consequences the most ruinous and calamitous. The shipping interest of Great Britain do not look for any advantages beyond those which they are entitled to by a strict adherence to the navigation act; and they trust that no circumstances whatever, whether temporary or otherwise, will hereafter induce the legislature to authorize the suspension of the provisions of that act, either by the means of licences or in any other manner." The s nall expense incurred in the building, equipment, and outfit of foreign vessels is so well known in the mercantile world, compared to the heavy expenses of building, equipment, outfit, and impost laid on British ships, and which give foreign vessels such great advantages over the latter, that it is not at this time necessary to enter into any detail on that branch of the subject; if, however, any parliamentary inquiry should take place, the great disadvantages under which British ships are now navigated will appear m nifest. The British ship owners anxiously court inquiry, and on the truth or fallacy of their statements they will stand or fall. The immense capital employed in British shipping, and the peculiar and insulated situation of the persons who are really British ship owners (I do not mean merchants who have small shares in ships, and whose interests in shipping are considered secondary by them)-I mean those persons whose "all" is embarked in shipping, together with perhaps the whole of the property of their relatives ought to influence and induce the present government to give an early attention to the representations which so repeatedly made on this subject to the the late administration, and renewed during present session to Parliament. - No parliamentary inquiry has been made into the state of the shipping and navigation of this country for nearly a century; and surely it is of much more consequence to the true interests of the empire, than all the subjects recently investigated by Parliament: the want of British seamen in the navy, and the great deficiency of sea-apprentices in the coasting and foreign trade of the country, constitute of themselves sufficient matter for leg slative investigation, but when, added to these, we daily find that the capital employed in British shipping yields little or no profit, but from which, in too many instances, results great loss, the claim for na

were

Foreign vessels were admitted to entry at several of the ports in Great-Britain, contrary to the provisions of the navigation act, during the late administration, not only by orders of council and licences, under the King's sign Manual, but also by orders and instructions from the Treasury.

tional attention and consideration becomes greater and more imperative; and it is devoutly to be wished that his Majesty's present ministers will not fail early in the next session of Parliament to institute an inquiry on the subject: no ill effect can arise from it, for if the ship owners are not well found. ed in their complaints, the result of the inquiry will be gratifying to the country at large; but if they are confirmed in their statements, it is presumed the legislature will not hesitate to grant them such relief as will secure to them in future "a strict adherence to the provisions of the navigation act, and will afford them such facilities as will at least enable them to navigate their ships on an equal footing with foreigners." ALFRED.-London, 28th July, 1804.

EMPEROR OF THE FRENCH. Organic Senatus Consultum, conferring the Title of Emperor on the First Consul, and establishing the Imperial Dignity bereditary in bis Family. (Continued from Vol. V. p. 897.)

XL. The Arch Chancellor of the Empire performs the functions of Chancellor in promulgating Senatus Consulta and the laws. He likewise performs the functions of Chancellor of the Imperial Palace. He is present when the Grand Judge, Minister of Justice, lays before the Emperor his annual report of the abuses which have crept into the administration of justice, both civil and criminal. He presides in the high Imperial Court, and also at the United Sections of the Council of State and Tribunate, conformably to Article 95, Title XI. He is present at the celebration of the marriages and births of the princes, and at the Coronation and funeral obsequies of the Empe

ror.

He signs the procès verbal drawn up by the Secretary of State. He presents the titularies of the Grand Dignities of the Empire, the Ministers and Secretary of State, the Grand Civil Officers of the Crown, and the President of the Court of Cassation, when the oath is administered to them in the presence of the Emperor. He administers the oath to the members of the Coart of Cassation, and to the Presidents and Attorneys General of the Courts of Appeal and also of the Criminal Courts. He presents the solemn deputations and the members of the Courts of Justice, when admitted to an audience of the Emperor. He signs and seals the commissions and appointments of the members of theCourts of Justice, and the ministerial officers; he seals the cornmissions and appointments of the civil and administrative functions, and of the other acts

