The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-17 00:00:00

FRANCE.

Le Constitutionnel of to-day remarks that the dis-
cussion on Polish affairs is to begin to-day, and it
earnestly recommends all interested in the matter
to study these documents, which, according to the
Constitutionnel, reflect honour on the French Go-
vernment. The despatches in question date so far
back as 1855, when, at the time of the Crimean
War, M. Drouyn de Lhuys addressed a
despatch to Count Walewski, then French
Ambassador in London, suggesting that the
redressing of the wrongs of Poland should be among
the conditions of peace resolved on by the Allied
Powers. To this the English Cabinet objected, on
various plausible grounds, and when six months
later the proposal was renewed, fresh obstacles were
put in the way. According to this version of
affairs the blame of inaction certainly rests with
the Cabinet of St. James. L'Opinion Nationale
speaks in much the same terms of the documents in
question and considers the news received from
Poland, to be highly favourable to the insurgents.
Le Siecle learns from an Austrian journal that
the number of insurgents in the district of Radom
amounts to 20,000 men. Women also, it is said,
take part in the war; while many families, who
took refuge in Galicia at the beginning of the
outbreak, have now returned to Poland to
join in it. Karoweki, who was reported to
have committed suicide, has rejoined the
army of Langiewicz. He fights in the first rank,
but without any other grade than that of a private
soldier. Le Pays tells us that fresh bodies of insur-
gents are being organised between the Vistula, the
Bug, and the Wieprz ; the peasants of those dis-
tricts favouring the insurrection, which it is
rumoured, will shortly be greatly deve-
loped. In its summary of the contents of
the diplomatic documents published this morning
by the Moniteur, .Le Pays declares that it is the Cold-
ness and indifference of England which has hitherto
rendered fruitless the efforts of the French Emperor
to ameliorate the position of Poland.
The last monthly account published by the
Governor of the Bank of France is regarded as
very satisfactory in commercial circles. The cash
in hand, which had fallen in the month of December
to so low a figure as 240,000,000 f., has now risen
to 344,000,000 f. It increased by 64,000,000 f.
during the last month. The Counoil of the Bank
have consequently considered that they might safely
reduce the rate of discount from 5 to 4i per cent.
at their late meeting. It is generally balieved that
a further reduction in the rate of discount will
shortly be announced, inasmuch as the demand
for gold has considerably abated. One very
favourable item in the account just published
is that which shows that the securities deposited
with the Bank for cash advanced, which in the
month of January last amounted to 200,000,000 f.,
are now reduced to 140,000,000 f. These securities
consist of railway shares and bonds to the amount
of 82,000,000 f., and Government routes to the
amount of 68,000,0001. Government rentes to the
amount of 29,000,000 f., and railway securities to
the amount of 5,000,000 t. were withdrawn from the
Bank during the last month. The Bank has by
these repayments been able to call in bank-notes
in circulation to the amount of 52,000,000 f. There
is no change in the amount to the credit of the
customers of the Bank. It remains at 161,000,000 f.
The balance to the credit of the Treasury
increased during the month by 9,000,0001., and
is row 76,000,000 f. The Government is con-
sequently fully enabled to meet the payment of
three months' interest on the 3 per Cents. due the
Ist of next month. The council of the Bank have,
during the last month, purchased Government stock
to the value of 1,000,0001. with their unemployed
capital. The Bank has further advanced 1,500,000 f.
within the last month on a deposit of bullion. The
profits of the Bank during the last month are cal-
culated at 2,500,000 f.
It appears from the regularity with which commer-
cial payments have been made since the beginning
of the month that trade is good, and cash not scarce,
in Paris. Manufacturers have received large orders
for export, and few complaints are heard except in
Mulhouse, Rouen, and Lyons, where the civil war
in America still produces injurious effects. Some
of the cotton bonds of the Confederate States have
been offered for circulation at Havre. These bonds
have been issued by the Government of the Southern
States to create resources by means of the cotton
which still remains in the interior of the country.
They stipulate that in 40 days after notification
shall have been made by the holder to the Confe-
derate Government the quantity of cotton specified
in the bond shall be placed at his disposal in what-
ever port of the Confederacy he may select, pro-
vided that port be not at the time in the power of
the Federal States. These bonds are generally for
25,0001 b. weight of cotton, the value to be paid in
cash, calculated at 6d. per lb. weight. The purchaser
may receive the cotton in the port he fixes on, and
there place it in store or export it at his own risk
and peril.
BOURSE, Mareh 16.—The quarterly coupon of 76
centimes has been detached to-day from the Three
per Cents. The market is heavy, and quotations
are rather lower, Threes being now at 691. 5c ;
Italian Loan firm at 70f. 50c. Little doing in
Railway Shares. The market left off as follows:
II per Cent 5....... ea 75 Bank Shares 3'Bo --
Do end month.... Credit Fancier 1470
3 per Cents ...... 68 90 Italian Loan 7O 40
Do. end month,... h• • • 68 75 Do. end month 7O 20
New 3 per Cents Russian -
Do. end month.... Austrian
Credit N 1225 Spanish Three,, —
Do, end reenth....1225 home Debt