The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-13 00:00:00

LATEST FOREIGN NEWS.

FRANCE.

With the exception of a short article in the Pays, on
the probable results of the harvest, and the measures
adopted by the Government to prevent a rise in the price
of corn, we find nothing in the original columns of
the Paris journals of sufficient interest for extract.

Prince Napoleon gave a grand dinner on Thursday at
the Palais Royal to the artists decorated this year in
consequence of the merits of their works at the late ex-
hibition. The Minister of State and the President of
the Legislative Corps were present ; as were M. Al6ri-
m6e, Senator; M. FriSmy, Councillor of State ; Colonel
Fleury, First Equerry to the Emperor ; the Prefect of
the Seine ; AL Merman, Secretary at the Prefecture of
the Seine ; M. Arago, Inspector of the Beaux Arts, &c.
A rumour was current yesterday of the probability of
a reduction in the French army to the extent of from
35,000 to 40,000 men.

The Emperor and Empress drove yesterday in an
open carriage along the Champs Elysees, the rue de Bi-
voli, and the Boulevards. They returned by the Boule-
vards at half-past 5 o'clock, followed by two other open
carriages, in one of which were the Duke and Duchess
of Alba. They traversed the whole line of the Boulevards
at the slowest possible walking pace. They were com-
pletely unattended by anything in the shape of an escort,
and nad only two or three servants in undress livery as
outriders. They proceeded along the Champs Elysees,
and appeared to examine with much attention the pre-
parations actively going on there for the fetes of the
15th.

The Minister of Marine has granted gold and silver
medals of the first and second class to several individuals
in the Imperial navy who had distinguished themselves
by saving shipwrecked passengers.
A sum of 1,586 f. has been sent to the Minister of
Finance to be paid into the Treasury. A note without
a signature, sent with the money, explains that the
money is sent by order of a person lately deceased as
restitution.

The Moniteur states that the Friedland, line-of-battle
ship, had struck on a reef of rock, near Besika, but was
got off without serious damage.
A first warning has been served upon the Estafette
newspaper, for calumnious imputations against persons
in high authority.
Yesterday the market for Public Securities had been
active, prices had advanced, closing with firmness, and
having an upward tendency. Closing prices are :--For
cash—Three per Cents., 80f. 30c. ; Four-and-a-Half
per Cents., 104 f. 50c. For the account—Three per
Cents., 80f. 50c. ; Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 104 f.
60c. Bank Stock, 2,835 f. Credit Foncier Bank Shares
have not undergone any change, but Credit Mobiliere
are 7f. higher. They closed—Credit Foncier at 740 f.,
and Credit Mobiliere 871 f. 50c. The Railway Share
Market has participated in the buoyancy of Rentes, and
the shares of many lines have improved in value. The
following are the closing prices : —Northern, 895 f. ;
Paris and Orleans, 1,235 f. ; Paris and Strasbourg, 980 f.
25c. ; Paris and Lyons, 955 f. ; Paris and Rouen, 1,099 f.
50c. ; Lyons to the Mediterranean, 794 f. ; Western of
France, 760 f. 50c. ; Rouen and Havre, 514 f. 50c. ;
Bordeaux and Cette, 648 f.