The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-19 00:00:00

THE FRENCH EMPIRE.

The Debats has an angry article against Rome
for an act which it regards as a daring interference
with the rights of the Galilean clergy. The offence
is for having condemned to the Index a manual of
canonical law hitherto in use in the French semi-
naires, composed by the Abbe Legueux, and re-
garded by all the French clergy of unquestionable
orthodoxy. Another Abbe Delacouture has taken
up the pen to prove that the decrees of the Con-
gregation of the Index have no force in France
whatever, nor, indeed, in other Catholic countries.
Having given a general view of the Abbe Dela-
couture's book, the _Mats makes the following
observations :

"This leads us naturally to examine the doctrines of
the party which has for the last few years made itself
the organ and defender of Ultramontane principles the
most exaggerated. This party thinks that it has found
in the late political events of which our country has
been the theatre an opportunity for throwing off the
mask, and for letting out its whole views. In its
eyes there exists but one veritable authority in the
world, that of the Pope. All questions, not only
religious, but moral and political—for what political
question does not contain a moral one ?—are refer-
able to one sole tribunal, sovereign and infallible,
that of the Pope. The Pope has the right of free-
ing subject from their oath of fidelity ; subjects have
the right of taking arms against their Prince whenever
he rebels against the decisions of the Holy See.. It is
again the social and political theory of the middle age ;
and the middle age is for this party the age of peace and
happiness par excellence, the ideal towards which it turns
its eyes with regret, and if it be necessary for its purpose
to falsify history a hundred times over it will do it. In
literature the same party condemns the ancient classics,
and would substitute for the Latin of Virgil and Cicero
the barbarous Latin of the monks of the twelfth century,
and of ages still more barbarous. In philosophy it ana-
themises reason itself under the name of free inquiry,
declaring reason to be powerful only for evil, and inca-
pable of giving birth to anything but scepticism, heresy,
impiety, and in fine, Socialism and Communism, with
all their follies. But what characterises the party above
all is its hatred for liberty, which it curses everywhere.
After having for a length of time asked for liberty as en-
joyed in Belgium, it invites the Belgians to throw off
those constitutional forms which have preserved that
country from the storms of 1848. Little do these men
foresee the effect likely to be produced by their identify-
ing Catholicism with absolute monarchy, and making the
one depend upon the other, and showing the people that
the Catholic religion is the irreconcilable enemy of their
rights. In Protestant countries this party cries out
against the slightest obstacle opposed to its propagand-
ism. In Catholic countries it finds it to be right and
good that those who attempt Protestant propagandism
should die in prison. When you point out these con-
tradictions, the answer is simple, that it suits its lan-
guage to times and circumstances. When it cries out
for liberty in France, it was because it wants a weapon
for its projects, which, when used, it throws away."
Such is the Dads picture of the present conduct
of the Ultramane party in France.
The Constitutionnel contains the following article
on the subject of railway enterprise :
"It is interesting to compare the progress and move-
ment of railways in France and England during the year
which has just elapsed. The comparison has more than
a mere statistical interest, for railways at present play a
great part in affairs of business. The network of rail-
ways open in France is about 3,708 kilometres in length,
whilst those in England are 11,126 kilometres ; so that
we have as yet only one-third of the length of railway
communication to be found in England, though we have
a territory nearly double and a population a third more.
Such a disproportion evidently cannot be maintained,
and must be attributed to accidental causes. We began
by losing a considerable time in discussing the system to
be followed, and then came the revolution of February
to paralyse the spirit of enterprise and to destroy credit.
Four years were thus absolutely thrown away. Fortu-
nately everything has changed since the 2d of December.
Nothing has been neglected to repair as much as pos-
sible the mischief done. Nearly 3,000 kilometres have
been added in 1852 to the lines already conceded. The
works are being urged on with extraordinary activity,
and we are sure to see, in the space of three or four
years, our railways attain the length of 7,000 or
8.000 kilometres. What, above all, ought to encourage
us is the returns, becoming every month more and more
favourable, of our railways. The receipts have in-
creased from 107 millions in 1851 to 132 millions in 1852
or about 25 per cent. No doubt that augmentation
arises in part from the extension of our railways, which
have gained 400 kilometres during 1852. Buti it is
caused still more by the revival of commercial affairs and
the progress which railway travelling is every day mak-
ing in the habits of the people. Thus the receipt per
kilometre in France, which was 32,345 fr. in 1851, rose
to 35,673 fr. in 1852, being an increase of 3,328 fr. per
kilometre. If we look to England, the results will be
found quite the contrary. The kilometrical receipts, far
from increasing, have dimished there each year. It was
3,3051. the mile in 1836, 2,2831. in 1851, and only
2,238/. in 1852. We have already shown that this
arises partly from new lines being authorised in opposi-
tion to those already existing, and partly because after
the best lines had been constructed, the less productive
ones are now being made. In France, we are as yet
only at what may be called the good lines. The opening
of the new sections, in place of diminishing the produce,
tends to increase it, and consequently the returns per
kilometre are regularly advancing amongst us, whilst
they are declining amongst our neighbours. These con-
siderations justify the favour which our railways enjoy.
If they have doubled within the last year, that rise is
only the consequence of a sound appreciation of the re-
venue of those undertakings. There is no doubt that
they will resume their ascensional movement, as soon as
the momentary embarrassments which have appeared at
the Bourse shall have disappeared."
- -

