FRANCE

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 388, 23 July 1856, Page 6

FRANCE

(From our own Correspondent.) Paris, March 19. The Electric Telegraph has already informed you of the imponant announcement contained in the speeches of the Emperor of the French yesterday, aud this morning officially repeated in the Mouiteur. Peace is not yet declared, but we know authoritatively that, in the words of Napoleon 111. " at this moment an era of general reconciliation announces itself to Europe." The chances, therefore, are all in favour of peace, of which we may now, from day to day, look for the official proclamation. The readers of the Daily Te'egrapn have been told from the first sessions of the Congress what these speeches full}' bear out, that as soon as there was anything positive to announce, it would be announced to all the world publicly, and at the same time. Plenipotentiaries and Ministers of State have not let their secrets leak out, but as soon as their discussions came to a point, the result was openly communis cated to all alike. It would be uselrss to repeat here the dignified aud touching words which the Emperor addressed to the I'lenipoteutiarLs, headed by Count Walewski, the President of the Congress, to the President of the Senate, the Corps Legislatif, and the Couseil d'Etat. The communications in the letters of the most active of correspondents can be but stale news when the electric telegraph is set to work. Like " panting time," they "toil after it |in vain." The great subjects of interest now must be what terms have been granted to Russia, and whether at last she will accept them frankly and loyally. A few days must decide these questions. We shall know, then, on -what conditions tiie crafty and unscrupulous foe, who so wantonly has spread mourning through the world to gratify selfish ambition, is re-admitted into the family of nations. But in bending her neck to the law imposed on her by the victorious allies, shall we ever know how nearly she has vindicated her bravado of never yielding whilst she could command " a rouble or a man ?" is she really utterly exhausted, or does she only bide her time '! As to supposing that she has sincerely become a convert to reason and right, and out of respect to her new principles renounced hr old iniquities, that even Mr. Cobden himself would hardly believe, xhe bulletins published in the Moni/cur regarding the health of the Empress and the infant Prince, comiuuejfto be perfectly satisfactory- Toe illness of Prince Jerome is announced is to "be drawing to a happy conclusion." By Imperial decree, M. Achille Fould is raised to the dignity of Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour. The same mark of Imperial honour has been bestowed on Admiral Hamelin, Count Ilandou, formerly Minister of War and Governor of Algiers ; General Canrobert and General Bosquet wave been made -Marshals of France. The Generals of Briga- c Walsiu-Esterhazy, Gaghon, D'Hugues, Jusufr", Commander of the Province and Division of Algiers, and Walsiu-Esterhazy (L- .7. 1-.,) have been a ii vanccd to be Generals of Division. Ue-

villier, Daulomieu-Beauchamp, DeL'Abadie, D'Aydren, Ney (Edgar) Pleury (Emile), have been made Generals of Brigade. The boys at ihe public schools have had three days added to their holidays. It would require much ingenuity to find any means yet unexhausted in spreading the universal joy for the birth of the ' Child of France.' The Independance Beige, persists that Prussia has not been called to Congress merely to sit like a dummy and sign whatever papers may be placed before her Plenipotentiaries, but that she will occupy " a position equal to that of the other members, who, in the general interests of Europe, have been called in to aid in the work of Peace." La Prcsse publishes another advertisement of a huge society called the " Association de Capitaux et de Titres." which s ems constituted merely to facilitate stock-jobbing. This company, which receives stocks, and shares at the current price of the day, as cash payments towards capital, and which divides 75 per cent, of its profits amongst the shareholders, announces that those profits for the three first months of the year now about to expire, amount to GO per cent, per annum ; the total, therefore, of their profits must be SO percent, per annum, a result which it would be difficult to find a counterpart of in England. Seriously, these are signs of a most unbridled and dangerous spirit of speculation.— Daily Telegraph.

On the happy occasion of the delivery of the Empress, the Emperor has granted numerous pardons to military prisoners. In the establishment where the punishment of hard labour and the boulet are inflicted, tib'9 soldiers have received a total „. remission of the punishment, and 86 have had a. partial remission. Pardons have also been granted *" to 20 condemned by courts martial for breaches of discipline. In addition the Emperor, on the recommendation of the minister of marine, has granted a full or partial remission to GO sailors for different offences. A full and entire remission is likewise granted for all condemnations for infractions in the service of the Mational Guard throughout the whole of the empire which have been already put into execution and for all those infractions which have not yet been decided on. All pecuniary fines and imprisonments incurred for offences against the Customs regulations, indirect, or thejlforest, fishery, and sporting laws are remitted. Likewise SO3 pardons have been granted to persons confined ai the Bagnes, and in the prisons of the empire, condemned for crimes or common misdemeanours,and who have made themselves remarked by their repentance and good conduct. Numerous fines have also been remitted to necessitous delinquents. And, lastly, a full remission has been accorded for ail offences against the police regulations connected with public roads. On the same occasion the Emperor, on the proposition of the Minister of the Interior and the recommendation of the Superior Commission of the '

Mutual Benefit Societies has decided that a sum of 500.000f. shall be taken from the revenue for the dotation of those societies to constitute pensions iv favour of their oldest members. The Minister of the Interior has charged the to make the division of this sum among the societies approved of according to the decree of the 2Cth of March, 1852.

The women of the markets, or as tbeyr are called, les dames de la Halle, went yesterday to the Tuileries to congratulate the Emperor on the birth of the Prince Imperal- A deputation of them carrying magnificent bo.iquets was admitted to the Empsror, Pand His Majesty received them with marked kindness After conversing a few minutes with them, the Emperor led them himself to the apartments of the young Prince, and presented the infant to them. All the corporations c-T workmen of the capital also manifested a desire to be allowed to present their congratulations to his Majesty, but the Emperor from regard for the health of the Empress, and also on account of the bad weather charged the Perfect of Police to tell them that he regretted not being able to receive them, but that he would accept their visit at the moment of baptism.