The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-27 00:00:00

ITALY.

The Piedmontese Chamber of Deputies was en-1
pied on the 21st in formal business, which would
Sy it until after Christmas.
Ciessral Poerio died at Turin on the 19th inst.
ROME, Dsc. 20.
Yesterday morning his Holiness held a secret (mu-
ltistory at the Vatican, in which, after having deli-
vered the customary harangue, he promoted to the
rank of cardinal Monsignor Gioachina Pecci, Bishop
of Perugia. Yesterday evening the new ardinal,
together with the recently appointed Cardinal Bra-
r(i, who has just arrived from Madrid to receive
Me insignia of his rank from the Pope, held a grand
seeeption at the Vidoni Palace, where Princess Doris
did the honours for their eminences to the bejewel-
led ladies of the Roman nobility and the crowds of
heeigners who are never wanting on such occasions.
It the consistory his Holiness conferred several other
esdesiastical preferments, and announced that he
bad created another cardinal, whom he reserved
M pito.
Mr. Kirkham, for many rears principal director of
the London Imperial Gas Company, arrived in this
city some days ago to inspect the works of the Anglo-
Henan Gas Company. The first experiment of illw
zdastion was made last night, and proved tolerably
eaois6ctory, but it is not probable, as hitherto
announced, that the Eternal City will be surveyed by

~~ r

IRELAND.

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Demme, Dac. 26.
isterday the weather was particularly dull and
heavy, and very soon after the close of divine service
in the several churches and chapels the streets were
quite empty, so that it looked a dull Christmas out
of doors, although there is every reason to think that,
fur many year* past, the season has not been accom-
panied, in this country, with so much of domestic
comfort and good cheer at home.
'file Lord Mayor, with several members of the
corporation, according to ancient usage, proceeded in
state to attend divine service at Christ's Church
Cathedral. On Saturday the customary charities
were theributed to the poor debtors in the city
prisons, and yesterday the paupers in the work-
houses and mendicity were regaled as usual with
good Christmas tare.

On Saturday afternoon a great many persons were
fortunate enough to see a repetition of the experi-
ment made last summer in so perilous a way by the
Hon. Mr. Swill, of " walking" on the water. Mr.
Swift's former experimeut, it will be remembered,
was that of " walking" by sea from Venice to Trieste,
a feat by which his life was well nigh forfeited ; but
yesterday, in repeating the attempt in Dublin har-
bour between the Custom-house and the Pigeon-
house Fort, he encountered no risk, and was tho-
roughly successful. lhe apparatus he employs con-
sists of two air-tight tin floats, 20 feet in length,
tapering to a narrow point at each end, and joined
together by bars of iron. Standing on the floats, he
propels himself by a double-bladed oar, which houses
with great dexterity.

The following is from the weekly commercial re-
view of the Freeman :

This has been, as usual, • busy week in the retail trade,
but little doing in the wholesale market. The geseral re-
mark has been that for a lung time there has not been so
dell a Chrissas in the produce markets. There hes beta
• failure in the cattle trade, said to reach 5,0001., but the
patty was in no great standing. There have been also one
Ot two petty allairs. not worth noticing, and, upon the
whole, it lies been • rare thing to have nothin of any
moment in this respect at this time of year. g_
The awn
market has been on the upward move this week, and there
appears little prospect at present of any serious decline.
The share market has been very much neglscted, but so
alteration in prices. The Customs duties are this week
17,&5o1. against 19,2301. for live days of the cortespondieg
week last year. On tea the sam is 6,001. ; muscovado
sugar, 1,9001. ; refined ditto, 1006. ; coffee, 906.; wise,
2.7001, ; sp. .7004. ; tobacco, 6,0001. ; miscellaneous, 3201.
The total receipts since 10th October last are, 199,4001.;
same time lest yew, 202,7501. ;—decrease, 3,3514