24 OCTOBER 1840, Page 1

- NEWS OF THE WEEK.

Tne attempt upon the life of Louis PHILIPPE, announced in the Postscript of our last week's paper, must tend to strengthen his hands, and consequently to strengthen the peace party in France.

The more sober tone of the Parisian journals is a symptom of this. But the best guarantee of peace is the conviction which must be growing upon the potentates of Europe, that their own selfish interests would at this moment be seriously endangered by a war. Louts Putreern knows that the most ardent clamourers for war in France are the enragA Republicans, whose dream is of renewing the times when France was roused en masse to go forth to battle against all kings. Indeed, nothing short of this could enable France to make head against combined Europe. The seizure, however, of the pamphlet of l'Abbe DE LAMENNAIS, and other acts or indications in regard to the press, show on what terms the French Government stands with this portion of its subjects. Again, the mere prospect of a French war has already unsettled the North of Italy. The Pope has been obliged to take measures of precaution in his fortresses of Ancona and Civita Vecchia; in the course of which, it is reported that "smile trifling disturbances letve occurred between the police and the populace." There has been a concentration of the Austrian troops in Lombardy, which gave rise to reports of disturbances there. It is said that these movements were merely preliminary to the autumnal exercises : that they should, however, have been attributed to other causes, shows what men's minds aro running upon. Attain, the King of Prussia, in the speech which he delivered on the occasion of his receiving the homage of his subjects at Berlin on the 15th instant, was particularly emphatic in his protest that he will "truly and to the utmost of his ability second the noble endeavours of the Great Powers who for a quarter of a century have been the faith- ful guardians of the peace of Europe " ; in the emphasis with which he declared that the Prussians were " born in arms, in free- dom, and in obedience" ; and in his adjuration to the bystanders to assist him "to keep Prussia as it is." The King's eagernese to identify himself with the Holy Alliance, and to " keep Prussia as at is," is full of meaning, when we observe that he has already refused the petition of the East Prussians for a constitution ; and that the Rhine Provinces, the most wealthy and industrious part of his dominions, although thr from French in their sentiments, are unequivocally constitutional, and have been subjected to the Prus- sian government little more than half a century. Turn our cees On which sitle we will, indications meet us, that it' war break loose, under whatever pretext reiers may begin it, the temper ot the Fee/se will make it the " war of principles 9' foretold by CANNINtl.

These considerations give pause to monarchs, and account for M.

nnets9s adroit use of the Auglo-Turkish blunder of prochtiming the deposition of Mn ti u M ler A it, to intrench himself behind a ea,VUS bell/ from which lie knew none of the Powers were willing to force.hine l'hey may also account tbr the judicious selection of M. I ox IlestimenT as the Prussian special minister to Paris. It is to be hoped that tuitions will have the judgment to discover that in the preservation of peace their interests run parallel with those of their rulers. War, even under the pre text or extending the Demo- cratic principle, may subvert old dynasties and eStablish new, but ems lay the fitundations of responsible government. Dashes the twenty-live years' peace that Europe hne etsitiyol, commerce and science have been making unprecedentee strides ; and wish the wealth and intelligence or oat ions grow their cravine rot. it share in le,teneet power ;„,,i ewe. ee.„,„gee what they cm", We

et the: country need not look ter for indications or is hat we have to lose by war. I,:tst week, in the exorbitnnt rates of marine-insurance

We fol111(1 ilISHIlleP or the matmor ill Whiell the mere prospect of War ees telling upon our materiel interests. This weele wi mnrk the exertions of the Dutch to procure more eepecit reeoenitions of the rights antenna trmlers front the Great Powers. The meanine .ot this step, under existing circumstances, is Inmsparent ; or, it'

any think an interpretation necessary, it may be had in the gleeful chuckle with which you see a Dutchman or American talk of the prospect of gain to his country by the war between France and the Allied Powers, throwing all the carrying trade into Dutch or Ame- rican hands.