The Express.
London, England, 1858-04-12 00:00:00

TER EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, APRIL 12, 1858.

system ought to be shown forth. It is essentially a
question on which, were he now alive, everybody
would listen with breathless solicitude to learn the
decision to which he had come.

On the other side of the Howe, apart from the
late Ministers and their adherents, there will re-as-

getable to-day the independent leaders of the Liberal
Party. Differing widely from other sections of their
Parliamentary colleagues in their sympathies, and
from some of them no lees widely in their principlee,it
is yet quite possible that on a subject hie that of
the permanent government of India, ardent friends
of Reform, and its warm opponents—stanch sup.
porta, of the National Right of Asylum, and
Aces who would annex the English Home-
Office to that of France—advocates of entire

Religious Equality, and foes to Liberty of Teaching '
and of Thought—may for once agree cordially and
usefully in a legislative policy for India to be
initiated if not perfected this Session. We are pre-
pared for a vehement out-pouring of accusation
against the Company's management in times past
from Mr. Baum ; but we can afford to hear his
speech in attainder with equanimity if he will give
us the benefit of his acute and discriminating intelli-
gence on matters that belong rather to the present
and the future. Mr. HOHNIAN, Mr. Musa&
Grasps, and various others more or less coospienotur
in debate, have likewise to be heard. Above all, men
of all parties and predilections attentively await the
verdict of Lord 'mut RussELL—the man whose

name would recur oftenest in an historic index
to great and awful measures passed during
our time. It would be idle to say that
co such a question any individual can hold the
balance of opinion in his hand; but it may in sober
truth be said that after all that has taken place of
late, if any man can rescue Parliament from the per-
plexity caused by its precipitancy in dealing with
this subject, and guide the national footsteps in a
secure and honourable path, where there will be no
fear of having to retrace them, that individual is
the noble Member for the City of London.

FRANCE.

(71011 001 OWN

PARIS, SATURDLY

How the Bourse is to be made to rise is the great
question of the day. The cry for help from the
Emperor is loud, piercing, and persistent on the part
of the many interests which, born of false confidence
in a thoroughly vicious system, have flourished for
years beyond all reasonable expectation. The
Journal des Chemins de Fer, which as the property
of the capitalist to whom the Bank of France refused
to lend a sum of ten (or as some say fifteen) millions
of francs on the security of rents greatly exceeding
in value the amount of the loan required, has a very
angry article against the Bank, from which, on
account of the sensation it has produced at the
Bourse, I subjoin some extracts :
The Bank directors vary frankly dated the motives of their
refusal "We will not," they are said to have replied,
" encourage speculation on the Bowes; and our answer will
be the same to all bankiag establishments without exception."
The conduct of the Bank in this alreamstenoe generally
excited astonishment. It was kit that when the state e!

Weiner required encouragement, • fault had been committed !
in withholding seahetanoe to the effects roadewith the view of
raising public credit end of restoring activity to business.
Some persona were reminded of a dmiler cirownstance which
occurred two years ago, when • banking
=tin en aztenielve operation for the rise,
oed refusal from the Bank. But a vast
exists between the two periods. At that time the loans On
polio securities amounted to 86 millions, while the loans
at the present moment scarcely erased 34 million,.
It mast Blowier be considered that the apetai of the Bank
then amounted to only 91 millions, instead of 200 millions,
se at premat. It Is true that the loan then required was
raised, end served to keep up the prim of neuritis ; only it
wes not obtained in • direct manner from the Bank, but by
miens of the agency of several stockbrokers. We have m-
oaned this pereedmt, because it Ludlama the present end
pact te•deedr of the Beak, end proves that the adseinirer-
tivs traditions of days guns by have not only beim
in, but have been aggravated. We admit that erl
conduct
of the Bank was pendent in maintaining • certain stringency
in days of doubt ; but when the bullion reserve increaser to
emcees, when commercial bills ere not abundant, and when
the capital of the Bank hes ban doubled, It is difficult
to conceive the hostility and suspicion entertained
for (operations on the Bourse. Does this line of con-
duct evince a complete understanding between the Interests
of the Bank and dime of commerce f We say the interests
of the Bank, because, in definitive, it le smeary to facilitate
hominess with shares which have been allowed to rise to
E31614L We also say the Interests of commerce, because the
is the thermometer of public confidence; and con-
fidence alone—that is, the rise—an give new life to com-
merce and industry, and resters to an activity—long absent
--the various elements et public wealth. We infinitely
regret to observe • continuation of these malevolent dispoin-
does breads the " Bonne" and its operations. . . How
can the Bank hope to dispose of railway bonds in the event of
a deans in the prim of Rents? It Is meerted that the
bonds disposed of by the Bank of late, when prime
rum kept up, amount to 170,000, representing a arOtal
of about forty-five millions. -What pauses them
restrictive measures to be partisalerly regretted is the fact
that the public, which does not sufficiently distinguish the
private business of the Bank from the general impala given
by the government et the Emperor, is too apt to confound the
measures of the Bank with government measures. This
error, which is widely diffused, is of a most serious character.
But the conduct of the bank in the last settlement is the
beet proof of its independence • for that incident occurred at
the very moment when the Imperial government, on the con-
Wiry, manifested a firm decision to sdopt measures favourable
to the development of public credit and of financial matters.
Our preceding observations am therefore exclusively ad-
deemed to the Bank. The moment is critical ; lt would be
easy to give an impulsion either for good or for evil. Is it
threaded to wait patiently for the " natural revival of affairs"
without making any effort P Are the mere and absolute
wants of current canon= don to be relied on to develop the
industrial and commercial activity of France P In that case,
Ood alone knows what will become of us, end whether, when
at some foam time we become alive to the necessity of
shaking otr oar lethargy, It may not be too late.
Of coarse the reasoning of this article, represent-
ing the feelings of a disappointed interest, must be
received with reserve. Many people think the arti-
cle a snare, which should put buyers on their guard.
Those who preach for a rise, they say, may justly be'
suspected of haring secret combinations by which
they will profit by the folly of those who believe in
them. A scheme to give an impulse to the Bourn
seldom or never succeeds, mikes it is kept secret.
Another financial journal, the Credit .ftblic, takes
a very gloomy view of things :
The superabundance at money only proves the =of

