The Express.
London, England, 1859-01-04 00:00:00

THE RUSSIANS AT VILLAFRANCA.

(run ore own COIRZSPONDENT.)
NICE, Drs. 30.
The Grand Duke Constantine, accompanied by the
Grand Duchess and the young Grand Duke Nicho-
las, left Villafranca lut night for Genoa, from
whence they will shortly proceed to Palermo, where
the Grand Duchess has the intention of residing a
few months.

The Milan, screw corvette, wu despatched by the
Russian High Admiral to Palermo, on Monday laat,
in order that the neoessary preparations for the recep-
tion of his consort might be made. The Rurik, screw
corvette, has order, to remain in Villainous Bay
until the arrival of another Russian war vessel from
Spanish waters, when she will rejoin the remainder
of the squadron, which left yesterday with the
Grand Duke.

The grand decal party started from Nice early in
the afternoon, and on arriving at Villafranca em-
barked in an open boat for St. Jean, famous for its
tunny fishery and for having been the headquarters
of the Saracens in days of old. After a brief visit
to the fishery the Grand Doke and his family re-
turned to Villafranca and went on board the frigate
Gremboy, where they entertained the Prince de
Carignan to dinner. This prince, who had been
despatched by his cousin, King Victor Emmanuel,
to compliment the illustrious visitors in Nice, accom-
' puled the Russian squadron to Genoa on board the
1 Sardinian despatch boat Monzambano. The Rus-
, sian fleet is expected to be absent about a month.
The Prince de Carignan arrived in Nice on Tues-
day morning, and he was paying a visit to the
Grand Duke Constantine at the Hotel Victoria when
Prince Charles 111. of Monaco drove up to the hotel,
also with the intention of paying his compliments to
the Russian High Admiral. He was at once re-
ceived by the latter, and the three princes remained
in close conversation for a considerable period. This
circumstance has revived all the rumours concerning
the cession of the principality of Monaco to Russia,
and the local journals even lend an attentive ear to
these idle reports.
A friend writes me from Rome that the King and
Queen of Prussia arrived in that city on the 23rd
from Florence. and had taken up their residence at
the Caffarelli Palace, the seat of the Prussian Lega-
tion. Amongst the late arrivals were Lady de Red-
cliffs and Princess Mary of Prussia.
Madame Boocabadati, the prima donna of the Nice
Opera-hones, who is a great favourite with the
public, received an ovation yesterday at the close of
her benefit performance. A carriage and four con-
veyed her from the theatre to her residence, where
the regimental band gave her a serenade amidst the
cheering of the crowd.

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(now otni ow(

PARIS, BIONDAT ZTKXIXG.

There has been an extraordinary panic at the
Bourse, in consequence of a rumour of something
said by the Emperor to M. de Hubner on New
Year's-day, from which it is inferred that the rela-
tions between Francs and Austria are in a very
critical, not to say alarming, state. Curiously
enough, the Nord of Brussels says that the New
Year's receptions were watched with the most in-
tense anxiety, in the expectation that the Emperor
might possibly say a word tending to throw a light
upon the situation, but that nothing whatever of the
slighted political iimportance dropped from
his lips, and that Europe must wait for
the speech of February 7, before knowing
the view which Napoleon 111. takes of Italian
affairs. It appears, however, to be certain that the
Emperor did say something to M. de Hubner de-
parting very widely from the ordinary tone used by
a sovereign to a foreign ministry on the occasion of
a joyous holiday. There are several versions of what
was said, and I have no pretensions to give the
exact words. Only a sentence or two was, I believe,
uttered by his Majesty. One story is that while
wishing M. de Hubner personally the compliments
of the season, he regretted that the present state of
the relations between the two governments left
much to be desired. According to another
the Emperor said that he was sorry to think that
Austria and France were not so friendly as formerly
—more particularly as he had still the greatest affec-
tion for the Austrian emperor. It matters very
little what was the precise language need ; the main
fact is that such an occasion was chosen for an-
nouncing from the throne that the two governments
were on bad terms. No evening paper makes any
direct remarks in its leading columns upon the con-
versation attributed to the Emperor. The Petrie
alone alludes to them darkly, as follows : " Rumours
were circulated at the Bonne to-day of a nature
to lead to the belief that there are dimensions
between France and Austria. Similar rumours
have been previously speculated upon, and pre-
viously denied, and we are authorised to believe
that no new circumstance has occurred to justify
them."

The Patrie, you will observe, does not say it is
authorised to contradict the rumour of the day,
but that it is authorised not to believe it. This
form of • semi-official denial is so new that I
doubt whether the Patric hes any authority at all
for its belief.

The Nord, writing, of course, before the event
of to-day was known, mentions the significant
fact that the Emperor lately ordered a copy of
General Blonders topographic album of the War
in the Crimea to be presented to the Sovereigns of
England, Russia, Prussia, Turkey, Sardinia, and the
Pope, but gave none to Austria.
The Bourse wu greatly alarmed ; the Rente fell
850., both for cuh and account, closing at 72fr.
in e►ch cue. Mobilier fell 33fr. Railways were
lege affected than the Rents; but little business was
done in them. Orleans fell 12fr. 50c., Lyons 10fr.,
Southern 7fr. 50c., Western and Eastern sfr. each,
and Northern 3fr. 25c.

It is reported that Prince Napoleon has appointed
a commission to consider a plan for establishing
steamers to run from Algeria to the Isle of Reunion,
Suer, India, and China.

In Berlin the diplomatic circles have, amidst
their other gaieties, been occupied with the ceremonies end
eMertainnisnis connected with the marriage of Arista/chi
Bey, the Turkish Chargd d'Affaires et the Premien Court,
with Anne, daughter of General Von Bonin, the new
Minister of War, and one of the ministers of his govem-
meat in whom the Prince Regent le known to place the
pedant con&lonos. The religious ceremony wee first per-
formed acormiing to the rites of the Greek Orthodox Church
by the Arrhimandrits Androakus Dematreoopolo, from

Leitstic, and eubssonently aocordieg to thee of the Pro.
testriet Church by the Rev. Dr. Kober, of Berlin.
Deism we ( Times) are misinformed, Franee and
Austria are tow entirely at variance as to the coarse to be
pursued to the States of the Church, the French urging the
withdrawal both of their or and the Autumn garrisons if
the Pope refuses the reforms in hie aottuiDistration which
have best reconimeeded for his adoption, and the Aligarh=
eipreesing their determination to support the Pope under
every contingency.