The Express.
London, England, 1848-04-18 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 18, 1848.

most influential priests entertain the true view of
repeal—that it is " a splendid phantom." And we
hope that some of that class will frankly speak out
their minds after the fashion se, them by the respected
parish priest of Tralee, Dr. Nl'Esettv. There is not in
the Irish catholic church a more exemplary or pious
clergyman. Ills character as a divine or a gentleman
may defy hostile criticism ; and he is a man of ster-
►ing independence, superior to the views of any fac-
tion. The phantom of repeal has been eloquently
denounced by Dr. NI'IiNERY, and his statements of
his public views have been remarkable for their iatcl•
ligence and elevated spirit. We hope that at the
present time the catholic clergy will direct the minds
of their flocks to feasible political changes, and lead
them away from the delusive pursuit of measures
which, of themselves impracticable, would, if realised,
be the cause of fresh calamities to Ireland.

NEWS FROM PARIS.

PARIS, MONDAY, 101 • M.
The extraordinary and somewhat unexpected de-
monstration of yesterday has passed off without any
consequences to be regretted. It has even been race
dentally the occasion of producine, a moat imposing
manifestation of public opinion in favour of the con-
servation of order, and, it may be hoped, fatal to the
designs of those who would erect the mere rabble to
the summit of power.
In my letters of Saturday and the previous days, I
intimated the impression which prevailed in certain
quarters that attempts were about to be made to expel
from the Provisional Government its more respect-
able members, and to throw the power altogether
into the hands of those who have placed themselves
at the head of the mere populace. That the members
of the government themselves, MM. Lamartine,
Gamier Pages, Marrast, and Marie, were not incre-
dulous of this, the events of yesterday abundantly
prove.
It appears that in consequence of a notice which
appeared in the journals, a meeting of operatives as-
sembled in the morning in the Champ do Mars, for
the professed purpose of electing from among their
class certain officers of the etatmajor of the National
Guard. This, however, was only a pretext with
some, although others were the dupes of
it, and a proceeding directed against a part
of the members of the Provisional Government
was designed. This impression quickly spread, and
was circulated throughout l'aris. The government
ordered the commanders of the National Guard to call
that body under arms.
At noon the ropp Isms beaten, and within an hour,
as if by magic, 100,000 men were under arms. All
the great squares and places bristled with bayonets.
The I'lace de la Concorde was literally covered with
troops, horse and foot. The square facing the
Hotel de Ville was similarly filled. Every room in
that building was suddenly tilled with guards. Can-
non were pointed from all its doors, and
it became impregnable. The entire lino of quays
on the north side of the river, from the Itiltel
de Ville to the Place do la Concorde presented one
dense mass of armed citizens. The extensive area
between the Tuileries and the Louvre was completely
tilled by the Guard Mobile. The various legions of
the Guard National at the same time filled the Place
de la Madeleine, the Place de la Bourse, the Place du
Palace Royal, and, in short, all the places of ordinary
rendezvous throughout the capital.
Another hour had not elapsed before this immense
army was reinforced by thousands of National
Guards from the " banlicue' " whirl b poured in through
all the barriers, and in fine, Paris, tranquil in the fore-
noon, and little expecting such a spectacle, presented
the astonishing aspect of 200,000 men fully armed
and readv for a combat. Ball cartridge were distri-
buted at the Hide de Ville, the mairies, and other
usual delaita.
In passing through these great armed assemblies
the cries which were everywhere heard indicated a
unanimous feeling in favour of that portion of the
government against which it was rumoured an attack
had been intended. "Vive Lamartine !" was every
where reated, and "Vive la Republique!" was in-1
varfably followed by " A bas Ica Communistes!"
In rather an extensive promenade which I made,
as well in the day as in the evening, I did not once
hear the names of Louis Blanc or Ledru Rollin ut-
tered. This was the more remarkable, as in former
manifestations they were the only names that were
heard. It was r,markable that a large portion of the
citizens thus assembled under arms were without
uniforms. The suddenness of the call did not allow
time for dressing, and many were not yet provided
with the military costume.
Of the various rumours which were in circulation
during the morning, that which assumed most consis-1
tency, and wee most generally credited, was that a
plot was formed to mimeo MM. de Lamartine, Mar-
rest, and Gamier Pages, and to substitute for them'
MM. Blanqui and Cabet, the leaders of the commu-
nista ; to postpone the elections to the 31st May; to
disarm the national guard; to dismiss the entire
magistracy, and to replace it by men from the work-
ing classes; and finally to remove all the superior'
officers of the army, and to substitute for them the
leaders of the clubs.
The attitude and manifest sentiments of the
National Guard and the Guard Mobile have crushed
the plot, without a blow being struck. A body of
operatives, variously estimated, but probably not ex-
ceeding 23,000, marched, at about 2 o'clock, from the
Champ de Mars and the Champs Elyeas along the
quays towards the Hotel de Ville.
When the head of the column arrived at the
Bridge of Arcola, their further progress was rendered
impossible by the dense mass of National Guards
they there encountered. They then demanded that
a deputation should be allowed to proceed to the
Hotel de Ville to the Provisional Government. They
repeated again and again that they had only assem-
bled to name their officers of the etat-major, whom
they desired to present. The deputation was accord-
ingly admitted, and the main body filed off. Nothing
could exceed the admirable spirit of tranquil firmness
which marked the conduct and manner of the Na-
tional Guard.
When the Guard Mobile mustered in the Place
du Carousel, General Duvivier, their commander, sur-
rounded by his staff as he passed them in review, ad-
' dressed to each battalion such questions as these :
" Volunteers, have you the courage of republicans?
You have promised to be faithful to me ; can I de-
, pend on you ?" " The Provisional Government is
• threatened, will you rally to its defence ?" These
questions were severally responded to by enthusiastic
acclamations of assent. "Vive la republique. Vive
General Duvivier," &c.
At about half-past four o'clock, when the National
. Guard filled the Place de Greve, M. de Lamartine
and M. Cremieux were observed at one of the
, windows of the Hotel de Ville. Suddenly and by
. enchantment skakos, hats, and caps were placed on
the ends of the bayonets, and waived, and cries of
Vive Lamartine," " Vive le Gouvernement Pre-
; vi noire," rent the air. An instant afterwards M.
Louis Blanc appeared at another window. Some
persons saluted him with " Vivats," and the same
manifestation was made in the ranks of the National
Guard, but less spontaneously and less generally.
In the evening another manifestation took place,
still greater and more solemn. The rappel was again
beaten, all the legions assembled to go to the Hotel
. de Ville. They defiled on the quays, beginni „nc, at
eight o'clock, and at ten they had not finished.
During the whole march shouts, tremendous and con
tinuous, were heard from 200,000 voices, " A Ins
lee Communists/a!" "A bas Cabot!" "A has
la faineans !" " Vivo la Republique !" " Vice
la Gouvemment Provieoire !" " Vice Lamartine t"
Such were the shouts which exhibited the dispositions
of the people on the events of the day. At nine
o clock the Provisional Government addressed the
National Guard.
All Paris was spontaneously illuminated.
Extraordinary precaution was taken at the
Ministry, of the Interior. Two companies of National
Guards .Mobile were stationed in the principal court
of the hotel. All was arranged to resist a coup-de-
main.
The Provisional Government has clawed that, on
let January, 1819, the tax on salt shall be abolished;
that from the same period the prohibition of the im-
port of foreign salt shall cease ; that each salt shall
pay 23e. per 100 kilogrammes if imported by land ;1
Mc. if by sea, and in French vessels, and 2f. if by
foreiguvessels. The salt of the French colonies and
possessions is to be admitted free of all duty, as is also
the salt for the supply of vessels engaged in the cod-
fishery. In the preamble to the decree, the duty on
salt is described as the " most onerous and most
iniquitous of all taxes on articles of consumption.

