The Press.
London, England, 1855-07-07 00:00:00

OPENING OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.

An extraordinary session of the French Legislative
Assembly was opened on Monday, when the Emperor
delivered the following speech :

The diplomatic negotiations commenced during the
course of our last session already made you foresee that I
should be obliged to call you together when they came to a
termination. Unhappily the Conferences of Vienna have
failed in procuring peace, and I come again to appeal to
the patriotism of the country and to your own. Were we
wanting in moderation in settling the conditions ? Ido
not fear to examine the question before you.
One year already had passed since the commencement
of the war, and already France and England had saved
Turkey, gained two battles, forced Russia to evacuate the
Principalities, and to exhaust her forces in the defence of
the Crimea. We had, moreover, in our favour the adhesion
of Austria and the moral approbation of the rest of Europe.
In that situation the Cabinet of Vienna asked us if we
would consent to treat upon bases vaguely formulated.
Before our successes a refusal on our part seemed natural.
Was it not to be supposed; forsooth, that the demands of

THE PRESS.

France and England would increase in proportion to the
greatness of the struggle and of the sacrifices already

made ?
Well, France and England did not turn their advantages
to account, or even make the most of the rights given to
them by previous treaties, so much had they at heart to
facilitate peace and to give an unchallangeable proof of
their moderation.
We restricted ourselves to ask, in the interests of Ger-
many, the free navigation of the Danube, and a break-
water against the Russian flood which continually ob-
structed the mouths of that great river.
We demanded, in the interests of Austria and of Ger-
many, a better constitution for the Danubian Principali-
ties, that they might serve as a barrier against these
repeated invasions of the North.
We demanded, in the interest of humanity and of
justice, the same guarantees for the Christians of every
confession under the exclusive protection of the Sultan.
In the interests of the Porte, as well as in those of
Europe, we demanded that Russia should limit to a rea-
sonable degree, sufficient to shield her against any attack,
the number of her ships in the Black Sea, a number
which she could only maintain with an aggressive object.
Well, all these propositions, which I may call magnani-
mous from their disinterestedness, and which were ap•
proved in principle by Austria, by Prussia, and by Russia
herself, have evaporated in the Conferences.
Russia, who had consented, in theory, to put an end to
her preponderance in the Black Sea, has refused every
limitation of her naval forces, and we have still to wait for
Austria to fulfil her engagements, which consisted in ren-
dering our treaty of alliance offensive and defensive if the
negotiations failed.
Austria, it is true, proposed to us to guarantee with her
by treaty the independence of Turkey, and to consider for
the future as a emus belli an increase of the number of
Russian ships of war exceeding that before the commence-
ment of hostilities.
To accept such a proposition was impossible, for it in no
manner bound Russia; and, on the contrary, we should
apparently have sanctioned her preponderance in the Black

Sea by treaty.
The war had to follow its course.
The admirable devotion of the army and navy will, I
trust, soon lead to a happy result. It is for you to provide
me with the means to continue the struggle.
The country has already shown what resources it has at
its command, and the confidence it places in me.
Some months since it offered me 1,700,000,000 f. more
than I demanded. A portion of that sum will suffice to
maintain its military honour and its rights as a great nation.
I had resolved to go and place myself in the midst of
that valiant army, where the presence of the Sovereign
could not have failed to produce a happy influence, and, a
witness of the heroic efforts of our soldiers, I should have
been proud to lead them; but serious questions agitated
abroad, which have always remained pending, and the na•
ture of circumstances demanded at home new and im•
portant measures. It is, therefore, with regret that I
abandoned the idea.
My Government will propose to you to vote the annual
Recruitment Bill; there will be no extisoidinary levy, and
the bill will take the usual course necessary for the regu•
larity of the administration of a recruitment bill.
In conclusion, gentlemen, let us pay here, solemnly, a
just tribute of praise to those who fight for the country ;
let us mingle our regrets for those whose loss we have to

deplore.
So great an example of unselfishness and constancy will
not have been given in vain to the world.
Let us not be discouraged by the sacrifices which are ne-
cessary, for, as you are aware, a nation must either abdi•
cats every political character, or, if it possesses the instinct
and the will to act conformably to its generous nature, to
its historical traditions, to its providential mission, it must
learn how to support at times the trials which alone can
retemper it, and restore to it the rank which is its due.
Faith in the Almighty, perseverance in our efforts, and
we shall obtain a peace worthy of the alliance of two
great nations.
The Legislative Body having assembled after this
speech, the Ministers presented a law for a new loan
of 750,000,000 francs, 30,000,0001. sterling ; another
for the levy of 140,000 men, and some further bills
extending the imposts on brandy, railways,
Orders have been given at Marseilles to prepare
shipping for the embarkation of 40,000 men.
The Emperor has ordered that 1,500 men of the
garrison of Paris shall be daily admitted, free of
expense, to the Exhibition.
The Earl of Westmorland, the English Ambassador
at the Court of Austria, had an audienie on Tuesday
at the Tuileries with the Emperor Napoleon on his
lordship's way to London.
The Countess de Montijo, mother of the Empress,
and the Duke and Duchess of Alba, have arrived in
Paris.
The Journal de Vaucluse states that the harvest is
going on with such rapidity in that department that
in a very few days not an ear of corn will be left
standing. All the farmers agree in saying that the
crop will be an abundant one; the ears are heavy, and
will yield more than last year.
AUSTRIA.
The Vienna Zeitung gives an official statement of
the receipts and expenditure of Austria during the
last two years. The ordinary receipts for 1854
amounted to 245 millions of florins, 244 millions
sterling, being about eight millions more than the
previous year. The ordinary expenditure of the
State rose from 286 millions of florins in 1853 to
378 millions last year, showing a surplus expendi-

SATURDAY,

ture of 02 millions. The total annual deficiency
rose from 56 millions in 1853 to 140 millions in
1854, chiefly in consequence of the enormous ex.
penses of the army, and especially of the last levy
of 95,000 men. The ordinary expenses of the army
cost 117 millions of florins, together with 91 millions
of extraordinary expenses, making a total of 208
millions of florins, or nearly al million pounds ster-
ling. The late reduction of the army is calculated
to bring down the annual deficiency to its former
level. As long as the Austrian army was on the
war footing, it cost a million of florins (100,0001.)
every day.