The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-03 00:00:00

RUSSIA AND TURKEY.

Letters from Paris state that on Wednesday last
the French government received the answer of the
Czar to the last of the pacific:propositions which have
emanated from Austria. Nicholas, it is said, pro-
fesses that be cannot accept of any project of arrange-
ment that does not issue direct from Turkey, and
that henceforth the fate of arms must decide the
question. Private letters from St. Petersburg report
that the lofty equanimity of the Czar has not been
proof against the recent successes of the Turks, and
in fact that his imperial majesty has quite lost his
temper.

Letters from Bucharest, published at Vienna, state
that two young Boyards, named Gregeario and Fiotti,
have been arrested on a charge of having indulged
in some expressions obnoxious, or indicating dis-
affection at least, to Russia, Some Russian officers
went to the house of Mons. Oregeario, where the
other Boyard happened also to be present ; the arrest,
however, could not then be effected, because both the
Boyards resisted them with arms in their hands.
The chief of the Wallachian police, Monsieur Ros-
setti, was sent for in consequence, and a Wallachian
and a Russian military force required. A slight
uproar took place, and the result was that the
'parties to be arrested were let off with simply a
detention to their own houses, and guards were
placed before their doors. Monsieur Greyed() be.
longs to one of the most distinguished Boyard
families. Two days later, however, they were
both sent for, and conducted before the Russian
board of audience; and the night before last they
were sent away by special postal conveyances, and
under the charge of a military escort —whither, is
quite a mystery ; still people have an impression
that they would be taken to Bender.

A private letter from Constantinople of the 20th
announces that the English, French, Turkish, and
Egyptian fleets were then all in the esphorus. The
Turkish squadron which had returned from the Black
Set was not again to sail. Some single ships were in
the Black Sea, but it is stated that the Divan had de-
termined that none but divisions of three or four
ships-of-war should, be sent to sea so that they
might contend on an equality with the Russian
war-steamers, which are cruising in various direc-

The Swenska-Titlningen, a semi-official journal of
Stockholm, says :—" It is certain that the Emperor
of Russia is preparing for war—and for a very
serious and extensive war. For instance, Revel and
Riga are occupied by 12,000 chosen grenadiers,
16,000 men have been sent to Finland, besides the
12,000 generally there; 10,000 sailors have arrived
at lielsingfore,where there are nine ships of the line,
intended doubtless to put to sea in the spring. A
number of screw engines have been ordered."
The Presse of I'aris says :—" Russia is making im-
mense preparations for the spring. Marshal Paskie-
witch will, it is said, then command the army of
operations, and will be at the head of 200,000 men,
with a reserve of 100,000. It is added that he has
already selected his staff and aides-de-camp, and has
appointed General Abranowitsch, commandant of the
gendarmerie of Poland, major-general of his army."
The following telegraphic despatch has been re-
ceived in Paris :—" Bucharest, Nov. 29.—The Russian

war-steamer %Vladimir, when cruieTrif in the Black
Sea, captured two vessels and took them into Sebas-
topol ; one belonging to the Ottoman government,
loaded with copper, the other an Egyptian war-
steamer of 20 guns, which made a spirited defence.
The Russians had two men killed and two wounded."
The Cronslueli Gov tte of the 22nd gives accounts
from Bucharest to the 20th ult. Bucharest, it says,
was tranquil, and for some days the cannonade had

ceased to be heard. Prince Gortschakoff had inter-
I dieted any communication being kept up with the
localities in which Turkish troops were to be found.
On the 19th, it was still unknown whether
the Turks had evacuated all the points on the
left bank of the Danube except Kalafat. A large
body of Russian troops was expected at Bucharest.
The Satellite of Cronstadt, of the 21st ult., says :
" The preparations now being made by the Russian
army are on a grand scale. It is thought that the
Turks will attempt the passage of the Danube be-
tween Widdin and Florentine, and that is the reason
why the Russians have concentrated near Giurgevo
a moveable column of 10,000 men. The corps-
d'armee of Bucharest is ready to put itself in motion."
We read in the Patrie "It has been announced
on the faith of despatches from Belgrade that Ser-
via opposed the passage across its territory of 12,000
men sent by Bosnia as a contingent to the Ottoman
army. It was added that a battle bad taken place
in which the Turks had been defeated by the Ser.
Tian'. The latest correspondence from this country
permits us to consider the news as untrue. The
reigning prince of Servia has but 2,000 regular
troops, and it is not to be supposed that with such a
small force he could have beaten a corps of 12,000
Boenians."

