The Express.
London, England, 1863-12-29 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

PROPOSED CONFERENCE.
(7110 a Ma owl aninroannorr.)

PARIS, MONDAY Evisina._

The Nation, going a great deal further than the
weekly journals which, on Sunday, sang in chorus
the revival of the congress, treats it now as a
settled thing. It says :
It appears to be certain that Eagiand and Austria have
adhered to the proposal of a conference of ministers. As
to the adhesion of Prairie sad Ramie, that has never been
ter a moment doubtful. The plan is that than should be,
In the first place, a conference of ministers et the great
powen,including, perhaps, Span. Brussels is spoken of as the
piece of rendezvous. The negotiations are actively going on.
England wishes the question of the duchies to be treated
of above all thinp. Austria asks that all the questions
to be diseased shall be hid down beforehand, while Frans
considers this esterase as merely a presration for the
general cougreas of sovereigns, and desires to proceed with
a afar to this result.

The above is probably but another version of a
report more soberly gated in the Temps, to the
following effect :
It is rumoured that the great powers are agreed to
arbitrate upon the difference between Denmark and Get,
messy. But there is a diversity of views as to the place
where the conference shall take place. England proposes
London, where the conferences of 1852 were held ; but the
French government wialies the question to be submitted to
the limited congress the meeting of which it is trying to
bring about.
There is too much reason to think that the
French government will show itself as sulky as
possible about all arrangements proposed for the
solution of the Danish difficulty, and will make
political capital of that pressing question, in the
hope of forcing the powers to come into the
utopian scheme of a congress. Ido not, however,
at all believe that this project is so advanced as
the Nation and the weekly dispensers of canards
would infer.

While a great many letters from Italy speak of
preparations for war the Temps receives a positive
assurance from Turin that the Italian government
has not the least idea of attacking Austria,and will
remain strictly on the defensive. This news is
quite in contradiction with a long story told by the
Independance Beige about the mission of M.
Pasoldni to Paris and London. The telegram,
however, reporting the resignation by Garibaldi of
his seat in the Turin parliament is construed as an
indication that he at least thinks of taking the
field.

General Fleury arrived in Paris yesterday even-
ing, on his return from a special mission to the
courts of Denmark and Prussia. On Thursday
last M. de Bismark gave him a grand dinner, to
which the entire personnel of the French embassy
at Berlin wee invited.
It is stated that the ex-Duke of Modena has
commissioned Dr. Raphael Castelbolognesi to
defend the action brought against him by Prince
de Crony Chanel, contesting his right to the title
of Marquis d'Este. The plaintiff claims to be the
rightful heir of Beatrix d'Este, wife of Andrew 11.,
King of Hungary.
The Bourse was firmer in the early part of the
day, but closed with very little change. It is ob-
served that speculators are trying to raise quota-
tions now, with a view to operate for a fall after
the settlement.

