The Express.
London, England, 1862-02-20 00:00:00

AHD THE POPE.

PARIS, TscrnaDAY.

The Monitcur of to-day says :—" The government
of the Emperor has requested information at Rowe
respecting the pastoral letter convoking all bishops
of the Christian world to Rome for the canonisation
of martyrs. This information was necessary, as the
letter of convocation was published in France
without having been previously communicated to
the French government. Cardinal Antonelli re-
plied to the French government that the invitation
addressed to the bishops was quite a friendly one,
land had no obligatory character, and was only in-
tended to give weight to a purely religious ceremony.
On receiving this reply the French government
expressed a wish that the bishops should not quit
their dioceses, and must not ask permission to
leave the empire, except in cases where serious
diocesan interests should call them to Rome."
The Moniteur of this morning publishes a decree
admitting, free of duty, into France, rough and puri-
fied oast iron, old iron, bar iron, hoop iron, sheet
iron, steel in bars and sheets rolled by heat, and
rolled copper in a pure state, or alloyed with other
metals, when coming from abroad and destined for
re-exportation, after having been converted in
French workshops into ships, machines, apparatus,
or any work in metal.
The Moniteur also publishes a decree reducing
the interest on Treasury Bonds to 2}, 3, and 3}
per cent., according to their time of falling due.
The Constitutionnel of to-day says :—" The de-
mands made in Paris up to yesterday for the con-
version of Four-and-a-Half per Cent. Rentes
amount to 16millionsof Rentes. Inthedepartmenta
the demands during the first two days alone
amounted to four millions of Rentes. The appli-
cations for the conversion of the Obligation Tren-
tenuaires amount to 114,000 fr. of Rentes."

AMERICA.
TAKING OF FORT HENRY.
NEW YORK. rim 7, Eveacrxa.
(Per City of Washingtos, vii Queenstown.)
Seven Federal gunboats, under the command of
Commodore Foote, attack3d Fort Henry, on Ten-
nessee River, on the 6th inst.
After one hour and a quarter's severe firing from
the gunboats, Fort Henry, with the Confederate
General Tilgham and 60 prisoners, surrendered

The fort contained 20 guns, and offered a strong
;sistance.

The boiler of the Federal gunboat Essex ex-
ploded, killing 30 persona.
The Federal land forces did not arrive until after
the termination of the engagement.

The Federal cavalry are reported to be in active
pursuit of the retreating Confederate forces.
Fort Donnellson is also about to be attacked by
the Federals. _ _ .

Forts Henry and DonnelLion are considered im-
portant points, as they guard the railroad con-
nexion of Memphis and Columbus with Bowling
Green, and their capture would open the navigation
of Tennessee and Cumberland rivers. _

The Burnside expedition is anchored at Pamlico
Sound preparing for a forward movement.
General Beauregard is at Nashville.
It is rumoured at Fortress Monroe that a riot had
occurred at Richmond, at which cries were raised
for the union.

The Senate has passed the bill appropriating
10,000,000 dole. for the construction of iron gun-
boats. The Senate has also passed a bill autho-
rising an additional issue of 10,000,000 dohs. of
demand notes, as a temporary relief, until the
Treasury Note Bill can receive the consideration of
the Senate. _ _ _

The House of Representatives has added an
amendment to the Treasury Note Bill, making the
payment of the interest on Government bonds
optional in coin or paper. The amendment is
condemned by some New York journals, and its
passage through the Senate is considered doubtful.
The New York Times says that the Secretary of
the Treasury has proposed to the Banks to take
from them their surplus demand notes upon ten
days' notice, giving them in exchange certificate
deposits bearing five per cent. interest.

NEW YORK, Fla. 8, MORNING..

The House of Representatives has passed the
Treasury Note Bill, with the legal tender clause,
by a large majority. The report sent by
the Europa that the legal tender clause hail
been rejected was incorrect. The mistake
occurred through a telegraphic error in an
Associated Press despatch, which was received
just as the Europa► was sailing.
The New York Chamber of Commerce has
passed a resolution to the effect that
no system of taxation bringing less than
150,000,000 dollars annually is adequate to meet
the exigencies of the Federal government.
It is supposed that General Price will await an
attack at Springfield.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW YORK, Fr.s. 7, 6 P.M.

The passing of the Treasury Note Bill and the
favourable war news received yesterday, created
great buoyancy iu the stock market, and a general
rise in securities.
To-day stocks have continued very firm. New
York Central closed at 831 ; Erie, 35. The 7.30
per cent. Treasury Notes were offered at 99. Money
easy. Exchange extremely firm at 114} to 115 for
Bankers' Bills. Gold, n premium.

The following telegram bus been received at Mr.
Reuter's office from the Peninsular and Oriental
St am Navigation Company, Feb. 20 :
CALCUTTA AND CHINA MAILS.

The Maasilia, with the above mails, left Alex-
andria for Marseilles on the 18th holt. at sunset.
The Indus, with the heavy portion of the mails,
sailed for Southampton on the morning of the 19th
instant.
The Bengal brought the mails to Suez, arriving
on the 15th.

SPECIE FOR THE EAST.

SOUTHAMPTON, Fail. 20.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Pere, sailing to-day for the East, takes out specie,
value 133,7461.; of this amount, 66,9401. is bar
silver ; 39,2151., dollars ; 17,6511., gold coin ; and
5901., sovereigns.

Several letters received in Paris from Nice coin-
cide in stating that the present is the most brilliant Denson
experienced for many years past. The King of Bavaria
joins in all the festivities like a private gentleman. The
Prince Royal of Sweden and the ex-Duke of Parma are
likewise passing the winter at Nice. The Italian opera at
Nice is well supported, and the beauty of the English lady
visitors is the theme of universal admiration. The old
bowies in Nice are about to be rebuilt and the streets
I widened.