The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-16 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

MON OIIN OWN

PARIS, SUNDAY EVENING.

The Libert4 gives a description of the Emperor
Theodorus, his kingdom, and his army far leas
discouraging for the British expedition (which by
the way it thinks most just and necessary) than
that of Count du Biaaon. The Abyssinians, or the
Amhara as they call themselves (for the Abyssinian
word Habechi is Arab) are very well preserved
specimens of the pure Abyssinian race. They
have nothing of the negro about them, but at the
same time very little of the white. Branches of
the race extend to Nubia in the north, and
to the south as far as the Indian Ocean, in-
cluding the Somalia country. The Nubian do-
meatics called in Egypt barabrah are closely
allied with the Abyssinians. The nomade
and warlike tribes which are established or wander
about between the Nubian Nile and the first ranges
of the Abyssinian and Red Sea mountains (Bichari
and Chaghie) are themselves Abyminiane, slightly
crossed with the Arab race. The Galls, or Mussul-
men, in the plains south of Abyssinia, are pure
Abyssinians, converted to Islamism. The Emperor
Theodorus, or Tedros, as pronounced by his ene-
mies the Bichari, though in his youth enamoured
of the theory of grand agglomerations, has only
endeavoured to unite under his sceptre the Amhara
Christians of the European rite. The English will
only have to fight the Christians on the high
plateaux, and will find useful auxiliaries in
numerous Mahometan tribes, all enemies of the
Amhara of the mountains. Even the latter are
not very warm partisans of Tedros, who, though
he has fabricated a genealogy making himself
descended from David and Solomon, is a
man of low origin. Ho never had a regular army,
only chance adventurers, attracted by the hope of
a razzia. It is the opinion of the Libert4 that the
Sikhs and a couple of European regiments would
give a good account of the King of Kings, Tedros,
in a very short time.
The Journal du Havre says that the number of
Mexicans shot in cold blood pursuant to Maxi-
milian's decree of sth October, 1865, is, according
to the Mexican papers, 9,244, but still, enormous
as tkis figure must seem, it is believed to
be below the truth. The Paris papers are
now giving much attention to a confidential
circular of Marshal Bazaine (published by the
Liberti as a novelty, but which I am pretty sure I
have read before), dated Oct. 11, 1866, and desiring
all French officers, in pursuance of Maximilian's
decree (which it is known the marshal prompted)
to give no quarter and to refuse all exchanges of
prisoners. The French marshal said savagely he
would not hear of any prisoners being made.
Every man found with arms in his hand was to be
put to death. French officers were to understand
that it was a war of civilization against barbarism,
and that all they had to do was to kill or be killed.
There has long been a growing feeling in France
against Marshal Bazaine's conduct in Mexico, and the
prominence now given to this despatch of his, which
is certainly authentic, will increase it. His strange
notions of civilisation anger Frenchmen, who are
not unjustly proud of their civilisation in warfare.
If M. Rouher branded Juarez as an assassin for ex-
ecuting Maximilian, who issued the decree which
was so ferociously acted upon, what shall be said of
the marshal of France who, not content with
reprisals for particular acts, ordered that " all"
Mexican soldiers taken were to be shot 1 M. de
Keratry, who has undertaken the defence of Mar-
shal Bazaine in the Revue Cuntemporaine, will find
it difficult to deal with this circular.

The Pays' defence of Marshal Razaine's horrible
circular is that, as it was " confidential" [addressed
to all the officers of the French army in Mexico,
for their guidance], it could only have been made
public by a breach of confidenoe. The Pays' great
anxiety is that, for the honour of the French army,
M. de Girardin should inform against his military
informant ; and it concludes with this fine senti-
ment :—" The best way to testify our gratitude to
those who hold the sword of France is to show our-
selves jealous of their honour."
The Patric says the letter lately published in
some English papers by Mr. Hugh Scott, secretary
of the Religious Association of English and Ameri-
can Protestants, incorrectly represents that the
Prefect of the Seine had granted a piece of ground
for the building of a new protestant church. The
ground alluded in the Avenue Rapp was only let
to the association for the period of the Exhibition,
and must be given up in November.
The theatrical journals state that the Marquis of
Hertford, on whose property stands the little
theatre the Fantaisies Parisiennes, is about to pull
it down, and build a larger house with a facade on
the Boulevards. The Pays, in repeating this an-
nouncement, is at the pains to inform its readers
that the Marquis of Hertford's name is spelt Her-
fort, and not Hartfort. Try again, Monsieur
Pays!

THE POET LAUREATE. —Mr. Alfred Tennyson,
post laureate, is on a tour through North Devon.