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Q-enerally , lie is fond of his face ' s ease , the dolce Jar niente . Ten years * xininternipted enjoyment of the good things " of this world ; would convert lean ^ -sided Cassius into a '¦ well-rounded ; , good-natured fellow . No cur can be more harmless than a well-gorged lion .
31 . D& . VALBW 6 EI . Among the Ministers of France whom the Emperor regards as ' -a bonne pate cFhomme , one who will do his bidding ¦ without scruple or murmuring , is the Count Walewski , This individual has passed through a variety of grades since he made his first bow on the public stage as secretary to the Polish Revolutionary Committee of Warsaw . He has been a play writer Whose compositions have sunk into oblivion . He was patronised by a celebrated actress , and owes his present position to that accident of birth which recommended Fauiconbridge to Queen Eleanor , but he lacks both the bastard ' s courage and true devotion to his master . When 1 say master , I should . say the nominal one , for the count having received back his
Polish estates , is of coarse bound to his latest benefactor —the Czar . Between the Czar and the Kaiser there is bad blood and deadly hate . It does not suit the present views of Russia to go to War with Austria , for she lias not yet recovered from her Crimean losses , but she would be very glad to see Austria plunged into a gigantic and expensive -war , and if France serve as cat ' spaw , ^ Russia will look on , Complacently waiting for the moment de tirer lesviarrons du jeu . Should war be lighted tip Russia will bide her opportunity . If the sympathies of Europe should lean , to Austria , and
France be oh . the point of being worsted , then she will throw her sword into the scale on the side , of the Kaiser , and once more appear as the ally and liberator of Germany . Such a consummation-would restore her prestige , make all the German sovereigns her vassals , and raise her to the rank of the first European poweri She will , moreover , have the air of acting with rare charity in forgiving the " base ingratitude" of Austria . If , on the other hand , Europe stands aloof and French influence should preponderate , Russia will step hi to offer to attack Austria and to share her spoils with France .
Such is the cue given by veteran diplomatists to the incident of New Year ' s-day . Pliable and plastic as the Count Walewski may seem to be , he contrives to attain his object and serve two masters ; but whether it re- > doundsi to the credit of Louis Napoleon for discernment to suffer himself to be made the instrument of Russian vengeance and Russian aggrandisement , your readers must-determine . WAR WITH AUSTRIA . Independently of the influence exercised on . the Emperor of France by his Minister , there are certain personal reasons which render a war with Austria acceptable . It is impossible to conceal the deep-seated and wide-spread discontent which cankers France . ; When the dread of Red Republicanism and Communism were ever present to men ' s minds , they were willing to sacrifice their liberties for fancied ( security to life and property . They put on chains in the name of order . Bui experience has taught them that the reddest of republics conld not more tyrannically dispose of what they prize than the Empire , and that in reality there was little difference between the two forms of
government . To prevent this discontent festering to a head and breaking out into revolution , it is necessary to preoccupy the . public mind , Moreover the soldiery must be employed . Advancement is slow , and officers grumble . Enthusiasm for the . Empire cools down as the measure of rewards is contracted , and fidelity is an exploded heresy . In the summer there was loud talk of war with the United States . " Their insolence must be chastised , " was said by one of Marshal Vaillant ' a aides-de-camp ; but ae the war would have to be a naval one , and as England made no secret as to which side her sympathy , And probably something more substantial ,- would be given , the project was laid aside . To go to war with England is the last card , and no . gambler , however
desperate , would risk hia sole remaining chance until every other had been exhausted . Besides , war with England might involve war with the United States , and with all men , save Frenchmen , who longed for liberty , And , in spite of the Indian rebellion , yon are too well prepared . You have a numerous and well-disciplined Army ; immense stores of mntdriel 5 a contented and patriotio population ; a Channel float and a steam reserve that could sweep the seas ; abundant , wealth , and gnoxe abundant ; credit . You have struck out roots over the flurfuco of the garth , drawing up succour from . three-quarters of the globe , and you aro more formidable , more invincible , than over , unless , indeed , you should boat down your own shield by adopting Mr . Bright ' s un-English policy .
