The French papers are chiefly occupied with discussions in the
The French papers are chiefly occupied with discussions in the Chamber of Deputies on the African question, as it is called, the additional allowance to the Duke of Orleans in consequence of his marriage, the dower to the Queen of the Belgians, and the trial of MEUNIER and his accomplices. The African debate was signa- lized by an energetic speech from TRIERS; who advised that France should restrict her possessions to Algiers, Bona, and Oran, with a view, not to the establishment of an empire in Africa, but to the command of the Mediterranean, which in the event of a war would, lie said, be of immense importance to France. No
doubt it would; but THIERS should remember that Great Britain holds Gibraltar, Malta, and the Ionian Islands, and that the com- mand of the Mediterranean does not depend upon the possession 4) an African fortress more or less. The Duke of Orleans is to have 100,0001., and his wife 12,0001. a year. The lady is to arrive in Paris on the 26th of May, and the marriage is to take place at Fontainbleau on the 5th of June. The dower of the Queen of the Belgians is to be 25,0001.; which it is expected that the Chambers will vote, although reluctantly, and with insinuations against the meanness of Louts PHILIP; whose mode of expending the civil list, the Liberals maintain, should be made public, in order that it may be seen whether it is really insufficient for the payment of his daughter's fortune. The trial of MEUNIER, which seems to have excited very little interest, was brought to a close on Tues-
day. MEUNIER was found guilty, and sentenced to be put to death as a parricide. LAVAUX and LAC AZE were acquitted. LA- TAUX had in fact been found guilty, by a vote of 67 to 65: but the
law requires a majority of five-eighths of the Peers present, and so he escaped. It is doubtful whether the sentence against MEUNIER will be enforced; as almost everybody believes him to be insane. When he was told that the Peers had condemned him, he exhi- bited not the least emotion ; but was thrown into a paroxysm of rage when informed of the acquittal of LAVAUX and LAC AZE, whom he declared to be his instigators. Commercial matters are as bad as ever in France ; but it would seem that some means had been taken to employ the poor, as the run on the savings banks has not been so severe this week as the last.
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