The Sun.
London, England, 1849-06-08 00:00:00

(42;
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LONDON, FRI iIAY, JUNE 8, 1849.

Among the many extraordinary discoveries which
have been recently made, not one ii more remarkable,
more worthy of attention, or more calculated to ex-
ercise a beneficial influence over the community than
that of the sympathy existing among all classes, a
sympathy linking together the lowliest citizen in the
land and the highest personage in the Government.
Many may think this no discovery whatever. But—
practically speaking—it is so, nevertheless. Often as
the truth his been acknowledged of that glorious line
of the poet—
" One touch of feeling makes the whole world kin,"
until very recently the illustration of that truth has
never been systematically attempted by those
v;ho are born to pomp or elevated to greatness.
'pie "divinity that cloth hedge a King" has
seemed until eery recently to arcogute to
itself a larger and larger amount of isolation.
Even in " the gol len prime " of that fabulous phi-
ltinthropist good HABROUN ALRASCHID, the Caliph
could only venture upon a course of beneficence under
the shelter of a masquerade. Of late, however, the
tiiues have changed, and with the times the prejudices
of antiquity. have, one by one, gradually disappeared
Best re the world has grown'inuch cider, FILMED Will
have lost his identity, and have floated away into the
dreamy perspective of oblivion. The absurdities of
past superstitions about royalty have nut fallen into
greater contempt with the habitants of the cottage
than with the occupants of the palace. A
clearer light has spread throughout so-
ciety, and Prince and People confront each
other, and mutually recognise their common
humanity. Were it not that some novel ideas have
arisen as to the existence of a sympathetic connexion
between the highest and the lowest, the richest and
the poorest, the wisest and the most unlettered mem-
bers of the population—we should never have had to
record the meeting, the particulars of which were'
very recently reported in these columns, a meeting
where the advantages conferred by the Provident and
B t.Tei.olent Society for the assistance of Domestic
S..reanti, were earnestly and feelingly unfolded by
th..; chairman of the meeting, his Royal _Highness the
Pm) CB CONSORT.

C n that occasion (the 16th ultimo) it cannot so
soon have been forgotten that his Royal Highness
expl essed sentiments never possibly heard before
fr.om the lips of one in his august position,
and such as must have awakened an emotion
of tgoroething more than momentary pleasure in the
households of the United Kingdom. At the time we
said nothing; yet we did not the less appreciate the
noble spirit of simplicity, the unaffected gentleness of
nature which breathed throughout the speech of the

Royal Chairman. Now that two or three weeks
have passed over, and that our remarks cannot be
attributed to any sudden and evanescent freak of
admiration, we would call to the recollection of our
readers the words articulated by Prince ALBERT,
satisfied from the very simplicity which denoted their
earnestness that they are words deserving of remem-
brance. " Where," said the Prince, "is the heart
that does not feel the deepest interest in the welfare
of domestic servants, or who does not sympathise
with those who minister to us in all the wants of
private life, who tend us in sickness, who receive us
on our first appearance in this world, and extend
their care even to our mortal remains ?" If sentiments
like these were but more prevalent, if the thoughts
of the husband of the SOVEREIGN were only shared
in more generally by the community at large, we
should assuredly hear somewhat less of the miseries
endured, and the temptations surrounding, and the
hardships inflicted upon, the White Slaves of Eng-
land. In advocating the claims of domestic servants
to the aid of the more opulent, his Royal Highness
did net, however, urge those claims as though they
constituted a demand upon the alms of
the benevolent. On the contrary he avowed
distinctly that he sympathised with the
Servants' Provident and Benevolent Society, not
so much because it was a charitable association, but
because it was a charitable association based upon a
right principle. "I feel convinced," said be, "that
this society is based upon a right principle, as it
follows the dictates of a correct appreciation of human
nature, which requires every one by his own exer-
tions to work out his own happiness." "It is based
upon a right principle," he continu ed, " because it
endeavours to trace out a plan according to which by
previous self-denial, providence, and perseverance,
not only is the servant raised in his physical and moral
condition, but the master is taught how to direct his
efforts so as to aid his servants in acquiring resources
which shall be sufficient to sustain them in sickness,
in old age, and want of employment." In co-operating
with such an institution, -it is consequently percep-
tible that the public, far from holding nut premiums
for idlenese, are affording the best, because the
healthiest, stimulant to honesty and probity. Induce-
ments are given alike to the employer and the em-
ployed ; and those inducements are enforced at the
same moments by the benefits conferred upon the
domestic servants, and by the large-hearted and pure-
minded panegyric passed upon the association by the
husband of the Queen of ENGLAND.

While his Royal Highness commended the princi-
ples upon which the Servants' Provident and Benevo-
lent Society is based, he took the opportunity to stig-
matise in fitting terms of condemnation those more at-
tractive but pernicious institutions which, by holding
out the chance of extravagant advantage, induced the
members to place the little funds, the earnings of
their hard labour, at a much greater risk. Such
associations as these he pronounced to be most pre-
judicial to the unfortunate servants, both morally and
physiCally, " tending at once to transform their
providence into a species of gambling." Not only
doing this obvious injury, but "by convivial mestings,
leading them to ulterior expenses ; or by a system
of balloting for a few prizes, drawing them into the
waste of time and excitement of an electioneering
contest."

