The Express. — London, England, 1850-02-16 00:00:00

~,met costs, and interfering with the due adtainistratim cum c ad 'm i nter ) He wished to say that by „fi c oo s i : tf ie tall with rearms , to the pretending*, he die r e t, make D o attack whatever cm the pnoeipks of the „ umo teroil by the Coat of Chancery. Ho was oat rat those two p inn should he left perfectly die lien% l ie u.) That then wen seem de'ecte M the r ; et inamery which engin to be remedied by statute no ; prepared to day: but no pe amid be ae: ;gen t.d with the 'yam of law administered in particularly those parts of it which bad eve. t-, the compelling prisms to per'ons earagorstents •Nch they might have mitered, and the.. requiting ^' to o a tu:til not only t 'Wet, bat the pirit t their r non. be said, c ou ld be cuadated s with dada :ot th, t'ourt Chancery, and lot feel tint there WY tua tara in a , not surely • gnat system of ilia' law, • s ~r 7 Ertel and pare system of morality, and that & .1 he a moac metal thing if tie application of its pen , cr y, wee widely diffused, and wars emended mere • t• ms and of masklad (Hear, 11. id•r 6101 cure objected tobo w . ver, bessme they tre.a. that plat, whence, unfortunate'', so salter wee parse dump hi. lifetime, and iu whist the t e: itserety uttlicted its proteettai upon eaten with see per al:y na their fortnees. (Renewed laughter.) toted that the how would on that aeries sanction • of the bill. He costal do all in his pewee to • aa,...suity, eel to oast doubts and dal:ulna ; sad „;; room the ammittal of the billuatilsperiod prior Iwts be would have Ind sufficient time is) rewire and con. cc , cuanctions which might be made by those who veep. tent to give advice on the subject. - - ---• WaLI'OLE mid that, though he fully eoneurred in ey tor reform, he thought the details of the are ought to be referred to • select committee-- htert—to order that they might he put late the A v e, with the view of carrying out the bUI. oho thought maturely on the etahjeet must agree atm that ao .:sure for reforming the Court of Chas e old he effectual Inaba its provides. nem duly .4 heave it became law. 1 POLICITOR-OE:IBRAL said be would not adopt .semion. He well Item what would be the effect of as :he bill to • saint manatee. ( Hen, hen.) He risodri it as las as nicht ap; ear dealrablo. TtIiNER woo cc:aimed in the view which be had /Eli wed. He thought a select connittee would be a idTustageous thing. SI CAR r did not wish to put the house to the neces ...vidieg. There wu ewe clause in the bill, and that , which gave fall pewcr to the Lord Chancellor, e JAW claws, Right be emitted. isradsseat was then withdrawn, and the bill was w.ond time. MARS' OFFICE BANKRUPTCY BILL. - - - - - - or.irr of she day being read for going into eons• x th,• hill. N LEY moved that a select committee be appoineed . • :,. lust mode of dealing with the office of now veraat. , I tiIiNEY.GENERAL said that the hon. 'nem. m ut, encourage the asembers of goveranseat • ode et the reform is w►ich they were sow em ,,,c whoa the first measure was introduced by the, ff er:lvt, fur a reduction of 1,2001. a year, it was , k r ., l mu do t d refer the matter to a eel. et Ma t • ~.suLler the best mode of defiling with the office. -de cm:l be a motr acceptable way of riesling with r this aboliating the cfEce altogether? The ~i ; e ..rned path. mac, is conclusion, expressed his !Le housewosid not delay any longer goiag into o n the rill - _ , ERIE said there could be no doubt about the sholishicy the office. sseiag that the duties had . rm. - ad to be "nil." Ho should support the anti ~t to, but. why transfer the duty to the secretary, at the that duty was wholly unnecessary ? His (Mr was that the odes of the soonstary him ea. • •LORCIat. Why perpetuate an office et 1,2001. a ,. ..ter.thert was no esrlilv necessity for it. (Hear, It the 1.41: nachtd a third reading, he should car :f :aunt at awn , mint, striking out the appointing en. r XI:LUNGS t: war provided by the itatute that reu.:ras• u they droppet otlthoeld be reduced to four. op tilt Are 'h.", with one of the deputy re .ars, a i d thee ehe country 1,0001. • year? tter a few wird. frost Sir H. WILLOOOIIIY, - - ••• • lr. P. WOOD Emily op; used the 0011tilitliDell of the es of tilir ft Clra or kentuy d bankrupts. _. _ he holm die. 4.4— - - Foe ems* tato cosaitte• 57 Against it Major ; mums: the Ixt. —4 Iv 3ttloanc , ment of the nombees was met with loud .r< or m the opp -di , et members. - - NEW BILLS. •1? ueisaiatine the civil bill process is Irish that is ensanes and for regulating the user ,. aria- el the merchant seamen's fund, and taking eof •.ssel•, were sereraly brought in, and read a. e ripamtd at 12 cesdnelt. Oppreoo. OUTGOING HAULS. Lf Bat Wm MeW, excluding Bermuda, Havanuab, 04. lII' &au, New Orweas, mid Mesita, and including • I r Medeire. St. Juaa.M-Nieeneua, New Granada, kt , l Pertorill be nude up on the morning of Fab. 18. maw kr Lisbon. SpAto, and Gibraltar will be made •Le amnion Of Feb. IS. tucis tor Gibraltar, Malta, Greece, the lonian Islands, 1 C,pion, ria Eloothalaptoa, up oa the morning cl Feb. 20. -Ails for British North America and the United • te made up en the eveuiair of Feb. 22. rand Marseille*, to the Mediterranean, Bat, ham, Boarliong, &c ., will be made up on the per of Feb. 23. z.,,s for Moles* the Brawls, and Buenos Ayres, will s o en the insoles of Musk 1. NMI WATIM AT LWIIIOIII ITIPIDOL Do-grew. 4%. re. Aherinok 4 L Um. ••• • -$l/6/41. 111. lla Misr" La- lea 3 bra, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18. ;. too true that the present system of govern :: is Frame has made to progress whatever in the settlement and pacification of that country. tot satisfied any party, any class, any great M tn. sr sty large section of public opinion ; yet. lle.veu knows, it has been rigorous, relctiosary. and conservative enough. Every -4 that could be done to render military -cmltance — felt and police itfluence universal, c , ad flatter and iwicare the wealthy clime; • .%;.ft - .4 the poorer ones, even in their opinions, • :a dote. Never was bureaucracy more de : e. Lome, or diplomacy more absolutist abroad. :rvasory has been kept well filled, the ranks of arms cimplete, all the power and muscle of go taint made full and energetic. Never were the andapplireces, and instruments of a strong L.? .tration moue amply at the disposal of au ••• • Why than is it so weak? Because it is _ _ • a i•bout principle. snlet thus teeming the weakness and the ar the attempts to govern in France, let it not b'l•l• .4.1 that we throw the blame upon Louis s Knottily, or yet upon his ministers. N,I ~ L EON has so far played the rt of a thief, that he has implicitly o beyed the 't.