The Express.
London, England, 1859-12-31 00:00:00

SPAIN AND MOROCCO.

MADRID, Dec. N.
Yesterday the Spanish squadron burnt and blew
up the forts at the mouth of the river of Tetuan.
The troops are in perfect readiness to continue the
military operations.
Two tribes, not wishing to continue the war, have
withdrawn to their mountains.

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(nor Ora OWN

PARIS, FRIDAY ITZNING.

An event occurred at the Palais de Jostles this
morning which produced a greater sensation there
than anything remembered since the suspension of
M. Michel (de Bourget') in (I think) 1831. In the
Bth chamber of Correctional Police, presided by M.
Gialain de Bontio, a case of a political libel cams on
for hearing. M. Vacherot, the author of a book
called " La Democratic," was prosecuted for " ex-
citing to hatred and contempt," &o. The official
advocate who filled the public prosecutor's chair,
and who bears a name marvellously appropriate to
what followed—that of Merveilleux, made a speech

in the usual style on such occasions, denouncing the
defendant as an enemy of society, a child of
anarchy, and so forth. M. Emile 011ivier, the
eminent advocate, and the eloquent deputy for
Paris, who was retained for the defence, began
his speech, as I have it from the report of a barrister
who was present, as nearly u possible in the fol-
I lowing words I will not follow the example of
the public minister by making any appeal to pas-
sions, for I think that always a bad course —"
Thereupon the presiding judge, interrupting to a
very rough manner, told the counsel that he had
insulted the advocate of the crown, and required him
to retract his words. M. 011ivier replied that he
had no intention to insult the Advocate-General, and

he would slightly modify the expression he had
used, but he could not retract it because it
was true. Upon this the judge significantly
told the public minister that the court woe
ready to hear him, meaning to intimate that
he was to make a motion against M. Meier. M.
Merveilleux, who was probably as much astoniehed
as a•yons else present at finding a matter of coves
phrase in the mouth of an advocate collecting breath
for his exordium, treated se • crime, simply said that
he left the Pas to the wisdom of the court. The
judges retired, and on returning to their seats in-
formed M. (Meier that he wee required to retract
his expressions. M. (Miele, again declined to do
so, and then the president, Gislain de Boutin,
pronounced a decree, suspending M. E. 011ivier
from practice at the bar for the space of three
month.. The cause was put off for a week, to
enable M. Vacherot to choose another advocate. The
moment the judges rose all the barristers in court
rushed towards M. 011ivier and successively em-
braced him, more Gallico, on both cheeks.
In order fully to appreciate the nature of this
extraordinary and almost unprecedented act of petty
tyranny against a barrister supposed to be obnoxious
to government, it should be remembered that M.
011ivier is no awkward tyro in his profession, who
uses words at random. He is a practised orator and
an accomplished lawyer, one of the most eminent in
France—a thorough gentleman, a man of concilia-
tory manners, who pose/sees, in an eminent
degree, as he has often shown in the Corps
Legislatif, the art of fixing the attention of
• hostile audience, and maintaining his own
views without unnecessarily provoking his adver-
saries. The measure taken against him is alto-
gether contrary to the traditions of the French bar,
which is always allowed to reply freely to the
public minister just as they would to any opposing
advocate. The law allows M. Meier an appeal
from M. Gislain de Boatin's oppressive sentence. I
cannot doubt that he will make use of it. The bar
will certainly stand by its order, most grievously
injured in his person, and if he thinks fit to have any
other advocacy than his own to support the appeal,
the honour of defending him will be coveted by the
most illustrious members of the profession.
Although it is reported to-day in the purlieus
of the Foreign-office, that there is no ground for
serious uneasiness either about the postponement of
the congress or the attitude of the court of Rome,
some surprise was expressed that no despatches from
Rome have been received to-day. It is very con-

hdently asserted that Monsigneur Saormai will not be
" indisposed" on New Yeses-day, and that Le will
make his accustomed speech to the Emperor. Prince
Richard de Metternich, who is with the Emperor at
Fontainebleau on a hunting excursion, has received
two despatches in cypher from Vienna since lest
night. _ . _

Then was a good deal of fluctuation at the
Bourse. The Rents after haring opened a mere

shade higher receded to yesterday's Prices, but it
ultimately revived to 690. 30c. and 89fr. 20c.,

closing with a rise of 30c. and 40c. Mubilier rose
16fr. 260. Railways were barely from 2fr. 60c. to
Mr. It will thus be peen that the effect of the panic
of yesterday is scarcely half effaced.
The Journal des Villes et Canapagnes has
received a warning for reproducing hi. Louis
Veudlot's address to the Pope.

A letter from Pan 'aye :—" Among the more dia-
darnel:had of oar Knell& visitors at present are the Dowager
Conateseee of Albemarle and Cottenham, the Hon. Mr. and
Mts. AMteem, Itear-Adairal and Lady Jane Swinbura,
General D. Smith, Vim-Admiral Sir C. Rich, K. 8., &r C.
Kennedy, Bart."

• •
SNOW ON THZ CONTINENT.—The communica-
tions between Genoa cad Turin are interrupted at ',meant on
account of the beery talk el meow which have otmared on
thautonnteine. A letter from Vienna of the 26th eaye:—

"More mow has fallen this winter than for several )sere
pest. The communkmona on minty of the liner of rail-
way wars intercepted (or severel drip and are now only
partially meetabliehed. It is more particularly la Bleu,
end iloasary that the interruption lass taken place.
Oa the, 24th flee miss were stopped on me lino between
Adel.berg and apielfield, and could needier advance
nor return. The train from Trim's had a narrow sempe
from being buried under 4A avalanche which rolled down
from the mountain near Steinbeack and covered the hue to a
costaldesacte depth, only a few minutes before the train tome
.p. At Freeburg the violence of the wind had formed mow
drilla may feet in depth. The Arohdule Albert who had
left Prat tor Vanua wee compelled to wait for tweuty-four
hours at Freeburg before a train could convey boil on hie
journey. At Vienna the cold wall no 'even that the street-
, mews found mimel doge fn ma to death.