Austria is the only power that affords a safe opportunity of fleshing French swords : inditiva . With the Government of the Kaiser it is impossible that Englishmen can have Any sympathy whntsoovor , and that might bo excused if . they rejoiced like FauloonbrWgo if the two sovereigns took up position so as " £ 0 shoot into each other ' s mouth . " Italy , with her futol dow'er of beauty , would bo again the prize for which Gaul and Hun contend , for wore Franco victorious , . Italian nationality and independence would ba moro remote than ovor . Austrian domination may be bad enough , but Heaven shield . Italians from
experiencing that lower depth of misery and degradation—French protection . ! I have spoken of personal reasons which tend to make war With Austria desired by Louis Napoleon . The Emperor of France believes himself to possess all the qualities and genius of a great military commander , and burns for an opportunity to win his spurs . It was with the greatest difficulty , and solely on account of the insecurity of his throne , that he refrained from taking the command in the Crimea . The telegraph wires were carried into his apartments in the Tuileries to transmit where the
orders for the campaign , Italy was the ground uncle first proved his skill , and may therefore be considered of good omen and propitious for the development of the military genius of the Bonapartes . Reviewing all these things , people here believe we are on the eve of war . To-moTrow , or next day , the Moniteur is considered just as likely as not to contain a recapitulation of all the grievances against Austria , and an appeal to the French nation . What , you will ask , will become of Italy when the Aiistrians are expelled ? I know not , unless it be to give the title of King of Rome to the young Prince Imperial .
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INDIA . £ We are happy to be able to lay before our readers the following private letter , which , being from a gentleman of mercantile pursuits , of high position , and totally unconnected with the Government , or any political sect or party / may be thoroughly relied upon . We do not , however , endorse all our correspondent ' s opinions , though we value and rely on his interesting statements . ] /¦' ¦ ¦'¦ Calcutta , Nov . 18 , 1 S 5 S . I have just returned from my visit to the Upper Provinces ,, better in health arid stronger than I have been for many years , and now furnish you with my views ' and opinions on the state of the country .
After leaving the railway at Raneegupge on the 4 th of September , I travelled along the Trunk Road , through Shergotty , Benares , Allahabad , Euttehpore , Cawnpore , Allyghur , BolUndshuhur , to Meerut ; thence I went through Rohilcund to Moradabad , and up to the hill station of Nynee Tal , where I remained some little time , making excursions to Almorah and the neighbourhood . I then marched across the hills from Almorah to Mussoorie ( about 186 miles ) , nearly all the way on foot , attended only by three native servants , none of whom I had seen before , and seeing only two Europeans on the whole distance . I had no arms whatever , except my-gun , which I never
loaded with anything but small shot for birds . From Mussooree I came down the hills to Deyrah , Mozaf . fernaggur , Meerut , and Delhi , and thence returned , by the same route I came , through Allyghur , Allahabad , &c . The only external signs of the rebellion I saw were the gallows erected in each and every town , the ruined dawk , bungalows , or rest-houses on the road , and the blackened and deserted houses of Europeans in the cities and towns , particularly at Allahabad , Cawnpore , Pclhi , Meerut , and Moradabad , where almost everything belonging to Eui'Opeans remained in the same state as when plundered , gutted , and burped .
The cultivation everywhere was abundant and perfect , $ he crops most luxuriant , and no appearance of distress or disturbance . In short , if the ruins of the houses were cleared away , there would bo no outward signs or marks of the rebellion . When I came to inquire into the state of feeling , I found , on the one hand , that the people wore utterly cowed and prostrate , and that , on the other hand , the authorities in every district wore exercising tho unlimited special powers of life and death entrusted to them ( from which there is no appeal ) , in the most rigorous manner .
There ore European troops and numerous Sikh regiments of foot and horse in Qvsivy town and place of importance , besides swarms of Irregular Cavalry , consisting of wild hox ^ omon from all tho tribes of Central Asia , so that I really believe a European could walk through our own provinces with his hands tied and a bag of money round his neck and no native would daro to touch him . In Oudo the state of affairs is different . There a proud and bravo , people , warriors by birth and profession , object to our rule and oppose it ; but they will do so vainly , and must now submit to tho
overwhelming force brought against them . In Bengal and the Lower Provinces the occurrences in the N . oTthrWesC have struck terror , and jf there are any disaffected they will never show it . All parties resident in our own provinces are now quite stvfo , and in a very short time Oudo wLll bo equally secure . The present state of things , however , must engender a deep and lasting hatred on the part of the natives to Europeans—far worse , I believe , than even a massacre such as that ; ' of Nadir Shall , at Delhi would have occasioned— -and though I look upon it as impossible that there can be any rising
of the people for at least the next generation , still there is 1 no doubt an element of difficulty and perhaps danger in the new native army into which we have drifted , that the Sikhs know well how much we are indebted , to them for the preservation of the empire , and that they and the hordes of Irregular Horse and Foot , having once again indulged in their hereditary taste for blood and plunder , may not quietly settle down or be got rid of . Any disturbance , however , from this cause , could only be temporary , for they can have . no guns , are without leaders , and the European force is overpowering .
