The Express.
London, England, 1853-11-24 00:00:00

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LONDON, THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 24.

ONLY yesterday we pointed oat the Free Trade
tendencies of an article about corn in the Paris
Monitcur, and to-day we give from the same journal
a Decree of the French Emerson, reducing the
duties on coke and on iron. This is an admirable
step on the part of Loris NAPOLEON, and one that
has often been looked for since the day when he
took power to regulate the Tariff of the country he
rules. To reduce the duties on fuel and on iron im-
ported into France is to administer to the
comforts and to encourage the industry of the French
people. An instalment of free trade will assuredly
whet the Gallic appetite for more ; and the wise coun-
cillors who are said to have been consulted by the
French Government, before this reduction of duties
took place, do not limit their views of political
economy to such an infinitesimal reform as the one
now made. MICHEL CHEVALIER, and others, know
full well the benefits that would flow to
their country if the policy that has recently
enriched England could be extended over France.
Long ago two special Commissioners went from this

country to Paris to discuss with the first men in
the sister country the wisdom of a Free Trade policy,
and the best modes by which the tariffs of France
and England could bo modified for the benefit of
both. Although Sir HENRY ButwEn and Dr.
BOWRING en that occasion obtained no sa-
tisfactory decisions from the shuffling Government
of the cunning, but unwise, Louis PHILIPPE, the
doctrines then preached did not fall on barren soil.
There has been a farsighted band of French thinkers
and writers, who, since M. Tunas sent the English
Commissioners empty away, have gone on preaching
the Free Trade doctrines, and of late the French
Political Economists have been able to preach
with additional success, from their ability to
point to English prosperity in proof of the soundness
of the policy of commercial freedom. Let us
hope that this reduction of duties on iron and
coke only foreshadows the fate that overhangs
the stern array of prohibitions and duties which for
thirty-seven years has weighed with such severity
upon France. The late modifications in the import
duties on food, though caused by the dread of
approaching famine, have given a shock to monopoly
under which the whole system has reeled. In other
branches of industry, and notably in those connected
with iron manufactures, the demands for fiscal relaxa-
tions are urged with increasing energy by the parties
best qualified to pronounce an opinion, and most
interested in seeing it adopted. The Free Trade
question has indeed become the centre of a " move-
ment" throughout the country. At its head. we
are told, is the Mimeo& himself, to whom the
evils of the restrictive policy have been somewhat
curiously manifested in their personal application.
Among the splendid works now executing in Paris,
under Imperial superintendence, by no means the
least memorable is the completion of the Louvre.
Constantly designed and frequently attempted, but
always postponed or interrupted by changes of plan,
troubles in the State, or lack of money since the
days of limn IV., the glory of turning that
gorgeous fragment into a whole, forms a special
object of ambition with NsrotEott 111. The works
for this purpose have been prosecuted with all possi-
ble activity for many mouths past. Latterly, how-
ever, the progress of construction has grown dilatory,
and, when the cause of delay IRIS inquired into, it tran-
spired that ell the workmen were paralysed by the
repeated stopper of the supply of ironwork. Fur-
ther investigation showed that, although the necessary
articles had been duly and abundantly contracted for,
the manufacturers had omitted to keep their engage-
ments, and replied to all remonstrances on the subject
by positively refusing to complete their =tracts.
They offered, however, to resume their supplies if the
articles were paid for at the price of the day, what-
ever that might now be, or might become, under the
influence of an increasing demand se time went on.
Thus strong, even against the Imperial pleasure, did
the manufacturers feel themselves In their law-
created monopoly. And for the moment they have
succeeded. Bather than discontinue his favourite
project the EMPEROR has yielded to their use-
dens. Bat it doss not seem to be the charm-
terietic of his ISM to be baled by private interests.
)teetiags of forge-owners and iroetnesters have
accordingly teen held, upon Government summon,
to consider the subject of the price and taxation of
iron in all its bearings, with an eye to their diminu-
tion. The journals also, so tightly curbed is all poli-
tied dimensions, an now allowed to my what they
piens in favour of Fres Trade, and it is even reported
that the Government itself is about to start a Free
Trade journal What is better than all, as promising
a more immediate result, the Conseil B■pfiienr do
Commerce has been convoked, and held on the 12th
instant the first of a series of sittings, in which the
moat important branches oloommene are to undergo
examination in detail, with the view of suggesting
beneficial changes in the system of donne. From
what has transpired of their intentions, it is believed
that such changes will take the form of Customs
relaxation in many instances. Iron and coke, we
see, have already been dealt with. The Free Trade
views of the Farms, and the practical teachings
tithe Louvre builders, seem both to have had their
influence in inducing this first step in a good path.
Iron holds is the French system of protection the
same position which corn once held in that of Eng-
land. Both are articles of first necessity. Both are
prisduced athose under somewhat difficult conditions,
requiring incessant improvements in the appliance of
production is order to maintain a tolerable equality
between the supply and the demands of an increasing
population. Both absorb large capitals, give great
employment, and yield immense returns. Both form
the interests of • numerous and influential class,
diverging also into collateral channels—since the
proprietors of forests in France believe their fortunes
to depend upon the price of iron quite as much u the
horse-dealers of England think theirs would fluctuate
with the price of corn. Of both articles, also, the con-
sumption is practically limited only by the quantity
produced, while the effects of scarcity in different
trades, but in an equal degree, are damaging to every
branch of industry, and every class of operatives.
When, then, we see the iron duties relaxed or abolished
in France, we may hope the whole fabric of protection
will fall there quite as certainly as it has fallen on
this side of the Channel, with the Corn-laws.

Without anticipating, for some time to come,
anything like actual free trade in iron, the
taxes levied on the article, afford an ample margin
for wise reductions. At present all iron and steel
manufactures, including iron plates, are altogether
prohibited, with the narrow exceptions of steam-
engines and spinning machinery. Cast iron has
hitherto paid a duty of ;7f. per 1,000 kilogrammes or
per ton ; box iron pays Mt. ; common steel, 660 f.;