The news from France this week possesses more interest than
any received from that quarter for a considerable time. The birth- day of the King, on Sunday last, called forth the usual compli- mentary harangues to his Majesty from the members of the Corps Diplomatique, and the Presidents of the two Legislative Chambers. Of these,Dueisesexcited by far the most attention ; for, instead of confining himself to mere loyal palaver, or to inoffensive politics, he ventured to attack not only the Republicans, but his old friends the Doctrinaires. After alluding to the peace and prosperity of the country, he said, with a sneer-
" The Utopians, whoever they may be, ought clearly to understand that the country will not either suffer itself to be imposed upon by the clamours and tumult of the public streets, or abandon itself to that spirit of system which braces the power of facts, and which, under the calculated mysticism of obscure theories, often causes pernicious doctrines and cherishes fatal thoughts. The friend of a prudent and maturely-considered progress disenchanted of many illusions, and enlightened by all kinds of essays and experiments, our France will not he seen precipitating herself with those who might attempt to draw her into perilous hazards, any more than she would be willing to see her destinies confided to men who would seek to make her retrograde, and restore to her a reginte that it was necessary to combat and overdo ow."
The King's reply is commonplace talk about affection for his subjects, and his resolution to guard their rights; but it seems he listened with marked approbation to the passages in Dueires speech against the Doctrinaires, which we have printed in Italics in the above quotation. The dismissed Ministers and their friends were much enraged at the whole proceeding ; and, relying on a supposed majority of the Deputies, charged DUPIN in the Cham- ber, on Monday, with having exceeded his powers, and addressed the King in terms which the Chamber could not recognize as expressing its sentiments. The President's speech was read, and DUPIN was called upon to explain certain allusions in it. He declared that his allusions were only to the factious ; that he spoke his own sentiments, and did not wish the Chamber to be identified with them ; and he added, slyly, that he was surprised to find Deputies quarrelling with a speech which had been so very well received in the quarter to which it was addressed. GUIZOT tried to extract an apology out of this explanation of DUPIN; but every one saw that no apology had been given. The Liberals, led by °DILLON BARROT, gave manifest signs of an intention to vote with DUPIN, as did also some Members known as the tools of LOUIS PHILIP: SO GUIZOT found himself in a minority, and was obliged to forego the proposed vote of censure on the President.
Subsequently, the monthly reelection of members to serve on Standing Committees was proceeded with. At the last election, the Doctrinaires were triumphant ; but on Monday, the Liberals, the 'Tiers Parti, and the Ministerialists, joined forces, and obtained majorities in the proportion of six to three. Altogether, to quote the words of their organ the Journal de6 Debate, it was a " facheuse journee" for the Doctrinaires. On Tuesday, GUIZOT and Dyers had a violent quarrel on the aame subject in the Committee on Standing Orders ; and it is supposed that the parties of which they are respectively the chiefs for some time to come at all events, be in vehement opposi- tion to each other. The consequence is, that THIERS, who cannot afibrd to offend the Tiers Parti, must expect all the annoyance the Doctrinaires can raise against him, and is therefore engaged in negotiating for support with the Deputies who look upon film L- Lots BARROT as their leader. The natural effect of all this is to give a more liberal tendency to the policy of the Administration.
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