The Express.
London, England, 1864-01-01 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PART&

(now oft owx

PARIS. THURSDAY EVIZING.

The France, in its new year article, pronounces
strongly in favpur of peace. After reviewing the
situation, and expressing an opinion that the best
thing for France is "to wait," and that any im-
patience on her part would " weaken her initia-
tive ;" and saying also, with reference to the
motive which it is commonly thought urges the
Emperor to war, "Our best frontier is our army ;
we shall be better protected by our eagles than by
the Rhine," it thus concludes :

What our country wants, and what we hope for from the
prudence of the Emperor and his government, is a policy of
expectation and conciliation. The object of France is
Pew" and the means by which she would obtain that ob-
ject is also peace. She has no thought of throwing herself
into quarrels and conflicts to embitter and extend them.
She remains calm and confident, holding in her hands the
arbitrage of Europe as a perpetual appeal to the roma° and
conacieoce of the Sovereign'. It is for this reasoo that we
think all the activity of the government should be concen-
trated upon our home affairs. Let us create stability at
home, by conciliation, moderation, legality, and a large and
sincere practice of public liberty. In a word, let us give to
Europe the example of a free people with a strong govern-
ment, and let as say that it la by founding legal liberty
in Frewe that we shall seek to create rooml order in
Europe. Let us do this, and the year now commencing
may give us as many guarantees for security as the year
which finishes this evening leaves us troubles and miner-
taintioa

The above are excellent words ; let us hope that
M. de la Gueronniere may have some warrant for
using them.

Hitherto the French government journal+, pur-
suant to their system of unscrupulous misrepre-
sentation, have stated that Spain was altogether
and without reserve in favour of the concress.
It now appears from the Epoea, the Madrid journal
which, more than any other, is always favourable
to the French government, that Spain is of opinion,
in the first place, that renewed efforts should be
made to get all the sovereigns to join in the con-
gress, and next, that she makes "certain reserves
on special questions, and particularly on the Roman
question." As the Presto" observes, if Spain makes
these difficulties, other powers will probably do the
like, and then what becomes of the congress ?
I hare not hitherto noticed rumours frequently
repeated, and which originally had no better ap-
parent foundation than the nou-renewal of the
lease of his country house at Chantilly, that Lord
Cowley is about to be replaced by another ambas-
sador at Paris. The Pays, however, announces
conspicuously to-night that this rumour is ge-
nerally accredited iu London ; it gives the news
with the standing formality, "under all reserve."
The Paine contains a consinunigni, of a totally
new kind, for it is one dictated by the Russian
embassy. The Patric said the other day that
there was no telegraphic news except a
contradiction by the Russian government of
intelligence from Poland, which, though pur-
porting to come from Warsaw, might just as
well have been dated from the office of the Russian
embassy in Paris. The Russian ambassador has
complained of this statement to the French govern-
ment, and has had his claim allowed. The "com-
municated note " states that the Russian embassy
is quite right, and that the telegrams, the authority
of which is questioned, do really come from War-
saw—and that in open letters and not in cypher.
This precedent may perhaps be considered very
valuable by the various goveninients of Europe.
It shows that France is quite ready to extend to
them all the fatuous principle of " equality "of
1789. and that they have only to behave well to
exercise over the French press a summary
jurisdiction which the unenlightened jurisprudence
of their own country will often not admit.
The prospect of this advantage is, perhaps, worth
reflecting upon in England. Only think ! If Lord
Russell would be a little more conciliatory
about the congress, Lord Cowley, or the successor
which the Pays says be is about to Lave, might
enjoy the inflicting a ronimunnei or a warn-
ing upon any French journal which might say any-
thing disagreeable to him. Consider whether that
is an advantage to be lightly sacrificed.
The Bourse is a good dead better. Rente root I
and Mobilier, 12fr. r,Oc.