M. Achille Fould, ex-Minister of Finance, died on Sunday at
Tarbes of apoplexy. He was a loss to the Empire, for he really understood finance, had an intellectual preference for -economy, and was able to convince the Emperor that extravagance might, in the course of time, become politically dangerous. We doubt if he was entitled to any further credit. His rivals in business believed him to be a thoroughly self-seeking man. He snade no effort to reduce or shift the burden of taxation, and he -carefully maintained a system of accounts under which it is nearly impossible for the public to understand French budgets. The most upright public act he ever performed was his resignation on the seizure of the Orleans estates. All his sympathies revolted against a decree which set at naught the sacredness of property.
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