The Express.
London, England, 1855-08-16 00:00:00

DEATH OF THE DUKE OF SOMERSET, KO.

We regret to announce the death of the Duke of
Somerset, LG., who expired at twenty five minutes past
eight yesterday morning, at the family =maim' in Perk-
iest,. The noble duke had for the last two years been in
declining hsaltb, but the occasional attacks by which he
was seised yielded to medical treatment. It was feared
that his advanced age and increasing infirmities would, see
long, prevail over a naturally strong constitution, and, at
length, yesterday morning, he died, attended up to the
last moment by his dutiful and affectionate Duchess, who,
daring the illness of her noble hasband, has been a constant
nurse in the sick chamber.

The late duke was poseeseed of considerable attainments,
and was the author of several scientific treatises. He was
for some years president of t►e Royal Institution, vies-
president of the University College, London, a fellow of
the Royal Society (being one of the oldest memben of that
learned body, having been elected. • fellow in 1797), a
member of the Royal Asiatic Society, a fellow of the Society
of Antiquaries, and of the Limiest% &misty, and a D.C.L.
The noble duke was a Knight of the Garter, and held the
appointment of viee•adminl of the coast of Soatersetabire.

The noble deceased is succeeded fa the peerage
by his eldest son, Lord Seymour, M.P., born in
1804. He married. June 10, 1830, Jane Georgians,
youngest daughter of Mr. Thee. Sheridan, and grand-
daughter of the Right Hon. Richard Brineley Sheridan, by
whom hie grace has • numerous family; his eldest
eon, Lord Ferdinand St. Maur, now ia his 21st year, becoming
Lord Seymour. The present duke was, in 1830, returned
to the House of Commons for Oakhampton ; and, in 1834,
be was elected member for Tomes, which he has aims con-
tinued to represent in parliament. He was a Lord of the
Treasury in Viscount Melbourne's second administration,
and afterwards Secretary to t►e Board of Control (from 1839
to Jeep, 1841,) when he accepted the oMee of Under Secre-
tary #f State for the Home Department, and was subee-
questly (in Lord John Russell's administration) Commis-
lacer of Woods and Formic

The families of the Duke of Hamilton, Mr. and Lady
Charlotte Blew, Mr. sad lady Await Mule Tellmmesh',
sad many others of nab, are plead is mourning by the
event.

Yesterday an official dinner was given at Albert-
gat* Homo by the Ambissador of France, oa amnion of
the fek of the Emperor of the Fronk. The company con-
sisted of Viscount Palmerston, the Marquis of Lansdowne,
the Earl of Clarendon, Viscount Harding*, the Coast de
Plahault, Sir Chaska Wood, sad Sir Georg* Corinna'
Lewis ; and of the leading memben of the corps disdain-
Aqua Daring tin dessert, Lori Palmantsa proposed
" The Health of his Majesty the Emperor of the French,
sad may his reign be keg and glosses's." The Ambassador
thea gays "Her Majesty the Queen of Gnat Britain sad
Irslead, sad the entkaskatle Tempting which she would
*godson as her approaching visit to From." Saber-
quad,. his Ezesliesey proposed " The Health of the Bon-
ragas Conaectod by Friendship sad Alliance with Franco
sad Ecglaad."

The Marchioness of Ely, who will be the Lady in
%Mar la 'Undone, upon her Majesty daring the sp-
rees/Mai Royal visit to the Pruett Court, is supposed to
have be.. appointed for this high duty, is seasequeseme of
bar poems' friendship with the limprom of the heeds.

17101 t

FRANCE.

. ---•-

PARIS, WZDNINDAY MOB.NIIIO.

In consequence of the Fete Napoleon, the Post-
office closes at 12 to-day. With the exception' of the
following telegraphic despatch, containing a further
summary of the intelligence brought by the Indus,
there is literally no news :

MAZIIIILLIII. TOZSDAT IVENING.

General Canrobert arrived atConstaatinople on the morn-
iog of the 6th, sad left the same evening for Handles. He
he just landed from the Indite. He has been replaced (pro-
visionally) in the command of the lit division by General
Espinasse.
The cannonade of the Russians was incessant at Sebas-
topol when the mall left, but the batteries of the AUies had
been greatly strengthened by the engineers, more especially
those constructed with a view to silence the yowls remain-
ing in the port. Several of the besiegers' works are
masked, sad ao person is slowed to visit them, so that
their true state may be kept secret.
General Pelletier frequently inspects the fortifications of
Kainiescb, which are fast approaching completion. Im-
mense stores of provisions sad ammunition are continually
coining in to this place. AU the Turkish soldiers forming
part of the regular army of Asia that could be disposed of,
and also the redifs, have been sent to Ereeroure, where a
battle was expected to be fought very shortly. The Paths
of Jerusalem has brought the insurgents at Nepalese, in
Syria, to subjection. He left on the 20th ult. with some
troops and artillery against some other insurgents at Libros.
The Porte his ordered the immediate return of Omer Peas
to the Crimea. Rifest Paths has been named President of
the Serathierat. The Constantinople journala state that
General Zamoisky is to organise the deserters and the Poles
who have been made prisoners, and will arm them to act
against the Russians. Admiral Lushington and the
Eoglish Generals Fraser and Shirley have arrived at Mar-
seilles.

Paris this morning does not present the festive ap-
pearance usual on August 15. The environs of the
Tuileries are thronged with the constituted bodies
and functionaries in official costume who are going to
pay their respects to the Emperor in the order laid
down in the programme. There are queues at all the
theatres, the doors of which will presently be thrown
open gratis. But in other parts of the town there is
no excitement whatever. Great numbers have taken
advantage of the holiday to go out of town. There
is nothing going on either in the Champs Elysees or
the Champ de Maros usually the two great central
points of attraction. People are evidently reserving
themselves for the arrival of the Queen, and are con-
tented this year that the Fete Napoleon should be
shorn of its beams.