2 FEBRUARY 1839, Page 9

POSTSCRIPT.

SATURDAY. "

The Continental mails have not been received this morning ; but, in the absence of Thursday's Paris news, the Times gives the following letter, detailing the progress of the intrigues in the French capital for the reconstruction of the Ministry, up to Wednesday forenoon. "The King is not vet driven to abdicate the dictatorship his Majesty has hitherto exercised ; ana the Opposition are in no hurry to attempt forcing his resignation of absolute power, persuading themselves that it must happen, and that it is better that it occur without a conflict. "There is something startling in this reference to the King's 'reigning and yorerning e but it would be the acme of affectation to speak otherwise of the 'natter, for no human being in France capable of thinking on the subject takes different view of it. I am not about to comment upon or discuss the manner in which the King has exercised that power which the Opposition desire to limit, but merely to refer to one or two .facts which they adduce in illustration of the working of the system. The first is' that (as is well known) the Duke de Broglie, when President of the Council, seized and put by an autograph letter of the King to the Emperor of Russia; a fact which became known to his Majesty Louis Philippe only after the lapse of some months' and produced that dislike which it was believed would prevent his ever again calling the Duke to his councils. I was yesterday assured that this incident has not induced a discontinuance of the practice; for that 'not only does the King preside at all the councils of the Ministry, and at all of which he has all his own war, but Ile keeps up a constant autograph correspondence with several great foreign potentates and statesmen, of the nature of which his Ministers have no knowledge.' How far this, if it be true—and I am compelled to regard it as such—is con- stitutional or otherwise, concerns me tint; but I shall give you the view taken of it by Ministers themselves, if I be not misinformed. "After complaining of it, one of them is stated to have asked—' Does not this practice strongly resemble the conduct of a patient who is attended by the most eminent in the profession, and yet drugs himself, and counteracts proba- bly tlw medicines and measures prescribed by them, the result of their united knowledge, skill, and experience ? " Thus you will perceive, there are two matters which the Opposition object to, and the discontinuance of which they affect to be determined to insist upon —the Presidency of the Cabinet Councils by the King, and his Majesty's pri- vate correspondence with foreign powers. It does not appear, however, that the King has the slightest intention of acquiescing in or accepting of such pre- liminaries; so that no immediate change of system should be expected. I have just seen a person who was last night at the Tuileries, of whom I inquired how the King felt under the existing circumstances ? ' Perfectly at ease, was the When the subject is alluded to, his Majesty observes 'Be not alarmed ; it will all some right, depend upon it.' "I thought I had done with this question, but you will excuse my resuming it. M. Dupin was sent for this forenoon by the King to consult, or rather to instruct him, ott certain steps to be taken for reconstructing the Cabinet. It was not believed that M. Dupin would take office. I am assured, therefore, that it was neither to offer him a portfolio, nor to empower him to form an Administration, that the King sent for hint, but to make proposals through hint to parties whom his Majesty no doubt indicated. Of these, M. Thiers is, I am assured, OM ; hut, in another equally well-informed quarter, I am told that M. Tillers is not yet in favour.

"The fact is, that something must he done, and speedily. Count Mold this morning declared that if the interregnum should be protracted 'beyond Satur- day next, he would remove from the Hotel of Foreign Affairs. "Of one circumstance be assured—that is, if you care about it—the Cham- ber will be dissolved, no matter who shall be Ministers."