The Express.
London, England, 1858-01-02 00:00:00

TURKEY.

(non ova ovrx coaaaarexmarr.)
CONSTANTINOPLE, Die. 23.
The Grand Prince Nicholas, Inspector-General

Fortresses and Engineering \Volk; in the Russian
empire, is at present in the Crimea. According to
the Paris treaty of peace, the restoration of the for-
tifications on the south side of the harbour of Sebas-
topol is prohibited, and the Grand Prince Nicholas
has therefore given orders for the northern side to
be strengthened in such a manner as to prevent any
entrance into the harbour. The town of Sebastopol,
m it is now being rebuilt, is laid out in such a
manner as to admit of the construction, on all the
strategetic points of the south side, of government
buildings, which in case of a war might easily be
converted into forte. Fort St. Paul, at liertch, is
to be completely finished by next March.
The works at the months of the Danube do not
make progress, although the Austrian papers keep
on declaring that they are most zealously prose-
cuted. It has not yet been determined which
channel is to be the navigable entrance, upon
which question the views of the European com-
missioners are very much divided. Of these seven
commissioners, three are in favour of the Salina
channel, and two for St. George's channel; the
Austrian commissioner is personally in favour of the
St. George's, but as yet he has received no instruc-
tions from his government; the Turkish commis-
sioner has not yet pronounced his opinion; and
when the matter is put to the vote, there
will not be • large majority on either side.
They have now been at work upon it a whole
year, and 100,000 ducats have already been
I spent, without obtaining the smallest result, so that
we have good reason to exclaim, " God protect us
from commissioners !" It is very desirable that
some member of the English parliament should, by
putting a question on this subject, bring it before
the public ; for the mercantile marine of England
would derive great advantages from the difficulties
of the Danube navigation being removed.
The Sublime Porte has officially announced the
fact that Naib Emin Bey, who styles himself a
Circassian chief, and who was lately into-lei at
Damascus, has contrived to escape from that place
and to return to Cireassia; and it is hereby publicly
notified to all whom it may concern that the Turkish
government has been in no way connected with
his evasion. By this proclamation, the de-
signs of Russia are meant to be frustrated ;
for it is certain that the Resigns contributed to
Naib's removal, in order that he might go to Cir.
cassia and work for the interests of Rural* in
fomenting discord. The effect of the Turkish pro-
clamation, however, will be to render Naib very un-
popular amongst the Cr"iassian&
The Bourse here has just experienced a great
change within a few hours. The rate of exchange,
which stood this morning at 14d piastres the Turkish
lira, had fallen by noonday to 141 piastres. This
rapid alteration was occasioned by a telegraphic de-
spatch informing us of the rate of discount in France
having been reduced to six per cent.
On Saturday M. Thouvenel and Reschid Pacha
were at last brought together at a reconciliation
dinner given by Asli Pacha. The French amber
eider arrived with his first secretary and dragoman,
accompanied by M. de Lesseps, and was received by
Rescind Poch& At table, M. de Thouvenel occupied
the place of honour, and at his right sat the Grand
Victor, with whom he had not had any conference
for several months before. Thum are the French
Embassy and the Minister of the Porte now again
on peaceable terms.
Intelligence has just reached me that very large

manes of troops are being rent from Odessa to
Georgia, their numbers being stated at 20,000 men.

PORTUGAL.

(mow ova owx col

LISBON, Die, 28,

I am glad to have to record that the fever has de-
()reseed still further since I last wrote ; in fact, the
Diario for the last two days has not noticed any new
cues; and although there are still patients under
treatment in the hospitals, we may consider now that
the existence of the disease in Lisbon is merely
nominal. Doubtless the very low temperature of
the atmosphere and the presence of winter has
greatlyafr contributed to bring about this gratifying
. I hear besides, on very good authority, that
the government will take energetic measures before
the approach of spring to cleanse the city, and ame-
liorate as much as possible the condition of the
sewers. In the meantime there exists many pro-
phets of evil, who predict the return of the disease
with the warm weather ;That u:there are no grounds
7,l;:exzerience upon which such judgments can be
it is fervently to be hoped that the disease
may not return.
I regret to have to record the death of Mr. George
A. Hancock, a merchant of this city, and one of the
most prominent members of the English community.
Mr. Hancock was long known as an active and use-
ful member of society, as a merchant of the highest
honour and integrity, and a most charitable man.
He was followed to his grave by a large number of
sorrowful friends, and no death which has occurred
during the epidemic has excited such general
sYmPathy.
The Tagus (a.) arrived on 24th inst., after having
had very boisterous weather.