The Express.
London, England, 1852-10-21 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY . EVENING, OCTOBER 21, 1052.

FRANCE.

PARIS, WEDICINDAT EVNI4II4O.
The Constilutionnel of this day has the following
with reference to the decree in the jloniteur con-
voking the Senate:
The dente for the convocation of the Senate pats a term
to the situation, evidcatly transitory, in which the country
has been for some months. At the close of the session of
he Legisla tire Corps and of the Senate, as long as the
word empire had not been pronounced, men could
imagine
that the presidentship fur ten years wu destined to remain
the law of our country. But the day on which a single
voice, teklog its authority from the name which Louis
Napoleon bean, from the origin which pointed him
out to the votes of the people, and from the services by
which he has nobly upheld his illustrious birth, evoked the I
remembrance et the imperial era--en that day the problem
of the integral maintenance, or the transformation of
constitution of January 15, was submitted to the
decision of the whole nation; on that day France evidently
again entered on a provisional situation. That situation
has not been made by the government, but by France.
The head of the state has never expressed either a wish or •
hope. The only hypothesis which he had consented to look
forward to was that of • aatimal danger, which would oblige
him to resume, in the interest of the country, a sort
of dictatorship. That hypothesis has not been realised. It
wu the elective assemblies which, the day after their meeting,
and whilst still impregnated with the popular breath, raised
the question of the re-establishment of imperial institu-
tions. The addresses of the councils.general first showed
what was passing in the public mind ; then came those of
the councils of arrondissement, and of the municipal coon.
effs, and the petitioning which is now going on shows that
the nation intends giving to the government of the man
whom it has elected that perpetuity which Louis Napoleon
did not wish to attribute to himself. It was evident
that, with the question sr clearly set forth, the
great bodies of the state could not meet without
deciding it ; and such being the case, was it not
better to convoke the Senate at once, and lay before
It the question, so that nll incertitude should im-
mediately cease ? Louis Napoleon declared at Lyons that
he was ready to serve his country either with the modest
title of President, or with a more striking one ; the pos-
union of power is not in his eyes anything else than the
means of doing good. But for France the question does
not present itselt in that way; temporary duration and per-
petuity—such are the two terms to which the addresses
have brought it. When a question of sueb importance is
brought before • people, it must be immediately decided, as
there is danger in every provisional situation. Since it is
the will of France which is to regulate our destinies, why not
interrogate that will, and give it an opportuity of declaring it-
self in the open day ? Since the maniteststions of which Lomb.
Napoleon has been the object at Toulouse, Bordeaux, and
Pans, the re-establishment of the Empire is expected not
only in France, but throughout Europe. The government, '
in consequence, has come to the decision that since this
question has been brought forward independently of it, and
by the irresistible initiative of the popular representation of
every degree, it could not be the interest of the country to
defer affording to the national will the means of making it-
self known. France is about, therefore, to be again so-
lemnly interrogated as to the form of her government, and
the title which her ruler is to take. We know her answer
beforehand.

The Assenitke Nationak to-day directs attention
to • fact which will excite the astonishment of the
whole civilised world, and the indignation of every
court in Europe. Yon are aware that the 16th Oct.,
the day of the President's triumphal entry
into I'aris, was the annivenary of the execu-
tion of Marie Antoinette. On that very day
fifty-nine years ago, within a few yards of the
spot where on Saturday was displayed the scroll
which heralded Louis Napoleon as the "Savour of
modern civilisation," that barbarous deed was com-
mitted which an the chivalry. of France has never
ceased to deplore. That day. is yet observed as a day
of mourning and mortification by many of tho best
families in the country, and while the mass of the
population of Paris was hurrying to see the show on
the boulevards last week, not a few distinguished
individuals were prostrate before tho altar hearing
masses for the illustrious dead. In the chapel of the
Rae d'Anjou St. 'tonere, that monument
sacred to the memory of Louis XVL and his consort,
were especially congregated numbers of those whose
custom It was to pass that day in prayer. In France
immense importance is attached to religious ob.
'Penances for the dead, and the feelings connected
with them command universal respect. That any-
thing like a desecration of this tomb should have
been thought necessary to complete the rejoicings of
Satnrday is a fact which will not readily obtain
credence. The Assemidt'c says:

Several persons *IRMO us that on Saturday lut, the 16th
of October, the funereal munumen• erected in the Rue
d'Anjon to the memory of two of the moat illustrious vic-
tims of the revolution was illuminated. If the fact is true,
and we have believe It to be so, the responsibility cannot
doubtless be imputed to the government, but the occurrence
most assuredly deserves to be pointed out.

I have ascertained not only that the fact bas
stated, but that it was done by order of the govern-
ment architect, who said that the " Chapelle expia-
toire" wee a building belonging to tho government,
and as such must be illuminated pursuant to the
order given with respect to all public buildings.
- . _ _ _ _ _ _ _

The Prince President, by a decree dated St. Cloud,
the 18th, enacts that government inspectors shall be
nominated by the Minister of the Interior, Agricul-
ture, and Commerce, to superintend the management
and examine the accounts of the mortgage banks,
and to report to the minister thereon at least every
three months. Tho decree further enacts, that a
commission of eight members, four to be nominated
by the Minister of the Interior, and four by the Minis-
ter of Finance, shall be formed, to give an opinion on
all the questions which may be submitted to them re-
lative to the management of • mortgage .soeieites, to
examine the reports of the government inspectors on
them, and to draw up annually a.detailed report on the
situation of each society. The decree finally de-
dares that if any mortgage society shall violate its
by-laws and regulations, or commit any abuse, its
privilege may bo taken from it ; also that each shall
give an account of its operations every six months.
At the Bourse the Four-and•a-Half per Cents. fell
86c., closing at 108.35 ; the Three per Cents. fell
80, and closed at 81.60. This fall, although very
probably connected with the state of the account, was
by many attributed to uneasineees at the news from
Turkey with respect to which the accounts are most
conflicting. Many of the newspapers assert, on the
authority of their correspondents, that the change of
ministry has nothing to do with the loan; while
others, and especially the Press*, maintain that the
leas will not be ratified. The St. Germain Railway
was in great request, and rose ',Mfr.; Bordeaux and
Cette fell 18.75; Northern, 17.50; Orleans and
Lyons, 10fr. each; Strasburg, 8.76; Rouen and
thine, 6fr. each.