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

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Neleus, with 52,918 ounces ; and the Ferozepoire, with
20,212 ounces ; tdpil of 151;798 omen,-
worth 607,2001. According to the Melbourne Argus, . f •
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 1,700,000/. from the United Stades. Al 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 derrved are not
mentioned, and at the best-they can merely be approxi._
mations. A statement is also, given of the exports, and,
as these are only estimated at 11,061,5431..(inc1uding •
8,644,5291. of gold at the colonial 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 at
250,000. The arrivals at Melbourne since January:
had been 18,102,- of whom •about 12,602 had
re-
mainel This number included nearly core thousand •
Chinese, who bad in' most •cases proceeded. to the
ines a few hours after Izinding. The reckless 'ex.
nt of land speculation had partially subsided, but
e deina:-J1 was still• ac ive, and the average prices rigen-
br suburb in allotments- are about 331. per acre
six miles of the town, and 181. 12s. Within eight
es. The erection of an exchange was about to be
annenced forthwith, but the plan fors ship canal and
..Jeks had been rejected by the Legislative Council
n conseclueuce of official names having 7been
iiroperly male use of in the prospectus. Notwith-
standing the heavy losses in the import Markets ithere
had been no serious failures, although a large number
of small dealers had become insolvent. The chief suf
ferers from the fall in goods will doubtless be Englts
firms who have shipped on their own account. The
further advance of.l per cent, by the banks in their rate
for bills on England, which is now 3 preiniuM,' 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 TARIPF.

(From the London Gazette of last Night.) •
BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL, Mit 29.--
The Right Honourable the' Lords of the Committee of
Privy Council for Trade and Plantations have received,
through the Secretary of Stiite -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 Charge 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, 1834, 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 it 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.
lI.—DECREE.
Napoleon. by the grace of God and the national will,
Emperor of the' French, to all whom it may contenl,
greeting :
On the report of our Minister, 13-vretary of State- to the
Department of Agriculture, Commerce, and I tnlie Works,
r.ferring to the Treaty of Navigation concluded on the
26th January, 1826, between France and England ; refer-
ring to the ordinance of the Bth February, 182 G, 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 •'.tll Peb., 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, NM,
(Signed) NaroLY4ox„,,

By the Emperor,
The Minister -Secretary of State to the
Departure of Agriculture and Com-
merce, and Public Works.
P. MAGNE.
BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL, MAY 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 mari-
time relations of France 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 Sag
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 been ex-
pectel fram it. The difference between the general 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 mo that I should fulfil these conditions by
proposing to yolf, Sire, to substitute for the tariff specifiedin.
the Decree of the sth of March, 1852, a duty according
to weight, calculated at the rate of 10 per cent. on
the Vo.l tie of Australian wools in French
ipoprle .
ts. Thus
classified, the Tariff will be of easy n
percep-
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 suer-
chandise, would disappear.
It appears to me, moreover, that the benefit of the mete
sure should be extended to Cape 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,
(Signed) P. MAGNI,
Minister Secretary of State to the Department
of Agriculture, -Commerce, 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, greet.

iug :
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, -
referring 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 .og..
Undressed
Cold dressed—entire fleeces
200.
Hot dressed—entire fleeces
' waste 4
Otherwise' imported, the present duties.
Art. 2.—Onr Ministers, Secretaries of State too
___theopz-
Partment of Agriculture, Commerce, and Pubp Iv.
rgas
and to the Department of Finances, are charged,
concerns concerns their respective departments, with
of the present decree. ::<. . 'eXoecutation
Done at the Palace of the Tuileries, 314 IpAl-e8051,40;.
By the Emperor.
The Minister. Secretary of State t;thme_ . , . .
Department of Agriculture, U
memo And Public Works. • •
I'. 31.1.GNE.
- . . . ..