The Express.
London, England, 1861-01-29 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

PRUSSIA AND ITALY.

An interesting incident characterised the deli-
berations of the commission appointed by the
Prussian Chamber of Representatives to indite
the address in reply to the royal speech. M.
de Vincke proposed to insert in this address a
paragraph declaring that the consolidation of Italian
unity was in the interest of Europe. This proposi-
tion was rejected by the commission, but by a
majority of 1 only-9 voting for it and 10 against
it. M. de Vincke, after this vote, declined the
office of reporter of the commission, which had been
conferred upon him.

The following are given by the Ledirentianee
Beige as the objects which General de la Marmora
is now endeavouring to promote at Berlin on be-
half of the Piedmoutese government; namely,
to reassure Prussia as to the intentions of
Piedmont with regard to Germany ; to
induce her to recognise the possession of
Venetia as a necessity for Italy, and a dan-
ger for Austria and the Germanic Confederation ;
to make it clear that the two powers which, the
one iu Germany and the other in Italy, represent
the principles of constitutional liberty, are the soul
of the nationalities to which they belong, and
have every reason for maintaining the most inti-
mate relations of friendship ; also to show that if
these overtures are rejected Italy will be forced
more than ever to unite herself to France, and to
accept all the consequences of that alliance and
the obligations it may entail.

THE BLOCKADE OF GAETA.
(no* ous oirs COZURPONDLIff.)

NAPLES, JAN. 24.

The Official Jourovil of this morning publishes the
notification of the blockade of Gaeta, which I send
to you entire :

Considering the regular Miege ou the laud aide
already advanced by the royal troops of his Majesty
before Gaeta--

"That the city and port of Gaeta are a fortress
and not a commercial port—
" That the anchoring of any vessel at Gaeta
must be regarded as au operation understood to
provision and assist the besieged—
" That to prohibit the anchorage of vessels in
the maritime port of Gaeta, cannot disturb the
pacific commerce of neutral powers—
" 1, the undersigned, vice-admiral commander-
in-chief of the naval forces of his Majesty Vic-
tor Emmanuel before Gaeta, in concert with
his Excellency General Cialdini, commander-in-
chief of the besieging force, declare by the present in
the name of my government, and make it known
to all who have any interest in the matter,
that I have established an effective blockade of the
fort of Gaeta and its coast lying between Torre 8.
Agostino on the one part, and Mols on the other,
with the object of impeding the introduction of
provisions to the besieged. For the effects of the
present notification, an account is held of the de-
claration of the 16th April, 1866, stipulated in the
Conference of Paris, out of regard to the interest%
of neutral powers.
" Given at Gaeta, Jan. 20, 1861.

" Vice-AdmiralCommander-in-Chief of the naval
forces of him Majesty before Gaeta,

(azuria's

"Di PzuseNo."

BERNE, TUESDAY.

The Federal Council has received official informa-
tion stating that the siege of Gaeta
.is proceeding
favourably for the Sardinians.
The Italian fleet have suffered but little damage
from the fire of the besieged.
The insurrection in the Abruzzi has been sup-
pressed.

NAPLES (vii Marseilles), JAN. 26.

The district surrounding Chieti ha been tran-
quilised. Fighting continues in other parts of the
Appeninea.
The city of Naples is more tranquil. The police
have prohibited political demonstrations.

THE ROMAN STATES.
ROME (vi► Nanallea). JAN. 211

The official Giornale di limns mentions several
villages near Asooli which, it states, have been de-
stroyed. •

HOPE. JAL 26.

The Pontifical Zouaves, favoured by the night,
attacked the Sardinian volunteers at Cortese ; two
Sardinians were killed and six wounded ; 50 were
made prisoners, and were conveyed to-day to Rome.

The Piedmonteee at Cortese have been since re-
inforced.

The Sardinians are also threatening the province
of Frosinone.

The mactionary bands on the frontiers are in
consequence greatly discouraged, and are being
pursued, betrayed, and left entirely destitute of
money aad arms.

THE ITALIAN ELECTIONS.
TURIN, JAB. 28.

The number of elections in Upper Italy of which
the result is already known or assured is 134. Of
this number, 2 belong to the party of Dr. Bertani,
2to the Garibaldian party, 14 to the Opposition,
or to the Centre ; and the remainder, more or less,
to the Ministerial party.
Signor Cabello hu been defeated at Genoa, Dr.
Bertani in Milan, Guerarai in Leghorn, and Mor-
dini in Lucca.

The first electoral news received from Naples
has been good.
TURIN, JAN. 2s, Evrxisc.

The number of elections now definitively known
are 200, of which 20 are of the opposition party.

