The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-01 00:00:00

FRANCE.

PARIS, Friday Evening.—The great event of to-
day is the failure of the house of Messrs. Le-
roy, de Chabrol, and Co., bankars in Paris, which
was announced this morning. This house was largely
engaged in speculations which have turned out
unprofitable, in consequence of the war ; and they were
not only the agents and bankers of those speculations, but
large shareholders. It was for some time past suspected
that they could not hold out against the storm. It is
said that their liabilities exceed 14 millions of francs.
Notwithstanding the above failure, the French funds
were steady to-day, in consequence of the improvement
in the English funds, of which news arrived by telegraph ;
and also in consequence of the publication of the Austrian
documents on the Eastern question, showing that at
as late a date as February last Austria coincided in
principle with England and France as to the aggressive
policy of Russia. On the other hand, however, the
French Government has received despatches from
M. de Bourqueney, its Minister at Vienna, which
gives an account of the steps which he took by
directions of the Cabinet to force Austria to de-
clare her intentions one way or the other in the
question. M. de Bourqueney states that Austria still
declines to come under any engagement, and adds
that she endeavours to escape from the difficulties of her
position by equivocation.
M. Guizot left Paris this morning for Brussels, on a
visit to the Princess Lieven. _

Vice-Admiral Parceval Deschenes has taken up his
command at Brest as Commander of the Baltic squad-
ron.

It was reported yesterday that Austria is more in-
clined to approach the policy of the Western Powers.
The Moniteur says :
" The public cannot be too much ou their guard against
the news which is invented by malevolence or speculation.
Thus it has been said that the Government was about to
send an army of observation on the Rhine ; that the Rus-
sian army would be at Constantinople before the French
and English armies could be placed in line ; that the
squapron of Admiral Bruat had been forced by a tempest
to return to Toulon ; and that English and French frigates
hod been sunk in the Black Sea by the Russian fleet. All
the 33 reports are devoid of foundation. The Government,
which comprehends the preoccupation of public opinion,
cannot better fulfil its wishes than by making known to
the public all the news, good and bad, which it may re-
ceive."

- - The Minister of the Marine has received the following
telegraphic despatches :-
6' CLIERBOURG, March 30.—The ship of war the Tilsit,
of 90 guns, has just been launched with complete suc-
cess, and amidst repeated cries of Vive l'Empereur "
" BREST, March 30.—Vice-Admiral Parseval-Des-
chenes has assumed the command of the third squadron,
amidst loud cries, enthusiastically repeated, of Vive
l'Empereur !'"
The Three per Cents. closed at 62f. 60c. for the end
of the month. After the regular hours of business they
were done at 62f. 80c. for the end of the month. Four-
and-a-Half per Cents., 88f. 90c. ; Orleans Railway
Shares, 1,040 f. ; Rouen. 800 f. ; Havre, 410 f. ; Great
Northern, 705 f. ; Strasbourg, 675 f. ; New Shares, 505 f. ;
Lyons to Paris, 767 f. 50c. ; Lyons to the Mediter-
ranean, 630 f. ; Western of France, 550 f. ; Bordeaux
to Cette, 490 f. ; Great Central of France, 385 f. ; Lyons
to Geneva, 415 f. ; Bank of Credit Mobilier, 455 f.

ITALY.
THE LATE DUKE OF PARMA.

We learn from Turin, March 28, that no further in-
formation has been obtained of the assassin of the Duke
of Parma. He is described as a little man with a black
beard, and said to have been instigated to the crime by
personal motives.