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Swiss general Dufour , by desire of Bonaparte , whose friend he is . But what you are not aware of is , that there was a company of Paris bankers ( Ch . Laffitte , &c . ) which competed for the same concession . The Dufour company asked for a subvention of fifteen millions , and a minimum interest of 3 per cent , guaranteed by the French . Government . Laffitte's company , on the other hand , required neither subvention nor guarantee , but undertook to do everything at its own cost and risk . Nevertheless Bonaparte , with monstrous partiality and in utter disregard of the public interests , has of his own mere motion conceded the Geneva railway to the Swiss company , and thus saddled the Budget with the expense of a subvention of fifteen millions . You may imagine how the Corps Legislatif looked upon the
bill which embodies this concession . As chance would have it there is a deputy , M . Koenigswarter , a Paris banker , who is interested in Laffitto's company , and he inveighed with great vehemence ( the private interest of these people constituting all their patriotism ) against the concession , and implored the Corps Legislatif to throw out- the bill . The details he has divulged are , it appears , formidable . M . Calvet Rogniet , a deputy , immediately proposed an amendment suppressing the subvention , and it was adopted almost unanimousl y in committee . Unfortunately the Council of State has rejected it , and unless the committee and the Corps Legislatif can make up their minds to show more courage than in the affair of the Jury law , the concession will be granted .
M . Schneider's report on the Budget has not quite fulfilled what was expected of it . M . Schneider is , as you know , an ex-minister of Bonaparte ' s , a great manufacturer of the Saone et Loire , and an ultra protectionist . His report , not less than fort } ' pages long , contained—1 . A violent diatribe against the parliamentary system ; 2 . A pompous eulogy on the present organization of the Government ; 3 . No end of encomiums of the order and prosperity of the finances as secured by the new order of things ; 4 . An absolute laudation of the Senatus Consult of the 25 th
Denember , which divested the Carps Legislatif of its few remaining functions . M . Schneider read his report to the committee on the Budget amidst the most chilling silence . As soon as he had done , the members all , with one accord , walked out in disgust , and left the unlucky apologist of the Government alone with his report . Next day M . Schneider confessed to the committee that ho had gone too far , but stated that he had taken care to soften down or abridge the passages that had seemed to give umbrage to the committee . Nevertheless even in its modified form the report still extolled the Senatus Consult . Incensed at this fresh display of impudence , M . Gouin commented most eeverely on the indecency of holding such language in
the name of the Corps Legtslatif . M . Gouin was immediately followed in the same strain , but with much more warmth and vehemence , by M . Devinck , a member of the majority , who until then had always manifested extreme complaisance towards the Government . All the other members of the committee took the same course , not excepting even M . de Kichcmont , the rival of M . Schneider . Finally it was proposed and carried all but unanimously , M . Schneider being left in a minority of one , that all the passages shall bo struck out which were contrary to the dignity of the Corps Legislatif , and to the plain dealing that was duo from it towards the Government- It was tho report , thus mutilated , that appeared in tho JKoniteur . No one is satisfied with it .
The Government continues to show anything but good-will towards the Corps Legislatif , and is , above all things , bent on restricting the publicity of its proceedings as much as possible . Thus it is by no menus the case , that all reports on bills are inHcrted in tho Moniteur ; it is not until a bill lias passed , and when it is no longer of any use to read tho report on it , that the ( loverinnent allows tho document to bo published . Ah for tho Hpeeclios delivered in the Assembly , tho case in still worHo with respect to them . A young man , who took notes of a speech in ono of tho tribunes of tho Corjt . i Legislatif , wan Kent to prison tlio day before yesterday , and will probably bo sentenced to pay a fino of HOO to 1000 francs into the bargain .
It is true that tho right of expressing oho ' h opinions is treated no better by the authorities . A Lille journal published an article censuring tho new lawn on tho press . It has just received'a warning for luiving (] j H _ cussed that question . There- in no clans of nowswriteivi , even to those who draw up the price lints of tho Stock Exchange , that aro not looked on with apprehension by tho Government . Tho latter have been all summoned before tho prefect of police , nnd have receive d npccjnl injunctions , in accordance with which thoy must henceforth Kay nothing but whut tho authorities may be pleased to like . ' Capital punishment for political oflbncoB , aboliohed
immediately after the revolution of February , is about to be formally reinscribed in the penal code . The introduction of a bill to that effect , the day before yesterday , in the Corps Legislatif , has caused an immense sensation . The madmen are going to erect again the instrument of their own doom .
