The Express.
London, England, 1861-02-14 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(TROY OUR OWN

PARIS, WEDNISDAY EVENLNG.

The news that Gaeta is at the last extremity,
must capitulate, is confirmed on all sides. The
Pays says that Francis 11. has accepted the pro-
positions of Cialdini. A Turin telegram of this
day's date affirms that Cialdini and the command-
ant of the place have actually appointed a mixed
commission to negotiate the terms of surrender,
but as this despatch adds that "the fire is not sus-
pended," its entire accuracy may be doubted. It
is difficult to conceive a mixed commission discussing
conditions of peace with cannon balls Hying over
their heads. However, the Patrie repeats that the
King has offered to capitulate, and adds that his
ammunition is exhausted. The King of Sardinia
will make the conditions of the capitulation as
honourable as possible for the vanquished party.
" The " pamphlet has not yet made its appear-
ance, but the Patric announces it positively for
the day after to-morrow, and states that it will be
signed by its author, M. de la Guerronnikre. From
another source I learn that the proof sheets have
been revised by the Emperor. The exact title does
not seem to be yet settled. Some say it will be
" Napoleon HI. and Rome," and others "La
France, Rome, et l'ltalie."
I hear that M. Billault will represent the govern-
ment in the debate on the address, and will pro-
dace several new diplomatic papers relative to
negotiations with Roane. The bureaux of the
Corps Legislatif are busy to-day choosing members
to draw up the address, but it is not thought that
they will settle the hat till to-morrow, and the
debate will scarcely come on before the 23rd or
24th.

Apropos of M. Billault, a good mot is in circula-
tion which people attribute to M. Dupin. What
do the ministers, without portfolios, represent in
the chamber ? Answer—The throne and the altar
—le trona et Canted (rhotel !)
Upwards of 300 infantry, destined to reinforce
the French army of Rome, embarked at Marseilles
on the 11th for Civita Vecchia. On board the same
vessel (the Quirinal) were General Ulloa, going to
Genoa, and Baron de Jochmus, with Austrian
despatches for the court of Rome.
The Bourse was comparatively lively at the
opening, but after the first half-hour became very
flat. It was reported that the new measure inter-
dicting the middlemen, called trmisiers, which it
was hoped would have been thought better of, is
really to be carried out. The heaviness of the
market is the more remarked, because this is the
time of the year when business is generally the
most active. The Rente fell 20c. for cash and 15c.
for account, closing at 68fr. 35c. and 68fr. 40c. Mo-
biller fell ifr. 50c. The Lyons Railway rose
lfr. 25c. ; but all the other lines were lower. Or-
leans fell 3fr. isc., and Western sfr. Spanish
Passive was again better, and rose
A M. Kerrigan has just published a work in two
volumes, entitled " England as it is," the result,
as he tells the world in his preface, of his observa-
tions daring a sixteen years' residence in that
country. I extract from a highly favourable re-
view of his performance in the Gazette de France
the following specimen of the accuracy of this gen-
tleman's observation :

The administration of justice in England is the worst in
the world. The judges, generally ignorant men, are always
liable to dismissal ; they are dependent at once upon the
chances of election and the caprice of power.
. .

After bringing to light this gem, I think it quite
unnecessary to notice the abuse of English institu-
tions in general which recommends the author to
the Gazette de France, and I leave his "magisterial
lucidity " and "communicative indignation" to the
admiration of the disciples of that journal.
An architect writes to the Opinion Nationale that
the month's notice given by the Minister of State
for the production of the designs for a new opera-
house recently exhibited was infinitely too short for
the study of such a subject, and proposes that a
new competition shall be opened, with six mouths'
time for preparation.