The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-07 00:00:00

THE FRENCH- EXHIBITION OF 1855.

Prince Napoleon has published a report addressed to
the Emperor on the Universal Exhibition of 1855. It
dwells upon the diflicti:ties which attended the openieg
of the Exhibition, owing to the war with Russia, and
expresses an opinion that the response made by the na
tious of Europe to the noble confidence of France inuet
have greatly contributed to bring about the general
peace. With natural and laudable pride, his Imperial
Highness brings out in strong relief the fact that Fraece
showed herself, at the Caine moment, great is peace atel
powerful in war. As a proof of the great attraction of
the Exhibition, it is stated that the police returns of the
number of visitors at the hotels and furnished lodging
houses during the period of the Exhibition—nemle
from May 15 to November 30—which, in 1854, was
only 193,000, was in 1855 330,000 showing an in-
crease of 132,000.. Of the 330,300 visitors to Paris, so
far as the number can be ascertained by the hotel hooks,
it appears that 231,000 were French euejects and 99,000
foreigners. But the Prince's report observes that vast
numbers, of whom no accurate account can be taken,
mu t have lodged with relations and friends. It has been
ascertained tnat the 'lumber of railway travellers who
arrived at the different stations in Paris in 1855, was
4,081,000 against 3,223,000 in 1854. The total number
of visitors to the exhibition was 5,162,000, of whom
4,180,000 entered the great building, 935,000 the isepa
rate exhib tiou of the fine arts, and 46,000 the Chine-e
museum, for which there was au extra payment. Of
ceurso, the greater number of those woo visited tee fine
arts exhibition had also visited the Peleis d'lndu trio,
but it is obviously impossible to know in what pro-
portion. Same very curious statistics, showing the
stringent action of a high admission in keeping out the
public, is contained in the report. The number of persons
who paid for admission on Sundays, when 200. was
charged, was 2,182,000, while the visitors on all other
days of the week (Fridays excepted) ampunted to
2,097,000. From the 16th May to 31st July the entrance
was fixed on Fridays at sf. This charge operated almost
as a prohibition. Oily 33,000 persons paid that price,
all the attraction of exclusiveness for the rich notwith-
standing. On let Aug., the Friday fee was reduced to V.,
and from that day to Nov. 9 the number of Friday viei-
tors was 95,000. The Prince remarks upon these figures
that experience is altogether in favour of cheapness (bon
marclte). The report enters at great length into the
causes of the great expense of the Paris Universal Exhi-
bition of 1855, and emits the opinion tnat another exhi-
bition of equal magnitude might be had, with the benefit
of experience, fora tehiLdbiotiufutlss o
e cof bis kindatt.Ont shouldquestion,heb
e
however, whether exhibitions
repeated, the Prince is of opinion that on account of the
vast space that would be required to keep pace with the
ell
progress of industry, they c only.b had at longinter-
vals.
exhibitions
tu universal,uump
e t ien,
butthe
that
sense that ail
But herpartoipuzegabtablale permitted
partial, in so tar as to be confined to certain categories
of manufactures, should be held iu Paris frequently. In
the meanwhile the building may be utilised as a theatre
forthe exhibition of French products only,

