the domestic history of England. Hence it will be sufficient briefly to mention, that according to the statement made by lord Palmerston in the House of Commons, negotiations had been going on for nearly twelve months, between the four great powers and France relative to the affairs of the east. France had been repeatedly told, although she and the other high contracting parties were agreed upon the necessity of maintaining the integrity and independence of the Turkish empire under its present dynasty, yet, that if there was such a difference of opinion as to the particular measures to be adopted, that she found it impossible to associate herself with them in carrying them into effect, she must not be surprised if they acted without her. Two or three months before the convention was signed, a distinct arrangement was proposed to France, stating the limits to which the four powers would go, in the direction France desired, and in which they desired her co-operation. After two months consideration, the French government stated reasons why she could not be a party to it. The four powers then determined to carry that arrangement into effect, and the convention was forwarded to France two days after it was signed.

This simple and straightforward statement, excited throughout France a burst of indignation. Her pride was wounded, and the Parisian journals were loud in their denunciations against the treachery of England. They said that M. Guizot, their ambassador in London, ought at least to have been informed of the resolution, to make the ultimate convention before it was actually signed. And here we

conceive there was ground of complaint on the part of France. To say the least it would have been more courteous towards that great and gallant nation, to have avoided even the semblance of a slight. M. Guizot was certainly kept in ignorance of the intention to come to this definitive arrangement so immediately, and he declared that he had been deceived in the matter. Perhaps there was no deception in the case, but the more proper course would have been, to apprise him that within a given time the convention would be signed, whether France consented to it or not, and allow him to communicate with his own government, before the signatures of the other four plenipotentiaries were affixed to the document.

But although there might be this apparent discourtesy, which however, was openly and unequivocally denied by lord Palmerston, there was nothing to justify the paroxysm of rage which immediately convulsed the minds of the French nation. M. Guizot was summoned to Paris to a conference with Louis Philippe and his ministers. Royal ordinances were passed, calling into active service 150,000 additional soldiers, and 10,000 seamen, five ships of the line, thirteen frigates, and nine steamers. The cry of the French press was nothing but war, and matters seemed likely to come to the last extremities. Pamphlets were published in Paris, of the most inflammatory nature, breathing bitter animosity against England, and raking up every cause of quarrel between the two countries, from the times of Crecy, Poictiers, and Agincourt, down to the present day. The only chance of arresting a war seemed to be the

known pacific inclinations of the king.

Several causes of irritation had sprung up between France and England, independently of difference of opinion on the important question of the east, and these though trivial in themselves, had excited much soreness in the minds of our sensitive neighbours, who seemed determined to cherish the remembrance of the old animosities between the two nations, and eagerly seize on any pretext for a quarrel. This, however, did not apply to all of them, for many of their most distinguished leaders were fully alive to the advantages of a friendly understanding be tween Great Britain and France, but speaking of the state of public feeling in the latter country, we must unhesitatingly state our opinion, that during this year, the French evinced an irritability an irritability towards England, which was wholly unjustified by facts, and made them ridiculous in the eyes of Europe.

Amongst other circumstances, was the following, which happened at Port Louis in the Mauritius at the close of the last year. An armed French transport called the Isére, was lying in the roads there, and had hoisted all the flags of the different nations which she had on board for the purpose of airing them, and it happened, we willingly believe quite accidentally, that the English flag trailed at the bottom of the rest. An English merchantman, named the Greenlaw, was anchored at no great distance, commanded by a Captain Driver, who fancying that in the display on board the French vessel, some insult was intended to the flag of his own country, immediately without

asking for any explanation, brought out the French ensign which he had on board, and placed it at the head of his ship, beneath the bolt sprit so that it hung down into the water.

This studied indig

nity was soon observed by the French on board the Isére, and long and angry communications took place, in which ultimately the governor of the Mauritius, sir William Nicolay, took part, and at one time it appeared very likely that open hostilities would take place between the batteries on shore and the French vessels in the harbour. The result however, was, that the cause of quarrel was shown to have been a mistakeboth parties mutually explained, and the French vessels (we believe there were not more than two or three at Port Louis at the time) sailed away almost immediately, not however without much irritation and soreness on the minds of

all who had been engaged in the dispute. This topic exaggerated and distorted as to its facts, occupied for some time the journals of the two nations, and tended to inflame the spirit of jealousy towards us, which was plainly manifesting itself throughout France. No other consequences however, of a more serious nature followed.

