23 JANUARY 1847, Page 2

In France, as in our own land, the Ministerial prospects

for the time, and the state of the country, advance in an inverse direction. M. Guizot gains ground. Publio- opinion is with him. The Montpensier match is hailed as a national success : France has succeeded at Madrid, and the national pride is gratified. Eng- land's dudgeon does not tend to diminish that feeling ; which, as it is independent of any definite policy or of any real enmity to this country, may cause us satisfaction rather than annoyance, since it helps to put our neighbours into good-humour. How dif- ferent would it have been for M. Guizot if the French intrigues had failed I Meanwhile the country gets into a worse state. The supply of food is stidinsufficient, and the first task of the Legislature is to "open the ports." The poorer classes vent their exasperated feeling of distress in food-riots. Financial affairs suffer with the dearth and the augmented expenditure ; a money crisis already begun, threatens to grow worse before finishing, and a continue long. The horizon is gloomy on every side.