The Express.
London, England, 1857-12-16 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

Mow ova owx cot

PARIS, TCESDAT EVENING.

It is considered certain that a decree imposing an
import duty upon spirits (which it may be remem-
bered have for some time been let in duty free, in
consequence of the scarcity of wine for distillation)
will be issued before the end of the year. The
great question is what the figure will be. The ge-
neral opinion at the Halle is that the old duty of
loft. the hectolitre will be simply restored, but if
the petitions of the Chamber of Commerce at Arras
and other planes in the north are granted, the duty
will be raised to 30fr., or even more. The excuse
alleged by the protectionists on this occasion is that
Pranka is paying a large drawback upon the ex-
portation of spirits, against which it is impossible
to compete.

The Boone has been heavy in consequence of the
reported failure of a large commercial house at
Nantes, and news that mere& firms at Bordeaux
and Marseilles were thought to be in difficulties.
The crisis in the north of Europe continues, accord-
ing to the latest letters from Hamburg and Copen-
hagen. The Rents fell 10c. for cub and he. for
account, closing at 66fr. 40c. and 66fr. 65e. Mobil-
liar fell 7fr. 60e. Railways gave way, but not to
any great extent Lyons fell Bfr. 10e., but the
otter lines only about 2fr. 50c.

I understand that M. Emile de Girardin has written
a letter tothe Independence Belga, in which he admits
the authorship of the recent articles in the emorrier
de Pori., and says he wrote them in order to give a
practical proof that it was possible to write freely
in France under the Empire. I have not seen the
letter, but if this be the only argument used in it, I
am afraid the result of the short-lived experiment in
tho Courtier will not be thought very conclusive,
unless, indeed, it should be considered proving pre-
cisely the reverse of the proposition enunciated.
A prosecution has been instituted against the
Eskjette for having reproduced an electioneering
song lately published in Belgium, entitled "Le
Chant des electron beiges."
The Memorial de Lille is suppressed.
M. Granier do Caragnse is about to found a
facetious journal.
Ferukh Khan is going to London on Monday
next, and after staying there a fortnight, will return
to Paris, and then take a trip to Italy.
It is only to-day that official news has been re-
ceived at the Foreign-office confirming the dew-
tare of Lord Stratford do Iledcliffe from Constanti-
nople on the 12th inst.
Tho Bishop of Versailles (Mgr. Gros) died on
Sunday at the age of sixty-three. He was at one
time confessor to Louis Philippe's queen, and was
translated from the see of SL Did to that of Ver-
sailles in 1844.

A religiose service was performed to-day at the
Inv'lides, to commemorate the translation of the
ashes of Napoleon I. on this anniversary. As usual
it was attended by a great many old soldiers of the
empire in their well-worn uniforms, who, after the
service, marched in procession, with drums beating,
to the Place Vendtime, where they deposited 'motor-
tells, at the foot of the column.

K. DB OIRARDIN AND THE Flamm MUMS.

(hem the bedipepeireee 8010 of yesterday)

The campaign opened in Fran°e by the Courrior
a Pass In the formation of an opposition nap in the
midst of tie inatituttone of the empire and while accepting
them—is at an sad in default of ooinbatante. We kayo bed
W good fortune to-day to receive tbe following letter fres
Y. de Ohm/din: _ _

"Path, Das. 14.

"TO THE EDITOR OT THO

mg ezios.'

"In mentioning that you had imposed upon yourself a
rale to speak beforehand ;of none of the candidates in the
approaching elections of Paris, you were good enough to add
—.There is one nomination, however, which is too cheese-
terlstic of the present situation to be left unnoticed—it is
that of M. de °Wardle, about whom public attention is co
much excited on account of recent incidents in Parisian
journalism.' Permit me to have recourse to the hospitable
publicity of the Independanee Beige, which has never failed
tae, to announce that I em not the candidate deny committee
nor wish to ba The proporrition, it fa true, was made tome,
but I declined in the most po 'tits terms. Allow me to
avail m self of the opportunity to contradict another un-
mart. It is not tree that I have bought either the
direction or the proprietorship of the Cbrirrier de Paris,
either whole or in part; although it would be equally untrue
to say that In selling shares In the Pews to M.
Millard, I made any engagement which restricted my
liberty in the slightest degree. It is but justice to him to
add that he never required It. As to the articles which have
appeared In the Clwrrier de Tans, and which are attributed
to me, all that I cansy of them is that they are the deve-
lopment of the letter which I had the honour to addrees to
you from Glestach (Switzerland), on the 3rd of August
teat, and which you had the kindnew to insert. In the
iisme of Liberty, whose mime I have tot abandoned single
Instead eines tire day I first held a pen—in the name of
Liberty, the constant object of my studiee and all my desires
thensmeof Liberty, to whom! have always sub rdinated
ititzetions, to) me mcondary, of governments and
dynasties and ministries personal friendships
or amides—l in that letter declared that liberty
was not incompatible with the empire. In the
name of the empire some journalt contend that the
empire is incompatible with liberty! As they are in
better position to be informed then I am, I ought to credit
their declaration. but I must remark that it doe, not invali-
date mine, end that I am not slime of this opinion.
Receive; itc. " EMIL' DE 0111.ARDIN."

A letter from Christiania (Norway) of the Bth
states that X. Hornasus, an advocate, and M. H4ovr, an
extensive manufacturer,' had starlet! fur England, for the
. . .

purpose, if possible, of effecting a loan of one million of six
dollars (4 millions of francs.)

The Coos of Cracow says:—" Some journals have
affirmed that, in virtue of the decree of musty, their con-
fiscated property has been seetored to twenty-seven Poles
who have returned from exile, but that assertion is alto-
gether erroneous. The decree satrely stipulate. that any
property which they purchase or obtan poweasion of will
not be coeflacated for the itlll/11. In fact, they are Amply
restored to their civil rights."