The Express.
London, England, 1865-02-15 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS

(nom °oft OWN coalmen/tom.)

PARIS, TMCIDAT EVINING..

The Franc.. pretends to know that the forth-
coming yellow book will show that France under-
stands the choice of Florence as the capital of Italy
to be final, although "parliamentary neces-
sities" led to explanations in the Turin I
Chamber, which " vainly attempted " to give '
another aspect to the convention. This journal
affirms that guarantees of the moat " pre-
cise" kind have been taken to secure the "political
independence of the head of the church." Senator
' Gueronnibre means by this the temporal power, of
which he is a supporter, at all events, and how-
ever badly the Pope may continue to govern. The
following phrase in his article of to-day is painfully
significant :
The Emperor's government, while maintaining intact its
dignity and prerogatives* in Paris, has no said to abandon
the interests it represents at Rome ; for those interests ars
permanent, and permanent interests am not to be sacrificed
to temporary cootliets.

Such a cold Valentine's-day as this I never saw
in Paris before. The thermometer is only 3or 4
degrees below zero, but a thick atmosphere, threat-
ening more snow, and a bitter east wind, make it
next to impossible to get warm. Job's comforters
mention a year, reoorded by Arago, in which a frost,
beginning in the middle of February, lasted for 27
days. Mathew de la Drome prophesied that the
birds would not pair this year till Feb. 25, but this
prediction I can state from personal observation
has not come true, for at an early hour this morn.
ng I was awakened by a congress of sparrows in an
apple-tree under my bedroom window. I saw at
least a score of them, the frost and snow notwith-
standing, in hot discussion about partnership for the
season ; and after much pecking and flutter-
ing they made their choice and paired off. Later in
the day I noticed several pairs in trees and on the
roofs of houses.

Madame Ratazzi, in consequence of her new novel
reflecting on the imperial family, has for the second
time been prohibited from entering France, and the
pension which the Emperor granted her three years
ago has been withdrawn.
The Bourse is inactive, and quotations Lave
scarcely varied from yesterday. The Emperor's
speech is waited for, and speculators seem dis-
inclined to discount it in either one sense or another.
Money is unusually cheap and plentiful, but
capitalists are extremely timid about investments.

The saloons of the English embassy at St. Peters-
burg have bees Lately closed oa account of a death in Sir a
Bnchanan's family, but they ern now about to be opeoed•
The small evening parties of Lady Buchanan on Mondays
have been well attended.

VICTOR EMMANUEL AT THE THEATRE.—The
Ration of Florence says that it would be impossible to give
an idea of the enthuissm with which Victor Emmanuel
was received when he visited the Puha= • few evenings
sines. A sort of joyous convulsion agitated the audience,
and the cheering wu repeated so often that the King was
compelled to rice fully ten times in order to respond to it.
A ballot was *pad, in the last scene of which Venice ap-
pears weeping and in chains, her fetters being afterwards
struck off by the free provinces. "At this point," adds the
Redone, "the applause burst forth without restraint, and
with as earnestness of feeling that would have drawn tears
from the eyes of the coldest spectator. We have wielted to
mention these demonstrations, because they afford •
splendid proof of the sentiments of our population."
THE BOMBAY AND MAURITIUS MAILS.-SOUTH-
Aires, Fan. 14.—The Peninsular and Oriental Steam
Navigation Company's steamship Ceylon, with the heavy
portion of the above mails, has strived hers with 37 passes-
gen, 1,5381. in spade, and • general cargo, including raw
silk to the value of 150,0001. The British steamer Alba
Ora* sad the English schooner Deerfoot came into oollision
in the Straits of Gibraltar, and both vessels foundered
almost immediately.

WHITEHALL, FEB. IL—The Queen has been
pleased to direct lettere palest to be parted moder the great
ssd ipeattop t►a dignity at a knight el the United Kipple&
el Great Britain and belted unto Alexander Taylor, Neg.,
doctor of mediehmt—Gazette. . .

DOWNINO-AITILIET, Fla IL The Queen bee bees
to ratify and weft= the appaietmeat of James
Wiese.yr.a lli'Dowell, Fest to be • member of the legislative
roman of the island ol.Janalea.—Gezeue.

FEBRit.4

EDIT"

EXPRESS OFFICE,

Wednesday, 4.30 p.m.