TILL Miearna SHIPS.—Five weeks have now
elapsed, and Maws has been no intelligence of the missing
lades oasis which mailed from the Tem and adjacent
worth country porta in the last week in November for Lon-
don, and it is reduced to a certainty, it is feared, that they
have perished with their crews. The names of the Tyne
vessels that have, it is almost certain, foundered are the
Esther, the Brodricks, sod the Lady Mary, of North
Shields ; and the Ann and Elizabeth, the Spray, and the
Jame., of South Shields. Another vessel, named the
Adorns, which left the Texel before the gale of the 3rd of
December for the Tyne, has not since been heard of.
If the Adorns does not turn up, very close upon sixty gasmen
will have perished with those ships. As far as coo be moor-
tained, either eight or nine laden colliers belonging to ad-
jacent ports base been miming for the same time as the Tyne
ships, eo the& at the lowest computation it is feared 120
north country seamen lied sailor lads have perished by their
vessels foundering at sea with them. Me sad ealamiti is
being realised in all its bitterness by the bereaved families
in the northern seaports, for, down to about Christmas. they
had hoped against hope that those ships had been driven
towards the Dutch or Norway coast, and might turn up
again. Among the vessels included in the number men-
timed above are the Gem and the Cleveland, belonging to
Whitby. That seaport has suffered severely by the
gale. A vessel named the George. belonging to that
poet, after being abandoned, has been picked up sod
taken into Gottenburg. As already reported, several crews
of water-logged and disabled ships suffered fearfully by ex-
posure during the terrific gales of the first week in December.
The George is reported to have lost four of her crew, in-
cluding the mate and his ma, by exhaustion, before a friendly
ship came to their aasietanea It would appear that mod
of the vessels missing, and of which there is little doubt
nothing more will be heard, bed put into the Humber
through adverse winds, sod that on Wednesday the 2nd of
December, the wind having got round to the N.V., blowing
fresh, they had put out of that roadstead with every prospect
of a quick passage to London, but during that night
or Thursday morning the wind chopped round to the
S. W. again, and came on to blow a hurrimare. It will be
remembered that the force of Thursday's gale was most
severe in the midland counties, and it would catch these
ships io Boston Deeps, the very worst place for laden
colliers to encounter such a storm, and there is every
reason to believe that most of the vessels miesiog perished
there or on the edge of the Dogger Bask. It is to be
feared many of the families of the men that are supposed to
be lost are in a destitute condition, some of the widows
being left with large families.
EVIDENCE "BEFORE COMMITTEE."—IE is much
harder to obtain hiformation than some people may think ;
the most don't know anything, and those who do don't say
what they know. Here is a real episode from the history
of as inquiry, which took place four or five years ago, into
the desirability of making a new line of railway on the
Border. A witness was giving what is called " traffic
evidame," in justification of the alleged need of the rail-
way, and this is what occurred :—Mr. Brown (the cross-
examining counsel for the oppouents of the new line) : Do
yen mean to tell the committee that you ever saw an in-
habited house in that valley!—Witness : Via, I do. Mr.
Brown : Dal you ever see a vehicle there in all your life
—Wheels: Yes, I did. Mr. Brown : Very good. Some
other questions were put, which led to nothing particular;
but just as the witness —a Scotchman—was leaving the box,
the learned gentleman put one more question. Q. lam
instructed to ask you if the vehicle you saw was not the
hearse of the last inhabitant!—Answer : It was.—CornAill
Magazine for January.
. .

EXETIIR-HALL —Haydn's oratorio, the Creation,
which vim announced to commence at belf.pact 7, will
begin at 8 instead. The principal singers engaged are
Mediate Pampa, Messrs. Reeves and Sentley ; the band and
came, 700 ; conductor, Mr. G. W. Martin.

HOZ ASIA'S& 1
AlmedilW--I3mal
IdY -
aft el 1
Cape near
lAveryod lt 82 it 1
Holyhead 13.79 53. 0
Pembroke 298 611 1
Peuraeoe X30.10 61!
Brea
L'Orkm& '30.20 601 0
Rochefort 30.32 43
nymonth 0010 611 1
Weymouth 10.06 60' 1
Portemontla 40. 1
tendon 30.00 43 1
Dover 30.01 411 0
resemodh. 30.40.6 1
Seerlereesi ,2078 43 1
Nails 29.77 48: 2
8393 34. 0

Z.
&B. W.

W.N.W.

&IV.
W.N.W.
W.B.W.
W.&W.
W.&W.

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SI $

R.S. W.
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1121

WZMIZSDAT. PRONAMM TIIIIIMAT.
N.N.I. to W.N.W., on Nonnaut W.N.W. to N.N.L.
Maxim. Comma. drat& some tall
ii.W. to N.W. and Warriax. N. W. to N.E, and H,
N.N.N. strong, some strong, snow ur mot.
WI
As next above. Moms.. As beet above.
W. to N. and Z., fresh 90111ZEBN. N. to E and A.E, fresh,
to wise rats • .1. nor.
, rainy
B.W.lrtlV.,and .N.E., ZaitAnit. As next above.
Aram some imow.
- - - • • - - • - ----

