FliANCK. 



820 



:ich fleet consisted, on July 1, 1866, 



iron-clad screw steamers, together with 



trunM, and of 20,425 horse-power; 288 



screw steamers, {n^thrr with 4,878 guns 



':,**:5 hui 7~ uhrel steamers, 



'.T with '.M; -runs and 15,225 horse- 



: li!f> sailing vessels, with 1,288 guns; 



X with an aggregate of 



"'in-i and of 108,583 horse-power. The 



marine troops \\, TO composed as follows: 



The general and special* commerce of 

 France with the countries of America and 

 BOIUO of the leading countries of Europe during 

 the year 1864 was as follows (value expressed 

 in millions of francs): 



The total commerce of Francet during the 

 year 1804, was (value expressed in millions of 

 Ira ncs) : 



IMPORTS General commerce 3,407.4 



Special commerce 2,528.2 



EXPORTS General commerce 3,921.2 



Special commerce 2,924.2 



The speech of the emperor, on receiving 

 :he diplomatic corps on January 1,.1866, con- 



By " *pccUl commerce," those imports are understood 

 which arc intended for consumption la France, and those 

 exports which aro produced in France, 



t V'-T ics of the movement of shipping and the 



merchant navy, see AMNUAL CTOLOP^DIA for 1S6&, 



tained no remarks of importance. With re- 

 to the future, the emperor eaid : "We 

 !>< happy if wo can, as at present, con- 

 gratulate ourselves npon having avoided dan- 

 gers, removed apprehensions, and strengthened 

 the lionds which unite nations and kings; and 

 happy, above all, if the experience of accom- 

 plished events enables us to angur a long day of 

 peace and prosperity for the world." 



The session of the French Legislature was 

 opened on January 22d, by the emperor, who 

 delivered the following speech: 



Messieurs let Stnateurt, Metrieun let Dfyuttt : 



The opening of the legislative session permits a 

 periodical exposition of the situation of the empire, 

 and the expression to you of my views. As in pre- 

 ceding years, I will examine with you the principal 

 questions which interest our country. Abroad, 

 peace seems assured everywhere, for everywhere 

 the means are sought for of amicably settling diffi. 

 culties, instead of ending them with the sword. 

 The meeting of the English and French fleets in the 

 same ports has shown that the relations formed on 

 the field of battle have not been weakened ; time 

 has only cemented the agreement of the two coun- 

 tries. 



In regard to Germany, my intention is to continue 

 to observe a policy of neutrality, which, without 

 preventing us at times from being displeased or satis- 

 fied, leaves us, nevertheless, strangers to questions 

 in which our interests are not directly engaged. 



Italy, recognized by almost all the powers of 

 Europe, has strengthened its unity by inaugurating 

 its capital in the centre of the peninsula. We may 

 count upon the scrupulous execution of the treaty 

 of the 15th September, and the indispensable main- 

 tenance of the power of the Holv Father. 



The bonds which attach us to Spain and Portugal 

 are still more strengthened by my late interviews 

 with the sovereigns of those two kingdoms. 



The budget of the public works and that of educa- 

 tion have not undergone any diminution. It was of 

 use to preserve to the grand enterprises of the State 

 their fertile activity, and to maintain the energetic 

 impulse of public instruction. 



Agriculture has made great progress since 1852. 

 At this moment it suffers from the decline of the 

 price of cereals. That depreciation is the necessary 

 consequence of the plenty of the harvests, and not 

 of the suppression of the sliding scale. I have 

 thought it useful to open a serious inquiry into the 

 condition and needs of agriculture. It will, I am 

 convinced, confirm the principles of commercial 

 liberty. 



In the midst of always increasing prosperity, 

 unquiet spirits, under pretext of discussing the 

 liberal progress of the government, would hinder it 

 from marching by taking from it all force and initia- 

 tive. The constitution of 1852, submitted to the ac- 

 ceptance of the people, undertook to establish a 

 system rational, and wisely based on the just equi- 

 librium between the different powers of the State. 

 It is at an equal distance from two extreme situa- 

 tions. With a chamber, mistress of the fate of 

 ministers, the executive is without authority and 

 without spirit. In the same way it is without con- 

 trol if the elective chamber is not independent and 

 in_ possession of legitimate prerogatives. Our con- 

 stitutional forms, which have a certain analogy with 

 those of the United States, are not deficient because 

 they differ from those of England. Each people 

 should have institutions conformable to its genius 

 and traditions. Assuredly, every government has 

 its defects; but, casting a look at the past, I rejoice 

 in seeing, at the end of fourteen years, France re- 

 spected abroad, tranquil within, without political 

 prisoners, without exiles beyond its frontier*. The 



