1832.] The Parisian Newspaper Press. 167 



. The Journal des Debats is one of the best written and the best 

 arranged journals of Paris. Its political principles are purely aristo- 

 cratical ; and its editors have always been of the Bourbon party, and 

 sham constitutionalists. When Polignac came into administration, Ber- 

 tin de Veaux, its principal editor, became all of a sudden of the oppo- 

 sition, and concurred with the other journals in overthrowing the prince's 

 E r er. But when the fatal ordinances of Charles X. appeared, the 

 rnal des Debats would not sign with the other journals the protesta- 

 of illegality ; and having made its submission to Peyronnet, ob- 

 tained the license to continue its publication. After the expulsion of the 

 elder branch of the Bourbons, this paper became the champion of the 

 family of Orleans, and has done, and still does, all in its power to render 

 Louis Philippe as little democratical as it is possible. The most renowned 

 members of the juste milieu fill the columns of this journal with their 

 lucubrations ; and one may easily perceive those that belong to Guizot 

 and Dupiri, and those that have been written by Sebastiani, Thiers, 

 Villemain, and other partisans of Perier. I must, however, say, that 

 the Journal des Debats gives often the best foreign information ; that 

 morals, decorum, and delicacy, are always observed ; and that an article 

 of this paper will produce a greater sensation on the public than articles 

 of any other journal of Paris. 



The Constitutionnel, which has long been, and is still considered by 

 many foreigners the political arm of the French press, has at present 

 very little influence on the enlightened portion of the French nation. 

 It owes its celebrity and circulation to its early appearance as an oppo- 

 sition paper soon after the restoration of the Bourbons, and to the gor- 

 geousi title of ConstitutionneL Its object is rather a commercial than a 

 political one ; for it is the property of a few individuals, the greater 

 part of whom have no other interest at heart than to get money. This 

 is the reason why the Constitutionnel has no fixed principles, and is 

 sometimes ultra ministerial, and at other times as much the reverse; for 

 whenever one of the proprietors has been denied a favour, or a sinecure, 

 by a minister, for any of his proteges, it is to be expected that a rude 

 attack will be made against the administration ; but it will cease the 

 day the demanded favour has been granted. This stratagem is so well 

 known in Paris, that when such a change takes place, it is a common 

 saying f( Le Constitutionnel est fache ; on lui a refuse quelque chose." 

 I must however add, that among the fifteen share-holders of this paper, 

 there are two honest and truly independent writers, who for a very 

 long time have not participated in its management ; and one of them has 

 also attacked the professed principles of the Constitutionnel, addressing 

 letters to the National and other journals, to acquaint the public of his 

 being quite a stranger to the system of politics adopted by his co-pro- 

 prietors. By so doing he obtained a sensible amelioration in the politi- 

 cal editorship of the Constitutionnel, and has been appointed chief 

 conductor of it about a month ago. Every one is therefore now more 

 satisfied with its articles. As for foreign news, this paper contains good 

 interest ; but not seldom its accounts are much exaggerated, and some- 

 times officially contradicted. 



The Courrier Franqais, established in 1818, has distinguished itself 

 by its constant opposition to all the administrations of the restoration, 

 and by its repeated attacks against the despotism of the mock constitu- 

 tional power of the Bourbons. Often its editors incurred the severity of 



;! nwo eirifli -ti 



