The Sun.
London, England, 1845-04-30 00:00:00

frontiers, that it must necessarily become methodical and
slow, instead of a war of invasion, as it was formerly, and
that the fortified towns of France, recovering their regular
attributes, will no longer Le reduced to see their patriotic
efforts annihilated, or rendered impotent. This, it cannot
be too often repeated, is the principal object of the fortifi-
cations of Paris. But, in order that this object may be ac-
complished, the fortifications must be completed by being
armed. For in vain you will think yourselves secure of the
defence of other parts of the territory if the capital remain
without means of defence, and if it be again expoSed to all
the disasters of which the invasions of 1814 and 1815 have
left us the cruel recollection, Regarded in a political point of
view, the fortifications of Paris are not of less importance.
You have ever wished, gentlemen, and with good reason, to
consider the fortifications of Paris as a work of peace for
the present and for the .future, by attributing to them
a preventive character. That, in fact, is one of their prin-
cipal merits, because it is impossible that foreign Cabinets
will not consider them as a considerable weight in the balance
of their determinations. If you wish that it should be so
you will not hesitate to terminate completely this great
enterprise. The defensive resources of nations are no longer
a mystery for any, and if it could exist in any country it
could not be under a representative government, which, by
its form and publicity of discussion, demonstrate to
foreigners, as well as to the country itself, the strength
and weakness of its position. Is it not evident that if ere
constructed fortifications, without given them arms dispos-
able at a fixed period, we should, is reality, have created
but a dead mass, without soul or without life, and for that
reason condemned to impotency? You would not wish, gen-
tlemen, that a nation like France should be accused of incon-
sistency; and it could not enter into the mind of any friAul
of his country to expose it to the ridicule of Europe and of
all rational men."

Accounts from Lucerne state that a treaty was con-
cluded at that place, on the 23d instant, between the
Commissioners of the canton of Lucerne and those of
Berne, Soleure, Argau, and Bale country, for the release
of the prisoners belonging to the latter cantons. Ac-
cording to its provisions, the said cantons are to pay
together au indemnity of 350,000 francs—of which
Berne is to pay 70,000 francs, Soleure, 20,000 francs,
Bale country, 35,000 francs, Argau, 200,000 francs,
and the other cantons 25,000 francs. The contracting
parties also hope that the Diet will pay 130,000 francs
for the calling out of the troops, in which case Lucerne
will altogether receive near 500,000 francs. In return,
Lucerne promises to issue a complete amnesty to all the
prisoners not belonging to that canton.
The French Three per Cents. were done at TORTONI'S,
on Sunday, at 85f. 60c.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS.
MONDAY, APRIL 28.
The following Bills were presented and read a first time :
London, Chatham. and North Kent Railway.
South Eastern Railway (Ashford to Hastings).
South Eastern Railway (Tunbridge to Tunbridge Wells).
South Eastern Railway (Widening and Extension of the
London and Greenwich Railway).
London and Norwich Direct Railway.
North Wales Mineral Railway.

The following Bills were read a second time, and committed
and referred to the Committee of Selection :
Grand Junction Railway.
Sheffield and Rotherham Railway.
Runcorn and Preston Brook Railway and Docks.
North Wales Railway.

The Leeds and Thirsk Railway Bill,—Petition for addi
tional provision ; referred to the Select Committee oa peti.
tions for Private Bills.

NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL OFFICE.
Glasgow, Barrhead, and Neilston Direct Railway,—Second
reading, Friday, May 2.
Bristol and Exeter Railway Branches,—Second reading,
Friday, May 2.
_ . _

Dunstable and London and Birmingham Railway,—Select
Committee on project, adjourned till Thursday, May 1, at
twelve.

Bedford and London and Birmingham Railway,—Select
Committee on project, adjourned till Thursday, May 1, at
twelve.

Midland Railways (Syston to Peterborough),—Select
Committee on project, adjourned till Thursday, May 1, at
twelve.

London and Brighton Railway,—Committee on petition,
adjourned till Wednesday, April 30.
Portarlington and Tullamore Railway,—Committee on pe-
tition adjourned till Monday, May 5.
Staines and Richmond Railway,—Committee on petition,
adjourned till Wednesday, April 30.
Leeds and Thirsk Railway,—Committee on petition for ad-
litioaal provision, Wednesday, April 30.
Blackburn, Darwen, and Bolton Railway,—Report, Thurs-
day, May 1.
Leeds and Bradford Railway Extension (Shipley to Colne),
—Report, Thursday, May 1.
Huddersfield and Sheffield Junction Railway,—Committee
on Bill (revived), Wednesday, April 30, at three.
London, Worcester, and South Staffordshire Railway
(Dudley and Sedgley Branch),—Second reading, Friday,
May 2.