The Express.
London, England, 1866-08-18 00:00:00

FRANCE AND GERMANY.

The Berlin correspondent of the Temps, writing
on the 15th, says :
The information which I sent you respecting the sup-
posed conflict between France and Prussia is entirely
confirmed. At this moment there does not exist
the shadow of a cloud between the two powers
and the misunderstanding of a few days past has
been explained to the general satisfaction. We bear
to-day of an autograph letter from the Emperor to King
William, which H. Benedetti has brought from Paris.
I shall know this evening if this be true.
The King presided over the council to-day.
Count Bismarck (who is better) has obtained
final and irrevocable sanction for the annexations which
he will submit to-morrow or Monday to the Chamber.
Hanover, Electoral Hesse, Nassau, and Frankfort will
figure in the first batch. These are conquered countries,
which will be annexed by the right of war. The Duchies
of Schleswig-Holstein and part of the Grand Duchy of Hesse
will soon follow. The former will pass to Prussia by
the treaty of peace between Austria and Prussia. With
regard to the northern part of Hesse its annexation will
depend on the negotiations between Bavaria and Hesse.
The Grand Duke of Hesse would be indemnified by •
slice of Bavaria- You are already aware that Wurtem
berg has made haste to get out of the mess.
Herr von Warnbuhler signed, the day before yesterday,
peace with the King of Prussia by paying on the part of
Wurtemberg, 8,000,000 of florins towards the cost of the
war. He left immediately for Stattgard, leaving Bavaria
and Hesse to compound as best they can with Von
Bismarck. The Bavarian plenipotentiaries showed
some signs of resistance recently which is attri-
buted here to " news from Paris," but now they
are convinced it was nothing but a ruisunderstanding
tbey will yield to force. With regard to Saxony the
Prussian conditions are hard, and one can easily under-
stand how difficult it is for old King John to
accept them. It is positively stated that he will
abdicate and devote himself to literature. I am
just informed that the Prortecial Correvondentz of this
evening will contain an important article on the situation
and the Emperor Napoleon, in which the strict friendship
between the governments of Prussia and France will be
energetically affirmed. Prince Louis of Hesse, brother-hr
law of the Prince Royal, has left without being able to
obtain an audience of the King. The influence of Bis-
marck is decidedly greater than ever.

(REUTERS TELEGRASIS.)
AUSTRIA AND PRUSSIA.
PRAGUE, AUGUST 17.

The negotiations for peace are proceeding very
favourably. The Prussian proposals, which differ
very little from the instructions of the Austrian
plenipotentiary, were sent to-day to Vienna.
The treaty of commerce between Austria and
the Zoilverein remains provisionally in force.
Further arrangements with regard to this question
are reserved for a later period. Peace will, it is
expected, be concluded within eight or ten days.

FRANCE AND BELGIUM.
LIEGE, Acucar 11, EVENING.

The Jortnird de Liege publishes the following :
—" A correspondent in Paris, who is in a position
to be very well informed, writes to us that the
Emperor, desirous of putting a stop to the propa-
gation of plans and projects which are attributed
to him by some journalists, has ordered the
French Ambassador in London to declare spon-
taneously and officially to the British government
that he never intended to take an inch of Belgian
territory."