The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-05-05
BRITAIN AND FRANCE.
By THE CANADA.
orrespondence of the Commercial Advertiser.

correspondence VI ~
LONDON, April 9, 1858.
The reign of commercial and political
distrust continues. Not a single event
of any Importance has taken place since
the departure of the Arago, but those
minor indications which have long been
gathering and which seem to all to point
to one conclusion, namely the determine
ton of Louis Napoleon to support his
despotism by a war with England, still
accumulate from day to day.
There are those, however, who do not
participate in these apprehensions, and
who treat each hint of such a possibility
as something too ridiculous for argu-
ment. The general public, however, no
longer echo their views. The peace
party, with that self compliment bind
ness which distinguished them previously
to the Russian war, Join in the happy
delusion; but among all other persons
there is a growing sense OF the Crisis
that is impending
The first signal of the struggle may
como any moment, since nothing could he
%piainer than that a pretext is now all
that is waited for. The refugee Difficult
ty failed to answer the purpose at the
time, but even that is still looked to as
capable of affording the necessary ma
terial for a rupture, in case no other sub
ieet should offer that will involve a less.
fragrant disregard of decency. When
Count Waiewski withdrew from further
discussion on tho point, he left it to the
people of England to do what was re-
q~nisite. But the people of Eogland
Rave never yet admitted that anything
was requisite. Therefore they are not
likely to do anything, and The charge
can at any time be raised that they have
repaid the generous reliance of the EN-
peror by an insulting indifference. In
the hands of Marshal Pelissier r reelama-
ton Of this kind viii not be fritterod
down by that delicate handling. But it
is evidently hoped that some more covert
and diplomatic cause of rupture may be
found without delay. The British oc-
cupation of the isle of Perrin is the topic
Just seized, aud either this or solne move
ment against Austria in Italy, will per-
haps meet the exigenoies of the occasion
On the Perrin question the thorough
support of Russia is fully counted upon
by France. Hence the desire to bring
it into the Paris conferences. But the
proposition seems to be too impudent for
success, since it cannot be supposed that
any of the other powers to be represent
! ed IN the conferences would pretend that
they or France or Russia could have any
business to interfere Perrin, which is
but a barren rock, and which has never
been occupied since the English last had
possession of it half a century ago, be-
longs either to Turkey or to the Imauml
of Muscat. Neither of these has as yet
made any claim or protest regarding 1t,
aud it is only with them we could deal
The place is of no strategetical lmpor-
~tanoe, except as q convenient station in
the highway of our Indian commuuica-
tions IttLreatons nothing, and can new
err be converted into an annoyance to any
other state. There is 70 ground there
fole OF which any International objee-
lions can be based. The Times has point
ed this out in very undisguised teams,
and has told Louis Napoleon not to med,
die with US in affairs in which be has no
concern; adding that if he is sensitive
on the inalienable character of every
possession belonging to the Turkish EN-
pire, he can with a proof Of
his sincerity by giving up Algeria
To continue some outbreak in Italy
would probably be a leader METHOD
In this, as in the other case, the warm
cooperation of Russia could be relied
upon. Both questions were probably
we'll canvassed at the meeting of the two
Emperors at Stutgard last au umn.-
But if Italy were made the field, the
attack in the FIRST instance would be up
on Austria, and the wish probably is
that the beginning should be with Eng
land, so as to take US by surprise aud
cut off our Indian telegraph and mails,
and our Australian gold ships, by a sud
den blow.
Where there is a foregone conclusion,
however, 1t is of little consequence to
speculate as to the precise means that
win be adopted to bring it about. Very
likely on the re assembling of Parlla-
ment, the speeches of the peace mem
hers IN the House of Commons-Messrs
Bright, Miner, Gibson, a. d others-will
furnish the requisite offence 1t is
enough that an assault upon US has been
resolved on. Whenever it comes, Of
course the members of Parliament just
named, who have lone their best to pre-
cipitate it, will insist that it is all the
fault of Lord Paimerston, or Lord Der
by, or any one it may suit them to abuse
for the,moment.