The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-02-21
France.


posed IN Corrupt 1TGD1c'ng Jor CUce, ana sup
ported By a Majority Of 225 Pensioners and De-
pendents-TAe Kings Retiremsnt-E6ects Of
the Royal Sneezing-Re. appearance of the King
Treatment of Ao-dd Kader-Specuiations on
Abdication-Th theatrical and Musical IntsHi-
gencs.
In former letters have more than once ex-
planned the system of corrupt influence by which
the machinery of government in this country is
kept in motion. l have now to relate signal
example of the irresistible power of that inau-
ence-an example which will prove that nothing
short of demonstration of public opinion which
will strike terror into the dependents of the 60
vernment. can defeat that government in the
chambers M. Guizot enjoys, all over the world,
the reputation of being the most ncorruptible and
immaculate of ministers. Yet we have seen,
within the last few days, an exposition in the
chambers strangely at variance with this suppo-
sition. 1t appears, that some time since, gen.
teman desired to be appointed to place in the
department of finances. He succeeded, through
the interest OF member of the ministerial party,
in obtaining the promise of an appointment; but
it was soon alter intimated to him, that the i'm
mediate appointment he desired could only be
obtained provided that vacancy should occur
in another department. 1t was further intimated
to him. that this vacancy might probably be Gre
ated if he (the applicanD could induce q certain
the usual pension. Of course, the persuasion
necessary to be resorted to In such case, con-
sisted in offering to the retiring officer an equiva
Outstanding this, negotiation was opened which
ended in an agreement on the part of the officer
in question, to retire for guild pro quo and his
Of oee
lent in money having been paid for the same
This resi- gnation was then rendered to the chief
secretary of M. Guizot, and after, the candi-
date found himself gazetted to the office which |
he sought.
This is mere outline of the case. There are |
certain spicy incidents about it, which would
or Eugene Sue to do them Justice. Thus, the
candidate for Office had handsome wife. This
lady Gas generally happens with French ladies)
had an amant This an,ant was peer of France,
said to have exerted powerful influence in ia
vor of the husband Of the lady. The husband,
first ascribing this influence to. friendship for
and in fit OF indignation, he separates from the
wife, attempts prosecution against her, throws
up the office, Sc, SC. The details which
would be too long to be given here; may be
This subject was brought before the
chamber a few days ago, by M. Odillon
Barrot Not title OF it was. denied. M.
the creation of the vacancy, the filing it up by
NJ Guizot's own friend. and the appointment of
him who paid the money, to an equivalent post
or could be denied-the only defence was, that
similar things were done under former ministers
1t was. however, promptly denied that any for
appeared in fact that such transactions, when
they occurred, had been private arrangements
between the outgoing and incoming parties to
which the minister had never been privy; where
as in - ~ he ninio tev
prlvy TO-, but was the originator and planner of,
the whole transaction. In any legislature, free
from corrupt Influences, this would of course be
sufficient to demolish cabinet
But IN the present case, M. Guizot put a bold
face on the matter. The dependents and friends
of the cabinet. those who drew the breath of
were whipped in, and majority of 225 placemen,
actual and expectant, rendered their votes against
opposing minority of LAG. Such result will |
not surprise those who u. remember that in cham
ally within one or two of 200 office-holders and
large proportion of the remainder are of course
office seekers.
1t will doubtless be asked, then, whether under
these circumstances, the cabinet is to be cons-
dered irremoveablel The answer is no! for that,
in France, the influence of royalty goes for much,
and that the withdrawal Of royal favor, adroity
made known in the chamber, would speedily re-
lease the majority. from their allegiance to the |
min lister, who in that case would Of course fall.
Such movement in the royal mind might be |
II,
of private and selfish objects or it might pro-
coed from the instinct of set-preservation, |
prompting the head of the State to move in the |
direction Of public opinion Such is the con-
The personal retirement of Louis Philippe, |
which necessarily followed the loss of so near |
and dear relative, and so wise counsellor and |
ludiclous frlend as the Princess Adelaide, has |
been productive of series of public alarms, |
which have been felt upon the Bourse, and lndi- |
Gated by the decline of the funds. The habits |
of Louis Philippe are accessible in the extreme.
are free to resort to the salons of the |
chateau in the, evening; there the King |
of the Barpcades appears with his faml- |
always finding something agreeable and appro- |
pirate to say to each. The public thus are ha- |
bituated to have, as 1t were daily peculiar proof
OF The health and vlgor Of him whose decease |
would at the present moment be productive of a |
"boulouersement,'' the result of which is utterly
beyond the scope of the foresight of the most sa-
gaclous. The suspension Of these receptions, |
the retirement OF the person of the King, and the
consequent absence of that daily evidence of his |
condition which has necessarily followed the |
decease fthe Princess Adelaide, has given birth
10 a succession OF cconIectures and alarms, by |
which all Paris has been agtated ever since that |
event. 1t Is scarcely possible to convey to those
who are not on the spot, how sensitively alive |
the public In Paris rs, and the monied interests
II is literally true that the King cannot sneeze |
without lowering the funds enc per cent.
Although court mourning Of two months, |
and the consequent discontinuance of public re-
ceptions at the chateau, were announced on the |
death Of Madame Adelaide, the strict observance |
of them has been found so incompatible with the |
public interests, that the King has seen il expe- |
dent to reopen the salons of the palace, and |
resume his customary receptions. The first of |
these took place on Monday evening last. and |
was brilliant in the extreme The entire diplo- |
matte corps, accompanied by their ladies', were /
present, all the cabinet ministers with their la |
dies, the high official functonaries in every de- |
partment OF state, and large number of the
members OF both chambers. The King appeared
TO enjoy his usual health The reception con.
tinued from an early hour in the evening until |