The Express.
London, England, 1864-01-07 00:00:00

THE DUCHIES.

The Saxons and Danes are still facing each other
at Rendsburg ; but, though the delay of 24 hours
originally fixed by the Saxon general has expired now
for some days, we bear nothing yet of the com-
mencement of hostilities. According to some of
the continental journals there is a divergence of
views between Prussia and Austria, the former
Power showing a disposition to go the whole length
with its confederates in the Diet.

Meanwhile, arrangements seem to be making in
Germany for an occupation of the Duchy of Schles-
wig. The Kreuz Zettung says that a division has
received orders to concentrate immediately at
Preignitz ; the Gazette (Its Posts "1 Frankfort says
that the authorities of the Grand Duchy of Weimar
have received notice that 30,000 Austrians will pass
through it next week on their way to the north ;
and a third paper speaks of the intention of the
German Powers to form a camp in Franconia,
in order to have close at hand troops which
it would be necessary to send to the scene of
hostilities. According, however, to a letter from
Berlin one more step is to be taken at Copenhagen
before proceeding to the occupation of Schleswig.
Au ultimatum is to be sent to the Danish govern-
ment, which will declare that King Christian can-
not be recognised unless he re-establishes in the
Duchies the state of things which existed before 1846
—that is to say, on the condition that the Duchies
of Schleswig and Holstein are only joined to the
Danish crown by a prsonal union.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)
INDIA AND CHINA MAIL.
MARSEILLES, JAN. 7.

The Messageries Imperiales mail steamer 3ioeris
arrived here at 9 a.m. to-day, with the India and
China Mails and the English mail, ex the Candia.

THE CALCUTTA, CHINA, BOMBAY, AND
MAURITIUS MAILS.
The Valetta, with the above mails, arrived at
Marseilles at 7 a.m. this day. The mails were to
leave at IL3O

FRANCE.

PARIS, WEDNESDAY EVENING.

The draft of the address presented to the Legis-
lative Body is considered by most of the Paris
journals as more decided in tone and more liberal
iu sentiment than that which has been already dis-
cussed in the Senate. Most of the journals are,
however, dissatisfied with the favourable manner
in which Russia is spoken of, and some express
regret that Poland has not fouu.l more sympathy
iu the document.

The subjoined amendment relative to Poland has
been presented by Baron .L.,reue David, M.
Cazellcs, M. Belmontet, M. Roy de Loulay, M.
Cure, M. Pagezy, General Baron Gorsse, Colonel
Reguise, M. Corneille, M. I. iron de Buzareingues,
and Vicomte Clary :
Replace the paragraph relative to Poland, commencing
with theme words, **The rensiniscenc.--s of oar history and the
sentiments of humanity which animate us excite our
warmest sympathies for the Poles," Sr., by the following :
--"Sire,—The Polish question is one of humanity and of
public European order ; France has not the mission to take
up arms for a canoe which, examined in all its bearings,
cano3t be considered as having produced any offence
against our honour, or a menace against our frontiers ; we
ought, nevertheless, to exhaust all the action of our moral
co-operation in favour of Poland, to which your Majesty
has publicly given • testimony of deep sympathy ; we be-
lieve in the opportuneness of recognising the Poles as bel-
ligerents, not as rebels, but heirs to a right inscribed in his-
tory and in treaties."
A very serious accident took place last evening
on the Northern Railway at the Pierrefitte station.
A passenger train which was due at Paris from
Calais at a quarter past 4, and which had been
delayed by some injury to its locomotive, had
continued its way with difficulty to the station
just mentioned, and there stopped. The usual
signals were immediately made to protect it,
but at that moment a train from Brussels came
in sight of the station, and notwithstanding the
signals made to stop it, ran violently into the former
and knocked five of the carriages into pieces. Seeing
the impending danger, an inspector at the station
had opened the carriage doors, so that a number of
persons were abli: to alight. Five passengers were,
however, killed, and nineteen more or less seriously
wounded. The persons in the Brussels train
experienced no injury beyond the shock. All the
wounded passengers were brought to Paris in the
evening. Another account makes the number of
sufferers, killed or wounded, to be 50, and states
that all the passengers' luggage has been burnt.
The accident is attributed to the neglect and mis-
management of a pointsmau.
The frost continues iu Paris with unabated se-
verity. Skating is now going on with great spirit
on the lakes in the Bois-de-Boulogne, and on the
other sheets of water around the capital. In the
public gardens, when the ice is broken and removed,
the front is sharp enough to congeal the water iu a
single night strong enough for skating and sliding.
Yesterday, at U in the morning, the thermometer
of M. Chevalier marked 9.4 below zero, C. (IN F.);
at noon 6.1 below, C. (21 F.), and at 3 o'clock 4
below, C. (24 9-10ths F.), same as the day before.

DEATH OF ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET SIR
WM HALL GAGE, G.C.8., C.C.H.

We have to announce the death of the senior
Admiral of the Fleet, Sir William Hall Gage, who died as
Tuesday last, at his country seat in Norfolk. The venerable
officer, who was in his 87th year, was the third and youngest
son of Thomas first Viscount Gage, and entered the navy in
1789. He was midshipman of the Princess Royal is Lord
Hotham's actions in 1795, and of the Bedford at the recapture
of the Ceoseur by the French squadron ; was lieutenant of
the Miters& at the rapture of the Babies sod action with the
Ceres. Spanish frigate; and off Cape St. Vincent com-
manded the boats of the Minerva. its was captain of the
Terpsichore at the capture of the French vessels in Tunis Bay,
and was also at the blockade of Malta. As captain of the
Urania, was present when the bade of that vessel assisted
in cutting out the Chevrette from under the batteries of
Camaret, near Brost. The deceased mbesquently com-
manded the Thetis and the Indus. From September, 1841,
to July, 1846, daring Sir Robert Peers government, be
M/ed the adios of ate of the Lords COMMilleaoolllll of the
Admiralty ; and from 1848 to 1851 held the post of oom-
mender-la-chief at Plymouth. He had been Reer-Admiral
and Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom, and after hold-
ing in succession those honorary appointments, was, early
in 1862, made Admiral of the Fleet.