29 JANUARY 1848, Page 8

A very intelligent and well-informed correspondent in Paris sent us

a graphic description of the scene in the French Chamber of Deputies after the Count de Montalembert's oratorical attack on Lord Palmerston. The letter, which according to the date ought to have reached us on Friday or Saturday last week, did not arrive till Monday: but it is still worth inser- tion, as it has not been superseded by any equally good account of the extraordinary proceeding.

"You have read the speech of M. de Montalembert, and are, perhaps, some- what at a loss to account for the immense sensation it created here. A few in- cidents may throw light upon this; and it is important that the English public should know them, as a key to what Is going on here. Under one word—' the French '—yon often confound parties the most hostile and opinions the most various.

" M. de Montalembert was excessively applauded and cheered throughout; but when he came to his denunciation of England, there was a universal tripigne- ',tent, and every sign of exultation and delight. Lord Normanby was in the di- plomatic tribune, and heard, not without visible emotion, this violent and indecent abuse of his country and his chef. M. de Mole shed tears. At the conclusion of the speech, the Chancellor, M. Pasquier, rose and embraced the orator. The Duke de Nemours went up to him and shook him by the hand. Hereupon M. de St. Priest moved that the speech of the eloquent Peer be printed 'in the name of the Chamber.', The Chancellor assented; the Chamber cheered, shouted, was in ecstacy ; when M. Cousin rose, ascended the tribune, and remarked, that this was not only a thing that had never during the whole eighteen years of their ex- istence been done, but was contrary to an express regiment; and that for the Chamber to commit itself to the opinions of any individual, was a very serious thing. He moved that the regiment be enforced. Of course there was no reply.

"But for this, we should have had the curious spectacle of one branch of the French Legislature putting its sign and seal to the grossest public abase of an al- lied nation and government, and of the Minister with whom it is more imme- diately in contact, and in the presence of the Ambassador of that nation. It is not easy to see what Lord Normanby could have done. So lightly are our neigh- bours' heads turned.

-"But it would be unfair to attribute all their rapture to the abase of England, or even of Lord Palmerston. The speech was in many points just, and exceed- ingly eloquent and effective throughout, and took people by surprise. Now that they read it over, they are surprised again—at their own enthusiasm: not an un- common effect of eloquence, " In the evening, the Rue do flax was almost impassable from the crowds that Went ' s' inscrire chew M. de Montalembert'—a little piece; of Parliamentary homage not borrowed from the old modeL

" Id. de Montalembert's next appearance will be at the O'Connell demonstra- tion. You have doubtless seen a copy of the invitations to the banquet which is to succeed the sermon to be preached at Notre Dame by the Abbe de Lacordaire. They are signed and issued by Id. de Montalembert. Some O'Connells are coming over, and there will no doubt be a day of great emotion and excitement--k day of words equally violent and vain—of much exaggeration and falsehood—of infinite humbug on all Bides. Id. de Montalembert, who has just expressed his horror of Radicals, will dilate with sympathetic enthusiasm on the sublime virtues of anar- chists and assassins; that is to say, he will take up Ireland as a atone to fling at the head of England. Some of the Ultra-Liberals of France, who execrate and insult the ' parti pretre ' at home, will be full of reverence for the saints and martyrs of Ireland ; while the representatives of the latter will cordially fraternize with both—on condition that they flatter them and revile England. This, I take it, is a pretty fair programme. As it is good to know one's friends, you shall have a correct list of the banqueters. " And now, in all earnestness, let me conjure you and the people of England, not to fancy that the industrious, frugal, middle classes of France, have anything to do with these melancholy farces. Where there is a stage and an audience there will be actors—of all sorts. Think of them as you please, but do not confound them with people absorbed in the all-important business of gaining their bread. If you, on your side the water, used a little more discrimination, a little more judg- ment, a little more forbearance and courtesy, there would not be wanting here a party, not loud but steady, who would help you to keep the peace, in spite of all this 'sound and fury,' these malignant passions or hollow shows."

The return of her Majesty's ship Cormorant from the Oregon territory has made known the fact that there are immense quantities of excellent coal on Van- couver's Island, lying near the surface. The Cormorant supplied herself with fuel at the rate of 4s. a ton; the price at Valparaiso being 1/. 6s. The coal was worked by the.natives.