The Express.
London, England, 1864-03-25 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(now on owx

PARIS, THURSDAY Emma.

The Bourse was very heavy, notwithstanding that
the Bank has lowered its discount from 7 to 6 per
cent. on commercial bills. Some disappointment
was felt, because this diminution does not extend
to other securities. The money articles of the
evening papers say that "less confidence is felt in
the rumours of a conference." Rente fell 15c. for
cash and bc. for account, closing at 65fr. 90c. and
66fr. bc. Mobilier fell Bfr. 75c.

A telegram from Aix states that at the conclu-
sion of M. Lachaud's speech for M. Armand the
applause was so great that the President cleared
the court, and gave notice that next day the
public should not be admitted at aIL The public
prosecutor, as if in despair of securing a convic-
tion, said that in default of sufficient evidence on
the capital charge he should ask for a subsidiary
verdict for" cutting and wounding," and would not
object to extenuating circumstances. These are
the things which always astonish Englishmen when
they contemplate French judicial proceedings. In
the present case it is plain to everybody that the
prisoner is either wholly innocent or guilty of a
diabolical attempt at assassination aggravated by a
false accusation against the prosecutor, maintained
in cold blood, that he is an impostor and a
false witness. But the French Procureur-Imperial
instead of manfully maintaining this issue acts as
if he were playing a game of whist, and had no
other object but to get the odd trick if possible,
let alone honours. One point, which I have not
yet seen taken in the public accounts, strikes me as
most important. The theory of the prosecution is
that Armand, being a passionate man, first struck
his servant in the heat of the moment, and then,
finding that he had seriously injured him, thought
it best to despatch him altogether to prevent the i
man from telling tales. But on this supposition
there is no explanation how it came to pass that
Armand found the ropes used for strangulation
and binding the man's wrists ready to his hand.
There is no suggestion that Armand had any mo-
tive for vengeance against Maurice Roux. He bad
complained of him as a servant, but if he was out
of patience with him on that score, his simple
remedy was to discharge him. I think there is no
doubt that Armand will be acquitted.

A recent arrest has revealed the existence in
Paris of a baud of lazzaroni, living habitually in the
enjoyment of the dole far niente and artfully
taking the bread out of the mouth of the deserving
poor. At 7 in the morning these people, to the
number of about 200, assembled in the Rue de
rEchiquier, where they made their first breakfast
on soup served out gratuitously by sisters of
charity. An hour later they got up appetite enough
to eat some refuse bacon which a charitable keeper
of a hamahop is in the habit of giving away. They
took their luncheon at the guard-house of the
Louvre or the Napoleon barrack; where the
troops set apart a portion of their rations
for needy applicants. On the quays they watched
for the arrival of apple boats, and made a very
good dessert by picking up the damaged and half-
rotten apples which are always left strewed on the
pavement after a sale. Their dinner was generally
taken at the Capuchin Monastery, iu the Rue St.
Jaques, where they got soup and haricot beans.
An early supper from the charity of the Prince
Engine barracks set them up for the evening.
After that repast they haunted the environs of the
theatres, smoking the ends of cigars thrown away
at the doors, and picking up sous by running
after cabs. Their dress was not expensive ; for at
an old clothes shop in the Quartier du Temple they
could get a complete rig out for 21r. A curious
item in their toilette expenses is that of a
" changed shirt." There is a shop which supplies
a new shirt to any customer who leaves his dirty
one and pays 10 sous to boot. This band of joyous
brothers has just been broken up by an untoward
accident. One of the brethren, being employed by
a soldier in the Bonaparte barracks to get 3 francs'
worth of petroleum, was so indelicate as to run
away with the money. He has been arrested, and
now the soup distributions are stopped, and the
idle vagabonds are dispersed—very probably to do
wone under theatres' of necessity.

THE RETIREMENT or MR. Clik4E.—ME. Chase
bas requested the withdrawal of his name as a candidate
for the presidency in the following letter :—" Washington,
March 5, 1864. Ify dear sir,—ln reply to a friendly letter
from you, I wrote you briefly not long ago about the wishes
re expssed by many that my name might be favourably re.
Larded by the people in their next choice of a president,
and closed by saying that, should our friends in Ohio
manifest a prefrreoce for another, I should accept their de-
cision with the ready acquiescence due from one who has
been already trusted and honoured by them beyond merit
or expectation. The recent action of the Union members of
our legislature indicates such a preference. It becomes my
duty, therefore, and I count it more a privilege than a duty,
to ask that no further consideration be given to my Dame.
It was never more important than now that all our
efforts and all oar energies should be devoted to the sup-
pression of the rebellion, and to the restoration of order
and prosperity on solid and sure foundations of union,
freedom, and impartial justice, and I earnestly urge all
with whom my counsels may have weight to allow nothing
to divide them while this great work, in comparison with
which persons and even parties are nothiag, remains no-
accomplished. Cordially your friend, S. P. CHASE. To the
HOD. James C. Hall, Senate Chamber, Columbia, Ohio."

•
ADMIRALTY, MARCH 24. APPOINTMLNTS.
Lieuteoanti—X. A. Hare, to the St. George ; J. F. Proirre.
to the Hawke ; C. W. Beaurooot, F. A. Jaekaoo, F. W. B.
&mak H. S. Etaillie,Forney, to the Marl-
borough. Master's Annetaat E. B. Connor, to the Fisrard„
for Baas. Clerks' Assistants—E. A. Lang and J. B. Sams
(additionall, to the Bombay ; F. E Croonnr. T. W. Hall,
and H. Stubbs, of the Firgard, for eomase4-house.