The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-31 00:00:00

The French Chamber has enough to do, in all
conscience, just now, with one thing or another,
and no sooner is the Army Bill disposed of than
the very awkward subject of the Bill on the
Press must be taken up. In yesterday's sitting
the discussion, therefore, was resumed, M. THIERS
making a long harangue. He admitted that there
were many subjects which ought not to be dis-
cussed in the papers, as for instance the " bases
of society and matters of private life." In con-
stitutional countries, of course, the Sovereign
is shielded from comment becoming personal by
the Ministers taking the responsibiliiy upon them-
selves. Beyond these limits, however, he declared
that there should be open discussion upon all
those matters that related to the acts of public
authorities. This is a very just definition, and
we only wish that we could see it entertained by
the powers that be in France. If so, a very supe-
rior state of things would be the order of the day,
and an impetus would be given to the spirit of the
country that could not fail to be most beneficial in
all respects. M. TRIERS did himself great honour
by the decided tone he took in this important mat-
ter, and at any rate it is a satisfaction to meet with
it, as it affords au incontestable proof that some of
the right feeling survives in the country—that some
can protest against the innovations that are so con-
stantly made. As M. TRIERS said, it is difficult to
"define exactly" the offences of the Press. This bill
offers some advantages, but still it must be borne
in mind that the Government will still have the
control of the liberty of the Press in their own hands.
M. TRIERS concluded his impressive address by de-
claring that they should upon all considerations
grant full liberty to the Press, and not to lose so
" decisive an opportunity for effecting that object."
The Minister of the Interior, as might be ex-
pected, endeavoured to do away with the impres-
sion produced by the excellent speech of M. TRIERS,
but after all his arguments amounted to very little,
and were a sort of rechauffe of all the restrictive
dogmas that have always found favour with arbi.
trary rulers. The power of the Press, said M.
PINARD, is " acclimatized" in " France ; its influ-
ence is good and evil at the same time, and then
followed what may be called the gist of his remarks,
—" Its present tendency is towards violence, and a
defence is therefore necessary, which must
be placed under the guardianship of the
law, and not of individuals." What does
does all this mean but that at any given
moment the Government will intervene, and put all
sorts of hindrances in the way of frze discussion,
as they have hitherto been in the habit of doing.
It does not avail to reassure us that M. PINARD
informed the Chamber that the bill was not strin-
gent, in its penalties, but only vigilant in the " course
of procedure" which it laid down. There is no in-
clination on the part of the Government to make
any advance in the right direction in this respect,
and when this is fully realised one feels naturally
indignant and disappointed. It seems idle to ex-
pect improvement when year after year rolls by only
to see the old story renewed, and the same game
opportunitybt
aetkehoca tatdhlvvraoi lnwl it
ona ggaewminds
d,waol
tuahlsde,
still in vogue. Fifteen years must have afforded
many
golden
delightedchance
h at
os
lithaeveg
historian can only record that the reign of absolut -
ism has had its triumph. It is no exaggeration to
say that if these arbitrary restrictions be renewed
upon the Press of France it is impossible to
expect that the nation will really prosper or take
its rightful place among the nations of Europe. It
is, indeed, unfortunate that a truer, wiser, and
nobler policy should not prevail in a country and
among a people so worthy of occupying a high and
influential a position ; but as it is all that can be
hoped for is that a change, not at present discerni-
ble, may speedily come over the aspect of affairs,
and give promise of brighter days for the future.

Fenianism, though losing some of its hold on
public attention, continues to occupy a good share
of the proceedings of our law courts. The evi-
dence of MULLANY, at Bow-street, has thrown
fresh and unexpected light on the dark story of
the Clerkenwell conspiracy, and has given most
important assistance to justice. No doubt whatever
other information is wanted will be sooner or later
forthcoming, and before the close of the trial the
public will be in possession of many additional
facts. Meanwhile, in the sister country, trials of
another order are the topic of the day. Yesterday
the arguments upon the question of removing, by
writ of certiorari the trial of the publisher of the
Irishman newspaper to the Court of Queen's Bench
were brought to a close. The object of the motion
was to obtain for the accused the advantage
of a special jury with the Lord Chief-Justice as
Judge. As it at present stands the trial will come
before the Dublin Commission Court, which is
analogous to the London Central Criminal Court.
The arguments on both sides were heard. The ac-
cused's counsel contended that the case ought to be
sent before a jury of the highest intelligence ; and
the Attorney-General, on the other hand, objected
to the postponement of the trial. The four
Judges were divided in opinion, Mr. Justice FITZ-
GERALD and Mr. Justice O'BRIEN. holding that the
case was a special one, which ought to be tried by
a jury of more than ordinary intelligence, and Mr.
Justice GEORGE and the Lord Chief Justice
thinking that no sufficient grounds had been
shown, and that the certiorari should be re-
fused. The Court being divided the application
fell through, and the judgment was no
rule in the motion. The Judges being all Irish
there can at least be no accusation of national
bias or prejudice ; and Mr. PIGOTr, like the others
accused, may rely on a fair hearing, and ample
opportunity for defence wherever he may be tried.

Yesterday a meeting of the ratepayers of St.
Pancras took place at the Vestry-ball, Camden-
town. This meeting, -which was greatly crowded,
was held for the purpose of protesting against the
course pursued by the 114 etropolitau Board of Works
in having, at a meetizg held with closed doors,
" resolved to borrow ia 50,000 over and above the
sum authorised by Paz liament." Mr. HARVEY
LEWIS, M.P., very truly emarked that if the High
Court of Parliament could make their proceedings
public, when it was known that what they did
affected other nations_as well as the people of this
country, " it was idle and futile to say that the
borrowing of a sum of 350,000 by such a body as

MADRID, JAN. 30.