Upon the subject of the alleged insults offered to
the Government by a portion of the English press,
the Pays quotes the article in the Moniteur, and
then observes :
"We have evidently nothing to add to the language,
full of dignity and moderation in which the Moniteur
points out the unqualifiable insults offered to Franp in
the Government freely chosen by herself, and which
insolently violate the most elementary sentiment
of propriety, with respect to a friendly nation.
All men of good faith will see that the Government has
the conscience of having replaced society in its essential
conditions of well-being, dignity, and progressive deve-
lopment, and that strong in the great things which it
has accomplished and will still effect, it does not hesitate
to render public opinion the judge of the calumnies by
which the hatred of the vanquished parties misrepresents
in foreign countries its acts, its intentions, and the ser-
vice which it has rendered, and the manifestation of that
national sovereignty, the majesty of which no one is per-
, mitted to insult."

With regard to the financial position of France, :
the Constitutionnel remarks that the increase in
the indirect taxes has even exceeded the estimate
made by the Minister of Finance a month ago. He
calculated the increase at 60,000,000 f., whilst it
really is 66,000,000 f. Thus the deficit, which was
primitively estimated at 101,000,000 f., and which,
by the last estimate, was fixed at 40,000,000 f., will
be reduced to 34,000,000 f. only. On the whole,
therefore, the Government ought to be well satisfied
with the present state of things. •
The session of the Imperial Council of Public
Instruction has been opened the Minister of Public
Instruction bell'. g in the chair. The minister laid
before the council six important
April la.
measuresst founded
on the decree of 10th of
from
givirehnenoGtricaendChamberlain
that
the IstofofthneextEp
mmolitheror has
gen-
tlemen admitted to the receptions at the Tuil
Tuileries
must appear in uniform or in full dress.
The Moniteur publishes a long account of the
reception given to Abd-
el-Kader, at Messina, on
his way to Broussa. The King of the Two Sikes
had ordered the authorities to do everything
possible to render his visit agreeable to him, and
the ex-Emir, ascribing these attentions to the in-
fluence of the Emperor Napoleon 111., was profuse
in his expressions of gratitude, frequently exclaim-
ing that he and his sons, who were with himmp, w
e
belonged, and would ever belong, to the Emperor.
Intelligence has been received from Algiers to
the 10,th. Everything was quiet in the colony. An
order from the Governor-General had directed the
generals in command of divisions to avail them-
selves of the present repose to make up their full
complement of mules for their baggage-trains. A.
note in the Moniteur Algerien states that the Min-
ister of Agriculture and Commerce having had
specimens of Algerian cochineal examined bycompe-
tent persons in France, had received • a report de-
claring that they were equal in quality to the best
kinds of the Canaries. The specimens examined
were of 1850.
The Patric states that the Sultan has caused to
be announced officially to the Emperor Napoleon
111., that the blockade of the northern coast of
Albania by a Turkish squadron, in consequence of

the state of Montenegro, will be in force from
the moment of the arrival of the squadron.
The Emperor, it is stated, has resolved to have
stag hunts twice a week in the forest of Saint Ger-
main, on account of its proximity to Paris. For
that purpose two packs of hounds will be sent to
Saint Germain, one called the " pack of the Em-
peror," the other bearing the name of the town.
One of the two weekly meetings will always come
off on Thursday, under the direction of the first
huntsman, and the officers of his Majesty's house-
hold ; any one will be allowed to attend it on foot,
on horseback, or in a carriage. The second meet-
ing, which will be attended by the Emperor, will
not be on a fixed day, and only those gentlemen
who possess the buttons of the household of his
Majesty will be admitted. It is calculated that
each hunt will only occupy about an hour, so that
his Majesty need not absent himself from his se-
rious occupations for more than three hours at a
time. There are already about thirty stags in the
forest of Saint Germain, and it is said that forty
more are to be sent to it.

