reaps the fruit of that indefatigable activity so ingenious in fertilizing the seeds of prosperity. The free exercise of all the rights guaranteed by our laws insures the regular development of our institutions.

"We congratulate ourselves with you, Sire, on the situation of our country. We attribute that blessing to the accord of the public powers, and to the maintenance of that policy of order and preservation which, tempering firmness by moderation, triumphs over the passions, reconciles the minds, secures tranquillity at home, and general peace abroad-a policy at once salutary and glorious, which, after having acquired for your Majesty the gratitude of contemporaries, will ever honour the memory of your reign.

"Sire, your Majesty continues to receive from all the Foreign Powers assurance of their pacific and friendly dispositions. We are happy to think that nothing will disturb that security which is a necessary condition of the progress of labour, and of the welfare daily augmenting among all the classes of the people. It behoves nations who do not dread war, to profess openly their love of peace.

"A convention, lately concluded between England and France, with a view to put a period to an odious traffic, replaces our trade under the protection and exclusive surveillance of our flag. We loudly applaud the success of a negotiation ably conducted and promptly terminated. The execution of the treaty confided to the loyal cooperation of the navies of both States is a guarantee that the rights and dignity of the two nations will be equally respected, and that an efficacious repression will

"Sire, the friendship which unites your Majesty and the Queen of Great Britain favours the continuation of the amicable and intimate relations of France and England. The harmony prevailing between two great nations, whose mission it is to promote and maintain civilization in the world, is a precious advantage for them, and an invaluable blessing for mankind. We are anxious that mutual confidence should continue to exist between the two Governments, and that they should act in conjunction whenever circumstances require, at the same time that they will reserve to themselves an entire liberty of action in their respective political spheres.

"The words of your Majesty induce a hope that the combined action of England and France will obtain on the banks of the Plate the desired success. After so ruinous an interruption, it is urgent that our commercial relations with that important portion of the American Continent be regularly reestablished. If our just respect for the independence of nations prevents us from interfering in their domestic dissensions, nobody can contest our right to minister to our interests, compromised by the war between two neighbouring States, by re-establishing peace in that quarter, which is the sole object of our endeavours.

"France deplores with you, Sire, the events that disturbed our African possessions. We thank your Majesty for the promptitude of the measures adopted to remedy the evil. We fully confide in the heroism of our soldiers. Their bravery will everywhere assert the triumph of the arms of France,

and strengthen her dominion. Our energetic perseverance will maintain our power in Algeria; wisdom and foresight will consolidate it. "Sire, the great civil and military works voted by the Chambers are being everywhere executed. France has thus acquired an additional guarantee of security. A lively emulation has manifested itself in the different parts of the kingdom, at the sight of so many works of public interest, which, by facilitating the communications, will draw closer the ties of national unity. We will carefully examine the propositions submitted to us by the order of your Majesty to terminate those useful undertakings. By imparting to the works commenced the impulse which they need, the King's Government, being the prudent appreciator of the general situation of affairs, will no doubt show itself prudent in fresh undertakings.

"We are happy to hear from the mouth of your Majesty, that the situation of our finances is becoming daily more satisfactory.

"We will receive, Sire, with gratitude, the projects of law intended to introduce important ameliorations into the different branches of the Administration. Ameliorations are the work of time. In examining the propositions which will be presented to us, we will consult the lessons of experience. France has a right to be proud of her administrative organization. We will carefully attend to the preservation and improvement of that important portion of our public institutions.

"Sire, in the accomplishment of that great and noble task imposed upon your Majesty, by the wish of the nation, Providence directed your steps. You may always rely on the loyal and faithful

co-operation of the Chamber and country. Sire, your family belongs to France. Your sons prove it daily by their devotedness and their zeal to serve her. Your grandsons are the hope of future generations. The holy laws of the country have sealed the intimate union of your descendants and ours.'

The debate on this Address lasted for several days, but it presented so few features of interest, that we think it unnecessary to transfer to our pages, at any length, the speeches that were delivered, and shall merely notice one or two of the subjects introduced into the discussion.

M. Charles Dupin admitted, that the situation of the country was satisfactory; the Ministry consolidated, and supported by considerable majorities; the country calm, and the foreign relations established on an amicable footing; but he thought that the Committee of the House had gone too far when it said that "it was happy to hear from the mouth of His Majesty that the situation of the finances was becoming daily more prosperous." Now, he would cite the Budget presented by the Minister of that department, to show that the security proclaimed in the Address was not altogether well founded, for the Minister himself positively stated that the amount of the deficit was yearly augmenting. It resulted from the returns submitted to the Chambers that the deficit, which in 1844 was 371,000,000f., had risen in 1845 to 396,000,000f., and in 1846 to 421,000,000f. This he knew was not alarming; but, nevertheless, called for a speedy remedy. He then referred to the financial posi

tion of England, and observed that a Ministry so partial to that country should also take it for a model. In 1816, after the war, the Budget of England, he said, amounted to 2,150,000,000f.; eight years afterwards, in 1824, it was reduced to 1,425,000,000f.; and in 1844, it had still further decreased to

1,375,000,000 f. The debt of England had also considerably diminished, whilst that of France increased in a frightful proportion. In conclusion, he drew a parallel, entirely to the advantage of England, of the achievements of both Governments, and described the extension assumed of late by the power of Great Britain in every part of the globe, extolled the admirable expedition, à la Cortez, executed by the British arms along the Chinese coast, showed the dominions of England daily extending, at the same time that her expenditure diminished, and asked the Ministry if they could boast of similar results, even to justify the increase of the public burdens?

