The Express.
London, England, 1857-02-17 00:00:00

SPEECH OF THE EMPEROR OF THE

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PARIS, Koirtms Arruirooar.
The easel= for 1837 was opened this day in the
Mess of the Tuileries by the Emperor. The owe-
Reny, which was the same, nearly in all respects,
me on the kit 0011111.011, took place in the Hall of the
Elarehale. The throne wee placed on a platform;
heftece the embrasure of the window looking on the
smillo. On the right of the Emperor were his
mein Prince Imam Napoleon, and Prince fads
Leakii. who arrived from London yesterday dm tits
=; end on his left, Prince Napoleon end
Murat. On either side, after the Prime
of the family having rank at the Cult,
were the Grand Almoner, the Grand Chamlier-
labc, the Cardinals, the Ministers, the Mar-
shals of France, and Admirals. To the right of
the Throne were the members of the Diftkansfie
Ceps ; is boat, the Prenlent, Vies-Prolamin
Omni Referendary, and Senators; to the left, the
Paeihnts, &0., of the Legislative Crepe and the
Dose. To the rear of the Senate were seated
the &potations of the Court of Camtion. and of
the ether kw courts, the representatives of the
they of es various churches, the prefects or the
Setae sal plies, the general essomaiihte the No-
tices' Ovid and lie eteg the sealed and diem of
tha friffeW Goode doe of the army of Paris, the
First Miry WIWI sad a insales sayssies
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[7, 1857.

The high gallery that rune round the hall was
reserved for the Empress and the Princesses of the
Imperial Family, and the Grand Muter and Mistress
sad Ladies of the Households of the Empress, and
the Princess Mathilde, as also the ladies specially
invited. Her Majesty's place was in the centre, and
opposite the Emperor's throne. It is hardly necce-
wary to say that all present were in full dress ; the
usual forms of precedence and etiquette were ob-
served on entering and on leaving the hall. The
Emperor, whose arrival was announced by a
salute of 101 guns, appeared at one o'clock. The
whole assemblage rose to receive him. He at
once took his place on the throne, and the Grand
Muter of the Ceremonies called out,—" Gentlemen,
be seated."

The Emperor then stood up, and read in an audible
voice the following speech:—
__ .

" Messieurs lesSinateurs et Hoskins lee De-
putts,—Lest year my opening speech ended with an
invocation of the Divine protection. I besought
Him to guide our efforts in the way that should be
most conformable to the intereata of humanity and

civilisation. That prayer seems to have been heard.
"Peace has been signed, and the difficulties of
detail arising from the execution of the Treaty of
Paris have come to an end by their being fortunately
surmounted.

"The dispute that arose between the King of
Prussia and the Helvetic Confederation has lost all
its warlike aspect, and it is permitted us to hope

oon for a favourable solution.

"The good understanding re-established between
the three protecting powers of Grease renders
henceforth useless a prolonged stay of the English
and French troops at the Innen*. If a regrettable
disagreement has taken place respecting the affairs
of Naples, we must still impute it to that desire
which still animates both the government of Queen
Victoria and my own to act everywhere in behalf of
humanity and civilisation. Now that the best
understanding prevails between all the great powers,
we ought to work seriously in regulating and deve-
loping the national wealth and resources at home.
We ought to contend against those evils from which
society in a state of program is not exempt.
" Civilisation, we must observe, though it has for
its objects the moral improvement and material
welfare of the greatest number of people, marches
like an army. Its victories are not obtained without
sacrifices and victims. Those means of rapid con-
veyance which facilitate intercourse, and which open
new routes for trade, at the same time derange ex-
isting interests, and leave those countries behind
that are still without them. Those machines which
are so useful, which multiply the fruits of human
toil, at first take the place of the workman, and for
the moment cause many hands to be unoccupied.
Those mines which diffuse through the world such an
amount of metallic money as was never before known,
that inexhaustible source of wealth which we deno-
minate credit, are bringing forth marvels. Never-
theless, speculation, carried to excess, ruins many
an individual. Hence arises the neoesaity, without
staying our progress, of coming to the aid
of those who cannot follow its accelerated march.
We must stimulate these, and moderate those, ali-
ment the activity of this breathless, inquiet, and
clamorous society, which in France expects every-
thing from the government, but which it is a duty
to confine within the bounds of practicability and
the calculations of reason.

