The Express.
London, England, 1867-11-19 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(room con owx col

PARIS. MONDAY Evsagixa._

The Emperor's speech, although it may be fairly
described as pacific, inasmuch as there is in it
nothing indicating the probability of immediate war,
contains, in my judgment, no symptoms of a change
for the better in the political situation. It holds
out no hope of a departure from that oscillating
policy (politilon de Monde) which has already done
so much harm and which French writers continually
say inflicts upon France most of the evils of war
(slaughter only excepted) without its glory and
possible advantages, and without that great re-
deeming feature of most modern wars—the prospect
of a speedy termination.
As to Italy, the Emperor shortly alludes to his
victory over Garibaldi, and says that, order having
been " almost " restored in the Papal (dominions,
it is possible to " calculate " the near ap-
proach of the recall of the expeditionary army.
There is nothing precise in the use of this Yankee
term " calculate;' and the rest of the speech,
construed by the aid of notorious facts, which it
conceals, leads to the " calculation" that the
second occupation of Rome, with all its recognised
embarrassments, is likely to be indefinite in its
duration. His Majesty does not venture to say
there is the least hope of a conference for the
settlement of the Roman question ever meeting.
He knows better, and confines himself to the
barren announcement that he has convoked one.
The statement that he considers the convention
of Sept. 15 still in existence until it shall be re-
placed by another international act is a defiance
of the national views of Italy. It means that
France will hold Rome unless a congress, which it
is known will never assemble, relieves her of the
duty. Construing the speech on this head in the
moat favourable manner possible, it means that
France has wilfully resumed the responsibility of
the indefinite occupation of Rome and the support
of the incorrigible temporal power, the burden of
which her best statesmen for years complained of
as intolerable, and which, two years ago, was
thought to have been shaken off.
The short allusion to the Eastern question signi-
fies nothing. That all the powers are agreed in
the necessity of maintaining the integrity of the
Ottoman empire as well as in ameliorating the
position of the Christians is a great straining
of the truth—even of diplomatic truth. The
last note by the four powers sent to
Turkey is understood to have been con-
curred in by France only for the purpose
of completing an outstanding engagement with
Russia, and the Ottoman Porto was privately in-
formed that as far as France was concerned the
note did not mean what it said. One of the com-
binations on the political cards, especiallyfif the
Austrian alliance can be matured, is to support
Turkey out and out against Greece, and conse-
quently to be at variance with Russia, which
most assuredly does not see the necessity of
maintaining the integrity of the Ottoman empire.
There follows in the speech a great talk of " cross
roads " and public worlui, which language smells of
an excuse for a loan, although the statement that
the "estimates" will not be modified, notwith-
standing &falling off in the receipts, is construed by
some as meaning that there is to be no loan.

The admissions that the harvest has been bad and
provisions are dear—rare as such confessions are
in imperial speeches—infer very serious distress in
the country. The hope expressed that free trade
may assure abundance of provisions tends to nega-
tive the report that M. Magne comes into office as
a protectionist.
The Corps Legislatif is exhorted to vote the
liberal laws promised on January 19, but it yet
remains to be seen what ingenious restrictions may
be called from the many conservative amend-
ments, and the Emperor himself dwells upon the
corrective of " firm repression," the " energy of
power," and his courage, which ever increases with
unjust resistance.
At the Bourse the speech was well received, but
the rise, considering the depressed state of the
market for a long time, was insignificant. Rente
rose 224 c. cash and 20c. for account, closing at
GBfr. 443. and 68fr. 40c. ; Credit Fonder rose
15c. ; Mobilier, 2fr. 50c. ; and Italian, sc.

GARIBALDI IN PRISON.