Speaking immediately as to the miserable effects of
these evil establishments, the PRINCE ex-claimed t►ith
much feeling, " What can be more heartrending than
to see the.breaking of banks and the failure of such
institutions, which not only mar a man's prospects for
life,'and plunge him of a sudden into the depths of
destitution, but which tend also to destroy in others
all confidence in the honesty or the w isdom of those
who have induced them to risk in such associations
the advantages of their providence P" Common sense
assures us of the force of these reflections, of their
bitter truth, and of the urgent necessity which
existed for the contrivance of some effectual correc •
tion such as this Servants' Provident and Benevolent
Society. That society may now be regarded as
fully and permanently established, regulated, as it
is, by the Deferred Annuities Act; supported as it
is by the encouragement of the Prime Minister and
other influential personages; and eulogised as it has
been by the simple and touching eloquence of his
Royal' highness the PRINCE CONSORT. This speech
will not soon be lost to the recollection of the people
of England, confirming, as it does, the respect and
affection with which they have long regarded the
Consort of her MAJ4STY.

Mr. MorraTT is indeed a man cf considerable
energy and perseverance. Undeterre-1 by former
failures, he has again brought forward his Insolvent
Members Bill, which was advanced a stage on Wed-
nesday, owing to the absence of lion. Gentlemen
who regard with the utmost apathy and carelessness a
measure directly aiming at the privilege, not only of
the Members of the House of Commons, but of the
several constituencies by whom they have been elected
cs representatives. Although the avowed °Vika of
the Bill is merely to facilitate the recovery of ilebt
from bankrupt and insolvent Members, and to afford
remedies to creditors, which they do not at
present possess, it is difficult to conceive
a . measure fraught with more dangerous
consequences, or better calculated to interfere with
the ind4endence of the popular 'branch of the Legis-
lature. If it should, by any_ possibility, pass into a
law the position of a Member of Parliament will be
one of a most unenviable character, if not possessed
of considerable fortune; not merely of real estate or
fised.investments not immediately available, but of
ready money at, his bankers. It may be
egariled' as a' part of the system that has
recently been acted on, the purpose of =which
is to increase the powers of the moneyocracy
and to plsee the industrious clasies, and, indeed, the
community in general, under their control and go-
vernance. The Monetary Code introduced in 1819,
and rendered infinitely more stringent in 1844, has
materially added to the resources of the capitalists,
has enhanced the value of money, while every de-
scription of produce, foreign or domestic, has
been deteriorated in an inverse ratio. They
alone: :have been prosperotis, while the na-
tion has suffered the deepest distress and
misery, and if permitted to get the representation
of the people into tbeir own hands, .and to banish
from the House all those who might incur their dis-
pleaure or have the temerity to oppose their views,

it would be vain to hope for any- beneficial change,
or the adoption of the fiscal or monetary reforms so
essential to the welfare and happiness of the nation.

It cannot be said that the evil to be remedied is of
such magnitude as to render necessary so great a
departure from the'oonstitution, so formidable an in-
vasion on the privileges of the tax-payers. Some
five or six Members at the outside may be unable to
satisfy at the moment the pecuniary demands for
which they are responsible. Owing to their Par-
liamentary privileges their persons are rendered
sacred—theycannotprope r bee s arrestedevery
and
descriptionth r oNvn
minto
gaol—but e
r th
be seized, and made available for
just debts, as readily as if the exemption so loudly
complained of were altogether abolished. In fact
their privilege is little more than that accorded
to the officers of the different courts of law,
and -to barristers and attorneys when engaged
in.the discharge of their professional duties. These
gentlemen are protected from arrest eundo, morando,
et redeundo, while going to, remaining at, and re-
turning from the courts or law offices to their dwell-
ing houses; and the privilege is acknowledged to
have been conceded, not for their own advantage,
but for the benefit of the clients by whom they are
retained, and whose interests they are to advocate
and guard before the various tribunals. If they
could be arrested en route to court, a wealthy
and unscrupulous litigant might be enabled to
deprive his adversary of the professional
assistance to which he was entitled, and to snatch
a verdict or important decision on grounds different
from the actual merits. The Judges, therefore,
wisely interposed, feeling the dangerous con, equences
of pe miffing the existence of such strong incite:nents
to vexatious and oppressive conduct. The privilege
was therefore established that has existed through
many successive ages, and the policy or propriety of
the proceeding has never been questioned. True it
is that a barrister or attorney has occasionally
been discharged from custody who had been
improperly arrested, but the instances were
exceedingly rare, and the trifling inconvenience
occasioned to the creditor was never for a moment
consilered an equivalent for the great- advantages

bestowed upon parties engaged in litigation through-
out the entire country.
In like manner, the ptivilege of freedom from
arrest bestowed upon Members of Parliament was
not granted for the benefit of the " elected," but of
the " elector..." It was the privilege of the consti-
tuencies, and not of the representatives. Every citiztn
owed a duty to his country. If required to serve on a
jury, he was bound to attend, however irksome or in-
convenient to himself might be that attendance. If
elected by a competent body as their chosen repre-
sentative, he could not refuse the trust or decline the
proffered honour. His resignation would not be
accepted, and he could only have his seat declared
void by his acceptance of an office of emolu-
ment under the Crown, and even in such
a case he might be again elected by the
people, whose perfect 'freedom of choice could
not be limited or infringed upon. Now, however, it
is proposed that in the event of any Member being
unable immediately to satisfy every pecuniary de-
mand within a limited period, the constituency whom
he represents may be deprived of his services, per-
haps at a time when those services might be of the
utmost consequence. They may be practically
disfranchised for six months, while he is rendered
incapable of sitting or voting. This, however,
must have occurred before his seat was de-
clared vacant, and ultimately their right of choice
might be restricted. The man -whom of all others
they would desire to select might be disqualified,
and their suffrages would consequently be totally
lost. The admirable arguments of Sir 'WILLIAM
CLAY, Mr. BERNAL, and Mr. J. STUART, in opposi-
tion to the measure will not be thrown away, but
will we trust ere it be too late induce their brother
legislators to reject a Bill pregnant with such in-
jurious results.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC

