The Express.
London, England, 1865-01-13 00:00:00

[Stmped, id. AdditiosaL]

issued. The Temps takes notice that in the course
of the day disquieting rumours about the Emperor's
health had been in circulation, but that he stayed
at the ball till a late hour, and did not seem unwell.
On this subject a good ,not has been found
" Quand k bruit court quo l'Empereur est mak&
fait tonjonre oourir l'Empereur." This is the
case. Skinks of the Emperor being liable to
seizures have been frequently repeated of late, and
on every occasion his Majesty has shown himself
immediately afterwards in public. Lest night the
Empress retired to her private apartments mush
sooner than the Emperor. The Pope's new year's
speech, published in this day's Manikin., in which
he prays for the "restoration" of the Empress's
health, is to many people the first intimation that
there was anything serious the matter with her
Majesty.
The Bonne continues to fall. Rents declined to-
day 200. both for cash and account, closing at
643 fr. 650. and 661 r. 700. Mobilier fell 10fr. Rail-
ways were 2fr. or 3fr. lower.

THE POWDER BOAT EXPLOSION AT
WILMINOTON.

Moen the Pew York Tribune, Dec. 31.)
Every appliance which scientific knowledge and
hegeoulty could devise, and eotaerke and mealy daring
amen* were pat in reqnkitioo to heath the asesem of
thin novel sad inmerenat hates* of the ezpedities. The
boat @sleeted for the purges was the Lesaans, a pro-
peller of about 300 toss beads& About 140 toes of
powder, together with the neasthery Oases fans' sad other
appliaaose for insuring an imeleatesseas igeltioa of the
vast gams of powder, were pat or beard When the boat
left Hampin Roads. oas husked and twenty WY meth
powder were added at Beaded, where she pat in or her
way to the Seise ee action, making la sit toss.
or 520,000 pounds. The segrapie oast of powder
aid boat to the government was slightly Janat-
ass of a quarter of a sillies of dollars. The boat was
paiated white, her emend appearase• bele( sot agile that
of a blockade runner—though, to do hurl strife isetioe, a
somewhat more respectable looking craft. As the palms
at New Wet are know& to have famellarbmi themselves
of late with the tone erotism/ale of ale elms of vessels, sad as
it was further dessasd neetheary to the snowss of the ex-
periment to WIZ, a passport within the nage of their
pas, It was thought advisable to farther disguise her by
the oddities of a bops chimney a little forward of bet
ewe, which was accordingly dose. Whether Usk Wad
operated as it was fathead, still remake a matter of sem
doubt. A mow of soma Mee, who veleateend kr the dais.
prom serviets, west pat os board of her, and Comamader
A. U. Riled and Sewed Assistant Essither A. T. E.
Malin of the Apwate, with Lion. S. W. itethea (ionserly
or Admiral Depost's staff, sad now on that of Admiral
Partes), and Actin Master's Mate Paul 80yd.% whiskered
to pilot her on her dangerous but important minks. These
thestiliatied the personnel mid material of the peat Torpedo
Expedittoe. The object beteg to rankr the prrims, sad
as far as paetioable destroy the eseemy's weeks, it !memo •
matter of great importance to explode the vessel as sear the
*bore as possible. A recioenaleseoth was accordingly mak
by Mr. Bradford, attached to the UntledfitatelOsethfierthy,
and the hot ascertained that a vend drawing act Wet Mile
feet scald with safety be plead boxesdidely cm the enter
edge of the beech sod directly in frost of the etabeethise
of the fort, the lower or soatheremeth Leeks of which
at this point reaches down within • short dietasee of the
wates'e edge. Shortly altar 10 pm. of the Tied. the
powder-boat, is tow of the steamer Wilikwaims, started
for the shore. Who the fort could be plaiely distinguished
the VI Mersa' oast off, and the Loakkaa proceeded alone
to her positive, which. despite the they pod deep, she
ran of being disoovered by some of the patinae la the fort,
she is reported to have pined without melestatioa. The
boat was thee securely ambers:l, and the fame sad other
&pelisse.' for exploding the sepsis@ adjusted and lighted.
This atheespliebed,Rhind ad his daring &rookies jumped
into a small boat, which was quickly rowed to the steamer,
layleg asters of the pooderoltip. This vessel immediately
put off to ma, and in a short time the party wen safely bath
to Um fleet. Before leaving, however, a fire was mid* sad
lit is the stern of the Louisiana, sefikisatly near the
powder magazine to insure its igailith la vies of any defeat
in Um fam.

