The Express.
London, England, 1863-12-10 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURIIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 10, 1863.

lexisting " basis of European right." And in spite
of the assertions of the semi-official French press
ito the contrary, the Swiss Note does refer speci-
fically to the neutralization of its Faucigny and
Chablaia frontiers as guaranteed by Piedmont
in 1815, and annulled by the French annexation
of Savoy—a question, by-the-by, which, like the oc-
cupation of Rome, it was perfeotlycompetent to the
Emperor NAPOLEON to settle without the interven-
tion of a Congress. The Swiss Letter of accept-
ance and Note of explanations differ in detail
but not "in principle " from those other cordial
replies which M. EMILE DE GIRARDIN was so
desirous of publishing as • reproach to
the churlish rudeness of England. The Letters
are all effusion ; the despatches are all reserve.
We are now in possession of the Czaa's reply, and
it cannot fail to strike M. E. Ds 011LARDIN that
the CZAR, amidst all his smooth professions of
peace in the abstract and humanity "in prin-
I " ciple," emulates the tone and temper of England,
and even in one respect surpasses it, since he has
' not left to Prince Goan:taxon, the delicate task
of informing the Emperor NAPOLEON, through the
medium of M. Ditorrvx DE LIMPS, that " it is in-
" dispensable for his MAJENTY to define the ques-
! " tions upon which an understanding would have
j " to be arrived at, and the bases upon which it
" would be established."

The reply of the POPS, however, is the
crowning triumph of this magnificent but ex-
ploded Congress. The HOLY Etymon is not less
eager than the SULTAN or the Czia to associate
himself with the Congress, in order to regenerate
human society by constituting Roman Catho-
licism the Slate religion of Europe, and, inci-
dentally, by declaring the Temporal Power eternal,
and restoring to it all its violated territorial rights.
Here is at all events a very comprehensive pro-
gramme for the deliberations of the Head of the
Greek Church, the Commander of the Faithful,
and the Defender of the Protestant Faith. What
Pius IX. proposes is nothing more nor less than
a dogmatic Council of Paris, in which the discus-
sions would be a perpetual Dialogue des Mail.
The only practical result such an (Ecumenical
Council could hope for would be the retirement
of the HOLY FATHER to Avignon, after performing
the long-delayed ceremony of anointing and
crowning the modern CHARLEMAGNE in Notre
Dame. At present the happiest compliment to
the abortive Congress seems to be the benediction
with which Pius IX., from a safe distance, and at
Rome, repays the perusal of the Imperial Letter
of invitation to Paris.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

.. ,
ENGLAND AND DEMURE.

The Faedrefandet of Copenhagen says that
Denmark has no aid to expect from England in
case of Federal execution. "Already," it
continues, "the English press is beginning to
raise its voice for the abrogation of the ordinance
of the 30th of March, and before long similar
demands will be heard relative to the con-
stitution of the 18th of November, and there
will be a call for the re-establishment of a
simply dynastic union between the kingdom and
Schleswig. We have nothing to do with these
counsels, and we must take our part if the policy
of shopkeepers' and the morality of guineas' of
England—a policy and a morality which are repre-
sented as well by Lord Palmerston as by the Times
—leave us in embarrassment, while others content
themselves with shrugging their shoulders, and offer
na the hypocritical consolation that they have done
their duty in defending the treaty of London."

also, for " the proviso and exception" with
which their courteous letters are guarded
do amount to a refusal. Even the King of
Italy, who wants war provided that France
shall help him to get Venice, cannot mean to
come to a congress at Paris if nobody else does. It
may therefore be said now, once for all—end I do
not expect to return to the subject—that the boast
of some French papers that the Emperor's congress
will after all be held, without and in spite of Eng-
land, is the wildest fanfaverissode, and is not worth
a serious thought. The congress is dead and buried.
It is said that M. Thiers will make three speeches
on the discussion of the address ; one on Mexico,
one on finance, and another on official candidature.
Ef Berryer intends to speak on official candida-
tures, and also on foreign policy.
The Bourse is decidedly buoyant. Rents rose
30c. for cash and 15c. for account, and Mobilier
18fr. 75c.

M. Granier de Cassagnac, junior, yesterday went
through the form of a trial for "cutting and
wounding" M. Aurelian Scholl in a dueL The
two seconds on each aide were included in the
indictment. Being found guilty, the court sen-
tenced them respectively to pay fines, as follows :
—M. de Cassagnac, 100 fr., and the seconds 2fifr.
each.

THE REPLY OF THE KING OF THE BEL-
GIANS TO THE OONGRESS PROPOSITION.

