Long debates in the French Chamber of Deputies occupy the
columns of the Parisian journals. On Tuesday, LAFITTE delivered a startling speech on the financial state of the country. He en- deavoured to show that the unfunded debt had been alarmingly' increased, and that a reduction of expenditure was absolutely ne- cessary. The following passage in the speech of the chief agent in the Revolution of 1830, is that which excited the most attention.
"What, gentlemen ! a difference of merely nine millions of francs between the Government anterior to IMO, and that posterior to this epoch ! A Govern- ment chosen by the country costs only nine millions of francs less than a Go- vernment imposed on us by foreigners ! The Restoration, which was so prodi- gal, spent this sum more than a Government which promised to he so econo- mical. And this is considered satisfactory. For my part, the blush mounts to my cheek, and I declare that as such is to be the financial result of our glorious revolution, without mentioning any of its disappointment in other things, I must demand pardon of God and my fellow citizens for the part I took in that revolution."
Count D'ARGOUT replied to LAFITTE ; and made out that the revenue of the country was equal to its ordinary expenditure, and that the excess of the latter was occasioned by the necessity of providing for the American Indemnity, and by a large outlay in public improvements.
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