The Express.
London, England, 1852-03-09 00:00:00

port iron the head of his. department and two other
oilman appointed to examine him by the preddent
et the Senate. It is said that most of the functionaries
and inferior employes of the old Chamber of Peers
have already received appointments in the Senate.
The minister of state is about to issue regulations
relating to the Corps Leeslatif: The Dana. states,
perhaps somewhat maliciously, that the budget of
the Senate will not exceed that of the Chamber of
Peers. Indeed, there is no reason to suppose that
any branch of the present government will be want-
ing in dignity, so far as regards expenditure of pub-
lic money.
Tho Assemble. Nationale continues to agitate the
Stria question, and to advocate French intervention.
It to-day revives the question about the hospitals of
St. Bernard and the Simplon, concerning which ne-
gotiations were going on when the revolution of 1848
Make out. It alleges that the Swiss government
is even now selling some of the lands of the hos-
pitals, which France, as the protectress and be-
nofactreas of the hospitals, has a right to prevent
them doing.
There is again but little change to notice in the
state of commerce. In Paris business is completely
stagnant. Whatever activity exists seems to be con-
centrated in the manufacturing districts, and in some
few country markets. Within the last day or two
some people fancy they have observed a greater dis-
position to buy among foreign agents. But the
movement is too slight to be considered as evidence
that the dead season, this year unusually protracted,
is over. Large orders for exportation generally
begin to come in in March, and they are looked for
with great anxiety by the manufacturers. The Ex-
hibition of London tended to retard these orders last
year, but this year there is no such cause for pre-
venting foreigners from coming to France to make
their purchases. The reduction of the Bank's rate
of discount has been favourably. received by the
trading community. It is obvious that if the I
rise in the funds the natural consequence of
such a measure should continue, capital 1
will flow from the Bourse in search of
investments in commercial and manufacturing en-
terprises which may produce a better interest. Itouen
and Mulhouse articles have during the last week im•
proved in demand; and the wholesale dealers in
calicoes and stuffs have effected some considerable
sales. The advice, from Lyons and St. Etienne are
pretty favourable, and business generally is rather
brisk. Corn has experienced a fresh fall in almost
all tho markets of Europe, but speculators do not
think that the fall will last. They are now looking
with interest towards the German territory, the real
state of whose wants will perhaps regulate the prices
here for many months to come. Thu decision of the
King of Prussia to suppress import duties upon corn
and vegetables until August next is considered as an
indication that the very large exports that have
already been made from France to the banks of the
Rhine have been insufficient to produce abundance
in the markets of those districts. Colonial pro;
duce in our markets, as in most of the fo-
reign ones, continues as dull as it has been for se-
veral months past. There was a considerable rise in
cotton at Havre in the middle of the week, owing to
exaggerated telegraphic advice' of the rise in
America; but letters from the United States having
corrected this intelligence, and announced that ten
more vessels had been freighted for Havre, the move-
ment was stopped. Business has not been very active
in wines. The recent cold weather has had an excel-
lent effect in checking the too early growth of the
plants. This favourable prospect has hail the effect
of inducing some growers to offer their stock of 1850,
which is not a favourite one, at a reduction.
There has been a fall of as much as 10fr. in 3-6
brandy, owing to the over-speculation to which
alluded last week.

It is reported in soveral quarters that M. Clutase-
loop Loubat will be the president of tho Corps Le-
At the Bourse the Fires rose 5c., closing at 103.50
ex div.; the Threes rose 30e., and closed at 68.90.
Bank of Franco Shares fell .sc. Railways were
higher; Versailles (left bank) rose 10fr.