The Express.
London, England, 1851-12-29 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY

• FRANCE. • -
SATvaziAlr
Notre Dame bm bees
the Ind. Avery:Atort
ceremony all por
ridges

ETiNIWO.
Te.Peses .et n fixed by
I decree for the ce will be
to give this einem all poisible splendour.
ae diplomatic corps, the iges and legal bodies,
and all the mayors of all the capitals of arrondisse-
ments throughout France have been invited to at-
tend. Already the greater part of these have been
summoned to Paris by telegraph. In the event of
the mayor not being able to come, the municipal
asseil will appoint a delegate.
The following are the numbers of the votes upon
the various Constitutions which have been emcee-

lively submitted to the French people since the first
revolution:—

Yes. No.
Constitution of 1793
Constitution of the year 111.
Constitution of the year VIII.
Senates Censehut of the year X.
Benatus Coosaltus of the year XII.
Additional clause,
The sycophants of Government publish these re-
turns to show that no Constitution has ever been
sanctioned by a number of votes approaching to that
which will consecrate the Constitution that Louis
Napoleon is about to give to France. This is true,
but haring regard to the increase of population, and
more particularly to the increased facilities of loco-
motion within the last half century, the difference is
not surprising. What the figures do prove in the
most striking way is this: that an appeal to the people,
backed by the whole force of the executive power,
and offenng no alternative, must ever be a farce.
It is historically evident that an enorrhous majority
so obtained is no guarantee for either the excellence
or durability of the thing voted for. There is, how-
ever, one remark upon these figures which the
government advocates will take care not to make.
Assuming the final state of the poll to be, in round
numbers, 7 millions for Louis Napoleon, and 6011,000
against him, the protesting minority will be im-
mensely larger in proportion than any of the minori-
ties that said " No" to the six constitutions above
mentioned.

the only considerable place besides Mulhouse
which has yet given a majority of negative votes, is
Montpelier, where the "Noes" amount to 3,336, and
the affirmative votes to 3,275. Itennes has given the
following result, which shows that the abstention
policy of MM. de Falloux and Ilerryer has been fol-
lowed by the majority of the electors of these head-
quarters of legitimacy. The number inscribed is
10,868; Abstentions, 6,190; Yes, 3,304; No, 1,391.
In the same department (Ille-et-Vilaine), a com-
mune called Melesse had 678 electors inscribed.
There are 338 abstentions; 86 annulled votes; the
rest are negative, without a single " Yes."
The consultative commission, yesterday commenced
the examination of the electoral returns. At this
sitting the votes of 2'J departments were examined.
The commission sat again to-day, and completed
the examination of 67 departments. It is expected
that their task will be completed by Tuesday, at
latest. The bureaux of the commission are to work
all to-morrow (Sunday) in order to expedite the
proclamation of the definitive result of the poll
throughout France: Hope is expressed that on Mon-
day, the commission may hold a general sitting, to
hear the report of the bureaux.
The President of the Republic has written the fol-
lowing reply to a letter from the Mayor of Lyons,
thanking him for having given to General Castellane
the title of General-in-Chief of the Army of Lyons :
Ely4e, Dec. 20.
Monsieur lo Maire,—l am happy that the city of Lyons,
whose sentiments you express, his received the event of
Dee. 2 with a sentiment which leads it to foresee favourable
results (or the future, and that in the measure destined to
recompense loyal services it has found a new proof of
interest in its favour. It Is not mistaken. In grave cir-
cumstances I have always been seriously solicitous about
what could ameliorate the position of its workmen, ■nd
increase its prosperity. If we may be permitted to hope
for calmer days, your city will be one of the first to feel
their salutary influence. Receive, Monsieur Ic Maire, with
my thanks, this renewed assurance of my distinguished sen-
timents. Louis NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.