There was not a voice in the Upper Provinces , from the highest to the lowest , which did not condemn Lord Canning . as iitterly unfit for the position and the time . He does not even yet get through the ordinary detail of work ; allows no access to himself , goes nowhere , and , in short , does nothing . Apparently there is no Settled or comprehensive line of policy , and affairs are permitted to drift onwards as they best may . Sometimes an official is
reproved , and p % uished for excess of severity , or another removed for being too lenient ; but , generally speaking , there Has been little interference with those to whom authority has been delegated ; and when it is remembered that out of the civilians in the North-West Provinces about twenty-five per cent , perished during the year , that there can scarcely be one who has not lost a relative , connexion , or friend , it may be assumed that leniency has not been the rule .
If anything can alter this deplorable state of things , the wise and gracious declaration in her Majesty ' s Proclamation should do so , but a change of men as well as of the measures proposed is necessary , and the present generation at least must pass away before Europeans , whether official or 11011-official , can look upon or deal with the natives of India in the benevolent and friendl y way they have hitherto done previous to the rebellion . It is impossible noi / v to form an opinion as to tlic turn things many take with regard to Europeans in the lately disturbed districts . That there ' will be great changes inj their habits and modes of life is
certain , but in what direction it is not easy to guess . Perhaps few , if any , will for years venture to settle or reside at any distance from a town or station ; perhaps . recent events will make every one more anxious than ever to get away from the country anil never return to it ; whilst the irnpossibility . of obtaining European stores and liquors has taught many new lessons of economy , and enabled them to dispense with many things formerly deemed necessaries , so that there will be less indebtedness than previously , and it will unquestionably be some time before tilings settle down * and men have wives and families , and think of making provisions for them .
The Night March in India . —Now , of nil modes which a human being can get from one 'place to another , T , having had experience of the Danish postcart , * the Eastern Counties Railway , the Dutch trckschuit , tho French diligence ( in rotunda ) , tho Russian tarantasse , and the Scotch herring-boat , do aver and declare that tho most utterly abominable is the night march with troops in India . It is very picturesque , no doubt , to see your tents struck by moonlight , tho troops and natives-moving . about tho watchfires , nnd such matters ; but " alepp it is a heavenly thing , " and when it does not spread from poll to poll in iteful
camp , it makes men very ill-natured and sp , so that they rojojee exceedingly when their comrades full into big holes in the dark , and resent very bitterly similar mishnpB to themselves . The dust is most irritating , for you must keep close to the column and to the guides . Walls look like roads by moonlig ht , and deep watercourses have tho singulur property of resembling pathways . The rice-fiolds and grain crops aro deep , fetlock encumbering , and in them lie in ambush well ; * of prodigious profundity-, Insidious branches of trees aro waiting to hit you on tho head , nnd curry you off your horse ; The quadruped itself , deprived of its natural rest , is sleepy , stumbling , nnd ill- < li . si > oso »! .
The column straggles , baggage animals go astmy ; and above all dominates abortive Morphous nnd utruggling Soninua . The stars porsuailo you in vain to break your nock by a precipitate descent ovor your horse ' s shoulder , but tho end is nearly aoliiovod by tho desperato fitful starts with which yon rocover your balance and avert tho former catastrophe . However , u great is discipline , " as one of tho men said ; " hero a thousands of us want to stay hero and go to sloop , ami here ' s ono old gentloman won't lot us ; ami , buoauao //
lio ' a the only ono that wants to go , wo all go . " — M . Jtuasall in the Times , Not QuAi 4 i-iBn .-j . Tam , os Gordon Uonnott , editor of the New York I ferula , having boon announced innovurnl papers as a candidate for Oongross , thus acts tho mattor at reels—" There is ovldontly a mistake in this : > Vo can ' t bo a oamlklnto . Wo pay our debts ; wo novor wore indicted as an aUlorman for taking 100-dollar bribes . We don't visit low grog whops , nor chow tobaooo , nor drink bad whisky , nor carry lobby f « o » of . 10 dollars to our brcoohos pockets , afl-Greely did for Mnthoeon , » 0 aro , in a word , not qualified for a seat in Congress .
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54 THE LEADER . [ No . 459 , Jakttary 8 , 1859 .
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Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 8, 1859, page 54, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2276/page/22/
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