used, I reject it-delay I do not require the oath I refuse.

"I know the consequences of my resolution: 29 years passed in the army, 36 campaigns resulting from 18 years' war in Algeria (from May, 1830, to January, 1848), some services rendered to France abroad, and during the fatal days of June, 1848, services which, perhaps, are not yet forgotten-all this will be reduced to nothing; I shall be struck out from the lists of the army. Once more it will be proved that rank is at the mercy of arbitrary power. That rank was made the patrimony of the officer by the laws of the 19th of May, 1834; he could not lose it but by the sentence of a court-martial. That law is trampled under foot by a Government which respects neither person nor property.

"Thus the sword which I had devoted to the service of France is about to be torn from my hands. What could I do with it under such a Government? But if (which God forbid!) our frontiers should be threatened, I would hasten to resume it, and to fight for national independence; for history sufficiently tells me that, in presence of extreme dangers brought about by ambition, despotism does not require an oath from brave men who march in the defence of the country.

“General DE LAMORICIÈRE."

Notwithstanding the care taken to fill the Legislative Corps with devoted adherents of Louis Napoleon, the semblance of an opposition showed itself in the discussion of some of the measures brought before that body, as, for instance, with respect to the projet de loi giving the Government power to expel summarily, and without any

formal sentence, from Paris or Lyons all persons who possessed no visible means of subsistence. And during a debate on the Budget, M. de Montalembert expressed himself openly and boldly in condemnation of the decrees which confiscated the property of the house of Orleans. He said:

'Gentlemen,-I wish to make a brief remark, and I promise beforehand not to demand the authority to print what I am about to say. But I think it necessary to have noted in the minutes of the Assembly a fact which I have already alluded to without any contradiction, in the minutes of the Commission of the Budget, and which appears in the report of M. Gouin. The question is as to the proceeds of the property of the former civil list, sold in execution of the law, and comprised in the chapter of domains. M. Gouin expresses himself thus: In order to meet a feeling manifested by the commission, the commissioners have added that this valuation of 7,500,000 francs had been made on property sufficient for its total realization, independently of the property of the house of Orleans, indicated in the decree of the 22nd January. With that declaration before us, as well as the written documents which have been furnished us by the Administration, we are justified in stating, that the question raised by the decree of the 22nd of January is not presented under any form, direct or indirect, in the Budget of 1853, and that the vote of that Budget does not compromise any participation in that measure of an anterior date to that of the meeting of the Legislative Corps.' It was then shown, gentlemen, in a manner undisputed and undisputable, that

the Budget of receipts that you are about to vote contains no re

venue, no proceeds resulting from the execution of the decrees of the 22nd of January, which have despoiled the house of Orleans of the property it possessed for ages. I feel some astonishment, but I am the more rejoiced at it. I dare not conclude from it, as the best friends of the Government would so much wish to do, that it is not as yet irrevocably determined to execute in their totality these fatal decrees. But in any case, it has not been judged proper to demand from us for them a sanction directly or indirectly. It is well that France should know the factthat it should know that none of its deputies has been called upon to consecrate by his vote any of the consequences of a measure which it has been unanimous in disapproving, and which it has disapproved as much for the sake of him who is the author of those decrees as of those who have been the victims of them. We shall have, without doubt, to discuss that measure some day; the law of the finances will bring us to it; we shall discuss it in full liberty. Until then, it is necessary it should be known that we are neither associated in the act nor engaged by it. As to me, I avail myself of this occasion to raise in the triple interest of property seriously affected, of justice disregarded, and of august misfortunes, my solemn objection against a fault which has been committed without excuse, without a pretext, without a provocation of any kind, and which it is attempted to render more irreparable each day."

These symptoms of opposition were by no means palatable to the President, and the session of the

Legislative Corps was closed at the end of June with the following message, read in the Assembly by M. Billault:

"Elysée National, June 28, 1852. "Gentlemen,-At the moment of the close of the session of 1852, I have to return you my thanks for the loyal co-operation and support you have given to our new institutions. You have known how to resist what is the most dangerous amongst assembled men-the being carried away by esprit de corps; and, all susceptibility laid aside, you have occupied yourselves with the great interests of the country, feeling that the epoch of impassioned and sterile discourses has passed away, and that of business had arrived.

