The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-11 00:00:00

FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

The Daily News points out that the Emperor Napoleon,
in his eagerness to conciliate the French clergy, has parted
with whatever hold be has hitherto had on the Pope,
whose temporal sovereignty is no longer held on the con-
dition of good behaviour. The Roman government, with
all its abuses, opposed to every political principle on which
France has hitherto prided herself, the Emperor has now
pledged himself to maintain. By the mouth of M. lionher
he has assured the Pope that by no act of his government
can he forfeit the protection of French arms. In politics
the Pope is to be a chartered libertine. By the act of the
Emperor the worst vices of the Papal government are asso-
ciated with the strength of France ; and Napoleon in re-
turn gains simply nothing ; for the support he for the mo-
ment secures hes ever failed those who relied upon it.
The Post thinks the time has come for the lesser prin-
cipalities of Germany to give up their opposition to the
Prussian authority. It is • vexatious thing for • mighty
race like the Germans to be afflicted with a different kind
of government every ten miles, and to be unable to go out
fora picnic without being worried by custom-houses,
money-changers, passports, and policemen ; while a
debtor disposed to evade his responsibilities had some-
times only to run out into his back garden and jump over
a hedge to place himself beyond the reach of the law.

- -
The Times represents Indian society, civil and military,
as urging the Governor-General to enter Affghanistan,
and, in order to check the progress of Russia in Central
Asia, to carry our north-western frontier up to the borders
of Persia and Tartary. The Times argues that such an
enterprise would be far more costly than the Abyssinian
expedition, far more perilous, and inconceivably gratuit-
ous and wanton. A review of the circumstances leads to
I the doubt whether the present generation will see
Russia near the English border. Supposing, however,
that in the end the Russian and British empires in the
East should actually become conterminous, would the
Russians be worse neighbours to us than the fierce and
turbulent fanatics now swarming on our border? That is
a question on which there are certainly two opinions.
The Standard refers to M. Rouher's second explanation,
and says it would be now idle to doubt that the Emperor
is determined to maintain the Papacy. The Herald, on
the same subject, continues to defend the cause of the
Italians.

M. Ronher's declaration, the Targraph says, will add
tenfold to the distrust and malaise already prevailing
throughout the Continent. It is the characteristic of a
barbarous society that every man is on his guard against
his neighbour ; and such is the condition, modified by the
usages of civilisation, towards which nations seem tend-
ing. For the hour, however, the comity of nations
appears everywhere to be replaced by international in-
trigue; and true statesmanship, abdic►ting its function,
leaves peace to be guarded by the doubtful guarantee of
suspicions, fear, and selfish interest.

The Tina to-day publishes a long communication from
" Mistoricus" on the process of naturalisation in America,
and our contemporary, commenting on the subject, freely
admits that on grounds of policy, not to say common
sense, the argument for a revision of the present law is
irresistible. If the hundreds of thousands of Irish emi-
grants who are now citizens of the United States owe full
allegiance to her Majesty, it may also be doubted, at least,
whether they are not entitled to our protection against
conscription, yet it would have been utterly impossible for
our minister at Washington to grant them each protection
during the late American war. In short, our present
theory is quite untenable when any practical strain emus
to be put upon it. The nee* sees no good reason why
the British government should decline any friendly over-
tures that may be made by the United States with a view
to its amendment.

The Tclegrapit reminds its readers that for thirty years
pest the American government has had constant discus.
sions with continental powers—especially with Prussia
and Austria—respecting their claims to exact military
service from those of their citizens who, after becoming
naturalised Americans, temporarily reside within their
jurisdiction.

Monsignore Chigi, Papal nuncio, is said to have
rolled on M. Thiers to thank him fur his support to the
Pope.

An influential meeting of the prelates, clergy,
and laity of the Established Church was held in the Ex-
amination Hall of Trinity College, Dublin, on Monday,
for the purpose of making the necessary arrangements in
connection with the Church Congress to be held in this
city in the ensuing year. Resolutions in accordance with
the object were adopted, and addresses delivered by the
Lord Primate, the Regius Professor of Divinity, the Arch-
bishop of Dublin, Sir Edward Grogan, Bart., the Dean of
Cork, and other dist:nguialied clergymen and laymen. The
Bey. H. H. Dickinson, D.D., announced that all the Irish
prelates and a number of the leading noblemen of this
wintry had signified their consent to act as viorpreal-
dente, and the committee elected was numerous and in-
fluential.

THE 201.ANvoN-Roves WZST INDIA HURRICANE
Rum FUND.—Up to yesiorday evening the total dm
reeeived at the Ilsation-bows for the mile( of the sufferers
in the Wed Indies summated to 8,2701.