The Express.
London, England, 1864-01-08 00:00:00

THE SUPPLEMENTARY CREDITS OF THE

FRENOH GOVERNMENT.

The report presented by M. Larrabure in the
Legislative Body on the supplementary credits of 1863 is of
considerable length, and touches a great number of ques-
tions. As hen been already mentioned, the credits applied
for amount to 61,632,071 E, of which 40,853,500 5. are for
the war department and 20,678,571 5. for the navy. The
whole of this expenditure having been caused by Use expe-
ditious to Mexico, Corbin China, and other parte of the
extreme Best, the report remarks at considerable length oa
the nature and necessity of these enterprises, and whilst it
riarliat dry eashl sot be well avoided, recommends that
the example which they hold out should be followed bat
rarely, and that the expedition to Mexico should cease as
soon as circumstances would permit. On those points it
says

"These distant expeditions will perhaps open up new
horizons, new markets for trade. Bat, for the moment, we
must acknowledge that the country is lass struck by the
possible but unoertain and distant advantages, than by the
real and present burdens imposed on it. This impression is
so general that we have felt bound to call the attention of
the Emperor's government to the subject. Its most ac,
eredited organs have been pleased, at our request, to attend
before the oonimittoe. We explained to then, our senti-
ments. The prwommation of the present as well as
of; the future induced' us to ask several questions,
leaving them to limit their answers in confornay
with the exigencies of the public interest : I.
•In the midst of the present unesainess, why
• did the French army undertake the expedition to 5.12
Luis de Potosi! Was it necessary ? Will these military ex-
cursions continue? 2. What end are we pursuing' what
issue are we preparing! 3. Is France engaged by any gua-
rantees whatever towards the new government to be founded
in Merino ! 4. What will be done with our army ; will AA
effective be diminished or increased! 5. May we expect it
to remain long in Mexico ? 6. What chances have we of
seeing our disbursements refunded ?" .

Farther on, in speaking of the language tined by the
If Misters who appeared before the committee, the report
adds :

" The Emperor's Government declares that it has entered
into no engagement whatever either tolwre a French corps au
Mexico, or to guarantee a loan ; it declares that it has oo
reason to suppose that there will be any necessity tor
increasing the French forces at present in Mex:co ; that the
fresh troops sent from this time will only be what are me-
guired to replace invalids and men wham term of service
has expired. From present appearances the ativeronieut
hopes that the close of 1861 will mark the term of lee
expedition. Moreover, arrangements have been proposid
that from the let January, 1361, Mexico &ball contribute
io • larger degree to the paying and victualling of the
troops."

The two points most strongly insisted on in the moot
are the necessity of peace and the advantages of economy.
On the former, the document says :
" Let es open our eyes to the requirementa of the time we
live in, and know bow to judge of the yenta and sapiratious
of the day. Now that steam and networks of railways unite
populations together, as wallas their interests and their af-
fectious, peace is the universal want. This has been before
said : we must not be tired of repeating it, for the public
feeling which is expressed on all sides is that so purely
French iuterestand no setional engagement calls oa us to
make war. Oa the contrary, how many material and morel
interests call for peace in France and everywhere else.
The finances of all governments am heavily ember.
raised ; they require repose to recover themselves.
All countries an borrowing ; all are constructing
or improving their means of communication--rail ways,
canals, and rivers. To speak only of Fraser, look at the
immense works of public utility which are commereed and
are not completed, although so much seeded. In order to
begin thaw we celled for capital and the pstriumay of
thousands of families ; to fiuish them we must make another
appeal to them. War miiht ruin, peace will save and ren-
der them fruitfuL"

On the necessity of preserving peace, the report uses the
following language :
" Pcnetrate'lwith the truth oflthose ideas, your committee
recommends you, gentlemen, to express a wish for peace
on every opportunity which presents itself ; you will thus
unite in the generous views which the Emperor bee so
many times expressed, and also recently in Its
reply to the address of the Senate and to the
diptomatle body. The expression of each a wish is with-
out danger even with regard to foreign Powers. If the
genius of France reposes from the preoccupations of war,
the world knows how readily her ardour is aroused ; with
what promptitude and devotedness she would rally round
her sovereign if an offence to her honour, an attack on her
interests, or a menace against her frontiers should take
place. The past is a guarantee for the future. The Emperor
hail the elevated sentiment of that state of things, when
ou the one heed he proclaimed his pacific views, io his
speech of the 25th November last, end when ou the
other hand be stated the necessity and the desire for eco•
rimy in that of the *„.7th January, 1844. It is for us to
reply to his appeal ; it is for us to effect them by oar loyal
cooperation. We begin a new legialatioe ; do we
wish to render it memorable and legitimately popular?
Let us resolutely plant in the midst of us the stand.od of
economy. De assured, gentlemen, that we shall thee des ,
privy the oppositions of their principal foree, which will
come over to our aide. This will be our moat skilful and
most pstriotic act. Shall we still have other rights and
other liberties to afterwards achieve? That is possible.
Our constitution is declared to be open to improvement.
Let us leave it to time to effect, but until then let us know
how to make use of the power which we have. If we do so
properly it will depend on us to henceforth prevent expenses
which wool I exceed our resources. If, on the contrary, we
allow ourselves to give way to weak acts of complaisance
in vac of the appeal of the sovereign ; if we accept for
France charges which excised her normal resouroes, the
country and sovereign will have a right to reproach us.
They will render us justly responsible for the mischief
which we might but would not prevent. Gentlemen, our
mission is to warn the executive power with affectionate
respect, and to hold it back from the precip;ce of dan-
gerous excesses if it should be 'awed to them. We
shall thus show a mincers devotedness to the country sod to
the Emperor, whose interest& are in our eyes closely united.
In our opinion the best devotedness is that which knows
how, when 'lamasery, to express useful truths. We are
unanimous, gentlemen, in recommending that the Mexican
expedition should be put an end to, not at any price—for
God forbid that French deputies should give such advice—
but cc promptly as the honour and interest of France will
allow. The expression of this wish certainly responds to the
general sentiment of the country.