THE PRESIDENT'S
MESSAGE.
We have received the Paris papers of yesterday.
They contain the Message of the PRESIDENT, which
was laid on the bureau of the Legislative Assembly
towards the close of the sitting on Wednesday. The
following is a translation of this most important
document:—

" Gentlemen Representatives, = The Constitution
obliges the President of the Republic to lay before you
every year a statement of the general affairs of the
country.

" I conform with this obligation, which allows me,
while submitting to you the truth in all its simplicity,
and facts so far as they are instructive, to speak to you
both of my past conduct and of my future intentions.
" My election to the first magistracy of the Republic
was the cause of hopes, all of which could not as yet be
realised.
" To the very day when you are assembled within
these walls the Executive Power has not enjoyed its con-
siitutional prerogatives to their full extent. In such a
position it was difficult to take a very decided course.
" Nevertheless, I remain faithful to my manifesto.
" Indeed, to what have I pledged myself in accepting
the suffrages of the nation ?
" To derend society, so audaciously assailed.
" To secure a wise, great, and honourable Republic.
" To protect family, religion, and property.
" To promote all possible improvement and economy.
" To protect the press against caprice and licentious-
ness.

To lessen the abuses of centralization.
" To efface the marks of our civil discords.
"And finally, with respect to foreign relations, to
adopt a policy alike without arrogance. and without
weakness.
" Times and circumstances have not as yet allowed
me to fulfil all these engagements, but important steps
have nevertheless been taken in this direction.
" The first duty of the Gevernment was to direct all
its efforts •to the re establishment of that confidecce
which could, not be complete without a definitive power.
The want of security in the present, and of faith in the
future, destroys credit, stops labour, diminishes revenue
both public and private, renders loans impossible, and
dries up the sources of wealth.
"Before confidence was restored it would have been
as vain to have recourse to all the systems of credit as to
the most revolutionary expedients. Abundance could
not be created when fear and distrust of the morrow had
produced sterility.
" Even our foreign policy could not rise to the level
of our former power, excepting when we had restored at
home that which constitutes the strength of nations—
viz., the union of the ei.izenti at..d financial prosperity.
•• To attain this end the Government could only fol
low a firm and resolute course, showing to all that,
without departing from the prescriptions of law, i
would adopt the most energetic measures for the secu.
ray Of society.
"It generally endeavoured, therefore, to re-establish
the weight of authority by employing all its care in call-
ing to public office those men whom it judged most
tionourable and competent, without regard to their pole.
tical antetedeats.
" Lest the public mind should be disturbed, the
'Government has deferred the project of liberating the
victims of our civil discords. At the very word am-
nesty' pulaic opinion is moved in different directions,
and it has feared the return of fresh troubles. Never-
theless, I have used clemency where it has not been
mi,placed.
"The prisons are already open for 1,570 convicts of
June, and the others will soon be set at liberty without
any cruse of apprehension to society. As for those who
are candemned to the galleys by councils of war, some
of them, who can be pat on the same footing as political
criminals, shall be placed in penitentiaries.
" The course we have adopted soon restored confi•
dence; business gained a new impulse ; the savings-
banks were filled. Since the end of January the pro•
duce of the indirect contributions and the customs has
incessantly increased; and in April was nearly equal to
that of the most prosperous times. The Treasury has
regained the credit of which it stood in need, and the
city of Paris has been able to contract a loan almost at
par—a negotiation which reminds us of the time when
confidence was most securely established. The petitions
for sanctioning jeint-stock companies (societes anonymes)
have been multiplied; the number of patents has in-
creased from day to day; the price of offices, the sale of
all those values which have suffered a heavy depreciation
have gradually improved; and, finally, in all the manu-
facturing towns work has recommenced, and foreigners
have again visited Paris. This felicitous movement, in-
terrupted for a moment by the agitation of the elections,
will resume its course through the aid which you will
afford to the Government.
" FINANCES.
"Although our commercial and industrial affairs have
been greatly restored, the state of our finances is far from
satisfactory.
"The weight of hazardous engagements contracted by
the late Government has caused, in the course of the
year 1848, an expenditure which has increased the public
debt by 56,501,800. additional renter.
" Moreover, the extraordinary expenses caused by the
February revolution have produced an increase of
charges, which, after every compensation, remounts to
265,498,428 f. for the year 1848. In spite of the addi-
tional resources owing to the tax of 45c., and to the loans
which have been negotiated, there will be a deficit of
72,160;000f.
According to the budget the year 1849 was to leave
only a deficit of 25,000,000 E, but facts have not agreed
with calculations, and considerable changes have arisen
from unforeseen circumstances. New taxes, the produce
of which haS been valued at more than 90,000,000 f., have
not been voted; white, on the other hand, not only has
the tax on salt been reduced two-thirds, but the revenue
from the tax on letters has fallen far below the amount
expected, and the estimated deficit will be equal to
180,000,000 f.
Another unexpected circumstance has ;made our
situation worse. The tax on liquors, the produce of
which exceeds L00,000,000f., required to be moderated
and simplified by a new form, wnich should harmonize
it with the spirit of our institutions. An amendment
added to the budget of 1849 has abolished it from the
Ist of January, 1850, and has prohibited its re-
imposition.
" It has, nevertheless, been necessary to restore the
tsuiidg,nrT equilibriumaehtwiiossnso.tuarbtcweeetswhoaofetreonroueurrygeehcfi7etnu,i
ape
n.t s and expenses, and this end
can only be attained by reducing the expenses and open-
encourage is to set forth the
riches contained in our countreyes.l
neverthelessedeserves
tfae
strength seriouscensele
GUARD.ea:ll:dd-
siweheich h
duties,t
n o s t
everywhere
.es " The National Guard,
shown itself animated by a sense of istsa
at present nearly 4,000,003 men, 1,200,000 ofwcohmompriasre
armed with muskets or light arms,
"It possesses 500 guns.
" The organization of 300 battalions of disposable
National Guards is in conformity with the decree of' the
22J of last July.
encTahfgret rg
eorefeolr2,
has cawed a reduc-
tionyear in 1848,
single
eion of the Garde Mobile, which was
onse uentlt a saving
of 7,000,000:
'lO3OO to 6,000 men, and c q

