The Express.
London, England, 1863-09-07 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 7, 1863.

FRANCE.

(mom on OWN 001LINSPOIDINT.)
PARIS, SAMMY EVENING.
The evening papers attach so much importance
to a curious narrative of the Cowrie,- du Dimwit-he,

the 24th :

touching the recent rumours of • Fracco-Russo-
Prussian alliance, that nowithstanding very general
distrust of the Paris weeklies, I think it worth
while to lay the statement before your readers. It

is u follois :

A Paris weekly paper, in eoutradietiog aa eves*/
journal last week, wend as that it was absolutely false
that the ineetiog el German sovereigos at Frankfort kid

called forth a dispatch from M. Damn de Lhvys, ea:prem•
*certain apprehensions on the &abject of Gorman federal
reform, and a disapprobation of the Austrian project.
The same print added, that the Minister of Forays
Affairs had, in point of faok addressed a circular
derpatch to foreign agents. but only far the purpose of
informing them that previously to the °peeing of the
Frankfort Camper, the aibiaet of Vienna had officially

Wormed the cabinet of the TMlevies of the invitatice
which had been addressed by the Emperor Francis Joseph
to the other German sovereigns ; that M. de Rechberg had
given to the Duke de Griunoot, end that Prises de

Metternich had reitemited at Para, the mast positive ea,
mance, that than wee nothing whatever la the projected
reforms derogating from the etipnlatione which regulated
the interaaticeml relaticiaa at Germany, sad that the poi.

position of the Emperor related exels;nely to the habitual
organiaatioe of the Germanic confederation. M. Thaws
de Limy' declared himself satisfied with these awiummose,
and coocloded his mote by saying, that is beg
as the iaternatbeal relations of the confederation re I
mined intact, Frames could only see with pleasure
everything which might be of • natant to satisfy the
legitimate aspirations of the German nation, and sewn its
internal repose. Our conespoodents do not deny the edit-
once of M. Drones de Lhey's circular ; they even add this
particular that the hat septa miaow as to the iobations ef
the cabinet of View, were made by the Count de Mullein,
Priam Metternich being at the time at Trouville ; but they
also say that when the French circular was written the
tonne of the Austrian project were unksown ie Paris, so
communication of it, not even a summary, having been made
to the cabinet of the Tuileries. When the project became
public, the Enoch government naturally asked itself
whether it was cootormatile is all points to the ulterior
declarations of Count de Rechberm, and whether ia reality it
did mot tend to derogate from the stipulations which regulate
the international relatioos of Germany. An attentive

reeding of Art. 8 seemed to authorise mime doubts on this
head. Here is the article whieb we cite textually, io order
to compare it premetly with the ram &Mick as ultimately
modified :

