The Express.
London, England, 1848-03-15 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS. WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 15, 184$.

still greater diminution. Several taxes had become
peculiarly odioueouchas those upon salt, drinks, the
oetroi at the gates of towns, and the high postage.
Government, though desirous of preserving, felt the
necessity of moditying, them; and laws for reducing
the salt-tai and postage were presented to the cham-
bers. The state had contracted a loan of ten mil-
lions, under very disadvantageous conditions; and
in the midst of full peace the three per cents.
were as low as 73, and bank and canal shares suffered
a similar depreciation. Thus it Is evident that
the dynasty of Orleans had prepared its own financial
revolution, as glaringly, but far more culpably, than
that dynasty which disappeared is 1792. The revo-
lution of February did but hasten and precipitate a
crisis already inevitable.
Whether a republican, or, above all, whether a pro-
visional government, can apply an efficient remedy to
such a state of ill, may be doubted. It may bring
great elements of economy. The suppression of
the civil list gives a million sterling. But the salaries
to be paid to 900 deputies, with bounties to the
labouring classes and indemnities to railroads
for devastations, will soon absorb the million.
Salaries and administrative employ will be cut
down and abolished. But the decrease of civilian
emplay,,s will, it is to be feared, be compensated
by an inert-aim of the army. Twenty-five thousand
men, uneer the appellation of the Garde 3fobile, have
been raised in Paris. Public works not only cannot
be slackened, but on the contrary are augmented, to
employ those workmen whom private industry can
no longer support.
We have already alluded to the measures of the new
finance minister for meting the difficulties of his
position. 'that relating to the savings banks is de-
plorable, and, contrasted with the eagerness of the
government to pay the o;wiiater of the funded
debt even in advance, seriously indisposes the
working classes. M. PAoes, indeed, may plead
necessity ; but his measure has given a terrible blow
to the economy of the rural classes, who will never
again trust a state fund, nor deem any investment
safe except land.
With this aid but unavoidable measure the govern-
ment has had recourse to what might have been a
salutary one, in the creation of discount banks in the
principal towns, supported jointly by the state and
by private subscription. But these do not appear as yet
to work well, or to be able to stay the rush of ruin.
As to private or joint.stock banks, few of these are or
will be able to resist the mope-Haien of credit and the
depreciation of every investment.
We hare before mentioned the intention of the
Provisional Government to have recourse to an in-
come or prorerty tax. This would be accompanied
by a suppression of the salt duty, and that on haissons
or liquids. Such a scheme, at first meditated as a theory
and an improvement, will, indeed, soon be a necessity.
We hope, however, that any such alteration may be
the work of the national assembly, and of an assembly
in which property is represented. The sooner, in-
deed, that the Provisional Government merges iu such
an assembly, the better for the safety of the state. For
recovering the credit of the country it seems the only
hope.

THE REPUBLIC OF FRANCE.

PARIS. TVESDAY, /.1

The commercial crisis and the emigration are the
engrossing subjects. Four banks stopped yesterday,
u I mentioned in my letter of last evening. Among
them tLree, those of Bandon, Etienne, and Fourchon,
carried on considerable business, and were much re-
spected, especially the first. Less effect, however,
was produ. ed by these failures, inasmuch as they had
been expected for some days. They had no share in pro-
ducing the general decline, which took place in all
securities at the Bourse yesterday. The Fives fell
yesterday 2.50 on 77; the Fours, 3on 68. Bank of
France shares fell 75 on 1.800; Romans 3on 72.
The decline on every description of shares was still
more considerable. IV.) business whatever has been
done on account since the re-opening of the Bourse,
and, therefore, those columns in the official report of
the Bourse which I send you, are illusory. The only
column which represents real transactions, is the first
or cash column. Treasury Bonds cannot be negotiated.
Among the innumerable reports circulated to-day,
is one to the effect that several of the largest banking-
houses here, including that of Rothschild. will close.
Not that they will fail, but simply that they will
liquidate their affairs and close their doors. I men-
tion this as it circulates, without giving any guarantee
fir it. _ . _

