The Express.
London, England, 1848-01-01 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 1, 180.

months has been for the left the aunt assiduous and most
constant personification ; it replied by an energetic and
nificant vote to the provocative language introduced by M.
Ouisot in the speech frometbe throne; and, finally, it has
shown that in the Cheinher there is an imposing minority
decided to accept the combat, anti to reply to the irritating
challenge of the ministry relative to reform. Thus consi-
dered, the defeat of M. 0. Barrot has its consolatory side ; it
is a hope which it depends henceforward on the left to
realise. The left, in becoming in the Chamber less exclusive
than it was in moot of the reform banquets, in showing itself
lam imprisoned, less confined in its intolerance, in pursuing
the idea of reform in the name of France, and above all by
France, can give the signal of a large and salutary fusion.
There is only that menus of arriving at a common object.
We mentioned on Thursday a statement which we
had received from a quarter entitled to credit, that
Austria had intervenes( in Italy. In corroboration of
this, a letter since received from Florence, 'dated the
20th, mentions a report that the Emperor o? Austria,
at the request of the ex-Duke of Lucca and the Duke
of Modena, has marched troops into Modena and
Parma. If this report be well founded, and the
movement should have taken place without the pre-
vious consent of the King of Sardinia and the Grand
Duke of 'Tuscany, it may lead to serious remelts-

money sent from Austria, and this on evidenee
that could not be rejected. This money is now
available for all the intrigues that are on foot, and
which are destined to prevent this once happy country
from-settling in peace, notwithstanding the unanimity
that now reigns amongst the central governments.
This is, however, unfortunately not the worst We
seriously fear that the aim of the Jesuit party is to
take advantage of the large armed forces which the
Austrians are collecting in Tyrul and Lombardy to
break out in insurrection, and thus afford that power
a pretext for intervention. Rumours have been
afloat concerning an intention to throw garrisons into
Modena and Parma, in order to encourage a reaction
In Italy ; but Switzerland is of still more importance
than Italy at present, being more divided, and offer-
ing a specious pretext for interference.
Sir Stratford Canning is pressing the Vorort to
disarm; but surely in this state of things it would
be running a risk which England will not demand as
the price of her friendship.

FRANCE.—OOI.3IAP..—A dreadful conflagration
has just reduced nearly a whole quarter of the town of
Colmar into ashes. In the night of the 22nd ult., at two
o'clock cm , the fire broke out in the outhouse of a farmer
in the Rue Wickranirn, and, despite the most immediate
assistance, it was found impossible to get master of the fire
before nine. All the neighbourhood uetween the Rue aux
Ours and the Rue Wickranitn is destroyed. The damage is
estimated at more than 200,000 f.
BELOIUM.—BRUSSEI.B, DEC. M.—CHAMBER OF
REPRISENTATIVES.—The chamber adopted, unanimously,
the budget of the expenditure of the army for 1848.
The chamber then proceeded to disown' the organisation of
the army and the reductions which were proposed. Baron
Charal again stood up in its defence, and (roved by exam-
ples from the neighbouring states that the most economical
government gave mare fur the erganiaation and support of
their armies than the Belgian.—Col. Ernens proposed that
the soldir n should not serve more than t oor three months
beneath the deg.—The discussion was adjourned.
Tim POST-OFFICE.—The King of the Belgians and
the King of the French being anxious to regulate, by a new
convention, the mutual correspondence of their respective
kingdoms, in a manner conformable to the intimate and ac-
tive relations which exist between tho two countries,
have nominated as plenipotentiaries for the King of the
Belgians M. Constant d'lloffschmidt, minister of foreign
affairs, and for the King of the French, the Marquis de
itumigny, peer of France. These gentlemen, after having
cummuhicated their full powers agreed in due form to
various articles which are published in the Moniteur of
Dee. 30.

trances.
The Cul7B titutionneldiscredits this rumour, and con-
eiders that it has probably arisen from a notice which
it affirms that the court of Vienna has given to the
great pewees, of its intention of augmenting the force I
of its army in Italy, disclaiming, however, any de-
sign of interfering with the other states of the
peninsula.
The same journal affirms that M. Guizot has pro-
posed a joint reply to be sent to the answer of the Swiss
federal government, in which the powers declare
themselves released from the obligations in relation
to Switzerland imposed by the treaties of 1813, but
that the Emperor of Russia declines being a party to
it or any other diplomatic note, although he is ready
enough to join in an act of armed intervention.
A reform banquet, attended by a thousand persons,
took place at Grenoble on Sunday the 19th. A much
greater number applied for tickets, but no building
sufficiently spacious could be obtained.
l'd. Guizot and Count Mole were among the guests
at a dinner given on Tuesday by M. de Montalivet.
The Union Monarchiqw, remarking on this singular
conjunction, says, "Far from showing themselves
gratified by so piquant a surprise, the two statesmen
observed towards each other during the repast the
coldest and most disdainful reserve."
Vice-Admiral Mackau, ex-Minister of Marine, has
been raised to the rank of full admiral.
It is stated that a marriage between the Duke de
Guiche, and one of the daughters of the late Duke
and Duchess de Prielin, is about to take place.
M. Isturitz, ex-Prime Minister of Spain, and ex-
I Ambassador of Spain at Rome, has returned to

UNITED STATES.

