The Express.
London, England, 1856-01-14 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

THE RUSSIAN REPLY TO TILE. PEACE
PROPOSALS.
(PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, SUNDAY EVENINC,
The Constitutionnel, at the head of its 'ming
column, publishes the following important introdoc-
tion to a letter from its Vienna correspondent, who,
perhaps, more t hen any other pubic writer htshithtrto
expressed a confident hope in a favourable result of
the peace negotiations:

"The following letter from our ordinary cone-
spondent at Vienna, agreeing in this respect with the
information transmitted to us from Berlin, dispels the
lut hope which it wu possible to entertain of the
proximate restoration of peace."

The letter, which is dated Vienne, Jan. 9, am,
that Count Eaterhazy made Count Neseelrode aware
at his very first interview on Dcc. 28 that the ME.
trian propositions were nothing lees than an ultirna.
tom. They were contained, on account of their im.
portance, in tonting, and were signed by Count
Buol. In delivering them in this form, Count Ester-
hazy simply °beery. d that he had no mission to dia.
cuss them, still less was he authorised to listen to
any modification,. The answer, which he was de-
puted to ask for within ten days, must be an unqua-
lified acceptance or refusal. Count Nesselrcde pro.
mind at once to take the Emperor's pleasure. After
this interview Count Esterhazy did not see either the
Czar or Count Nesselrode, and avoiding, so to speak,
the Russian court and government, he rigorous:),
maintained the only attitude fitting for the repro.
sentative of a great Power, resolved, if the answer
should not be satisfactory, to break off official relit.
Lions with the Coat of St. Petersburg.
The letter goes on to say, that contrary to tie
usage of German diplomacy, which is to demand
much to obtain little, a maximum in order to gain s
minimum, the Western Powers, through Austria,
gave their minimum at once, and that they will not
budge a hair's breadth from the conditions. It even,
" Since it is no longer permissible to dissimulate,"
that the Saxon and Bavarian Ministers at St. Peters.
burg did not ass the firm language which the West.
ern Governments had been led to expect from them;
they did indeed recommend the propositions in
stronger terms than Prussia did, but they shrank
from " making them their own," and therefore RllB.
sic, sot finding herself pressed by Germany united,
thought it possible to gain time and conjure the
storm. The letter concludes in these words " With.
out troubling yourself about what may be the
contents of the Russian counter-propositions,
be assured that the negotiations with Rua.
sin are definitively closed. Of two things, one—
either the Court of St. Petersburg, before the end of
the winter, will accept the Austrian ultimatum
purely and simply, or, u soon as the season will per.
mit, the struggle will be renewed, and continued
with redoubled energy. There is henceforth no
other issue."

I have reason to believe, from good private infor•
matioa, that the above Vienna letter, as far is it
goes, expresses the truth of the s tuation. In all
probability there will be a diplomatic rupture be.
tween Austria and Russia in the course of next
week. But although the Austrian Ambassador may
leave St. Petersburg, I utterly disbelieve that Ant
tria will join us in the war.
At the little Bourse, to-day, the Bente was dote
at 82:r. Mc.

At Professor Nirtrd's ercond lecture, yesterdsy,
there was a greater row than at the first ; 130 Int.
dents were arrested afterwards. A friend of mine
saw them marching down the Rue de la Harps to
prison, escorted by from 30 to 40 Bergen& de Tine.
The news of the arrest of MM. Curtin, Legendri,
and Duchesne, is confirmed. They are at Ibis ema
ment all three in Mazes, and au secret. The wife of
M. Duchesne has been told that in all probabilityshe
cannot be permitted to see her husband for this
weeks to come.

The Emperor and Empress will go to Lady
Cowley's autri,e onTuesday. Tnis will be the ling time
that their Majesties have visited any ambassador or
private individual since their marriage. The cub
of invitation state that their Majesties have deigmd
to accept an invitation to this soirr,e in honour of the
distribution of medals by the Buke of Cambridge.
The Moniteur of this day makes the following

"Oa Tueaday neat, et 1 o'clock, Hit Majesty the Em-
peror will pass I. review in the court of the Taileriss sll
the troops present at Paris which formed part of the army
of the East.
"Ott this occasion his Royal Highness the Dike of Cut-
bridge will distribute in the name of Her Majesty the
Queen of Great Britain to the ofileern, noo•commiaioeed
officers, and soldiers of those troops a medal commemork
ties of the campaigns in the Cranes."
It is reported that M. Drouyn de Lbuys has tee•
dared his resignation as President of tho Senate.