The Express.
London, England, 1855-06-18 00:00:00

FRANCE.

CFIOK TH3 CORRISPONDINT OP 1111 DAILY tows.)
PARIS, SATURDAY EVENING.
There has been a considerable fluctuation at he
Boerse. The Rents opened well, notwithstanding
billet lin Consols, under an impression that good
news had been received from the Crimes, which
would be published in to-morrow's Moniteur. A rise
of 15c. was effected, the Route being quoted at 69.
But in_thesaftsraoon it was reported that the Empe-
ror, Marshal Magian, sod Marshal VaiSant, had met
in the course of the day to consider despatches from
General Pelissier, and that the news was bad. What-
ever may have been the reason, the fact is that a
sudden and extraordinary fall took place towards the
close of haleness. The last quotation was 68.30
being a fall of 700. from the highest price of the day,
and 55 from yesterday. The railways did not give
way to the downward movement. The settlement
is these securities went off very favourably, and
almost all the lines closed with an improvement.
Rotten rose 15f., and Western 20f.
The treaty oosceding the Pyrenean line to M. de
Rothschild is said to be signed.
A company has offered to construct at its own oat
a line between Macon and Never., with a branch to
Roanse. This line would form the first section of a
still more important railway now under examination,
and which would form the great transversal line
from the east to the west, from Switzerland to the

Atlantic.
An imperial decree promotes General of Brigade
de Martimprey to the rank of general of division ;
and Colonels Salle, Dupral de Larroquette, Monique,
Latrille de Lorencer, and Sender, to the rank of

generals of brigade.
The caves of the non-arrival yesterday of the
Madrid mail is that the malle-poste was attacked by
a Carlist band between Btiviesea and Borges, and all
the letters and journals opened and destroyed, and
the vehicle itself burnt. M. Bignon, the bearer of
despatches to the French government from the Mar-
quis de Target, the ambassador of France at Madrid,
was amongst the passengers, and on his appealing to
the assailants aid declaring who he was, and that all
persons would doubtless feel inclined to respect the
law of nations in such a case, and spare the ambassa-
dor's letters, received a violent blow in the face from
one of the hostile party, and had a pistol presented at
him by another. It was with difficulty that the
leader of the band succeeded in saving M. Bignon 's
life. One of the insurgents also, on hearing M.
Bignon assert his quality of a Frenchman, said:—
"The French government is in no great favour with
• us, for France is making war on Russia, and the
Ir Reagan, are our friends, our supporters." The Intel-
• ligence of this act of violence reached Bayonne by
electric telegraph, and has come to us from that

place.
Last night the long expected English dramatic
company commenced their representations at the
Theatre Italian (or Salle Ventadour, as it is more
commonly called) with a farce, a divertissement, and
Macbeth. We have had no English plays in Paris
since Macreedy and Miss Faucit made a successful
campaign here many years ago. The present under-
taking, directed by Mr. James Wallack, has every
prospect of success. The number of Frenchmen over
40 who understand English is incredibly small, but
within the last quarter of a century the language has
been extensively taught to children, and there 111 now
a new generation delighted with an opportunity of
testing their knowledge. Mr. Wallack's company
has the advantage of the prettiest, the most com- 1
modious, the best ventilated, and one of the
largest theatres in Paris. Moreover, the im-
mense success of Madame Ristori has taught the
public to bend their steps towards the Salle Vents-
dour, which has often been inexplicably deserted is
spite of great attractions. I will not attempt to
write a critique on last night's performance at,
Macbeth, because I feel that my own opinion would 1
be little to the purpose. An old play-goer who re-
members all the Macbeths in London from Kean and
Young downwards, has preconceived notions, possibly
very erroneous, which render him captions. A play
of Shskspeare's here is to me as " the Lord's song
in a strange land," and I should witness with de-
light any respectable attempt to represent one. I
cannot therefore but be pleased with a performance
which was much more than respectable, although I
will not pretend to judge of its precise merit. I shall
let you know uext week what the French critics
think of it when the fettilktonistee, who were
present in great force, publish their weekly
theatrical reviews. It is not in Paris as in
London, where a man goes to bed from Drury-lane
and finds an elaborate review of the play on his
'table as soon as he wakes in the morning. The au-
thorised critic speaks only once a week, and no writer
in any newspaper ventures to forestall his judgment.
The banquet scene was very successful, and elicited
loud applause, in which Madame Riatori, who atten-
ti% ely watched the performance from herbox, cordially
joined. The old stager, Mr. George Bennett, who
seems endowed with perpetual youth, "shook his
gory locks" to perfection as the Ghost of Banquo. A
ludicrous mishap occurred in the incantation scene.
So much real brimstone was put into the witches'
cauldron, that the odour penetrated the whole house
and half suffocated the audience. Several ladies were
obliged to leave the boxes for a few minutes. The
completeness of Mr. Wallack's company shows the
spirit with which the enterprise has been undertaken.
Dr. Arne's music was performed in a very effective
manner, and was greatly admired. There was a full
complement of witches—as many as in a first-rate
London theatre, and they were all represented by
English actors. Mr. Wallack and his wife (who
played Lady Macbeth) were pertinaciously called for
at the fall of the curtain, and, after a modest hesita-
tion, they appeared and made their bowsef acknow-
ledgment.