Art. & The directory is charged to watch over the alter.
nal security of Garmagsy. In the use of danger of an attack
upon the confederation, or if the equilibrium of Europe
ware to be compromised in a manner threstenting to the
security of the coofederatioa, the directory is charged to
take all such military masons of precaution and foresight
as may be required by the circumstances.
Snob was the state of things whoa Count de Gotta, the
Prussian ambassador in Paris, set out on his journey
to Prussia on leave of absence. This minister, who
Wljoya the confidence of his sovereign in the fullest
degree, had long been thinking of paying his per-
sonal respites to William 1., sad he was very near
going to him at Carlsbad some time before. As it was.
Count Gaits arrived at Wee ma August 19, at the same
time as the King of Sauey, and a little before the King of
Prumia. Our oorrespoodente do not pretend to know all
that pored in corrignation between William L and his
ambessedor, but the situation was too swims, Austria had
assumed in Germany an attitude too alarming for Preen', if
not too contrary to the fnadeniensal basis of the eeriest
Germanic pact, for it to be possible thatall the (megrims of
the mosseat should not have been passed is review in the
mom of their interview. Count Oohs returned to Paris
as August 28, just as the Emperor sad M. Drocyn de Lima
miureed, the one from the Chalons camp, and the other
from the department of the Aisne. It was natural that
the Prussian ambesseder, on his return from a visit
which enabled him to become imbued with the mint inti-
mate thoughts of the King, his master, should take the
first opportunity of seeing the sovereign to whom be was I
anoredited. Count de Gaits bad a private audience of the
I Emperor on August 30, and sabsequeatiy several conferences
with Y. Drisoyn de They'. In spite of the reserve of our
letters it clearly results from them that from the moment
of Coast de Golts's arrival in Paris, the French government
being better informed as to the real purport of the Austrian
project, looked epos the Fraukfort Congress with muck
leer favour than before, and that the result of the convey
odious of the Premier ambassador with the Emperor and
with Y. Demo de Lhuys was the elimioation of certain
primal oroporitiota, or, to speak more correctly, of certain
reciprocal impressions, which might give rise to new combi.
nations. These combinations depend upon various eirtutn•
i titaness, and may or may not be realised. But the important
fact is that, modesty to assertions that have been made,
the Frankfort Cowen has bat imperfectly modified the
objectionable act, and which now stands ens :
"In the case of the safety of the coufederatioa being
threatened, and especially in the ease of the confederation.
or a part of the confederatiom being threatened with as
attack, he.*
The first phrase ie considered, from its very generality, as li
being susceptible of all sorts of interpretation, and although
the expression "European equilibrium" is dropped. yet the
authors of the article earn to have taken more pains to
cheage the wording than the mailed idea.
Such is the statement which the Opinion
Nationale characterises as a "revelation of capital
importance." It is evidently very much iu accord-
ance with various semi-official indications of the
past week. It is to be observed, however, that it
clashes with an assertion of the Pays two days ago,
that Austria had given satisfactory explanation
touch the terrible article 8.
At the Bourse the impression that all fear of
war is at an end gains ground ; and the &bun-
, danoe of money favours the speculators for the
rise. Benter closed very firm at an improvement
of 40c. and 30c. Mobilier rum 17.50. The move-
; ment is less marked in railway shares.
The following is from the Union:
The Duke d'Albcfere (Sachet), it appears, is about to psy
a visit to Sweden. The Duke, aa is known, is allied to the
Swedish royal family by his marriage with Mettle. de Saint-
Joseph, whom mother was sister to the Que.. of Swedes.
wife of Bernadotte. Although this journey is explained by
those circumstances of relationship, the seekers of news
peeked that, under existing circumstances, the visit may
be connected with the attitude of Sweden, end with the re-
lations of the Preach government with the Court of Stock-
holm as regards the affairs of Poland. We are completely
ignorant what foundation there maybe for that suppositioa,
and we only repeat it ea one of the thousand rumours which
are current, but, if it be true, It would be important.
The F ays soya, in reference to the above para-
graph—" We doubt very much whether the Duke
d'Albufera has any mission whatever. His alliance
with the royal family of Sweden is not quite cor-
rectly stated by the Union. It was his father,
Marshal Suchet, who married Mdlle. de Saint
Joseph. The present Duke, a member of the Corps
Legialatif, married Mille. Shickler, daughter of a
Prussian baron."
Boudet, whose persecution of the French
Zja;on most frivolous grounds is now the
subject of wondering remark, seems also to be
jealous of M. de Pereigny's reputation in the matter
of confiscating foreign journals.
The Daily Notes was seized yesterday, and is
seized to-day.

The following is an extract from the will of the
late Mr. Alemader Edward, a merchant and manufacturer,
of Dundee :—" I booby give I,OCOL to the Dundee In-
firmary ; the mid sum to be invested by the directors in good
sorority. and the annual produce to be applied So mirth-
athell of the loatitution. Under the same orisdition I also
give I,ooof. to the Duodee Fuld ic Semiworks, or High School
of Dundee ; said slim to be invested by the dirsctots, and
the produce thereof to be applied is the education of the
childreu of poor bat respectable presto, giving a premature,
to thorn of this &erecter who have lases or may be em-
ployed at the worked A. sad D. F.dward sad Co."

' AM k.RKIA.
THE OPERATIONS AT CHARLESTON.

The following official daystoh. from Admiral
Dahlgren, giving an account of the operatiOnsbefore
Charleston to tee 18th August, was pubbsked on

fflapalearner Dinsmore, off Morrie Wend. Aired Ifi.
Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, Washington.
.• Br,---Yesterday .0 began another series of operations
epiest the enemy's works. Early in the morning Several
_ .

