The Express.
London, England, 1848-04-04 00:00:00

LATEST FROM PARIS.

I'M-Us, MONDAY, 4 P.M.
Another disastrous fall in the funds has taken
place to-day, the Threes closing at :351, and the
Fives at 55.
General Cavaignac has again refused to accept the
ministry of war.
In the absence of General Changarnier, who is in
Africa, and from the necessity of immediately filling
this situation, it is probable that it will be offered to
General Ouchnot or General Schramm.
The Mediterranean fleet sailed from Toulon on
Saturday.
We learn from a journal of Aix, that M. Theirs has
written to several of his friends in that city, an-
nouncing his intention not to become a candidate for
the national assembly.
We learn from Lyons that on the Ist inst., the
soldiers, and particularly the majority of the 22nd
of the line, continued to conduct themselves in a very
disorderly manner. The most serious part of the
affair is, that many of these rs,ldiers have refused to
march to the frontier, which they had been ordered
to do.

THE IRISH DEPUTATION.

M. LAMARTINE'S REPLY.

This being the day fixed by the Provisional Go-
vernment for the reception of the members of the
Irish deputation, Mr. Smith O'Brien and the other
members of the Irish Confederation went to the
Hotel at half-past three, to present their ad-
dress. They were received by prey de Lamartine
alone, none of the other members of the Provisional
Government being present. Besides the address of
the Irish Confederation, addresses were presented at
the same time by Mr. R. O'Gorman, jun., from the
citizens of Dublin; by Mr. :Meagher' from the
repealers of Manchester; and by Mr. Nl'Dermott,
from the members of the Irish Confederation resident
in Liverpool. The following is M. Lamartine's

reply
• Citizens of Ireland.—
" If we require a fresh proof of the pacific influence of the
proeamation of the great democratic principle,—this new
Christianity, bunting forth at the opportune moment, and
dividing the world, as formerly, into a Pagan and a Christian
community,—we should assuredly discern this proof of the
omnipotent action of an idea, in the visits spontaneously
paid in this city to republican France, and the principles
which animate her by the nations, or by fractions of the
nations, of Europe.
"We are not astonished to see to-day a deputation from
Ireland. Ireland knows how deeply her dreinie,, her suf-
fering., and her succewire advances in the peels o ri Union%
liberty, of unity, and of constitutional ego ility with the
other parts of the United Kingdom, have at all times moved
the heart of Europe I
" We said as much, a few days ago, to another depu-
tation of your fellow citizens. We said as sn..ch to all
the children of that glorious isle of Erin which the natural
genius of its inhabitants and the striking events of its history
render equally symbolical of the poetry and the heroism of
the nations of the north.
" Rest assured, therefore, that you will find in France,
under the republic, a response to all the sentiments which
you express towards it.
" Tell your fellow-citizens that the name of Ireland is
synonymous with the name of liberty courageously defended
agiinat privilege—that it is one common name to every French
citizen! Tell them that this reciprocity which they invoke
—that this reciprocity of which they are not oblivious—the
Republic will be proud to remember and to practice invari-
ably towards the Irish. Tell them, above ail, that the French
Republic is not, and never will be, an aristocratic Republic, in
which liberty is merely abused as the mask of privilege ; but
a Republic embracing the entire community, and is curing to
all the tame rights and the same benefits. As regards other
encouragements it would neither be expedient fur us to
hold them out, nor for you to receive them. I have
already expressed the same opinion with reference to
Germany, Belgium, and Italy; and f repeat with refer-
ence to every nation which is involved in internal disputes—
which is either divided agaMst itself or at variance with its
Government. When there is • difference of race—when
nations are aliens in blood—intervention is not allowable.
We belong to no party in Ireland or elsewhere, except to
that which contends for justice, for liberty, and for the hap-
piness of the Irisl. people. No other part would be accept.
able to us, in a time of peace, in the interests and the
pensions of foreign nations. France is desirous of reserving
herself free for the maintensnee of the rights of all.
" We are at peace, and we arc desirous of remaining on
good terms of equality, not with this or that part of Great
Britain, but with Great Britain entire. We believe this
peace to be useful and honourable, not only to Great
Britain and the French republic, but to the human race.
We will Oct commit an act—we will not utter a word
—we will not breathe an insinuation at variance with
the principles of the reciprocal inviolability of nations
which we have proclaimed, and of which the continent
of Europe is already gathering the fruits. The fallen mo-
narchy had treaties and diplomatists. Our diplomatists are
nations,—our treaties are sympathies! We should he insane
were we openly to exchange such a diplomacy for unmean-
ing and partial alliances with even the moot legitimate parties
in the countries which surround us. We are not competent
either to judge them or to prefer some of them to othe
shouldrs ;
by announcing our partisanship of the one side we
declare ourselves the enemies for the other. We do not wish
to be the enemies of any ef your fePow.countrymen. We
wish on the contrary, by • faithful observance of the re-
publican pledges. to remove all the prejudices which may
mutually exist between our neighbours and ourselves.
" This coune, however painful it may be, is imposed OR us
by the law of nations as well as by our historical re-
membrances.
"Do you know what it wan which most served to irritate