The Express.
London, England, 1861-01-08 00:00:00

'THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVEiTING, JANUARY 8, M.

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

03011 001 OW

r.)

PARIS, MONDAY ECENINO.

The news, quite false at the time, which wax
published at Paris three days ago as ooming from
Berlin, of an armistice between Vietor Emmanuel
and Francis 11., seems to have had for its origin
some manoeuvres of the French government to
bring about an armistice on conditions suiting its
own purposes.
The Patric says to-night :

It is positively ideted that negotiations are about to be
opened at Oacui to induce the belligerents to conclude an
armistice upon a new basis.
The Pays tells the story as follows :

Bo much has been said within the last few days of an
armistice, that we do not feel any longer justified
in passing over the rumour. It is mid that
the first step will be to ascertain the present
state of the works both of attack and defence, and
is obtain an engagement from both parties not to alter
them during the continuance of the armistice. We must,
however, add that at the date of the last despatches from
Naples nothing had yet been agreed upon, and that the
firing continued on both sides.
The l'rcisc gives the news iu a different shape,
mentioning, but only as a rumour which it does not
guarantee, that Admiral Le Barbier de Tinau has
orders to withdraw the French fleet, " unless
Francis 11. would consent to sign an armistice."
This seems to me merely another form of stating
that the Emperor is endeavouring to force an
armistice upon Victor Emmanuel. Of course,
Francis 11., who is at bay, and in a desperate con-
dition if unassisted, would have everything to gain
by stopping Cialdini's siege operations by land, and
at the same time retaining French protection at
sea.

The Opinion Nationale says very affirmatively
that the cabinet of the Tuileries has actually given
orders for the recall of the fleet, but I do not believe
it has any warrant for this much to be desired
news.

A letter from Rome states that when General de
Goyon on New Year's-day solicited the Pope's bless-
ing for the French army, his Holiness volunteered
to comprise the French navy, which was "de-
fending the holiest of causes." Seeing the
Pope thus travelling out of the pro-
gramme, General de Goyon asked him whether
he had not &blessing for the Emperor, who had
done so much for religion in China and Syria. The
Pope, apparently taken quite aback by this appeal,
said hurriedly, " Oh, yes, for what he has done,
is doing, and may do—l hope so."
The Bourne, under the influence of a fall of
in Consols, and a further rise in the Bank of Eng-
land discount, has more than lost all the ground it
painfully gained on Friday and Saturday. The
Rente fell 30c. for cash, and 40c. for
account, closing at 67fr. 20c. iu each case.
Mobilier fell 17fr. 50c. The Orleans Railway fell
lOfr. ; Northern, Bfr. 75c. ; Lyons and Southern,
Mr. each ; and Western, I dol. 25c. Eastern was
without change. The Spanish funds were much
affected by the failure of a banker, whose liabilities
are said to be very heavy.

ITALY.

(nos °us ows

TURIN, JAN. 3.

The receptions at court on New Year's Day were
not so important as in previous years, because, as I
wrote you word, the King dispensed with the
addresses usual on such occasions. Notwithstand-
ing this, a few words he spoke to the municipality
were not unnoted. He said, amongst other things,
"We must not lull ourselves into the belief that
we have triumphed over all the difficulties opposing
the redemption of Italy. We must remain united,
and be prepared every one of us to make fresh
sacrifices for the completion lof the work
in hand. Heaven helps him who helps himself."
In the evening the King appeared, for the first
time since his return from the south of Italy. He
went to the Royal Theatre. This vast edifice was
filled with spectators, who wore eagerly waiting for
the King that they might show him their unabated
affection. He had no sooner entered the royal
box, accompanied by the hereditary Prince, than
great and prolonged cheering ensued ; and when
he rose to retire at the end of the performance the
applause was renewed as before. At the diplo-
matic court banquet one of the guests was Sir J.
Hudson, quite recovered from his recent slight
indisposition. There were also many officers
present, General Turr being among the number.
His Majesty declared to his ministers his entire
satisfaction with all they had done, and to each of
them he gave some sign of cordial recognition. To
his advocate, the Commendatore Rattassi be has

sent as a present a most beautiful clock and two
rich candelabras ; for about this season of the year
he has long been in the habit of conferring similar
gifts, as marks of hi favour.
The Minister of War, General Fanti, is still suf-
fering from illness. He was bled again this morn-
ing. He was able last night to attend to business
for a few moments, and give a few necessary instruc-
tions, about the artillery in particular, but to-day
he can neither write nor speak, and as many im-
portant matters have been waiting now nearly two
months for their solution this illness is vexatious
in the extreme.