The Monifeur published a report of the first two
sittings of the government commission for regulating
the affairs of the workmen. There were present, be-
sides the president, vice-president, and secretary, MM.
Vidal, Jean Heynand, Victor COnsiderant, Dupont-
White' Duvevrier, Dupoty, Pecqueur, Malarmet, edi-
tor of the Journal de la Fraterniti;, a journeyman,
and M. Pascal, editor of the Atelier, also a journey-
man. At the first sitting M. Louis Blanc explained
the motives of the government, before there was
any dicenssion, for limiting the hours of work.
Beyond ten hours, he said, was oppressive. To
afford rcis.se to the workmon was to regain for
the work the strength lost in performing it. The
people demanded this reform with an imperious
voice; and the masters, after conferring, acceded to
the project of the commission. At the second sitting
M. Louis Blanc brought forward a question of high
interest. He proposed to establish, in the four most
populous quarters of Paris, four buildings, each capa-
ble of accommodating about four hundred families of
working men, with a separate apartment for each,
that thew might be derived a vast economy in lodg-
ing, firing, lighting, eze., and also in food by the pur-
chase in large quantities. Their economy would, he re-
presented, be equivalent to an augmentation of wages
to the work people without any additional charge upon
the masters. In this establishment there would bean
asylum for the infants during the absence of their
mothers, a school, yards for air and exercise, gardens,
bathe, &c. The first expense would be raised by
mortgages upon the establishments themselves.
These establishments would, said M. Louis Blanc, be
accessible only to working men lawfully married,
those who have the most numerous families being
preferred. '1 he utility and interest of such a creation
was unanimous:y acknowledged by the commission,
though some doubts were raised as to the concur-
rence of the workmen for whose benefit it was con-
ceived. MM. Louis Blanc and Charles Daveyrier,
however, soon set these doubts as:de. In the end M.
Louis Blanc undertook to submit to the government
for its sanction the resolutions which were come to.
M. de la Rochejaquelin, the well-known legitimist,
has issued an address to the electors, in which, after
stating his hostility to the late government, which he
denominates a quasi-monarchy, he goes on to say:—
" The repuldi.. having been proclaimed by the provision:a
government, I immediately promised it my support, and I
will keep my word. Let the future interests of the nation
cause all divisions, even the names of the old parties, to
disappear ; for this is the only means of preserving it from
all those internal and external evils which out divisions
must infallibly produce. We may have been divided, but
we are again united for the common safety of our country."
M. Eugene Sue, the well-known novelist, has written
to the journals to declare that he intends presenting
himself at the coming elections as candidate for a
seat in the National Assembly. His profession of
faith, he says, is simple—a heartfelt adhesion to the
form and spirit of the Republic Government ; and a
firm determination to demand with all its conse-
quences, social and political, the application of the
immortal principle of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
The Minister of Finance has informed the agents
de change that he will receive at par, for the sub-
scription for the national loan, Isnot do Triisar, whose
time of falling due does not go beyond May lb.
I ;The banking house of Baudon and Co., which ails-
pended payments yesterday, has issued a circular,
which says :
" We have a firm confidence that this wilding up of our
affairs, necessitated alone by circumstances of imperative
necessity, will proceed rapidly, that all the creditors will be
paid hilly, and that they will without delay receive a first
dividend of considerable amount."
-

The general esteem with which M. Bandon, one of
the directors of this firm, is regarded his high finan-
cial position, the just sympathies of which he was the
object, under the Guizot ministry, give to this event
a particular character, and produce great regret
amongst men of business.

We have advices from Rome to the 6th inst. The
intelligence of the proclamation of the Republic was
brought by by a courier sent, by the French consul at
(Irma Vechia. Instantly the people flocked to the
French Academy to proclaim there the Republic.
The senate presented an address to the Pope, to in-
treat his holiness to expedite the proclamation of the
constitution.

On the sth, the populace, in immense numbers,
Plaided the COllO cal furs principa: streets, docor,t;eil

with tricolor cockades, and bearing national banners.
They went to the Quirinal, where they assembled
under the windows, shouting in favour of the con-
stitution and the French Revolution: It was pro-
posed to go to the French embassy and tear down the
arms of the monarchy of July ; but they were dis-
suaded from this violence.

