The Express.
London, England, 1864-01-22 00:00:00

IMPRESS FROM PARIS.

(fox 0111 OWN

PARIS, TEITISDAT EVEIIIIO.

Baron de Veauce made a remarkable speech yes-
terday in which he criticised the equal division of
property enforced by French law, and showed grave
cause why the free disposition of a man's goods by
will ought to be, if not so absolute and uncondi-
tional as in England, at least greatly extended. To

the morcellentra (not amorcellement as the Times
bad it the other day) of property he traced a great
deal of national impoverishment. In France, a
father of a family cannot leave his land to one
child, his house and furniture to another, and his
trading establishment to a third. He can make
no equitable distribution founded upon his
knowledge of the respective capacity, tastes,
wants, and merits of his children. One
blind and levelling law requires that at bis death
everything shall be equally divided. Equal divi-
sion means an immediate sale, and a forced sale
means a frightful sacrifios. Instances continually
occur of the obstinacy of one of the next of kin
breaking up a flourishing business, and reducing
what would have been a handsome independence
for a whole generation to a pittence which scarcely
suffices to pay law expenses. The knowledge of
this state of the law induces many merchants
and tradesmen to retire prematurely, and
withdraw their capital from reproductive em-
ployment. He attributed the pernicious state
of the law which he sought to remedy, to a mis-
taken notion of the principle of equality which pre-
vailed at the first revolution. His speech was
frequently applauded, and on sitting down several
members rushed to his place to congratulate him.
Partisans in England of the French infinite sub-
division of property must, therefore, now consider
the system entirely upon its own merits, and can-
not cite the practice of France as an unchallenged
precedent.
K Jules Favre attacked the usury laws, and
brought forward with great effect some of
Jeremy Bentham's well-known reasons against
them. A striking argument used by the speaker
was that, since capitalists would not wil-
lingly lend money except upon profitable terms,
the logical consequence of a forced rate of interest
would be forced loans, which was a rr.ditc-
tM ad absurdum. He also complained of the im-
pediments to trade caused by the brokers' mono-
poly, and finally urged the government to make
better provision for workmen and their him:lies in
cases of fatal accidents and serious injuries.
K Ronher, the Minister of State, gave it to
be understood that he personally was quite
of M. Jules Favre's opinion, both as regarded the
usury laws and the question of the brokers. But
he could not allow himself to pledge the govern-
ment on the strength of his individual opinions. On
the usury laws especially there were violent preju-
dices, which required to be dealt with tenderly.
All he could say was that both subjects were and
had been for the last two years under the con-
sideration of the Council of State. With regard to
accidents to workmen in the course of their duties
he would gladly listen to any suggestion for im-
proving the laws in their favour, buL
he did not think it was possible. They
already had very full remedies against their masters
whenever any case of negligence could be proved,
and it was the custom of the courts to give ample
damages.
The government journals congratulate them-
selves upon the calm and business-like tone of
yesterday's debate. I am afraid, however, that
when the amendments on Mexico and the liberty of
the press come on, we shall hear more about the
aggressivenees of the "genius of evil."
The Bourse is a little better than yesterday.

According to the last advicee from Melbourne,
Sir Henry Havelock bad arrived out, ea route to New
Zeeland, there to kin big regiment, the 18th Royal Irish.
Yesterday it was rumoured at Plymouth that the
Edgar, Black Priam. Warrior, and Deimos, width left
Gibraltar on the 13th, are to rendezvous at Lisboa until
further orders.

There is now a great paucity of journeymen
jewellers sad wakhmakers in the conntry, note.thirtmding
high wages are given, and that in every other trade the
'apply of labour is equal if not greater than the demand.
The Southampton and Isle of Wight Mail Stem-
mata Company has Jed paid a dividend of upwards of
10 per cent., notwithstanding that they experienced a
formidable opposition from a livid company last year.
The citizens of Cork are very uncomfortable at
preasea The " jingle-men "—Asgliee, cab-driven—have
streak is a body for higher fares ; and though some dsys
have elapsed, there I. no sign of their yielding.

During a conference lately held at the Agricul-
tural Club at Pain, sod again the follos:ag day at the hall
in the Roo de la Pair, M. Babied and M. Banal explained
their roma for their firm belief in an approaching solution
of the social navigation question. It was resolved that •
conference should be held weekly, at which M. Banal is to
preside, for the purpose' of collecting ,n the informatics
posibie on this alma* prod's. The resolution was
supported by MM. de Ponta d'Annimart, de la Landoll.,
and Nader, of the Gant belled.
The Prefecture of the Seine has issued a notice
that a eceapetitino is mow open for pieces of Term to be
set to music adoring at the meetings of the Orpimente in
the communal and adult schools. Tho merits of the pieces
will be 'naiad by • special °Nemesia, and medals of
from 100 fr. to 303 fr. value be awarded to thaw accepted.
The manuscripts must be depodted at the Metal de Ville
baton the IA March.

It is understood that the forthcoming report of
the Cleasral Credit Company will show • net profit of
33,1684 being at the rate of nearly 18# per cent. per
anaum, and recommend a dividend of fia per share foe the
past a:t mouths, or at the rate of a little mans than 10 per
neat, per a/mum. The whole of the prelississ Ty expenses,
areoseting to 4,8831. ere to be whims off, and a balance
of nearly 10,001. will then remain to be carried forward.
It is a rule at Rome not to allow the presence of
the author of saw book placed on the piobibitory index.
Mr. Home's book is comprised in this category, and eaa.
tains wh►t is oossidered here highly heretical matter,
which comes with an ill grace from a convert to t►e
Roman faith. Ea that, whether on this count or on those
brought spinet him by Mgr. Matteuoei, Mr. Home has
sabjecOed himself to the action of the polies, sad has had
to leave Some for Naples. Indeed, it me only by so doing
that he escaped the unpleasant alternative of imprisonment.
Before hie departure he left with Mr. Bones a ditto for
indemnity for the looms inflicted upon WE, to the 111110fUlt
of about 700 smell (1501.)

The New fiontit Wales post-offioes are transmitting
to Wend at the sate a/ seedy 30.C:31. a year i• mewl
erten.

Tug Naw 00nix.—Raspighi's comet is an in-
forming own eat slay bonne ais likely to be pretty
bright aa the ad of the meth, but from the eimilarity of
its 111411111M11 to the comets of 1810 and 1490 (more distaatly).
Menne. of 1810 was very imperfectly observed by Pon at
Mannilles, with as inareassat which he nod to describe as
rather paralybis the parallactic ; so that the quoins of
pseiodicity men be decided by Use observation of 1864, sad
bens the mini shend be followed as keg se poisible. Os
the 22ed it will par Siereash the heed al Osailopsia. sad
saboonestiv, co Übe 21%/6 into Asdneeterb. At its semen
es, bleat Fibreary 1, it TM les bat 18,0004100
resal toscremend.—ffee Zeoler.
LIFEBOAT SiIiVICIEL —CRAii, LIU or W IOW;
20.—The beat el the National lifeboat Lestitutiee.
steliessel at Balinese, Grange. wee Letrosasatal toidzos.
is
resseleg the mew of the Wieser Then, of sad foro
from Perlian, with stow—whin drain heavy weather
from the S. W. had fondersd all St. Cfaibmine's Pain The
oast of ter hen was peassabed to the Nukes! Lifeboat Is-
'natio, two or three years ago by the Royal Victoria
Yacht Cloh, by wham she was teamed The Remus. She
by sine the hese happid7T the MMUS Of TIM* about
140 person fral■