25 DECEMBER 1841, Page 2

In France, King, Cabinet, and Judges are all agreed that

it is for the good of the monarchy to condemn a man for a conspiracy, of which, for aught that appears, he was totally ignorant, because his opinions seem to them like those which might have animated the conspirators. Such is in brief the description of their conduct with M. DUPOTY, the editor of the Journal du Peuple ; who has been pronounced " guilty," as the Peers are pleased to call it. M. DIIPOTY was accused of conspiring against Royalty ; he was proved to have written certain articles derogatory to Royalty in general ; and the legal syllogism, according to the new logic of the Con- stitution of 1830, is closed by his punishment. The outrage on justice is so extravagant, that on this side of the water, and in other countries, the proceeding is regarded with even more asto- nishment than disgust. Yet there is matter for still greater sur- prise: the editors of Opposition papers in Paris are alarmed, as well they may be ; but, although one or two writers aver that there is a ferment working secretly in the public mind, there is no out- ward sign of it. The liberty of the press is made a jest by the Court of Peers ; yet no party in France seems to consider the matter worth any very energetic interference. Further, the prin- ciple is admitted in the highest court of criminal judicature, that a man may be accused on one ground, convicted on another, and pu- nished on a third : M. DUPOTY is accused of a special conspiracy, he is convicted of a general tenour of opinion, and he is punished in order to assert the power of the judicature over the press. The position is subversive of all law. Yet the excitable people stir not While this tragedy, too dull to excite much attention, is enact- ing, M. °DILLON BAREOT comes forth to amuse the world with a glowing apostrophe to his own patriotism, and the "liberty " which he has procured for France : has he not secured for her the Sixty-ninth article of the Charter, and the fortifications of Paris, without which she could not defy all Europe, single-handed ? Such is the liberty which the constitutional lawyer has achieved for his country, and holds up to the admiration of the world; and while France and M. BaintoT are absorbed in gazing at the divine perfection, M. DUPOTY passes to the felon's cell, for putting his idea of liberty on paper.

The most puzzling thing of all is, that decorous M. Goma con- tinues to lend his name to a Government thus egregiously com- promised.