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Leader (1850-1860), 1st May 1852, Edition Country of 2, Page 6

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      Letters Feom Paris. [From Our Own Corres...

      they may be released from that formality . Here we have the Legislative Chamber , one of the great bodies of the State , which declares the constitution to be absurd and ridiculous . But even this is not all : it now appears that the majority of the members of the Legislative Body are Legitimists . I hadah-eady announced this result " to you before the election x > £ the 29 th February . L . Bonaparte ^ oug ht to obtain the majority of 7 , 500 , 000 votes of the 20 th of December •? it therefore became necessary that the Government candidates should be elected at any cost . At the first > a good number of Bonapartists were selected , but the

      prefects who had been consulted having declared that these persons stood no chance , the Elysee found itself obliged to adopt , as its own , the candidates who were th § most likely to succeed . Republicans were in exile , in prison , or at the hulks ; Orleanists were the objects of violent threats ; Bonapartisin a chimera j there remained only the Legitimists , wearing Bonapartist colours ; what wonder , then , they should be in a considerable majority in the Legislative Chamber . There are but 37 thorougk-bred Bonapartist deputies . These figures , which have been ascertained by the members of the Chambers , are full of eventualities for the future .

      The distribution of the eagles is still fixed for the 10 th of May . I must , however , notice a remarkable retreat on the part of the Government . The-National Guard , which had been invited to attend the ceremony , will not be present . The Government alleges that the organization of the National Guard could not be completed in time . But the real motive is , that the men , although carefully culled , refuse to acknowledge the officers named by M . Bonaparte . The National Guard of Paris , in spite of the care with which its members were selected , could only be composed of shopkeepers ,

      and they have not forgotten the massacre of the 4 th of December , and the grape-shot with which'their shops were riddled on that day . They are , therefore , eager to avail themselves of every opportunity to protest against the present state of affairs . This well known disposition induced L . Bonaparte to shrink from exposing the army to a struggle with , the National Guard , which would inevitably have brought the population of Paris into the streets , and might end in a successful insurrection . Accordingly , the National ^ Guard will not be called out before the 15 th of August .

      As to the proclamation of the Empire , T give you the plan decided upon at the Elysee to evade the celebrated veto of the Emperor of Bussia , alluded to in a previous letter . This veto is threatening ; it places the proclamation of the Empire as a easus belli . L . Bonaparte will consequently content himself with being saluted Emperor by the army . He will afterwards make another appeal to the people for the ratification of the will of the army , and , doubtless , by adopting the means used at previous elections , he will obtain the requisite seven millions of votes .

      Steps are already being taken in this sense . The clamour of the provincial Bonapartist journals for the Empire is unceasing . The committee of the Empire continues its gigantic petition labours , but with this difference in the programme , that the petitions , instead of being presented to the Senate , will be presented with due solemnity to L . Bonaparte , in person , on the 10 th of May . This incident is to be the signal for the proclamation of the Empire by the army .

      The ceremony will conclude with a grand fete , given by the army to L . Bonaparte . It is supposed that the army has teen assessed to meet the expenses of this affair . The assessment took place thus— -the colonel of the 8 th regiment of hussars called his officers together , and told them that he was about to stop two days' pay from each of them to meet the expense of a / Me , to be given by the army to the President . The colonel of the 45 th regiment of the lino , who is n Gascon , prenented them with the following account : — " The army desires to give the President a ftUe at its own cost . The Preaidont having henrd of it , would not consent

      that it should cost the officers and soldiers a single copper , ami he has given orders for 100 , 000 francs to bo paid into the army treasury . The heaviest part of tho money is already paid , lot us each give two days ' pay , and tho Hum will bo complete . " Now , as there are 11 , 000 officers in tho French army , two days' pay , at an average of five francs per day , arc equal to 110 , 000 franco It thorcibro nppcarn that instead of contributing a part of tho exjponHO of tho fdte , tho officers pay all . A * great many officprs havo been cashiered fox having refused their share of tho money . Such is the f & te freely offered by tho arniy to L .

      Bonaparto ' Many of tho pardoned prisoners ( grade ' s ) have refiifled to accept tlioir pax-don , rather than bo indebted for any thing to L . Bonapurto . A great number refuso to Bign tho declaration requiring them to promise not to attempt nnything against the government of tho 2 nd of December . TUo f « JW remaining Republican

      journals in the Departments contain letters every day from stxch persons to this effect . Transportation , consequently , is still going on . Three lwndred more prisoners were embarked at Havre , on the 24 th of April , on board the JBarthollet , for Cayenne . Two hundred and seventy-seven others for Algiers , and one hundred aiid two more for Cayenne have been snipped atToulon . Great agitation reigns in the departments ; ^ The Bonapartist journals are obliged to confess it . Private vengeance is prevalent to an incredible extent . Incendiary fires are the means most generally employed . France is becoming an Ireland on a large scale . In the meantime the Emperor amuses himself- —they are merry-making at the Tuileries .