Garil;alai and Poerio have been elected at
Naples. -

RUSSIAN VIEWS OF THE CHINESE WAR.
An article iu the Northern Bee contains the
following observation on the result of the late
Chinese war :

It is astonishing that the allies made each moderate
demands when treating for peace with the brother of the
Emperor. The Chinae did not expect such generosity
from their enemies, whose prisoners they treated in
such a barbarous manner, and have therefore good
reason to chuckle at being let off so cheaply, for
there have been times when the capital has fallen
into the bands of enemies who plundered both the govern-
ment and the inhabitants without compunction.
China has now only a comparatively small in-
demnity to pay for the war expenses, as compared
with what they had to pay to England in 1842, when the
contribution amounted to forty-five millions of roubles.
The moderation of the victors this time remains a mystery,
and the question naturally presents itself, would the
Chinese have been let off so cheaply bad they bad to do
with the English alone? In this affair we can but admire
the far-sighted policy of France. When England com-
menced hostilities with China, under a very thin pretext,
and the Emperor Napoleon might easily have shown his
sympathy for the rebellion of the natives in India, which
required the withdrawal of the troops destined for China
and their immediate employment in quelling the dangerois
mutiny of the Bepoys, France offered England her assistance
and co-operation in punishing the Chinese. At that time it 1
was frequently said that England was employing France to
get the ebeenute out of the fire, but It ia now clear that
those persons took a vary short-sighted view of the affairs

of the East, for England would have still been in time to
chastise China after having first put down the
rebellion in India ; and in making war on
China with their own resources solely, they would have tic.
tared the terms of peace according to their own interests.
After the capture of Pekin they wanted to go to work in
their own fashion, and place the head of the insurgents on
the throne of China ; but the French were of a different
opinion, and their English allies did not further
insist on it, but yielded the point. It cannot
be denied that France h►s obtained a great moral pre-
ponderance in the Fast, and the eyes of all the countries
situated on the Pacific and Southern Oceans are now turned
towards that generous nation which declined to take part in
the demands of their avaricious and interested allies.
If the Chinese empire be preserved to the present
reigning dynasty, they will not forget the im-
portant service that Franco rendered them in the
moment of danger. This mate euvre of the Emperor Napo-
leon's was worthy of his superior genius, for by it he
has outwitted the calculations of routine which have
hitherto governed the relations between Europe and the
East. France will now enjoy all the advantages that Eng-
land and India obtain by the treaty, with, more-
over, the great moral influence of being consi-
dered the protector of the catholics in the East.
The superior aptitude of the catholic missionaries
for proselytism is well known. The Protestant religion
does not ingratiate itself so much to the tastes and character
of the Orientals, and, therefore, England cannot expect to
compete successfully pith the Church of Rome in this
field. This is the reason why France has already obtained
a much firmer footing in China than England has or ever
will have in India.

Thu Northern Bee then proceeds to demonstrate
that the emigration of the Chinese, to which England
raised so many objections, is more favourable, or
at least less dangerous to France, and that the Chi-
nese have ever shown themselves exceedingly punc-
tilious in executing to the letter the stipulations of
treaties, as is proved by their relations with Russia
of more than two centuries, though the latter has
often had to swallow many a bitter pill from that
quarter.

PARIS, MESCAT MORNING.

The Dfoaiken.r contains a decree ordering the crea-
tion of a medal in commemoration of the expedi-
tion to China, which will be bestowed ou all those
who have taken part in the expedition.

SERFDOM IN RUSSIA. - WARLIKE
PREPARATIONS.

The Nord of to-day says that the Council of the
Russian Empire is to assemble this week, under
the presidency of the Czar, to examine definitively
the principal articles of au imperial manifesto de-
creeing the abolition of serfdom. The Emperor
will then decide upon the mode and the time of the
enfranchisement—not to be delayed, it is hoped,
beyond the next autumn. The manifesto is ex-
pected to appear in March.

POBEtT, Jas. 28.

The Posner Zeit wag says :
" News received here from St. Petersburg states
that the corps (ramie stationed in the provinces of
Lithuania and Volhynia are to advance to the
frontiers of the empire, and will be replaced by
troops from the interior of Russia.
" The soldiers on furlough have already been re-
called, and the formation of three corps &arm& on a
war footing has been ordered, which are to be ready
by the Ist March next, one to march to the Pruth,
the second to the frontiers of Poland, and the third
to any other destination that may be required."

F. PEI'ER:SBURG,.Mom2Ay.

The negotiations between the Banks of St.
Petersburg and the Bank of France, in reference
to the exchange of gold for silver, have failed.
Priem Orloff, President of the Ministry and the
Council of the Empire, has tendered his resignation
on account of ill health. He is temporarily re-
placed in his poet of President of the Council of
the Empire by M. de Bladoff.

DENMARK.

COPENHAGEN, MOICD:47 Et-WIG.

The Bening/de Tidende aunouncea that men and
horses belonging to the dragoon regiments stationed
at Itzehoe, as well as two batteries, have been
called out. The inspection of the whole war ma-
terial will be immediately proceeded with.