Madrid.
'thugs') AY EVFNING, 5 o'cLorK.—The four minis-
terial caudidutes are elected vice-president& Marshal
Itugeaud has succeeded against M. do Maleville. The
secretaries arc not yet announced.

Letters arriving daily from Italy continue to bring
reports of revolt and fermentation in the territory of
Naples and Sicily. The vagueness and obscurity
winch surround all the information which we receive
from that portion of the peninsula, still mark these
rumours. One letter states that the whole island of
Sicily is in open revolt. Another says that the people
in the Calobul ges havin destroyed the telegraphs,
government is without any certain knowledge of' the
internal state of the country.
The Florence journal, the Allot, of the 23d, affirms
that it has received a letter from Mantua, dated the
20th, written by. a persod entitled to full credit, which
says that a courier had arrived there from Milan, bear-
ing an order to the Ilungarian regiment of Ferdinand
d'Este quartered in Mantua to mch immediately for
Modena. The advanced guards as to leave at half-
past four on the evening of the 20th, and the remainder
of the regiment the following morning. The same
courier continued his route immediately for Verona
with an order for troops quartered there to march to
Mantua.
Extraordinary activity was displayed in the ar-
senal and regiments of Helen cavalry were expected.
M. Neuman, minister of Austria, had started with
urgent speed for Parma.
The A oysburg Gamete, under the date of Rome
the 16th December, says it was reported that the
diplomatic corps were jealous of Lord Itlinto, because
the Pope had more frequent and more intimate con-
ferences with him than with the accredited ambas-
sadors of other courts. That journal, however, sees
nothing in these, except an effort to effect some mea-
sures tending to the improvement of the catholic
population of Ireland.
The Currier de Marseille has the following from
Rome, dated the 18th :
A great subject of conversation at Rome is the probable
end of the proceedings instituted relative to the conspi-
racy of July 16. It is said that the Chevalier Minardi and
Count Dertola, now confined at St. Angelo, are to lie set at
liberty. The other prisoners, 16 or 17 in number, will be
condemned to a longer or shorter c infiuement. A circular
of the Cardinal Vicario revokes, from Dec. 31, the authority
given to all the confessors of nunneries. New powers will
he conferred on Jun. 1. This measure appears intended
to put down certain movements, and remove several con-
fessors without publicity. On Monday, the 20:h, Mgr Fee-
rieri will set out for Constantinople, charged with the task of
complimenting the Sultan in the name of Pius IX., and of
treating about the establishment of a nuncio in that city.
Mgr. Ferrieri will afterwards visit the missions of America.
Mgr. Valerga, patriarch of Jerusalem, left on the 15th for
his residence. No person can yet say who is to be the sue.
aessor of Cardinal Ferretti. According to a rumour now in
circulation, Pius IX. intends prohibiting the entrance of
the .416 a journal, on account of its bitterness against the
Jesuits. Ile lately inflicted a fortnight's imprisonment in a
convent Lately two persons, going out shooting,pe set their dogs at a
man, whom they took, from the form of his hat, for a
Jesuit. Ile was a French deacon, of the diocese of Aix ; he
had his clothes tern, and was hit in several places, nut the
Jesits opposed his making any complaint to the Freach
ambassadu or. Mgr. Massoiii, of the secretary of states °dire,
is to be sent as charge d'effaires to Florence ; and Mgr.
Marconi passes from thence, in quality of nuncio, to Munich.
It is said that Mgr. Corboli returns to Modena without
having been able to convert the Orand Duke to the Italian
customs union.
We read in a letter from Rome, of the 19th : " The
pontifical government has just adopted two measures
of considerable importance. Hitherto the Diario di
Roma, conducted by the Chevalier de Angelis, was
erroneously considered in foreign countries as the
official organ ; it is only after Jan. 1 thst this journal
is to be official, and that it will be conducted by edi-
tors named by the Secretary of State, the former
editor retiring." From the same date the political
journals, which hitherto were not subject to an 7 tax,
are to pay two baiochs (12ic.) each number. These
two measures will have the effect of gravely compro-
mising the Bilancia, the conservative print, and the
Gontemporaneo, an ultra journal.
The Patric of Florence states that the Pope has re-
jected the application of the students of the University
of Bologna to be allowed to form themselves into a
guard, as has been the case with the students of the
University of Pisa, by permission of the Grand Duke
of Tuscany.