TRANSPORTATION FOR LIFE OF POLS'
By the following decree of the Emperor, Poles who have
been transported for political offences are forbidden ever to
return to their oountry, eves after the term of their exile
has expired :—"The Emperor. in accordance with the pro-
porde of the Western Committee, has decided that all
permns deported from the western provinces (Lithuania,
Volbvuis, Podolia, and the Ukraine) for political offence*.
to the penal companies under the civil authorities in
the interior of the empire, shall, after the expiration of their
term of punishment, not be sent back to the western pro-
VIOCCS, but transported for permanent residence to the
government estates in the distant governments of the em-
pire, comet Siberia. In informing you of this decision, you
are requested to forward to the Foreign Department lists of
all such persons as may be in the penal companies in your
government, not later than six months before the term of
t►e expiration of their punishment, to enable the necessary
arrangements to be made with the ministry of the crown
property for transporting them to the crown lands, in li
aacordseed with the Imperial wilL"
OhrYlcax. PoarrioN or Rumex FINANCL—The
Augshereer Allgemeine Zeitung publishes the following
correspondence on this subject from St. Petersburg :—" Our
unfortunate financial relations, which in consequence of the
Maria operations attempted since 1562 have been 'nor-
manly injured, and which were finally still further de-
pressed by the incredible fall in our exchanges, attributed
to the had management of H. Reuters, the Minister of
Finalle4l, will, it is hoped, be improved by the dismissal of
t►e latter. I ass, however, of opinion that the ►ery que•
Mee, who is to be Renters's enamor, is the streogest
gas-
sn his remaining in elide. However little fitted be
is for his poet, the leek of ability whit* ia unfortunately
still daily evident among vs, makes his remaining in office
eertaln, through the fear that his eueoreer would be worse
• than himself."

Notwithstanding the dense cold and the
yellow fog which hung over the metropolis yesterday
morning, large numbers of the lovers of skating betook
themselves to the various parka, apparently resolved
not to lose one hour of the opportunity for indulging in
their favourite pastime. As the morning wore on, and
the fog gradually cleared ad, the pub became equally as
thronged es on the previous day ; crowds of spectators, on
foot and in carriages, lined the banks of the water in
Regent's-perk, Hyde-park, and Kensiogton-prdens, while
the ice was covered with human beings. The skating
in the Regent's-park was of • very superior descrip-
tion to that elsewhere. Several parties of ladies and gentle-
men executed sets of quadrille' with as much apparent ease,
and considerably more grace and freedom, than is often
observable in the ball-room, and their evolutions
were loudly applauded ; but one or two trifling accidents
occurred here to mar the pleasure of the skaters.
In Kensington-gardens the userably also was very aristo-
cratic, and the skating good, but there were not so many
ladies amongst the performers. The ice on the Serpentine,
having bees carefully preserved from intruders during the
i week, was yesterday in splendid condition, and extensively
peemised, sad about the 'middle of the day, when the drive
was tilled with carriages, prueated a very gay ►nd animated
appearance. A few immersions took place, but no serious
accident occurred. The water in Sc, James's-park presented
a most extraordinary scene. There were at least 50,000
people within the enclosure, more than one-third of whom
were upon the ice. Sliding appeared there to be the order
of the day, the skaters being comparatively few, and those
lof inferior ability. Several breaking, of the ioe sad coo-
t segued immersions took place, and the medical attendants
at the tent were fully occupied. There were several thou-
sonde on the water in the Victoria-park. There is a rumour
that a torchlight skating procession will take place in a few
I nights time on the Serpentine.
I The lakes end basins at the Crystal Palace, extending
I over nearly twenty acres, were crowded with skaters, the
smoothness and good conditioa of the ice being remarkable.
• As eveoiog advanced some hundreds of persons came down
to avail themselves of the evening skating, for which pur-
1, pose the grounds were kept open to the public till late.
Torches and bonfires were provided, and the effect as viewed
from the adjacent slopes was very pleasing. During the day
the temperature within the building was 43 deg., in the
, tropical department 58 deg., in the grounds during the pre-
. ceding night 17 deg. only, and at eight o'clock last evening,
2e deg, with every pro-pact of the frost continuing. The
grounds of the Palace being high, and the atmosphere dry,
clear and sunny, the frost is not so intense as en some of
the low grounds in the neighbourhood.
The following readings of the thermometer were for-
warded to us last night by Messrs. Negretti and Zemke :
Bromley, 13 dem below freezing ; Dorking, 27 deg. ;
Kentish-town, 19 deg. The east and south-east districts ap-
vat to be colder than other parte of London.
Lad night, after six o'clock, the severity of the weather
considerably abated, and the barometer rote to 34 deg., or
4 deg. above freezing point.