The Express.
London, England, 1860-03-23 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(nor ova owx

PARIS, THURSDAY EVZSTWO.

The Opinion Nationale appears to have received
alarming news touching the resistance of Switzer-
land to the rapid process of absorption of the neu-
tralised provinces of Savoy, indicated by the Em-
peror's speech. It says :—" At the moment of
going to press we receive a letter from Switzerland
which leads us to fear that the Helvetic Confeder►-
tion is about to take steps of a regrettable and com-
promising nature. We think it right, before enter-
ing into details, to await the confirmation of this
awn."

I believe I am able to supply the details which
the Opiaiore Nationale, with a due sense of the
severity of the French law towards the press, has •
wholesome fear of stating. I learn from • good
source that six Swiss regiments have taken
possession of Chablaia and Faucigmy. This
news, if true, is very serious indeed ; be-
cause the French government considers itself
as already in possession of Savoy. Those two
soldiers of the find Regiment, whom I accidentally
met in an omnibus two days ago, and who said in
their cups that they expected to be on the field of
battle iu a fortnight, may after all have had better
information than diplomatist& and newspaper cor-
respondents.
The Preen says pleasantly this evening that, in
anticipation of the occupation of Savoy by FISIMIS
Savoy occupies the Mouiteur. Au ordinary reader
of the Emperor's speech and M. Thouvenel's
skepatehea, published in the official journal this
morning, would undoubtedly Suppose that the
population of Savoy and Nice was to be con-
sulted on the question of annexation, that until
their verdict the consummation of the desired

arrangement would be still "a question," and,
moreover, that the answers of the powers par Ues
to the treaty of Vienna would at least be waited
for, even if the French government should not ulti-
mately hold itself bound by their opinion upon the
question " submitted" to them. But we must look
to the semi-official organs to find the true construc-
tion of the diplomatic documents in the Momiteur.
Although the Emperor in his speech says that
Savoy end Nise " will be " annexed to France by
the free eminent of the legitimate sovereign, " sup-
ported by popular adhesion"—.although M. Thouve-
nel's despatch speaks of the "free con-
mart of the populations," the Pays, the
Petrie, and the Opinion Nationale all speak
of the annexation as being from this day
forward an " accomplished fact." The Petrie an-
nounces that to-morrow, March 23, there will be a
"farewell" review of the Sardinian troops at Chem-
bery, and that on Sunday next, the 95th, the first
detachments of the French army will arrive in
Savoy, where a magnificent reception awaits them.
Oueroult, in the Opinion Natimiale, sings a nuns.
He was the organ secretly chosen to pre-
pare the way for the assertion now made in official
despatches that the Emperor had nothing to do
with the propounding of the Savoy question, but
that it arose of itself. And M. Gueroult now most
justly and truly says that "so long ago as the 15th of
September last, amidst the general and prolonged
silence of the Parisian Kees," his journal alone
called for the extension of the French frontier. He
awards a due share of the honour which he claims
for himself to his friend and fellow-labourer, M.
Anselme Peletin, who, as you are already aware, is
• prefect in Savoy ix petto. lu this, the hour of
his triumph, M. Gueroult hopes that the Emperor's
answer to the Savoy deputation will at once " put
an end" to all recrimination' of foreign govent
manta with regard to this "indispensable rectifica-
tion of the French frontier." The position
that the consent of the population of
Savoy and Nice has been already sufficiently
taken, although not asserted by the Moniteur
in a straightforward manner, is artfully inferred by
a note in small print, which says that the provin-
cial and municipal councillors, of whom it is said
the Savoy deputation is composed, see elected by
all inhabitants paying Mr. • year taxes in the
country, and a proportionable amount in towns.
The observation is added that the commits of
.Affamey and Chainbery were elected only a month
ago. From these slight premium the conclusion is
drawn that the men who are to dine at the Tuileries
on Saturday, and who have a sure and certain hope