London, Tuesday, February...
The Times, 1824-02-10T00:00:00

Paris papers and letterc of Saturday, which were re- ceived yesterday, containi no political news of importance. The French Ministry are described in our private corres- pondence as expecting every day to learn some of the re- sults of the mission of their niew Envoy (M. DE MAR- CEI.LS) to Madrid, and are said te be determined to show their high displeasure against their fanatical satrap FER- DINAND, if he continues longer to oppose the publication of an amnesty, which tbey deem as necessary to tile tran- quil military occupation of Spain, as to the ultimate resto- ration of internal order. It is even mentioned, that they have threatened, if their representation prove fruitless, to recal their ambassador-a kind of menace which, if made, even FERDINANDv will know how to appreciate. The French Cabinet, in the management of two king- dsoms, seem at present to have sufficient work on hand; but the elections in France apparently give them more trouble than FaRDINAND andthe civil discords on the other side of the Pyrenees. It would be"'difficult to make per- sons unacquainted with the representative system and po- litical parties in France comprehend to wvbat extent Go- vernment acts on the elections, and the multiplied abuses of which their opponents have to complain. In this coun- try, whatever defects may exist in the mode of cheosing our members, it will at least be allowed that we have some independent elective bodies, anal that, except in the case of close boroughs, the agents of Government cannot act directly on the mass of the electors, or command the corrupt services of thereteurningof icers.TheMayorsof towns, the Sheriffs and Lord-Lieutenants of counties, cannot here be removed from their situations for not returning a Go- vernment candidate. Among our neighbours the case is different. In France there is no independent body inter- posed as a shield between the citizen called to exercise his right of electing deputies, to control the conduct of Admi- nistration, and the agents of that Administration interested in securing the choice of individuals, to sanction their abuses of power. From the Minister of the Interior, down to the petty MIayor of an insignificant village-from the Keeper of the Seals, down to the door-keepers of a provin- cial court, there is an unbroken chain of authority and influence, on which the Cabinet can act with an unerring certainty of effect, and with the rapidity of a telegraphic comnrunication.Thislatterofficer has lately told,by a circular, "allwhom itmayconcern" within his jurisdiction, that there is no place in the whole scale of office which can reckon on " stability," if its occupier does not vote for a Government candidate; and every Prefect, Sub-Prefect, Mayor, Civil Administrator,or Collector of Revenue,have received similar instructions. The organization of the system being so perfect, and the orders to work it in behalf of the Ministry so strict and menacirg, it is no wonder that we hear of multiplied and almost incredible abuses. The elector whose opinion is known or suspected to be hostile to the existing Cabinet, meets every where with obstacles in procuring the documents necessary to establish his right of suffrage; while telector of an opposite. set of opimons is hailed as a friend at all the bureaux, and finds a ready delivery of all his papers and certificates, Old men ofseventy or eighty, bending under the weligt of age and infirmities, who have voted at all elections since France obtained the elective franchise, are sent away to obtain certificates of their birth, if they are supposed to be Liberals; while persons below the legal age of 30 are admitted on the electoral lists, if they are known to entertain Ultia principles. Nay, the amount of the e'lector's imposts is altered to suit electioneer- ing purposes; and as the payment of 300 francs of direct taxes is required as a qualification, opposition persons, who have been in the habit of paying that sum, find them- selves suddenly and unexpectedly relieved of such a part of it as brings them below the legal rate, while the Ultra elector is favoured with the imposition of new burdens, that he may receive the caresses of the Ministry, and send a Government Deputy to the Chamber. We hear of electors who have been obliged to spend four days, and to run about lbo miles in the streets of Paris, to obtain papers which, but for frivolous objections, they might have obtained in an hour: while, on the other hand, individuals who favour Ministerial views have certificates kindly sent them, which prove their possession of a. vote to wvhieh they could not previously aspire. But the climax of notorious partiality and injustice has been attained in -the case of M. ScnowFN, a Judge of the Royal Court of Paris.- A letter flom that respectable petson, whose profession and rank in society place his word above suspicion, bas ap- peared in the Paris journals, and (as we are told in our pri- vate letters) has made a deep impression. on the general body of the electors. h}. SCHONEN. iS domiciled in Paris and though he has property in two or three departments, has no domicile but in the capital. I4ving obtainea his tifictates of tsxesj age, gIld qther quai.ficatioifs, he r't. sented them as required to the Prefecture. No objection was made to the correctnessof. any one of tlem, or to the sufficiency of the whole; but what was his surprise when they were returned to him with,.a note that he must prove, that he did not mcan to vofte in anzy. other department! When thl4s required to prove the negative of a thing im- possible (all the elections of the departments happenting on the same day), the Judge cf the Royal Court said he could scarcely believe his eyes on reading this official missiva His powerful remonstrances, and the publicity given to his case, have opened the eyes of Government to the disgraceful partiality of their agents, and orders are said to have been is- sued to them to conddet their manceuvres with more caution in future. There is no doubt thit the result of the electionis in Paris will be favourable to liberty. because Ministerial arts can neither seduce nor intimidate the intelligent popu- lation of the capital; but it is equally true, that these arts will succeed in the provinces, in returming to the Chamber an overwhelming Ministerial majority. The present pro. ceedings of the Governmrent agents, and the approaching contest in the electoral colleges, will prove that France as yet understands little of the representative system. The following- were the closing prices of public secu- rities, at Paris, on Saturday, February 7:- ive per Cents. 96. 90.; Scrip. Si prem.; Spanish. 25-; Neapoli- tan, 82; Bank Stock, 1700. Exchange an London, one month, 25. 45.: three months, 2S. 35. LOANrDON, TUESDAY, FBBRUARY 10, 182