The New York Herald Newspaper, July 6, 1858, Page 3

AFFAIRS IN EUROPE. Inskle Views ef France. Dian (Cotes da Nord), May 28, 1858. Dinan— Political Opinions of the Bretons—Real Mo tive of the Intended Visit of Napoleon II. to Brit- tany—Antiquities of Dinan—Its Walls, Castle, Churches, Memorials of Duqueselin, Anne of Brit- tany, §c.—Costume and Manners of the Bretons— Breton Hatred of the English—Its Causes— » Prices of Living in Brittany, Sc. Of the millions of readers of the New York Hanaup is there a bundred that ever heard of Dinan, in Brittany? Of the thousands of your readers who ‘ * have from time to time visited Europe, is there a single person who has stood upon the ramparts of this ancient city? I suppose not one. Permit me, then, to make you acquainted with this place; for despite of its obscurity it deserves to ) ve known; and the time, perhaps, is not far distant when the opinions it entertains will—because they f are the opinions of a large section of Frenchmen— {tena to modify not only the existing condition of | affairs, but also the fature government of France. | 1 have two objects in view in addressing a few letters to you from this locality—first, I desire to call attention to a district in France which is so wel worth visiting, and has hitherto remained unexplored by Americans. Next, I wish to give you informa: tion, as from an eye witness, of the condition—physi- cal and moral—of the agricultural classes in France, and then of the political opinions they eatertain; and how | is probable they will conduct themselves should another crisis arise, or be forced upon the cou: -y by the Parisian notabilities. Wuat importance the Emperor of the French attaches to the opinions of the Bretons is proved by * the fact of his contemplated visit to it at a very early period—the pretence being a visit to the Brest fleet—but the real purpose being to canvass for popu- larity amongst the descendants of those who fought for years against the republic, and who, when the first Bonaparte had been overthrown, were amongst the most eager and zealous of theie countrymen to welcome back the Bourbons, to repudiate the eagle, and restore the lily as the emblem of their country and its government. Before I enter into matters of political importance, 1 wish to say something of Dinan itself. I know of n> place (and my knowledge of the Continent is by no means slight or confined) that, 1 think, would be more interesting to a person coming from the New World to visit, than this city, which is in itself an antiquity of the Old World ina most marvellous state of preservation. A single illustration of its great age will suffice. There are but two churches in the town, St. Malo’s and St. Sanveurs. The first was erected at the aame time that Canute, the Dane, was King of England, and the foundation of the second was laid in the very same ye that William the Conqueror landed in Lian vy and fonght the battle of Hastings. The churches are, notwithstand- ing, the least remarkable of the attractions of Dinan. Here are the walls and ramparts still standing— adorned, not defazed, with ivy and wild flowers—and as firmly erect as when their man; 1s, ballista and poate served by their Sg lischarges to repel soldiers of the English King, Henry Il., and to deter even, for the moment, his valiant successor in ! warfare, the Black Prince. Here, too, is still stand. ing the house of “‘the ladye love” of the bravest, best | and truest of knights in the great days of chivalry— | Duqueselin; here is the open place in which he fought and conquered a cruel and treacherous Eng- hampion, ycleped “Thomas of Canterbury;” and , too, precisely the same in wails, floors, chambers and Lp o (dark scene § anon; the rest) is the le of Anne of iy, with stone chair of state, in which she eat as sovereign, } dispensed justice, and presided over the royal ban- juet. : ‘Let the doubters in the medisval times come here and they will see—as distinctly as they see the Rroadway in New York—the things of which they have read in histories and romances—plain to the vision, palpable to the truth. Here are standing memorials of the past times—and here are, too, in the very persons ee jostle you ax you walk along, the living representatives of meu that might be sap- posed to have died out centuries ago. Here are the _—, Gauls as they were in the days of Caaar— “Nam plerisque hominibus Gallis, pre magniludine corporum suorum, brevilas nostra i ent.” Here — still as halking {n size and gait, and still as disposed to undervalue the general race of Frenchmen as their fathers were to despise the short sized Romans, Here they are as eager for news, a8 impetuous in their feelings, as ready to re- sent a supposed wrong, a8 prompt to repent of & rash ection as to undertake it; the same —the very same—as if they were now to be described for the first time by their Roman conqueror. Even in their outward habiliments they are little chan; from their ancestors; for here may see tl ro and the party-colored bracca, for the wearing which Jatter garment Tacitas casts an additional reproach upon the memory of Vitellias. Here, in short, is the pare old Celtic race in all its. primitive eee: with ail its virtues and all its failings unadulterated; for this is an oat of the way part of the Continent, and there is as little likeness {n appearance, or similarity in feeling between the Breton and the Pari- sian as there is between a Connaughtmmn and a Cock- ney. The men retain their nationality in their cos- tuine, and their wives and daughters are worthy of such husbands and i Their costame—I refer to the peasantry— same as you may See on an ancient poy or Pompeitin painting—but still all differing from each other iu one particular; that ia in the extraordinary shape und form of their snow white oaps—cach district be oe td cap of a pecniiar shape, acme like sugar loafs, others like @ milit officer's cocked hat, others with wings tu upon the top of the head, &c., so that the women of different parisbes are at once recognizable by ‘ their peculiarity in wearing their head gear. then this variety of persons, and contrast its costumes, moving through a town that is the same j in outward appearance as it was six or seven hun- dred years ago. Its ancient houses surrounded with still more ancient walls, forty feet high; its broad rainparts, its old towers, its battlemented gates, and then remember that all this is placed on the top of steep hill; at its base on one side a deep val- ‘and onall the others enclosed by the bright waters of the river Rance; and then that the whole ’ Jooks ont upon a scene of infinite rand beauty — upon woos ond water, on distant hills, and far off hes, and have some steeples of old, old idea—and after all be 4 faint fdea—of what a love, is Dinan, and how well worthy it is of a visit from those who feel an interest in times gone by, and wish to behold in all its charms a genaine rural city in its falling position—the central ebject of a most magnificent . Brittany is now in with France; bat an inhabitant of Dunkirk is as little disposed to say he is a Breton = a ova oy Doone eee 2 call himself a Frenchman. re prow of his nationality, and it is his boast that from the first attempt made on the independence of his coun- try by Clovis, in 509, his ancestors, for