The Express.
London, England, 1851-03-12 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 12, 1851.

peeted to oust some prefect, perhaps M. &lean, the
legitimist prefect at -Marseilles, whose maintenance
in that post is matter of surprise to everybody, after
the fierce opposition which M. Berryer and his com-
peers have latterly exhibited against the Elysee.
I mentioned yesterday that M. Waisse had asked
the committee on the 'National Guard Bill for two
days' delay, in order to announce the definitive re-
solution of the government. Before be did this he
declared afresh that the cabinet persisted in the
opinion that a transitory law was not necessary;
that the principle by virtue of which the officers of
the national guard preserve their commands until
replaced was established by a decree of the Court of
Cessation, and allowed the adjournment of the
general election without any need for a special law
before the adoption of the organic law. Meanwhile,
if the committee chose to take the initiative in bring-
ing in a special law, the government would not op-
pose it. To this it was objected that the decree in
question only applied to the case of individual func-
tionaries, and not to a whole class, whose elections
were appointed by the law to take place at a fixed I
epoch. M. Waisse was about to retire, when
M. Lacrosse, usually a supporter of the government,
urged upon the attention of the minister the false
position in which the cabinet would be placed by ap-
parent irresolution and indifference upon a matter of
such importance, if it neither took the initiative itself
in bringing in a necessary bill, nor offered any oppo-
sition to the bill if brought in by_ the committee.
These considerations determined M. Waisse to ask
for a fresh delay of two days.
If the government still decline, at the end of that
period, to bring in the transitory bill, the initiative
of that measure will be taken by the committee, and
the motion of M. Bare will be presented to the
Chamber on Thursday.
The imprudent eclat given by. the organs of M.
Thiers to the question of the elections of the national
guard has excited a great deal of agitation in the
ranks of that militia. A great number of officers
have determined on resigning after tho 23th of
March.
The committee on the Municipal Bill has modified
an important clause, which provides that the deli-
berations of the municipal council shall be entitled
to execution on the approbation of the prefect. The
committee adds to this clause the following rider:—
In ease the prefect should think proper to withhold
his approbation, he is to refer to the council of pre-
fecture.
Yesterday a committee was appointed in the bu-
reaux on the governments bill for settling the packet
service of the Mediterranean, which it proposes to
hand over to the company of the .4(essayeries Na-
amain, granting an annual subsidy of 2,725,000 fr.
Madame Montenegro, whose triumphs as optima
donna in Italy have awakened much eagerness to
witness her powers here, will make her first appear-
ance at the Italiens to-night, in the part of Ammo.
Mr. Reeves, the English tenor, will come out on
Thursday, in " Linda di Chiunouni."
Lord Normanby had an interview yesterday with
the President.