The Express.
London, England, 1858-09-30 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY '

pay the asset ordinary attention to what is going
CS is the world around us to show that it is en-
filaded. The plain fact is that even high--nay,
It may be said even the highest, culture is proved to
be no effectual security against the influence of de-
lusions seemly if at all less monstrous than those
which were seecessful with the dupes of the German
astrologer mid " the seventh daughter." Have we
not, or had we not very recently, the spectacle of
the most generally untended people of modern
times contributing from every rank of society en-
thusiestio believers in the monstrous delusion of
spirit-rapping P It was by no means the lout culti-
vated portion of the American community that pre
in to this absurdity. The spiritual epidemic raged
with peculiar intensity among the " Upper Ten
" Thousand." Has not spiritualism spread widely
among the same alum on this aide the Atlantic ?
Who is there who has not " insisted," or been
milted to assist, at one of those doleful
experiesiess called spiritual slences, which were not
so many months back a fashionable pastime in Bel-
gravia and Mayfair P What Rene man has ever done so
without a sesio-comic sense of wonder at seeing the
butterfly victims of ennui and frivolity taking part in
ceremonies,compared to which a refection of Trappists,
or a prayer meeting of Cameronians, are scenes of
cheerful and rational excitement? As long as we
find people of high cultivation firm in the belief that
tables turn and kick and jump down stairs—that
bands unskilled in the very rudiments of drawing
trace faultless designs under the resistless guidance
of Invisible fingers—that gifted media emit visible
rays and balms, in which other gifted media can
read the secrets of the Invisible—that spirits dis-
course in audible raps, and communicate their
experiences in very execrable verse—as long as
these things are so, let us new to wonder that the
imperfect culture even of the better instructed
among the humbler class fails to preserve them from
the math/nations of the astrologer and the fortane-
teller. We do not mean by these observations to
east the slightest doubt on the policy of patting the
law in fora against the lower professors of the art
of deception : en the contrary, we are firmly con-
vinced that the interposition of the penal law is
absolutely nicersary for the repression of them
lucrative /Fends. Wherever money or money's
worth is obtained by trick and deception the criminal
law finds a legitimate field for its exercise. When
trick and deception address the superst:tioas feelings
and work by supposed supernatural mechanism, the
✓eason for putting the criminal law in force is not
.sesakened but strengthened. The magistrate in ad-
sdhistering the law has a clear and plain clue for
him guidance : fraud is the enemas of the offence,
and it is fraud alone which should be the subject of
punishment. When STIIXTHAL procured an ac-
complioe to dig up the buried 181., it was fraud;
when the " seventh daughter " maid off with Miss
MYERS'S bundle it was fraud. Both cases are
clearly puniahable on that ground. The cue may
be different where money is obtained by the practice
' of that which the magistrate believes to be a delusion,
but the practitioner does not. A medium, for in-
stance, honestly convinced of the truth of spiritualism,
and making money by practising, would not fall
within the range of the law: a medium who pro-
duced his edicts and made his money by proved
trickery, would. The difficult owes are those which
lie between these two extremes—the cases where the
practitioner, himself a half-believer, is almost as
much deluded SS deluding. But these are points
which must be left to the administrator, of the law,
and may now-a-days be left to them safely.

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

CNZON OVA OWN 001101311PONDWINN
PARIS, WZ.NWIDA.T BVININO.
I yesterday heard an anecdote, of which I can
vouch for the truth, and which proves—as, indeed,
we already know—that the /orator is re occasion-
ally gives place here to the esoviter in seodo. Some
of your readers, whore memories go back to the
days of the coup &stag, may remember the name of
M. Herve. He was • republican of the reddest
complexion, an associate of Prondhon and men of
that stamp. He win among those marked out for
the pleasant little marine excursion to Cayenne;
but fortunately escaped that fate, being merely put
out of harm's way in some native prison. It is not
necessary to trouble you with this gentleman's
biography up to the present time, nor to dilate
further upon his individuality than to say that
he is considered by his friends to be a man of no
particular ability—in short, in point of talent, is a man
of decent mediocrity and no more. Some ten days
or a fortnight ago, M. Hone received from the
Prince Minister of Algeria and the Colonies, a letter
which ran somewhat as follows,—" Sir, being de-
sirous of surrounding my ministry with all that is
most distinguished in point of ability, and my atten-
tion having been directed to you, I beg to offer you
the situation of—(naming a place of considerable im-
portance). The salary is only 6,000 francs • year, •
sum whisk I consider wholly unworthy of your
acceptance. I shall, therefore, from my own
private purse, add the like amount, making
the salary which I offer you 12,000 francs.
Awaiting your reply, &c., &c."signed by the Prince
himself. The following day the Prince Minister
received an answer from M. Herve, to this intent.
" Monseigneur,—l am penetrated with the oompli-
ment containel in your offer, &0., &c. But, as
before returning a definite answer I must consult
the republican committee, of which I am the presi-
dent, I request that your imperial highness will
allow me two days for that purpose," &e., &0.,
signed by M. Here& The two days having
elapsed, the prince received a second letter,
informing him that M. Hervb having laid
his imperial highnem's offer before his com-
mittee, and having taken the opinion of that
body on that matter, was graciously pleased to accept
the offer of the situation, and only awaited his
imperial highness'. commands to enter upon hi. floc-
dons. He further stated that he wrote his aooep-
unite from the committee which was then sitting.
To this the prince immediately replied that M.
Herve would greatly oblige him by presenting to
him on a certain day the entire committee in
question at his villa in the Avenue Montagne,
when he should be happy to discuss matters in general
with the members, and perhaps a little re-
' publicanism in particular. There is something
highly entertaining in this treating of power
with power. As to the act heel!, it ap-
pears to be nothing more than has, in a higher
sphere, been done over and over again in the adminis-
tration. The entire machine of imperialism is con-
ducted not by imperialists, but by ex-Orleanists, and
tamed republicans. There is no gamekeeper equsl
to your old poacher, and a penitent thief makes the
best of policemen. Even supposing M. Herve is not
the distinguished man he thinks himself and is
thought by his committee, it is turning him to a
much better nee to keep him from 10 till 4, copying
colonial despatches, than to let him hatch treason
till he reaches the point of hand grenades and
Cayenne.

