Star.
London, England, 1822-12-11 00:00:00


FRANCE.

PAAI3. DECSMARR 8.
Before the Mass, whichthe King had in his apart-
ments, his Majesty gave a private audience to the
Russian Ambassador.
There is a strong rumour of the speedy convoca-
tion of the Chambers The opening is fixed for the
29cl of this month, or, at latest, the 4th of next month.
The Sienr. Michelot, responsible Editor of the Mi-
noir, was on the Bth of October acquitted by the Tri-
bunal of Correctional Police, of the charge of pub-
lishing matters injurious to the person of the King,
and against the Religion of the country. The first
article charged, appeared in that Paper of the 17th
of August, intitled, " Paris in 5839 ; ispream." The
second on the 29i.h of August, under the title of
" Spectacles Atnbulans." The Royal Court, before
whom the appeal this day came, had condemned M.
.blichelot to three months imprisonment, and a fine
Of 3000 francs. The same Editor has also appeared
before .the Correctional 'Police, under a charge of

outrage against the Censeurs otamatiques, and has
been condemned to five days imprisonment, and a

fine of 1000 francs.
M. Dardonville, author of a piece entitled " Re-
flections on Treason," had been acquitted by the Tri-
bunal of Correctional Police ; the Public Minister

having appealed against this decision, M. Dardon-
ville has been condemned to a month's imprisonment,
and a fine of 500 francs.—Le Courier Francais.
The Journal des Debais, in noticing the following
observation of the Courier, " France is making a levy
of rorty thousand men, and the date of the Decree
proves that the publication of it has been delayed till
the decision of the Congress was known,"—says, We
are obliged to remark to the Editor of the Courier,
that he here makes a strange mistake as to the fact,
and which chews on his part a total ignorance of the
present French laws.
The law for levying troops (reer-dement) of March
11th, 1818, which has fixed the organization of the
army, says, that the number of troops in time of peace
is fixed at 240,000 men, that of this permanent force
40,000 are to be discharged every year, but that they
shall be replaced by 40,000 conscripts, whom the
. King shall call out every year, without its being ne-
cessary to have a vote of the two Chambers.
In an administrative measure, which takes place
regularly and yearly, and is expected beforehand by
all France, the Courier sees an extraordinary arma-
ment, and an indication of war.
The date of the Ordonnance only proves, that this
year, as on every other, pr inting the Ordonnance was
delayed till the orders for executing its details were
sent to the Prefects. This is the customary course of
proceeding, and the epoch of the Ordonnance is also
the usual one. There is no occasion to fish out for
any mystery in this.—Journal des Debuts.
It must be supposed that a Ministerial Journal of
London has a very poor idea of the statesmen who
direct public affairs in France, if he supposes they
will blindly follow his counsels, and put an implicit
confidence in his promises. The Courier does not
deny that there is in agitation a Treaty of Commerce
between England and Spain ; it only contradicts the
report of a Treaty of Alliance offensive and defensive
between these two Powers. What disinterestedness !
As if a Treaty of Commerce beta een the two Powers
would not, in the event of a war, afford immense aa--
vantages to England !
But there exists other Treaties. Is it not positively
and even officially announced, that the English Go-
vet nment has solemnly guaranteed to Portugal its
independence and the continuance of its Constitution
in its present form, as long as it shall be deemed ad-
visable to retain it ? Let the Courier inform us whe-
ther the democratic principle is less active at Lisbon
than at Madrid ? Let us also consider that Spain
and l'ortugal at present unite their interests, and that
if the Peninsula be attacked, the people of both
countries will fight under the same flag. The cause
of Spain will consequently become that of Portugal.
Will not England, by the guarantee of which we
have already spoken, be forced to interfere in the
quarrel? Has diplomacy ever been wanting in tea-
sons to justify such measures?
There is one certain fact at present, and that is,
that the Cabinet of St. James's awaits impatiently the
signal for hostilities. This is sufficient to strew that
war is included in her plans, and is conformable to
her interests. At the first report of a war all the
English Commercial Interests were on the watch to
profit by it.—Constilutionnei.
According to general rumour, there is at present
in the Ministry a great difference of opinion between
the advocates of war and the advocates of peace;
the latter appear to have gained ground.
L'Etoile hitherto makes the contrary appear; but
L'Etoile is not permitted to shew a pacific disposition.
The Courier of London still pushes the French Go-
vernment into war. It states that the march of Ge-
neral Mina, and the retreat of the Army of the Faith,
are two circumstances " which ought to put an end
to all delay, and oblige the French Government to
act immediately."
PERPIGNAN, NOVEMBER 27.

- -
The Spanish courier who was to have arrived on
the 22d, has not yet reached this place. The courier
of the day before yesterday is also behind his time.—
Our news from Barcelona only reaches the 20th.
There was no doubt in that town that a Treaty of
Commerce was opened, or was about to be opened
with Portugal, Spain, and England, by which Eng-
lish merchandise is to be received into those two
kingdoms, subject only to an entrance duty of 15
per cent. The Constitutional troops from Cadiz
have disembarked at Tarragona ; they were brought
in English frigates.