,forrigti anti Colonial.
FRANC/L-11e swearing-in of the Senate and the Legislative Body at the Palace of the Tuileries was enacted on Monday.
At about noon the Rue de Riveli was full of people, the palisades of the Carrousel were thronged, and the roll of carriages was frequent. There were at least from three hundred and fifty to four hundred carriages of every description drawn up in the form of two serried squares in the Epee between the iron railing and the Palace ; while another smaller cluster found room in an angle of the great square. About the same hour, too, a regiment took possession of the space between the Arch of Triumph and the Palace, and extended in one unbroken line of three deep from the North to the South gallery connecting the Tuileries with the Louvre. The ceremony was performed in the Salle des Marechaux. The Salle des Marechaux is the vast saloon of the Pavilion de PHorloge, in the centre of the Palace. It is a double-storied hall, and under the windows of the upper part are a projecting cornice and gallery, supported, towards the garden, by earyatidea. The walls are ornamented, in separate com- partments, with full-length portraits of the Marshals of France, and busts of the most distinguished Generals, some of whom fought and died while France was yet Republican. On the present occasion the raised gallery was filled with ladies. At one end of the hall, a platform was raised about four feet from the ground, on which were placed the fauteuils of the Senators and Council of State ; in the centre, and raised about four or five inches higher than the rest, was the fauteuil set apart for the Pre.. sid,ent, The entrances to the hall were hung with tapestry of crimson velvet embroidered in gold ; the floor was covered with rich carpets ; and several beautiful candelabra depended from the lofty arched ceiling. The diplomatic corps took their places to the right of the President's fauteuil; the members of the Council of State on the left, the members of the Le- gislative Corps the left centre, and the other functionaries the right. The Senators and Deputies had assembled in the apartment known as the Galeria Louis Philippe. At a quarter to one, the chief usher sum- moned them in a loud voice to enter the saloon, and in a few minutes the entire ball was filled. The clatter of fire-arms on the pavement of the square outside was heard along the whole line; the words of command hastily issued by the commanding officers, and the drums beating to arms, then announced the near approach of the President. A movement was observed at the end of the hall by which he was to enter; and in an in- stant, "the hurried throwing back of the velvet drapery, and the simul- taneous rising of all in the saloon, announced his presence."
Bonaparte advanced, bowing on both sides, towards the Presi- dential throne, but atopped once or twice to shake hands with some per- sons he recognized. lie wore the costume not of President of the Coun- cil of State, as had been expected, but of Lieutenant-General in the army, with the usual cordon and star of the Legion of Honour. He was accompanied by his uncle Jerome to the fauteuil, amidst applause "which appeared hearty from about two-thirds of the assemblage." Taking his
seat under a crimson canopy, surmounted by a large golden eagle with outspread wings, he bade his courtiers, and the members of the Legis- lative Bodies, " be seated." The Minister of State announced that the President would proclaim the opening of the Chambers in an address, The President then, "in a clear and emphatic voice," read his speech. It commenced—" Messieurs lea Senateurs, Messieurs lea Deputes : The Dictatorship that the people intrusted to me ceases from this day." Then
it gave the Usurpation theory and history ef the recent past. " Often dis-
couraged., I avow, I thought of abandoning an authority that was so disputed. What prevented me was, that I foresaw the occurrence of one thing—. anarchy. In fact, on all aides destructive passions became more exalted, and incapable of founding anything. Nowhere was there an institution or an individual to whom to attach oneself. Nowhere was there a right that was not disputed—an organization of any kind—a system capable of reali- zation.'
