The Express.
London, England, 1860-02-23 00:00:00

1860.

Negotiations
esartalls• '

PRUSSIA.

BERLIN, WEDNESDAY.
between the Gnat Power. in refer-

_... treatment of the Italian question are
being vigorously pursued. The basis upon which a
conference is to be held is not yet agreed upon.

EXPRESS. FROM PARIS.

(11011 OVR OWN 00111REPOWOINT.)
PARIS, WEDNINDAY EVENING.
The Petrie, for the second time, contradicts a re-
port that the French government think. of laying
on an income tax.

A correspondence of the Petrie, assumed to be
dated from Savoy, gives it to be understood that
France means to take possession of Mont Blanc. It
says:

The highest mountain of the Savoy Alps la Most Blanc,
which Switzerland had the audacity to place in her geo-
graphy ; bat once Savoy annexed, and France will it, longer
tolerate this impudent Lawny.

A Paris letter iii the Nord says :

An imperial domes which has just been Issued stating
that the price for exemption from military service shall not
be published until ten days before the drawing takes place
is worthy of remark. Hitherto families have been informed
at Moat six months beforehand of what thq would have to
pay for the exemption of their sons, but sosarding to the
present decree the minister is to delay it until ten days be-
fore ..he operations of the °male of revision. The motive
of the change is that events, according m they may have a
tendency towards peace or war, may sensibly modify the
rate of indemnity for exoneration, and it is important to
wait to the lmt moment before it is fixed. The amount has
generally been published about the month of Jemmy, but
new it will not be made known until about May.
It cannot be denied that this measure tends to
aggravate the rumours which I mentioned yesterday
that war is considered very probable.
The Bourse, owing to a considerable rise in Con-
sols and the prevalence of the belief that the com-
mercial treaty is certain to pass the House of Com-
mons, was better than it has been for a very long
while. The Rents rose 30c. both for cash and
account, closing in each case at Mfr. 30c. Mobilier
rose Mr. 75c. Railways were in considerable de-
mand. Orleans rose 7fr. 60c. ; Northern, Sir. 75c. ;
7fr. 60c.; Southern and Western, 6fr. each ;
and Eastern, 2fr. 60c.
The government journals state that the Archbishop
of Cambrai and the clergy of Lille having studiously
omitted on a recent occasion to sing the Domine
salcuns fac imperatorem, some students, notwith-
standing a general order against their singing in
church, struck up the air and persisted in singing it
through.
M. Billault continues his crusade against the press.
The Ocean of Brest has just received a second warn-
ing for having reproduced a part of the article which
led to the suppression of the Bretagne.
Tne Independence Beige has been seized on account
of some conjectures about the contents of the Em-
peror's forthcoming speech, having particular refe-
rence to the relations between France and England
on the subject of Savoy.
The Austrian government, which borrowed most
of its harassing regulations against the press from
the inventions of Napoleon 111., now " betters the
instruction." The Vienna journals have been or-
dered not to mention the fact th►t the Brea Gras of
Paris is named Solferino. Nevertheless, Prince Met-
ternich gave 600 fr. to the directors of the procession,
when Solferino visited the Austrian embassy yes-
terday. This has been a remarkably sad
carnival, as far as regards out-door amusements,
although there have been • good many public and
private balls. The slush in the streets on Mardi
Gras was so formidable that scarcely a Pierrot was
to be seen oa the Boulevards. The gods and
goddesses who ride in triumphal ears in the pro-
oeesion of the Brea Gru were shivering in the
north-east wind and suffering visibly from catarrh.
The only remarkable feature in the conduct of the
annual ceremony was the abandonment of the
innovation against which I remember protesting
some years ago of sacking the fat ox upon the top
of a car. This time he walked, as of old.

