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

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 1, 1861.

' Whip, would, he well knows, go to the bottom in
'spite of all the good humour and tact on which he
is so ►viehly complimented at the expense of
higher qualities. In a word, the present Admi-
nistration, whatever may be its destiny, is a coali-
tion of three distinct porta ; and it needs no
witchcraft to tell what happens to him who sits on
a three-legged stool, if one of the legs be but for
• moment withdrawn.

Nor can wo be blind to the spirit that fain
would beguile Lord PALMERVTON into new and
tintrodden courses at the present hour. Notwith-
standing the more than expected success of the
Commercial Treaty with France, and in the face of
tar confession wrung front its depreciator, that it
has turned out in all respects as well as they
foretold it would turn out ill, the services
of hint by whom it was negotiated from
first to last, are studiously and wantonly con-
temned as worthless or superfluous, inasmuch as
without them the French Government, we are
assured, has proved ready and willing to yield
even more than it at first promised. How was it
then that week after week and month after month
during the spring and summer and autumn of
1860, the cry was kept up incessantly that we had
to deal with an over-reaching customer, who had
bewildered our unaccustomed negotiator, and be-
fouled him into making a contract in which "we
" get everything and give nothing " f When it
was thought damaging to Mr. Gianeroxe and the
other official friends of the Treaty, it was described
as a had bargain, and Mr. COBDRN was made out
a downright blockhead. It is still deemed desira-
ble to depreciate the Finance Minister and his
friends : so now we are told that instead
of a good bargain we have got a benevo-
lence, free and for nothing, front our mu-
nificent and magnanimous friend the Empe-
ror of the FReNCH, and that Mr. COBDEN,
MO far from having had any merit in the affair, is
after all but a common impostor ! Not such,
however, will a benefited and grateful people
judge him to be, who under great difficulties and
with manifold disooursgetnents to contend against,
has brought this notable business to the most
satisfactory issue. During the whole of last
Session, Mr. Commit never once availed himself
of his privilege as a member of the Legislature, to
vindicate the work he had taken in hand. He
left that to be done by the great orator of his
day ; and we all remember how admirably the
task was performed. In this way it has come to
pass that the popularity and the credit of Mr.
COBDEN and of Mr. GLADSTONE are in a certain
sense linked together ; and the unison of their
commercial and finantial views is so well under-
stood, that it appears to call forth an animosity to
both on the part of their detractors, as it is calcu-
lated to animate with double confidence the hopes
and anticipations of their friends.

Tax Revenue Tables given in another column
show the gross produce of taxation for the year
and quarter ending last night. It will be seen
that the net increase on the year is 5,897,0261.,
and that on the quarter 1,157,5181. Taking first the
quarter, we find under Customs, still the greatest
of all our sources of revenue, a decrease of
364,0001., explained by the changes in our import
duties consequent upon the CommercialTreety with
France. For while other articles of import have
yielded about as much as formerly, the falling off
in the yield of duties on silk, brandy, and wine
is about equal to the whole decrease under this
head. The Excise accounts show a decrease of
1,000,0001., explained by the displacement of the
Malt Credit, about 900,0001., and the postpone-
ment of the hop duty. The decline in the con-
sumption of home-made spirits has, doubtless, told
upon the returns under this head, and the appa-
rent decrease would have been greater but for
the transfer of the Came Certificate account, about
130,0001., from Taxes, which, in their turn, accord-
ingly show a decresee to that amount. The effect
of the new duties imposed last year is seen in
the increase of 18,0001. under the head of Stamps,
and the prosperity of the Post-office in an increase
of 50,0001. The Income and Property Tax,
which is heavier by twopence-halfpenny in the
pound than it was this time last year, gives an in-
crease of 2,592,0001., and more than covering all
deficiencies, makes the quarter's revenue, as men-
tioned above, greater by 1,157,5181. than in the
corresponding period last year.
The accounts of the year, extending to a date
long before the operation of the new financial
measures, combine the result of two fiscal
systems. The general resemblance between the
results of the year and quarter, however, is little
affected by this circumstance. Excise, instead of
showing a decrease, shows an increase of 28,0001. ;
but the transfer of the Came Certificate account is
one of the causes of that augmentation. Stampssliow
an increase of 308,2771., and Taxes a decrease of
105,600/. from the causes already mentioned. The
increase from the Post-office is 195,000/., and that
under the heads of Miscellaneous and Crown Lands
438,000/. The Income and Property Tax yields
6,824,710 L more than in 1859, and the net in-
crease of the year is 5,897,0261.

We have seen accounts that make a better out-
ward show than these, but there is every reason
to believe that the elasticity of the public revenue
is only concealed by the incidents of a financial
transition. The relief which has been given to
the springs of industry, and the increased facility
afforded to commerce by reductions of obstructive
duties, must, according to all experience, re-appear
in the form of augmented national income.

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(nox 003 OWN

PARIS, MONDAY Evora.