• aid inspirations of the majority of his He deemed that he should find wisdom there, amongst the band of ..satvary and official notables, and he ham ::•'4 bidding at home and abroad, with ado otion and rue remonstrance. And yet Ma.' we behold to be that he has not satisffied ' E " 4 1 have been neither able nor willing ~:Ztt him • whilst both the executive and the '4 the parliament are becoming more and * 'tmors in the laud, more and more contemned rve,diattd, and compolled every day to depend rt more on military support even for pre..restion of common order and tranquillity. use i, relapsing to the state of Anstria, and b_tsociallyend politi cally, .k or. d not blotted a l rea d y, from map of 1 re.l which paralyses the power and arrests Prviress of Fnutoe, ia simply a complete sever *rd Pay, of interest, of aims, and of ideas t *.he sippe r and the lower classes. It Is, in • recurs' upon an immense theatre of t 'trih between patrician and plebeian which Wane with blood, and its history with crime. rlexiiy there are some of the old aggravating' ;-• sbant i n the rant instance. There is no of cane rooted in religious prejudice, the ,••••• e ..:!erencs being in having property and in L'Ait, or in havin g in fl uence and in ha a t/ 11 . 1 ) of three divisions entertaining a ,1••••%cal creed peculiar to itself , and diametrically ••• that entertained by the other. For this lof .i.:ag s it is idle to blame the lower classes Of tr ' 14. -loturs and apostles. It is Idle to declaim n - publie or universal suffrage. All them 'he results, the outward phanoessaa. of a shd an intensity of popular feeling long in I :rk•hitil all the time unfathomed and unknown. riquire too much space and time to go kr.l inquire into th e formation of those ciPiaia•• ttra causes ; suffice it, that they existed, and Net nt rength that w h en social sWthialligell cider n up by t h e resistance of e parliamee r, plA , h,ti.,l, to M. Ovizor and Lours 114111 ., the men, the classes, and the THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY- EVENING, FEBRUARY 16, 1850. ideas of the people at once aionmed prelomineoce in a way u natural es it was irresistible. It was a great folly and au immense misfortune that t►e blan der* and ignorance of kings, of ministers, of upper and of middle clump, should have allowed such an opportunity of irruption to the very peWe. For having thus tried their strength, enthroned their ideas and their chiefs, andthade a commit cement, a sorry one, no doubt, of popular government, they will long look upon themselves es wronged, and tricked, end dethroned because disallowed to confirm. Whatever the d filcultin, the duty and neces sity of a French government are the same, vie., to recover the attachment and confidence of the peo ple, to regain their adhesion to the state end to the form of government wnich prevails, and to effect that great reconciliation between upper and lower classes, without which uciety menaces each moment to be converted into an arena of wild bears. We are sorry to say that neither Lots; NAPOLIION nor the leading statesmen of Francs seem to hare had a conception of this great task, this immense dancer and necessity. Towards the Gloss of 1848, there wee one sentiment throughout the land, that of panic. Under its ludas nce the previa Assembly was elected, as well as the Prinos whose name brought most authority with it; and a conservative majority, salmis ing of almost all the known names of the countrymen of retell and business, wu found. This body, Instead of allaying the panic, has seen nothing better than to continue it. Instead of try ing to conciliate the people, or of doing such grand, generous, and good things, as would have commanded the respect of the people, even whilst coercing them, the pestle, of the government, abroad and at home, has been of the meanest kind,crusising the weak, and creaming to the strong, showing infinite energy in dismissals and gendarmery, and courts martial, domineering and browbeating opponents in the Assembly. Their whole character has been that of I men who are tyrannical at home because they are in a fright,who are pusillanimous abroad for the same sea son, and whose whole policy, philanthropy, and argu ment consisted in crying out vociferously " Wolf, wolf," the wolf being no other than the very people which constitute the numbers snd the power, and the mind of France. Neither was it to essentials that this dominant ma jority looked. Far more affected by the loss of social rank and influenoe than by the loss of real power, they have been indulging for the last year in eternal sneers, and consequently in wordy treason against the republi?, which they have not the courage is overturn, or the means to replace. It is, in truth, of very little conse quence whether the government of such a country as Francs be called a monarchy or a republic. These same selfish and wellendowei classes could secure a supremacy just as well is one as in the other, pro vided they could be true and constant to either. But where men like M. TIMMS have nothing but a scornful epigram to bestow upon either the legitimate monarchy of CHARLES THE TENTH, the quasi legitimate dynasty of LOl7lB-PHILIPPE, or the republican presidentship of Louis NAPOLEON, what is to he hop:d from men, whom no form of government or no shade of politics can content? Had the statesmen of the present conservative majority in France been true to Louts Punters in 1847, his monarchy would base endured un snaken. Could they be true to the republic and Louts NAPOLEON in 1830, the republicand its president might alike endure. But the conservative majority is true to nothing. It questions every thing, vilipends everything, plots against everything, and un settles every thing. The conservative majority in the French Assembly is more anarchic and revolu tionary than the red republicans themselves. It is it that c)aages, it that is malcontent, it that withers every form and shade of government and ministry by its hatred, its incredulity, and its sarcasm. It de nounces the republic from the parliamentary tribune as a monstrosity, yet dare not tit on any monarchy to put in its place. But yesterday M. THIEES made a speech, panegyrising the spirit of Louis the FOURTEENTH'S reign and government, and pointing it out as something to be revived and admired! In the same speech he stigmatised the Americans as a people without any instruction, save what was to be gleaned from journals. These two expressions but too faithfully repre , ent the temper and wisdom of the party in which M. THIEES is a chief. Now, we ask, is there any line of conduct passible or conceivable, so completely calculated to create and perpetuate disaffection and disorder? Every act and every speech of this self-called conservatism in the Assembly is a direct provocative to a liberal to turn a revolutionist, and to a republican to prefer even anarchy to the rule of men so false, so fickle, so unprincipled. and so incapable. Of course, such conduct has produced its natu ral results, and that form of popular protest and