The Express.
London, England, 1857-04-20 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

EXTRAORDINARY AUTO DA Ff.
viols ova owl ookaisroxpurr.)

PARIS, SciDAT iTINING.

A body of itinerant Capuchin monks lately invaded
the town of Grasse, in the department of the Var,
and there enacted a scene which will scarcely be
credited as having occurred in France in the 19th
century, although if the venue were laid in the
States of the Church or in Spain there would be
nothing surpriaing in the story. After a preach-
ment of more sermons than were ever heard at a
Scotch " Holy Fair," a sturdy orator, one Father
Archange, mounted the pulpit and pronounced a
furious discourse against philosophers and romance
writers. Not only Alexandre Dumas, Eugene Sue,
Georges Sand,and Balzac, but even MM. 'fliers and
Lamartine were denounced by name. Among news-
papers the Mbaes and Sleek were stigmatised as
unlit for Christian reading. At the conclusion
of a fierce invective, the monk called upon
his hearers, as they valued their eternal salva-
tion, to deliver up to the parish priest, within
twenty-four hours, all books, pamphlets, journals,
and printed papers whatsoever, not approved of by
the bishop, which might be in their possession.
Pursuant to this mandate a large proportion of the
population of the town came by night to the church
door, and there, through au aperture provided by
the cure, they furtively threw down their sinful
literature as an unfortunate mother deposits her
offspring in the box of a foundling hospital. The
next day, which happened to be Holy Thursday,
a grand auto-dale was celebrated in one of the public
places of the town. The devoted books and news-
papers were packed upon a largo ftusereal pile. Two
copies of Lamartine's " Jocelyn ;" one of " La Chute
d'un Anger" a complete set of M. Thiers' " History
of the French Revolution ;" very many volumes of
Balzac, Dumas, and Eugene Sue; a copy of M. Se-
nator Merimee's " Colomba ;" M. Michelet's works;
and Jules Simon's "Religion Naturelle," were re-
marked among the collection, which comprised an
immense number of plays, vaudevilles, and illustrated
publications. At nine in the evening, all being pre-
pared,the clergy, preceded by two infant choristers,
each bearing a silver croescovered with a black veil,
advanced in procession to the place of execution.
Some " bad books" which had been brought in at
the last moment were carried by beadles in baskets
hung with black. The cortege marched slowly and
silently, lighted by torches and wax candles. The
beadles having emptied their baskets into the con
damned meal of books and papers, the holy fathers
immediately set fire to the faggots, end as the
dames burnt up high the eirf chanted Pore*

Domine. The majority of the spectators were
utterly ignorant of the nature of the entertainment,
and would probably have thought it a better show
had the Capuchins been burnt instead of the books.
Some few made fun of the proceedings, and put
humorous question, to the priests as they passed
by. There cannot be the least doubt that priests of
this kidney only want the power to burn Lamar-
tine, 'riders, Dumas, Mich°let, &c., instead of their
books.

The l'resse Bays in its weekly commercial review
that both wholesale and retail business has been even
less active during the last week than the preceding,
and it attributes the fact to the cold and wet weather.
But if the assigned reason be the correct one, we may
look for a speedy improvement, for yesterday and
to-day the weather has been exceedingly warm and
fine. Indeed so splendid a day as this has been
from sunrise to sunset is rarely seen so early in the
season.

The Daily News and Express were wired to-day.

PARIS, E4II.7HDAT EVENING.
The Bourse was very heavy. It was reported that
the bullion in the liank of France hasdecreased con-
siderably, and that the Bank has raised the premium
on gold to 6f. per 1,000, instead of 4f., to which it
was reduced three weeks ago. The precise tenor of
the new statutes continues to be the great subject of
conjectural discussion. The most important point is
to know whether the supplemental capital will be
issued in Itentes or Treasury Bonds. I believe, aa
was stated yesterday, that the latter course will be
adopted. In that east government will be enabled
to reduce the interest on the bonds, but the other
alternative would give much greater elasticity
to the Bente. The Three per Cents. fell 15e.
both for cash and account, closing at 69.55
and 69.70. Bank of France rose 75f. Mobilier fell
10. Railways, with one or two exceptions, were
lower. Eastern was remarkably heavy, notwith-
standing the opening this very day of the Chamont
section. The shares fell 12.50. Lyons fell 11.25,
and most other lines from 2.60 to 6. Mediterranean
and Orleans were firmer for account. Many specu-
lative purchases were made in Resler', which rose
12.50.

General Todloben and severrl Russians of distinc-
tion have left Paris for Toulon, to meet the Grand
Duke Constantine, who is positively expected there
on the 20th or 21st. It is stated in the Presse that
M. de Kisecleff also started for Toulon yesterday,
but this is a mistake. The ambassador has not gone,
and I am told is notgoing. At all events he was
in Paris this morning, for he attended a second
conference of the Four Powers on the affairs of
Neufchatel.

General Luders, who has been for some time in
Paris, has had a private audience of the Emperor.
The general is travelling for his health, and intends
to visit Vichy.
At a late hour this evening the court-martial
which has been sitting for several days to try the
brothers Leandri, lieutenants in the 95th Regiment,
and Sergeant Benagnet, of the same corps, on the
charge of having committed a gross outrage upon a
butcher's wife, in their quarters, unanimously ac-
quitted the prisoners. Although the Judge-Advo-
cate and M. Vellaud, counsel for the husband, pressed
hard for a conviction, no one accustomed to weigh
evidence can for a moment doubt the righteousness
of the decision. In the words of M. Chair d'Est
Ange, who disdained to ask for a verdict of " not
proven," there was not " in all, this monstrous affair
an atom of moral proof, not a shadow of probability
nor even of possibility." The sole foundation for the
accusation, which I regret to say was prematurely
dwelt upon in England as a reproach to the French
army, was a delirious dream of a woman dying from
fever after a miscarriage.

UNITED STATES.