To return however, to the events that happened this year in France. An absurd attempt was made in the month of August by prince Louis Napoleon Buonaparte, to bring about a revolution in that kingdom, in favour of himself and his family. He hired an English steamer called the City of Edinburgh in London, and embarking there on board with count Montholon, general Voisin, and fifty three other persons, besides a tame eagle, (which was destined to act

no unimportant part in the drama) on Thursday the 6th of August landed at Boulogne in France. They marched into the town about five o'clock in the morning, and traversed the streets shouting "Vive l'Empereur," The first attempt they made was at the guardhouse, where they summoned the troops to surrender or join with them. The only man who proved a traitor to his sovereign was a young lieutenant of the 42nd, named Aladenize, who tried to induce the soldiers to accompany the prince. He however, failed in the attempt, and as the national guard soon beat to arms and began to muster in force, prince Louis retreated with his motley followers out of the town, towards the pillar on the height above Boulogne, called the Colonne de Napoleon, and there he planted a flag with a golden eagle at the top of the staff, Finding however, that he was hard pressed with unequal odds, he retreated to the beach and was captured in attempting to escape to the steamer which lay in the harbour. His followers also were taken, but one unfortunate man was shot while struggling in the waves, Prince Louis with count Montholon, general Voisin and others, was soon conveyed prisoners to Paris, where they were detained until they were tried before the chamber of peers on the charge of high treason. When he landed at Boulogne he immediately scattered printed papers, addressed to the French nation, in which he commenced by saying that the Bourbon dynasty had ceased to reign, and that he appointed M. Thiers president of the council, and marshal Clausel minister of war. We must not forget to mention, that the

tame eagle on board the Edinburgh had been intended to create stage effect, by being let loose from the vessel and flying straight to the Colonne de Napoleon, where it was to alight, and thus be an omen of success to the revolution, For this purpose we believe the bird had been trained to take its food from prince Louis Napoleon, but we certainly cannot explain how these mad visionaries hoped to make it play its part in the tragi-comedy they were acting, The steam-boat was seized, and because she was an English vessel the most exaggerated and violent language was for a time held by the French press, which pretended that the English government had countenanced the insane attempt.

The trial of prince Louis and his followers did not take place until the beginning of October, before upwards of 160 of the peers of France, many of whom owed their elevation to his uncle, the emperor Napoleon. M. Berryer appeared as counsel for the prince, and count Montholon, and made a most eloquent defence, but in vain, The former was sentenced to perpetual imprisonment in a fortress in France; the latter, with three others, to twenty years "detention," and the rest to various terms of " detention." Lieutenant Aladenize was condemned to transportation. The prince was afterwards conveyed prisoner to the citadel of Ham, where, some years before, the members of the Polignac administration, had been confined after the revolution of July. It was generally believed, and not without reason, that prince Louis Napoleon had been betrayed into this rash project by false promises of co-operation in France, and that he fully reckoned upon a

manifestation in his favour in the capital, whenever his descent should be known there. He may have been duped by those who wished to make such an attempt subservient to their schemes in stock jobbing.

Soon after this event at Boulogne, Louis Philippe left Eu, where he was staying to pay a visit to that town, and thank the inhabitants for their loyalty. He embarked on board a steam-frigate, but the weather was so rough when he reached Boulogne harbour, that he could not land, and made for Calais, not without causing very general anxiety for his safety. From Calais he proceeded by land to Boulogne, where, in answer to some expressions used by an Englishman in his presence, he gave strong assurances of his wish to preserve peace with Great Britain, saying, "while I live there shall be peace between France and England."

Notwithstanding this, however, the tone of the French journals was as warlike as ever, and the total omission of the name of France in the royal speech on the prorogation of the British parliament in the middle of August, was distorted by them into a studied disrespect of "la grande nation." More intemperate language can hardly be conceived than that employed by them on this occasion, and nothing provoked them more than the perfect indifference with which England seemed to regard their blustering menaces; for, on this side the Channel, there appeared an unanimous determination not to take offence, or be dragged into a foolish and unnecessary war. Two circumstances at this juncture occurred which occupied the attention, and diverted

the minds of our volatile neigh, bours from their schemes of vengeance and hostility. These were a formidable disturbance amongst the workmen of Paris, and the trial of madame Laffarge, for the murder of her husband, With regard to the first incident, it does not seem to have had any connexion with politics, but to have been occasioned by the demands of the workmen for an increase of wages, and reduction of the hours of labour. A system of "middlemen" had been introduced, who, coming between the workmen and the original contractor, brought down the wages of the former to the lowest possible amount, while the utmost labour was exacted from him. In the early part of September large bodies of men out of employ assembled on the plains of St. Denis, Aubervilliers, Bondi, and Pantin, and only dispersed when attacked by a strong body of horse and foot of the municipal guard. Several were taken prisoners, and being afterwards tried, were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment, and the capital was restored to tranquillity. About the same time a republican festival took place at a short distance from Paris, where upwards of 6,000 persons were assembled, many of whom wore the uniform of the national guard. Among other toasts given, were, "the abolition of all privileges," and "democracy, which alone can save France." Hundreds of people marched through the meeting singing the "Marseillaise" and other revolutionary songs. This shows how distempered and feverish was the public mind of France at this juncture.

The other incident to which we have alluded was the trial of madame Laffarge. We cannot de