The Demetian Mirror

FRANCE.—We may probably be accused ofpos- sessing a temperament somewhat too sanguine, by the fact of our last week having indulged in the thought, as well as the hope, "that at present we shall have no war:" but, although we confess that in some degree, perhaps, the wish was fa- ther to the thought, we contend that the symp- toms of calm reflection evinced by the French Journals of the preceding week, with scarcely an exception, justified in some measure our anticipations. We are sorry that a prolonga- tion of peace is not to be so surely calculated on, either as we could wish, or, indeed as might have been done, last week. It is true that the Press of France has been remarkable for its moderate tone; but moderation appears, still, to be lost on the numbers in France: war, and war only, appears to them in the main, the grand panacea for all the evils, politic or domestic, which they at any time suffer, or with which they, from time to time, fancy themselves afflicted. The indulgence in this vitiating sen- timent by the French people, has been ably de- scribed by a London Contemporay ( The Stn) in these words "It is to them what the bottle is to the drunkard-a source of wild, exhilara- ting excitement, to which they would have re- course on every occasion of discontent." To a people, the majority of whom entertain this sad propensity, it would be worse than useless, because it would be waste of time, to preach the simple truth-the non-existence of a reason- able ground of quarrel with England-and we have only left to us, the perseverance in all due preparation for the commencement ofhostilities, in which we may, for aught we know, be pre- cipitated at a few hours notice. We hope this may not be the case: but we think our Govern- ment would be culpable, were they at all to relax in their defensive preparations. The King of the French having made what is term- ed a display of His Majesty's approbation of the Eastern policy of his Government, it appears to us that we are just in the hands of M. Thiers; and if he take it into his head that the" nation- al dignity is offended" he will not be at a loss to pick a quarrel, on any the slightest occasion, or rather, perhaps, without an occasion. This gentleman, must be taught however, that with all his ardent desire for a pretext to raise the maritime power of France, the hint will not be lost on our Country, whose Navytho' at present, in point of numbers, and in weight of metal, it may be somewhat inferior to the naval force of France, is in a very satisfactory way of being speedily augmented. Our wooden walls, the bulwark of old England, were mentioned by us last week in a capitular statement copied from the Globe; a paper which we th ought we might, at all events, suppose would not underrate our maritime strength in fact the Globe was, after the publication of its comparative statement of the English and French ships of the line &c. accused of overrating the British force. A wri- ter, however, in the Globe has since stated, that that paper did under-rate the British ships of the line in ordinary; and as the question is one of great moment, at all times, but at this in- stant one of vital importance, we offer no apolo- gy to our Readers for transcribing this writer's statement, which he has thought it necessary to put forth in corroboration of his remarks.

SHIPS IN ORDINARY. Guns Guns. The Queen (ready for Com- Queen Charo"e. 104 missioning) 110 Champerdown 104 Waterloo 120 Nile 92 Royal George 120 Bombay 84 Nelson- 12(1 Calcutta -84 Hibernia. 120 Canopus 84 Prince Regent 120 Clarence. 84 Neptune 120 Achilla 76 St. Vincent 120 Indus 78 Royal William 120 Foudroyant 78 Caledonia 120 Kent 76 To which may be added 29 ships of 72 guns; making 50 sail of the line fit at any time to be put in commission.

SHIPS BUILDING. The Trafalgar, Woolwich, 120"j St. George, Plymouth 120 Vready for launching London, Chatham- 92J Guns. Guns. Victoria 110 Collossus 80 Prince Albert 90 Goliath- 80 St. George 120 Lion 80 Royal Frederick 110 Majestic 80 Algiers- 110 Mars so Albion 90 Superb -SO Hannibal 90 Hindostan 78 Exmouth 90 Cumberland 70 Centurion. 80 Boscawen 70 Collingwood- 80 Twenty-two sail of the line to be brought forward for launching in successive years." So much for our naval force. As the news from France will be looked for, daily, with increased interest, we extract from the Times, the following EXTRAORDINARY EXPRESS FROM PARIS. COMMENCEMENT OF COERCIVE MEASURES AGAINST MEHEMET ALI. The Paris Papers of yesterday contain matter of considerable importance. The Momteur publishes the following bulletin: 'Alexandria Aug. 20th. Commodore Napier, on the 14th, summoned the Egyptian authorities to evacuate Syria. He issued several proclamations, which he addressed to the Emir Bechir, which he sent to Mehemet Ali, with new pro- fessions of his devotedness!' Advices, dated Malta, September 1st, announce that the British steamer Alecto, which left Beyrout on the 24th, and Alexandria on the 27th, arrived in Malta on the 31st. On her departure from Beyrout, Commodore Na- pier, not having succeeded in obtaining the evacua- tion of that city by the Egyptians, had anchored further out with his four ships. The convoy of Turkish troops had not arrived. Syria continued tranquil. Admiral Stopford was before Alexandria with three ships of the line, one frigate, and two British steamers. with two Austrian frigates and a corvette." Mehemet Ali (whom the Morning Chroni- cle calls "the crafty old Pacha of Egypt" ) says "I am resolved to defend myself to the last extre- mity, for the defence of Islamism is concerned. It is possible that I may fall in the conflict, but I shall at least have the con oi uyuig uk the cause of religion and the Prophet." Fudge!—The appearance of a Russian fleet in the Bosphorus and the employment of a Russian army in the Ottoman capital, with the movements of other powers, including France, consequent thereon, would, we calculate, cause the Pacha to withdraw his high sounding resolution. SPAIN and PORTUGAL. These two unhappy nations are each on the brink of a revolution. Papers from the two capitals, Lisbon as well as Madrid, contain melancholy forebodings, height- ening the gloom already overshadowing the political horizon.

THE TREATY OF LONDON. The Journal des Debats of Sunday has the following article:— It is positively stated that the British Ambassador at Paris, Earl Granville, has received a communica- tion from his Government, explanatory of the Treaty of the 15th of July, which has been communicated to the French Cabinet. The contents of that com- munication are, it is said, of a satisfactory nature; at all events, we do not take upon ourselves to affirm that they are so. However, that spontaneous pro- ceeding on the part of the British Government may modify the nature of the grave question which occu- pies all the world. We know what reserve is imposed on a Government in matters of such importance; at any rate we doubt not that the Ministry will hasten to enlighten the public as much as possible on the true situation of France with respect to Europe. The Court organ, the Presse of Sunday, is more explanatory respecting this note. It says "vVe believe we can state in a positive manner that the Ministry received on Friday the communi- cation which is expected from London, and which is the result of the conferences at Windsor between King Leopald, M. Guizot, Lord Palmerston, and the Duke of Wellington. It is Lord Palmerston who, it is said, penned that communication therefore, it is but a re-production of his late speech in Parliament. It is declared therein that the Four Powers, by signing the London treaty, had never had the slightest intention of offending France all the efforts that were made to engage France to enter into a mutual combination are called to mind; it is affirmed that no surprise pre- vailed at the conclusion of the treaty, and that by signing it the Cabinets have expressed their deep re- gret at France remain aloof. In short, it is intimated that if France, putting aside a certain susceptibility without any motive, and understanding better the in- tentions of the Powers whose signatures are appended thereto, will rally round the standard of peace which they have raised, the latter will eagerly seize the op- portunity of evincing all the esteem which they attach to the maintenance of the amicable relations which they had up to the present time kept up with her."