The "real" Ministerial crisis in France seems to be subsiding
like a nine-days wonder; for Government have had a decided victory in both Chambers. The Peers, their rank apart, come first in order of time. Now the Opposition say, that so many black balls against an address as 39, in the division of the Peers, is unprecedented : but still the Minister had the large majority of 114—rather larger than what is now thought a "working majority" in England: If Lord Melbourne did not deem it necessary to resign when he had a majority of only one, M. Guizot is not likely to retire on the point of honour because his net majority does not exceed 75. Still less is he likely to do so while King Louis Philippe openly professes to exult in the victory of his Ministers, and, in spite of the 39 black balls, accepts with gratitude the approval of " the policy which we have pursued.' series of harangues in the. Chamber of Deputies did not im- part any higher interest to the struggle. Begun with generali- ties by M. De Tocqueville and M. Gustave De Beaumont, the de- bate was turned upon laborious triflings by M. Thiers ; who re- hearsed, with diminished effect, the part already played by Count Mole, as the vain censor of the past without definite counsel for the future. He was met with facts by his rival M. Guizot, not perhaps dressed up to please the theatrical audience around him, but calculated to make no transient impression. And on all sides -the "English alliance" was adopted, in one shape or another. Al- -though thus condescending to engage with the Minister on his own ground, the Opposition and their new Conservative allies have been beaten on the first division of the Deputies by 225 to 197 ; a majority of 28—comparatively a large one in the French House of Commons. The Opposition now talk of M. Guizot's getting safely through the session 1
In the midst of all the wordy hubbub about the " English al- liance," Ministers adhere firmly to their policy of thorough friend- liness. They have laid before the Chambers reports on the state of their relations with the Gambier and Wallis Islands, groups of Polynesia which have been taken under the " protection " of France; and those documents are replete with assurances that no territorial conquest has been attempted, no French ascendancy established. The anxious reiteration of such facts is remarkable. An eye, no doubt, is had to the estimates ; but the more eager re-
ris evidently kept upon England ; and the presentation of papers in the Very thick of reproaches against "truckling to England" indicates no very oppressive terror of the reproachers.
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