The following letter has been addressed to the
Emperor Napoleon by the King of the Belgians in
reply to the Congress proposition :

My Brother,—l have received the letter which has been
handed to me on the part of your Imperial Majesty by Berms
de Malaret, and I cannot but applaud the sentiments which
dictated it to you. It would be very desirable to see the
subjects of anxiety which exist in Europe dispelled by the
effect of a pacific agreement, and without wishing at this
moment to prejodte the means which might be agreed upon
with the various States interested, in order to attain with-
out disturbance such a noble object, I have much phonate
in assuring your Imperial Majesty that my government
would be quite ready to assist as far as it is able. With
regard to that which personally concerns me, it would be
with genuine satisfaction that I should profit in the cue in-
dicated by your Imperial Majesty by the cordial offer you
have addressed to me. I seise this occasion to renew to you
the assurances of the high mason and of the inviolable
friendship with which I am, say brother, your Imperial

Najesty'a good brother, -
Chateau of Lashes, Nov. 90,1863.

LIOFOLD.

AMERICA.

The Liverpool, New York, and Philadelphia Com-
pany's screw steamer City of London, Captain
Petrie, from New York on the morning of the 29th
ult., reached Liverpool at eleven o'clock yesterday
morning.
The Canadian mail steamer North American,
Captain Dutton, from Portland, Maine, on the
28th ult., has also reached the Mersey.
The following official statement had been received
at the headquarters of the army at Washington :
Chattanooga, Nov. 27, 10 a.m.
•

lam just in from the front. The rout of the enemy is
most complete. Abandoned wagons, caissons, and occa-
sional pleas of artillery are everywhere to be found. I
Mink Bragg's loss will fully reach sixty pieces of artillery.
A large number of primmers have fallen into our hands. The
pursuit will median* to Red Clay in the morning, for which
place I shall start in a few hours.
N. S. GRANT, Major-General.
Make-General H. W. Halleck, General-
in-Chief, Washington.
The following are the despatches to the New
York press :
Chattanooga, Nov. 27.

This glorious army is already on the march in pursuit of
the hying and panic-stricken enemy, though we are hardly
yet in the first grey of the dawn. Yesterday's work was
even more complete than that of the day before. Every-
where our admirable troops went ahead, often et double-
quick. They captured bodies of the esamy in hundreds, if
not in thousands. The aggregate number of primmer, we
thus took yesterday it is believed is much greater.than our
captures of men on the day before. The army of the
enemy is certainly destroyed. Wh we reach any
portions of the rebel army in arms, they instantly throw
tbemdown and scatter like frightened sheep, leaving all
their stragglers near by, their large number of discontented,
who desire to be taken in, and their wounded, in our
hands. They also in the same manner abandon their
artillery, ammunition, and transportation waggons, cais-
sons, knapsacks, and everything that can possibly im-
pede their flight. In this way sufficient of their
artillery fell into our hands yesterday to swell
the total number of pieces taken up to 60. Before our
troops stopped for the rut of the night their progress was
everywhere lighted by the large fires from the enemy's
stores, to all descriptions of which they applied the torch, to
prevent them falling into our heads. They also burned all
the bridges they had time to fire before we were upon them,
in the hope of thus delaying the impetuosity of the pursuit.
What is now left of Bragg's busted army is but a panic-
stricken mob, rushing like a herd of frightened buffaloes,
and apparently perfectly incapable of making any further
resistance.

Chattanooga, Nov. 27.

The situation to-night is highly satisfactory. General
Hooker's, Palmer's, and Sherman's commands are nearly
ten miles beyond Chickamauga Creek in pursuit of the
crumbling army of Bragg, who is making every effort to
escape our advance above Dalton. In a sharp fight this
morning General Palmer's advance took four guns and 300
prisoners. General Sherman is reported to have advanced
from Tyne Station on our left to-day, and cut off 2,000
rebels. The road along which Bragg is retreating is lined
with caissons, waggons, commissary and medical stores.
The prisoners say it is impossible for the rebel leaders
to make their troops stand. Colonel Long's cavalry
command returned from a raid to the Bast Tennessee
Railroad to-night. They destroyed the road fifteen miles
above and below Cleveland, they burned a rebel bun-
dry at Cleveland where large (loaatities of munitions
of war are stored, 100 waggons loaded with bag-
gage, and captured thirty prisoners. Colonel Long was
attacked subsequently by a superior force of infantry,
cavalry, and artillery, but succeeded in bringing his pri-
mates off. Our loss in the three days' fight will not exceed
3,000. Major-General Logan has arrived.
Advices received at Washington state that
Bragg attempted to make a stand at Chickamauga
Station, but was again forced back. There is
official authority for assertiug that in the several
battles just fought before Chattanooga the Federal&
captured 7,000 prisoners.
There is nothing later from Burnside. It is con-
jectured that Longstreet will attempt to rejoin
Bragg, but ample provision hu been made to pre-
vent the consummation of any such attempt. Be
will therefore be forced to retreat into Virginia, if
he is able to get sway at all.

