-ce qu'une.na l,mtiou •e et n
compute
comptant qtarante millions d'aines pent redouter
soit d'etre entrainer dans des luttes done elle
n'appron, verait pas-1e bret-soit d'etre provoquer
par une menace qaelcouque; . ,
La premiere
_vertu. d'un people est ,d'avoir,
conflance, en lui -mettle
_et ds ae pas se laisser

emouvoir par des alarmes imaginaires. Envisageons
done l'avenir avec calme, daus la plaine confiance

de notre force comme de nos loyales intentions

livrons nous sans pre-occupation exagerees au -
developpement des Bermes de prosperite clue la
Providence a mice entre nos mains.

[TRANSLATION.]

The opening speech of each session sums up in a
few words the acts of the past and the projects of
the future. Up to this time this communication,
restrained by its nature, did not put my Govern.
ment in :'sufficiently intimate correspondence with
the great bodies of the State, and they were like-
wise deprived of the power of supporting the
Government by their public adhesion, or of
enlightening it by their advice.
I have resolved that every year a general state-
ment of the situation of the Empire shall be placed
before you, and that the most important of the
diplomatic despatches shall be laid before you.
You will express also, in a published address,
your sentiments on the events which are passing ;
not, as formerly, by a simple paraphrase of the
Speech from the Throne, but by a free
and loyal expression of your opinion.
This improvement initiates the country more fully
into its own affairs—makes it know those who
govern it as those who sit in the Chambers, and,
notwithstanding its importance, it affects in no
way the spirit of the Constitution.
Of old, you are aware that the suffrage was re-
stricted. The Chamber of Deputies had, it is true,
more extended prerogatives, but the great number
of public functionaries who formed part of it, gave
the Government a direct influence over its resolutions.
The Chamber of Peers also voted laws, but the ma-
jority could, at any moment, be displaced by the op-
tional addition of new members. It, fine, the laws
were not always discussed with a regard to their
value, 'but according to the chance which their
adoption or their rejection might have in maintain
ing or overthrowing a Ministry.
Thus by sincerity in deliberations, by steadfast-
ness in the plans of Government, by useful works
accomplished, at present all the laws are prepared
with care and consideration by a council
composed of enlightened men, who give
their opinions on all the measures that are under-
taken.
The Senate, guardian of the fundamental char-
ter, and whose conservatory power never exercises
its prerogative except in circumstances of grave
importance, examines the laws solely on the
question of their constitutionality, but it is in
reality the Court of Political Cassation, composed
of a number of members who cannot be super-
seded. It is true that the Legislative Body
does [not mix itself in the details of
the Administration, but it is elected by
universal suffrage, and does not contain any
public functionary. It discusses the laws with the
most entire freedom. If they are rejected
it is a warning of which the Govern-
ment
takes notice, but this refusal does
not upset the powers, does not stop the progress of
affairs, and does not oblige the Sovereign to take
for his advisers men who have not his confidence.
Such are the principal differences between the
existing constitution and that which preceded the
revolution of February.
Exhaust, gentlemen, during the vote on the Ad-
dress, all the discussions on the measure in order
subsequently to devote yourselves entirely to the
affairs of the country, for if these debates demand
profound and conscientious consideration, the public
interests in their turn demand prompt attention.
On the eve of more detailed explanations I shall
confine myself to recalling to you summarily what
has occurred at home and abroad.
In the interior all the measures taken tend to
increase agricultural productions,industrial:and com-
mercial. Increased prices are the inevitable conse-
quence of an increasing prosperity, but at least let us
endeavour to render the articles of first necessity as
cheap as is possible. It is with this object that we
have diminished the duties on primary articles,
signed a treaty of commerce with England, pro-
posed to contract others with neighbouring
States, and given every facility to the means
communication and transport.
In order to realise these economical reforms, we
have renounced 90 millions of annual receipts
and, nevertheless, the:Budget will:present an equi-
librium, without its having been necessary to have
recourse either to the creation of new imposts or
to the public credit, as I announced to you last
year.

The changes which have taken place in the
administration of Algeria have placed the su-
preme direction of affairs in the heart of the
population. The illustrious services of the Marshal
who is placed at the head of the colony form a suffi-
cient guarantee of order and prosperity.
With regard to foreign affairs I am forced to
premise, in my relations with the five Great
Powers, that France sincerely desires peace ;
that without renouncing her legitimate influence
she will not pretend to intermeddle in any part
where her interests are not involved; in fine, that
if she has sympathies with all that is noble and
great, she will not hesitate to condemn all that
violates the right of individuals and of justice.
Events difficult to foresee have complicated in
Italy a situation already so much embarrassed.
My Government, in accordance with its allies, have
believed that the best method of avoiding greater
dangers was to have recourse to that principle of non-
intervention, which leaves each country master of
its own destiny, localises such questions, and pre-
vents them from degenerating into European con-
flicts.

