The Press.
London, England, 1854-10-21 00:00:00

OCTOBER 21, 1854.

LANDED PROPERTY IN FRANCE,

THE effect of minute subdivision upon the value and
product of landed property in France is made the
subject of curious inquiry by the Sacle. Our
Parisian contemporary sets forth the following
statistical facts to prove that such division tends to
promote the welfafe of landowners and agricultural
classes :

The constant enemies of our great revolution do not
cease, amongst their passionate and unjust attacks on all
that was established and rooted amongst us b 7 1789, to
asiail with bitterness the system of an equal division of an
inheritance amongst all the children of the same father. " It
is the ruin of France," they say; "the ruin of agriculture
—misery and famine for ever established in the country.
Hurrah !" they add, " for large farms—for estates as large as
provinces, such as were formerly possessed by nobles and
monks !" We have often admired the impudence of these
complaints, and it is by figures that we will now reply to
them, and avenge what is perhaps the greatest conquest of
all the eighteenth century. We knew that the bad tree
could alone produce bad fruit, and that principles of justice
and truth could not fail to open the path to the progress,
happiness, and intellectual and material advancement of
nations. We have accordingly sought the effect of the in-
definite parcelling out of lauds, on the number of the popu-
lation, on its welfare, on taxation, and on the yield of the
earth itself. Land is not everywhere in France divided into
infinitely small parcels ; in the south it is divided into por-
tions double in extent those of the north, and in the centre
it is not divided in the same proportion as in the north and
south. This providential inequality will supply us with
precious points of comparison, The departments in
which land are most divided are the Nord, Pas-
de-Calais, Somme, Aisne, Ardennes, Meuse, Moselle,
Meurthe, Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin, Vosges, Haut-SaOne,
Aube, Haut-Marne, Marne, Seine-et-Marne, Seine, Seine-
et-Oise, Oise, Seine.inferieure, Eure, Calvados, and Manche.
Total, twenty-three departments ; and they form what we
will call the Northern Region. The superficies of this region
is 6,028 square leagues : the total of the population is
12,073,752, or 1,818 inhabitants per square league. The
second region, which we will call the North Centre, contains
nineteen departments,which are—Finist erre,C Otes-du-Nord,
Morbihan, Mayenne, Marne-et-Loire, Sarthe, Orne, Eure-
et-Loir, Loir-et-Cher, Loiret, Cher, Nievre, Yonne, Cote-
d'Or, Saone-et-Loire, Doubs, Jura, and Ain. These nine-
teen departments comprise 6,417 square leagues. The
population is 7,877,686, or 1,227 inhabitants per square
league. The third region, that of the South Centre,
comprises twenty departments—Vendee, Loire-Inferieure,
Charente-Inferieure, Deux-Sevres, Charente, Vienne,
Indre-et-Loire, Indre, Haute-Vienne, Allier, Crease, Puy-
de-Dome, Haute-Loire, Loire, lthime, Isere, Drome, Ar-
deche, Hautes•Alpea, and Basses•Alpes. Its superficies is
6,337 square leagues, and its population 7,402,127, or per
square league 1,167 persons. The fourth and last region
consists of twenty-four departments—Gironde, Dordogne,
Correze, Gantal, Lozere, Gard, Vaucluse, Var, 13ouches du-
RhOne, Remit, Aveyron, Lot, Lot et-Garonne, Landes,
Gera, Tarn-et-Garonne, Tarn, Aude, Pyrenees.Orientales,
Ariege, Haute-Garonne, Hautes-Pyrenees, Basses-Pyre-
nees, and Corsica. The superficies is 7,676 square leagues,
and the population is 7,995,157, or 1,041 per square league.
It results from this that the population per league is—in
the North 1,818, the North Centre 1,227, the South Centre
1,187, the South 1.041. Now, the following is the propor-
tion for each landowner in which property is divided. In
the North, three hectares, the North Centre 5.20 hectares,
the South Centre 5.66, and the South 6,70. Thus the
property is one half more divided in the north than the
south, and consequently the population is there almost
one half more dense. There were in 1832 in the northern
region 4,063,018 landowners, in the North Centre 2,402,515,
the South Centre 2,203,917, and the South 2,261,1W2.
And note that the superficies of the Northern Region is only
6,638 square leagues, whilst the Southern Region is 7,676
square leagues. Now, do you wish to know what was the
revenue from land on which the tax was imposed in 1832?
In the Northern Region it was 1,175,113,000 f., the North
Centre 655,306,000 f., the South Centre 562,937,000 f, and
the South 708,258,(X)0. Assuredly it will not be pretended
that the North is more fertile than the South ; whence then
arises the difference in the amount of revenue ? It can
arise, in our opinion, from nothing else than the difference
in the division of land.

