The Express.
London, England, 1868-06-18 00:00:00

OUR PARIS LETTER.

(rear ova °wit onazarommer.)
PARIS, Wznmsaver Evzsnro.

In the Senate yesterday M. Merimee presented
a report on a petition by a M. Lodelot Rochelle
against materialism, and praying that a national
prize should be given to the writer who should
best prove that man could only be happy by being
moral and religious. The reporter stated it to be
the unanimous opinion of the committee which he
represented that no action should be taken on the
petition. As a matter of fact materialism was not
taught in the schools. As to doctrines which
might be propagated by the press, he would only
repeat what had been said in 1864 by President do
Royer on the occasion of a similar petition, " Let
us blame what is wrong ; but learn to tolerate
what the law does not prohibit," and
what President Devienne said in 1867, that
" faith gained neither power nor consideration by
the aid of material force." As to prizes for
virtue, there were a good many of them, the
Monthyon prize among others. It was open to
individuals and societies to create new ones. But
the committee thought the state ought not to
interfere in any such matter. It was a bad habit
in France to look for the initiative of the state on
all occasions. In a neighbouring country
(England), people who shared the fears of the
petitioner put their hands in their pockets for the
purpose of propagating sound doctrines. Why
did not he follow their example ? M. Merimee
proposed that the petition should be shelved by
order of the day, which was done nem. con.
The Imperial Court of Metz gave judgment
yesterday in the case of the Prince of Orange. In
accordance with the opinion of Advocate-Osten-al
Pierrefitte the court declare, the sale of the
Hermitage estate to the Prince null and void, on
the ground that it was concocted for a fraudulent
'purpose. The judgment entirely acquits IL
Boucher, the notary employed to draw up the
deed of sale, of any guilty knowledge.
A law was passed in Paris in 1811—what I am
now stating must seem to you almost incredible—
prohibiting the sale by auction of any but second-
hand goods, on the ground that it was necessary
to " protect" shopkeepers who sold new things.
A petition praying for the repeal of this absurd
act was lately presented to the Senate, and being
favourably received by the government commis-
sary, M. Gaudin, is was referred to the Minister
of Commerce for consideration.

Yesterday a young man, after dining with soma
friends at a restaurant on the Seine near the Pont
de Tournelle, made a bet that he would swim
across the river. He stripped and went in.
When about half across he was seized with
cramp, went down, and was drowned. The
person with whom he betted has been arrested
for manslaughter. I take upon myself to
say there is no clause in the code which can
sustain an indictment on such a ground. It is
foolish, sicedoubt, and in certain cases it may be
wickoa, to tempt a man by a wager to risk his
life. Buhl swimming is a risk of life, and as to
the particular feat of swimming across the Wine,
I have known little boys who have performed
it while their fathers looked on.

The Bourse closed quietly. with scarcely any
change. •

—The-Earl and Countries of Yarborough received
the Duke and Duchene of St. Albans, the Earl and Conn:
tees Vanh, the Earl and Lady Constance Grosvenor, the
Countess do they, Maria Countess of Lietowel, Lord and
Lady Proby, Lord and Lady Cecilia Bingham, Lord and
Lady Londeobormigh, Lord John Hay, Mr. Henry Chap.

lin, &c., at dinner yesterday evening, at their residence
in Arlington-street.

. The Earl and Countess Beauchamp entertained
at dinner yesterday the Duke and Duchess of Northumber-
land, the Duke and Duchess' of Cleveland and Lady Mary
Primrose, the Marquis of Sligo, the Speaker and Lady
Charlotte Denison, Earl and Countess Stanhope, Earl and
Countess Somers, the Earl of Cansperdown, Mr. and Lady
!Margaret Beaumont, and Mr. Peel. Later in the evening
'her ladyship received a entail and select party.
".Visoowit and Vis Countess Barrington enter-
tained the following company at dinner last evening, at
'their residence in Caveedieh-square :—The Duke of Graf-
'ton, the Marquis and Marchioness of Bath, the Earl and
Connie*. of Westmorland, Viaoount Newport, MP.,
Lord Strathnaiin, Lord Frederick Pawls/44 Hon. Frede-
rick ind Lady Cosistance Stanley, Hon. Augusta Barring-
ton, Mr. and Lady Dorothy Nevin, Mr. Douglas, he.

Mr. Orel:dell, on Monday, will ask the hon.
member for Bute on what grounds he stated, on Friday,
June 5, that the petition which he presented praying for
en early re-appointment of Mr. Eyre to her Majesty's
caned& service was signed by 71 peers, 6 bishops, 20
members of the House of Commons, 40 generals, 26
.admirals, 400 clergymen, and 30,000 other persons, when,
in fact, it is only signed by 3 peers, I bishop, 6 members
of parliament, 20 generals, 9 admirals, 171 clergymen,
and 10,000 other persona
brsuLtzteze or FARltirro Etrocz.—Accord-
fi, to s return published this morning, the total amount of
(duty paid into the Inland Revenue oMee for ineuranees
oti farming stock against fire, in England, Scotland, and
:Itkarnd, was 1,084,0131:17. 3d.; the amount insured being
76,643,401!. The total allowance for collection at 5 per
'ant. was 39,926 L is. 4d. In England there were, in
addition, certain !Urges for collection at the rite of 4 per.
cent., the total of which was 8,9661. 13a. 2d.

THE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION.--Secretary Sir
'Seaford Northaota has received and forwarded to us the
:following telegram from Sir Robert Napier : May 30.
—I regret to say Mr. Dufton, Intelligence Department,
was mortally wounded, the day before yesterday. by
Sham robber*, while travelling between Undid Wells and
Moro*. He expired here yesterday. Please break the
news to his wife."

The Irish government have determined to release
Mr. Pigott, of the Dieheese. The of Richmond
Bridewell has received authority from the Lords /imam
(acting in the abeame of the Lord Lieutenant) to release
him from custody on hie pm-testing the reoognhanaes re-
by his sentence. This ormiximion amounts to a
d commutation of punishment by one-half. Mr. Pigott wee
amatenoed to brehe months' imprisonment, anti Itee spent
exactly Mx in the bridewelL