no leas a period than ‘1 023 years, fought against the usurpation, ever disputing it with their valor, ever denying it with arms in their hands. Solongas Brittany had the strength to fight it refused every species of homage; ‘and when the period came that it was too weak to resist, then it either yielded such homage in a re- stricted form, or offered its adhesion to other mon- archs on condition they would, as allies, aid it in re- sisting France. Such, ina few lines, is the history of this large compartment of the empire ruled over hy Napoleon Ill. The first thought, then, with a Breton is not “the power,” “the greatness” or “the fory of France, bat what tends to the welfare, the piness and the honor of Brittany. in entertaining these sentigients it must not, however, for one moment be posed that, if the Breton bas not all the sentiments of a pure Parisian as regards France, that he lacks in a general feeling of patriotism from any tae with the old es. tablished rival of France—that he likes France less because he loves England more. On the contrary, 1 believe there is no part of France where the feel. ings of downright animosity to England are so in- tensely felt and so undixguisedly manifested as in this portion of the empire. The Bretons hate the Enaheh; and the inhabitants of that portion of the British ‘dominions which’ approaches the most nearly to the Breton coast—that is, of the Island of Jersey—they actually abominate, and never speak of them but accompanicd with some term of reproach or contempt. The canses for this.dislike are various—the old quarrels between the Colt and Saxon has something to do with it, but a great deal more the conduct of the English during several inroads made on this part of France—inroads that it may be said bean with the triamph of the Norman Kings in England, and that were continued up to the time of the last war with Bonaparte. The crimes and atrocities insepa- rable from all wars have left a lasting, an almost ineffaceable impression here, because they have been so often ted, and, in most cases, were, so far as the uilation were concerned, en- tirely unprovoked: and then, in all such cases, it is to ba remembered, that the non-combattive popula- tion have ever been the greatest sufferers by these ernel invasions. Asan instance of the spirit of ani- and hatred against the English, there is at it thie foment subscriptions collecting in all parts of { Brittany for the pw of erect a triumphal monument at a place called St. Cast, becanse it was Snglish invading army, with their > surrender prisoners of there that an commander, were forced t war to the local military f f Brittany, suddenly gathered together to repel Bem. hem. As to the Dretons’ hatred of the Jersey people, the 2 in one of his latest “is a river taken St. Servan to t white cottages, in which “The Rance,” M. Faval, eays Fer, productions, LD peak of by the inan you see nothing : wide ., Stevenson, Esq., An- ae ane ‘swill and snore by the side who sighs and pines. { have myself yn the door of a public house this brutal en- sign 0 ‘conquest-‘English spoken.” ’ e last sentence I ot refrain from giving as it is printed in the o1 1, it enshrines such @ cu- aed specimen of the English language. Here is:— “J? ai vu sur laporte dun cabaret ce brutal insigne dom cont ee “prs 3] tp fe . justice to “les Anglais,” #0 gly re- fetal to in the preceding extract, Iam bound to say, so far as my acquaintance among them extends, that they do not provoke by their conduct. the hos- tile feelings entertained with ct to them. Dinan is in no respect like to Boul or other places on the French coast. It, is not a “refugium peccatorum"—it is not the haunt of runaway debtors, ‘or scaMps, Or Backing. It has no attractions for any such classes. It has no places of public amuse- ment, no taverns, and but two indif nt hotels. ‘To its solitary reading room tle mere eae with- ont good introductions, would find it very difficult to obtain admission. A man without respectable ante- cedents would soon see it was impossible for him to remain in Dinan. He could find no one to associate with him. The English here are, without, I believe, a single hen drags rsons with families, and they are attracted to ng by these two considera: tions—the beauty of surrounding country and the cheapness of living. The rents here will, I imagine, sw an inhabitant of New York. A house, with rooms, cave grenier a good nm, poultry yard, stable and coach house, can be had for £12 a year. A house, not a quarter of a mile from the town, containing sixteen rooms, fine large rooms, with stables, outoifices, two gardens, and two acres and a half of ground, can be had for £16 a year. A very large house, with twelve rooms, two gardens, both stocked with the best fruits, and the pasturage of twenty acres, can be had for £10 a year; this last being three miles outside of Dinan, and in a pretty village. Jam describing to you places I have myzeif looked at. Here is @ list of the prices charged the day I wrote this letter to you. Bear in mind that ia giving these prices the French pound contains eighteen ounces:—Best bread 1d. per lb., butter 8d., beef, mutton and veal, all the same price, 54. per lb.; pork, 64d., spriug chickens, 1d. the pair; eggs, 4d. the dozen. Here are the attractions to the English to take up their abode in Dinan and its neighborhood, and here they live, ay, regardless of the feelings that may be: entertaii respecting them, indifferent alike to love or hatred, and only, in rare instances, condescending to know or keep up an acquaintance with the French. T have only fulfilled in this letter one of the ob- jects I had in view in writing to you—that of direct- ‘ing the attention of your readers towards Dinan and Brittany, In my next I shall enter into other, larger and more important topics, to which 1 have, as yet, but slightly glanced. Dinan (Cotes du Nord), June 3, 1858. Political Opinion in Brittany—A Part of France Always Remarkable for Maintaining an Indepen- dent Opinion—Same Parties in Brittany as in Other Districts of France—Red Republicanism in Towns—Why Brittany is Supposed to be Devoted to the Bourbons—Contrast between Republicans in the United States and France—The Latter Per secutors—‘Cwil Constitution of the Clergy” — Its Consequences—Struggle for Freedom of Wor- ship—Persecutions from 1790 to 1800—Authentic Hiustrations — Persecution Put an End to by Louis Philppe—The Legitimists— The Reapectabitity—The Orleanisis—Their Di- lemma—Claims to Popularity Analyzed—Repub- licans—Their Various Shades—Bonapartism— The Clergy—Their Differences— Intended Visit of Napoicon III.to Brittany—Probable Reception, §c. I wish to commence this letter with the observa- tion that the statements contained, and the opinions expressed in it, are to be understood as applying solely to that part of France which stretches in one direction from Nantes to St. Milo, and that lies in another, between Rennes and Brest. You are not to judge of all France, nor, indeed, of any other part of France, by the state of things, the condition of men or the notions prevalent in the section of the French empire which was once known as Armorica, then as Brittany, and now includes sach important depart- ments as the Cotes du Nord, Finisterre, Morbihan, Ile et Vilatne. This section