The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-03 00:00:00

of offending very particular feelings. I admit, there-
fore, the principle of a declaration of rights and duties;
and I examine it only in the point of view of the utility
or the danger of the rights put forth in the declaration.
I find, for instance, that it is of the greatest utility to pro-
claim at the head of our constitution, the two-foldprinciple
of property and of family. It has been, however, thought
indispensable to add two other principles, viz., the right
of man to assistance, and the right of man to labour. I
am of opinion that everything should be done for the
people that it is possible to do, but I am also of opinion
that no more should be promised than what it may be
possible to perform. To promise them more than that is
to deceive them ; it is to expose them to deceptions
which they will revenge with muskets in their hands.
Let, therefore, the right of assistance be proclaimed ;
I see no great danger in that, for with well-endowed
charitable institutions such promises may be fully
kept. Society, moreover, does itself honour by en-
tering into a voluntary engagement to support old
age and those whom sickness and infirmities
may render incapable of labour. But to proclaim
the right of man to labour is to make an absolute en-
gagement to furnish at all times and at every season
work for those who cannot procure it themselves. I
have thought very seriously of what is now called the
organization of labour' (a new term for a thing which
is not new), and I have deplored the imprudence with
which such insolvable questions have been started. It
is necessary that the subject should be seriously and de-
liberately discussed in the National Assembly and with-
out any reserve, for it is desirable to know whether any
one possesses the secret of suppressing at will all the
sufferings of the people ; if no one possesses this im-
portant secret it should not be held forth, for by so do-
ing an effusion of human blood is sure to take place.
The horrible scenes of the last few days are sufficient
proof of this. But while waiting for such a solemn
discussion we may here ask ourselves whether any one
possesses the pawer of securing work at every season to
the working classes ? Doubtless a good Government
may, by sound legislation, and by a good system
of taxation, contribute to favour production and
increase labour; but in the richest and most industrious
countries, and particularly in the latter, it is impossible
to prevent occasional crises from over-production, and
which necessarily cause a suspension of labour. In such
cases it is not possible to prevent occasional interrup-
tions. The draining of marsh lands and agricultural
colonies have been spoken of as capable of furnishing
employment at this moment of crisis. Such undertak-
ings are a sad resource offered to unemployed workmen,
for it would be scarcely possible to propose to a mechanic
or a weaver to go into a strange part of the country to
dig the earth. Their inexperience at such kind of
labour would render such employment almost as bad
as being entirely out of work. I must, however,
allow that Ido not despair of the possibility of there
being means to be adopted which, to a certain point,
might gratify the twofold condition of employing hands
rendered idle by the present crisis, and furnishing them
with work suitable to their respective occupations and
habits. Without making itself either manufacturer or
agriculturist, it is true that the State might make linen,
cloth, shoes, and arms for the troops; it has fortifica-
tions to construct, artillery-waggons to build, and steam-
engines to manufacture; by creating establishments,
therefore, the principle of which should be to work but
little in times of industrial prosperity, and a good deal in
times of distress, it would not be impossible to guard
against periods when work was wanting. I have deeply
reflected on a system which might reserve the works
with which the State is naturally and necessarily charged
for times when the general manufacturing establishments
have but little employment to afford; but this system,
which would require a corresponding financial arrange-
ment, would be difficult to establish, and would be very
costly; the State, as is always the case, would execute
its work well, but at a dear rate. I am, however, in
favour of making an attempt of the kind; it will be
well to reserve the works of the State in order to offer
them to the workmen when other employment fails them.
But although I do not despair of the possibility of such a
combination, would it be prudent, on such a doubtful
prospect, to hazard the proclamation of the right of
labour? Would it not be more advisable to find another
wording, which, while it implied all the good will and
anxiety of the Government to procure employment to
workmen who were without it, would not impose an
engagement which could not be fulfilled? There is no
doubt that work could always be found, such as has
lately been given to the workmen ; but to men unaccus•
corned to such labour this is a hard resource, and is only
a system of deception for the State, which pays fur work
which is not properly performed, and, what is still
worse, becomes a dangerous encouragement to idleness.
Something besides the clearing away ground and making
embankments must, therefore, be found. I have en-
deavoured to discover it, and I am of opinion that some
useful results may be attained.. At all events, as nothing
certain can be offered, I consider that the goodwill of
the Government should be made known, but care should
be taken not to engage it in au absolute manner. By
pledging it imprudently in proclaiming the right to
labour is a false principle, and I should propose that the
expression should be omitted, which is but a falsehood
put forth to the people."
Le Representant du Peuple, which professes to be
one of the orgasis of the working classes, states that
General CAVAIGNAC had settled a plan for the disso-
lution of the national ateliers. Some of the workmen
are to be transferred to private ateliers where the
means of employment yet exist. An office is to be
opened at each mairie, where workmen will receive
information as to the ateliers where work may be had.
Those who cannot find labour are to receive out-dour
relief until work be found, and a great number are
to be conveyed as colonists to Africa.
The following was the situation of the Bank of
France on the 29th of June :

CREDITOR.