Gillman *wood ;11 his batteries 'upon Fort Sumter, firing
over Fort Warier and the iaterwediate spine. Abort the

lam time I mewed np the oaths available naval fares

Want with 10) 11;g is the Wimisswkea, foilegroci

by tin Oeisidll, Naiad, ad kloatank—the Pearla
and Paimpsco is reserve for Semler; the Iron-
irides in position opposite to Wager, and the
gumboots named in the margin at keg nuige, via—Cada.
gigue, J. F. Gran ; Wshaaka, Commander J. B. edibles ;
Cuemarros, Commander A. K. Hughes; Ottawa. UaUts'
Commander J. L. Davis ; Dealing, Liget.-Oenurmader J.
L. Chaplin ; Lodes°. Liont.-Cameammier E. Brodhead. As
the Mk mos the Weehawkes wee dosed to about 450 yards

et Weiser ; the Wt tbres----;o4;it;; followed, awl the
Iroasidow was takes se near u bee greet drought of water

permitted. Attar a steady sad welidiractedara Weyer
wu ailment about 9.0 a.m., sad that of our ova

vessels Ins &Lamed in

Meanwhile

the fn di ere. effects battsries was working effect.
Melly mem the amp of Nester, which appeared
to have been strengthetted in every possible manner.
At this time the fiag wss shifted to the Punic, which,
with the Patapeoo, both having rifled gum, steamed up
the channel until within two tbonmad garde of Fort Sam-
ter, when fire was °prod en the gorge, mole and south-
east front of the work. The Patapsco fired very wella and
is believed torn "Musk the south-seat frost nine °mato
satin Wino. To all this Sumter scaruely replied. Wagner
was Winced, and battery Gregg alone maintained • delibe-
rate fire at the Pasesic and Palmtops. It was now moo •
the men bad beim bud at work front daybreak, and seeded
rest—so I withdrew Um vessels to give them dinner. Daring
the 'Ramose, ear shore Whines coatinued the fire at
Seater with tittle or no reply from the may, and I
contented myself with evading op the Passaic sod
Patapsco to prevent Wagner from repairing damages.
The fort replied briskly, bat in • shmi time left off firing-
I am sot able to date with exactness the remit of the day's
work, but am era satisfied with what a distant view of
Sumter allowed me. Our satire power is not yet developed
as it will be daily, while the enemy is damaged withost
being able to repair. The official end sou of the vessels
have done their duty well and will oontioue to do eo. All
watt well with m, ems one sad exceptios,Captain Rodrats,
my Chief of Staff, was killed, as well as Pityrameow Weed-
bury, wbo was standing near him. Captain Bedew
hod more then case asked on this isemnism
if he should go with me as natal or rooms
the command of his vessel, the Catskill, end he
posted the query twice during the morning, the hat time ,1
on the deck of the Weehawkee, just while preparing to
move into action. In each instance I replied, "Do as yam
choose." He finally said, " Well, I will se I. the Catskill,
and the next time with you.' The Weehawken was lying
about 1,000 yards from Wagner, ad the Catskill, with
say gallant friend, jos& Made of me, the fire of the fort
coming in steadily. Chewing the tide to have risen a
little, I directed the Weehawken to be carried in closer,
and the mace was hardly weighed when I noticed the
Within was also under way, whisk I remarked to Captain
Calhoun. It 000arred to me that Captain Rogan
detected the movement of the Weehawken, and
was determined to be closer to the many if possible.
My attention was celled off immediately to • poil-
tiro for the Weehawken, wad seas after it was reported that
the Catskill was gain at of action with a missal !Wog
that her captain was disabled. He had been killed in-
stantly. It is but natural that I should feel deeply the
loss thus sustained, for the came sod confideatial relations
which the duties of Flest-Captaia oneesserily occationed,
impressed me deeply with the worth of Nihau Rodgers.
Brave, intelligent, and highly capable, devoted to his duty
and to the deg wider which he passed his life, the country
cannot afford to loos such meat. Of a hied and sonorous
nature, he was always prompt to give relief when he could.
I have directed that all respect be paid to hisremaiss, and
the country will not, lam sure, omit to honour the me-
mory of one who has not spared his life in her hour of
trial. —I have the honour to be very respectfully, your obe-
dient servant, Jr°. A. DMILGEI2I, Reer-Adnairel,
Commanding South Atlantic Blockakiug Squadron.
The following description of Fort Sumter will
be read with interest :
Fort Blunter ism work of modern construction, sod is
known as • truncated postgame' fort. It is budt upon an
artificial island at the mouth of Charleston harbour, three
and three-eighths miles distant from the city of Charles-
toe. The island has for its bass • seed sad mud bank,
with a superstructure formed of the refuse of several
Northern atom quarries. TM Wand itself cost
million of dollars, and was ten years in course of coo.
structioo. The fortification cost soother half minima, and
when Major Anderson took pagandom of it it wee so near
completion that • portion of its guns had been placed in
position. TM walls are of solid brick and coorrete ma-
sonry, built close to the water's edge, without a berate.
They &malty feet high and from eight to twelve feet in
thickness, sod are pierced for three Wes of gene at the
north, east, and west exterior sides. Its weakest point u
on the south side, of which the memory is net only weaker
than the other aides, but it is not protected by my husk fire,
which would sweep the landing wharf. Owe leaded, a party
could hare easily effected an entrance. The work was
designed for an armament of one hundred and forty guns of
various calibres. Two tiers of guns are in casemate', while
the upper one is open or en baristte • the lower tier for
forty-two-pounder 'Wiliam guns, second tier eight and teta-
nal columbiads, and the barbs to tier for mortars and
twenty.four-pounder guns. It has been stated that io Fort
Sumter there are ooe lambed and four gum reedy for
action, about fifty-two (one-half) of which are tee-inch
columbisds, the remainder being eight and six-inch Dahl-
gross and howitzers. There are four heavy mortars in the
fort, one being stationed at each corner. Them are about
twelve riled gum in the webs ; but in consequence of the
explosion of one of those guns, by which an officer of high
rank narrowly .raped losing his life, it had been determined
not to place any more name epee such pieces. They bad,
therefore, given up the idea of rifling old guns, and had
thrown into disuse those already rifled. The fort was in
about the mme condition as when taken, and being then
much injured by the engagement of April 12 and 13. The
only alterations that had been made were in the officers'
quarters, which had been several times firedduriog the fight
in 1861—and in the magazines. With regard to the latter,
some large flat stones that had bees sent from the North
to flag the fort, had been broken up and mad* into • solid
wall outside for the protection of the two magazines. With
regard to the former, the roofs had been covered end built
riat, with a covering of concrete, so that if a shell should
burst upon them it could not ire them or do any other kind
of materiel harm. The appearance of the fort from the
city shows a perfectly level top, nothing appearing above
the parapet at all. There are about five hundred men in the
fun, which force was probably doubled when Federal opera-
Woes commenced.
A despatch addressed to the New York papers
states that a great clamour is raised by the ultra-
Southern papers of Virginia and North Carolina
fur the suppression of the Raleigh Woodard, the
official paper of the State. Its circulation is stated
to be larger than that of any other journal in the
South, and is rapidly increasing, which together
with the indorsement of its course by public meet-
ings in different parts of the State, is considered to
indicate that it but expresses the wishes of the
people of North Carolina.
A despatch from Philadelphia recounts the de-
struction of the British steamer Hobe, off New
Inlet, N.C., on the 18th August, while attempting
to run the blockade with stores for the Confede-
rates. The United States steamer Nippon, disco-
vered her and gave chase. The Liebe wan run
ashore, but wan set on tire by the crew of the
Niphun who boarded her, the Confederates on
shore ding at their boats all the time. She was
dually destroyed, though one boat's crew from the
ipbun fell into the hands of the Confederates.

