The Express.
London, England, 1849-12-15 00:00:00

FRANCE.

PARIS, FRIDAY, 5 30 P X
M. de Montalembert was the only speaker yester-
day on the important question of the excise on drinks.
He was eloquent, and was listened to attentively by all
sides of the house—the Right applauding to the skies
all that he said. M. de Montalembert established
himself as the champion of every tax and every mono-
poly. For a considerable time he was beside the ques-
tions at issue. He sang the praises of the French finan-
cial system, and of taxation in general. This vast
centralised system, he slid, was in its purest state in
the time of Napoleon; and if since then the burden of
the country have increased, it is the fault of de-
mocracy, but still the system is pod, and ought tot
to be touched. But, in additton to this belief,
M. de Mootalembert urged, like M. de Charancey,
that indirect taxation was superior to that which
came more directly on the people ; and he considered
that drinks ought most certainly to be so taxed, be-
cause they are commodities consumed FT the mass,
atd than which no better can be found. 'lazes on the
consumer were, he thought, a sign of wealth, for the
people only paid them when they had wherewithal
to do so. This sentiment M. de Montalembert him-

self contradicted afterwards by saying that he
hoped the tax on brandy would be increased, on
account of the prevalence of drunkenness in many de-
partments. In the course of his panegyric upon all
taxation, monopolies had their share of praise, and
the following passage received the most ardent ap-
plause from the benches of the Right :
"People for a long time resisted the tux on tobacco,
but inquiries were made, debates took place, and by
degrees all opposition ceased, reason triumphed, add
now, thanks to heaven, you have the most abundant
and legitimate of your products, in the shape of 117
millions, furnished by this tobacco monopoly, formerly
so much attacked and so calumniated."
Coming to the subject of the tax itself, M. de Mon-
talembert said that its abolition would virtually abo-
lish the uctroi, or entrance du.,: in towns. The profit
would be all to the wine-growers, and not to the con-
sumer., who would pay just as dear, and he conclude' a
long speech by showing the peril that threatened pro-
perty from the invasion of socialism.
Tne speech is praised for its eloquence by the
partisans of the honourable deputy, but even his
most ardent admirers will admit, as indeed he
partially confessed, that he knew little of the
subject ho treated. The Presse says that, whe-
ther the tax be abolished or maintained, the old
citadel which M. de Nlontalembert has so valiantly
defended, that citadel of French fiscality, as he
has called it, will not be saved from ruin. It is
undermined by a deficit of 600 millions; it is dis-
mantled by postal reform and the reduction of the
salt-tax. The abolition of the tax on potable liquors
is a means of getting out of the financial difficulty.
To-day the debate was resumed by M. Pascal
Dupre, who refused to give up his turn of speaking
to M. Jules Fevre. M. Duorat's speech was in reply
to some aspersions of M. de Montalembert against
the members of the Mountain. That body, said Le, had
certainly voted away the tax; but they bad not voted
any substitute for it, from which it could be inferred
that they meant to disorganise the administration.
M. Leon Faucher, woo followed, said teat real
reformers should wait fur peaceable times to work
their ends, and, in the meantime, they should render
the levy of taxes easier if possible; but it was the
idea of an agitator to abolish taxes without looking
at the future, and without seeing what could be found
to atop the gop made by their aooliion. And at what
time was it that this tax had been voted away, said
M. Faucher ; it was at a time when 100 zillions were
due to the Bank, and when authorisation had becn
given to draw 100 more. Even with those resoneces
the expenditure reached the sum of 1,480 millions ;
whilst, the receipts being only 1.333 millions, left a
deficit of 123 millions at least. Was it under such
circumstances that a tax producing 100 millions could
be abolished.
M. Gouin read his report yesterday to the commit-
tee on the bill for the issue of 73 millions of francs in
notes by the Bank of France. The report recom-
mends the adoption of the bill.
It appears from the returns of the Bank cf France
that the metallic reserve has spin increused about 43
millions, of which sum 21 millions are for Paris, and
2 for the departments. The discount accommodation
in Paris has declined about 300,000 fr. and in the
provinces about 2 mill:oee, the amount Of the former
being 40,816,385 fr., and in the provinces 73,614,813(r.
The protested bills show a alight diminution, being
about 90,0001 r. less in Paris, and about 15,0001 r.
lets in the branch banks. The whole amount
in the former is 2,429,716 fr., and of the latter
1,903,682 fr. On the side of the liabilities the
notes in circulation have declined in Paris about 31
millions, and have increased in the departments about
lof a million. Tle credit amount of the treasury
continues to increase, being at present 74 428,392 fr.,
or 3 millioue higher than last week. Private accounts
current in Paris remain nearly as they were, but in
the provinces they have fallen off nearly 11 millions,
the amount of the former being R0,120,368fr., and of
the later 27,289,883 fr. The whole amount of the
metallic reserve is now 420: millions, to 433 millions
of notes in circulation.
The Lee nenaent says "In consequence of an expe-
riment made on the 11th inst. by the committee of
the Boulogne railroad, by which the distance between
Paris and London was run over in nine hours, the
minister of finance has rerolced to send an inspector
of finances to Boulogne and Wahl, to ascertain the
means of accelerating the snail service between
France and England."

The committee of agricultural colonies in Algeria is
occupied in examining the numerous applications emit
in for permission to be rent to Africa. The committee
continues to despatch agricultural labourers to the co-
lony, and has ap to the present time sent oat about
2,000. Whole families are also from time to time al-
lowed to proceed to Algeria, but this of late has be-
come of somewhat rarer occurrence.
The Provisional Commission of the department of
the Seine was yesterday occupied with the 8,057
claims made by the inhabitants of Paris, whose pro-
perty was injured during the insurrection of June,
1848, and expressed ita regret at the delay which had
taken place in indemnifying them. The losses are
estimated at 7i

rektii, Du H.

nOr!t.tE.

Toe
Money.

?or Amount.

II per Cents. 56 15
5 per Ceuta. 9l 10
5 do. New Loam . , 1
le per Coats. 6o'
4 per Cents. 7l 50
Bushings on London : 110 da,
Belgian, , 1640
tio. $, 11142
Do. 45 — „ Treasury Bonds... 44 „
Do. 24 — a Bank Shares
Booms—Paris and Orleans, 737 30; Paris and Rouen, 546 75 ;
Rouen and Ham, 240; Straabourp and Basis, 103; Centre (Vier-
ion), 325; Bordeaux, 403; North. 455 : Paris and Strasbourg.
Tosn and Nubia, 277 50; Dieppe and Pseamp, 160 ; St. Ger-
mano, 410; Yandlim (right bank), M.

I
Opsniog 111.bsst. LOWCOL I CIIIIVIC
1176 43 371 45 6710 59 13
91 110 91 SO 91 23 91 110
If M. r .1
P. le I.
PO 11 U
10 days, 23 40; 90 days, II SSC
97. 1 Ilapiss Santis. 94 limey