dis gust against a ruling system, which is stigmatised as Communism, has made such rapid strides, in east, west, north, and south of the country, that govern ment has telt itself compelled to divide the country into a few great military districts, preparatory to an inevitable system of martial law. We are no friends of the socialists. None can view with more regret and fear than we should, the esta blishment of the red republic in the streets of Lyons or of Paris; but it is impossible to contemplate the reckless, senseless, and unprincipled folly of dominant parties in France, without feeling that they have done, and are doing, their utmost to merit as well as to provoke another revolution, and to render it more sweeping, more sanguinary, and more fearful, than any which has yet occurred. Tan bills Mr. LABoucatas has just introduced into the House of Commons for the better regu lation of the Merchant Seamen Service, and for the better of the Merchant &a- men's Fund, are, so far at least as they can be understood frcm his general statements, examples of this weakness of the otherwise very able and always very amiable President of the Board of Trade. No one doubts that both captain, officers, and men, in the merchant service stand greatly in need of improvement; or that the merchant seamen's service, in its present condition, needs reform. But it may be doubted, whether either re- quire the interf, reties of government to the extent recommended by Mr. LABOCCEZZE. The insufficient qualifications of the masters of merchants and the insubordinate character of their seamen had their origin in bad legislation. They are both the result of laws which gave British shipping a monopoly in British parts. The first step to the improvement of either was the abrogation of the monopoly; and it has been taken. Already ita effect on the masters and mates is obvious. The can didates for voluntary examination are (the Gazettes testify) rapidly increasing ; and the augmented form i of competition n making shipmaaters generally look out for competent officers. Now, as bad, worthless, and drunken masters were sure to, and did, demo- ralise a good crew, so are competent and improving officers certain to improve the character of the crew they ship. The work of improvement has, then, sprung out of free trade in chipping; and it is, at least, somewhat too early already to decide dogmati cally and off-hand that competition in the mercantile navy won't do what it does in every other trade— viz., ensure qualified masters and good seamen. Mr. Lzsovettaitz records the wonders the abolition of the navigation laws has achieved on even Mr. LINDSAY, and yet he doubts that a regard for their own pecu niary interests will do for others what it has per formed for him. " Oh, ye of little faith !" What is most want ed to has'an this general im provement in the mercantile marine is just what Mr. LABOUCHERS won't hear of, viz. the abolition of the Merchant Seamen's Fund altogether, and the abroga tion of the law that denies to the British shipmaster complete freedom in the world's labour market. The Merchant :Seamen's Fund, whether derived from deductions from mariner's wages, or by a charge on tonnage, is, in reality, a charitable fund contributed by the consumers of the country to the seamen of the Merchants' Service. On the ground, Mr. LANDUCHIIRS'S proposal that the Trea sury shall contribute 30,0001. a year to the fund is perfectly defensible, if the fund have to be continued; for, in that event, t here will, of course, be greet eco nomy in making the payment direct from the Treasury, instead of levying it indirectly from the consumers. But, has Mr. LABOUCHEIIE considered the effect which the Merchant Sea men's Fund has on the character of oar mariners P Is it not • premium on improvidence, recklessness, and insubordination? Is it not • temptation to the extravagance, the thoughtleesness, and the poverty, that distinguish Britian sailors ? Is it not a came of some of them defects which he seeks by other agency to cure and remedy P Nn speeial reason for exemption from the consequences of general moral and social laws in this case has been started. And, certainly, all . the tendencies of mach a fund are prejudicial to that spirit of self-teliacoe and self-eoetrol—to those habits of providence and forethought, and to those prat:ideas of saving and economy—on which only the improve ment of any section of the labcuriog elms can be securely based. Instead of encomaging these ele ments of higher civilisation the sailor as to be led to still look forward to a fund which the country, in one form or other, really supports and must always sup port while it is in ex stance ; and, looking forward to it, will , we think, arrest and imp e de th e o th er agencies of improvement of his character that have lately been set at work. So, also, the continued refusal of Mr. LABOUCHUR to bestow on the British shipmaster complete free dom in the world'. labour market boa • similar ten decoy. Such freedom is simply an act of justice to the shipowner, on whom is now placed the pressure of competition from every quarter. To lim't, then, in any way, or to any degree, his choice of labour, is pro foist° to deny him the means of meeting the ems petition to which we have subjected him. Complete freedom in this respect would be equally advantageous to the shipowner and to the seamen ; for if foreign labour be cheaper than English, the ability of the shipowner to make free use of foreign labour would tend to eq..alise the prices of English and foreign labour, and so enable the English merchant service more readily to compete against the foreign mercantile marine. And, if the concoct of the forego seamen be superior to that of the English sailors, the competition of the former in English vessels would necessarily improve the character of our mariners. To persist in the present arbitrary state of the law on this subject is, therefore, to hurt the shipowner and the seamen, without benefiting the country: for one year's experience hoe eff.ctually dispelled all those fears for the maintenance of the Royal Navy, that were the bug-bear of the protec tionists. In the courn of his speech, Mr. LABOUCHEEZ stated, withont explaining wherefore, that Mace 1820 a great change had taken place in regard to ownership in the mercantile navy of England ; for that the old practice of merchants being also ship owners had now almost ceased, and that shipowning had become a distinct trade. In the sense in which Mr. LABOUCHERE used the word, we have now no merchant.. The business of our great trading firms has been reduced to agency and commission. They have ceased to be traders, shipowners, and speculators at home and abroad; be cause the competition amongst producers and menu facturers would no longer justify or defray the profits of merchants. When they alone supplied foreign