It appears by the latest telegraphic messages that
the third Russian infantry corps, which has been
several times announced as having crossed the Pruth,
is not even so much as in Bessarabia, where on the
26th instant preparations were making for its re-
ception.

FRANCE.

- ~--

PARIS, F•IDAY EVENINO.
It is to be inferred from an article is the Pays
that France and England have no intention to stand
security for the projected Turkish loan. We wish
Namik Pacha: every success, says the Pays ; we
have the highest opinion of Turkish probity, and
think very well of Turkish resources. A loan raised
entirely upon her own credit would, under present
circumstances, be a wholesome sign of vitality, and a
stimulus to good management of the national re-
venue. But for us to become sureties would be to
dull the edge of her husbandry.
Vice-Admiral Remain Desfossis is appointed a
member of the Council of Admiralty.
The Bourse opened very strong to-day. The rente
was first quoted at 74fr. 35c., being sc. higher than
yesterday, and it soon rose to 74fr. 80c. The news
from London of the Russians attempting to cross
the Danube near Ginrgevo, produced • reaction
to 74fr. 60c., but this intelligence not being
confirmed in Paris, and the rise in Consols to-day
showing that it has had little effect upon the London
market, the Threes soon rallied to 74fr. 70c. They,
however, dropped to 74fr. 60c. for the close. The
railway settlement like that in the rents yesterday
turned out against the " Bears." Shares for delivery
were very scarce. St. Germain rose 22fr.
Orleans, 7fr. 50c. Rouen, 2fr. 50c. Dieppe, sfr.
Southern, sfr. Strasburg and Northern fell lfr. 23e.
Spanish stock was in considerable demand.
Silver is now so scarce that many money changers
charge 3fr. and 3fr. 30c. for change of a I,ooofr. bank
note. Some of them, it is said, make silver money
into lingots for exportation, and others even send out
sfr. pieces to the United States, where they command
a premium of 50 centimes. The Bank of France has
still 130,000,000 in silver in its cellars, but every
franc of this would soon disappear but for the reso-
lution to make payments in gold.
The Minister of Public Instruction has just taken
a praiseworthy step in the direction of religious tole-
ration. The provisor of the Lyceum of Macon had
taken upon himself to insist that all members of his
school belonging to the Jewish persuasion should
attend mass. The Jewish consistory appealed to the
minister, and he has decided that not only shall Jew-
ish scholars not be forced to conform to Roman
catholic rites, but every facility shall be afforded
them to follow their own worship.
The Princess de Canino has presented &petition to
the Emperor to be recognised as a member of the
Imperial family, and as such to receive a dotation.
Her claim is certainly not ill-founded. She is the
daughter of 'Ling Joseph, who was at one time the
immcdiate heir of Napoleon 1., when Jerome was, in
some sort, in disgrace. The Prince de Canino, who
is now in Paris, has come from Rome, it is said, to
support his mother's petition.
the affair of Madame de Solms—another not only
not recognised, but disowned member of the Bona-
parte family—will come before the Council of State
in a few days. This lady appeals against the decree
of the Prefect of Police, expelling her from France as
a foreigner.

ITALY.

