The Sun.
London, England, 1860-04-30 00:00:00

FRANCE.

Experiments were made on the 26th, in the
Polygon of Vincennes, with a new and improved
rifled cannon, said to be of extraordinary power,
and of precision beyond what is now attained in
French artillery. It is right that whatever con-
cerns the progress of humanity, as such philan-
thropic inventions, canons rages, unquestionably
are, should receive every improvement of which
they are capable. Who the people are to be next
liberated from despotism or won over to civilization
by these agents time only can tell.

The Commercial Reform Association have ad•
dressed the following circular letter to the Chain.
hers of Commerce and Consulting Chambers 01
Arts and Manufactures :

" Paris, April 26.

" To the President of the Chamber of -.

" M. le President—The Commercial Reform As-
sociation, though founded only a few days, have
already received numerous adhesions. The in-
formation addressed to it from all parts gives it
the assurance that it may, with the co-operation of
its members, usefully serve the various interests of
commerce, industry, and the consumers.
" We believe we cannot better inaugurate our
labours than by calling the attention of the Cham-
bers of Commerce and the Consulting Chambers of
Arts and Manufactures to the consequences pro-
duced by the delays fixed in the commercial treaty
with England.
" Contrary to the generous intentions of the Go-
vernment, these delays, which, with the view to a
paternal protection, have been stipulated in favour
of the general interest, by rendering the transition
easier, have everywhere the effect of restricting
commercial operations, and consequently paralyzing
consumption and labour.
" We are justified in thinking that the terms
fixed—the 31st of December, 1860, for manufac-
tured metals; the Ist of June, 1861, for threads
and linen tissues; the Ist of October, 1831, for a
great number of articles—delay or restrain every-
where the purchase of materials until after those
periods. The stagnation and diminution of opera-
tions injure navigation and the carrying trade.
" It would seem that all who are interested
ought to desire that the period at which the appli-
cation of the new tariffs commence should be
abridged as much as possible.
" If the inconvenience which we point out to
you, M. le President, affects the branches of in-
dustry which you represent you will doubtless
deem it proper to unite your efforts to ours to de-
mand of the Government to abridge these delays, in
the double interest of the producer and consumer."
On the other hand, the Moniteur Induatriel, the
organ of the Protectionists, addresses a leading
article to the Chambers of Commerce and the Con-
sulting Chambers of Manufactures, warning them
against what it terms " the mancouvres" of the
Chambers of Commerce in England. It says :
" We deem it our duty to call the attention of the
representatives of our national industry to a
manoeuvre which the English Chambers of Com-
merce are carrying on with perfect unanimity, and
which, if it succeed, would do nothing less than
annul, in a fashion the most disastrous for us, one
of the most important clauses of the treaty.
" The Imperial Government wished to secure a
guarantee for our manufacures by stipulating that
the ad valorem duties established in the maximum
limit by the first article should be converted into
specific duties by a supplementary convention, and
that the average prices for the six months which
preceded the date of the treaty should be taken as the
basis of that conversion. The motives which occa-
sioned this clause are easy to understand, and we
have already more than once expressed them:"
The Monitcur Industriel concludes by exhorting
the French Chambers of Commerce to resist these
attempts on the part of the English :
" We do not tell them to move heaven and earth
(as the Chambers of Commerce of Leeds and Hud-
dersfield are said by the Alaneleester Guardian to
be doing), but we strenuously recommend them to
address themselves to the Imperial Government to
make it understand all the dangers of the establish-
ment of ad valorem duties, and to demand its sup-
port against pretensions which are in opposition to
the treaty, and which would destroy one of the
most essential guarantees stipulated in favour of
national industry.
The past week was one of lassitude in the com-
mercial world. It is certain that, in whatever point
of view we look at it, trade in France is undergoing
a crisis which will not cease till the determina-
tion of the Clovernment with respect to the Cue.-
toms' tariff shall be fully understood. The fact
cannot by disguised that nobody will enter into any
fresh engagement until he sees his way in this
respect clearly before him. The Paris markets are
extremely dull, and sales are difficult. The cold
' weather which until this day has prevailed exercises

considerable influence on mercantile transactions.
Accounts from Mulhouse, Rouen, and Roubaix
state that sales are becoming every day more

limited in those manufacturing towns. A com-
munication from Lyons informs us that the silk
manufacturers are in anything but a flourishing
condition—that a number of looms are idle. and
that sales are nearly impossible, except at a
reduction of 2f. and 3f. u. yard on current
prices. Letters have been received at Lyons
from New York, announcing that the American
market is overstocked with French silks. The
cold wet weather has caused a further rise in the
Paris flour market. Flour for bakers' use is quoted
at from 54f. to 60f. the sack of 157 kilogrammes.
Thursday was a fine day, and the bakers resisted,
but the last two days have given the advantage to
the millers.

BOURSE, April 28.—The market was heavy at

the opening ; after some little time, however, prices
rallied, but with restrieted business. Threes have
been done at 70f. 35c. and 70f. 50c., and are now at
70f. 50c. ; Mobilier varied from 740 f. to 752 f. 50c.
Orleans, 1,355 f. to 1,360 f.; Lyons, 938 f, 75c. to
941 f. 25c.; Northern, 980 f. to 982 f. 50c.; East-
ern, 632 f. 50c. to 630 f.

41 per Cents. 96 Credit Foncier.... 597 50
Do. end month 96 15 Belgian 41 . —
3 per Cents 7O 65 Piedmonteso (5) .. 84 5)
Do. end month 7O 55 Roman B5 50
Bank Shares...... 2825 Austrian —
Credit Mobilier .. 752 50 Spanish Threes
Do. Account ..... 748 75 Home Debt 46 50