The fame were lighted and the ship alemidosed at fifteen I
minutes before 12 o'clock. The explosion took place pre-
cisely at 1.40 o'clock, and was witnewed by • large number
in the fleet. The pyrotechnic display was very impressive.
Notwithstanding the bright moonlight which Moue at that
hour the horizon was lit up for miles along the shore es by
an immense bonfire, while the bags, barrels, and other
peckages containing the powder with which the magazine
was Merged, thrown high in the air by the violence of the
explosion, fell in brilliant ownscations all around, lighting
up the grim fortifications, and filling up • picture not m-
ilks that represented by travellers and write's in an empties
of Vesuvius. The shock which followed, though enfileintly
adonaliag, wee hes impressive. Twelve miles out at sea
the offset was seek as might have been expected from the
firing of • fit-pounder near by, thatch the report wee sot
so sharp or distioct. It sounded rather like the roll of
distant thunder. Beyoad the brim/deg of a few window
panes, end the somewhat sudden sad ussommiosioadi
. .

.
remarrectma from stall life of a few bin kekele, no
comeqmsos worth mentioning resultel to the bet.
Some of the troops beloaging to • North Ossollaa reit.
meek taken prima's by our men in the mooed day's
eapgemeak who arrived it Wilmington from before
Skimmed, jant as the explosion took plum, Mate that it was
heard them, while others adlrm that it was heard at Beau-
fort, • diets's°, of over 50 mules. The last meartion, how-
ever, sews soarady oreclibie. Major J. Lincoln Chary,
United States Barmier Corps, who was specially ordered by
the War Department to acieseapaay the expedition, has
drawn up an 'taborets report spot this explosion, which
will be submitted to the Beeretery of War at an early day.
If approved by him, it will forthwith be publialmd, and if
so, will prove • valuable addition to what is already knows
in this intimating department of modern warfare.

PUBLIC MILZTINGS car ITILY.—The Diritto of
the 10th mys s—' Yesterday the Italian people de-
clared in its chief cities far the abolition of the punishment
of death, and the suppression of all the religious corpora-
floes. At Bologna, Brescia, and Perugia the same views
were expremsd at the same time. Turin, =as, norms,
and many other cities have solemnly declared what is the
wish of the people. Palermo and other cities are preparing
to do the same. it is an impaling manifestation which
the barbarous and antiquated prejudices of super-
stition and ignoreoce cannot mid. This Minty
of the Italian people reanimates us, sad mosniges no
to hope much from them. Let it be bornem Med,
however, that in addition to the civil questions w►ich
impede our social renovation, there am our very grave
political questioas. Let us never forget either. We have
'limbered long enough, blindly trusting to these who have
dose so much to stop and divert thesionzes of our revolution,
sad plunge us in shame and misfortune. We ought to
think far onmelme on our own affairs. This is the duty of
the people of Italy. The nation ought not to follow the
goverment, but the government the nation. That is the
true life of a free MM."

PLTMOUTII, JAN. 12. (Renter's Telegram.)—
The Modems, government paddleArsseal, which lilt
Plytoonth on Wedsseday to proceed to the assistance of a
vemml emboss near Cherbourg, had not retuned op to a
late hoar to-sight, *or has my informaties derived from
her. It ham been officially assesseed that it was set the
Aurora that required assisisses, as wen mons& her., bat
the lowa, a Imp mmestest meneL N. pssticuisis are
blows.

DIIIPATOff 07 71111 BOMBAY lima --aouriumr-
TOW, JAN. 12.—T lie Padualar sad I/Heald Oreopiar's
Ilffh. Cepbids Parhi, load eflaracea with
tie milli fir GarsMr, 111.611maiMat 111170. Allah
llarabiy, sad Upper Desest, fteaMs. atilt paresagies.
TM Syria lark owl as It 785 blase spa% fan
321,7311. , ofnary will* arosatl4o.sool. seradiras, sad
4701. is Oa*. Is fir Alszeadria. sal figs earidader fir
Bombay, asudittog of gold ; bar savor.
1811,80*. ; Aver ion. 1870300 f. ; awl gill Wad,
liwillay, est is.

[TWOPENC