The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-28 00:00:00

Gentlemen Senators,
Gentlemen Deputies,
The year which has just passed away has,notwith-
standing certain misgivings, seen peace consoli-
dated. All the rumours designedly propagated, re-
specting imaginary pretensions, have disappeared of
themselves before the simple reality of facts.
My relations with foreign powers give ins the
most entire satisfaction, and the visits of several
sovereigns have contributed again to draw closer
our bonds of friendship. The King of Prussia, in
coming to France, has been able to judge for himself
of our desire to unite ourselves still more to a Go-
vernment and a people who march on with a calm
and firm step towards progress.
I have recognised the Kingdom of Italy with the
firm intention of contributing by sympathetic and
disinterested counsels to conciliate two causes the
antagonism of which every where troubles men's
mind and consciences.
The civil war which desolates America has come
to compromise gravely our commercial interests.
However, as long as the rights of neutrals shall be
respected, we must confine ourselves to wishes that
these dissensions may speedily cease.
Our establishment in Cochin China has been
consolidated by the valour of our soldiers and
sailors. The Spaniards associated in our enter-
prize will find, I trust, in those countries, the
reward of their courageous assistance. The Anna-
mites feebly resist our dominions; and we should
not be in conflict with anyone, if in Mexico the
otputtlit oie".an.,onsorupelaus Geevernment . had
not obliged use 'unite with 'SP-alit - -
England to protect our compatriots, and repress
attempts against humanity and the law of nations.
Nothing can arise out of this conflict of a nation
to diminish confidence in the future. Free from
exterior pro-occupations I have more specially
directed my attention to the state of our finances.
A candid exposition has made you acquainted with
their real condition. I shall only say a few words
on this subject. The public has been startled at the
amount of 963,000,000 f. which the floating debt
has reached ; but this debt, its further progress
being arrested, has in it nothing to alarm, for it
had already reached this amount before 1848, It a
time when the revenues of France were far from
approaching to what they are now. Besides,
if we subtract from this amount, first, the
652,000,000 f., which were • incurred at an epoch
anterior to the Empire ; then the 78,000,000 f.
repaid to the landholders at the period of the con-
version ; and finally, the 233,000,000 f. of uncovered
outlay in the last two financial statements, caused
by distant expeditions, and which it would have
been possible to cover by a loan, it will be seen
that since the establishment of the Empire—thanks,
it is true, to the excessive consolidations effected—
the deficits have not increased in proportion to the
necessities which it was imperative to provide for,
and the advantages obtained during the last ten
years.
In truth, gentlemen, it would be unjust to for-
get the increase of expenditure demanded by pay-
ment of the annual interest of debts contracted for
two wars which have not been without glory.
The 622 millions applied by the Treasury to the
great works of public utility, independently of the
three milliards devoted by the companies to the
completion of 6,553 kilometres of railway, the exe-
cution of the Telegraphic Act, the ameliora-
tion of the condition of nearly all the servants
of the State, the augmentation of the well-
being of the soldier, the effective of the army placed
in proportion with that which the dignity of France
requires in the time of peace ; the transformation
of the fleet and of all our material of artillery; the
renewing and sustaining of our religious edifices
and of our public monuments.
This expenditure has given to all useful works
over the surface of the Empire a fruitful impulse.
Have we _not seen_ our cities transform them-
selves, the country districts become- ehriched
by the progress of agriculture, and the com-
merce with foreign nations increase from •
2,600,000,000 f. to 5,800,000,000 f. ? Finally, by
this increase of the public prosperity alone, the
revenues of the State have augmented by many
hundreds of millions.
This enumeration shows us in their full extent
the financial resources of France; and nevertheless,
whatever may have been the origin of the deficits,
and however legitimate the expenditure, it was pru-
dent not to increase them.
With this object I have proposed to the Senate a
radical measure, which confers on the Legislative
Body a greater facility of control, and associates it
more and more with my policy. But this measure
was not, as anyone may easily convince himself, an
expedient to alleviate my responsibility.
It was a spontaneous and earnest reform, calcu-
lated to compel us to economy. In renouncing the
right of opening supplementary and extraordinary
credits in the interval between the sessions, it was
at the same time essential to retain the power of
providing far unforeseen necessity.
The system of transfers (les virenzents) furnishes
the means, and it has the advantage of restricting
this faculty to wants that are really urgent and in-
dispensable.
The severe application of this new system will
enable us to establish our financial regime upon un-
shakeable bases. I reckon on your patriotism and
intelligence to second any efforts by an earnest as-
sistance. The budget will be laid before you imme-
diately on the opening of the session. It is not
without regret that I have decided to propose to
you the re-arrangement (remaniement) of several
taxes, but from the increase of our revenue, the
aggravation of those taxes, I am convinced, will be
only temporary.
You will be pleased to take up first the
projects de loi relative to the conversion of tho
Four-and-a-Half per Cent. Rentes—a measure
the object of which is, in equitably conciliating
the interests of the Treasury and those of its
creditors, to prepare the unification of the debt. I
have explained to you, gentlemen, frankly the state
of things.
You are aware that upon every occasion when a -
reform of a useful character presented itself, I have
resolutely taken the initiative of its introduction.
At the same time, I will maintain not the less intact
the fundamental bases of the Constitution, which
has already represented to the nation ten years of
lor3er and prosperity,
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The lot of all who are in
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ruler
possesses the confidence of the nation and neglects
nothing to deserve it. This sentiment, which
manifests itself in all circumstances, is my most pre-
cious recompense, and forms my greatest strength.
Should unforeseen events, such as the dearness
of provisions and the falling off of employment,
cause the people to suffer want, the people ought
not in justice to hold me responsible for their suf-
fering, when they know that all my thoughts, all
my actions, tend without cessation to ameliorate
their lot and to increase the prosperity of France.
Let us not form any illusions as to what remains
for us to accomplish, but at the same time let us
felicitate ourselves upon having traversed 10 years
in the midst of the calm of contented populations,
and of the union of the great bodies of the State.
Let us persevere in our task with
place ourselves with ecrtfidence th.e.han
.s of
Providence, n us visible signs
Providence, who has always give -
energy,d and
of His protection.

- -

APOTHECARIES'-HALL.--The following gentle-
men passed their examination in the science and practice of
medicine, and received certificates to practise, on Thursday,
the 23d of January, 1852 :—Walter Tyrrell, St. Thomas's
Hospital ; Thomas S. Worboys, St, Bartholomew's Hospi-
tal ; Thomas flolintr,Uckfield, Sussex
; Thomas Joyce,
Newbury, Berks ; William Dunderdale, Poulton-le-Fylde,
Lancaster. ,