[Stamped, Id. Addilioatal

The Great Eastern experieneed some tremendously
heavy weather during the passage out, having
shipped some heavy seas, stove one boat, and
damaged several others. The New York steam
are engine, No. 8, that was taken over for trial
with the English apparatus, was considerably
injured by the seas. ►e third otheer and one
otber man bad legs broken.
A Washington telegram gives the following
details respecting the armies of Meade and Lee :
Information of the most reliable diameter, from parties
who have very recently pissed along the whole root' from
, Skimmed to Culpepper Cent House, showy that Gees&
Lee's army is at present about sixty tboomed strong.
Leo's headquarters are video • few miles of
the Court House. Hun and Ewell% corps ase
I. that vidnity. Loagetrest's is at Frederioksberg,
and Stuart's cavalry guarding the various fords of
the Rappahanoock. A gentleman who to-day retuned
from thelarmy of the Potomac, eye the regiments are daily
tiling up with his seersita. The amitary cooditiou of
the troops is good. Three privatesfrom Rhode Island who
had just arrived, were shot while in the sot of deserting, by
their escort. Eleven recruits yesterday leaped from the
cars on the road to Warrantee, sod succeeded for a time in
makiag their escape. A party was daspateted in permit.
Comparatively few of them kind of soldiers =Gage to got
away beyond our military lines, es emote go oat is all
directions to intercept them. The order of Major-Oemrsl
Meade approving the *esteems of death it web awe will
ts r billived, .f doe? draftable eiserissa.