FKANCE. 



281 



in.) calibre which they have completed are already in 

 number sufficient to arm all the iron-clad vessels ca- 

 pable of immediately putting to sea, and the battery 

 of the frigates is even augmented in force by the en- 

 tire substitution of cannon of 24c. for those of 19c. 

 The wooden screw-vessels have also had their mili- 

 tary value increased by a new armament of guus of 

 16c. and 19c. of the most recent type. Subjected to 



on has given results satisfactory upon the whole. 

 France incessantly pursues, moreover, like other na- 

 tions, the studies intended to improve it in augment- 

 ing its power. These experiments seem now to point 

 more particularly to a profound modification in the 

 manufacture of gunpowder. As to portable arms, the 

 Naval Department nas been already able to give the 

 muskets of the 1866 model to its sailors and soldiers, 

 and there is reason to hope that the new armament, 

 actively urged forward, will be very soon terminated. 



The special commerce* of France with 

 America and some European countries was, in 

 1866, as follows (value expressed in francs). 



The following is a summary of the movement 

 of commerce from 1827 to 1866 : 



The movement of shipping in 1866 was as 

 follows : 



The merchant navy, on December 31, 1866, 

 comprised : 



Sailing-vessels .......... 15,230 



Steamers ................ 407 



915,034 

 127,777 



* By special commerce those imports are understood 



France> ond those 



Total ............. 15,637 1,042,811 



Coasting-vessels ........ 8,829 66,698 



An official report of the ministry of Agricul- 

 ture, Commerce, and Public Works gives the 

 following information of the different lines of 

 railway working at the close of 1867, and 

 their receipts during the year, as compared 

 with 1866 : The total length of railway open 

 on the 31st of December, 1867, was 15,669 

 kilometres (five-eighths of a mile each), and of 

 which 7,524 formed the old network, and 

 7,809 the new, while the remaining 336 be- 

 longed to private companies; the extent of 

 lines at the close of 1866 was 14,530 kilome- 

 tres, there being an increase of 1,139 kilome- 

 tres in 1867. The total receipts in the two 

 years respectively were as follows: In 1867, 

 old network, 499,687,007 francs; new, 152,- 

 141,793 francs; other companies, 4,665,288 

 francs together, 656,494,088 francs. In 1866, 

 old network, 469,894,060 francs; new, 132,- 

 452,382 francs; other companies, 3,334,001 

 francs together, 605,680,443 francs. The 

 augmentation in 1867 was consequently 50,- 

 813,645 francs. 



The legislative session, which had been 

 opened in November, 1867, closed in July, 

 1868. It was the longest since 1852, having 

 comprised 141 public sittings, whereas that of 

 1867 consisted of 89 only. The discussion on 

 the budget alone occupied not fewer than 25 ; 

 in 1867 the debate lasted only 21. For the 

 first time since 1852 the Assembly heard nine 

 ministers take part successively in the public 

 discussions, M. Rouher, M. Baroche, M. Pinard, 

 the Marquis de Moustier, M. de Forcade la 

 Eoquette, Marshal Mel, Admiral Rigault de 

 Genouilly, M. Duruy, and M.'Vuitry coming 

 forward and defending their departments. One 

 only, Marshal Vaillant, minister of the Em- 

 peror's household, took no part in the labors 

 of the Legislative body. The Senate met 34 

 times in its bureaux and 66 in general sittings. 

 The former had to examine one demand for an 

 interpellation, as well as several petitions, pro- 

 posing modifications in the Constitution ; they 

 appointed 75 committees, the labors of which 

 were as follows: One to examine a Senatus 

 Consultum ; 63 for the investigation of bills ; 

 one to consider a demand for authorization to 

 prosecute a senator; nine to prepare reports 



