The Express.
London, England, 1853-01-21 00:00:00

THE IIPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 21, 1853,

a young foreign lady of dazzling beauty, who first
attracted his particular notice in the hunting field
at Compiegue,lew Frenchmen would yesterday have
been able -to answer the question—Who is Mdlle.
Montijo? To-day the history, real or supposed, of
their future Empress is in everybody's mouth.
Mdlle. Eugenie de Montijo is the second daughter of
a Grandee of Spain, some time since deceased, who
distinguished himself in the war of independence.
Her mother, with whom during the last few years
she has resided in Paris, was the daughter
of an Irish gentleman, who for many years occupied
the post of British consul at Malaga. This lady is
a woman of the world in every sense of the word, and
has long been known to fashionable society in moot
of the capitals of Europe. A faithful biographer
would find it necessary to dwell with some particu-
larity upon a period of her life extending so far back
as to a time prior to the birth of Mdlle. Eugenie,
during which a close friendship subsisted between
the Countess do Montijo and a noble English states-
man then well known in Spain by. the name of
George Villiers. The Count de Montijo, a nobleman
belonging to one of the very best Spanish families,
was not a jealous husband, and his wife's taste
ter the admiration which her beauty and
asoomplishments commanded was in noway thwarted
ly him. It will not tail to be remarked that the be-
durothed bride of the French Emperor unites in her
veins Irish and Spanish blood in nearly the same
proportions as an already celebrated lady who has
played an important part at the court of one of the
Weer sovereigns of Europe, the King of Bavaria.
If report speak true many of the results of this pecu-
lar international alliance, as developed in the person
of Lola Mentes, Countess of Landsfelt,are also obser-
vable in the Hispanio-Hibernian personage now
about to occupy a position so much more exalted.
Extraordinary beauty, sparkling wit, magical in-
fluence over men, a love of adventure, extreme femi-
nine impetuosity, and more than feminine courage,
are leading characteristics of both. Some years
since the eldest daughter of the Countess of Montijo
married the Duke Berwick Albe. This match is
said to have excited the ambition of Mademoiselle
Eugenie, who frequently declared that she would
make a still more brilliant one. She does not, how-
ever, appear at once to have resolved to soar to any
dizzy height above her own sphere, for, in her first
efforts to eclipse her sister's fortune, she was content
to lay siege to the heart of the Duke of Ossuna, an
enterprise which failed, foor reasons with which I am
unacquainted. At a subsequent period the Duchess
d'Albe, finding married life monotonous, pro-
moted the Marquis d'Alcanizes to a position per-
fectly well known and recognised in all the
salons of Madrid. Madlle. Eugenie then assumed
the position of a direct rival to a sister, but her at-
tempts to divert the current of the Marquis's affec-
tions met with a signal failure, and the violence of
her disappointed passion was such, that the tried
to poison herself by swallowing a quantity of liquid
used in the photographic process, which happily
failed to produce a fatal effect, although it rendered
her exceedingly ill for a long time. Disappointed
in love, she sought excitement in politics, and was
generally esteemed in Madrid as a firebrand ready
to take a part in any revolutionary movement. An
incident that will long be remerobered in the fashion-
able society of Madrid, occurred at a soiree at which
General Narvaez was present. Mademoiselle
Eugenie Montijo was talking politics with great
animation, when Narvaez, presuming on his high
military rank, told her that ladies should
not meddle with such matters, and he en-
forced his argument by saying that nature
had not given them nerve to face the ultimo ratio of
political differences—cold steel. Mdlle. de Eugenie
gave a practical contradiction to the general's argu-
ment by snatching up a poniard and inflicting a se-
vere stab upon her own arm. The Countess
de Montijo is on terms of great intimacy
with the Agnado family, and it was not
long since reported in Paris that a member of
this family was about to be united to Mdlle. Euge-
nie. lam told that not more than three weeks since
a member of the jockey club asked the Marquis de
Las Maritimes point blank, whether his brother Olim-
pio was not about to be married to Mdlle. de Montijo.
The Marquis is said to have; replied, " What, do you
think my brother is fool enough to marry that mad-
cap." A fortnight later Mdlle. Montijo,
__ with
much emotion, announced to the Marquis
de Las Marismas that the Emperor had deigned
to choose her for his consort. It now appears that this
match, which so surprises the public, has long been
no secret at the court of the Tuileries. At the Duke
de Cambacere's last reception every one rose when
Mdile Montijo entered the room. At a recent
soiree at the Countess Lehon's it was univer-
sally remarked that Mdlle. Montijo was the
"cynosure of neighbouring eyes," and that all other
ladies were neglected. On that occasion M. Fould
and Dupla, tune, being presented to the young lady,
bowed so low that the bystanders observed how
astonishing it was that portly men at their time
of life should be supple enough to twist
their bodies into a form resembling a school boy's
hoop. At the Tuileries I am told that Mdlle. Mon-
tijo has been treated as a royal personage for several
days past.
Mdlle. Eugenie de Montijo is now 26 years et
age. She is what is expressively called in French a
blonde ardente, which for want of a better trans-
lation, I will call a "sunny blonde." Her
arms and shoulders are exceedingly beautiful, and
shown to advantage as they are by her habitual
style of dress, have been the especial admiration
of all the galena she has visited. The lower
part of her face is not quite so good as the upper,
which is very perfect. I understand that she has
stipulated for the immediate banishment of poor Miss
Howard from Paris.

