The Express.
London, England, 1863-08-05 00:00:00

EVENING, AUGUST 5, 1863.

EXPRESS FROM PANS•

(not on OW 14 ooftsaroinim.)

PARIS. TUESDAY STAMM.

There is, I believe, no doubt that the important
news given by the France last night was true. The
famous "cordial understanding" of the three
powers is at an end. It was too fragile to bear
much pressure. Whatever may be the form of
the diplomatic breakdown which will hereafter be
disclosed, I am sure that the substance is this—
that France wants war and England does not ; and
that being driven into a corner, the English minis-
ters, moat rightly and conscientiously, and with a
just sense of their responsibility to a loyal and
confiding people, refused to put their hand to •
paper which would oommit England to a great
war, the conduct of which would not be in her own
hands, and the issue of which no man can foresee.
I understand that Lord Napier and the Duke of
Montebello have both communicated to their respec-
tive governments the certain information, derived
from conversation with Prince Gortcbaxoft, that
the Czar will not give way an inch. Thereupon, as
I said yesterday, the Emperor Napoleon wanted to
get England and Austria to agree upon a common
course of action when the inevitable negative
answer shall come in. Hence the split. England
will not agree to the " identical" note proposed by
France, and I have reason to think that Austria
agrees with the court of London rather than with
that of the Tuileries.

The France to-night contains an article replete
with taunting remarks upon the conduct of Eng-
land at this momentous crisis, the object of which,
however, it finally explains, is not to complain of
England, but to excuse France for not going to
war alone. One of the arguments which M. de
la Gubronniere's journal seriously brings forward
for the purpose of showing that England urged
France on and has now left her in the lurch, is,
that "the Times and Morning Post offered France
the Rhine frontier u a legitimate compensation for
her efforts on behalf of the Polish cause " ! Au
assertion better worth attention is that Lord Rus-
sell's despatches have been more threatening and
more haughty than those of M. Drouyn de Lhnys
and M. de Recbberg. However, all this recrimi-
nation is rendered mere matter for retrospective
study by the crowning argument of the France,
which is that England's interest is to go to war
with Russia on account of China, India, Ame-
rica, and the East, whereas France is
moved by no other consideration than a
philanthropic* idea. The conclusion is that
though England does not know her own interest,
France does, and will, therefore, remain at peace.
Let us hope that M. de la Gueronnibre may be
authorised in saying this.
The Bourse was decidedly influenced by the
pacific rumours of the day. Rent. rose 25c. for
cash and 20c. for account, closing at 67fr. 10c. and
67fr. 20c. Mobilier rose 20fr. The Orleans and
Lyons railways rose 10fr. each.
At the assize court of La Vendde, on July 30, a
wretch named Collinean, formerly a domestic ser-
vant, but now, thanks to the frightful extension of
the monachal system in France, a brother of the
congregation of St. Gabriel, and whose religious
name is Brother Darius, was found guilty of a
long series of infamous assaults upon little boys
confided to his care as a schoolmaster. For the
sake of public decency the court tried the case with
closed doors. Sixteen thin, pale-faced boys, who
had been contaminated by the prisoner, were
examined as witnesses. Their appearance and the
facts to which they deposed excited the utmost
indignation. Brother Darius was sentenced to
twenty years' imprisonment with hard labour.
Rumours of war come from Strasburg, in the
shape of a letter to the Temps, whose editor, M.
Nearer, is an Alsacian. Vague uneasiness on
the banks of the Rhine would not Ix, worth
reporting, but here is a specific fact. It
has transpired that a few weeks ago com-
manding officers of the Strasburg garrison received
a copy of a circular addressed by the Minister of
War to the military intendants, and which was
couched in these terms :
The military intendants will immediately make a return,
for each centre of instruction of their division, of the
effective number of troops of all arms (infantry, cavalry,
and artillery), for the purpose of calculating the stores to
be purchased for the recruiting warehouses. In making
this return the highest avenge number of every recruiting
depot is to be taken, and then augmented is the proportion
of one-fifth for the infantry and artillery, and one-third for
the cavalry.

