M. Leon Say, the best French financier and most influential
Free-trader, is, we are sorry to see, entirely in favour of the policy of Colonial expansion. He believes evidently that foreign trade depends upon foreign influence, regrets the retirement of France from Egypt, and is desirous of pursuing a forward policy in Tonquin, Madagascar, and. the Congo Valley. Those expeditions hardly concern us ; but it is becoming evident that the upper classes of Frenchmen feel a keen jealousy of England, and suspect her of designs to impede French colonial progress. Fortunately, the masses are entirely opposed to war ; but the situation should be watched, if only because it is one so different from all anticipations. In France, the " reasoning " middle- class is agog for expeditions, while the " unreasoning " masses are for the policy of the fireside. We are not sure that we may not see something of the same change in England before long. 'The Members are much more warlike than the people.
