16 AUGUST 1845, Page 2

. - There must be a Feat many Palmerstons in

France, for there is a prevalent disposition in that country to excite national hatreds. Some respectable French journals have been insinuating that the English caused the fire to be set to the works at Mourillon ; and as . the Journal des Debats thinks it worth while to refute the calumny, the French Palmerstons must command some degree of public at- tention. The Journal expresses surprise that the calumniators did not at once accuse M. Guizot or Admiral Mackau of playing the incendiary in order to please the English. It was indeed a great mistake. One can fancy the editor of the Presse or the France slapping his forehead in self-disgust at suffering that hriet idea to escape—at seeing the bread taken out of his mouth.

Ihe Swiss Diet, embarrassed by forms which forbid a decision en a bare majority as in our Parliament, has been unable to come to any conclusion respecting the Jesuits in Lucerne and the sup- pressed Catholic convents in Argau ; and those sources of quarrel remain open till another session. A document has been received from Mexico which looks very like a declaration of war against the United States : not an un- natural escapade, not unprovoked, but not very wise. There is, however, some reason to doubt whether it is actually the ulti- matum of the Mexican Government. Whereas there were pre- viously accounts from Vera Cruz to the 2d July, this Ministerial manifesto is dated on the 4th June—a month earlier: it therefore looks as if it had not been meant for publication in this decided way ; and in fact, there is as yet no explanation how it came to light. The Mexicans may have thought better of it since it was written.