The Express.
London, England, 1857-03-16 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(Flow 001 OWN CUERFSPONDINT.)
pAyttg, SUNDAY EVENINO,
The Pays contains the following paragraph,
which, although it says nothing of the 20,000 men
which it was reported that France was about to
send to China, and seems to infer that the French
co-operation with the English will be naval only, is
evidently intended to prepare the public mind for a
more extensive interference in Chinese affairs on the
part of France than the government has hitherto
been disposed to avow:
There has been much talk lately, apron°, of the events in
China, of French co-operation, its nature and extent. This
question requires some explanations. The affair, when lodide&
in prop orlight, will be found to present two very diatinet plum
—the one past, and the other future. The first already be.
longs in some sort to history ; the second involves the future
interests of several powers whose trade is at this moment
suffering great injury,and who are all agreed upon the neces-
sity of putting en end to the present state of things. We
are assured that it is in order to accomplish this object, s loyal
understanding has been recently come to between France
and England. The latter power sends strong reinforcements
to Admiral Seymour, who will find himself at the head of a
wry important force. France, on its part, with a view
to the operations of the approaching campaign,
keeps Admiral Oufrin's squadron in the Chinese
waters, which squadron will join its efforts to
those of the naval division commanded by Admiral
Itigault de Genouilly. Thum our naval force will be on a
respectable footing; the two admirals will have frigate.,
corvettes, and gun-beats, so valuable for attacking coasts and
going up rivers. If the maritime means of the two nations
are well employed, the Chinese authorities will necessarily
be forced to make such an arrangement as will materially
improve the previous situation. The English government,
while sending military reinforcements to China, sends out
also Special Commissioners to open negotiations; and the
more imposing the farce employed to support the Cortunis-
SiOliefS, the more likely is the better success of the negotia-
tions, for the Chinese will see that they have nothing to gain
by continuing hostilities.
To-day aTe Deum was performed at the Tuileries
in celebration of the birth of the Prince Imperial,
which took place on the night of March 1046,
last year.
The Presto says in its weekly commercial re-
view :

Trade begins to exhibit some symptoms of activity. The
dealers in stuffs especially are preparing for the spring Wes,
and but for the cold March weather of the post week business
would probably have been brisk. As it is, the wholesale houses
are making their assortments of novelties, and advice. from
Rouen, Roubaix, and Lyons, aro more satisfactory, consi-
derable purchases for Paris having been made in those
markets since the beginning of the month. Tho corn mar•
ket la calm, with scarcely any change in prime.
A fire broke out at the Orleans Railway station

on Friday evening, in a warehouse used for the re.
ception of property accidentally left in the trains. It
was soon got under, but the roof of the building and
the greater part of tho property in it were consumed,
and several of the company's meu were burnt by the
melted zinc which fell upon their faces and hands.

PARIS, SETCHDAY EVENTING.
The Moniteur announces in the following terms
the solution of the financial question which has been
ao long pending:
The council of state yesterday held et the Tuileries its
third sitting, which was presided over by the Emperor. It
was decided that the bill relative to the shares and bonds of
companies shall be established on the following blues
duty imposed by the law of the sth of June, 1850, for the
stamp and circulation of these metallic.. Ala be raised from
5 to 15 centimes per 100 f. of real capital, regulated every
three years on the average market price. This tax is to be
minuet and obligatory, and nothing will be changed in the
present mode of collection, such as at hos been established by
the law of 1850. A regulation of the public adminirtratios
shall determine the mode according to which this tan is to
be applied to foreign securities negotiated in France.
- - - -

