The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-15 00:00:00

THUR SDAY

me how greatly the name I bear possesses your sympa-
thies. lam proud of being your commander,—l, a poor
exile, brought back to my country by the victory of the
people. We should have had some painful days to pass
through, had not the energy and wise foresight of the
present Government saved us from those fratricidal con-
flicts which are so cruelly painful to every patriotic
heart. It is particularly in civil discord that it is
butter to prevent than to repress. From whatever side
attacks upon our institutions may come, we will join to-
gether in defending the Republic and our President, who
represents very nearly the unanimity of the country.
The second legion has only to continue to act as it has
done in past days to deserve well of the country in fu-
ture. I know the duties which are imposed upon me by
the esteem and confidence of my comrades, and I will
endeavour to fulfil them."
It is said that M. LAMAILTINE, and several of the
Moderate Republicans have joined the Election
Committee, of which M. NAPOLEON BONAPARTE is
President.
The Assemblie Nationale, which is generally con-
sidered as the organ of the Royalist reaction, pub-
lishes the following programme of the approach-
ing reactionary campaign in Italy :
" As soon as the snows of the Alps and the Tyrol are
melted in the spring, while the gentlemen of the Con
gress are talking here—what will take place. The Pope
will be replaced in his States, and the revolutionists and
the Roman Republic turned off. The same fate will at-
tend the democratic babblers of Leghorn, Florence, and
Palermo, and if Charles Albert be driven by the revo-
lutionists to appeal once more to arms, the Austrians
will march to Turin, and afterwards deal with the agita..
tors of Berne and Zurich: such is the truth, and is even
bettor known in the regions of diplomacy than by our-

selves."
The Bank of France has published a report of its
operations during the year 1848. This report thus
describes the conduct of the Bank during the crisis of
the revolution :
" Although released from the obligation of paying its
notes in cash, the Bank sought by every means in its
power to increase its stock of the precious metals. It
"purchased bullion both in France and abroad, sometimes
on very onerous conditions, to the amount of about 40
millions. This quantity, when coined, served to supply
the wants of the Treasury and of commerce. To the
Treasury and to the principal administrations in Paris it
delivered a sum of 105 millions, and the receivers gene-
ral in the departments received nearly 31 millions from
the branch banks. More than 158 millions were put
into circulation in Paris. In all about 506 millions were
spread over Frahce in the month of March, notwith-
standing the decree which suspended cash payments in
bank-notes.
"On the 31st March the Bank lent the Treasury 50
millions, without interest, on Treasury bonds, which
were then at a discount of 50 per cent. On the sth
May it made another loan of 30 millions on a transfer
of Rentes belonging to the Caisse des Despots et Con•
signations. On the 3d June another loan of 150 mil-
lions, payable 75 millions in 1348, and 74 millions in
the first three months of 1849, and 22,500,000 f. in
prepayment of the share of the Government loan sub-
scribed for by the Bank. To the City of Paris an advance
was made of 10 millions on the loan of 25 millions, which
it was authorised to contract, but which circumstances
bad prevented its negotiating; and a further sum of three
millions to complete certain public works. The Bank
also lent three millions to the city of Marseilles; one
million to the hospitals of Paris. In the whole the loans
made by the Bank beyond its usual operations amounted
206 millions."
Under the head of discounts, the report says
" That the ordinary discounts made by the establish-
ment from March to the end of July amounted to
nearly 700 millions, but from that period they fell off
very rapidly. Several of the large ironmasters and
other manufacturing establishments were also assisted to
the amount of about 34 millions. These transactions,
although opposed to the provisions of the statutes, were
of the highest importance, as without them several of
those manufactories would have been compelled to have
suspended their labours, and thousands of workmen
would have been thrown without bread into the streets.
Upwards of 215 millions of the paper from the national
discount banks were re-discounted by the Bank iu Paris,
and by the branch banks, on the security of merchandise
deposited. A credit of 5,000,000 f. was opened to the
builders of Paris, for the advantage of the workmen on
the guarantee of the property thus erected, and a sum of
4,500,000 f. was advanced on the timber, to be cut in the
forests of the state. It is thus seen what a mass of ope-
rations was transacted; and if they were not all regular,
they were at all events of the greatest utility. During
all this time the Bank maintained its rate of discount at
4 per cent."
With regard to the decrease in the regular business
of the Bank the report says—
" That in January and in March, 1848, its monthly
discounts had exceeded 125 millions; in November and
December of the same year they had fallen to 20 mil-
lions. On the 16th March the poPtfeuille of the Bank
and of its branch establishments amounted to 305 mil-
lions ; on thel2Bth December that sum had fallen to 165
millions, of which only 42 millions were in the head
establishment."
The comparison of the operations of 1848 with
those of 1847 give the following result :
In 1843. In 1847.
Discounts F.1,664,000,000 ... 2,661,000,000
Transfers , ,5,932,000,000 ... 8,176,000,000
Cash deposits 420,000,000 ... 1,122,000,000
Showing that the operations of the Bank had fallen
off in 1848 to the amount of 3,943,000,000 f.
It appears from the report that from the apparent
hopeless state into which affairs were thrown in
March, 1848, the Bank of France had at that time a
serious thought of winding up its affairs.
The reports transmitted to the French Government
by the Consuls in Upper California, and in the
various parts of the United States, relative to she gold
and quicksilver mines lately discovered in the former
country, have awakened its solicitude, particularly as
numbers of emigrants have signified their intention
to proceed without delay to that part of the world.
In consequence, the Ministers of Marine, Foreign
Affairs, and Public Works, having placed toge•
ther the documents received from the French Re-
presentatives in America, submitted them to
a special council of men skilled in mineralogy, and
charged with the task of suggesting such measures as
it might deem advisable to take in the interest of
French industry. It has been decided by the Go-
vernment, that an engineer of mines should at once
proceed to California, to examine the nature of the
country, and from actual • experience send home
accounts of a nature to enlighten French commerce
as to the real state of the case. In consequence of
that decision, orders were at once transmitted to
Brest to prepare a vessel to carry out the engineer in
question.
We read in the Bre Nouvelle:—
" The health of the prisoners at Vincennes is excellent.
Each one has a separate chamber, leading iato a large
circular room, where the gendarmes are posted. Martin,
better known by the name of Albert, has devoted his
leisure hours to the education of a young bird; Quentin
has for a companion a turtle dove ; Raspail has brought
up two fowls, which, by their noise and familiarity, ren-
der a visit to his chamber not very pleasant; Barba,
cultivates some fine flowers; his room is that formerly
occupied by M. de Boulogne, bishop of Troyes, impri-
soned by Napoleon for his fidelity to this Holy See.
M. de Boulogne, during his captivity, covered the walls
of his room with religious paintings, which remain there
still. The rooms now alluded to were occupied in 1830
by the Ministers of Charles X.; magnificent views are
to be seen from the windows. Hitherto the prisoners
were not permitted to communicate with each other, but
two days back that interdiction was removed, as the ne-
cessities of their common defence rendered a conference
indispensable. However, the agents were not with..ut
some uneasiness as to the result, as it is will known
what animosity the others feel against Blanqui, and
in particular 13 irbes. who has sworn vengeance against
him and does not even attempt to conceal his hatred?'
BOURSE--PARIS, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 14.
THREE O'CLOCK.—The Funds were exceedingly
steady to-day, with a strong tendency upwards, which
was repressed only by the fear that the majority in the
National Assembly on M. Lanjuinais' motion would not
be a large one. Should the, vote of the Assembly to-day
he of a nature to strengthen the Cabinet, there will
certainly be a further improvement to-morrow. Exchange
on London (30 days), 25 30; ditto (90 days), '25 22i.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT 'I.IIE
LONDON STOCK-EXCHANGE. FEB. 14.
Boulogne and Amiens, g Central of France (Orleans and
Viarzon), 10 Y4—Luxembourg (10/.), 2%—Northern of
France, 9 44 Orleans and Bordeaux, 3% Paris and Orleans,
55;4—Tours
3p/2—pans and Rouen, 20--Paris and Strasbourg, 3--
Rouen and Havre, 111/4 Sambra. and
,Bleuse,
and Nantes, 2th West Flanders (434 21,, —Ditto (8 LA), ILA

