The Express.
London, England, 1852-05-04 00:00:00

committee

FRANCE.

PARIS, MONDAY EVENING.
The dinner given to the President yesterday by
his uncle Jerome is much talked of, es a sort of inau-
guration of harmony among several members of the
Bonaparte family, who have been hitherto widely se-
parated by political or other differences. Besides
the Prince de Canino, whose untoward voyage to
Civita Vecchia obliged the Elyse to affect displea-
sure, if it felt none, Napoleon, the son of Jerome,
was present.
Loui4 Napoleon opened the ball at the Tuileries
last night with Lady Cowley. The Prince slept at
the Tuileries, as is usual with him after giving a ball
at that Palace.

The catholic party are a good deal soandalised at
the President's visit to the Dame Aux Camelia, and
his present of a bracelet to Mdllo. I)oche, whose
brilliant performance of this interesting piece of
frailty drowns the Vaudeville nightly with the sen-
timental tears of the Parisian public.
People talk of a marriage as imminent between M.
de Persigny and the...daughter of the Prince de la
Moskowa, on whom the President would bestow a
brilliant dowry.
I informed you in a previous letter that the whole
tribunal of commerce of Evereux had refused to take
the oath of fidelity to the President. To-day it ap-
pears that M. David, the procureur-general, has
illegally used force to prevent the members of the
tribunal from meeting before their successors were
appointed. You are aware that Evreux was the
place for which M. Ouizot iat in the Chamber of
Deputies. The refusal of the oath in the present
instance is a proof that the influence of that ex-
minister is not yet extinct in the Eure.
The journals are alarmed at • report that the price
of the Moniteur will be reduced to 40fr. per annum,
and that the official paper will be allowed to insert
advertisements. This would indeed give the coup de
grace to the dying press.
The proceedings of the Corps Legislatif to-day
were commenced by M. Billault reading from the
chair a letter from M. Casablanca, Minister of State,
to inform the house that on May 5 a funeral service
in honour of the emperor would be performed at the
Invalides, and to request that members would attend
in full costume. M. Billault drew lots for • deputation
of 25 members,who, with the bureau,would represent
the Corps Legislatif in an especial manner. All the
members were however not the less invited to be
present. The order of the day for the debate upon
the rehabilitation bill was then read. M. ()raider
de Camargue said ho approved of the principle of the
measure, and looked upon it as a necessary element
of the now penal system. But he opposed it u being
premature, and contrary to all principles of good ad-
ministration. Doubtless the bill would be a favour-
able instrument for developing the colonisation sys-
tem, for one consequence of it would be to attach
rehabilitated persons to the soil. But was it wise to
enter upon this question before hand, when the colo-
nization system itself had scarcely been studied P
lie then recapitulated the history of the legislation
on rehabilitation. He spoke of the efforts made by
Napoleon to cleanse the augean stable of revolution,
and yet Napoleon lived to see the end of many of his
institutions, for this reason, that what was better
necessarily spiouenel from what was only good. It
was now pro to transfer to the courts of appeal
that power w ich ought to be vested in government
alone. That was an anomaly. The government was
the corner stone of society. If the general were taken
away from the army, nothing but a mob would re-
main ; if the captain were taken from a ship, nothing
—(the conclusion of this figure was loot in
• burst of laughter). The execn,tive power
should not be deprived of the supreme right of
granting pardons, for rehabilitation was but a

