STATE PAPERS. 759 
eontributions, and the different 
branches of the public revenue; what 
was their amount during the last 
year; what prospect of amcliora- 
tion existed ; whether from the mode 
of administration, or the progress of 
public prosperity, what have been, 
in the different departments of the 
ministry, the elements of the expen- 
diture during the year ten; what 
are the sums still remaining to be 
paid for that and former years ; 
what resources exist to cover them, 
whether arising from outstanding 
arrears of taxes, or from the extra- 
ordinary funds appropriated to pay 
off the debts contracted in these 
years, and which have not yet been 
exhausted; what is the actual 
amount of the public debt ; what 
has been its increase ; how it has 
been diminished by natural causes ; 
and how its extinction has been af- 
feéted by the sinking fund. 
In the account of the minister of 
the public treasury will be seen a 
statement of the receipts, the pay- 
ments of the year ten; what belongs 
to the different branches of the re- 
yenue ; what is chargeable in each 
year, and on each part of the admi- 
_ nistration. 
The united accounts of the two 
ministers will form a complete table 
of our financial situation. The go- 
vernment hold up, with equal satis- 
faction, the piéture which it pre- 
sents to its friends and its detra¢tors, 
_ to citizens, and to foreigners. 
After authorizing the foreseen 
_ expence of the year 12, and appro- 
Ss 
> 
priating the necessary revenue, ob- 
jects of the greatest interest will 
_ occupy the attention of the legisla- 
tive body. It is necessary to intro- 
duce a change into our system of 
_ coinage. The custom-house duties 
_ Must be re-organized, so as more 
effeCtually to check the progress of 
contraband trade. It is at length 
essential to give to France that civil 
code so long promised and so long 
expected. 
Above all, projects of laws have 
been formed under the observations 
of government, and matured in con- 
ferences where commissions from the 
council of state and the tribunate 
were animated only by the love of 
truth and regard for the public intee 
rest. ‘Ihe same seutiments, the same 
principles will guide the dclibera- 
tion of the legislators, and secure to 
the republic the wisdom and the 
impartiality of the laws which are 
adopted. 
On the continent, every thing of- 
fers us pledges of repose and tran- 
quillity. 
The Italian republic, since the 
proceedings at Lyons, has been daily 
strengthening itself by the more ine 
timate union of the people of whom 
it is composed. The happy harmo- 
ny among the authorities by which 
it is governed, its internal admini- 
stration, its military force, alread 
give it the character and the attitude 
of a state long established ; and, if 
wisdom preserve them, they guaran- 
tee to it a destiny of uninterrupted 
prosperity. 
Liguria, placed under a mixed 
constitution, sees at its head, and 
in the bosom of its authorities, all 
those of its citizens, the most esti- 
mable for their virtues, by their ile 
jumination and their fortune. 
New shocks have conyulsed the 
Helvetic republic. The government 
owed its support to neighbours, 
whose repose was essential to the 
repose of France, and it will use 
every exertion ta ensure the success 
of its mediation, and with it the 
happiness of a people whose posi- 
3 © 4 tion, 