Certes, lam not ignorant that this system has
the inconvenience of appearing to authorise many
serious excesses ; and those of extreme opinions
would prefer, on the one side, that France should
suppress all revolutions; and the other side

that she should put herself at the head of a general
reaction. I shall not consent to be turned from my
resolution by any of these opposing agitators. It
is necessary, for the greatness of the country, to
maintain its rights where they are incontestable ;
to defend its honour where it is attacked ; to lend
its support where it is invoked in aid of a just
cause. It is thus that we have maintained our
right in consenting to accept the cession of
Savoy and Nice. These provinces are
now irrevocably reunited to France. It is
thus that, to avenge our honour in the extreme
East, our flag, in unison with that of Great
Britain, has waved victoriously from the walls
of Pekin, and that the Cross, emblem of
Christian civilisation ; crowns anew in the capital
of China the temples of our religion that hay
been closed for more than a century.
It is thus that in the name of humanity our troop
have gone to Syria, in virtue of a European Con-
vention, to protect the Christians against blind
fanaticism. At ROME, I believed it to be
my duty to increase the garrison when
the security of the Holy Father appeared to
be threatened. I sent my fleet to Gaeta, at the period
when it appeared to be the last refuge of the King
of Naples. After having left it there four months
I withdrew it, notwithstanding the unfortunate
King so nobly supported, was worthy of sympathy.
The presence of our ships caused us daily to ignore
the system of neucrality which I had proclaimed,
and it gave rise to erroneous interpretations, for you
know that in politics no one ever believes that

any step is purely disinterested. Such
is a rapid explanation of the general

state of affairs.

Therefore, let apprehensions

be distipted, and let confidence be re•estab.
Why should hot commerce and inaut

try be. renewed with fresh vigour ? My firm
resolutions s not to enter into any conflict. where
• the cause of France will not be based upon right
and juetide. IKhati then, have we to fear ? • Can
-it be possible,, that, it'lattea and combined nation,
amonntingto fortimillions of souls, candread either
to be drawn.into contentions of which she does not
approve the object, or to be iirovoked by,any menace
-whatsoever. The first duty of a people is to have
confidence in themselves, "and not to allow
:,thems elves ,to be, carried away by imaginary
rtearhenlliaLet us calmly look forward into the future,
Ple,,full confidence of our strength as of
our honest intentions, Let us give ourselves up
without over-anxious considerations to the develop-
ment of those germs of prosperity that Providence
`has put into our hands.

of Mar, and Brotdwater.

ITHR NAVY.