A THOUSAND SINGING BIRDS FOR AMERICA.—Amongst
the " passengers " by the Washington steamer, which lately
left Southampton with the United States' mails, were up•
wards of 1,000 singing canary birds. A cabin was fitted up
for them, close by one of the paddle-boxes. Almost every
one of the birds was in a separate cage. This cage is dome-
shaped, and is of basket work.
DURING the performance of Hamlet at the Burnley
Theatre, on Monday evening, the actor who played the
part of the Ghost was so annoyed at sundry exclama-
tions by the " gods " that he doffed the winding-sheet in
which he was wrapped, and left the stage for the gallery,
to inflict bodily chastisement on some of the offenders.
The interference of the police was necessary to secure
quietness. _ _ _

THE stocking of the upper lake in the Bois de Boulogne,
near Paris. with fish has commenced. Some fine speci-
mens of the silurus, and a number of trout two years old,
brought from the establishment at Huninguen, were cast
into the lake in presence of the Minister of Commerce and
numerous visitors. All the fish were brought up without
accident by the Strasburg Railway. They were placed in
large cisterns in waggons constructed on purpose ; and,
whenever the locomotive stopped to take in water, the
water in the cisterns was renewed. Amongst the speci-
mens of the silurus were some of forty pounds weight, bat
the average was from ten to fifteen. All the trout were
very fine.

TIIE PRESS.

Conn ,Taritct gitg

FRIDAY EVENING.
NOTWITHSTANDING the heavy failures at Liverpool
which we announced last week, and the consequent

suspensions which have since occurred in Ireland,
the Money Market has on the whole been tranquil
this week, neither exhibiting buoyancy nor depres-
sion. It had been apprehended for some time pre-
viously that certain firms had been trading beyond
the limits justified by their resources ; therefore the
failures of Messrs. Oliver and M'Henry of Liverpool,
of Messrs. Allen and Anderson of London, and of
other smaller firms, have excited no surprise, and
the general condition of trade is considered to be
sound and healthy, and no further disasters are anti-
cipated in the commercial world.
The predictions of cheapness which were so con-
fidently put forth by some of our contemporaries are
not likely to be realised. From the drought and failure
of the crops in America and elsewhere, corn is likely
to be dear; but no drain of bullion is to be dreaded,
as, thanks to the abundance of our home harvest, the
enhanced price of provisions will chiefly benefit our
own agriculturists.
In France the vintage has proved most unsatisfac-
tory, and the French Government has entered into a
contract with a Spanish house for the supply of wine
to the army of the East.

On Monday the first instalment of 151. per cent.
came payable on the last issue of 1,000,0001. Turkish

loan.