markets, they bad ships of their own to export their goods. But, when the producers and manufacturers themselves were compelled by their own competition to rival the merchants in those markets, the latter could no longer afford to be shipowners. And now all, except a few, such as the African, traders find it more economical to charter than to own ships. Thus greater division of trade and labour has ensued. Shipowning is now a business of itself, requiring the closest attention, the most severe economy, the most rigid supervision ; because, like other busi nesses, there is iu it great competition. The change is one from high profits and extravagant expenditure to low profits and keen competition. But this sorely is not an alteration to be regretted. It is a change in which there is national progress, moral hope, and material comfort. It is moreover a change that ought not to be interfered with by government or acts of Trona mint unless on the strongest grounds or for the most irresistible reasons. These Mr. LABOCCHERZ has yet to furnish. And before joining in any opposition to his bills we await their explanation. But there is no occasion for any delay in the ex pression of disappointment that Mr. LABOUCIIERE has not accompanied thaw two bills by a measure on the light dues. By those dues the Trinity House of Deptford Stroud levies more than 25,0001. a-year on shipping beyond what even its expenditure can justify; and more than 100,0001. a-year beyond what good management of the lights require.. Is this tax on shipping to continue ? Is the jobbing and corrupt machinery by which this tax is levied to be longer tolerated? It may be feared that it is; for by one of Mr. LABOCCIIISILeS bills he imposes fresh duties on the Trinity House, and not one word dots he now say on the light dues. FRANCE. PARIS, FRIDAY, 530 P.Y. • The military commands into which IFrance hu been divided, could not but be made the subject of a motion in the Legislative Assembly. M. Pascal Daprat took the initiative in the matter yesterday at the clore of the sitting, by moving for lease to put questions u to these commands. The cabinet, through one of its members, declared itself ready to explain os Saturday, and to-morrow accordingly the question will come under debate. The bill on education made a rapid stride yesterday, clauses 7to 17 being voted. The most important of these clauses are those which regulate the composition and attributes of the academic councils, at which the 7th clause hu fixed the number at one for every de partment. Several amendments were proposed on this special point, the most important of which is that of M. Barthelemy S. Hilaire, being adopted, to the effect that note but licentiates of the University can occupy the (unctions of rector. Each academy is to have a rector. 'lite debate wee opened on a new chapter, which specially treats of the question of inspection. The committee proposed that inspectors might be chosen in the clue below that of licentiate in the university. This the ministry oppose, as they think it best that the inspector, whose duty will Out him in relation with heeds of public schools, who are themselves licentiates, should not be inferior in rank and know ledge to the person whose conduct he has to inspect. The matter was referred to a committee. To-day M. Lafond put the qn.stious upon the im prisonment of M. Prudhon. In the last week he said citizen Proudhon had been confined with the utmost rigour, without being allowed to communicate with any . of his 'friends. He held in his hand an opinion given by 'several lawyers, who stated that the course adopted towards Proudhon were clearly illegal. And he therefore came forward to ask the ministers to account for the arbitrary proceedings to wh.ch the prisoner had been submitted. Mr. Barre, in reply, admitted that a reproach might be addressed to the administration for its conduct, but that such reproach must be that of too great leniency rather than that of ex treme rigour. He would ask the Assembly whe ther the greatest lenity had not been shown towards M. Proudison, who, after he had been condemned by the Assembly and by the justice of the country, might have been sent to a common prison, but who, instead of this, had been left in Paris, free to be visited by all his friends. Instead of making use of this to leration he had continued the very course which had already rendered him amenable to the laws of the country. This state of things had lasted upwards of 40 days, when it was at length determined to prevent M. Proudhon from seeing his friends. He had not been placed in solitary confinement, but placed with other persons suffering punishment like himself. The government had been kind to him, and by now with drawing their kindness they only left him to be treated es other prisoners. M. &pot followed, and, amidst many interrup tions, quoted a paaage from a work written byLocus Napoleon while at Ham, in which he justified his at tempts at Strasbourg and Boulogne by the unpopu larity and oppression of the govern m ent of Louis Philippe. He concluded by moving an ordre du jour motive, blaming the conduct of ministers. After a few words in support of the motion by H. Pierre Leroux, the Chamber negatived it, and passed to some uninteresting subject. I have informed yea that M. Forcede, who has been remarked for certain Orleanist articles in the Revue des Deus Monde. has become editor of the Patric Already that journal feels the impulse of a new hand in a leader on the very question of these military com mands, in which a far more irritant spirit is shown than is usual in the semi-official organ of the Hippie. This article congratulates the country upon its subjection to military rule, and expresses pleasure at the democrats being hurt by the measure, " because it reaches the double end of increasing the security of the country, and fortifying the army. The Orleanists are not, however, all pleased with this predominance given to military power. Ind ee d. a feeling of mistrust has become general in the As sembly on the subject. The Mountain and the tiers peril ire very angry, and their musty is crest. The pseuds who belong to those parties are, I am told, moots ainawfod at the promotion of their antagonist., sad tbs dsonosrsts intsad to-morrow to propose an ordre in jow motive, blaming tbs creation of thess commands. The democratic socialist committee intend to bring forward as their oaadidate in the H•ntes-P;rbnde. ll. Devine, son of M. Deride, condemned by the High Court of Judos of Versailles ; in the Ariege, M. Pilbes, brother of us of tho persons modernised ; in the Hante-Enters, M. F. Ma gas. brother of another condemned person ; and is the Nieere, M. C. Gam boa, brother of the M. Gamboa who was condemned. M. Trimmpl, the ambassador from Grecoe to the French Iteriblia, has arrived in Paris. 