His Highness the Prince of Carignan is prepar-
ing to leave without delay for Naples, where he is
to be the viceroy, now that Farini, through failing
health and domestic affliction, is compelled to
abandon his high office. The prince will bo accom-
panied by Commendatore Cuetautino Nigra, who
represented our government at Paris not long ago.
This highly educated and able young diplomatist
will have the title of minister in order that he may
confirm by his counter signature and be responsible
for the acts of the Viceroy. The Count Ponca di
San Martino and Signor Rattarzi have both re-
fused this honour so thickly beset with thorns.
They have thought more of themselves, it is too
evident, than of the State. It is nevertheless hoped
that the now Viceroy and his advisers will encounter
fewer difficulties than Farini did. The Neapolitan
aristocracy will uo longer take umbrage, for now
the Viceroy will be a prince. And this prince is
the brother of the widow of the Count of Syracuse,
and she was the sister-in-law of the late King of
Naples, Ferdinand H. None of the new viceroy's
counsellors are on bad terms with Garibaldi, so that
the agitators will not be able to allege this as •
ground of disaffection. Then again, the country
is weary of its anarchy ; its wants are beginning to
be understood, and • little order is creeping in.
The public force has been partially re-organised,
and the officials we were obliged to send there to
be a check on the dishonesty so rife in the
public offices of that kingdom, are no
longer new to their work. On the other
hand, it is probable that the new viceroy
will be in Naples in lees than a fortnight,
by which time Gaeta will be near its fall,
and with it the last hope of the Bourbon party.
The state of things will then be greatly simplified,
and it will become an easier task to rule the people,
when reaction can no longer resort to threats or de-
lusive promises. A portion of the army that is now
besieging Gaeta can then bo stationed here and
there in the provinces, when by the reputation of
its strength, its glory and discipline, a greater con-
sistency can be given to the new order of things,
and the last traces of the previous immoral rule
obliterated. All these considerations induce us
accordingly to hope that the Prince of Carignan's
mission to Naples will be finally crowned with com-
plete success.
The Marquis of Montezemolo has invited his
family to join him in Palermo. He is not dissatia-
fled with the prospects of the island, and intends to
give a series of hospitable entertainments in the I

•"e -**!

palace of the government. In Sicily, as at Naples,
one of the most virulent diseases prevalent is
the mania for obtaining govenrment situations.
Every one asks for an office, wed, no matter
what it may be, conceives 'himself qualified
to bold it, the qualification being merely the
capacity of drawing the stipend attached to it. Not
one of these sand idates considers it at all necessary to
work, and accordingly he expects the place to be •
sinecure. Some remedy may be found for the evil
as soon as the necessary railways for Naples and
Sicily can be constructed, because then employment
can be found for many. It is imperative, however,
that Parliament should examine this question, and
probably Parliament will cancel the concessions
made by Garibaldi. Signor Lemmi is now at
Turin, where he is canvassing supporters and ad-
herents, but Turin is not Egypt, ant there is no
Suez here.

(nos one SPECIAL cosararwrnsicr.)
NOLA DI GAETA, Dec. 31.
Cavan's guns are at last arrived. Our gunners
are already busy at work placing them at the Villa
Caposele, where Cialdini's head-quarters have been
established. From this spot there is a magnificent
view of Gaeta, with its fortress and citadel, spread-
ing itself across the blue waters of the gulf. Below
there is the terrace where masses of Roman
teseelated pavement are still to be seen. They are
supposed to have formed part of the baths of the
Permian Villa, the favourite residence of Cicero,
who, when tired of the stormy debates of
the Senate, used to come here to enjoy the
society of Scipio and Iselin. The new bat-
teries are going to be erected on that clas-
sical terrace, whence the sea-side of the fortress
of Gaeta and its citadel can be shelled with secu-
rity, because the range of the guns of the besieged
is too short to reach it. Although the general bom-
bardment is not as yet begun, we have nevertheless
since Christmas been able to throw into Gaeta
more than 3,000 projectiles of all sizes. It is from
the batteries of Monte Tortola that this work of de-
struction is kept up. The success we have already
obtained promises one still more brilliant when all
our batteries shall open fire against Gaeta. Not only
has the work of destruction been already se-
vere, for both the church of Saint Francis
and the Royal Palace have greatly suffered
from it.-but the consequence of the first serious
bombardment has been that the Neapolitan
gunners have peremptorily refused to re-enter the
uncovered Regina, Philipstadt, and Brescia bat-
teries. If you refer to a plan of Gaeta you will see
that as soon as these three batteries are silenced the
right flank of Monte Orlando is totally without de-
fences, and therefore easily to be invested. I
should not therefore be surprised if the Piedmon-
tese were to open a breach on that side, and
storm the place after a few days' bombardment.
When the gunners have not the pluck to stand the
fire of the enemy except under shelter, even
Gibraltar would lose half its strength. This
advantage having thus been obtained since the
bombardment of the 25th, 26th, and 30th, we
may infer that it matters comparatively little
whether the Sardinian fleet is allowed or not to
bombard the fortress from the sea. Our magnani-
mous ally of France may back Francis 11. as long
as he likes ; Cialdini will show him that Gaeta can
be taken even without the assistance of Admiral
Persano. Nobody can understand the meaning of
this double-faood imperial policy, which re-
minds one not a little of the part which Harle-
quin and Clown play in the old Italian pantomime.
Harlequin has murdered Clown, but desires that
his corpse should remain in an
0 as
position
against a wall. This is easily ma as long
he supports it with his wooden sw ; but as soon
as he withdraws the weapon the poor dead Clown
naturally falls to the ground.
A telegraphic despatch just received at head-
quarters informs us that last night an attempt was
made on the life of the Duke of San Donato. This
nobleman, who is the director-generalof the Neapo-
litan theatres, was going to San Carlo, when a man
rushed at him and stabbed him in the shoulder.
Nothing is as yet known of the cause of the crime,
but as the duke had been obliged to put a stop to
the numerous peculation which took place in the
management of the theatres, it is supposed that
some discharged empioyf has revenged himself in
this infamous and treacherous manner.

