The Express.
London, England, 1852-07-30 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 30, 1852

It is given out as certain that Louis Blanc has
made lus peace with the French government, and
will be allowed to return to France by the intended
amnesty of the sth of August. .
The fkrutirafiennsi contains an article on free
I trade, in Which it attempts to prove that the adop-
tion of that principle, although inevitable and inde-
structible in England, would be fatal to France.
I his piretectionary bundle of sophisms seem a mere
echo to the long-winded speech of M. Thiers in the
Legislative Assembly on the same subject.
Much curiosity is felt in Paris on the subject of •
new work, said to be published in London by M.
Victor Hugo, with a title that none of the journals
here dare to publish, This title is lam told the
expressive one of "Napoleon the Little." I further
learn from the Brussels journals that on Tuesday Met
M. Victor Hugo received from the burgomaster of
Brussels a notice requiring him to quit the Belgian
territory. This measure is attributed in Brussels to
the publication by M. Hugo of a pamphlet which
has been some time announced. Ito will leave im-
mediately, and probably join his family in Jersey.
The history of the 23 millions of francs just paid
off to the Bank of France scarcely warrants the
flourish with which the payment was announced In
yesterday's dioniteur. The advances made by the
bank arc of two sorts. There is an existing loan of
50 millions secured by treasury bonds, and bearing
interest at 4 per cent. Besides this, in March,lB4B,
the bank advanced to the provisional government
50 millions, under a treaty which enabled the trea-
sury to call for loans to the extent of 150 millions.
This sum of 150 was, by subsequent payments,
reduced to 75 millions, and the remaining 25
millions were claimed by the present government
immediately after the event of Ike. 2, 1851. Some-
thing like a panic was produced at the time, which
was allayed by an explanation in the Musaiieur that
the treasury had a much larger sum lying at call in
the bank callers, and that the money was not wanted
for use, but was merely transferred upon paper to in-
crease the public drawing account as a matter of pre-
caution in case of emergency. Now, however, that
this twenty-tire millions is said to be repaid, the
operation is treated as any thing but a formality. It
is to be observed that according to the treaty of 1848
the treasury was not liable to pay interest upon the
130 millions, reduced afterwards to 73 millions, so
long as the treasury account current at the bank
*acceded the amount borrowed. The treasury has
Wog had more than 73 millions at call in the bank,
and therefore the present operation does not save
any interest to the public. If, indeed, the 23 mil-
lions had been applied in redeeming treasury bonds
held by the bank, that would have been a valuable
diminution of the floating debt. At present, the
transaction is merely fresh evidence of an accumula-
lation of capital in the state coffers.
Whatever excitement the municipal elections may
be now producing in the departments is shared but
in a faint degree by the inhabitants of Paris, who,
by special exception, are for the present telieved
from any semblance of local self-government. Bet
it becomes every day more clear that the elected of
universal suffrage in the country will for the most
part, in fact though not in form, be as completely
nominees of the executive government as the mum- I
cipal commission now sitting at the hotel do Ville.
People feel that freedom of election will not be per-
mitted, and knowing this, they generally retrain
from wasting their strength iu the vain attempt
to beard power. I yesterday mentioned some suc-
cessful manifestations of an independent spirit in

the Re des Ceisie. A more striking, -though
a negative inetame. is known to-day as having
occurred at Montpelier. This is the only town ,of
importance in Fran* where the "noes" had it on
the 20th of December. Knowing with what an evil
eye they must be regarded on this account, the elec-
tors have not attempted to provoke a state of siege
by opposition at the municipal elections. They have
shown their feeling by abstention. Out of 13,141
electors only 4,563 voted, and out of 97 candidates
not one obtained the minimum votes required by law
to validate the election. The prefect of the Gironde
has issued • proclamation stating that to produce
other candidate, than those of the government would
be not only an act of indiscipline but of hostility.
The barristers of the Court of Appeal of Paris met
yesterday to elect the council of discipline of the order.
The number of barristers who voted was 344. The
names chosen have a certain signification, as showing
the spirit which yet prevails at the bar. M. Paillet,
the oouusel who so ably and eloquently pleaded the
cause of the Orleans family against the confiscation
decrees, is at the head of the poll with 320 votes.
The following is the list of the 19 elected, in the order
of their majorities: Paillet, Duvergier, Marie, Chmix
d'Est Auge, Plocque, Gaudry, Lionville, Lacau,
Berryer, Naboodets, Poniard do Villeneuve, Caignet,
I)esmaret, Alexis Fontaine, Jules Fevre, ltivolet,
Thoreau, Laudrin, and Bethmont. M. Billault, a
member of the council for last year, and who, from
his standing at the bar, would have been re-elected
nearly as • matter of course, but for the part be hma
played in the Corps Legislatif, stood last on the lit
of the rejected candidates, having obtained only 72
votes.

A decree of the Prince President of the Republic
authorises M. Lauzin de Rouville to establish a rail-
way from Provins to the Ormes, u an =branch-
went of the line from Montereau to Troyes, and to
form a company for the purpose. The conditions on
which the concession is made are annexed to the
decree.

Intelligence has been received of the arrival of the
Charlemagne on the 18th off Metelin, about twelve
leagues from the Dardannelles.
At the Bourse the Four-and-a-Half per Cents. rose
30, and closed at 103.86; the Three per Cents. rose
73, and closed at 73.60. Railways were less
animated than yesterday. Lyons, however, rose
201 r.; and Northern, 10fr.; Marseilles and Havre,
7.60 each.

edialidstration and revenues, arioordlag to the
tplrep=el the Zollverein. The measures necessary for
guaranteeing the monopoly of tobacco, might also undergo
sollieraer dons, and need not form any obstacle to the
ease ono a customs union any more than that of salt
has been an °balsas to the Zollserrin and the Steuerverein.

The differences under the heads of production and consump-
tion have been duly appreciated, and the mainly fixed for
the collection of the revenues must give satisfaction in this
respect. Besides, the customs union should only be effected
gradually by mean, of a treaty of commerce ; in ease, how-
ever, the negotiations with Austria did not lead to a result,
they would not be =elms, seeing they would be able to ad-
mit the point of view of Prussia, following which mouse-
Meontable °bated.' might arise against the union. Is it
not better to examine if the customs union is possible than
to repel all investigation.
It would be so much more to be regretted that Prussia
should refuse to enter at this time into negotiation., an the
coalition consider their happy issue an the only means to
overcome the prejudice which might result by the adoption
of the treaty of Sept. 7, and in this case the other members
of the Zollverein would have no serious difficulty in ad-
hering to it. The in:edition is convinced that isolated ne-
gotiations cannot lead to a definitive treaty so long as
their result is not appreciated in all directions, particularly
if an obligatory resolution relative to the September
treaty is not come to, it will be impossible to guarantee a
definitive customs treaty with Austria. In consequence
the plenipotentiaries are authorised to express the wish that
the negotiations, the necessity of which is generally acknow-
ledged, shall be carried on as rapidly as possible, lest the
Ices of time may render impossible au arrangement so uni-
versally desired.