of France has always had an indepen- dent opinion of its own, and that more frequently at variance, than in accordance, with the predominant opinion at Paris, whether such was embodied in the form of an absolute monarch, or distributed amongst anumber of untitled citizens who sat in conven- tions, ruled over clubs, and brought disgrace apon the name of “republic” by their crimes, their tyran- ny and their corruption. It will then, I am sure, be a matter of interest to the readers of the New Youk Hearn to have, from an impartial witness, a clear statement as to what are the a feelings here prevalent; and in what wa; bear for or inst that form of ernment, which was by the coup ‘état of the 2d December. There are here, as in all of France, Legiti- mista, Orleanists, Red Republicans, Bonapartists. Of these different parties it is necessary to say a few words; and to understand the meg oy must cast a glance back atthe past; for out of events that have occurred in this portion of France have arisen the fixed opinions and the settled convictions of the great mas of the population. Whatever strength the republicans have in Brit- tany is confined to the towns. If the information I have collected be correct, the number of republi- cans in any of the towns, with the ex: m of Nantes and Rennes, is absolutely despicable, and the agri- fe an oer secret societies cultural popal has utterly failed of success. ‘The power of Brittany—physical and moral—-isde- sited in its agricultural population. That hn Retion is remarkable for its attachment to its religion. As a matter of course, should it be necessary to maintain its opinions by force of arms, the clerey, to whom the try are devotedly attached, would have influence. The clergy, however, are not a united body. Before 1 close this letter f shall point out to you—one, not all—the points on whieh are divided from each other. ‘At the time of the first French revolution all Beit- tany was in revolt. The popular heroes were regard- ed as officers of the dethroned Bourbons: and hence Brittany has been considered as that part in which the principles of legitimacy is most strong. But is itso? Was Brittany at any time so entha- siastically devoted to the Bourbons? Did it take up arms solely for the maintenance of monarchy and merely from an abstract hatred of repnblicanism? The general belief is that it did so; but the trata is otherwise, as T shall soon show you. There are many circumstances to distinguish rs— the North American—from the French revo- jution; bat of all these there is none so strong, nor so prominent as this: the revolution which in > orth America changed British colonies into so many in- dependent States was the work of honest men, who te rights of conscience; whilst the revo- Iution in France, which dethroned and decapitated ‘a king, was the work of irreligious men, who sought to tyrannize over the consciences of others. ‘The leaders of the French revolution were not content with fashioning a State. They also took upon themselves the task of constructing a new re ligion, which was the work of what was called “an Ecclesiastical Committee,” under the prosidency of & man named Treifhard. From that committee issued what was designated “the Civil Constitution of the Ch .” and then came the decree that thore who would not accept of this “constitution,” and subscribe to this new creed, should be punished, first by deprivation of their living; subsequently the recusants were doomed to imprisonment; then to banishment; last, to death: whilst. all lay persons e . separate from them as pastors, or shel- ing or in any way assisting them, were also pun- Seth ty oe p Such were the proceedings that forced Brittan; i By os = a revolitionista, con- hemse! itioal changes, the great preening 6 oat the hundreds and thonsands of rmers and peasants who, around the white flag of the Bourbons would never haye shed their blood in sustaining it. They believed its triamph would be contemporaneous with a cessation of reli gious persecution. An extract from an official republican document assertion. Here it is: — y, ce, ar in subjection, but bs exercice of their reli. by el m in whom they have confidence.”La libre pratique de leur cule exerete par des pretreo insermentocs. Such are the words af the Regicide Le Tonrnenr, Mipieter of Police, and they are but the echo of NEW YORK HBRALD, MONDAY, JULY 5, 1858. what had been already jnently stated other Commissioners of the Pp sreauenty stat had ip Brittany. ‘The weakness of republicanism in France has con- weal ee oreee, reo, Sat D rel con’ 5 Pas reugth of Bourbonism (that is “the of legitimacy) was ita bein; identified, for some years, With the: belief oye ution for con- science sake would cease with its restoration to power. There are certain circumstances comnected with this subject—religious persecution by the remem- French licans—which are well bered in this rt of the empire, and that seem to forgotten or unknown else- where. From 1790 to 1800 religious ou tion did not cease. I shall nothing here of the massacres of the clergy in and elsewhere in 1793; and I only allude to the noyades of Nantes by Carrier to call attention to these well establ! facts, viz.: the drowning in one night of ninety-four clergymen on the 15th of November, and again of seventy-four cl men on the 10th of December, 1793. “In four months of the year 1794 there were twelve clergymen slain in Rennes alone, whilst in other places, such as Nantes, Saint Briene, Saint Malo and Guingcamp, the most awful excesses were committed. On the 6th of January, 1795, there were 760 clt en confined on the vessels at Rochfort. In 1796 and 1797 the whole of een was overrun by “ moveable columns” of the republi- cans, and by them clergymen were shot whenever they could be ¢iscovered. On 12th of March, 1798, there were 155 clergymen transported from Rochfort to Guiana. J have before me a list of clergymen murdered in 1798 whilst discharging their religious duties, or about to discharge them, as, for instance, M. Georgelin, “whilst attending a dying person,” and M. Duval, “whilst going to a bavtism. There were at one time in 1798 in the Isle de Ré no Jess than 1,200 clergymen confined in the citadel, and on the Ist of August 101 of these wero transported to Guyama. names of the different clergymen sent as prisoners to the Isle de Ré in 1798 and 1799 fill six closely printed $ of an octavo volume. But the patent proof of this persecution, and the manner in which it was carried out, is the undoubted and ‘extraordinary fact that in the early part of the year Y800 there were no less than 5,621 refugee French clergymen receiving smal) pensions from the aglish government—that is, an allowance barely sufficient & save each of the recipients froin dying of starva- ion. By whom was this persecution put an end to? By Napoleon Bonaparte—not by the Bourboas, The first had power, and was raising up a throne for him- self. The latter were in exile—wanderers trom France—dependents upon other inonarehs. As republicanism was unpopalar because of its in- tolerance, so Napoleor I. won great popularity hy the manner in which he commenced his reign. His concordat with Pius Vil. was deemed to be @ nica- sure equally wise, timely and temperate. At the downfall of Napoleon, this, like other parts