But at last he has replaced on its base the overturned pyramid of society. "Universal suffrage the only source of right in such conjunctures, was im- mediately reestablished ; authority regained its ascendancy ; at length, France adopting the principal provisions of the Constitution I submitted to. it, I was allowed to create the political bodies whose influence and weight will be all the greater as their functions will have been wisely regulated." The warnings of examples not distant had guided him in fixing the equitable limits at which each power ought to stop. "Why, in 1814, was the com- mencement of a Parliamentary regime, in spite of all our reverses, seen with satisfaction ? It was because the Emperor—let us not fear to avow it—had been on account of the war, led into the too absolute exercise of power. Why, on the contrary, in 1851, did France applaud the fall of that same Parliamentary regime ? It was because the Chamber abused the influence that had been given it, and that, wishing to rule over all, it endangered the general equilibrium. In fine, why does France remain unmoved at the re- strictions on the liberty of the press and of individuals ? Because the one had degenerated into licence, and the other, in place of being the regulated exercise of the right of each, had by odious excesses menaced the rights of all On the day after a revolution, the first of the guarantees fora people does not consist in the immoderate use of the tribune and the press ; it is in the right of choosing the government that suits it. Now the French nation has given for the first time to the world the imposing spectacle of a great people voting in all liberty the form of its government. Thus, the Chief of the State, whom you have before you, is truly the expression of the popular will." Then came a boasting passage about the good things con- ferred on every interest, "and all without increasing the taxes or deranging the budget." "Such facts, and the attitude of Europe, which accepted the changes that have taken place with satisfaction, inspire us with a just hope of security for the future. For if peace is guaranteed at home, it is equally so abroad. Foreign Powers respect our independence; and we have every -interest in preserving the most amicable relations with them. So long as the honour of France is not compromised, the duty of the Government shall be to carefully- avoid all cause of perturbation in Europe, and to direct all our efforts to- wards the ameliorations which alone can procure comfort for the laboriouu classes, and secure the prosperity of the country." From national relations he turned to personal explanations. "And now, gentlemen, at the moment when you are associating yourselves with my la- bours, I will explain to you frankly what my conduct shall be. It has been frequently repeated, when I was seen to reestablish the institutions and the recollections of the Empire, that I desired to reestablish the Empire itself: If such had been my constant anxiety, that transformation might have been accomplished long mime; neither means nor opportunities have been wanting to me. Thus, in 1848, when 6,000,000 of suffrages named me, in spite of the- Constituent Assembly, I was not ignorant that the simple refusal to acquiesce in the Constitution might give me a throne ; but I was not seduced by an elevation which would necessarily produce serious disturbances. It was equally easy for me to change the form of the government on the 13th of June 1849: 1 would not do so. In fine, on the 2d of December, if personal considerations had prevailed over the grave interests of the country, I might at first have demanded a pompous title of the people which they would not have refined me : I contented myself with that which I had. Consequently, when I borrow examples from the Consulate and Empire, it is because I find them there particularly stamped with nationality and grandeur. Being de- termined now, as before, to do everything for France, and nothing for my- self, I should accept no modification of the present state of things, unless I was forced to do so by evident necessity. Whence can it arise ? Solely from the conduct of parties. If they resign themselves, nothing shall be changed; but if, by their underhand intrigues, they endeavour to sap the bases of my government—if, in their blindness, they contest the legitimacy of the popular election—if, finally, they endanger by their incessant attacks the future prospects of the country—then, and only then, it may be reasonable to demand from the people, in the name of the repose of France, a new title, which will irrevocably fix upon my head the power with which they invested' me. But let us not preoccupy ourselves with difficulties, which, no doubt, have no probability. Let us maintain the Republic. It menaces nobody, and may reassure everybody. Under its banner I wish to inaugurate anew an rem of oblivion and conciliation ; and I call, without distinction, on all those who wish to cooperate with Inc in forwarding the public good. Provi- dence, which has hitherto so visibly blessed my exertions, will not leave its work unfinished. It will animate us with its inspirations, and give us the wisdom and power necessary to consolidate an order of things winch will in- sure the happiness of our country. and the repose of Europe.'
