Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-02-09


AN ODDFELLow.
~ Mr.. VIM. &. BRYANT, of the N. Y. Ere
ming Post, who is now travelling in Europe,
writes from Marseles, France, under date Of
Dec. IA. After giving minute and highly in
teresting description of Nsmes, he adds the fol-
lowing upon the Emperor, empire and people of
France.
cit is impossible for me here, in the south Of
France, TO help imagining myself in Italy The
mild climate, the vast tracts covered with olive
trees and intermingled vineyards, the Italian
character Of the architecture, the women draw
ing water from the fountains in jars of antique,
form, the people showing in their features and
physiognomy n certain kindred 10 the Italian
race. and speaking an accented language, be-
queathed to them by the roubadours almost as
different from the language Of the northern
provinces rs that of Spain or Portugal, make it.
hard for me to convince myself that am within
the boundaries of France. Around me are the
descendants of Roman and Greek colonists, who
have founded prosperous and hourishing COM
munities; of those who came hther when the
family Of Constantine liked the seat of the Ro-
man empire ut Aries, and of those Of II later age,
when the Italian church migrated, for a time, to
To Judge by appearances, this part of the
population of Francois well as that of the NORTH
is as well satisfied with the present government
as if they had lived uuder IN empire from the
days of Constantine. No external indication,
certainly, bespeaks discontent there is nothing
of gravity or of gloOm-no silence, salkiness or
sadness. 1t is characteristic of the French race
that it conforms itself easily to any change of
circumstances, provided you do not interfere
with its amusements. "What people I" said a
German lady TO me at Paris, Three or four
thousand unoffending and unressing people
men, women and children-were shot in the
streets, at their doors, at their windows or sit
ting in their apartments, year ago, when Lou
is Napoleon abolished the French constitution.
IE few weeks all recollection of the dreadful
event seemed to have passed away. What a
people, that such things should have been done,
and that, after Il few days, nothing should be-
said Of them; that they should have been for
gotten and pardoned"
{" Yet there are some who speculate on polit-
ical events in this country and who occupy
themselves in working out the problem by what
sort of process the present government will by
and by follow its predecessors to the place.
where they are all to sleep together. One Of
them lately said to me THE Emperor is sur
rounded by able men, very able and wholly un-
principled, whose advice and assistance he has
had in the we-managed intrigue which has
made him the absolute sovereign Of France
Hitherto, while the project was yet unconsum-
mated, they all acted tremendously together
for they had but one object. Now the time has
arrived for rewarding their services with honors.
and emoDuments, and from this time each will.
have particular aim of his own; each will
claim the highest reward for himself 1t will be
impossible for the Emperor to satisfy them
1t is not that they will be discontinued with.
what they receive, but that they will be ndg-
nant to see others placed over them Then will
be the time of feuds and factions, which as yet
under the new order of things have been un-
known, then will secret intrigues be set on foot
to excite discomfort against the government,
which, after being adroitly kindled and inAamed
for few years, may unseat Louis Napoleon as
easily as it unseated Charles X, or Louis Phil
ippen
There may be much truth in this view, but
it seems to me that one of the greatest dangers
which the new Emperor has to dread, will arise
from another cause In the circumstances in
which he has hitherto been placed, audaciiy has.
been the highest policy. He is now about to-
apply the same policy to measures OF finance, in
which it is madness. Every thing indicates that
the reign of speculation has begun in France,
under the auspices of the new bank, established;
to increase the number of borrowers to an extent