The Express.
London, England, 1860-12-20 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

trios ous OWN

PARIS, WIDIVIDAY EVINOIO.

It is complacently given out this evening that K
Lavalette has at length brought the Porteto under-
stand that France is the Sultan's only true friend,
and that the French ambassador, at the date of the
last despatches, was on the point of concluding an
arrangement, in virtue of which the French army
in Syria would prolong its occupation for six
months beyond the time originally agreed upon.
It is Indeed mentioned, at the same time, as a mere
little difficulty hardly worth notice, that Sir Henry
Bulwer had objected that the term of six months
having been expressly limited by the convention of
Paris, the Divan had no right to extend the time
without the consent of the powers, parties to that
convention. It is, moreover, admitted that M. de
Labanoff, the Russian ambassador at Constanti-
nople, on being referred to, declined to express any
opinion on the subject; but then it is said that he
privately assured M. de Lavalette that be was en-
tirely of his opinion, but he would rather not say
so openly, because England would be sure to take
advantage of the accord between the repreeenta-
fives of France and Russia to bring him (If. Laban-
off) into discredit with the Porte. Thus stand/ this
very pretty business as represented in French
diplomatic circles. It is nonews that France never
meant to keep the engagements she reluctantly
entered into by the convention of Paris, and that
she certainly will not withdraw her troops from
Syria at the end of the la months. I may add that
she will as certainly keep them there after the pro-
posed extended period. However, as we are just
now such very good friends with the Emperor, I
suppose the end of it will be that we must let
him have his own way, and submit to be done, if
not duped.* •
All the marshals of France, with the exception
of Marshal Canrobert, who is indisposed, dined
with the Emperor yesterday at the Tuileries.
The Pays, in its "latest news," positively con-
tradicts the report of the telegram that the bom-
bardment of Gaeta had been recommenced, and
affirms that the armistice continues.

The Preset complains that up to 1 o'clock this
afternoon it had not been able to obtain from the
post-office its American papers, which arrived yes-
terday morning, and were delivered the seine day
to the Moniteur and Constitutionuei. It stigmatizes
the preference as an injustice, which must of neces-
sity be at variance with the principles of the
highest authorities. Formerly complaints of the
non-delivery of foreign journals were invariably
left without redress, because the Poet-office was
sheltered by the Board of Censure, which wax
irresponsible to the public. Since November 94 I
hope it may be said nous coons changb tout cola.
This morning, when the cue of the Union (pro-
secuted for " false news ") was called on at the
Pallas de Juctioe, the public prosecutor stated
that the Emperor had just decreed an amnesty
which applied to prosecutions commenced against
newspapers. The decree referred to, must, I pre-
sume, be one yet expected to appear in the
Moniteur, for the one recently published, relieving
the journals from past warnings, would certainly
not comprise this case. There can be no doubt
that the decree, when it comes out, will be found
to extend to judgments recorded as well as to
prosecutions pending.
The Bourse was not only dull, as it has been for
some days past, bat the Rente sustained a con-
siderable fall, The last prices were 68fr. 65c. and
68fr. 70.3., being a decline of 90c. and 15c. Mobi-
lier fell sfr. The Orleans Railway fell sfr. ;
Northern, 2fr. 50c. ; and Eastern, lfr. 25e. In
the other lines there was no change.
On December 28 there will be a sale by auction,
at the model farm at Camp, near Laved, of 157 bulls,
cows, and heifers, of the Durham race, belonging
to the state. The suppression of the experimental
dairy is stated by the advertisement, which ema-
nates from the Ministry of Agriculture and Com-
merce, as the reason for the sale.

THE GRAND DUCHY OF HESSE

DARMSTADT.

A correspondent writes :
I have just read in your valuable paper the announcement
of the engagement of marriage between the young
of Hesse and the Princes Alice, upon which occasien you
express the hope that the little court of Darmstadt
war in the footsteps of its neighbour, Electorate Rea,
Permit me to send you some precise information shout the
matter, which I am wall able to give, having eerreil as an
otiose for 20 years in the duchy. The difference between
the two Ileanan relatives consists in this, that the Plectir
by his own will exercises the MA absolute tyranny. ahll
means of his creatures carries out his own violent
whereas hie cousin, the Grand Duke, yields to
the will el a mist absolute warininister, who
has soled for the last ten years. The same
system obtains in both countries, but in one it is the
moserch lazuli, while in the other it is the minister who
carries it out, and who acts towards his master II Metter.
niob for instance did to the Emperor Francis. Thus the
autocracy of the Electorate is transplanted into the Grand
Duchy. This favourite's grandfather was a butcher, and
with something of the hereditary mode of proceeding he
sends to the right-about any officer that happens to dii.
please him, and the passion that has to be paid the officer
in retreat being so frequently required, the resources of the
state now feel the indiction. The poor prince himself sighs
at and laments the arbitrary conduct of his general, but
consoles himself with some new change in the uniform of
his officers or costume of his offiehls.

