The Express.
London, England, 1866-01-25 00:00:00

THE FENIAN TRIALS.

A "VERBAL MESSAGE^ FOR THE EMPEROR
MAXIMILIAN.

The Paris correspondent of the Times writes :
" You are, perhaps aware that a diplomatio agent, M.
Billiard, has, within the last few days, sailed for Mexico on
*special mission to the Emperor Maximilian, though, if I
am rightly informed, he is not bearer of written iartrum
twos, but only of a verbal message from the Emperor Napo-
leon himself. M. &Ward bad only just returned from a
mission to Tunis. He was sent for by the Minister of
Foreign Affairs sad requested to attend without a moment's
delay. On preesstiag himself he was asked whether helms
willing and ready to undertake another mission of more
importance than the last. M. Billiard naturally desired
to be informed what sort of miesios it was. On this,
however, the minister could not say anything; ell the
explanations would be given by the Emperor himself ; and
if he consisted he would at awe accompany him to the
pressen. M. Billiard signified hie assent, sad proceeded
in the minister's carriage to the Palace. He was imme.
diately ooedusted by an officer in waiting to the Emperor's
Cabinet. Hie Majesty, who evidently expected him, was
stone, pacing the room from Inc sad to the other, with
his hands behind la back, emelt in the manner of his
made, as he is popularly rece's's/eta. end locking
anxious, if sot s BMW stem. After a short pause
la Mates*. BMA- Mat .he. wasted him t set out
without delay for Mexico, with a message from him
to the Emperor Maximilian. He was to tell him that he
considered he had now fulfilled all the obligations imposed
anon him ; that the Mexican throne. raised by the will of
the Mexican nation, was, or should be, sufficiently con-
solidated ; that its enemies were scattered or destroyed ;
and, finally, that the time had now arrived when be must
depend on his own resources, without the help of a French
army. The envoy, of course, amity d his Majesty that
he would fulfil the mission to the best of his ability, but he

respectfully suggested that it was animal to despatch one
on a missioa without written instructions, or, at least,
without a simple letter to the personage to whom be warn I
seat. The Emperor observed there was no nemmity for
any document ; all he had to do was simply to re-
present to the Emperor Maximilian the °inverse-
tion which he had just had with him, and that
would sulfide. He recommended him, moreover, to lass '
no time in setting out ; he must depart by the next steamer.
IL Billiard took his leave. Still troubled at the notion of
departing without instructions, he proceeded to the Foreign•
office, mentioned that he had no despatch from the Em-
peror, and hoped that the minister would supply the
deficiency. The answer was that, as his Majesty had
directly signified his pleasure, he could not give him
what he asked far. All he had to do was to ouey the
Emperor's commands and repeat to Maximilian the verbal
message his Majesty communicated to him. Still,
anxious to have a document of some kind from
some one, M. S►lliard is said to have applied to another
personage who, though not a member of the cabinet,
is a functionary of the highest clue, and whose
influence a► the imperial court is, on various accounts.
considerable. This personage, hearing that neither
the Emperor nor the minister had given written instrao.
tions to the envoy, declined to interfere. Re lied no
official position as a minister, and the office he held, though
very high, did not warrant him in giving instructions to
me who had been directly instructed, though not In
writing, by the Emperor himself. There was no help for
it. M. Salliard made his prepar►tions, and set out from
Paris the same evening. lam assured that this incident
passed nearly as I have described it ; but if it be asked
what object was them is sending an envoy to Menke in
this way, I maims myself enable to reply. The Emperor
Napoleon never does anything without some good and
eshetential reason ; what his reason is in the present is.
same he himself only knows. lam not gaiter sure that
the Emperor in his communiostion with M. Billiard fixed a
period for ►be evacuation of Maxim ; but it he did it would
be the Ist of Jaasary, 1867."

DUBLIN, WIDNESDAT NICHT.
William Francis Roantree was convicted this day,
and sentenoed to penal servitude for ten years.
The prisoner made a violent speech, and concluded
by saying, " As an Irishman I appeal against your
sentence to my fellow-countrymen, and I pray that
the God of Justice may guide and strengthen them
in their holy determination." A young man
named Patrick J. Heyburne was then put on his
trial. The came had not concluded at the rising of
the court.

Tim 'saw:mous or hums'. Faszcz.—The
Debate says in reference to the remark in the French Em-
peror's speech, that the imititutions of Imperial France
reitembla theme of the United States :—" We have no parti-
cular aversion to the institutions of the United States, and
we should like nothing better than to think with the Em-
peror that our constitational forms resemble those of that
great nation. But the more we search for this riisemblanos
the more difficult does it beoome for us to discover it
elsewhere than in this nisei, respect, that the American
ministers do not form a homogeneous cabinet, that
they act under the direct authority of the Presideet,
and do not go to the Chambers. Os the other
hand, the President is elected every four years, and take
away his ministers with him ; finally, the Chambers may
accuse him, and even depose him if they think it neceusry.
We have thus borrowed, if it is to be somented so, use
article from the American constitution without, however
taking any notice of the guarantees which balance it. We '
have also, it ma be, said. borrowed from England the
immobility of the chief of the executive power and burr
&tory monarchy, let without taking amuse of the
vial responsibility and the parliamentary government which
accompany that immobility and that heredinsay' monarchy.
In a word, we have chosen from the two systems
that which strengthen the executive power dime-
everything which diminishes it as eostary to our
=amen* and our manners. The bee puts more than
an tower ruder costributioe, but from the most dl
fled kinds ha subsets nothing but honey ; it is pretty meek
in this manner that our constitution has draws front the
wet varied models that same° of authority which is still
needs, in order to satisfy ue, to be raised with setae other
Nubians% sad properly tempered"

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 25, 1866.

Sint Arto.