The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-29 00:00:00

SPAIN.

MADRID, JAN. 23.
Rumours prevail of imminent changes in the mi-
nistry.
A decree, promulgate) at Madrid on December
19, increased the import duties on woollen cloths,
leather, china, and paper from January 1, 1432.
But, on the representations of the French ambas-
sador at Madrid, a fresh decree has been issued,
declaring that such augmentation of duties is not
to be applied until February 20, for articles com-
ing from France and the other countries of Europe.

BELGIUM.

The Independance Beige has the following upon
the position of the French refugees:

M:Carnot has not, as some of the journals have said,
been expelled from Belgium ; but it is true that he is in-
clined to leave us. On the appearance of the lists of pro-
scription, in which his name is not inscribed, but where the
names of several of his former colleagues were, M. Carnot
wrote to the King of Prussia a most dignified letter, in
which, remarking that his father found en asylum in that
monarch's dominions after the prescriptions of 1815, ho
claims the same hospitality. The illustrious Baroa Alex.
ander Humboldt, formerly a friend of General Carnot, and
his colleague in the Institute, hastened to present this
letter to the King, who immediately granted the request in
the most honourable terms A number of political refugees,
compromised in French affairs, who have been here a fort-
night unknown to the police, are at this quitting our
country for England, Holland, and Germany.

GERMANY.
_ PRUSSIA.

In the Second Prussian Chamber on the 26th the
Minister of Finance brought in tho bill re-imposing
the stamp duty on newspapers, on the principle
some time since described. The motive for the mea-
sure is stated to be merely a financial one. The abo-
lition of the duty in 1848 caused a considerable loss
to the revenue, which it is highly necessary
should be made up again. The new duty will be
levied, according to the size of the paper, in super-
, ficial contents, and there will be no exceptions, not
even for journals that consist exclusively of adver-
tisements. Every hundred square inches will
pay half a • pfennig," or the twelfth part of a
grosehen, in English money something more than
the third of a farthing. This duty on every number
of journals published twice a day will of course have
to be met by an increase of price. No statement
was made of the revenue expected to be realised by
the measure. It is generally believed that the financial
result is not that to which the government attaches
the most importance. Another bill laid on the table
at the same time imposes a tax on bill of exchange.
Both bills were referred to the commission of finance.
Lieutenant Pim arrived at Berlin on the 25th
instant, his enterprise being for the present aban-
doned. He was to leave for London on the 27th.
BERLIN, JAN. 24.
The New Prussian Gazette has an able article
against the motion now before the legislature, and
approved by the ministry, for pacing all the nomi-
nations to scats in the first chamber in the hands of
the crown. It is matter of history, the writer
observes, that every first chamber which rests upon
no other and better foundation than royal nomina-
tion,
is good for nothing while it exists,and upon the
first rising of a atom is scattered like spray and
vanishes without being missed. On this account the
government is advised in the interest of the crown
itself to abide by the provisions of the constitution,
and is told with much effect that an arrangement
which the King first devised, and then swore to, can-
' not be broken without so much as an attempt being
made to carry it into execution.
Notwithstanding this sound and truly conservative
advice, the government, according to the same jour-
nal, will immediately come forward with a proposi-
tion, excluding the operation of the elective princi-
ple in the construction of a first chamber. A privy
council was held yesterday, and attended by the
Prince of Prussia, when, it is understood, this ques-
tion was debated.