A letter, dated Valetta, Jan. 31, from a 'Malta
correspondent, says :
" Her Majesty's corvette, Scourge, Commander
W. J. Jones, arrived on Saturday last from Suda
Bay (Candia), and on Tuesday the two line-of-
battle ships Caesar, Capt. J. H. Mason, and Ex-
mouth, Capt. J. A. Paynter, expected for some days
past from Corfu, made their appearance, and will
probably remain here for some time. We have
now five liners in port, besides several other smaller
ships of war, making in all 12 pendants. Such a
naval force we have not witnessed here for several
months past, the greater portion of the fleet having
been stationed this winter at Corfu and Naples.
The gunboat Assurance returned from Corfu on
Wednesday, and the troopship Himalaya, Captain
Seccombe, left the same day for England with naval
and military invalids, and officers whose term of
service in this garrison has expired, or are proceed-
ing home on promotion. The following took pas-
sage by her :—Commander Reeves, R.N.,:Mr.Dow-
ling, master, R.N., Surg. Monteith, RN., Surg.
West, R.N., Lieut. Blackett, R.N., Lieut. Foster,
R.N. Lieut. Collier, R.M., Mr. Taylor, R.N., Mr.
Nettleton, R.N., Mr. Hodson, R.N., and 130 sea-
men and marines. Staff-Surg. Mockler, Lieut.
Nash, 4th Regiment, Lieut. Carey, R.A., Lieut.
Waddington, R.A., and wife, Ensign Cosens, Ist
Battalion 9th Regiment, Mr. Tatum, military store-
keeper, Mr. Bush, purveyor to the forces, Lieut.
Hearn, 2d Battalion 3d Buffs, and 21 non-commis-
sioned officers and men, 10 women, and 13 children.
" Her Majesty's line-of-battle ships Agamemnon
and Queen, and corvette Scourge are to leave next
week for Corfu, and the linc-of-battle ship Ex-
mouth later for Naples. The Melpomene frigate
and Foxhound gunboat leave port to-day, the
former for neyrout direct, and the latter for Corfu
with a mail.
" The court-martial mentioned in my last letter
as having assembled on board her Majesty's receiv-
ing-ship Hibernia, in this port, to try Dr.
Lowry Monteith, surgeon, of her Majesty's frigate
Melpomene, Cape. Ewart, on charge of neglecting
to pay proper attention to his patients and not
treating them with kindness, terminated its pro-
ceedings on the 29th inst., the sth day of its sitting.
The charge was divided into eight separate counts,
specifying certain cases in which some of the crew
had been sent back to their duty before, as was
alleged, they were sufficiently recovered from sick-
ness, and in two instances in which Dr. Monteith
had unjustly accused them of skulking. Dr. Mon-
teith, in his defence, totally denied the charge, re-
plying to each of the counts contained in the indict •
meat, :and endeavoured to prove, on the contrary,
that he was in the habit of treating the men with
consideration and kindness. The Court, however,
found him guilty of a sufficient portion of the charge
to induce it to sentence him to be reprimanded and
to be dismissed the ship."
A letter from Corfu, of Jan. 27, says:—
" There was a regular break up in the fleet here
yesterday. The Caesar and the Exmouth left for
Malta, the London for Patras, and the Neptune for
Athens. It is supposed, however, that the two first
named vessels will be replaced by the Agamemnon
and Renown or the Queen from your island. A
disturbance, but not of a serious nature, took place
lately on board the Neptune, owing to the crew not
being satisfied with the term of leave granted them
to go on shore. Nearly half the crew went on the
quarter deck in a body, and cosplained of their
alleged grievance, when they obtained what they
wanted. The Marlborough was going for a short
cruise the same day, and had left her anchorage,
bat was recalled, and Admirals Martin and Dacres
soon put matters to rights on their return into port.
The Commander-in-Chief has had much trouble
with the men of the squadron stationed here, o wing
to their drunken and disorderly conduct on shore,
and in several instances he hec been compelled to
order some of them on board before their leave was
expired.
" A general court-martial has lately been held
here on a soldier of the 2d battalion 2d Queen's, on
the charge of striking a captain of his own corps in
the face, for which offence he was sentenced to
penal servitude for life ; but the Court, on account
of his youth and previous good conduct, recom-
mended him to mercy, so that his sentence was
commuted to 10 years' transportation. Owing to
the frequency of lace of such crimes it is necessary
to make an example."
The experimental firing from the 80-pounder
Whitworth gun at Portsmouth has been brought to
an abrupt termination by the discovery of a flaw or
rent in the metal at the breech. The gun, -which
weighs four tons, has been landed from the Stork
gunboat, packed, and conveyed to the railway sta-
tion to be forwarded to Woolwich. Many naval
officers experienced in gunnery are of opinion that
the principle of the gun in working metal upon
metal is radically wrong. They argue that if any
foreign substance is introduced into the bore of the
gun, such as a cinder from the funnel, and should
get between the inner surface of the gun and the
projectile, the latter would infallibly jam, and the
gun would burst.
The Immortalite, 51, screw, Captain Hancock,
received supernumeraries yesterday for the division
of the Channel fleet now at Lisbon, and was ordered
to sail last evening, but had not left the anchorage
at sunset The Immortalite would stay in the Tagus
about a week, at the end of which time she will
return to Spithead.
The Lucifer, steam tender, sailed from Portsmouth
yesterday for Pembroke, with jury spars and gear
for the Pandora, 5, screw, which vessel will be
rigged and navigated round to Portsmouth, Com-
mander R. Stokes, assist.-master attendant of Ports-
mouth dockyard and a party of riggers, proceeding
round in the Lucifer for that purpose. The Lucifer
calls in at Portland and Plymouth Sound on her
way down Channel.
The Philomel, 5, screw, Commander L. Wildman,
will go out of Spithead to-morrow at 7 a.m, and try
her speed at deep draught at the measured mile in
Stokes Bay, prior to leaving Spithead for her des-
tination—the coast of Africa.
The Rinaldo, 17, screw, will receive her arma-
ment to-day in the steam basin at Portsmouth.
The Cockatrice, new class gunboat, in the same
basin, has received her armament, consisting of ono
68-pounder, one long 32-pounder, and two brass
howitzers. She is ready for commission. On the
north wall of the basin workmen are preparing the
ground for the erection of an hydraulic capstan.
The following line of-battle and other screw

assist.-surg,, to the Impregnable, for Plymouth
Hospital.
The Stirlingshire Militia are to be immediately
disembodied, having been recalled in divisions from
their present quarters to Stirling for the purpose.
The regiment numbers about 700 men.
The Ist York Militia, at present quartered in
Glasgow, Paisley, and Ayr, are under orders to pro-
ceed to Pontefract for disembodiment, and will be
replaced by the 76th Regiment from Ireland.