Let me close my letter by giving the most flat
denial to a stupid story which the London papers
have brought to Naples in their last impression.
The London correspondent of the Manckeskr attar-
dice was, I think, the first to give it publicity, no
doubt fully believing in its correctness. Some
other English papers republished the story, with
the heading of "Terrible Tragedy in High Life."
Well, the whole affair is a shameful and impu-
dent hoax. The Marquis of Downshire is at
Naples on board of his yacht the Sylphide, and
that is the sole bit of truth in the story.
When the news of the "tragedy"—no doubt got up
in London for the amusement of club loungers—
reached Lord Downshire's family at Naples he had
just gone to Sorrento with that same Captain
Grandy whom, according to the English papers, in
a fit of paternal indign►tion he had just thrown
into the sea. Aa the popularity Lord Downshire
and his family enjoy in Naples is very great,
everybody has been indignant at this possibly
nudiguant and certainly ridiculous slander.
An attempt to create some disturbance was
made at Naples by the reactionary party on Satur-
day night. Some fifty or sixty Lazzaroni, of the
quarter Santa Lucia, hoisted a white flag and began
to ory out "Long live Francis II." A oompany of
the National Guard was more than sufficient to
arrest the rioters, who have already confessed that
they had been paid by a priest to get up the row.

Yesterday's Monitear announces that Prince
Joachim Murat, accompanied by two of his Majesty's
orderlies, will knee to-day for Berlin, bearing an autograph
letter from the Emperor to the King of Prussia.

The Figaro announces that 3f. Eugene de Mire-
emus, who obtained considerable notoriety some yews ago
by his biographies and pamphlets, has just died in St.
Petersburg in great poverty. Some time back he went to
London, but not being able to establish himself proceeded
to Russia.

A Garibaltlian commission has left Turin for
Milan charged with the teak of ordering and having exe-
cuted the star of diamonds which the volunteers who
formed part of the Marsala expedition have determined to
present to Garibaldi. "It is the only decoration," such
Were his words on their purpose being first made known to
them, "which I will ever consent to wear on my breast."
A subscription is also being made for two swords, one a
full dress, the other for actual service, both of which he
has declared his willingness to accept.

A Paris correspondent write* :—" We are now
having splendid weather, clear and cold. The Bois de
Boulogne is. indeed, gay ; skaters cover the lakes, while
ladies in all the glory of velvets and fine furs line the walks
by the side of the frozen surface. I have seen a few ladies
skating, but in Paris females are rarely seen indulging in
that graceful and exhilarating motion. Thank goodneus,we
have no 'dreadful accidents' to record here; the ponds
are nowhere more than four feet deep, and a careful and
rigid police keep all persons off the ice until it can bear."
It is stated that the late King of Prussia made
his will in June, 1.849, at the residence of the then family
minister, Prince von Wittgenstein, whither the King went
whilst the Prince was ill. This will was afterwards exhi-
bited in the presence of the then ministers of state, Dr,
Simons, M. Mien, and the deceased Privy Councillor von
Rammer. Mince then many codicils have been added. On
Wednesday the will left by the King was opened, in the
presence of his successor, all the members of the royal
family, and the principal ministers. It is said that his
Majesty had expressed the wish that the palaces of Sans.
Souci, Charlotioabarg, and SchOnlutesen might remain as
residences for the Queen Dowager.
THZ PAPAL CAUSE AND THE COUNT DE CHAN-
BORD. —The Poi Bretonite publishes the following letter
written by the Coast de llsambord on the subject of one
of the persons who d gore to Rome to enter the service
of the Pope : " I well recognised the heart of your Km in
his •ageruun to hasten with his young companions in arms
tithe defence of the sacred right. of the chief of the
church, and in his resolution not to quit Rome so long as ,
his arm and life might he useful to the service of religion
and society. I congratulate and thank him for it. I offer
to yourself my very sincere compliments in renewing the
assurance of my constant affection.—Hx.val."