The nominal value of the money coined in France during the last five years has been :

The Monetary Union between France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Italy, was formed in 1865, and was joined by Greece in 1868. The convention was renewed in 1878, 1885, and 1890, and unless again renewed, will end in 1895.

The countries in the Union have their gold and silver coins of the same weight and fineness, and each in its public offices, accepts payment in the coin, gold or (with the limitation stated below) silver of the others. When the term of the convention expires, each may return to each of the others the silver money which it has received from them respectively; and must accept its own silver coin in return, or if the supply of this is insufficient, be repaid in gold.

The coinage system of the Latin Monetary Union is followed also in Finland, Roumania, Servia, Spain, and, partially, in several of the South American Republics.

The Franc of 100 centimes is of the value of 93d. or 25 225 francs to the pound sterling.

Gold coins in common use are 20, 10, and 5 franc pieces. The 20 franc gold piece weighs 6:4516 grammes 900 fine, and thus contains 5.80645 grammes of fine gold.

Silver coins are 5, 2, 1, and half franc pieces. The 5-franc silver piece weighs 25 grammes 900 fine, and thus contains 22.5 grammes of fine silver. The franc piece weighs 5 grammes 835 fine, and contains 4.175 grammes of fine silver.

Bronze coins are 10 and 5 centime pieces.

There is a double standard of value, gold and silver, the ratio being theoretically 15 to 1. Of silver coins, however, only 5-franc pieces are legal tender, and of these the free coinage has been suspended since 1876.

Diplomatic Representatives.

1. OF FRANCE IN GREAT BRITAIN.

Ambassador.-M. Decrais; December, 1893.

Minister Plenipotentiary.-Baron d'Estournelles de Constant.
Secretary.-Comte de St. Genys.

Attaché.-E. Pelletier.

Military Attaché.-Count du Pontavice de Heussey.
Naval Attaché-Captain Le Clerc.

Secretary Archivist.-J. Knecht.

There are French Consular representatives at―

London, C.G.

Southampton, V.C.

Bombay, C.

Calcutta, C.G.

Cape Town, C.
Cyprus, C.
Gibraltar, C.

Hong Kong, C.
Malta, C.

2. OF GREAT BRITAIN IN FRANCE.

Ambassador.-Right Hon. the Marquis of Dufferin and Ava, G. C.B., K.P., G.C.S.I., &c.; Governor-General of Canada 1872-78; Ambassador to Russia 1879-81; to Turkey 1881-84 ; Governor-General of India 1884-88; Ambassador to Italy 1888-92. Appointed Ambassador to France, December 15, 1891. Secretary.-E. Constantine Phipps.

Military Attaché.-Colonel the Hon. Reginald A. J. Talbot, C.B.
Naval Attaché.-G. le Clerc Egerton, R. N.

Commercial Attaché for Europe (except Russia).—Sir Joseph A. Crowe, K.C.M.G., C. B.

There are British Consular representatives at

Paris, C.

Cayenne, C.

Cherbourg, C.

Dunkirk

Havre, C.G.

Marseilles, C.

Martinique, C.

Nantes, C.

Statistical and other Books of Reference concerning France.

1. OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS.

Almanach national. Annuaire officiel de la république française. Paris, 1893.

Annuaire de la marine et des colonies. 8. Paris, 1893.

Annuaire statistique de la France. 8. Paris, 1893.

Annuaire Statisque de la Ville de Paris. Paris, 1892.

Budget général de l'exercice, 1894. Paris, 1893.

Bulletin de statistique du Ministère des Finances.

Bulletin des lois de la république française.

Bulletin du Ministère des Travaux Publics.

Bulletin officiel du Ministère de l'Intérieur.

Compte général de l'administration de la justice civile et commerciale en France pendant l'année 1891. 4. Paris, 1893.

Compte général de l'administration de la justice criminelle en France, par le Garde des Sceaux, Ministre de la Justice. 4. Paris, 1893.

Declarations exchanged between the Government of Her Britannic Majesty and the Government of the French Republic with respect to territories in Iceland. London, 1890. Dénombrement de la population, 1891. Paris, 1892.

Documents statistiques réunis par l'administration des douanes sur le commerce de la France. 4. Paris, 1892.

Journal officiel.

La situation financière des communes de France et d'Algérie, précédée d'un tableau indiquant la situation financière des départements. 9me publication. Paris, 1886.

Les colonies françaises. Notices illustrées, publiées par ordre du Sous-Sécrétaire d'Etat des Colonies, sous la direction de M. Louis Henrique. 5 vols. Paris, 1889-90.

Ministère des Finances : Comptes généraux de l'administration des finances. Paris, 1892. Ministère de l'Agriculture: Bulletin, Paris, 1893.

Résumé des états de situation de l'enseignement primaire pour l'année scolaire 1889-90,

et 1890-91. Paris, 1892.

Situation économique et commerciale de la France. années de la période 1865-79. Paris, 1881.

