The Express.
London, England, 1855-03-03 00:00:00

credit of six and a half millions of florins affords a
proof that the measure is generally popular. Several
old general ofßosrs have been laid on the shelf and
pensioned, amongst whom is the veteran Lieutenant-
General von Heideck, who organised the corps of
Philhellene' in the Greek war of independence, and
was foe some time member of the regency during the
minority of King Otho. His fame ea an artist also
1e well known : some of his battle-pieces have been
sold for enormous ptioes. Officers of the quarter-
master-general's staff have been sent in all diree'ann,
- to the different parts of the kingdom to insr_.ei and
pat in repair the needful buildings to nor— guard
knacks for the troops and stable.-;ta the cavalry
D
one s.
Pot some days Put allikrlfiatic negotiations have
been carried on with free., activity between Count
Buol and the rspreeents:Aves of many of the German
states of second and ti,ied rank, which are supposed
to have reference to their acceding to Austria's invi-
tation to place their contingents under the command
of th,„, Emperor, as contained ip the circular despatch
of the lith January. In connexion with this I may
mention that Baron Hugel, the Wiirtemberg envoy,
received yesterday by a special courier from Stutt-
gart important despatches, which he hastened to com-
municate to Count Buol, with whom he was closeted
a long time.
It is said that the Austrian government has granted
a company permission to construct a railroad to the
Ticino, in connexion with the line from Novara.
Great activity is perceptible in the preparations
guieg en to put the army. in a state of readiness for
war. The already existing ten fleld-hospitals env
ordered to be increased by two more, and orders given
to engage for the service of the army as many field-
apothecaries as offer themselves, without any limita-
tion to the numbers.

• This is the title of the Austrian diplomatic representa-
tive at Constantinople. It wee created by Prince Metter-
nich, maay years ago, to settle for tt.e future some squabble
foe mak and precedence betweea the envoys of Austria and
news other states. It appears that an internuncio is SOON-
this* less than as ambassador, and More than a minister
glatatrtentiary ; so that, while he yields the pas to the es-
ots of England, France, and Russia (when there is
ene at Constantinople), who take rank amongst each other
seeardit.g to the date of their arrival, lie takes precedence of
the envoys of the other rates, who are only accredited es
ministers plenipotentiary.

THE HANSE TOWNS.
BREMEN, Fin. 27.
It may not be generally known to your readers
that the two steamers hitherto running between this
port and New York under the Bremen flag, and now
sold to the british government, the Hansa and Ger-
mania, are of British build, and belonged originally
to the American line of Messrs, Cunard of Liverpool,
by whom they were sold to the central government
of Germany in 1850. The Arcadia was re-named
the Archduke John, and the Britannia the Deutsch-
land. When the idea of creating a German national
navy was given up the ships were brought to the
hammer, and, whilst Prussia had the pick, and
selected three of the best, the above two steamers
were purchased by the firm of Frites and Co., of this
city, for 165,000 dollars, or about 25,0001. It is
understood that the British government is to pay for
the two steamers 480,000 doll., or 80,0001.
The surplus of receipts over the expenditure of our
free Hanseatic city
for the year 1854 amounts to
100,000 dollars, which will just serve to cover the
deficit of the previous one. For the current year a
loan of 150,000 dollars is to be raised to meet the
extraordinary expenses of putting our contingent on
a war tooting in obedience with the Frankfort decree.

HAIIIIIIJRO, Fah. 24.
The official part of this day's impression of the
Hamburg Correspondent contains a notification on
the part of the commission for the rebuilding the
town-hall (which, it will be remembered, was des-
troyed by the great fire in 1842), and awards the
first prize (360 Louisd'ors) to the design of George
Gilbert Scott, Esq., of 20, Spring-gardens, London,
sent in under the motto of the Hamburg City arms,
" G.itt mit ens " (God with us) • the second to M.
Meuron, a French architect residing here; and the
third to a German, Herr Bohns'edt, at Munich.
Most of the readers of the Daily News will remember
the beautiful model of the St. Nicholas Church at
Hamburg, in the Great Exhibition of 1861, which
was also designed by Mr. Scott, who has therefore
mow triumphed a second time. The total number of
designs sent in for competition, and which were ex-
hibited to the public here in October last, amounted
to 43. Mr. Scott has selected the pointed Gothic
architecture, and the building will form a sort of
petsdant to the magnificent cathedral he is now
constricting in this city. The funds for the new
erection are already voted, and it is expected that
the builaiog will commence early in the spring.
The last accounts from Heligoland state that the
recruiting fur the foreign legion had commenced,
although under the most unfavourable circumstances,
for the severe frost has nearly interrupted all com-
muuication with the continent. About 140 men had
already volunteerec , and it is expected that, as soon
as the thaw sets in, and steamers can run to the
neighbouring ports on the continent, the applicants
for admission to the legion will be very numerous.
The frost still continues, and the Elbe is completely
frozen over. Unfortunately the ice has been thrown
ioto such a position that when the thaw sets in it
will be attended with great danger to the surround-
ing country. Our authorities are engaged in preli-
minary measures for reducing the evil by blasting
the ice in the most dangerous positions with gun-
powder. These works will be undertaken as soon as
the tuaw commences.