The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-07 00:00:00

AUSTRIA.

(nos oas owl" Cow

TaliNA, Aran a.
The news will already have reached you of the
preparations now made openly by Prumia for war.
All the details are given in the Krum Zeitung ;
the names of the regiments that are ordered to call
in their reserves, the fortresses which are instantly
to be pat in a date of defeats.. All this looks lie
earnest ; and yet people are net wanting who, pew
feeling to know Biwnsrck's character, assert that,
after all, he will not push matters to extremity.
Frivolity, it is true, is a predominating feature in
his character, as he has shown on many occasions
in private as well as public life.
I have no doubt whatever that Count Sis-
marck firmly believed he should, by his impe-
rious threatening manner, nuke Austria give way.
The .two, men who have in theme nding ques-
tion to deal more or lees directly h each other
are as opposite as the poles. Count Bismarck is a
noisy swaggerer ; be is one of those men who by
loud bluster thinks to give himself importance,
and to astonish the multitude. Count Mensdorff
is an extremely quiet, courteous gentleman mild
in his manner, and rather retiring than otherwise.
He suffers continually from ill-health, and the
fatigue of bodily pain may often make him seem
weary of the strife. This, and the total ab-
sence of anything approaching even to grandilo-
quence, or boasting, or threats ; but, an the con-
trary, an urbanity which, were the wish father
to the thought, might be taken for indecision or an
inclination to give way, may well led one to neneve
that when the Prussian ambassador has had an in-
terview with him, Bonn Werther has thought if
Prussia only persevered resistance would gradually
cease, and reported accordingly to his chief at
Berlin. A gentleman in mind and manner has no
chance in a dispute with a man like Count Bis-
marck. For he is unable to fight him with his own
weapons. It is like using a foil against a flail.
The polite rejoinder, too, to the insolent assertion
will always be interpreted as want of spirit.
There may possibly be a lack of energy in
Count Mensdorre manner, but I am per
suaded there is no want of firmness in his resolve.
Bavaria is arming to side with Austria. The
cavalry regiments are buying horses, and the artil-
lery, too. The recruits who were on leave are
recalled. Moreover, all is ready for placing a
corps d'armee between Wursburg and Aschaffen.
burg.

RELEASE OF THE ABYSSINLLN
PRISONERS.

-
The following oommunicationwas forwarded tons
from the Foreign-office yesterday : —"Accounts dated
Feb. 7, received this afternoon through Massowah,
Aden, and Cairo, from Mr. Daum, state that he
had been received in the best possible manner by
the King, who, after the first interview, ordered
that all the European prisoners, including the mis-
sionaries and Frenchmen, should be delivered at
Debra Tabor to Mr. Rassam, who would take them
with him out of Abyssinia about the end of
March."

WarritnALL, Aram 4.—The Queen has been
planed to present the Rev. Thomas Gwynne Mortimer,
WA., to the rectory of Cutlet:4h, in the county of Pem-
broke, and diocese of St. David's, vacant by the death of
the Rev. John Pugh.—()seeps.
Tan Loss or THE PALMERSTON SALoox &Yews&
—The fate of this saloon deck steamer with all on board,
intended to run between London and Gravesend, in now
beyond a doubt. The Cardiff Castle steamer, which was
despatched to search the coast from the Mull of Galloway to
Ailea Craig, has returned and reports that fragments of
wreck have been washed ashore, proving beyond doubt
that the ill-fated steamer must have either foundered and
have broken up, or have been run down by some other
steamer. One of the crew of the Anzies, which has
arrived at the Clyde from %stanza, states that as his
vessel was passing up channel, Cornwall bearing 8.8.
about five miles, they passed through a quantity of wreak
evidently that of a paddle steamer painted blue or black,
also several portions of bulwark., deck planks and rails, pieces
of fancy grain work on doors, evidently of a saloon cabin,
and shelves of a steward's pantry. They were much smashed
up, and some of the largest pieces of the deck planks were
from 14 to 20 feet long.. The floating wreck extended •
distance of 18 sails in length near Ailsa Craig. The
steamer sailed from the Clyde under the name of the Arran
Castle. She was to have been rechristened the Palmentcm
on her arrival in the Thames, which was expected as last
Wednesday week, and was to have commenced running on
the Good Friday to Gravesend. The general opinion is
that she met with destruction during the heavy aVrhhieh
prevailed on the 23rd nit ; she was of immense and
great beam, but only 7 feet 6 inches depth of hol , with
high saloon cabin deck built on main (leek, and perfectly
unfit to encountera heavy sea, owing to the peculiar con-
struction of her saloons on deck. The number who
perished in her was 20, including the owners, who were
also on board. A party of 14 gentlemen, friends of the
owners, were to have accompanied the owners in their in-
tended trip round to London, but arrived too late. The
Palmerston was valued at 10,0001., but was only insured
for 6,5001.
Tan Strata Dirrnis.—A letter from Mr. Glad-
'tree to the Clyde Crushed Sugar Association has (says
the Scotsman) dispelled a notion which bad caused no
man unsesiness in the sugar trade, that the forthcoraing
budget would announce an alteration in the sugar duties.
Mr. Gladstone gives his correspondents to understand that
no reduction or adjustment in the scale of duty is *einem-
plaid baths prawn yew at had.
CommolvicAylow Ix RAILWAY TB.Anvit.—We un-
derstand that it is thainiantim etgovernment to nibmit
to a special onsmittee the question of communication
between and ter d and guards of raj
Seethe. Benner Cieernsphouse Oommittee have
wrier essadmation many plane for sleeting the •
ceded ; but now that government is to move in the
the committee are to take no further steps In Ihmi meow
time, and, as tbeT bay* net ipeeielly riaorsinediel sot
system of osentatuneedios, the question is left gone erne—
Sealnitan.