The Sun.
London, England, 1848-03-27 00:00:00

MONDAY EVENING, MARCH 27, 1848,

a large majority, a motion for the formation of a
Committee, to investigate the facts of the recent in-
terference on the part of the Government with
certain Bourse transactions ; but, after a speech from
the Minister of Commerce, it was rejected by a large
majority. The Gazette says that there is no truth in
a statement which had been made, of the Minister of
Marine having entered into a contract with the
Messrs. ZULDETA, of London, for the supply of some
steam-vessels.

The Siglo states that Mr. BULWER has presented
an official note to the Spanish Government, declaring
that the English Cabinet maintains its protest against
the marriage of the Duke de MONTPENSIER, notwith-
standing the recent events in France. It is said that
Mr. BuLwER was to leave Madrid in a few days for
Paris.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

PROCEEDINGS AT PARIS.

'We have received the Paris papers of Saturday and
yesterday.
The Provisional Government has issued a decree
ordering that, as two signatures are necessary for all
bills presented to the national discount banks to have
money obtained on them, and as the greatest number
of small traders and agriculturists cannot easily ob-
tain the second name on the paper, a guarantee bank
shall be established in each town where a national
discount bank exists, for the purpose of serving as
intermediate party between such bank and the
traders. The capital of the guarantee bank is to be
raised by joint-stock companies, and in no case is to
be less than 100,000 f. The business of, those guaran-
tee banks is to procure for small traders the discount
of their bills on sufficient security in goods, warrants
on bonded goods, &c., being given by the parties de-
manding assistance.

The Provisional Government, taking into conside-
ration the present embarrassment of commerce, has
issued a decree making a temporary reduction in the
expense of protesting bills, registration dues, and
the emoluments attached to those documents. The
reduction amounts to about 33 per cent.

The Provisional Government has decreed that
work in the prisons shall be suspended, and that the
contracts now existing with respect to it shall be
rescinded, the contractors receiving an indemnity
from the State if called for. The same measure is
to be applied to work done by soldiers in active ser-
vice, or receiving pay, food, lodging, and clothing
from the State. For the future also it is ordered,
that work which may be done in prisons, in charitable
establishments, or in religious communities, shall be
regulated in such a manner as not to create any
lamentable competition with free industry.

The Provisional Government, considering the pre-
sent appropriation of the buildings of the Temple to
be irregular, and detrimental to the Treasury, has
issued a decree, ordering that they shall henceforth
return to the State, and appointing a commission to
indemnify the religious community now in possession
for any expenses it may have been at in fitting up
the interior part of the buildings.
The Minister of the Interior, considering that the
vicinal roads have not been improved in a manner
proportionate to the sacrifices which have been im-
posed on the communes for that purpose, and feeling
the importance to agriculture of their being put into
a better condition, has ordered the formation of a
commission, composed of eight members, to consider
of the best measures to be adopted to effect this de-
sirable object.
By a decree dated 23d of March, the Provisional
Government enacts that the suspensions of magis-
trates which have been made by the Commissaries
Extraordinary of the Government are approved, that
they shall exist until tke Minister of Justice shall
otherwise order, and that the salaries of the said ma-
gistrates shall not be paid from the day of suspension,
but be placed into the National Treasury.
The Moniteur of Sunday publishes a decree from
the Provisional Government, suspending the cash
payments of several of the provincial banks. The
following are the clauses of the decree :

" Art. 1. From the day of the publication of the
present decree, the notes of the Banks of Lyons, Rouen,
Bordeaux, Nantes, Lille, Marseilles, Havre, Toulouse,
and Orleans, are received as legal money by the public
officers, and by private individuals within the depart-
ment where each of these establishments is situated.
" Art, 2. Till further ordors the same banks are dis-
pensed from the obligation to reimburse their notes in
specie. _ _