PARIS SUNDAY ETININO.

The Emperor is unwell. The rumour of his ill-
ness produced a serious effect on the Little Bourse on
the Boulevard this morning. The Rente was done
as low as 67fr. 10c., being a fall of a franc and a half
from yesterday's lowest price. About one o'clock, in
consequence of a report that his Majesty was doing
well, there was a reaction, and the last quotation
was 67fr. 50c.

It is beyond doubt that the Emperor is indisposed,
but to what extent it is difficult to say, as of course,
should his illness be serious, the truth would not be
allowed to transpire. He has been bled at least once
this morning. Some people say twice. He is in bed
and has suffered from very violent colic. This I
know for certain. An uneasy feeling in the head is
spoken of—but of this I Gan say nothing on any good
authority. The Empress, it is said, passed the whole
of the night by his bedside. His Majesty wits bled
by Dr. Conneau, after a consultation.
The Empress (unless the arrangement should be
altered by the state of the Emperor's health) will
leave Paris for the Eaux Bonnes on Thursday next.
The Emperor does not propose to accompany her
Majesty, but will go, it is said, very moon to the
Camp of Boulogne.

The Kiog of Portugal leaves on Wednesday.
I understand that the day officially fixed for Queen
Victoria's visit to Paris is August 13. This con-
firms what I have always thought probable, that her
Majesty would come for the Fête Napoleon (August
16) and not sooner.
The rumours which were prevalent at the close of
the Bourse yesterday of a check in the Crimea con.

tinue to circulate to-day. I can say nothing farther
about them, but this is positive, that very important
despatches have been received, I cannot say of what
nature.

It is reported on good authority that the Russian
troops which were echeloned on the Austrian frontier
have lift for the Crimea.

SPAIN.

MADRID, Jens 16.
The faction of Navarre has entirely disappeared.
The Hon. Mr. Dodge has this day prrontad to the
Queen his letters of credenos u insister for the
United States at Madrid.

ITALY.

—,..JENT OF THE DAILY NEWS.)
NAPLES, Juan 9.
I must again direct sotice to the tate of the
political prisoners at Montefusco. Whilst Nap's'
has been incensing the name of its adored
and absolute master, Poerio and his fellow-suf.
ferers have again been changing their prison, from
Montefusco to Montesarchio. The event even by the
authorities must have been deemed important from the
display of military force on the occasion, and their
knowledge of the sympathy so generally felt is
abundantly attested by the minute precaution; which
were taken. There wi.sa strong detachment of ed.
diers on duty on the c cession. carriages were ordered
off the road, people were ordered to make no sign ee
1 ip
addedveettihhavewr
yi texpressionnahbnneyoithomfets
secured
l yet
id: sympathy, tm,dnbhe
details
tneh,
ar
passengers
behind
nosd
tadmlhniteajdc:
tone
us
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ihhdc.eeery
edeAtesss u
prisonerswi
prisoners.
ryneeed,rtee
,b i
lulit
a hto glancingwaoudadelvti
o
salving them I shall send them. Montesarchio ism
elevated mountain, 23 miles distant from Naples, and
11 eight from Montefusco. At the foot, or on the
ascent, is the town, which by some is considered to
stand on the site of the ancient Candium, whilst on
the summit is a med,teval tower recently converted
by his Majesty into a cellular prison. The system of
solitary confinement is not, however, I believe, to
on the
cobentrparacry,tisedin
the prisoners regnerpareillt instance;
l beplaced five in
a room. The situation is healthy, but plated
at this elevation, even beyond the hum of voices in
the little town beneath, and with a higher range of
Apennines in the distance, it is a very solitude.
When I say healthy, I mean to say that there is no.
thing like malaria in the neighbourhood; but the ale
is so swills as to menace the worst consequences to
those who are affected with any malady of the chest.
Besides the prisoners of Montefusco I underlined
that those confined for political offences in other
places have been sent also to Montesarchio, so that
this ancient tower now stands a cynosure to neigh.
booting eyes of as much cruelty and injustice as hes
been perpetrated in modern times. It was whilst
this latest scene in a political tragedy was being
enacted that the farce of the fete on occasion of the
name-day of the king was played in Naples. His Ma•
jesty was not here, and is to be presumed to have
been ignorant of the details. Since that day
of which I have already spoken at large,
many incidents have come to light showing
the oppressions exercised by the police, who,
like so many cattle drivers, not content with coma
pelting their flocks in this or that direction, descend
even to beating them. Of one case at least I have
heard—et ex ono diace ontnes—where a poor fellow
proffered his piastre as his contribution to the
0 Voluntary Illumination" Fund, and was insulted
and arrested, and compelled to more than quadruple
his subscription. lam conscion‘ that I describe
things which must be received at times with incris.
I dnlity, but in the search of truth I try to divest my.
self of all party feeling; and yet such facts 'recce.
stantly reported to me from fitly quarters. Of the
request or order left by inspectors of police at the
several houses in some quarters I have spoken ; I
know it most assuredly, because the "requests
was sent up during the night to some
English families ; in one case the reason being
assigned that the Royal Family were going on the
sea that night, whereas none knew better than the
inspector that the Royal Family had been at Gaeta
for two days. In fact, the Director of Police controls
Naples.

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