The Express.
London, England, 1863-05-15 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(1303 003 OWS

PARS, Taoasu~i EVENING.

Although the Moniker announces that in conse-
quence of the holiday (Ascension-day) it will not
appear to-morrow, fresh orders are understood to
have been given, in consequence of which the official
journal will be published, for the express purpose of
giving despatchee from Puebla. There can be no
doubt that those despatches, however carefully
they may be dressed up, will be disappointing to
the public ; for, had there been any good news, the
Moniker would not have failed to publish tele-
grams this morning, whereas it does sot say a
word. Some meagre cos respondence, given in the
Pays and Petri!, seems meant to prepare the public
mind for a disastrous account. It is certain that
Puebla was not taken when the last packet
left Vera Cruz, and the Patric only ventures to say
that "some passengers hoped it would be completely
occupied within a week." Both these journals agree
that the reports of the demoralisation of Ortega's
army were signally false, and the Pays complains
that these reports were artfully promulgated by
Juarez in order to lull the French into a false secu-
rity. The Patric emphatically says that the hopes
founded upon the expected defection among the
Mexican troops on the approach of the French
completely broke down, and that "not a single
officer of the slightest note quitted his post ; a very
few soldiers only deserted." Credit is taken to
General Forey for humanity in sparing many parts
of the city ; but at the same time the fact is let
out tbat ammunition was so scarce as to make rare
shots a matter of necessity. It is alleged that the
"unexpected resistance" was in great measure
attributable to the garrison being strengthened by
"deserters from General Prim's army, by English
and Americans, and by a large number
of those cosmopolitan soldiers which the
European continent furnishes for a'l adventurous
wars." From all these oratorical precautions it is
pretty clear that the Mexicans fought very well,
and that the French have suffered heavy losses
without being yet masters of Puebla. General de
Laumihres, who was repotted killed, is now said to
be only wounded. These letters anticipate that
Fort Guadeloupe would hold out after the others
were taken, and 'inasmuch as that font commands
the whole tow.; the confession is aignificant.
The "black man" went round to the papers last
night and gave peremptory orders that no report
should be published of the speeches in the case of
the "Duke d'Aumale r. the Prefect of Police."
Be was considerate enough to add that the editors
might relieve themselves from the trouble of in-
vestigating any legal question about the matter, as
the Prefect of Police had quite made up bis mind
that the reports should be stopped. I stig-
matise this act as one of flagrant, unmitigated,
shameless illegality. No Czar, Grand Turk,
or barbarian chief ever did anything more purely
, arbitrary. There is a law of the empire which
prohibits reports of press prosecutions ; but in
this case there was no libel to prosecute, and no
prosecution. The police unlawfully seized pro-
. perty which it scandalously persists in retaining in
defiance of all law ; and now the same police, with
, fearful consistency, arbitrarily prevents the iniquity
from being exposed.
i M. Dufaure, on behalf of the deputation which
induced M. Tillers to accept a candidature for
Paris, has written to him the following letter :
Paris, May 13.

Monsieur,—We thank you on behalf of a great number
of your fellow citizens, for having accepted the liberal can-
didature for the 2nd circumscription of Pais. If there be
one sentiment which mom than any other is now generally
manifeatzd, it is the desire to see the return to public, life
of eminent men whom we reckon among the moat illus-
trious of our nation. What the country asks of
them is the formation of a great liberal party upon con-
stitutional ground ; it is the serious and effectual control
of our finances by the Corps Legidatif ; it is the progressive
development of oar liberties. No name better than yours
responds to this programme, and we are grateful to you for
having consented, in order to render service to your
country, to interrupt the course of those labours which
for the last twelve years have been the honour of your re-
tirement.—Accept, kc., J. DUFAURZ.
(Here follow the sinatures of the committee.)
M. Laboulaye at once withdrew his candidature
when he beard of M. niers' determination to
stand.

M. Flocquet, of the Temps, is a candidate for
Beziers, and is warmly recommended by Jules
Favre.

M. Mathieu (de la Drome), whose friends have
thought of him in his native department, refuses
positively to stand, on the plea that his " con-
science " requires him to give up his whole time to
weather prophecies.
The Pays is authorised to deny the existence of
any confidential note or fachon of the Russian
government setting forth a schedule of the reforms
and ameliorations introduced into %lasi& and
Poland since the accession of Alexander 11. In
short, the official answers sent to M. Drouyn de
Lhuys and Lord Russell were not accompanied or
followed by any other communication whatever.
The above paragraph must be considered as
unfavourable to the maintenance of peace, because
great hopes have been built upon the private
despatches now declared to be imaginary.