The French Chambers are now just on the point of

assembling, being convened for the 23d—nearly one month earlier than the English Parliament.

The point which most forcibly strikes us hi respect to the ap- proaching French session, is the astonishing contrast which it pre- sents as compared with the last. In December 1838, all was activity and earnestness, and highly-wrought hopes and fears among the leading politicians of' every party : in December 1839, we observe nothing but disappointment, lassitude, and indifference. The coalition formed in the autumn of 1838 among all the various fractions of Opposition, from M. GUIZOT to M. GARNIER PAGES, against the Ministry of Count MoU as representing the personal and irresponsible ascendancy of LOUIS PHILIPPE—whatever opi- nion we may form as to the importance of its end or the morality of its means—had unquestionably the effect of stimulating the highest vivacity both of attack and defence, and of transfusing into the poli- tical world the most intense feelings of personal rivalry. It failed completely in its object, as we ventured to predict that it would fail, at the moment when its operations first commenced. Front which of the many obstacles unavoidable in every case of extensive coalition this result arose, it is needless now to inquire ; but the very fact of its failure after so much of splendid and exaggerated promise, lain been quite sufficient to create for the moment a feeling of deep discouragement among all the aggressive politicians of the Chamber. The King's system and habits of personal rule remain unshaken ; and for the present, at least, no combined scheme will be attempted to abate them. The answer recently returned by Louis PHILIPPE to a deputation of notaries, who presented a me- morial to him in person, claiming his protection against an inquiry recently instituted by M. TESTE, the Garde des Sceaux, on the subject of the notarial privileges, is perhaps the most flagrant ex- ample which has yet been afforded of the continuance of the sys- tem of personal dictation on the part of the King. Louis Pin- LIPPE takes under his own especial protection the powerful class of notaries, with all their existing privileges: lie assures them that his Ministers do not cherish any intentions hostile to their interests, but that if his Ministers were to favour such projects, he (Lours PHILIPPE) would not fail to interfere in the way of prevention. The class of notaries possess immense electoral influence through- out all France, but more especially in the smaller towns and the rural arrondissements ; and their gratitude will doubtless not be wanting at the critical moment of election. The mot of the King (it' we may borrow an illustration from the present French school of metaphysics) has hardly ever been put forth in such prominent and even ofilaisive relief, as in this remarkable answer to the depu- tation of notaries. We feel that no such phraseology would have been hazarded from the Tuileries in December 1838, at the mo- ment when the Coalition was in full hope and in full cry against extra-Ministerial dictation, and when every opponent of the Coali- tion was compelled to affect the most tender respect for the _ail:- 5r

ciple of Ministerial responsibility in its fullest and broade

The approaching session seems to be looked to by al ti.ps-,* indifferenco. There are no great political hopes or feiliv^ 4..preaknt ../._ abroad among the French public. It is well known tli gre'prOft Os, Ministry is exceedingly weak, representing no known esitilltof'dpii.,./ —, —) Mons resting on no assured majority in the Chamberia ing, no hold on the esteem of the people, other than jiia suits necessarily from their official position—which,* France prodigiously extensive. Notwithstanding tidat, bably still maintain itself, though at the expense of m pulses and humiliations : just as the Ministry of COU icitre. -- would have sustained itself last session, in spite of its weakness, f had it not been exposed to the full broadside of a coalition pre- senting all the ablest men of the Chamber in a state of short-lived and unnatural alliance. The present Ministry will have no such formidable attack to repel ; and it consists perfectly well with the policy of Louis Pnriaren, that his Cabinet should be convicted of unsteadiness and imbecility, since they are the less likely to en- croach upon that personal ascendancy which he considers to be his prerogative by the Charter: To us, who look from this side of the Channel, and with ideas drawn from the English Parliament, it seems singular that the King should possess influence in the Chambers independent of and distinct from his Ministry. But in France such is the fact ; and this separate influence is one of the main causes which will keep the two hundred and twenty-one members, the old supporters of Count Mod: last session, in tolerable harmony with the present Ministers, until it suit the policy of Louts PHILIPPE to dismiss them. In point of fact, neither the two hundred and twenty-two on the one side, nor M. GUIZOT or M. TRIERS on the other, are distinguished from the present Ministry by any very broad and. general line of difference. From them, therefore, whatever disunion may arise upon particular questions, no continuous or systematic Opposition is likely to proceed.

