The Express.
London, England, 1865-03-04 00:00:00

improaf FROM PARIS.

THE NEWS FROM MEXICO.
MOM ous OWN 00111110060nerr.)

PARIS, FRIDAY Enzrago.

The tardy publication in the Moniteur of
the Mexican news, essentially the same as .that
which has long been before the public through
other channels, and which the semi-official prints
were ordered to deny up to last night, is a heavy
blow to the faith of those who yet think that
what the government journals say must be true.
The Patrie submits uneasily to having been made a
fool of, and resents the affront in the following
terms :

We yesterday contradicted the news given by the
lattifette of Maxim, concerning the affair of San Pedro.
Unfortunately we wore mistakes, for the information given
by the Mexican print was correct, u is shown by the fol-
lowing narraUve published this morning by the Moniteur.
Here follows the article in the Moniteur. The
Petrie then adds :

Before the combat of Sao Pedro the Lucifer had anthem-
fully socomplished an important mission on the Pacific
coast, in the neighbourhood of Altats, and it was this
mission, noticed in despatches and correspondence anterior
to January 15, which we had confounded with the affair of
San Pedro. We are assured that steps were at one taken
to obtain an exchange foe the French prisoners.

What a terrible letting down is this to those who,
on the faith of the Moniteur's reiterated iutsurances,
for a long time past had brought themselves to be-
lieve not only that Maximilian was firmly seated
on his throne, but that the "state of war" no
longer existed in Mexico, where order was only
disturbed here and there by ► few stray brigands.
Now we have an avowal of • French detachment
suddenly finding itself in face of an immensely
superior force, and the possibility of effecting a
regular exchange of prisoners with the opposing
belligerents is actually put forward aa good
news. I learn that a ministerial council is
to consider to-morrow the question of sending out
reinforcements. Contrary to the received opinion
—that au attack on Mexico by the united forces
of the Federal and Confederate States of America
would make it a point of honour for France to de-
fend the country at any cost—l have reason to
think that the French government regards the
point of honour in quite another aspect. It feels
pledged to support Maximilian as long as he has
anything to fear from intestine discord, but not
against a foreign attack. In case, therefore, of the
dreaded peace in America, the French government
would not think it shabby to leave Maximilian to
his fate,since a case would have arisen not provided

for in the contract with him. As things stand,
however, the Cabinet of the Tuileries feels bound
to give him all needful support.
In the Corps Legislatif, yesterday, on the vali-
dation of the election of Count Boudet for the
Dordogne, which passed without opposition, M.
Eugene Pelletan called attention to the fact that
the sub-prefect of Bergerac, in a circular to the
mayors on behalf of the count a. 4 a government
candidate, had required them to furnish him with a
list of all electors " hostile, indisposed, or hesita-
ting." Be inquired whether the government
sanctioned this system of using mayors as spies
and informers ? M. GUIs Bizoin and K Picard
echoed the question ; but the bench of government
speakers remained silent ; and the vote was passed
nem. con., M. (Dais Bizoin exclaiming, " The cen-
sure is accepted per %Skil elicit."
Prince Arthur of England slept at Amiens last
night, and arriving in Paris to-day paid a visit to
the Emperor and the imperial family at the Tuile-
ries. In the course of the afternoon the Imperial
Prince returned the visit at the British embassy.
Prince Arthur leaves Paris this night for Marseilles
to embark for the east on board the Enchantress.
I hear much talk of economy insisted on by K
Fould, and evidence by what many people esteem
parsimony in the matter of retiring pensions. There
is to be a considerable reduction in the personnel of
the customs.

The Emperor's letter, announcing the intended
demolition of the fortifications of Lyons, on the
ground that Imelda there are no longer to be feared,
is warmly and justly commended by the evening
papers. _ . _

The Bourse was agitated, and quotations fluc-
tuated considerably. Towards the close it became
calmer and comparatively firm. Bente left off with
scarcely a shade of difference from yesterday.
Mobilier fell only from lfr. to 2fr. The money
articles of some of the papers speak of renewed un-
easiness, lest peace should be made in America.