"ARMY.

" The army, always faithful to its honour and its duty,
ha; continued by its firm
and unflinching attitude to ro-
stran the evil passions in the interior, and to give abroad
a just ich a of our power.
We have now altog-,:ther under arms 451 000 men,
and 93,734 horses.
" We hav: 16,495 fynns of cv:ry kind, of which 13,770
are in brot z % 0,,r field pier- a amount to 5,139.
"1,. is to our army that Algeria owes the peace which
~he enjoys. A certain agitaitai has be,u apparent
among the Arabs and the Kab) les, but some well con-
cer!ed- and well-executed operations have promptly re-
stored order and security, and our influence has in-
creas2d.
" The works of the port of Algiers, and those which '
are designed to improve our methods of communication,
are carried on with the activity which the appropriations
of the Budge tadmit of,

" The state of the produce of this year shows that
private Colonization is progressing.
" The establishment and development of the agricul-
tural colonies are continued with zeal and perseverance.
" Oar fl et, which protects our colonies and makes our
flag respected in every sea, is composed—
" Of the active sailing fleet, comprising ten ships of
the line, eight frigates, eighteen corvettes, twenty-four
brigs, twelve transports, and twenty-four light vessels.
" Of the active steam fleet, comprising fourteen fri-
gates, thirteen corvettes, and thirty-four dispatch boats.
" Besides the active fleet there are advanced ships and
ships in ordinary. This reserve is ready to act on the
shortest notice. It is composed of ten ships of the line,
fifteen sailing frigates, ten steam frigates, six steam cor-
vettes, and six mail steamers.

" To man these vessels there are required 950 officers
of all ranks, not including cadets, and an effective of sea-
men nut less than 28,500 men.

" No serious tumult has appeared in the bosom of
colonial society, which has rested on the solid basis of
civil and political equality. To the benefit of liberty to
the blscks has been added a compensation of indemnity
to the planters. An equitable division will prove, it is
to be hoped, an element of peace, labour, and prosperity.
" As fir as it is possible consistently with the budget
of 1849, the Government Lopes to maintain intact the
naval and ccle iisl establishments, until it can propose an
improvement and further development to the Legisla-
tive Assembly.

" AGRICULTURE, INDUSTRY, AND COMMERCE.

" Agriculture, that source of all wealth, has been en-
couraged as much as was possible in so short a time.
" Since the 20th of February last 21 farming schools
have been opened. Added to the 25 schools of the kind
which existed before, they form the first step in agricul-
tural instruction. Some more of these schools will be
established.

" The institutions of STisl-ie and Grand-Jouard have
assumed the rank of district schools. They are now
establishments of the state, according to the law of the
3d of October. _

"The Administration has caused itself to be put in
possession of the farms in the little park of Versailles,
which is intended for a national agricultural institution.
" 122 agricultural societies, and more than 300 minor
institutions, have token part in the distribution of the
funds which were voted for the encouragement of agri•
culture. _ •

"According to the decree of the 25th of April, 1849,
a special commission has undertaken the study of the
question of agricultural colonies. The Government
wished to discover the most efficacious means of assist-
ing the labouring classes, by inducing the labourers to
leave the cities for field-work, and, imitating the ex-
ample of other countries (the documents relating to
which have been collected), to make use of the profits
arising from waste lands to the advantage of the poor.
" The organ'zition of the national studs has been
greatly modified by the decree of the llth of December,
1848.

