The Express.
London, England, 1861-02-28 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

THE EMPEROR AND THE BISHOPS.
(raom our OWN COPAINSPONDEFf. )

PARIS, WIII:11111WAT Evict o.

The war between the bishops and the govern-
ment is now assuming such proportions that
a "cataclysm"—to use M. de Gramont's ex-
pression to Cardinal Antonelli—must be near
at hand. The Bishop of Poitiers, in a
published pastoral letter, compares the Emperor
to Pontius Pilate ! This fact is announced by the
Patrie, under the bead of " Latest News," and at-
tested, which "latest news" usually is not, by
the signature of its leading writer, M. Paulin
Limayrac. Here is the paragraph :

The following is s pump which we extract from a man-
date of the Bishop of Poitiers.
The language of the worst passions in the worst days of
our history is now outbid. Let the public read and judge.

PAULRI LIMATRAC.

" The mystery of iniquity runs its course ; what would
you my of a child who should publicly use this language to
its father :

"'Father, your eldest son declares to you, in the face of
the entire world, that you are obstinate and ungrateful, and
that were it not for his unchangeable respect for you, he
would abandon you to-morrow to the unfortunate fate
which your headstrong blindness deserves.' Obstinate ! Is
Rot the obstinate man he who continually harps upon im-
possible combinations—plans branded by the laughter of all
statesmen?

"Pilate, when he saw that his arguments prevailed no.
thing, and that on the contrary the people became more and
mote emoting, s►w and felt that after having so far yielded
to every caprice of the multitude, he was on the point of
being urged on to a crowning act of weakness, and be then
called for water, and washing his bands, said, 'I am inno-
cent of the blood of this just man ; see ye to it.' This done,
after having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to the
Jews to be crucified. But has posterity ratified
the absolution which Pontius Pilate gave to himself ; and
did that washing of his hands render him innocent in the
eyes of succeeding ages? Hear this: 'Now this man,
branded as a deicide—this man nailed to the pillory of our
symbol—who was he ? lie was not Herod, nor ecipha s, nor
Judas, nor any one of the Jewish or Roman executioners.
" This man is Pontius Pilate, and it is just that it should
be so. Herod, Caiphas, Judas, and the rest had their part
in the crime, but nothing would have been consum-
mated without Pontius Pilate.

" Pilate might have saved Christ, and but for
Pilate Christ would not have been put to death.
The signal for the execution could have been given by none
but he. Wuh thy hands, oh Pilate ! Proclaim thyself
innocent of the'death of Christ; our daily answer, and
the unvarying answer of our remote posterity, will be, " I
believe in Jesus Christ, who suffered under Pontius
Pilate.' "

A Paris letter in the independance says :
Ten bishops have signified their adhesion to the pamphlet of
Mgr. Dupanloup. The clerical war recommences, and the
convocation of a council to A: the situation of the papacy is
talked of.

The Patric again contradicts the oft-recurring
rumours that the French army is on the point of
leaving Rome, and, by way of rendering its denial
more emphatic, asserts that the "latest instruc-
tions sent to General de Goyon are in quite a con-
trary sense."
I have reason to believe that in consequence of
the firmness shown by England and other powers
Syria will be evacuated by the French army within
three months. The Pays, to-night, makes the re-
markable admission that "the state of Syria now
offers no serious element of troubles," but, just by
way of countenancing its old arguments, it adds'
that "the bishops of the province, from a senti-
ment which will be readily understood, ask God, in
their prayers, that the occupation of the French
troops may be continued."
The Bourse, after opening at yesterday's prices,
gave way, and the Ratite closed, with a fall of 15c.
both for cash and account, at 67fr. 135 c. and
67fr. 90c. Mobilier fell 3fr. 75c. The Orleans,
Northern, and Western Railways fell 3fr. 75c. each,
Eastern, 7fr. 50c., and Southern, 2fr. 50c. Lyons
rose lfr. 25c. The Caisse Mires closed at 95fr.,
with a fall of sfr. ; but the Ports of Marseilles rose
10fr. It is reported that a decree of the Tribunal
of the First Instanoe interferes with M. de Ger-
miny's mode of winding up M. Mires' affairs. He
bad proposed to treat them all on a footing of
solidarity, but the court, it is said, has ordered
that the Roman railways, Porta of Marseilles, and
other adventures shall be kept distinct
from the Caisse Gdnerale. This arrangement
is thought to be very bad for the share-
' holders of the caisse. It will probably be
proved that very large bribes have been given to
high papal functionaries in the matter of the
Roman railways. There is a rumour this evening,
which lam inclined to 'relit, of an important
arrest having been made of a connexion of M.
Mires, but Ido not like to mention 11411101 in the
absence of positive knowledge. False news, as you
may well suppose, is superabundant just now.
The evening papers announce that General Turr
has arrived iu Paris.