1110 Minutest of Finance ham preersted a project of law fur a coedit of 600,000:r., to pay the sneers of the Greek loan, guaranteed to the amount of a third by the French government. I hear that the tiers.pwli, the Mountain, and certain of the majority will vote for as amendment on one of the clauses of the Education Bill, which amendment will bear, in substance, • prohibition against all religions communities not recognised by the state. These communities would the be deprived of the right to teach. This is a wane against which the ex-Constituent Assembly itself did tot hesitate to declare itself. The Preen says: •' Out of 175 sehoolmesters in the department of the Rants Vienne, 50 have just been suspended by the pref ec t. The Superior Council had previously s or revo 12." The Prefect of the Owe has te suspended M. Brains, the mayor of Masseube, from his functions, in conse quence of his notes and reports to the superior authorities evincing a spirit of systematic apparition injurious to the regular progress of the administra tion.—The Mayor of Alcoa and the Deputy Mayor of Sawa have been suspended from their functions by ' the Prefect of the Ariege. I find by the returns of the Bank of France that the metallic reserve has again advanced, though not to the same extent as last week, the increase in Paris being If millions, and in the provinces about 200,000 fr. The whole amount of the metallic re serve is now 4651 millions, to 467 millions of notes in circulation. The discount accommodation has de clined about half a million in Paris, and increased not quite one quarter in the departments, the amount of the former being 40,492,358 fr., and of the latter 67.838,531 fr. Protested bills have declined about 130,000 fr. in Paris, and about 20,000 fr. in the branch banks, the amount of the former being 1,683,839 fr., and of the latter 1,573,199 fr. On the side of the lia bilities, the notes in circulation have fallen off a little more than half a million in Pixie, and have increased labout three-quarters of a million in the provinces. The moonlit current of the treasury has advanced 2/ millions, the present amount being 83,217,960 fr. Pri vate accounts current in Paris have fallen off about one-quarter of a million, and in the country about 50 000 fr the amount of the former being ' 74, .9 329 232 fr and of the latter 24,948,231 fr. . Lomat Closing 2pm 0411 M 17 80 37 85 58 S 87 70 57 70 3 par 08619„ ...... do. lay Lem— . . . per OWL—. o o oi so o 4 per Osela .9 .9 9. .9 .. Kitt sage as Labdon: 30 drys, 23 43'. SO day; 25 Mi. Stagisn, 5, IMO Do. 9, 1841 Do. 44 ...... Do. 3 Piedmont 3 per Ceuta. TS 60 „ Baomm—Parts and 0,101118, 807 30; RM. and Rows, 667 50 ; Rouen and Mawr, 148 73 ; Origami and limaallias, 103 ; Stras bourg sod Rams, 117 SO.; Centre Menem), 316 13 • W.A. am gar. dram, 410; Saturn, 460; Mont/rem sad fur 110; Paris and Strasbourg, 337 SO •• Tours and Names, 257 50; ersalllas (right booth 300; Versailles OM bank), lett 73; St. Darwin, 410. PAWS, F. IL For limey. Far Amount .h thliblet._ 1 SWITZERLAND. Letters from Berne of the 11th insL state that much talk has arisen from the absence, at the diplo matic dinner given b 7 the Federal Council, of the ambassadors of Prussia and Russia. The executive has, it is said, determined not to interfere in the question of the Geneven fortification.. GERMANY. A telegraphic despatch from Berlin of the 13th inst., in the alogne (Marne, announces that the fol lowing gentlemen have been elected by the Lower House of the Prussian parliament to represent that hones at Erfurt : Baron Patow, Otto Campitanaen, Messrs. Ambronn, Riedel, Lensing, Hesse, Brok hausen, Baron Henry Arnim, Baron Bodelschwingb, Count Dyhrn. VIENNA, Fun. 7. I have received aathentia information of several financial measures about to be proposed by the minister of finance, of a very Important na ture. The first and moat important is a proprsal fur the introduction into Austria of • law similar to the French law to; d'enregutrement. As the land has been freed from its buiiens;;;(l as the whole conditions on which landed property is I held have been changed, a very large proportion, par ticularly in Hungary, is just now changing proprie tors, and it is clear, therefore, that this tax would bring in a very larg e revenue, and that too from a class of persons who are able to pay. At the same time the Minister of Finance proposes to introduce other measures for the material reduction of several indirect taxes which weigh heavily on the poorer classes: one of these is a very considerable reduction in the price of salt. Should these measures prove successful, I am informed that Herr Krause intends, in the course of the next year, to abolish the oppressive tobacco monopoly. FIB 9. General attention is drawn to-day to the aspect of affairs in the East, and the development of the ener getic measures adopted by the English Foreign St c retary. Letters and papers which have arrived to day throw a little light on the otherwise mysterious proceedings in Greece. They state with confidence that the agents of Russia have for some time been most active in the city of Athens in endeavouring to persuade King Otho to abdicate in favour of the Duke of Leuch:enberg, a step which would render Russian influence, great as it is at the present moment, in fu ture all-powerful in the East, and would greatly faci litate the long-desired occupation of Constantinople by Russia. The ministerial journals are of course wild against Lord Palmerston. One specimen of their mode of dealing with this subject I cannot refrain from quoting. The Pekin: Zeitung, the famed creation of Dr. Bach, brings the following diverting correspon dence from London in its latest number , Last night (Jut. 31) • stormy dentoustration took plug against Lord Palmerston, end only to the swift interposition of the military did the beautiful palace of his lordship owe its preservation from further damage. Not a single pine of glees was left whole. My next will bring you the circu lating lists of the new asieistry. At the moment I em Initial fresh mobs are amenbileg before the palace of the quota= favourite. Lots MONTIII.—A Madrid letter of the 10th states that Lola Mosta was to that city, is strict itscosmao, bat that she was to leave for Lauda In a few days. EXHIBITION or INDUSTZT OF ALL NATIONS.