OPENING OF TIIE FRENCH C11.(1 318

Little need we wonder that the world awaits
with breathless expectation the inaugural address
of the Emperor of the French on opening the
• French Chambers. It is an occasion in every way
remarkable. Nine years have followed the coup
d'etat, and during the whole of that period the
• freedom of speech, writing, and even thought, has
been repressed within the French Empire to a
degree never before known in the annals of a nation
equally civilised. The amount of repression must
be judged of by the quantity repressed, and if we
consider what free France would have written and
spoken during the last nine years we have a fair
measure of the force that must have been exerted.
Now we are told that, although as appears from a
recent instance the press may not write freely, the
members of the two Chambers are to be at liberty
to speak freely, and that whatever they may say is
to be the property of the French nation. Another
cause of interest fs the extreme ambiguity of the
conduct of the French Emperor during the last
year. No Sphinx can interpret the Emperor so
well as himself. Then we naturally look to the
speech for the solution of the question of peace or
war, which is agitating not only every cabinet, but
every countinghouse in Europe.
We have got the speech, and we cannot help
expressing a tear that it will be read by all classes
in this country with feelings of no little disappoint-
' went. The vision of a considerable progress
towards real Parliamentary government fades away
as we approach the reality. The Speech of the
Emperor Napoleon has the faintest possible resem-
blance to the Speech of a Constitutional Monarch.
The measures of the year are not stated with
any minuteness or particularity, and the whole
document has an air rather controversial than ex-
pository. The Chambers are invited to strengthen
the Government by their adhesion, or to aid it by
their counsels, but they are very significantly told
the limits within which they are to act and the
regions of politics into which they are to penetrate.
The Emperor of the French meets the Representa-
tives of the people by virtue of a Constitution to
which they have both solemnly sworn, and which
we should have thought they might have taken for
granted. But the Emperor feels it necessary to
enter into an elaborate, and, es it seems to us, not
very successful defence of the Chambers which he
is addressing. He tells them that the former
Chamber of Deputies was elected by a restricted
suffrage, and, though it had more extensive powers,
was composed so much of functionaries that the
Government exercised great influence. Its votes
also were often influenced by party rather than by
the merits of the question. The present Legislative
Body, on the other hand, is elected -by universal
suffrage, has no functionaries among its members,
hos all the laws prepared for it by the Council of
State, and discuss them with entire freedom, though
it is not allowed to interfere with the details of
administration. In other words, the old Chamber
of Deputies had many faults, but it was, after all,
a power and a reality. The new Legislative Body
has many merits, but it is without power of consi-
deration. It was scarcely worth while to enter into
such a parallel if a conclusion more satisfactory
could not be deduced. No member of the Legisla-
tive Body can feel that his privileges are at all
extended by these remarks; nay, he must be con-
scious that he is watched jealously by one who has
no intention of parting with one atom of substan-
tial power, or of raising up any body in the State
which dares offer to him a serious remonstrance.
As regards.what is to us the more important ques-
tion of foreign politics, the Speech of the Emperor
of the French yields still less satisfaction. He
avows himself an advocate of the principle of non-
intervention, although he is well aware that it au-
thorises sad excesses, and that extreme opinions
would place him on the one hand at the head of a
revolution, and on the other of a general reaction.
Without following either of these courses, the Em-
peror
is content to maintain his right where it is
incontestable ; to defend his honour where it is
attacked ; and to lend his support where it is im-
plored in a just cause. The instance of an incon-
testable right which he selects is the seizure of
Savoy and Nice, now irrevocabiy united to France,
and therefore we are to presume justly acquired.
We cannot think these words reassuring. We
cannot think the illustration a happy one, and
we cannot believe that either France or Europe
will receive as an omen of continued peace
the announcement that the same policy which
annexed Savoy and Nice is henceforth to guide
the destinies of France. As to his ambiguous
conduct of last year, the Emperor violated the
principle of non-intervention at Rome in order to
provide for the security of the l'ope, and at Gaeta
from sympathy for the King of Naples, of whose
misfortunes the Emperor himself has been the
principal cause. Finding, however, that the pre-
sence of his vessels gave rise to erroneous interpre-
tations the Emperor withdrew them, and this is
all that is said with regard to the inscrutable
contradictions of conduct which have so effec-
tually puzzled the world. Strong in the force
of his reasoning, the Emperor requires apprehen-
sions to disappear, and confidence to strengthen
itself. Why, he asks, should not commercial and
industrial affairs take departure for a new flight ?
His resolution is not to enter into war unless it
be based on right and justice. France has forty
millions. The first virtue of a people is confidence
in itself. Let us, then, he cries, regard the future '
with tranquillity inthe confidence of our strength
and our good intentions.

steamers now compose the steam reserve in the
Medway, at Chatham, under the command of Capt.
C. F. Schomberg :
First Division—The Meeanee, 81, 400-horse
power; the Phamton, 51, 400 horse power; the
Challenger, 22, 400-horse powers; the Malacca, 17,
200-horse power ; the Chameleon, 17, 200-horse

