The Express.
London, England, 1856-03-07 00:00:00

ROMAN STATES.

(non eon own cosassrohhurr.)
HOME, FRB. 29.
The Americans in the Eternal City met together
last Friday, at a commemoration dinner given in
honour of Washington. About sixty gentlemen,
residents and visitors, sat down to table, the office of
chairman being filled by the Hon. Mr. Quinsey, for-
merly mayor of Boston, and member of Congress.
A number of speeches were made, amongst which, as
may be easily imagined, some contained forcible
comments upon the present diplomatic difficulties
between the governments of Great Britain and the
United Stang. John Bull was represented as being
in rather a growling and irritable condition at the
prospect of peace being concluded before he bad
fairly toaght out his fight with Russia, and his in-
human, requiring some vent, would, it was appre-
hended, urge him to proceed to actual fisti-
cliffs in his quarrel with Brother Jonathan. The
power of the British navy aid the preparation
of the country for war, es contrasted with the utterly
unprepared situation f the United Butt', would, it
was admitted, bring a tremendous " whippieg" upon
the latter country tar the first six months after the
declaration of hostilities, but it was augured that
American energy and patriotism would subnquently
turn the balance in favour of the stars and stripe',
and sweep the Union Jack from the Nukes of the
()cern.

When warlike topics were disposed of, Mr. Qutnaey
moved a proposition for raising funds towards the
erection of a statue at Paris to the memory of Gent-
eel Lafayette, with whom he had been personally
acquainted during the general's residence in the
United States. A committee of ways and means
was nominated, with instructions to enter into com-
munication with the United States minister residing
in Paris, and find out what degree of support the
plan might expect in that quarter. It is probable
that, should the undertaking be realised, Mr. Craw-
ford, the talented American sculptor established in
Rome, will be charged with the execution of the
monument.

Mr. Macdonald, the sculptor, has just completed
an admirable but of Cardinal Anton.lli, in which he
has succeeded in preserving a very wroog resemblance,
at the same time that he has softened down the
somewhat harshly marked features of his Eminence.
The but wee modelled at the Vatican, but the Car-
dinal has promised to pay the artist a visit at his
studio ere long, and give him a final sitting for the
Spilling of the marble.
Mi:itary bickering, in Rome, and the pot-house
quarrels of the Swiss and Roman soldiers, have been
put a stop to by the authoritative voice of General
Farina, Minister of Arms, who has declared to the
officers of the different corps that if their men cannot
live together in peace and harmony he will send all
the regiments into provincial garrisons, and keep only
the Preach troops in the capital to watch over the
safety of the Supreme Pontiff.

The sacred Rota tribunal has just decided a long-
pending lawsuit between Mr. Macpherson, the photo-
graphic artist, and a Roman picture dealer, from
whom he had purchased a lot of pictures about 16
years ago for a hundred acadi, one of which, upon
being cleaned, proved to be an original performance
by Michael Angelo, according to the opinion of the
best judges, and the written certificates of Minardi,
Cornelius, and other eminent artiste. The dealer im-
mediately sued for his picture back again, or the
value, amounting to 20,0001. or 30,0001. After years
of litigation. to the great benefit of the Roman
lawyers, Mr. Macpherson is to keep the picture, and
the dealer is to rotund the costa of the mut, if ha has
the wherewithal.

of La Prase

communicates WOW remarkible particulars of the
proceedings at the Porte when the Sultan's new /met,
confirming and extending the privileges of his non-
lidnasulman subjects, was read before the chief digni-
taries of the empire. It is customary, he states, es
state ceremonies of the Porte, for a atria to pro-
' novae. a prayer, and a fenetienary especially charged
with this duty is permanently attached to the official
eta. Oa the day ofreadiag the halt, the dowidji, as
this person b celled, was absent. The Sheik-
al-Islam made a spa to another am a
renowned preacher at Caostantieople, and a mem-
ber et the Coined of Instrestioe, to implore the
favour of Allah ea the work. After some hesitation
the alum advanced, and raising his hands to
Hasa, a posture which all presort, the patriarchs

, included, mourned, he pronounced a prayer in the
Arab tongue. In this prayer the names of Mo.
hammed, Omar, Abon-Bekr, and other prophets, were
of frequent recurrence; the name of Itebh-ul-moa•
lemin, the Lord of Musulmano, was employed,
instead of Rebh-01-alemein, Lord of mankind, and a
consecrated phrase calling for the destruction of the
unbelieving was also heard. In short, the prayer
was a fiery protest to Heaven against what had just
been done. According to the expression of a pasha
who was very much displeased with the ulema it
was an anathema. Very few of those present under.
stcod this prayer; it is doubtful whether the Sheik
ul-Islam; was of their number. The caimakan, or
lieutenant of the Grand Vizier, determined not to
accept the responsibility of such an act, rose at once,
and m a few firm sentences, energetically expressed,
I summed up the imperial will. Other ministers, the
Seraskier among them, hove since said they knew
Inothing of what wee going forward.