In the year 1850, during the space of three months, the
Chamber of Deputies wee dissolved twice, and an Elector.'
law was then granted, by the stipulations of which the mats
in the chamber can only be filled by officials, or persons
slavishly devoted to the mown. The constitution of this
Grand Duchy is, therefore, quite as rotten as that of the
Electorate. Great discontent continuos, of course, to pr,
mil against this state of things, but the love for the soec.
• reign's family I peat and general, as far as this love is
compatible with the great mid general regret, that Ger•
manyeleould be governed by some thirtyand odd rulers. This
email court resembles, in fact, more the abode of • patriarch
by its simplicity and parity, and by the education of the
youthful mime cd the dynasty, than a royal mart filled
with courtiers and retainers. The mother of the
Prince Ludwig, a moat excellent lady, presided horse
over the education of her son, whose tutor, a thorough
gentleman in every sense, roared his pupil in those sound
principles that form the beet ornamental of your own royal
family.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
(THIS DAY.)

EQUITY COURT.
(Mare the Lord Chaacelkr.)
THE WED CHANOKLIAM AND VIC&CRANCSLI.OR

WOOD.
DUCH P. BRIGHT.

Thi• was an appeal from Vioe.Ch•ooellor Wood. The
question involved related to • state of complicated accounts
between pertains in • concern for the manufacture of
carpets, and the difference between them was mainly •s to
the mode in which the &comma were to be taken. The
case is of no public interest

The Lord Chancellor now gave judgment and alarmed the
decree of the Viee-Chancellor, but in giving hie judgment

made use of the following observations of
opinion that the decree appealed against in these
suite ought to be affirmed without any variation. I think
that by the declarations which it contains, and the inquiries
which it directs, complete Judiee will be done between the
parties. I have come to this conclusion after attentively
listening to the able arguments at the bar addressed to me
on either side ; after having carefully perused the written
pleadings, the depositions, and the multifarious documents
in evidence; sad after having laboriously travelled through
the decree and the judgment of the Viee-Chancellor, weepy-
, ing forty peps of • huge quarto volume, closely pelted.
Considering my long experience as a judge, and the PO'sition
which (however unworthily) I have the honour to fill, per-
haps I may without impropriety venture to may, with the
most profound and sincere respect for Vice-Chancellor Page
Wood, that I should have disposed of the appeal, not
only with less labour to myself but more satisfactorily
and more confidently, had his judgment bean more
condensed. My attention has been diverted (join
the main questions in the case by elaborate
end minute disquisition' se to the baring of con-
tradictory evidence on subordinate points, and by following
the devious paths by which the final conclusion is at last
reached. Judgments of such prodigious length, instead of
settling have • tendency to unsettle the law, and, instead
of sending away the defeated party contented, I can my
from my own experience since I have presided in this court
that they rather generate appeals ; for although the decree
be right some of the various reasons given for it may be
questionable, and • fake hope is excited that, impugning
these, the decree may be reversed. The verdicts of juries
are generally acquiesced in, perhaps because they are given
without reasons. Au equity judge who has to determine
questions of fact cannot follow this course ; but there is rio ne-
cessity for his stating from his tribunal all that passed through
his mind during his deliberation, with all his doubts and his
wanderings. I will farther venture to declare my hearty
concurrence in the opinion frequently expressed by one of
the most distinguished of my predecessors, Lord Chan-
cellor Brougham, that when, on account of the in
portance and difficulty of a case, judges, after having
heard it argued at the bar, take time to con Niter,
they will do well by delivering a written judgment.
The judgments even of Lord Eldon would have been still
more valuable had he adopted this practice, imitating the
' example of that illustrious judge his brother, Lord Stowell,
who, by his written judgments, has composed • code of in-
ternationsl maritime law admired and respected by ill
civilised nations. Bat whoever attentively reads the short-
hand writer's notes of Vice-Chancellor Page Wood's

judgment in this case, although he may possibly
think that it might have been shortened with
out detriment, will certainly find that his Honour.
after a most anxious investigation, has taken a proper view
of every point to be considered by him, and has left wither
side any just ground of complaint. (After going finvilit
the facts of the case, his lordship proceeded to say)—l is
not think that I am called upon to give any opinion ups
any of the contested items left unadjusted; for all there
will come to be considered and decided in the course of the
inquiries which the Viee-Chancellor has directed. I nine
that an appellate judge may properly be called upon
pronounce, without further inquiry, a decision on RV
question which the judge of fiat instance ought to Imre
decided, instead of directing an inquiry concerning it. But
I should indeed be slow to impute a shrinking from trouble
or responsibility to a judge so painstaking, so diwrimi
Dating, so firm, so indefatigable, and so devotedly
melons in the discharge of his duty, as VicaChanceild
Page Wood. In the present instance, I am of opinidi
that, upon the defective evidence before him, be rote.'
not with propriety have decided any of the points no which
inquiry is directed, and that unless the parties shall world:,
agree to an amicable adjustment of these points (which th.
might easily do) the inquiries directed, however tedious amp
expensive they may be, must proceed.
The appeals were dismissed without costa.