The Express.
London, England, 1863-01-19 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(nor OUR OWN

PARIS, SONDAY Emma.

The Proem says that after the debate on the ad-
dress fresh negotiations will be entered upon, with
a view to the settlement of the Roman question.
The " basis " of these negotiations will be the
guarantee of the present pontifical possessions with
full liberty for the Pope to reserve his right to the
lost provinces in any form be may please. But
"above all" the cabinet of Turin mast speak out
in a " direct and definitive manner." "If the
Italian government should repeat its declaration
that it maintains its pretensions to have Rome fee
its capital, it would be an established fact that aa
arrangement is impossible, but that the obstacles
come from Turin."

This is a very threatening paragraph to Italy,
but as to the negotiations alluded to they are all
raVecabias.. It is well—hewn that the Italian
cabinet willnotrenounce the pretensions in question.
All that can be meant, if the France is now rightly
informed, is that M. Dronyn de Lhuys intends to
furnish the Pope with a new excuse for making no
reforms, and his own government with a further
pretext for keeping possession of Rome, by shifting
the charge of obstinacy from Rome to Turin.
The old battle-ground of the Holy Sepulchre at
Jerusalem has just furnished a new subject for
diplomatic dispute. The French and Russian
architects sent to repair the cupola cannot agree.
The Greek patriarch says that the French plan is
too favourable to the "interests " of the Latins, and
so there must be a new diplomatic conference.
The French press was invited to Mr. Dickens's
reading at the embassy. Their system is to give
theatrical and literary criticisms only once a week.
In due time I have no doubt that most of the
feuilletons will contain elaborate criticisms upon Mr.
Dickens, and English literary taste as connected
with the popularity of his works. Meanwhile I
extract from the Temps, the only journal which has
yet published a review of last night's memorable
entertainment, some very striking remarks.

It is difficult to explain to the French public what the
English call reading. It is a mixture of the pulpit, the
homily, the magic lantern, and the spectacle—the spec-
tacle, principally, for it is r a substitute for theatrical
amusements which were long prohibited by English religion,
and as a consequence prevented to • peat extent from'
taking root in English manners, that public "readings'
grew into vogue. [The critic here evidently confounds
"readings," which are • very modern institution, with •
certain description of time-honoured " lectures," which are
no doubt frequented by many scrupulous people who love
entertainment like the rest of the world, but would not
go to a play.]
reader in France at all comparable to Mr. Dickens ;
he is the ideal of the genre. He is, indeed, • reader who
dor not read ; for he knows by heart the work of which
he recites um an abridgement. The book is before him,
but he scarcely glances at it. He recites, he describes, he
acts, be mimics, and represents every personage with a
variety of intonation, • truth of accent, and a power of
realisation which is truly marvellous. For two hours
he captivated attention without appearing to feel, and
what is more, without causing the least fatigue. . . . .
After having seen and heard Mr. Dickens, one is more
curious than ever to read his novels—so entirely does the
genius of observation seem to be incarnate in him. . . .
The actor and the academic reader may learn much
in the school of Dickens. Such purity of diction
and • voice so pliable and so powerful 'are very rare indeed.
We regret that there were not more French people among
the audience, for, even without understanding the lan-
guage, they would have been struck with the wonderful
talent of the reader. It is true, however, that French
opinion would not be very favourable in principle to the
idea of • celebrated writer making a show of himself, even
for a charitable purpose. Shakespeare and Molire acted in
their own plays, it is trite, but would they have done so if
they could have helped it' . . . However, the atten-
tion of the audience, the consummate art of the reader,
the success obtained, disarm criticism in this case.
. . Reading, however, is an entertainment that
will never become acclimatised with us. The reli-
gion of the Englishman, which does not allow him
to see a comedy acted at a theatre, permits him to hear a
comedy read by a celebrated author. The religion of the
Frenchman, which enjoins hint to damn the comedian, does
not prevent him from going to a theatre to laugh at a
comedy.

K de Persigny is pursuing his crusade against
the press with a recklessness most damaging to the
government which he thinks to serve. The recent
warnings, inflicted for the most trivial and, some-
, times, altogether inexplicable causes, are quite in-
consistent with the liberal professions of K de
Persigny; himself, as well of the latest minis-
terial manifesto in the "yellow book." I am
persuaded that the Emperor will shortly feel called
upon to repudiate some of these warnings. As it
ia, all the independent press is terror-stricken, and
has resolved for the moment to write no original
articles upon internal affairs. The government
will be the. first to lament when it finds all tongues
but those of its flatterers hushed. The Journal de
la Cott d'Or has just received a warning which
though signed by the prefect, "Baron Bry, Com-
mander of the Legion of Honour," is expressed to
be given at the instigation of M. de Persigny for
"an article ou Mexico, containing calumnious
allegations tending to cast disconsideration on the
government." By way of • makeweight,
and as if the former offence was not quite enough,
the warning is further based upon the considera-
tion that the journal published the false news that
M. Nigra bad gone to Turin on account of grave
diplomatic difficulties. That " false news " was at
the time generally believed in Paris, was published
by government journals, and sent to many parts of
Europe by telegraph. Nothing can be more
childish than to punish a country paper for echo-
ing what was the town-talk in Paris.
The Daily News is seized.

THE TI MM or COMNIIICZ Dimas Psalms
AND ITALY. —We read in the Moniteur of yesterday,
under date of the lith inst. :—" Their Excellencies
M. Drouyn de Lhuys and M. Rouher, plenipoten-
tiaries of his Majesty the Emperor of the French,
this day s'wned at the Foreign-office, with the
Chevalier /five and M. le Commandeer Scialoja,
plenipotentiaries of his Majesty the King of Italy,
the treaty of commerce between France and Italy.
This act, which was preceded a few months since
by the signature of a treaty of navigation, and by
a consular and a literary convention, completes the
series of commercial arrangements undertaken by
the two States."

Tae AMERICAN WAR AND SLAW/Sr.—A meet-
ing, attended by mare than 300 pence; was held at
Cobham, Bunny, on Friday evening, when. after an address
by B. Scott, Faq., of Heath House, in that neighbourhood,
the following resolution was submitted, and carried unani-
mously :—" That this meeting, being convinced that
slavery is the came of the grievous civil war now being
waged in America, and that the object of the leaders of
the rebellion in that country is the perpetuation and
extension of that inhuman system, earnestly prays that
the United States Government may be strengthened to
pursue its emancipation policy till not a slave shall be left
on American moil." Resolved—" That • copy of this
resolution be forwarded to Mr. Abridiam Lincoln, President
of the United States."