The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-30 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 30, 1867.

TELEGRAPHIC _ INTELLIGENCE.

ARRIVAL OF PRINCE ALFRED IN
AUSTRALLL

(lIIrTZFeI3 TELEGRAM.) By the arrival of the Panama and West India
THE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION. mail at Southampton yesterday we have advice,
from Sydney to Nov. 1, eight days later than those
ALEXANDRIA, Die. 28. I brought by the last overland mail.
The Crocodile troop ship, with the troops Prince Alfred arrived at Adelaide on the 30th
brought by the Euphrates, sailed to-day. The October. The Sydney correspondent of the
troops consist of 17 officers, 2 officers' wives, 382 Panama Star and Herald, writingon the letNovem-
men, 23 soldiers' wives, and 51 children of the ber, gives the following account, from telegraphic
Royal Artillery; 24 offi 8 officers' wives, 18 despatched of the reception accorded to the royal
officers' children, 6 servants, 452 men, 29 women, visitor at Adelaide :
Although it can scarcely be termed New South Wales
and 71 children of the 27th Foot ; also 10 officers, news, the arrival of Prince Alfred in South Australia is
1 officer's wife, 05 men, 2 soldiers' wives, and 2 of such paramount interest throughout the whole of the
children of other corps. j Austral group, that I give it prominence over other
It is reported that the chief of the Shohoes has matters. The Galatea arrived at Dleaslii on Wedaredar
surrounded Magdala. morning, or rather soon after midnight, unperceived by
! the government vessel stationed in the gulf of St. Vinoent
to herald her approach, and next morning • party of
clerk; on an aquatic excursion saw her, and were the first
PARIS, Dac• 29, colonist,s to welcome his royal highness. The news flew
The Epoque of this evening, contradicting the throughout the colonies as fast as electric wires could
rumours that an understanding existed between carry it, sad in the capital of each was announced by the
Russia and England, states that not only does no firing of a salute. The Galatea left the Cape of Good
such understanding exist, but the relations be- ; R°Pe on October 2nd, sailed for twenty-five
good heel*,
days and
lessen the cabinets of St. Petersburg and London , steamed three days. The Prince is inend aocompisio4 by Lord Newry, NT. Bekety,
have been for some days past cool rather than ' the gonaniaby, met Yorke and Lieutenant Hay,
amicable. I R.E. Great excitemsst prevailed is Adelaide when the

FRANCE.

The Patric refutes the assertions published in
several journals relative to the Conference, and
says that the proposal for the Conference
had originally been accepted by the majority
of the Powers, and was received by all
with sympathy. The objections which had
been raised had only reference to some points of
detail, and have led to further negotiations, which
are already so far advanced that a result may be
expected within a given period. The Petrie says:
" We regret that journals which advocate the main-
tenance of the peace of Europe should dwell so
complaisantly on false news, in order to anticipate
the failure of the proposed Conference. These
papers do not consider that the Conference would
precisely have the result of removing from the
questions of the day serious complications. It
would be most efficacious in the cause of peace,
and in the conservative interests, in the defence
of which they show themselves so eager to lead the
European cabinets to a definitive understanding on
such an important point."

news was known, and at night the hills for miles were lit
up with immense bonfires. The royal visitor landed pri-
v►tely daring the evening, and ascended a neighbouring
eminence from which he had • view of the scene. The fol-
lowing telegrams announce what was done up to last
night :—" King William-street is one line of flags, fes-
tooned from end to end ; there are also two triumphal
arches. People ars arriving in thousands' from the coun-
try, and it is estimated there will be 60,000 people in town
to-day. The illuminations to-night promise to be very
good. The weather is fine. Prince Alfred landed
officially at Glenelg at 2 p-m., and was received on the
jetty by his excellency the governor, the ministry, and
members of both houses of the legislature. Some 300 per-
lens were present. The mayor and corporation of Glenelg
presented an address to the Prince, who was attired in plain
clothes. The procession then formed, and accompanied
by • corps of volunteers his royal highoess pro-
ceeded to town ; on:arrival at the first triumphal arch,
King William-street, he was met by the mayor and cor-
poration of Adelaide, who also presented an address in a
silver casket ; here the procession was joined by • number
of Friendly Societies sad the Volunteer infantry. A bat.
tory of artillery fired the usual salute. On arrival at the
post-oflos, the procession halted while 25,000 Sunday
School scholars sang the National Anthem, the effect beieg
very fine ; from this the procession prooseded to govern-
ment house. The reception of Prince Alfred by the vast
crowds collected was most enthusiastic, and he appeared
evidently pleased by the heartiness of the welcome. To-
, day be holds a public levee, and for several days nothing
, but flies and excursions will be thought of. Melbourne is
also astir, and his reception there will be the grandest
ever known out of England, not the least remarkable
fe►ture being a magnificent free banquet to 20,000 of the
humbler classes.

