The Express.
London, England, 1848-01-12 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY. EVENING, JANUARY 12, 184 R.: .

the neat monaing a sum of money. Other sufferers have
been supported in a like manner.
The Civic guard have been ordered to go their rounds with
the pollee, who constantly walk the streets in all directions,
grouped in small companies. The former, however, have
intimated to the King that in case of any revolt they will
not act against the people, unless they resort to plunder. It
is perfectly impossible that the government can hold out
much longer, with a great portion of the nobles, the Prince
of Salerno at!
their um au cue people nemanaing re, I
forms. Coupled with this, Sicily waits anxiously the result
of the Neapolitan movement. The King is threatened on
all aides, and has rainy personal enemies—the friends and
relatives of the unfortunate sufferers who have
been esedited. Ilia Majesty seldom makes his appearance;
in fact, he has not been seen in the rite for weeks. Couriers
are continually arriving and departing froin all parts of
Europe. Two days since the King got a letter, sealed with
his confessor's seal, in which the people expreased their
wants, couched in very determined language. It is reported
that the confessor was compelled to send this document, as,
it appears, his Majesty will not open any letter unless it bears
that worthy's signature. We have very few English this
year, and the result is much suffering on the part of trades-
people. Such is the position of Naples at this moment. All
have perfect confidence in the popular movement, and all are
equally determined that the triumph shall be bloodless.

FRANCE. -- PARIS, JAN. 10. FREE-TRADE
BirgitNo.—A numerous meeting of the Free-trade Asaocia-
, tion was held on Friday in the Salle Montesquieu, under
the presidency of M. Antsaon-I)uperrnn, Peer of France.
' The president related all the events which had occurred
relative to free trade both in France and abroad, and drew
from them the conclusion that a general disposition exist, to
lower the tariffs. Joseph Gamier, M. Coquelin, and
M. Bastiat then addressed the meeting.
BALL FOR BENEFIT OF THE bRITISH CHARITABLE
Ftncu.—We have authority to state that a ball will be given,
under the patronage of their excellencies Lord and Lady
Normanhy, early in February, for the benefit of the Brit
Charitalde Fund. The names of the lady patronesses and
stewards, and the day, will shortly be published. The
Jardin d'lliver is the locale decided upon.—Uoliynoni.
ATTEMPT TO EXTORT NIONEY PROM MARSHAL
Sot:tr.—Marshal Soult received on Wednesday a letter
without signature, in which the writer stated that, being in
great distress, he demanded the sum of 10,0001., and that if
the Marshal General did not give it he would have to repent
of his refusal, whilst it he did give it, it should be metered in
a year. The writer requested that the money should be sent
the next evening by a soldier to the fountain nearest the
bridge is the Place de la Concorde, and that the man should
be in•tructed to hand it to the person who, after some in-
significant conversation with bun, should utter the word
" deposes !" The letter wound up with the threat that if any
attempt to betray the writer should he made he would blow
out his brains on the spot, sod the Marshal would have to
repent of his conduct. Immediately on the receipt of this
strange epistle the Marshal General went to the Prefect of
l'odce, who took measures to capture the writer. At seven
o'clock every part of the Place de la Concorde was closely
watched. Presently a man of gentlemanlike appearance,
clothed in black, pale and agitated, entered the place from
the rue de Rivet', and proceeded to the foot of the Obelisk,
from whence he examined the. place with greet attention; he
walked to the bridge, but immediately returned to the foun-
tain, where a soldier was standing as if examining the sculp-
lure. After addressing some insignificant ipestions to the
man, he exclaimed in an authoritative voice " deposes !"
In obedience to this the soldier placed a sealed packet at the
foot of the fountain, and as the man eagerly stooped to pick
it up, he was seised by four polite agents who had approached
him unobserved. He at first refused to state his name, but
on arriving at the l'refecture of Police he said his name was
Daleni, that he was twenty-one years of age, a native of
l'iedmont, a dealer in cotton, and lately resident at Zurich.
He added that he only arrived at l'aris un the 20th ult., and
that he had taken up his residence in one of the best hotels.
Ile then went on to ...ate that on leaving Switzerland he had
a sum of 12,0001. in bank notes which he carried in his
pocket-book, that he had visited Coblentz, Bonn, and Brute
eels, and that on arriving at Paris by the Northern Railway
he perceived that his pocket-book had been lost or stolen.
Thus finding himself without resources, he had determined
to address himself to the ambassador of his country, but the
Idea came to hint of extorting from tho marshal general, of
whose large fortune he had often heard speak, a sum which
would enable him to recommence his business, and which he
hoped eventually to be able to repay. The young man
manifested great repentance at his wicked act, and wept
bitterly. On being searched, it was found that he had only
a sum of 30 centimes in his possession. The panyorts,
papers, and letters which were seized at his lodgings proved
that he had told the truth as to his name and profession and
the route he had followed to arrive at Paris.

l'RUSSlA.—litmus, JAN. IL—According to the
Cologne Gazelle of the 9th inst., it soems now certain that
the debates in the committee of the states will be made
public. All the documents respecting the propoved new
criminal code which were drawn up by the council of state
have, it is said, been laid before the committee. Count Von
Schwerin continues to preside over the committee, vice Count
Von Arnim, being still indisposed.

