The Express.
London, England, 1856-09-26 00:00:00

TUE BRUSSELS CONGRESS.

(room ors owx

BRUSSELS, Barr. 24.

After my letter left yesterday, Mr. Oliveira ad-
dressed the Coignes, to point out to the assembled
delegates the advantages both England and France
would derive from the redaction of the English
duties on foreign wines. He contended that this
redaction on the part of England would be met in
France by a corresponding reduction of French
duties on British manufactures. Mr. Henry Bohn,
the publisher, followed Mr. Oliveira; and pointed
out the advantages that bad been derived tem the
free circulation of book.. He himself had recently
given a thousand pounds for a copyright, that, be-
fore cheap books were possible, would not have bean
worth half this sum. Now ha was able to send his
books to Americo, and suocessfully compete with the
American publishers.
The President of the Chamber of Commerce of
Verviers concluded the second day's discussion, in
' a long speech, that wu frequently applauded, on the
obstacles that were still in the way of free com-
merce ; and pointed proudly to the fact, that the
citizens of the eminently commercial locality he had
the honour to represent showed a more numerous list
of adherents to the principles of the Congress than
an 7 other kcality whatsoever.
The President then read a long list of propositions
from Count Jean Arrivabece and others, which were
referred to the committee appointed to examine
them; and the Congress separated, to meet today at
one o'clock. _ _

Ie the evening, the members met at the hotel of
Count Arrivabene. Tickets had been issued to them
fee the grand open-air concert that should have taken
place last evening ; bat torrents of rain compelled its
postponement. To the list of pamphlets and reports
distributed to the delegates, that of " A Brussels
Tradesman," on the Belgian tariff, should be added.
It enters PO fully and plainly into the ;grievances
under which Belgian commerce labour*, that I pro-
pose to make it the subject of a separate letter. It
will be pleasing to the readers of the Express to
learn that M. Corr Vandermaeren'apropmition for the
establishment of an International Free Trade League
has mat with ready support, and that it promises to
be the great achievement of the Congress now sitting.
the delegates from the various states of Europe will
return to their respective countries members of
a permanent association, the network of which
will cover Europe. By the publications of
'the League they will be kept constantly in-
' formed on the customs reforms achieved in
various parts of the world. At any moment they
will be able to evoke the energy of their associates in
aid of a proposed reduction at home. Nor ono Bel-
gium be regarded as an ill-chosen centre for the
operations of such an association. The home and
retuge of constitutional liberty on the continent;
an industrious country, whose iron manufewures
rival thoee of Birmingham, and whose agriculture is
far beyond that of Frame° ' • a country occupying
the most accessible part of Europe—half way be-
tween Germany and France, and within a few noun
of London—Belgium is peculiarly favoured for the
fair development of the idea to which one of her
more energetic citizens has given a practical shape
at a happy moment.
The Congress reesesembled to-day, at one o'clock.
It was as fully attended as at its two previous
sittings. Indeed the continued bad weather, the
great enemy of popular festivals, left little temp-
tation to abandon statistics for open air conceits
or military parades. A brisk sale of farthing
cigars and of cheep refreshments was going forward
on the Place before the Town Hall. Crowds of ,
curiously dressed Flemish peasants were gaping
befall the shops of the Passage de Hai, and brilliant
uniforms were to be seen in every street. Still the
national fete might be considered a fiat affair—in
no way a successful rival to the oratory of the Tows
Hall.
Mom pamphlets were distributed. Among them
we may notice a description of a proposed loterna-
tional Association of Commerce; and a statement of
the experiences and organisation of the International
Association for obtaining a uniform decimal system
of measures, weights, and coins.

