The Express.
London, England, 1866-03-31 00:00:00

'ROM PARIS.

PARIS, Fatnax Eyeing°.
The programme of the great and long-talked-of
Thagroi3ccaultnutralral
pinarclisuicorymisminttoewe,ocontainint in thea the names
of M. Michel Chevalier, free trader, and M.
Pouyer Quertier, protectionist, is composed
with an appearance of impartiality. It was
of coarse not to be reasonably expected that the
government would refrain on this particular occa-
sion from so arranging the matter as to give its own
views somewhat more than an equal chance of
finally prevailing. The protectionists complain
that instead of a set of questions being
officially drawn up to be put to witnesses
officially selected by the central and provincial
oommissioss, " everybody " should not be al-
-1 lowed to come forward to say "anything." The
question of agricultural distress is by no means the
only one to be examine], and as for the special
one of free trade, which I have no doubt will
come safe out of the ordeal, it is almost
swamped by the numerous subjects of the inquiry.
The great object to be attained is declared to
be to ascertain the actual condition of landed
property, as compared with previous periods, to
examine the systems of farming adopted, to
show what improvements have been introduced,
and what others remain to be realised; to de-
termine the difficulties and obstacles whioh
farmers struggle against, and to seek oat the
best means of removing the same. This general
investigation will comprise all the facts and
questions connected with the mortgage system,
agricultural credit, wages, large and small
farms, manure, cattle-breeding, roads, and the
effect of the treaties of eommeroe and of the new
-corn laws. For this vast inquiry to be effected
within a reasonable time the operations must be
simultaneous is different parts of the empire ;
but in order to give the whole one common direc-
tion, the minister recommends the appointment
of a supreme commission, with himself as presi-
dent, to be composed of persons versed in the prac-
tice of agriculture, or in the study of questions
connected with it. While this commission should
sit in Paris, district inquiries would be held in all
parts of the empire.
M. Emile 011ivier, who, se he warms with his
work, improves in hie new character as a journalist,
bas a better article under the heading of " Oil en
sommes nous," than the first of the series, which
was not very impressive. He pronounces in good
set terms against " Democratic Ciesarisai," which
he says Fresco will never stand. He repudiates
as a vulgar error the too commonly accepted notion
that liberty is an Anglo-Saxon privilege, and that
'Frenchmen are only fit to be led lace a flock of
sheep by a paternal shepherd called, when he has
1-charge of men, a tyrant. lie denies that
any one man, whether Crew, Richelieu,
loggia XIX.. Napoleon L, or Napoleon 111. is
strong enough to think for the whole French
people. In conclusion, he echoes the now growing
cry foe " liberty "—" not English liberty, which
the government may cry down as mach as it likes,
but French liberty—that liberty which our fathers
conquered by the sweat of their brow, which has its
root in the Champ de Mai, in the southern muni-
cipalities, in the States-General, in the provincial,
assemblies, and in the immortal decrees of the Con-
stituent Assembly."
Prince Napoleon left Paris yesterday. In the
morning he had an interview with the Emperor of
several hours' duration. His imperial highness
will be absent from Paris for about two months,
most of which will be spent in Flccemes and
Naples. It is stated that he will pay a short visit
to Athens and the lonian Isles. The evening pre-
ceding his departure Prince Napoleon gave a select
dinner party at the Tuileries, at which were MM.
Emile 011ivier, Emile de Girard.* Emile Angier,
and the Abbd Usti, who afterwards played on the
piano some selections from his own works.
The panic at the Bourse continues. At no period
has the apprehension of a war in Germany been
more intense. The heavy fall of the last two days
induced many purchases for the realisation of
profit. But nevertheless the Rente, though not
closing at the lowest prices of the day, left off,with
a further fall of 25c. for cash and 15c. for account,
at 67fr. 75c. and 67fr. 774 c. Mobilier fell 3fr. 7k.,
and Italian 600.

WEATHER REPORT.-{THIS DAY.)

SATURDAY, MARCH M. 8 &IL