The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-23
The New European Characters.
A Letter from, an Ex-London Editor.

the present political ana sociat a'reee oi G''"Ps
affords me not only subject matter for reflection bu,
occasionally, much aDusement, when | soc what
stress is laid triAes-what ''stfaws are just now
floating on the suIface-and what an absurd de-
gree Of Importance is attached to and matters,
in themselves most insignificant ] really cannot
help laughing heartily at every budget of Europesn
news with which you favor us; for, having been
s'behind the curtain" and acquainted in somo way
or another, with several of the personages play
ing the Anglo French political drama, their strug-
giles for notoriety, whilst causing smile, make
me wonder at tho combination Of circumstances
which can permit such personngos ever to appear
on the stage POLITICAL in leading characters
First of all, here's my old friend Louis Napoleon,
frightening the world from its proprety and threat
eningto plunge Europe into hot war, whilst no has
succeeded in creating the most absurd confusion in
diplomatic circles. / remember his Quixotic nva-
sion Of France, via Boulogne, and its result;
but his moro intimate acquaintance ! made
during his subsequent longthcned sojourn in
London, where no was generally regarded
something between foo and madman-what
he has since proved himself to be is another matter
yet whilst holding in adherence the tyranny and
despOtism he is displaying cannot but admire tho
quality, which in England is termined "pluck,"
that he has exhibited in his famous coup d'6at
became acquainted with Louis Napoleon through
a crony of mino, the proprietor of tavern, not an
hundred yards from Waterloo Bridge-whero
literary men connected with the London daily
papers, loved to congregate during "the small
hours" of the morning-after the house was
cup and the forms had gone to press" My
friend, the landlord, was speculative character
and the present Prince President-nay, perhaps
embryo Emperor of France-after exhausting al
the London bill dscounters, who already full"
of his waste paper. had applied to the '~benfaes"
to do little bill for three hundred pounds sterling
at fifty per cent was consulted on the point, and
although fanced the security somewhat chimeri-
cal, my friend boniface'' resolved on having
Louis Napoleon's autograph in his cash box, and
can only add that when left London, in December
last, the security still remained in the landlords
possesson-a dishonored acceptance.
Louis Napoeons departure from London was,
in fact, necessity, and his experiment on tho
French nation was de,Wier resort-ior his funds
were at the very lowest ebb, and it was with
difficulty that the establishment of the little house
in King street, ST. Jamess, could be maintained;
and no wonder, for the Prince Presidents days
and evenings were spent in expensive socety-cer-
tanly not of tho most recherche character-but with
the private amusements of great little," 'ttle
great men, the journalist has nothing to do. 1t
Is only when such 6 small vices are paraded boz
fore the public, that those who indulge in them
render themselves obnoxious to censure
Well, we have seen Louis Napoleon g borne
bayonets" to the Presidential chair, and only wait
ing to exchange it for throne, consummatOn
to his ambition which the French people appear to
have neither the power will to prevent, if we
are to judge by their supineness, under a tyranny
that rides rough-shod over their miserable vestges
of liberty. Louis Napoleon can only regard as
political swndlor. and as such he should be treated
by all free and enlightened people, for he proessed
to be the ncarnate hero Of liberty, and as such he
obtained the suffrages of the French people, whilst
he has proved himself to be great despot as the
annals of any age can produce-as traitor to his
country and to liberty. The first great political act of
his life ought to have opened the eyes of the French
:x.Aa- - AZ
newest and latest revolution, and madly shout
ing "ibcrty throughout the world,'' yet suf-
fered French army to be sent to Rome,
not to scatter the seeds of liberty, but to crush
people CALAMITY struggling to obtain that freedom,
which France had set them the example of demand
ing, and to assist in perpetuating the reign of in
tolerant bgotry, ignorance, and prestcraft If but
for sanctionng that deed alone, the French de-
servo the harvest of despotism they now reap
ing. How long they will permit tho pcttfogging
imitator of his uncle to keep his foot upon their
necks is political riddle | will not attempt to
solve ; for, with army brutalized, cajoled and
devoted to his INTEREST," people apparently nerve
less and sick of reyolutions-their master spirits
banshed, or inmates of prison. what hope is there
for France to shake off the yoke placed upon her
then willing neck by Louis Napoleon
Yet, Notwithstanding all that has been done, and
all that is doing Paris is gay-and Paris is France.
Nay, one would suppose such words as hbete
Streets posted on her walls-that there had been
no gaggng of tho press, no wholesale arrests, no
transportations to Cayenne no teeming prisons, no
espionage, no sitting of public opinion-in fact,
nothing but unanimous satisfaction. with Louis Ma
poleon and his new and liberal q constitution, for
my advces from the French capital speak of nothing
but balls parties, and gaieties, of all descriptions
people forgetting past glores in present traing-
President preparing for the empire, and busy with
new schemes of personal aggrandizement. Luckily
for him, he has people Of different calibre from
Americans to deal with.
1t is an old saying and true one, that "youmay
}eI n m by he kpef.S he ada
fainy applies to the Prince President; for we find
the sweepngs of the English sristocracy, arvenus,
and black legs from the salons of st. Jamess, his
friends and boon companions-nay, when he made
that famous semi-ofhcial declaration of amity to-
wards England and proessed to ridicule the idea of
invasion, to whom was it made! to statesmen, men
of intellect and station in public estimation! No.
Refer to the list published in your columns on that
memorable occasion, and you will find the Marquis
of Bath, fast boy, under age, whose mother, the
Dowager Marchioness, was called over the Goals
short time since for presenting to avaluabeliving-
on behalf of her son, minor-the puseyite parson,
kicked out of st. Barnabas, achurch within hail Of
Buckingham Palace, and just under the nose of
Queen Victoria Then We have the Marquis of
Hertford-the worthy son OF q worthy sire-who
kicked George tho fourth dswn stairs, and had q
valet that achieved some notoriety-one Nicholas
Suisse-one who treads in his fathers footsteps, so
need say no more concerning him; next, Lord Ernest
Bruce, frequenter of the coulisSes of the London
operas, and son Of the Marquis Of Aylesbury,
<the old dotard, with the pretty wife); then
Lord Adolphus Fitzcarence-the jolly, wine.bb-
bling "Dolly Fitzclarenee," as he is Familiarity
called-celebrated as BON riua,u, for his amours,
for his love of play, and = for nothing else Wis.,
count Cflen-a young sporting nobleman, who came
upon tho English turf in lS4S-won those two great
English races, the Derby and st. Leger, with the
same horse (Surpico)- subsequently, lost all his
wamADgs on other sporting events, and who has
penchant for "play' and might houses" where he
picked up the Prince President. As to Viscount
Ranelagh, you will recolleet him as the idiotio
champion Of Don Carlos, in the last Spanish revolu-
tionary war, where he oficiated General -
locker onhis subsequent fame has been achieved as
the hero efsundry police rows, appearing sometimes
rs plaintiff sometimes as defendant, ut the London
police Offices, and generally considered to be little
sstouched'' in the upper stsry-thesc, with one Of
tho Paget family, and a set of ..nobodies," com;
prised the party to whom Louis Napoleon conhded
Ills non invasion intentions. What weight does such
. declaration to such n people carry