of France, was exhausted by his constant wars; and, as it was poapcow, his dynasty had forever disap- peared with the route at Waterloo, the Bourbons were welcomed back to their throne by the Bretons, who conceived that so long as they reigned there was a bulwark to be found against the aggressions of intolerant republicatism. Charles X., the legitimate king, was overthrown by his cousin of Orleans, and the triumph of Touts pad was won by the swords, pikes and guns of the republicans in Paris. Amongst the m4 acts of the new King was one of unprovoked reli- gious persecution in this part of France—the expul- sion from their own home and newly repurchased residence of the Trappists of ey That act did much to increase the i ei of ‘legitimacy in Brittany; and so long as the conflict. for power lay between legitimists and Orleanists, the great body of the people here were ready and willing to range themeelves under the standards of the former. That state of things is now altogether changed. The republicans who made Louis Phillippe king, by their own hands discrowned him. They occupied his ion for a moment, and then had to fly be- fore the legions who, for the sake of the Caesar they nm loved, supported the pretensions of the modern ugustus. hat is the feeling of the Bretons as to these several claimants to power? ‘There are, as I have already stated, in this part of France, ge Onleanists, republicans, Bona- partists. The adherents of these various names or principles are amongst the educated and intelligent classes. ‘The legitimists wish for the restoration of Henry V., (the Due de Bourdeaux,) because they say that the pated can in no other way be secured _ the apprehension of repeated revolutions. The maintainers of this opinion are, without a single exception, excellent, respectable, virtuous persons, of unimpeachable honor and exemplary in- tegrity; but years and circumstances are wearing them out, and telling against them. Years are car- ryiny away the most devoted and distinguished of the fegitinaists, and circumstances are beginning to show that, so far as legitimacy in Frence is con- lecerned, it is a principle on a life annuity, for the legitimist Prince Henry V. is childless, his heirs are the Orleanists—they, who are a party, and have held the crown, because they trampled upon as a bad and wicked principle the very principle of igeneeey. What is a pure legitimist to do when Henry V. is no more? Is he is to transfer his allegiance to Or- Jeanism, when Orleanism (personified by its founder, Louis Philippe,) would have punished him as a traitor had he openly manifested his allegiance to his legiti- mate prince’ Here is the weakness of legitimacy and Orleanism in France. The one cannot survive Henry V. because the other cannot accept a succession it has already repudiated. Orleanisia has worn the crown because it acknowledged popular election as the only rightful source of power. It cannot now, for its advantage, turn back on what it had previously, for its advan- ba repudiated. And then, on the other side, that which it acknowledged asthe source of power” has decided against it, and chosen as the roler of France, not an Orleaus, but a Bonaparte. 1a polities, how: ever, it must he recollected that men do not guide their actions by the strict rules of logic. In such cases their passions and their private interests are the strongest motives for their conduct. And so Orleanism 1s a highly respectable party—that is, it has gained the vames of the most eminent men as its supporters, because it has identified itself with what is called “a conatitutional system of government.” Strong in other parts of France, it is the most con- tempt of all parties in this portion of the empire; for those who had been, when it reigned, the most remarkable of its supporters, have given their unqualified adhesion to the Imperial régime. Orleanism, which was overthrowa because it en- deavored to M. Odillon Barrott and other “reformers” from making speeches at a pablic din- ner; Orleanism, which enacted “the tember laws” against journalism and Orleanism, whieh con- trived to have a Parliamentary system based upon jobbing, with more places to give away than there were electors to ake representatives; that same Orleanism is now, it appears, sustained on the oom that Orleanism is to be identified with “free- of speech,” “liberty of the press” and “sonsti- tutional government.” are its claims for ad- herents. These pretensions to larity are not re- cognized here, and therefore, rtiés, the least, the smallest and the weakest in Brittany is Orlean- ism. As to republicanism—althongh there are repabli- cans of various ve a oo of the pure, old, firm, unrelenting, genteel Junius Bratas school, like the late Ge Cavaignac—the slanghterer of the Paris reds—repablicans who are aléo comamnists, like Louis Blane and Ledro Rollin—repablicans who are also socialists, like M. Barbes and M. Proadhon— still in Brittany the name of republicanism excites bat one idea, and gives rise but to one feeling; the one idea is “intolerance,” the one feeling is “hatred.” A remarkable oa of the latter was afforded in this v town and neighborhood in 1848, when in- telligence was received of the insurrection in Jane. The whole town and district seemed to be animated but with one sentiment—it was to despatch in all haste to Paris every maa fit to bear arms for the purpose of crushing the insurgents. This fact | have from an English gent!eman resident here at the time. He assures me he never saw such an exhibition of popular enthnsiasm as was then manifested. There was an desire to avenge the cruelties of 1793, 1794 and 1798 upon the parties who would imitate, if they had the powe, the policy then pursued. @ 1 reserve to the last the party of the Bonapartists Like the Leqitimists and the Orleanists, they have their adherents apong the intellectual and higher classes of society but still the main strength of ism reste with the agricultural classes. They are, { am assured, almost to a man Bona partlets ; and thousands who would, if Henry V. was the head of a numerous family, give to him and to them their allegiance, would now fight to the death to uphold Napoleon III, Those who would ander other ciren! nces he Bourbonists will now be Bo- napartists, and no change can ever make them re- gard the Orleanists good will or affection. ‘The reason for this is eoog and can be told in these words—the great influence of the clergy. Couple that fact with the reflection that it wonld be difficult to tell whether the clergy look with greater dread apon the restoration to power of the b- lieans or the Orleanists: Observe, however, that the omg, enone @ powerfal, is not an united body. town in which | wie is a fair repro- sentation of the state of Bittany. Dinan contains bat two parishes, and the rector of one of ther is an avowed . whilst the rector of the , it is pretty well known, is an enthwsinstic le gitfnist. occasion arise, no doubt is @n- tertained both use whatever influeace they could command to prevent either a republican gov- it being , or an Orleaniat again nsurp- idethat throne which, if ancient rights and | lished customs are to prevail, aaonid be filled by Henry of Bourdea wax. I find T am exceeding the space allotted to me. 1 baye given you a surface view of