Cash in coin and ingots
Ditto in branch banks
Bills past due ...
Bills discounted, but not yet due, of
which 27,305,287 f. 57c. are received
from tho branch banks ... ..•
Ditto at branch banks
Advances on ingots and coin ... •••
Ditto on French public securities ...
Ditto by branch banks... ...
Ditto to the State on Bons du Tresor
of the Republic
Reserve Routes
Recites, disposable funds •••
Investments of the new branch banks in
the public funds ... ••• •••
Hotel and furniture of the bank
Real property and branch banks ..,
Interest in the Algiers Bank ...
Interest in National Discount Bank
Ditto in the branches
Bills Protested at Paris
Ditto in the branches ... „,
Expenses of administration of the bank
Ditto at branches •••
Sundry accounts current

... f. 80,488,317 45
... 72,152,058 02
... 7,623,638 04

LIABILITIES.

Capital ... . .
...
Ditto of the new branches

114 730,362 63
145,579,118 76
10,188,200 00
38,392,628 90
3,616,581 00

... 50,000,000 00
10,000,000 00
11,248,767 56

Reserve of the Bank

12,806,741 39
4,000,000 00
2,515,105 00
1,000,000 00

200,000 00
203,600 00
... 26.611,329 92
12,516,803 00
00 00
21,545 00
1,735,868 94

f. 605,657,119 61

67,900,000 00
23,350,000 00

10,000,000 00

Ditto of the new branches 2,980,650 14
Reserve•immobiliere 4,000,000 00
Notes to bearer, in circulation ... 298,736,200 00
Do. of the branch banks 76,397,175 00
1)o. to order (Post-bills) ..• ••• 423,048 86
Account-current with Treasury 9,757,372 15
Various accounts-current ••• ..• 75,733,437 54
Ditto of branches ••• 21,322,213 00
Bills payable at sight ... ••• ••• 1,915,500 00
Ditto in branches ••• ••• ••• 311,700 00
Bills of the branch banks payable by
the Bank ... •.. ... 4,693,633 99
Ditto of Bat& payable by branches ... 1,702,976 00
Dividends payable ..• • . ... 2,884,099 25
Branch Bank of Algiers, sum not yet
employed in Treasury Bonds
Discounts, diverse interests, &c.
Ditto branch bank •••
Re-discounts of the last six months ...
Ditto branch banks
Sundries ...

1,108,388 19
454,060 74
239,183 00
422,932 27
820,176 00
467,364 48

f. 605,657,119 61
From these returns it appears that the metallic re-
serve presents but little difference, for whilst it has
declined two millions in the Paris establishment, it
has increased two and a half millions in the branch
banks. Bills becoming due in Paris remain at about
the same amount, but they have diminished two
millions in the branch banks. It must, however, be
borne in mind that the National Assembly has passed
a decree, giving five days' grace to bills becoming
due on and atter June 23 to July 5. Overdue bills
have augmented about four millions, and the amount
of hills protested at Paris is 26,611,329 f, or about
three millions less than last week, whilst in the coun-
try establishment it is 12,516,803 E, or about 700,000 f.
more. On the side of the liabilities the notes in cir-
culation have increased, in Paris and the branch
banks united, nearly 101 millions. The account of
the Treasury has fallen off nearly eight millions, all
the money of the State now remaining in the Bank
being 9,754,372 f.; private accounts have increased
about 5/ millions. The whole amount of the metallic
reserve is now 152 millions, to 375 millions of notes
in circulation.

The Committee of Inquiry into the causes of the
late insurrection have, it is said, made some startling
discoveries, in consequence of which several further
arrests have taken place.
M. GRANDMENIL, one of the editors and &ant of
the Reforme, has been arrested ; as have also M.
VATRIN, the Lieut.-Colonel of the 6th Legion; M.
FONBERTAUX, who has figured in several political
cases and is compromised in the Blanqui affair; and
M. THORE, editor of the Vraie Republique.
M. EMILE DR GIRARDIN has been interrogated
several times. lie is still au secret.

Among the persons recently arrested, are officers
of the sth, Bth, 9th, and 12th legions. M. ALBERT,
a shoemaker, residing in the Rue St. Antoine, who
was a candidate at the last elections, has been cap-
tured; he is accused of having taken an active part in
the insurrection. It is said that sixty arrests were made
yesterday in the Rue Beaubourg alone. Five insur-
gents, two of whom were wounded, one in the thigh,
the other in the breast, who were arrested yesterday
morning in a wine shop in the Rue St. Honore, had
passed themselves off since Mondayas National Guards
of the province, wounded in the affair of the Tuileries.
The wine-shop keeper himself fi tweeted them, and