— Yesterday a very numerous meeting of the City of Louden Omainittes for promoting the Exhibition of Industry of all Noise wee held is the Long Parlour of the Mansion HOMO. The snort lively 'misty in iavour of the object prevailed. B o ma gentlemen addressed the meeting, and spoke in the meet entitesiesele terms of the object applat ding the se seielty ef the idea el extending the elms of exhibitions to all gem glebe wed& Many questions were salted ma to the nature tif the artistes se be exhibited ; whether they were all to be meaufashred, or whether raw products sad w en d productions, artistes of elegance sad 'entry, or artistes icily M utility. Whether manufactunn or whole eels her.. wen to be ensh dais *Abhors, or whether mensheenress dm ware es have the privilege ; whether dot balms le be me would be e•Mtly capa cious gar Mane sad esienial and foreign exhibitions. Most IS Mime quietism were satishmetily answered by Sir hum Dehe and Mr. F. 11. Faster, and b the hortereqeserelertm the Reverend A. R. Cahley and Mr. D. W. Wire after whisk two resolution were adapted appointing pita. to ammo and mahouts' the subcommit tee t o apply from time to time to the earl esemiedes for information ea to plans determined upon, so that the public may be fell, butreeted upon all the points neemery be the si dd a sce of the exhibitors. Some pollen= wonseetni with the Amorist& trade pre every reamed'- eimemee that the project would be bailed in the DMA Melee with peat delight, and said that large eateSege We* be es rated fro nt that country. A sum of I was asameneed to the room, including 6001. from the India Ceerfriy. Amoegt the coompany IMO Aidermea ßahodd ihmi. Alderman Salmons, the Baron , .P., Sir James Duke, Butßart N. P., Alderman Musgrove, Mr. W. Forster, M.P., Mr. W. Tile, and a simesetas atteadanee of some of the leading merchants sad other gentlemen con nected with the City of London. NOTE TO DENMARK. LORD P 4 COPENHAGEN, Fan. 3. You are aware that a nom from Lord Palmerston hes been presented to the Danish government; and I am fortunately enabled to give you a dear and complete account of the contents of this important document. The British minister begins by tracing the conduct pursued by Denmark, since the conclusion of the armistice of July 10. It was then settled that the negotiations for a defi nitive pesos should take place at Berlin with the hest possib'e delay, and that they should commixes with a proposition on the side of Denmark. In the meantime the Danish government bad need every possible pretext to pet off the conferences as long as possible. The main objection resorted to was that the Prussian plenipotentiary was not accredited with full powers from the Central Power, whish re presented the Diet of the Germanic Confederation. It was obvious that Prussia could not consent to derive her authorisation to treat for peace from a source which she had formally disowned, and which erased from that moment to be recognised by any ether power. At length the new Provisional Federal ComunWdes was organised in common by Austrio sad Prussia, and sanctioned by the other states of Germany. But this Central Power, or Interim, as it was called, was not armed with the full attributes of the plenary assembly of the old act, but only with the powers of the Smaller Council (Engem .Rath), the competency of which as sembly did not extend to the conclusion of peace. Upon this circumstance Denmark, instigated no doubt by a power which felt itself humiliated by the limited authority of the Interim, raised fresh difficulties. The moment was fart approaching when the armistice might be denounced. The society of Europe was agitated with the prospect of • fresh war. The minds of men of all chases were die. turbed ; dangerous political wounds were to be re-opened, vast commercial interests were exposed to ruin, and all because Denmark could cot be brought to make a proraition of peace, under a pre tence of diplomatic etiquette. Only when Prussia consented, under reserve, to accept for her negotiator full powers from the Interim, would the obstinacy of Denmark give way; and, finally, upon the very last day, the 1 7 th January, when the armistice might be de nounced if the negotiations had not began, the plenipo tentiaries met and exhibited their powers. Such was the course which the Danish government had thought proper to pursue, upon a question which so deeply concerned British interests, and in which Great Bri tain had assumed so friendly an attitude towards Denmark, baying offered its mediation in the most conciliatory spirit. Next, as to the proposition which the Danish government had brought forward as the base of a definitive peace. The note of Lord Palmer ston, does not, of course, explain what this proposi tion is ; but I will enter upon that subject presently. It is sufficient here to say that it is, in the opinion of the English minister, such a proposition as cannot possibly be accepted by the duchies. His lordship therefore earnestly counsels Denmark to lay aside that irreconcileable disposition which she has hitherto shown, to weigh considerately what is justly due to the Duchies, and to make those reasonable concessions, which are absolutely requisite for pre venting a renewal of the war; finally, to bring the negotiations to a speedy and happy termination by the erection of the peace on a just and durable foun dation. By contributing sincerely to such a consum mation, Denmark would earn the friendship of Great Britain and the applause of the civilised world. But if, on the other band, the Danish government should persevere in the injudicious, evasive, tacklers, obsti nate, and unconciliatory course, which it had hitherto followed, so detrimental to the interests ar.d derogatory to the dignity of Great Britain, then his lordship should feel himself bound to recommend to her Majesty's government to withdraw the mediation of Great Britain, and to refer the conclusion of the peace between Denmark and Germany to the general consent of the European powers. Having given the substance of his lordship's des patch, I shall now proceed to lay before you the plan which Russia and Austria have contrived for the set tlement of this question, and which is the cue put into the hands of Denmark. But, first, I must go a little into the state of parties here, and the composi tion of the government. There are, then, three d duct political camps—the aristocrats, the liberal., and the ultra-liberals. Of these, the last alone are for letting the Duchies have their will. Their main object is to enfranchise the peasant front his present disability to be a proprietor, even upon the smallest scale, of the soil. As no approach to this end would be made by coercing the Schleswigers, they will be no party to such coercion. The other extreme party, of the aristocrats, is to all intents and purposes a Russian party. They desire to abolish the representative system of annual parliaments, to get rid of the excellent constitution which Denmark pos sesses, and to go back to an Assembly of Estates (Stande Versanamlung), proroguable at pleasure, and for any arbitrary length of time—a system which would throw the internal administration of the country entirely into the hands of the nobles, and the direction of its foreign affairs entirely into the hands of Russia. I shall explain presently what are the views of this party on the Schleswig- Holstein question. I come now to the party, lying between these two extremes, of the liberals. If