The Express.
London, England, 1853-09-02 00:00:00

FRANCE.

PARIS, THURSDAY EyRNING.
The high pries of ceso excites more attention to-
day than it has hitherto done. 1 was led into an
error yesterday when I said that bread had risen
10c. It was so stated in several French newspapers
and in GsGgaani, and moreover it was notorious,
,thaf according to the prices of corn and flour, a rise
In bread must necessarily take place, unless the re-
plating scale should be disregarded. However, it
was determined by authority, that the price fixed a
fortnight since, namely 40c. the kilogramme for first
quality, and 32c. for second, shosld be main-
tained. When M. Pietri's decree announcing
this determination appeared lksj night, the
utmost dissatisfaction was expressed by the
bakers. I myself heard one say " The Emperor is
master, and may do what he likes, but he must turn
baker himself if these prices are to continue, for we
must shut up shop. The tariff gives me a profit
of half a sous only upon the 41bs. loaf, and expenses
are 60tr. a day. It appears, however, that the
hikers are to be cared for. This morning they re-
ceived the following circular from the Syndical
Bakers' Committee:

Paris, Aug. 31, 1833.
Messieurs and Dear Brethree,—We hasten to announce
to you that, by superior orders, the Prefect of Police main-
tain. the price of bread at 40 centimes the kilogramme for
the first fortnight of the monthof September. instead of 43c.,
which the scale of the last fortnight of August would indi-
cate. The government has formally promised us that the
trade shall receive ulterior compensation for this lees.
The Syndics,
TALANCIE, LHEURIVI, Faux, BEICIER.
This measure is a return to the practice that pre-
vailed prior to 1823, when the Minister of the Inte-
rior first ordered that the price of bread should be
fixed every fortnight according to the average price
of flour during the fortnight preceding. Before that
time the government kept a sort of debtor and cre-
ditor account with the bakers, and bread was often
sold for certain periods below its real value, and
again at others above. The public in tut result, of
course, paid the full price, but the system prevented
popular discontent at particular times. After 1823 it
was frequently thought necessary to take exceptional
measures to enable the poor to get bread at a mode-
rate price. It has been usual whenever the ordinary
price of the 4 lb. loaf exceeded 40c. for the City
of Paris to issue tickets to all operatives and indigent
persons applying for them, on the presentation of
which the bakers served them at 80c., receiving the
surplus from the municipality. Daring the scarcity
of 1846 the city disbursed 9 million in this way. I
understand the Municipal Council, in anticipation of
• similar necessity, voted 3 millions last week,
to be used if wanted. But I believe it has
been thought better if possible not to re-
vive a system which gave rise to great abuses.
To give compensation to the bakers as now proposed
is, however, a scheme thoroughly unsound, and if, as
there is now reason to hope, the averages of corn
should diminish, the government will doubtless
speedily return to the regulating scale.
The Bourse has been very heavy today, chiefly on
account of the bread question. The recourse to an
exceptional measure has produced a bad impression.
" Wheat," says the Journal do Rouen, " fell at
Bolbec on Monday 10f. the sack as compared with
the Feuding official quotations from that place."
The Monileur publishes a table of the prices of
wheat in the four classes of markets into which
France is divided, and which regulite the import and
export dutiu. The highest pnce r 27f. 3c. in the
markets of Mulhouse and Strasbourg, and the lowest,
18f. 24c., in those of Saumur, Nantes, and Martins.
The average price for the whole of ?ran'ce is 22f. 65c.
At Rennes on Monday last, a gre,rt crowd of
people, principally women, assembled in front of the
Hotel de Ville, to remonstrate with the mayor on
the subject of the price of bread. The mayor pro-
mised to do all in his power to r. cnncile the wants
of the working classes with the exigencies sae the
situation.

If the credit of semi-official journals were cot
greatly shaken by recent disavowals of the Comti-
stutioneel and Patrie, the following paragraph en
the Eastern question in the Paye would be impor-

The Turco-Russian question is settled ; but there remains
a very important question, which, thank Ood, is not one of
peace or war, sad which must not be confounded with the
'air which has just been concluded. This question is that
of the future fate of Turkey. The Ottoman empire must
net be again gamed to the dangers from which it has
jest escaped ; its situation and its rights must
be setabhshed in such a manner that as regards it
treaties and the law of nations cannot be violated. We be-
lieve that the Divan itself is seriously engaged in consi-
dering this fundamental question, and that it has called
the attention of the European powers to this point, particu-
larly se far as regards the inviolability! of the Moldo-
Wallach/ma provinces. It appears to difficult that the
great powers, after having arranged the most urgent affair
by removing all possibility of war for the present be-
tween Turkey and Russia, and by reconciling a depute
full of peril for the peace of the world, should not
think of preventing the renewal of these alarming crises.
The maim of diplomacy will doubtless be directed to this
important subject. Now that the chances of• a sanguinary
struggle have disappeared, the really important work is
about to commence in the interest of the Ottoman empire,
the fate of which is so intimately connected with the peace
of Europa. But this work will be accomplished between
the cabinets by pacific discussions and diplomatic notes, with-
out reviving the late dispute, which was independent of
this great point, and which in the opinion of every serious
mind is now definitively solved.
The Ocean, of Brest, of Aug. 29, says :
The Ocean squadron, which was to have sailed to-day,
received counter orders on Saturday. We are assured that
a new order has been received, that it should hold itself in
readiness to sail. The first-clam frigate, of 60 guns, the
Iphigenie, bas been selected to form part of the naval divi•
soon of the Antilles and the Oulf of Mealco. It is mid that
this important division is about ti be reinforced. Rear-
Admiral Duquesne, who commands the division, will hoist
his flag in the Iphigenie.
A recent dispateh from the Minister of Marine,
received at Rochefort, orders that the three vessels
now on the stocks, the Ulm, the Louis XIV., and the
Turenne, shall be finished without delay. Screw
machinery of 900 horse-power is to be constructed
for one of these vessels, and the despatch says that
if the existing staff of workmen is not sufficient fresh
levies must be made.

BELGIUM.