The tone of the French, the Government now as well
as the people, becomes more warlike. We hope their acts will not keep pace with their words. " We do not fear war," said M. MAUGUIN, one of the most popular deputies of the Chamber, in a discussion on the interference respecting Belgium, which took place on Friday last,
"And if Belgium should offer herself, I would say, even at the risk of war, Accept her.' It would be a deadly war, I know, but it would be to the honour and glory of France. And, besides, who would dare to attack us ? Would it be Russia ? She has Poland and Turkey to contend with. Would it he Austria ? She knows that with 50,000 men we should rgive her occupation in Italy. Would it be England ? With steam-boats we could carry arms and battalions into Ireland."
The English of this is, that, to accomplish the favourite object of their territorial cupidity-to make the Rhine once more the bound- ary of France-there s no hazard that France ought not to en- counter, and no wrong which she would not attempt.
M. MAUGU1N'S statements have been echoed by a still more powerful voice-that of M. DE LAFAYETTE. The excellent Mar- quis has asked how regenerated France can be bound by the treaty that united Belgium to Holland. Upon the same principle, rege- nerated France may shake off the obligations of all the treaties en- tered into by her past rulers, usurping or hereditary. If, whenever a state changes the character of its internal relations, it is to be held as dispensed from the observance of those conventions that, previous to the chancre, had been made with third parties, there can remain no force nor faith in any international agreement.
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