The Express.
London, England, 1861-03-25 00:00:00

SYRIA.

PARIS, SATORDAT.
The Paris papers of to-day publish a telegram,
dated Constantinople, 20th inst., stating the Porte
had consented to the prolongation of the occupa-
tion of Syria.
The international commission at Beyrout had
demanded the prompt execution of the condemned
Druses.

Vely Pacha would leavo for Paris on the
27th inst.

FRANCE.

PARIS, SUNDAY.
The Moniteur of to-day says :
"The Emperor, on receiving the deputation with
the address of the Corps Legislatif, replied :
I thank the Chamber for the sentiments ex-
pressed in the address, and for the confidence reposed
in me. If this confidence honours and flatters me,
I believe myself worthy of it, by my constant solici-
tude in considering questions from only one point
of view—viz., the interest of France.
" ' To be of one's epoch, to preserve of the past all
that which is good, to prepare for the future by
freeing the march of civilisation from prejudices
which obstruct, or from Utopian ideas which com-
promise it—such are the means by which we shall
bequeath to our children peaceful and prosperous
days.
" Notwithstanding the animated character of the
discussion, I do not at all regret seeing the bodies of
State approach questions of so difficult a nature as
those of foreign policy.
" The country will in many respects derive ad-
vantage from it.
" ' The discussions of the Chamber will instruct,
without being able to disquiet it.
"' I shall always be happy to find myself in ac-
cord with you. Sprung from the same universal
suffrage auk guided by the same feelings, we shall
mutually assist in contributing to the grandeur and
prosperity of France.' "

The Mats of to-day contains a letter from the
Bishop of Orleans, ridiculing one of Lord Plunkett's, in
which a protest was made against • sermon announced to
be preached today at Paris, by the bishop, on behalf of
the Irish poor. "lie is • very clever man," says the
bishop, "to know what lam going to say. I avow, with
all humility, that lam not so well-informed as he is. He
does not deny that there we poor in Ireland—it is enough
that I ask charity for them. But who has made them poor?
I pretend to accuse no one, nor do I contest Loi?d Plun-
kett's right to send his tenantry out to winter. I only con-
gratulate him on not being • bishop in the papal states.
To what accusations would he not in that Can be now
exposed throughout England ? For me, a catholic bishop,
whereever I see poverty, if I seek its cause, I seek more
especially to alleviate it. That will be the entire object of
nay sermon—not to displease Lord Plunkett, whose case
has been sufficiently judged, and about whom it is Out my
intention to concern myself."

Colonel Gowen, the American gentleman engaged
in raising the sunken fleet at Sebastopol, writes on the bit
instant:—" My enterprise ie clearing the harbour from the
sunken fleet is progressing quite favourably, and I hope to
have it entirely completed within the present year. The
harbour is now practically clear of all obstructions, only
sight verde being left to raise whole. It is exceedingly
difficult to pass chains under the keels of the line-of•battle
ships, which are imbedded in the soft mud to the depth of
twenty-six feet ; but by perseverance we succeed in mining
under."

According to the hirlEpendanee, the finance com•
mlttee of the Belgian Senate has etwided by five votes to
four to prop°. the rejection of the bill pent up from the
Lower Chamber fur reutienog French gdtl a legal tender in
Belgium.