The attention of all interested in the progress of
the representative system may be beneficially
directed to a very small spot in Italy. The diminu-
tive republic of San Marino, founded nearly twelve
centuries ago by a stonemason, containing a popu-
lation considerably under 10,000, whish has sur-
vived so many devastating wars and terrible revo-
lutions, has, in the course of the present month,
elected as its regents MM. Belluzzi and Maracci.
The witty Taxa. Dotard has a ding at Louis
Vetrillot and the Univers to-day, in the Charivari.
It is touching relics, and is as follows:
♦ provincial journal which believes in the rapid speed
of catholiciaes in heretic Ragland, supports its views by
the following facts, which it is in a rendition to mthatantiath
The hotel (Anglin house) of his 2.minasos the Coed/add
of Westminster, in Golden-street, has been pieced maths the
oars of • amp@ of observation, @sleeted hens tae most
experienced of the metropolitan police. It Is • lamentable
but undoubted fact that attempts are daily and nightly
nods by enthusiastic catholic@ to introdaos Amidst@ sur-
repUtioualy into Cardinal Wiemean's peportnelia, for t►e re-
pose of carrying away, under the name of relies, Menne
objects belonging to this prints of the church. His valet do
chambre remises constantly letters thus conceived :
&r,—l hoes en irrepressible desire to perm one of the
cardinals' red bats. I ears not how old—the oldest he has,
If yea like. old six thousand pounds therling appear to
you an inadequate eon, I request that you will yourself
same the price of the article in question. I pica my whole
forage at your disposal, awaiting your answer with a
imerieh analety.—l am, air, LORD PAITIIIISCM"

am thirty-dye, active, strong, mad have 4,0001. •
year. Or thing aims le wanting to the oempledon of my
happiness. I posers nothing which boa Met beiaand to
the pious cardinal who rules the catholicism of Engismd.
This want reduces me to • state bordering upon despair.
You, sir, can rase me to the seventh heaven of happiness,
by wading me the rasor with which he lest shaved. Te
obtain this precious relic, I will spend my last pound. I
Sing myself and my fortune at your feet, end am, sir, Im-
patiently yours, !cc., "But Jona K IBM."

" Bir,—l have the honor to inform ma that If you refuel to
giro madam the paperknife or me of the pens belonging
to Cardbmi Wheaten, I shall be under the painful neamity
of blowing out my brains. Will you accept the responsibility
of this awful act P While you reply I shall occupy myself iu
oiling the trigger of my revolver.
Trartmonr, Eaciotaz."
One day an Englishman presenting every outward sign of
optima*, drove up le aa hotel In the Rue de Rivoll. His
flett &mood was for an architect. "Sir," he Bald, with
that peculiarity of linnet with which our readers are so
fetailiar, "I em come to settle in Pianos. Yea will begin
by building me a splendid hotel in the Champs Elyeies."
.1 am at the orders of Milord." "Then a magnificent
chateau In tho country." " Nothing will be easier." "Go
and bring me your plans." It was speedily emanated that
this nabob was the cardinal's wig maker, who has reaming a
mimosa Maine by Delfts angle halm out of the
cardthe's wig. To return to the rues by which relic
esabn get into his eminence's hotel ; a heeling
London journal has the following: "This namtlag
a ma mewed the shady of Cardinal Wiegman
through the chimney. The am-Tanta, aided by the police,
eameMed fa Mob, the bleeder. ' What are you doing
lam? they faked. ihreephig the chimney,' he said. No-
body wee duped ley Mb sedge% aid in a few minutes the
ea-Ascot 111111411/01d OM lie object wee to meal the
awilinere boot- 1 It le @Mod that no "UMW proceed-
lam MR be taken mart tide preen, who. it Is whispered,
Wimp le oue of the era Malian is the United Kingdom,
TM opfrtt of public matomilos boo boos feud to profit by
minwing ma who ham add MEM Mice to the
Ewa lie fens thin Ow Wes airszeown an
aimied vita bow wollood bow wilts by of thus
ordoleco Obio Mobil yoblis." As Mit
211.68661. bre loodbood, w do mot Mewl W
smifon
testy we who the Weft of temeettehne oar wolardebsoutat Mai
they sheaM net ham he.. fa the firm instance wooloboold
to the Unarm

The Three per Cants. cloned to-day at Mr,. 2k.
for the end of the mantlhand the Four•aad-a-Half per
Cents. al 96fr. 30e. • Orleans Itsilway Shares,
1,4116 fr. I Great Northern, 990 fr. Stresharg,
747 fr. 60c.; Paris to Lyons and the Mediterranean,
1385 fr. ; Western of France, 642 fr. 60c.; Bordeaux
and Cette, 605 fr. ; Lyon. and Geneva, 63.5 fr. ;
Bank of Credit Mobilier, 973 Fr. ; Austrian Railways,
670 fr. ' • Roman Railways, 606 fr. ; Burka Rad•
ways, 6081 r. 76e.