" To enlighten and to direct—this is our duty. The
country prospers; that fact is undeniable, for, not-
withstanding the war and the dearth, the onward
movement has not slackened. The product of the
indirect taxes—the sure index of the public fortune
—has surpassed in 1866 by 60 millions the amount
yielded in 1866, which itself stood out exceptionably
favourable. Since the establishment of the Empire
these revenues have spontaneously increased, with-
out taking new taxes into the account, by 210
millions.
" Nevertheless there is among one portion of the
community great suffering, of which, unless Provi-
dence scud us a good harvest, the millions given in
private charity and by the government will be but
feeble palliatives. Let us then redouble our efforts
to remedy those evils which are beyond the reach of
human foresight.
"During the past year several departments hare
been attacked by the scourge of inundation. I
have every encouragement to hope that science will
be enabled so far to control nature as to prevent the
recurrence of these calamities. It is with me a
point of honour that in France the rivers shall be
made to return, like the revolution, to their chan-
nels, no more to leave them.
" Another, not lees serious, cause of uneasiness has
its scat in the state of men's minds. Crises arise from
false rumours or false doctrines propagated by
ignorance or ill-will. The manufacturing por-
tion of the nation has lately been made
uneasy by the report that the government
cherishes projects inimical to its development
and its prospegty. The duty of good citizens, then,
is to diffuse everywhere the wise doctrines of poli-
tical economy, and especially to confirm those vacil-
lating minds which, I will not say at the first breath
of adversity, but at the slightest check to our pros-
perity, see wont to sow the seeds of discouragement
and increase the prevailing uneasiness with their
imaginary alarms.
" Considering the various exigencies of the pre-
sent situation of affairs, I have resolved to reduce
the expenditure, without suspending the great works
which are going on, and without compromising the
substantial results which have been obtained. I
have resolved to diminish certain imposts without
impairing the finances of the state. The budget for
1868 will be presented to you, duly balanced. AU
the items of estimated expenditure which can be
foreseen are included in it. The amount produced
by the loans will prove to have been sufficient to
defray the expenses of the war. All departments of
the public service may be provided for, without our
being obliged to have recourse again to public credit.
"The estimates for the War Department and
Marine have been reduced within due limits, care
being taken to preserve the cadres, to respect the
degrees of rank which have been so gloriously
gained, and to maintain an armed force worthy of
the greatness of the country. It is with this view
that the annual contingent has been fixed at one
hundred thousand men. This number is twenty
thousand below that of the ordinary enlistment in
time of peace. But, according to the system which
I have adopted, and to which I attach great im-
portance, about two-thirds of these conscripts will
only remain two years with their colours, and are
afterwards to firm a reserve that will supply the
country at the very first appearance of danger with
an army of six hundred thousand disciplined men.
" The reduction of the effective faros will permit
me to improve the pay of the lower ranks and of
the line—a measure which the downers of provisions
renders indispensable. In like manner, it yields a
sum of Ave millions to begin with, for raising the
inferior eateries of some of the officials in the civil
departments, who, amidst the hadn't privations,
have set a good example of probity and devotedness.
" Nar have we forgotten to set apart a grant far
the purpose of establishing a. line of transatlantic
Meissen, the enstion of which hes been so long
respired. Notwithstanding these increased ex-

penes, I shall propose to you to suppress, from the
Ist of January, DOS, the war tithe added lately to
the registration dues. The abolition of this will be
a sacrifice of 23 millions ; but as a compensation for
it, and in conformity with the wishes expressed 011
several occasions by the Corps Legislatif, I have
caused to be taken into consideration the imposition
of a new duty on all negotiable share properts
(raleurs
" An idea wholly philanthropic had induced the
government to remove the Bagnes ' to Guiana.
Unfortunately the yellow fever, which had
been unknown in those regions for fifty years,
has appeared, and arrested the advance of colonist.
tion. A plan is being prepared for the removal of
those establishments to Afeica, or elsewhere.

" Algeria, in which, under skilful hands, we see
agriculture and commerce daily extending, deserves
to attract our special attention. The decree of cut.
traliaation recently issued will favour the work of
administmtion ; and I shall neglect no care to offer
you, according to the circumstances, the measures
best adapted for the development of the colony.
" I invite your attention to a law that tends to
bring into cultivation the' Lodes' of Gascony. The
progress of agriculture ought to be one of the objects
of our constant solicitude ; for the prosperity or de.
cline of empires may be dated from its improvement
or neglect.
. _ _

"Another project of law due to the initiative of
the Marshal Minister of War will be laid before you.
It is a complete military penal code, which consolip
dates, whilst harmonising them with our institns
tions, the scattered and often contradictory laws that
have been issued since 1790. You will be glad, I
doubt not, to affix your name to a work of this
importance.

" Messieursles Deputes,—Since this session is to be
the last of your legislation, permit me to thank you
for the devoted and active assistance that you have
afforded me since 1652. You have proclaimed the
Empire. You have taken part in all the measures that
have restored order and prosperity to the country.
You energetically supported me during the war. Yon
shared my grief during the epidemic and the season
of scarcity. You shared my joy when Heaven gave
me a glorious peace and a well-beloved son. Your
loyal co-operation has enabled me to consolidate in
France a form of government based on the will and
interests of the people. It was a difficult task to
perform, for which real patriotism was essentials
that of accustoming the country to new instil*.
lions. To supersede the licentious freedom of the
tribune, and those stirring contests that announced
the fall or elevation of ministries, by free, but
calm and serious debate, was a signal service to the
country, and to liberty itself; for liberty has no
enemies more formidable than the excesses of pal•
sion and violence of speech. _

" Strong in the assistance of the great bodies of the
state, and in the devotedness of the army—strong,
above all, in the support of this people, which know.
that all my time is consecrated to its interests, I
foresee for our country a future full of hope.
" France, without injury to the rights of any one,
has resumed in the world the rank that was her dos,
and may devote herself in security to the promotka
of all that is most truly grand in the works of the
genius of Peace.
"May God not be weary of protecting her, and good
may we be able to say of our age what a statesman,
an illustrious and national historian, has written of
the Consulate, "Satisfaction was universal, and who.
ever had not in his heart the evil passions of part,
spirit rejoiced at the public happiness."
On concluding the speech the Grand Master of
the Ceremonies, by order of the Emperor, called cal
the Minister of State to inform the Deputies and Sena.
tors named since the last session to come forward
and take the oaths. Their names were called;
they advanced to the Throne; the formula was
read by the minister, and each, holding forth his
right hand, said, "I swear !—I swear obedienos
to the Constitution, and fidelity to the Em.
peror!" The Minister of State then declared
the session opened for 1857, and invited the
senators and members of the Legislative Corps to
assemble to-morrow in their respective places, is
order to commence their labours. Immediately
after, the Emperor first, and then the Empress, re-
tired with their respective torte:yrs in the same order
as they had entered. The sitting then closed, the
assemblage separated, and a second salute of 101
guns announced to the people of Paris that the
ceremony of opening the Chambers was over. The

wcathts:was beautiful, awl the usual crowds were
attracted to the spot to view the proceedings.