The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-09-06

Still, the Autocrat enjoyed the pleasure Of
seeing the bravadoes of the English Premier
re-echoed by great portion of the English
journals, some of which. went so far as to
threaten France with the vengeance of com
bined Europe. Hence, he was no doubt led
70 suppose thst the ancient jealousy of the
Engllsh-so much commented upon, even by
hume, the great historian-would always bel
come an obstacle against any sincere friendship
ana cooperation, on the part of the French and
English nations. This great, but, indeed, ex-
cusable mistake, might be accounted for as
one OF the chief causes of the present war be-
tween Russia and the Western Powers. Great
results are often produced by causes the most
remote; hence the great charm which reflect
ing mind finds in the study of the history Of
human events
About the time in question, the Gear, who
had never hesitated in separating parents ffbm
their ehilaEea, or children from their parents,
in Furnishing Political offences, even of the most
tiaing nature, was himself visited by thssgreGt
misfortune-which he had so often unnecessa-
rily inflicted upon so many other parents-of
losing, by death, one of his own children, a
most amiable daughter married with Hessian
Prince. 1t was supposed, by many, that this
great loss, which the Car was reported to have
greatly bewailed, might have the effect of rem
dering him more humane, and less unrelenting
against his enemies; bat this hope proved vain,
because the Emperor Nicholas exercised Sc
verify rather from principle,y than from any
natural disposition of cruelty.
The friendship between the royal families
of France and England seemed to increase in
cordially, during the visit of Louis Philippe
and his Queen to London, in 1874; and the
Otaheite question was altogether hushed and
set at rest, by the mutual explanations between
the King of France and M. Guizot on the one
side, and Sir Robert Peel and Lord Aberdeen
on the other ). and though the latter statesman
was great aasnirer of the Gar, whose friend
ship and confidence he possessed in a high de-
gree, still he became very intimate with the
French monarch, who was very desitDus to
render him favorable to his plan of uniting one
of his sons with the sister of Queen Isabella, of
Spain.
Still, this matter was not finally settled be-
tween M. Guizot and Lord Aberdeen, until at
the subsequent visit which Queen Victoria
made to France. On this occasion, she was
accompanied by her Minister of Foreign AT
fairs, whom Louis Philippe and NJ. Guizot
succeeded in convincing that the proposed
marriage would never lead to any increase of
the political power of France. This, opinion
was, on the whole, correct, as WAC nitted by
this arrangement, which, while very p1easing to
the royal family of France did not Nppear at
all injurious to the interests of England.
1t was also agreed upon, that the Queen of
Spain should be allowed to choose herself
husband, with the proviso that she was not
to select one among the French Princes, as
such choice might possibly become the means
of disturbing the so-called pniibrium of Eu-
rope, and lead to an infring cement of the old
treaty of Utrecht treaty which, in fact, had
many times been set aside and Ignored. 1t was
on the other hand, agreed, between NJ. Guizot
and Lord Aberdeen, that the King of France
should meet with no opposition from England
in asking for the hand of the Spanish Princess
for his son, the Duke of Montpensier; still, the
marriage was not to take place before Queen
Isabella herself was married.
Meanwhile, it had become manifest that the
French Cabinet was pursuing policy much op-
posed to the development of the principles, in
France, and that it was more DESTROYS of &C.
curing the friendship of foreign Princes than
proud spirit of M. Guizot could not patiently
bear opposition and hence the more opposition
he met with, the more persevering he became
in his attempt at extending the royal power be-
yond the limits of the Constitution. But the
more dissatisfied the French grew, the more
praise M. Guizot received in the foreign Jour-
nails which stood under the influence of the en-
emies of popular freedom. But it was especial
ly the moneyed men, no less in France than in
other parts of Europe, who showed themselves
as the greatest admirers of Guizot, whom they
viewed as the strongest champion of the estab-
lshed order of affairs, and as the guardian of
the peace of Europe. Caring little for the best
interests of mankind, they bestowed their warm
est affection upon the man whom they found
with the best success promoting their sordid Gu
pidity.
But in the same proportion as Guizot in
creased in favor with the wealthy, in the same
degree he became more hated by the poor;
hence, the policy he was pursuing led to the
very event which he hoped to avert, by sitting
free speech. and keeping the masses in submis-
sion to the royal authority. Instead of render
ing the leaders of the Socialists poweress, as it
was his intention, he made them, by the means
of persecution, influential and dangerous. The
most of these gentlemen were idlers and mere
takers, who, if left unnoticed, would have be-
come the objects of indifference or scorn of the
multitude, and consequently without any po-
litical influence; but by being dragged in noto-
riety, as victims of their zeal in the popular
cause, they became powerful, and able to raise
the most formidable resistance TO the GoverE.
ment.
Thus NJ. Guizot, while gaining credit amons:
the aristocratic and wealthy classes throughout
all Europe, was in reality aiding in underms'
ming the authority of his master within France.
The great fault committed by him was not ur.
observed by NJ. Theirs, who did not fail, in
many of his parliamentary speeches, to point
out the injury which the Cabinet was inficting
upon the Crown by its reactionary and antilib-
eral course. But he spoke in vain, because he
had entirely lost the friendship of Louis Phil.
ippe by his opposition.
But, meanwhile, great change had taken
place in the mutual relations between the French
and English Governments, and there are even
reasons for supposing that Queen Victoria her
self had lost some part of her confidence and
high regard for Louis Philippe, suspecting him,
as it would appear, of some insincerity. This
change in sentiments originated from the follows
ing cause; n
At the reconstruction of the British Cabinet
Lord Palmerston became again Minister for thu
Foreign Affairs. 1t would appear that Louia
Philippe and M. Guizot suspected him of being
opposed to the intended marriage between the
Spanish Infanta and the Duke of Montpensiers
and consequently likely to raise obstacles
against its consummation. Besides, it is very
possible that they wished to show him that they
had not forgotten the secrecy with which he had
concluded the treaty of the 18th of July, l84l.
But be this as it may, they fastened the mar
rage with SO much dispatch and concealment
that nothing was known in England of the near
approach Of this event, until news arrived that
it had taken place.
The haste and secrecy with which this mar
rage had been celebrated, irritated Lord Palf
merston very much, who did not fail of perceivS
ing the motives which had actuated Louis Phil
ippe and M. Guizot. Itproduced even upon the
Queen some GOODNESS, as above intimated, to;