The Express.
London, England, 1859-01-01 00:00:00

THE UNITED STATES.

(fir lODINE AND IRISH ll•ONWTIC TELZOLWI.)
(POOR OUR OWN 001JIMPONDIXT.)
LIVERPOOL, Ilmiuur.
_ _

The Steamer Persia has arrived, having left New
York on the 22nd. She brings 63 passengers and
676,417 dollars specie.
The steamer Ariel, from Southampton for New
York, put into Halifax on the 20th, short of coal.

The news is of slight importance. Congress was
engaged principally discussing the project of a rail-
road to the Pacific, and a bill conferring rewards on
those engaged in the war of 1812.

In the House a bill providing for the organisation
of the territory of Balico had been read three times.
Notice had been given by an administrative member
of a bill for the revision of tariff, and for a resolution
calling for information relative to the trade with Eng-
land and France. Members of Congress were again
exhibiting a pugnacious spirit. There bad been a
renoontre in the street between two members of the
House.

Account. had reached New York which led to a
revival of hope respecting the success of the Atlantic
Telegraphic Cable. Signalshad been transmitted along
the submerged wire, indicating great progress
towards restoring the continuity.
Late advice. from Mexico show no change in
the state of affairs there. The French Admiral Penand
had arrived at Vera Crus. The advance in
sterling exchange had checked business for the
Persia, and led to the shipment of specie. Although
the market was quiet, it ,closed firm at 1091 to t
for bills on London. Money continued very
abundant. Stock had shown some activity,
but at lower prices. Closing rates were
New York Central, 83; ; Illinois Central, 66k; Cen-
tral Banks, 84; Elie shares, 17k. Cotton at New
York was quiet, and southern market. were dull,
and rather low. Receipts of week, 138,000
bales. New York produce markets exhibited little
or no change ; in pork a little speculative demand
had again sprung up, and prices of Mississippi were
again fifty cents higher.

ITALY.

(FllOll On OW col

NICE. Dic. 26.

The Grand Doke Constantine hu returned from
his visit to the court of the Tuileries, and the Rus-
sian fleet is once more at anchor in the Bay of Villa-
francs. The steam yacht Rurik arrived this morn-
ing at the latter port from Toulon, and the Grand
Duchess Constantine, sharing the general impression
that her husband was on board, drove over to Villa-
franca to meet him, but was disappointed. The
High Admiral did not make his appearance until six
in the afternoon, when the Retrizan, line-of-battle
ship, steamed into the bay, followed at very irregular
distances by the remainder of the squadron. The
Grand Duke landed, and immediately proceeded to
Nice, where his appearance attracted very httle pub-
lic attention. Lions are very short-lived in this cli-
mate, and the cariosity of the public is now directed
towards the Prince de Carignan, cousin to the King
of Sardinia, who is to arrive here to-morrow even-
iag with the mission of complimenting the King of
Warts mberg and other august visitors, in the name
of his sovereign.

While the Sardinian government is giving daily
proof. of its religious tolerance—the last two in-
stanoes being the opening of a Protestant church in
Genoa and the facilities given to the project of a
Russo-Greek church in Nice—the clerical party on
this coast is actively pursuing its intolerant course.
At De la Pietra, a village near Finale, a certain
number of the inhabitants having met to read the
New Testament, expressed a desire that M. Mars-
eille, of the Italian evangelical church of Genoa,
should expound to them the Scriptures. This cler-
gyman joyfully consented, and he proceeded to lie
la Pietra on the 12th inst. on his sacred mission. But
the local magistrate, at the instigation of the priests,
arrested him while engaged in his mission, along with
two of the principal members of the oongregation,and
transported them to Finale. Proceedings were at I
once taken against them, on the strength of Article
164 of the penal code, which refers to the effects of
religious strife on public tranquillity. The persecuted
individuals at once protested against the arbitrary
measure taken against them, and communicated with
the superior magistrates. An order for their imme-
diate release was at once issued by the latter, the
Article 164 having been abrogated by the law of 6th
July, 1854. It is to be desired that the offending and
offensive magistrate, with his fanatical advisers,
should not be allowed to interfere, unpunished, with
the liberty of the subject.
In Genoa a vessel was launched three days ago,
and named "A. Milano," after the soldier who
attempted some time ago to assassinate the King of
Naples. The authorities at once interfered, and
ordered that a name calculated to excite the legiti-
mate complaints of an ally, should he removed. The
vessel was consequently re-christened " L'Unito."
General Garibaldi is passing a few days in Nice,
where he is respected and liked. lie is one of the
few public men who rose to eminence in Italy
in 1848, and have preserved the good opinion of
their followers and of the people. Honesty of pur-
pose and integrity of conduct have, in his instance,
met a deserved reward in the esteem of the public.

The officers of the garrison of Alessi/Idris—where,
by-the-bye, the wotks are at a stand-still, in spite
of the declaration to the contrary of certain Pied-
montese journals--have established a first-rate
club, on continental principles, that is, pro-
vided with a concert-room, fencing-room, library,
reading-room, &c. The Sardinian officers live
more on an equality than those of the French
service, to whom they are infinitely superior
in point of education and breeding. Unre-
strained freedom will consequently reign in this club,
which cannot be said of certain French institutions
of a similar character.

Alphonse Karr, who resides here, has met with
considerable financial success in his new series of
" Guepes," and is at present deriving the large annual
profit of 40,0® francs from his weekly issue. The
state of things in France, where of course reside
the majority of his subscribers, does not admit of
that freedom of criticism which distinguished the
brilliant " Gu4pes " of old. Nevertheless the wit of
M. Karr struggles successfully with the barrenness
of the land. 'I nere are, however, three names which
figure really too often in this gentleman's produc-
tions ; and he labours under a monstrous hallucina-
tion in supposing that the public cares one Suez Canal
share for his friend Leon Gatayes, for his enemy the
very fast Princess de &Imo, and for his dog
Freyschiits.

Paris bag not yet assumed that gaiety for which in
the winter it is renowned. Under the last two kings it wes
the fashion for people of rank to come to town at the end of
autumn, but now the English custom of keeping away to
January or February is imitated. The French Parliaments
wed, too, to be called together M November or December;
now, like ours, they never meet before January or February.
The Emperor and Empress intend to open the gay wson by
• grand ball at the Tuileries en the 11th, and their example is
to be followed in due order by all the great dignitaries of
state, sod even by the senators ; hie Wisely having caused
them to be told that hr exports the large solarise they receive
to be not howled, but epeut to encourage trade. Our sot-
beiesaireee, Leidy Cowley, it also about to give • ball.

A telegram from Menetlles says that " Mr.
Galway, the English consul at Naples, km died from the
effects of a fen."