1 " Art. 3. In no case shall the amount of the emissions
of any of those banks exceed the following limits:—
For the Bank of Lyons ... ... F. 20,000,000
,f /7 Rouen ... ... 15,000,000
~ ~ Bordeaux ... ... 22,000,000
ft I) ••• •••
Nantes 6,000,000
, / 71
Lille ••• •• • ••• 5,000,000
IT f,
Marseilles ...
••• ... 20,000,000
•• 11 I I avre • 6,000,000
27 7, Toulouse •••
•• ... 5,000,000
VP f t
Orleans •••
... 3,000,000
" Art. 4. Notes of 100 f. allowed.
" Art. 5. The banks are allowed to admit drafts sent
by the national discount banks.
" Art. 6. The banks are twice a week to send a state-
ment of their situation to the Ministers of Finance and
1 Commerce."

The National of yesterday has the following obser-
vations on the speech of Lord PALMERSTON on the
subject of the National Defences :
" Lord Palmerston maintained the necessity of in-
creasing the nary, protesting at the same time his desire
to see peace maintained in Europe. All his speech may
be reduced to this Peace is probable ; but no one
can say what can occur, and we ought to be ready for
all events.' The House voted the addition. We do not
forget that last year the Duke of Wellington, in a letter
which was published, called the attention of the English
Government to the terrible dangers with which England
was threatened. To believe him, a French army was
quite ready ; it ]sad only to embark ; it could cross
the Channel at any moment, and when once it landed,
what means were there of stopping it ? What Napo
leon could not do, Louis-Philippe was about to execute
in the turn of a hand, France, certainly, had no idea
that Louis-Philippe was so enterprising! The discovery
of Lord Wellington at first surprised us; but, when we
thought of the age of the old man, all was explained.
To judge from what is new taking place, the English
Ministry has considered the matter seriously, and the
clear and formal declarations of the Provisional Govern-
ment have not succeeded in re-assuring it. However, the
events which press so rapidly on each other; those nations
which are everywhere rising; those thrones which are
tottering; those old monarchies which are falling to pieces
in a few hours, ought, in our opinion, to enlighten it.
France does not desire war, and has no need of it;
peace carries on her affairs better than the most striking
victories. Our battalions at present are our ideas, which
peace is disseminating through the world, and the march
of which war, perhaps, would impede. Is that what the
British aristocracy dread? Are they afraid that the
great movement which at the present moment is agi-
tating Germany and Italy should communicate from man
to man, and eventually shake the United Kingdom to its
old foundations! It is possible; but it would be neces-
sary in that case to show a little more frankness.
Besides, what does it import to us? At the point at
which matters are at present, we defy Lord Palmerston,
or any other statesman, however able he may be sup-
posed, to induce the English people to believe that we
are their enemies."

On Thursday and Friday large bodies of Belgian
republicans, among whom it is said were many
Frenchmen, left Paris by the Northern Railroad,
with the avowed intention of entering Belgium in a
hostile manner, and forcing republican institutions on
that country. These Belgian republicans, before
their departure, paraded the streets of Paris with
drums beating and colours flying. On the flags were
inscribed " Vive la Republique Beige."
A letter from Brussels of the 25th gives the fol-
lowing account of the result of the Republican expe-
dition from Paris :—" The so-called Belgian legion,
or at least a strong portion of them, comprising
about two thousand people, arrived this morning by
three trains at Quievrain, where a strong detach-
ment of troops, surrounded by a considerable crowd
of armed peasants, ready to aid the military,
were awaiting them. The chiefs seeing that the
trains did not stop at Valenciennes as had been
arranged, thought the coup de main had
failed. They hastened to jump from the trains
before reaching the frontier. Those who so
leaped were about sixty, several •of them
broke their legs. The others were led directly in
the midst of the troops. Many of them were armed
with guns, sabres, and daggers. About sixty or
seventy amongst them were Frenchmen or English-
men, and were directly brought back to the frontier.
The others were mostly poor Belgian workmen who
had been driven from their work by the French.
They were immediately brought one by one to their
respective localities, and so ends the famous project
for the liberation of Belgium. Some who were
found armed have been taken into custody. The
procession occupied that) -LW° carriages. Other
"1" are expecte'l this evenhig, and iII be receive?
in the same way.