The Madrid mails of the 24th arrived at the mo-
ment our correspondent was closing his despatches.
MM. Mon and Tidal had refused to enter the cabinet,
and some other ministerial arrangement had to be
contrived. General N irvacz was to continue Presi-
dent, without a portfolio, General Figueras was to be
Minister of War ; Beltran de Lie, Finances ; and
Roca de Togores, Marine. The resignation of M. Or-
lando was announced.

-
ZURICH, DEC. 25.
The activity of the agents of Austria in ex-
citing the eatholics of the Grisons and Tessin to
renew the struggle is so glaring, that it is plainly
exposing Switzerland to another civil •. a. to dis-
band the army while these machinations are con-
tinued. Unfortunately many circumstances concurred
to intimidate the protestants, and to give strength to
the supporters of the Jesuits in those cantons during
the late troubles. The general in chief naturally
directed his grand effort against Lucerne, and in order
to appear there with overwhelming force, concentrated
his forces, and left the extremities exposed.
The men of Tessin were thus unsupported in their
attempt to take the mounta4n passes, and the enemy's
troops made them feel tue woes of the vanquished
during their short period of success. It is, conse-
quently, natural for the outlying cantons to be im-
pressed with the dread of having to play the part of
scapegoats for the rest when it comes to blows, and
they will, in future, be disinclined to speak out as
freely as they have done. Austria keeps up an easy
communication with Tessin through Orse from
Bregenz, and through the Valt..lino with .hui.
It is now known that the military chest
taken from Siegwart Muller at Domo d'Ossola
was restored on his proving that it contained

