The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-01 00:00:00

THE UNIVERSAL EXHIBITION OF 1867.

(nom ov RPICTAL ow

The Imperial Commissioners are in downright '
earnest with exhibitors. The cases are being
thrust out. After to-day (March 2-1) no case will be
admitted. The sweeping and cleaning are to begin
to-morrow ; and on Sunday there will be a general
inspection of palace and park. The activity of
this week has been extraerdinary. The main
avenue, from the Pont d'iima, is gay with stately
columns, eagles, and flags. The outer ring, of the
building is alive with the " refreshmenting ' of all
nations. A mighty business in beer is proceeding
in the Viennese and Munich estaminets. The sober'
Spaniards are on the point of opening their cafi—
the iced water-and-sugar of which will not, 1 fear,
satisfy many of their neighbours ; nor will their
beer-punch be found potent enough by the French,
English, ur Germans. Albeit the opening is to be
quiet, and conducted with little pomp, there is
now every likelihood that a lively, sparkling
scene will be contrived. We have some
fair spring weather at last ; and the park is not the
slough of despond it was last Sunday, when it was
pantile to get from one section only by the help of
planks thrown across—not puddle, but muddy
ponds. At the western entrance, black still water
lay more than half way across the road. But the
paviors are at work ; the skilful layers of bitumen
are sliming the outer passages and the main paths
with their unsavoury composition. The iron gate-
ways at the various entrances are being fixed. An .
elegant railing is enclosing the horticultural de-
partment,
so that no visitor shall get among the
flowers until he has paid the supplementary ten
sons. The main gateway is to be ono of the won-
ders of the Exhibition, but it will not be so conve-
nient as the eastern entrance. Here two immense
sheds of elegant design have been erected, so that in
wet weather the crowd waiting to pass through
the turnstiles will be under cover. Three high and
broadgallerieshsvebeen crected,which compose the
framework of two parterres. A green cloth freaked
with Imperial bees, ten metres in width, is to
mal.o a covered way 250 metres in length from the
POo . d'llina to the Emperor's gaudy pavilion.
Ano-her happy idea in the midst of many : at the
exit doors an electric telegraph has been esta-
blished, communicating with the great carriage
stations, so that visitors can ask for their carr ages
through the wires. To the west of the budding, by
the avenue Liffreu, a great suite is in course of
construction for a series of historical concerts, and
the " exhibition of musical composition." A
covered way has been contrived from the railway
terminus by the banks of the Seine to the main
building.
Many have been puzzled at the massive work
that has been proceeding throughout the week in
the middle of the central garden. I have just
ascertained that it is to be a rotunda of solid build,
wherein the crown jewels of the empire will be ex-
hibited, surrounded with flowers and the cooling
waters of four fountains. The effect will be
dazzling, provided the muddy green curtains which
now disfigure the galleries round the court are re-
moved. The first summer rays of the sun would
take all the colour out of them, which would im-
prove them ; but no art save that of the dyer could
make them ornamental.

Surplus Balance beyoud the charge of the Cow.
'blared Ituutl, tor the Quarter ruled Dec. 31,
isou, rls :

Great Britain
trelaad

Income received, ss shown In Account I

£951.740

051,740

18,441,871

Amount received in repayment of Advances for
Public Worla, Ac.

Ditto for New Courts of Justice

The main avenue in the building is now receiv-
ing colossal cariatidos, in carton-pierre I presume,
which give a tine effect. The elders are at work,
and the columns glitter under their hands. Ele-
gant lamps are appearing in the open outer gallery.
Porticoes of effective design indicate each section
of the Exhibition, so that the visitor, on reaching
the building, can repair straightway to the where-
abouts of the industry he wishes to examine.
Moreover, a light gallery has been contrived along
the centre of the outer or machinery gallery. By
following this gallery the visitor will be able to get
a bird's eye view of the courts and counters of the
various exhibiting nations.
The imperial commission has devoted several
parts of the Exhibition palace and grounds to the
erection of certain establishments designed for the
convenience and comfort of visitors and exhibitors.
It is decided that the contractors fur these esta-
blishments are to be regarded as exhibitors, and
may compete for prizes. Among the constructions
included up to this day in the decision of the com-
mission, I may mention—the hydraulic machines
for the raising of water for the irrigation of the
park, and for other purposes for which a moderate
power is required ; the little carriages for the use
of visitors in the grounds and palace ; M. Edoitin's
lift fur the raising of visitors to the highest eleva-
tion of the galleries, whence a view of the entire,
Exhibition may be obtained ; and, lastly, the steel
bridge that unites the steep bank of the Seine with'!
the Quai d'Orsay, and which constitutes one of the
tint examples of steel applied to great public con-
structions. This bridge is even now open to
general traffic, and has satisfactorily undergone the
series of experiments made with the view of testing
its solidity.

103,000

£18,769,439
Balance, being the Deficiency on March M, 1867,
afoul the charge of the C.unolidate.l Pima al Great
Britain, to meet the Divitlenth, &lid other charges,
payable to the Quarter to June 30, 1u67 67?,863

£220,446,301

TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE.

(scurzs's TELECLUIL

TEE REPORTED CESSION OF LUXEM-
BURG TO FRANCE.

