The Express.
London, England, 1864-01-26 00:00:00

THE IMPRESS, TUESDAY NvEruNG, JANUARY 26, P 364.

and the Revolution everywhere, without the mot-
Unwise or good will of a single government or
people. But Austria has every reason to avoid
complicity in his blunder& She needs her men
and her money for more legitimate purposes than
aggression upon a free and brave people ; and it is
not at $ time when Italy is arming, when Hungary
is restless, and when her financiers are resorting to
expedients of the lifirmussica era—to a lottery
I loan, for example—to replenish the Tressmi, that
she should send an army upon an expedition which
is costly and remote—one which cannot be glorious,
and may be unpooessful.

Exam in columns inspired by the French
police it is universally admitted that the story of
the Italian plot has proved a complete failure.
This is not to be imputed as a fault to ita authors.
These things have their fashions and their chances.
Some quite unexpectedly take the public by storm,
and others, of perhaps greater merit, fall to the
ground neglected. Just now France, or that
portion of it which it was hoped to touch by the
story of the Italian oonspinicy, is in a very prosaic,
matter of fact mood. Instead of being astounded
at the plot, and excited to delirious protestations
of devotion and anger, it put on an incredulous
mood, and began to ask inconvenient questions.
Under more favourable circumstances the
discovery of the conspiracy might have provcd
a success. There were the three men, GIIACCO,
TRABIICCO, and IIIPSZATOILI, actually in hold and
capable of being produoed ; and there were the
scraps of letters rummaged out of their pocket.—
materiali quits sufficient in better days to convince
every Frenchman not misled by " the genius of
" evil." But in the present temper of the French,
nobody believes that any one would risk his life to
kill the Exraaos, and nobody wants to hear any-
thing about the business. The interest which
in this country was felt fora day or two about the
plot was due to the alleged participation in
it of an illustrious Italian, whose reputation
is dear to every friend of freedow. It ceased on
the publication of Signor Mazzun's short and
simple statement. The French police press too
understands how much the usefulness of the plot
to the Government depends on Signor hi asznfr's
complicity, and accordingly to this hour it
has not dared to publish his letter. As time
goes on, and our knowledge of the facta
is increased, we are placed in a better position
to appreciate the stories which have been in-
vented for the purpose of implicating the
great author of Italian unity in a inisoh
rable conspiracy. It will be remembered
that it was a part of the story that the plot wan
planned at Lugano, in Switzerland, where the
four men in custody were said to have met
IdazziNr. But it now results, from inquiries made
in Switzerland, that the four men d'7 not crave
at Lugano till the month of November last, and
that MAZZINI had left Lugano at the beginning of
the previous month. Certainly this plot has been
entrusted to very clumsy hands.

UTAST INTELLIGENCE.
---.--
AUSTRIAN AND PRUSSIAN COMPROMISE
WITH THZ FEDERAL DIET.

The Vienna Prase says that a compromise has
been devised by K Beust to remove the differences
which bad arisen between the two great German
Powers and the secondary States, and to restore
harmony in the midst of the confederation. The
majority of the Diet, it is proposed, shall sacri-
fice to Austria and Prussia the motion of Hesse
Darmstadt, which tends to preserve the
rights of the confederation, in occupying
Sleswig. This motion will be submitted to the
full assembly of the Diet, but will be lost. In re-
turn, Austria and Prussia will undertake to accom-
plish the occupation of filesvrig in the exclusively
federal sense, and in permanent agreement with
the Diet, and especially to accept no basis of nego-
tiations without the formal consent of the confe-
deration. The Press. adds that M. de Bismark and
de Rechberg have sent to the German govern-
ments circular letters, in which they express their
adherence to this compromise of M. de Beust.

Infantry of the line (the 51Ird and the 56th
in heavy marching order, and preceded by their
respective bands, playing a lively march, are
passing under my windows. These troops are
billeted in the private houses without any excep-
tions, and thus it happens that my spare bedroom
is now occupied by three privates of the sth
Westphalian Regiment of Cuirassiers. Fortu-
nately their stay is but short, as they continue
their march the next morning, and give but little
trouble, for in general they arrive so foot-
more and knocked up by a long night march, that
after partaking of some refreshments they are glad
to go to bed and rest till the bugles sound before
daylight to summon them to prepare to resume
their march.