What will the Emperor say in his New Year's
speech ? is the question universally asked in politi-
cal circles. It seems to be forgotten, by common
consent,that possibly he may make no speech at aIL
There is, in point of fact, nothing in the programme
of the receptions of to-morrow which necessarily im-
plies a political speech. The few words addressed
by the Emperor to the Austrian Ambassador two
years ago, and which turned out to be the prelude
to the war in Italy, took the whole world by sur-
prise. They were not generally known till two
days after they were pronounced. Last
year the Emperor said nothing on New
Year's Day beyond complimentary speeches of
no importance. Nevertheless, I share the general
belief that he will, in the course of to-morrow, take
occasion to say something bearing upon foreign
politics, lf, contrary to all expectation, he should
be silent on this head, we may be quite sure that
a vast amount of negotiation has hitherto failed to
produce any avowable result.
The Bourse continues to be depressed. The Bente
suffered a further fall of 10c., closing at 67fr. 55c.
)(Allier fell sfr. The only exception to the gene-
ral decline in railways was the Southern line, which
realised the alight improvement of If r. 25c. Orleans
fell 2fr. 50c; Eastern, 7fr. 50c. ; and Lyons, 3fr. 76c.
Western was without change.

The Pope's allocution very distinctly designates
the Emperor as one of the pretended sous of the
church who are in reality "children of darkness."
The performance of the Massacres de &iris, in
which, as I told you, Abd-el-Kader plays a prin-
cipal part, is closely followed by the arrival in
Paris of one of Abd-el-Kader's cousins, who comes
with an autograph letter begging the Emperor to
order the Turkish government to except the troops
of him, Abd-el-Kader, from the general order of
disarmament applicable to all Arabs. In case of
this order being insisted upon as regards himself,
Abd-el-Kader threatens to leave Syria and come to
France.

A new coinage is just coming out bearing the
Emperor's effigy in coronation robes. From this
circumstance it is legitimately inferred that the
Emperor's coronation, which has been relegated to
the Greek calends, is likely to be brought on the
tapir immediately.
The rumours that in case of a dissolution MM.
Thiers, de Montalembort, Guizot, and other nota-
bilities of former governments would present
themselves to the electors, are, I believe, un-
founded.

A deputation of English operatives has arrived
in Paris, and is now visiting a great many French
factories.

The Duke of Malakoff (Marshal PeHasler) left
Marseilles at 10 o'clock this morning on board the
Christophe Colomb, to take possession of his go-
vernment of Algeria- At Marseilles he met the
Duke of Wurtemberg, with whom he had a long
interview.

Ilhignifieent English vehicles, a present from the embassy at
Lord liamilltrol• They, as well as their gilded harness,
were in the place where they must lave been placed 44
years ego, without a potable of the dug with which they
were covered having been ever removed.
It would require a volume to describe all I have seen
my greatest regret la that 1 have no photographer attached
to the expedition, so that I might lay before the Emperor
the picture of what language cannot express.
Oct. 18.
At the moment I am about to resume this hasty but oft-
interrupted recital, I have received three fresh coffins, con-
taining the bodies of Intendant Dubut and two of our
soldiers. There now only remains missing the Abbe Duke,
but it is no longer possible for me to doubt his being dead.
Out of the 28 English prisoners, 13 are dead and 13
have returned ; out of the 13 French, seven are dead, and
six have been restored to us.

Yesterday, the 17th October, the English victims of the
treachery of the 18th Sept. were interred in the Rausian
cemetery, we being present at the sad ceremony. To-day I
have taken advantage of the occasion of the interment of
our fellow-countrymen to send to Pekin for two mandarins
°t high rank, to tell them that I well know their respect for
the dead, and that I wished to bury the mortal remains of
our prisoners in the old French cemetery, which the Em-
peror Kang-Hi had formerly conceded to the catholic mia-
iiirmaries. They acknowledged that nothing could be more
reasonable, and they left for the purpose of taking mime.
dint. measures to that effect.—Aocept, &c.,
De XOZITAUBAN, General Commanding-in-Chief.

ITALY.

(nox 017 Z OWN

TURIN, Dec. 28.

Signor Vegezzi, the Minister of Finance, read
this afternoon to the assembled Senate the royal
decree for closing the parliamentary session, and in
the Chamber of Deputies the Minister of the
Interior. Signor Minghetti, read likewise the
decree for closing the Chamber. In a short time
will be published the other decree for the convoca-
tion of the Electoral Colleges, which it would
appear is fixed for the 24th of January.
It may now be considered certain that Commen-
datore Farini resigns his post as the King's Viceroy
at Naples. Count Ponza di San Martino (an ex-
minister, pas
considered to be an excellent admi-
nistrator) las been asked to take the difficult post
vacated by Farini, but he has begged the ministers
first of all to request some one else to bear the
heavy burthen. Yesterday the ministers, having
received fresh and minute accounts from Naples,
and having considered the state of parliamentary
parties, wishing, moreover, to be conciliatory, and
to support certain ideas emanating from the love-
reign himself, discussed a plan which will have to
be laid before the King the next time he presides
over a cabinet council for the royal sanction, and
his Majesty is expected to return by the end of the
year or on the let of January. The ministers in
the mean time prpose, in case Farini should insist
on retiring from office through ill health and domes-
tic bereavement, to send to Naples Prince Carignan,
who will be assisted in hie administration by Signor
Urban Rattazzi, and in military matters by Ge-
neral La Marmora.

