Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-02-28
FOREIGN.
FRoM0URLoNDoN CORRESPONDENT
LONDON, FEBRUARY 4, 1852.


The fifth session of the present Parliament was
yesterday opened by her Majesty with much royal
pomp and spendor, and under the kind influences
of warm sun and an almost unclouded sky. Her
Majesty, during her procession to the new Houses
of Parliament, and her return to Buckingham palace
was enthusiastically greeted by the loud acclaim of
an immense assemblage Of the people The Queen
entered the Parliamentary palace by the noble por-
tai of the I" Victoria Tower" which, although yet
unfinished has attained to an elevation which makes
it resemble the splendid fragment at the west end of
Cologne Cathedral, and, though that has been moul-
dering for five centuries, it has not yet occurred y
any Englishman to doubt that in dozen years at
most we may hope to see the Victoria Tower at its
full height.
Her Majesty's speech was, in every sense Of the
word pacific full of hope, and promise, and pro-
gress The proceedings of the Lords and Commons
respectively will be estimated according to the pc
cuiar habits and tendencies and party predictions
of those who study them. We find that Ministers
have refused explicit sanction to the autocratic
revolution in France, and that the cause of Lord
PALMERsToN's retirement from office was his pre-
ferring contrary course. Whatever may have been
the expressions of Ministers ncluding the chief in pr
intercourse they have hsstaed to proclaim the
world any express appreciation of the past
men for the future regards the present ruler of France
Nay they have gone far the holder
taken by the press and have recommended moderation in
its structures and less personality in its
The QUEEN has recommended Parliament to " consider
calmly what amendments be made in the Reform
Act of 18Sl'32 with view to carry more completely in
effect the principles upon which it is founded and Lord
JOHN RUSSELL has given notice that Monday 10Th
instantly he shall present bill to extend the right of
voting for members of the House Of Commons" This
prompt action is of good augury
Industrial prosperity at home and peaceful relations
abroad the proprety Of adopting extensive law reforms
and attention to military defences act of pru-
dence looking to the probable future rather than the
actual present the leading topics of her Maestys
speech.
We have also the manly avowal of Lord JOHN RUSSELL
that he did not anticipate would he act though he
did anticipate, any interruption in the existing cordial
amty between England and France The decided in
which the PREMIER rebuked the panc-mongers and de-
precated idle nvecves against the present chief of the
French Republic, not to be mistaken. The notice
given in the House of the introduction of militia bill in
dicates the direction in which portion of whatever is
deemed necessary viii probably be done.
Closely connected with the subject of France and arts
ing of in that country, is the personal
topic of the dismissal of Lord PALMERsToN The Daily
News gives the following version of the affair which
seems to be borne fully by the Parliamentary pro-
ceedings:
" From the speeches of the attached bat now
aenaed statesman gather that upon the question of
prompt recognition of the order of things resulting
from the coup feat of December there any
difference of opinion in the Cabinet. Instructions
appears sent to Lord NORMANDY the 9th Deem
Der maintain uninterruptedy the diplomatic rela
tons with the Eysee which had subsisted with the pro-
yisiona Government of l84S and with LOUIS NAPOLEON
while he occupied the position of constitutional President
With the internal affairs of the French nation the Cabinet
rightly felt that Government had nothing whatever to
and upon the justifabty of the particular by
which the startling suppression of the representative sys
tenn accomplished it not for Government to
pronounce any opinion. SO thought Lord JoHS and so
thought his colleagues generally
" Unhappiy there exception, namely, the then
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs We have it upon
the noble Viscounts admission that the day fol-
lowing the coup deatthat is, upon the Sd December
Lord Palmerson told NJ Walewsk in conversation that
he entirely approved of the measures taken by the Pres
dent that he thought the coexstence of the Presidential
power and that of the National Assembly had become i'm
possible and that he considered it better for France and
for Europe that all authority should be concentrated
der such circumstances, in single hand The French
ambassador FASTENED to detail this important conversation
his chief in Paris The despatch containing it read
triumph by NJ Turgot the Minister for Foreign Affairs
to the leading members of the diplomatic corps and
finally it boastfuly alluded to in conference with
Lord Normandy who, in dismay at finding his in
sructons ovcrshot from Downing street. wrote for expa
nations to Lord Pamerston Lord Normanbys despatch
in due course the Prime Minister and the Queen
Both reiterated the demand for explanation of the
guage held the Sd December to Count Walewsk but
incredible may appear explanation came from the
Foreign Office. Day otter day went by, and to the
words of Lord John, the subject suffered to remain
in dsdainfu silence. At length copy of despatch
addressed to Lord Normandy laid before the Sove
reign and the Premier, furnishing the explanation
qured But il explained nothing. 1t discsimed any de-
sire interfere with the domestic France but
repeated in substance the individual approval Of the coup
feat On this Lord John determined to recommend her
Majesty to place the seals Of Office in other hands"
In the House Of Commons, Lord JOHN RUSSELL after
explaining the relations betwxt the Secretary Of State
for Foreign Affairs and the Crown and the duties Of the
Prime Minister, stated declaration he had made at |
meeting Of the Cabinet in November last with reference
to foreign policy Shortly after this Lord
had received certain deputaon of delegates For
eign Office in in which he lord John RusselD
thought his noble friend had not exercised due caution
but he gave him the credit Of supposng that it
through oversight. The next and most important
related the which had taken place
the second day of December in France The instruc
tons conveyed to ambassador from the Queens Gov
abstain from all interference in the in
ternal affairs Of that country Being informed of an
alleged conversation between Lord Palmerssn and the
French ambassador repugnan to these nstrustions he
Lord john had written that noble lords but his nqu
had for some days met with disdanfu silence Lord
Pamerston having meanwhile without the knowledge OF
his colleagues written despatch containing instructions
to Lord Normandy in which he however evaded the
question whether had approved the Of the President
That noble lords Of proceeding in this matter