The Express.
London, England, 1851-02-22 00:00:00

FRANCE.

PARIS, FRIDAY Evirsreo.
The Assembly was occupied to-day with the re.
' maining clauses of the Mortgage Bill. The debate,
' presented no point of interest.
' The sixteenth committee of parliamentary initia-
tive has agreed to recommend the taking into min-
' aids-ration of the amended motion of MM. Laborde
• and de Ranee on the railway trim Chalons to Avignon,
' 31. Betting de limeastel was appointed reporter.
' The Amsemblee Nationale has eoncluded an alliance
with the Eurve Monarchigue of Brussels. a diple.
matic journal, Inspired by M. de Metternich. The
convention stipulated between these two papers is to
conic into operation on the Ist March, when the
electric telegraphs are to be thrown open.
The Constitertionaci has the following :
The Mon deur has just published the comparative customs'
returns for the month of January. These document+ per-
mit us to judge of the influents. of the late political event
on the flu:mei:ll and commercial situatiou of the country
parties may draw more than one lesson from them. If
, thew returns are looked at in a financial point of view it
will be lintnil that the proet.cds of the customs' duties hays
only beet, 8,211,0001'. It is a diminution of a little more
than a million us compared with the corresponding month
of last year ; but it is just to remark that this falling off
entirely arises from colonial mid ftireign sugars. On the
one hand, the deficit in colonial sugar is compensated by
the increase in the consumption of native sugar ; and on
the other, it is known that the duty on foreign sugar
does not bem.fit the treasury, sines, it is repaid in
the shape of drawlrack when the sugar is exported
in a refined state. There is, therefore, no injury for tho
public revenue. Let us add, that the other items of indi-
rect contributions are on the increase, and that, according
to the calculations brought forward by M. Fould in his last
speech, they would show a surplus of '3,40000 fr. over the
produce of the month of January last year. If we now
analyse the list of the principal inerchandise imported, we
shall re that although some of titan show a decrease, there
are many which are progressing favourably. Among thou,
articles which show an increase, we may quote coals, the
import of which has siren to ma • than one million of me-
trical quintals, or 21 iwr vent. more than it was last year;
rough castings have inertased from 24,000 to 31,000
quintals; lead, sine, sesame seed, olive oils, and
mahogany, have also increased in greater or less
proportion. Among the article. of which the im-
portation has fallen uhf, we unfortunately remark raw cot-
ton, wool, raw silk—articles the working up of which ocett•
pies a number of hands, and which furnish the means of
existence to a considerable portion of our labouring classes.
These amounts, moreover, agree with the information
which we have received from the manufacturing districts
where those raw materials are principally used. Saks have
been checked in presence of the hostile attitude assumed by
the Legislative Assembly towards the executive power;
prices have: within a month melergonc a fall of, in some
articles, nearly 11 per cent., so that in some localities the,
manufacturers have been compelled to reduce lahour one
quarter, mid even a third, in a week. The return of exports
shows in general rather more prosperous results than that
of imports. 'the productions of our soil find increasingly
advantageous markets abroad. We have exported 121,000
hectolitres of wine, instead of 81,100 in 1810, and 71,000 in
1547; and 30,000 hectolitres of brandy, instead of 27,000 and
11,000. Our export of corn has more than doubled, and
have increased to 4.10,000 quintals. We have also to point
out an increase in the majority of manufactured articles,
particularly millinery, machinery, china, glass, crystal,
soap, refined sugars, silk and cotton good., ; there is
scarcely any exception, except in woollen goods. 'rho
comparative movement of French shipping with foreign
countries shows that the of vessels int.-tang has
increased from 125,000 to 141,000 tuns, and that of those
sailing from 104,000 tons to 141,000. To sum up, although
the state of things is rather favourable in its ensemele, the
disastrous effects of the late votes of the Assembly on com-
=mad transactions arc clearly manifest. This is a first
symptom. We hope that this warning may be understood,
anti that parties, by reflecting on the consequences of their
attacks against the government, will see the necessity of
respecting the tranquillity and the labour of the country.
The metallic reserve of the Bank of France has in-
creased 31. millions in Paris, and nearly 1 million in
the branch-banks. The discount accommodation in
Paris has advanced 11, millions, and in the provinces
nearly I of a million, the amount of the former being
37,003.701 fr., and of the latter, 83,787,419 fr. On the
side of the liabilities, the notes in circulation have
'fallen off 3 I millions in Paris, and increased about
11 millions in the country. The account-current of
the treasure has increased 3 millions, the present
amount being 97,901,948 fr. Private accounts-current
have fallen off I of a million in Paris, and increased
about of a million in the country; the amount of
the former being 7.1,735,939rr., and of the latter,
22312,3381 r. The whole amount of the metallic re-
serve at present is 501 millions to M 8 millions of
notes in circulation.