We hive no difficulty in answering the ques-
tion. Confidence cannot and will not revive,
because the past is unaccounted for and the future
unexplained. When a great Prince announces a
policy like non-intervention, that announcement
becomes valueless when we are shown how lightly
the policy can be thrown aside at the bidding of
mere sympathies and antipathies; and, as regards
the future, who can feel reassured by being told
that France will act on the principles of right and
justice, as if Savoy and Nice had been rightly and
justly annexed, or as if any nation ever went to
war proclaiming that it drew the sword in the
cause of wrong and injustice ? These words have
been the playthings of Kings from the first of time,
and their natural vagueness is not improved by
the illustration of Savoy and Nice. A Speech which
explains away the liberties already supposed to be
conceded, which implies commercial stagnation and
a want of confidence in all classes; a Speech which
only mentions a single foreign Power, and that
incidentally, which has no word of kindness for
any one, which gives no :reason for the immense
increase of the Army and Navy, which gives no
account of the foreign relations of the country
and no assurance of her good understanding with
any other country—in which we seek in vain for
the slightest hint of the policy which the Govern-
ment of France is about to pursue, and, above all,
in which the Emperor appears neither content
with the Constitution under which he is acting,
with the principle of non-intervention, nor with
the exceptions he has made in it, nor with the state
of trade, nor with the state of public opinion—
cannot, ought not, to reassure any one.
Confidence is made of far other elements. A clear
and open policy based on principles easily understood
and steadily enforced, a frank and open communi-
cation of views and motives, and a demeanour
which shows that the Prince has at once con-
fidence in himself and in his people—these are
the indispensable conditions of commercial im-
provement and political tranquillity. The people
of France are well assured that no one will
wantonly attack her. Are they equally sure that
she will wantonly attack no one ? If they are
not convinced of this, is not the fault to be traced
to a Government which does not repose in its people
the confidence it requires from them, and substitutes
a few sounding phrases for a fair and candid state-
ment of its political situation and prospects.—
Times,

power; the Griffin, 5, 80-horse power ; the Lee, 5,
80-horse power ; and the gunboats Bullfrog, Car-
nation, Cochin, Griper, and Hasty, each of 2 guns
and 60-horse power.
Second Division—The Hood, 91, 600-horse
power; the Rodney, 90, 500-horse power; the
Waterloo, 90, 500-horse power ; the Goliath, 80,
400-horse power ; the Irresistible, 80, 400-horse
power; the Severn, 51, 500-horse power; the
Galatea, 26, 800-horse power ; the Orpheus, 21,
400-horse power; the Orestes, 21, 400-horse power;
the Horatio, 12, 250-horse power; the Dragon, 6,
560 horse-power; the Victor, 6, 350-horse power;
the Plover, 5, 80-horse power; the Wanderer, 4,
200-horse power ; the Cormorant, 4, 200-horse
power; the Racehorse, 4, 200-horse power ; the

floating batteries Thunderbolt, 16, 200-horse power;
Etna, 16, 200-horse power ; Thunder, 14, 150-horse
power; and Trusty, 14, 150-horse power; and the

gunboats Herring, India, Mistletoe, Sepoy, and
Surly.

Third Division—The Anson, 91, 800-horse power;
the Atlas, 91, 800-horse power ; the Newcastle, 51,
600-horse power;. the Eurotas, 12, 200-horse power
(mortar ship).; the Swallow, 9, 60-horsa power; the
Hermes, 6, 200-horse power; the Virago, 6, 300-
horse power; the Locust, 3, 100-horse power; and
screw gunboats Britomart, Wizard, Linnet, Manly,
Mastiff, Pelter, Spey, Thistle, Thrasher, and Tickler.
Fourth Division—The Collingwood, 80,400-horse
power; the Leander, 51, 400-horse power; the Phes-
nix, 6, 260-horse power ; the Salamander, 6, 200-
horse power and the gunboat .Fidget.

[ADVERTISEMENT.) Pills and medicine invariably ag-
gravate and perpetuate diseases; their annoyance, dis-
appointment, and expense may be avoided by persons
in indifferent health sending only their address to E.
S. Barry, Esq., 77, Regent-street, W., London, and they
will receive gratis and free by post the "INVALIDS' OWI4
GUIDE," or Natural Restorer, without medicine or ex-
pmse, of perfect digestion, strong nerves, sound lungs, and
refreshing sleep, to the most enfeebled, insuring the removal
of indigestion (dyspepsia), constipation, liver complaints
nausea, epilepsy, paralysis, debility, nervousness, palpitation,
cough, asthma, consumption, dropsy, flatulency, diarrhoea,
dysentery, biliousness, fevers, sore throats, catarrhs, colds,
noises in the ears, rheumatism, gout, impurities, eruptions,
hysteria, neuralgia, irritability, sleeplessness, acidity, palpi-
tation, heartburn, headache, despondency, cramps, spasms,
sinking, fits, bronchitis —"llnouestionably the safest Guide
to health."

