The Express.
London, England, 1863-01-12 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(TOON 0011 OWN 001RINPONDEBIT.)
PARIS. SONDAT EVINING.

The Opinion Nationale, positively contradicting
the France and very many other authorities, says
there is not the least truth in the story of Prince
Napoleon being about to start on a voyage. The
inference from this no doubt authentic denial is
that the prince will appear in his place in the
Senate and make a speech on the address. It
cannot, I think, be doubted from a good many
symptoms that some hint of a more or less mild
character has been given to the senators and depu-
ties that they are expected to be good boys and not
make quite so much noise as they did before the last
holidays. I think, however, that there is still public
spirit enough in both houses to tell the govern-
ment some home truths about Rome, Mexico, and
America. It is useless, however, to speculate now
upon these topics, because the Emperor's speech
will be the all-absorbing theme of political discus-
sion to-morrow. The France states, not as an
on dit, but as a positive fact, that the speech was
read at a ministerial council yesterday. This is
contrary to imperial habits, which are (although
there may have been exceptions) to produce the
speech from the imperial pocket at the time of
pronouncing it, the ministers, as a body, being
utterly ignorant of its contents—and, moreover,
often greatly surprised at them.
M. Billaudt has refused to accept a gold medal
sent to him by some French inhabitants of Lima,
who admire his last speech on Mexican affairs. He
disclaims praise which is due to the Emperor alone,
and suggests that the medal should be given to
Trumpeter Roblet, who distinguished himself at
Guadaloupe.
A very old story, which has many a time been
served up to illustrate the charitable character of
deceased, and even of living priests, is now doing
duty in the press as a "touching anecdote "of
Cardinal Morlot. The papers say that his valet
one day asked him for some money to buy neces-
sary linen for an honest man who was in great
necessity and had nobody to care for Lim. The
money was given, and on the following morning the
cardinal found half-a-dozen new shirts on his dress-
ing table. He asked why they were there I The
valet, bursting into tears, replied. "Oh ! Mon-
seigneur, pray forgive me—you are the poor man
that I wanted the money for ; you give everything
away and never think of yourself, and I could not
bear to see the ragged state of your shirts any
longer !" The moral of the tale is good, but its
historical value is more than doubtful.

Almost all the old English residents in Paris,
and very many friends iu England, will learn with
deep regret that "Dr. Gunning" is dead. I call
him Dr. Gunning because that was the appellation
by which he was best known, but he always repu-
diated the title. He was the oldest member of the
College of Surgeons, but had not a physician's de-
gree. The sad event occurred at 9 o'clock this
morning, at his house, No. 52, Rue du Colisie.
John Gunning, C. 8., who has just been removed
front this world after attaining the great age of 90,
was a distinguished army surgeon. He was on the
staff as long ago as 1792, and his name must be
familiar to the ear of many an old soldier. A.
Waterloo he held the rank of deputy-inspector-
general of hospitals, and on that battle-field it fell
to his lot to cut off Lord Raglan's arm. He came
to Paris with the Duke of Wellington's army, and
has resided here ever since, universally beloved and
respected. His house was a joyous rendezvous for
his own countrymen. at which he delighted to mix
with young people and promote their amusement.
There was scarcely anything of the old man
about him. His sight, hearing, memory
—all his faculties, indeed, were perfect to the
last, and his friends confidently predicted that he
would live to a hundred. On New Year's-day he
bad a dinner party ; and cards for one of those
little friendly dances which he loved to see were
issued so lately as last week. Au attack of bron-
chitis prevented him from receiving his friends on
the day expected. His medical attendant, Dr.
Davison, thought it serious ; but he got better, and
within the last two or three days was considered to
be out of danger. This morning, however, he ex-
pired in his arm-chair without pain, and with scarcely
any previous symptoms to denote an approaching
end. His daughter, Mrs. Bagsbawe (the wife of
the Queen's nounsel), and two of his granddaughters
were with him at the time of his death.

SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY, EYETER-HALL--
MendelasolDei datalie and Mozart's Requiem will be per-
formed on Friday next, the 16th inst. Mr. Phelps is en.
gaged to recite the illustrative verses to Athalie.
TI ie Lord Chancellor has presented the Rev. C.
R. Ferguson Davis, son of Sir Henry Ferguson DaYe,
Rut, M.P., to the Ileitis of Exhall-cum-Wixford, in the
county of Warwick and diocese of Worcester.
The Rev. P. N. Mackichan has been appointed
to the Church at Lorlagilphead, in the Presbytery of In-
usury, vacant by the transportation of the Rev. John
Stewart, late minister thereof, to the charge and °Moe of
the united parish of Inverness and Bona.
The Rev. G. W. H. Taylor, curate of Pontefract,
is to be appointed to the Perpetual Curacy of the new parish
of at. Mark, Hull, vacant by the death of the Rev. H.
Brooking.
Eight deserters, seven being Neapolitans and
one Tuscan, taken prisoners at Aspromonte, have just been
tried at Palermo. They were declared guilty of rebellion,
not of treason, and were sentenced to 15 years' imprison.
ment. The public prosecutor gave notice of appeal, on the
ground that the sentence was too lenient.
A letter from Nuremberg, iD Bavaria, says :
" Our pencils have obtained the first prize at the r, blbition
of London. No branch of industry in our city has taken such
an extetsion u this manufacture. We possess about twenty
large factories, employing about 5,000 workmen, who pro-
duce annually 216 millions of pencils, representing a value
of three millions of florins (6.400,000 f.)."
VY.AYENEY VALLEY RAILWAY.—This line has
been traversal throughout by a locomotive from Bunpy to
Bucks. It is at present worked from Tevetaball to Bungay,
and ou the Ist of February it is expected that traffic will
be commeooed to Beccles. It will then effect a junction
transversely between the East Suffolk and Eastern Union
lines of the Great Eastern system, into which it will in all
proLability be eveetnally merged, a bill being about to be
introduced into parliament for the purpose, inter (dia.