The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-15 00:00:00

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[PRICE SD.

THE FRENCH EMPIRE.

The Emperor opened the session of the Legisla-
tive Corps yesterday, in a speech pronounced at
the palace of the Tuileries in presence of the as-
sembled Senate, Legislative Corps, and Council of
State. The ceremony took place at one o'clock in
the Salle des Marechaux. All the senators, coun-
cillors, and deputies were in their gala dresses, and
the attendance was exceedingly numerous.
The following is the speech
"Senators and Deputies,—A year since I calla you
together in this place to inaugurate the Constitution,
promulgated in virtue of the powers which the people
had conferred on me. Since that period tranquillity
has not been disturbed ; and the law, in resuming its
empire, has allowed the return to their homes of the
majority of the men who were made the subject of
necessary severity. The riches of the nation have reached
to such a point, that the portion of it which is vested
in moveable property, the value of which can be
estimated, has been augmented about two milliards.
The activity of labour has been developed in every
branch of industry. • The same progress is being realised
in Africa, where our army has just distinguished itself
by heroic successes. The form of the government has
been legally changed, and without any shock, by the
free suffrage of the people. Great works have been un-
dertaken without the creation of any new tax, and with-
out a loan. Peace has been maintained without weak-
ness. All the Powers have recognised the new Govern-
ment. France has now institutions which may defend
themselves, and the stability of which do not depend on
the life of a man.
"These results have not cost any great efforts, be-
danie they were in the minds and for the interest 'of all.
To those who wouldileny their importance, I would re-
ply that scarcely fourteen months ago France was de-
livered up to the hazards of anarchy. To those who
may regret that a wider field has not been given to
liberty, I would reply that liberty has never aided in
founding a durable political edifice ; it is merely the
crowning-point of the edifice when consolidated by
time. Let us, besides, not forget that if the immense
majority of the country has confidence in the present
and faith in the future, there still remain incorrigible
individuals, who, forgetful of their own experience, of
their past terrors, and of their disappointments, obsti-
nately persist in paying no attention to the national
will, deny impudently the reality of facts, and in the
midst of a sea which becomes every day more and
more tranquil, call for tempests in which they would be
the first to be swallowed up. These occult proceedings
of the different parties serve no purpose but to show
their weakness; and the Government, instead of being
disturbed at them, only thinks of governing France and
tranquillising Europe. For this twofold object it is
firmly determined to diminish the expenses and the ar-
maments of the country, to devote to useful purposes all
its resources, and to keep up with good faith the inter-
national relations, in order to prove to the most incredu-
lous that when France expresses her formal intention to
remain at peace, she may be believed, for she is strong
enough not to deceive any one.
" You will see, gentlemen, by the budget which will
be presented to you, that our financial position has never
been better for the last 20 years, and that the public
revenue has increased beyond all prevision. Neverthe-
less, the effective of the army, already lessened by
30,000 men in the course of the last year, is about to be
immediately reduced by 20,000 more

"The Majority of the measures which will be pre-
sented te you will not go beyond the circle of necessary
exigencies, and that is the most favourable indication of
our situation. People are happy when Governments do
not find it necessary to resort to extraordinary mea-
sures.

I " Let us therefore thank Providence for the visible
protection which it has accorded to our efforts ; let us
persevere in this course of firmness and moderation,
which reassures without irritating, which leads to good
without violence, and so prevents all reaction. Let us
always reckon on God and on ourselves, as well as on the
mutual support which we owe to ourselves ; and let us
be proud to see in so short a arse this great country
pacified, prosperous at home, and honoured abroad."

At the conclusion of the speech loud applause
burst out from all sides. The names of the various
members of the Senate, Council of State, and of
the Legislative Body were called over, and each
took the oath of fidelity and obedience to the Em-

peror and to the Constitution. The proceedings
then terminated, and the constituted bodies with-
drew.

