The Express.
London, England, 1864-12-09 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 9, 1864.

IMPRESS FROM PARIS.

(nom on owir

P ARM. TIMISDAY Emma.

A political cause, scarcely lee; impOrtan'TtlTan
that of the "appeal of the thirteen," has just been
advanced a stage at Rouen. I have written " ad-
vanced,"but I ought rather to have said retrograded,
for the judgment reverses, as far as it is possible for
an inferior court to reverse, a liberal decree of the
Court of Cessation. The question was whether a
lithographed correspondence sent by MM. de Saint
Charon and de Clairbois from Paris to several pro-
vincial journals in the form of private letters,
was a political publication unlawful unless
authorised by the government. It had been decided
by an Imperial Court that it was, but the Court of
Caseation quashed the judgment, and, pursuant to
that much lauded but little understood system
which I have often criticised, instead of doing right
itself, sent the case for a new trial before the Court
of Rouen. That court, imbued with the principles
which have just prevailed in the Correctional Appeal
Court of Park, has this day given a judgment at va-
riance with that of the Court of Cessation and con-
demning the defendants. The question must now
be reargued before the three chambers of the
Court of Cessation sitting together, and their
judgment will be final. There are people
who say that the Court of Caseation is
• little more independent than the other courts. It
is true that the judges have no further advance-
ment to hope for, and nothing to fear except the
putting in force of the optional law which enables
the government to supersede judges on the
ground of old age. I greatly doubt, however, the
courage of even this court, if the Emperor should
see fit to put • pressure upon them such as was
done in the Orleans confiscation affair and other
cases. The official current at the present moment
sets against liberty. And yet, anomalous as it
may appear, there is really and practically
more liberty at this moment than at any
period since the re-establishment of the empire.
The revival of political feeling overwhelms isolated
cases of oppression. True, there is no agitation,
no bitterness, no plotting, but everybody knows
and feels that the maintenance of coup d'itat
legislation has become impossible, and that, with
or without electoral committees, the next elections
must enormously augment the forces of the
opposition. The press also, in despite of warnings
and suspensions, is far bolder than it hail ever
been since 1852.

The Independence Beige says that the Emperor is
pressed by reactionary counsels at Compiegne, and
that in particular be is urged to deprive the Corps
Legislatif of the privilege granted by the famous
November decree of making speeches on the ad-
dress. As a compensation, there would be a right
of "interpellation," or asking questions of the
ministerial bench ; but this would be rendered
illusory by requiring a number of signatures to an
interpellation, which could rarely be obtained in
the present Chamber. I believe I have said before,
and I think still, that the waste of time in the
French debates on the address is ridiculous. But
the deputies will and should cling to their present
privilege, unless it shall be replaced by other and
better substantial liberties.

It is rumoured that at a council of war lately
held at Turin, it was resolved that, haring regard to
the hostile attitude of Austria, the projected reduc-
tions in the Italian army should not take place.
A Berne letter states that Madame Trumpy,
whose lunacy is contradicted, has commenced an
action against Dr. Demme, senior, charging him
with being an accomplice in the elopement of her
daughter Flora.
The rise at the Bourse yesterday was so great as
almost necessarily to produce a reaction. To-day
the Rent* fell 10c. for cash, and 15c. for account,
closing at 661 r. 50. and 661 r. 15c. Mobilier fell
3fr. 75c. Almost the only material change in rail-
ways was a fall of 3fr. 75c. in Lyons. The Italian
Loan was inquired for.

THR ADMINISTRATION OF THE Drcems.—The
following proclamation was issued on the 6th by the com-
mander-in-chief of the &Died troops is the Duchies, and is
addressed to all the authorities in Holstein and Limburg
" By article 3 of the treaty of poem the rights of possession
to Holstein and Denenberg have provisionally passed into
the heads of their Majesties the Emperor of Austria and
the Bing of Prussia, who have already availed themselves of
their rights in this respect. At the mme time, the Federal
executers is terminated, and the administration of the
Decides hitherto carried on by the Federal civil °annuls-
sioners has awed. In addition to this, the Hamm and
Hanoverian troops will leave the country, which will heece-
forth be exclusively occupied by the Austro-Prussian
troops. The governments of Austria and Prussia have re-
solved provisionally to coaceetrate the administration of
the three Duchies in the hands of their special civil corn-
miesioners, and thus to thrum to the Duchies a provisional
situation corresponding to their interests. The two govern-
ments strongly desire to put an end to this provisional situ-
ation, by hastening the settlement of the future of the
Duthie, is a manner conformable to their rights and legi-
tim►te wishes."

Tai KING OF PRUSSIA AND HIS THOOr3.-01:1
the Mars of the Prussian troops to Berlin the other day
from the seat of war, his Majesty addressed the aisles sad
men who had been rewarded for distinguished coodact
during the campaign in the following terms :—" It is a
glorious moment for me to see a portion of the army I was
compelled to send to war return home crowned with fame
and honours and enter my capital. All have fought with
devotion and heroic valor. I see many around me whom
I was able to reward for distinguished exploits. The troops
of me illustrious ally, the Emperor of Austria, have vied
in bravery with you side by side. Victory has invariably
followed the sanguinary etruggle,and an honourable pesos is
the reward of such groat exertions. Our thanks are doe to
Providence, upon which you have salted in many a decisive
hour, for the visible blessing extended to our just enterprise,
but to you also I repeat end renew the royal gratitude
which I expressed in a memorable time at Duppel, and
which the country sow offers you, united with myself, for
having made firm and increased the fame, and the repute-
Moo, and the power of Pruesia. If the King summons you
main, remember the motto you all bear, and transmit it to
your children and grandchildren—' With God, for /Ling and
Country.' "
_ _ _

BERME, DEC. B.—The Federal Assembly have
elected M. Schenck, of Berne, by a large majority, presi-
dent of the Swim Confederation for 1865, and M. Kneel,
of Lanese, yiee-preeident.

Sournatirros, Dec. a—The Hamburg Ame-
ricas Compeer's steemship Bonnie, Captain Wier, from
New York, has strived off Cowes on her way to Hamburg.
She hriage 56 passengers, of which four are for this port,
sad 12 for Havre, end on freight 137,340 dollars for Sag.
land, and 800 dollars for Hamburg. The %rusk left New
York ow the 26th ultimo. Oa theist inetaat, is lat. 46. 16N.,
100. 51.52 W.. spoke the steamship Bavaria, end ea the
3rd, in lot 50.55 N., los. :t'S.9 W., spoke the ship Storm
King. The Borussia'. news has berm fully satiaieeted.
♦ COLONIAL BULL—The Mirror of Toronto is
Wiens because the evil dengue of its Facia* brethren
have bees exposed end fiedagsiat. It ridicule.
Mayer IfedeeU, sod speaking of the Wt.etsmog enonymoss
latter he received, says :—" If the mayor pays any sties-
ticu I. seek a ridiculous forgery ea this letter, he most be
• fool. We can show him twice as strong ones, threetsniag
ourselves, purporting to come from his brethren, bat
which we threw into the fire."