The Express.
London, England, 1855-04-23 00:00:00

FRANCE.

(MOM THE CORIIIISPONDENT OP TEN DAILY NEWS)
PARIS, SUNDAY EVENING.
A telegraphic despatch from Vienna, dated this
day, states that the Conference of yesterday lasted
four hours and a half, and ended without any con-
eiot
pended, anti ;tai Lord
nhetoctiocnhfienrgenthceeskanroelty:lll:cl Point. It is added
m
John Russell and M. Dronyn de Lhuys have taken
leave of the members of the Congress. This y 1 thatlus
merely a private despatch, and entitled to no more
credit than the many others on the subject of the
Conference which have proved to be erroneous.
Nevertheless, I venture to predict from my know-
ledge of the "situation," that this will turn out to be
correct. The material fact that the French and
English Plenipotentiaries have taken leave, would
not fall within the pledge of the members of the
Congress to keep their proceedings secret.
. ..

On the subject of the present attitude of Austria,
the rumours are most contradictory. The last nom-
ber of the Austrian Gazette formally affirms that the
three Powers are in perfect accord. The Tins
Gazette asserts that Austria will persist in her "pie.
sive attitude." A telegraphic despatch in the Petrie,
dated Vienna, this day, denies the truth of the ru-
mour that the Austrian army was about to be pat
upon a peace footing, and says that, on the contrary,
armaments continue with increased activity.
Very sinister rumours from Sebastopol have been
current all day on the Boulevard. Decided reverses,
both on the part of the French and English, are
spoken of, and it is said that General 13oequet is
killed, and General Canrobert wounded. The Rate,
which opened at 70fr. 30c. (10c. higher than yester-
day), closed with great depression at 69fr. 75e.
These Bourse rumours are entitled to the minimum
of credit, but it is impossible not to listen to the;
when we know that authentic news must have been
received and is suppressed. The following tele.
graphic despatch, reporting the death of General
Bizot (the general commanding the Engineers in the
French army of the East), is, I deeply lament to be.
lieve, worthy of credit :

BCCILAREEIT, APRIL 21.
Sebastopol, April 17.—The bombardment continua.
Several Russian batteries have been destroyed, but they
have been repaired in the night. The fleets are still ism.
ties. General Blunt (ef the engineers) is killed.

There is a talk of a duel likely to came off between
General Lawoavtine, Commandant of the National
Guard of Paris, and Baron de Ravinel, a member of
the Corps Legislatif. In the debate on the budget
M. de Ravinel, objecting ti the high piy given
to the general and stuff of the National Guard, ob.
served that the suppression of the entire force would
make much less sensation than the bill for pitting a
tax on carriages. It appears that the general
sent a hostile message by two aides-de-camp the next
day. Baron de Ravinel explained that the official re.
port of his speech hsd misrepresented him, and pro.
mised that the general should find in a note in the
Moniteur all the satisfaction he could require. This
promise was kept. The Moniteur, for the first time,
published a letter from a deputy, complaining that
the only report of the debates allowed by the con-
stitution, and which in theory is infallible, was not
correct. But it is now said that Baron de Ravinel,
who bears the reputation of a wit, has made funny
remarks in private society, which General Lawcestins
resents. The aides-de-camp have waited on the deputy
a second time, and a meeting is thought to be
extremely probable.
_ .

The unseasonable and severe weather of the last
three days occasions much uneasiness on account of the
crops. A blue sky and treacherous sun has been
accompanied with a persistent bitter north-east wind,
which blows off the young buds, and blossoms nipped
by nightly frosts. This morning the thermometer
was two degrees below zero. It is said that a fifth
of the bees in France have been killed by the severity
of the winter, and that much of the honey was so
severely frozen as to be spoiled.