which will be designated in the regulation entitled "Organization of the Seal "XLI. The Arch Chancellor of State performs the functions of Chancellor, in promulgating treaties of peace, and in decla ring war. He presents to the Emperor and signs the credentials and correspondence with the different courts of Europe, according to the forms of the Imperial Protocol, of which he is the keeper. He is present when the minister for exterior relations lays before the Emperor his annual report of the political situation of the state. He presents the ambassadors and ministers of the Emperor, when the oath is administered to them in the presence of his Imperial Majesty. He ad

ministers the oath to the residents, chargés d'affaires, secretaries of embassy and legation, commissaries general, and commissaries for commercial relations. -XLII. The Arch Treasurer is present when the ministers of finance and the public treasury lay before the Emperor the annual accounts of the receipts and expenses of the state, and make known to him their views with regard to the financial necessities of the empire. Before the accounts of the annual receipts and disbursements are laid before the Emperor, they must receive his signature. He presides at the United Sections of the Counsel of State and Tribunate, conformably to Article 95, Title XI. He receives, every three months, the report of the labours of the national accountants; and, once a year, he receives the general result and plans of reform and amelioration i. the different offices of the public accounts, which he lays before the Emperor. He balances, every year, the great book of debt. He signs appointments and civil pensions. He administers the oath to the national accountants, the administrators of finance, and the principal agents of the public treasury. He presents the deputations from the national accountants and the administrators of finance, when admitted to an audience of the Emperor.XLIII. The constable is present when the minister at war and the director of the war department lay before the Emperor the annual report of the dispositions to be taken for completing the defence of the frontiers, and the charge of keeping up, repairing and provisioning the fortified towns. He lays the first stone of every fortress about to be erected. He is governor of the military schools. When the Emperor does not present in person the colours of any regiment, they are presented in his name by the conIn the absence of the Emperor, the Constable reviews the imperial guard. When a general is suspected of a crime specified in

stable.

the penal military code, the constable may. preside at the counsel of war. He presents the marshals of the empire, the colonels general, the inspectors general, and the offi cers general, when the oath is administered to them in the presence of the Emperor. He administers the oath to majors, captains, commodores, &c. He instals the marshals of the Empire.-He presents the generals, colonels, majors, &c. of the army, when admitted to an audience of the Emperor. He signs appointments in the army, and those of the military pensioners of the state.-XLIV. The grand admiral is present when the minister of marine lays before the Emperor the annual report of the state of the navy. He annually receives and presents to the Emperor, the accounts of the chest of ma rine invalids. When an admiral, vice-admiral, or rear admiral is suspected of a crime specified in the penal military code, the grand admiral may preside at the court martial. He presents the admirals, viceadmirals, rear-admirals, and captains, when the oath is administered to them in the presence of the Emperor. He administers the oath to the members of the counsel of prizes, and to captains of frigates. He. presents the admirals, vice-admirals, rearadmirals, captains, and members of the counsel of prizes, when admitted to an audience of the Emperor. He signs ap pointments in the navy, and those of the marine pensioners of the state. -— XLV. Each titulary of the grand dignities of the empire presides over a departmental elec toral college. The grand 'elector presides over the electoral college at Brussels. The arch-chancellor of the empire presides over the electoral college at Bourdeaux. The arch-chancellor of state presides over the electoral college at Nantz. The archtreasurer of the empire presides over the electoral college at Lyons. The constable presides over the electoral college at Turin, The grand admiral presides over the electoral college at Marseilles.-XLVI. Each titulary of the grand dignities of the empire receives annual, according to estab lished usage, a third of the sum appropriated to the princes, conformably to the de cree of the 21st of December, 1790XLVII. An imperial statute regulates the functions of the titularies of the grand dig nities of the empire about the person of the Emperor, and determines the costume to be worn by them in grand ceremonies. The Emperors's successors eanrot deviate from this statute but by a senatus consul

tum.