With regard to the armies in Virginia, a Wash-
ington telegram of the 27th says :
. _ . . . . .

Acoonnts received to-night from the army of the Potomac
nay our troops broke camp yesterday morning, and marched
to the Rapidan in three columns. The right, consisting of
the Third Corp supported by the Sixth, were ordered to
cross at Jacob's Ford ; the Second Corp to cross at
Germania Ford ; and the Fifth, supported by the First, to
cross at Culpepper Ford, between Germania and Ely's Ford.
The centre column arrived at Germania about noon. Only
• small picket of Georgia cavalry was seen on the other
side. The latest reliable intelligence is that Lee's forces do
not exceed 50,000 men. Ewell, if not dead, is relieved
from the command of his corps, in consequence of disability
from the stump of his leg having broken out afresh. He
has been succeeded by General Early. The rebel cavalry is
nominally 6,000 strong, but in reality mach less. Early'.
corps is fortified from a point near Mountain Run, south of
the Rapidan, following the crest of bill' westwardly to the
railroad, where it connects with Hill's corps, which COWIN
the Rapidan, thence westwardly. The enemy's right dank
near the mountain is protected by a line of works diverging
from the river defences, running south and then south-west,
resembling our own position at Gettysburg. Our crossing
points were, therefore, all between the Rappahannock and
the rebel position. A portion of our troops re..ched the
other side of the Rapidan yesterday, and the remainder to.
day, together with headquarters, which moved before
9 o'clock this forenoon. The,euemy were dincivered in foroe,
but contracted their lines, and fell back from the
river. No opposition was made to our cruising, ex-
cepting at one of the upper fords. Shortly after
nine o'clock this morning heavy cannonading commenced,
and continued up to five o'clock this afternoon without
intermission, but uo particulars of the engagement have
been received at Washington. It was probably along both
sides of the plank read in front of Omega Court House,
as this was expected to be the battle-Eleld.

The Washington Republican learns that Meade
was pressing Lee bard, and tbat several skirmishes
had taken place in which the Confederates were
defeated. Lce is represented as declining open
battle, and falling back stubbornly.
The following order bad been issued by the
War Department at Washington :
It being represeeted that the increased prices of pro-
visions and necessaries render it proper and just that there
abould be an increased rate of wages for mechani.s,
labourers, sad other employi, whose compensation is not
fixed by law, it is ordered that the heads of the respective
bureaus of the War Department make inquiry and report to
this department • just and reasonable rate of advanced
wages that should be paid by the government at the present
time. The adjutant-general will communicate this order to
the beads of bureau., and call for a report.

SMITHFIELD CLUB CATTLE SHOW.—TRIED DAY.
—Notwithstanding the uopleanint state of the weather
the Agricultural Hall was thronged from an early hoar.
Although vast crowds kept pouring in during the
afternoon and evening the most perfect system of loco-
motion appeared to exist A number of the nobility visited
the show during the morning, including the Duchesaci
Sutherland, the Duchess of Buocleuch, the Doke and
Duchess of Wellington, Lord Llanover, ko. The sales
effected during the day were not numerous. The annual
dinner, took place last evening at the Freemseems' Tavern.
Lord Walaingbein, the President, occupied the chair, and
was supported by the President Elect, Lord Tiede-
pr, the Earl of Feversham, Lord Berner,, Sir John Heron
Maxwell, Bart, Colonel Fane, M.P., Mr. Humphrey
Brandreth, Mr. Fisher Hobbs, Mr. Giblett, Mr. Tar, Mr.
Overman, Ise.
THE ROYAL CHARTER.—A short time ago the
divers engaged in searching the pool where the Royal
Charter broke up four years ago came upon a very rich
store of gold. They found in the same spot, in the course
of a few dry% about 1.200 f. is sovereigns and a bar of pure
gold, weighing 9ilb., which was brought up to London this
week. The treasure was far from being exhausted, when
the storm came on and put a stop to the diving operations
for the season. Messrs. Gibbs, Bright, and Co., the
owners of the vessel. sold, about a year ago, to some per-
sous in Anglesey, all claim to the tremors found on the
spot, and it is said that the speculation has already paid
300 or 400 per cent. profit, although the cost of working it
is very 000siderable.
PATENT ititISEUX, SOUTH KEWEINOTON.—Num-
her of visitors for the week ending December it, 1.172.
Total amber since the opening of the Museum free daily
12th May, 1858), 771,77 G.