ITALY.

FLORENCE, Dsc. 29, EVENING.

King Victor Emmanuel arrived here io-day, and
had a long conference with General Menabrea.
Count Ponza and M. de San Martino arrived here
yesterday, and after a conference with General
Menabrea and their political friends returned to
Turin.

HUNGARY.
PESTH, Dye. 29.

The royal sanction has been given to the follow-
ing bills, which have already passed both houses of
the Hungarian Diet, namely: the bill regulating
the annual contribution of Hungary to the common
expenses of the empire ; the bill settling the portion
of the debt of the empire to be borne by Hungary ;
the Jewish emancipation bill ; and the treaty of
commerce between Austria and Hungary.

To-day the election of the delegates of the Hun-
garian Diet took place in both houses. The Lower
House elected 40, and the Upper Howe 20members.
The Lower House has passed the bill in reference to
the construction of new railways.

ARRIVAL OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH
AT MELBOURNE.
MELBOURNE, Nov. 27.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh
arrived in her Majesty's ship Galatea on the
23rd inst. Unprecedented demonstrations have
taken place, and fetes in his royal higluiesa's
honour have been daily held. The dissolution of
parliament has been suspended in consequence.
The amount of gold shipped during the month
for Europe is 105,625 oz.

AMERICA.
ATIJIMO TELZOILLPIL)
NEW YORK, Dec. 27, 6 P.Y.

The Cunard steamer Scotia arrived out yester-
day, and the Atalanta and the Hibernian to-day.
Closing prices :—Gold, 1332. Sterling exchange
on London, 110. 5-20 United States Bonds,
1081. Illinois, 1314. Erie, 724. Cotton—Middling
Upland, 14.
PHILADELPHIA, Dac. 27.
Petroleum, standard white, 244.
NEW YORK, Dix. 28, 6 P.M.
The steamers leaving to-day for Europe take out
1,250,000 dollars in specie.
Closing Prices :—Gold, 1334. Sterling exchange
on London, 110. 5-20 United States Bonds,
1084; Illinois, 1324 ; Erie, 72j. Cotton : Middling
i Upland, 151.
PHILADELPHIA, DEC. 28.
Petroleum, standard white, 244.
NSW YORK, Dec. 29.

General Grant, by order of President John-
son, has removed Generals Pope and Ord from the
commands of their respective districts, and Ge-
nerals Meade and M`Dowell have been appointed
to succeed them. General Swayne has also been
removed from the head of the Freedmen's Bureau
in Alabama.

FRANCE.

(nor 0011 OWN col

PARIS, SATURDAY EVINDRI.
It is generally taken for granted that the Army i
Bill was as good as passed yesterday. The govern-
ment expected no serious fight except upon the
amendment of the minority of the committee
which proposed to reduce the total term of service
That
army and reserve) from nine years to eight.
That amendment being now rejected by 177 against
81, the articles of the bill will probably be got
through rapidly. Although M. Rouher, whose '
speech converted a great many deputies who had
intended to vote for the amendment, protested in
the outset that he should argue the point entirely
on technical grounds, and steer clear of politics,
his statement has very materially aggravated
the existing apprehension that we are on
the eve of war. His knock-down argu-
ment was that France must have an army of
800,000 men, and if those formidable premises are
conceded the figures marshalled by the minister
make out with reasonable clearness that it'
is a lighter burden on the country to have
nine years' service and an annual contingent of
100,000 men, than eight years and a contingent of '
112,500. But these figures, thus compared, show
that jpqdifications in the original measure indi-
VA last speech from the throne as concea-
skins to public opinion amount practically to
scarcely anything. The public was startled a year
ago at being told that the minimum of the regular
army was to be fixed at 800,000 men. The
concession made was that this figure is not
to appear on the face of the bill, and
the Corps Legislatif shall vote the amount of
the contingent annually as heretofore. But when
M. Rouher presses for a vote upon the plea that
the whole economy of the measure assumes a
standing army of 800,000, it is only too clear that
the spirit of the original conception presides over
the bill of to-day with frightful pertinacity. An
annual contingent of 100,000 is a tremendous
drain upon the resources of France, and when it
was first proposed some years ago many promises
were made that it should not be permanent. But
M. Rouher now talks as if 100,000 were so light
a call that the mere possible prospect of not having
more for a short time ought to be hailed as a
boon. The tone of his speech shows that be regards
the annual vote of the contingent as nothing but a
formality', and that there is an existing con-
tract with government that 100,000 men shall
always be taken at the very least. M. Rouher
frightened the deputies by parading before them
the vast armies of other continental powers. He
estimates the army of Prussia and the Northern
Confederation at 1,300,000 ; that of Austria at
1,200,000; that of Russia at 1,400,000; and that of
Italy at 900,000. There must be some ex-
traordinary exaggeration, I must observe in
passing, in the latter fignre. Leaving, how-
ever, out of the question the Italian army upon
paper, M. Rouher would want a great many more
than 800,000 men if he contemplates fighting all
the other powers of Europe at once. He would
probably not like to admit that France can reckon
upon no alliances in case of war ; but unless she is
to fight all alone she could carry on a great
war, as she has done before, with far
fewer men. Some of M. Rouher's expressions
do really look as if he were contemplating the pro-
bability of France having to defy the world. It
was only, he said, the great superiority of French
troops which would make it safe to rely upon such
a relatively small number as 800,000 ; and then,
glowing with his subject, he spoke in a fine frenzy
as a great resource in an emergency of that " levy
en masse" which Marshal Niel and other profes-
sional speakers had taken so much pains in the
comet ef elle debate to depredate as a worse than
useless incumbrance to an army in the field.