species of pardon. M. Veron rose to support the bill.
(Cries of "We cannot hear you.") M. Veron then
left his seat on the front bench of the Centre, and
walked to M. G. de Caseagnac's bench, which is the
4th on the extreme right of the house. (An univer-
sal burst of laughter accompanied this change of
position.) He reminded the house that the Presi-
dent of the Republic had reserved the initia•ive of all
laws to himself. The prestnt bill had been adopted,
by the Council of State. The house, then,
ought to adopt it. The intervention of the
courts of appeal had been objected to, but who, then,
was competent to give an opinion in such matters?
Should it be the council of state? Evidently not,
for tAl;ia, for want of competent knowledge, would be
obli themselves to consult the courts of law. The 1
ha of the state ought not to be pestered by solid-
, tions which might carry him too far, like a horse
broke loose that could not be stopped. (Laughter.)
Wisdom and moderation were the lice props of ull
power. The Marquis el'Andelurre, on rising to
speak, found himselt unable to make himself heard
from his place, and following M. h'eron's example he
removed to the more elevated bench of M. de
Caasag wee. Aa immense explosion of laughter
saluted this evasion of the fundamental rule
of the constitution of the Chamber, that de-
puties arc not to speak from a tribune. A member
here observed that if all speaker:, were to do the same
the favourite bench would in fact become a tribune.
(" True, true.") M. Billault said that according to
the regulations every speaker ought to speak from
his place. But there wus a consideration above the
regulations, and that was how the speaker could be
heard. In suppressing the tribune, it was wished to
suppress all theatrical display, but that was all.
(Applause.) The Marquis d'Andelarre, on resuming,
said that his principal objection to the bill was that
it admitted persons condemned for misdemeanours
only (correetionnellement) to rehabilitation. Many
attempts had been made to introduce this innovation,
but they had always been rejected. In almost all
such cases there would be no use in rehabilitation.
A bad functionary, a bad schoolmaster, who might
obtain his rehabilitation, would not regain his
place the sooner. M. Adolphe de Belleyine sup-
ported the bill. M. do Montreuil proposed that re-
habilitation should not be allowed to apply to po-
litical offenders. The reporter maintained the
government measure. The house then passed to the
discussion of the articles. The first article was
adopted, subject to a formal alteration sug-
gested by M. Rotator, one of the councillors
of state appointed to advocate the bill before the
house. At this moment M. Billault interrupted the
proceedings by announcing that he had just received
a letter from the minister of state, presenting the
budget for l 8 3, approved by the Council of State.
He proposed to nominate a committee of two mem-
bers from each bureau to examine the budget. M.
Rogues said that ho thought two members would
not be enough, and proposed that there should be
three from each bureau. This suggestion was con-
sented to. The budget was ordered to be printed mid
distributed. The debate on the Rehabilitation Bill
was then adjourned till to-morrow, and the house
rose at six o'clock, having sat four hours.
The Marquis de Lavulette, minister plenipoten-
tiary at Constantinople, who is ut present in Paris,
en conpl., is about to leave for his post with the title
of ambassador.

From returns published in the Moniker it ap-
pears that the average price of the hectolitre of
wheat, which, on the 29th of February was 17fr. 99c.,
and on the Ist April, 18fr., fell on the lot instant to
17fr. 814 c. A further decline is expected, owing to
the demand for exportation to Northern Germany
having diminished.
The improvement noticed lust week in commer-
cial affairs has been fully maintained. The provin-
cial shopkeepers, who, since prices were raised by
over speculation in January last, refrained from
making their assortments, are now driven to pur-
chase by the necessities of home consumption, and
that at the prices asked by the manufacturers. The
cabinet makers in the Faubourg St. Antoine con-
tinue to be fully employed. The differences between
the masters and men seem to have been settled
amicably. The retail trade in Paris is naturally in
high spirits at the prospect of the immense influx
of foreigners and provincials expected to be present
at the grand military display of next week. Already
the hotels and furnished houses are filling fast. The
sale of noureautfa has a little slackened, owing to
the fact that the spring purchases are in a great
measure concluded, but business at Rouen
and Mulhouse is as active as ever. At Lyons the
long looked-for orders from America have been re-
ceived, and most of the factories are in full work. It
is understood that many of these orders are for the
Universal Exhibition at New York, which pro-
ject has not been given up, as was at one time re-
ported. Large purchases of wine have been made
at Bercy throughout the week. Letters from all
the wine-growing countries confirm but too fully the
alarming accounts of the state of the vines, owing to
the frosty nights of April 20 and 21. The Orleans
district has suffered the least; but in Burgundy,
and the south, where the plant is more forward, the
damage has been immense. The loss in many places
is estimated at half the crop. In the environs of
Beaune, it is said, the whole growth of the plain is
destroyed. The vines on the hill-sides are not in-
jured to the same extent. In Provence and Savoy
the mulberry trees are looking badly. The leaves
have been pulverised by drought and white frost.
Raw silk at Lyons and St. Etienne has
consequently been quoted lfr. to 2fr. per lb. higher.
The last accounts from the Dromc and Ardeche,
however, speak more hopefully of the coming silk
crop. The late fine rain has suddenly restored the
trees to their usual appearance. This seasonable rain
has had the effect of universally checking the rise in
corn and flour. It is not believed that the wheat
crop has been seriously injured. Flour at Paris has
fallen from lfr. to 2fr. per sack. The iron masters
have effected more sales than for some time past,
but the high prices oblige purchasers to restrict
their demands to ;the smallest quantity absolutely
required.
At the Boone the Four-and-a-Half per Cents. fell
10c., closing at 100.20; the Threes fell 30c., and
closed at 70-60. Bank of France shares fell sfr.
Some heavy sales were effected in railways at lower
prices. Rouen fell 15; Orleans, 12.50; Central,
7.50; Havre, 2.50; Dieppe rose 1.25; Northern,
Lyons, and Tours and Nantes remain without change.

