The Express.
London, England, 1868-12-18 00:00:00

OUR PARIS LETTER.

(mom ors OWN 00IIIERPONDLT. T. )
PARIS, TIIIIII,DAT EVISNING.

The important news of a diplomatic rapture
between Turkey and Greece, and more—an actual

commencement of hostilities, is neither denied nor
extenuated by the semi-official jouniels, which up
to yesterday confidently predicted that no such
catastrophe was possible. The Petrie. throws the
whole responsibility upon the Greek pe. pie and its
government, which is natural enough if we assume,
what is generally believed, that the sudden
unimatum of Turkey which brought matters to a
crisis was prompted by Austria at the instigation of
France. The Petrie, however, still optimist, con-
tinues to affirm that the great powers are as much
agreed as ever, and that their efforts will be
directed to " localise " the conflict. This assump-
tion that Russia stands neutral in the matter is
quite at variance with the latest articles in the semi-
official press of St. Petersburg.
The Emperor, Empress, and Prince Imperial
left Compitlgne this morning, and contrary to
what was expected a few days ago, have at once
taken up their winter quarters at the Tuileries,
instead of making an intermediate sojourn at St.
Cloud. A considerable military force was at the
Northern Railway station to receive their Majes-
ties.

The Prince Imperial has taken possession this
evening of the new set of apartments provided for
him in the Tuileries. Ills old rooms on the ground
floor of the Pavilion Medieis are given up to his
cousin. Duke lluesear, the son of the Duchess of
Alba.
There will be a council of ministers at the Tuile-
ries to-morrow. If there be any truth in the
rumours of ministerial changes, which still con-
tinue, the Mouite•ur will probably speak out the
next day.
Prince Napoleon has returned from a rapid
visit to Madame George Sand, and the tricoloured
flag floats to-day over the Palais RoyaL
The Court of Cessation met at 11 o'clock to give
judgment in the " Affar Lesurques," and after re-
maining six hours in the Council Chamber came
to the conclusion conformably to Procureur D
Jangle's recommenda'ion that there was not suffi-
cient evidence to impugn the sentence of d. ath
passed and executed upon Lesurques 72 years
ago, and that the demand for a revision preferred
by his daughter Virginia Lesurques must be re-
jected. This statement, which is, I believe, in the
last resort, will greatly disappoint public expecta-
tion. It was rumoured at the Palais de Justice
that during the greater part of the day the court
was equally divided on the question. and
that the ultimate majority consisted of one
vote only. This, however, cannot certainly he
known, because it is against the rules for the
court to make known how many judges concur iu
a judgment. ' A part of the formalities observed
in this unprecedented ease was the appointment
by the court of a curator to defend the memory
of Dubosque, the man executed at Versailles as
the real author of the crime for which Lesurques
had suffered a year before. M. Ituquet, the
counsel assigned for thif purpose, acquitted
himself of his task with great skill. Me
admitted that his client was a most finished
scoundrel, who had committed many crimes.
hut succeeded in raising serious doubts whether
the evidence that he was a party to the robbery of
the Lyons mail was conclusive. The stress of his
argument was that the judges who tried Dubosque
being under the impression that Lesurques had
been unjustly condemned, straintsl the evident*
against the second prisoner.
There is not the least doubt that the Marquis da
Nonstier has been seriously ill. The Patrie, ad-
mitting this, announces that he is now much

better.

M. Ferdinand de Lreseps has telegraphal that
he declines the candidature for Marseilles which
some of his friends have brought forward for him.
The rise at the Bourse yesterday is attributed by
one journal to a declaration of M. Megan that
the Eastern difficulty could not possibly lead to •
war. Nevertheless that rise has been lost to-day.
The Rente, after being quoted at 70fr. 35e., foU
rapidly when the toner of the Eastern despatches
were known, and the closing quotations were
70fr. Mo. for cash, and 70fr. 321 fr. for account,
with a fall of 36c. and 3710.

DEATH OF AN OLD ST. VINCINT VNTIRAN.
Ono of the last of Neboa's brave eriespaidese at the battle
of St. Vincent, has jest died at Fromilsiesp War Barn-
staple, at the great ego et 97. Thome Me wea cam of the
crew who boarded the San Joist, asdasdeled thelsamortal
hero into the obelus 31f that vessel, Nein eseleiesiag,
"Give me year head,Plie ; Trazzeed =Mr lei a poor
sailos:' It sma,,y he aerider bola
Ids boyhood, he saverimill in • r,:nellelles.
QuinomoWN, B.—T6e National Skein-
ttamr-triavi.D-1.4 T„„,..ark.
Neon GM Asada Li:iprao•L Ag inO.