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

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(now ova owx

PAWS, SUNDAY Evawnwi.
This being Easter Sunday, there are no evening
papers, and all the world is making holiday.
The Dards, in an article upon the death of the
Duchess of Kent, makes the following speculative
observations, which, notwithstanding their wild
character, will probably, considering the quarter in
which they are offered, be much remarked :

It is said that the house of Saxe-Cobourg may possibly
be reserved for still higher destinies, that there exists in
Spain a party alike hostile to the house of Bourbon and to
France, which is strenuously encbmvouring to bring the
entire peninsula under the sceptre of one of the Saxe-
Cobourg and Lisbon princes. This party is supposed to
have contributed materially to the events which imperilled
the throne of Isabella in July, 1854, and it is positively
stated that written proofs of the plot are to be found in
certain archives. If this be so, and if the party in ques-
tion shall one day become dominant across the water, it is
not impossible that the house of Saxe-Cobotug, which fifty
years ago was so humble and occupied such a small
place in Germany, may unite the crown of Spain to
those of England, Belgium, and Portugal, which it already
holds, or at least is certain to have. The house of Saxe-
Cobourg owes its great fortunes to the Duchess of Kent.
whose influence was most ably seconded by King Leopold of
Belgium. It is a 'fact most worthy of remark tkatlthe
house of Saxe-G3bourg has made ite way noiselessly, with-
out extraneous aid, and without the corroboration of any
startling events. It owes its acquisitions to the talents of
two of its members, to their personal action, their indefati-
gable perseverance, their untiring foresight, their great pro-
ficiency in the art of pleasing, and their scrupulous care
never to offend, never to grasp hastily at their object. It is
moreover a remarkable circumstance that, in the whole
history of the house of Saxe-Cobourg, there is not a single
brilliant page. This house has produced no statesman or
warrior who ever held a great place in Europe.

The above article is not signed by any of the
eminent writers in the DEbate, but by the secretary
of redaction, who it has often been noticed of late
years is made to father manifestoes in that journal
of more than usual importance. ►,

The Dibats alludes to the attendance of the
Orleans princes at the Duchess of Kent's funeral,
but it has too much good sense to echo the com-
plaints of the Paine and Con.stitutionnel on the
subject. It alludes to their near connexion with
the English royal family as a sufficient explana-
tion.

In the Stick M. Havin takes up the cudgels on
behalf of his brother journalists who, according to
• telegram, have been " invited " to take them-
selves away from Venioe at their very earliest con-
venience, with a zealous esprit de corps which I
venture to think passes the bounds of discretion.
He invokes the "faith of treaties," the "dignity of
French citizens," and the " law of nations,"
as arguments for diplomatic remonstrances
with a government which presumes to objecao
the sojourn in its territories of Frenchmen who
" paid the usual fees" for passports supplied to
them by the Austrian ambassador in Paris. Now,
I apprehend that M. Thouvenel will let this matter
alone. It would be very difficult for the French
government, which claims the right of turning any
foreigner out at a moment's notice, and lately acted
upon the right in the case of M. Ganesoo, to make it a
grievance against Austria that she objects to enter-
tain in Venice a bevy of democratic French jour-
nalista, reeking hot from the inauguration of
Manin's statue at Turin. Nothing can be worse,
no doubt, than the Austrian government of Venice,
but "he that is down can fall no lower,"
and it is childish, as long as that go-
vernment is recognised, to complain of a mere
trivial incident of the system upon which it is car-
ried on. The French tourists who now complain
that their stay in Veuiee is abridged are declared
and conspicuous enemies of the Austrian rule in
that city, and I must say, considering all things,
that the Austrian government was rather magna-
nimous
than otherwise in allowing them to go there
at all.

Vilbort, oflthe Opinion7Nutiowak, hasipub-
lished, in the/form ofial pamphlet,Aletter to the
Emperor of Russia, in which—afterivery clearly
stating the grievances of the Poles—he makes out
• strong case to show that it is the interest of the
Czar to redress them :

Give back, sire, their country to the Poles—give it them
back entirely, and not only the little kingdom of 1815.
Austria and Prussi► will then loose their prey, and you will
End in Poland a sure and faithful ally, for Poland will rely
upon you and never upon Germany. Poland once enfran-
chised, sire, It will be easy for you to make Russia free.

The indipendance says that M. }fires lately
wrote from his prison to the Emperor, hut that the
letter having been opened, in accordance with the
rules applicable to prisoners of the category in
which M. Mires is classed, was found to be so vio-
lent as to be unfit for presentation to his Majesty.
and it was therefore returned to the writer.

The same journal mentions a rumour that Na-
poleon 111. has told Victor Emmanuel that he
must be patient as regards Rome, it being impos-
sible fur the French army to come away earlier
than six months' hence at the nearest.

The triumph of Madame Riatori in her French
performance at the Odeon is oomplete. M. Jules
Janie, the famous critic of the Dibata, declares in a
special article that be cannot wait for the day of
his usual fettilleloa to express Lis admiration. He
considers the slight Italian accent scarcely a draw-
back to the great genius of the actress, and pro-
claims the "great, the happy, the unexpected
news, that a tragic actress has appeared iu Paris
capable of sustaining the highest parts."
Another critic says :

I feared for Madame Ristori'■ pronunciation, but I am
delighted to say that her slight Italian intonation is
altogether forgotten, and the simplicity and grandeur al
her genius reigns supreme. Madame Ristori may be an
Italian still, but we claim her as a French actress, and as
ate who, with a commanding talent altogether unsuspected,
will revive those chefs If trurre which we bad thought were
for ever buried in the tomb of Rachel.

PARIS, SATURDAY EVENING.
A dissolution, which has long been upon the
cards, is now considered extremely probable. M.
de Persigny lately sent a circular to the prefects
desiring them to furnish him with very full reports
of the impression produced in the departments by
the late debates. Most of the answers are now in,
and they are understood to be highly favourable to
the government. Functionaries, it is true, seldom
fail to interpret public opinion in the sense desired,
and they very often mislead the power which really
wishes to be enlightened by them. There is, how-
ever, little doubt at the present moment that the
Emperor might confidently appeal to the consti-
tuencies against the Plichons and Keller& I am
nut so certain that the small band of five, which
constitutes the democratic opposition, would all be
re-elected. They occupy a most important
position, and have a difficult part to act. Very
many of their friends think that the terms in
which they have expressed their rulmiration of the
Emperor's foreign policy, and some of his recent
acts at home, were too enthusiastic, and implied a
sacrifice of principle for particular objects. Nobody,
however, doubts for a moment the spotless honesty
and utter disinterestedness of Jules Fevre and
Emile 011ivier. Au error of judgment in a most
delicate matter is the utmost with which they are
charged. It will be difficult, indeed, to find any
more liberal men than they are who will take the
oath, without which no Frenchman can now serve
his country, unless he thinks to serve it by conspi-
racy against the government. That oath is a great

stumbling-block, and keeps scores of men away
from the poll who would have a great chance of
being elected. The Emperor, who more than most
men knows the value of a political oath, was wise
in his generation when he revived a formality
which the republic of 1848 had abolished (except
only for the head of the state), as a needless clog
upon men's consciences. _

The Bourse opened with a little animation, but
soon relapsed into its chronic state of dulness. The
Rente closed at yesterday's prices, 67.75 and
67.80, which are nearly the lowest of the week.
Mobilise., railways and the Caissu Mires remain
with scarcely any change.