political parties in of France; but I have not, as yet, touched social condition, and other matters that I would to be acquainted with. I may, at a future time, enter upon those topics. Meanwhile, rest ‘assured that the form of Fh gaa Coes to the masa of popula- in Brittany is which now exists: that the feeling as to the promised visit of the Emperor is one of it satisfaction, and—to quote the of a Breton when referring to the proposed visit—* All wish to give him ahearty welcome.” (Tous veulent le saluer de bon caur.) Foreign Miscellany. The Paris Patrie contains the following observa- tions on the return of M. Jules Favre for one of the vacant seats in the capital:—We do not question the signification of the election of M. Jules Favre. This gentleman has placed the boldness and elo- quenée of his speech at the service of principles on which the couutry has already pronounced itself. But M. Jules Favre, before accepting the candidate- ship, rare obedience to the constitution and fidelity to the Emperor. This oath was a divorce from those passions which had reckoned on his abilities. The West African Herald, published at Cape Coast, pablishes in its issue of Febroary 15, a letter deseribi gs an attack made by a formidable mob on the factory of M. Regis, of iNes (French immi- tagent), at Accra. It declares that the event is in no way surprising, and accounts for it by the peculiar way of M. Cartier, the agent, in dealing with the natives. He is said to have attempted to overreach them in some dealings. A mob attacked and plundered the factory, but the people of the town have been compelled by Governor Pine to make compensation. M. Cartier was also ordered to Great James Town. A fine of $500 was also laid on the feorle of James Town, which they agreed to wil- ingly enough, so glad were they at the enforced re- tirement of M. Cartier, A table by Mr. Haywood, engineer to the City of London Board ot Sewers, shows that the total traffic ark certain crowded places during one day (twelve hours) of the summer of last year, amounted to 154,056 vehicles of every kind:—By Cornhill (Royal Exchange), 5,256; Temple Bar (a great ob- struction), 9,883; Ludgate hill (Pilgrim street), 10,626; London bridge, 18,179. The average per hour of the whole traffic was 12,838; the maximum Was 15,204 at twelve noon, and the minimum 8,454 at two A.M. One of the first measures of the re- formed corporation of London will be to increase the street facilities, especially by the purchase of the Southwark iron bridge, which may be obtained for £360,060. A pamphlet, entitled “Regularization of Paper -Money,” which has just appeared at Frankfort, states that in Germany, excluding Austria, the amount of such securities is 135,371,000 thalers, and that 87,429,000 thalers of that suin have been issued since 1848. These Rgires are, however, only ap- proximative; the banks of Brunswick, Dessau, Leip- sic and Rostock not publishing any return of their notes. A Parliamentary return shows that the British mint coined in 1857 gold to the value of £4,59,000, of which £364,000 was in half sovereigns. The silver coinage of vhe year «mounted to £375,000, the cost of the metal used being £363,000. Of the silver coined Jast year it appears that £167,000 was in florins, £128,000 in shillings, £55,000 in sixpences, £69 in fourpences, £78,000 in threepences, £39 in twopences, and £33 in pence. The total amount coined in the ten years ending the 31st of Decem- ee 1857, was £55,239,000 in gold, and £2,434,000 in ver. The government of Holland has presented to the two chambers of the States-General a statement of the financial situation of the country. In 1850 the general total of ex; amounted to 70,012,193 tlorins, or nearly 141 millions of trancs; and in 1857 the amount was 94,155,079 florins. This angmenta- tion, however, presents nothing alarming, for the receipts have increased in an iufinitely greater pro- Diner been seventy-six millions of florins in 850, and being at present not less than one hundred and thirteen millions. The various orders of Druids in England, Ameri- ca and Australia, seeing the advantages of a mem- ber finding himsel!. as it were, at home wherever his order chances to have a lodge, they have deter- mined if possible to reunite them into one grand order, 80 that the above advantages may extend to every part of the world where Druids are to be found, Their privileces do not only include the Masonic principle of ee ep but also embrace the ad- vantages of friendly societies, and extend to paying and receiving movey for each other, and also to watching over the necessities and conduct of mem- bers when from under the surveillance of their own lodges. ‘the official correspondence between Lord Malmes- bury and Count Ci shows how sndden and com- plete has been the snlmission of the Neapolitan vernment in the question of the Cagliari and the English engineers. ‘The traffic returns of railways in the United King- dom, published for the week ending June 12, amounted to £445,670, and for the corresponding week of last year to £471,540, showing a decrease of £25,870. “the gross receipts of the eight rail- ways having their termini in London amounted, for the week ending as above, to £183,922, and for the corresponding week of last year to £199,948, show- ing a decrease of £16,026. A report which the Porte communicated to the foreign ambassadors at Constantinople on the mili- tary events which occurred in Montenegro has been received at the Foreign Office in Paris. This report agrees with that of the Earopean Consuls, and is in contradiction to that which Prince Mirko made to his brother Daniel. It has been determined that Montenegro shall not be represented at the ap- proaching conferences at Constantinople. The London Times of the 19th ultimo, remarks: — How, if it should turn out that, save ja the abolition of negro slavery under our own flag, we have daring the last half century done more evil than good--that we had not benelitted, but injured the African? Thoughtful men are begtoning to say that we have been mistaken in this matter, as we were mistaken about close boroughs and close poris. We have hitherto acted in obedience to a fiery indignation, not upon a well matared opinion. Lord Palmerston it was who brewed thie storm (naval difficulty), which like other of his difficult legacies, will be amicably and satisfactorily allayed ly his successor. Much reason have the exponents of public opinion in the United States to rejoice over the political downfall of a statesman who ex- hibited #0 rancorous a grudge against their country; and equally strong are their reasons not to be sur ised to see, under a Minister like Lord Derby, the ic and — policies of Great Britain as sume a more really liberal, equitable and generally satisfactory character. ‘The London Post of same day observes:—It vould appear that the British squadron is to be withdrawn from Cuba. In adopting this course the government hos undoubtedly acted with great prudence and dis eretion. A large proportion of the commerce of the United States must necessarily pass through the Gulf of Mexico; and is it to be said that, even for the worthy and noble object of suppressing the slave trade, every innocent American trader is to be put to the proof of her right to wear the national