The Express.
London, England, 1867-02-04 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 4, 1867.

FRANCE.

(PROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, SATURDAY EVENING.

A symptom almost as significant as the restora-
tion of the tribune is that the able Courtier Fran-
COL*, an opposition weekly paper of a most " ad-
vanced" colour, which has been warned and pro-
secuted, and was thought to be within a hair's
breadth of suppression, is enabled to announce to-
day that it has received permission to be sold in
the streets. It was one of the refinements of the
coup d'aca laws on the press that a newspaper
started by permission, lodging caution money,
subject like all others to arbitrary warnings, sus-
pensions, suppressions, and to legal prosecutions,
was not, after all, entitled to circulate except
among subscribers, and could only be sold in the
streets and railway stations by way of privilege,
either as a reward for good behaviour or a bribe
for moderate opposition. It is tobe presumed that
the administration will now divest itself of such
sort of patronage, and give all newspapers alike
the benefits as well as the severities of common law.

The Presse takes this opportunity to renew •
complaint against the lifoutteier's exemption from
stamp duty, and consequent monopoly of supple-
mental advertising sheets ; and urges that If on
public grounds this monopoly is to be maintained,
the Monifoir should at least perform its especial
duty of publishing the fullest and earliest official
news ; but this it notoriously fails to do.
The Council of State is summoned to meet at the
Tuileries on February 4, to discuss the army re-
organisation bill in the Emperor's presence.
Meanwhile, Marshal Niel,the new War Minister,
has presented to the Council of State a bill, the
effect of which will be, among other things, to
raise the effective of every French regiment from
1,800 men to 2,400. It now behoves all French
patriots to be very careful lest the glare of new
liberties granted by decree, and which a decree
may revoke. should divert their attention, as
they are doubtless intended to do, from the fright-
ful contemplated impot du saws, which is not neces-
sary for the defence or dignity of the country,
and can only be wanted for purposes of agree-
sive war.

Mr. James Gordon Bennett, of the Henrietta,
who was presented to the Emperor at the Tuileries
ball on last Wednesday fortnight, had the honour
of a private audience of his Majesty yesterday.
The Empemr and Empress went to the Vaude-
ville Theatre last night to witness the 56th per-
formance of M. Sardou's Maisot Neuve.

The Emperor's splendid collection of ancient ar-
mour has been removed to the Chateau de Pierre-
fond, where it will be exhibited in a hall of the
16th century, restored by M. Viollet Leduc.
The famous state manufactory of porcelain at
Sevres is to be henceforth carried on in a new build-
ing in the park of St. Cloud, which will be inau-
gurated on March 15.

The 31euager du Midi states that snow has again
fallen heavily in the south of France, and that
the railways are interrupted in many directions.
The quantity has been especially great at Mont-
pellier.
In Paris the weather is extremely mild, with
drizzling rain and a southerly wind.
The Correctional Tribunal yesterday dismissed,
with costs, a Lai taut action by a M. Chopelet,
accusing the MM. Pereire of practising illegal
niameuvres at the Bourse. The hearing of MM.
Pereire's cross action against M. Chopelet, for a
malicious prosecution, is postponed for a month.
The Bourse was firmer. All securities left off at
higher quotations. Rente rose 10c. for cash, and
12}c. for account, closing at 69.4.. and 69. Credit
Foncier rose 25f., and Mobilier, 2.50.