brought before the tribunals in the space of ten days after the time of such arrest. This commission is called the Senatorial Commission for personal liberty.-LXI. Every arrest ed person not called to take his trial in ten days after his arrest, may immediately, appeal, by himself, his representatives, or by petition, to the senatorial commission for personal liberty.-LXII. When the said commission is of opinion that the interests of the state do not call for the detention of the arrested person beyond the period of ten days, it invites the minister who ordered the arrest to cause the person so detained to be either set at liberty, or sent before the ordinary tribunals. LXIII. If after three successive invitations, renewed in the space of one month, the detained person is not set at liberty or sent before the ordinary tribunals, the commission demands an assembly of the senate, which is convoked by the president, and makes, if it so determines, the following declaration "There are strong pre"sumptions that N. is arbitrarily detained" It afterwards proceeds conformably to the provisions of article 92, title 13, of the high imperial court.-LXIV. A commission of seven members named by the senate and chosen from the body, is appointed to watch over the liberty of the press. Works printed and distributed by subscription and at stated periods do not come under its cognizance. This commission is called the Senatorial Commission for the Liberty of the Press.-LXV. Authors, printers, and booksellers, having reason to complain of injunctions. being laid upon the printing or circulation of works, may apply personally or by petition to the senatorial commission for the liberty of the press. - LXVI. When the commission is of opinion that the interests of the state do not demand such injunction, it invites the minister who issued the order to revoke it.-LXVII. If after three successive, invitations, renewed in the space of one month, the injunction still continues, the commission demands an assembly of the senate, which is convoked by the president, and makes, if it so determines, the following declaration : "There are strong pre"sumptions that the liberty of the press has "been violated." It afterwards proceeds conformably to the provisions of article 92, title 13; of the high imperial court.LXVIII The functions of a member of each of the senatorial commissions cease at the expiration of four months. LXIX. The projets de lois decreed by the legislative bory, are transmitted to the senate on the day of their adoption, and are deposited in the archives. LXX. very decree issued by the

legislative body may be denounced in the senate by any of the members thereof; 1. As tending to restore the feudal system; 2. As affecting the sale of national domains; 3. As having been issued contrary to the forms prescribed by the constitutions of the empire, &c.--LXXI. In the course of six days after the adoption of the projet de loi, the senate, after deliberating upon the report of a special commission, and hearing the decree read three times at three sittings held on separate days, may declare its opinion as to the propriety of promulgating the said law. The president lays the decision of the senate before the Emperor.-LXXII. The Emperor, after hearing the counsel of state, either declares by a decree his adherence to the deliberation of the senate, or causes the law to be promulgated.--LXXIII. Every such law not promulgated before the expiration of ten days, cannot be promulgated unless it has been again deliberated on, and adopted by, the legislative body. LXXIV. The entire operations of an electoral college, as well as its partial operations relative to the presentation of candidates to the senate, the legislative body, or the tribunate, can only be annulled, on the ground of their being unconstitutional, by an express senatus consultum,

TITLE IX. OF THE COUNSEL OF STATE.

LXXV. When the counsel of state is deliberating upon a projet de loi, &c two thirds of the members in ordinary service must be present. The number of members present can never be less than twenty-five.. LXXVI. The counsel of state is divided into six sections; viz. the section of legislation, the section of the interior, the section of finance, the section of war, the section of marine, and the section of commerce.-LXXVIl. When a member of the counsel or state has been five years upon the list of members in ordinary service, he receives the rank of counsellor of state for life. When he ceases to be on the list of the counsel of state in ordinary or extraordinary service, he is only entitled to one-third of the salary attached to the office.