On Thursday a party of German republicans set

off for Baden, but they had, on arriving at Meaux,
omitted the usual military precaution of sending for-
ward an advanced guard to explain the motive of the
march and prepare for their reception. The conse-
quence was, that they were mistaken for a band of
malefactors come to pillage the town, and were fired
upon by the National Guard. A body of Poles also
left on Friday, accompanied by a chaplain, a major
of the late Polish army, and an officer of artillery,
who had lost a leg at Ostrolenka, and who commanded
the body. They were not armed, but having de-
manded passports and relinquished the allowance
made them by the French Government, received
feuilles de route with a small sum sufficient to carry
them to the frontier.

In commenting on these brigand expeditions, which
are clearly contrary to the law of nations, the Siccle

says—
" We believe that we render a service to the Provi-
sional Government in making an appeal to public opinion,
while we signalise blameable acts which have a very
dangerous character. How can we suppose that nations
which in the first place held out the hand of fraternity
to us can preserve sentiments of good-will towards our
country, when they learn that bands go about through
the factories, both in Paris and elsewhere, for the
purpose of expelling, en masse, all foreign workmen,
whether English, Germans, Belgians, or Sardinians ?
can it be otherwise than that the Govern-
ments should take umbrage if it be true that the
Northern Railway has been put in requisition three
days running, to transport Belgians going to proclaim
the republic in their country, and that Germans are
authorised to form themselves into legions, and to arm
themselves for an expedition of the same kind ? The
Government is bound, like the monarchy, to observe the
rules which preside over the laws of nations. If Spain
or Belgium should tolerate on their territories the as-
sembling of troops whose avowed object was the restor-
ation of Henry V. or Louis Philippe, the Provi-
sional Government would as.turedly consider that
tolerance as an act of hostility scarcely disguised. Let
us not give the same pretexts to foreign Governments.
If Republican France live at peace with them, let her
respect their authority and their frontiers. We would,
as far as we are concerned, prefer a frank and open de-
claration of war to these provocations without motive, as
well as without dignity. France is too great to conspire
against her enemies in the shade. When she draws her
sword let her do it loyally, supporting herself on her
own courage, and taking heaven as a witness of her
right. This was the spirit of the circular of M. de
Lamartine, and it is the idea which ought to preside in
all our relations with Europe."
M. THIERS h:IS issued the following to those of his
former constituents who have expressed a desire for
his re-election :

"M. TRIERS TO THE ELECTORS OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF THE BOUCHES DU RHONE, WHO HAVE OFFERED
HIM THEIR SUFFRAGES.

