The Sun.
London, England, 1839-09-27 00:00:00

STATISTICS OF PARIS.

A recent discourse of the Prefect of the Seine to an
assembly composed of the commercial notabilities of
Paris contains some interesting facts connected with the
recent exhibition of works of art and manufactures, 69
far more particularly as regards the commerce of that
capital and the environs. Of 3,200, which was the
whole number of exhibitors on that occasion, 2,050
belonged to the department of the Seine. The elegant
specimens of times, of linen, and cotto❑ yarns, and of
bats exhibited, were the produce of 818 manufactories.
The specimens of workings in iron, copper, pewter, lead,
and zinc, whether ornamental, or for the greater part
useful, were wrought in 321 workshops of Paris. The
instruments used in watchmaking- and for measuring
time, and the machines of every kind for saving
labour and time, were the production of 103
ingenious artists. For simple utensils of do-
mestic economy, 221, and for improved ap-
paratus for the purposes of economizing fuel and light,
81 admissions were granted. In painting, jewellery,
plate, and plated wares, and sculpture, there were 3:37
manufacturers and artists of Paris. As proof of the
superior merit of these competitors for distinction, it is
assumed that not only were their contributions distin-
guished by superior workmanship, but also by the
cheaper rate at which they could be offered for sale.
The Prefect took occasion also to notice with commen-
dation the good understanding and the improved feeling
which existed between the masters and workmen of
Paris. This was owing to the fact that in times of
stagnation of trade many of the masters, instead of turn-
ing off their workpeople, or a certain portion, perhaps the
least skilled among them, had humanely preferred rather
to shorten the hours of work, so that all of them might
be able at least to earn sufficient for their most indispen-
sable wants.

Certain facts were stated also relating to the genera I
statistics of Paris, and its comparative progress in va-
rious respects, which are not without interest. The
population for 1838 was stated as exceeding 909,000
inhabitants, among whom 67,759 paid a fixed duty for
licenses, or patents as it is termed, to exercise different
trades, callings, or professions, and the number of com-
mercial men of respectable standing (notables commer-
cans)was 920. In 1831 and 1832 the population amounted
only to 774,000 ; there were only 44,746 licensed indi-
viduals, and 784 notable traders. In proof of the de
I gree of general easiness of circumstances, it was noted
that on the 31st of December, 1838, upon 28,218,000 f
the amount of the four direct levies of taxes for the
year, 26,989,000 f. had already been received or reco-
vered, and yet the expense under the head of " legal
process" was greatly diminished ; legal proceedings had
been less rigorously executed, the number of sales of
household goods less considerable, and, lastly, the funds
from the 13 centimes on patents destined to cover the de-
ficiency arising from " no effects," had yielded a sucplus
of 360,000 f. The same fund in 1831 and 1832 was in-
sufficient by more than 100,000 f. The consumptiet:
of Paris was also augmented. and the revenue derived
from the octroi, or city dues, had attained to 31,862,0001.
which was a higher sum than had been obtained
since the Revolution of July, and exceeded that of tho
prosperous previous year by more than 1,000,000 f.
The new buildings constructed, which are assumed to
be another sign of prosperity, were also on the increase.
Permissions for different works had been given to the
extent of 2,519, and among these buildings figure for
400. This number, it may be remarked, will appear
insignificant here, but, as is well known to most people,
the houses at Paris are upon a large scale, and exl,
pressly calculated for the accommodation of a number
of families in each, in distinct floors, with complete sets
of apartments in each, equal to the common run of
houses in this country.
The exports declared at the Custom-house, by which
the state of the foreign commerce of Paris may be ap-
preciated, amounted in value for 1838 to 90,128,144 f.,
of which 63,620,775 f. as ordinary exports, and
39,113,010 f. of exports carrying bounties. In 1837 the
exports were but 94,065,2801., thus showing an increase
of 5,052,964 f. for 1838.
The results of the first six months of the present y,(!at
in respect of the octroi revenue were, however, by no.
means so favourable as compared with those of 1838,
owing, as stated, to the long Ministerial disorganization,
and more than that, to the insurrection of the 12th and
13th of May, to which perhaps ought to have been
added the speculative mania which had produced such
extensive ruin. The amount of the city revenue derived
from taxes on consumption of all kinds forms of course
the standard by which that consumption and the pros-
perous situation or otherwise of the population is mea-
sured and ascertained, as here for a similar test the
products of the Excise and Customs are appealed to.
In the first half year of 1838 the octroi dues in Paris
were equal to 15,140,6391., but in the same space of
1839 they had fallen to 14,366,9491., being a dimi-
nution of 773,6931. From this defalcation, however,
must be deducted 175,410 f., arising from a reduc-
tion in the duty on coal, which therefore produced
so much less to the city, as was calculated upon before-
hand. Notwithstanding this decrease of revenue,
however, the affairs of the city are so well managed by
the municipal body, that the budget of expenditure is
always prepared below the estimate of revenue. In
1838 the excess of revenue over expenditure was, through
this foresight, equal to 3,000,0001. ; and in the present
year the estimates having been fixed in the same pro-
portion, the actual deficit of 598,280 f., even if doubled
by the end of the year, will be fully met, and to spare,
by the 3,000,000 f. at which the estimates of expendi-
ture were prepared below the revenue. The prejudicial
operation upon consumption of the two days' insurrec-
tion in May was strikingly exemplified. In the months
of May and June of the present year, 418 oxen and
4,000 sheep less were slaughtered and consumed than
in the same two months of the year preceding.
To the insurrections were mainly attributed also the
great increase in the number of bankruptcies, which,
however, would rather seem to have been the natural
consequence of that rage for shares and Companies,
which in the Prefect's summary is referred to as a
minor or secondary cause only, perhaps with a view to
political effect upon the public at 'large through the
subsequent publication of his speech. In the first six
months of the present year the number of failures
amounted to 467 ; in the same time last year there
were only 207. The foreign commerce of Paris during
all these unfavourable circumstances, was, however, pros-
perous. The Custom-house returns showed an increase of
13,605,000 f. over 1838, and ift his rate of progression ocn-
tinned during the whole year, there would Iyr at the
end of it an augmentation in the whole of more than
26,000,000 f. It is remarked that as confidence has be-
come re-established, the enterprises which had been
suspended were resumed, and there was every probabi-
lity that by the
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In February, March, and
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and
the commercial crisis. On the whole, this summary of
the Prefect's affords satisfactory evidence of a state of
internal improvement in Paris and the country at large.

The coach which runs from Paris to Dieppe, in
twelve hours, is to be kept on till the end of October, in
consequence of the extra packet from Ric.—Brighton
Gazette.
LITERARY STATISTICS.—The number of pe-
riodicals issued monthly from Paternoster-row is 236.
There are also 34 quarterly publications. The amount of
literary pensions—that is, pensions to men of science and
literature, was, at the accesion of Victoria, 4,3001., and of
royal and noble pensions, 129.348/. We are net regret-
ting the comparative smallness of the literary pensions ;
far from it, considering literary pauperism the most deplor-
able and reprehensible of all modes of pauperism, and far
more mischievous and derogatory than aristocratic pau-
i with great
ies
tydifficulty,suj ec t
perism. Even the fact is not more remarkable than, for
example, among a hundred others, a Parliament grant of
o.ions obtained
ofhe wr
70,0001., given without a word,, to erect additional stables
--Twit's Magazine.
tofo educate
rherMajt.hsteYigannodr3ano;oo millions