The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-18

EWpcIOHs VoCh, UTc now ScC ulost stoI eiiuS
events incur French intelligence. To all out
ward appearance, things have refrigerated to
the days Of the old empire, when pdrtie ds
chasse at Fontainebleau or supper at the
Palais Royal, were the deeds which historians
delighted to chronicle. What the people think,
| hope or wish are mere matters of conjecture.
| Beyond the household Of his Imperial Majesty,
nothing seems to be stirring, unless it be the
! courts of law, which enliven the newspapers
! with an occasional libel case. 1t is true that
| the two former compensate US, in o measure,
| for the dearth of general intelligence. Besides
| the conscientious reports of the .Moniteur, we
| have. in hundred journals. full and circum-
stantial accounts of the boil, which played so
prominent figure in recent diplomacy. and of
the operation which the Emperor underwent
without moving muscle of his face" The
delicate condition Of the Empress has given en-
ploym to as many ingenious and prolific
pens. Even the departure Of the Duchess Of
Montijo for Spain did not escape the considerate
notice of host of writer's
| Gratifying as it is to be so well informed of
| the movements of the royal family of France,
| we Americans may possibly be excused for
wishing that the proceedings OF the Council of
| State shared the same unreserved publicity.
| 1t may be from motives Of policy that so little
of State affairs is allowed to transpire; if SO,
| we cannot help regretting that government
| established on so firm basis as Louis Napo-
| Icons should need to envelope its doings in
| mystery. What we do learn of the sittings Of
the Council is not of an encouraging nature.
The last item of important intelligence was the
announcement of the abandonment Of the
| transatlantic steam line to this country. Those
| of us who recolect the ignominious failure of
| Louis Philippe's attempt to establish a similar
| line, were probably we'll pleased to hear that
Louis Napoleon had resolved to demonstrate
the progress since achieved by the French in
steam navigation. Past defeats rendered it
duty he owed to his subjects to rehabiltate
their reputation as practical engineers and
builders: and policy enjoined similar expert
ment as an indispensable preliminary to the mi
litary operations he is generally understood to
contemplate. Even without this incentive.
common prudence dictated the expediency of
preparing for an emergency, by placing the
steam marine Of France on an equality with
that of Great Britain and this country posi-
ton it can never reach until French steam YES
sells can compete with those of the Collins and
Cunard lines. Notwithstanding all this, how
ever, Louis Napoleon has abandoned the pro-
ject Treasury embarrassments are the alleged
| and obviously the true cause of the step.
| Against such reason argument is powerless.
| But when we call to mind the immense sums
recently expended in pompous pageants and
empty display, on the OCCASION OF the Emperor's
southern tour and marriage, we cannot repress
feeling of regret that the state of the treasury
had not been sooner taken into consideration.
In the absence of political news, our CONNER
cial and agricultural advices are by no means
satisfactory. An unusually long winter had
diminished the demand for dry goods, and those
articles of summer clothing which are one of the
staples of the manufacturing districts Large
importations of raw silk from Italy had caused
a serious decline in price in the provincial mar
kets. Nor was the wine trade in a more fou-
rishing condition. Apprehensions were enter
tanned some two months ago, that the
vines in Champagne and Burgundy had
been nipped by the frost, and prices rose ac-
cordingly. The discovery that the vines are
unframed has made holders more anxious to
sell, and the market has fallen nearly twenty
per cent AT Nantes the trade was paralyzed,
and scarcely less embarrassment was felt at
Bordeaux and Bercy.
With all this, Paris gaiety has suffered no
perceptible diminution. If distress prevails.
we hear nothing OF it: and notwithstanding the
precautions Of the police, we hardly think it
could be long concealed. The 'demonstra-
tions" of the once terrible working classes are
now very milk and watery affairs robbed of
Louis Blanc. Pierre Leroux, Barbes, and their
consorts, the Paris operatives seem to have
made up their minds to conline their energies
to earning an honest living. Nor are the mid
die classes less calmly reconciled to the existing
rfgime. A judicious distribution of red ribbons
and places has won from the legitimists and
Orleanists the bulk of their supporters A
thorough fear Of the abyss which France mar
rowly escaped in 1913, deters the sensible party
among the republicans from meditating fresh
outbreak. That dissatisfaction at the course of
the Emperor does exist in many minds, it would
be absurd to doubt; but weakness on the one
side, and fears Of q still worse tyranny on the
other, will for very considerable period of
time prevent its being openly expressed. To
the Marrast school of republicans-the only re-
spectacle class of French politicians-victory
in new contest would not be less pregnant
with danger than defeat. They may hate the
empire; but they shudder at the bare thought of
q communist republic
How long this submission to one despotism
for fear of another will last it is not very diff
cult to foresee. For the last sixty years revo.
luton after revolution has broken out in France
at regular intervals. Accident, misfortune,
popular ignorance, and irreligion, have always
entad tho Llishrnnnt nf anu stahla oeor--