Northern:Scotland. Weeterne-Ircland. Middler.Walsts
opoalte and adjacent. Southern =English Channel and Biscay
Nay. Suitern.Esstward England and Heligoland.
B.—Barometer corrected and reduced to AV at half tide tent.
Each ten feet, of vertical elevation, causing aboutoue hundredth
of an inch DINDIUTIoN . and each ten (levels, above 92'. mus-
ing nearly three hundredths INCRKASIS —Expo§ed thermo-
meter in shade. D.—Dltference of wet bulb (foe evaporation sad
dew point). direction of THUS—two whits Lan of
magnetic:. Ir.—Force (I to If —estlinated;. X.-21treme tone
since last report. Q.—Quarter whence ems= force ( NH2=4
to 32=N). I. —lnitlals b.—blue sky: c.—clouds detached):
L—fog: L—lightning m.—misty hazy) : o.—overall
(dull) r.—rain: s. —ono w t.—thunder. ft.= snow at
hall melted;, since last report. 9. Yes disturbance (I to 9).
Z.—halm.

TrtAxwitY ox Mohr Carta.—Newapaper readers
have at different times been informed of the proposal sub-
mitted by Mr. Fell, in concert with Messrs. Heaney and
dackeoe, to the French and Italian governments, for laying
down • tramway on the present Mont Canis route, covering
the Isms with wooden, nee. and storm galleries. *Ad
working it by means of • new arid lighter species
of locomotive, so that the distance between Suss sod
St. Michel, which now takes tee, might be safely and
regularly traversed in • period of from four to five hours. The
first sense of these Mont Ceois locomotive expenineets for
producing a low engine capable of carrying • train of 100
Teenagers with their luggage over the mountain have bad
satidectory results. The trials have been made on an in-
cline of 1 in 13 (the Mount Canis being 1 in 12), and the
experimental engine, a new one on Mr. Fell's peculiar
system, has taken op and down the entire load proposed,
whilst the break power for descending is most perfect. A
great number of practical and scientific men have been
j witnessing these locomotive experiments with much
interest, and now • second sinks of experimenta is just
being commenced, viz., on • gradient of 12, and carver of
30 and 50 metre. radius combined, for wbieh a piece of
line is in process of construction—the far-simile of the
Most Canis. These Mont Canis locomotive experiments
havebeen carried on at the Cranford and High Peak Hail-
way, Wbrilley.brialge, sod, as may he easily supposed, the
reporta of their progress are received with the greatest
interest throughout Italy, it being hoped by their mamas
to solve the problem of • rapid and comparatively cheap
communication, not only across the great passes of the
Alps 2 but likewise over those of the Apennines.
bI•SCHESSER UNITY 0? ODD FILLOWS.—The
manual meeting of the North London District was held at
Anderton's Hotel, Fleet-street, yesterday, G. M. Mitchell in
the chair. nappies delegates were present. Mr. Harris
read the auditors' report, which was adopted. The mortality
for the past half-year has not increased according to the
increase of members; 57 male.' and 37 females' deaths
have caused an expenditure of 1104 f. Ss. rid.. which
was met by a levy upon the lodges of Is. each
member ; the ioeidental expenditure amounted to
89/. ss. 64d., which was met by a levy of 241..
for the half-year. D.G.M. Stephens was elected Prow.
G.M. for 1864, and P.G. Creech, of the St. Thomas
Lodge, D. Prov. G.M. ; P.G's. BUM and reltoo were
elected examiners of lodge books ; various alterations of
rules were made ; appeal ems beard ; and several distrait
petitions wen relieved; reconirnenda Lives were also mode
that a general sutecription he opened for the
boat Institution ; Moors. Dansie, Diprose, Nationalet,
Mitchell, Rough, and Stephens, were elected as represeo-
tativas to the A.M.C., tole held at Birkenhead inn hitaun
week.

INTELLIGENCE
(THIS DAY.)

T OF BANKRUPTCY.
re Mr. Registrar Window.)

IN Pi J. DODDS.
ti ameribed se a memthaat, of Can-
‘,/ Gimps,. This was the @Miss far
• Ltabdities 3,000 i. •so @meta The
• his failure to losses eOceaimed by the
to the failure of some firma at Glasgow.
Burrows, of girchialeme, was chosen