The Express.
London, England, 1863-01-09 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

Orson[ oua own

PARIS. rIII3IIIIDAT EVINING.

The Patrie--which is slower than the Constitu-
tionnel to veer round to the new policy inaugurated
by M. Drouyn de Uiuys, and has some recollec-
tion of the "soiled glory and the trailing wing"—
ventures to resent that passage in the Pope's
speech to the French army in which his Holiness
talks of that Italy which France has recognised se
"he knows not what kingdom." It qualifies the
political allusions of the speech as at least ill-
advised, and thinks that the French soldiers who
heard them must have been distressed at the want
of respect shown to the imperial government.
• The Opinion Nationale, in a bolder toue, says :
_ _

The speech has the accent of conviction. Pius IX. thinks
he is defending the truth. He sees the expression of the
will of God in a regime of oppression which excludes all
liberties. All the principles which constitute the founda-
tion of modern society, are to him "very pernicious prin-
cipled'," and " inventions of Satan." He is therefore right
in repudiating them. He is logicaL—esn we say the same.
He duly plays his part—are we playing ours
The Tempe correspondent writes from Rome :

The motion is rising in a most incredible manner. The
Bishop of Orleans appears to be conadems that the "day of
justice has arrived." Letters from him, said to be written
to the Princess Borgheee, are handed about, which repro-
sent that perfect harmony now prevails between this turbo.
lent prelate and French diplomacy. Pray send me a ray of
light from Paris to enlighten this night of Rome.
It seems to be an established fact that France,
under existing institutions, is incapable of doing
any great things by voluntary subscriptions. People
who go regularly to church fritter away a great
deal of money in the course of the year by giving a
few pence to the priests whenever they ask for
them, which is very often ; and, independently of
the priests, many, very many persons are largely
charitable to neighbours whose distress comes
under their immediate cognisance. But when, as
has frequently happened lately, some few indivi-
duals seek to imitate the English system of alle-
viating great public calamities by voluntary asso-
ciation on a large scale, the result of the utmost
efforts is invariably ridiculous failure. At this
moment the Temps and the Debate are writing most
eloquent articles on behalf of the distressed cotton
operatives of the Lower Seine. They use every
rhetorical art to stimulate givers. One day they
draw harrowing, but I fear not overcharged, pic-
tures
of old men, women, and children starved out
of house and home, and begging for bread from
house to house. On other occasions they speak of
the vast resources of France, repeat the statistics
triumphantly put forward by official prints as
evidence of public prosperity, and ask in events of
wonder and despair, why France cannot do for her
own people what England is doing for Lancashire.
It is all in vain. The Debate calculates, this very
day, that the total amount of subscriptions adver-
tised by the Paris journals during the many weeks
that the public appeal has been made comes
only to the miserable sum of 234,000 fr. This
poor offering, this mere dust in the balance, is com-
posed in very great part of donations from go-
vernment functionaries, who are under a bort
of obligation to follow the example set by
their chiefs. Ten millions, at least, are wanted,
but it is quite plain that not even a single million
will be got. Many ingenious combinations are sug-
gested. One manufacturer proposes a voluntary
income-tax of 24 per cent. throughout France.
Another states that his workmen have of-
fered to work five minutes a day extra
throughout the winter, and states, what
is very true, that if all the workmen in France
would do the same an ample fund might be
collected. The author of every scheme backs his
own opinion with an offering of 50fr. or 100 fr., but
the suggestions fall dead upon the public mind.
The people have got into the habit of looking to
the "government" for everything ; and without
government aid all that can be done to meet the
present crisis will be but as a drop in the bucket.
The Petrie hears from Rome that the Pope has
finally settled the programme of his famous re-
forma, and that an official intimation of their pur-
port will be immediately made to the court of the
Tuileries.
News from Mexico has been received dated
Vera Cruz, Dec. 8. It quite confirms what I have
had occasion to assure you over and over again,
when the fact was disputed, that the French army
a hung up for want of sufficient provisions and
means of transport. General Forey, the Francs
now says, will not commence his march upou
Mexico until he bas fully two months' provisions
for the entire army. "It was thought
that this object would be achieved to-
wards the end of January." This dubita-
tive phrase manifestly points to the possibility
of a still further postponement. You will remem-
ber that till very lately the official statement was
"that the army was to go forward at the beginning
of December. The minor movements reported by
this mail are that a cotes of French troops, which
was encamped at Tecamalucan, near Ingenio,
has proceeded to San Andrea a town fifty kilo-
metres distant from Orizaba, on the left of the
Cumbres range of mountains ; and that General
Berthier, on his march to Perote, bad reached Las
Vigas.
The Bourse continues inanimate. Relates closed
at 70.65, or fe. higher than yesterday.

A letter from Munich says :—" The Grand Duke
Ferdinand of Tuscany has arrived here from Linden, on a
visit to the royal family of Bavaria. It is stated in diplo-
matic circles that as soon as Prime Luis 1., the eon of
Prince Lnitpold of Bavaria, shall have tanned his majority,
King Otho will abdicate the throne of Green in his favour,
and retire into private life."
The Paris Jockey Club had eleven members to
shot at its last sitting, 240 voters being present. Among
the candidates admitted was Prinos JOllOl2llll Murat.
The Constitutionne/ contains a letter, dated Alex-
udcie, which gives an ICOOUIIi of the visit of his Excel-
lency Sir Henry Bulwer, accompanied by H. de Leese" to
the Saes Canal. Sir Henry seems to have hem re-
ceived and conducted over the tracings of the maid with
almost Eastern magnificence. They commenced their trip
at Port Said, and reached Timaah, which, should the cutting
succeed, will be one day one of the most busy ecaimercial
cities of the world. The satires employed on the works
pram to be in good condition and well cared for. H. de
Lemma is evidently very popular amongst them. Hewes
on occasions greeted with enthusiasm whenever the
cortege of numb and cavaliers paned.