NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE French Legislature was opened on Monday by the Emperor in person in a long speech of the regular Napoleonic kind, very frank in form and very reserved in spirit. " It is not easy," says his Majesty, " to establish in France the regular and peaceful exercise of liberty," but already " the good sense of the public reacts against culpable exaggerations." It is, however, " neces- sary to speak with frankness and decision," and therefore, to say that " France desires liberty, but liberty united with order. For order," said the Emperor, for the first time raising his head and looking out of his eyes, " I will answer." You, "gentlemen, must aid me to save liberty." Between " those who pretend to preserve everything without change, and those who aspire to over- throw everything, there is a glorious ground to take up." The speech then proceeds to recount the " liberal " measures in pre- paration. Mayors, except in special cases, will be chosen from among municipal councils ; Lyons will regain her municipal free- dom ; the Council of Paris, now nominated by the Prefect, will henceforth be nominated by the Legislative Body ; cantonal councils will be instituted and the powers of the Councils-General enlarged ; the area of gratuitous education will be extended ; legal expenses will be diminished ; the succession-duty will be decreased ; the salaries of subordinate officials will be raised ; and savings' banks will be brought nearer to the people. The only political change will be a Bill enabling the Chamber to decide what placemen are or are not eligible for election. On domestic policy, consequently, the speech is pronounced to be, on the whole, reactionary. The Emperor almost promised responsible Ministers, but never alludes to his promise.