The Pays, noticing the grand feature of the pro.
jest—namely, that the tax is to be levied, not upon
the nominal, but the real value of shares—observes
that in many cases where shares have attained
large premium the duty, instead of being trebled,
;sill he decupled. For instance, the Lyons and
Mediterranean Company, which, according to the
law of 1850, paid a composition of 23c. per share of
500 f., say for 90,000 shares, 22,300 E, will now, an-
cording to the average quotations of about 1,800 f.,
pay 2f. 70c. per share, or 243,000 f. upon the 90,000
shares.
As to the probable product of the tax it is
difficult to form an estimate, fur want of posi-
tive data. According to the latest official docu-
ments, the capital already spent in French
railways amounts to 2,300,000,000, of which sum
it may be said in round numbers that 40 per cent.
consists of shares and 60 per cent. of obligations. It
may be fairly supposed that the value of the capital
invested in :hares has doubled. On this hypothesis,
adding 2,000,000,000, the assumed present value of
all the railway shares, to 1,500,000,000, the value of
the obligations which remains stationary, the 16
centime duty, calculated on a capital of 3,500,000,000,
would produce an annual revenue of 5,250,000 f.
from railway shares alone. It is thought, perhaps
rather rashly, that double or treble this sum may be
realised from the tax when negotiable securities of
all sorts, home as well as foreign, are taken into ac-
count. It is to be borne in mind that, so far as the
supplemental capital of a milliard and a half neces-
sary to complete the network of railways throughout
France may be called for, the product of the tax
will be proportionably augmented.
The news in the Monitear did not produce any
favourable effect at the opening of the Bourse, but in
the course of the day the Rents and all other securi-
ties improved. The Rent° closed firm at 70.90 for
cash, and 71.30 for account, with a rise of 25c. and
40c. Mobilier rose 10f. The Orleans Railway rose
10; Northern, 18.75; Lyons, 17.50; Mediterranean,
17.50 ; Southern, 7.50 ; Western, 3 ; Eastern, 15f.;
and Grand Central, 3,75.
I am told to-day, in a quarter generally well in-
formed, that notwithstanding the denials (denials,
by the way, couched in a cautiously qualified form)
of the semi-official journals, negotiations are at this
moment going on between France and England for
sending a French army of 20,000 men to China, in
English vessels.
According to the latest correspondence from St.
Petersburg, it is considered certain that the Czar
will go to Italy this year, and it is added that in all
probability he will come to Paris to see the Emperor
Napoleon. During his absence the Emperor of
Russia will be represented at the seat of his
' government by a commission, composed of generals
' and high civic functionaries, with the Grand Dukes
' Nicholas and Michael, the Czar's youngest brothers,
at their head.
M. Salamanca, formerly Finance Minister in
Spain, has just arrived in Paris.

THE SOUND DUES CONVENTION

(BY SUBMARINE. TELEGRAPH.)
(171011 OUN OWN colotgaroxi)Burr.)

PARIS, SUNDAY EVENING.

The following telegraphic despatch from Copes•
hagen, dated this day, hos just been received here :

"COPENHAGEN, MARCH IS,

" The convention relative to the abolition of the
Sound dues was signed yesterday by all the powers
concerned in it."

A Paris correspondent of the Nerd of Brussels
writes: "A report that M. Berryer, jun., had been arrested
It incorrect; he hen left foe the Chateau d'Angerville, In
Hoene, with hie father, where both together will prepare
the defence which is to be made before the Court of Appeal.
It is said that M. Berryer will hiineelf defend hie con' end
that ho Ems determined on closing his career se a pleader
with this defence." The seine correspondent gays: "The
Minister of Public Worship bee drxpetched a commissioner
to the diocese of Moulins, to inquire into the exactitude of
the complaints made against blomignore do Drenx-Drize."
A letter from Belgrade of the sth, in the Augs-
ewry Gerette,aeye :—" The only daughter of Omar Ptiti,
who wee inertial in 1833 to Trek nicht', a nephew of the
Seeder, and, after his death in the Crimea, to Omar Ben
another nephew, poisoned herself a few days ago. She bid
teen educated emending to European LOAN and was driver
It is said, to the rash set by the bad treatment she experienced
from her husband."

UNITED STATES.

ARRIVAL OF THE INDIAN.

(sT sums"' AJD IILAORTIIS TZLIIMILPI4

LIVERPOOL, Mosses.
This morning the Royal Mail screw-stainsr
Indian, Captain Jones, arrived in the Mersey. Billl
left Portland on the 4th instant, and has had to en-
counter very heavy weather, with lose of foremut
and other damage.
She brought 11 passengers.
The Niagara, hence, had arrived at Halifax.
The Propeller is fitting at New York, for the
purpose of relieving General Walker at Nicaragua,
whose position is represented u almost hopebrn.
The President's Message to the Senate may be
expected per City of Washington, which was to
leave New York on the bth March.

NEW YORK, liAkcx S.

Cotton market firm. Breadstuff' improving.
Provisions advancing. Sugars firm. Molasses quiet.
Iron steady. Ashes quiet. Freights to Liverpool
firm.