The Express.
London, England, 1864-02-19 00:00:00

THB EXPRESS, FRIDAI" EVENING, FEBRUAIb? 10,

to Western Australia, and its refusal to admit the
justice of the remonstrances of the inhabitants of
the Eastern Colonies who live by their own
labour, and not by that of men who have forfeited
liberty by crime. The people of the Eastern
Colones have proved demonstratively that their
social safety is endangered by the practice of mad-
ing out convicts to Western Australia. In
the appeal which we published on the 14th
ult., signed by the Speaker of the Legislative
Assembly of Victoria, the Mayor of Melbourne,
and a large number of magistrates, clergy, and
others, this 'statement occurs :—" Twelve escaped
" convicts from Western Australia have been
" within the last twelve months arrested and re-
" turned. Fifteen came into the Bay, were
" watched, and went on to Sydney without land-
" ing here. Forty expirees and others of this
" class are known to be here, whom the police are
" powerless to return. The numbers arriving are
" increasing annually, and are difficult of de-
" tection, as they reach this through other free
" colonies, many through South Australia. They
" are the most dangerous and expert criminals with
„
whom the ponce have to deal."
The colonists have appealed frankly and honour-
ably to the fair feeling of tbii country against the
system which subjects them to this danger, and
thereupon Sir Geoaor GREY, in his place in Par-
liament, most unwarrantably accuses them of
" dictating" to England. Surely the free colonists
of Australia have a better title than any
body of men in England can have to give judg-
ment on a matter which affects their social secu-
rity and fair fame now, and will have a lasting
influence on the character of their continent. It
will be remarked how the HOME SECRETARY we,
chrer: d in those parts of his speech welch pro-
mised that the remonstrances of the Australians
s'iould be disregarded, If those remonstrances
bad come from a part of the Empire dotted with
p rks, and blessed with squires, settlements and
game laws, instead of from free and indushiLus
but thoroughly democratic communities, we believe
they would have had a very different reception
in the House of Commons.

LATEST IN'

THE INVASION OF SLESWIG.

The belligerent parties seem to remain in their
repective positions. It is said t►at in consequence
of arrangements entered into between the Prussians
and the Austrians, the latter are to form the reserve
in the attack on DiippeL The Prussian troops, in
their turn, enter on actual service and undertake
the task of carrying the Danish lines. The assault
on the Danish position has appeared too difficult
without t►e aid of heavy artillery, and the present
delay is caused by the necessity for bringing up
the necessary guns and organising the batteries.
A Copenhagen letter in the Nations/ Gazette of
1 Berlin says :

Account+ from Jutland stake that the 4th division of
Danish infantry, which had taken the road to Apenmda,
safely creased the River Honig's°, which eeper►tee Slam*
from Jutland, and that its advanced guard was expected at
Fridivicis.

A letter from Hamburg of the 14th says :

The bay of Kiel is about to be fortified by the Pre mien'
on four different points, at the entrance and in the middle.
The works, however, cannot be commenced until the weather
becomes milder and the snow disappears. There is reason
to believe that the Prussian engineers only intend to
intablish earth batteries sufficiently strong to protect the
bay sod the port against the entrance of Danish vessels.
The inhabitants of the town, however, feel • certain un-
assumes, and think that the Prussian government has
more serious objects in view by those works, namely, the
inoorportion of Holstein to Prussia. The Prussians car-
isioly appear to be installing themselves in Kiel, sod
rumours are currant that they intend to build • bsrralk at
the entrance of the port.
The Prussians have mined the fortress of Frede-
ricaort, which commands the roadstead of Kiel,
with 84-pounder guns. A battalion of the 18th
Regiment of Prussian infantry has arrived in that
town, and the soldiers have b3en quartered on the
inhabitants.

scholars, I think I as not impertinent in letting
them know in-the vernacular how immense is the
swallow of the French Emperor for flattery. The
following is the rough translation of elegant verses
which it was not thought absurd or ironical to
read in his presence. Speaking of the imperial
prince in his character of Cupid, the above lines
have the following signification :
_ _

This new and oharming Love is not by any means the
one that was formerly adored in Greece. No; he is
adored in France, and he is the daughter of a goddess.
This is not the peevish child of the frivolona Venue. Al-
though his mother is no lees beautiful than Venus, she is
attended not only by the grains but by the virtues. His
father is master of the lightning, which sleeps calm
and terrible in bin powerfrl hand ; and the attentive world
waiting respectfully to see what he will resolve, trusts to
him the furl destiny of humanity.

Let all the powers of the earth who presumed to
carp at the " congress " take this to heart, and
know that the French Emperor in his own draw-
ing-room likes to be told that he is the lord of the
human race.

Sir Henry Bulwer, who has been spending a few
days in Paris, and who was greeted by many friends
at Lady Cowley's reception on Saturday last, left
Paris yesterday for the embassy at Constantinople.
The Bourse was somewhat oppressed at the open-
ing by a vague feeling that, after the rise of the
last two days, a reaction was to be expected. There
were some fluctuations, but ultimately Rente for
account maintained a rise of sc. upon yesterday.
Mobilier rose 131. r. 75c. In ragways there was
little change.
It has been a subject of general remark that the
Archduke Maximilian, whose throne in Mexico is,
acocording to the Moniteur, so smoothly turned
down for has been lately rather backward in
coming forward. To-night, however, his principal
organ, the Patrie—by way, I suppose, of just keep-
ing the vestal fire alive—announces, in large type,
that "people believe in Trieste " that the Arch-
duke will come to Paris on his way to Mexico in
the mouth of March.
A ball for the benefit of the British Charitable
Fund will be given in Easter week for the benefit
of that admirable institution. It will take place
at the Grand Hotel, Boulevard des Capucines, and
will be under the special patronage of the Earl and
Countess Cowley.