tricoloured flags, rowed out a few days since to the Austrian
frigate, crying out "Down with Austria," &c. The
neat day the visit was to have been repeated,
but a party of the national guard was stationed
to prevent it. Had this not been the PM, the Austrian
" jacks " were prepared, I am told, to receive their visitors
with rope's-ends, when it is easy to imagine what a speedy
flight the Neapolitans would have made. Prince Pinna-
te:li Strongoli has been appointed commander of the national
ward, vice the Prince of Salerno, and with general appro-
bation. The Prince has in his own person, and that of his
family, been a deplorable sufferer fur liberal opinions ; his
appointment, therefore, at the advanced age of nearly 80, is
doubly complimentary. The neat morning all the officers
of the national guard went to pay their respects to him.
On the 3rd, a grand dinner was given on board
one of the Englishmen-of war stationed here, to which some
of the most distinguished of the Neapolitan. were invited.
On the 4th her Mejesty this Queen was safely delivered of •
prince at 4 o'clock p.m. Salutes were fired from all the
forts, the palace was illuminated in the evening, and num-
bers went to congratulate his Majesty on the auspicious cir-
cumstance. The latest news from Messina, by a steamer
which came in on the 4th, states that the King's troops had
gained some advantage—bad sallied forth and maintained
the Largo di Terra Nueva, in front of the citadel. The
Porto Fremeo is entirely destroyed, by fire. The arsenal
(such portion of it as remsins) le still in possession of the
people. The King's troops had 14 mortars well mounted.
A petition was presented on the 4th to the King, begging
him to recal the old ministry (which has just resigned),
signed by 3,000 names. Another was presented to Beaune,
signed by 2,000 names. Cariati, Spinelli, Cacacci, Saliceti,
Vignali, were called in by the King, it is said, but nothing
has been decided, and it is presumed that such nego-
tiations have failed. The petition to the King was
presented by the Duke of Proto. Rothschild has
been applied to, it is said, to negotiate a loan
with the Neapolitan government but refused, for fear
of Metternich, recommending, however, the application to
his house at Paris. The papers state that Cavalier della
Valli, who had been charged to go to Paris with the view
of effecting the loan, has been countermanded, and that
Signor Cosimo Aseanti has been commissioned to effect it in
Naples. Spinelli has refused the embasey to Vienna.
The news up to this moment (March G, mid-day) is that
the old ministry remain with the exception of Dentice, who
retires. Under the impression that Prince Cariati would
have accepted the formation of a new ministry, the repre-
sentatives of the Calabritu, now in Naples to watch the pro-
, gress of affairs, sent an address to him, in which they urge
upon him the speedy arrangement of the affairs of Sicily. A
deputation has been sent also by the Calabrias to the general
committee at Palermo, promising to take up arms in defeuce
of their cause, should justice not be rendered them.
Mehemst Ali arrived from Malta this morning by a French
steamer. Salutes were fired by the forts and the foreign
ships in harbour. The post arrived this morning with the
news of the revolution in Paris. The Odin English war
steamer came in yesterday from Malta, and the Bulldog
went off to Baia, to harbour.
The banking-hourc of Buono, of Naples, arc negotiating
• portion of the loan required by government. This morn-
ieg groups are crowded about here and there in the streets
listening to their political preachers. The Porcupine has
arrived this morning from Palermo.
I have heard it stated by a Marchese and a legal autho-
rity, at the last moment, that it is more than probable (pin
the certo) that Serra Capriole and Gerrie will also retire
from the ministry.

UNITED STATES - MEXICO.

The Sarah Sands, screw steamer, Captain Thomp-
son, arrived at Liverpool yesterday evening. She left
New York on the 29th ult., and brings news to the
2gth ult.—two days later than the dates of the
Hibernia.

There have been some terrible scenes enacted at
Caracas. The Venezuelan Congress met on the 21th
ult., was overwhelmed by the populace, set on, it is
said, by the President, and several of the members
massacred. It was expected that a revolution would
immediately break out throughout the republic.
The Star of the 12th says that Santa Anna had
asked for a passport to leave Mexico, and that
he recommends to his friends to yield up the contest
with the United States, sue for peace, and establish a
good government.
Pena-y-Pena publishes a letter in which he states
that the government of Queretaro, in conjunction
with General Scott, have resolved upon the impri-
sonment of Santa Anna, and thus remove the only
obstacle which exists against a speedy conclusion of
The The American Star of the 11th inst. contains the
official announcement that the treaty of peace was
ratified on the part of the Mexican Congress, by re-
ceiving the signature of Signor Rosso, Minister of
Foreign Affairs, on the 10th inst., which date it bears.
A meeting of the deputies and senators who were in
the city was held, but only 21 were present, and a
majority of them were in favour of peace and the
treaty.
A meeting had been held at Pittsburgh, for the
nomination of General Scott as the whirl candidate
for the next presidency. This was the first meeting
of the kind that had taken place in the present can-
vass, but was expected to be followed up by others.
Letters from Washington of the 26th describe the
funeral obsi quies to the statesman and patriot, John
Quincy Adams. The church bells of the city com-
menced at an early hour, and continued throughout
the day ; the public offices, stores, and houses were
all closed, and business of all kinds suspended—
numerous public buildings and private edifices exhi-
bited signs of mourning—and the avenues through
which the procession passed were thronged with a
sorrowing people ; and nearly every house through-
out the line of the procession was deeply hung in
black.