" The breeding of horses is progressing. All the
establishments which depend on that branch of industry,
and which once thought their existence threatened, have
succeeded in finding their proper level.
"The judicious use of the credit of 500,000 f., which
were allowed for remounting the cavalry, has promoted
this result. The remounts have never been so consider-
able and so splendid as during this year.
"The supply of food in the country is satisfactory; the
harvest of 1848, though less abundant than that which
preceded it, is more than sufficient to meet the wants of
the country. _ _

" The returns of the condition of the growing crops
are very favourable. It is a comfort amidst all our trials
to find in the abundance of produce a hops of cheap food
for our population.
" Tha exhibition of objects of industry, which exer-
cises -a-favourable influence on business, opened on the
4th of June. The former number of exhibitcrs was
3,919, their present number is above 4,000.
" The execution of the law on the associations of
workmen continues and approaches its end. Of 600
claims which were made to the Trade Department, only
80 are still tinier consideration. 2 292,000 f. have been
allowed to 47 associations out of a vote of 3,000,030 f.
" The Consulting and Commercial Committees are
about to be established on another basis.
" The forei4n trade of France amounted in 1847 to a
total of 2 milliards and 614 millions. 1,343 millions of
these were imports, and 1,271 millions were exports.
" Sorely tried by politicul events, the year 1848, as
might have been foreseen, witnessed a considerable de-
crease- in French commerce. An exact computation of
!that decrease has not yet been made, for the administra-
tion of the Custom-house cannot as yet determine the
lexact amount, though there can be no doubt but that the
'supposed sum will be considerably reduced. The con-
Isumption of raw materials has fallen gre illy. The iron
!trade has sunk from 95.941 tons to 45,553 tons; coals
from 2,173.000 to 1,796,000 tons; wool from 138,000 to
1, 80,962 cwt.; silk from 15,000 to 7,688,_&c.

_ .
The varia,ion of our foreign trade in 1848 can be
accurately judged by the Custom-house returns.
"Ie 1847 the monthly average number was 11,000,0001'
" The average number in January and February,
11848, was 8,700,000 f. • March and the next three months
'showed a steady decrease down to 5,000,000 f. The
average number of July, August, and September, rose to
a lirtle above 8,000,000 f., and, finally, the last three
months of the year presented an average of 9,000,000 f.—
that is to say, double that of the most agitated months,
• "It is clear th ,t in the course of the last three months
and 'n proportio❑ as the country approached the r« gular
and detiniuve -constitution of power, the improvement
in trade and pablic eonfilence went on steadily in-
'creasing..

This
" This influence told especially upon our exports. Al-
most every article had,in ;he first hslf-year experienced
severe losses. The increase and extensiili of bounties
(dt•cree of the 10.:11 of Jane, 1848) imparted an activity
which Listid to the end of the year, when most articles
'returned to their level, and some (wines, brandy, silks,
and linen) had even risen, if compared with 1848.
" But this improvement is most strongly shown by an
examination of the results of the first months of 1849.

"If the dill Terme is not so striking in January' and
'February (in coinparison with the same months in 1848)
a decided advantage will be found on the side of March
and April, 1349, in imports a; well as exports. Thus (to
'quote but a fe w of those articles which support our na-
tive industry), cotton rose in Ap;il to 21 millions of kilo-
gramme,s, instead of 13; coal, to 567,000 tons, instead of
447,000; wool, to 45,765 cwt., instead of 21,480; raw
sugar, to 26 millions of kilogrammes, ihstead of 16; in-
digo, to 394 000 kilogramm.2s, instead of 239,000; ma-
hogany, 700,000 kilogrammes, instead of 505,000; and
'the return of the total receipts of the Customs on the
30th of April, 1849, amounted to 39,000,000 F., instead of
to 26,787,000 f: in April, 1848. That thiS amelioration
Continued in Msy, in spite of the agitations which trou-
bled tlit3 month is proved by a return exceeding that of
May, 1847, by 5 millions and a half, and by the fact that
Paris has seen the amount of its exports, compared like•
wise with rhos: of May, 1848, rise to the sum of 6

" The decree which for the lime raised the amount of
bounties on exports having ceased on and from the Ist
bf January, 1849, is might have been expected that our
xports would fill off trorn that d ate, and that this legis-
lative measure would have lost in 1848 the profits of 1849.
Nothing of the kind has happened; our spun goods of all
kinds showed, on the 31st of May
last, a very marked
increase. The same arly be said of our refined sugar,
our cured skins, glass,& c.

"In short, the condition of French trade was preca
rious throughout part of 1848. It improved towards
the end of the year, and since the commencement of
1849 it has been steadily progressing. This is a result
which gives us present advantages and hopes for the
future.

" The question of penal reform and the question of
prison labour are bound up with the interests of indus-
try. Each of these systems has been subjected to s
ipeciul examination; strenuous Efforts have been made
to re-establish discipline, and the Administration is
a part in the organization of convict
especially occupied with the idea of, perhaps, making
agricuiture play

abour.
" The number of county prisons is ...
" Of central depots
" ()f houses of correction for juvenile

400
21

offenders ••• •••
4. Agricultural colonies founded by the

Government ••• •••
" Agrieuhutal colonies under private di-
•

rection ...

"In January, 1848, the number of pri-
soners in the county prisons was ... 26,653
"In the central depot; ... 17,789
"In the establishments for juvenile
offenders

3,600

48,042
" There, are in France above 1,300 public establish-
ments for the sick, the aged, and fur children. The
annual income of these establishments is above
53,000,000'.