The cabinet wishes, through these nominations,
to show that it does not desire to govern as a party,
but wishes to unite to itself all the vital strength
of the nation—all honest and able men, in short,
who love their King and country. But will Rattazzi
himself accept this arduous though noble mission
or will he persist in holding out for a portfolio, and
keeping in a state of division and in two separate
camps the moderate liberals, thereby weakening
their strength in the midst of so many obstacles
at home and abroad ? Will he comprehend
the generous impulse and the political meaning of
Count Cavour ? We shall soon know. In the
mean time it is certain that Rattazzi will be him-
self encumbered by the opposition journal that
some of his friends, with some of his money, were
until very recently preparing to bring out, and
which was to appear on New-year's-day under the
name of National Monarchy. Count Cavour and
his colleagues are perfectly well aware of what
the programme of this paper was to be,
a paper that was to have for its eontribu-
tors certain writers at Turin and Genoa who are
known to be most hostile to the present ministry.
But it appeared to the cabinet, that if Rattazzi can
be useful to the State, it is not good to leave him
unemployed ; and that it is far better to stretch
out a friendly hand, and lead him away from the
false path into which he had been drawn by private
grudges and dissatisfied friends, to his own loss and
to the detriment of the commonwealth. Rattazzi's
position in this country greatly resembles that of
Thiess in France during Guizot's ministry in the
time of Louis Philippe. Thiers had substantially
no principles divergent from those of Guizot, but
in opposition lie appeared to be the more liberal
man of the two. Being of a lively and impetuous
nature, he promised what he knew he could not
perform, but when he became minister he continued
I Guizot's policy, and on the whole showed that be
had lees tact and skill. In like manner Rattazzi's
principles are identical with Cavour's ; but although
he is a clever parliamentarian, many of his
ultra-liberal friends cause others to think him
less conservative and moderate than he really
is. Thiers perhaps was not much inferior in
intellect to his rival, politically speaking, but
Rattazzi is superior to Thiers in loyalty to
the throne, which he loves as sincerely as
Cavour does, and this it may well be is the only
thing that prevents Rattazzi from going astray, get-
ting mixed up with the sects, and sinking to the
level of his dangerous friends. His affection for
the King is in fact the compass that prevents him
from running the ship of state aground when he
has the tiller in his hand.

There is great inquiry at this moment, to use a
bookseller's term, for maps of the last century,
especially those of the republic of Venice, that its
limits may be accurately ascertained. Our map-
sellers do not possess any, and therefore cannot
satisfy the demands of several diplomatists, who
have ordered them. The Austrian government has
sequestrated every copy on its way from Venetia to
Piedmont. lam convinced, however that before
long some Italian or foreign dealer will supply the
want, so that the proper parties may be able to
study and discuss the most important question of
modern times.

Count Cavour has all but entirely recovered from
the short but severe illness with which he was
attacked last week. He has not stirred abroad
yet, but it is hoped that by the King's return he
will be strong enough to meet him, and be present
at the first council to be held under the King's
presidency, a council that will doubtless be of the
very highest importance.
General Tarr has returned to Turin. He is very
much afflicted at Count Teleki's arrest, and highly
indignant at the vile conduct of the government of
Dresden, which the whole press of Europe concurs
iu stigmatising.

(nom cm owx colizzarontar.)
NAPLES, Doc. 24.

Owing to the difficulty of obtaining transports
the second half of the British Legion has not
.yet
mailed ; and, greatly to the poor fellows' (Inapt:sant-
meet, they have little chance of being in England
in time for the Christmas parties. The 4th of next
month is the date now fixed for their departure.
The sooner, of course, they go the better, under
present circumstances ; but, in justice to Colonel
Pearl, I must say that this unfortunate delay is
not justly attributable to any want of energy on
his part. I regret to state that I have to mention
the deaths of two members of the Legion at the
Hospital of San Sebastiano —Dec.: 19, Alexander
Ross, Glasgow ; Dec. 21, William Wade, Holborn.
It will be some comfort to their relatives to know
that during their illness they received every at-
tention and kindness. The general health of our
volunteers is very satisfactory.
Some days ago I alluded to an act of gallantry on
the part of some English volunteers, and am glad
to observe a full though rather tardy account of it
in to-day's Gazette in the following terms :
On the 9th of this month Mews. John Macklin Eyre,
sergeant.major ; Richard Nendall, corporal ; Frederick
Blackett, under corporal ; Thomas Donmison, John Mac.
donald, and William Seeley, privates, all volunteers in
Colonel Dowling's English artillery brigade, rescued with
great efforts and at the immin'nt risk of their own lives
WO persons who had been upset in a boat off the Carmine
fort during the fearful storm on that day.