The Express.
London, England, 1862-01-20 00:00:00

CONGRESS OF REACTIONARIES.

A letter from Venice in the Nord of to-day says:
" For the truth of the following I can vouch :
Summoned by his Majesty's orders Count de
Rechberg has arrived here, and a conference has
taken place. At this conference there were present
the Prince de Petrull a, formerly Ambassador of
Naples at Vienna, a secretary of legation,
and envoys of the various dethroned princes,
and also some priests. It is more certain than ever
that a reactionary campaign of extraordinary pro-
portions is about to take place under the auspices,
more or leo avowed, of Austria. Baron de Bath,
Imperial Minister at Rome, is daily expected at
Venice, and also the Archduchess Sophia. This re-
actionary congress would not be of much importance
if we left out of sight the bellicose preparations of
Austria, and the speeches delivered to the troops
here, and at Verona, Mantua, and even at Borgo-
forte, the extreme limit of the Austrian military
occupation, all of which are more or less a species
of defiance to Italy and France. "

The Swiss Chambers have now been sitting for
three days. One of the earliest subjects which has
been introduced to their attention is a pro-
posed law upon mixed marriages, against which ,
the Swiss bishops, in pursuance of directions
from Rome, have made the most vehement
opposition. The committee appointed to inquire
into it have proposed its adoption, laying stress
upon the necessity of accustoming the people to
attach more importance to the civil power. The
committee declare that there is nothing in the bill
to clash with any religious dogmas, and that it
merely carries out the intention of a law passed
eleven years ago. Despite the opposition of the
ultramontane faction, the first reading of the bill
has been carried in the Council of the States by a
large majority.

(swvra'• TILIAILAMIL)
THE MEXICAN INTERVENTION.

PARIS, JAN. 20.

The Moniteur of this morning publishes a corre-
spondence from Vera Cruz, dated the 20th of
December, which states that there is reason to
think the orderly and quiet part of the population
would favourably receive any measure which, re-
specting their independence, and not wounding
their self-respect, would tend to settle Mexican
affairs in a durable manner, and restore order and
security.

SPECIE FOR THE EAST.

)N, dug. 20.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam-
ship Ceylon, sailing hence to-day, takes out for the
But : 102,275 dole. ; gold coin, 2,3051. ; bar
gold, 5001. ; and gold thread, jewellery, watches,
clic., 4,0 W. 12s. ed.

AMKRICA.

r, JAM. 19.

The Royal Mail steamship Niagara, from Boston
on the Bth and Halifax on the 10th inst., arrived
here at 4.30 a.m. to-day, with 38 paasengers and
312,550 dole. in specie. She landed 109 sacks of
mails and proceeded at 5 a.m. All well.

NEW YORK, JAx. 7, EVENING.
(Per Niagara, rid Queenstown.)

The Mayor of New York, in his message, says
that in the present critical condition of foreign
relations, and by reason of the British government
giving repeated evidences of unfriendliness, the
defences of New York demand attention.

The Mayor urges that rafts or other barriers
should be anchored at the narrows in readiness to
obstruct the channel, if necessary.

At a crowded meeting of British residents, held
at the English consulate in New York, an address
of sympathy and condolence with the Queen was
adopted.

The New York Time ear that a congregation

committee will report on • bill authorising the
issue of 100,000,000 dole. of demand notes, which
will oosistitute • legal tender, and be exchangeable
for Six per Cent, Bonds.
This bill also provides for the extension of simi.
lar privileges to the demand notes already issued.
The Richmond papers report the arrival at
Charleston of the Confederate steamer Isabel, from
Nassau, with • cargo of arms.
The New York Tribune states that England in-
tends to occupy Matamoros, and to open a cotton
trade with the South through Brownsville, Texas.
The new tea and coffee tariff will not be enforced
on goods now in bond.

The Federal@ have attacked the Confederates at
Port Royal Ferry, and destroyed some Confederate
works there.

No important military movementa have taken
place.

LATEST BY

'H TO HALIFAX.
NZW YORK, JAN. 9.

Mr. Sumner, in a speech which he delivered in
the Senate, said that Captain Wilkes was not jos-

tified in seizing the

doing be acted according to international law as
expounded by British authorities.
"If Captain Wilkes suspected the Trent," said
Mr. Sumner, " be should have taken her into port
for decision. No Federal court, however, recognising
American precedents, could have lawfully condemned
the Trent, or detained the commissioners. Cap.
taro Wilkes, misled by a British law book, violated
American principles. England by demanding
the oommissioners stultified bee history, and vir-

tunny acknowledged the justice of a position long
maintained by America. The American people,"
concluded Mr. Sumner, " are indebted to Captain
Wilkes's act and Mr. Seward's statesmanship for
a great political triumph."
The Congressional Committee have reported on
the Bill authorising the issue of 100,000,000 dots.
worth of demand notes, which will constitute a
legal tender, be receivable for government dues,
and exchangeable at any time for six per oent.
20 years coupons or registered bonds.
The Senate has not yet passed the modified
arrangement of the Tea and Coffee Tariff Bill.
I The New York Triton*, slates that Mama