"The application of a new sys tem always encounters difficulties; you have had your share of them. If occupation has seemed to be wanting at your earlier meetings, you have understood that the desire of abridging the term of my dictatorship, and my anxiety to call you around me, had been the cause of it, in depriving my Government of the time necessary for the preparation of the laws which were to be submitted to you. The natural consequence of that exceptional state of things was the accumulation of business at the close of the session. Nevertheless the first trial of a Constitution, completely of French origin, must have convinced you that we possessed the conditions of a strong and free Government. The Government is no longer that passive butt against which the various Oppositions directed their shafts with impunity. It can resist their attacks, and henceforth follow a system without having

recourse either to arbitrary rule or to duplicity. On the other hand, the control of the Assembly is real; for discussion is free, and the voting of the taxes decisive.

"As to the imperfections which experience has shown us, our common love for the public good will tend incessantly to diminish their inconvenience until the Senate shall have pronounced its opinion.

"During the interval of the recess, I shall direct all my efforts to find out what are the wants of the country, and to prepare the projects which may permit me to diminish the burdens of the State without detriment to the public service.

alternate light or conflagrationyou have seen an immense population labouring to efface the traces of revolutions, and joyously apply. ing themselves to industry with confidence in the future. Those who so recently, in their madness, were impatient of all restraint, you have heard saluting with acclamation the restoration of our eagles, the symbols of authority and of glory.

"At that imposing spectacle, where Religion consecrated with her benediction a great national festivity, you have remarked their respectful attitude. You have seen that proud army which has saved its country rise still higher in the esteem of men, and kneeling in devotion before the image of God presented from the summit of his altar.

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The meaning of this is, that there exists in France a Government animated with the faith and the love of good, which reposes on the people, the source of all power -on the army, the source of all force-and on religion, the source of all justice.

"Receive the assurance of my sentiments.

"LOUIS NAPOLEON'

From Strasburg, where the populace were enthusiastic in their applause, and festivities on a grand scale took place, the President crossed the Rhine into Baden, to visit the dowager Grand Duchess of that principality. The general opinion was, that the object of this visit was a matrimonial one-and that Louis Napoleon had formed the project of asking in marriage Princess Caroline Stephanie de Vasa, a grand-daughter of the Grand Duchess, and daughter of Prince Gustave de Vasa, the son of the last King of Sweden of the old legitimate dynasty. However this may have been, no result followed from the journey, and the Princess Caroline afterwards bestowed her hand on a German Prince.

In returning to Strasburg, the Prince President crossed the Rhine, on a bridge thrown over the river for the purpose-to which an absurd political importance was at the time attached by some persons, as if the peaceful passage indicated an intention hereafter to cross the famous stream at the head of a French army! Louis Napoleon returned to Paris on the 23rd of July, amidst cries of "Vive le President!" "Vive Napoleon!" and (most significant of all) "Vive l'Empereur!"

In the month of August, the different Conseils Municipaux or Councils of Arrondissements, throughout France, met in their various localities, and adopted resolutions. with wonderful unanimity, approving of the conduct of Louis Napoleon. We will quote the terms of one or two of these resolutions, as showing the tone of feeling which prevailed, and the servile flattery with which these bodies of men eulogized the author of the

coup d'état of December. Some of them openly called for the establishment of the Empire.

Indre et Loire (Tours).-" Before separating, the Council hastens loudly to manifest its adhesion to the energetic and salutary act of the 2nd of December, by which the Prince President has saved France and its civilization from the frightful anarchy which would have caused her to disappear from the rank of nations."

Maine et Loire (Angers)." The members of the Council of Arrondissement of Angers, penetrated with gratitude for the immense services rendered to France by Prince Louis Napoleon, convinced that his persevering and patriotic resolutions will secure, with stable institutions, the salvation and prosperity of the country, respectfully express to the Chief of the State their profound sentiments of gratitude, as well as their hopes and the tribute of their entire devoted

ness."

Marne (Chalons)." The Council, on meeting for the first time since the 2nd of December, spontaneously gives its complete and sincere adhesion to the energetic act of the Prince President of the Republic, which saved France from the immense misfortunes that menaced her, and expresses its profound gratitude towards the Chief of the State for the patriotic devotedness of which he has given such signal and numerous proofs." Moselle (Thionville). Considering that, if the courageous and necessary act of the 2nd of December has saved France from the immediate dangers which menaced her, the provisional position of the Government of the Prince President is still a cause of uneasiness for the future, and maintains the

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