Star.
London, England, 1816-09-25 00:00:00

PRIVATE LETTER.

" Nothing is talked of at present but M. de Chateau-
briand and his pamphlet. This pamphlet, so long since
announced, was seized the day before yesterday, at
the moment it was issuicg from the press—buttardly
were the seal: of Government affixed Bison its nume-
rous copies, when the workmen of the printer as-
sembled, tore them off, and drove away the agents
of pclice. The latter, however, soon returned, well
reinft,:ced with gen-d'armerie, made good again their
seizure, as they thought, and drew up a preces-verbal
of the riotous proceeding; but in the mean time a
considerable number of copies had been removed, and
hastily sent off for various destin.itions—six thousand
were stopped at the Post-Office; stopped by the Police
itself, for the Master General, M. de .Herbouville,
would willingly have suffered them to pass. The
party, however, did not trust to this ch innel alone,
for they d;spatched at the same time a multitude of
agents to circulate them in the departments.
64 This paniphiet, the posicriptum at least, written
immediately on the di:solution of the Chamber of De-
puties, was designed to neutralize and defeat that
measure in the departments, on the occasion of the
ensuing elections. Ede work is entitled Di la Mow -
chic telex la Cherie. I will szhd you an analysis of it.
" Cabinet Councils and private conferences with
the King have been repeatedly held upon the ques-
tion of removing the Prefects, a measure as necessary
as the dismiution of the Chamber itself. No resolu-
tion has been taken upon this point, except in a few
trifling instances; in consequence of which the no-
minations of the Presidents of the Colleges of 4r-
rondissement are such as would appear dictated by
the Princes themselves; and it is observed, that they
afford a striking contrast with the nominations of the
Presidents of the Electoral Colleges of Department
made by the Minister. Bad elections must be she re-
sult of these nominations. M. Laine and M. de
Cazes already feel uneasy upon this head, and indeed
their situatioN is critical—even awful, when it is cou-
sidered that they may be driven from power by a
Chamber of their own formation, by a party whose
violence will know no bounds, when they shall have
to boast of the popular sanction given to their con-
duct by reelection. The King has permitted a great
experiment to he tried in favour of his Ministers and
of his Charter ; but he has at the same time withheld
from them the first means of success, namely, the
removal of the Ultra part of the Ministry, and espe-
clity that of the present Prefects, who are avowedly
in the interest of the latter.
46 Their power is, in short, so crippled, and their
best wishes so thwarted, that it would be a wonder,
indeed, if they were able .to effect good elections, or
to carry into execution any measure of national im-
portance. To which may be added, that Ministers, ,
in spite of their professions in favour of a constitu-
tional system, are not supported by the bulk of the
people, who, averse to the present dynasty and all
power emanating from it, form a party of itself, as
distinct from M. L4ine's and the Chartered Consti-
tutionalists as from that of the Princes. The Princes
have retired to Compeigne, affecting to take no part
against the measures at present in progress, but in
reality for the purpose of planning more at their ease
the means of counteracting them. Nose of the High
Court Party have appeared at the Thuilieries since
the dissolution of the Chamber.
" M. de Chateaubriand observes with much naivete
in his pamphlet, that the King, in his profound wis-
dom, would never have consented to dissolve the
Chamber, if he had not been sure of its identical.
Members being re-elected.
u By the last advices from Marseilles, a report is
stated to prevail in that city of the force under Lord
Exmouth having taken possession of Ceuta. It is
totally disbelieved here."
A Paris paper says—“ M. Schmidt, piano-maker,
in the Rue des Bons Eakin, has invented a nautical
machine of the greatest simplicity, by means of which,
in the most stormy weather, and in the midst of the
most violent tempest, any person may contend against
the waves and be preserved from shipwreck. During
the next week he will, in presence of the Authorities,
make trial of this Machine, which be calls the 64 Pa-
rapontic Chair." The maks, proposes to crow i 4 it
from Calais to Dom."