The Express.
London, England, 1863-12-02 00:00:00

FRANCE AND MEXICO.

It appears that just a month ago General
Bazaine re-opened the Mexican war by marching
from Mexico against Juarez, whose seat of govern-
ment and head-quarters were then at San Luis
Potosi. This city is situated about 300 miles
to the north of the Mexican capital. It
was anticipated that the march of the
French would be harassed and retarded by
an active guerilla warfare which the Mexicans
had organised throughout the line of march. The
distance from Mexico to San Luis Potosi is some-
what greater than that from Vera Cruz to Mexico,
but the difficulties of the march may in this in-
stance be less formidable, though scarcely less an-
noying, than in the former one. On the whole, it
may be a fair assumption that it will take the
French eight or nine weeks to make this advance,
and that they will probably approach San Luis
Potosi about the beginning of January, 1864.
Whether Juarez will endeavour to defend
that position will depend on the exhaus-
tion of the march, and on the extent of his
I own resources. If be should again fall back, it is
imagined that he will transfer his head-quarters to
I Monterey, a State capital about sa distant from San
Luis as San Luis is from Mexico • or he may choose
other State capitals, either eastward, northward, or
westward of his present heed-quarters.
These calculations, however, are based on the
assumption that the French, with their present
force, will be able to lengthen their line of com-
munication with their strategic bin at Vera Cruz
to the requisite extent. But it is understood that
this, in point of fact, is extremely doubtful ; and
we believe that the French government have so-
quiesced in the necessity of sending 20,000 more
troops to Mexico, and that transports to a consi-
derable amount are already preparing at Cherbourg
for the embarkation of an auxiliary force.
The apologists of the French intervention
explain the inadequate amount of the force under
General Bazsine, on the ground that it was ex-
pected that a considerable native Mexican corps
would have been by this time created, as an auxiliary
to the French. But this expectation has been
almost wholly disappointed, insomuch that the
danger of doubling the length of the French com-
munication with the sea, by advancing from Mexico
to San Luis Potosi, with the present force in the
country, begins to be very seriously entertained. If
success is necessary to the policy of France, defeat
in that inland quarter is felt to involve ruin to
the army. From prudential considerations, there-
fore, it is Jahr to be doubtful whether any serious
blow against Juarez will be attempted before the

. -
Meanwhile it appears that it will be necessary for
the French to continue to discharge the expense of
the Mexican expedition ; and in order to requite
France by instalmeuta, the regency government are
understood to be engaged in directing to that
purpose all the revenue that is to be obtained
in the few States of the Mexican Confederation
that they have brought under their authority. The
main revenue they can obtain arises, however, from
the custom-houses of Vera Cruz, most of the other
ports being under blockade, the interior being in
too much disorder where they are stationed to
supply any considerable taxation. But it is appre-
lieuded that even the most careful application of
such revenue as can be collected from the ports and
the interior to the expenses of the war will afford
a very inadequate relief to the French exchequer.

LIFEBOAT SERVICE:I.—FILET, NEAR YORK, TOW-
DAT Niturr.—The new lifeboat which the National Life-
boat lestitutios seat here about a week ago, and which was
publicly launched on Thursday last in the presence of her
benevolent donors, the lord mayor and Lady mayoress of
York, did some noble service this morning in rescuing MEM
poor fishermen from au inevitable death. At day.
light the fishing cobble belonging to this port were
caught in a strong Kale from S'.B.E., and a reogh sea.
Ooe noble was upset wbi!e coming in, but as it wee
near the beach the men were fortunately enabled to get
ashore. Seeing the dangerous position of the fishing boats,
the lifeboat was at once launched and put off twice to ren-
der assistance, and was instrumental in saving two men
belonging to another noble which bad also unfortunately
upset. In the absence of the lifeboat they must have
perished. The lifeboat behaved admirably on the occesioc,
and the fishermen at the contiguous lifeboat station, Brid.
lington, are very anxious to have a boat like her, their pre-
mut boat Wag nearly fifty years old.
ORTIMAL PALACE. ONE SHILLING DAT....
TUESDAY, DSc. L—Adiniesirms on payment, 704 ; 614*
by swop Whets, 431; betel, 1,136.