LUXKMMURG, MARCH 30.

The current rumours of the cession of the Grand
Duchy of Luxemburg to France aro officially de-
dared to be devoid of foundation.

Numerous handbills are being circulated here,
headed " Vive Napoleon ! " " Vivo la France !"
and instigating the inhabitants to acts of violence
against the Prussians. Four regiments of troops
belonging to the garrison, composed of Nassauels,
have made an attempt to revolt. The governor,
in consequence, has been compelled to make the
mast serious representations on the subject to the
civil authorities of the town.
THE HAGUE, hitecu 31.

The Official Gazette of to-day, in the name of the
Chancellery of Luxemburg, gives the most positive
denial to the statement that that Grand Duchy
has been ceded to France, and adds :—" There
could only be question of such a cession in the
event of the great Powers, who are interested in
the matter, having first come to an understanding
on the subject."
- BERLIN MARCH 31.

In to-morrow's sitting of the NOrth German
parliament, Herr von Bennigsen, in the name of
the National Liberal party, will bring forward an
interpolation asking whether the rumours of
negotiations between Holland and France for the
cession of the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg to the
latter Power are well founded, and whether the
Prussian government is in • position to make
communications to parliament to the effect that it
is determined, together with its Federal allies, to
secure permanently against every danger the
connexion of Luxemburg with the rest of Ger-
many, and especially Prussia's right to
garrison the capital of the Grand Duchy.
The interpellation of Herr von Bennigsen
will, moreover, declare that all parties will be
united in giving the government their most power-
ful support to prevent the separation of an ancientl
German land from the rest of Germany. The
Crown Prince of Saxony is expected here to-morrow.
His visit is connected, it is believed, with the
settlement of important military questions.

SERVIA.

BELGRADE, MARCH 30.

Prince Michael left at 9 this morning for Con-
stantinople. His highness was accompanied by
the Pacha of the citadel of Belgrade.

ITALY.

FLORENCE, MAWR
_3O.

To-day in the Chamber of Deputies the bill for
the provisional exercise of the budget for three
months was adopted by 267 against 26 votes. The
ministry agreed to the proposal of Signor Luz:carol
that the budget of 1868 should be presented within
the next three months. The Government an-
nounced that on Monday next they will introduce
financial bills relative to the reform of the system
of public accounts and taxation. An official state-1
ment of the condition of the Treasury will shortly
be laid before the house.

The official programme of the opening has not
yet been published, but we understand (says Garignanis
Messenger of yesterday) that at the present time the fol-
lowing is the course of proceeding decided on :—The Em-
peror and Empress will arrive at the Champ tie Mars at
2 o'clock by the Pont d'lena. The members and admi-
nistrative staff of the Imperial Commission will receive
their Majesties at the entrance of honour, and accompany
them in this first visit. The certige will follow the grand
passage, now covered over with a handsome velum, and
will by that way reach the principal gate of the
palace ; it will then ascend one of the great staircases
of the machine compartment, and make a tour of
the palace on that platform. The different foreign com-
missions will be ranged along the nave, each before the
section assigned to the nation it represents. The mem-
bers of the juries of Groups VI. and X. (instruments and
objects for common use, combining utility with cheapness)
will be stationed on the platform. Having thus given •
glance at the manufactures of all nations, the Emperor,
returning to the principal gate, will enter the grand
vestibule of honour, from which debouch the circular
galleries, at the aides of which are placed the various
sorts of raw material with the processes of applica-
tion to the liberal arta. At the entrance of each pas-
sage will be placed the members of the juries of these
groups. The cerUpe, then turning towards the central
garden,will proceed to the part devoted tothe fine arta, arid
traverse the galleries from end to end. The procession will
neat pass before the entm nee of the arclueological compart-
ment and follow the central garden longitudinally. Finally SPAIN.
it will take its departure by the gallery called the Belgian, MADRID, Msg.= 30.
in which are ranged the productions of Belgium and The new Congress assembled to-day for the first
Prussia. Court-carriages will be in waiting at the gate
time, when Marshal Narvaez read a royal decree
situated near the Ecole Militaire. The regulation dress
for gentlemen u evening dress with white neckcloth ; the declaring the session to be formally opened. Senor
ladies in visiting costume. During the whole ceremony Bahia was elected President by 181 out of 201
those parts of the palace not set apart for the circulation of
open to the pub
the ettra.ge will remain public. votes. A committee was appointed to draw up

FLORENCE, MhltcH 31.

The Senate has adopted almost unanimously the
bill for the provisional exercise of the budget for
three months. It has also approved the draft of
the address in reply to the speech from the throne.

MALTA.

VALETTA, MARCH 31.

The iron-clad Ocean has left for Mytelene, pur-
suant to a requisition from Lord Lyons, with a'
supply of biscuits and flour for the sufferers by the
late earthquake. There was an extraordinary
sudden fall and rise of water in Malta harbour yes-
terday. Sir Bartle Frere has landed here from
Alexandria. H.M.S. Galatea, with his Royal High-
ness the Duke of Edinbnrgh on board, arrived
here at half-past three this afternoon. The Galatea
left Gibraltar on Monday last. Sir Henry Storks
leaves on the 15th of April fur England.