The Express.
London, England, 1866-03-09 00:00:00

PRINCESS METPERNIOE'S PETE.

" All Paris," says La Iribert4, of to-day, " will
bespeaking of the r idotto which was given last night by the
Princess de Metternich. This fête partook of the semi-
serious, half-mad character of a day in mid-lent. The gravity
consisted in the circumeance that all the men were in
black, its fooling in the fact that the woman
were masked anf disguised in dominos of all forma
and colours. An excellent orchestra, playing the gayest
and most seducing airs in a room where promenading and
intrigue replaced the dances of carnival time ; a buffet
groaning under the weight of sweetmeata—a kind of
fasting frolic, which involved the slaughter of neither
sheep nor heifers—such was the coup presented bythe
cosmopolite and eclectic saloon of the Princess de Metter- 11
nioh—a saloon over which presides each Thurs-
day a lady distinguished amongst all for the
vivacity and freedom of her wit, for the meet
seductive charms, and a grace of manner that recall
the fine beauties of the last century." Madame de Pour-
taws wore a charming puce and rose domino ; the Primes,
(heparin and Duchess of ()Glenna wore roes-coloured do-
minos ; Mdme. de Peraigoy a black one. Four Dominos
had mills on their heads, and attracted a great deal of
attention ; another wore a flowerpot on her head ; another
had her shoulders covered with ivy, and one had a white
oat. The fête broke up in the morning.

M. PREVOST-PARADOL'S RECEPTION AT THE

FRENCH ACADEMY.

Most of the Paris journals are filled with the
addresses of M. Prevost-Paradol and IL Gaisot,
delivered yesterday in the Academia Francais° on
the ovation of the reception of the latter, who
is elected to imposed M. Ampilre, as seademi•
ciao. Amongst those present were the Countess de Sal-
randy, M. and Mme. Bigelow, lime. Thiers, Mme,
A. de Rothschild, MM. Berry.; Mahon, Sainte-
Berme, Nisard, de Sacy, the Duke de Moralism, the Duke
and Prince de Broglie, Count de Montalembert, ko.
La Liberty characterises the speech of the new acade-
micism as being "fall of strength, grace, sad elevation of
tone." It contains scarcely any covert political al-
lusions, but he thanked the Academy for having,
by electing him, given a fresh proof of their sympathy
with the [reel= of the press. Referring to AL Ampere's
work on Roman History, M. Prevost Paradol said, "M.
Ampere keeps aloof from those systems which are at present
the fashion retarding an important epoch of Roman history—
systems which are less original than is supposed, for our
judicious Montaigne, in speaking of the historian,
Dion Cassius, says, sHe has such a sickly notion of
Roman history, that he dares to uphold the cause
of Julius Caesar against Pompey, and that of Antony against
Cicero.' IL Ampere, gentlemen (continued the orator), had
too elevated a soul, and too jut a mini to entertain sickly
notions about Roman history."
Cuizot, In hie speech is reply, also abstained from
any political allusions.

The Minotaur is nearly three months ahead of
the Agicoourt in her outfit, end it, is, therefore, thought
not nilikely that she may dully be seleMed as the nag-
ship of the preiest Senetary of the Admiralty on his as-
snrairgthe command of her Majesty's ships in the Mediter-
ranean.

A numerous party of convicts arrived at Chatham
yesterday from Pvntonville, for employment on the works
at St. vary's Island for the enlargeotevt of the dockyard.
Another large party of Convicts will also arrive at Chat.
ham from London to-day. The oonvicts, to the number of
'bolt 1,000, employed at Chatham are engaged in making
the excavations and constinctiog the walls and foundations
of the large basins and docks now in o /um of formation.

Lieut.-Colonel Byrne, of the Federal servioe,
returned Irishman, was arrested yesterday at Dublin.
Three hundred and twenty greenback dollars and twenty
dollars in gold were found with him.

The total number of persons arrested under the
suspewsiou of the Habeas °arms Act up to Tuesday eight
s 176, of whom 42 are Irish Americium Four have bees
discharged.

Biographies, historical essays, tales, and poetry
make up the balk of the /risk Pooplt now that it is
published at New York. Quoting from one volunteer the
opening

Now, all you young Pentane that is joined in the hand,
Who will strike but one blow for our dear Fatherland 1

the editor observes. "Do you call that poetry' We
throw dozens of such trash daily into the waste basket, and
hope we will be troubled with no more of it." To "Ire.
land, the pride of my birth," he answers. " Your poetry
does not suit as ;" to the "Young Martyr Chief,"
"We are flooded with such rhymes—for Heaven's sake
send us poetry or let the Muses alone." The " Harp" is
told, "We are sick of weeping, whining poetry. Let ns
feel we are men, and hurl defiance, not tears at England.°
" A paraphrase of Who fears to cloak of '9B is not an
improvement on the original. ' Brother J. S.' has the
right inspiration, but his muse has not strength of pinion
and can waddle better than fly. Evergreen is not up to
the mark. The Fenian Prayer' is rejected—the best
prayer you could offer is the music of the rifle. Ye Sons
of Old Erin' is not up to the street ballads." Another is
told, " You have the spirit of poetry in you. Prime
down." Like answers, some tarter still, are given to a
score or two other would-be contributors.

The conscription is not growing more popular
among the French pc:wants. The Journal de Soissons pub-
lishes the following letter from a father to his son, who
wu about to draw :—" I write to yon on the subject of
your drawing, and I send you the receipt which your god-
father gave me for you. Tnis is what you must do with con-
fidence and devotion, and this is what you must say during
your novena ' Lord, who wonldst not permit Tay garment
to be divided, but that lots should be cart for it, do me the
favour whoa I go to draw on Thursday, the let of March,
that I may have a high number. Lord, grant my prayer 1
Lora, grant my prsyer I Lord, grant my prayer, if it
please Thee.' Yoe will perform • novena, reciting three
Peter goatees to the istention of the five wounds of our
Lord Josue Ohrist. That is what you must do without
fall. We enjoy good health, and we wish you the same.
I pray you not to show this to anybody. 1 count on your
exactness." The orthography of the above is so bad es to
make it difficult to read.

The indtpendance states as a fact that M.
&milks Meier has bosoms the political editor of Ls "we.
The French Minister of Public Instruction has
commissioned 2d. Leaormand, who is to be swamps/dad by
a chemist, a gealogist. sod a botan;st, to ievestigate the
geological character of the n•w isle which has suddenly
sprung up in the Archipelago. ♦ frigate has bees plied
at the disposal of thms eastente daring the period of thelr
investigations.