The Express.
London, England, 1867-01-21 00:00:00

(STAMPED, ld. ADDITION/02]

that progress which is oompetible with our habits ; for to
govern is to profit by the experience which has been ac-
quired, and to foresee the wants of the future. The object
of the decree of the 24th November,lB6o, was to associate
the Senate; and the Corps Legislatif more directly with
the policy of the government, but the debate on the
address has not led to the results which were to be ex-
pected from it ;it has sometimes uselessly excited public
opinion, given rise to sterile discussions, and occasioned a
lou of time most precious for the affairs of the country,
and I believe that without any diminution of the preroga-
tives of the deliberative power, the address may be re.
placed by the privilege, prudently regulated, of putting
questions to the government. Another modification has
appeared to me neceasary in the relations of the govern-
meat towards the great bodies of the State. I have con-
sidered that by sending the ministers to the Senate and
the Corps Legislatif to take part in certainldehates by
virtue of a special commission, I should better utilise the
strength of the government without deviating from the
terms of the constitution, which admits no solidarity
among the ministers, and makes them dependent only
upon the chief of the State.
But the reforms which it is fitting to adopt must not
stop there. A law will be proposed for assigning the
jurisdiction over offences against the press law exclu-
sively to the correctional tribunals, and thus suppress
the discretionary power of the government. It is equally
necessary to regulate legialstively the right of assembly,
whilst restraining it within the limits which public safety
demands. I said last year that my government wished to
proceed in a path ooneolidated and capable of sustaining
power and liberty. By the measures I have just pointed
out my words become realized. I do not shake the
ground which fifteen years of calm and prosperity have
consolidated, but I increase the strength by rendering my
relations with the great nubile parent more intimate, by
securing to the citizens by law fresh guarantees, by um.
plating the crowning of the edifice erected by the
national will.
On this, Monsieur le Ministre, I pray God to have you
in His holy keeping. • • • NAPOLLON.
The following is the full text of the decree, which
accompanies the letter of the Emperor :

Napoleon, by the grace of God• and the national will
Emperor of the French, to all pv.adni and to come, greet-
ing. Wishing to give to the dimensions of the great bodies
of the State relative to the horse and foreign policy of the
government more ntility and precision, we have decreed
and decree as follows :

1. The members of the Senate and of the Corps Legislatif
may put questions to the government. 2. Every demand
for addressing questions to the government must be written
or signed by five members at least. This demand will briefly
explain the object of the questions, and will be handed
to the President, who will communicate it to the Mender
of State, and refer it to the committees for examination.
3. If two committees of the Senate, or four committees of
the Corps Legislatif, deliver the opinion that the questions
may be put, the Chamber will fix a day for their
discussion. 4. Upon the close of the debate the
Chamber will either simply declare the order of the day or
refer the questions to the government. 5. The simple
order of the day will always have priority. 6. The
reference to the government can only be made in the fol.
owing terms:—" The Senate (or the Corps Legislatif) calls
the attention of the government to the object of the
questions." In th's case a summary of the debate will
also be transmitted to the Minister of State. 7. Any of
the ministers may, if specially delegated by the Emperor,
be charged, in concert with the Minister of State, and the
presidents and members of the Council of State, to repre-
sent the government in the Senate or Corps Legislatif during
debates on general questions or bills. 8. Articles 1 and 2
of our decree of 24th November, 1860, providing that the
Senate and Corps Legislatif shall every year at the opening
of the session vote an address in reply to our speech are
hereby repealed. 9. Oar Minister of State is charged with
the execution of the present decree.
Done at the Palace of the Tuileries, Jen. 19,1861.
By the Emperor, NAPOLEON.
The Minister of State, E. ROEMER.
(REUTER'S ?TUG RAMS.)
PARIS, JAN, 20.
All the ministers placed their resignation in the
hands of the Emperor yesterday.
. .

M. Rouher retains his functions as Minister of
State, and is moreover appointed Minister of
Finance in place of M. Fould, whose resignation is
accepted.
Marshal Niel is appointed Minister of War.
Admiral Rigault de Genouilly is named Minister
of Marine, and M. de Forcade la Roquette
Minister of Agriculture, Commerce, and Public
Works. M. Behic, who held the latter post, has
been made Senator and Grand Cross of the Legion
of Honour.

The Emperor has not accepted the resignation
of either the Ministers of State, Justice, the Impe-
rial Household, Public Instruction, Interior, or
Foreign Affairs, nor that of the Minister President
of the Council of State, and these ministers, there-
fore, retain their respective portfolios.

A correspondent informs us that a letter was
received in Southampton on S►turday from the Dowager
Lady Tichborne, in Paris, stating that her long lost son
Sir Roger Charles Tichborne, Baronet, is now with her
Her ladyship and Sir Roger will shortly leave Paris for
London.