After the President's speech, the ceremony of calling over the roll and swearing-in was gone through, first with the Senators, then with the Depu- ties. The aged Jerome, dressed in uniform, slowly rose from his fauteuil at the right hand of the President, turned towards his nephew, held out his arm, and repeated slowly and emphatically, " Je jure !" The public had been surprised only a few days before at seeing the name of the Archbishop of Paris, Monsignor Sibour, added to the list of the Sena- tors his turn was now awaited with curiosity, owing to his presumed political tendencies, and his friendly relations with General Cavaignac; but he rose in answer to his name, and repeated, in the same low tone as his confreres, " Je jure !" In the list of the Deputies, when the names of Carnet, Cavaignac, and Henon, were called, there was no response, but a breathless and solemn silence- The scene being finished, the President departed, and the throng dis- persed.
The regular sittings of each Chamber were begun on the following day, with an opening speech from its President. Some of the reporters of the Paris and Foreign press requested admittance but were refused. The speeches of Prince Jerome in the Senate, and Of M. Billault in the Legis- lative Corps, have been published by authority. The chief points in that of the President's uncle were his declaration of reverence for universal suffrage, as the expression of the mind of the only sovereign, the people ; and his statement that he personally had thought himself, after so many years of exile and vicissitude, politically dead, but that Providence seemed to have decreed that he the last of the Senators of the Empire should be the first among the Senators of the new regime, and he felt happy to be the connecting link between the past and the present. The preleetion of M. Billault contained two references that do not appear felicitous. Re- ferring to the hand which had "rescued the state from terrible eventuali- ties," he said it was guided by a calm energy, "slow in thought," though rapid in action ; and exalting the mission of the Senate, he awkwardly con- fessed the contempt with which public opinion regards it—" that mission, whatever may be said of it, is certainly not without grandeur and au- thority."
Cavaignac, Carnet, and Henon, elected members of the Legislative Corps by Paris and Lyons, sent to that chamber the following disclaimer of any participation in its functions.
In the ending days of last week there appeared a remarkable crowd of decrees in the Moniteur, as if to sweep clean the legislative field before the inauguration of the Legislative Chambers. On Sunday there were no fewer than eleven. One of them ordered the sale of 35,000,000 francs' worth of public forests, to redeem the promises made in•the decree of confiscation against the Orleans family : the clergy and Legion of Ho- nour did not relish endowment by spoliation, so they are to be endowed by public funds, and the public funds will be replaced by the Orleans spoils. Another decree restores the name of Code Napoleon to the Code Civil ; and another defines the relations of the Protestant Consistory to the State. Oil Monday a decree professed to restore the rule of common right ; the dictatorship being at an end, the military commissions were declared at an end also.
GERMANY.—The Prussian Finance Minister informed the Chamber of Deputies, on the. 29th March, that the financial accounts for the year 1851 had been completed, and that the previous deficit had been more than made good, there being in fact a surplus of half a million thalers. This corriffiunication was receivedwith great enthusiasm by the members present.
The Grand Duke Constantine of Russia has been visiting the Emperor of Austria at Vienna. - The Empress of Russia is expected. at Potsdam on a visit to the Royal Family of Prussia ; and it is thought that the Emperor will also make a visit.
him/L.—The news by the mail which left Bombay on the 3d of March is all of preparations for war with the King of Ave. Commodore Lam- bert had been back from Calcutta with "terms" prescribed by the Go- vernor-General of India, of most moderate nature ; so moderate, it is said, that in India they thought the very moderation of them had induced their rejection. The offer was made to return the ship of war taken pos- session Of, on payment of the sum originally asked. The reply was one a insult, sent contemptuously by a dirty, fisherman; and our ships were fired upon by the batteries. Commodore Lambert destroyed some of the batteries, and hastened home for further orders. Those orders were in- stantly given. Twelve thousand troops were to be transported instantly, in twelve war-steamers, from Calcutta and Madras to the mouth of the Irawaddy. The preparations for this work were made with astonishing rapidity. - The Bombay steamers put to sea in four days after they re- ceived their orders ; and the probability is that on this day, or in a few clays from this day, the necessary British force is already in occupation of Rangoon, and preparing to ascend the Irawaddy against Ave itself.
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