The Express.
London, England, 1860-12-22 00:00:00

PRUSSIA.

The Prussian Gazette publishes an ordinance of
the Prince Regent, appointing M. de Bernuth, pre-
sident of the Court of Appeal of Posen, Minister of
Justice, in the room of M. Simons. "My hopes,"
says a letter from Berlin, " are based on the nomi-
nation of this gentleman, who possesses great cape-
city. Ile will have to re-establish confidence in
the legal order, which has been somewhat shaken
by the revelations made iu the last prosecution of
the police."
It is stated in a letter from Berlin that the Prus-
sian cabinet has addressed a circular to the confe-
derated States, setting forth the present situation
of the difference with Denmark, and proposing
measures fur obtaining a solution of it. It is added
that on this matter Austria is quite in accordance
with Prussia _ _ _

A Berlin letter of the 17th Bays
The general security of tho Praeslaa fortresses, both on
sea end land frontiers, is a questioe now under coosidoration
at the Ministry of War. The fortifications of Stettin are
to be augmented ; Konigsberg and Posen are to be raised
to the rank of fortresses of tho first class. The aouth.
meters frontier, towards Poland, Hunipsry, sod Austria,
and the western towards the Moselle, are Iw strongly de-
fended. The small fortress of Juliers has already been di..
matted ; Sarrelouis, which is not tenable, will undergo the
same f►te ; but Trim is to be made a first-clams fortress.
It is said that the plans fur furtifyini this last place are in
course of preparation.

4•4-
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EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(iruom °us owx

PARIS, PamAy Monza..

The news from Gaeta is confused and contradic-
tory. There is no confirmation of the intelligenoe

that the

on the 19th.

Some say that Russia recommends continued resist-
ance, but there are reports to the contrary, and
that negotiations which were broken off were new.
This much is certain, that the French admiral
still stops the way, and has no new instructions.
The Bourse gets worse and worse. There was a
little more business to-day, but only in consequence
of more sales. The Rents fell 10c. for cash, and
20c. for account, closing at 68fr. 40c. Mobilier fell
sfr. In railways there was hardly any alteration.
The Munifeur to-day classifies the different
ministries. That of the " Emperor's household,"
being of the most recent creation, is last in
rank, but the ministers take precedence among
themselves according to the date of their services.
Thus MM. Baroche and Magne, though ministers
without portfolios, take rank immediately after the
Minister of State, and M. Billault is No. 6 among
13 ministers. This decree is important, showing
that the ministers without portfolios are in every
respect on a footing in point of dignity and im-
portance with the holders of the older offices.

A cartoon of Leonardo di Vinci and a triptich of
Hemling have just been added to the Louvre
Museum.

" Her Majesty's frigate Melpomene, Captain
Ewart," says the Malta Times, " has arrived here
from Corfu, having on board the Princess of Mon-
tenegro, who is proceeding to Paris on a visit to
the Emperor of the French, at the express invita-
tion of her Imperial Majesty. It may be remem-
bered that the husband of this unfortunate princess
was not long since assassinated at her side."
" A detachment of the first section of the army
works corps, in garrison at the fort of Vincennes,"
says the Constitutionnet, " has just received orders
to proceed to Toulon to embark on board a vessel
bound for China. Several detachments of ►rtillery
are also under orders for the same destinatiou."

PARIS, THIMSDAY EVIIIILNO.

Although there is no news from Gaeta of a tho-
roughly reliable character there seems to be no
doubt that the armistice is at an end. The positive
assurance of the Pays last night to the contrary
was ill founded. That journal now admits that
Francis 11. has rejected the advice tendered to him.
It adds that the only result of that advice was the
proclamation of Dec. 8. I am inclined, however,
to think that the Pays here makes another mis-
take. That document was written before the sus-
pension of hostilities. It is dated Dec. 8, and it
was on that day that the Piedmontese shells fell
upon the hospital and even touched the Queen's
balcony. There is nothing as yet to show that it
was published after the armistice. The Patric says
that the negotiations have broken down, and that
things are now in the status quo ante. The batteries
of Banta Agatha and Monte Cristo were to have
opened fire on the morning of yesterday, the 19th,
and the besieged were preparing for a vigorous re•
sistanoe, but heavy rains have greatly impeded the
siege works and may possibly have postponed the
attack.

Count de Persigny has returned from England
sooner than was expected. He relieved his substi-
tute M. Billault at the Home-office to-day. There
is no doubt that he had some very delicate diplo-
matic buainess to transact with the English govern-
ment--a business which I believe has been arranged
to the satisfaction of both parties.
It is stated that despatches from Vienna of an
"almost alarming character were received in Paris
last night." The war party is said to be very
violent, and M. de Schmerling has been obliged to
threaten to resign, in order to keep them within
bounds. The Emperor, it is said, sent for the
Secretary of the Archduchess Sophia to the Tuile-
ries yesterday, and sent him off to Vienna with
urgent despatches.
The Bourse continues to be dull and depressed.
The confirmation of the news of peace with China
and the additional fact that the government will
get sixty millions for its share of the indemnity
produced no effect upon the market. The Rents
fell 15c. for cash and 10c. for account, closing at',
68.50 and 68.65. Mobilier fell 2.50. Railcars
remain stagnant, although the weekly receipts are
very good.
The Patric gives a positive contradiction to the
statements of the English journals that the French
pillaged the Emperor of China's Summer Palace
before the arrival of the English. It asserts that
the French " waited for" the English, and that
the works of art and all the costly and precious
contents of the gorgeous residence were " shared in
the most regular manner between the two nations,
in the presence of the two generals." However de-
sirous to be impartial, I cannot carry affectation so
far as to give oven momentary credit to this state-
ment, against the circumstantial letters of the Eng-
lish correspondents, who, I know, do their utmost
to state nothing but the truth.
M. Dabeaux' government candidate, has been
returned deputy for the Aude. A question will be
raised as to the legality of the election, in conse-
quence of his nut having resigned his prefecture
within the proper time before going to the poll.