The Austrian brigade that was quartered here
for a month has left us for Sleswig. They were
quiet and peaceable fellows, and made themselves
generally liked. They are subject to very severe
discipline, as an instance of which I may mention
that one of the men, whilst standing sentry at the
gate received as a present from a Hamburg citizen
some cigars, for which breach of discipline—re-
ceiving the cigars when on duty—he was punished
with five-and-twenty lashes.

THE METROPOLITAN AND PROVINCIAL
BAWK.-(TMLB DAY.)

This day the fourth ordinary meeting of the above I
beak was held at the Larks Tam, Lord ?atm in the
their.
The following win the report sad amounts ;
"The directors bare now to present to the shareholders
the scommis of the bask for the half-year end* the 31st
Dessmber kat, Mowing atter the payment of intim* on
eunest and dope& asseents, a basses of profit of 14,633/.
ss. 11d. The shareholders are already aware that, by a re-
tent decision of the Court of Chateary, the blink has
sustained • omademble sad meeptimal lat. The
whole amount, however, sad the attesiderat legal
expenses, have been fully provided for and written
off spinet the profits of the half-yam ; notwith-
standing which the &esker are aril enabled, after
deducting the meal proportion of peeliminary expenem, to
momunsad • dividend at the ram of 5/. per cent. per annum
of income tax), and to carry forward the sum of 1,8741.
ifs. 11d. to the predt and Ices new amount. Since the last
report branches of the bank have been opened at 86, Oxford-
street, Woolwich, Macclesfield, and Hammersmith, and
the directors have every reason to be ratidal with the pro-
gress they have respertemly made. The directors who
retire by rotation are—the Right Hoe. Lord Foamy.
ILP., R. J. Blyth, Bp., and Thomas Campbell. Esq.. all
of whom are eligible for reslectioe. The auditors also
retire at this meeting, sad are eligible for esappoint-
meat.
" Statement of Amorists, Dee. '3l, 1863.—Liabilities.—
Dr.: To saMtal torment, 200.0004. ; to remove fund account
BOOM lea. 3d.) Oomph, 6,0001. ; to amount due by the beak
on entreat deposit and other aormanth 784,1081. 13s. ld. ; to
surplus profit last half-year, 1,5071.18 x. Bd., to barrio of
moat sad loss present half year (after paying interest on
current and deposit amounts), 13,1251. 13e. 3d.-14,6331.
ss. 11d. ; total, 1,004,7411. 19a. Asesta.—Cr. : By invert-
meate—Omsole, East ladle debentures, City bond" do.,
58,2101. ; by bills amounted, Loans, do., 829,6461. 3s. 11d. ;
by freehold property, buildinp, furniture, beak fittings
grMike and branches), and preliminary ex
,trd 311. lls. 10d. ;by cash in hand and at call office
and branches), 94,9 41. 3s. 3d.—Total, 11004,7411.195.
" Profit and less aecount.—Dr. : To current expenses,
branding Wades rent, statics/try (head office and branches),
directors ranuneratioe, bed debt', do., 8,1831. 195.; to
amount written off preliminary expense account, 9251.; to
payment of dividend at rate of 5 per cent. per annum,
3,6501.; to balsam hardened to profit and loss (new no
count), 1,8741. 6s. 11d.-14,6331. ss. 11d. Cr.: By balance
of profit sad lem, 14,6531. Qs. 11d.
" Resersaund seems& —Amount brought down, 6,0001."
The Comma" moved the adoption of the report and
the accounts, which was seeorded by Mr. RANDLE.
A assmann took pleas with respect to the less alluded to
in the report, but the Obehnsan stated that the matter had
been fully investigated sad act the slightest Maras could
be attached to the manager.
The report was adopted and • dividend of U. per mut.,
'able oil and after the 2arl of February next, was
The retiring direr:tom were cathodal The Chairman,
who was Ms of them, stemmed a armee with to leave the
board on amount of other ettsgsmetts lout his resist**
las:mt best snowed by Mr. Clam, ILP., was unanimously
to, and he me inft if he still wished
retire he must seed in his resignation in the usual form. to
The roseate was thou made special, and mash altera-
tions were 'greed to be made in the articles of association,
by which the qualification of the directors for • sea at the
board was doubled, and shareholders of three months'
Attain' were permitted to vote at the m
A vote of thanks to the Chairman conc=he proceed-
lade