The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-06 00:00:00

FRANCE.

PARIS, FRIDAY.
The Moniteur says :—" The examination of pro
positions which have been sent in relative to the
lines of railway to be established in Algeria is now
being carried on at the Ministry for that country.
No decision can be come to on the subject, except
under the conditions of regular official investiga-
tion, which will be open to all bona fide projects.
The assertions of persons who endeavour to turn to
their own advantage pretended promises of con-
cessions are completely unfounded."
The very remarkable address of M. Chaix-d'Est-
Ange at the opening of the Law Courts is remarked
on in terms of the highest praise by the Debats.
Every part of the learned gentleman's observations
are looked on by our contemporary as exceedingly
judicious, and to none is a more unqualified meed
of praise awarded than to that which recommends
the judge to avoid all demonstration of hostility to
the prisoner. The Debats, however, wishes to
go farther, and is of opinion that the Eng-
lish plan of not interrogating an unfortunate
man, when on trial, might be introduced with
advantage into France. The following are some of
the observations made on the point :—" If, however,
the interrogation of the prisoner be indispensable to
arrive at the truth and for the punishment of crime,
it must be put up with, as one of those cruel neces-
sities which are frequently imposed on human socie-
ties through anxiety for their own protection. Our
neighbours in England, however, dispense with
that practice, and who will dare to say that thieves
and murderers incur less risks before the tribu-
nals of the country there than with us ? They
are transported and hanged when necessary, but
they are not interrogated, because the law con-
siders that course neither requisite nor just. Silence
is the first of the rights of the accused in England
when before a court of justice, and if he speaks, the
English law requires that he shall be cautioned not
to criminate himself. It is, therefore, necessary to
prove his guilt by other evidence besides his own ;
these proofs it is the duty of the prosecution to
bring forward, and whilst the accused remains
silent, it is for the counsel on either side to oxamine
and cross-examine the witnesses for the benefit of
their respective causes. As to the judge, he presides
in the true sense of the word, and watches over
the proceedings. No cruel or indecorous dispute can
therefore, take place between him and the prisoner,
he can neither be the victor nor the vanquished,
and nothing occurs to aisturb the solemnity of the
proceeding. The most serious sittings of Parlia-
ment have less calm and gravity thanthese criminal
trials, where the animated struggle of the counsel
of the two parties goes on and terminates in pre-
sence of the absolute impassibility of the judge,
and the silence of the prisoner. This scene,
which takes place at our very doors, and may
be witnesses every day, must furnish matter for
reflection to those who consider as indispensable
the active intervention of the President in the
criminal proceedings and interrogation of the
prisoner. How many prejudices of the same kind
have there not been removed by time and experi-
ence ! Were not men formerly convinced that
torture was indispensable for the manifestation of
the truth, and that in order to arrive at the dis-
covery of a crime, the rack was as necessarylas a
pen and an ink-stand ? We do not therefore de-
spair of one day seeing the reform which we now
recommend made in our criminal laws, and we
wait for it with patience, remembering that reforms
are as slow and as difficult in our country as
revolutions are unfortunately rapid and of easy
accomplishment.
BOURSE, Nov. s.—The market has been very
dull, and prices heavy. A coupon of 20f. has been
deducted to-day from the Eastern and the Lyons
Railway shares. Threes varied from 72f. 95c. to
73f. ; Mobilier, 915 f. to 922 f. ; Austrian, 657 f. 50c.
to 660 f. ; Lyons, 860 f. to 862 f. 50c. ex. div. ;
_ _

Eastern, 685 f. to 687 f. 50c. ex. div.; Orleans, 1,340 f.
to 1,342 f. 50c.; Southern, 565 f. to 566 f. 25c.; and
Northern, 970 f. to 972 f. 50c. The following were
the last quotations :
It per Cents. .... 96
Do. end month ..

Credit Fonder
Belgian 41 —
Piedmonteso (5)
Roman 94 50
Austrian
Spanish Threes
Home Debt 42 50

3 per Cents. 72 85
Do. end month 73 50
Bank Shares. 3150
Credit Mobilier 920
Do. Account

RAILWAYS.

Cash. Account.
Orleans
Northern
New ditto. Bl7 50 ..
Lyons and Mediterranean B5B 75 . • 861 50
.. New ditto - -- ---
••••• P...

• .
Geneva

Midi
Southern
Western 605 .. 610
Ea
685 .. 690 --
Eastern.—
Grand Central - • •
Sardinian 452 50 .. 451 25
Austrian
Exchange on London, at sight, paper, 25f. 71-c.; money,
2.5 f se. ; three months, paper, 24f. 921 e. ; money, 24f.
87 lc.