The debate on the address in the French Corps Ligislatif
ended in a majority of 213 to 131n favour of the Government. It must not be forgotten, however, that on the subsidiary question of the mainte- nance of the temporal power in Rome, the minority rose to 91, or that the majority was composed, to some extent, of officials and pledged nominees. The address, which was a reflexion of the speech from the throne, was presented to the Emperor on March 24th, and was acknowledged as follows :
" Meariews les Dipates,
"I thank the Chamber for the sentiments which it expresses towards me, and for the confidence which it places in me. If that confidence honours me and flatters me, I think I deserve it from my constant solicitude of only looking upon questions in a point of view of the real interests of France.
"To live up to the age, to preserve of the past all that is good, to prepare the future by sweeping of the path of civilization all the prejudices which obstruct it, or utopias which compromise it,—that is how we shall bequeath calm and prosperous days to our children.
"Despite the vivacity of the discussion, I by no means regret to see the great bodies 01 the State discuss the difficult questions of foreign policy. The country represented, Croatia is flung bask on Hungary, which will then be beneitsfrona it in many respects. These discussions inotriact it without alarm- prepared for an armed earnest with the Germanic provinces. The inf,1). shell be always.happy, Intim me, to act in coestertitith yon. Issued from first alternative will probably be preferred, the Emperor trusting the same' suffrage, guided by the same senthnents, let us =many aid each other The El pr
Emperor is said to be well satisfied with the debates, which have cleared his policy to Europe, by revealing the incurable ani- mosity of the "old parties." Some interest is excited in France b i
y the operations in progress against Cochin-China. It becomes obvious that the project s one of conquest, if not of colonization. The Maniteur de r.cfrwee states that the fresh troops sent out v.* disperse the army now blooleadin.g Saigon, and occupy Cambodia, which "province is intended to be made the centre of French possessions in that part of Asia." If the Emperor stRI refuses to come to terms, Hue, the capital of Cochin- China, will be oecupied. Up to the present time the French have ac- complished but little. Their system of warfare is too perfect for a tropical delta, in which the sudden movements of irregulars are alone efficient, and their ranks are terribly thinned by dysentery. They seem still ignorant of the fact that Europeans, to be safe in a marsh hie Saigon, must eat bread, drink brandy or nothing, and sleep at least twelve feet above the soil. The Spanish troops, partly native, are in better health than the French. The French have also received large cessions of territory in Senegal, and, as they recently occupied Oceania, are extending their colonial possessions pretty rapidly. There is a rumour in Paris that accounts have been received from Italy of impending hostilities with Austria. The King of Italy has written to his son-in-law, Prince Jerome, stating his apprehension of immediate attack from the north-east.
oThe Pattie complains that the Orleauist Princes present at the funeral of the Duchess of Kent walked with the English Princes, and interprets the invitation as a Court caprice. The Princes, he says, have forfeited their rights by the will of the people. The Park forgets that English Princes are gentlemen' and that gentlemen do not taunt their friends with a descent in life. He forgets, also, that the French Princes, whatever their position in France, are Princes of the blood in Spain, and as such entitled to the formal precedence assigned them.
The Bishop of Poitiers has been sentenced to a formal reprimand from the Council of State for his mandement comparing the Emperor to Pontius Pilate. Louis XIV. would have sent him into exile.
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