The Express.
London, England, 1867-01-08 00:00:00

PRUSSIA.

BERLIN, JLN. 7.

The public functionaries in the annexed pro-
vinces are not to be superseded. They will remain
in office, and are shortly to take the oath of alle-
giance to the King of Prussia. " This," says the
North German Gazette of this evening, "is a proof
that the government is convinced that it can rely
upon the continuance of a sufficiently tranquil
spirit in those provinces."
The same journal, in an apparently inspired
article, compares the state of the electoral move-
ment in Prussia with the electioneering excitement
which exists in the minor States in reference to the
North German Parliament. It points out that the
Parliament will have to determine the budget and
the military constitution, and expresses a desire to
see in Prussia the same general activity displayed
in preparing for the elections.

BERLIN, JAS. 7, EVENING.

A deputation from the nobles of Schleswig-Hol-
stein waited upon the King to-day, when Herr
Reventlow, spokesman of the deputation, addressed
his Majesty as follows :—" We are happy and
grateful to see our dearest interests entrusted into
the hands of your Majesty, and we aro proud to
belong to the renowned Prussian monarchy, and
to participate in the blessings of the common
fatherland."

THE NEW FRENCH MINISTER AT WASHINGTON.—
The Marquis de Menthelon, the retiring French Minister,
and the newly accredited minister, M. Berthemy, were
presented to the President by the Secretary of State at
Washington on the 2.5 th ult. M. Berthemy made the
following address to the Preeident :—" Mr. President,—l
have the honour to place in your bands the letters which
accredit me in the quality of Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary of his Majesty the Emperor of
the French. In confiding to ins the mission to represent
bim near you, my sovereign has specislly charged me to
make known to you the value he attaches to the rela-
tions of friendship which exist between France and the
United States of America; to maintain these relations;
to draw them more closely, if possible, in view of the de-
velopments of interests common to the two countries,
such will be the constant aim of my efforts, and I have
firm hope to attain it, if, as I am in advance enured,
the government and the people of the United States share
in the sentiments of which I bring to this place sincere
expressions." The following is the President's reply to
M. Iterthemy :—" Sir,—Grateful affection towards the
French nation is among the earliest, the moat profound,
and the most enduring sentiments of the people and the
government of the United States. We constantly try to
believe that no interest of either country requires aliens-
Cons or antagonism between them. While intimate com-
mercial interests tend to bind them together, as you have
justly observed, they have at the same time a common
interest in the advancement of civilization and humanity
throughout the world. In expressing these feelings I am
only repeating what has been uniformly said by the United
States since they became sovereign. We have had much
reason to be pleased with the conduct of your predeces-
sor, the Marquis de Montholon. Be assured, M. Bee-
thony, that no consideration or courtesy will be withheld
which shall tend to make the performance of your duties
agreeable and pleasant."
A RAILWAY SWITCHMAN FROZEN TO DEATH.
A night switchman named Warner, employed on the Great
Western Railway at Reading, was on Friday night
frozen in such a manner :bat his death resulted on Sunday.
Warner hail been a porter at the company's station at Ox-
ford, and only recently removed to Reeding. He performed
his duties as narrow gauge switchman during Thursday
night, and proceeded home, but only Omit two or three
hours on Friday, as he hail arranged to fetch his wife and
family from Oxford on that day. This he did, and at night
went on duty. In the morning be was found in a dread-
fully cold condition, and removed to one of the rooms at
the station, where everything possible was done to relieve
the poor man's sufferings, and he was removed to his borne.
Mr. F. A. Finney, surgeon to the Great Western Railway
Provident Society for the Reading district, attended
Warner, and notwithstanding the careful treatment of the
case, the patient expired on Sunday morning.
ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL, GRAY'S-INN•ROAD.—The
number of patients relieved at this hospital during the
week ending Jan. 5 was 3,181, of which 992 were new
oases.