The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-23 00:00:00

FRANCE.

PARIS. THURSDA.T EVENING.
In the night of the 19th and 20th instant the inha-
bitants of Lyons were greatly alarmed by a formida-
ble military demonstration, but far which, it is now
stated, barricades would have been up in the city the
next morning. The civil and military authorities
were, it seems, informed that some of the red repub-
lican leaders, acting in pursuance of orders from the
Itendon refugees, had plotted a general insurrection
'in Lyons. Dec. 2 was the day first fixed upon, but
the rising was afterwards postponed till the 20th.
The government, by its spies, was kept informed of
all the proceedings of the conspirators, and knew the
precise spot selected for the commencement of the
outbreak, and the whole plan of the movement. Oioups
were to have assembled at a point in the northern
quarter of the city, whence they were to have
marched by separate routes towards the centre. Their
junction there effected, it was intended to disarm the
sentries, to rush suddenly upon the prefectoral man-
sion-house, and even, perhaps, Marshal Caetellane's
head-quarters, and then, assisted by a portion of the
population, who, it was calculated, would join the
msurrection, to surprise and take possession of one
of the western forts, sound the tocsin, and call the
people to arms. Although no doubt was felt that the
military force at the disposal of the Marshal
would have speedily repressed the emeute, there
might have been a great deal of bloodshed, and it
was thought better to take preventive measures.
Accordingly a part of the garrison was under arms
all night; all the small guard-hoses were vacated,
while the more important posts were doubled. A
strong piquet of cuirassiers was stationed in the
square of the gendarmes' barracks. Several sentries
were posted, round Louis XlV.'s statue, and the ser-
gents de ville were armed with muskets, and dis-
tributed either in vedettes, or as patrols near the
quarters where the groups were to assemble. Mar-
shal Castellane and officers of his staff were fre-
quently seen gallopping about in all directions.
These precautions bad the desired effect. The con-
spirators, finding themselves discovered, thought it
prudent not to turn out, and, according to the latest
accounts, Lyons is perfectly quiet. Of course there
are arrests in abundance. There can be little
doubt that this affur has been brewing for some
time, as rumours of an insurrectionary movement
in Lyons have been rife in Paris for the last three or
four weeks. It was feared in Lyons that a simulta-
neous attempt of a like kind was to have been made
is Paris, but the local government journals state
positively that the conspiracy, as well as the mea-
sures taken to render it abortive, were wholly un-
connected with anything passing in the metropolis.
Although the authorities at Lyons deny that the
conspiracy for an insurrection there had any ramifi-
cations at Paris, I learn that the Lyons letters
yesterday were detained and opened in the
Post-office, and a good many arrests were
made from indications found in them. The severe
measures taken against members of secret societies
have not had the effect of repressing those associa-
tions. On the contrary, reports are daily received
from very many of the prefects that they multiply
exceedingly.
The Bourse opened very quietly. The greater
part of the disquieting reports of yesterday were
generally admitted to be false. The Bente gradually
rose 10e. higher than yesterday, but towards half-
past 1 it suddenly fell to 74fr. 35c., owing
to a despatch from London stating that
the fleets had entered the Black Sea, leav-
ing behind them but three vessels to guard Con
stantinople. The English funds came -; per cent.
lower. There was, however, no panic, and through-
out the day many of the railways were very well
sustained. Shortly before the close it was announced
that despatches from Constantinople, two days later
than the London news, said nothing of the departure
of the fleets. This report immediately produced a
rise, and the rents closed at 74tr. being the
highest price of the day. Orleans and Rouen rose
121 i. 50c. each, ant Northern, 7fr. 50c. More than
half of the lines, however, closed somewhat lower.
Strasbourge fell 61r. 23e.
This evening's Freese, in a P.S. says :
We are this instant assured that despatches from
Constantinople of the 12th do not confirm the news
of the entry of the fleets into the Black Sea.
The Petrie, in its " latest news," says :
- • • • • • -

- .
Admiral Nachimow's report of the affair of Sinope is not
only grossly partial but contains numerous palpable er•
ron which letters from Constantinople of the 9th
permit us to correct. It is not true tkat the Turks
bad four frigates of 74 guns, pr that the Turkish admiral
bad his flag on one of them. He was on board a 10-gun
frigate. It is not true that the Greek epistler of Sinope
ass spared. All the houses, without distinction, were
burnt, and needlessly, because the town was not armed,
and took ne part in the combat. It is moreover certain that
after the fight was over the Russians sunk several Turkish
•essels that bad no guns, and had taken no part in the
action, and that without summoning them to surrender.
The Turkish admiral was brutally treated by the Russian
sailors, and that when he was wounded and almost in a
dying state.