By a decree, dated Saturday, the Provisional Go-
vernment has decided that the woods and forests of
the private domain of the ex-King shall be placed
under the coutro' of the Administration des Forts
the proceeds of them being kept distinct in the ac
counts of the agents of the state.
The Pressc says : " It is again said that all local
bank notes are to be interdicted, and the notes of the
Bank of France alone are to be circulated, and that
a decree to this effect will be issued in the course of a
few days."
P.S. There appears no decree in the Mimiteur to
day. This is the first time this has happened since
the revolution, and it is ascribed to a schism in the
government.

LOMBARDY.—It appears that the Mincio
was crossed almost simultaneously at three
points by different divisions of the Piedmontcse
army; that is to say, at Vallegio and
Mozembano, besides Goito. At all the places
the passage was resisted by the Austrian artillery,
but misted in vain. At the date of the last advicea
the Sardinian armvoccupied the centre of the triangle
formed by Mantua, Verona, and Peschiera, and thus
cut off the communications between the divisions of
the Austrians collected at those three places. The
attack on Peschiem had already commenced on the
10th. It was attacked both by land and from the
lake.

Dates from Lombardy to the 12th state that the
head quarters of the Sardinian army had been trans•
ferred from Castiglione to Volta.
At the above date several detachments of artillery
were to be directed upon l'eschiera, the attack upon
which place the last accounts state was fixed for the
13th. Charles Albert will direct the siege in person.
'the Dukes of Savoy and Genoa march in the van
guard.
The Tuscan Lieutenant-General Ghiggi has arrived
at head-quarters, in order to place the troops of the
Grand Duchy at the disposal of (narks Albert.
The movement in the Italian Tyrol is becoming im-
portant. The students of the University of Bologna
are, at their own request,to be immediately organised
in university guards.