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

THE FRENCH EMPIRE•

There is nothing of political interest hi the origi-
nal columns of the Paris journals of yesterday, and
on other subjects we do not find anything of suffi-
cient importance for extract. The Constitationnel
has more than three columns in the form of a lead-
ing article as an appeal to public benevolence in
favour of the religious and charitable establishment
of the Petites Soeurs, to which the Empress has
just presented a sum of 10,000 f., in consequence of
the low state of its funds. The Constitutionnel
gives long details of the self-abnegation of the
worthy females who devote themselves to the task
of providing food, raiment, and shelter to aged
persons, for whom they undertake all the domestic
•ares required for their comfort.
The _Revue des Beaux Arts relates as follows the
circumstances which led to the postponement of the
solemn inauguration of the tomb of the Emperor,
which had been fixed for to-day :
" The company charged with the service of inhuma-
tions in Paris, better known under the title of Adminis-
tration des Ponspes Fun)bres, had been requested to draw
up an estimate of the expense, which might be entailed
by this grand ceremony, for the hangings and other
appendages. The estimate first given, in by the com-
pany amounted to 123,000 francs, but it was finally re-
duced to 100,000 francs. The question of money being
thus settled, it remained only to decide on the pro-
gramme. A council was held for that purpose at the
Tuileries, at which the Emperor presided. All the minis-
ters were present as well as the superior staff of the
Invandes, Prince Marshal Jerome, Honorary Governor,
General Ornano, Governor, and General Sauboul, Com-
mandant of the Hotel. Some slight details were under
discussion, when General Sauboul, as if enlightened by a
sudden inspiration, and for the purpose of putting every
one in accord, observed that Napoleon I. having, as well
as his posterity, entered into the series of French sove-
reigns, it would be as conformable to national customs
as to the idea of the Emperor himself, to divide, after
the example of what had been already practised for
other monarchs since the time of St. Louis, the mortal
re

mains—to place the body in the triumphal mausoleum
under the dome of the Invalides, and the heart at St.
Denis. Prince Jerome then rose, and in a most ener-
getic voice, declared that never while he lived would he
lend himself to the mutilation of the remains of his
glorious brother. The Emperor, after reflecting for a
moment, broke up the sitting, and postponed the inau-
guration to the month of May, 1854, without mentioning
where it would take place."
A funeral service in honour of the Emperor Na-
poleon I. was celebrated yesterday in the chapel of
the Tuileries. The Emperor was present. In the
chapel of the Hotel des Invalides, too, a funeral
service has been held.

yv
The Spanish Ambassador, Marquis of Valdega-
mas, died on Tuesday night.
Several local bills were voted by the Corps Le-
gislatif in yesterday's sitting. The report of the
committee charged to inquire into the plans for the
carrying out of the punishment of forced labour,
and the reports of committees on the civil pensions
and the composition of the jury, were laid upon
the table. The report on the budget will-be ready
on Friday. The Assembly will meet on Saturday
for the examination of the Lyons-Geneva Railway
Bill. _

It is said that the Council of State has just had a
bill sent before it to attribute to the Prefect of
Police of Paris the same powers over the ban-
lieue as he possesses in Paris. The success of the
plan of a similar nature now in force at Lyons has
led to the adoption of this course.
The Moniteur publishes a decree convoking:, the
Council-General of the Aube for the 12th to deli-
berate on a project tending to exonerate the de-
partment from the effects of the guarantee stipulated
in favour of the holders of shares in the Troyes to
Montereau Railway, and on other urgent affairs to
be submitted to it by the Prefect.
The activity previously noticed at the Bourse
has been again continued, all descriptions of public
securities having met with a good demand, and
closing generally at increased quotations. In the
Three per Cents. for the account, a rise of 35c. oc-
curred, with an advance of 20c. in the same de-
scription of stock for cash. The closing price of the
Four-and-a-Half per Cents. for money showed no
change from the previous day's quotation, but there
was an improvement of sc. for the end of the
month. A considerable decline occurred in Bank
of Franco shares, which fell 20f. in the course of
the day. The concluding quotations were :—For
cash—Three per Cents., 81f. 30c. ; Four-and-a-
Half per Cents., 103 f. 50c. For the account—
Three per Cents., 81f. 70c. ; Four-and-a-Half per
Cents., 103 f. 90c. ; Bank Stock, 2,680 f. The pre-
vious day's quotation of shares on the Mortgage
Bank was not maintained ; they closed at 886 f.,
being a decline of 4f. In Credit Mobilier shares
there was an improvement of 6f., the final quota-
tion being 943 f. 50c. In the railway share market
there has been much activity, and Tuesday's prices
have been well supported in nearly all cases ; a rise
of 16f. took place in Orleans shares ; Rouen and.
Havre shares advanced 7f., and Paris and Stras-
bourgs, sf. In Western of France and Lyons to
the Mediterranean shares a decline occurred of 2f.
Concluding prices :—Northerns, 922 f. ' • Orleans,
'
1,121 f. ; Paris and Strasbourg, 915 f. • Paris and
Lyons, 971 f.; Paris and Rouen, 1,180 f.; Lyons to
the Mediterranean, 855 f. • Western of France, 810 f.
50c.; Rouen and favre, ' 557 f.