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OPENING OF THE CHAMBERS. 



The doctrinnaries will, after all, have the majority, owing to the 

 divisions and hatred existing betwixt the three different sections of their 

 political enemies. Although an union between Barrot and Dupin would 

 inevitably effect their overthrow, yet the repugnance of these two 

 statesmen, mutually prevents the coalition. They may unite, indeed, in 

 certain votes ; especially in adding a clause to the address reprobating the 

 ordonnance, which abstracts the Duchess of Berri from the regular law 

 courts ; but on any vital point they remain, as ever, at variance. The 

 opposition waited to see, if Dupin would make any overtures; they 

 were ready to vote for him as president, but since he has held off, they 

 put forward Laffitte. So that Dupin must either rest content with the 

 precidency, or take the seals in conjunction with the doctrinnaries. 



This is after all the most desirable state of things. A frank sepa- 

 ration into two camps of aristocrats and liberals, to the extinction of the 

 nonsensical milieu, well prove the surest and speediest way to a solution. 

 The line of division too has been drawn where it ought to be, for Dupin 

 is in heart a courtier, and his affectation of liberalism could but have 

 injured and betrayed, at least retarded the prevalence of the cause. The 

 two parties of the left will, I should say, have become united (they met 

 on Sunday, the 18th, in the Hotel Riehlieu) and the right, I dare say, 

 will form some excuse to do the same. 



I commenced this letter on the day of the Chambers' sitting, feeling 

 certain that I siiould have little cause to contradict my precision. They 

 have, indeed, been fulfilled in a most abrupt manner, and by a circum- 

 stance that you will hear of speedily. A pistol has been fired at the 

 King, it is said. Never was accident more opportune. Fouche, himself, 

 eould not have invented a device more calculated to rally the timid 

 majority of the chamber to the government, and to offer to the trimming 

 chiefs of the peureux party, such as Dupin, a pretext for ratting and 

 falling off from independence. So afraid the ministers were of having a 

 majority against them, is sufficiently evident from their having omitted 

 altogether in the royal speech the mention of how the Duchess of Berry 

 was to be disposed of. Never, indeed, did a royal discourse breathed 

 forth more trembling anxiety in more vague terms. It betrayed the 

 known nervousness of Soult, as to precarious position. 



But in the mean time his young and new colleague, M. Thiers, was 

 not idle. This gentleman did not demand to have charge of the secret 

 funds and secret police for nothing. The historian of the French 

 revolution, knew too well revolutionary tactics not to hit upon some 

 expedient to puff his tottering party. The coup de pistolet has occurred; 

 and, miraculous to say, the man who fired it between two soldiers, on 

 an open bridge, in broad mid-day, and surrounded, as it is averred by 

 the police, was allowed to escape, and has not since been heard of. 



The expected fruits have ensued, M. Dupin, forgetting. all his liberalism, 

 has been to the king, and has got and given a complement. After which 

 he instantly joined his old enemies, the doctrinnaires, and has shaken 

 hands with the men, whom he has been reviling for the last three 

 months. All Paris has nocked to the Thulleries in National Guard 

 uniforms' And for three weeks to come, addresses and congratulations 



