The Express.
London, England, 1867-02-16 00:00:00

ROYAL MARRIAGES.

The Journal des Dibats of to-day contains a long
article on the subject of the approaching marriages of King
Louis of Bavaria with his cousin the Princess Charlotte.
Augusta ; of Prince Umberto of Italy with the Arch-
•luchess Mary,daughter of Archduke Albert of Austria; and
of the Count •le Flandre with the Princess Mary of Hohen-
zollern. With regard to the last of these marriages, the
Iklgier says :—'• We learn from our Berlin correspondent
that when Prince Charles of Hohenzollern, the father of
the Princess Mazy, and the King of Prussia, were
asked for their consent to the marriage, they hesi-
tated for some time, fearing to unite a daughter
of their house with a Belgian Prince whose
position seemed to be threatened as being bound up with
the destiny of Belgium. But the position of things
is not now the same as it was a short time ago. Queen
Victoria has formally asked the Princess of Hohen-
zollern for her cousin the Count de Flandre, to
whom she is very much attached, and the court
of Prussia has been informed, it is slid, that what-
ever government may exist in England, Belgium would be
protected by Great Britain, especially if it could rely on
the friendly disposition of the court of Berlin—a •lisposi-
tion of which the marriage in question should be the
pledge." The D&uts proceeds to remark that it does not
believe Belgium has anything to fear from France, as the
entire neutrality of Belgium, since it acquired its indepen
dance, has given no cause of umbrage to France.

PLYMOUTH, SATCHDAY,—Her Majesty's ships
Racoon and Vestal have left for Ireland. The Charybdis
is lying inside the Breakwater, ready to start when the
Marines are embarked. The weather has considerably
moderated. The wind is light from the southward.

The dress worn by the Empress Euggnie at the
opening of the French Chamber was of white satin, the
ripper part of the sleeve and cuff and the beaquine edged
with the cloches (sable). The bonnet was almost invisible,
a thing of white crape, and wreathed with dark velvet
leaves ; but depending from the edge, falling on her hair,
were large diamond drops. On the narrow brown velvet
strings was a diamond of great size, and diamonds also
formed her earrings. The dress, save the sable edge, was
utterly untrimmed. She took her place in the tribune ;
Princess Clothilde, in grey satin, and wearing a white lace
shawl, on her right ; and Princess Mathilde, in an Algerian
cloak, on her left. The little Prince in black velvet
knickerbockers, scarlet stockings, and wearing the broad
ribbon of the Legion d'Honneur, en ertnfoir, sat on his
father's right, while his somewhat portly cousin occupied
the left of the throne. The Emperor read his speech in
his natal calm and monotonous voice—clearly, however,
and without intonation.

A correspondent of the Times thinks the follow-
ing details relative to the lions round Nelson's monument,
may interest the British public :—" Baron Marochetti, it
is well known, has supplied the metal and made the east.
ings, for which lie is to receive 11,000/. The weight of
each lion is 7 tons. Sir Edwin Lawlacer is to receive 6,000/.
It is stated that a firm offered to perform Baron Blaro-
elietti's part of the work for 6.0001. Whether this be so
or not. I cm assure you that a partner of one of the most
extensive and most important engineering establishments
in this country, where complicated castings of very large
dimensions are constantly made, not only of cast iron, but
of the alloy of which the lions are composed, informed me
that payment at the rate of Is. 21. per lb. would be ream.
nerative,aml that he would undertake to produce such
castings at that rate. Thus you will perceive, sir, that
3,8:i0/. (in round numbers) would have sufficed to procure
for the nation what has coat 11,0001."
LITER EY ANT. SCIENTIFIv MEP:TINGR FOR THE
F.NACING WEEK.-Monday—Asiatic, at 3 ; Entomological,
at 7, " Geomephicail Distribution and Affinities of Eastern
Pierhke," Mr. Wallace ; " Distribution of Lepidoptera,"
Mr. Fust, jun. ; Royal Academy, at 8, " Sculpture," Mr.
West timeott ; Society of Arts, at 8, " European Porcelain,"
Mr. Chaffers (Cantor Lecture). Tuesday—Royal Institu-
tion, at 3, " Vibratory Motion and Sound," Professor
Tyndall ; Horticultural, at :1, general meeting and lectore ;
Statistical, at 8, " Military Conscription of France,"Major.
General sdfou• ; Ethnological, at 8 ; Civil Engineer., at
8, Discussion on Mr. Barlow's Paper " Description of
Clifton Suspension Bridge." Wednesday—Meteorological,
at K ; Society of Arts, at 8, " Water Supply of London,"
Mr. Beggs ; Geological, at 8, " Fossil Bntish Oxen," Mr.
I)awkins ; "Geology of Teign Valley," Mr. lb-merest ;
" Geology of Mauritius," Mr. Clark ; Literature, at 81.
Thursday—Royal Institution, at 3, " Vibratory Motion
and Sound," Professor Tyndall ; Numismatic, at 7 : Royal,
at 8/1; Antiquaries, at ft.;,; Zoological, at 81. Friday—
Royal Institution, at 8, " New England," Mr. Conway.
Saturday—Royal Institution, at 3, " Harmony," Mr. Mac-
farren.—Atherinest.

EPIDEMIC' INIMVENZA lx LONDON. —Practitioners
at the West-end speak of a rather considerable epidemic
of influenza which has prevailed during the last three
weeks, although it does not seem to have yet made any
show in the Registrar-General's weekly return. Violent
catarrh and great sense of muscular fatigue are the early
symptoms ; and these are followed by neuralgia in the
head :aid face.—.lhdirof Ttnus.