The Express.
London, England, 1867-05-06 00:00:00

ITALY.

FLORENCE, MAY 5.

The elections at Alexandria, Savona, Sala, Vit-
toria, Acqui, and Bassano have resulted in the re-
turn of Signori Rattazzi, Peacetto, Ferrara,
Chiaves, and Broglio respectively.

ARRIVAL OF THE WATER NYMPH.
PLYMOUTH, MAT 6.

The Water Nymph, Captain Babot, from New
Zealand on the 14th February, with passen-
gers and a general cargo, including a consignment
of gold, was off this port last night. She landed
one passenger.

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(ram oos OWN ooanarcamirr.)
PARIS, SUNDAT EVENING.

There are in the papers various items of contra-
dictory news about military preparations. lam
told that quite :recently an order issued by the
Minister of War to officers on furlough to join their
regiments has been rescinded. On the other hand,
it appears front various symptoms that there has
been a calculated dilatoriness in carrying into effect
the suspensive measures announced by the Moniteur
as a consequence of the conference. For instance,
at Rouen a proclamation was published by the
prefect of the Seine Inferieure so lately as May 2,
calling upon the 2nd contingent of recruits of the
class of 18154 to appear at their depots from the
15th to the 20th of May. That was a war measure
ordered on April 20, and it does not seem to have
been rescinded.

The Strasburg papers announce that after May 4
the public will not be allowed to pass through the
citadel "on account of work' about to be com-
menced." Advertisements for the purchase of
horses for the army are to be seen in many provin-
cial papers. Letters from Luxemburg of May 2
and 3 speak of the attitude of the Prussian garri-
son there as indicating anything but a speedy eva-
cuation. Barrels of powder are constantly arriving
there, and the fortifications are being strengthened
in various places. The Prussian general com-
manding the fortress has made a heavy contract
for victualling the place, and required the stores
he has purchased to be delivered within a week.
It is added that contrary to usage, and with a view
to avoid publicity, this contract was not made
upon sealed tenders, but was given to the son-in-
law of the intendant.

At the same time the semi-official journals are
instructed to speak as if there were no doubt of
the maintenance of peace. M. Boniface announces
in the Constitutionnet that pretty nearly all the
Emperors and Kings of Europe, with the Pacha of
Egypt into the bargain, will be here for the Exhi-
bition in the course of the summer. The Liberte,
assuming peace to be certain, and pursuing its
proclaimed policy of systematic opposition, lays
itself out to demonstrate that the conditions must
necessarily be humiliating to France and destruc-
tive of what yet remains of her prestige after
the failure of her schemes in Poland, the
United States, and Mexico. "If," it says, " the
conference pronounces for the neutralisation of
Luxemburg without the previous evacuation of
the Prussians ; if it receives the Prussian ambas-
sador in the character of representative of Northern
Germany, the question will be already decided
against us. It will be understood in the face of
Europe that we had no claim for any compensation,
that Prussia is the legitimate heir of the confedera-
tion, and that we are for ever foreclosed and de-
barred from any rectification of our frontiers."

. . . Prussia will have availed herself of the
conference to obtain from Europe a recognition
and confirmation of the results of her victories."

I observe simultaneously in several papers a
suggestion that France, in obedience to her invari-
ably guiding principle, will be obliged to ask that
whatever may be the new destinies of Luxemburg,
the populations should be consulted by a plebiscite.
I see there a cloud as big as a man's hand which
may break up the conference. It is out of the
question that such a condition should be accepted.

- The France mentions as an on dit that ' next
week' the Prince Imperial, with his military
household and his tutor, M. Monier, will take up
his residence at St. Cloud.