The Express.
London, England, 1867-02-07 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN COREEsPONDINT.)
PARIS, WEDNEKDAT Evzlonic.

One of the first bills to be brought forward in
the Corps Legislatif after the opening of the session
will be the one, long hung up, for the entire aboli-
tion of imprisonment for debt. The Emperor
promised this measure in a speech from the throne
two years ago. The conservative committee of the
Corps Legislatif has hitherto proposed so many
provisoes and exceptions as to suspend the
execution of the Emperor's intentions. He
will now appeal to the whole house against
the committee, and MM. Rouher and Ba-
ruche will be the government speakers on
the occasion. I think the inmates of the Clichy
prison may safely subscribe their coppers for a new
illumination, which will not be a Jack-o'-lantern
as the lust was.

Prince Napoleon, attended by most of the mem-
ben of the Imperial Commission of the Universal
Exhibition, paid a visit to the building to-day.
Although care was taken to announce that his visit
was not official, the fact of every one being
at his post from an early hour expect-
ing the Prince led to the rumour that his im-
perial highness will shortly resume the presi-
dency of the Exhibition, which he resigned
when his speech in Corsica, which incurred
the Emperor's displeasure, caused his removal
from the Privy Council. Nothing seems to me
more probable than this news. The imperial
cousins have long been reconciled ; and if the re-
forms now on the order of the day shall turn out
to be as liberal as is confidently expected, there
will be no reason why the Prince should not again
take his seat in the Privy Council, because most of
the ideas, for the premature utterance of which he
I was censured, will have become predominant.
The Bonne has gone up to-day with a strong im-
pulsion. Rente rose 25c. for cash, and 271 for ac-
count, closing at 69fr. 70c. and 69fr. 6711 c. Mo-
bilier rose 10fr.; Crtldit Fonder, Mr.; and Comp-
toir d'Escompte, Mr. 50c. Italian rose bc.

TEE CATTLE PLAGUE IN BELGIUK.—The vigo-
rous measures adopted by the authorities to stay the de-
velopment of the cattle disuse at Huselt have produced
a good result. The Echo dr Partrattat says :—. •On the
lit and 2nd no new case occurred. All suspected animals
are still slaughtered. Out of 60 horned beasts killed on
the 2nd six only had the germ of the terrible malady. The
meat of the (4 others was therefore delivered to general
consumption." _

Aniaixaury, Fen. 6. Aeromrtimrs. Lieu-
tenant G. R. Bell, to the Lion, additional, for service in
tender. Midshipmen J. L Crawley, to the Cidedunia;
F. R. Robinson, to the Racoon,
DESTRUCTION BY FIRE Or THE SHIM ROYAL Boon-
RtION.—A few days since a melange was received in Liver-
pool, through the Atlantic cable, to the effect that the
ship Royal Sovereign, bound to Liverpool from New Or-
leans, had been totally destroyed by firein the Mississippi.
Yesterday some particulars regarding the destruction of
the vessel were received in Liverpool. It appears that after
taking on board nearly 2,900 bales of cotton, the Royal
Sovereign anchored about nine miles below New Orleans
previous to her final departure for the Mersey. On the
afternoon of the 22nd nit., however, smoke was observed
issuing from the main batch. Measures were at once
taken to extinguish the fire, but notwithstanding a copious
and well suatained supply of water, the conflagration con-
tinued to increase, and eventually, when all endeavours to
save the vessel appeared to be useless, the crew left her,
and she eventually burned herself out, and became a total
wreck. The cargo was completely destroyed, and little or
no salvage will be secured. The Royal Sovereign was
valued at about 15,0001., whilst the cargo, which was pro-
cipsilly cotton of very fine quality, was worth upwards of
maw. The Royal Sovereign, together with her cargo,
is said to be folly insured.