colors under which she sails’ The London Chronicle says:—If we enforce the claim of “ visiting” suapicious vessels, all the for- bearance and discretion which the government coald enjoin, or the commanders exercise, would not ob- viate the risk of incessant offence and recrimination, When making this coufession the champions of ne- gro enfranch: nt practically surrender the ques- tion, They admit that England cannot accomplish anything of moment to frustrate the Cuban slave trade without risking evils far worse than those we can hope to cure. A letter from St. Petersburg tells us that literary activity now prevails in Russia, of which the like was never seen before. A great ny foreign co- te tary authors of renown ba jated, and amongst them are M. y Prescott. Numerous works of nati annonnced. An Miustratek St. Petersinrg News has been established, Theatrical, literary, scientific, mili , maritime, and economic journals have been 3. periodicals, containing eritaal tales and translations, are numerous; even mild imitations of Punch are not wanting. An English parliamentary return shows that in 1968, 2,617,172 cwt. of i wore retained for home consuption in the United kingdom, against 1,618,750 ewt. in 1856, and 2,321,434 owt. in 1855, 4 tity of refined sugar and candy so retained was 297,551 ewt. The te qnantity of — sugar of all sorts ao retained, L807, was 2,913,723 ewt. The quantity of unrefined r imported from the Past and West Indies, the } na, &e., last year, amoanted to owt, against 5,684,658 in 1856. The quantity of molasses 80 imported was 306,153 cwt. A comparative statement of panperism in Great Britain in February, 1857, and February, 1858, shows that in the fourth week of February last the total number of paupers relieved in Kagland and Wales amounted to 977.464 against 921.488 in 1867; thus exhibiting an increase of 55,076, or 6.07 per cent. The increase in the third week of February, 1858, was 4.31 per cent; that in the second week 312 cent, and that in the first week of the same month 3.04 per cent. The increase, taking the last week of the month as a criterion, extended to ail the districts except the metropolitan, where there ‘wes a decrease of 3.03 per cent. A Warsaw letter in the Bilesian (/azefte saya:— A temperance society has been formed in this coun- try, and, thanks to fhe co-operation of the § the peasants have not only enrolled themselves én masee in ite ranks, but gener ly shown themselves very faithtet to their engagements. There were, on the 20th of November last, 1.344, 752 individual depositore in savings banks in Great Britel, to the amount of £42,994,029. bevides ebari- Ba these provisions, and therefore keeps its eye npon | ties ana tiendly socitien, the funde of which raised deposits to £35,145,567. There were 195,816 de- | 10,000 dealers in those articles. positors of £1 and under; 266,399 of £5; 176,879 of We are authorized to contradict formally, and on £10; 128,000 of £15; 78,309 of £20; 134,252 of £30; | authority of positive accounts from St. Petersburg, 106,509 £40; 52.965 of £50; 88,506 of £75; 41,634 | ays the Nord, the rumor spread by some foreign of £100; 27,088 of £125; 16,351 of £150; 25,820 of | journals, of hostilities having broken out on the £200; and 1,470 of £200 and upwards. ‘Amur between the Chinese and the Russians. This statement has no sort of foundation; the must com- In consequence of the great mortality which has plete tranquillity not having ceased to prevail in taken place of late years in silkworms throughout Europe, the price of ali kinds of silk has ad- vanced exceedingly. To remedy the deficit in silk caused by the disease which set in, the Société d’ Acclimatation proposed to introduce into France the species known by the name of the bombyx cynthia, and which is eas! Hy fed on the leaves of the ricinus, cl The London News has the following:—The sub- marine cable between Portland and ‘Alaraaee will not be much above fifty miles long. Cherbourg can be effectually watched from the neighborhood of Alderney, and when the cable is laid down instant the berries of which furnish the a it kuown in | notice cun be given to all parts of England of an Pw are by the name of castor That shrub is | movement of the French fleet pen coal Th bag ingly commen, in Algeria, gad grows readily | cable could be easily extended from Alderney to in Brence, par’ cular! in the south. worms in | Jersey and Guernsey, and a large portion of the Oye ied proceed ‘a perfectly ae inthe Wire Grench coast could then be watched. a e been 1 i i ea eee ok tance py erie 4 the ex. |. Geographically the island of Perim, lately seized ent has perfectly succeeded, the new species: ms being found universally hardy cot eet The proposed alterations of the Eoglish army esti- mates are as follows:—There are additions to the original estimates for 1858-59 of £10,000 for the urchase of iron ordnance, and of £10,000 for the yal Military and Staff College, making £20,000, The deductions from the original estimate on the other side amount to £130,632, so that the net amount of the reduction in the estimates will be £110,632, The London Examiner of the 17th ultimo saya:— The niceties of circumspection are not to be looked for in the commanders of cruisers, while on the other hand we have to lay our account with the most ex- eerie’ seacentibiltty on the side of those molest- ed by any breach of interference. Raise the block- ade before mischief is done; and that is not all, let England give notice to all nations concerned in the slave trade that she will take her share in the work ot humanity if they will contribute their quota of assistance, but that she will no longer consent to bear the whole burden of the task. The London Times of the 15th ultimo remarks:~ Bt hove seriously imagine that auch a country as the United Kingdom would shrink from a con- flict with the United States if justice were on our side, and the war were forced upon us. But in any case it would be a serious calamity to the world, and we ripler to see that, generally speaking, the tone of feeling throughout the States is in favor of mode- rate counsels. The London Post of 19th of June remarks :—If war should come, whether from France or elsewhere, we shall know what to do. If any Power thinks tit to'attempt an invasion of our coast, they are at liberty to make the experiment. We do not expect the result would encourage them to try it again. But, in theabsence of any assignable reason, it would be ungenerous to suspect the good faith of our ally; and with the knowledge we have of the resources of the two countries it is silly to complain because France, following our example, has an eye to the efficient drilling and numerical strength of herarmy and navy. The London Post of the 17th of June, speak- ing of the establishment of a steamship line from Galway to New York, says:—Lord Camp- bell, the Lord Chief Justice, is owner of the Barna estates, which adjoin the town of Galway. His property will be doubled in value, and that may give him some secret satisfaction for the displace. ment of Lord Palmerston. In the improvement of his ‘ions in the west of Ireland Lord Clanri- carde may find ample compensation for the loss of the privy seal, which so suddenly escaped his grasp. The illustrious Lord Gough, whose mihtary