The Prussian Minister has been accredited to
the Queen as representative of the North• German
Confederation.

In the Budget just laid before the Cortes, the
Government has asked for authorisation to improve
the position of the railway companies.

AMERICA.

QUEENSTOWN, Jan. 31.

The National • Steamship Company's steamer
Denmark arrived here from Liverpool last night.
She embarked passengers this morning and pro-
ceeded for New York. All well.

FRAN CE.

An Athens despatch announces that Greece has
joined the monetary convention concluded between
France, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium,
Roumania,
and the Pontifical States.
A new town is about to be built in the province of
the Don Cossacks, to be the capital of the colony of
the Grouchevka mines,
BoußsE, JAN. 30.—Transactions are very nu-
merous, and the market is firm.

Three o'clock.—The market closed as follows :-
44 per Cent.
Lad of month... Ital;.an Loan
3 per Cent
End of month 6B 474 Mexican Loan ... 16 25
Credit Mobilier
End of month— 170 Spanish Threes
Credit Foncier ...1380 Home Debt 344
Ead of m0nth...1377 50 Deferred
RAILWAYS.

Account
Orleans
Northern
Lyons and Mediterranean ....•••••
Southern..." ....... .
'Western
Eastern • • s3Bt
Sardinian ...................... . .
Austrian ................ . .....
Lombard 352i
North of Spain
Saragossa ..........................
Roman ......................

45

BAND OF FRANCE
PARIS, Jan. 30.

The following is the return of the Bank of France
for the weekending to-day; together with the cor-
responding figures of the previous account :
DEBTOR.
Jan. 23.
fr. c.
Capital of the Bank.... 182,500,000
Profits in addition to

Jan. 30.

182,500,000 -

7,044,776 02 7,044,776 02
June 9,
(Art.lB )8.,..1.f.,
Reserve of the Bank
and its branches...... 22,105,750 14 22,105,750 14
Reserve of landed pro-
perty. .................... 4,00,0,00,0_ 4,000 000
Notes in circulation ... 1,212,4 i 4,1 i 0 1,212,072,175
Banknotes to order and
receipts payable at
sight ..................... 33,594,942 88 33,524,732 02
Treasury account cur-
72,865,948
rent creditor ........ .. 65 73,156,675 32
Current accounts, Paris 347,635,237 61 368 996,018 02
Do. branch banks .....• 39,65,2,293 -_ 43,254,288,
Dividends payable...... 5,862, ill 75 2,368269 75
Discounts and sundry
..
interests ............. . 1,64/,833 80 1,863,216 80
Rediscounted the last
six mouths ............ 930,376 76 930,376 76
Surplus of receipts not
distributed ............
.7--
Sundries .................. 9,993,626 50 8,407,617 46

, CRED1T0R.937,J326n,. 02732.14 1797602,23T95
fr 1.16,389 781,042 678,057 oc2
1,027,
CashTiontalba;..a.n..d...i.n 1
297,800 29 135,511 08
,
counted, not yet due 264,140,588 98 278,101,433 85
Do. branch banks 247,504,963
Commercial Commercialdueßranch
.. . b..a.n..bills
billsk.hs.
l.
s:
240,873,666
Advances on deposit of
bullion ..... .. . 59,647,800 58,917,800
Do. branch banks 11,265,477 11,473,277
Do. on French Public
Securities...... 12,135,300 .... 12,005,400
Do. by branch banks 7,186,000 7,330,400
Do. on railway shares
and debentures
Do. branch banks
Do. on Credit Fonder
Bonds
Do. branches
Do. to the State (Con-
vention, June 10,
1857) 60,000,000 60,000,000
Government Stock re- .
serve 12,980,750 14 12,980,750
Do. disposable
Rentes Immobalisees '
(Law, June 2, 1857) 100 000 000 100,000,000
Hotel and furniture of ' '
the Bank and landed
property branches.,, 8,287,926 -- 8,287,840
Expenses of manage-
ment
Sundries

Total ........... 1,9,?7 326 072 14 1,960,223,890 29
Certified by the Senator Governor of the Bank of France.
(Signed) ROULAND.

FINANCIAL REFORM._A preliminary meeting
was held last night at 10, Bridge-street, West-
minster, of gentlemen favourable to a reduction of the
national expenditure and taxation. The first resolution
adopted was as follows : "That in order to secure the full
benefits of Reform, there must be a large reduction of ex-
penditure, an extension of;trade, and manufactures, and
employment, and that the application of any surplus thus
obtained shall be applied to the reduction of duties on
articles of general consumption, especially
those on tea,
corn, coffee, sugar, and other necessaries." It was also
resolved that public meetings should be held throughout
the metropolis, one at least in each parliamentary borough,
in aid of the objects of the association ; and a committee of
influential gentlemen was named to make the necessary
arrangements.

SPECIAL CONSTABLES.—Lieut.-Colonel Ewart,
R.E., who was appointed to superintend the organisation
of special constables, last night issued a notification to the
effect that the organisation of the force having now been
completed, or ne4rly so, the temporary office in Welling-
ton Barracks will be closed to-day. At the same time
Lieutenant-Colonel Ewart published complete returns
of the number of special constables up to the present
time enrolled and organised in all parts of the country.
By them it appears that the total number reported
is 113,674. Of these, 52,974 belong to the metropolitan
districts ; the remainder are distributed through the coun-
try. The contingents are supplied by 100 towns and dis-
tricts, and most of the forces are completely organised and
officered. After London, Leeds has enrolled the greatest
number, 4,000 ; then come in order—Bull, 3,974
Chat-
ham, 3,098 ; Bradford, 2,827 ; Birthingham, 2,500 ; BriStol,
2,461; and Manchester, 2,265. The lists in other places,
though not so hewn are amply full.