The Express.
London, England, 1861-10-19 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(nom on ows

PARIS, FRIDAY EVIIIIING.

M. de Persigny's circular is commonly spoken of
this morning as a decree for the suppression of the
Society of St. Vincent de Paul—a measure which
has for some days been rumoured to be on the
tapis. But such a description is by no means
borne out by the text of the document, which
merely intimates that the government intends, to
an extent by no means practically clear, to revive
sleeping laws against all unauthorised societies,
and to exercise its own discriminating discretion in
regard to permitting their continuance. The cir-
cular places the freemasona,who exist only by tole-
rance, on precisely the same footing as the Society
of St. Vincent de Paul and other religious societies.
There can be no doubt, however, that, whatever
may be the construction and consequences of the
circular, the immediate occasion of it is the notori-
ous hostility to the government of the directors of
the Society of St. Vincent de PauL It is in vain
that the Bishop of Angouleme protests this very
day in the Monde against the interpretation put
upon a recent discourse of his at a conference of
the society held at Lusignan. The government
knows as well as the public that the managers of
this society have long made use of the funds sub-
scribed in the name of charity for the purpose of
maintaining an ultramontanist propaganda. Never-
theless, M. Persigny thinks fit, probably on the
principle of equality, to drag in the freemasons
upon the present occasion. It is true he speaks
of them in complimentary teruis, which will
give great offence to the clerical journals,
but the plain meaning of the circular is
that hereafter no masonic lodge can meet without
the permission of the prefect, and no delegates
from any lodge can be sent to Paris without the
permission of the Minister of the Interior. I have
heard it suggested that the real intention of the
government is to take into its own hands the nomi-
nation of the presidents of all the charitable so-
cieties (including masonic lodges) to which the
circular refers.

The Opinion Nationale is by no meant
pleased with the circular. It sarcastically remarks
upon the "extraordinary impartiality" with which
the minister speaks of all societies that
come within the scope of the expression
"unauthorised." It draws the conclusion that,
notwithstanding the daily attacks of the bishops
upon the principles of 'B9, and the undisguised
hatred of the clerical party of democratkal institu-
tions, the government "does not yet dare to treat
that party as an enemy." Whether the forbearance
arises from fear of the future or from a souvenir of
a former alliance, the Opinion cannot say, but it
regards it as very unfortunate that, while the
government is so tender towards its enemies, it
alienates the only friends upon whom it could one
day reckon.
The Bourse, without being at all brilliant, was
firmer. The Rents roes 10c. for cash and account,
closing at 67fr. 90c. and 67fr. 95c. Mobilier rose
3fr. 76c. The Italian Loan was in considerable
demand, and rose 38fr. Great anxiety is felt to
know whether K Rothschild undertakes to pay
the coming dividend. Railways were from
2fr. 60c. to 6fr. higher.
A grenadier of the 3rd Regiment of the Imperial
Guard hung himself yesterday morning in his
sentry-box at the park gate of fit. Cloud. It is
said, apropos of this catastrophe, that the remark-
able circular against suicides in the army which
Marshal Maguan issued several months ago has not
had the effect of diminishing their number.

THE FIRST WARNING TO THE " REVUE

DES DEUX MONDES."

Count Persignyhasgiven tin premier emertissement
totho Beene des Deur Monde., on acoonut of a passage
in the well-known "Chronicle of the Fortnight,"
published with the signature of M. E. Forcade.
The high character of the Review, and the dis-
tinguished ability and intelligence of the writer,
make this the moat serious of the measures which
M. de Persigny has hitherto taken against the
presa.
The passage of the C7woniTte designated in the
avertissement, and declared to be one in which the
author " resorts to the most untruthful state-
ments (assertions le plus mensongeres) in order
to propagate alarm in the country and excite hatred
against the government," occurs in the course of an
elaborate discussion of the policy of the Bank of
France in prospect of a deficient wheat harvest.
The failure of the crops must in any case have
caused flifficrrlty ; but M. Forcade observes, "If
the crisis could not be averted, the political and
financial administration of the government in the
circumstances calls for remark. Three principal
points call for observation : viz, excessive increase
of expenditure; an unwise impulsion given to
public works, such as extensive demolitions and
corresponding building undertakings in large towns
and cities ; and the absence of any settled princi-
ples in economic policy." M. Foreade goes on to
say, that the natural and immediate result of a crisis
was to disclose a scarcity of capital. " But if that
crisis surprises a country the capital of which has
been prodigally destroyed by unproductive expen-
diture, the perturbation is the deeper and its con-
sequent disorders are the more deplorable. If it
bursts out just as excessive encouragements have
been given to enterprises which fix capital, de-
troying its present disposability, it rages the more
inteniel. Lastly if the government itself has
indnl an immoderate unproductive expenditure
—if t e government itself has excited speculation
instead of limiting it—the crisis, by its very exis-
tence, Locusts the government of improvidence, and
warns it, in tones of severity, to change its course
betimes." M. Forcade hopes that the sinister alarms
now circulated may be belied by the event ; but
in any case the lesson must not be lost. "Eve,'
from a false alarm we may learn how important'
it is that the continued increase of our budgets
should come to an end, how important it is to
desist from the destruction of capital by demolitions
which give an artificial excitement to building
speculations, how important it is not to give a false
character to the movements of industry and com-
merce by privileged and artificial institutions of
credit." lastly, M. Forcade expresses the convic-
tion that ono day oven capitalists will be con-
vinced that there is no good financial government
without political liberty, without the full and
vigorous control of representative assemblies, and
the vigilant discussions of a free press."

The I:Mbytes of to-day observes that, accordiug.to
• document signed by Count Pereigny, the French press
were informed that it need fear nothing so long as it did
lot attack the principle of the government and the dynasty.
"In reading the incriminated passage," says the Debate,
"of the Revue des Deu.c Monde:, we find in it a criticism
more or leas vigorous—more or less founded (that is
got the question)—on the financial policy of the govern-
ment ;we discover nothing more in it. There are, then,
other things besides the principle of the dynasty which it
is perilous for the press to touch in under certain circum-
stances. We are compelled to remind ourselves of this
mice more, after having tried for some months to forget it."
_ _

AL Rattassi paid a visit on Thursday to Prinoe
Napoleon and the Prisons Mathilde, and was to dine yea-
today with the Prince.
. .

The Cologne Gazette publishes on the subject of
the Prussian coronation some rather premature reflections.
"The crown which encircles the brow of King William,"
saps the Rhenish journal, " will become sooner or later the
Imperial crown."
. _ . . _ .

Father Pmaaglis has arrived at Poggio Dirteto.