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CHAP. VIII.

FRANCE.-Coalition between the Ministry and part of the Côte Droit Finances; Estimated Expenditure; Ways and Means-Bank of France-French Navy-Proceedings in the Chamber of Deputies with respect to the Slave Trade-Discussions on the Affairs of Naples The Censorship-Regulations of Colleges-Ecclesiastical Arrangements-Repeal of the Additional Tonnage on American Ships-Trials for Treason in the Chamber of Peers-Explosion in the Tuilleries-Disturbances at Lyons and Grenoble-Religious Fanaticism-Death of Bonaparté-Dissensions in the MinistryResignation of the Chiefs of the Côtè Droit-New Elections-Precautions on the Spanish Frontier-Trials for Political Offences.

THOUGH the ministers, into whose hands the direction of public affairs in France came upon the death of the duke of Berri, were decidedly unfavourable to the Liberals, they were by no means devoted to, or wholly under the influence of the oppo. site party. The duke of Richelieu had always been a moderator between the two factions, rather than the decided partisan of either; and among those who held office under him in 1820, none of the leaders of the côtè droit were to be found. From that side of the chamber, he received only an occasional and doubtful support. In the course of the session of 1820, the keen opposition which he met with, and the small majorities which he was able to command, made him sensible of the necessity of looking round him for re-inforcements. Coalition with the Liberals was out of the question; for to unite with them, would be to abdicate his office; they would not be content with a subordinate share of influence and authority; if admitted as colleagues, they would

soon turn him and his friends out of office; and, though the duke had always shown himself personally indifferent to the possession of power, he could never think of voluntarily putting the reins of government into the hands of his adversaries, and of thereby bringing about a complete change in the situation of all his friends and adherents, and in the course of political events in France. He, therefore, turned his views towards the côte droit; who, though of late, they had risen considerably in power, were still too weak to aspire to governing by their own proper strength, and would be useful allies to the ministers, without being in a situation to make themselves his masters. The policy, indeed, which they were inclined to follow, was, in many respects, inconsistent with the predominating interests, passions, and prejudices of the country; but, in a cabinet, where they would form only a feeble minority, their zeal would be so curbed and checked, as to prevent all dangerous excesses. As union with them was safe, so

heither could there be much difficulty in accomplishing it. A party, who could have no reasonable hopes of engrossing all authority, would be glad to accept a moderate share of the administration. Their leaders, especially M. de Villèle, who from 1815 to 1820, had acted an important part among them, and had distinguished himself by the steadiness and ability of his conduct, were by no means averse to an union with the ministry; by strengthening which, they conceived, that, at the same time that they gratified their own ambition, they confirmed and promoted the cause of good order. But they were held back from yielding readily to these views, by a prudent deference to their adherents; many of whom, they knew, were devoted to principles, which no wise statesmen would act upon in France, and expected from their chiefs, if once in office, a line of conduct, which circumstances would never per mit them to adopt.

The elections, which took place towards the end of 1820, by adding to the strength of the aristocratical party, made it still more requisite, than it had been in the former session, for the duke of Richelieu to come to some understanding with them. Negotiations were begun, were broken off, were again renewed; and at last, just at the close of the year, Messrs. Villèle, Corbieres and Lainé, were admitted into the cabinet. Their accession brought along with it the support of the more moderate members of the côte droit by the zealots, the three new ministers were garded as deserters from the good cause.

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The first important measure brought before the chambers, was the project of a law, by which, besides opening a credit of 200 millions of francs, the first six twelfths of the land-tax, and of the tax on property, moveable and personal, were to be collected according to the rates of 1820; and, until the promulgation of a new law of finance, all the other taxes were to be received, according to the regulations enacted for the service of the preceding year. The minister of finance made this proposition on the 2nd of January; and, in doing so, expressed his regret, that it should be necessary to have recourse to any such provisional measure. The discussion was long and keen; but the côtè droit gave the ministers their support, and the measure was carried by a majority of 268 to 65.

On the 16th of January, the budget of the year was brought forward. The expenses were classed under two heads, the fixed and the administrative. The former, comprehending the interest of the debt, pensions inscribed in the Great Book, the sinking fund and the civil list, were estimated at 351,271,489 francs. Of this sum, 25 millions were appropriated to the civil list, 9 millions to the royal family, 40 millions to the sinking fund, and 189,052,764 to the discharge of the interest of the 5 per cent. consolidated annuities, and reconnoissances de liquidation. This interest was greater than in 1820, by upwards of 700,000 francs.

As to the general expenses, those of the presidency of the council and of the ministry of justice, were the same as in the former year. The expenditure

of the ministry of foreign affairs was fixed at 7,870,000 francs. The insufficiency of the former estimate for the pay of diplomatic agents, and for the expense of couriers, rendered the demand of 300,000 francs necessary, beyond the grants of the year 1820. The ministry of war was limited to 175,442,000 francs, which was less than the estimate of the former year, by the sum of 4,582,352 francs. The expenses of the marine were estimated at 53 millions; which was an augmentation of three millions. The ministry of the interior, esti mated at 103,720,000 francs, presented a diminution of 909,600 francs. The funds required for the administrative service of the ministry of finance sustained a

diminution of 120,000 francs. This saving was effected almost wholly, by diminishing the number of persons employed. The expenses of diplomacy were estimated at 14 millions; that is, at 1,896,000 francs less than in the last year. The commission for managing the old sinking fund was suppressed, and with it the expenditure it occasioned. The sums required for the expenses of the chambers of peers and of deputies, of the court of accounts, and of the administration of the Mint, &c., exhibited some variations; the expenditure of the chambers having increased, while that of the Mint and of some others had diminished. In the Mint there was a saving of 45,970 francs.

The Statement of the Minister of Finance, when dissected and compared in its different parts, furnishes the following view of the estimated Expenditure for the Year:→→→→

CONSOLIDATED DEBT AND SINKING FUND.

Interest on Reconnoissances de Liquidation 13,500,000

Five per cent. Consolidated Annuities
Appropriation for the Sinking Fund.

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In providing the ways and means to meet this expenditure, the government, as a boon to the agricultural interest, who complained loudly of distress, determined to lessen the land tax, and to seek a compensation for the deficiency that would thence result by making small additions to some of the indirect taxes. The minister proposed, that this relief should commence from the 1st day of the ensuing July, and that the amount of it should be fixed at

27,351,136 fr. 38c. The land-tax would, after this reduction, produce the sum of 230,224,952 fr. No change was to be made in the tax upon personal and moveable property, nor in the duty on windows, doors, and licences. These would produce 81,229,075fr. In the registry, it was stated, a considerable deficit was to be apprehended; not exceeding, however, the sum of two millions. Its produce was estimated at 150,500,500fr. The woods, valued in 1820 at 17,047,400fr. produced only 15,247,400fr., notwithstanding the sale in the course of the year of 20,000 hectares. This year they were expected to produce 18,500,000fr., that is, 3,252,600fr. more than in 1820. The indirect contributions were estimated at 191,000,000fr. The customs and the import salt, valued in 1820 at 109,013,000 fr., were calculated for this year, exclusive of 3 millions to be returned out of the gross proceeds, at 119,000,000fr.; the administration of the posts, at 24,310,000fr. The lottery, it was supposed, would exceed the produce of 1820 by about one million, and was estimated at 15,000,000fr.

The scheme for the Ways and Means of the year, and for their general appropriation, stood finally as follows:

PROCEEDS APPROPRIATED TO THE CONSOLIDated Fund.

Registration, Stamps, and Domains .........157,800,000

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