The Express.
London, England, 1861-01-04 00:00:00

THE WEST INDIAN MAIL SERVICE.

PLYMOUTH, THURSDAY EWOSG.
The \Vest India mail steamer Trent put in here
to-day, short of coals. She brings nu mails.
The Trent has been employed in assisting home
the steamer Shannon, which broke down with a
November mail.
She left St. Thomas on the Gth December with
the Shannon in tow, the wind then blowing fresh.
On the morning of the 17th, as it was blowing
hard, she cast off the Shannon, and both vessels
remained in company under canvas, signalling
each other hourly thmngh the night, and running
alongside during the day.
On the 20th, while in Tat. 35.58 N. and lon.
40.58 W. it blew a strong north-west gale, and the
vessels pirted company, in a heavy squall.
The Trent made signals at 10 p.m. on the same
day, but received no answer. At daylight the
Shannon was not in sight. The Tront continued
cruising, but has not since seen the Shannon. The
Trent now awaits orders.

On the-22nd December, in lat. 42.13 N. and
lon. 29.39 W., she spoke the ship Indus, from
Madras to London ; all well. On the Ist January
she signalled in the Channel the Hamburg brig
Johamia, steering S. W.
The Queen Victoria is making water fast. Her
bilged stores are being taken out. The cable must
be transhipped before the next attempt is made, to
float her.

EXPRESS FROM PARTS.

(MOO OUS OWN. CORIZSPONDUT.)

PARIS, TIICRSDAT Evramm.

The Mmateur, which only since New Year's-day
hes started a sort of leading article headed "Bul-
letin Politique," which professes to give all the
most important political news, has not a word to
say about the re-victualling of the French fleet at
Gaeta. The Patric of this evening, while chuckling
over the isolated admission, which it extracts from
a London journal, that " Napoleon HI. has re-
stored France to the first rank " among nations,
and recounting the events of the year, says that
the French troops have "conquered China" (sic);
that pursuant to the Emperor's "irrevocable will"
a French arm) is in Syria in spite of all opposition ;
that " we are in Rome" to protect • " great reli-
gious interest ;" and that "we are in Cochin China to
defend catholicism"—but it omits to add to the
catalogue of French glories, "We are at Gaeta."
The Patlir, though not bound by the same official
trammels, is as much at a loss as the Moniker to
suggest any reason why the Emperor Napoleon
continues to postpone the downfall cf the Neapo-
litan Bourbons. This silence is a pregnant confir-
mation of the sinister designs in Italy which public
rumour from all quarters now imputes to Napoleon
111. The Opinion Nationale, indeed, trying to
make the best of things, and hoping against hope,
suggests that even if the Emperor should withdraw
his support from Francis H., as was lately ex-
pected, the French fleet would, in all probability,
still continue to cruise in the Neapolitan waters,
and that therefore the sending out of a month's
provisions to Gaeta may possibly not have the
signifieation which has been attributed to it. I
regret to say I find no confirmation of this view in
any quarter whatever. On the contrary, I hear that
the diplomatic correspondence between France and
England on this subject is most unsatisfactory,
and that the Emperor expresses his intention to
keep Francis 11. at Gaeta with much less "proviso
and exception " than he did a little while ago. The
Siecte laments the course which the French
government is taking, and the Opinion Nationale,
evidently having no faith in its own explanations,
declares that France, being eminently interested in
I the pacification of the peninsula, ought to wish to
see Italy rise as one man and follow Victor
Emmanuel, instead of keeping • Bourbon army at
Gaeta as a nucleus for the Austrians.

There is now much talk of friendship between
Paris and St. Petersburg. The riband of Grand
Officer of the Legion of Honour, sent to General
Iguatief, will, it is said, be the signal for several
Russian decorations for high French functionaries,
and it is even rumoured that, " if peace should
continue, the Czar may come to Paris iu May."
According to the Sikk, the Emperor, addressing
the Senate on New Year's-day, made use of the
following words, which are not reported iu the
Moniker :—" Messieurs le Senateurs, I rely on your
assistance to prepare the reforms which are required."
It is said that with a view to these reforms, the
Senate will be convoked for January 22, although
the Corps Legialatif does not meet till Feb. 5. The
debates in the Senate on the decree of Nov. 24 will
be looked forward to with considerable interest, as
they will be published in the Moniker.
Although there never was yet a loan in France
not officially contradicted before it came out, the
denial in the Moniteur of this morning that a loan
is now iu contemplation, had a good effect at the
opening of the Bourse. The Rente rose nearly
per cent. from the lowest price of yesterday. The
movement was, however, shortlived. In the after-
noon the state of the Vienna money market, and
of the Italian question, produced much anxiety, and
the Rente closed at 67fr. 25c. for cash, and
67fr. 45c. for account, with a rise of only 10c. and
20c. Mobilier rose 2fr. 50c., closing at 712 fr. 50e.,
after having been quoted at 727 fr. 50c. Some of
the railways left off from Hr. 25c. to 2fr. 50c.
higher, while the others were without change.

A Paris correspondent of the Brussels hadipes-
dance writes :--" The Empress seem■ to be still a prey
is the grief which was caused by her sister's death. Her
Majesty, who, it is known, was not present at the re-
ception of the diplomatic corps at 1 o'clock,
was melted to tears a little before on entering the
sidle in which the high dignitaries of the palace had met to
present their homage to their Majesties. Later, the Em-
press, profoundly absorbed, proceeded to the chapel without
casting even a glance on the persons who surrounded her
and the Emperor."
General de LarnoricMre will be relieved from the
obligation of him parole in six or eight months, when it is
decided that he will return and resume the command of
the Papal army, in company with many officers who shared
his toils in the late campaign.

It appears by returns ordered by the French
government to ascertain the effect produced by the intro-
duction of railways on travelling by the high road that the
number of travellers by the high road has increased. It
was generally anticipated that the introduction of railways
would have caused a diminution in the number of travellers
by the high road ; but such is not the case. On some high
roads which run parallel to a railway there has been a falling
off in the number of travellers; but, on the other band, the
opening of railways has given an immense activity to trade
and commerce, so that the number of travellers by the high
road has increased 45 per cent.
On the 26th ult. the Pope gave a state dinner to
the two queens—i. e., of Spain and of lqaples—at the
QuirinaL On that day all the theatres were opened for the
Carnival ; Madame Gassier arrived from Paris, sod will
perform here during this season at the Tostro Valle..

During the performance of Erwani at Toulouse,
two nights since, M. Caubet, the first tenor, in using a
poinard to which he was not accustomed, indicted on him.
self a real wound, which bled rather profusely, bat fortu•
nately was not deep etto.tgh t tautaterk acv scriora conse-
quences.