IMPROVEMENTS IN LYONS.—The Monifeur of yes-
terday publishes, is very conspicuous type, a letter to the
Minister of the Interior from the Emperor Napoleon upon
certain improvements in Lyons which his Majesty wishes to
be carried out, part at the expense of the State, and pert at
the expense of the city. These improvemente comprehend
the abolition of tolls on the bridges over the Strum, the de-
molition of the fortifications of the district called the Croix
Rousse, and various other alterations. With respect to
the fortifications of the Croix Rousse, the Emperor sap:—
" There is no longer any reason for their existence ; they
are melees against an enemy, and the time has pawed in
which it was considered necessary to erect formidable de-
fellow against insurrection. The working population of
Lyons is too intelligent ; it knows too well how much I
have its interests at heart to compromise them by disorders.
I wish, therefore, to replace the octroi wall, the work of
former mistrust, by a vast planted boulevard; the durable
evidence of my confidence in the good sense and patriotism
of the population of Lyons"
The Duke of Saxe-Coburg has originated a new
title, and bestowed it upon Mr. Otto Jarike, of Berlin, u a ,
reward for his numerous cheap editions of standard Ger-
man works. The title is Commenienrath (Merchant-Coun-
cillor), and is not only applicable to publishers, but to any
clam of traders who benefit the public by the production of
high clue articles at low prices.—Reader.
FOREIGN-OFFICE, MARCH I.—The Queen has been
graciously pleased to appoint tin Hos& Sir Frederick
William Adolphus Bruce, K.C.8., now her Majesty's
Envoy Extraordinary sad Minister Plenipotentiary to the
Emperor of China, to be her Majesty's Envoy Extraordi-
nary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States of
Auerica.—Garelle. _ _

FEB. 25.—The Queen has been
graciously pleased to appoint Augustus Hoary Nonage, and
Riebard Temple Godwin Kirkpatrick, &qrs., now Third
Secretaries, to be Second Secretaries in her Majesty's Diplo-
matic &Mos.-o=ft

THE LATE GUNPOWDER EXPLOSION AT KEITH.—
We are glad to learn that the prompt and efficient exertions
made by the troops of Woolwich gvnwo on the occasion of
the late gunpowder explosion at Brlth bare not been passed
ever entirely sithont reward. Gratuities have been Wood
to the men of the Royal Artillery, Roysl Engineers, Mili-
tary Train, and sth Fusiliers, who rendered their assistance.
It will be remembered that% was altogether owing to the
groat efforts of the troops that the whole district was not
innedated.— United Serr ice Gazette.

THE PHILADELPHIA CATASTROPHIC—The recent
diesstrone coollegration in Philadalphia, ceased by the com-
bustion of petroleum, furnishes a lemon for this city that
our authorities should not be slow to profit by. The firing
of 2,000 barrels of petroleum mimed the death, as is sow
reported, of 20 ponces, the destruction of over 100 build-
ings of various awes. and a pecuniary loss of over half a
million of dollars. IQ this city there are thousawls of
barrels of petroleum stored, and a repetition of the Phila-
delphia disaster is possible at any time. I o the lower pert
of the city vast quantities of oil are stored io baildiogs ad.
*wit to crowded tenement houses, and should a barrel of
this oil by any means be ignited, the remit would moss-
oe a great destruction of life. —New York paper.
Out of a detachment of 500 rebel prisoners at
Camp Chess, Ohio, ordered to be Wooed open the ezcbangs
liet. NO voted to rondo in primal. The rent will be sent
forward.—Pew York Stint - -

young ladies graduated M the Fra-
miesissas, Man, Normal &bed lest week. The seesoisek
with the esarnastire, eanpial two days, Gamra.,
Andrus prenatal the dinosasa This is the olden sarnal
school is America, having bon established is 1839.-
4 swine paper.