The Press.
London, England, 1857-09-19 00:00:00

THE PRESS, SEPTEMBER 19,1857,

Notwithstanding a semi•offieial denial, the general
belief is that the Emperor of Russia will visit Paris,
and there meet the Queen of England. The
Empress of Russia reached Mayence on the 14th,
and left on the 15th for Cologne. She was expected
at Darmstadt to meet the Emperor, who was to arrive
in that city on the 17th.
So much has been said within the last few days as
to the stability of' the Crklit Mobilier that I think you
will not find the subject uninteresting. Without in any
way wishing to justify either its origin or all its pecu.
niary transactions, still it cannot be denied that in
some moments of great difficulty it has rendered
many important services, and it would be unjust to
condemn the company for the isolated acts of some
of its late directors. The Credit Mobilier has many
powerful enemies, particularly amongst capitalists of
high reputation. With some of these moneyed men
jealousy is the mainspring for their opposition. One
of them, bearing a European name, made use of the
following expression when he first learnt that Mr.
Isaac Pereire was at the head of this gigantic enter-
prise :—" La vipere que j'ai chauffee dans mon sein."
The reports so industriously circulated as to the
stability of the company have brought:about a decided
erise in the money market more injurious to the
holders of shares than to the company itself, which
continues its operations as if it possessed the fall
confidence of its shareholders. The victims are not
only the holders:of shares in the Credit Mobilier, but
in almost every other company, many paying very
handsome dividends. I am inclined to believe that
unless some most stringent measures be adopted to
prevent the circulation of calumnious reports the
result will be most serious. The measures already
taken by the Government have had a most salutary
effect in checking improvident speculation, without
in any way injuring the loyal financial mr vements of
the Stock Exchange. It cannot be denied that the
Stock Exchange is literally inundated with shares of
all descriptions, the most wild schemes having at
one time found f rest favour with the gamblers who
infest the Place de la Bourse; but in my opinion the
present crise is only momentary, and ere long perfect
confidence will be restored, but that will be
only after many a struggle and many a disaster.
Out of the Exchange the mass of the people look
quietly on, certain that no real danger awaits them.
They see that the country is more prosperous than
ever it was before, that the harvest is excellent,
that the peace of Europe is assured, and that France
is surrounded by powerful and faithful allies. Be
assured, then, that although France is now under-
going a serious financial crisis it will not last long,
and that confidence will be soon restored, reposing
on a more solid basis than it ever did before.

We are once more, owing to the heavy rains,
threatened with inundations. The rivers Volane and
Ardeche, in the Loire, have overflown their banks,
and done considerable damage, carrying away many
manufactories for the rolling of silk, itc. The most
majestic mulberry-trees, the riches of the department,
have been rooted up ; immense blocks of rock have
been undermined, and falling on the high road have
stopped all passenger and carriage traffic. several per-
sons have lost their lives, and many families have been
ruined. At St. Martin de Valamas and Largentiere,
in the department of the DrOme, the heavy rains
have done incalculable damage to property of every
description. A letter from Largentiere says .

Owing to the overflowing 'of the ArdOche, the whole of
the country is under water, houses have been carried away,
the crops destroyed, and many persons drowned. The
misery this terrible disasters has already occasioned cannot
be described.

A letter from Genoa of the 14th speaks of a
terrible fire, which had broken out in the workhouses
of the military arsenal. The damage and loss of
material was said to be very considerable.
The vintage in the south is nearly finished. It is
now certain that the Beaujolais of 1857 will be most
excellent.

The Ministerof War has presented to the Academy
of Science a packet of cartridges, in which the balls
have been pierced from one end to the other during
the Crimean campaign. The holes were formed by
an insect. The Minister showed several of these
insects, which he called " Mouche Hymenoptere."
A few days since a piece of cannon was brought to
the Government foundry at Cherbourg, having been
found at the bottom of the sea, in the roads of La
Hogue. It is supposed to have belonged to one of
the ships of the squadron commanded by Admiral
Tourville, and which was burnt in the memorable
battle of 1092. The piece, which was loaded with
ball, was in a state of high preservation, notwith
standing its having been nearly a century and a half
under the water. The powder had completely lost
its strength.

We have once more magnificent weather, and our
Boulevards are lined with strangers.

TILE ELECTORS OF DUNOANNON have considered and
approved of the Address of the Hon. Major KTIOX in
reference to his approaching departure for India.