The Express.
London, England, 1859-09-15 00:00:00

A 1;,.
.0

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

01011 017 a vu

PARIS, WIDMISDAT EVENINO.
All men here agree to assign to the Chinese qua,.
tion an immense importance, whether it be viewed
as to its ultimate oonsequenoes, or its immediate
effect of dispelling any cloud which may still have
hung over the horizon of the Anglo-French alliance.
And, indeed, in the very occurrence now recorded
we have the strongest evidence of the importance to
the civilised world of this alliance. Let us suppose
for a moment that the Pent° outrage had been
offered either to one or the other power at a

time when the respective governments had come to
a rupture. In that cue it might have passed over
comparatively uaavenged, in consequence of the in-
ability of either power to spare a force sufficient
for the exigencies of the undertaking. Toe
cause of civilisation would then have received
a cheek, perhaps never to be repaired. Let these
barbarians once imagine that they are able to hold
their own against Europeans, and none can foresee
the consequences. Again, it is not whispered, bat
openly stated here that this infamous treachery is
connived at by Russians—mark, I do not say by the
Russian government, but by Russians. Thie is a
grave charge to publish, so I back my statement by
an extract from a letter written from Canton on the
21st July to the Mawr :—" The fortifications were
directed by European .engineering. The English
even state that they saw Russians on the ramparts.
But to admit so serious an accusation there
must be further proofs. What appears to
be more certain is that the cannon came
from Russian foundries. This will not sur-
prise you, if you receive for truth a report spread
universally here that the Remises have just bought
an immense territory on the Amoor, which was paid
for with munitions of war, 700 cannon forming part
of the same." And while these things are occur-
ring at distant points of the globe, we find nearer
home that the symptoms of oriental dissolution are
daily becoming more manifest. The governmental
incapacity of the Ottoman has been, if possible,
brought into stronger relief since the Crimean war.
A shock seems imminent between Massulman fana-
ticism and Christian enlightenment. Everywhere
we see the upheavings which foret2ll the overthrow
of Mahometan domination. The site, of
Russia touching the sick man's heritage are
matter of notoriety. Austria has even the audacity,
in treating with Napoleon 111., to allude casually to
her claim for a legacy tinder the forthcoming will.
Who can outsider all these things and not tremble
to think what would be the east to humanity of a
rupture of the alliance between France and Eng-
land? I find the same sentiment forming the burden
of M. Dupin'e speech to the Council•Genetrl of
Carbigny. After giving England some pret.y hard
rubs on the score of her apprehensions of invasion—
most flattering, he admits, to France—and in spite of
her many admirable qualities, and her tetchiness
and sensitiveness, he says with much humour :
Verily, worthy turners, it may Le said—to borrow a figure
of speech from our own miNages—iint in order to lire on
good terms with a wife of this dispnition a husband must
lave a very good temper. (General and prolonr i laughter
among the =sties.) And yet when we have relieved =r-
eevee of what was on oar harts, we have no halt►tion in
decisriog that it is necessary for the good of the entire
human race that Fracas ant England should live in her-
mony. All =lightened men desire to see the elitism's ln-
teeerilthese two rest nations drawls more and more closely;
but let it be pointed out at the same time that this aim.*
can only be luting so long as no sacrifice of honour is es-
motel from one to the other.

The evergreen Procureur-General gives much
good practical advice to his bucolic audience, and
concludes with describing the spectacle presented to

the world by France of "a great nation restored to
-- - .

tranquillity, formidable only to those who shall
venture to trouble her, satisfied as she is to enjoy
her glory in the lap of peace and libertv." The last
word is remarkable, considering the regime under
which it is uttered, and who utters it.
The article in the Itt,Gats concerning the liberty
of the press has been naturally mach discussed.
Some persons attribute a semi-official character to it,
and argue well from its appearance. Others say
" it is too good to be true."
The plain-spoken Gazette de France admits that
although 'tis well to avenge the treachery of the Peiho
slaughter, 'tia ill to be obliged to do it in company
with England.
We are without news of the least importance from
Italy. No news is, let as hope, good news. If
there were any hesitation on the part of the Emperor
Napoleon the new events in China will probably
have decided him to see the Italian situation from
the English point of view.
In a former letter I alluded more in jest than in
earnest to the idea of a subscription to redeem
Venice from Austria. The &Cele has taken it up
seriously, and says to-day :
The solution of the redemption of Venice, attacked with
such virulence by the ultramonteses, is taken so =oh In
earnest that several persons have assured us they an reedy
to place their afiings, great or small, at the service of the
unfortunate people of Venetia; and thar, If a public sub-
icription la organised, poor and rich win subscribe In behalf
of Venice. Two ladle. have offered a considerable sum.
We thank them la the name of humaatty. CIA will take
account of the merino, they desired to make.
In common with the old Italian difficulty and the
new Chinese war, the new singer Madame Vestvali
now occupies the public attention. Artistic criticism
is here an important function. Men of European
reputation are retained for it, their services
are highly remunerated, and the elaboration

of their work is carried to an extent un-
known in sober, practical England. The necessary
consequence is that, in order to supply the stipulated
quantity of weekly " copy," a bushel c f chaff is not
nnfrequently employed to surround a single grain of
corn, and the real meaning of the critic difficult to
divine. This sometimes contributes to a desirable end.
French artists and litteraleurs are essentially " good
fellows;" and it is needless to observe that troth and
camaraderie are often incompatible with
each other. Mine. Veetvali is at once a
foreigner and a stranger in Paris, so cama-
raderie is out of the question. Any obscurity
which may hang about the various criticisms upon
her performance of Romeo mast, therefore, be set
down to the excessive ornamentation of the style,
and the general tendency of the critics to say too
much about everything sal everybody. In pltin
language, as fir as one man's opin'on can go, Mete-
Vestvali is a fine woman, of unusual height and
amplitude of proportions, with a small head, round
face, and good•homoured expression of coun-
tenance. Her air and gestures are quite those
of the ruder sex ; bet to assert that she looks like
• man is the height of absurdity. She walks
and holds the stage admirably, and of all the actors
or ac•resses I ever sew, she seems the moot devoid of
nervousness. Her voice it a deep contralto, won-
derfully fine in the lower tone, faulty in the medium
and upper notes. See has immense power, but
wants sympathy. I cannot imagine her stirring the
heart like Malibran and Albaui. Her style is un-
exceptionable. She is a pupil of lercadante, and
has all the best traditions of an Italian school.
This is as much as to may it is not the Parisian style.
Her acting of Romeo is passionate and energetic,
bat she osght to be seen in other parts before she is

judged definitively. Her reception does not even
border on enthusiasm, though she is decidedly ac-
cepted by the public. I cannot but think the ad.
ministration of the Rue Lepelletier has acted hutily
in essolnding a three years' engagement with her,
as it seems impossible, frost personal and road
causes, that she can shine in female parts, and
although she is a very remarkable artist, who, as a
wandering star, cannot fail to win golden opinions in
all countries, It seems doubtful whether an operatic
Dejszet can hold permanent sway over the Parisian
public. Madame Vestvart has been variously set
down as a Pole and a Hungarian by birth. She
is a Wallachian, and, to those whoa it may con-
cern, her age is twenty-six.
There was little activity at the Bourse to-day, but
prices were wall maintained. The complete resto-
ration of relations between the governments of
France and England is confidently anticipated.
Butes left off at 88 fr. 66a. cash, and 68 fr. 83c. account,
being an improvement of 10c. on the latter. Mo-
bilier, 782 fr. 60e, cub, and 786 fr. swung, being a
rise of 7fr. 60e. and fife. respectively.