credit; aid this paralysis oan 'alone explain the
of a depredation of ail wrintrities with a low rate of interest.

The most conflicting rumours continue to circulate
uto what the Emperor is likely to do. At his last
interview with the railway directors, M. Dumon,
formerly minister of public works under Louis
Philippe, was the spokesman, and set forth the
grievances of the company at very great length.
The Emperor listened patiently, and merely replied
that the questions raised were too important for him
to examine them personally, and that he would con-
sult has council of ministers.

The Bourse opened with some degree of firmness,
but became heavy at the close. The rents for account
fell 10c., closing at 69.58. For cuh there was •
rise of 10c., the last price being 69.50. Mobilier
fell 12.50. The Eastern Railway fell 7.50 ; the other
lines were a trifle higher.
Count de Persigny has arrived in Paris from
London, and M. de Bourqueuey is expected to-day
from Vienna.
A tits, which will long be remembered in Paris,
was given last night by M. and Madame Gudin, at
their palatial residence, the Hotel Beaujon, in the
Faubourg St. Honore. It was for the benefit of the
institution of " Notre Dame des Arts," of which
the celebrated painter is president, and the object of
which is to provide an asylum and grataitons educa-
tion for the orphan children of literary and learned
men, artists, actors, and functionaries. 12,000 f. was
realised for the benefit of the charity. The enter-
tainments consisted of • charming concert, in which
Mesdames Alboni, Oriel, Nantier-D idite, Mdlle. Saint
Urbain, Signor Mario, and other distinguished mem-
bers of the Italian and French operatic companies,
took part ; and a new play written for the occasion
by M. Alx. Dumas, called L' Hontssur at Satistait.
'I he piece, acted by the Gymnase company in M.
(indices studio, fitted op as a theatre for the occa-
sion, was eminently successful, and produced frantic
peals of laughter. After the play, the performers
and a large number of M. and Madame Gudin's per-
sonal friends sat down to a rocharche supper, which
was enlivened by the exuberant flow of spirits of M.
Alex. Dumas, and several speeches. Madame Gudin
is an Englishwoman, and a great number of English
ladies were among the company.
Paris has been much more gay since Easter
than it was before. A great many bath,
parties, and concerts,. both public and pri-
vate, have been given this week. Private
theatricals are much in vogue. Gal_iptaai
notices a very brilliant ',tallish musicals at Herz's,
by M. Biletta, a young composer, whose productions
have already won for him a clue redly high position
in the musical world. Mozart, Rossini, and the
ttineftciairo himself, who belongs to the school of
these two great mutely, supplied the vocal portion
of the programme, the chief features of which were
three of M. Biletta's compositions, La Dense
d'Amors ; a notturno. Ch'io tam of poses; and a
charming aria, Quest' i ['aura she supra, from his
opera La Rosa di Firenze.
An English pantomime company is spoken of as
coming to Paris, under the direction of Mr. Flex-
more. The theatre at which they are to appear is
not mentioned.
A review took place this afternoon in the court-
yard of the Tuileries, and on the Place du Carrousel,
by the Emperor. The following regiments, recently
arrived in Paris, were present :-10th and 17th
Battalions of Foot Chummy ; Ist, 52nd, 74th, 82nd,
84th, 85th, 91st, 98th, and 100th Regiments of
Infantry of the Line. General Uhrich had the com-
mend. The Empress appeared on the balcony with
several ladies of the court. The weather was very
=favourable, the rain coming down very heavily
while the E:rarer, followed by his staff, was passing
along the ranks.
Another medical celebrity has disappeared. M.
Chomel, one of Louis Philippe's physicans, and a
professor at the Hotel Dies, is justdead after a long
f

