Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-02-09
FOREIGN.
FROM OUR EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT


LONDON, JANUARY 8, 1850.
The year ls4s may ftly be called the year OF
revolutionary action and the title of the year of
conservative reaction belongs Justly to its sue
cessor 1S49. What may be the character and his
torical designation of the year upon which we have
just entered, cannot be determined until it has run
its race. We are now at the commencement OF
the latter half OF the nineteenth century: the changes
which have taken place in the relative positions OF
nations and the condition of their people, and the
progress OF civilization, arts, science and commerce.
during the last fifty years, may well give pause
ere we venture to form even conjecture to the
result of the next similar portion of time. Two
great principles have been at work among mankind
since the commencement of the first revolution in
France. The one desire to correct abuses in
forms of government and religion, without any very
definite idea, SO far as the of the advocates of
this principle are concerned, what should be sub
stituted in the place Of that which was removed
The other, resistance to all change, without any
very strong feeling towards or any particular know
ledge of existing institutions beyond what usage,
time, tradition, and desire to abide by old things
simply because they old, could infuse into the
minds and feelings Of their advocates. The last
two years have fully exemplfed the nature and
the workings Of these antagonistic principles, and
the political, moral, and social world has swayed
backwards and forwards, now inclning towards
revolution and change, and frightfuy torn by con-
tentons and strife and next exhibiting the reac-
ti0nary principle in full success, restoring old nsti
tutions, replacing old dynastes rebuilding old sys-
tems and reconstructing old controlling influences.
The last year has undone much that the former
year had done; but we hope and believe that the
best interests of mankind social, moral religious,
and political, will be found to have advanced mate
rally and permanently during the contest. The
true business of the friends Of human progress to
tIot tba xrbob fboo oc
reform and revolution are attempting do not adYAnee
too fast and that the restrictions which the Dv9fs
Of things as they are would place upon all improve
ment do not cause them to advance too slosO.
| Il has been very much the fashion to find fault
with the policy Of our foreign Secretary, Lord
PALMERsToN ; yet, if we look at the present condi-
ton Of Europe, we shall find that the three ma
tions which have been most connected with that
policy, have materially advanced in their political
condition during the past year, and we are of opin-
| ion that they are the only nations which have
done so. We allude to FRANCE, PRUSSIA, and SAR-
DINA, as exhibiting more evidences Of vitality
than we can discover any where else. In January,
i lS49, LOUIS NAPoLEoN had Just been elected to
the supreme Office in the State; his conduct was
suspected and uncertain, his Ministry unpopular,
the Constituent Assembly hostile and contemptuous;
the revolutionary faction evidently preparing for
another outbreak; the language of the clubs and
thespress violent and incendiary; the Republic
was vibrating between anarchy or kingly and impe-
rial sway. Nor was the army without conside-
rable suspicion Of disafection. What does Janu.
ary, 1850, present as the condition of France
The nephew of NAPOLEON the GREAT has proved
himself not altogether unworthy the name he bears
and the position he occupies. There has been an
apparent singleness of purpose about him, and a
sincerity of demeanor, which have done much to
tranquillize and satisfy France and, regarding
France as the centre of impulson to the civilized
i world. the repose and we-being Of Europe have
been thereby promoted. Anarchy has been crush.
ed in its birthplace and the visions of the Social.
lists driven fromthe imaginations of the populace.
A constitutional National Parliament has suppressed
ed the Constituent Assembly of the revolution and
has proved ITSELF in general friendly to all the best
interests Of France. The present Ministry appears
to be winning favor, and gaining the confidence Of
the representatives Of the people. France may,
and most probably does oscillate between republic
and an imperial government and the chances are
much, we think, in favor of the latter; but we do
not anticipate any violent outbreaks, or any extern
sive or prolonged exhibitions of disorders. when
/ ever change from republicanism to kingly or inn
peral rule shall take place; because it will only
take place when the people are convinced that the
good of France will be promoted by such achange.
i The French Government is entitled to great
share of praise for the promptitude with which it
has abolished that great nuisance of travellers, the
i Passport system The proper authorities at Bou-
logne have announced that this system is at an end.
This removal Of the great drawback upon our in
tercourse must lead to much freer and more con-
slant communication between the French and Eng
lish people. OF such communication we trust
we shall soon reap the fruits in an abundance of
warm and kindly feelings. May the result ensure
the continuance of that peace which now exists
i between the two nations! Railroad arrangements
have lately been made which will very much facili
tate this intercourse. Travellers may now obtain
sthrough tickets from London to Paris Brussels,
AK la Chapelle or Cologne, without being subject
to any annoyance in the examination Of baggage,
&c., from the time of leaving London Bridge until
they arrive at their destination in any of the above
1 cities. Travellers may reach Paris from London
at an expense of only 81. u.s.; Brussels, for
g1. lbs. 3d.; AK la Chapele, for e.; and Co
logne, for g2. 5s. The time between London and
Paris is calculated at ten hours This is certainly
a proof Of progress, and we trust that it is pro-
gress that can neither be revolutonzed nor reacted
| upon.
/ few words respecting PRUSSIA. We are glad
to say respecting her that she has passed success
fully through her novitiate in Parliamentary Gov
ernment. Trade and the state Of society have both
materially improved in Berlin during ls49. The
administration Of CoUNT BRANDENBURG has been
tranquzing, and his bold and rcsolute persistence,
notwithstanding the remonstrance Of Austria, in
convoking the Parliament at Erfurh, has secured
to him no small share Of the popularity which was
enjoyed by M. DE GAGERN last year. We fear
that the question Of fusng GERMANY into unity, and
of consolidating an Empire out of nearly forty in