Periods. Francs.
• Bourbon Monarchy, from 1815 to 1830... .... 22,550,000 Reign of Louis Philippe, from 1830 to 1848 . 997,866,000 Second Republic, from 1848 to 1852 359,374,000 Second Empire, from 1852 to end of 1869 .2,138,539,500 The total value of the French money in circulation is 12,630,657,996 francs. Accord ing to the act of monetary union effected between'F., Belgium, Switzerland, and Italy, the emission of coined pieces is to be at the rate of 6 francs for every inhabitant, which, taking into account the presumed increase of population to the year 1880, when the term of the treaty expires, gives for F. the sum of 239 millions; for Belgium 32, for Italy 141, and for Switzerland 17 millions of francs. The amount of specie in reserve in the bank in Jan., 1873, was 790,000,000 francs; the amount of notes in circulation by the bank and its branches was 2,858,619,270 francs. The maximum amount of notes in circulation has been fixed at 3,000,000,000 francs, by the decree of the national assem bly of July, 1872.
Army.—Standing armies date in F. from the time of Charles VII. The law of 1832 regulated the sytem of recruiting by conscription, on the footing which, with few modi fications, it has subsequently occupied. By the law of 1872, substitution and enlistment for money are prohibited, and the principle of universal liability to arms is laid down, in accordance with which every Frenchman must be for 5 years in the "active army," for 4 years in the reserve of the same, for 5 years in the territorial army, and for 6 years in the reserve of the territorial army. Besides the ordinary physical causes of exemp tion, there are various others admitted, arising from family, social, or individual condi tions; while, moreover, young men who pass the necessary examination, may obtain exemption by enlisting as volunteers for one year only, and defraying the cost of their maintenance and clothing. The returns for 1871 gave the strength of the French army as follows: Peace-footing-404,192 men. 86,368 horses; war-footing-757,727 men, 143,238 horses; while the estimated cost was somewhat more than 430,000,000 francs. In 1878, the army of F. was estimated to consist of 502,697 men, including 281,601 infantry, 68,617 cavalry, 77,291 artillery and engineers, and 75,188 other. troops. T he presumed expenses iu
the budget were 538,266,499 francs. F. is divided into 18 military commands, or corps d'armee, each under a field-marshal, which are subdivided into districts commanded by erals of division, and into lesser circles, corresponding with the departments, and under generals of brigades. The fortified chefs-lieux are at Arras, Bayonne, Besancon, Bourges, Brest, Cherbourg, Grenoble, Langres, La Rochelle, Le Havre, Lille, Lyons, Marseilles, Montpellier, Nantes, Perpignan, St. Omer, Toulon, and Toulouse. Metz and Strasburg were formerly included in this number, but since their annexation by Germany, Avignon, Perpignan, Quiberon, and Rouen have been converted into military chefs-lieux in their place. The garde nationale (q.v.), formerly a supplement to the regular army, was cre ated in 1789, and organized in 1791. But owing to the proved incompetence of the force during the communistic outbreak in 1871, it was decreed that it should gradually be abolished.
Havy.—In 1878, the French navy numbered 2 admirals, 15 vice-admirals, 30 rear-admi rals, 100 captains of first-class men-of-war, 200 captains of frigates, 640 lieutenants, and 500 ensigns. The sailors afloat and on shore numbered 28,500, which, together with engi neers, etc., brought the grand total of those employed in the fleet to about 65,000. The inscription for the navy owes its systematic organization to the great minister Colbert (1681). At present, all persons engaged in any maritime avocation between the ages of 18 and 50 are liable to inscription, but the service is only compulsory for 3 years. There are 170,000 names on the rolls. Of these, 130,000 may be called out in time of war. The fleet consisted in 1878 of 53 iron-clads, 264 unarmored screw-steamers, 62 paddle-steamers, and 113 sailing-vessels. Amongst these are included torpedo-boats and gun-boats. The iron-clads carry 450 guns. There are 22,400 marines in peace, 28,000 in war, and 25,500' customs and coast-guard men. F. has 6 depots for marine artillery, 3 foundries, and 2 manufactories for projectiles. There are special hospitals, schools, and libraries for the use of the navy; and 5 maritime districts, subdivided into 12 arrondissements, at which are administrative courts for the settlement of all naval questions.