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CONTINENTAL NOTES . The Continent is quiet , slumbering under the incubus of despotism . We hear nothing of the stirring of peoples now , except tho feeble celebration of constitutional government in Piedmont . Yet this is a noteworthy fact , especially as Austria has menaced Piedmont , and inflicted injury on the Lombard subjects of King Emanuel . Turin , like Paris , has her three days , not to commemorate a bloody and successful revolt , but the granting of a constitution by Charles Albert , in the great days of ' 48 . Sunday , Monday , and Tuesday , Turin , with , great pomp and popular enthusiasm , revived the recollection of the crossing of the Ticino , and the Lombard campaign . At the Te Deum held on Sunday , it was observed , that Count Appony , the Austrian ambassador , attended . What does this mean ? Is it not blazoning in the face of day the Miypocrisy of Austrian diplomacy ? Is it not the homage that vice pays to virtue ? While Austria is still threatening Switzerland , and only on speaking terms with Piedmont , it is a mockery for her Ministers to share in the festivals of freedom . It is , indeed , stated that the Lombard Commission charged with the sequestration of the property of the emigrants has suspended its operation , in consequence of certain concessions in favour of the absentees which .
Count Rechberg has obtained from Marshal Radetzky . But there is more significance in another event . We hear much of the menaces held out to Belgium by Louis Napoleon . It is said that King Leopold has been warned that the first overt act of Russian hostility in the East will bring a French army into Belgium . Possibly . And Belgium seems preparing for that eventuality . Antwerp is strongly garrisoned ; Ypres , and some other frontier towns , useful for the purposes of invasion , have had their
fortifications dismantled . The Belgium Prime Minister has moved and carried a vote increasing the army to 100 , 000 men . And , more significant than all , King Leopold and the Duke of Brabant , his heir , have been visiting at Berlin and Vienna , with a view of securing support against the possible designs of France . Among the vagaries of politics in Spain , we note that Sartorioua is again a Minister ; that it is said Narvaez will be named ambassador at Paris , and that the husband of Queen Christina is now at Paris .
From Constantinople we have had nothing but contradictory reports , and it is impossible to say how matters stand . It is affirmed , indeed , that Russia has gained one victory , and that all political refugees have been expelled . Meanwhile the English fleet still lies at Malta , and the French fleet at Salamis .
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INDIA , CHINA , THE CAPE . A telegbaphic despatch from " Trieste , May 11 , " has reached London , summing up the news from the East . It is as follows : — " On tho 19 th March , the force under Sir John Cheap captured tho stronghold of tho robber chief , Mea Toon , near Donabew , after a fierce combat of four hours' duration , and a loss of 102 killed and wounded , rank and file . Nothing further had transpired respecting tho state of affairs in Ava , or respecting tho ulterior movements of tho British troops .
" Lord Falkland will probably remain another year at Bombay . Mr . Luard , ol tho civil service , had boon dismissed for having offered , if a public investigation was granted , to prove that two superior officers havo been guilty of infamous conduct in tho oxerciso of their judicial functions . A public invoatigation , to tost tho truth of Mr . Luard ' s affirmation , is unanimously demanded by tho Indian press . Great indignation had boon excited by a report that the Government was about to renew tho charter for ton years , without waiting for a discussion .
"Advices from China of the 27 th of March , stato that Sir G . Bonham haf ! proceeded to Khanghac . Tlio insurgents in China had made so much progress that the Emperor was compelled to sue for aid . " Tho war with tho Kaffirs had terminated by tho complete submission of tho robol chief , Sandilli . lie and his tribo arc driven beyond tho Kei . The treaty with General Cathcart was concluded on the 9 th March . '
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A M K It I C A N NOT E S . Tni 5 accounts of tho finding of gold in Texas havo been confirmed . There is great excitement in tho state . Following last year ' s London fashion , New York is to havo a second Opera house , and Orif-i and Mario aro the intended " stars . " It will be on a magnificent scale , and will probably bo opened in December next . The Now American Minister , at St . James ' s , Mr . Ituchanan , " designs ' to not an example of Republican Simplicity . " So runs a torso telegram from YVasliington .
The loss of tho steamer Independence , on tho coast of California , is very painful . Tho ship ran atrium ) on Mtirgarctta island , and took fire . Home of tho passengers , leaping overboard , breasted tho Hiirf , and reached tho shore ; othora perished , in attempting to follow thorn . A strong current swept many to sea , ifnilo others , chiefly women nnd children , clung to tho burning ship , unable , or afraid to loavo it , and perished in tho flmncH . Of live hundred pasHcngora , ono hundred and fifty woro lost . California !! cities are subjected to duplicate porilB .
