The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-28 00:00:00

THE FRENCH EMPIRE,

The Customs returns for the first quarter of the
present year have just been published. They show
a diminution in the import duties of 2,617,125 fr.
as compared with the first quarter of 1852, but an
augmentation of 3,151,671 fr. as compared with the
first quarter of 1851. The total amount of duties
for the respective quarters of the three years was-
-1851, 26,759,125 fr. ; 1852, 32,528,647 fr. ; and
1853, 29,910,796 ft.

„- - -
The Constitutiownel finds a ready explanation for
the falling off in the customs returns during the
first quarters of 1853, as compared with the corres-
ponding period of 1852. It states that the manu-
facturers had, under the dread of what might take
place in 1852, abstained from renewing their stocks
of raw material, and when the cot; d'etat had
taken place, they felt confidence and immediately
gave orders, so that necessarily the imports
during the first months of the year 1852 were
considerably augmented. This mode of viewing
the question is not without its value, but it is
not quite so conclusive as the Constitutionnel
would have its readers believe. It is but reason-
able to suppose that the manufacturers who had
shown so much dread of the future and waited so
long to replenish their stocks would wait at least' a
littledonger to see the new state of things consoli-
dated. For some weeks after the coup d'etat a
great part of France was still in agitation, and it
was not until January that any ono could reckon
with confidence on the restoration and maintenance
of order. It was probably only in January, there-
fore, that the extensive orders mentioned by the
Constitutionnel were given, and the imports which
resulted from them could only take place in
February.
The ball at the Tuileries on Monday was at-
tended by nearly 5,000 persons, among whom were
the members of the corps diplomatique, the minis-
ters, a great number of senators, deputies, high
civil and military functionaries, and the elite of
Parisian society; At half-past nine o'clock the
Emperor, having the Princess Mathilde on his arm,
and accompanied by Prince Jerome Napoleon and
Prince Napoleon, and preceded and followed by
the officers and ladies of the imperial household,
entered and took their places on an estrade arranged
for the purpose in the Salle d.es Marechaux. The
Empress being slightly indisposed, did not leave her
apartments. The Emperor retired at an early hour,
but the dancing was kept up long after.
The Patric states that advices have been received
from Algeria, which give a favourable account of
the state of affairs in that colony. A report was
current that several expeditions were to be organ-
ised on different points of the country.
The Courrier du Havre of yesterday says :
”We have already mentioned the measures
adopted on the arrival of the French vessel Em-
pereur du Bresil from Rio Janeiro. According to
a version which is very current, and which we pub-
lish under all reserve, two large cases have been
seized, containing an infernal machine completely
mounted. A locksmith, who manufactured the
machine, and who has been established for several
years at Rio, and his wife, who came passengers by
the vessel, have been arrested and lodged in prison.
All the baggage belonging to these two passengers
has been taken to the police office, and a very strict
examination took place of the other passengers and
their effects, under the superintendence of two
superior officers of police who came from Paris."
The Union has some remarks on the declaration
made by Lord Clarendon in the House of Lords on
the Eastern question. \ The Union endeavours to
show that the English Government has resolved to
isolate itself from France on this question, but
there is really nothing in the speech of Lord Clar-
endon to warrant this inference. If it be true, as
the Union supposes, that the mission of Prince
Menschikoff has reference only to the dispute about
the Holy Places, there is nothing extraordinary in
the fact that the English Government refrains from
mixing itself up with it. This is a question in which
England has not interfered, and why should it do so
now ? It does not follow that on other points on
which England and France have an interest in acting
together, there will be any difference of opinion as
to the course to be pursued if the joint action of the
two powers should become necessary.
At the Bourse yesterday the quotations of Tues-
day have been maintained, with an increase of 10c.
in the Three per Cents., for cash. In the con-
cluding price of the Four-and-a-Half per Cents.
there is no change to report. The final quotations
are, for cash, Three per Cents., 80f. 40c. ; Four-
and-a-Half per Cents., 103 f. 50c. In the Railway
Share Market yesterday there was considerable acti-
vity, with an advance in the quotations of the
shares in most of the principal lines ; in Paris and
Rouens to the extent of 171., and of sf. in those of
Paris and Strasbourg ; in the remaining lines there
was a general improvement of from 2f. to 3f., ex-
cepting Northerns, which remain unchanged, and
Western of France shares, in which a decline took
place of 3f.