The London mail came in late to-day. Letters
were not delivered until four o'clock, and owing to
the cumbrous machinery of the stupid censorship the
evening papers will be withheld from the public till
to-morrow.

Marshal Pelham is not expected to arrive in
Lemke orrilir than Thursday ant.
Mr. Staahope Freeman is appointed Vie►Ooeaoi
at ehataataa.

ITALY.

THE NEAPOLITAN PRISONS.

MOM 001 OWX 0011111PONDINT.)
NAPLES, Aran 6.
I am not surprised at men becoming nervous and
depressed by along imprisonment in this country,
the tender mercies of which are indeed cruel. Still
less surprised am I after hearing the following tales
from some of those who were captured with the
Cagliari: " In the court below oar widow," said
they, " was • bench, and scarcely a morning
in which one or two persons were not broag out
and laid thereon, and received a number of lashes.
Of course we saw them, and heard their cries. They
were brought out in their drawers, acd were in such
a state afterwards that they could not walk back. I
remember that one morning a person was lashed
who was reported to be a gentleman having the
degree of doctor." During a portion of the time
when the prisoners were confined in the Vicaria, a
young man was imprisoned in the next room to that
of my informant. He appeared to be in a
very suffering state, and told them the following
tale :—He had been arrested on a charge of baying
robbed his former muter, and in order to elicit a
confession from him, the officials had recourse to the
following means : They bound his arms behind
him, and after every unsatisfactory answer, they
gave the rope another extra straw until his sufferings
were most excruciating. When they could extort
nothing from him, they bound him to silence by a
promise of liberty. Suffering, however, is commu-
nicative, and, es pallid and weak he paced up and
down daily, he told the other prisoners what he had
endured. After some time he appeared to recover
his strength, and vanished from among them. Pro-
bably he was restored to his former position. We
have heard a good deal of torture in the Neapolitan
prisons, and much has been written and asserted in
contradiction, bat the case which I have given
here sounds true, as it is certainly
well attested. One case well authenticated
disposes us to believe in much else that we hear of
what is narrated on not exactly the same authority.
The use, however, which I wish to make of the
statements made above is to ask what must have
been the influence of such sights and narratives on
the minds of men who, like Park and Watt, had
never heard of barbarity associated with a modern
prison ? Is it to be wondered at that they became
nervous, and that, conscious of their innocence, their
minds revolted against confinement in a locality
where such excesses were practised? These and
many other facts which your " Correspondent" is in
all honesty bound to make public are disgraceful and
unpalatable truths, but they are given with no other
object than that of leading to necessary reforms, and
if the Neapolitan government were well and wisely
bent on reformation, it would rejoice at the exposure
of the excesses of its officials. A minister of police
cannot be supposed to be acquainted with all that is
going on within the precincts of a prison, but at all
events the abuses may be diminished byuragtng
•
the system of the police. For some years, indeed,
judging from the undeniable exactions and cruelties
of that body, the kingdom seems to have been farmed
out to the police, on condition of their preserving
tranquillity. Peace at any price, and by whatever
means, seems to have been the principle adopted;
an opinion which is amply confirmed by numerous
facts apparently well authenticated.
Park is still here, expecting, not a grazia, but a
permit from his Majesty to leave the country for
the benefit of his health. As nothing can be
granted, nothing will be asked in the form of a
grade. It is amusing and instructive to hear
the opinions of Neapolitans on this sub-
ject. They certainly are not to the honour
of our government, for it is difficult to explain the
ignorance of certain incidents under which Lord
Palmerston's government laboured, or the dilatory
exertions which they made in behalf of the engineers.
It seems as if for the sake of a false tranquillity this
government had been permitted to do just as it liked.
In ortain sense Ferdinand 11. may be looked
upon as the first sovereign in Europe ; he has
defied France and England ; he has illegally cap-
tured and imprisoned the subjects of the latter
power; he liberates them at the last moment,
as if he was doing a kingly act, because, "poor
fellows, they are ill!" And as to the withdrawal of
the ministers, by his acts he says, "Do just
what you like; I have taken up my posi-
tion—it is a very comfortable one, much
more so than before, for I am no longer
wearied by remonstrances and demands from
Messieurs lea ministres." I think that I thus cor-
rectly represent the feeling of the Neapolitans and
the position of his Majesty, and whether it be
honourable to England let the world guess. I have
now only to express a hope that whatever is done
will not be done through the medium of a protracted
correspondence. If we permit this our objects will
be lost, and you may be assured that it will be the
policy of this government to defer the matter and
defeat us.