Mr. Spencer, the United States consul, gave a
brilliant ball but night, at his private residence in
the Rue St. Arnaud, to celebrate the 128th anni-
versary of Washington. birthday. The new Anie-
rican minister, Colonel Faulkner, who only arrived
three days ago, was among the guests, and the
flit* of American impiety in Paris was pre-
sented to him. The roams were decorated with
several devices in evergreens, among which
were the names of Washington and Lafayette,
and the date-1732--of Washington's birth.
During the early part of the evening dancing was
almost impossible, so great wu the crowd, bat
towards 1 o'clock the throwing open of a buffet,
groaning under the weight of gigantic salmon,
traffied foie yras, roast pheasants, pine-apple jelly,
and champagne in boundless profusion, made an
important diversion, and the dancing salons be-
gan to exhibit the poetry of motion, which
developed itself exclusively as the small hours
advanced. Mrs. General Scott, the wife of the
celebrated American officer who superseded General
Harney at San Juan, was of the party.

Some of the French journals state that it is ra-
moved that Catlin Wi.lewski is shortly to hays Paris fur
Vienna on an extraordinary mission.

THE EMPEROR AND THE Bisitors.—The circular
of the Mtedettr 14 Public Worship, although copied into the
whole of the Paris journal.. I. may remarked on by two, the
Cossatitortimula and the died*, both being exceedingly brig
in their observations. The first-tamed journal inertly Sip
" This document is evidently inspired by the same spirit as
that in which the two despatches of the Minister of Foreign
Affairs were drawn up. It proves for the third time that in
this Boman question, which it so delicate and so digioulr,
the Emperor's government means to maintain to the end its
moderation and firtonees." The Stith is scarcely longer in
in comments :—" We find in these word. of a member of the
government the expression of sentiments which we have
always manifested on the conduct of several bishops and some
other ecclesiastics. Time is not in the circular a single ot-
creation that we have not ourselves made, but It is easy to
couceive the authority given to such remarks when uttered
by • minister who is at the lame time a writerof indkput-
abl!talent."

---
ENGLAND AND FRANCE.—We are re quoted to
state that the sways intended for the adjadicauos of Lord
Brougham, the Earl of Clarendon. and the Earl of Shaftes-
bury, must be sent In to the Rer. Dr. &Berton, Heave!]
College, Middlesex.
INDIAN Rivita NAVIGATION.—Yesterday one of a
number of vessels building by Mesas. John Laird and Boos
was tried on the Mersey, and excited a great deal of intense
and attention from its novel appearance. The bull is
260 feet long and 38 fest beam, and is constracted of steel
plates ands on Mr. Clay's principle, the vessel in general ap-
pearance resembling much the American river steamers.
6he drew about 16 inches of water at the bow, and ha bull
appeared only about 8 feet abere the water. The whole
ierr=of the vessel and machinery is supported by arched
The engines are 200-hors power. The steering
apparatus is of • novel character, the stern being divided
into two parts, resembling the ends of two antes tubed to-
gether, from which depend two hoards or rudders like lee-
boucle in shape, which ire raised alternately as the course is
required to be changed from starboard to port, or ries yeas.
Teas PaclFic Braani NAVIGATION COMPANY.—
TEE BAN CAlLoll.—This !modicum and commodious new
enamor ism sail from the Mersey today. Elbe barn been
built by. Messrs. Randolph, Elder, and Co., of Glaegew, and
Le the sixth awed (from the same builders) with engines an
the double action principle which bee been lea* oat to the
Panda by the eompsny. At the Admiralty trial trip on i
Monde; she obtained • speed, under very adverse circum-
stances, of llf knots. The power was developed to about
620 hones, with a consumption of 14 cwts. et Welsh ooal
rr hoer, or about lithe lbs. to the indtcated hone power.
Tho Guayaquil and • small paddle steamer are being con-
arsenic! the same company. These vessels (like the San
Carlos) will be provided with Messrs. Randolph, Elder, and
Co.'s new patent boilers, which in the case of the San Carlos
have been proved by the surveyor to the Board of Trade
with a water mann ed 12011 e, to the square lull.