The following vessels have been chartered by the
Government to sail from Gravesend with military
and other stores during the present month to various

stations :—the Earl of Hard wicke, Raby Castle,
Astronomer, Scotia, Geologist, Fortitude, Dun-

. .
Bandle, Hero of the Nile, Eirene, Corriemulzie, Earl

The Homeward-bound off Deal signal their number to the
shore, and from thence a lilagnet carries the glad news to the
owners. The same inscrutable force is employed by Mr.
Herring in his Magnetic Brushes, &c. Dr. Ilassall states, "I
regard them as the most perfect Brushes hitherto made, as
respects their mechanical construction, and their Magnetical
action." They are the remedy for Grey Hair, Neuralgia,
Rheumatism, &c. N.B.—Counterfeit! are being made, Offices,
32, Basingliall-street, Loudon.

The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty :—Lieut. E. S. Mangan, to the
Spiteful ; Lieut. H. W. Mist, to the Hero ; E. Olive

and W. Redmark, acting assist.-surgs., to the Vic-
tory, for Haslar Hospital; and J. Bradley, acting

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY' EVENING, FEBRUARY 5, 1861

LAW INTELLIGENCE, _Feb. 4.

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH.

DOREE V. DEAN.

Mr. G. Francis appeared for the plaintiff, and
Mr. H. Matthews for the defendant.
The plaintiff in this action, Ann Doree, was the
daughter of a silk velvet weaver in Wellington-
row, Bethnal-green, and she sued the defendant,
Samuel Dean, who was a foreman at a wholesale
chemists, at No. 5, Coleman-street, in the city, to
recover damages for a breach ofpromise of marriage.
It appeared from the evidence given by the lady's
father, that the plaintiff was now about 23 years of
age, and the eldest of 11 children. She lived with
her parents and earned 16s. a-week at the weaving
business. The defendant was a young man of
about the same age, or about three months older, and
had been acquainted with plaintiff for many years.
In October, 1856, he called upon the plaintiff's
father, and told him he was about to change his
position in life, and wished to be allowed to pay
his addresses to the plaintiff. Mr. Doree said he
would take time to consider, and, accordingly he
conferred with the defendant's father and mother
on the subject, and, as he found them quite agree-
able, he gave his consent. The defendant imme-
diately commenced paying his addresses, and was
not long before he succeeded in gaining the young
lady's affections. His visits were frequent at the
plaintiff's house, on which occasions he always
saluted the plaintiff with a kiss, and when he left
in the evening she tslways let him out at the street-
door, and he saluted her the same way on leaving.
After a time the defendant introduced the lady to
his father, mother and friends as his intended, and
became more constant in his visits. He spent five
evenings in the week at Mr. Doree's house and took
two sittings for himself and lady at an Independent
Chapel Bethnal-green where both families attended.
Several of the defendant's letters were read in
evidence, to show the terms of affection which sub-
sisted between the parties. In one of them the de-
fendant made a quotation in these words—" Ours is
no common affection ; it is the gentle, endearing
affection of kindred minds, united by the strong
hand of esteem," &c. ; and then said, " Dearest
Annie, is not this beautiful language P" He then
went on to say, in somewhat dubious language,
" True affection does not look to beauty. Solomon
says, Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain,' "
and then quoted these verses :
" For outward forms of shape and face
Soon wither like the rose,
But virtue is the only source
From whence true pleasure flows."
_ _ _