The Senate and House of Representatives met at
twelve o'clock, and vast multitudes of people sought
admittance. who were excluded, for the want of
room, both houses being filled as soon as their doors
were opened. After the reading of the journals
was finished, in both houses, the senators and repre-
sentatives joined in the funeral ceremonies, which
took place in the House of Representatives. The
President of the United States, the heads of the de-
partments, officers of the army and navy, foreign
ministers, together with numerous distinguished citi-
zens and strangers, were among the mourners who
were present on the occasion.
The Herald closes an editorial on the life and
death of Q. Adams as follows :
Mr. Adams, on all occasions, we believe, has been open,
pure, and uncontaminated—as single-hearted as a child or
an angel. When his seal took its flight from the house of
representatives at Washington, it was a pure spirit passing
from a den of thieves, plunderers, and robbers to the
brightest mansions and purest spirits of eternity. What a
happy change ! what a glorious escape !
The massacre of the Venezuelan Congress is thus
described by an eye-witness :
About one year ago, lien. Monargas was placed in the
presidential chair by the party called Oligarquis; the choice
was a forlorn hope at the time, as he was the only person to
oppose the candidate of the liberal party. On the arrival of
the president elect at La Ouayra, Gen. Pare met him on
terms of friendship, and they came up to Caracas. Paez used
his influence and advice to form the cabinet with some of the
citizens. The government started quietly, and confidence
and hope animsted the public. A few short weeks put an
end to their expectations ; several of the cabinet retired in
disgust, and the president kept the breach widening, by the
appointmant of a number of offenders against the former
government. Many influential men, and among them Oen.
Flores, endeavoured to heal the breach. Meetings were
held; remonstrances and threats tram the press poured
forth; finally, it was determined to impeach the president
before the congress about to meet. In the meantime the
president disarmed the militia activo, and placed arms in
the hands of the militia reserra, known to be most favour-
able to the liberal party; all the old liberals were invited to
return, and many were placed in office, some not being en-
titled to citizenship. Commerce became crippled, and con-
fidence destroyed : the government struggled with an empty
treasury ; large bodies of troops were preparing near Cara-
cas; and on Jan. 24, when there were scarcely members
enough to form a quorum in the House of Represetatives,
there were 4,000 troops in and near the city.
On the opening of Congress. serious disorder commenced
between several members ; high words drew a great crowd;
daggers were drawn, and it is said a member from the city—
Hon. Hemeregildo Garcia—stabbed a member from Mara-
caibo, lion. Antonio Saks. The scene which ensued was
terrific ; those that could, fled ; and when the alarm reached
the street the citizens fled in terror. A body of soldiers
rushed in front of the hall, firing several volleys indiscrimi-
nately into the windows. Several members reached the
door, and were cut down like dogs. The wounded mem-
ber, bleeding, was not recognised by the soldiers; they
fell on him his left cheek and ear were shot
away a severe cut over the head, and his head
nearly severed Irons his body, and his body terribly mangled
with bayonets. The lion. Julian Garcia, of Carless, was
shot through the head—the ball entering one ear and paring
out at the other—all the lingers on the left hand cut off, and
sixteen wounds in other parts of the body. The Hon. Juan
Garet' bad a sword run through his body, and fell dead.
Col. Smith was badly wounded with a bayonet—several
others killed, and some wounded. Those who could not
escape in front, wrenched off the iron bars of a back win-
dow, and, by means of a settee, made a bridge to the top
of a wall, where a few poles were found ; and with these they
escaped over several walls, torn and bruised. The
whole square was soon surrounded by the troops,
and the honourable members were made prisoners—
some with scarcely clothes on—some without hats, boots, or
indispensable. ; some few shared a better fate. The crowd
rushed into the ball, destroying the furniture, and cutting
to pieces a large portrait of Bolivar. In half an hour, thou-
sands of vagabonds were parading the streets with all kinds
of weapons; every house was instantly closed; all the
foreigners who had ti up, unfurled them for protection ;
none but those wLose business called them out were
in the streets every few minutes the harsh chal-
lenge, guar tit.: or the rush of cavalry broke on

the ear ; night soon closed in darkness, and a
deathlike stillness prevailed dories the night. On the morn-
log of the 25th the citizens crept cautiously out. About
noon the dead were interred without ceremony. At one
o'clock the members were escorted to the hall and compelled
per force to pass several resolutions. A bando was pro-
claimed, requesting the citizens to resume their business,
with an assurance of protection. On the 26th the members
met again, the President and his guards being in the hall
with the members, while several resolutions were passed ex-
onerating the executive from all ceusure, and a general
amnesty proclaimed. In the meantime the first day's
butchery is spreading to the interior, and the question is
salted, in an under tone, will Gen. Pace come ? All eyes
are now towards the plains. If the chief COOlll4 with two
or three thousand Llanaroe, and the soldiers have courage
enough to face thin, we shall have some bloody work
among us. The President is now raising a thousand horse-
men. A few days must determine. Should another oppor-
tunity offer, I will advise you of what is to come. An em-
bargo has just been laid on vessels not cleared.