Statistiques coloniales pour l'année 1890. Paris, 1893.

Exposé comparatif pour les quinze

Tableau du commerce général de la France, avec ses colonies et les puissances étrangères, pendant l'année 1892. 4. Paris, 1893.

Tableau général des mouvements du cabotage pendant l'année 1892. Direction générale des douanes et des contributions indirectes. 4. Paris, 1893.

Tableaux de population, de culture, de commerce, et de navigation, sur les colonies françaises. Paris, 1893.

Hertslet (Sir Edward, C.B.), The Foreign Office List. Published annually. London. Report by Mr. L. S. Sackville West on the Tenure of Land in France, dated Paris, Nov. 19, 1869; in Reports from H.M.'s Representatives respecting the Tenure of Land in the several Countries of Europe.' Part I. Fol. London, 1870.

Foreign Office Reports, Annual Series. London, 1893.

Reports on the Relations between Capital and Labour, No. 258, and Poultry and Dairy Farms, No. 295 of Foreign Office Reports, Miscellaneous Series. London, 1893.

Trade of France with the United Kingdom, in Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom with Foreign Countries and British Possessions for the year 1892.' Imp. 4. London, 1893.

2. NON-OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS.

Annuaire de l'économie sociale. 8. Paris, 1893.

Block (Maurice), Annuaire de l'économie politique et de la statistique. 1893. 16. Paris, 1892.

Carnet de l'officier de marine. 1892. Paris, 1892.

Cucheval-Clarigny (M.), Instruction publique en France. 8. Paris, 1883.
Delarbre (J.), La marine militaire de la France. 8. Paris, 1881.

Deschamps (L.), Histoire de la Question Coloniale en France. Paris, 1891.
Dupont (P.), Annuaire de la marine pour 1892. 8. Paris, 1892.

Foville (A. de), La France actuelle. Paris, 1889.

Gafferel (Paul), Les colonies françaises. 4th edition. Paris, 1888.
Hélie (F. A.), Les constitutions de la France. 8. Paris, 1878.

Journal de la Société de Statistique de Paris. Paris, 1892.
Kaufmann (R. F.), Die Finanzen Frankreichs. Leipzig, 1882.
Kleine (E.), Les richesses de la France. 12. Paris, 1872.
Laugel (Auguste), La France politique et sociale. 8. Paris, 1878.
Lavergne (Léonce de), Economie rurale de la France.
Lebon (A.) and Pelet (P.), France as it is. London, 1888.
L'Economiste français. Paris, 1893.

4me éd.

18. Paris, 1878.

Loisne (C. de), Histoire politique de France. Paris, 1886.
Levasseur (E.), La France et ses colonies. 3 vols. Paris, 1890-91.
Levasseur (E.), La Production Brute Agricole de la France. Paris, 1891.
Loua (Toussaint), La France sociale et économique. Paris, 1888.
Molard (J.), Puissance Militaire des Etats de l'Europe. Paris, 1893.

Prat (Th. de), Annuaire protestant: Statistique général des diverses branches du protestantisme français. S. Paris, 1891.

Reclus (Elisée), La France. Vol. II. of Nouvelle géographe universelle.' 8. Paris, 1877 Statistique de la production de la soie en France et à l'étranger. Récolte de 1892. Lyons,

1892.

Vignon (L.), Les colonies françaises, leur commerce, leur situation économique, leur utilité pour la métropole, leur avenir. Paris, 1885.

Vignon (L.), L'Expansion de la France. Paris, 1891.

Vührer (M. A.), Histoire de la dette publique en France. Paris, 1886.

ANDORRA.

The republic of Andorra, which is under the joint suzerainty of France and the Spanish Bishop of Urgel, has an area of 175 square miles and a population of about 6,000. It is governed by a council of twenty-four members elected for four years by four heads of families in each parish. The council elect a first and second syndic to preside; the executive power is

vested in the first syndic, while the judicial power is exercised by a civil judge and two vicars or priests. France and the Bishop of Urgel appoint each a vicar and a civil judge alternately. A permanent delegate, moreover, has charge of the interests of France in the republic.

Colonies and Dependencies.

The colonial possessions and protectorates of France (including Algeria), dispersed over Asia, Africa, America, and Polynesia, embrace, inclusive of countries under protection and spheres of influence, a total area of 2,405,000 square miles. Not reckoned as a colony is Algeria, which has a government and laws distinct from the other colonial possessions, being looked upon as a part of France. Algeria, as well as all the colonies proper, are represented in the Senate and Chamber of Deputies, and considered to form, politically, a part of France. The estimated area and population of the various colonies and countries under protection, together with the date of their first settlement or acquisition, is shown in the subjoined table (on page 507), compiled from the latest official returns.

In 1890 the trade of the colonies was :

The special trade of France with French Colonies in 1892 amounted to 140,230,156 francs for imports, and 85,269,283 francs for exports. Including Algeria and Tunis, the total amount of imports was 358,391,056 francs, and of exports 295,604,255 francs.