the aristocratic party may be called Russian, the liberal party deserves the name of English, for to England it looks for its support, as the absolutists look to Russia for theirs. The main object of this liberal party is to maintain inviolate the liberal constitution promulgated on June 5, 1849. Of this constitution, as of all others which deserve the name, the vital principle is a parliamentary representation of the people, of which the lower chamber has undivided control over the taxation of the couttry. But if the liberals in Denmark look to England for the tupport of their constitution, and the absolutists to Russia for the destruction of that constitution, both England and Russia are in a pecu liar manner interested in giving the support required of them respectively, with all the energy which can be applied to foreign relations in time of peace. It is an immense naval and commercial object with England that the Lund should be in the hands of a friendly power, or, in other words, of a constitutional power; national friendships being in our days determined by conformity of political principles, just as the wars which have arisen have had their source in antagonism on political principles. It is, on the other hand, an object of equal concern to Russia, that the outlet to the Baltic should be in the hands of an unconstitutional and absolutist power. Hence the great importance attached to the monition of this/I:Schleswig-Holstein question, and the desperate posh which is made on either side at this critical moment to carry the day. I shall now pro- ceed to reveal the artful scheme by which Russia hopes to carry her point. All men know that one of the great cries of the Schleswig party has ever been, that the duchy of Schleswig wu entitled from a period of great antiquity to en intimate and inseparable union with Holstein. This union wu confirmed by a decree of the Ger manic Diet on Sept. 17, 1846. The bait in the Russian plan is the guarantee of this union. Says Russia : the duchies shall have a liberal constitution, with independent administration : they shall have one common Assembly of Estates to consult upon their affairs : they shall have complete union, but they shall both be united to Denmark ; and there shall be a new constitution framed for Denmark. Schleswig-Holstein and Denmark shall have the same dynutio succession. The affairs of war and peace, army and fleet, shall be managed by a common commission of estates, that is, • commiesion appointed by the Estates of Schles wig-Holstein and the Estates of Denmark, giving thereby implicitly to understand that the par liamentary representation of Denmark is to be swept away, and to be replaced by what is called a Stan diache organisation, but which really means an absolutist-aristocratic form of government. Lastly, Holstein is to be completely severed from Germany. I cannot point out in language too emphatic the bitterness of this gilded pill. It is obvious to the simplest mind that this plan is nothing more nor less than a plot for destroying the constitution of Den mark, and for making the Danish monarchy end the Duchies a mere Haitian outpost. The lass that would accrue to England from the successful execu tion of such a plot is incalculable in a commercial point of view, and would inflict everlasting dis honour on the name of the British statesman who could be a party to such a nationally suicidal and politically liberticidal blow. At present fortunately there is little danger of such a statesman enjoying the coafid.stee of the British crown and parliament. Yet there is a powerful party is England and a widely circulated journal, who do not sinnole to • abet such aims, and to Rive the most emphatiii =to the colle ague o f R uss i a i n this pernicious I gay that Austria is the colleague of Russia in this ohms; shi is not so purely from dependence on that power; she has her own aims to serve. One of the dearest objects to the cabinet of Vienna is to baulk the ambition and resist the aggrandisement of Pinbia. By the sever anon of Holstein from Germany, the intention of chat clubby, on a definitive settlement which would leave it free to adhere to the Prussian Bunderstaat, will be provftted. Thus something will be snatched from Prowls in the north, and Austria, like a jealous sis ter, cares little that the spoil enriches not herfelf so long as it is placed securely beyond th e reac h o f h er rival. That hostility against England which has marked the policy of the Vienna cabinet since it fell into the wake of the Cstr, and personal hatred to Lord Palmerston which distinguishes its foreign mi nister, likewise give Austria a relish In the plot. The following is a copy of the note addressed by the Prussian Minister for Foreign Affairs to the Prussian ambassador at Copenhagen respec.ing the paragraph in the speech of the King of Denmark quoted in the Express of Thursday last : There is in the royal speech with which his Majesty the King of Denmark opened the Dsnish naehstss en Vs. 30th tilt. a pismire tending to exhi b it the relati-ns of Denmark to Germany and Prussia in a false light, and which therefore imposes upon me the necessity of expressing my opinion 'thereon to your Exoellency. The psmarte I allude to se the followiar The war is not yet concluded, but only suspended, yet I hope that the nego tiations which have been commenced will lted to the desired result; if my erring and misled subjects are not assisted by a greater power." That by the words "grater power" tt • Germanic Confe deration of Prussia is meant, is too clear for tke royal govern. ment to be deceived. I must, therefore, recall to yoar recollection that Prussia has only carried on the war as well as it. negoistions in the name and under the dirrction of the Germanic Confedera tion ; but that the Confederation has only undertaken both for the preservation of the rights belonging to it in respect to a federal country, and the recognition of which it hot already acquired by the decree of the Confederation of the 17th Sept 1848. There has never been a question of assisting erring and misled subject& of the King of Denmark as such and in the quality in which he opened the Danish Reichrag ; nor 01.11 such a question ever be raised in any way accordi. g to the well-known legally existing relations, and the government must, therefore, solemnly protest against any such rervenion. The simple obligation of the Germanic Confederation and of Prussia in its service, to vindicate the rights of the duchy of Holstein as a federaeterritory inclusive of its r latilsns to the duchy of Schleswig cannot he doubtful, and i . s authori sation to do so hes moreover been recoznised by the King of Denmark by his having entered into negotiations nn the •-bject with the Germanic Confederation and the King of Praia& _ The tarts are so elm that the foregoing sentences reclaim no further explanation; but to prevent the peesibility of their being erroneously interpreted, I car.not refrain from re calling them; and I, thetefore, request your Excellency to read this note to the President of the Danish mit.istry, and to furnish him with a copy of it.