Continental politics are not of a first-rate importance for the
week. Louis Napoleon is still parading in the South, proclaimed by well-arranged officials and peasantry as "the Emperor," " Na- poleon the Third"; at Cherbourg he is proclaimed by the Miniater of Marine as the restorer of the Navy"; • and in Belgium he is pro- claimed as the restorer of 'an aggressive tariff. An additional tax of 10 per cent has been imposed' on coal and iron on their importa- tion into France, as an act of vengeance because the Belgians will not submit to the dictation of France in modifications of the ex- isting commercial arrangements. The measure is worse for France than for Belgium ; but it shows how Louis Napoleon is bent on browbeating his neighbour. Foiled in obtaining coercion or de- livery of the refugees, Napoleonic France takes its revenge on iron and coal.
The arrival of Sir Henry Bulwer at Rome has occasioned some surmise, which the Journal des Debats undertakes to elucidate, by explaining that Sir Henry sought to obtain the admission of a higher Minister in Rome than a Consul, and also the papers in the case of Murray, the British subject sentenced to death for complicity with brigands. Probably the trip from Florence to Rome had no such definite purpose; but was only a fishing expedition. The fact that much is made of it shows the dearth of really interesting topics in Continental politics.