ITALY.

TUSCANY.

The governmental crisis in Tuscany continues. A
letter, dated Florence, April 25, says:

The ministerial crisis is protracted, and the Marquis
Bowels encounters refusals wherever he offers a minis-
terial portfolio. Meanwhile, the disquietude and con-
sternation of the nation increair, and commercial operations
are prejudiced, especially at Leghorn. In prospect of the
repeal of the Leopoldine laws, the 'peat Hebrew banking
and mercantile firms aro contemplating the liquidation of
their affairs, and the transference of their establishments to
Genoa. The conduct of our Grand Duke is truly incom-
prehensible. About a fortnight ago he left for the Maremma.
On the eve of his departure he had a long conference with
Baron Hugel, the Austrian ambassador; and Monseignor
Bronsoli, Bishop of Fiesole. Those eminent men, who
well know the disposition of the nation, came to -tonvince
him how prejudicial to Tuscany and his family mutt be
the repeal of the popular laws of hie grandfather. Such
advice coming from the lips of an Austrian ambassador
could not be suspected. All seemed to be arranged. The
Baidaseeroni ministers, with the exception of Doccella, were
to retain their portfolios. The Tuscan Monitewr was to
publish a declaration guaranteeing the existence of the
Leopoldine laws, and only one little stipulation, confin-
ing the pleadings of Jewish advocates in the courts
to the affairs of their co-religionists, was to stand
as a memorial of the crisis. All this was drawn up on
paper, and all that was wanting to confirm the arrange-
ment, the sign-mannal of the Grand Duke, was to be given
next day. The morrow came, and the ministers learned
that the prince had gone into the country, and had signed
nothing, nor yet left a word for their guidance. This was
a fortnight ago, and the cabinet has only once heard from
the sovereign, when it received • message directing the
auppnrsoa of 11 Costauzionale, which had published some
moderate articles in favour of the Leopoldine laws. Minis-
ters were reluctant to suppress a journal which sustained
the principles on which they had resigned, so they com-
promised the matter by arising one number, and the COlO.
tuzionale continues its publication.
The personal position of the minister and the country his
become exceedingly critical by the sudden departure of
the Austrian troops, which occupied Sienna, Lucca, and
Arena. There are at this moment no more than six
thousand men quartered between Florence and Leghorn.
Should troubles arise, what could ministers do against men
protesting, like themselves, in favour of the civil liberties of
Tuscany. It is only too certain that, should such misfor-
tunes occur, the Austrians would return with increased
force, and the country would have to support the burden
of an occupation more oppressive than ever.

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