The Sun.
London, England, 1841-02-01 00:00:00

FRANCE.

-
CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES.—SiTrtso OF JAN. 29.
The Chair was taken at half-past one by M. de Salvandy,
one of the Vice-Presidents. The Ministers present were
Marshal Soult, and MM. Guizot and Humann.
The Order of the Day was the adjourned debate upon
tbo Paris Fortifications Bill.

M. Arago read a written speech in support of the plan
adopted by the Government and the Committee—namely,
the continuous wall, with intrenchments. The Hon. De-
puty entered into considerable details of a scientific na-
ture to prove that this was the only efficient method of for-
tifying the capital, and cited Vauban, Valaze, Napoleon,
and various other military authorities whose opinions he
considered decisive upon this important question. With
respect to General Schneider's amendment, he thought it
altogether inadmissitde, being nothing more than a second
edition of the system of detached forts which had already
been rejected.

M. Ara4ro occupied the whole sitting with his speech,
and the ChArnber adjourned at six o'clock.

SITTING OF JAN. 30.
M. Salvandy, Vice President, took the chair at one
o'clock. Marshal Soult, M. Guizot, and the other Mem-
bers of the Cabinet were in their seats shortly after the
above hour.

The Order of the Day vrtas the continuation of the de-
bate upon the Paris Fortifications Bill.
General Schneider read a written speech in support of
his amendment, but spoke in so low a tone that few of his
observations were audible in the gallery.
The King's Commissary then ascended the tribune, and
was expected as a matter of course to speak in favour of
the measure ; but his observations, or, more properly speak-
ing, calculations, produced quite a contrary effect, as
being of a tendency to frighten the Chamber by the enor-
mous expense which the materiel alone, not to mention the
cost of the fortifications themselves, would entail upon
the country. The King's Commissary read a long list of
the estimates for the materiel required for Paris as a fortified
place, and which amounted to no less a sum than forty-
three millions of francs.--.( Murmurs of astonishment.)
M. Thiers, reporter of the Committee, said that he
should have remained silent had the above apparently
alarming statement been made by any other member of
the Chamber, but coming from the King's Commissary,
and appearing to strike the Chamber with surprise, it was
his duty to do away with the impression that the Commit-
tee had concealed a considerable portion of the expense.
Such was not the case, and the difference which existed
upon the two estimates arose from the various amendments
and new places proposed to be fortified.
The King's Commissary observed that it was his duty
to submit the above details to the Chamber, and it was not
his fault if a wrong interpretation were given to his state-
ment.—( Hear.)
M. Thiers (with warmth)—You are here to support
the measure, and not to speak against the fortifications.
The great object was the defence of the capital ; and if
not undertaken in an efficient manner, it would be better
not to attempt it at all. In fine, it was now absolutely
necessary for the Cabinet to clear up the doubts and ap-
parent indecision which from day to day perplexed the
Chamber; let the Government say if it were seriously de-
termined to accept and support the measure ; if they did
not wish its execution, let them abandon it at once.
Marshal Soult said that the opinion of the Government had
been expressed clearly and frankly. He had already stated
that he accepted the project of law, and was not aware
that he had spoken in contradiction to himself. The
Chamber must rot be over-scrupulous as to his former ideas
upon this subject, or as to what he might still think in pri-
vate.—( Laughter, and marks of surprise.)
M. Billaut, a member of the Committee, said that the
fullest details had already been afforded, not only to the
Chamber, but to the Ministers ; and he was surprised to
hear the Gallant Nl.,rshal (Marshal &tilt) declare, after
fifteen days' discussion of the measure, that he was in the
dark as to article 3 of the Bill.
Mr. Guizot, Minister of Foreign _Affairs, addressed the
Chamber against the amendment, declaring that the entire
Cabinet still supported the plan approved of by them and
the Committee ; at the same time he was bound to say
that if it were rejected by a majority of the Chamber, he
should not cocsider it as a check to the Ministry.
(Left speaking.)