Star.
London, England, 1831-06-15 00:00:00

FRANCE.

Le Constitutionnel repeats its conviction that
the sole object of the shuffling diplomacy of the
great Powers with respect to Belgium is to effect
a counter-revolution, and re-establish the kingdom
of the Netherlands ; an object which, it conceives,
will be defeated by the energy of the Belgians,
who, in a few days, will have 165,000 troops under
arms, protected by 365 pieces of cannon.
Le Temps argues, that so great is the import-
ance of the Rhenish frontier to France, that if
England, Prussia, or the Germanic Confederation,
have garrisons in the fortresses, or occupy Belgi-
um, war is inevitable. It concludes, that the best
course for Belgium to pursue is to elect a native
prince, and points out the present Regent as pos-
sessing all the qualities necessary to justify their
choice.

Le Journal du Commerce says, that although
the refusal of Prince Leopold, and the consequent
apprehension of war, has had the effect of alarming
the speculators, and lowering the funds, commer-
cial men generally do not appear to entertain much
alarm.

Le Courrier Francais maintains that the Bel-
gian Congress is right in refusing the Protocols,
and is confident that, should the four Powers at-
tack Belgium, plenty of French soldiers will be
found to fly to the assistance of their brothers and
allies.

Le National replies to the article of the Moni-
teur, respecting the electoral mandate, and argues
that a combination equally opposed to the hereditary
and to the non-hereditary principle of the peerage is
impossible; but that if it were not so, it would prove
nothing against the principle of the mandate; the only
effect of it would be, that the decision of the question
would be deferred until another session, which must
equally be the case if a difference of opinion exists
between any of the three branches of the legisla-
ture, so that the argument, if worth any thing,
proves as much against a representative government
composed of three branches, as against a Chamber
of Deputies in which three different mandates may
possibly be given by the constituents of the different
members.
L'Avenir adopts precisely the same line of argu-
ment as the National, and conchae* that the hypo-
thesis laid down by the Moniteur is in itself perfectly
absurd, but that if it were in fact realised, the con-

sequences resulting from it would be the ordinary
course of events incidental to a representative go-
vernment.

Le Globe says, that M. Perier's circular proves
that he is determined to govern according to the
very principles professed by the ministers of the
restoration, of which he was formerly so firm an
opponent, and argues that the intended exertion of
ministerial influence in the elections is unconstitu-
tional, and in direct opposition to the principle of
popular sovereignty established in July.
Waning, JUNE 9.—The King left St. Mene-
hold at noon. When he arrived at the defile of
Islettes, his Majesty examined with interest this
military position, which was so valiantly defended
in 1792, against the foreigners. The King arrived
at three o'clock at Verdun, where he was received
by the municipal corps. Thirteen thousand men,
troops of the line, were drawn up in the Champ-
de-Mars. A tent had been prepared for his Ma-
jesty, and he having proceeded to it, detachments
from each regiment, under the command of their
their Colonels, formed in a semicircle near the
King. He addressed them in an animated
speech, and presented colours to the Colonel of each
regiment. In passing along the front of t!le regi-
ments, the King distributed crosses of the Legion
of Honour to the oldest officers, sub-efficers, and

soldiers. After the termination of the review the
King re-entered Verdun, and was saluted by a dis-
charge of 101 cannon. He then inspected in de-
tail every part of the fortifications, which were in
the most excellent order. it was in one of the bas-
tions of the citadel that the King announced to
Col. Lapisse, Director of Fortifications, that he
granted to him the rank of Field-marshal—a just
recompense for the useful labours of this engineer,
and for his admirable conduct during the revolution
of July. His Majesty was next day to review
15,000 National Guards. Nothing could exceed
the affectionate enthusiasm with which the King
was greeted by the people wherever he presented
himself to them.
TIIE KING'S ANSWER TO THE MAYOR OF
VALMY.—" It would have been impossible for
me to have entered Valmy without feelings of
great emotion, or not to remember, with pride,
that I contributed to its celebrity, by the part
which I took in the glorious battle which derives
its name from your town. But what a number
of events have occurred since that period; and
what an extensive influence has been exerted
upon the fate of France by the defence of that
hill ! What numbers of warriors then in the
ranks carrying their muskets, and who have since
risen to the highest military honours by the glo-
rious victories which have distinguished our arms!
I have two by my side at the present moment
(Marshal Gerard and Lieut.-General Tirlet), both
of whom served here as volunteers on the 20th
of September, 1792. Although young at that
time, I even then had the honour of acting as
a General. It was that which has enabled me
to be of service to my country ; and from it I
derive one of the most grateful recollections of
my life."

At the foot of the Pyramid raised to the memory
of Kellerman, at Valmy, was found a veteran,
who, approaching the King, said to him, " Sire,
my General, I had an arm carried away at Valmy,
in serving the batteries which yon commanded.
The Convention granted me a pension of eight
hundred francs; it has been reduced to one hun-
dred and seventyseven, I ask the re-establish-
ment of it ?" The King took off the riband
which be wore at his button-hole, and decorated
the soldier himself. " I give you, with great plea-
sure, this decoration," said the King to him ; " I
am happy to recompense, after thirty-nine years,
and upon the place even where he defended his'
country, a brave soldier mutilated in fighting for
it. I will occupy myself with the affair of your
pension." This unexpected scene touched and
filled the minds of all the spectators with a lively
emotion, and the cries of " Long live the King!"
resounded from all sides, and were continued for
a long time. The King, upon the proposition of
the Marshal Duke of Dalmatia, signed, the same
evening,the ordonnance of nomination.—Moniteur.
A celebrated naturalist supposes that the Royalty
of the Prince of Coburg will not flourish in Bel
' gium : be gives, as the motive of his sentiment, that
it will be exotic, and that they cannot raise Royal-
ties excepting they are indigenous. He cites Greece,
for which they could not even find royal seed,though
it was sought every where ; and the new French
Royalty, which was raised in some days, was owing
to its being taken upon the spot. From all the kinds
of monarchies known up to the present, it is some-
thing to have discovered a new classification. The
Poles will perhaps turn their attention to it ; for
they have had an exotic royalty, and they know
how to estimate the value.—Le National.