The Express.
London, England, 1860-10-22 00:00:00

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PARIS, SUNDAY Eviranso.

The general impression is that there is no truth
in the mission attributed by the ("currier du Di-
inatiche to M. de Hubner. Builitr's Correspond-
ence says that he has expressed annoyance at the
gratuitous supposition. He has been estranged
from the court of Austria for more than a year,
and is understood to be quite opposed in politics to
the present ministers of Francis Joseph. At the
same time, it is to be observed, that the publica-
tion of the Austrian constitution infers a great
change of principles at Vienna ; and it is very
conceivable that the Emperor, hoping to conciliate
Hungary by concessions, should endeavour to nail
Napoleon 111. to his word that he would not fur-
ther help Sardinia, since she had thought fit to
spurn his advice. The Freese, which yesterday
disbelieved the news of the Courricr du Dimanche,
is struck by the very faint denial of it in the Con-
stitutionnel and Patric The telegram of to-day
stating that General Benedek and two Austrian
archdukes are going to Italy, will inevitably in-
crease the apprehension felt at Turin of a speedy
attack on the part of Austria.
The report of M. Rouher in the Monitear, which
precedes the decree suppressing the Gazette de Lyon,
is especially remarkable on two grounds. The first
and most obvious is that it is a deliberate blow at
the clerical party. The decree is a practical con-
firmation of the assertion repeatedly made of late
by the Nord de Brussels that there Is a final rup-
ture between Napoleon 111. and the French episco-
pacy. But I also notice as a curious confession of
imperial principles, in regard to the press, the recital
that " Your Majesty's government has thought it

right under present circumstances to allow the
organs of publicity a considerable liberty of appre-
ciation." It is a fact that never since the coup
d'itat have the French papers spoken so freely as
within the last few months. But here we have an
official declaration that they are not to suppose
themselves freer in principle than when the govern-
ment was in its infancy ; that they are not to
flatter themselves that their provisional freedom is
a commencement of the "crowning of the edifice ;"
that the question whether the liberty of the press
is, per se, a good thing, is as much as ever reserved ;
that the measure of liberty enjoyed is due entirely
to the good pleasure of the government—not to any
recognised principle ; and that the latitude granted
is altogether special and owing to "existing circum-
stances." "Progress" of this sort is not very
cheering. As to the special case of the Gazette de
Lyon, which was a rabid papistical organ, I have
nothing to say against the exercise of governmental
discretion. Assuming it to be right and politic that
newspapers should be arbitrarily suppressed by the
executive power, the exercise of the power in this
instance is little open to criticism.
A pamphlet, entitled "The English pr the Rus-
sian Alliance," has appeared to-day, and will, I
am told, make a sensation. The scope of its argil-
' meat is that the sole durable basis of an alliance
between nations is that of a common interest, and
that in this point of view France should turn to-
wards Russia rather than towards England. The
rumour is that this pamphlet is inspired by M.
Kisseleff with the connivance of M. Thouvenel, and
its appearance is connected with the report of a
strenuous effort now making by French diplomacy
to separate Russia from Austria, and Prussia from
England.
The grand prize of 10,000 fr., called the prix
d'honneur, at the Vincennes shooting match has
been won by a Belgian named Gillion, from lcimy-
les-Mons. The first prize on the ordinary list is
awarded to M. Jules Gerard, the lion killer. To-
day, the weather being exceedingly tine, there has
been a great crowd at Vincennes, to see the con-
test for the Emperor's lately-offered prise. The
gun, which, as I mentioned yesterday, is valned'at
the large sum of 4401., is exhibited to the public in
the shooting gallery. It is a chef &enure of M.
Gastine Renette. The value, of course, consists
more in the ornamentation than in the serviceable

qualities of the weapon. The stock is a piece of
exquisite wood carving, representing scenes of sport,
and there is a great deal of richly-wrought silver
about the barrels and locks.

At Strasburg, last week, a soldier of the 15th
Chasseurs, who was on duty watching some rifle
practice, received a ball in his head and was killed
on the spot.
The Moniteur publishes a decree suppressing the
Gazette de Lyons.
The ministerial report proposing the suppression
says :—" Under present circumstances government
found it convenient to allow great liberty to the
journals, but tolerance would be weakness if dia-
cusaion were allowed to degenerate into injurious
hostility and guilty provocations. For several days
the portion of the press which pretends to repre-
sent the seared cause of religion has redoubled its
violence. An act of firmness becomes necessary.
Conscience is troubled, authority and faith an;
lessened by the confusion that party spirit es-
tablishes between the passions and religious in-
terests. Religion would be compromised if the
most respected principles werelowered to complicity
in the revenge or ambition which the country has
so often repudiated. The Gazette de Idyotte has
signalized itself before all others, by its incessant
appeals for agitation, the perfidy of its attacks
against the government, and the disdain it has op-
posed to the good advice of the administration.
Its number of the 17th instant more
cially reached an epees that cannot be tol ."