The Express.
London, England, 1859-02-10 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

Mom ova owl counsrownstera
Wzintniaxy Evmaxo.
. I find that the Emperor's speech is construed by
the English press generally more favourably than I
had expected that it would be. What you may
II have said on the subject I cannot tell, for your
journal was seized to-day. For myself, I can attach
but little weight to vague and general expressions
of a hope that peace will not be disturbed, se long
as I see no relaxation in the preparations for war. I
hear fresh facts every hour in the day, proving that
these preparations are going on upon a tremendous
scale. Among the latest news I observe in a litho-
graphed correspondence, which is sent to all the pro-
vincial newspapers, a positive contradiction of the
rumour circulated at the Bourse two days ago—that
warlike preparations had been suspended at Mar-
seilles, and a statement that large quantities of
military stores are being transmitted to the south by
the Lyons railway many times a day, and even—
which is extraordinary—by quick trains. It can
hardly be necessary for me to say that
you must not believe the official stories about
' the enthusiasm with which the deputies received the
Emperor's speech. There was marked applause
when he repeated the Bordeaux phrase, "L'Empire
c'est la pair,* because they thought he was going to
confirm it ; but before he had done they perceived
that the drift of the speech was to explain it away,
' and the reception given to the concluding phrases
was icy cold. I can assure you that in the lobbies
of the house the speech is generally considered as
threatening war. Many of the deputies openly
speak against it, missy that war would be a crime.
De Moray's speech was frequently applauded, be-
cause phrases were anxiously caught at which, on a
superficial view, seemed to indicate that the love-
Mien was disposed to give way to the
known opinions of the public. I believe
the truth to be that efforts are making to pro-
pitiate the Corps Legislatif, and commit them to
the war policy of the Emperor.
A very extraordinary circumstance occurred to-day.
The salary of the deputies is fixed at 2,600 fr. per
month, and the ordinary do mtion of the session is three
months, so that they get at least 7,600 ft. a year.
It has, however, frequently happened that the
session hu been prolonged for a day cc two without
any very apparent motive than that of enabling the
members to touch a fourth month's pay as a reward
for docility. This morning, when the members of
the seven bureaux met in their respective committee
rooms, for the first time this session, they were
astonished at finding themselves called upon to
answer an official question whether they would
prefer a fixed yearly salary of 10,000 fr. to
the present arrangement of 2,600 fr. per
month. The deputies were greatly offended at
being called upon in this direct way to express an
opinion touching their own personal interests. They
would like very much to touch the 10,000 fr., but
they expected that it was going to be given to them,
and they think it highly indelicate that they should
be made to ask for it. I understand that most of
the bureaux refused to answer the question. In the
6th bureau M. Emile 011ivier moved the following
resolution Whereas, under existing circum-
stances, the proposal made to the Corps Legislatif is a
positive insult, the bureau pubes to the order of the
day." I have not heard what became of this
strongly-worded motion; I can hardly suppose
that it can have been carried. In the 2nd
bureau M. Picard observed that if it were
desired to revise the constitution this was not
the most urgent subject that called for reform. It
is plain from this course of proceeding that some of
the deputies resent the proposition as • direct
attempt to bribe them to rapport the war.
- . _

In the 7th bateau a committee was appointed to
inquire into the allegations of a protest lodged against
the election of M. Charlemagne for the Wm. The
instances of fraud and illegality imputed to the
government *gents are very serious indeed; much
more so than thine which led to the resignation of
M. de liejur last year in order to hash up inquiry.
I hear an ominous whisper, which, under present
circumstances, must not be lightly disregarded, that
a war loan of 750 millions is on the tapir, and that
extraordinary efforts will be made to keep up the
funds until the loan is brought oat.
The Bourse has been firm, with a very fair
amount of business doing. M. de Moray's speech
was favourably interpreted. The news from Vienna
contributed to the feeling of confidence. The Itente
rose 30c. for cash and 35c. for account, closing at
68fr. 40c. and 68fr. 4k. Mobilier rose 16fr. 25e.
There was comparatively little business done in nil- I
ways, and the rise in them was not important.