The Burgomaster opened the sitting by stating
that the Association of Economists would give a ball
is the evening, to which all members of the Congress
were invited, and at which the royal family were
expected. The secretary then read a list of the
papers that had been sent trom the various countries
of Europe, the principal being from England.
M. David, of Dmmark, having given up his
right to speak, and having titi.osited with the coma
mittee a statement of the customs duos of his country,
especially as they had influence tithe corn trade during
the lest ten years, M. Wave!, of the Chamber of
Commerce of Antwerp, rc-opeued the discussion on
the second question or proposition submitted to the
Congress. Ifs occupied thn tribune its order to
prove that the insinuati its of two orators who
had preceded him, with regard to the pro.
tectioniat tendencies of his chamber of commerce,
were without foundation. He went into details to
show that the people of Antwerp were not in favour
of protection • on the contrary, they applauded the
example of ingland. But then it most he re •
membered that tree trade was not altogether
triumphant to that country. England still protected
her silk manufactures, her hop growers, &o. Her
colonies still levied high dutlis even upon necessities.
He declared that the Antwerp Chamber of Commerce
adhered without reserve to unlimitt d tree trade.

A delegate followed the Antwerp representative
(M. Aokendeyk), who may have in ads oat a good
C4BO for Holland, but who spoke so confidentially...
in evident fear lest somebody might hear him—that
I am utterly unable to give your readers even the
faintest idea of his argument. No secret was ever
better kept. The last words of his peroratios, in
which he lamented the monopoly of the Dutch India
Company, and the Rhine dues, were heard by the
imposition of • rigorous silence. The era or was also
understood to say that there should be no patents of
inventions, but that a good thought should be the
property of the world, and should be paid for by the
nation to which the inventor belonged. This mild
delegate was followed by a most emphatic Swiss
gentleman, who announced that ho represented the
National Institution of Geneva. The contrast be.
Mon this speaker and his predecessor in the
tribune was so marked that the amusement of the
1:10080188 was irrepreesible. The orator simply reit..
rated the arguments of M. Cherbulti z, aid wandered
into the question of the nationalities, hut was inter.
napted by the President, who told him he was not it
ceder. The delegate concluded by thanking M. Pascal
Dupes! for hie *empathy with oppressed nations.
M. Matias Gomez Villahos, tepresenting a Spanish
Agricultural Society, then read a paper, which hie
indistinctness and accent rendered unintelligible to
the Congress, and which was listened to with cow&
derable impatience. He was understood to be to-
tally against free trade in any shape. The discus•
sion having closed, the preAdent proceeded to in.
form the Congress that the reporters of the veriest
elections among which the propmitio-s had been die.
tributed would give the result ot their labours. M.
Molinari then occupied the Iribune. He had to re.
port on the proposition of M. Corr Vandermsoren, far
the establishment of au international cake= reform
association. This proposition had been adopted
unanimously, and it had been arranged that the
central committee should be compiled of men of all
nations. Oa this centres! eominiree the names
of Mr. Cobden and M. Corr Vandermaeren had
been inscribed. The central office would be in
Brussels: The members of the central committee
would organioi local committee's in their respective
countries. The operations ct the association would
be supported by public subecripti,ms. Having ex.
plained the organisation ot the association, the re-
porter went into the general questius of free trade,
aed appealed to the delegate a whether they were not
all agreed that this system wets one which had to bra
accomplished by association. Let them remember
the device of Belgium-- L'Union flit la Force."
This proposition 1188 then put from the chair, and
carried with one dissentient (Nl. Matias Gototz VA.
labia). (Load and prolonged cheering.)
The second proposition (M. Saget. reporter) had
reference to the establishment of tribunals of com-
merce, uniformity of weiets and measures, and
money, se well as letters of credit and postage. After
some discussion, in the course ot which the President
observed that he thought these p ices to important
to be voted upon off hand, the resolu.ion was re•
ferred to the new International Free-trade League
that had jest been founded. This league would cam.
municede with the central atia•Jcistion of uniform mine
sores in Paris. Mr. Tatra hereupon read a paper
explaining the composition of the soc'ety which
he represented. M. Duval, of the Dttb.rts, said that
I the Parisian association could not get meetings to-
, gether ; and he thought that the Belgian commission
, had better bi organised. Such an organieation in
France was suspected, for it ~ppeared to he pushieg
, her own system. M. BUZilli thought that M. Dave.
objection applied to Belgium clan. He thought that
the English association should be supported, for in
England the decimal system was most wanted. The
, President thought that if thev agreed to have the
7 centre of operations in England, the delegates from
the various natiuns of Eur.q‘e should be requested to
, help it from their respec:ive countries. This wee
, agreed to.
The next proposition, su'lm'tted to end carried by
- the Congress unanimously, was from the authorities
r of Aotwerp, and was to the effect that what remained
, of the colonial system should be abolished.
, The third proposition was to the effect that "the
, Congress desired that all duties on rivers running
a from one country into another, and straits separating
them, should be aholietied." Carried, with one dis-
sentient voice.