THE OVERLAND MAIL I'IA TRIESTE AND

OSTEND.
The following is an account of the convention
between Austrian Lloyds' and various railway companies,
respecting the Anglo-Indian mail:
The forwarding of passengers and their luggage. Tra-
velling books shall be introduced and issued by Lloyds', and
shall be, during two months (as the longest term) available
for the conveyance of passengers—one book fur each—in the
direction from London towards any transmarine point, rid
Trieste, and from Trieste in the direction of London. The
books to hell good for only one determined journey. They
shall contain as many separate coupons as them are lines of
railway under distinct administrations to be try/rued, so
that the respectively available coupon may be ex-
tracted from the book and retained by the party
concerned. The payment of the charge for convey-
ance, in proportion to the coupons employed, shall be punc-
tually made by Lloyds' to the respective directors of the
railways, at certain fixed periods to be armed upon here.
after. The directors of the railways in questioc agree to
give Lloyds' a commission of five per cent. on the amount of
the charge for passengers as fixed in their respective tariffs,
such commission being allowed in order to indemnify Lloyds'
for the expenses incurred by employing agents, &c. The
railway directors agree to notify to Lloyds' without delay
any alteration which may take place in tf ,eir present tariff of
charges, which they will also communi rate without delay,
both with regard to the cost for the anti' w line, and any part
of it. They engage, moreover, to have a f, sed tariff for the extra
charges for conveying passengers from one railway station to
another, and to add those charges to those for railway car-
riage, so that Lloyds' passengers wi 11 not be subjected to
additional payments for themr.el res or their luggage.
The directors pledge therneelve,, tri forward luggage and
geode belonging to passengers a oil. duly marked as ouch, as
quickly as the passenger theme, tv es, and with the next pas-
sengers' or goods' train, provid .et'a the customhouse regula-
tions raise no impediment. The Austrian Lloyds' shall
always have the right of send VlEr their own special guards to
take care of the luggage or goods—such guards to be con-
veyed gratis, in a second-elr ,aa carriage. Travelling luggage
to the weight of 3001 be. r drei Zoll-Centner) fur each pas.
senger shall be conveyed at the rate of seven silver P.len-
niges per German mile —the same rate to be maintained
whether the luggage • iminp.oy the passengers or not.
Lloyds., at the end of •
respective reilwars every three months, shall pay to the
e additional charges for all luggage
which shall exceed t' ao average weight of 30011 u. for each
person—those' chug' es to be fixed, according to the usual
tariff for surplus we ht.
Respecting the, conveyance of couriers and their de-
spatcheslna par. acts All the directors of the respective
lines of railways unite to the utmost of their power, with
Austrian Lloyd s' in the endeavour to obtain the English
(Anglo-India'
.) mails for the German route, and, for that
purpose, they will forward, with the greatest possible speed,
the couriers
oetween London and Trieste, and pledge them-
selves durir the calendar year 1848 to fulfil the following
conditions;During 48 lours (beginning from the period
which istrian Lloyds' each time shall have clearly pointed
out) alr comotive will be kept ready, by night and by day,
in orde r that the couriers of that company may, twice every
month ,he forwarded on their journey. between Trivsta and
O.ts, id two hours, at the latest, after the arrival of the tele-
grafhic or written notice to that effect. Two passenger
eal riagee and a goods one will be attached to the locomo.
re. The telegraphic or written notices will be
I.orwarded in the most expeditious manner by the
respective companies. Herr Helmer, as the repre-
sentative of Austrian Lloyds', stated that the maximum
price to which he could consent for those courier con-
veyance,' would be 300/. sterling. The respective railway
companies, on the other hand, fix the sum at six Prussian
thalers per German mile. The directors also pledge them-
selves to provide special trains for couriers between London
and Trieste, on the foregoing terms, with the difference,
however, that the ordinary prices for special trains be en-
forced. Austrian Lloyds' will be allowed not only to send
by those courier trains despatches and packets to the weight
of 1,0001b5., but also to forward passengers by them, on the
condition that each be provided with the usual " travelling-
book," and that the respective railway companies shall have
the privilege of placing their own passengers in the carriages
when not filled, or of attaching other carriages to the train,
without, however, diminishing the speed agreed to. The
companies do not bind themselves to forward the luggage of
parties travelling in those courier trains, with the passen-
gers themselves. The speed of the courier trains shall be
at the rate of one German mile per ten minutes, including
stoppages, the respective companies promising, moreover, to
endeavour to effect a greater speed.

NATIONAL DEPENCES.—Sir —I have read in the
public journals with surprise, letters of the most eminent
men of the kingdom as warriors and diplomatists on our
national defences against an enemy—surprise, I repeat, that
Er gland is in so deplorable • state of defence, and that men
:mowing it should think proper publicly to declare it. I
cannot think that this is wise policy. The letters may possi-
bly have a good effect, but I doubt much that showing the
nakedness of the land will ensure it. They seem to me •
sort of indirect invitation to visit us. We are rich and have '
plenty of money, but we have no strong coffers that you may
not easily break. Let us have no more talk of our defence-
less state ; let us work and not talk ; let us put ourselves in
a position todefy and not encourage an enemy. lam one of
Mr. Urquhart's constituents ; he promised much if elected,
but I should like to see him some out a little better than
attacking Lord Palmerston. I don't like cure barking at
mastiffs. Let all difference in polities sink in the great ques-
tion et national defence.—onszavan, Stafford, Jan. IQ.