We yesterday announced the arrival of the Bri-
tannia, Capt. Harrison, at Liverpool on Thurs-
day evening. She left Boston on the usual day,
but did not leave Halifax till the 19th. She
brought on freight 52,0001. in specie. By the
Britannia we have New York papers to the 15th inst.
Tito proceedings in Congress had been meagre and
uninteresting. In the nominations fur chairmim of
committees, with the exception of one or two unim-
portant ones, whig members were appointed chairmen.
In all the important ones the wbigs hold the majority.
The reports of the Secretary-at-War, the Secretary of
the Navy, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the
Postmaster-General have been published. In that of
the Secretary-at-War we find that:
The whole aggregate land force, employed in prosecuting
the war, is estimated at 43,536, of which 21,509 are regular
troops, and the remainder volunteers. The distribution of
this force is as follows ..—With Maj.-Gen. Scott, and belong-
ing to hie column, including the troops en route, at Tarmac°,
at and about Vera Crux, and on the line thence to his head.
quarters, the aggregate force is estimated at 32,150. With
Maj.-Gen. Taylor, at the several posts under his immediate
command, it is about 6,727. In Santa Fe, and on the
Oregon and Santa Fe routes, and in the Indian country,
there are about 3,634. The force in the Californias
is about 1,019, including atO now on the way to that country.
Our further operations must (says the Secretary) be con-
ducted in one of the three following modes :—First, to take
and helot an indemnity line, to recede from all places and
positions now occupied in advance of it, and cease from all
aggre, sive operations beyond that line ; second to overrun the
whole country, and to hold all the principal places in it by
permanent garrisons; and third, to retain what we now pos-
sess, ,men the lines of communication into the interior, and
extend our operations to other important places, as our
means and the prospect of advantages shall indicate, keeping
a disposable force always ready, within approachable limits,
to annoy the enemy, to seize supplies, enforce contribution.,
and frustrate his efforts to collect means and assemble troops
for the purpose of protracting the war. In addition to the
treops required to garrison places to he retained, it is pro-
posed to have in the field &competent force for aggressive ope-
rations, to strike the enemy whenever he may present a vul-
nerable point; to open avenues from the ports in our posses-
sion into the enemy's country, and to cover and subject to
our control some of his rich mining districts arid productive
agricultural regions. It is not deemed proper to point out
in more detail the movements and objects contemplated in
the further prosecution of the war upon this plan. The se,-
tual strength, as near as can he ascertained, is now 21,533;
it will therefore require 7,381 enlisted men to complete the
regular military establishment. A most important and diffi-
cult part of the duties devolved upon this department is the
management of our Indian affairs. The wise policy of sepa-
rating the Indians residing in states and organised territories,
from contiguity to and intermingling with, the white popu-
lation, and of settling three is a quiet home, removed as ter
as practicable from the reach of influences so perni-
cious to their well-being, has been steadily pursued,
and generally with favourabe results. Some embar-
rassments have arisen in the removal of the Choc-
taws, but they have been, to a great extent, overcome.
The depredations upon the trains on the Santa Fa route
have been, it is believed, committed principally, if not en-
tirely, by Indians with whom we have hitherto had but
little or no intercourse, and who can, therefore, only be con-
trolled, and their mischievous propensities repressed, by a
military force. For this purpose such a force has been sent
into that region with instructions to chastise the offeuders,
and procure, as far as practicable, the restoration of the plun-
dered property. The anomalous condition of our relations
with the Imitates in Texas embarrasses the action of the
department in relation to them. The laws regulating
intereour e with Indian tribes do not extend over Texas.
A special agent was, however, appointed at the cline
of the last session of Congress to visit the several
bands in that state, to counsel with them, and to
distribute such presents, in goods, as were deem' d most
useful and best calculated to conciliate their good will, and
to inspire confidence in the friendly diapoetion of the (hilted
States towards them. This proceeding has been attended
with success; but it is desired that Congress, at the
approaching session, should place our relations with these
Indians on a more permanent basis. A difficulty has arisen
among the Stockbridge Indians in Wisconsin, occasioned
principally by the legislation of Congress, which cannot be
overcome without farther lislation. The necessity for the
farther action of Congress on the subject is clearly presented
in the commissioner's report.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy says:
The moneys collected in Mexican ports have been applied,
under the direction of the commanding officer, to the uses of
the squadron. No returns have been received from the
Pacific; those received from the Gulf of Mexico show an
amount of between thirty and forty thousand dollars col-
lected, but they did not contain collections educe early in
September. Vera Cruz and Tampico are the principal ports,
avid the cloth a at those places are not collected by naval
officers. No doubt is entertained that a considerable revenue
will be collected at the several pore of Mexico in our p 'mis-
sion, which will reduce the expenses of the war on our
treasury. But the great advantage resulting is, that the ad-
mietion of trade under moderate duties will remove the
temptation to smuggling, and the import trade being com-
pelled to pass under the inspection of our oflicers, the enemy
will be deprived of aid by the introduction of articles con-
traband, and at the same time an active and profitable
employment given to our own navigating interest.
I have the honour to present herewith the reports of the
several bureaux of construction, equipment and repair, of
ordnance and hydrography, of yards and docks, of provision
and clothing, and of medicine and surgery, with estimates in
detail for the several branches of the naval service for the
next fiscal year. They are based on the employment, peed
log the war, of 10,000 men, as allowed by law, and a num-
ber of vent Is in commission requiring their services. The
gross amount estimated for ix 10,365,822 dull. The amount
appropriated fur the current fiscal year is 10,052,636 dole. 10c.
The estimates now presented include an item of 1,200,000
deb. to complete the four war steamers, authorised by the
act of the 3d of March last, an increase of the appropriation
under the head of contingent emits, rated, and 3.50,000 dole.
for the prosecution of the work on the dry &Aid New York.
I deem it not inappropriate to the occasion, as illustrating
the expenditure of the navy department since the commence-
ment of the Mexican war, to present a comparative statems nt
of the appropriations and expenditures for the three last years,
under the heads of appropriation of " pay," " contingent,"
" increase and repair," " provisions and clothing," and
" surgeons' necessaries an I appliances." These may be de-
nominated the variable appropriations, and will show the
increase of expenditure during the was, over that of a cor-
responding period in the time of peace. This comparison ex-
hibits the following mutt :
Apprepriathei, Msltabla mere.
For year mama • 14104 e. Dal.. c. 1,018. e.
Juu4 30, 1845 5,018.813 71 6,101,413 28 1.818,214 -
June 30, 184 i 5.0415,102 us 6,564,428 62 6,371,314 (0
Jane 3), 184/ 6,434,341 01 7,301,733 48 6,435,118
And of the expenditure for increase and repair during the
past year, 345,176 dollars have been paid for fifteen ves-
sels, storeships, steamers, and schooners, of suitable draft of
water, purchased and sent to the Gulf of Mexico. By the
direction of the act of the 3rd March, 1817, measures were
taken for buildine four war steamers of the first class, and
they are in ac. oa. of rapid construction. The modef
r
ls,
tonnage, and ,a,`•i..ery were adopted on the report o a
mixed board of re.: • .1 Oleos. e instructors, and engineers,
and I have no doubt the vessels will constitute a most valua-
ble accession to the navy. By the same act con:rocs were
authorised for the tran,partstion of the mail in steamers
b tween New York and Liverpool, beta ~n New York
and New Orleans, arid from Havana to Chartres.
Tho contractors on these two routes were named
in the law, and the basis of the contracts was adopted by
Congress, by reference topropoeals heretofore submitted to