The real Opposition party, consisting of the various nuances both of the Moderate and of the Extreme Left,—we mean those who profess decided hostility to a stationary political condition, and who demand more or less of real progress,—though clearly in a mi- nority in the Chamber, is yet in a more promising attitude, so far as regards ultimate results, than it was last session. This arises from the new ground which it has taken during the last few months. The entire failure of the Coalition last year in its struggle to over- throw the extra-Ministerial influence of the King, has proved to the satighetion of the Opposition party that this object never can be accomplished while the electoral system in France remains as narrow and as ill-constituted as it is at present. They have ac- cordingly espoused the question of' electoral reform, as a matter of primary and absolute necessity ; and even the more moderate of the party have expressed their adherence to the specific programme of electoral reform proposed by the Committee under the presi- deuce of M. Banatrr. Inconsiderable in point of extent as this programme seems—comprising scarcely any extension of suffrage, and containing only two important propositions, the abolition of the pecuniary qualification for members and the consolidation of the many smaller arrondissements into a few larger—inconsiderable, we say, as this programme is in point of extent, a year ago it would have been deemed by the Moderate Opposition extravagantly large. Its real smallness is still further enhanced by comparison with the wide, full, and explicit programme of the Radical Opposition, by which it is proposed to award the elective franchise to every mem- ber of the National Guard. This larger plan, or in fact any thing like a distant approach to it, is warmly opposed by M. Bamiox and the Moderate Opposition. Indeed they view it with positive antipathy, as it deprives them of the credit of professing popular doctrines, and as it musts in its favour a large portion of such public feeliug as now exists in France—for there does not exist much upon any subject. The large minority recently obtained by M. Micrims in BOURGES, one of the most decided and eloquent Radicals in France, at the recent election for the fifth arrondisse- ment of Paris, after it decisive speech in defence of the Radical programme, atibrds strong evidence that a large extension of suffrage has become an object of desire among a considerable fraction even of the present electors. In our opinion, neither the narrow measure of electoral reform proposed by M. BARROT, which would probably work little or no practical eket, nor the wide proposition of M. LAFITTE and AL ARAGO, which would undoubtedly make a great and important practical alteration—neither one nor the other stands any chance of immediate success. But the general question of electoral reform, and the miserable scantiness of the actual system, have been laid down and exposed with a solemnity which carries with it the cer- tainty of future progress. And whenever public opinion shall be-

come sufficiently pronounced to carry any electoral reform at all, it will probably carry at least a much wider measure than that pro-

posed by M. BARROT ; which will undoubtedly be resisted as well by the King as by the interests which constitute the present Chamber; and which is not extensive enough to create any force of enthusiasm among the body of the people. Tha intelligence received from Algiers continues unfavourable; and the forces under Marshal VALUE have been hitherto quite

unable to afford protection to the French settlers against the de- sultory attacks of the Arabs, except in the immediate vicinity of -the city. This subject will be much discussed in the French Chambers during the present session, and probably in a spirit somewhat different from that which preceding sessions have exhi- bited. Simple appeals to the feeling of national honour will not be allowed so completely to supersede all rational and prudential cal-

culations as they have done heretefore. The report lately made by M. BLANQUI to the Academie des Sciences has disclosed many

facts both important and discouraging respecting the position of affairs in Algeria ; and we see many evidences of a disposition now gaining ground among the French public to distrust the soundness

of their anticipations respecting Algerine empire and colonization. In a recent discussion at the Academie on the subject of M. -BLANQU'S report, we find an able defender of French aspirations in Algeria, M. Jourraoir, alleging as hisprincipal argument, that France

was " tormented with an excess ofjuice, for which she must find en. ployment abroad, lest its effects should be prejudicially felt in her own interior." There is considerable truth in this, but it is an argument which a prudent advocate would rather leave to be understood than urge aloud. There can be no doubt that the French both will and

must send troops enough to Algiers to put down Ann-ue-Kanties

present attempt, and to restore tranquillity ; and to this extent there will be perfect unanimity throughout the nation. But we think it also clear, that even after this immediate object has been

accomplished, neither French empire nor French colonization can be established en a scale suitable to the national ideas of glory,

without an immense increase of expenditure both in men and money ; and we doubt very much whether either the Chamber or the nation will be disposed to sanction the requisite additional sacrifice. We are the more inclined to this opinion, when we reflect upon the facts which have been authenticated during the last two months respecting the sickness, suffering, and destitution of the French troops in Algeria, even previous to any surmise of the re-

cent aggression of ABD-EL-KADER. There can be but one ex- planation of such a deplorable state of things : the expense of

Algeria is already so heavy, that the French Government shrink from proposing any augmentation, and are even compelled to starve the establishment which they have in the country at present. If this be the foaling in the Chamber even now, what will it be when the Government ;hall be driven to propose such a scale of expel- diture as must be inevitably submitted to if extensive empire is to be acquired and held in security? We may remark, by the way, that the Morning chronicle has been indulging in remarks during the last week on the subject of the French Algerine policy, which seem to us both unjust and unwise, and which probably have been dictated by resentment arising out of the recent diplomatic collisions in the East. The French complain that agents and employes of the English Govern- ment in the Mediterranean have actively instigated Aun-ne-Kansu to his present warfare : they intimate no suspicion that the English Government is aware of such a proceeding, but they profess to have clear proof against the subordinate employes of England. It is for them to produce their proofs ; and if they can make out their case, there is no doubt that they have legitimate ground of complaint, and that the English Ministry would be called upon to censure and restrain its agents from any such unfriendly proceedings towards an allied power. Instead of' waiting to see whether the French Government have any satisfactory proofs or not, the Morning Chronicle at once scouts the entire sup- position as false and ridiculous, and indulges both in much irrelevant recrimination and in many offensive taunts on the general subject of French foreign policy. This appears to us inconsistent with good taste and good feeling in reference to a case which is at present sub judice, and where neither the Morning Chronicle nor any one else can yet know whether the French have just cause of complaint or not.

Some serious and important practical questions will have to be entertained by the French Chambers during the coming° session.

he privileges of the Bank of France are within a short period of expiring, and a law will probably be proposed for the purpose of renewing them under some inconsiderable modifications. Some proposition must also be made respecting the conflicting claims of colonial and indigenous sugar; for the present provi- sional state of the law seems to be intolerable to both parties. Such perplexity and universal inconvenience have been introduced into this question by the delay and neglect of successive Minis- tries, that the country will now very probably be saddled with a large burden as compensation to the parties interested in indigenous sugar.