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A report reached this country early in the week that

the French have been bombarding Tangiers. As we expected, the report proves to be so exaggerated as to be virtually without' foundation. There was no French squadron to bombard. A shot was fired from Tangiers, and one or two French ships, which were at hand, retaliated. The event appears to be wholly without political importance. There have been grave specula- tions as to the policy of France in encouraging the Spanish at- tacks upon Morocco : we have already stated our opinion upon the subject. It is fair to assume that France is acting in per- feet good faith towards the other Powers of Europe, and the Emperor Napoleon is not a man to suffer himself to be distracted from great objects by trivial diversions.

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