—(Signed) SCHLEIN LIZ. Berlin, Feb. 6, 1850. COPENHAGEN, FEB. 7.—Tne council of state held a long sitting en the 2nd, in which the Schleswig- Holstein question was debated, the king taking part in the discussion. Various documents, con , ibtmg of notes from Lotd Palmerston, from the Prussian pleni potentiary Von Usedom, and from the federal com mission at Frankfort, were the subject of deliberation. All contained propositions for a new provisional go vernment for the duchies. These papers will be laid, together with the resolutions of the cabinet, before the diet in a secret sitting. 'tie Court. The Queen and Prince Albert, with Prince Alfred, the Priacers Royal, and the PIitICASS Helena. took a drive yesterday aitsrnoon, in an open barouche and four. The equerries in waiting, Crlabel Buckley and Lieut..Ccd. the H•n. Alexander Gordon, attended on horseb +ck. His livid Highness the Prince Albert presided yesterday morning at the csuncil for the management of the dultty of Cornwall, at the Duchy-office, &Averse:. hquse. His Ro yal Highness was attended by Lteut.-Colonel the IL.c. C. B. Pnipps. The Prince of Wales, the Princess Alice, and the Princess Louisa took their accustomed pony and walking exercise yesterday. Tte Duchess of Sutherland and Lsrd Edward Howard had the honour of dining with her Majesty yesterday even. imp, at Buckingham Palace. His Royal Highness Prince Albert, attended by Lord George Lennox, Colonel Wylde, Lieut.-Colon.l the Hon. Alexander Gordon, and the Hon. and Rev. Gerald IVedes. ley, honoured with his presence, last evening, the S .crei Harmonic Society's performiulce of Mendeissohn's oratorio " St. Paul," at Exeter-hall. A deputation from the Committee of Railway Shareholders at Birmingham, Manchester, and Liverpool, consisting of Mr. J. C. Bleier, Mr. James Ryley, Mr. T. F. Bennett, Mr. J. James, Mr. Henry Croetield, and Mr. Swift, had an interview with the Commissioners of Railways yesterday, at their office in the Board of Trade. A deputation from Manchester, consisting of the Rev. John Bywater, M A , Mr. Robert Gardner, Mr. Mal colm Rose, and Mr. John M. Bennett, had an interview with Sir George Grey yesterday, at the Home-office. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yesterday. The Lords pre. , et were the Master of the Rolls, Lord Brougham, Lord Campbell, and the Judge of the High Court of Admiralty. Sr Edward Ryan sat as a Privy Cauncillor. Sir Frederick Thesiger was herd en an appeal. " Grant v. the Chief Justice of Bengal." The Solid - tor- Grneral commenced his address far the respondent. The cue was adjourned. IT Is RUMOURED in the court circles that it is her Majesty's intention to hold two levees at St. J.102e6 . 6 Palate before Easttr, and also one drawing room. The announce ment will shortly appear in the London Gazette. (From last night's Gazette•.) • ST. JAMES'S PALACE, FED. 12.—The Quern ban been pleased, on the nominatim of Lord t• .ley to appoint the undermentioned gentlemen to her jeit)'s hon. corps of Gentlemen•at Arras :—Charles Tyl. r, , vice Tiler, who rots. ; Sir James Lawrence Cotter, Bart., late of 27th Fleet., vice Ford, wbo nets. . _ - . IVntTEIIeLL, Fen. 12.—The Queen hes been pleased to appoint Robert Stephenson, E.q., to be one of her Majesty's Cumrsi,sioners for the or.nnution of the Exhibition of the Works of Industry of .R Nation-, to be holden in this year 1851 ; also tient -Col. William R. id, of the R .ysl En gineers, C. 8., to be one of the Executive Committee of the said Commission, in the room of Robert Stelherson, EN.; and to be chairman of the said Executive Committee. NEW ZEALAND.—Additional instructions, under the sign manual and signet of her Majesty, nave hien issued to the governor-in chief of New Ze..lsod, modit)irg the instructions before issued as to the alienation of land, by revoking that part of the former instructions which prohi bited the alienation of lands gratuitously, so far as regards navel and military officers, pensioners, and aboriginal inha bitants; and further authorising the governor in -chief, from time to time, to make such arrangements as may be directed by the secretaries of state for the settlement on crown lends of military pensioners, and of the original inhabitatta of the colony ; provided that nothing therein contained shsll apply to the province of New Munster during the suspension of the provisions of the 13th chapter of instructions by the 10th and 11th Victoria. DEPUTATION TO THE BOARD OF HEALTH. A very numerous deputation from the Nletropoli tan Sanitary Association waited by appointment upon the 0 o 1 Board of Health at Owydyr House yesterday, for the purpose of presenting the memorial agreed to at the public meeting held at the Freemasons' Hall on Wednesday week. One of the main objects of the memorial, it will be remembered, was to impress upon the board the necessity of including the metropclis within the provisions of the Public Health Act. The deputation was headed by Lord Robert Grosvenor, Mr., Mr. Slaney, hl P., Sir Wm. clay, M.P., and Mr. Wyld, M.P. Mr. &Army, Mr. WILD, and Dr. GAVIN, briefly ad dressed the board in reference to the necessity which existed for a constant supply of water to all parts of the metropolis, and to the increasing mortality during the last four years. The Earl of Csanisni, on behalf of the board, agreed with the deputation that it would be very disastrous if no further attempt were made to remedy the sanitary condition of Lon don. The time of the Board of Health had been given iceessantly to the objects they had before them during the past year, and it was now specially devoted to matte,, con nected with the improvement of the sanitary condition of London. It was not in his power now, as a member of the government, to state the exact time or order in which it may be found possible to submit legislative proceedings to the oegnisanos of parliament ; but he trusted that very little time would be Rot before a beginnieg in that wares le made. The Rev. Mr. Macknnets and Mr. C. H. J. LOUD ridded • few observations, the former in relation to improving the dwellings of the poor, and the latter upon the necessity of amending the Nuisances Removal Act; eater which the de putation took their leave, apparently much gratified by the result of the interview. BP.Lacr CoNisirrEs ON PUBLIC LIBBABIPS.- Yesterday, this c samittee held its first meeting in :he Speaker's room, Kr. Ewan in the chair, and arranged the order of proceeding with reference to their psi:Toad inquiry as' to the best mans of standing the establishment of libraries freely open to the public in large and populous tows". ".; ar, Ii I'