The Express.
London, England, 1850-02-04 00:00:00

DEFEAT OF THE

BRIIBBELB, Fn.
2.
Government have been defeated on the corn ques-
tion, the Chamber having voted, this evening (just
before post-hour), in favour of a fixed duty on wheat
of one franc. The debate on the duties on rye,
cattle, &c., is adjourned. The proposition of the
government was to prolong for one year the hitherto
existing duty of 50e. (5d.) on all kinds of corn. The
general impression is, that the Chamber will vote for
a less duty than one franc on rye.

FRANCE.

PARIS, SirviDAT, 6.30 P.M.

The communication made by Austria and Prussia
to the French cabinet respecting the occupation of
Switzerland is lengthy. It seeks to rove that
Switzerland by its aggressive position has abandoned
that neutrality which it was enabled by treaties to
usume; that the incemant efforts of democratic pro-
paganda, exercised as it is at the very doors of Prussia
and Austria, obliges those powers to keep on foot an
immense military force, namely, 600,000 men for the
latter, and 490,000 for the former ; that the expenses
required to keep up such military forces are sources
of grievous financial burdens ; that unless the present
state of things ceases the peace of Germany cannot
be ensured, and recourse must be had to the occupa-
tion either of Baden, Saxony, or Wurtemberg ;
that the peace of North Italy is also seriously
endangered by perpetual threats of aggression on
that side of the Swiss frontier; and that the powers
have therefore decided to require the expulsion from
the Swiss territory of all the refugees. Hopes are
confidently entertained that Switzerland will yield to
the demand; but in case of refusal force will be used
and recourse will be had to military occupation, to
expel the refugees. After announcing this intention,
the joint communication of the powers condescends to
ask for French cooperation in the matter, but ex-
presses a determination to proceed at once without its
sanction, in case of refusal.
Such are the demauds of the two northern powers
—such their pretensions against Switzerland. And
y,t the confederation hes done all to please absolutism.
It expelled the chiefs of the Baden insurrection ;
abandoned to revenge unfortunate teen, who were
protected by no amnesty ; it violated, in the most
flagrant manner, the right of asylum. But, in the
eyes of the absolutist powers, this is not enough.
That course which Switzerland has pursued in cer-
tain cases only must be extended to all, and its weak-
ness in violating tLe right of asylum in respect of •
few must lead to the same violation in the ease of all
the refugees.
In the Chamber yesterday reference was made to
the Greek question by M. Placatory, who asked leave '
to address interpellations to the minister of foreign
affairs on the events which had lately taken place in
Greece; at the request of the minister, the matter
was postponed for a week.
To day M. Lamartine was present at the Assembly.
It is his first epee trance tbere since his illness. Tt3o
debate was kept on the subject of transferring the
seat of the prefecture of the Loire from 'Nlontbrisan to
St. Etienne.
The police were very active yesterday in removing
the dead trees of liberty, and also many living ones,
which impeded circulation, or were considered by the
authorities to disfigure the public places where they
had been planted. Those of the Place de la Bourse
were cut down yesterday morning. One of them
being a living tree, and in a situation to cause no ob-
struction, its removal produced some agitation. There
was during the day a crowd at the spot, and some
persons endeavoured to create excitement by declaring
that the removal of the tree was an insult to the re-
public. Their language, however, found little echo
in the crowd.
Some time before his death the celebrated Jacques

Laffitte informed his family that he had written-his
memoirs, and that they would be found among his
papers. A dissension subsequently arose between M.
Ney de la Moakowa, his son-in-law, and Madame
Laffitte, his widow, as to the povession of the manu-
script, and the civil tribunal decided that until the
question should be settled the manuscript should be
neposited in the hands of a notary. In June last
Madame Laffitte died; and yesterday M. Ney de la
‘loskowa caused an application to be made to the pre-
sident of the civil tribunal for authorisation to receive
the manuscript. The president immediately granted
the demand.

SrXDLT, 11 ♦.M.

The ministry was defeated last evening on the
motion for translating the seat of prefectural govern-
ment in the Loire, from Montbrison to St. Etienne.
The chamber, in hostility to the executive, voted the
statu quo, General Changarnier forming one of the
majority against government.
The 10th of March is decidedly fixed (says the
Amorallee Nationale) as the day on which the Aus-
trians and Prussians enter Switzerland, in case the
demands made on the federation are not satisfied.

A supplement to the Portalaglio Maltese, of the
26th ult., brings news front Smyrna. The French
fleet had set sail for Athens when news was received
of the English movement at the Pitteus.

It is said that the French government had de-
spatched M. Drouyn de L'Huys to London, as ambas-
sador of the republic, on en extraordinary mission.
With respect to the news of the rupture between
England and Greece, the Napoleon says :
—" . .

