Four subjects, each of consideiahle interest, occupy the atten- tion
of our French neighbours,—a new combination of parties in opposition to the Ministry and the Court ; the sugar question, or the Home Beet-root versus the Colonial Cane ; the chance of hostilities with or for Belgium ; and the disputes with Mexico.
The Constitutionnel announces, that an attempt will be made to make °DILLON BARROT PiCSitiellt of the Chamber, and to oust Durres This movement will be supported not only by the Li- berals, but by a large portion of what used to be DUPIN'S own party, but which now gives a divided allegiance to Tnisstss and by Gut zoe and the Doctrinaires. It is anticipated, t to a party led by GUIZOT, TRIERS, and Baum, the Court must yield. There is much disgust at the exclusion of every leading man of talent from the Cabinet ; and yet none but mediocre and sub- servient persons will enter it on Louts PHILIP'S terms. SOULT, since his return from England, has been intimate with LAFFITTE and the Liberals.
Statements are made in the French papers respecting the cost of producing sugar in Martinique and other colonies, and the selling price, which prove, if correct, that Colonial property must be ruined without additional protection against the manufacturers of sugar from beet-roots. The Colonial proprietors, backed by the shipping and commercial interests, arc striving to procure the imposition of a tax on the domestic article equal to that which they pay. At present the duty on the been root sugar is only about 13 per cent., while that on the Colonial sugar is nearly 100 per cent.; but so powerful are the landowners in the Legislature, and so widely under the protecting duty has the beet-root been culti- vated, that there is little prospect of any aid being given to the colonists. Besides, Louts PHILIP himself is supposed to be a beet-root sugar-manufacturer. An extraordinary courier arrived at Paris on Tuesday from Berlin, with despatches, which Count Moss took to the King im- mediately. A Cabinet Council was held, at which Marshal GERARD attended. Orders were subsequently sent to General GOURGAUD, to have the artillery under his command at Vin- cennes in readiness to march within eight days ; and the Aides- de-camp of the Duke of OiiLFA.NS were summoned to Paris. Nevertheless, people would not believe that actual hostilities were really threatened; and there is some disposition to ridicule the orders and counter-orders which have been so often given.
It is said to be the resalutisn of the French Government to bombard Vera Cruz, unless their demands upon the Mexican Government arc complied With. The French, as the reader is aware, claim reparation for injuries done to their commerce. The amount of the damages is estimated at 600,000 dollars. The French Minister at Mexico, the Baron DEFFAUDIS, went on board a vessel of war; and demanded the payment of that sum, the ad- dition of several articles to a treaty then about to be concluded between France and Mexico,and the dismissal of several Mexican functionaries. He also demanded an explanation of the execu- tion of twenty-eight Frenchmen, who joined the American expe- dition against Texas, and were taken prisoners and shot ; and that General-Gomsz, who ordered the " assassination " of two French- men at Tampico, should pay 20,000 francs in reparation to their families. The Mexican Government refused to enter into any ne- gotiation until the French ships were removed from the coast ; and then offered to leave the disputed questions, to, the arbitration of a neutral power. The French wit; nes, yield:, end* the mean while the commerce of 4nglan4 silt} otio. coup:crick /OA 'Mexico is suspended. The Duke of WELLINGTON said that it Would be better for this country to pay the 600,000 dollars at once, than suffer a continued suspension of the trade with Mexico. Perhaps: but, that sum being paid, will the Duke guarantee this country against a recurrence of similar claims ? According to the last accounts, the French Admiral BAUDIN was only waiting for reinforcements to attack Vera Cruz, while the Mexicans were busied in fortifying the Castle of San Juan de Ulloa. The Prince na JOINVILLE was to sail with the vessels of war from Toulon, and had been appointed to the command of La Creole, a corvette of 24 guns.