"I thank you, gentlemen, for the recollection which
you have been good enough to preserve of me, and of
the services which I have endeavoured to render to
France during the eighteen years of my public life. I
think, in fact, that I have a right, as well as my oppo-
nents, to the choice of the department in which I was
born. Perhaps I may have spread some lustre on the
deputation of the Bouches du Rhone, but I have certainly
served with patriotic ardour the cause of order, liberty,
and the national greatness. It certainly is true that I
have neither desired nor wished for the Republic, for, in
my opinion, a constitutional monarchy was sufficient to
assure us a great degree of liberty; and the state of
England during the two last centuries seemed to me for
my country a destiny which was not to be disdained.
Providence has decided otherwise. I bow before its
decrees; and if I am ready to resist all tyranny,
I shall never resist the force of circumstances, mani-
fested by such striking signs. I accept, then, the Re-
public without any after-thought; but I do not mean to
disavow any part of my life. In the first years which
followed 1830 I defended the cause of older. Hardiy
had order been established when I defended the cause of
liberty, of the national greatness, which in their turn
seemed to me in peril through the faults of a royalty,
which I shall abstain from outraging now that it is pro-
scribed. I might have obtained the favours of that
royalty; I did not seek them, because my convictions
could not accord with those of the reigning king. Out
of eighteen years I passed twelve in an opposition, the
most firm, the most constant, and the most disinterested.
I think, that independently of the experience acquired,
which is always good under every form of government,
even the newest, and especially under the must new, the
Deputies, members of the late Opposition, might be
useful; for were it wished to reduce the supporters of
the new Republic to those only who were Republicans
six weeks ago, it would be to expose it to too great a
degree of isolation."
"I have, therefore, consented to be put in nomination.
I have consented to do this from duty, from devotion,
from honour, not to work in the future National Assem-
bly for a concealed restoration; but to labour frankly to
constitute the new Republic on a solid and durable basis,
to defend there the essential conditions of all society,
family, and property, and the liberty of transactions.
" I am told that declarations, explanations, and en-
gagements are expected from me, that the Republicans
de la vedle, perhaps even those du lendemain, do not find
me a Republican of sufficiently ancient date (a thing;
which I acknowledge in all humility); that the Conser-
vatives remember my opposition, that tho clergy espe-
cially, who desire to appreciate my love of order, require
to be re-assured on my tendencies on the subject of
public instruction, a question now distant, and greatly
changed. I can understand all these scruples; but to do
away with them I do not intend to disavow any of my
former opinions.
"I believe I supported the interests of my country to
the extent which was conformable with our late institu-
tions. lam ready to yield to all the candidates of our
department on the score of talent; I venture to call
myself their equal on the score of patriotism; and I
declare, that if I am not elected, I shall feel by no
means disgraced in the face of France, or in the face
of Europe. _ _

"I, therefore, beseech my friends to spare all efforts,
not to compromise themselves to second my candidature;
above all, to enter on no engagement in my behalf. I
do not with to do anything but to labour loyally to
constitute well the new order of things. Ready to fill
courageously a difficult mission if it be confided to me
freely, I no longer desire it from the moment it be
contested, in however slight a degree.
" I shall re-enter with pleasure on retirement and
study, there to meditate in quiet on the eternal laws of
human society, which I do not think changed notwith-
standing the agitation of the world; there tolmake ardent
vows in favour of that France which I have so loved,
which I love so still, and which I shall love in pro-
portion even to the dangers which she may run at
this time.

(Signed) "A. THIERS,
" Ancient Deputy de Bouches du Rhone."

The list of electors were, according to the decree
of the Provisional G overnment for the General As-
scimby, to be closed on Sunday night at midnight, and,
as no notice of postponement was given, it is to be
presumed that the elections will positively take place
on the 9th of April. The National Guards elections
are now fixed for the sth of April.
The number of persons carried to the hospitals of
Paris in a wounded state, during the three days of
February, amounted to 703, of whom, by the last re-
turns, 150 have since died.

M. EMILE DE GIRARDIN has published the follow-
ing notice at the head of the leading article of the
Pressc

" Those parties who believe that we are to be intimi-
dated by menaces, are mistaken. They may destroy our
printing presses, and thus deprive five hundred persons
employed at them of their daily bread; but we shall
always find a sheet of paper on which to publish our
ideas, and readers to peruse what we have written. They
may put us to death by two modes—either by the hand
of a coward, or by the blows of a multitude which has
been led astray. But if the Republic and liberty must
dishonour themselves by an act of murder, the sole
honour we desire is to be their first victim. Glorious
will be the first martyr who will sacrifice himself in
order to give the example of resistance to terrorists! All
Paris, except cowards and malefactors, should assist at
his fnneral, and France should wear mourning for him.
They may therefore kill us without our attempting to
defend ourselves, but violence shall never force us to be
silent or to fly."

