The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-24 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

THE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION.
To-day those of our contemporaries who have
special correspondents in Abyssinia publish letters
from them, the latest date being in the Daily
News, " Annesley Bay, Dec. 5."
The correspondent of the Daily News describes
the camp life, and communicates interesting
details on the subject of roads, piers, sup-
plies, and water. The Aboona, whose death
is mentioned in the news from Magdala,
was the head of the Abyssinian church—a man
who did not personally bear a high character, but
whose loss is to be regretted, as he was an enemy
to Theodore, and has been latterly friendly and
useful to us. If the new Aboona, who is conse-
crated by the head of the Coptic church at Alex-
andria, should rouse the fanaticism of Abyssinia
against us, this death might prove of political im-
portance. At Magda's, nearly a hundred political
prisoners had been carried off by a dreadful epi-
demic, but none of the Europeans had suffered.
On the sth the advance upon Senafd was in course
of execution by the 3rd Light Cavalry, the 10th
Native Infantry, and Major Mallet's battery of
mountain trains. It was said, on excellent authority,
that Kussa, the leading chief of Tigrol, one of the
chief provinces of Abyssinia, and that nearest the
coast, was in the immediate neighbourhood of
Senafd with 7,000 men. He had sent word that
his intentions are friendly, but Dr. Krapf, who was
with our advanced guard, and who has lived for
many years in the country, advises no weight to be
attached to such protestations until they were sup-
plemented by the material guarantee of an impor-
tant chief sent as hostage. No matter what ob-
stacles and difficulties the nature of the country or
the policy of local chiefs may oppose to our advance,
an immediate establishment upon the crest of the
plateau, the correspondent of the Daily News says,
had become necessary. As yet there has been only
one death from natural causes ; but mortality
among the camels and mules was very great. Much
confusion was caused by the want of drivers and of
responsible men to control the muleteers. Goods,
including a complete telegraphic apparatus, with
sappers to lay it, which would establish commu-
nication with the high land, had arrived in large
quantities from England.
The correspondent of the Times gives a formid-
able account of the task before the Bombay com-
raisssziat—the country about Annesley Bay not
supplying any article for consumption or use except
fuel. This gentleman had paid a visit to
Maasowah, where he had seen several messengers
from Magdala and Debra Tabor. The belief
in the country was that the English intended to
make them proselytes by the sword. Massowah
itself, it seems, is exceptionally free from disease,
and healthy even for Europeans. Among the per-
sons stopping there was a German, a Rev. Mr.
Hausman, who bad been imprisoned with the
Magdala captives, but was released on Theodore's
discovering that Mr. Hausman had not, like Dr.
Blanc and others of the captives, been writing or
speaking against him. A letter had been received from
Mr. Flad, dated Oct. 12, at which time Theodore was
said to be on his way from Debra Tabor to Magdala.
Mr. Fled's letter was written in a very desponding
tone ; and as if the captives had begun to despair
of English aid; but otherwise all was well with
them. Theodore was taking them with him. He
is said to have at last heard of the arrival of the
advance brigade, and to be boasting, in the half-
crazy style which has for some years been habitual
to him, that he will " soon send the English back
without their heads." The correspondent sends a
translation from the Amharic of a proclamation
issued by Sir Robert Napier to the Abyssinians. It
runs as follows:

Hear! Tedros, King of Abyssinia, by binding Cameron,
the Consul of England, and Rassam, the Envoy of England,
with many other men, has violated the law of every
country where the people abide by laws. Now, al: friendly
measures tried to free them having proved aseleas, lam
coming, commanded by the Queen, with an army to libe-
rate them. Whoever is the friend of those prisoners, and
who will help to deliver them, shall be rewarded, but
whoever ill-tre►te them shall receive severe punishment.
Further, reflect in your heart, 0 people of Ethiopia, in the
time of the coming of the army into your country, that the
Queen of England has not a thought of anger against you,
your country, your liberty and existence. All your persons
and property, all your convents and churches in your
oountry, shall be protected with much care. All who may
bring provisions for sale will receive their price. The in-
habitants who remain quiet will not be troubled by any-
one.

The Times correspondent was at the last date
on his way up to the Abyssinian plateau, and on
the Srd inst. was at Upper Soroo. This is de-
scribed as a pleasant place, over 2,000 feet above
the level of the sea. The scenery of the ascent
was not at all what the correspondent had been
led to expect by travellers' account of Abyssinian
passes :

The acacia covered every mountain side with monotonous
uniformity, no other shrub whatever being visible, until
after some four miles or so we came upon occasional
specimens of the salvadon, tamarisk, tamarind, and wild
fig-tree ; and the mountain, themselves, though often
displaying great beauty of outline, had little gran-
deur or majesty about them. But within three or
four miles of Upper Boroo, at which I am now
writing, and which is some 12 miles distant from Koo-
maylu, the character of the scenery suddenly and com-
pletely changed. The par n►rrowed until now and then
it appeared about to be brought to an abrupt termination
by huge masses of converging rock, and the mountains, in-
stead of receding, as they had hitherto done, in graceful
slope, leant forward, seemingly overhanging their bases,
their summits towering at a tremendous height imme-
diately above the pass. At every turn of the road, which
was often hidden altogether from our view at a few paces
distance, we found ourselves, as it were, close prisoners in
a fresh chain of precipitous cliffs. Huge boulders, washed
down by the torrent, constantly lay right across the path,
and gave it, to my unpractised eye, the appearance of
being utterly impassable to wheeled ordnance ; but I am
told that the engineers consider there are no obstacles
which cannot be overcome.

THE DEBATE IN THE ITALIAN CHAMBER

OF DEPUTIES.

During the debate in the Italian Chamber of
Deputies there was not a singe member who did not,
in despite of M. Rouher's celebrated "never," affirm
the right of Italy to Rome. General Menabrea,
the prime minister of Italy, protested against the
French minister's dictation by supporting an order
of the day which preserved intact " the national
programme proclaiming Rome the capital of
Italy." General Menabrea further intimated that
as France had violated the convention of Septem-
ber he would not pay to the pontifical government
the Italian portion of its debt. General Menabrea
was cheered when he made this declaration. He was
also vehemently applauded when he said that
" Rome was the crowning of the edifice."
When Crispi said—" M. Rouher has had the
cowardice to insult"—the President of
the Chamber interposed by observing, " If'
others have failed in their duty that is no
reason why we should imitate them," which
produced more applause. Signor Depretis,
a member of two Italian cabinets said, " I feel that
to the unheard of ' never' of M. Ronher we should
give an immediate reply. But we can assert by an