1 JANUARY 1876, Page 9

W. Buffet evidently thinks the time come to make his

Govern- ment a " Government of combat" indeed. On Christmas Eve he made a speech in the Assembly, calling on all Conservatives to rally to the Marshal's side, and saying that Marshal MacMahon would never serve the Radicals, or become the agent of "subversive passions." Apparently few passions are so subversive, at least of the present Constitution, as the passions of the Legitimists : but if t'.e Times' correspondent in Paris can be trusted, M. Buffet is not at all afraid of passions subversive of the present Constitu- tion, but only of passions subversive of some ideal Constitution which does not exist, and probably will never exist. However, the Marshal agrees with M. Buffet's definition of Conservatism, and has complimented him on his speech, and so indirectly ratified the pledge that he will never serve the Radicals. According to the Times, M. Buffet has told his prefects to support true Conserva- tives, of whatever party ; that, in the south, true Conservatives are often legitimists, and in the west Moderate Monarchists, but - that he can hardly believe in the true Conservatism of any Left- Centre man or " Liberal," however much he may profess Con- servatism. In one word, the Government will help all who wish to found a throne on the-ruins of the Constitution of February,

,t not any who wiskto establish, strengthen, and develope it.