THE PHILADELPHIA AND BALTIMORE BANKS —lt is
assumed that the stoppage of the.e banks, telegraphed
this afternoon, is the result of a joint resolution on the
part of those institutions for mutual preservation from
the consequences of an indiscriminate panic. Should
such be the case, the step, instead of causing an increase
of distrust, may assist in promoting a restoration of con
fidence. Tnere are certain conditions under wilier) no
banking establisments can stand, and it will soon be
seen if these have been the cause 01 the present move-
ment. The immediate effect will be to cause bills on
these cities to be sold at New York and elsewhere at a
heavy discount, and that most of the specie in circuit.-
tion in Philiadelphia anti Baltimore
purchase them. The 13:, ee will be sent away to
will there
fof bullion at other points
fore be proportionably strengthened. The
event, consequently, instead of causing a further fa 1 in
securities,
may operate in an opposite direction. With
regard to t.e fre,b fa
lures reported on this occa-ion,
the principal at Philadelphia seem to have been Caleb
Cope and C.. and Hallowell and Co., both importers , f
manufactured goods,. During the relapse which oc•
curred after the tertnivatioa of the great Ameii, an
panic in 1837,
the Philadelphia and Baltimore b:.n'es
those of New York
At that time their course had been
stood their ground.
suspended, as in this instance, while
radically unsound, and a long period elapsed before t hey
were able to retutee. In the present case no wi le-
spread cJintnercial ilifittion has been observable, a d
tee! e is room to hope that the difficu:ty will be speedily
surmounted.
The Persia is the next steamer to arrive,
and
she may he looked for on Saturday afternoon.—'
Times City Article.
1

THE BREAD AND MEAT QUESTION.

A correspondent of a contemporary complains
that he is shamefully overtaxed by his baker and
butcher. He says :

" To begin with the bakers, it will be something
new to be informed that the price of bread for three
millions of people is fixed on Sunday evening for
the ensuing week—in the back parlour of "The
Jolly Baker and Pie Crust ;" but it is so. Here
will be found Mr. M'Alum. from Whitechapel, Mr.
Doughey from Shoreditch, Mr. Spongem from the
Borough, Mr. Bonedust from Clerkenwell, Mr.
Yesty from Marylebone, and Mr. Litewaite from
Chelsea, whilst the E. C. and W. C. districts
aro ably represented by Messrs. Pareit and
Filchpy ; and here those worthies, delegates
from their respective localities, sitting in solemn
conclave over gin and water, and enveloped in
clouds of tobacco smoke, legislate for the stomachs
of the greatest city on earth. Proceedings com-
mence somewhat iu this style—Mr. Filchpy loq.
(addressing perhaps the Whitechapel representative)
" Well, Mr. M'Alum, I see by the papers there was
a slight fall in Mark-lane this last week, do you think
it would be advisable to lower the quartern a half-
penny ?" "Na, man, not half a bawbee. (M'Alum
is a thrifty Caledonian.) I dinna ken what Mark-
lane is to us, so lang as they are nae for rising the
figure—let the millers tak' care o' themselves, we'll
tak' care o' oursels; I grant consumers may complain
—what need we care about complaints so lang as
there's nae competition ?" Two or three follow in,
a similar strain, aad the thing is done—the half-
penny is retained—and thus (taking the consump-
tion of bread at 61b. per head) a tax of four and a
half millions of halfpence, or 93,7501., is levied on
the metropolis by seven or eight gin-drinking pipe-
smokers, and so on from week to week. I may
here state that the majority of the bakers are men
without any capital of their own, trading on dis-
count and credit, so that the consumer has not only
to pay their trade profit, but interest on their
negotiated acceptances into the bargain. So much
for the bakers.
" Now a word about the butchers. In Newgate,
Leaden-hall and Newport markets the prices of beef
and mutton range from 3s. 6d. to 4s. Bd. per stone
of eight pounds for the former, and 38. 6d. to ss.
2d. for the latter, averaging fur beef 4s. ld. and
mutton 4s. 4d. Yet, sir, in defiance of these figures
—stuoborn fact, patent to all who read the news-
papers—l have been compelled to pay this day Bs.
lid. for a leg of mutton weighing 9113.-90. per
pound, exactly 28. 2d. per stone over the h;ghest
quotation of yesterday. This infamous exaction
must arise from combination. I have no hesita-
tion in stating that the black mail levied by the
butchers, if added to that extorted by the bakers,
would make up a round sum of 200,000/. per week,
or the astounding amount of 10,400,000/. per an-
num. Just think of that, Mr. Bull, and say whe-
ther you will stand it much longer."