The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-10 00:00:00

TEE FRENCH EMPIRE.

There is only one of the Paris journals of yesterday
that has anything in its original columns at all worth
extracting. The Debats has two leading articles—one
on a recent scene in the House of Commons, the other
on the decree for the revision of the concessions of rail-
ways in Spain, the works of which have not been com-
menced. Our readers are acquainted with the charges
brought in the-Spanish Senate against the late Ministers
in connection with some of these concessions. In vain
were attempts made to stifle the discussion on this sub-
ject ; all the influence of high personages who were sup-
posed to have interposed their own interests in opposi-
tion to those of the public failed before the probity of
certain members of the Senate, who had just notions of
what was due to their own dignity and to Spanish
honour, and when the Ministry resorted to a suspension
of the sittings of the Senate, public opinion was pro-
nounced against them in so decided a manner that they
were compelled to give in their resignation.
The Minister of the Marine has received accounts of

the progress of the Banks of Martinique and Guadeloupe
up to the 31st March, from which it appears that the
operations had acquired considerable activity.
A letter from Algiers, of the 30th ult., says :—"The
Governor-General, accompanied by his staff and General
Pate, have just left to commence the intended expedition
in Little Kabylia. Several tribes in the mountains
between Bugia, and Delhys, having lately shown some
symptoms of hostility towards the French, the Govern-
ment decided on sending among them a force strong
enough to bring them back to their duty, whilst an
imposing reserve would be placed so as to keep in
awe the neighbouring tribes of the Djurjura. The
expeditionary column is composed of two battalions
of the Zouaves, from the division of Algiers ; and two
from the division of Oran, supported by the 11th
Light Infantry. Whilst these six battalions, hav-
ing with them some Spahis, African Chasseurs, and some
mountain guns, will traverse not far from the coast the
same country in which Marshal, then General, de Saint
Arnaud, operated in such a distinguished manner about
three years ago. General Camou, with some other
troops from the division of Constantino, will take up a
position on the mountain of Dra-el-Mizam, opposite the
Djurjura. He will concentrate himself within reach of
the Zouaouas, warlike and undisciplined tribes, in order
to keep them in check, and to reinforce the expedition-
ary corps if it should be necessary. Gen. Camou will
have under his orders two battalions of the 22d Light
Infantry, a battalion of Foot Chasseurs, the battalion of
Turks of Constantina, and two battalions of another
regiment, a force with which he may meet any eventu-
alities."

The Moniteur of yesterday contains a decree approving
of the payment of the sum of 5,000 f., being the arrears
of rent due by the Academy of Medicine.
There are also several decrees legalising the purchase
by the state of the shares of three canal companies.
The Moniteur also contains three impel ial decrees, the
first approving of the project of law respecting the ex-
change of correspondence between France and her Afri-
can colonies • the second, respecting the convention en-
tered into between France and Sardinia for regulating
the transmission of telegraphic messages; and the third,
concerning the reciprocal guarantee in France and the
Duchy of Nassau of the rights of authors and musical
composers.

There was considerable activity at the Bourse yester-
day in transactions in the public funds. Prices were
steadily maintained throughout the day, and closed with
a general advance. The final quotation of the Three per
Cents. for the account, however, showed a decline of 15c. ;
the Four-and-a-Half per Cents. advanced 40c. ; a rise of
30c. occurred in the Three per Cents. for cash, and of
10c. in the Four-and-a-Half per Cents. There was an
improvement of sf. in Bank Shares. Closing prices :
For money—Three per Cents., 82f. ; Four and a Half
per Cents., 104 f. 10c. For the end of the month—
Three per Cents., 81f. 90c. ; Four and a Half per Cents.,
104 f. 50c. ; Bank Stock, 2,700 f. The previous quota-
tion of shares of the Mortgage Bank remains without
change, viz., 885 f. ; a decline of 2f. occurred in that of
the Credit Mobilier, which closed at 948 f. The market
for Railway Securities has been steady throughout the
day ; and, at the conclusion of business the previous
quotations had been well maintained. An advance
again occurred in Paris and Strasbourg shares, to the
extent of 10f. ; and there was also an improvement,
though of a less amount, in most of the principal lines.
The final quotations were :—Northerns, 929 f. 75c. ;

Orleans, 1,i19f. ; Paris and Strasbourg, 945 f. ; Paris
and Lyons, 971 f. 50c. ; Paris and Rouen, 1,176 f. ;

Lyons to the Mediterranean, 880 f. ; Western of France
804 f. 50e.

SPAIN.

The Madrid Gazette of the 4th contains a circular from
the Minister of the Interior to the Governors of Pro-
vinces, informing them of the discovery of a secret so-
ciety in a village near Barcelona, and directing them
to employ all efforts to arrest any persons who may at-
tempt to form any such societies in their provinces. The
Queen had received a deputation from Catalonia, and
her Majesty stated to them that she would do all in her
power to promote the interests of that part of the king-
dom, so far as was consistent with what she owed to
.the rest. The Queen then presented the young Prin-
cess of the Asturias to them. General Prim, Count
de Reus, was about to leave for Mexico, on leave
of absence, for four months. M. Gonzalez Romero, ex-
Minister of Grace and Justice, has been nominated mem-
ber of the Ecclesiastical Council, in the room of the
Marquis de Mirafiores, resigned. The Minister of
Finance was drawing up a bill relative to salt and
tobacco, with the view of increasing the public receipts.
A letter says that thirteen of the persons composing the
secret society near Barcelona have been arrested, and
that the greater part of them are French or Italian.
Another letter of the 6th, received by express, says :
"The Gazette publishes a royal decree suppressing the
corregidors. This will cause a saving of a million to the
Treasury. Everybody applauds this measure."