The Express.
London, England, 1863-08-20 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(nom otnt ows couzarotrDsrr.)
PAWS, WILDNEDDAT ETINDIG.

I find that the opinion of persons on whose
judgment experience teaches me to rely is not in
the least modified as to the necessity which, they
say, must ultimately impel Napoleon 111. to support
by arms the Polish cause. These persons—neces-
sarily belonging to the liberal party—bold that, at
a given moment, the very existents, of imperialism
will demand this concession to French public
opinion. This Polish question is, as we all know,
the only question which at once enlists the
support of the clerical and of the liberal
parties. The army will, as a matter of
course, throw the vast weight of its influence
into the scale ; and against these the compact,
though numerically small, party representing
the interests of commerce will be absolutely power-
less. Then, as to the question of the English
alliance in the event of a war against Russia, these
politicians at once sweep away all difficulties by say-
ing that if France leads, England must follow. They
cite as an instance in support of these arguments the
Crimean war, and think there is little doubt as to
our submitting to be taken in tow by Napoleon 111.
, when the time comes. As I believe this view of
the Polish question is that of a very large section
of French politicians, I have thought right to lay it
I briefly before your readers.
As the time for the assembling of the councils-
, general approaches, men begin to ask themselves
whether the much vaunted and from on high re-
commended principle of decentralisation is really
to find any application among these bodies, or
whether all the fine promises made on the subject
are to prove, as heretofore, vox et preferred nihil. I
suspect very little progress is to be looked for on this
score. The warning administered some time ago to
the Sickle I take to have been intended as a hint that
politics are to be avoided as well by presidents as
by members of the councils. The question is one of
paramount interest in France, inasmuch as in the
conseils-generaue lingers all that remains to the
country of the self-government principle so
obnoxious to despotism. The &kit, mindful of
the warning above alluded to, touches this question
with the timidity of a burnt child handling hot
water. After defining the objects specially con-
fided to the conceits-gbwraux, it says :

In other theca these bodes thought fit to interpret these
rights in the broadest sense. At the present day we do
not advise them to propose motions applying to matters
which they may regard as being beyond their sphere of
action. They must themselves judge what is fitting to do
on this point.

The Emperor's letter on the subject having been
mentioned, the suggestion is thrown out that
councils-general may well, without departing from
the spirit of that letter, busy themselves with the
great question of administrative reform. The
writer of the article, M. Lion Phie, then ventures
upon a side blow at one of the moot crying abuses
of the present system, the nomination of mayors by
the government. He says :

Perhaps some members may think the edministrative
reform " provoked^ by the Emperor should be based upon
the free election of mayors by the universal suffrage of the
communes. How, indeed, can the commune ever be admi-
nistratively emancipated, so long u the persons called upon
to preside over its interests are selected without this sphere
of the municipal councils?

It is generally thought that the meeting of the
Chambers will take place early in November. The
Prance names the 6th as the appointed day. The
"verification of powers" will occupy a month or
six weeks, till after which the address cannot be
I discussed. It is expected that the " verification "
will give rise to some curious disclosures, while the
discussion on the address cannot fail to open an
ample field for the powerful oratory of the now
important majority.
The war journals seize with avidity upon the
statements which recently appeared in the columns
of the Times relative to the naval preparations of
Russia.

M. Dubois de Saligny is chosen as the
scapegoat in the matter of the Mexican
spoliation ordonnance. His speedy arrival in
Paris is mentioned, and the Patric adds to
the intelligence that " there are very strong
reasons for believing that this diplomatist will not
return to Mexico." It is probable, however, that
his career will not suffer by the excess of his zeal,
which has been the means of bringing into relief
the " moderation " of his imperial master. We
shall doubtless shortly hear of the ex-minister to
Mexico being "called to other functions," as the
phrase runs.
Letters from Turin speak of a probable mo-
dification in the Italian ministry. The re-
turn of the patriot Ricasoli to the head of affairs
is mentioned, and, as a necessary consequence of
that event, the recall of M. Nigra from Paris. The
Marquis Torrearsa is talked of as his successor at
the court of the Tuileries.

The Bourse opened with a general upward ten-
dency. Confidence in the maintenance of peace
appears to be the order of the day. French Reutea
rose 200. both for cash and the account, leaving off
at 67fr. 85c. for both. Mobilier rose 17fr. 50c. for
cash, and 16fr. 25c. for the account. Italian was
firm, improving 20c. for cash and sc. for the
account, its closing price being 72fr. 70c. and
72fr. 75c. respectively.

ITALY.

(MOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDRNT.)
TURIN, AuGorr 16.

The difficulty of obtaining steady and reliable
officials in Southern Italy continues to be very
great. The Bourbons had none, and the present
government has but few. It is owing to this cir-
cumstance that assassins who have been arrested
with much trouble and danger often escape from
the prisons. Yeeterday we received intelligence
that the inmates of the gaol at Civitella had also
escaped. The Minister of the Interior immediately
sent the Commendatore &Gehl to the prison, with
full authority to act promptly and energetically.
Professor Matteucci, who was formerly Minister
of Public Instruction, and the deputies Poetic. and
Malawi, have opened a subscription for a testimo-
nisi of grateful esteem to Sir James Hudson.
Even when English policy was not favourable to the
wishes and the welfare of Italy, Sir James displayed
so much considerate courtesy and tact in his
relations with the Italian Government that friendly
manner almost atoned for hostile matter. More-
over, Sir James Hudson so completely shared the
grief of the country at the death of Count Cavour,
that he was considered a true Italian, and not a
foreigner, from that moment.
Last week Signor Quintino Sella, the ex-Minister
of Finance ; Baron Baracco, the Celabrian
deputy ; Count de St. Robert, formerly an artil-
lery colonel and professor of mathematic., and his
brother, a captain in the army, ascended the
highest peak of Monte Viso, which had never be-
fete been reached by Italians, but which two Eng-
lishmen had previously ascended without any
scientific object, though at considerable peril. An
account of this ascent will shortly be published.
Reesn's "Life of Jesus" forma the subject