The Express.
London, England, 1858-06-21 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(MOM ova owit

PARIS, 817/IDLY Eyinmro.

The Constautionnel—speaking of the new Senatus
Counthum, by virtue of which ministers, grand
officers of the crown, knights grand crows of the
legion of honour, French ambassadors, senators, and
councillors of state are to enjoy the privilege of
being tried for crimes and misdemeanours by a ape-
eial tribunal, called a High Court of Justice, instead
of by jury—works itself up to each a pitch of official
enthusiasm as to describe a measure which, so far as
it excites any attention at all, is certainly not ap-
proved of in this country of " equality," as " one of
the most important laws which we owe to the
imperial initiative." How great (it exclaims) is the
solicitude of the Senate for the public interests ! But
yesterday it completed the rural code which
will protect agriculture and real property ; " but
now it has voted a Senatus Consultant which defends
a property still more precious—the impartiality of
justice, and the dignity of the nation in the person
of its most illustrious children." Without con-
curring with the Censtittaiorenel as to the high impor-
tance of the work achieved, I sincerely think that the
Senate is entitled to some credit for courage and self-
abnegation on account of this vote. Senators,
although not altogether what the constitution
assumes them to be, " la illustrations du pays," are
not taken from a class of society addicted to mur-
der, burglary, highway robbery, and petty larceny,
and the public does not look so far into the possible
future as to concern itself about the unlikely cue
of a senator, guilty of these mean offences, being let
off more easily by his brothers in embroidered uni-
form than he would be by an ordinary court of
justice. But if tronblous times should come, in
which the executive power should desire to relieve
itself from unpopularity, by throwing the responsi-
bility of odious acts upon high officials, if, for
instance, it should be wished to send a batch of a
couple of ministers, half a dozen councillors of
state, and twenty senators to Cayenne, it is certain
that the High Court of Justice would be found a
more complaisant instrument than a Paris jury. The
senators appear, after all, to have had some inkling
of this contingency, for their reporter, M. Barthe,
with all his courtly language, informs us, that by
way of amendment to the project, as presented by
government, the Senate had thought fit to stipu-
late that whenever the five judges composing the
High Court sit without &jury of thirty-aix,they are to
be aided by the four presidents of the Court of Caseation
—judges who,holding their appointments for life,may
possibly not be liable to the influences which might
act upon the High Court judges for the time being.
This amendment is made, it is stated, "without call-
ing in question the impartiality of the five High
Court judges," because " it is equitable to fortify as
as much as possible a court of the last resort, from
whose sentences there is no appeal." Let us hope
that the illustrious senators may never hare omission
to test the value of their forethought in this regard.
I have had an opportunity of seeing one of forty
albums, which have been ordered by the Emperor
as presents from him to forty generals who were
with his Majesty at the Chilons Camp, last year.
Each album contains fall length portraits of the
forty generals, executed in the very beet style of
M. Legray, the celebrated photographer, and also a
a great many interesting camp scene. The pictures,
which probably form the most perfect specimens
of the photographic art ever published, are bound
in a magnificent folio volume, green and gold. On
the cover of each volume is inscribed the words
"Souvenirs du Camp de Ch►ions," followed by the
name of the general to whom that particular copy
is given. The value of this very costly present is
greatly enhanced by a portrait of the Emperor him-
self, taken by M. Legray in his Majesty's tent at
Chilons. It is the most. faithful likeness of the
Emperor that has ever been seen, and differs very
mat, rally in the expression of the counten-
ance from the numberless portraits which are
touched up for exhibition in the shops. The eyes
and lower jaw in particular are represented with a
fidelity of which only those who have had opportu-
nities of closely scrutinising the countenance of this
remarkable man can form any idea. The public will
not, far the present at least, be able to study this
wonderful "sun picture," as the strictest orders
have been given that no copy of it shall be m►de
beyond the forty ordered for the generale.
M. Emile Angier, the author of the Lionnet
Pasieres, which was lately played before the Em-
peror and Empress at Fontainebleau, has been pro-
moted to the rank of an officer of the Legion of
Honour.

M. Minis has left Paris this evening for Rome.
M. Villemain is now correcting the last prooh of
his translation of Pindar,npon which he has been at
work for the last tan roan. I

P. 6.—1 hear that the Emperor and Empress are
expected at the Lyons Railway station at 6 this
evening, and that preparations are made for their
reception at St. Cloud to-night.

PARIS, Sarum my Byname.
The Union Brstonne, of Nantes, states that the
captain of the Etbiop claims 20,000 fr. from the
owner of the Regina Cali, ea damages for having
taken the ship out of the possession or the negroes.
M. Viot (the owner) has gone to Paris to investi-
gate the grounds of the claim.
The Constitutionnet, alluding to Lord Idalmes-
bury's speech in relation to this affair, says, " En
attendant a more ample rectification of this state-
aunt, which is to say the least of it incomplete, we
declare that we cannot approve of the manner in
which tho noble lord and some other speakers de-
scribe the conduct of the French government touching
the importation of free labourers into our colonies."
The Peri* has an article congratulating the go-
vernment on M. Delangle's appointment, which in
spite of rhetorical precautions, is a plain confession
that the friends of the empire were very seriously
uneasy at the line of policy which has been followed
since January 14. It begins by averring, what
the Cbtutstutionnel and Pop have already said,
that the nomination indicates the commence-

meat of a " new era in politics." " In the
eyes of Europe as well as those of Francs
this substitution of a magistrate for a general has a
very serious meaning." It then proceeds to take
credit to itself for never having flattered General
Espinuse, but at the same time desires to express an
opinion that France has been on the whole more I
frightened than hurt by his administration. He
never inflicted a warning upon any journal and was
particularly tolerant of opposition to himself. The
unusual freedom with which the Paris press has
been allowed to discus, the circular relative to the
charity lands is justly cited as an example showing
the truth of this assertion. What then m the reason
that the country hails with universal satisfaction the
champ of ministry which has just taken place ? It
is, according to the Patrie, that it sees in the new
appointment a contradiction to the enemies of the