The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-10-18
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FRANCE.

Iuregard to its political situation, France is
now in very Interesting state. There are
three parties; first, the Gltras. who wish every
thing restored just as it was before the revo-
luton, the king despotic, the charter abolished,
the old noblesse reinstated &C.; seCond, the min
isteial party, who wish things foreman much
as they aEe, taking care, however, 10 strength.
en- The crown as much as possible, and to man
age the elections and third the liberals, who
are striving for s,ill more popular form, or at
least more popular administration of gov
eTun1ent. In the chambers, the extremes, l. c.
the ult7as and the liberals, act together a.
gainst lie minister, though al swords point
on al otGer topics.
! OF the Chambers, the House of Peers is
much the most independent. The election Of
/ areat sion of the Chamber of Deputies
is directly controlled by the government, who
do not spare the exertions OF their power in
this respect, and therefore always have ma
lofity. This is not the case in the other cham
Der, where the great question Of restoring the
rights Of primogeniture, which the king him
self urged in his speech, was negativcd or
the people at large. the great body, especially
OF the young men, are decidedly liberal, with
out knowing, probably, very defnitiveiy,
what sort of privileges they would wish to
have.
The present Royal family have no hold on
the affection Of the people. The king is a
gentleman in his manners; but is not disin-
guished for intellect or taste. His brother, the
late king, was man of letters and an ac-
compllshed scholar, il not a states man.
Charles X. was wild and exceedingly dissipat-
ed in Lis youth and now in his mature age
has passed to the opposite extreme, and be-
come devotee: Being thus open to the in
fiuonce Of the priests, he is viewed with great
distrust by the body of. the natives. In his
private character, he is now considered as
very regular and perhaps irreproachable
as are also the Duke and Duchess Of Angou-
leme. The Duke resembles his father in APP
pearance, and probably in the character of his
mind The young Duke of Bordeaux is a
promising child Of nearly six years old. He
is the last of the Bourbons. The next heir in
France is the Duke of Orleans, who is man
Of sound judgment and great probity of char
acter. lie has several sons. The present
family, il may be said, are tolerated rather
than firmly fixed on the throne. Yet the
dread OF revolutions, OF which the French
have had SO much and so sad experience, will
probably induce the people to suffer TO great
extent, rather than have recourse to such
remedy.
The great alarm at present is the increas-
ing power and exertions Of the priests. and an
ticipated return Of the Jesuits. The priests are
undoubtedly stranng every nerve TO recover
their ancient standing, and tire character OF
the King is thought to afford too much reason
to fear that they will be successful. The
newspapers are filled with discussions on this
topic, and the liberal journals do not fear TO
speak out in the painest and most pointed
manner; aud in this they are sustained by
public opinion. last winter the Kings advo-
cate prosecuted some Of them for speaking
against religion. The defence was, mat they
! had spoken only of the iesuits, and that Tins
| Eas not an attack on religion. The trial OK
/ cited very great interest, and all The avenues
| of the Court were thronged several hours be-
| fore the Judges took theft seats. The defend
ants were acquitted, and the decision was re-
| ceved with huzzas by the crowd, anu VAIN
enthusiasm throughout France. This was
considered, and justly, as triumph over Inc
ministry. ~. -,
The priests have succeeded in getting The
instruction Of the young under their control
aud il is this control which is most TO oe rear
ed. The Bishop Of Hermopolis is at the heat
of the system Of education, and no person
allowed TO instruct school without Incense
The only means to counterfeit these en'r's
and indeed to operate beueicially on the mas
Of the French nation, IS through the mealor
of the press. This is felt by the liberals an
they are circulating, with great eagernes'
tracts, books, periodical works, &C. all 'chuih