The Legislative Chambers of France were opened on Tues- day,
by the King in person. It will be decorous to allow the Mo- narch to tellhis own story. " My relations with foreign powers continue to be friendly. The assurances I receive from my Allies offer me a pledge, that, notwithstanding the events which have desolated the East, peace willnot be disturbed in the rest of Europe. To hasten the pacification of Greece, I have, in concert witinEngland and Russia, sent to the Morea i division of my troops. At the sight of some thousands of Frenchmen, de- termined to accomplish their noble task, that celebrated country, too long ravaged, has been restored to peace and, security. There, as at Navarino, the union of the Sags has proved to the world the respect of the three Crowns for the faith of Treaties ; and my' soldiers take pleasure in recounting the sincere support which they have found In the English Navy- A formal declaration notified to the Porte, has placed the Morea and the neighbouring islands under the protection of the Three Powers. This solemn act will suffice to render a protracted occupation unnecessary. I con- tinue to assist the Greeks, to rebuild their ruins, and my ships to bring back to them those Christian slaves whom the pious generosity of France has restored to their country and to liberty. So many cares will not prove vain. I have reason to believe that the Porte, more enlightened, will cease to oppose the Treaty of the 6th of July ; and it may be hoped that this first arrangement will not be lost for the re- establishment of peace in the East. "The situation of Spain has allowed me to recall the troops which I had left at the disposal of his Catholic Majesty. My soldiers have returned to their country, after having received from the inhabitants of all the countries through which they have passed testimonies of esteem and regret, due to their excellent discipline ; consider- able sums have been advanced to the Spanish government ; a convention has just been signed to regulate the re-payment of them. " The hope which I still retain of obtaining from the Dey of Algiers a just repara. tion, has retarded the measures which I may be obliged to take in order to punish him, but I shall neglect nothing to protect the French commerce from insult and piracy ; and striking examples have already taught the Algerines, that it is neither easy nor prudent to brave the vigilance of my naval force. " Engagements, contracted by an ancient French Colony, had ceased to be exe- cuted. After having convinced myself that this inexecution was the result of in- ability, I have consented to open with it a More efficacious negotiation, for the ii- Celesta of the Colonies and of commerce. " Many or my subjects have suffered by the measures taken by the Emperor of Brazil, in his war with the Republic of Buenos Ayres ; some of their vessels have been captured. The convention which I have just ratified, while it confirms, with respect to the right of blockade, a conservatory principle always maintained by France, insures to them the restitution of their property and an indemnity propor- tioned to their loss. On this occasion, as on all others, I owe praises to the French Marine, which shews itself worthy of its noble mission. " The successive shocks which have agitated some of the new States of South America have left the political situation of those States uncertain, and rendered it difficult to form regular relations with them. The moment is, doubtless, not far distant when I shall be able to give to those relations a stability advantageous to my subjects : meantime I have appointed Consuls to watch over their interests. " Such, Gentlemen, is the happy state of our relations with foreign powers. Whatever may be the events that the future reserves for us, I shall certainly never forget that the glory of France is a sacred deposit, and that the honour of being the guardian of it is the fairest prerogative of my Crown. Order and peace prevail in the interior. French industry, already so justly appreciated, is daily distinguished by new improvements. Some branches of our agriculture and commerce are suf- fering ; but I hope that it will be possible for me to lessen the evil, if I should nut be enabled to cure it. The long inclemency of the seasons, and the untavouruble delay which the harvest experienced, awakened for some weeks the solicitude of my Government. Distressing doubts with respect to the state of our resources have been speedily dispelled by more positive information. The subsistence of all is as- sured ; and if the price of corn, while it augments the prosperity of the landholders, increases for a moment the distress of the indigent, Providence has created belie& cence to relieve those who suffer. The Press, freed from restraints, enjoys entire liberty. If licentiousness, its fatal enemy, still shows itself, under the cover of a generous and confiding law, public good sense, which becomes more firm and enlightened, does justice to its aberrations: and the Magistracy, faithful to its noble traditions, knows its duties, and will always fulfil them. "The necessity of placing the religion of our fathers in security against any at- tack—to maintain in my kingdom the execution of the laws, and at the same time to insure among us the perpetuity of thg Priesthood,—have induced me, after mature reflection, to prescribe measures which I have felt to be necessary. These mea- sures have been executed with that prudent firmness which reconciles the obedience due to the lases, the respect due to religion, and the just reward to which its Ministers are entitled. Communications will be made to you on the state of our finances. You will be happy to learn that the estimates of the revenue for 1928 have been exceeded. This increasing prosperity has not relaxed the system of economy in which my Government endeavours daily to advance further, without, however, forgetting that useful expense is also necessary. "Numerous labours will occupy the session, which is opened to-day. You will have to discuss a code which is destined for the army,land deserves serious attention. The law on the endowment of the Chamber of Peers, and many other laws worthy of your whole attention, will be presented to you. A serious and important project will, above all, call Air your solicitude. It has been long since acknowledged, that there is a necessity for a new municipal departmental law, the whole of which shall be in harmony with our instigations. The- most difficUlt questions are con- meetedwith this organization. It ought to secure to the '61xiintures and to the de- partments a just share in the management of their interests ; but it must at the same time preserve tothe protecting and moderating power which belongs to the Crown the full scope of action and force which public order requires. I have caused a project, which will be presented to you, to be prepared with care. I invite all the meditations of yourgivisdom to this project, and I confide the discus- sion of.it to your love Of the public good, and to your fidelity. Every day gives use fresh proofs of the affection of my people, and enhances the sacredness of the obli- gation which I have contracted to dedicate myself to their happiness. This noble task, which you, Gentlemen, will assistme to fulfil, must daily become more easy. Experience has dispelled the charm of insensate theories. France, like yourselves,
knows on what basis its happiness repdies, and those who should seek it anywhere but in the sincere union of the Royal authority, and of the liberties which the Charter has consecrated, would be openly disowned by it." •
The vacancy in the French Ministry is not yet permanently filled. M. Renneval provisionally occupies the office of M. de Ferronays ; and it would appear that Prince Polignac is not to be called upon to take a post in the Executive Government of his country. The excitement caused by his hasty journey has died away, before the motives of it have been explained.
