The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-28 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORIMPONDIENT.)
PARIS, FRIDAY RUINING.

M. Carnot's amendment to the Army Bill, sup-
ported by him in a veryinteresting speech, deserves
a passing notice. He proposed, MM. Jules Simon
and Hinon seconding his motion, that the duration
of service in the active army should be limited toone
year for those who could produce certificates of
thorough primary instruction, and alma that they
could handle arms and go through the elements of
drill. This system, he contended, would ensure
sufficient military capability in case of emergency,
and, at the same time, avoid the great
ipischief of diverting citizens during the beat
part of their lives from civil occupations. The
stimulus it would give to the great cause of educa-
tion would be greater than any other that could be
devised ; every father and mother would do their
utmost to have their sons taught reading and
%Ming when they knew that proficiency would
obtain ezemotion from all but a year's military
service. It would be easy to have drill sergeants in
every school, and their instruction would be eagerly
sought for on account of the immunities it would
bring. M. Carnot concluded his speech with the
following clever protest against standing armies :

The mere fact of the existence of a large standing army
tends to enervate a nation by giving it the habit of not
relying upon itself to protect its honour and interests. It
tends to pervert the heads of states by giving the fullest
scope to their ambition and rashness. Its often an arm
in the hands of a child or a madman. But for armies
always ready for action, it would be impossible to account
for certain enterprises about which the people whom they
ruin are, to say the least, indifferent ; the great wars of
dynastic successions of the 18th century ; and in the 19th
those monstrous anachronisms of a war under the pretext
of rivalry of races in Mexico, and a war under the pretext
of religion in Italy. (Interniption and great cheering on
the left.) Let us then, if you will have it so, say no
moreAof contemporary examples. I will cite one
from the past, and with that I will conclude.
Frederick 11. when he was about to undertake a war
which was to shake Europe to its foundations, said in a
jaunty off-hand way to him officers, that he should be
very glad to see his name in the Gazette at once and in
history afterwards. In those times sovereigns did not
give themselves the trouble of coining phrases to disguise
their follies. A royal fancy was its own justification.
Accordingly, when later in life Frederick 11. wrote his
memoirs it never occurred to him to excuse or expl►in
away what he had said in his youth. On the contrary,
after having enumerated the motives which led him to
covet Silesia, he said with • frankness, I would
say a aafrefi, if I Were not speaking of such
a great personage, which is truly astonishing :
"Troops always (ready for action, a well filled trea-
sury, and the vivacity of my character were the rea-
sons why I made war upon Maria Theres►." There
you have the whole moral of standing armies and a per-
sonal government—troops always ready, and the caprice of
the master.

When M. Carnot's amendment, and another
moved by M. Glais Bizoin, were negatived without
a division, 6a third, which gives the government
far more anxiety, was moved by M. Louvet on be-
half of several members of the majority, proposing
that the extreme term of service shall be reduced
from nine years to eight. It is rumoured this
evening that the Emperor, already vexed at the
cutting down which his army measure has met
with in committee, will dissolve the chamber.
An exciting debate is now going on.
The Bourse was very heavy, and Rente sustained
the further fall of bc. for cash and 71c. for account.

It is reported that the Prussian government
contemplates establishing a penal colony somewhere on
the west coast of Africa, and that • certain Herr Caller.-
berg will make an expedition to that country in the course
of next spring, for the purpose of selecting the most con-
venient spot for the new settlement.
The idea of erecting a statue to Voltaire, started
by the Silde, has proved a moms. The list of subscribers
already amounts to 202,500. The committee, consisting
of MM. Michele', Corbon, Barye, Pelletan, Legouve,
Daubigny, and Karin, held its first meeting on Sunday.
The majority voted for • re-production of Houdon's chef
d'reuvre on • larger scale than the original statue. The
sub-committee have undertaken to direct the execution
of the work, and to demand from government • suitable
site where it may be erected.
M. Dolfus Assuet has determined to erect a
chalet on the summit of Mont Blanc and establish therein
a meteorological observatory, which will therefore be
placed at an altitude of 4,800 metres above the ordinary
level of the earth. Two guides, paid and supported by H.
Assuet, will spend the summer in this glacial habitation
for the purpose of making meteorological observations.
During a period of twelve months three guides were kept
at the expense of this Errant in • chalet on the Col de St.
Theoduie at an altitude of 3,200 metres—that is, at 2,000
or 3,000 feet above the shaven crowns of the monks of St.
Bernard.

CALCUTTA AND CHINA (HZAVY) MAILS.—
GDIRALTAR, Dsc. 21.—The Poem& leaves at 11 a.m. for
Southampton, where she may be expected on the let prom.
OUTWARD CALCUTTA AND AIIIITRALIAN
GIBRALTAR, Due. 27.—The Ripon, from Southampton on
the 20th MM., arrived at 9 p.m. yesterday, and left at
1 a.m. today, for Alexandria. Rxperienoed sirens heed.
winds.