____ . _

MORE ARRESTS AT ROME.
Our correspondent writes :
ROME, Nov. 24.
A fresh batch of Romans, belonging to the respect-
able middle class, fell into the clutches of the sbirrl
two nights ago, arrested, as is supposed, on account
of their political principles, they being almost
entirely members of the fusionist party. It may be
remembered that, after the last outbreak at Milan, a
large majority of the Italian liberals protested
against the adoption of such measures in future,
and proposed a fusion of constitutionalists, federal-
ists, and republicans, to the exclusion of the mare
exalted friends of Young Italy, for the regulation of
their future conduct. The expedition of the Genoese
exiles to Rome, on the 13th August last, was
earnestly opposed by the fusionists, and in cows-
queues they were not comprised in the arrests thee
effected on the discovery of the plot. The
favour then shown them, however, appears
to have been like that granted by Polyphone
to Ulysses, " Noman shall be the last I will devour."
Fifteen individuals were dragged off to prison on the
night before last, amongst whom are Signors Pie.
cioni, who was nearly beaten to death by the sbirrl
two years ago—Mazzoni, who was arrested on
Christmas eve, 18.51, just as be was entering the
British consulate to join a dinner-party—Gig% an
ex-officer of dragoons—Trucci, a clerk in the salt and
tobacco administration—and Berni, a poet, author of

the libretto of a new opera jail bi•ought out by
Renzi, The Witch qf Ender. This morning fresh
arrests are spoken of, and the names of Signors Sil-
vestrelli and Tittoni are mentioned u being amongst
the victims. They both belong to highly respectable
families, and the first is one of the principal capitalists
of Rome.

GERMANY.

AFFAIRS OF PRUSSIA.

BERLIN, Nov. 29.

A few explanatory remarks on the King's speech
may be acceptable to English readers.
The passage on the Oriental question throws no
new light on Prussia's position. It has long been
known that as long as M. von Manteuffel retains
office he will, supported by the Prince of Prussia's
influence, maintain strict neutrality, and impartially
promote all efforts for the re establishment of peace.
But should, in the course of the struggle, the Czar's
authority—which the German rulers were fain to
r. gard as their main bulwark against revolutionary
movements—appear endangered, it is a question
whether M. von Manteuffel would not be forced to
resign his post to some leader of the Cavalier party,
who would give full sway to the sympathy for Rus-
sian policy, predominate in the more immediate court
coterie.

It is worthy of note that the royal speech in a
military country like Prussia should be chiefly
filled with comments on matters of industry—rail-
roads, telegraphs, trades, commerce, shipping, coal
' mines, iron works, and prices of provisions. It is a
sign that, in our times, the interests of productive
labour gain everywhere a greater ascendancy. The
passage on the production of iron may be understood
to convey the Intimation that no reduction of the
duties on foreign iron is to be hoped for. Such a re-
duction was urgently demanded by the interests of
Prussian industry ; and Prussia proposed it
to the Zollvcrein'a conference. But as Prussia,
by renewing the Zollvefein for twelve years,
without previously revising the tariff, has
robbed itself of all power to consult its own inte-
rests in tariff matters, and the petty southern states,
in order to make Prussia feel its powerlessness,reject
what it proposes, the Prussian government now
tries to make a virtue of necessity by asserting that
" the production of iron enjoys such an extension as
authorises the hope that within a few years the

