The Express.
London, England, 1848-03-17 00:00:00

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the Rue de Bac, celled Le Petit St. Thomas, stopped.'
This mogasin employed six hundred persons, all of
whom are thus suddenly deprived of the means of
subsistence.
Public opinion has begun to declare itself lire-1
ference to M. Ledru Rollin. The question whether
the intelligence, respectability, and property of
France is to have its legitimate influence swamped by
the populace with which the Minister of the Interior
has attempted to dilute it, will now be soon settled.
A formidable demonstration will be made within two
hoar, of the time of writing these lines.

The decree of the Minister of the Interior recently
published pronounced the dissolution of the companies
delite, those of the grenadiers and voltigeurs of the
national guard. Without going into the details of
the object of this measure, and its consequences if
carried into effect, it will suffice to say that it would
utterly annihilate all the influence of the middle and
upper classes, including the property and intelligence
of the country, in the election of the officers and
chiefs of these civic troop*, and would throw the con-
trol of them into the hands of the populace.
A determination has, therefore, been made to resist
the measure in the most energetic manner. Protests
have been accordingly signed by many thousands of
the most respectable citizens. Every legion has
thus expressed its sense of the proceeding, and
evinced its resolution to resist it. At a late
hour last night, it was resolved that the
national guards should go in a body to-
day, in uniform, but unarmed, to the hotel
de Ville to lay their solemn protest before the
government, and to demand the immediate revocation
of the dtcrce of Laden Rollin. The following resolu-
tion was unanimously adopted at a meeting held at
the ffiairie of the second arrondissement, by deputa-
tions from all the legions of Paris and the Baulieu :
A resolution of the Minister of the Lnterior dissolves the
eompanies of the grenadiers and willows. This measure
has excited on all sides a discontent which the National
Guard resolved upon expressing to the members of the Pro-
visional Government. To this effect the legions of Paris and
of the Bootie's, grenadiers, chassettm and voltigcum, are to
meet on this day, March 16th, at one o'clock precisely, to
repair to the Hotel de Ville, and present a unanimous pro-
testation.

The resolution then goes on to appoint the places
of rendezvous for the different legions. The greatest
silence is enjoined to be observed on the occasion.
The number of citizen soldiers assembled on this oc-
casion will, it is said, be thirty thousand.
We select the following from among the numerous
protests as a specimen of the whole
Cit•xen governors, now, more than ever, does the Na
tient] Guard need that strength which springs from affection,
and which creates conhdenee. To destroy these ties is to
create discouragement. The dissolution of the companies of
Neenah, re and voltigeurs, by dividing the National Guards,
places them in new companies, where they know no one,
and prevents them from exerekieg the electoral
right, wi:h utility. The decision of the citizen Minister of
the Interior, adopted ou the very eve of the election, seems to
betray a thought cf disorganisation which we would willingly
disbelieve ! There can be no sus:peers among the National
Guards, for we are all animated with one desire—the safety
of our country—and know but one means to secure it,
order and liberty! This decision is merely applicable
to Paris end the Banlieu it spares the National
Guard of the provinces. Is it, then, en exceptional
law 7 We think it would have been prudent to nail the
decision of the great powers of the state, which are not yet
constituted. The grenadiers and voltigeurs do not request
to retain either their insignia or their denominations ; they
give them up unanimously, fur equality alone redeye in their
heart. But they demand not to be disorganised ;to pro.
serve their Rees and their census open to all. We are 30,000
National Guards, who demand that the decree of the mi.
Dieter be postponed till the day when a National Assembly
shall decide their fate. Liberty ! equality ! fraternity ;
(Then follow the signatures.)

The journals are filled with the resignations of
public functionaries in Paris and in the provinces, in
consequence of the circular of M. Ledru Rollin. I
seiect from among the letters addressed to the go-
vernment by high functionaries on this occasion the
following, prefaced by one addressed to the editors of
the public journals :
Mrso x, hlsucu 13 —To the Editor.—Sir,—lmmoveable
magistrate. I have not recoiled from hi for: the of
the moment, end hove continued in the exercise of my func-
tions as long as I thought I could fulfil them with lode,
prudence. But now, as the circular of ;he Minister of the
Interior tends to deprive me of that independence, I con-
eider it my duty to send in my resignation.
Willing to nicks known to my fellow citizens the motive'
of my determination, I inclose to you the copy of my letter'
to the Minister of Justice, leaving you at liberty to publish
it. I desire that my fellow eitis-ns may see therein my love
for the independence and liberty of every citizen.—Receive
&c. BARBA:AT DUPLICSBIII, Juge d'lastruction.
MEAex, March 13.—Minister,—I have the honour to send
to you my resignation at judge of the tribunal of premiere in-
./tone/of id, aux. I mast say that my dignity es a man and
as u snagistrste revolted at the thought, that, according to the
circular of your colleague, the Minister of the Interior, I am
to be surveilk. I have never feared a close examines
Lion of my actions. I have long been one of the
law officeni of the crown ; and if 1 have con-
tented to accept my present office, it was not to
seek refuge in immovability. Born free, I have ever been
free area always wish to be so. I will not, for a single instant,
cease to be the equal of every citizen, whose brother I am,
and always shall be. I shall never be hostile to my coun-
try, whose liberty, honour, and prosperity no one can
desire more than myself. Magistrate, I fulfil my duty
as a citizen, and in forsaking, with regret, I own,
and that after thirteen years of exercise, a career, which is,
in my eyes, at least, a safeguard to liberty, and which has
always appeared to me to be the most noble of all careers, I
shall wait at my post, till the arrival of my successor shall
restore to me, what I desire for myself no Ina than for all—
Liberty! equality! fraternity '—l remain, sir, your fellow
citizen, BAILBUAT Du eteeste.

