The Paris press has recently assumed a hostile tone towards
England. The Courrier Francais says openly, that "France is no longer on the same terms with England that she was six months ago." The ostensible cause for this change is the refusal of the British Government to unite with France in refusing to settle the Belgian question on the new basis,—namely, that Limburg and Luxemburg shall be ceded to Holland, and a large deduction made from the share of the Hollando-Belgic debt formerly allotted to Belgium. But LEoPoLD and his people wish to retaia the territory and be excused from the payment of the money also ; and Louis PHILIP seconds the demand of his son-in- law. The reasons why, on this occasion, England is not willing to cooperate with France, may be twofold. Belgium, though now ruled by a monarch friendly to England, must always be much under French influence; and its actual incorporation with France is known to be a favourite object of French ambition. To strengthen Belgium, therefore, Might be to aggrandize France; whereas there is nothing to apprehend from Holland, which might be again, as it was formerly, a useful ally against France. Another reason for the apparent estrangement between the French and English Governments is the suspicion, or the knowledge, that Louts PHILIP has been coquetting with the Emperor of Russia, and urging him to annoy England in the East. Such is the gossip of the political saloons; but that there is ill- will between the people of the two countries, we do not believe, or that a serious quarrel is likely to arise. There may be much diplomatic snarling, but nothing worse.
