The Express.
London, England, 1861-05-07 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(MOW OUR OWN

PARIS, MONDAY EVlSnia.

Some months ago rumours of a change in the
prefecture of the Seine were very rife, but they
died away. They are now revived. It is said that
M. Hausmann, in consequence of the numerous
attacks made upon him not only in the Senate and
Corps Legislatif, but in some of the journals gene-
rally reputed to be governmental, has recently en-
treated the Emperor to accept his resignation. The
Emperor is reported to have replied that the
battle between new Paris and old Lutetia was
not yet fought out, and that, pending the contest
at least, his Majesty would be very sorry to con-
fide the municipal administration to any other
hands ; his Majesty added that the prefect would,
he doubted not, find means to reconcile the great
and glorious enterprise of the renovation of Paris
with due regard to the just complaints of private
interests and public opinion.
The Prase says that the Russian naval division
expected at Cherbourg is not destined for Syria,
but for China, where it will relieve the three or
four ships which have just left the Amoor river,
and are coming back to Europe.
I forget whether I mentioned on Saturday the
name of the gentleman arrested in Paris with
letters on his person from the Orleans family. It
is M. Busson, the private secretary to Queen

The Bourse was buoyant. The Rente, after
fluctuations from 69fr. 60c. to 69fr. 35c., closed
firm at 69fr. 60c., with a rise of 10c. for cash,
and sc. for account. Mobilier rose 6fr. 25c. The
Northern Railway fell sfr., and Southern, 2fr. 50c.,
but the other lines were about 2fr. 50c. higher.
The leading articles of several journals speak of
peace as assured, but they unfortunately aro not
able to specify what elements which but lately
raised apprehensions of war are changed.

There is no confirmation of the rumour of fresh

massacres in Warsaw, which was said yesterday to
have been received by a telegram not made public.
It is now said that the Czar has sent the Grand
Duke Michael to Poland, with a conciliatory
mission and full powers.
Bitter complaints are made by the Americans in
Paris of the delay in the delivery of their letters
eid Liverpool, whenever the United States mail
arrives there on Saturday, or even sometimes on
Friday night. In such cases the American letters,
which Loudon merchants get on Saturday night,
are, in consequence of the Sunday stoppage in
London, not delivered in Perim till Tuesday morn-
ing. This is an old grievance, and only lately I
believe it has been suggested from this side that a
French Post-office clerk should await the arrival of
the mails at Southampton and Liverpool and be
entrusted with all French letters. But the intense
anxiety with which advises from America are now
awaited lends additional urgency to the matter,
and presses for the immediate consideration of the
English authorities.
Some ten years ago, M. Girard, a botanist at-
tached to the Jardin des Plantes, made the dis-
covery that poisonous mushrooms might be ren-
dered good and wholesome eating by the simple
process of soaking for two hours in water slightly
acidulated with vinegar. The recipe is supposed to
be indicated by Pliny, who says, speaking of mush-
rooms, " Debellat eos acetum, et aceti nature
oontraria Hs." M. Girard had such faith in his
discovery, that he ate 15011 m of poisonous mush-
rooms in a single month, and for a whole week
lived upon scarcely anything else. When
thoroughly assured by personal experience of the
safety of his practice, he made his children share
his banquets, and all sorts of horrible fungi—the
amanita muscasia, amanita venenosa, bulbous
agaric, gigantic lycoperdon, and such like crypto-
gams, figured daily at his family table. The dis-
covery was submitted to the Paris Board of Health,
who appointed a committee to inquire into the
merits of it. After many experiments, in the
course of which the members of the committee not
only saw K Girard eat, but ate heartily themselves,
a report was drawn up by K Cadet Gassicourt
certifying that by M.G6rard's method the most dan-
gerous mushrooms might be rendered innocuous,
and this report was confirmed by the Board of
Health. Nevertheless, to the great disappointment
and surprise of M. Girard, the board, after de-
claring that he had discovered a truth, solemnly
resolved that, so far as they were concerned, this
truth should be hid under a busheL Their reasons
for secrecy were that, inasmuch as no mushrooms
can be exposed for sale in Paris without being cer-
tified genuine by authorised inspectors, the dis-
covery was of no great importance as far as the
metropolis was concerned ; that it would be, per-
haps, dangerous to tell the public that all sorts of
mushrooms might be eaten with impunity, since the
precautions necessary to divest them of their poison-
ous properties might not always be taken with suffi-
cient care ; that the practice of using poisonous
mushrooms as an article of food would introduce a
new poison into the kitchen from which accidents
might arise ; and lastly, the council, while compli-
menting M. Girard, thought it needless to give offi-
cial publicity to his invention, because it would no
doubt make its way into notice without their
assistance. A lamentable catastrophe which
occurred some time since at Corsica, when five
officers of the 58th Regiment died from the effects
of a mushroom breakfast, aroused the attention of
scientific men, and it is in a "Treatise on Poisons,"
just published by M. Flaudin, that the report of
the Board of Health on M. Girard's discovery first
sees the light, together with their reasons for keep-
ing it secret. People now say that if the Corsican
ahem, who, it seems, had been warned that the
mushrooms they ate were doubtful, had known of
M. Girard's process, their lives might have been
saved, and that without recommending the public
to follow his example and knowingly eat poisonous
mushrooms, it was rendering an ill service to withhold
the knowledge of a valuable discovery which may
be generally made use of as a precaution. But a
learned physician, M. Poggiale, writes to the
Gazette des Hospitaux that although vinegar will
in fact eliminate the poison of mushrooms it leaves
behind nothing but a "leathery and tasteless sub-
stance." This consideration, by no means au unim-
portant one, is left untouched by the posthumous
works of M. Girard. It seems, I confess, not
unlikely that if, as Pliny says, vinegar be the
natural enemy of the mushroom, the treatment
prescribed for curing poisonous ones would also
destroy the delightful aroma, and all the com-
mendable qualities of the genuine article. I am
apt to think, therefore, with all respect for science,
that people who like mushrooms will continue to
rely upon the experience which, with very rare
mistakes, distinguishes the wholesome from the
dangerous class.
The model frigate (frigate Scott), which for some
years was anchored close to the Pont de la Con-
corde, has been removed to the Qnai d'Orsay, and
is to be fitted up as a bathing establishment for sea
water baths, thus supplying a desideratum which
the Academy of Medicine has long called for. The

