The Express.
London, England, 1863-04-27 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

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PARIB, SUNDAY EVCKEFG.

In the Corps Legialatif yesterday, on the usual
motion to confirm the minutes of the last meeting,
K A. Chevalier, the present political director of
the Pays, complained that M. K 011ivier had made
use of the following expression :—" We all know
that this journal is in the hands of the Minister of
the Interior, and that he being lately dissatisfied
with one of his directors turned him out, and put
• more docile man in his place." He (M. A. Che-
valier) wanted to ask K 011ivier what he meant by
the word " docile." If he understood it as meaning
onlydevotedness, then he (M. Chevalier) was proud
of the appellation, for he was as completely de-
voted to the government which he served as K
011ivier could be to his party ; but if any reflection
upon his independence was intended, then he must
meet the hon. member by • fiat contradiction. M.
011ivier explained that in using the word "docile"
he by no means intended to imply that K A. Che-
valier's devotedness was venal ; all he meant was
that lie was imbued with a devotedness of a kind
"more easily convinced" than was that of his pre-
decessor, who bad been removed for not readily
changing his opinions. This Pickwickian expla-
nation appeared to be perfectly satisfactory to the
editor of the Pays, as he made no furtheroommeut.
On the vote for the Ministry of Marine and the
Colonies, a debate took place on the naval esti-
mates, in the course of which several patriotic
members expressed an opinion that the govern-
ment was not spending money enough to keep pace
with England in transforming the navy according
to modern requirements. The Count de la Tour
complained that an annual sum of 17 millions,
which had been voted in 1857 for the express pur-
pose of gradually augmenting and improving the
materiel of the navy, and which sum he had considered
inviolable, was cut down this year by 3 millions. He
cited various figures to show that the progress of
France within the last three years was relatively less
than that of England; and this fact he attributed in
loome mesaure to the wear and tear which French ships
had suffered on various distant expeditions. Eng-
land had, including her reserve, as many as 300,000
sailors ready for service, whereas France, at the ut-
most, had not more than 80,000• Although there had
recently been an addition of 230 officers to the
French navy—an addition of which he heartily
approved—they had still but a total of 1,900 offi-
cers against 6,000 in the English service. He
thought the disproportion much too great. To all
this General Allard, the government commissioner,
replied that he was in principle much inclined to
agree with the Count de la Tour. The transforma-
tion of the navy was, however, going on regularly.
The 17 millions a year had hitherto been duly
applied for that purpose ; and the reduction alluded
to (2,500,000 fr. and not 3,000,000 fr .) was only to take
place in 1864. Of this reduction, 500,000 fr. was
applicable to the ports, so that there would in
reality be only 2,000,000 fr. less for ship-building.
He joined in regretting that reduction ; but
it was a "budgetary nemesity" which the
government could not help. As to the
ooast defences, he thought them in a
very satisfactory state. A decree of the 17th
of August, 1859, had appropriated a sum of
23,500,000 fr. to build 344 batteries and 27 forte,
which a commission had declared urgent. Well,
they had already spent 13,500,0001 r. of that money,
and had entirely finished 295 batteries and 18
fort& The others were in a more or lees advanced
state and would all be terminated within a few
years. After speeches from two or three other
members tending to increased expenditure in the
navy department, and further apologies for the
budget, as framed by General Allard and M.
Burson, the reporter, the vote passed.
The Patric throws out a hint that the elections,
which it has long been taken for granted were fixed
for the middle of June, may possibly be postponed
to the end of the year, i.e., to the latest possible
period allowed by law. The disposition to put off
the evil day, which will see the opposition of " five"
succeeded by one of fifteen or twenty, has been
manifested so often that it would not be surprising
if the news of the Petrie should turn out to be
true. But such faint-hearted policy, betraying et
want of confidence in the country, would be very
shortsighted.
The Pays, conducted, as the debates in the chain-
ber show, by the " devoted" K Aug. Chevalier, is
very angry with the Italian government for not
having at once and unconditionally committed itself
to the precise course dictated by France with regard
to the Polish question. According to the Opinions
of Turin, the answer of Victor Emmanuel's mi-
nistry reserves " that liberty of action required
by our very peculiar political situation."
Thereupon the Pays exclaims, " How un-
grateful to the Sovereign who gained Magenta