NEWS OF TIIE WEEK.
PARIS is at present the scene of great diplomatic bustle. The Earl of Du R H AM S arrival in that capital, apparently on a special mission, has thrown the Ambassadors from the Northern Courts into a state of perplexity and alarm. The employment of so distin- guished an advocate of Liberal principles bodes no good to the cause of despots. No pains will be spared on the part of Pozzo DI BORGO, and the Prussian Minister, Count D'APPoxv, to coun- teract the effect which it is feared the representations of Lord DURHAM may have upon the policy of the French Cabinet, or rather the French King. Accordingly, we are told that on the day after the arrival of British nobleman, Pozzo visited the Ambassadors of Austria, Prussia, and Holland, and called twice at Earl GRANVILLE'S, with the view, no doubt, of giving. Lord DUR- HAM a cordial shake by the hand, and assuring him of the extreme comfort and delight his presence had produced among them. So resolute indeed was he to seize the earliest opportunity of seeing him, that when Lords GRANVILLE and DURHAM paid an intro- ductory visit to the Duke DE BROGLIE, they found Pozzo waiting their arrival in company with the French Minister. All this wears a favourable appearance, and is symptomatic of conscious weakness on the part of the oppressors of Europe.
As regards the real object of Lord DURHAM'S visit, we do not profess to have any special information. But we can easily con- ceive, that although Lord PALMERSTON may be perfectly easy as to the state of our foreign relations—quite assured of the magna- nimous intentions of Russia, and of the good faith and firm friend- ship of LOUIS PHILIP—that Earl GREY himself may have some misgivings, and may desire to have the opinion and assistance of one upon whose perfect sincerity and sagacity he can place full reliance. Earl GRANVILLE is connected with one of the most powerful families in England, recently become the stanch sup- porters of the Whig Government; his Lordship moreover keeps an excellent cook, and knew what he was about when he assailed the palates of men in power by a succession of good dinners ; but when any business is to be done—when the presence of a man of in- formation and talent becomes necessary—poor Earl GRANVILLE is laid, where his fitting place is, on the shelf. At the Tuileries, as at almost every other court in Europe, and in the United States, we have incapables opposed to the most acute and indefatigable men of business whom the Monarekis 'Of other countries can select for Ambassadors from amonk.th'eir subjects. The conse- quence is, that we are repeatedly ovorreached, or betrayed, and that special missions become necessary to remedy the blunders of our regular Envoys. The unscrupulous organs of Lcird.PALstEnsToN in this country, • • and of LOUIS- PHILIP in Francepdenv that there is any coolness at present between the French irid knglish Cabinets, or that the former has shown any predffeetion for Russian principles and Russian alliance. But weqUestion whether any person arrived at years of discretion either ii;) Trance or England paitakes of their incredulity on these points. It is evident that, Louts PHILIP'S principles of government, as disclosed more .ParticUlarly in the recent laws against the press and against associations, are such as would lead him greatly to prefer the alliance of the German and Russian Sovereigns to that of England.- But he is playing a hazardous game with a wily and powerful opponent. It is by no -means improbable that Russia is merely cajoling him—inciting Lira to such acts of oppression on his subjects as must render his throne insecure, and paralyze his power of resistance to her projects of aggrandizement in the East. To the increase of her empire in that quarter, the views and exertions of Russia have been ever directed since the time of PETER the Great. The alliance of England and France is the main obstacle to the success of these machinations. The interest therefore of Russia in weakening that alliance is obvious ; and her motive for render- ing the French King suspected and unpopular among his subjects is equally plain. But the interest of the French people as plainly- lies the other way ; and it may be the object of Lord DURHAM to convince Louis PHILIP, that in the present state of public feeling, not merely in France itself, but in the Peninsula, in Germany, and in Italy, it would be extremely hazardous for him to take part with the despots against the friends of freedom. As Louis PHILIP is a tolerably shrewd, though a very selfish, conceited, and unprin- cipled man, he w ill perhaps retrace, or strive to retrace, his false steps. But it is in the first place necessary, that he should be made to un- derstand the real dangers of his position. IIis subservient Ministers, the apostates from all that. formerly stood them in the stead of principles, are the last persons to ()film advice either honest or wise. Lord GRANVILLE is notoriously unequal to the more difficult duties of his post ; and hence the necessity and advantage of send- ing a man of vigour and independence of mind to Paris at this juncture. We confess that we entertain hopes, that Lord DFR-. H AM'S representations may make some impression on the French King, and disappoint, for the present at least, the triumphant ex- pectations of the cunning Pozzo and his master.