Easter has been celebrated by the liberation of 26
criminals, condemned for common offences by the
various provincial grand criminal courts, and of eight
political prisoners who have never been tried at all.
Of these the three whose names I know at present are
Francesco Russo, Salvatore de Simone, and Fran-
cesoo del Chiara. De Simone, with his brother, was
arrested on a charge of having sold the spirits of
wine in which the body of Milano was taken out of
Naples. The brother still remains in prison, and
for uttering a complaint that, though the charge
against him was the same as that against his bro-
ther he was still confined, he was locked up. These
men were arrested on the Bth of January, 1867;
had never been brought to trial ; and poesibl
will hear of the mercy of " Oar Lord the King"
towards the political offenders in the prison of
Santa Maria Apparente. There remain be-
hind many others in the same position, whom it is
not convenient to bring to trial. In the middle of
January there were to this prison 100 persons.
Whilst speaking of Santa Maria Apparent. I may
state that there are in it subterranean or lower
chambers called " Criminali," in which those who
lie under strongest suspicion are confined. Up to a
certain time these unfortunate persons were denied
the privileges and consolations of religion ; but on a
complaint being made to the cardinal, permission
was procured for their being present at mass behind
some iron bars. I have omitted to state much that
I have heard at various times regarding cruelties
iitsctised in this prison. Thus, in February last I
was informed by persons who had considerable op-
portunities of knowing the truth, that cold and hot
water was alternately thrown upon the victims;
that cries were heard in the night-time; and that
what is commonly called the " Commission. dei
Ammaszati " went two nights successively to hold
an inquest in the prison. I give what I heard
without guaranteeing it, but it cornea from those
who may be well informed ; it derives confirmation
from what is asserted to have occurred else-
where, and agrees well with the fact that
even political suspects are treated with less
mercy in this country than common crimi-
nals. lam told that this prison was once under
the jurisdistion of the Jesuits, and that they re-
nounced it. If this be so, why was it? Were they
denied that liberty of action which they enjoyed in
the Hospital Prison of San Francisco? I have been
led into details irrelevant to my subject, which was
the display of royal merry at this blessed season of
Easter. f repeat that eight political prisoners, who
have been fifteen months in confinement without
trial, have been restored to liberty, and so have 26
common criminals also, who had been condemned by
the courts, some to 14 years in irons.

PRUSSIA.

The Prince and the Princess Frederick William of
Prussia arrived at Weimar on the 7th, and were re-
ceived at the railway station by the Grand Duke,
accompanied by the ministers of Prussia and
Ragland.
A letter from Berlin, of the Bth, sari " Prussia
has generously removed the diffioultses which had
arisen between the riverain States of the Rhine re-
lative to the construction of t fixed bridge at
Cologne, by consenting to have the bridge fifty-
three feet above the average level of the river, to
take on herself the payment of the indesmtties to
the bargemen, and not to levy any toll."

RUSSIA AND TURKEY.

A letter from Berlin gives the following details
of the circular despatch sent by the Cabinet of Bt.
Petersburg relative to the Christian subjects of the
Porte. According to this letter, Russia demands
that the question of the rayabs should be brought
before a European conference. The present dis-
turbances in the Herzegovine and in Bosnia,
says the letter, entirely arise from the Porte
not having executed provisions of the Heti-
Humayoun, but u the completion of that ordi-
nance constitutes an obligation based on the treaty
of Paris, it is the right, and even the duty,
of the powers who signed the treaty of Paris
to exact that the position of the Christians in
Turkey should be really settled, and without any
restriction, according to the prescriptions of the
Hatti-Humayoun. The cabinet of St. Petersburg
deduce against an isolated intervention of Austria
in this question, and remarks that, in consideration
of the analogy of religion, an intervention of Russia
would be better justified. Russia, however, does not
express a wish to interfere, all her efforts being
directed to bringing the question before a European
conference, which, according to the treaty of Paris,
has a right to decide it. The despatch enlarges on
the complaints of the revile, and promises a series
of special proofs, which will be furnished to the
Russian agents accredited in Turkey.