Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-07-27
FROM OUR PARIS CORRESPONDENT.


FROM OUR PARIS CORRESPONDENT.
PARIS, July 4, 1850.
During the past week, the feeble tenure by which
the Government holds its majority in the Assembly,
that majority which passed the electoral law and the
dotation bill, has been made apparent. On Friday
Ministers were actually defeated The mayors bill,
one of that series Of measures by which the re-
action hopes to attain its end-the abolition of
the Republic-without another violent shock, had
been lying unacted upon, on the Presidents table,
for nearly three months. This bill takes from the
people the privilege which they have hitherto en-
joyed in most of the communes of France, even
under the Kings, Of electing their mayors by popu-
lar vote The power Of appointment is vested in
the President OF the Republic. or, in case of the
smaller communes, in the prefect Of departments,
who are the devoted friends of the President. On
Friday, M. BARocHE, Minister of the Interior,
moved that this bill be made the order of the day
for Thursday Ito day., declaring that it was deemed
by Government as measure Of most urgent i'm
portance. The extreme Right joined with the
Mountain and moderate Left and the house refused
to fix day for the discussion. Larochejaquelin
and Vatmesnil led the seeding Leg.imists. This
indefinite postponement is deemed equivalent to a
positive rejection of the BILL
The usury laws have been under discussion.
Two propositions were before the Assembly; one
10 abolish all laws upon the subject, leaving the
value of money, as of all other things of which it
is the representative, 10 be determined by circum-
stances the other to aggravate the penalties of
existing laws, by making the single act, as well as
the habit or practice OF usury, criminal The latter
prevailed subsequent provisions, carried, however,
by small maiorities, have made the new bill SO OBJ
ectionable that its fate upon the third reading is
exceedingly doubtful. 1t was ordered to this third
reading by majority of three only.
The committee to which was referred the bill
restricting the press has reported. 1t recommends
that the amount Of security money required from
the daily political journals remain as it is now
fixed by law, at $4,000. The bill introduced by
Ministers proposes to raise it to $4,000. The
committee modifies, too, the proposition OF Min
listers touching the stamp duty. 1t recommends
stamp tax of six centmes, which shall also frank
the newspaper. There is strong opposition
getting up against the BILL and it is not believed
that it will pass. The same concert between the
extreme right and extreme left, which adjourned
the Mayors bill, will be again effected in this case
The bill, if passed, will crush at least a hundred
and fifty Of the provincial journals of all parties;
yet forsooth, it is bill not voative but reguative
of the liberty of the press, the electoral not
violative but reguative of universal suffrage.
The Reuue des Deur Aondes has just COM
peted its second quarter of the present year,
forming volume of twelve hundred pages OF unu-
sual ability. Among its contributors have figured
NM. Augustin Thierry, Leon Faucher, Michel
Chevaler, and L. de CarnP in the departments of history
and political economy NM. Ampere, Charles Magnin,
Mermee Gustave Panche and St. Marc de Grardn, in
literature. M. de Boman late consul of France in Peru
and NJ de Tchihatche have contributed valuable articles the
former upon Peruvian society and the Republic and the latter
upon Asia Minor and the financial condition OF Turkey
There is too, interesting paper of j. Msand, entitled
'Quakers and Quakersm of our days, in England and
America and another by Eugene Veulot on Thbet and
French missions in Upper Asia The place given to light
literature is worhy occupied by Vaon and Octave Feuiet
touching recital called GA Dutch story and ascribed to
the pen Of distinguished lady, is the gem Of this department.
beautiful building, destined hold the Library of Ste
Geneveve Paris has just been completed the eastern
side Of the Place du Pantheon Upon the exterior, in large
characters the and south fronts, inscribed the
Of hundreds of the most distinguished of all
countries in the various walks Of literature science and art
cusoy glance the other day. enabled me to detect among
the thus distinguished Of our country,
Washington and Franklin. There may be others which
escaped my eye.
General CAvAIesAc improving short leave of absence
from the Assembly which he took with remarkable discreticn
just in time avoid voting upon the dotaton BILL at the baths
of Leuk in Switzerland. II the Republic should last long,
(Which hardly conceive be possib!e Gen. CAvAIG
will be the prominent republican candidate for the Pesi
dency at the elections in 1882 In such event. $4,000 per
day would add no slight charms to the perspective.
Al the meeting Of the Academy of Sciences Monday, M.
ARAso of unsuccessful balloon ascension
which became almost DISASTROUS attempted three days
before by MN Bxio and Barral, two scientific of
Paris The object of the Adventures ascend to o
height of seven miles, the decrease of temperature
and the density OF the air. TO make hygromeca and bafo
mecal observations in Short complete the information
which the ascensons of Gay Lassac, many years ago. left
imperfect The ascension took place at 10 A. NJ large
number Of had assembled the of the Obse
great care and, according CUSTOM only thirds
filed with gas. Considering the extraordinary height to
which proposed to mount hydrogen gas was used to
initiate it. But the net work of strong cord which envelopes
the balloon had been hastily prepared received the
last moment, and proved to be small The cords
cut, aud in minute and half rapid the ascent,
the travellers lost in the clouds Arrived at height Of
about three thousand yards the dation Of the gas
pdy progressing All worked well until the net ceased be
ample enough to contain the balloon. Then their troubles
and danger commenced The balloon became more and more
elongated below till the travellers and their
pe,ey enveoped in ts ods and in imminent danger Of
sufoca,on In fact the had not been suspended su
GENTLY low. AT this critical moment, NJ Barra cut in the
bottom large hole with his knife Then they almost
a.