The fourth proposition, sozgeeted by M.Convreure
was to the effect that the pAaport system should be
modified, and the compulsory visas for various nations
be abolished. This proposition was carried unani.
Piously.
The fifth proposition ran thus :—That declaration
on the importation and exportation of merchandise
should ba and made uniform for all
nations. Carried unacimr,,,,:v.
M. Tilliem brought up :he report of the section
on the teaching of (mummy. The notion
appealed to the delegates .o pMcige themselves to
use their influence to get the elements of political
economy introduced as pert or popuiar education in
their respective countries, aid to recommend the
preparation of teachers for this purinFe
The Spanish delegate reminded the Congress that
in the ten universities of his country this science wri
taught.
Toe resolution of the committee was carried on.
nimously.
Mr. Ewald, M.P., then moved, in a complimentary
speech, an address of oongratui ition to the King on
the 26th anniversary of the national independence.
He begged to more they that his Majesty wri
highly esteemed in E-Igland.
Carried un au i mous!) .
It was then arrang.d that a fourth and final sitting
of the Congress be held tomorrow from 10 to 4
o'clock.

Tue lentA MAIL—The E•er India and China
Raw:jetfoil:l hove entered ioto uortespoud.-nce with th•t Post •
maater•G •metal on the Monet oleice cic,cd to the mercan-
tile community by the frtgotet detention et Bemires of
tte homeward Eat India tied China nsai,e. It appears that
during the last ergotoi n mow!, nine ',stave. have no-
mired in which the monthly tusq has hese d. tined on an
average about tweiva boar•. The P•vitsozeter General bra
premised to eommoni•sto with tr e Fr. nal authorities em
the subject without delay.
LETrERS FOR ITIE COLONY OF NATAL.—Referrisg
to the notice issued on the 22ne let., in whicq it was stated
that letters be the co:ozy of N when ferwarded from
pe.,,,,,,woyte.befilria.blte,,,tota:tp;att,raNaehatorgetoen
rde,!itvery.:
this enntly by ships proeeedloc only as far the Cape of
fCio their ood lo
P.•.tmae-
ter General hoe now to annou,.ce thot he has received
offieisl 'atomisation ot the obeli. i rt, by the g;vercount of
Natal, of the sates charge in netestion, thus placing the
• letters on the earns footing, whrt,,rr they are .tint to Natal
dirtet or ON the Cap. of Go :4 commsed of the
Poetmsster•Generat, Howse ,i, 11:LL, Suretery. General
Post•ofBa, &pt. 23.
The Plymouth Journal mates that the Admiralty
have ordered a war: of inquire to he held. to impairs into
the repeated cameo of didererre which beve sews Nooses
Mr.B.Triseutathe at:natant/ ,/t the Hopi WilllamVirtnel•
Hap Yard, and Captain Wee. the superintendent. The
hood have also order...et en investigation into the china
preferred by Dr. Budd against the I 'Vein, far bee enemy-
moue derseanot.r to the doet,r,atui a !Orly of F•ench ladies
and getstlsmen, when they, wit', letters of authority from
the Admiralty, a few day. since visited the yard. The
ofEleere seined as members of the e Art are Admiral Bit
Wm. Parker, Bart.. G.C.8., Coo murder-ic-Chief at OM
Port; Rear-Admiral W. F. kiwi's, flup•rietendeat
Portamooth Doekyard ; and R•ar•Adm.ral Sir H. D.
Coutmander.in.Chief at Cork.