      The most scandalous financial jobbing of all kinds , reminding one of the worst days of the Directory and the Empire , is of daily occurrence . The lottery is to be re-established . Louis Bonaparte divides equally with M . Veron , who shares his half with Madlle . Rachel > the celebrated actress . The palmy days of Boulette and Trenie et Quarante are returning in full blossom . M . Veron has the agreement in hand . He is to give three millions a year to Bonaparte , from hand to hand ; Bonaparte gives him the license for fifteen years , on payment of two millions to the State . M . Veron and Madlle . Rachel will have the rest for themselves . ¦

      The notorious * Smith , the souteneur of Miss Howard , Louis Bonaparte ' s mistress , is the heart and soul of the job . It is to him that the whole of the three millions Bonaparte is to receive will eventually come . An alarmingly arbitrary proceeding has taken place this week , in Paris . The journeymen coachbuxlders , considering the increased activity in their business , sought to obtain a higher rate of wages . The masters having refused to accede to their desmy the men struck work . The prefect of police , for the purpose of cutting the matter short by a stretch of authority , induced several of the workmen to come to him , under

      the pretext of hearing their coinplaints , but instead of listening to them , he caused them all to be put into pxison . The remaining workmen , much irritatedf by . this tyrannical act , continued the Strike , and those men . who had remained at work , at low wages , quitted their eTmployment . Last Saturday , the journeymen coachbuilders had a meeting at Courbevoie and Neuilly , to . adopt resolutions for their common interest . Two companies of sergens-de-mlle were sent down to these two localities , and before the meeting could take place , they attacked the first comers with the flat of their swords , ' and dragged them to the prison of Mazas , where they were put into solitary confinement .

      Reports are circulating that there will be a rising in the provinces , in May . I do not credit them . I have been told that the movement will be a mere protest against the present state of things . ¦ The fireworks for the 10 th of May , prepared by the artillery , at Vincennes , have just exploded , and destroyed the building in which they were being made . Fortunately , no lives were lost . S .

      Letters Feom Paris. [From Our Own Corres...

      * We are not awaro to what " Smitli" our correspondent horo alludes , or whotlior ho moans by " Smith" a generic titlo for EngHehmon . —ISd . of Leader .

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      Continental Notes. The Decision Of The S...

      CONTINENTAL NOTES . The decision of the Seine Tribunal , in tho affair of tho Orleans property , has been laid before the Council of State , over which the legal tribunals of the country have no power . The Constitutionnel publishes the report of Colonel Espinasse , tho Extraordinary Commissioner to tho South of Franco , who , out of 4000 insurgents , could onl y pardon 200 , and commute tho sentence of 100 . Tho Colonel re-E'ets that the mixed commission had by unwise leniency at an opportunity for suppressing anarchy such as might not occur soon again . A decree authorizes tho Minister of Finance to inscribo on tho great book of the public debt a sum of 4 , 403 , 436 f . three per Cents . Rentes in exchange for 4 , 475 , 665 f . 00 c . four-and-a-half per Cents ., which arc to bo annulled , A sinking fund of tho ono per Cent , on tho nominal capital taken from tho sinking fund belonging to tho four-, und-u-half per cent . Bentcs will bo applied to tho thrco per Cent . Rentes created b y tho President ' s docroo . In tho account rendered by tho Patrie of tho funeral service in honour of Marshal Gerard , it gives tho titlo of King to Jerome Bonaparto , who was present , for whom , moreover , " thoplaCo of honour was reserved . " After a cronornl description of tho altar , catafalque , & c ., tho JPatrie

      proceeds : — " Boats had boon prepared for the officers of tho President of tho Republic , tho Marshals , Ministers , Sonato , Legislative Body , officers of land and soa , and high functionaries . Thoso places were successively . ocoupiod l > y King Joromo , Governo * of tho Hotel A * ua Invalidos , and brother of tho Emporor Napoleon , accompanied by all his officers of ordonnanco . Tho placo of honour had been reserved for him . " Then amongst tho names of distinguished personages present is given that of " Prince Napoleon , eon of King Joromo . " : Tho official Moniteur copios verbatim tho description of tho Z ' atrie , with tho repetition of tho titlo of King applied to Joromo . Negotiations with Russia uro tipokon of for tho divorce of tho Princess Matildc from hor husband , Prinoo Demidoff .

      The prince , if i $ said , offers- a . settlement of 400 , 000 fr a-year arid two millions at Ms death . -But the lady requires the two millions down and the annuity besides ; The Moniteur contains a decree by which , the officers of thenavy , andotherfunctionariefl ^ connectedwith that department , are ordered to take thepath , of allegiance within a month . ¦ . ¦ '' ¦ ;¦ ' ¦ ¦ ¦/ ¦ ¦ ' .: \ : '; - ' ; -- '¦¦' ; . ¦ . . v- '• : ' ¦ ¦ ' ... .. :. ' .. ¦ ¦ The Conservatives have gained an important victor ^ in the recent ' elections in the canton of Berne , t ^ reby con * firming : inpower the present executive . ThV inajoritv \ ras 58 & 5 ; in a . total nuinber of voters , 78 , 625 . If we are to believe the French . Comtitiitionnel , the Conservatives no doubt under French auspices , are about to turn their victory to immediate practical advantage by the following

