The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-25 00:00:00

BELGIUM.

[ Represen-
tatives the day bofore yesterday was but a brief one.
de sittingw h t tohfe the
Government Belgian
After the president had communicated to the mem-
bersto the Duchess de Brabant's interesting situation,
M. Coppieters-t'Wallant addressed an interpella-
tion to the Minister of Finance, relative to the free
introduction of foreign coals. He called attention
to the fact that the law of 1853 admitting such
coals expires on the Ist of January next, and in-
beenrdeodf t
o de
in
the reply of the King to the address relative
Chairrait
the conjuncture. M. Frere-Orban replied that the
in-
quired
question was under consideration, but that be
really could not say at that moment what course
would be adopted. The incident then terminated.
The treaty of commerce with Naples was adopted
without opposition. Two reports were presented,
one on the budget of ways and means, and the other
on the bill opening temporary credits to several of
the Ministerial departments. These measures were
fixed for consideration for the next day, and on the
former being brought forward a short discussion
took place :
"M. Rodenbach (of the right) said that he/would
seize on that opportunity of protesting against the cir-
cular of the Minister of Finance, warning the public
against the cireuletion of French copper coin. That
coin was, he thought, convenient, and ran no risk of
being demonetised. Instead, therefore, of being pro-
scribed,
it ought to be imitated in elgium, and in
the end would be so. . The same would be the case
with gold ; it was impassible for Belgium to persist
in depriving herself of gold coin, which presented so
many advantages.
"The Milaister of Finance replied that the increase
of copper coin was contrary to the interests of the
working classes, because it produced dearness. As to
guld it was properly proscribed, because the proscrip-
tion of it was the sole means of preserving silver in
the country. If there wore competition, silver being
the more valuable would be exported, and depreciated
money would alone remain in the country.
"M. Dumortier (of the right) supported the observa-
tions of M. Rodenbach. He could not understand
why a government which placed free trade in its pro-
gramtne should oppose the free trads in money.
" The Minister of Finance remarked that in demand-
ing the re-establishment of gold it was not a free exchange
which was asked for, but a forced exchange. What was
desired was to compel a trader to receive for 20 f. a piece
lof gold which was worth less. At preseat exchange
was perfectly free, subject to the condition of paying
the rate of the day. He concluded by maintaining that
the demonetisation of gold had produced the best eff:cts
in Belgium, inasmuch as it bad preserved her from the
crises( and leases supported by other countries.
"M. Dumortier answered that if Belgium had not
been afflicted with crises, it was because the countries
-with which she did the largest trade were free from
them. The question was entirely one of a practical
nature, and if traders and chambers of commerce were
consulted they would be found unanimously in favour of
the reintaration of gold, the want of which was con-
stantly felt."

The bill was then unanimously adopted. The
chamber a'so adopted unanimously and without
di,,cussion tha bill for granting provisional credits
to the ministerial departments. • The chamber was
to meat yesterday (Thursday), to adjourn, it was
thought, to the 13th Jan,
The Duke de Brabant, the day before yesterday,
visited the studio of M. Geefs, sculptor at Brussels,
to examine a colossal statue of the King, rather
more than 16 feet high, which is to ho placed on
the sumthit of the column of the Congress in that
city. His Royal Highness expressed great admi-
ration of the work.

The .Nord of Brussels corrects an error made by
the Austrian Gazette iu announcing the arrival at
Vienna of the two young Ruzsian princes on their
way to Rome. The two princes are not the sons of
the Emperor of Russia, as stated by the Austrian