The Opinion Nationale, speaking of M. Rouher's
arguments, says :
It is a war measure that 11. Eouher defended. We
knew this before, but we are glad to see the real object
made plain, in order that the country may be warned.
The 81 deputies who voted for eight years as the
maximum term of service, comprised the whole of
the democratic opposition with the exception of M.
Emile ()Wrier, who inexplicably after his late
speech, and his recent fraternising with M. Jules
Favre and his other old friends, thought fit to
abstain. MM. Thies and Berryer gave silent
votes for the amendment. The rest of the 81 were
made up of conservatives who generally vote with
government. M. Latour Dumoulin, however,
abstained from voting.
A great many journals of all shades of politics
now speak in a way to familiarise the public mind
with the prospect of war. The Prase represents
the vote of yesterday as having been obtained
from a reluctant majority by arguments tending to
show the existence of " eventualities which become
every day more probable."
M. E. de Girardin noticed the other day as an
"appeal to arms" which would make an echo
throughout Europe, an article in a prefectoral
journal of Nancy, the Moniteur de la Meurthe,
beginning and ending with the words in English,
"Tobe or not to be." It has since been observed
that this article appeared simultaneously in several
government papers in various provincial towns. It
is clear, therefore, that the incendiary publication
was a semi-official circular sent from Paris for the
purpose of heating imaginations for the new
year, when it is more than probable we shall see
something theatrical. By the way, it is said that
both the Chevalier Nigra and Count de Goltz intend
to be absent from Paris on New Year's-day, so
that they may not run the risk of having something
disagreeable said to them at the official reception of
the corps diplomatique.
The Duke of Magenta, who has long been looked
upon as a man marked for the command-in-chief
when the next great war comes, will not, it is said
by the Presse this evening, go back to Algeria, as
the Emperor wants to have him near at hand to
consult with. There is a talk of his being
appointed a privy councillor and grand marshal
of the palace. In that case General Fleury will
probably succeed him as Governor-General of

Algeria:
It was remarked yesterday that the Emperor's
aides-de-camp and orderly officers watched the
debate on the Army Bill with intense interest ;
Generals de Montebello, de Beville, Lepic, Ney, de
la Moskos a, Fav4 de Touloneon,Lebceuf, Froward,
Castelnau, and Reille, of his Majesty's military
household, were all in privileged tribunes, and
sent frequent messages to the Tuileries while the
discussion was going on.
The telegraph is said to be working night and
day between Florence and Berlin. Many French
papers speak of General Menabrea's attempt to re-
construct a ministry as a feint to gain time while
M. de Bismarck considers whether it is for his
interest to bring matters to a crisis at once.
Letters from Rome of December 24 assert
that a concentration of Garibahliana has been
noticed within the last few days at Aquapendente,
and that the pontifical officer commanding
the military district of Viterbo had received'
orders to send reinforcements to the frontier to '
repel any attempt at invasion. The French
government is said to threaten that in case of a
Garibaldi= movement France will occupy not
only the city of Rome but the Italian frontiers.
The 20,000 men at Toulon, ready to sail at •
moment's notice, continue to be talked of in
terrorern.
The Nord of Brussels speaks of an alliance
between England, Russia, and Prussia, with a
view to probable French aggression.
It is not doubted that the moment the Army
Bill is passed M. Magna will put forth his finan-
cial statement. It is said that he will place by
public subscription the capital of 340 millions
, which the rentes of the army dotetion fund, now