The Express.
London, England, 1863-11-25 00:00:00

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EPRESS FROM P.
(nom cm OWN 0011IMPONDI

PARIS, TmDAY &Timor°.

It is, I think, not too much to say that the
imperial project of a congress is now completely
blown out of the water. The France, which in
this instance is the organ of the Credit Mobilier,
has, with much ingenuity and perseverance, con-
trived to throw dust in the eyes of the public for
many days, but it will not be able to keep up the
deception for four-sod-twenty hours longer. This
night, however, it has the audacity to say :—" All
the continental powers of Europe, at the hour at
which we write, have adhered in principle to the
congress, except, if we are well informed,
Austria ; which, in accordance with the tem-
porising system of its chancery, has not yet
made known its resolution." The atove paragraph,
although framed to deceive, is nearer the literal
truth than the careless reader is meant to suppose.
The restrictive expression, "continental powers,"
betrays the consciousness of the France that Eng-
land has-refesed, and, at the same time, avoids the
too sudden confession of that momentous fact. Not
one reader in ten in Paris will reflect for the mo-
ment that England is an island. Austria, which
the France now represents as a solitary, hesitating
exception, will, nobody doubts, say " No" as soon
as the decision of England is known. Russia's al-
leged acceptance "in principle" ice, I have no doubt
whatever, as decided a practical refusal as could
well be framed, and it is for this reason that the
Pairie said last night that the answer from 84. Pe-
tersburg would not come till Wednesday or Thurs-
day, and that the Pays, now admitting that the
answer has been received, says not a word about its
contents.

The aooeptanoe "in principle" of some of the
minor powers, of which the French government
journals have endeavoured to make capital,
amounts to just nothing at all. The smaller
powers knew well enough that their acceptance
would have no effect, one way or the other, upon
the question of congress or no congress ; and of
course, if a congress there was to be, they would be
glad to have swat at the board on a par with their
more powerful neighbours.
What is to be done now ? The position of the
Emperor at the time he made his famous speech of
November 5 has been well likened to that of a man
with a heavy bill due who seeks a renewal. Nego-
tiations would, it was hoped, put off the evil day till
the spring. But thanks to the rapidity of oommuni-
cation in these days of railways and telegraphs, the
quackery is exposed already ; this particular faros
is played out, and the debates on the address will
have to be conducted on the understanding that
the congress has broken down. KK de Girardin,
who is thick with Prince Napoleon, and has an
invitation for Compiegne, has been talking big
about partitioning the orld between Napoleon
and the Czar—the one to be Emperor of the West,
and the other Emperor of the East,—and this
arrangement, he says, would be the true " equi-
librium," which would ensure universal peace.
Girardin is a charlatan, whom paradoxes no man
takes seriously, but as be is very fond of
proving himself always right, there was yesterday
just a shadow of probability that he might have
heard something about the Russian alliance that
has been lately talked of, and had therefore put
something about Russia in the Presie, in order to
be able to my a few weeks hence, "I told you so."
But now that Russia seems to be as recalcitrant as
the other powers, there is good hope that the peace
of the world may yet be preserved by means quite
different from Girardin's equilibrium. However
desirous the modern Crear may be to remodel the
world, he cannot well make war without some
allies, and Ido not see where he is to get any. In
my opinion he will have to eat his leek.
For the first time since the verification of powers
has been going on, there was a division last night;
and the respectable minority of 84 pronounced
against the admission of K de Jauoourt, the late
secretary of hf. de Persigny, as member for the
Seine et Marne. M. Segris, • member of the
majority, spoke very strongly against this election,
and insisted strongly upon the fart that a great
many of the illegalities committed in this case, in
common with many others, had been demonstrated
by several judgments of courts of law. It is a
remarkable thing that, notwithstanding all the
pains which K de Penigny took to weed
the list of government candidates and throw out
those who in the last chamber would not vote as
they were told through thick and thin, there is
already a formidable opposition in the new cham-
ber, composed in great part of government candi-
dates. This 84 is about the number which voted
the other day for M. Darimon as one of the bureau.
In this list of protestants against electoral iniqui-
ties is the considerable name of M. Schneider, one
of the vice-presidents of the chamber.
I hear that M. Isaac Pereire's election has been
quashed today.
The elections in Paris for the two seats left
vacant by the option of MM. Jules Fevre and
Ravin to sit for the departments will probably take
place on Dec. 27.
The Bourse has been very heavy. Rents fell
150., and Mobilier Sir. 25c. Rumours of a loan are
revived.
The Daily News is seized.

Mr. Charles Dickens has consented to preside
at the anniversary dinner of the Prinises' Pension deelely,
to take plane en the 6th of April, sod the sheriffs et
London hays signified their intention of being present on
the occasion.

The quarterly communication of the Grand
Lodge of Freenureose of England will be held at the Free-
masons' Hell, Great Queen-street, Lincoln's-inn-fields, on
Wednesday, December 2. After the minutes of the quer-
tarly communication of September 2 have been read and
confirmed, the first business will be the nomination of
Greed Master for the year enemies. The Earl of reeked
has filled that high office for so wry yeses, with so mesh
credit to himself and satisfaction to the craft, that it is eat
at all likely any other nomination will be made so leas an
that distinguished brother feels himaslf capable of dis-
charging the duties.
Tug ALABAMA. BOARDING ENGLISH SHIPS.--The
Coafedarate steamer Alabama, Captain Semmes, stopped
for some days off L'Agulhas, at the Cape of Good Hope,
looking oat for Federal merchantmen. While there, MS.
Semmes boarded the following English ships, Tic :—The
Saxon, Broughton Hal, Oamperdown, Durban, Sarawak,
Flower of Escrow, ronjano, Isle of Kay, Ushant, Caste-
reeks, aid Flora.

PAINFUL EVENT IN A CHURCH IN DUNDEE.—
Oa Sabbath forams. while the clergyman orliciathig ta
Chaosishade Mara, Dundee, was mimed in tieliveriag
his ionise, • lady was seised with pasalysia. The eisagy.
soma stopped his &mouse, and the asfortueste lady wee
immediately attended to, but she expired M • few minutes
alter being merged beam
ZULU Cusroms.—A hardy and industrious sec-
tion of the fatherland are slowly hat surely extending, with
true hogle-Sarmi enterprise, Med% semusees, sad abatis-
hoe, in the neighbourhood of Natal. The aim& impala-
tattoo by which the towns are sairreasdai mat puma with
snob tad prosperity mama to bathes entombs to
step la thit directisa. The Zulus, bowery,, am addicted
to cattain asplasseat customs, which are rather repugnant
to our seam of what in right, and ommiderable excitement
W been maned by a poor girl basing Mei routed to death
by her cruel father, became she bad forsaken the berm of
a bossy polygamist, who had bought her with the wonted
number of cattle, for • young man to WllO6l it appeals
site was tenderly attecised.—Port Natal paper.