M. Dubouchage complained of the silence of the King's Speech respecting the questions most interesting to the country, and blamed the Committee on the Address for having imitated that silence.

After M. Dubouchage had concluded, the general discussion was closed, and the President read the first paragraph of the Address, in which the Chamber congratulated the King on the prosperity and tranquillity enjoyed by the country.

The Marquis de Boissy then rose, and addressed some observations on the necessity of reform, of which, he said, it behoved the Chamber of Peers to take the initiative. One of the measures particularly recommended by him

was the re-establishment of an

hereditary peerage. Having in the course of his observations referred to the burning of the timber stores at Toulon, which he described as an immense loss, the Minister of Marine replied that the loss was certainly considerable, but not irreparable, since it did not exceed 3,000,000f.

In the course of the debate Count Montalembert brought a charge of inhumanity against the French Government for not having thrown its protection round the Syrian Christians, upon which

M. Guizot rose and said, that those reproaches were unfounded and unjust, for the French Government, during the last thirty years, had been the first to respond to the call of humanity in Greece, Turkey, on the coast of Africa, and generally throughout the globe. M. de Montalembert had complained that no communication of any document relative to Syria had been made to the Chambers. The Government could have produced papers highly creditable to its policy, but they might have injured the success of the cause he was anxious to serve. Lebanon now in a crisis, and publicity given to any document connected with the pending negotiation might be attended with fatal consequences. M. Guizot then referred to the principal event of which Syria had been the theatre since 1840. He contended that the Emir Bechir was alone capable of governing that country. He was a man of energy; he had administered Lebanon for forty years; he had acquired his power by violence and cunning; nobody could be expected to exercise the same influence; and although his successor was chosen from among

was

his family, he was unable to command respect for his authority. Frightful disorder followed the deposition of the Emir Bechir, when it was proposed to place Lebanon under the Turkish authority. France acquiesced, but insisted on its being merely temporary, having always in view the re-establishment of a purely Christian Administration. The Pashas had obtained and forwarded to Constantinople petitions from Lebanon, inviting the Sultan to appoint an Ottoman governor. France proved the falsehood of those petitions, and defeated the scheme. All the Turks who succeeded each other in the government of Lebanon had laboured to establish that system against which France had invariably protested. Chekib Effendi was then sent by the Divan to inquire into the real situation of Lebanon, and redress the grievances of the Christian sufferers. Chekib Effendi violated every promise he had made previous to his departure from Constantinople. On arriving at Beyrout, he proceeded to disarm the population of Lebanon, both Druse and Christian. That measure was executed with violence, particularly as respected the Christians. The Druses were, however, equally disarmed, and some of their chiefs arrested and transported to Constantinople. The French grievances were not redressed by Chekib Effendi. The chief who had presided at the murder of Father Charles had been tried and acquitted. The trial had been conducted with all possible solemnity. Witnesses were examined, and the sentence had the appearance of impartiality and sincerity. All the forms had been observed, and France had no right to demand the head of

the guilty man. But the other grievances of France having been overlooked, the French Ambassador addressed an ultimatum to the Porte, in which he insisted on their being immediately redressed, on the payment of an indemnity to the convents and French citizens who had been despoiled by the Turks, and on the instant repeal of the measure of Chekib Effendi which enjoined all foreign residents to quit Lebanon and repair to Beyrout; threatening, in case his demand were not acceded to, to suspend all diplomatic intercourse with the Porte. That ultimatum was accepted, and every satisfaction granted. M. Guizot next referred to the arrest of a French dragoman, whose liberation, vainly demanded by the French Consul, was obtained by the interference of the captain of the Belle Poule frigate, who landed a party of his men to rescue him by force. This act constituted a violation of territory. Nevertheless, the conduct of the consul and captain was approved, but they were recommended at the same time not to resort in future to armed demonstrations. M. Guizot declared, in conclusion, that during the last five years he had availed himself of every opportunity to claim the restoration of a Christian Administration for the entire of Lebanon; that the opinion of France in that respect had gained ground since 1842; that Austria had completely adhered to it, and that others might ere long be expected to advocate the same principle.

The debate on the Address in the Chamber of Peers terminated on the 16th of January, when it was carried by the large majority of 120 to 23.