The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-19 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(nom ova OWN 00111tESPONDENT.)
PARIS, WEDNESDAY EVENING.
_ _ _

The Courrier du Bas Mau announces that the
order has been received at Strasbourg to " arm
the place." 1 do not know whether this means
anything or nothing. Activity on the Strasbourg
fortifications has been frequently remarked, and I
thought the place was pretty well armed long age.
A St. Petersburg telegram of this day's date
states that M. de Budberg, the Russian ambassador
in Paris, and General lgnatieff, the Russian ambas-
sador at Constantinople, have been granted a
month's leave of absence, in order to go to St.
Petersburg. This intelligence will probably be
thought a confirmation of the important Dews
ventilated a few days ago, that Prince Gortchakoff,
the Minister of Foreign Affairs, was about to be
superseded by General Ignatieff, who is known to
be an advocate for the speedy realisation of Russia's
long-standing ambitious policy in the East.

A curious instance of Count de Nieuwerkerke
having been, like many as good or butter judges,
taken in when he thought he was purchasing an
ancient work of art, is brought to light by the
t7tronisree des Arts. In the retrospective ex-
hibition organised in 1864 by the Central
Union of arts appliqvas, there was a bust in
terracotta of Jerome Benivieni, the friend of Savo-
narola, which was catalogued as a Florentine work
of the 15th century, and attracted a great deal of
attention. The owner of this bust was an
amateur, who shortly afterwards bold his col-
lection. Count de Nieuwerkerke, the superin-
tendent-general of fine arts, bought Benivieni's
bust on his own account, and made a present of it
to the Louvre Museum, where it may now
be seen among the sculptures of the Renaissance.
It is now ascertained that the work in
question was executed in 1864, at Fiesole,
by an artist named Bastianini. It was or-
dered of him by M. Freppa, a Florence dealer,
who afterwards sold it to the amateur, " not
saying whether it was ancient or modern." These
facts are attested by M. Lajarini Francesco, a
sculptor, who saw M. Bastianini modelling the
bust, and also by a certificate signed by several
workmen in the Florence tobacco manufactory,
who declare that the slammed likeness of Savona-
role's friend is that of a comrade of theirs named
Guiseppe Ruonaiato, who sat to Bastianini as a
model.

It has been said that the Pope intends to create
General Ksnzler Duke of Mentana ; General Zappi,
Duke of Bagnorea ; and Colonel Azzanesi, Count
of Viterbo. There is au equally serious report
that the King of Prussia, on the occasion of the
seventh anniversary of his accession, on the 2nd of
January next, will make M. de Bismarck Duke of
Sadowa. At present I believe there are no dukes
in Prussia, but the head of the new Germanic
Confederation may well make a precedent in such
a matter as honorific titles. The Chctricari suggests
that France, not to be behindhand, might very
appropriately. on this coming New Year's Day,
gazette the Marquis de Moustier Duke de Petit
Etre, and M. Rouher Count de Jamais.
The Bourse was weaker. Bente fell fib. for
cash and 124 c. for account, closing at 68fr. 85c.
and 68fr. 70c. Credit Foncier fell 7fr. 50c. ; and
Mobilier 3fr. 75c. Italian, after some fluctuation,
closed with a rise of 15c.