SPAIN.
Madrid journals of the Bth have arrived.
The Clamor Publico says that the report of the
death of CABRERA, which was announced with such
pomp in the Ministerial journals, is totally without
foundation. He has not been even dangerously
wounded, his only hurt consisting in a slight wound
in the thigh. The victory of Colonel Reuss over
CABRERA was not nearly as complete as stated by the
Ministerial journals ; indeed, had not REUSS been rein-
forced by the arrival of artillery during the battle,
his column would have been annihilated.
The total export of wine for Port St. Mary and
Xeres during 1848 was 31,807 butts; of these,
27,252 were exported to England, and 312 to the
British colonies.
MADRID BOLSA, Fan. B.—Several operations took
place in the Three per Cents. at 21t cash, and they
were 11.16 buyers after the close ; Five per Cents.
101 cash, and were 10 buyers after the close; Cou-
pons, 6 cash ; Passive Debt, 31 cash. Exchange on
London, 49 20.

LOCK HOSPITAL AND ASYLUM.—The vice-presi-
dents and stewards of this excellent charity gave their
anniversary dinner to the friends of the institution yes-
terday, at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street. Mis
Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge presided; and
amongst the company were the Marquis of Breadalbane,
the Hon. Arthur Kinnaird, the Dean of Winchester,
Major Lyon, the R.ev. Thomas Gamier, &c. After the
usual toasts, the Illustrious Chairman made a strong ap •
peal in behalf of the charity, and a list of subscriptions,
amounting to upwards of 9001.. was announced.
General Sir James Willoughby Gordon, Bart.,
G.C.H., the Quartermaster- General, and Colonel
of the 23,1 Foot, has been suffering from another attack
of eryiipillas, which has placed the gallant officer's life
in considerable danger.

GERMANY

AND

THE NORTHERN STATES.

PRUSSIA.

The Austrian Note of the 4th has occasioned the
greatest excitement in Prussia. Immediately on its
being made known at Berlin, a Cabinet Council was
held at Charlottenburg, at which the KING presided.
The Cologne Gazette styles it " a challenge to the
German Confederation." It is, it says, a protest
against the movement towards German unity which
commenced in March. "It demands nothing less
than a retrograde movement towards the old confede-
ration." The only good point it can find in this cir-
cular is " the certainty that Prussia is irrevocably
separated from Austria."