The Express.
London, England, 1849-07-24 00:00:00

FRANCE.

6.30

PARIS, Me?mar.. P.U.
Many journals, and many people whose views these
papers reproduce, talk de feeling of general aux:ety
that exiles at the present moment. The desire that
wearies should return has been put forward by M.
Barret, and it is a felling which is shared in by the
great mass of the public ; but, as regards the means
of re-establishing that security, many disagree, and
home anxiety.
It is generally agreed that the constitution is a bad
ease but the difficulty of changing it is present to
sveey mind. Amongst its vices may be mentioned
the granting of votes to the army, a body which is
esseatially hierarchic, and which unusual suffrage
MUSA fail to destroy the sentiment of obedience.
Thee, say some people, the constitution places in pre-
sence two forces, neither of which have any power
over the other. The Legislative Assembly cannot
dissolve itself; and cannot be dissolved by the
president ; whilst, on the other hand,the Asst m hip can-
ed pat aside the president. The two powers are
this liable, if pitted against each other by any
eireamstanors, to lead to civil war. It was
thus that the late Constituent Assembly was placed
with regard to the president. Now, in order to re-
vise the constitution—for that it wants revision is
a fact on which all parties are agreed—it would be
necessary to wait till the term for which the Legible"
live Assembly is named has expired, or that a new
Constituent Assembly and a new president be chases,
who would proceed to the revision. But two years
and a half may be thought by many to be a very lees
time to wait foe security consequent on such a
aim. Every Every one knows that at this moment upwards
of 158,000 lodgings are unlet in Paris. We have
seen what large sums of French money have been
invested in foreign fends. The Bank of France has,,
in its cellars, a vast quantity of bullion and coin,
which lies dormant and unproductive. Trade is stag-
nant; and such is the fear of the future, that leases,
for three, six, or nine years cannot be entered into,
people preferring to pay a little dearer for a shorter
period of occupation than to risk their all by over-
confidence, It is in view of all this, and seeing the
precarious nature of things, that anxiety exists, and is
increased by rumours of intended changes.
I have said that M. Mole has been seeking to
prolong the presidential power to 10 years. This is
a plan which is doubtless floating in the minds of
many, but to propose which is a violation of the con-
stitution: but, as the government have not stopped at
violating it in several particulars, they might not stop
at doing so is grand. Such a thing might be
amongst probabilities, not at once, but with time and
preparation. The concomitants of such a prolonga-
tion of power might be a change in the electoral sys-
tem of the country, by which universal suffage would
be modified, to the Prussian system, for instance.
Then, in order to prevent the too violent collision of
two powers, such as that of toe Legislative Assembly
and that of the president, the system of one chamber
might be &heartened, and two chambers organised.
But, supposing all these changes to be possible, it is
to be feared that the legitimists would very soon
abandon the majority, who feel that, though changes
ale necessary, the republican form must be preserved.
The legitimists might think that a revolution would
lead to Henry V.—bat would not the Orleanists and
other parties be against them? The same result would
follow from any attempt to bring back the Orle nista
by a revolutionary attempt. All this cannot but be
felt, and cause the majority to see that the republic
must be preserved at all hazard,. That such changes
as those already noticed may be in contemplation,
would be impossible to gainsay ; but it must be left
to time to show whether they will be made. It
would seem as if M. Dufaure were an obstacle to
plans formed by the rest of the ministry. The As-
semblie Nationale, and even the Conatitationnel, have
not spared him of late, and his approaching retreat
must be looked upon as certain.
The Bourse, as putlic barometer, indicates that
there is some hidden affection in the political atmo-
sphere ; and the press, as has already been said, gives
vent to feats of different kinds.
The debate on the press was commenced to-day by
M. (irevy, who of course opposed the motion. He
was followed by M Dafeure, who in answer to the
assertion that the Ministry could not act otherwise
than it had done, if it were hustle to the republic,
said, "that if they were hostile to the republic they
would act as the minority were acting." N. Itufaure
was followed by M. E. Barrault, wno was speaking
when the despatches left

PARK iCLY 23. For
Money.
33 7
. b 7
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Fa Assount.

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Lowest. 4.34leing.
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33 15
ST 61

sis 7 J 53 is
47 al 167 IJ

$3 IS 133 10
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3 per Orsta.. ,
3 do. 14,41;„m s _
it pr de11........-- : : e
4 pot OWL MP me I! .. . P.
RNA'S. IS IMAM : 80 days, 23 33; 90 days, 25 224.
Beets; S, 1311
Do. 3, 1142 ..... 9! „ *man Loan
Do. 43
Do. 23
BAELwar4.—Pare and Wines, 7;0; Paris and Ronan. 532 50
Isess mad Havre. 230 ; Avignon and Danielle., • Wm-
bow
ems, BD., 101 23 ; Centre (Tiersoal. 303 ; Anilol. and
—; Bordeaux, —; North, 416 73; Paris and ems-
rogg. 5; Tours and Mantes, 305 ; Mentereau ant Troyes,
—; Dieppe sod Fecomp, .