The Press.
London, England, 1857-10-24 00:00:00

THE PRESS, OCTOBER 24,1857,

lortign or,artzsganbenct.

PARIS, October 22.

Tiiis morning a telegraphic despatch was received
at the Foreign•ofTce announcing that the Danubian Di •
vans had unanimously decided in favour of the union
of the two Itoumain provinces under a foreign prince, to
be chosen from a Western dynasty, and with a Repre-
sentative Government. This news has created a
great sensation in Paris, as putting an end to all
speculation on this interesting question. The quasi
protest and circular-note of the Ottoman Government
has now lost all its importance; for it is generally
believed that the Congress of Paris will confirm, pure
et simple, the decision of the Divans.
The Court continues at Compeigne, bunting. Count
Walewski will return to Paris on Saturday. Count
Persigny, who is now in Paris, leaves for London on
Monday, passing through Compeigne. The Duke
de Grammont, ambassador to the Vatican, will
embark at Marseilles on the 27th for Rome.

M. de Hubner has been spending several days at
Etioles with the Minister for Foreign Affairs. This
looks like a good understanding between the Courts
of Vienna and Paris. M. de Seebach and the Mar-
quis de Villantarina have also been the guests of
Count Walewski.

The Legislative Corps is to meet on the 30th of
November, when, after receiving the new deputies, it
will be adjourned for the despatch of business to
the 30th of December. This fact will demolish that
idle report that the Emperor was afraid, owing to
financial embarrassments, to meet the Legislative
Chambers.

The health of the King of Prussia daily improves,
but the mental faculties of his Majesty are so debili-
tated that it has been decided, if the King do not
recover sufficiently to transact business by a given
date, the 31st inst., to name the Prince of Prussia
Regent during the illness of his Majesty. Certain
contingencies to prevent so easy a solution of a diffi-
culty may occur, but it is hoped by all that private
feelings at such a moment will give way to a con-
sidetation of the public good. The best understand-
ing exists between the Queen and the Prince, but I
am sorry to say it is not the same with the Princess
of Prussia, who has been requested not to appear at
Potsdam. The liberal views of her Royal Highness,
so openly expressed since 18-IS, have given great
offence to the Queen.

The raising of discount to seven and a half per
cent. by the B ink of France, which immediately
followed the same measure taken by the Bank of
England, has been well received by our merchants.
The high rate of discount, it is true, diminishes the
profits of our merchants, tradesmen, and manufac-
turers, but, at all events, money can be obtained.
Before 1857 the Bank of France, after raising its
discount to its maximum six and a half, was forced
to restrict its discount to bills of less than two
months' date, the usual custom of commerce being
ninety days. Money became thus scarce, and serious
diff►culties followed. The Bank now discounts bills
of ninety days, and money is consequently abundant.
The inhabitants of the department of the Loire
were alarmed at the beginning of the week, owing to
the rising of the river Allier, and great tears were
entertained that the centre of France was about to
be again visited with the sad disaster of the inunda-
tions of 1850. On Tuesday last, owing to in.
e.lisant and heavy rains for three days, the waters of
the Allier rose nearly five feet, and began overflowing
the banks. Fortunately the rain ceased, and the
waters subsided, having done no other damage than
to carry away a suspension-bridge.
You are probably aware that, notwithstanding the
new Russian tariff permitted printed books to enter
the Russian empire free of duty, a charge was
made of twelve kopecks per pound at the Custom-
house. The Emperor Alexander having learned
that this demand was considered as a charge for