We..m.
iv ought to mention 8,000 charitable offices for the
distribution of domestic relief. Their ordinary incomes
amount to 13,500,000 f.
"There are other charitable institutions raiting to
pawnbrokers, hospitals for foundlings, the aged, the deal
and dumb, the blind. About 50,000,000 a are expended
by these institutions. Thus there are no less than
116.000,000. annually expended in public charities,
4. But though this relief m9y
without taking into consideration private benevolence,
the amount of which Sc is of course impossible to calcu-
late, even by approximation.
appear immense, it is
still small in comparison with the still greater amount of
want. The Government is fully aware of this fact, and
it is firmly resolved to make up for this insufficiency.
" Measures for the preservation of public heal .h have
been taken everywhere throughout France. Medical
and sanitary committees have been established, and are
likely to have beneficial results. Even at the present
day they are usecully
operating ugqinst the cholera.
"The votes of credit of the National Assembly have
enabled the Government to assist the parishes which are
infested by the epidemic
and of which the resources did
not,_ suffi'c to give the poorer families the relief of which
tail were in want.

"Punue WORKS.
" Th.luzh an inerel.:.e or public work; would have
been advaata4uus. inasmuch as it would have found
work fur the utiempluyed, th, state of our finaliccs in.
dumd the Cwisti.tiont, Assembl
y Jo decree considerable
reductions, v. hick were cfr c ed in the woilts on the
roads, on the hanks Of riv, rs and in tli, seiports.
"Our 4,800 ltd ,
onietres of canals were curtailed by
similar reductions. 4l
" Even the two new canals which were decreed by the
Assembly, one between Nogeot and Marcilly, and the
other in the rear ut the Snuldre for the supply of the
Sologne, were interrupted by the want of funds, al-
though it was the original intention to procure a fixed '
salary for the workmen.
" Nevertheless two of the most important lines were
cotinued. They are approaching their end. They are

the canal joining the Marne and the Rhine and the canal
of the Garonne.

"As for the railroads which the State has undertaken
to build, no less than 800,000,000 F. had been expended
on them up to the 31st of December, 1847. The sta'e-
rnents of the engineers are that a sum of 330,000 0001.
is wanted to complete them. The financial crisis has
depressed that sum to 16,000,000'.

;‘ The lines of the North were in March increased by
a line from Creil to Noyon.
" The line on the left bank of the Loire has been ex-
tended to Sanmure.

" The Midland lines have advanced to Nerondes.
" On the great line between Paris and Marseilles the
section from Marseilles to Avignon has been opened.
The company had been legally dispossessed of that line,
which is now under the provisional administration of the
State.

" No works hare been undertaken on the line from
Avignon to Lyons. Between Lyons and Paris the State
has retak€n the concession which was granted 20th of
December, 1845.

" From Paris to Tonneire, and from Dijon to Cha-
lous-sttr-Saone, the line is about being opened. To
complete the whole from Tonnerre to Dijon, and from
Chalons to Lyons, about two years of uninterrupted
work are wanted.

" Only one line has been added in the West. It com-
municates between Paris and Rennes. The head of that
line was one of the two roads of Versailles; the law of
the 21st of April last joins to the road on the left bank
the works (now finished) between Versailles and Char-
tres. The transport of travellers Pill commence on the
10th of July; in eight months the line can be brought to
Loupe, and thus be made to communicate with the de-
partment of the Orne.

'• In spite of the commercial crisis of 1848, some
progress has been made in the mining and smelting
departments.

Forty-five new mining licenses have been issued; the
joint number of the last three years amounts to the
same. From the Ist of January to the 19th of May,
1849, ten more licenses have been issued.

" The smelting-houses have likewise progressed. In
1847, 36 were granted; in 1848, the number was 55;
since the Ist of January there have been 19.

" The geological map is finished and published.
"-The credit proposed in the budget of 1849 foi the
organization of an hydraulic service, tending -to dry
moors, has not been granted, end the Administration
was therefore forced to confine itself to a special service
in some of the departments, iw which the local magis-
trates had approved of the measure.
" Private building, in which a vast number of persons
are engaged, has suffered from the crisis.
National Assembly has only voted the money
required for the completion of the fabrics which were
building since some years. The works at the Sante
Chapelle, at the Mining School,' at the Library
Genevieve,-at the Polytechnic School, and at the Lyons
Veterinary School, have been continued.
" The Government thought it worthy of the Republic
to complete the Palace of the Louvre, where all our
literary and artistic treasures :are kept. It has, conse-
quently, asked the National Ascembly for the means.
This demand is now before a Committee, and this im-
portant question will again be submitted to the Assembly.
" PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
_ _

" In the outset of his administration the Minister of
Public Instruction appointed two Commissioners to pre-
pare two drafts of laws on primary and secondary in-
struction. His object was-an immediate and sincere ap.
plication of the principle of liberty, as traced in the
Constitution. The result of their laborious deliberations
will be submitted to the Assembly.
" A drsft of a law on the establiihment of a course
of practical administration in each faculty of the depart-
ment has been presented to the. Nalioual Assembly. The
question was not decided, and will again be brought
forward.

" Two decrees of the Executive, of the 30th of May
and 16th of August, placed the Algerine schools in the
province of the Minister of Public Instruction, and Al-
giers became the seat of an academy. A commission,
under one of our ablest generals, is studying to find the
means to facilitate the intercourse of the Arab and
French languages.
" The Administration of Public Worship has been
encouraged and approved iu the report of the Committee
on the Budget.
_

" Negotia—tionit have been opened with the Court of
R ime for three more episcopal seats in our colonies.
This measure will comph.te the emancipation of the
blacks, and place the colonies on a level with the mother
country.