TITLE X. OF THE LEGISLATIVE BODY. --LXXVIII. The members of the legisla tive body may be re elected without inter val.LXXIX. Every projet de loi presepted to the legislative body is returned to the three sections of the tribunate.-LXXX. The sittings of the legislative body are di vided into ordinary sittings and general committees. LXXXI. Ordinary sittings are composed of members of the legislative body, orators of the counsel of state, and. orators of the three sections of the tribunate,

General committees are composed only of members of the legislative body. The president of the legislative body presides both at the ordinary sittings and general committees.--LXXXII. At an ordinary sitting, the legislative body hear the orators of the counsel of state, and also the orators of the three sections of the tribunate, and votes on the projèt de loi. In a general committee, the members of the legislative body discuss amongst them the merits or demerits of the projèt de loi.LXXXIII. The legislative body resolves itself into a general committee; 1. At the invitation of the president for the interior affairs of the body; 2. At a demand made to the president, and signed by fifty of the members present. In both these cases, the general committee is a secret one, and its discussions can neither be printed nor divulged.--LXXXIV When the discussion in a general committee is closed, the deliberation is adjourned to the ordinary sitting on the following day.-LXXXV. On the day appointed by the legislative body for voting on the projèt de loi, the orators of the counsel of state are again heard. LXXXVI. The deliberation on a projet de loi, can in no case be deferred for more than three days beyond the time fixed for closing the discussion.-LXXXVII. The sections of the tribunate constitute the sole commissions of the legislative body; which can create no other, but in the case pointed out in Article 113, Title 13, of the high Imperial Court.

TITLE XI. OF THE TRIBUNATE.

LXXXVIII. The functions of the members of the tribunate continue for ten years. --LXXXIX. A moiety of the tribunate is renewed every five years. The first renewal will take place in the session of the year 17, conformably to the organic senatus consultum of the 16th Thermidor, year 10.-XC. The president of the tribunate is named by the Emperor, on the presentation of three candidates chosen by the tribunate at the secret ballot --XCI. The functions of the president of the tribunate continue for two years.--XCII. The tribunate has two questors. They are named by the Emperor, from a triple list of candidates chosen by the tribunate at a secret ballot. Their functions are the same as those assigned to the questors of the legislative body by articles 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 of the organic senatus consultum of the 24th Frimaire, year 12. One of the questors is renewed every year.--XCIII. The tribunate is divided into three sections; viz. the section of legislation, the section of the interior, and the section of finance.-

XCIV. Each section makes out a list of three of its members, from among whom the president of the tribunate chooses the president of secion. The functions of president of section continue for one year.XCV. When the respective sections of the counsel of state and tribunate, demand a conference, such inference takes place under the presidency of the arch chancellat or arch-treasurer of the empire, according to, the nature of the subjet to be examined. — XCVI. Each section dicusses separately, and in a sectional assembly the several projets de lois transmitted to by the legisla tive body. Two orators fron, each of the, three sections, lay before the legslative body the wishes of their section -XCVII. In no case can a projet de loi be discused by a general assembly of the tribunate. But it may form itself into a general assembly, under the presidency of its president, for the exercise of its other privileges.

TITLE XII. OF TH ELECTORAL COLLEGES,

-XCVIII. As often as a departmental electoral college is assembled for the purpose of forming the list of candidates for the legislative body, a renewal of the list of candidates for the senate takes place. Every such renewal annuls all anterior presentations.--XCIX. The grand officers, commandants and officers of the legion of honour are members of the departmental electoral college, in which their possessions may be situated, or of one of the departments of the company to which they belong. The legionaries are members of the electoral college of their district. The members of the legion of honour are admitted to their electoral college on presenting a certificate given them for this purpose by the grand Elector.-C. The prefects and military commandants of departments cannot be elected candidates for the senate by the departmental electoral colleges in which they exercise their functions.

TITLE XIII-OF THE HIGH IMPERIAL, COURT. CI. The high imperial court takes cognizance: 1st, Cf crimes committed by members of the imperial family, by titu-, laries of the grand dignities of the empire, by ministers and by the secretary of state, by grand officers, by senators, by counsellors of state; 2dly, Of outrages and plots. against the internal and external security of the state, the person of the Emperor, and of the presumptive heir to the empire; 3dly, Of crimes of official responsibility committed by ministers and counsellors of state; 4thly, Of treachery and abuses of power, whether committed by captains general of colonies, or colonial prefects, and com