home supply will be able to cover the whole demand
for pig iron in the country." It is true that of late
layers of coal and iron ore have been found together
on the right bank of the Rhine, and promise a con-
siderably
increased supply. But at present the iron
mines of the whole Zollverein produce less than
250,000 tons, or about one-eighth of what is produced
in Great Britain. It is possible that the increased ;
productiveness of German mines may, within a few
years, amount to 400,000 tons, or the quantity to
which the consumption of iron in the Zollverein is
now restricted by the present high prices under pro-
tection duties. The " total demand for iron in the
country," however, is not to be understood as the;
restricted demand under a protectionist tariff, but as
the quantity which the country would consume, if
permitted to get iron on the cheapest possible terms.
And as in England the population consumes
above a hundredweight of iron annually per
head, we may confidently assume that under
free trade the population of the Zollverein
would consume at least a million tone. But the
Prussian ministry certainly does not believe that the
productiveness of German iron mines will be quadru-
pled within a few years.
Highly important is the passage referring to the
present high prices of provisions. Wheat costs here
Ns. per quarter; rye 505., or about double the usual
price; potatoes about 2s. fid. per cwt., or 50 per
cent. above tke average. These prices, though high,
are far lower than what we had in 1847, and cer-
tainly not disproportionate to the rates prevailing
elsewhere, in consequence of the short harvest;
throughout the whole west of Europe, and the stop- I
page of supplies from the Danube and south of '
Russia. But the ignorant multitude took into its
head that the high prices were caused by the in-,
trigues of avaricious speculators, so-called " corn-
usurers." In this dangerous delusion they were en-
couraged by some ignorant newspapers, though, to
the credit of the north German press, it must be said,
that the majority of the journals, especially the Berlin
National, and the &ellen Bailie Chmette, brought some
very clear and energetic articles on the subject. But
the Berlin police, a couple of months ago, instead of
making head against dangerous popular errors,which
in case of real dearth lead directly to riots, counte-
nanced them by sending to the corn market, arrest-
ing all unlicensed brokers, and warning the
merchants against time bargains. The consequence
was that several respectable houses, fearing that, on
accumulating stocks of corn, they would be insuffi-
ciently protected, countermanded extensive orders
for importation, agriculturists deferred sending
produce to a market exposed to police interference,
while, on the other band, orders to purchase were
sent by persons who expected that the police
was about to enforce cheapness. Thus the
diminished supply and increased demand
caused by the ill-judged officiousness of the police,
naturally aggravated the evil, instantly producing a
further rise of prices. This result was a salutary
lesson. But there ensued great popular clamour for
a veto on the exportation of grain, and on the em-
ployment of potatoes for distilling. And as the go-
vernment has in former times yielded to such im-
politic measures, there was much apprehension that
they might be again resortel to. This apprehension
checked the importation of core, and incited the dis-
tillers to work away with all possible rapidity,
instead of slackening their stills, as they
would otherwise have naturally done. Both circum-
stances tended rather to raise than to reduce prices.
The free-traders exerted all their power of
argument to convince the ministry that unrestricted
commerce alone could secure the obtaining of such
supplies as are to be got, and, by restoring confi-
dence, bring prices to the level accordant with the
general state of stocks and consumption. M. von
Manteuffel's sound good sense easily perceived this;
and he is therefore entitled to full credit for intro-
ducing into the King's speech so explicit a declara-
tion, that no tampering prohibitions will be resorted
to. The landed interest is, of course, highly satis-
fied at this. But there exists, in all large Prussian
towns, a " grinding-tax" of 21s. per quarter on
wheat, and ss. 3d. on rye; so that the price of wheat
for all but agricultural consumers is now at the
enormous height of 795. per quarter. The agricul-
turists, not immediately paying this grinding tax,
are unable to perceive that, inasmuch as it restricts
consumption, it restricts demand, lowers prices, and,
in fact, comes out of their packets; hence they never
hink of agitating for its repeal.

for prices to decline for the present. Neei
taken place since our last number. s
RI: M.—A fair inquiry exults fur this article ; the receipt.
at present are but small, and dealers continue to Stumm
full rates. Sinc r last number 231 pipes havee ou
bee.
shipped, making the exports since let November last
pipes, being an excess of 3,144 pipes over crrespo.d,ag
period of 1852 and 1853.
FREIOHTS —We are again without sny charters to refer
to. The following vessels will prohablyl9ad tur consigners'
account : the ship Belli, hence or ut ask outpurt for Liver-
pool, and the barque Oberon, hence for Liverposl. we
derstand charters have taken place in Rio of two or three
vessels to come up and load sugarsat this port at Wt.
_
620. Gd. per ton for the Chaanel. o Liverpool, rate, for
and
sugar
hides, 4:55. were at 30per tons. per ton ; cotton, to perik;
EICLIANGE.—Since the sailing of the Tay, on the "3rd
ult., no transactions have taken place. Limitations Ste
merely nominal—on London, 271 ; l'arts. 344 to 347; and
Lisbon, 100.
DISCOUNTi.—The hank rates continue without change
Out of doors during the last few days money has bee. km'
plentiful, and holders are looking for begber rces.