On Friday, a tree of liberty was planted in the
square of the Hotel de Ville, on the spot where,
twenty-five years since, the republican sergeants of
La Rochelle perished on the scaffold.

Galignanis Messenger of Saturday gives the fol-
lowing graphic description of the representation of
the tragedy of Luerece at the Theatre de la R6pub-
lique :—" Last night, at the Theatre de la Repub-
lique, M. PONSARD'S celebrated tragedy of Luerece
was transplanted from the Odeon, and the subject
of the piece, the fall of the Tarquins and the revo-
lution of Rome, naturally gave this representation a
peculiar interest at the present time, and accord-
ingly the theatre was crammed with an
.audience
ready to manifest their feelings at all those passages
bearing upon passing events, with which the piece
abounds. The whole aspect of the salle, in-
deed, presented a pregnant commentary upon the
mutability of the times we live in. The loge of the
ex-royal family being now thrown open to location,
like any other part of the theatre, was tenanted by a
quiet bourgeoisie, nowise remarkable in appearance,
yet who, from their occupying that place so lately
" the cynosure of neighbouring eyes," were a point
of observation for all the binocles of the assembly
during the night. But far more special objects of
attention occupied the loge immediately opposite,
formerly appertaining to the department of the In-
terior, and still retained by the new Government.
Here sat Messrs. LEDRU ROLLIN, CREMIEUX, MAR-
EAST, PAGNERRE, ALBERT, FLOOON, and Oth 'T gentle-
men not vi,ible from the front; in tine, with a few
exceptions, the entire of Oh? Provisiomsl Government. i
At particular passages of the play having a bearing upon
politics, a thousand eyes were turned towards them, I

and none were louder in their applause of those parts
which told in favour of a republic. One passage in
a speech of BRUTUS was particularly applauded, in
which he says—it is easier to destroy than to re-
store. This line was vehemently cheered and en-
cored by the audience, and every eye was turned
towards the Government loge. M. LEDRU ROLLIN
looked at his colleague CREMIEUX and smiled, the
whole party joining in the tumult of applause. As
a mark of the good taste as well as good feeling
of the spectators, we must observe that several pas-
sages, which might have been applied by a less gene-
rous assembly as bearing against the ex-King and his
family, passed without eliciting the least approbation,
though the enthusiasm in favour of a republic was
most ardently expressed on every occasion that of-
fered. It was not, however, until the close of the
tragedy, when Mlle. RACHEL, who had performed
Lucrece, appeared to sing the " Marseillaise," that
the excited temperament of the public was raised to
its highest pitch. Her singing—or we should rather
say her acting—of this grand national hymn was on
this occasion sublime. Her chaunt was solemn and
inspired as a sybilline priestess, and as she knelt and
pressed the tricoloured flag to her heart the entire
theatre broke out into a long, loud, uncontrollable
burst of transport, which should be witnessed to be
described. The illustrious actress was recalled at
the close of the last strophe, and the entire body of
the auditory stood up to receive her, and repay their
thanks; among the most fervent of her applauders
were the members of the Government. We must not
omit to note another striking feature in this remark-
able evening, namely, the presence of Prince JEROME
BONAPARTE and his son. The brother and the
nephew of the Emperor NAPOLEON occupying a
private box at the Theatre Francais, in the presence
of a Provisional Government !—surely one of the
most impressive lessons to be found in history of the
mutability of earthly prospects."
The price of French gold continued on Sunday at
from 70f. to 75f. the thousand. The price for cashing
a thousand franc note was rather less than the day
before, at from 12f. to 20f.; but the English sovereign
was a shade higher, at 27f. A number of speculators
had assembled in the Passage de l'Opera, but no busi-
ness was done.

BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, MARCH 25.

Boulogne and Amiens, 6541—Namur and Liege, 23/4—
Northern of France, 3—Orleans and Bordeaux, 2—Paris
and Lyons, 11/2—Rouen and Ham, B—Sambre and
Meuse, VA.