The Express.
London, England, 1860-05-25 00:00:00

ALLEGED INTERCEPTION OP ROYAL COE•

RESPONDENCE.

The Prussian journals are now engaged in a dis-
cussion as to the means whereby the contents of a despatch
from the Prince Regent to the Prince Consort of England
have been brought to the knowledge of the French govern•
meat ; and an interview has taken place between the
Prince de la Tour d'Anvergne, the French ambassador
at Berlin, and M. von &Malaita, the Prnasian Minister
of Foreign Affairs, on the subject. The journals speak
of theft of despatches having been discovered, and
one states that the content of the despatch in question
can only have become known through an indiscreet
communication in ministerial circles on the Eng-
lish side of the ChanneL A Duseldorf paper hes the
following account of the interview between M. Schleinits
and the French Ambassador, which it states it has received
from • good source :
" At the latter end of the preceding month the French
Ambassador at the court of Berlin, the Prince de la Tour
d'Auvergne, called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Baron von Schleinita, and after some civilities, spoke of
the value which the Emperor placed upon the friendship
of Prussia Exclusively to avoid any unpleasantness on
the subject, the prince requested N. Schleinita to give bin.
any information he possessed as to the authenticity of a
, document the copy of which he presented. It p
, to be a letter sent from the Prince Regent to the
Consort of England, in which family matter" were
spoken of, and then someremarks on the politics
o
111. happened to be mentioned. N. Schleinitz replied that
he could give no information respecting the document, since
he was not acquainted with the private correspondence of
that high personage. His excellency, however, urged
that he must receive explanations upon the matter. His
imperial master had always entertained the best wish..
towards Prussia, and bad believed that his sentiment were
reciprocated by that country, and yet Prussian assurances
and the expressions contained in the letter lie produced
were opposed to that belief. Baron Schleinitz hereupon
answered that he was minister in • constitutional state,
and that the ministry of his country were responsible for
all official political negotiations and correspondence with
foreign countries ; an that, if any inquiry on the matter
should take place, he would not withhold the information
sought, in came reasons of state did not forbid such a com-
munication to be made. Respecting the correspondence
which the Prince Regent personally had with hie august
friends or relations, the minister of a constitutional coun-
try had not the right to control the private communica-
tions of the Prince Regent, especially since they had no
official character. These reasons, and the respect which
must be most carefully preserved in a constitutional coun-
try towards the highest personage, forbade the Minister
to initiate an investigation, or to hold an inquiry whether
the document were genuine or not. The French Ambas-
sador, apparently prepared for this objection, replied that
his inquiry was purely of • formal nature, and could in no
way interfere with the political importance of a good under-
standing between France and Prussia : but as the official
assurances nod the content of the letter were so widely
opposed, it would be plainly seen and pointed out by M.
Schleinitz that the copy of the document was not &minim.
M. Schleinitz answered that it was no question for Dim
whether the copy were forged; as he naturally could not
decide that point, since he neither knew anything of the
private correspondence of the Prince Regent, nor could he
be concerned in it. What necessarily came next for his
consideration was that he possessed no authority, and that
be must decidedly decline, to institute an inquiry or an
investigation into the contents of the letters which his
royal highness exchanged with his august connexions.
However, Prussia was convinced of the high value of a
good understanding with France, and nothing had taken
place on the part of the former country in opposition to that
feeling, while France had no reason to doubt the genuine-
mos of the assurances of the Prussian cabinet. On this
the Prince de la Tour d'Auvergne replied that if N. &hie'.
nits so decidedly declined to give him the wished for infor-
mation, nothing remained for him but to await further in-
structions. The prince then renewed his request for infor-
mation from M. Schleinitz, and signified to him that in ore
be continued to decline to grant the explanation, no other
way remained to convince the Emperor of the genuineness
of the sentiment. of tke Prussian Cabinet than a personal
interview between the Emperor Napoleon 111. and the
Prince Regent."

The Atlantic Ropsl Mail Steam Navigation
Company's steam ship Prince Albert mils from Galway
to-morrow (Saturday) , for St. John's, Newfoundland, and
New York with her Majesty's mails. Messages received by
British and Irish Magnetic Telegraph Company up to 3
o'clock p.m., 26th DIA.
EXPLOSION ON BOARD THE OHIRSA.
mums, THURSDAY AFTERHOON.—AD explosion tIODI
damp has just occurred on board the Peninsular and
Oriental Company'■ steamer Orim4 lying in Southempton
Docks. The deck cabins, bulkheads, he., were blown to
atoms. Five men have been brought ashore and seat to
the infirmary.
UNTHRULDINTED COTTON 11/TORTS AT Lrvia-
POOL. —Another dincussioirtook place at the meeting of the
Mersey Dock Board yesterday (Thursday) relative to t►e de-
ficiency of maw acoontroodation in the post. It wee
resolved that the warehouse committee should com Mer the
advisability of letting the Birkenhead warehouses at •
moderate rental. Mr. Hackie mid that 2110,000 balm M
cotton would arrive a the port is the room of the next
few weeks- The and some of the insinbses of the
Marsey.Dock Deed are mew to Leedom is soussetlee with
the defences al the Mersey.

NESTING OF MIDDLESEX MAGISTRATES.

A general meeting of the magistracy of Middle-
sex was held yesterday, at the Guildhall, Westminster, to
consider business relating to the county. Mr. POWNALL
took the chair. The ►ttendance of magistrates was very
1110.111010111.

Mr. Yams, Deputy Clerk of the Peace, haring read the
minutes of the preceding court, which were paced, laid
before the chairman some parliamentary hills and papers
affecting °minty interests, a bill relating to coroners, •
county rates bill, the Indictable Offences Bill, and the Sale
of Wines Bill.

The ellArnitAx moved that them bills be referred to the
committee for accounts and general purposes, particularly
that relating to county rates.
Mr. ARMSTRONG recommendel the re-formation of the
parliamentary committee, but the motion of the chairman
was put and earned.
On the report of the committee for account' and gmael
purposes, the fees for twenty inquests in Mr. Wakley's
aoeount, and eleven in Mr. Bedford's, were disallowed, as
having been unnecessarily held, and nineteen in Mr. Hem.
phreys's account stood over for further inquiry.