Sacramento was lately burned , and nov » we hear of the city of Marysville being " submerged , " causing great loss of property . The mining news from California is satisfactory . San Juan de Nicaragua , the scene of the "American coup d ' etat , " narrated some weeks ago , is reported " perfectly tranquil . " Father Gavazzi is lecturing at New York . General John A . Dix , of New York , is appointed United States' Minister to France . Kane , accused of murder in Ireland , and whose extradition was demanded from the New York authorities , by the British Consul , and who has been arrested in consequence , has been released , on the ground , that no demand for extradition is valid , unless it comes through the President of the United States . ^
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SPANISH SLAVE-TRADERS . In defiance of treaties , the slave-trade thrives in Cuba under the corrupt patronage of the Spanish Captain-General . Very recent incidents prove this beyond doubt . Don Antonio Capo fitted out a ship for the conveyance of slaves , and then set sail for the coast of Caffraria . There were no negroes there "for sale , " but he managed to procure them . By gifts and friendly intercourse he ingratiated himself with the people , and one day invited a large company of tho natives to a splendid feast on board his ship . Drugged rum was the principal potation , and when the poor wretches were stupefied he set sail . They recovered their senses to find themselves far from their homes .
They raged and rose against their captors , but they wero unarmed , and their repeated attempts at resistance resulted in the murder of many by the knives and sabres of the ready crew . Two hundred were thus killed and the corpses flung overboard . Capo continued his course for Cuba , hoisting American colours as he came near the island . He ran in his vessel at Guazima , and after landing his cargo ( 1200 negroes ) he set fire to the ship—the Spanish authorities being well aware of his proceedings . The condition of some of the enslaved negroes was horrible , many suffering from the terrible wounds and mutilations inflicted in the struggle with
the crew . The commercial partners in the enterprise were satisfied : their venture had been tolerably successful . But the event having reached the ears of the British Consul he resolved to make an appeal to Canedo , tho Captain-General , against this shameless violation of the treaties for the suppression of the trade . Accompanied by the Belgian and American Consuls , he went to the palace and had an interview with " His Excellency . " The scene that ensued was somewhat dramatic . After first referring in indignant terms to the slanders against himself constantly appearing in some of tho local papers , the Consul said he grieved to see that slaves were still daily landed on the island .
" It is not so , Scnor Consul ; it is not so ; " answered Canedo ; " tho trade is constantly decreasing ; not so much on account of tho vast expense your Government is at in sustaining fleets to repress it , for I alone am sufficient to insure that not a single negro now finds his way into Cuba . " " Then how is it , " proceeded tho Consul , " that only two days ago 1 H 00 negroes wero landed in tho Siguapa , at a placo called La Guazima ?" "It is not possible , " replied tlio General . " Ah your Excellency doubts it , " said the Consul , beckoning to two of the negroes who waited at the foot of tho stairs , " hero aro two of tho Africans landed among tho rest . "
Gonoral Canedo nflccted to be overwhelmed with surprise , and Haid he should havo to tnko to hanging ami killing to put a stop to these * outrages . Intitciul of " bunging or killing" however , Canedo " issued a commission" to inquire . The owners of tho ship were arrested , and tho investigation established the truth of the story . Hut the inquiry bad not long proceeded when it was suddenly " hushed up . " Tho culprits made a bargain with this Government : they
agreed to compromise their cruno by giving up to tho Captain-General . ' 500 of tho negroes for his own profit . The bribe was taken : the parties to the corruption aro notorious in Matanzns ; and , in short , there is ho chanoo of their being punished , for as ono of them lias said , " They aro Spaniards , not Creoles . " Tho interference of the Hiitish Consul has thus been quite ineffectual . Homo few of tho negroes have boon released , but tlio rest have been sent into hopeless slavery .
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LORI ) JOHN lilJSSKLJ j ON " SECULAR EDUCATION . " Sonus significant facts and opinions wore stated at tho late annual meeting of tho British and Foreign School Society . Seven thousand have been ndded in tho past yoar to tho children taught in the hcIiooIh of tho Bociety . The Bishop of Manchester bore witness to the use , ancillary to education , of tho Factory Bill and thohnlf-timo prnctiw ); and told a story of a boy of twelve , who bad boon nine timea in prison . The Reverend Francis Clone
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May 14 , 1853 . ] THE LEADER . 463
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Leader (1850-1860), May 14, 1853, page 463, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1986/page/7/
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