We are inclined t•s think that the English minister at
Athens has exceeded his instructions, for we cannot under-
stand that the government of Great Britain should not have
madethe French goverment aware of such ♦iolent measures,
especially after the imposing good understanding which was
shown by the simultaneous appearance in the east of the
English and French fleets.
The Napoleon, speaking of Switzerland, says:
• - •

- - . -
A great deal has been said about a communication
made to the French government by the representa-
tives of Austria and Prussia, for the purpose of coming
to an understanding with respect to the consequences
of the right of asylum granted in Switzerland to the
refugees. That communication has not, we believe, all the
importance that has been attrthated to it. The pewees
bounding upon Switzerland 'reanimated with • very natural
denies to prevent the refugees from profiting by their neigh-
bourhood to revolutionize their own states; and they have
the inconteatible right to take measures to prevent that
danger. But France is not disposed, in any cue, to
deny the rights of her ancient ally, and the friendship which
unites the two nations. Besides this, could the President
of the Republic forget the hospitality which he received in
Switzerland during so great a number of years, and the pro-
tection with which that power covered him against the
un-
just pretensions of the government of Louis Philippe ?

Our Paris parcel of 7eeterday evening had not
arrived at the hoar of going to prose.

CLIROT ORPHAN CORPORATION.—On Saturday
afternoon the 100th annual general meeting of this society
was held at the Freemasons' Timm. The object of this so
ciety is to maintain and educate the orphans of poor clergy-
men until they are capable of providing fur themselves. The
Right Rev. the Bishop of London took the chair. The
minutes of the previous meetings having been read and con-
, firmed, the Rev. Dr. Rummell read the financial statement.
from which it appeared that the income of the society for the
past year, from ell sources, only amounted to 4,600/., while
the expenditure fur the same period was 6,3001., leaving
balance &pleat the society of 7001. On the motion of Bir B.
R. Inglis, the Right Rev. the Bishop of London was re•
elected president for the ensuing year. In returning thanks,
the rev. prelate took occasion to deplore that after having
been for so many years connected with the society, le should
see the claims upon its benevolence increasing and the means
of meeting throe claims so rapidly diminishing. On the mo•
Con of Archdeacon Jones, Sir R. R. laglis was selected
vimpreeident, after which Ave boys and sight girls were
elected into the schools of the society at St. John's-wood,
making the number at present in that establishment amount
to 163, namely, 76 girls, and 77 boys.
FIRE AT ST. GEORGE'S WORKHOUSE.—On Satur-
day shortly after noon, a fire broke ont in the workhouse of
St. George the Martyr, Mouthwark, which was promptly sub-
dued by the iumati s and the brigade firemen. It was ascer-
tained that the lire originated in a quantity of straw used for
casual paupers' bedding. Very little damage was done.

SPAIN.

MADRID, JA!. 27.

During the debate upon the authorisation to
levy the taiss was then gone on with, Olivan
made a long speech in defence of the measure. He
said that the impracticable amendments proposed by
the moderado opposition, and the economical
doctrines they had maintained proved that
this new party was unfit for power, either
through ignorance or because they had engaged
themselves to reforms and retrenchments quite im-
possible. They would find themselves embarrassed

by the speeches and promises they had made when
they were in opposition. The honourable deputy
then made a minute examination of the amendments
presented by the opposition. and concluded by saying
that the retrenchments proposed would lead, like all
inexpedient retrenchments, to greater expense. The
deputy Coin, then attempted to speak, to rectify, as
he used some parts of his former speech. He had,
however, to do with Count Vista Hermosa, who is to
Narvaez what Jockey of Norfolk was to King
Richard 111. Vista Hermosa is the President of the
chamber, and a man who eschews long speeches.
Every time Coira " returned to his old banes, digres-
sion," the Vice-President rung his bell, and called
bim to order, so that at length the orator or rather
talker eat down in dudgeon. The same thing hap-
pened to Gonzalo Moron, who, like Coira, has not
the talent of condensing. The chamber and the
public were extremely amused at the per-
severing talk of the one, and the clamorous bell
and calling to order of the other. Rios Roses then
obtained leave to speak, and began to address himself
very warmly to the president, who, he said permitted
ministerial orators to be as diffuse as they thought
proper, but interrupted opposition speakers at every
moment. This observation led to a scene between the
vice-president and the honourable deputy, who then
went on with his speech against the bill. He was
succeeded by Gonzalez Bravo, who also was repeat-
edly interrupted by the ringing of the vice-presi-
dent's bell, the latter declaring that he would perse-
vere in the present system, or the discussion would
last till doomsday. Gonzalez Bravo said that he
would oppose the government with a view of mak-
ing it take the right path, but that he wculd
not enter into any coalitiou to overthrow it,
as Rios Roses another of the moderado opposition had
I declared he would do. He thought that at present, as
a general election was coming on, that it was expe-
dient to make this statement. This gave rise to come
sharp retorting of Rios Roses, and Olivan, in his
reply, said they should like to see where was the ma-
privy of this ever disputing minority. The minister
for the home department then mentioned his inten-
tion to speak, but the vice-president adjourned the
house.