He concluded by asking his" dear Annie" to answer
his letter, saying " Do try and answer this any time
you can,' and encouraged her by saying," Do not
be afraid to write; say just what you feel, as I
always try to do," and adding, " You know we
repose full confidence in each other; our hearts are
as one, bound by the ties of affection," and signed
himself " Your own ever affectionate and fond
Samuel." The plaintiff accepted this invitation,
and wrote a letter, in which she expressed full con-
fidence in her " dear Samuel," alluded to the " very
happy days" they had spent together, and hoped
they would be " many, many more, crowned with
the favour of God," for, she added, " His favour is
life, and His loving kindness is better than life."
The letter was in a very religious strain. Towards
the end she referred to some story about " Polydore
and Emeline," and said what a pity it was that
" he went away to get rich," and that, if it had
I been her own case, she could not have let the defen-
dant have gone on any account, and concluded by
saying, " My dearest Samuel, I trust we shall ever
have that love and affection for each other that we
now have." She signed herself " Your own affec-
tionate, fond Annie." Matters went on in this happy
state for some time ; but, as " the course of true
love never did run smooth," so it happened that one
evening Annie and Samuel had a " tiff." But
Annie was the first to repent, and sat down and
wrote to her " own ever dearest Samuel," accusing
herself of being "hard-hearted and unkind," and
saying that she felt so much grieved that she did
not know what to do, and imploring him to forgive
her, and to believe her to be " ever your own fond
loving Annie," with more last words, " Good night,
dear Samuel." The defendant responded to this
appeal, and, for once, he put a date to his epistle,
which commenced thus :—" January Ist, 1859, 31,
Pott-street." The letter was rather a long one. It
began "My own dearest Annie," and said he was
far from thinking her hard-hearted or unkind, for
he had always taken her to be affectionate and as
kind as possible; " but, he said, " on Wednesday
evening you completely battled me." He confessed
he had never felt more in his life, and that he
should never forget that walk " along the Mile-end-
road," but he checked himself by saying it was
wrong for him to say he should never forget, and
assured his "dear Annie" that he did not intend to
say any more about it, adding, "our path till then
had been one clear day of sunshine; not a cloud to
obscure the sunlight of Heaven; not a word to mar
our happiness ; but the clearest day has its clouds,
and so it was with us. But (said he) ' forgive, and
then forget,' is a good motto, and so that cloud has,
so far as I am concerned, blown away into the past,
to be forgotten and remembered no more." There
was a good deal more to the same effect, and he
expressed a hope that both of them might be
" more fervent in prayer," and might walk worthy
of their high calling as professors of Christianity,
and, said he, " let us be ready, for we know not
what a day or an hour may bring forth." Not-
withstanding this caution, the courtship went
on very happily for about eighteen months
longer, and during this time the parties paid a
few days' visit to Ramsgate, accompanied by their
sisters. The effect of these visits was visible in the
letters which the defendant afterwards wrote to
the plaintiff from Ramsgate and from Dover, In
the former letter, which he addressed to " My own
dearest Annie," he said, " My dearest, though I am
far from you now, my heart is close to yours, and
will be all the time I am away from you ; " and
after more to the same effect, he said, " I cannot
kiss you, but send you one in fancy in the letter;
accept it, my love, and believe me ever to be your
own fond and affectionate Samuel." The plaintiff
replied to this letter in the same strain, and thanked
God for directing the defendant to her. She told
him that she was sitting in her parlour, writing to
him, and as she wrote, she looked upon " that
lovely likeness" of his, but it (lid not scup like
sitting iu the suunnei-house with him. She then
exclaimed, " That is a beautiful kiss you sent me
I send you one on a piece of lavender, that grows
under the fig-tree, which you have so often sat
with me under." She said she sometimes felt very
dull without him, and could hardly overcome her
feelings, but she tried not to let: it be seen ; but
she said, "I do not mind telling you dearest,
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.' " She
told the defendant that on the preceding evening
she was looking at the moon, and thought that
very likely he was looking at it too, and concluded
with these words ---f' My love, with a kiss for you
my own dear Samuel, believe me your own fond
and affectionate Annie." The defendant went on
from Ramsgate to Dover, and then wrote another
letter to "my own dearest Annie." He said he
could not tell her what sort of evening he had
spent in Ramsgate without her. He went to hear
"that splendid band on the cliff," but it had no
charms for him, for " his thoughts were not there,
but far away in London." He said " the niggers
were there," as usual, and he listened to them for a
short time, and walked away, thinking of you in
London. What made it worse to him was "it was
such a calm and beautiful eight ; not a ripple on the
bread deep ocean," and the brightest moon he ever
saw, " shining in glorious splendour over the waters
reflecting the shadows of the vessels as they calmly
and serenely made their way across." He regretted
the absence of the plaintiff, and that she, too, could
not see that magnificent sight ; but, "Oh !" said
he, " you know these two lines :
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.' "
He then went on to say that, as he sat on the cliff,
with all gay persons around him, musing in him-
self, and gazing on the scene before him (he would
not mind telling his " dear") " a tear stood in his
eye," and he turned, end said to himself, " I will
look no more." He said that the music sounding in
his ears, and the'rroon aed water before him, he felt
quite overcome. After describing his assent up the
Castle•hill, and right out at the top where the flag-
staff was, 495 feet above the sea, he begged the
plaintiff to write him one of her " touching letters,"
and to " accept a kiss to-night again, my dear, from
your own Samuel." Thus the plaintiff and defend

ant spent the three years and eight months during
which the courtship lasted ; and the time had
nearly come when, as prudent people, it was con-
sidered by the defendant they might be married.
The defendant had obtained a situation as foreman
at Squire's, the chemist's, in Coleman-street, and his
salary had been raised from £7O to £BO and to £9O
a-year, and according to the defendant's own view
of what was prudent they were to be married when
it had reached £lOO a-year. Just when matters
were nearing this long-expected finale, and " all
went merry as a marriage bell," the defendant on
the 12th of Jane, 1860, suddenly broke off the con-
nection by a letter which he handed to the plaintiff
at the street door, after he had spent- the evening
with her as usual, and kissed her in the
passage at parting. The young lady, op
receiving the letter, and mistaking its pur.i
port, rushed into the kitchen to her mother, with it
glad face, called for a light, and went into the par-
lour to read ; but she had not power to read far,
for she soon found that it dashed all her hopes, anil
she fell down in a fainting fit. The usual efforts
to restore her proving ineffectual, it was proposed
to send for " Samuel," and the plaintiff's father
went to him, but he refused to come, saying he