diplomatic documents in connexion with the affair
were laid before the house. -
The performance of the caloric-ship Ericsson is
said to be very satisfactory. The speed attained was
fourteen miles an hour. The consumption of fuel Is
ascertained to be only six English tons per twenty-
four hours—a saving, as compared with steam-ships,
of more than 80 per cent.
From Mexico we have dates to the 15th ult.
The revolution was still raging, and a ministerial
crisis had taken place. M. Mariano Vanes has re-
signed his office of Minister of Foreign Affiirs, and
his resignation was accepted. This step, on the part
of the minister, is attributed to differences of opinion,
existing between himself and the President of the
republic. The office of Minister of Justice is also
vacant.
It was thought that President Arista wished to
form a compromise cabinet. It was attempted to
appoint, first, M. Olaquibel, and then M. Jose Va-
lente Bar, as Minister of Foreign Affairs, but both
refused. Both of these gentlemen are puros, and
the other members of the cabinet, MM. Prieto and
Anaya, are what are called moderate. MM. Garcia
Aguirre and Ponciano Arriaga, both puros, were
also offered the post of Minister of Justice. Arriaga
accepted, and entered upon the duties of his o of co on
the 13th.
It was also rumoured that Anaya, the Minister of
War, was about to resign. Mariano Macedo is
spoken of for Minister of Foreign Affairs. The
Trait d' Union thinks that the appointment of M.
Macedo would be marked with certain modifications
in the policy of the government, and one favourable
to the Bellange Company for the privilege of opening
the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
}law YozA, JAN. 8.

Government stocks and other leading securities are in
good demand at the quotations. Railroads are in favour,
with &brisk inquiry. The rate for sterling bills to-day has
declined further. The remittances of bankers' bills for to-
morrow'. steamer are very large, generally at 93 premium.
This decline will stop,. for the present, all shipments of coin
to Europe. We quote—London, 60 days, 1091 to 1091 ;
Paris, 6 16 to 6 13f ; Amsterdam, 41$ to 413; Hamburg,
' 361 to 363 ; Bremen, 791 to 80.
The money market, during the past week, his not been
characterised by that general ease anticipated.
Corrote.—The sales of the past three days amount to
4,600 bales, at fully Ic. advance on the quotations last
advised.
Banernituvn.—Flour displayed a rising tenor. The
consumptive and speculative demand was increasing. Wheat
was quiet. Corn tended upwards. State and westernoata
abundant and languid.
Fustowrs.—Shipowners are firm at the following rata:
—To Liverpool—Tobacco, per hhd., 355. ; cotton, square
bale, per lb., sd. ' • flour and meal, per barrel, 31. 6d. to
34.9 d. ; rosin, 3s. 6d. do. ; heavy good/,.per ton, 30.. to 355. ;
grain, in bulk, per bushel, lid. ; beef, per tierce, 68. to
ss. 64. To London—Tobacco, per hhd., 40s. ; flour, per
bbl., 34.11 d. ; turpentine, per 280 lbs., 3s. 6d. • measure-
ment goods, per ton, 275. 6d. ; heavy goods, oil, etc. 30s. to
358. ; cheese, 40s. ,• beef, per tierce, 6e. to 75.; oil cake,
per bbl., 4s. To Havre--cotton, square bales, per lb., lc ;
ashes, per ton, 8 dole. to 10 dole ; rice, 10 dole. ; measure-
menegoods, 10 dols. ; flour, per bbl., 76 cents.