The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-16 00:00:00

To form some notion of the frenzied excess of rash-
ness which prevails in the highest councils, one
ought to know the multitude of wild decrees that aro
only prevented by accident from not being realised.
I informed you some time since that it was in con-
templation to pass the proposition-Creton hi the
shape of a decree at the some time when the consti-
tution should be promulgated. I now learn that this
decree, the Ist article of which permitted the return
of the Count de Chambord and the Orleans princes
to France, threatened the same princes with
confiscation if they did not within six months
avail themselves of the abolition of the laws of exile
against them, to declare their acceptation of the
plebiscite sanctioned by Pt millions of votes. This
menacing decree was only prevented from appearing
in the Mogi/tear by an express from the Tuileries.

The proclamation at the head of the constitution is
written by the hand of Louis Napoleon ; and has been
remarked as creditable in point of composition, and
adroit in its phraseology.

The appearance of the organic laws is delayed in
order to judge of the reception of the constitution by
the public before engaging further in the work of
fundamental legislation.
I now proceed to give you briefly what news I
have been able to glean to-day. The constitution has
been very ill-reeeived in public; and notwithstand-
ing the efforts of the government to give the Bourse
a lift, securities have fallen. After mounting
lfr. in consequence of the exertions of M. Foultfs
agents, tho Fives fell 2fr., and thus closed a franc
lower than yesterday. Generally the extravagant
excess of power attributed to the executive in the
new constitution causes it to be looked upon as a
mere derision.

All circles are much pre-oecupied with the subject
of war. It has been noted as a grave sign, that
English capitalists seek to rid themselves of their
shares in French railways.

It is said that the f.cole de Droit will be trans-
ferred to Orleans; and the Ecolo de Medicine to
Montpellier. It is also rumoured that advocates
will disappear and their business be done by avoues
or attorneys. I hare previously alluded to
the alarm inspired by the abolition of oral pleading
in Austria, and the apprehension that the example
set at Vienna might be followed here. There now
seems some foundation for this misgiving.

The University is not to be reorganified after its
dissolution, which you are aware has been talked of
for some time past.

The greater indulgence shown to Cavaignac than
to the other prisoners of liam, is not very charitably
explained. fhe fact of M. Other, the uncle of lus
bride, holding a bill for a considerable amount,
signed by one of the foremost personages of the
" situation," is assigned as the cause.

At the Bourse the Five per Cents. fell 85c., closing
at 1005 ; the Three per Cents. fell 85c., and closed
at 6940. There were violent fluctuations, the Fives
being at one time as low as 103140, after having
opened at 104;. Bank of France shares rose 10fr.
The railways generally lost the rise of yesterday.
Havre fell 35; Rouen, 25; Marseilles and Northern,
15.

ITALY.

PIEDMONT.

The Opinimee of Turin, of the 12th, publishes a
sentence of the court-martial sitting at Modena, by
which 17 persons, convicted of robbery, were con-
demned to death. It adds, that the sentence was
executed on the spot.