The Express.
London, England, 1855-02-21 00:00:00

(nom Tax

DINT OP TIII DAILY 3131F11.)
PARIS, TUMMY EVIIIING.

Doubt still prevails on the great question whether
the Emperor will go to the Crimea. Perhaps the
balance of opinion inclines to-day rather more to
" no" than" yes." Both Lord Palmerston and M.
Hubner have, lam told, remonstrated against the
project as likely to prejudice the negotiations at
Vienna. Lord Palmerston, it is said, 'died that
should his Majesty persist in going Lord John Russell
would not go to Vienna until his return. Lord
John is, however, expected here to-morrow, and
therefore either the latter report is probably untrue,
or the difficulty has been removed. On the other
hand, I know that a great gun among the government
writers had prepared a slashing article to contradict
the rumour altogether, and that this article was sup-
pressed by order of the Minister of the Interior. It
is, moreover, a curious symptom that this evening's
Freese speaks of the matter, for the first time, openly
and in a way which I think it would not venture to do
if the project were definitively abandoned. The Presse
says A rumour, by turns affirmed and denied.
continues to occupy the public mind. It is not for us
either to confirm or contradict the report. We quote
in another place some of the contradictory versions
in circulation on the guided." The Prase then cites
several paragraphs from the Independanoe Beige, and
further says :—" The Journal de Toulon publishes
the following despatch It is said that the Em-
peror's journey is decided upon.' The Courrier de
Marseille says :—• The rumour must be received
with reserve.'"

At the Bourse scarcely any business was done, but
the Rente was last quoted with a rise of 20c.
To-day the Bassi Gras paid his traditionary visit to
!be Tuileries. Such a Mardi Bras is not remembered
by the " oldest inhabitant." Insteadof the soft breezes
ieh generally prevail in Paris at the end of
iebenary and treacherously tempt people to forget
the coming March winds, we had a hard, obstinate,
black frost, and snow many days old, so frozen into
the pavement, as, in many places, to defy the praise.
worthy effects made to scrape it off and mat it
away. In addition the heavens were veiled by
thick murky clouds, which, ever and anon,
showered down more snow, the whole morning
long. Not withstanding these drawbacks, a considerable
crowd assembled in the Place do Carrousel to watch
for the arrival of the devoted beast and his following,
which was announced for 12 o'clock. He did not
arrive, however, till past one, the state of the streets
being, I suppose, his excuse for keeping the Emperor
waiting. It was a piteous sight to see 'lightly clad
women and children seeking under Trajan's arab
ineffectual shelter from the biting blast and the
driving snow. As the hour of suspense wore on, the
patience of many shivering mortals became exhausted.
I observed one whole family file off, the father caw
soling his children with a pun—" We must &banded)
Sebastopol (the name of the Bees/ Gras); it is In
cold." Nevertheless there were a great many
at the gates, when the Emperor gave the unez
signal that the public were to be admitted to the
Inner Court. There was then a race along the
slippery esplanade to the central door of the Tulle..
rise. In a few minutes some court footmen isMlBll
forth from the great window opening to the halfway',
and placed carpets, feet-warmers, and a velvet
cover over the railing to prepare for their Majestlee
arrival. The procession was much more splendid
than any that has been seen for many years. In
consequence of the slippery state of the streets the
Base Ores, instead of walking, was placed on a car
drawn by six horses. I do not mention this as one
of the improvements. On the contrary, in my
opinion, the necessary innovation was unfortu-
nate. It spoilt the charocteriatic feature of the
festival. There is something extremely graceful
and majestic in the march of a fine ox, but
when he is "cribbed, cabined, and confined"
in a waggon, and evidently uncomfortable, the effect
of his progress is widely different. But the splendour
of the present cortege consisted of Sehastopolle gallant
following. There were at least a hundred knights,
crusaders, musketeers, Turks, Persians, and noblemen
ft la Louis XIV., all on horseback. Besides these
there was an allegorical oar containing Old Father
Time, Venus, Cupid, and many gods and goddesses
la attire which, I hope and believe, was warmer
than it looked. The little girl who represented Cupid
was taken up stairs to the Empress, who
kept her ten minutes, and gave her money and
sweetmeats. Their Majesties appeared on the hal-
lway, acc.impanied by the Princess Mathilde, and
attended by three or four gentlemen. The Empress
wee dressed in a black bonnet and close velvet
Montle, with a muff. She seemed to feel the cold,
bat looked well. His Majesty appeared in excellent
bseltk.

It is understood that the object of Geoeral La Mar-
mores visit to Paris is to come to an understanding
with the governments of France and England rela-
tive to the organisation of the Piedmontese expedi
tion. The Gekeral will stay but a very short time,
u ha wi hes, before going to the Crimea, to return
to Turin to take part to the debates in the Senate.