As the room, in which we were was small and the light not very good, the Emperor had followed my example, and, that he might see the lines and ports more distinctly, had himself, before I concluded, knelt down also on the chart.
In the palaces of France are to be found many grand pictures descriptive of the wars of the Empire, but its artists may now add to the decoration of these walls a far grander and nobler scene, and represent their last Emperor performing a duty to his people of much greater importance as regards their future welfare and happiness, and far more worthy of record than the blood-stained fields of Magenta and Solferino. I had, subsequently, frequent occasion to see the Emperor on the subject of these laws; and I gave evidence, for the same purposes, before the Conseil Supérieur he appointed to inquire into them: in the report of these proceedings there will be found a copy of my letter to his Majesty, and also a copy of one addressed to M. Fleury on the same subject. (See [Appendix] to this volume, No. 5, p. 591.)
[226] The dates were:—Address of the House of Commons, and debate upon it, 29th March, 1860; brought under the notice of the Emperor, 10th January, 1861; Report of the Minister of Commerce of France to the Emperor relative to the state of the French Mercantile Marine, published in the Moniteur 2nd May, 1862; Conseil-Supérieur of Commerce commenced its inquiry, 10th July, 1862.
[227] See correspondence respecting the operation of the French Navigation Laws on British Shipping, Parl. Pap. 1867; also [No. 11 Appendix], of this volume, pp. 620-3, where these dues, as they existed in 1852, will be found.
[229] A proposal was made to abolish the Surtaxes d’Entrepôt, or taxes upon goods from the warehouses of Europe, but it was summarily rejected.
[230] The Articles of this Decree were as follows:—
Article 1. From the date of the promulgation of the present Decree shall be admitted, free of import duty, conformably to Article 1 of the Law of May 19, 1866, with respect to the Mercantile Marine, all raw or manufactured objects entering into the construction, rigging, equipment, and maintenance of steam or sailing-vessels, of wood or iron, destined for commerce.
Articles such as moveable furniture, bedding, linen, plates and dishes, cutlery, table glass, and, in general, all objects intended for personal use, shall not be considered as forming part of the equipment.
Art. 2. Shipbuilders, and manufacturers of articles destined for the construction, equipment, rigging, or the maintenance of vessels, can alone enjoy the benefit of the provisions of the present Decree as far as raw materials are concerned.