services have not yet been rewarded with the well merited baton of a marshal, will be pleased with the pro- spective improvement of his Galway estates. There has been a cessation of the exportation of British spirits to France, in uence of the al- teration in the French laws last August sanctioning the uve of grain in distilleries, and imposing a duty upon imported spirits. In the last year the amount by agent, belongs to Yemen, or Arabia Felix, which was then governed by the Imaum of Sanaa, an independent sovereign, and the descendant of a long line of monarchs. The Turks had then no foot- ing whatever in Arabia, save iu the northern ws of the Hejaz, in the immediate vicinity of the Holy cities; and it was not until after the conquest of Aden by the British, about thirty years later, that this province became a part of the Turkish empire. A deeree has been published in the Paris Moni- teur on the subject of foreign railway securities. By article eleven the negotiation at the Paris and departmental bourses of securities issued by the companies of railways constructed out of Irance is subjected to the laws and regulations applicable to French securities of the same kind. The compa- nies must prove that bas have been constituted ac- cording to the laws of the country in which they are formed, by the presentation to the Minister of Finance and to the Synodical Chamber of the Agents de Change of authentic copies of the sta- tutes, cahiers de charges, &e. The Portuguese government, which for upwards of three years has been endeavoring to induce the formation of steam lines between Lisboa and the Azores, and Lisbon and its possessions on the West Coast of Africa, have just issued a decree declaring void the two previons concessions granted—the one on the 26th of January, 1855, to Low Brothers, of London; the other on the 18th of April, 1856, to F. B. Philippon, from their inability hitherto to cai them out; and have renewed the grant in favor o! other Portuguese capitalists, who purvose, in con- junction with Mr. W.S. Lindsay, of London, to carry out both the projected lines. The London Chronicle says:-—It is certainly most desérable with regard to the tature extension of the telegraphic system, that it should be most distinctly understood that the possibility of submerging tele- graph cables ‘n great depths of water must not be be of by the results of the attempt about to be made hy the Atlantic Telegraph Company. The revenue of the London Court of Bankruptcy for the year 1857 amounted to £100,752, and charge to £% leaving a surplus of £14,496 of the revenue; £38,050 accrued from per centage fees by official assignees, £19,109 from stamp duti Commissioners of Inland Revenue, aud £12 interest in the Bankruptcy Frnd Account. The Paris correspondent of the London Tele; observes:—The subscription for the establishment of Orsini’s children is said in England and America to have reached a very iderable sum, by means merely of private solicitation. Is this to be regarded as a demonstration, or as a mere act of charity? In neither case is there any reason tor the exclusiveness by which Pierri—who, show not 80 much of a gentleman as Orsini, was equi iy culpa- ble, and, in his way, equally courageous—should be forgotten. His wife and child are now absolutely starving in a miserable lodging in the Rue d’Eafer. Could not some small per centage of the Orsink fund be applied to their reiief? 1 object altogether to a munificent provision being made for the —_ of a regicide. A subsistence would have been sufficient. shipped in France, Australia, and other countries war 5.524.865 gallons, against 5,717,529 gallons in |, The eoeet pas if bo pt ~ Bayed she year euing the Sisk Saeck, 1008- month of March was £3,017,246, and for the first The Society of Friends in England recently ad- dressed a memorial to the Emperor of the Freach on the subject of the African slave trade. The: say:—Deeply impressed with the enormity and sinfulness, in the sight of God, of buying and sell- ing our fellow-men and treating them as the beasts that perish, we do earnestly entrent the Emperor of the French so to exercise the power intrasted to him that no proceedings on the part of the French government may in fature open the way for a re vival of this trade in human beings; that all at- tempts to introduce intothe colonies of France na- tives of Africa under the name of free emigrants, may henceforth be absolutely prohibited. A letter from Rome of the 26th May says:—M.'de Kisseleff, the Rassiau Minister to the Holy See, left this morning for Naples, charged, it is said, with a mission from his court to the King of the Two Sicilies. Yesterday a large party of the French resi- dents here went to Ostia to visit the numerous dis- coveries made in that old city by means of the ex- cavations ordered by the Pope, and directed by Com- mander Visconti. On reaching Ostia the party landed, and were conducted by TR Visconti through the excavations, and the greatest surprise was ex- pressed at the complete manner in which the ruins of that once splendid city have been brought to light. The fountains, the public squares, tae baths of An- toninus Pius, with their fine mosaics, the statues, and the coliunns constitute the finest group of ruins that can be possibly conceived. The chateau of Castel Fuzano, with its wood of fir trees, was after- wards visited by the party, after which they returned to Rome, delighted with their excursion, ‘ Another letter pyr eng mi is still more important than , is the possible, if not yet probable, fall of Cardinal Antonelli. The inte changes made in the higher offices of the adminis: tration have diapleased him. Prince Orsini, dis couraged, bas given in his resignation as Senator of Rome. C@dinal Antonelli has declared that he would not hg at the Council of Ministers so long as M. Amici, the new Minister of Pablic Works, should sit there. The new minister, on his part, does not wish to see Cardinal Antonelli. According t a ea just published of the mara- time movement of the port of Suez during 1857, the vessels which entered amounted to 55, measuring 71,650 tons, and having a total of 13,065 horse power. The res were 55, measuring 72.850 tons, with 18,435 wer. The number of passengers who arrived were 5,642, and those who left 3,672, excla- sive of 2,752 Englich soldiers who had taken the overland route to proceed to Indis. A very interesting report upon the Equator waste three months of the year £10,251 ,293. A proprietor of iron works in the Landes, France, has discharged five hundred workmen, finaing it im- possible to dispose of his stock of wrought iron. The Bury (England) Post says:—An acoident, likely to have been of a serious character, has oc~ curred in this town, owing to the unyielding natare of the materials now used by the ladies to extend their dres.cs to the required fashionable state of expansion. A lady in alighting from her vehicle caught the steel spring of her petticoat on the step, and was precipitated with great force to the ground, where she lay on her back vainly endeavoring to free herself from her dangerous position, while the frightened horse ran backwards, dragging her some distance before she could be released. A statue to General Pep?, distinguished by his efforts for the liberation of Italy from