The Express.
London, England, 1864-12-24 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(nom ous owl

PARIS, PIMA'S EMING.

An article in the Pays seems to indicate that after
due reflection the French government thinks it ex-
pedient to take in good part the paragraph in Mr.
Lincoln's speech relating to Mexico. A semi-
official writer is now instructed to say that the
meaning of the President's words has been exagge-
rated ; that he spoke for his own public (i.e., for
Bunkum), and that when his expressions come to be
construed by the light of the situation in which he
stands they have a very " secondary importance."
The Pays has reason to think that for a long time
past Mr. Lincoln has given the French govern-
ment no reason to suspect his intentions in regard to
Mexico, and it is with his acts and not with his
words that France has to do. It seems certain
that neither the Emperor's government nor that
of the Emperor Maximilian has any ground of com-
plaint against Mr. Lincoln on the subject of Mexico,
and that on the contrary he has in his impartiality
effectually prevented any succour in arms, men,
money, or munitions being given to the " Juarist
bands." That being so France does not care what
he says. After these somewhat affected scornful
expressions, the Pays gives vent to the Southern
sympathies of the Tuileries by unreservedly con-
demning the President's speech so far as it pledges
him to continue the war for the restoration of the
Union.

M. Haussmann gave a grand dinner yesterday at
the Hotel de Ville to the members of the municipal
council, the departmental commission, and the
mayors and ad joints of Paris—that is to say, all
the non-elected functionaries of the department of
the Seine. He gravely expressed his satisfaction
that they all approved his conduct without a dis-
sentient voice, and that is perfectly true. M.
Ilaussmann, who is not garrulous in the Senate,
and openly expresses his dislike of dialogues,
likes monologues very much, and is great when he
has all the talk to himself. It has been
wittily observed that his last speech may be com-
pared to Cicero's oration pro demo rid, freely
translated " for the houses which he is demo-
lishing."

Peter's pence having terribly fallen off of late,
the clerical journals have received orders from
Rome to beg money for the Pope under another
form. The Pope's amines (Christmas-boxes) are
now on the order of the day. All priests in
France, who value the good opinion of Rome,
will exhort their flocks to give smaller efretnies than
usual this year to their servants, tradesmen, chil-
dren, friends, sweethearts, and wives—nay to stint
their contributions to the poor-box, in order that
they may spare a mite to relieve the distress of that
" poorest of all poor men." So the Union gravely
calls him, the Pope of Rome. I have no doubt a
considerable penny will be realised by this device,
but it will not fill the ever-yawning gap in the
Papal treasury.
The Bourse was weaker at the close than at the
opening. Rente fell sc. and 10c. In other securi-
ties there is very little change.

LOSS OF A FISIHNO SMACK AND SEVEN

LIVES.

CAISTER, Jams GREAT YARMOUTH,
FRIDAY NIGHT.
Signal lights of distress were seen bvthe Caister
beachmen and coastguard early on the morning of the 19th
Dec. (writes the Rev. G. W. Steward). The wind was
blowing from the S.E, and there was a heavy sea running.
The Caister lifeboat of the National Inatitution imme-
diately put off, but on reaching the Cross Sands they could
find no trams of a wreck. I have now. however, the mean.
choly duty to communicate the fact that the vessel which
sent up the lights was a Yarmouth fishing smack, named
the Vivid, conveying five men and two boys. She was
' completely wrecked, sod all bands unhappily perished.
Another amok belonging to the same owner was in com-
pany with her, and, seeing her port light, bore towards her,
but when within a short distance of her the master had the
precaution to drop the lead, and finding only four fathoms
of water, had just sufficient time to turn hie helm, and thus
narrowly escaped the disastrous end of his partner vessel
and her crew. He was near enough to catch a glimpse of
her sail wearing over. The crew of the lifeboat saw the
surviving smack near the spot, but they saw nothing what.
ever of the wrecked vessel. A part of the wreck of the
Vivid has come on shore off Yarmouth. The service of the
lifeboat crew, although fruitless, was not the less prompt or
praiseworthy, and, knowing some of the lost crew, and feel-
ing for all as neighbours, they are a good deal saddened. The
sassier of the lost smack is said to have been a deserving
and an excellent man. and was coming into harbour, as the
fishing smacks all do about this time, for Christmas.

WEATHER REPORT.-(THIS DAY.)

SATCRDAY, DICENBIII 24, 8 &IL

B. T. W.

Y. Hs D. 1.

9.9. W,
SAW.