NEWS OF THE WEEK.
ITHE French papers are full of discussions which one would think must be not a little irritating to Frenchmen. The day 'before yesterday it was affirmed that the Orleanist Princes had arranged to acknowledge the Comte de Chambord as King of France. the King in return agreeing to hoist the white flag only as the Royal Standard, and to allow the Army to retain the 'Tricolor. Yesterday it was stated that the Comte de Paris had addressed his cousin as "Sire," and all difficulties had therefore vanished ; while to-day it is alleged that the Orleanists still maintain "certain reserves" about constitutional government, and so on. Considering the thousands of lives and millions of treasure France has spent to be rid of both families, this affecta- tion of treating her Crown as a sort of property to be disposed of by family arrangement is inexpressibly offensive. If the monarchy is to "descend," all this discussion is superfluous, for it belongs past all question to the Comte de Chambord. If it is to be 4' founded" by popular vote, the people can choose the monarch -unassisted by family renunciation. And if it is to be based on statute like the English Throne, let us have the statufe before the Assembly's patronage is anticipated. No one 'has any -"
rights" to the throne of France except Henry V., and his ." rights" are about equivalent to a " right " under an entail extinguished by an Act.