On Tuesday 20/. per cent. was due on the letter
A issue of Exchequer Bonds, whilst to-day an in-
stalment of 20/. per cent. on the first issue of
2,000,0001. of the Turkish loan became due. Although
the amount of these calls is nominally large, it is
understood that the greater portion of it has been
paid in advance.
Bullion continues to arrive in considerable quan-
tities from Australia, and some disappointment is
felt that in the presence of these arrivals it still de-
creases at the Bank of England. The gold from
Australia this week amounted to more than 700,000/.,
whilst last week it was about 1,000,0001., yet in the
Bank cellars the weekly increase, though not large,
is continuous.
A question has arisen as to the interpretation of
the Bth clause of the Stamp Act. The object of the
clause was to enforce the drawing and the delivering
of the whole number of a set of bills in all cases
where the instrument purported to be drawn in a set ;
but it was doubted whether it applied to bills drawn
abroad and payable here, as well as to bills drawn
here and payable abroad. In August last Mr.
Keogh answered that it applied to " foreign bills
drawn and payable abroad, if negotiated in this
kingdom, as well as to foreign bills drawn in this
kingdom payable abroad." An amended interpreta-
tion of the clause has, however, since been given in
the following letter in answer to an inquiry on the
part of the Bank of England :
Inland Revenue, Somerset-house,
London, October 10.
Sir, —I have to refer to the board's communication to
you, dated the 28th of August last, in answer to your letter
of the 20th, containing several questions relative to the
Stamp Act, 17 and IS Victoria, c. 83, in which communi-
cation it was stated that section 6 of the act applies to
foreign bills drawn and payable abroad, if negotiated in the
United Kingdom.
1 beg leave to acquaint you that the matter has since
undergone further consideration ; and, having been sub-
mitted to the law officers of the Crown, they have advised
that the operation of the clause in question is confined to
bills drawn and issued within the United Kingdom, and
payable abroad.—l have the honour to be, sir, your abedient
servant, THOMAS Kaooa.
J. R. Elsey, Esq.
In the course of the week an apparently authori-
tative statement was put forth by semi-official
journals that it was the intention of Government to
issue an order in Council for the effectual blockade
of the Prussian ports in the Baltic, so that the trade
of Russia, indirect as well as direct, maybe stopped.
Up to this moment, however, no such notice has
appeared. Much discontent is expressed at the
indecision of the Government, the mercantile com-
munity are at a loss how to act, and serious incon-
venience is the consequence. The produce which we
have hitherto imported from Russia can be procured
without difficulty from South America, Australia,
and other countries.
In the general deficiency of authentic intelligence
from the seat of war, and in the absence of decisive

I AA NO

events announced by the accounts that can be relied
on, a general disinclination to enter into transactions
is the pervading tone of the market. Consols, which
on Monday marked 95, closed today a shade lower.
Exchequer Bills are at 7s. to 4s. premium. India
Bonds, 10s. premium. Exchequer Bonds of 1859
continue at 001.
FOREIGN STOCKS.
In the Foreign Market transactions continue to be
very limited. Early in the week there was heaviness,
and, as in our own market, a disinclination to enter
into transactions. Russian Five per Cent. Bonds are
still quoted as high as 05 96 ; but this is attributed
to speculative bargain, in which the delivery of the
stock was insisted on when the sellers did not possess
it. Turkish scrip, which has touched 3, is now at
about 21 pm. The French funds are steady.
SHARES.
In the Share Market we have no particular feature
to notice. In the early part of the week some of the
leading lines manifested a tendency to rise, but this
feeling has not continued, and to day the tendency is
downward. East Lancashires were 11. lower ; Caledo-
nians, 59$ to 50/ ; Great Northerns firmer, at 891;
Great Westerns, 71 to 701 ; North-Westerns, 100$
1001; North British, 331 3I; Midlands, 681 to 681;
Berwicks, 751 78; South-Easterns steady at 02$ ; and
South Wales better, at 321. Belgian shares were
firmly held. Bank shares keep good. Crystal Palace
shares are unchanged at 3, but French Crystal Palace
Lava improved to 21 prem.

BRITISH FUNDS. Closing Prices.
OFFICIAL QUOTATION.

Mond.iTuesd. Wed. There Pridag
3 per Cent. Consols 94f T4l r 1 97
Ditto for Account
8 per Cents Reduced i9l
4
31 per Cents
Long Annuities
Bonk Stock, 7 per Cent 9lO 91 210 210 2041 210
India Stock, 101 per Cut.
Exch. Bills, 21d. per diem 4 7 7 4 4 7 7p 7
India Bonds, (1,0001.) — 7 10

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BANK OF ENGLAND.
An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Stb Victoria, cap. 89.
for the week ending on Saturday, the 14th day of Oct., 1864.
MU/ DIPARTIMIT.
Notes issued .... 120,339,410 Government Debt 111,016,100
Other Securities .. 9,904,000
Gold Coin at Stallion 19,933,410
Silver Bullion ....

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