would not open the wound again, that he hat; done
it for the lady's own good, for he was satisfied theile
was such difference between their friends that they
could not live happily together. The defendant's
mother also urged her son to adhere to his resolu-
tion, saying, "No, no ; don't go back." The result
was that the defendant adhered to his resolution, as
expressed in his letter, that " all further engage-
ments must come to an end." The letter in which
the defendant explained the grounds of his resolu-
tion was a very lengthy one, and in it ho said he
had not come to that conclusion hastily, but "after
some months of such earnest prayer and mental
anguish that he never before felt" The first reason
which he gave was in these N, ords, " Your reserve,
coolness, and distance to all my friends." He ac-
cused her of never coming to see any of his family,
except when he was there, and then she came for
him. He said his family had not advised him to
say anything about it, though they had often men-
tioned it ; and he was afraid, if it was so then, what
might it be if they w ere to get married ? The
second reason given was her " entire want of con-
versation with himself." He said he once thought
her to be " shy," but it could not be that then.
He said he had many a time spent whole even-
ings with her, and she had not el:
igaged in any
conversation, though he had often tried. He
'reminded her that God had endowed then with
" thinking powers," and that it was not likely
that they could live in "unmixed happiness"
when she could sit for an hour or two without
saying anything. He said that many a time,
after leaving her in the evening, he had been con-
demned for spending the time God had so gra-
ciously given him without having made any good
use of it, or even enjoying social conversation with
her. He said he did not write by desire of his
friends, but, of course, he had mentioned it to his
mother, and '• she had told him to wait till God
directed him what to do." He solemnly declared
that he was acting from no other motive than what
he had said, for ho had no thought of any other
lady, and he knew it would be a great trial to the
plaintiff, as well as to himself. After telling the
plaintiff that he had prayed more for her to God to
give her His grace than he had done for himself, he
said " These three years and a half, I cannot help
saying, have passed on the whole pleasantly,-some-
times cloudy—often so to me ;" but he could not
enter into a union such as nothing but death could
sever at the risk of the happiness of all who were
concerned. He then requested her to write, as it
would be more congenial to him "to settle by
letter," and concluded his letter with, " I remain,
yours truly, Samuel Dean."
At the close of the plaintiff's case,
Mr. Matthews took an objection that the pro-
mise alleged was not proved, as the evidence
showed that the promise made was to marry when
the defendant had £lOO a year.
Mr Justice Blackburn said that was quite im-
material, for he should tell the jury that the letters
supported the declaration, and, if necessary, he
should amend it.

Witnesses were then called on the part of the
defendant. Mrs. Dean, the defendant's mother,
stated that she was the chapel-keeper, and had a
salary of £35 a year. The defendant lived with her
and paid 14s. a week for partial board and lodging,
and she gave some evidence of a conversation with
the plaintiff when she returned to her the defendant's
letters, to the effect that she had said the defendant
promised to marry her when he had £lOO a-year.
She said her son never walked out with any young
lady, for she said, amid loud laughter, which
the old lady seemed not to understand, that
her son was " very cautious." She said she had
not influenced her son in the course which he had
taken, though she admitted that when the lady's
father called to fetch her son she said to him, " No,
no ; don't go back."
Mr. Squire, the defendant's master, was called,
and said he had never paid the defendant more than
£9O a-year salary.
The learned council having again addressed the
jury for their respective clients,
Mr. Justice Blackburn summed up the evidence,
and the jury found for the plaintiff—damages, £75.

STORTING INTELLIGENCE.

TATTERSALLS'-MONDAY.

A very numerous attendance of subscribers, comprising
many of the most influential backers of horses, excited ex-
pectations early in the afternoon that business would be
briskly pursued. These anticipations were, however, dis-
appointed, and every movement was more indicative of
" trying the prices" than a desire to carry on legitimate
operations.
THE LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE.
_ _

Anatis, upon an increased outlay, was supported at 12 to
1, and at two points more the Emperor was backed for
money, and Cockatoo was in demand at 15 to 1. 20 to 1
was the highest offer against Old Ben Roe, but backers
required two points higher odds. Both the Tattler and
Jean de Quesne had an upward tendency at the odds
quoted. Bridegroom was asked after, but, beyond a few
stray shots at 25 to 1, nothing was done. Tom Moody,the
stable companion of Anatis, made his first appearance, and
was backed at 40 to 1, but towards the close anything be-
yond 30 to 1 could not be obtained. Goldsmith, who ap-
peared in bad odour, lacked supporters, and left off at 100 to
3, taken. Huntsman was touched upon at 50 to 1, and 7to
1 to " half-a-century" was booked about Freshman and
Anatis coupled.