      measures which bear a decided Napoleonic impression — 1 . The suppression of ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ theUniversity , which will resume the rank and less pompous title of Academy . 2 . Reorganization of the colleges of the Jura ( French part ) which are in a deplorable condition . 3 . Partial revision of the Constitution by the Grand Council , and the reestablishment , under all cases , of the right . of Revocation , taken from the Governmentin 1846 . 4 . A law destined to protect the authorities from insult , while in the exercise of their functions . 5 . A new law on the press , & c . Simultaneously with the reactionary triumph at Berne , we learn the arrival in Paris of Louis ¦ Bonaparte ' s old friend , General Dufour . The General arrives asi an " Envoy Extraordinary , " to confer with , the President on the questions that have arisen between . the ! two countries .

      The S & cleielts a story much to the credit of Armand Marrast , a man who has often been maligned . In 1833 the Algeririe question occupied the public mind . Marrast , then writing in the 'Tribune , had treated the question so as to place civilization above conquest . The principal inhabitants of Algiers offered him a present as a testiinbny of their gratitude ; and their delt" < gate , Sidi Hamdan , wrote the following letter on the subject : — " Paris , July 13 , 1833 .

      " Monsieur Marrast , — -You alone , among the writers of the press , have comprehended that the question of Algiers was a natural occasion for France to show how she understands liberty and humanity . You do not preach , up conquest , but civilization . The principal persons of Algiers , who desire to establish it in their country , cannot at presant testify to you all the gratitude they feel , but they hope that you will accept the enclosed ¦ order' for 100 , 000 f ., which I have signed in the name of all . We hope you will accept this proof of our gratitude . " Eeceive the assurance of our consideration . «? Hamdaw . " The order did not remain a moment in the hands of the journalist j as is proved by a second letter from the same writer— " Paris . July 16 , 1833 .

      " MoirsiEUJt Mabb AST , —Your delicacy in refusing the lOOjOOOf . which , we had sent you no doubt does honour to your character , but we are afflicted at not being able to testify to you our gratitude for the planner in which you have pleaded the cause of liberty for the Algerians as well as for the Europeans . If our country is ever restored to us we will remember your opinions and generous sentiments . We hope you will still continue to defend tho interests of humanity , which are ours . " Eeceive , & c . " Hamdan . "

      Armand Marast never spoke to any one of this offer : it was only at his death that the fact came to light . Intelligence reached London on Tuesday of the death of tho Grand Duke of Baden , which took place on Saturday night , after a painful and lingering illness . He was < M years of ago , and undistinguished by any personal quality deserving a single paragraph of mention . He was just like all petty German potentates , weak , vacillating , false , tyrannical , and , after tho Austrian pattern , " p aternal ; at one moment , " says tho correspondent of the Daily P * ' " humbly bowing to the popular will when it was in tbo ascendant , promising liberal institutions and laws—breakthe under loop

      ing these promises , and trampling people , when restored to tho full exercise of absolute power . J * is duchy , it will bo remembered , was almost wrested from Jum by tho democratic insurgents in the lost sanguinary struggle , and only preserved to the reigning family by tfto arms of PruBsfa . The hereditary prince boinga p aralytic and an idiot , tho regency of tho second son , Prince Frederick , has been proclaimed . But there are other ana troublesome claimants to tho throne in the persona ot tne House of Bavaria . King Maximilian is not likely to let his claim sleep , and a romantic mystery of crime an « intrigue may possibly bo once more disturbed . IJio U- ° »»? of Bavaria have on two occasions disputed and protestoa OJ , XJlLVIVTln IIM-VU v * I l < wu \/ viv ; i * ojiwi ^» ^* mj ^ ww * - — - ^ - . - in favour oi

      against the decree of tho federal commission tho reigning family . . t n . n A Berlin journal tolls tho jTollowing protty story of tno last moments of tho deceased duko . Tho anecdote emac *" of " composition , " to embalm tho ducal memory l wj " it is : — "Whilst his royal Jiighnoss lay racked with pam some fow nights past upon his sjooploss pillow , ho turncu to the physician in ordinary , Dr . Schrickel , and eaia ' Tell mo , Schrickol , do you think that thoro ia any . »« J man who suffers as much as I doP « Yos , sir , ' "JP ^ JT doctor , ' alas ! many . I havo ono poor man undo ' , ™ JJJo mont at this timo / who labours under tho samo duoa ^ and in abject misery , upon a heap of straw ! | MF ™ , U T , nrnnlv . hut strotcbinc out his enfeebled l > a »« '

      rang tho Ml '; and when his attendant entered , * o « £ » £ that tho best bod in tho palaco should bo c" ^^^ sick man ' 8 abodo , and that evcrytlung tho su <^ r " ? 2 S ohould bo furnished to him , until death or n *?™** *™ his paina . " It certainly is becoming a < F 08 fcl ° " " ° iior days whothor duko or paupor escapco from ^» o u b eorapo by death !

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), May 1, 1852, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_01051852/page/6/