The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-23 00:00:00

THE FRENCH EMPIRE.

There are no leading articles in the Paris jour-
nals of yesterday on the eastern question of suffi-
cient interest for extract, and on other subjects the
Only article at all worth notice is a reply of the
Siecle to some remarks made upon it by the Con-
aitutionnel. The Siecle, whilst it pretends that it
is restrained by the fear of danger from saying all
that it could wish to say in favour of political
liberty, expresses itself with a freedom which im-
plies that it really does not entertain the fear that
it affects to have. Its argument that revolutions
are never caused by liberty, but by absolutism, is
not quite so convincing as it would have the world
believe. Constitutional liberty, in a country where
it is understood and respected, will never lead to
revolutions' but will, on the contrary, prevent
them. But the Siecle will not surely say that the
revolution of 1848 was caused by the absence of
constitutional liberty ; neither can it assert, with
any degree of truth, that the insurrection which
followed the revolution was caused by the absence
of political liberty. It was, on the contrary, the
necessary result of an abuse of liberty by some of
the organs of the public press exciting to turbu-
lence a mass which could not distinguish between
liberty and licentiousness.
The Presse notices as follows the official returns
of the customs which have just been published in
the Moniteur

" The produce of the customs during the first two
Months of the present year shows a notable diminution
on that of 1852. This a proof of the calm that has
existed since the commencement of the year in the
operations of commerce with foreign countries. This
Calm, however, is only relative. The markets and the
Manufactories were, at the end of December, 1851, with-
out raw material, and therefore considerable purchases
Were made abroad, thus augmenting considerably the
customs receipts for the first months of 1852. This was
not the case this year. Our manufactories produced
largely during the last three months last year, and after
this movement they fell into a dead season, and have
not yet completely rallied. The imports in January
and February were 17,048,168 f. in 1851, 20,543,066 f.
it 1852, and 18,583,722 f. in 1853, being an augmenta-
tion of 1,535,554 f. on 1851, but a diminution of
of 1,959,344 f. on 1852. There has been this year a
notable reduction in the arrivals of certain descriptions
of merchandise on account of the contrary winds which
retarded the course of vessels during a great part of
January. The following articles presented a marked
diminution—coffee produced in 1853, 2, 655, 747 f. ; in 1852
the receipts were 3,029,822 f. Raw cotton, 2,396,299 f.
in 1853, against 3,025,179 f. in 1852. Wool, 1,525,563 f.
in 1853, against 2,455,842 f. in 1852. Olive oil, 399,643 f.
in 1853; and in 1852, 777,824 f. Sugar from the
colonies gave, in 1853, 2,920,938 f., whereas in the cor-
responding period of 1852 the amount was 3,450,117 f.
On some articles, however, there has been a slight aug-
mentation, viz., in coal, linen, zinc, copper, corn, and
linseed. The greater part of the diminution falls on the
Month of January. During the month of February
there was a slight amelioration. In February last the
imports amounted to 9,638,173 f. In 1852 they were for
February, 10,255,717 f. ; and, in 1851, 8,837,023 f. The
exports give more favourable figures than the imports.
Affairs began to improve during the month of February.
There is an important improvement in millinery, ma-
chines, porcelain and crystal, and in silk, woollen, cot-
ton, and linen goods. The business in common wine
and brandy, as well as in corn and sea salt, has dimi-
nished. According to the state of the entrepots at the
end of February last, the principal markets were suffi-
ciently supplied, but their stocks did not generally ex-
ceed those of last year. Nevertheless the corn in the
entrepots amounted to 209,821 metrical quintals, against
83,291 in 1852, and 30,046 in 1851. The quantity of
raw cotton, on the contrary, was reduced to 44,964 me-
trical quintals, against 68,420 in 1852 and 154,519 in
1851. The movement of navigation inward has in-
creased during the first two months of the year, but that
outwards has decreased. 2,165 vessels, measuring to-
gether 265,051 tons, sailed in 1853, against 2,291 vessels
and 261,629 tons in 1852, and 2,515 vessels and 277,090
tons in 1851."
Gen. Narvaez has arrived in Paris, and taken
up his residence at No. 1, Place Vendome.
It is notified that the list of invitations for the
Ball, which is to be offered by the Legislative
Body to their Imperial Majesties on the 28th,
being. definitively closed by the commission, no
tew application can be attended to. It is also in-
timated that, as all the public functionaries are to
be in uniform, the other persons invited are re-
quested, if possible, to be in court-dress.
The Emperor has received from the Swiss Con-
federation a reply to the notification of his mar-
riage. The reply was presented to the Minister of
Foreign Affairs by Col. Barman, Chargé d'Affaires
of the Swiss Confederation at Paris.
The Emperor, on the report of the Minister of
Marine has created a regular corps of attendants
for the naval hospitals in different ports, and for
the infirmaries afloat. The object of the measure
as to dispense with the convicts who have hereto-
fore served in the hospitals and infirmaries in ports
14 which there are bagnes, and to regularise
the position and duties 02 free employes in other
Places. The decree of the Emperor fixes the num-
her, grad
, ea and pay of these new functionaries,
and leaves grades,
minister to settle certain matters of
detail with respect to their duties.
Abd-el-Kader has addressed the following letter
to Mgr. Dupuch, ex-Bishop of Algiers : •
"Honour, glory, and praise be to God alone ! To his
lordship, the most perfect model of virtuous men acting
M the fear of God, -Lie Sid, the excellent Bishop Du-
Poch, greeting. I long, beyond expression, to receive
ztLelligence of you. Preserve to me always the same
Place in your remembrance and in your heart. The
distance which separates us cannot affect our sentiments.
have requested our common friend, the Commandant
zoissonnet, to be so good as to hand over to you on his
arrival a certain sum of money which is at my disposal,
and which I destine through you to good works. Are
You not the Providence of the poor and of all who suffer ?
Distribute amongst them this small sum of money as
sour heart may prompt you. Once more adieu, from
your friend, always the same."

A considerable reaction took place on the Bourse
Yesterday both in the rentes and railway stock,
!Wing, it is assumed, to the announcement made
in the Moniteur, that oriental affairs were likely to
be settled amicably. The Bourse opened with an
improved spirit, the Three per Cents. advancing
75c., and the Four-and-a-Half, 85c. for the ac-
count. The Three per Cents. for cash improved
/5c., and the Four-and-a-Half, 65c. At this ad-
vance a good business was done. At the close of
the Bourse they were last called :—For the account,
Three per Cent., 79f. • the Four-and-a-Half, 102 f.
85c. ; for cash, the Three per Cents., 79f. 5c., and
the Four-and-a-Half, 102 f. 40c. In the leading
lines of railway stock there was also an improve-
raent of sf. and upwards, and a considerable busi-
ness transacted.