The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-31 00:00:00

Neleus, with 52,913 ounces ; and the Ferozepore, with
20,212 ounces; making a total of 151,798 ounces,
worth 607,200/. According to the Melbourne. Argue,
the value of the imports into the colony of Victoria,
in 1853 was 15,842,6371., of which about 13,300,0001.
was from Great Britain and British colonies, and
about 1,700,0001. from the United States. ' ,As,. the
population last year was estimated at 200,000, this
would give a consumption of about 801. per head; but
the sources whence the calculations are derived are not
mentioned, and at the best they can merely be approil.
mations. A statement is, also given of the exports, and,
as these are only estimated .at 11,061,5431. (including
8,644,5291. of gold at the colopial valuation of 775. 6d.
per oz.), it follows either that the colony must have re-
ceived a large proportion of its imports on credit or that
they have been reckoned at prices greatly too high.
At present the population of Victoria is estimated it
250,000. The arrivals at Melbourne since January
had been 18,102, of whom about -12,602 had re-
mained. This number included nearly one Alio,nitnd
Chinese, who had in most cases proceeded 4pt:frjui.
mines a few hours after landing. The reckless ex-
tent of land speculation had partially subsided, but
the demand was „still active, and the average prices men-
tioned for suburban allotments are about 331. per acre
within six miles of the town, and 181. 12s. within eight
miles. • The erection of an exchange was about to be
commenced forthwith, but the plan for a ship canal and
docks had been rejected by the Legislative Council
in consequence of official names having been im-
properly male use of in the prospectus. Notwith-
standing the heavy losses tin the import markets there
had been no serious failurps, although a large number-
of small dealers had become insolvent. The chief suf-
ferers from the fall in goods will doubtless be English
firms who have shipped on their own account. The
further advance of 1 per cent. by the banks in their rate
for bills on England, which is now 3 premium, had
brought it very nearly to the point at which sovereigns
would be the most profitable means of remittance, and
any fresh rise would immediately lead to some amounts
being transmitted.

ALTERATIONS OF THE FRENCH TAMIIF•

r

(From the London Gazette of last Night.
BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL, MAT 29.
The Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of
Privy Council for Trado atul Plantations have received,
through the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy
of a French Imperial Decree, fixing the duties to be levied
on the importation of every kind of grease (that of fish
excepted), at the same rates as those chargeable upon raw
tallow by the Imperial Decree of the sth March, 1852.
BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL, MAT 29.
The Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of
Privy Council for Trade and Plantations have received,
through the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy
of a despatch from her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at
Paris, inclosing a French Imperial Decree, with the ac-
companying Ministerial Report (translations of which are
subjoined), abrogating certain restrictions imposed by the
French Ordinance of the Bth February, 1826, on the im-
portation into France, in British vessels, of the produce of
Asia, Africa, and America.
I.—REPORT TO THE EMPEROR.
Paris, May 10, 1854.
SIRE,—The Treaty of Navigation concluded between
France and England on the 26th January, 1826, has for
its basis an entire reciprocity. In order to insure the exe-
cution of the Treaty, an Ordinance issued on the Bth Feb-
ruary of the same year, prohibited, in an absolute manner,
the importation for consumption in France of merchandise
the produce of Asia, Africa, and America, laden in Eng-
lish entrepots.
The same ordinance prohibited the importation, under
the British Flag, of European produce, except from ports
of the United Kingdom, or of her possessions in Europe.
These restrictive measures were only introduced into
our Custom-house system in return for corresponding mea-
sures which in virtue of the Navigation Act of 1666 figured
in the maritime code of England.
These restrictions have been ever since their existence
the subject of strong remonstrances on the part of com-
merce and industry.
On several occasions the Government has departed from
the rigour of the provisions of the Ordinance of 1826 ; for
instance, an Ordinance of the Bth July, 1831, removed the
prohibition to the importation from England of raw silks,
foulards, India cashmeres, rum, and tafia.
Quite recently, and pursuant on the enquiry as to the
situation of the cotton-spinning industry, your Majesty,
earnestly desirous of affording greater facilities to that in-
dustry, made a decree, on the 30th of December last,
abolishing, in the case of that textile material, the restric-
tions prescribed in the ordinance of 1826. At the same
time your Majesty ordered me to examine if it would not
be desirable entirely to abrogate that prohibition.
The examination to which I have devoted myself, in
concert with the departments of Foreign Affairs and
Finance, has convinced me, sire, that no interest demands
the further maintenance of prohibitions which have lost
all character of utility.
In consequence I have the honour to propose to your
Majesty to approve the subjoined decree, the object of
which is to replace our maritime and commercial relations
with England on the footing of common right.
Commerce and industry will applaud, Sire, a measure
which bears witness once more to the interest which your
Majesty takes in all which can contribute to the prosperity
of the country.