The Moniteur contains a report from M. de llorny,
stating that it would be advisable to take measures
for carrying into effect a number of local bills which
had been introduced into the Legislative Assembly,
but not voted, in consequence of the dissolution of
that body. A decree from the President of the Re-
public follows, declaring that, as it is of importance
to give the departments and communes the means of
meeting the calls on them, and of favouring the exe-
tuition of public works, the loans and imposts voted
by the departments or towns, and which required
tbe sanction of the Legislative Assembly, can be
authorised by special decrees issued in the form of
administrative regulations.
The Muniteur publishes the following, under the
head of "communicated" :
Public opinion has been for some days occupied with the
question of the conversion of the Five per Cents., and an
that point the intentions of the government have been coot-
' mooted on in the most false and malevolent manner. Ab-
surdity was carried to the length of declaring that the go-
vernment thought of putting a tax upon the rente or of
arbitrarily reducing the interest. It is useless to refute •
supposition so absurd, and so contrary both to the most ele-
mentary principles of public credit and to those of good
faith. As to the conversion, it is matter of notoriety that
it cannot be proposed except with the option of reimburse-
ment. But that measure, which, by alleviating the charges
of the tax payers, would lower the rate of interest in all
transactions and ensure the development of credit, will not
be possible until order and confidence are completely re-
stored. In presence of the erroneous or malevolent com-
ments which may mislead public opinion, it is the duty of
a loyal and provident government to reassure private in-
tercets, whilst reserving its right for the future.
The affair of, the Lyons Railway is on the eve of
conclusion; but the sum resulting from the conces-
sion not being sufficient for the necessities of the
government, M. Achille Fould will be compelled to
resort to a loan for the balance.
It appears to-day from the Bank account that
during the last week upwards of twelve millions of
francs have been drawn from that establishment for
the use of the Treasury. The metallic reserve of the
Bank has increased 41 millions in Paris, and 11
million in the branch banks. The discount accom-
modation has increased nearly 31 millions in Paris,
and declined something more than 1 million in the
provinces, the amount of the former being 54,906,137
franca, and of the latter 72,289,990 fr. The amount of
money advanced on French securities has increased
from 8,929,9265. to 12,062,876 fr. On the side
of the liabilities, the notes in circulation have
increased in Paris 111 millions, and fallen off in the
provinces three-quarters of a million. The account-
current of the Treasury has declined 121 millions,
the present amount being 57,768,844 franca. Private
accounts-current have increased in Paris 9 millions,
and declined in the departments about a quarter of a
million; the amount of the former being 116,415,987 f.,
and of the latter 31,245,278 fr. The whole amount
of the metallic reserve is now 5691 millions, to 5911
millions of notes in circulation. The Bank has an-
nounced a dividend of fiofr. per share for the second
six months of 1851, payable on and after the 2nd of
January next.
An imitator of the atrocities of General Eynard has
appeared in the Basses-Alpes. This is a Colonel
Parson, commander during the state of siege of the
arrondissement of Dauphin. Ile has pnblished a de-
cree declaring that any one who gives either shelter
or food, or ambits in any way a long list of proscribed
persons, shall be treated in every way as a rebel
against the government, and tried by court martial
accordingly. Meanwhile the detestable proclama-
tion of General Eynard has been openly
adopted by the highest authorities of Pa-
ris. To day, as if in defiance of public
opinion, the prefect of police, M. de Maupas, has
sawed to be posted up all over Paris a decree of the
military commander of the Allier, declaring that
even individual who gives refuge to M. Felix
Matte, proprietor, and to a long list of other persons,
among whom figure several more proprietors and
two physicians, and who are denounced as insurgents,
shall be considered as accomplices of the insurrection.
Great crowds of people, in silent indignation, were
gathered about these placards wherever they appeared.
But this concentrated and mute rebellion of the
heart against such execrable menaces gives the police
authorities pleasure to behold, because they mistake
that grim protest of crushed feelings for terror, and
announce in the miserable jargon of their reports,
that " the decrees posted up to-day by order of the
prefect are observed to produce a salutary impinge°
on the crowds that flock to read them.
The cyn'eal tone in which the sufferings and salami
ties,andeven death,ot persons denounced asinsurgents
are pronounced, is of a piece with this callous sneer of
satisfaction at the progress of terror. The .21foniteur
of this morning, in recounting the horrible fate of