The Express.
London, England, 1861-11-23 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(ROM OVA OWN

PARIS, PamAy EVINING.

The Petrie contains an article which will griev-
ously disappoint those in England who believed—
and some believers there must be, for there are
those who credit everything they see in print—the
statement of a London journal that France was
likely to reduce her army to 300,000 men, instead
of 600,000, which is about the prevent force. This
Guerronniere-inspired article is headed, in large
letters, "The Impossibility of Disarming." Its
argument is that since, for one reason or another,
Austria, Italy, Prussia, Russia, and England are
not likely to reduce their armies ; since more espe-
cially, and hinc Woe lacrywar, England has no idea
of disbanding her volunteers, France cannot pos-
sibly " break the victorious arm of Magenta and
Solferino." France, it is objected, would
abdicate by disarming, and " revive in every
quarter the hopes of reaction." If this
reasoning means anything beyond an obsti-
nate assertion that the French government
will keep a large standing army on foot as long as
the country can be got to find the funds, it can
only signify either that the army is wanted for
aggressive purposes, or to maintain the dynasty
against the dissatisfaction of its own subjects. No
power iu the world dreams of invading France or
diminishing the extent of her territory. Let her
be content with her present ample boundaries, and
renounce the office of redresser-general of wrongs
all over the world, and she may then hope to
diminish her financial embarrassments, and leave
her citizens peaceable to develop that prosperity
which the resources and genius of the nation
entitle them to enjoy. To hear the Petrie,
however, M. Fould's severe lesson seems
already forgotten. " Influence, glory, and
grandeur" are still its watchwords, and it will
hear of no reduction in the army beyond " more
numerous and longer furloughs." Although I
have spoken of the Patric as " inspired," it is by
no means certain that its doctrines will ultimately
prevail. A great struggle is organised by st►te
vampires spinet K Fould, and the Pattie is their
organ. He will, however, probably not remain long
iu power, unless he can make his own conditions.
I do not suppose that in any case he would make
such an immense reduction in the army as has been
suggested in the London print referred to. I will
even go so far as to say that I do not think it '
would be desirable or practicable to reduce the
army by one half ; still a great and substantial
reduction might be and ought to be made.
A letter from London, in the Moniteur, says :
The official announcement of the financial plans which

are to follow the reoent declarations of the French govern-
ment ia looked for with great impatience in Engbind.
The new minister has a high reputation here u a financier ;
but what more especially gives confidence in a fortunate
issue is, that people here are accustomed to believe in the
emcees of enterprises in which the Emperor personally en-
_

- This is a very foolish thing to say, and the publi-
cation of such a platitude is in itself a reason why
M. Fould should have the control of the Moniker,
which he desires, but which a court cabal is still
strong enough to keep from him. What the Em-
peror's personal government leads to is abundantly
shown by M. Fould's report ; the country now ex-
pects a thorough change of system, and looks to re-
form, not from the Emperor's prestige, but from
the care, attention, and firmness of respectable, re-
sponsible, independent, and competent ministers.
The report of General Cialdiui having arrived
in Paris was incorrect. He is still in Turin, and
will probably wait for the debate on the Roman
question.
The Bourse was very heavy in the early part of
the day, but improved at the close. The Rente,
after being quoted as low as 69fr. 85e. and 69fr. 80c.,
left off at 69fr. 95c. and 70fr. 5c., with a rise of
15c. Mobilier rose 6fr. 25c. The Italian Loan
was without change. The Western Railway rose
61r. 25c. ; in the other lines there was little
alteration.