The Express.
London, England, 1851-03-13 00:00:00

FRANCE

PARIS, WEDNESDAY EVENINO.
The three regiments which have received orders
to quit Paris, were marched out to-day to the Champs
de Mars, in order to be reviewed by the President ;
but the weather was so dismal that Louis Napo-
leon, not caring to appear on the ground with a
drenched plume to his cocked hat, and sit shivering
on horseback before troops who had received ex-
press orders that they were not to cry under arms,
sent an orderly from the Elysee at two o'clock to tell
the colonels of the regiments to march back their
men to the barracks, and fold up their colours for a
serener day. The review is adjourned to the first re-
turn of sunshine.
I am enabled this evening to communicate to you
an important resolution which has been adopted by
the Board of Professors of the College of France.
The professors met to-day to the number of 21, and
passed a vote of censure upon the lectures of M.
Michclet, by a majority of 17 against 4. M. Michelet
declares that he will close his course and resign his
chair in consequence. The students arc furious, and
menace a demonstration to-morrow.
According to the (*.mat/tut/mind, M. Bcrryer has
presented a proposition to the Assembly for the
reimbursement in four years of the tax of the 45
centimes. To cover the deficit, M. Bcrryer proposes
the re-establishment for four years of the salt tax,
and an increase of the duties on foreign salt. This
motion has made a great sensation. You are aware
that the direct taxes were increased in 1818 by the
provisional government 43 per (vitt. This is what
is called the impost of the 43 centimes. The propo-
sition of M. Berryer to reimburse the taxpayers for
this imposition is the most severe censure which
could possibly be proposed against the government of
the revolution of February. Hence the Mountain
to-day were furious, and at the close of the Assembly's
sitting some members of the Extreme Left placed on
the bureau a motion which I understood was in-
tended as a pendant to M. Berryces, and proposes
the reimbursement of the billion of francs which was
voted in MI by the government of the restoration
to the endyr:s. Thus parties are engaged in erecting
batteries at each other and gratifying their political
spite, instead of doing the business of the nation.
Themain obstacle to the formation of a definitive
ministry is the indispensability of M. Achille Fould
to the President as a minister of finance. Now the
Assembly has shown, by the composition of the com-
mittee on the budget, a decided reluctance to ad-
mit a repetition of the Fould administration of the
financial department. Fould's mode of hiding the
decayed side of the melon is deemed by the com-
.
mare mom ingenious than useful ; and m future it
is evident that the confidence of the Assembly will
be given to none but a straightforward statesman,
, who is prepared to waive plausibility, show up
frank accounts, and carry out sweeping reforms in
; his department. The grand evil of the present sys-
, tem evidently lies in saddling the state with the
Malrsahnir ruinceeddetola yuoruu,neuripztliattritdwezasei
total responsibility in all enterprises of public works.
in coofntetmhe-

plation to bestow the vacant dignify upon General
Execimam, Grand Chancellor of the Legion of
Honour. The 21fonikor of this morning contains a
decree to that effect. The dignity of marshal, con-
ferred as a reward for time-honoured services, could
not be more aptly bestowed, for Excehnans was held
by Napoleon for one of his most deservi officers,
and destined, in common with Foy, Geard, and
Clause'. nearly forty years ago, to receive the baton
which has only just been put into his aged grasp.
The last brilliant feat of arms before the Restoration,
in ISIS was performed under the walls of Paris by
General Excelmans, who by a gallant dash cut off
and destroyed two Prussian regiments of the ad-
vanced guard of the allied armies at Roqueneourt.
Eager to follow up this blow, the general pointed out
to the provisional government how the rush ventures
of the enemy might be turned to his destruction ;
but the game was up, and the daring achievement
remained without result. Of the six surviving mar-
shals of France, Soult, Gerard, Sebastian, Reille,
Jerome Bonaparte, and Excelmans, there is not one
perhaps, who, in case of war, could take active ser-
vice, so aged and infirm are these veteran cam-
paigners The dignity of marshal must therefore
re,mrded at present rather as an honour of retire-
ment'than a rank with active duties of command.

M. Sallandrouxe, the French commissitry-general
fur the London Exhibition, has been in l'aris fin• the
lass two days, to explain the result of his negotia-
tions with the royal commission, and to appease the
discontent of French exhibitors at the reduction of

the square feet allowed them to make room for
passages. M. Sullandrouze attended a meeting of
the central jury yesterday, at the Northern Railway
terminus, and gave all explanations required. To-
night he returns to London.
A singularcause has just been decided by the Court
of Appeal. An action lad been brought by the heirs
of two illegitimate daughters of the Count of Charo-
lais against the Duke of Aumale, who inherited the
count's estate through the Duke of Bourbon and the
Prince of Coud,. The court confirmed the judgment
against the plaintiffs given by the Tribunal of First
Instance. It turned out that they had received a
pension of 2,000 fr. a year from Louts XVIII.
Among the important alterations making at the
Louvre is one which will rejoice all friends of the
tine arts. The long gallery, whose side-lights have
fretted so many picture gazers with their treacherous
reflections, is ut last to be lit from the roof. As I
passed through the court I oltserved some workmen
removing the pedestal which once supported the
bronze equestrian statue of the Duke of Orleans, and
which later recorded an inscription to the victims of
February. They told me it was to be replaced by a
handsome fountain.
Rouen is becoming quite an important port, in
consequence of the improved state of the Seine's na-
vigation, and brigs of good burthen trade therefrom
regularly with the Levant, which saves an immensity-
in land-carriage. The difference is said to be as
much as from 60fr. to 130 fr. the ton.
The sitting of the Assembly was insignificant. A
string of motions of no interest were adopted, re-
jected, or adjourned without discussion. The house
broke up early.
The budget-committee was occupied yesterday with
the budget of justice.
At the request of M. Schneider, the Minister of
Commerce, the discussion on the Sugar Duty Bill,
which was to continence to-day, has been postponed
to Monday next.
It was reported last night that the National
Guard of Strasbourg had been dissolved.
General Maginot has resigned his scat in the
National Assembly.
The Bourse was calm. The Fives closed at 04.15,
with a fall of 5 centimes 4 and the Threes, at 57.85,
with a rise of 5 centimes on yesterday.

GERMANY.