FRANCE. 



383 



According to P. Barry (the Dockyards, Ship- 

 yards, and Marine of France, London, 1864), 

 France possessed in the summer of 1864, the fol- 

 lowing iron-clad men-of-war, either afloat or 

 about to be launched : 



The merchant navy, on December 31st, 1826, 

 consisted of 



The general and special commerce of France 

 with the countries of America, during the year 

 1862 was as follows (value expressed in mil- 

 lions of francs) : 



The commerce with some of the leading 

 countries of Europe was as follows : 



The total commerce of France, during the year 

 1862, was (value expressed in millions of francs :) 



Importations. General Commerce 2.S99.2 



" Special Commerce 2J19&6 



Total Importations 5.949.1 



Exportation:;. General Commerce 3.049.9 



Special Commerce 2.242.7 



Total Exportations 4,441.3 



The movements of shipping during 1863 

 were as follows : 



EvnaiD. CLKABZD. 



Ships. Tonnage. 



Ships, 



Tonnage. 



The session of the Corps Legislatif, which was 

 opened in Nov., 1863, continued until May 28, 

 1864. The opposition, though small, embraced 

 the first talents of France, and the masterly ad- 

 dresses by Jules Favre, Jules Simon, Thiers, 

 Berryer, Emile Olivier, and many others, pro- 

 duced an immense sensation at home as well as 

 abroad. They offered a series of amendments 

 to the draft of an address to the emperor, in 

 which they embodied the most important de- 

 mands of the liberal party. Though unable to 

 influence the votes of the majority of the Corps 

 Legislatif, they greatly improved the prospects 

 of their party. The address, as finally adopted 

 by the Corps Legislatif, states that the people 

 are profoundly attached to Imperial Institu- 

 tions, and applauds the resolution of the emperor 

 to anticipate public opinion in the path of indus- 

 trial and commercial liberty. It expresses a 

 wish that the pubh'c works should not be dimin- 

 ished, and -that interior reforms should be de- 

 veloped. The address then says that the Corps 

 Legislatif believes with the emperor that the 

 most wisely governed nations cannot always es- 

 cape foreign complications, and that they should 

 regard them without illusion as without weak- 

 ness. The document then proceeds : 



" The distant expeditions to China, Cochin China, 

 and Mexico, have greatly disturbed the public mind 

 of France on account of the obligations and sacrifices 

 they entail. We acknowledge that these expeditions 

 must inspire respect for our countrymen and for the 

 French nag, and that they may also develop our 

 mercantile commerce, but we should be happy to see 

 realized shortly the good results for which your Ma- 

 jesty has led us to hope." On the Polish "question 

 the address says : " The recollections of our history 

 and the feelings of humanity which animate us excite 

 the most earnest sympathies for Poland, and we have 

 seen with grief the failure of the combined efforts of 

 three great powers ; neither can we, however, disre- 

 gard that the sincere and cordial support of Russia 

 has been useful to France on important occasions. 

 We hope that the spirit of conciliation which ani- 

 mates the two sovereigns will succeed in removing 

 all that can create any obstacle to the satisfactory re- 

 lations between the two powers, and have therefore 

 accepted with profound satisfaction the idea of a 

 European Congress, which will be a lasting honor to 

 your reign. France, on whom you have bestowed 

 splendor and glory, is grateful to yon for not having 

 committed her treasures and the blood of her chil- 

 dren in causes in which her honor and interests are 

 not at stake. Leave without regret, Sire, the few un- 

 just prejudices against accepting your loyal and pa- 

 cific propositions. Noble and sound ideas" make way 

 hi the world, and take root in the heart of the peo- 

 ples. Await calmly the effect of your generous words. 

 France, homogeneous, compact, strong, and confident 

 in you, fears no aggression, and now has no other 

 ambition than to assure her repose and develop her 

 material welfare by labor and peace, and her moral 

 welfare by the sincere and gradual practice of civil 

 and political liberties." 