Grand preparations are making in the Palace of
the Luxembourg for the fete to be given by the
members of the Senate to the Emperor, and to
which, it is said, 4,000 persons have been invited.
It will take place in a magnificent saloon, 56 yards
long and 10i wide, which has been formed by the
junction of the old hall of the Senat Conservateur,
which was constructed in 1804, with the Salle des
Conferences and the old Salle du Trone. The sup-
per will be given in the long gallery, which con-
tains the paintings of living artists, and large buf-
fets will be placed in the gallery on the ground
floor. There has not been time to terminate defi-
nitively the ornamentation of the roof of the grand
gallery ; but by means of paintings, &c., the new
parts will be made to harmonise with the old. The
imperial throne of 1804, which has been preserved
since that period, and which is ornamented with
statues by Chaudel, the sculptor, has been
restored, and will occupy an estrade in the grand
gallery.
The funeral service for the late Marquis d'Haut-
poul, general of artillery, on the retired list, and
brother of General d'Hautpoul, Grand Referendary
of the Senate, took place on Tuesday at the church of
Saint Philippe du Roule. A great - number of ge-
neral officers and several of the leading members
of the Legitimist party were present. The deceased,
who was born in 1780, was a distinguished officer
of the Empire, and served in all the campaigns. At
Moscow he was created a Baron of the Empire by
Napoleon. At the time of the dethronement of the
Emperor, he was a lieutenant-colonel. Under Louis
XVIII., he was raised to the grade of major-gene-
ral, and remained one of the most faithful and de-
voted partisans of the Restoration to the last mo-
ments of the reign of Charles X. After the revo-
lution of 1830, he retired from the army. In 1833,
he was called to Prague to replace the Baron de
Damas as tutor of the Duke de Bordeaux, but, in
consequence of some differences with the Duke de
Blacas, he soon relinquished that post, and subse-
quently lived in retirement.
The sums received at the Savings' Bank of Paris
during the past week amounted to 923,374 francs,
from 7,869 depositors, of whom 1,247 were new,
and the sums paid out to 528,993 francs. The sums
paid into the Caisse de Retraites for the aged,
amounted to 362,681 francs from 989 accounts,
of which 659 are new.

The delay of a year for the sale of the property
of the Orleans family expires in four days. The
whole of that property is now alienated. The last
sale has just taken place—that of the lands of Car-
teil, situate in the department of the Loire-Infe-
rieure. Louis Phillipe had purchased the property
from the Marquis de Coislin for 1,300,0001. The
price it has just fetched is 800,000 f.
The great and really important question of the
Emperor's marriage is likely to be settled in a few
days, and that in a manner little contemplated by
the Northern Powers. For some time pas Louis
Napoleon has in vain sought to find a lady of
the rank of Princess, combining all the qualities
desirable in a person to be raised to the pre-
eminent position of Empress of the French. The
qualities required are—suitable rank, suitable
age, the Catholic religion, and willingness to
accept Louis Napoleon as lord and master. The
number of Princesses combining the first three of
those qualities are very rare—so rare, in fact, that
in the whole of Europe they may be limited to
half a dozen. But it is the last requirement which
has been the principal obstacle to Louis Napoleon's
wishes ; for as the marriage of Princesses is a
matter not of choice, but of State policy, Sove-
reigns and Governments are the " mamas" who
have to be consulted, and whose consent is re-
quired. He has laid aside all idea of hunting after
princesses, and has determined to raise to the
Imperial throne a young lady whose principal
qualifications for that high rank are her beauty
and the admiration with which she has inspired his
Majesty in the course of a personal acquaintance
of some months' standing. The fortunate lady is
Mdlle. de Montijo. She is the daughter of a grandee
of Spain, the late Duke of Penamando, and is her-
self, in her own right, Countess of Teba. Her
mother, the present Duchess of Penamando (more
generally known simply as Madame de Montijo), is
of Irish origin. Her name was Fitzpatrick, and
her father was for many years British consul at
Malaga, and she married a young Spaniard to
whom she was much attached. It appears that
when Miss Fitzpatrick's !marriage took place, her
husband was only a younger son, with scarcely any
fortune. Afterwards, the eldest members of his
family having died off, he succeeden to the rank of
grandeo of Spain, and to the titles of Count de
Montijo, Duke de Teba, and Duke de Penamando.
The eldest sister of Mdlle. de Moiitijo is the pre-
sent Duchess of Alba and Berwick, who is the de-
scendant of the celebrated Duke of Berwick, the
natural son of James 11. of England. The young
lady herself is about 25 years of age. She is ex-
ceedingly beautiful, but her beauty partakes mere
of the character of her mother's than of her father's
country. Her complexion is fair, and her hair a
light auqurn, but her eyes are dark. She is re-
markably handsome, and graceful in her figure,
but not above the middle height. Her manners
are lively and agreeable, and she is said by compe-
tent parties to have a particularly fascinating
smile.
The Emperor drove to St. Cloud. He was not
any military escort.
attTehneded b
expectationsy entertained by the speculators
at the Bourse, that confidence was completely re-
stored was not realised. On the contrary, a more
rapid fall in the price of public securities in general
was experienced during the last half-hour of busi-
ness. The Three per Cents., which opened at
.80f. 30c., to 79f. 70c., and closed at 79f. 75c. for
the end of the month ; the Four-and-a-Half per
Cents. closed at 105 f. 10c. ; Orleans Railway
Shares, I,ooof. ; Rouen, 985 f. ; Havre, 500 f ;
Great Norrthern, 850 f. ; Basle, 345 f. Paris and
Strasburg, 765 f. ; Paris and Lyons, 868 f. 75c. ;
Lyons to the Mediterranean, 720 f. ; Western of
France, 665 f. ; Caen and Cherbourg, 610 f. ; Bor-
deaux and Cette, 561 f. 25c. ; Dijon and Besangon,
520 f. ; Shares of the Bank of Credit Mobilier
(issued at 500 f.), 670 f.