The circular of M. Ledru Itollin has been in part
retracted, as I told you would be the case in the
lifoniteur of to-day, in which a resolution of the go-
vernment is published, declaring that the commis-
saries of the government shall not exercise the power
of suspending or dismissing magistrates, which was
given them by the circular; and that such suspension
or dismissal, in circumstances of the most extreme
.

urgency, can only be made by the Minister of Justice.
The Minister of Finance, M. Gamier Pages, has
issned the following proclamation :
Citizens —Public tranquillity is gaining strength, and it
will do so mere and more by the co-operation of all desires
and interests. Liberty, founded by courage, is maintained
by devotedness. You have comprehended this: you have
already paid the taxes in advance. You have done more ;
some have wished to pay their taxes for the ensuing year—.
others have offered a portion of their revenue; others again
have offered voluntary gifts, and to a considerable amount.
This emulation inspires the proviaional government with pro-
found gratitude ; but it does not think it right to accept, in
the form of a gratuitous donation, this mark of patriotism;
it desires, above all, a proof of confidence. It is with this
object that it has opened a national loan, which is not a
financial ian, fin* a political measure. At the mo-
on of when the loan is below par, the government at thi re-
public calls upaii large and smell, to show, by a
striking testimony, that they regard the credit of the state on
a level with the par. This appeal will he heard; it has
be .ri heard. The amount of the first payments allege that
everybody is aware how intimately public and privet: credit
aro connected. Te ameliorate the condition of the people—
to re-establish the circulation. for a moment diminished—to
give to labour and labourers all the encouragement and the
guarantees which are due to them—to found order upon jus-
tice—to give security to all legitimate interest —to protect all
with equal solicitude and equal firmness such is the mis-
sion of the government of the republic. It will succeed but
on one condition—rig, the prompt restorition of public
credit Irmo the factitious discredit caused by a senseless
panic. Citizens, the will is in us—the power is in yourselves.
I expect, with the calm of an accomplished duty, that you
will furnish us with the means of pacifically founding the
republic.
Yesterday M. Lamartine received a deputation of
the republican club for the freedom of election, which
came to the minister to express the fears which the
circular of the minister of the interior has generally
excited in the public mind, and to declare that the
term,: of this circular have created the dread that the
provisional government does not sufficiently respect
the liberty of the citizens in the choice they will have
shortly to make for the national assembly. During
the interview the following remarks were made :
M. LAMARTINE—I cannot. in a question so grave, so ge
neral, take upon me the initiative on the opinion of all my
colleagues united. However, I can assure you that they
will all be profoundly touched at, and heartily grateful for,
the steps you have just taken, and for the wards you have
just pronounced. The provisional government has requested
no one to speak in its name to the nation, and still less to
speak a language superior to the laws. (Bravo.) It has
given this right to none, for it refused to assume it, even at
that very instant it arose as an acclamation of the people to
occupy provisionally the painful place it now fills. (Bravo.)
It would not then RAMBO that right, nor will it ever. Let
the names of those men who compose it be the sure guarantee
of it to you. (Bravo.) Be convinced that in a few days the
provisional government will speak on this subject, and that
whatever in the terms—but certainly not in the intentions
—of this document may have wounded, or created the un.
easiness of, the liberty and the conscience—l" Yes, yes ;"
"Bravo")—shall he explained, commented on, and re.
established by the voice of the whole government. (Ap-
plause, and cries of " Lnng live Lamartine !") Bay, " Long
live the whole government," for this thought is not mine,
it is that of the whole government and of the minister
himself.
A 'Mamma (of the deputatien)—We accept it as such.
M. LANARTINE—Citizens, of all the dogmas which have
survived the great falls of thrones and empires which we
have witnessed since half a century, nne dogma a'one is im-
perishable in our eyes, that of the sovereignty of the nation.
(Bravo.) It is that of national sovereignty, which we shall
never allow ourselves to infringe, nor permit °theta to attack
in our name or in sours. The provisional government, be
assured of it, will congratulate itself en your having come as