“These,” he adds, “are the wishes of the Government and of the Chambers; and this declaration will enable you to understand the motives of the silent repeal of the law, directing the establishment of tours for the reception of foundlings. The Legislature could not at the same time prescribe measures intended to diminish the exposure of children, and an institution by which it is favoured and facilitated. It did not venture to pronounce the suppression of the existing tours; but the silence of the law on this subject is the expression of its earnest desire that this institution should be discontinued; the mode of discontinuing it is left to the local authorities. The Government will require from you an annual report on these subjects, before it decides on the distribution of the annual grant; and the favour shown to each district may depend on its endeavours to comply with these instructions.” This circular is a curious instance of an attempt to undermine an institution which the Government and the Legislature disapprove, but which they do not venture directly to grapple with. All that the Legislature ventures directly to do is to express its earnest desire (désir formel), _by the silence of the law_. The Government however goes further, and holds out hints, though it does not venture to hint very clearly, that the fewer the foundlings in any district, the larger will be the share of that district in the government grant. Under the influence of these double motives we may expect the tours soon to be closed. We have also inserted (p. 607) a paper respecting the operation of the monts-de-piété, of which the following is the result:-- ------------------------+---------------------+--------------------- Average of Nine Years, | | from 1822 to 1830 | 1831. | 1832. inclusive. | | -----------+------------+----------+----------+----------+---------- Pledges. | Amount. | Pledges. | Amount. | Pledges. | Amount. -----------+------------+----------+----------+----------+---------- | Francs. | | Francs. | | Francs. 1,271,122 | 3,778,286 |1,185,834 | 3,268,104| 1,129,373| 3,939,219 | or | | or | | or | £151,131 | | £130,124 | | £157,548 -----------+------------+----------+----------+----------+----------