The Express.
London, England, 1861-12-14 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(nom oul owls

PAIW3, FILDAT EV13140.

The Patric has made a calculation that General
Scott will arrive in " America " on December 24
—that is to say, two days before the expiration of
the time within which Lord Lyons is to deliver his
ultimatum to tho cabinet of Washington. "It is
known," says the Pattie (which seems to have in
this respect more precise knowledge than is affected
by the English press), "that in case the first
answer of the American government should not be
in conformity with the wishes of England, Lord
Lyilas, who is thoroughly acquainted with the
situation, has full powers to lay down an ultima-
tum, but that be is to wait for the patlitet which,
leaving England on December 13, is expected to
arrive at Now York on tho 24th, and which takes
out, it is said, further instructions. General Scott's
million, decided upon in a moment, seems to have
been so contrived that it may be executed before
the delivery of the ultimatum, and, U need be,
modify the nature of the latter."
Curiously enough, the Conatitutiontiel and the
Debala are separately and simultaneously accused,
the one by the Opinion Nationale and the other by
the Patrie, of contradicting themselves on the Ame-
rican question within the space of • week. It is
cerlain that so recently as December 10 the Consii-
iiitionnel was full of sympathy for the South, and
congratulated itself that the " interests of France"
were on the side of right and England. To-day
the Conetitutionnei says :
We think France should look twice Before contributing
with her mini hand to the ruin of the work of Washington,
which was also that of Lafayette, Rochambeau, d'Estang,
and Vergennes. The situation is delicate, we adroit ; bat
in this can our sentiments hold the same language as our
interests, and both translate their common aspirations by
the single word—neutrality.
As to the Debate, the Patric sees • contradiction
in M. Paradol's article of December 7 in favour of
absolute neutrality, and M. Camas' opinion ex-
pressed to-day, that if war breaks out it will be
very difficult fur France to avoid having a hand in
it. The Patric says facetiously of these two
articles :
How can we avoid sighing for M. Paradol (of the North),
thus maltreated by 11. Camas (of the houth), until the
moment comes round when the latter may be in his turn
beaten by his petulant adversary? The union in the
Journal deo Ulna, is uncommonly like the American
union. The writers the upon one another with the most
charming recklessness, and do themselves little harm; but
the reader! It strikes us that he is the most damaged,

The Fatrie, referring to a telegram which brings
a summary of a leader in thi4 morning's Daily
News, says :

The Daily Nears thinks it neither politic nor convenient
to ask the ►id of France ; for that for us to Mk° part in the
oonffict would be to augment the chances of a rupture
between France and England. We shall return to this
important point when we see thi; text of the Daily Ncea
article.

Tho Bourse opened heavily. The American
question continues to occupy the public mind above
every other, and is regarded with much anxiety.
The market was a little better at the close. Route
Mt off at 67fr. 415 e. and 67fr. hoc., being a fall of
50. and 15c. Mobilior was without change. The
Italian Loan was greatly affected by the "execution"
of the speculator referred to yesterday, but after a
fall of lfr., it recovered, and left off only loc. lower.
In railways little change.

Italian letters confirm the news that Admiral
Persano is dismissed from the command of the
fleet. The reason stated is • very sad one. It
appears that the young Prince Oddone, Victor
Emmanuel's youngest son, being at Genoa, wanted
a ship of war to take a trip, and that the captain
in command at the port at once gave him one,
without referring to Admiral Persano, who was
absent at Turin, attending the Chamber of Depu-
ties. When the admiral heard of it he sent orders
that the prince should not have the ship. The
Minister of 3lariuo took part with the prince
against the admiral, and hence the resignation of
this moat valuable officer.

M. do Hubner has been entrusted with a special
mission from the Austrian government to the
Holy See, the object of which is understood to be
an alteration in the Concordat.

M. de Clerq, the French chargd d'affaires
specially commissioned to negotiate a commercial
treaty between France and the Zollverein, is
shortly expected in Paris from Berlin. He cornea
for fresh instructions ; the negotiations, which it
was falsely reported some time ago were entirely
broken off, do, in point of fact, hang fire terribly.

The proclamation prohibiting the export or
transport coastwise of arms, ammunition, lead, and other
military stores, was read at the Market Cross, Edinburgh,
at noon on Thursday, with the natal formalities.
The Peninnular and Oriental Company, at their
beard meeting yeaterday, voted the handsome dowation of
501. towards the Foundation Fund of the City of Lowden
I College, which now amounts to about 1,8001.