Austrian pre- dominance, bas peen inaugurated with tittug pomp at Turin, The Gazette de France, in commenting on the large standing armies of the Continent, which it declares necessary on account of the “ revolution,” casts the following retlection on their practical utili- ty:—“It is worthy of remark that those nations of Europe the armies of which are the weakert in pro- portion to the extent of their territory and to the number af their inhabitants effect and preserve the greatest conquests. Has not England succeeded with ber sixty or cighty thousand soldiers in main- taining her role over islands, kingdoms and empires dispersed over the globe, and in protecting a com- merce three times more con than that of several great Continental nations pat together?” The Friend of China _says;—A report is current at Fatshan that the Emperor Heenfung, whose health had been waning for some time, was so af- fected on receipt of the news of the capture of Oan- ton that he “collapsed,” and is now among the The London Post remarks:—From the accounts of the “great revival” in America which have reached this country it does not seem to have dee; conviction for its basis, and to be only one of those ontbreaks of religious excitement regarded by pe a as Sr of slight insanity, the wo main characteristics of which are hysterical dis- order and evanescence. An apnual report states that 256 persons were killed and 739 injured oa railways in the United Kingdom in 1857, of whom 48 killed and 646 injared were passengers. SE ————E lands, ed by the government of Equador for the liquidation of the provisional bonds or land war. | Before Hoa. Jadges Bosworth, Hottman, Siceron, Woodrott rants, has been published by the Equatorian Com- and Pierrepont. mission of Agency, in London. The lands are sita- DECISIONS. ated in various parts of the republic, and, accordin, to Mr. Pritehett’s aceonnt, are admirably ada solonisation, being extremely fertile and well nd at two pints situated on the coast, and a most important facilities for the forma- | tion of port which in the course of time would from its situation and advantages, divert a lar; proportion of the trade of Guayaquil. The pred tions are gold, silver, copper, cotton, cocoa, bark and gums, all of which are indigenous, and most easy of cultivation. The quantity of land granted by the Equatorian goverament amounts to 4,533,204 acres, which, at the Yr rice of the land warrants, is worth from 44. to 4jd. Last year 24,143 tons of British eopper (ore ex- claded) were exported from England, including tons of anwrought copper, 154 tons of coin, 1) tons of sheets, , &e., and 3,103 ewt. of o wrongbt copper. The countries to which the : est quantity of copper was ex; were the Hause Towns, Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, India and the ports of the Uni States on the Atlantic. 9,356 tons of British copper were ex- ported from London last year, and 9,129 tons from the sister port of, Liverpool; 75,852. tons of copper ore were imported into the United Kingdom last year. A report lately presented to the Emperor Alex- ander contains the following statistical retarae re. lative to landed property and serfs in Rassia: The number of families who are landowners amoant to 127,000. Out of these 2,000 from 1,000 to 10,000 serfa; 2,000 from 500 1,000; 18,000 from 100 to 500; 30,000 from 21 to 100; and 75,000 have Jess than 21. The total namber of at serfs of the nobility amounts to 11,760,000, and those of the crown to 9,000,000. There are therefore 20,760,000 persons anxiously waiting for an improvement in their condition. A itch from St. annou that despat Petersharg inces a Jviy 3—Nathan Rogers, &o, against Devid ©, Mur- ray —Jadgment reverecd aad new trial created on pay- ‘ment of costs of the trial and subsequent proveei mee, ex- cept the coats of the appeal, which are to be costs in the cause and abide the event. Flessor Merercle sgainst William J. Archer et al.— Jad affirmed, with corte. iam tt etal ve. The Orient Matual ingurance ent aMirmed, with eomte. Ciuesman ve. Teneo H Merkle.—Jadement William 8 Hoyt, Administrator, va, Joseph Syuart, Executor, ke —New trial ordered, conus to abide svent. Robert Chapmen vs Dines Carolin et a!.—Jadgment aMirmred, #Rh costs Francis Mecdonaid ve. Richard 1). Fenby et al.. a ment reversed; new trial ordered, with conte to a! event. Samael Alien et al. va. Garret D. Clark. —Jadgment affirmed with corte. ene T Crosby va. Smeon Nichols. —Jadgmeat afficm- ed with costs : Stephen E. Gardner ve. Coorge Gor ich —Jutgment af- med Jobe Bisse Frederick V ment sffirmet corte Corl | Reckoagel st ai ve. William Nelson et al.— Judgment reversed. New triai ordered. Costs to abide event. Loher ©, Carter \a. Pimer ©. Halaey et al—Jadgment to be nett'ed Maria M. ©. Wetmore va. William BH. Kisram, &o— Jodgmect sfirmed * ta costs. Fraok Wilbrand ve. the Bighth Avenve Ratirost Com- pany —New trial eranted, with coats to ablie event. Heory Mabey et al , ve Wiliam Adam.—Judgment at fpr cial term reversed with conta, and jadgment o¢ given for defendant, ead Withost prejadice to am applicaion With o twenty days for leave to amend complaint. Jobo Pur v8. Mahlon Mattoson.—Ju’gmemt for en vif om ‘ary vertict. . ‘an ‘ve. Anguatua A. WRipple —Jotgment for pla/otifl om yerciet. - Hembo, ture detachment had occupied the heights of Jeese Hoyt ve. Henry Sheldon et a!.—Judgment re- Dargo, which was the only remaining obstacle to |. Now trial ordered. Goete to abite event. their operations inst Ch inns. A new naan penpuaed rome be A ate? ie aecwra te momtaeers | yaaa anette er The Prefect of Police of Paris has daily to provide | "°3:% Bonnet va. Daniel Drew etel-—Judgment ailrmed, for the paving, macadamizing, sweeping, watering, | with costs. . and lighting of 1,474 streets, avenues, quays, and Henry Young va. 8. M ser —Jodgment for plaintiff boulevards, forming a total length of 354,665 metres, entered as st pus in the for rent of one quarter, to and presenting a surface of 5,500,000 square metres, | “** Mordecai L. Mareh vs. El; There are in the streets 153,000 was burners, whieh d eves. Are lighted in the course of abont twenty minutes. | "%Wittam ‘Weete, so. ioury A, Weeks ovement af The length of the ea: Pie is 485,000 metres; that | firmed, with ovsts. of the a 000 metres; and that of water condu, Wm. C, Wehriamp.—Jodgment sewers 163,000. The city contains betwoen 32,000 Coartes Baock of al. ve. the armed, with costs. and bdr 4 Lyn 6863 are lodging om. tv the Now York Mutua! Life Insurance houses—that is, mpany.— o a 1 surveillance. ‘About br boo persed Les tn J temnuct B Althanee ve. William Rade et al —/adgment late daily erring the omnibuses alone trans- reversed and jedgment ordered for plainti", with comts, 25 annam; and yet there —— a only occurred That rae Accidents, of which only | Trawerae ty tue Ansy.—Captain J. F. Gilmer, ; “oye Every year the population | U. 8. 1. B., has recently been transferred from the i logram of ment 970,000 hectolitres of wine, 240,000 hectolitres beer, and 78,000 hectolitres of brandy and lique The police has to verify the good quality of charge of the government works at Savannah to California, to euperintend the construction of de- fences at San Francisco, Lieut. Wm. H. C. Whiting has saeeveded Coptain Cilmer at Saranpe..