The Express.
London, England, 1858-09-29 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 29, 1858.

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

PINY OM

.1

PARIS, TVIIIDLT Seems.
The corn question is one which in general excites
but a small modicum of interest in Paris, the only
persons who give it a thought being those who ep-
eeists in the article as they do in angst or cotton,
practically knowing nothing about any of them. At
the present moment, however, this subject is likely
to force itself to a certain extent on the public atten-
tion. The decree authorising, as a temporary measure,
the free admiasion of foreign corn, ceases to be law
at the close of this month. What will be done P is
the question which the few who trouble themselves
about the matter now ask. Will the decree be
temporarily renewed? Will the law of 1832 be
again put in force ? Or will some new regulations
be introduced, founded upon past experience P It is
not probable that so prudent a man as the Emperor
will long allow uncertainty to hang about a subject
of vital importance to the interests of the state. So
national indeed is it, that one can hardly imagine
any decided step being resolved upon until the
feeling of the Corps Legielatif has been ascertained.
There are some subjects upon which the government
and the representative assembly of the nation may
have opposite interests; upon this question the pub-
lic good, and no other object, must be the aim of the
government. Such liberty of discussion as exists,
therefore, will probably be permitted here. It
were, indeed, almost to be wished that a little gentle
pressure oonld be exercised upon some of those who
will have to decide the question. The Emperor
wishes for free trade. A section of the country,
which has fattened on monopoly, opposes his en-
lightened views; and unfortunately, from its wealth
and local influence, with but too fatal moons.

The Constitutions.' has an article on the subject
this morning. Observing that as yet the govern-
ment has made no sign as to its intentions, this
journal views in its silence an opinion that nothing
need be said, inasmuch as " the state of the question
speaks for itself." The free admission of foreign corn
was permitted under exceptional circumstances. A
series of bad harvests had threatened the country
with dearth. Two good harvests have placed it in •
normal state. We have always done well enough
under the law of 1832. Why not return to it?
At the same time it is not denied that some modi-
fication may be beneficially applied to this law; and,
pursuing its usual safe policy, the cautious Con-
stitutiontsa recommends that whatever modification
of the law may be contemplated no change of prin-
ciple will take place, and the sliding scale, with all
its glorious uncertainties, persevered in. The system
may be bad, but at any rats we know how bad it ia.
When ono. we plunge into novelty we know not
into what depths we may sink. Doss it never
occur to the Constitutiemsel to ask what is the result
of the experience gained as to the question during
the period of the suspension of the law of 1832?
The chief subject of conversation to-day is the
journey of Prince Napoleon to Warsaw. Some say
it has referenoe to the Praseian regency, though
that seems a far-fetched object to attribute to it.
Some, relying upon the authority (doubtful, to say
the least) of the ImodEposclance Beige, think that it
has reference to the intention of the French go-
vernment to offer the Russian Navigation Company
coal and provision room in some Algerian port. It
seems hardly consistent with the dignity which no one
can deny that Napoleon 111. throws around the acts
of his government, to go about fishing, so to speak, for
custom to the colony of Frames. The generally-
accepted opinion is that the visit is nothing more
than a princely way of sending an invitation to the
Emperor of Russia. It is said that orders have
been received from Biarritz to hurry on the works
at the Elysees ; and this gives currency to the belief
that the visit of the Emperor Alexander to Paris
may take place before the expiration of the autumn.
Letters from Vienna say that the government is
pushing forward vigorously the works in the war
ports of Pols and Cattaro.

The Three per Ceuta. closed to-day at 73fr. 30c.
for the end of the month, and the Four-and-a-Half per
Cents. at 98fr. 330. ; Orleans Railway Shares,
1,438'r. 25c.; Great Northern, Mfr. I Strasburg,
766 fr.; Paris to Lyons and the Mediterranean,
Mfr. 23e.; Western of France, 646 fr.; Bordeaux
and Cette, 802 fr. 30c.; Lyons and Geneva, 13831 r. ;
Bank of Credit Mobilier, 080 fr. ; Motel= Railways,
878 fr. 26c.; Roman Railways, 607 fr. 30e.; Ragman
Railways, 508 k. 750.