I am, &C.,
(Signed) P. MAGNE.
Minister Secretary of State to the
Department of Agriculture, Com-
merce, and Public Works.
IL—DECREE.
Napoleon, by the grace of God and the national will,
Emperor of the French, to all whom it may concern,
greeting :
On the report of our Minister, Secretary of State to the
Department of Agriculture, Commerce, and Public Works,
referring to the Treaty of Navigation concluded on the
26th January, 1826, between France and England; refer-
ring to the ordinance of the Bth February, 1826, respect-
ing the execution of the aforesaid Treaty, we have decreed
and decree as follows :
Art. 1. The dispositions contained in the third article of
the Ordnance of the Bth Feb., 1826, are hereby repealed.
Art. 2. Our Minsters, Secretaries of State to the Depart-
ment of Agriculture, Commerce, and Public Works, and
to the Department of Finance, are charged, so far as con-
cerns their respective departments, with the execution of
the present decree.
Done at the Palace of the Tuileries, the 10th May, 1854.
(Signed) NAPOLEON.

By the Emperor,
Tho Minister Secretary of State to the
Departure of Agriculture and Com-
merce, and Public Works.
P. MAGNE. •
BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL, MAT 29.
The Right Hon. the Lords of the Committee of Privy
Council for Trade and Plantation have received, through
the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy of a de-
spatch from her Majesty's Charge d'Affaires at Paris, in-
closing a French Imperial Decree, with the accompanying
Ministerial report (translations of which are subjoined),
modifying the duties hitherto levied upon raw wool im-
ported into France, in French bottoms, from the Cape of
Good Hope, and from countries situated beyond that Cape
and beyond Cape Horn.
I.—REPORT TO THE EMPEROR.
Paris, 12th May, 1854.
SIRE.—The development of the commercial and marl-

time relations of Franco with the countries situated beyond
Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope, especially with
Australia, has always been the object of you Majesty's
solicitude. With this view a Decree, issued on the sth
March, 1852, reduced from 20 to 15 per cent. the duty
levied upon raw wools imported under the French flag from
the countries situated in the zone above indicated:
But this measure, as I have reported to your Majesty, has
has not produced all the effects that might have ben ex
pected from it. The difference between the generale duty
on wools and the special duty established on Australian
wools had not sufficed to induce shipments, which are
always very expensive, and the results of which are long in
developing themselves. On the other hand the system of
ad valorem duties was not well suited to transactions with
Australia.
Your Majesty had ordered me ,to devise a combination
which, without prejudicing the interests of our agriculture,
might be more adapted to operations which it is so import-
ant to encourage.
It appears to me that I should fulfil these conditions by
proposing to you, Sire, to substitute for the tariff specified in
the Decree of the sth of March, 1852, a duty according
to weight, calculated at the rate of 10 per cent. on
the value of Australian wools in French ports. Thus
classified, the Tariff will be of easy and simple parcel).
tion, while the difficulties which arise between the Custom-
house and the trade on the subject of the correctness of the
values declared at the period of importation of the mer-
chandise, would disappear.
It appears to me, moreover, that the benefit of the mea-
sure should be extended to Capo Town, which is the seat
of a considerable trade in wool.
Such, Sire, is the object of the decree which I have the
honour of submitting for the approbation of your Majesty.
I am, &c.,
(Signed)
Minister Secretary of State to the Department
of Agriculture, Commerce, and arks*
lI.—DECREE.
Napoleori, by the grace of_ God and the national will,

Emperor of.thO French, to all whom it may concernEgrq*-
ing :
On the report of our Minister, Secretary of State to the

Department of Agriculture, Commerce, and Public Works,
referring to article 34 of the law of 17th December, 1814,
re:erring to our decree of sth March, 1852, we have de-
creed and decree as follows :
Art. I.—The import tariff for raw wool is modified as
follows :
Wool in masses, imported direct by French vessels from
countries situated beyond Cape Horn and the Cape of
Good Hope including Cape Town— The Kilog.
Undressed
Cold dressed—entire fleeces
waste 250.
550
Hot dressed—entire fleeces
, 300.
waste ,
Otherwise"imported, the present duties.
the Dek
ha D"
Art. 2.—Our Ministers, Secretaries of State
partment of Agriculture,
ed, so far as
and to the Department of Commerq, and P
Finances, are 0
hre.
h execution
Wors:
concerns their respective departments,wit 0
of the present decree.
NAPOLEON.
By the Emperor.
Done at the Palace of the Tuileries, May
10, 1854.
The Minister Secretary of State to tho
Department of Agriculture, C
merce and Public Works.
MAGNE.