The Express.
London, England, 1848-05-26 00:00:00

PAR'S, Tuuttsotv, 1110 P.M.
It appears likely, from what has taken place the
eommitteee of the Cliessber, end from the See-
timents of the majority of the Assembly, that the pro-
ject of the late Provisional Government for the
spoliation of the railway companies will not succeed.
The committee of finance was yesterday occupied
with the bill to authorise the state to take the rail-
way lines into its own hands. The measure
was strongly opposed. Several members de-
clared that, with respect to the companies
which had fulfilled all their obligations, there mem
a flagrant violatio-i of a contract. As to those whiek
are not in a position to execute their conventions,
the expropriation was admissible, but only on con-
dition of paying for the works already executed, and
of indemnifying the shareholders—it rema'ned to
be seen if the state would be able to finish the works.
Art. 7 of the bill declares that the cost of the re-
purchase was to be supported by the floating debt,
but to that it was objected that there was no
longer any floating debt; it was also observed that
the bill, independently of the overwhelming charges
which it would impose on the finances of the state,
would be attended with the grave incont enienco of
destroying the spirit of association, ruining private
credit, and repelling foreign capital. These con-
siderations, which were developed in particular by
MM. Sainte-Beuve, Duvergierdelianranne, Demarcy,
and Berryer, were favourably received by the ma-
jority of the committee. This latter gentleman
added that, if the state wanted employment for the
working classes, there were at present works
to the amount of 300 millions to be exe-
cuted. The committee adjourned to the next
day to appoint a sub committee charged to prepare
a report on this exceedingly important question. The
shareholders of the Orleans and Central railways
have just held meetings to consider what was
to be done relative to the Government Railway Bill.
The strongest opposition was manifested against
the measure, which was declared to be
moot unjust, as violating openly the contracts
on which property reposes. Delegates were
nominated to protest before the National Assembly
against the bill, and defend the interests of the share-
holders, in conjunction with the members of the board
of dir. store.
In the explanations which the Minister of Public
Works gave yesterday before the committee on the bill
demand,ng credit for public works, he stated that the
national workshops cost 172,000 f. a-day, or nearly
4,500,000 f. per month. lie added, that the govern-
ment, with a view to lighten as much as posaible the
cost in the treasury, had already caused a recommen-
dation to be given to all young workmen of from 18
to 23 years of age to enrol themselves in the army.
We read in the AssenibMe Nationale: "The orga-
nisation of labour and the lying promises of a great
agitator are daily producing their lamentable fruits.
The following is a sample, among a thousand, of the la-
borious virtues inspired in the workmen by thedaetrin-
aims of the Luxembourg. A hat-maker received an
order for 11,000 hate. He sent to the national work-
shops for a sufficient number of journeymen hatters to
execute the order. But the public treasury had made
idleness so sweet to them, that, in compensation fur
its interruption, they demanded nu less than four-
teen francs a day. It was, as may well be conceived,
impossible to comply with such an exaction, and the
hat-maker was obliged to send the order over to
England to be executed. This fact was stated to the
committee of organisation of labour by one of its
most able and best informed members.
Mr. Joseph Barrman has been named charge
d'affaires for Switzerland at l'aris.
The news of the massacre of the inhabitants of
Naples, by the order of King Ferdinand, has excited
the utmost indignaion here, and was the subject of
much animated conversation to-day in the Salle des
Conferences, at the Assembly. lam informed that a
council of the 'Ministers and the Executive Commis-
sion is now sitting at the llotel of Foreign Affairs, on
this subject.
Since writing the above, I learn also that the com-
mittee on the project for dispossessing the railway
companies are almost unanimously opposed to that
measure.
You, Mee 25.—New Loin, —; Three per Carts., 481 ; Do.
Flea per Cents., 70; Your-and-Half, —• Your., 331; Belgian
Pero% 1040, 651 ; 1)0 1941, 631. Do. Thregs, —; Do. Tworandce-
Ilalt, —; 74 :plea Mentes, 70 ; Homan Loan, 571 ; Treasury
Brabda, U. Bonk Shares, 1330; Exchange on London, no trans
warms.
karywark—Paris and Orleans, NA; Paris and Rouen, 407 30;
Rouen and !Lore, 910; Avignon and Marseilles, 225; tetras.
bourg and lisle, 87 50; (*flirt Viereser. 262 10; Amteus and Boer-
- I love,— , Daydream; 398 73; North, 338 73.
1611-