The Express.
London, England, 1864-07-29 00:00:00

THE IMEXIcAN EMPIRE.

KINGLiIiE inked the First Lord of the Tremor,
what parties of the states sod territories of Mexico had
been hitherto subjugated by the invading army of the
Pesach; and by what means, sad in what districts, the
authority of the Ilexicaa republic had been de facto super-
seded by the so-styled "empire" of the Archduke Ferdiesed
Maximilian ; sod whether the First Lord of the Treasury
or the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs bad given the
Preach goveromeut say mama to expect that her Majesty
would be advised to recognise the archduke as Emperor of
Mexico before his authority should be de facto established is
the main pprtioe of the states and territories now bald under
the away of the President Jlllll7l. _ . _

Mr. LAVABO had to state, is answer to his hoe. friend,
that there wu some difficulty in ascertaining exactly what
portion of Mexico was 'chiefly in the hands of the new
Mexican government, or, rather, of the French troop.. The
latest accounts showed that the French troops were in pos-
ausionof tbeespital, Vera Crux, Tampico, and several other
placers. As his hon. friend was no doubt aware, it was
simmt impossible to say, with reference to that un-
fortunate country, that any ;wheeler government
had been, nt any one time, in possession of the
whole republic. The President hail rarely held
more thou the capital, Vera Cruz, and one or two
other towns, the other porticos of the repubhc being mull,
in • state of insurrection or insubordination. It had been
customary, therefore, to recognise as the de facto govern-
meat the government which was in possession of the capital
The Archduke Maximilian was now not only in possession
of the capital, but also of a conuiderable portion of the
Mexican territory ; and her Mejesty'a government had intl.
mated to the French government confidentially that when
the archduke was actually in the city of Mexico, and bad
notified to the European powers that hailed taken penurious
sf the government, it was the intention of this government
to advise her Majesty to recognise the Archduke Maxi-
milian ns Emperor of Mexico. He could sot give any
assurance to the borne that he would be able to
show that the Archduke Maximilian was in possession
of the whole of MeMoo, although he could readoobtedly
show that he was in posserairm of • great
portion of it. The state of that country wee such that at
so time could it be said that the lIISIOT part of It
was under the direction of any particulsr government
There were always a number of chiefs in arms; there
were always a number of people to Mexico ready to
plunder right and left, so that a complete state of anarchy
prevailed in some districts. He hoped that in future •
Letter state of things would exist, and he believed it would
he for the beoefit of British merebuta and residents that hoe
Majesty should recognise the de facto goveronseet. (Hear.)
RAILWAYS CONSTRUCTION FACILITIES BILL
On the motion that the Lords' amendments to this bill be
soosidered.

Mr. a WFiTIIEAD observed that the bill, which gave
large powers to the Board of Trade, had undergone an ha-
perlaet alteratior. in clause 9 io the other house, by which
the Board of Trade, with the assent of landowners, might
authorise the construction of new railways and the levying
of tells. iirospective of any parliamentary committee, pro. ,
wiled such railway did not affect any existing Ilea. He
begged to ask whether competition would be held by the
Bard of Trade to be one of the mode* by which an existing
seaway might be so affected?
Mr. M. WILSON stated that where it could be shown
that a projected scheme of railway would have the
effect of competing with an aziatieg lies the Board of Trade .
would not feel iteelf justified in issuing the certificates/might ,
fee by the promotora.
The amendmenta were then coosidored and agreed to.