The correspondent admits that beyond the above
circular, no preparatory movements had been ob-
served in the military establishments, which, how-
ever, are extremely well supplied. But this circular
causes especial 11116116116614 because it is remem-
bered that when Napoleon L decided in the secret
remises of his own mind that the army of
Boulogne was to march upon the Rhine, he sent a
similar order to the intendants of Strasburg. Six
months before the war on the Rhine broke out he
ordered those functionaries to provide 40,000 pairs
of shoes and a proportionable quantity of clothing,
making, at the same time, the observation that
the first oars of every good military administration
should be to provide a sufficient quantity of shoes
and clothing long before arms, munitions, &c.

Another fact which excites alarm at Strasburg
is that their German neighbours on the other side
of the Rhine already regard the French as enemies.
Marshal MacMahon, on the occasion of a review
which he lately passed at Strasburg, sent the usual
invitation to the Prussian and Baden officers in the
garrisons of Kehl and Rastadt. Those German officers,
who have hitherto been on the most friendly terms
with the Strasburg garrison, did not think fit to
accept the invitation. A few Baden officers ap-
peared at the review, but in plain clothes, and the
Prussians did not come at all. Another incident
still more striking occurred. On the day of the
review, Marshal MacMahon made his men throw
a bridge over the Rhine—a military exercise which
has frequently been performed on the same spot.
The marshal and his staff crossed over the bridge,
and when they got to the Baden bank naturally
expected to see the garrison in battle array, and
presenting arms. It has always been usual to pay
this compliment even to a simple general. But on
the present occasion, Marshal MacMabon was
greatly surprised to find only a squad of four sol-
diers in undress, commanded by a sub-lieutenant.
To make matters worse, this sub-lieutenant,
" energetically," as the correspondent says, refused
Marshal MacMahon's invitation to dinner. Under
these circumstances the 'marshal did not quit the
last plank of his bridge, and returned to Strasburg
without treading on German soil.
I ought sooner to have put upon record that
there is no truth in the report, which I noticed a
few days since, when it was circulated by the Paris
government journals, of Juarez having fled from
San Luis Potosi, and being about to take refuge in
the United States. A letter in the Monde, eman-
ating from a clerical source and bitterly hostile to
Juarez, says :
It la known that far from yielding to the storm ha is
actively pursuing the guerilla system of warfare is concert
with Eason, Ortegs, sad their accomplice", It scald be

quite a mistake to refuse Juarez ell kind of military skill
because he has bees bred a lawyer, for he presided over the
council of war which plumed the system of defense carried
into executioa at Puebla, and his preponderating influence
caused it adoption.

The Minister of Justice and Public Worship has
addressed the following circular to the archbishops
and bishops :
_

Paris, A most 1.

Monseigneur,—The church will soon invite the faithful
to celebrate one of its great religious solemnities, which has
become the national fête of France. lam happy, ninapoig.
near, at being the interpreter of the sentiments with which
the return of that anniversary inspires Ida Majesty's mind,
and I invite the clergy to invoke on that day the bleesinp
of heaven on the empire and on the sovereign who so
gloriously presides over its destinies. The popu-
lations will joy fully join in that pious idea; they
are anxious to thank Divine Providence for the
recent victories of our soldiers, who nobly sup-
port beyond sea the cause of civilisation, the interests of ,
the catholic religion, and the honour of the French flag;
they wish at the same time to return thanks to God for
the blessings He lavishes on the country, and to supplicate
Him to continue His protection to the Emperor and the
imperial family. You will, therefore, monseignear, only
anticipate their wishes by ordering that a Te Dam followed
by the Domine Sainte shall be sung on the 15th after
Divine service in each pariah of your diocese. The prefect
will concert with you as to the measures which the core-
moay may maim—Accept, J. /Unocal..
A similar circular has been addressed to the Pre-
sidents of the Directory of the Church of the Augs-
burg Confession, of the Central Jewish Consietory,
and of the consiatoriee of the reformed churches.
For the last ten days it has been an insoluble
question in Paris whether Prince Napoleon had or
had not gone to Vichy to see the Emperor. The
fact of the visit was stated positively by the Con-
stitutionne/ and other reputed great authorities, and
letters have been written to London deducing
material arguments from the event, as bearing
upon the mighty issues of peace or war. The
mystery is now cleared up. The real Prince Na-
poleon (the great Plon•Plon) has not been to Vichy
at all. His relative, the son of Prince Lucien, was
there, and that was the origin of the mistake.
The Daily News is seized.