water will be brought daily from Dieppe by
railway.
A diamond-cutting establishment has just started,
and is authorised to assume the title of " Taillerie
Imperiale de Diamants." This is said to
be tho first manufactory of the kind in
France. The art of diamond cutting, which
flourishes principally in Holland, was attempted to
be naturalised in France by Cardinal Mazarin, and
afterwards by M. de Calonne, but without success.
The departmental council of La Rochelle, aasem-
bled in a special general meeting called to consider
the case of the horrible charges lately made against,
the monks of Sainte', has resolved unanimously
that the school conducted by the reverend brethren
shall be suppressed.
The Union de ['Nest of Angers records a singular
case of the murder of a husband by his wife, the
only motive being " excess of maternal love ! "
The only son of a woman living at Blaison, in the
department of Maine and Loire, was drawn for a
soldier. The mother, distressed beyond measure
at the idea of parting with him, consulted her
neighbour as to the means of procuring his exemp-
tion, and in the course of her inquiries she learned
the piece of military law that if she were a widow
her son would be exempt, as the prop of the family
(soutien de famine). Upon this hint she murdered
her husband. During all the years that her son
was growing into manhood this murderess had
been a quiet, well-conducted woman, and a good
wife.

ME. COBDEN, M.P.

A letter from Beaune of the 4th mays :
" Yr. Cobdes,retarning from Algeria, ham arrived in Bur.
with the Count de Pins. He is occupying himself
in calecting the necessary information for the elucidation
of the important question of the fixed import duty on French
wines in England. Mr. Cobden, during his residence with
Y. Sens at Ifeuresult, saw all the principal men of the
country, and heard a statement of the legitimate corn.
plaints and claims of the proprietors and dealers. He is
rite convinced of the justice of our demands, and appear
lto support them."
lgiers journals publish the following letter from
Mr. Cobden, written before be left Algeria, to one of the
principal landowners in the colony :
• Algiers, Apnl 22.
Dear Sir,—l deeply regret not having had the opportu-
nity of seeing you again before my departure, which is
fixed for to-morrow, weather permitting. I shall be able
to speak highly f Algeria without doing violence to
my conscience. God has endowed this country with
everything for its prosperity. Its climate,
soil, andgeographical position—everything. in fact,
justifies the hope t t these neon of Africa will hereafter
become no less rich and populous than they were in ancient
times, as proved by the majestic ruins I have visited. Only,
in order to triumph over material obstacles, as in the
struggles after truth in the religious and moral world, un-
fortunately there must be martyrs, among whom you will
allow me to count myself. The only consolation I can offer
is, that you have laboured for the happiness and welfare of
future generations. Still there are peat things to be
I done even in our own time, and I think that you
may console yourself with the hope that the hardest trials
1 are over, and that the colony will henceforth rapidly ad-
ranee in the path of improvement. Be assured that I
shall never miss any opportunity of expressing my opinions
as to the advantages and requirements of your colony.
Among its wants is the &mamma that we shall have no war
with France. I have heard Englishmen here,wben discussing
the question of investing capital in Algeria, reason thus
Should therein war between England and France,the English
fleet would perhaps intercept communications, and sorbs's@
the native tribes would revolt,' ke. But theme chimerical
apprehensions will by degrees disappear, and I labour to 1
that end. I trust that you will, this year, witness a change
in the regulations of the porta, which will give greater
liberty to commerce. Free estranoe for capital mid
fsoili-
ties for purchasing and occupying land—such is the pro.
(manse for a colony. I shall live in hopes of seen; you
again.—Accept, dear air, the assurance of my most sincere
esteem. " R. COBDE(.*