" The Government has also occupied itself with the
renovation of the colleges of Catholic theology, as wished
by the National Assembly. This delicate question has
been submitted to a committee, and inasmuch as the
highest interests of religion are concerned, the question
is not open to be solved without the participation of the
spiritual power.
" Considerable appropriations, which gave the means
to raise the salaries of the teachers, and to improve the
condition of the - have proved that the Assembly
wished to supply the religious and intellectual wants of
the people. The present Assembly will, no doubt, un-
derstand and continue this political, equitable, and reli.
gious idea.

" Fmnce has 68 establishments of higher instruction
with 6,269 students. -

" Besides the Normal School, in whi.,:h there are 115
pupils, there are 1,220 secondary establishments, with
106,065 pupils. There are also 56 lyceums. 309
communal colleges, and 955 private establishments. The
primary schools received 2,176,079 boys and 1,354,056
girls—a number of 3.530,135 pupils.
" These summary dc-tails. will show you, gentlemen,
that the Administration has been z .slous in its duties.
The revolution has given it a fresh impetus; in its va-
rious branches it his not been satisfied with merely ac-
complishing its functions, but it has also endeavoured
ans.er to the Wile expuctatilns by preparing plans
of improvematit, which will be submitted to the Legisla-
tive Assembly.

" FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
" It is the destiny of France to shake the world when-
ever she movee, and to calm it when she becomts quiet.
Europe lays Ls repose or its agitation at our door. This
responsibility imposes important duties upon us; it do-
minates over our -siitiation.

" After the days of February the recoil of our revolu-
tion was felt from the Baltic to the Mediterranean, and
my predecessors in office refused to throw France into a
war of which th'ey c.iuld not see the end. They were
right.

The state of civilization in Europe allows U 3 to de-
liver one's country to the hazards of a general collision
only when a man has necessity and justice unmistakably
on his side. A secondary influence, a more or less
specious political reason, are not enough; a nation like
curs, if it does engage in a gigantic struggle, ought to
be able to justify in the eyes of the world either the
magnitude of its successes or that of its misfortunes.
" When I came to power, great questions were pend.
ing throughout Europe. On the banks of the Rhine,
be) and the Alps, from Denmark to Sicily, we had our
interests to protect, our influ,nca to exert. But did this
interest and this influence for being energetically upheld
merit the chances of a Europeaa conflagration? The
question thus put was easily un3wered.
" From this point of view France did, in all the foreign
affairs which we are going to review, all that she could
do for the interest of her allies, without, nevertheless, ap-
pealing to the last argument of Governments, viz., the
force of arms.

" A year ago Sicily had risen against the King of
Naples. England and France interfered with their
fleets to stop the hostilities, which became still more
cruel; and though England was more interested in the
question than even France, the two admirals united to
obtain from the King Ferdinand an amnesty for the Si-
cilians arid a constitution which guaranteed their legii-
have and administrative independence. They refused.
The admirali quitted Sicily, being forced to abandon
their mediation, and soon afterwards the war began.
The very people which had refused to accept fa-
vourable conditions was forced to an unconditional
surrender.

" A serious war broke out in the north of Italy, and
when the Piedmootese army advanced to the Mincio it
was thought, though but fur one moment only, that
Lombardy would reconquer its independence. Discord
proved fatal to that hope, and the King of Piedmont was
obliged to retreat within his own states.

"At the time of my election the mediation of Eng-
land and France had been accepted by the belligerent
parties. The only thing to be effected was to get the
least disadvantageous conditions for Piedmont. Our
part was traced out, end even prescribed. To refuse
compliance was the inflaming a European war. Though
Austria did not send any agent to Brussels, the place
which was designated fur the conference—the French
Government counselled Piedmont to resist the movement
which was hurrying her into war, and not to recommence
a too unequal conflict.

" This Counsel was not followed, as you know; and
after a new defeat the King of Sardinia concluded
directly with Austria a fresh armistice.
" Although France was not responsible for this con-
duct, she could not permit Piedmont to be crushed, and
from the tribune itself the Government declared that it
would maintain the integrity and territory of a country
which covers one portion of our frontiers. On the one
sidesit used its best endeavours to moderate the require-
ments of Austria, when she demanded an indemnity for
the war, which appeared to her exorbitant. On the
other hand, it engaged Piedmont to make just sacrifices
in order to obtain en honourable peace. We have every
reason to believe that we shall be successful in this work
of conciliation.
" While these events were passing in the north of
Italy, new commotions arose in the centre of the Penin-
sula to complicate the question.
"In Tuscany the Grand Duke had quitted his states.
In Rome a revolution had been accomplished which had
profoundly agitated the Catholic and liberal world ; in
effect, for two years one had been in the habit of seeing
on the Holy Throne a Pontiff who took the initiative in
useful reforms, and whose name, repeated in hymns of
gratitude from one end of Italy to the other, was a
symbol of liberty, and a pledge of every hope. It was
then we heard on a su hien, with astonishment, that this
Sovereign, so lately the idol of his people, had been corn.
pelled to fly furtively from the capital.
"So it was the acts of aggression which enforced Pius
IX. to quit Rome appeared in the eyes of Europe to be
rather a conspiracy than the movem, nt of a people
which could not have passed in one mozneat from the
most lively enthusiasm to the must of ingraiitude.
" The Catholic Powers dispeteheil ambassadors to
Gaeta, to oc,eipy themselves about the grave interests,
of the Papacy. France, too, had a right to be repro.
aented 'twee, iiihe listened to everything, without corn-
mittiag herself to any course of aution ; but after the
defeat of Novarra, afLirs assumed a more decided as-
pect: Austria, in concert with Naples, answering the
appeal of the Holy Father, notified to the French Go-
vernment, that it must decide upon its course, for these
Powers were determined to march upon Rome, with the
intention of restoring purely and simply the outhority of
the Pope,

