The Express.
London, England, 1855-05-18 00:00:00

GERMANY.

The German papers mention a conference which
was held at Berlin on the 12th between M. Manteuf-
fel, President of the Prussian Cabinet, Count Ester-
hazy, Ambassador of Austria, and M. Bismark, who
represents Prussia in the Germanic Diet. A letter
says that it waa of every important character. " A
onion between Austria and Prussia for an armed
neutrality, is said to be becoming more and more
probable ; and it is said that Prussia, with a view
thereto, is to support the proposition which Austria
is about to make in the Diet for the mobilisation of
the federal contingents. There is some prospect of
an interview taking place at the end of the month at
Cracow, between the King of Prussia and the Empe-
ror of Austria."

NEGOTIATION.

The Vienna papers speak of negotiations of some
kind as still going on at that capital. The Corriere
Maisano of the 15th says that Baron Bourqueney,
Lord Westmoreland, and the Turkish Plenipotenti-
aries have frequent and protracted interviews with
Count Book

EGYPT.

A letter from Alexandria of the Bth states that the
passage of English troops continued, and that about
18,000 of the Egyptian army had arrived there to
embark for Turkey.

r 0 IN THE RIFLE PITS.

Extract from a letter, of the 23rd April, from a
private (sines =ads corporal) of the first battalion Rids
Brigade :

" Camp ittfront of Sebastopol, Crimea,
Awl 23, 1855.

" Some volunteers were required out of my regiment to
re sharpshooting in the rifts pits—that is, to pick off the
Russian gunners. Those pita are situated about 200 yards
in front of our adaneed works, so you may imagine that
they are pretty close to the town. Out of about 60 volunteers,
19 men were picked, myself among the number. At retreat
sounding (i.e., at sunset), we fell in and marched off in
rear of some breastworks. Here ws halted fur the night.
At dawn the next morning we pasha forward, and niched
our cover before daybreak, so that we were unseen by the
essay. As soon as it began to get • little light, and
'alibied us to perceive our foes, we commenced our work,
and their men returned it pretty briskly, but did us no
harm. At length they directed their big guns to play
on us, sad mat a shower of shot and shell at us ; but
fortunately they did us no harm, more than shaking our
corn a bit. This we returned to good effect I sup.
pose too good tor the Russians, and that it put them
out of temper, for they returned u such a volley of shot,
shell, and grape that oar temporary work fell like dust to
**ground. This was not all ; for on looking around us
we beheld a sight that would have suds your heart bleed.
Oat of our small party there lay lifeless one engem* and
tour privates killed, ore corporal, and one private wounded,
and all but sae raw& with came balls. The other ins
hit with • rifle ball is the chin, which passed out at the
bask of his hoed, sousing *stoat death. Oat of the amber
killed only on. spoke or grossed after Was shot.
He, poor fellow, had his leg Blow* of does
up to his body. He expired about half an boar
afterwards. I expect you are weadsriag how we got ea.
Well, I will tell yea. I told you that ear gable= won
levelled to the gaud, theaters we had no aver, and •
few move shots would have laid us ia the soma stabs as ear
poor unfortunate canareda ; so we lay pafoody still ; sad
at this aided =MIA our ow* batteries messed
fire ea the enemy's, so as to 'taut *air soda
sad take their 'Marion free as. This plea oar
*boded. Only a few shots from the Buda ridsansa
sow iaterraptod as, sad this was golds, to us, as
we could not return • single shot. Wayne we weld have
due so, bat it would only have been madams, as
they would; have picked u off had we rime from oar
prostrate position is the ground. Perhaps you may say
why did we not retire, as we only had two headrest
yards to rum. The verses we did not was beaus
the essay's shots would have been flying after us,
end no doubt many would have folios ; and besides,
had we left our fallen comrades belied as, they
might have been **adored ; so we determined to rem*
until nightfall, that we might take them with us. So here
we ley ; and I assure you this maned the longest day that
I ever paned. At last things began to grow dim around ise,
and whoa all was darkness a few a as no to the onstroseh-1
meats and premed stretchers, with whisk we conveyed our
easualtios to** rear of oar works, and rhea laid them is
is. grave. After dashing the Ism aeremosy over these
poor fellows, who but a few house before were in good
health, we proceeded to our canvas heated's', sad, tired,
and wary."

13,ant.—Ildeams new aim el theism ooenned at
Madrid as the 10th, sad three of then peeved fatal.
A mildreened man named &meat wae yeater•
day Pied by the Terrill of Cornered Pollee foe swind-
ling. weer, it wee peeved, sheet els media aim to
gine amber et tredeenes, sad eigsenseed OM ha wee
=by Se Inperiel Oinninies die Usivanal Ex-
te ellsr is amen Men& pismire is Mis_lu to
unlit Is rippled his eberense, be peedseed what
gtitls be is isibereado• inn Coisairisw
eisedeenes NM him that they istaided to ribibd,
he gm* nesdhod liter more is • large miaow.
dna rediseed aleedi fed eme,""sleinsi • endiel negro
to whin s pees Mess wee easehed : This nodal," NM
be, •• is iseilase W Me Oniesiries for and it
will greadloss adoledes at all tine" to the &-
The pries of it is IMr." Miry of the trailissea
sabedbiligly neeind the need, sad paid the iii. Bit
dry arm sew amides mere et the era, sad wirs they
sale isesides at the eine el ibe Conairies elms bin,
they 'nee add that they Melees nrisdre—esepiessi.