The Senate and the Legislative Body were to
meet to-day at twelve o'clock.
For some days past it has been rumoured that
the Western and North-Western group,of French
railways (the Rouen, Havre,- Cherbourg, &c., lines)
had accomplished the long-spoken-of fusion, but
there is reason to believe that there is no ground
for the report. No report has yet been given in on
the subject, and the whole affair is pretty nearly
where it was a fortnight ago.
Lord Cowley left Paris on Sunday for London.
Lord Brougham was to leave to-day.
The Emperor and Empress heard mass on Sun-
day morning in the chapel of the Tuileries, which
was also attended by the great officers of the Crown,
the aides-de-camp, and all the servants of the
palace. In the afternoon their Majesties took an

airing in a carriage.
A petition is now being signed at Rheims, pray-
ing the Emperor to hare himself crowned in that
city. The petition says :
"Rheims being the city of coronations, invested by
the Pontifical bulls with the prerogative of anointing and
crowning the Sovereigns of France, the coronation of
your Majesty will be still more august in the Christian
world if it takes place in our cathedral, where so many
kings have come to receive that unction which makes
them the elder sons of the Church. Emperor, your
Majesty, who entitle yourself by the grace of God and
the national will, has a right to proceed as the monarchs
of divine right did before you ; heir and restorer of the
fourth dynasty, the Crown awaits you on the sane() altar
, from whence Hugues Capet received it."

The Moniteur du Loiret contradicts a statement
of the Presse that an opposition had arisen in the
municipal council of Orleans to the address to the
Emperor, and says that the address was sent to
Paris, with individual signatures attached to it, and
was never submitted to the municipal body.
The Prefect of the Yonne has issued a decree for

the reconstitution of the Agronomical Society of
Foucy, which had been dissolved in January last
by him, in consequence of several of its members
introducing political subjects into-their discussions,
and because only 14 out of the 27 members be-
longed to the canton. None but landholders or
farmers in the canton will be admitted into the
new society. _

The manufacturers throughout France are coma
plaining of a general stagnation of trade, while the
retail siness of Paris, which began to improve
early in the month, has again relaxed.
The corn market yesterday was very dull ; the
reports from the departments are unfavourable to
business, and prices are almost stationary at last
week's currency.
At Havre, yesterday, the cotton market expe-
rienced an improvement, and considerable sales
were reported at full prices. The sugar market
was quiet, but some activity was experienced both
in coffee and indigo.
We read in the Patric :—" The police authori-
ties received information that the proprietors of 1
several Belgian and German journals had made I
arrangements with some conductors on the
Northern Railway, and received every day clan-
destinely and fraudulently packets of letters,
which according to the law should only have
been sent through the Post-office. A wine-shop
kept by a M. Patron, at the corner of the Rue
Denain, and close to the railway, was the place of
rendezvous where, from half-past seven to eight
o'clock every evening, the conductors called to re-
ceive their packets. The evening before last the
police made a descent on the house, and arrested
some conductors of the Northern Railway and other
persons who were the bearers of these packets."
The Moniteur announces that the Russian Am-
bassador had the honour to present to the Emperor,
at a private audience, the reply of his Russian Ma-
ty to the private letter which the French Em-
peror wrote to him.
The speech of the Emperor to the Legislative
bodies at the Tuileries was posted at the Bourse
opened
of
th
immediately after it was delivered. It was well
received by
the speculators, but did not produce so
great a rise in the price of Government Securities
forein the
as was expected. The Three per Cents.eno ed at
80f. 25c., fell to 80f. 15c., rose subsequently to 80f.
45c"
and
closed.
month. The Four-and-a-Half per Cents. closed ate
i-°ailwaaty shares
roseares3se. more
proportion
thas* 65c.nfternment Rentes, in consequence of a large
amount of primes, having been
sold, and to-mor-
row,
being settling day, it is expectedBrie:ns that the
shares closed at 1,020 f. , e
greater portion will be taken up.
Havre, 485 f. ; Great Rouen, 997 f. 50c. ;
Northern, 860 f. ; Bale, 352 f.
50c. ; Paris and
Strasburg, 780 f. ; Paris and
Lyons, 880 f..; Lyons to the Mediterranean, 747 f.
50c. ; Western of France, 707 f. 50c. ; Bordeaux
and Cette, 570 f. ; Caen and Cherbourg, 608 f. 75c. ,
Shares of the Bank of Credit Mobilier, 765 f. •