" When we were thus in a position in which expla-
nation was necessary, we had but one of three courses
to adept:—
" Either to oppose ourselves by arms to every species
of intervention, in which case we came to a rupture with
all Catholic Europe in the sole interest of the Roman
Republic, which we had nut recognized;
" Or to allow the Three Powers in coali.ion to re es-
tablish, according to their inclination, and without limi-
tation the authority of the Pope;
" dr, lastly, to exercise a direct and indepeedent ac-
tion, by our own spontaneous movement.
"The Government of the Republic adopted this last
course.
" It seemed to us an easy thing to make the Romans
understand that, pressed as they were on every side,
their only chance of safety lay in us; that, if our pre-
sence brought about as one of its results the return of
Pius IX, the Sovereign, faithful to his own character,
would bring back with him reconciliation and liberty;
that, onceat Rome, we guaranteed the integrity of the
territory, by depriving Austria of every pretext for en-
tering Romagna. We might even hope, that our flag
once raised without contest in the midit of Italy, would
have extended its protecting influence over the whole of
the Penineuls, none of whose sorrows can be to us a mat-
ter of indifference.
" The expedition to Civita Vecchia was then resolved
upon in concert with the National Assembly, which voted
the necessary credits. It had every chance of suece:s;
all the edeices received were unanimous in anneuncueg
that at Rome, with the exception of a little knot of per-
sons, who had seized the authority for themselves, the
majority of the population awaited our arrival with
impatience. Common sense might have led one to ex-
pect that this was se, for the choice could scarcely be a
doubtful one between our intervention and that of the
other Powers.
" A train of unhappy circums`inces led to a different
result; our expeditionary force, of slender amount in
point of numbers, for a serious resistance was not fore-
seen, disembarked at Civita Vecchia, and the Govern-
ment had received intelligence that, couldit have arrived
at Rome the same day, the gates of the city would have
been joyfully unclosed for its entrance. But whilst
General Oudinot was notifying his arrival to the Go-
vernment of Rome, Garibaldi was entering it at the head
of a band formed of refugees from all parts of Italy, aid
even from the rest of Europe, and his presenc e as may
be conceived, gave a sudden reinforcement to the party
who went for resistance.
" On the 30th of April 6,000 of our soldiers presented
themselves before the walls of Rome. 'l'h•-y were re
ceived by musketry; some few even, who had been drawn
into a trap, were made prisoners. This un!ooked-tor
struggle, without making any change in the final aim el
our enterprise, has paralysed our beneficent intentions
and rendered abortive the efforts of our negotiators.
"In the north of Germany an insurrection had cotnpro-
mised the independence of a State, one of the most
ancient and the most faithful of the allies of France.
Denmark saw the populations of Schleswig and Holstein
were against her, although they recognized at the same
time the authority of the Sovereign actually reigning.
The Central Government of Germany deemed it its
duty to decree the incorporation of Schleswig with the
Confederation, because a great part of the people were of
German race.
" This measure has become the reason of a most de-
termined war. England has offered her mediation,
which has been accepted. France, Russia; and Sweden
have shown themselves disposed to support Denmark.
" Negotiations opened some months back established
the conclusion that Schleswig was to form, undrr the
authority of D. nmerk, a separate State. But, when
the principle had been once admitted, they could not
come to an understanding upon the consequences which
should have been deduced from it, and hostilities re-
• .mmenced. The efforts of the Powers I have named
tend at this moment to the conclusion of a new arm is•
Lice which will be the preliminary of a definitive ar-
rangement.
" The rest of Germany is agitated by grave pertur-
bations, The efforts made by the Assembly at Frank-
tort in favour of German unity have provoked the re-
sistance of several of the federal states; and brought
about a conflict which, as it approaches our frontiers,
will necessitate on our part an anxious overlooking. The
Empire of Austria, engaged in a fearful contest with
Hungary, has thought itself authorized in calling in the
assistance of Russia. The intervention of this Power,
the march of its armies towards the west, could not but
excite to a high degree the solicitude of the Government,
which has exchanged upon this subject several diplo-
matic notes.
" Thus there exist everywhere in Europe causes of
collision which we have sought to remove, preserving, at
the same time, our independence of action and proper
character.
" In all these questions we have always been in agree-
ment with England, which has given us proofs of guud-
will of which we should be sensible.
"Russia has recognised the Republic. The Govern-
ment has concluded postal treaties to facilitate interna-
tional communications with Spain and Belgium.
"In America the condition of Monte Video is sin-
gularly modified, as we learn from the advises of the
admiral who commands our naval force in those waters.
Our French population has migrated from one end of the
Plata to the other. This displacement of the population
must neces.esrily call for consideration.
" To conclude, gentlemen Representatives, if our nego-
tiations have not obtained the success which we had a
right to expect, believe that the only sentiment which
animates the Government of the Repablic is that of the
honour and interest of France.