The Express.
London, England, 1868-03-09 00:00:00

OUR PARIS LETTER.

PARLIAMENTARY DEFEAT OF THE
GOVERNMENT.
(MON 005 OWN CONJUSPONDIT.)
PARIS, BUND•Y ISVZNING.
The A velar National, Dibats, Libertif, and
Revue des Deux Monde: publish a joint letter
addressed to Visoonnt de Kervifguen stating that
although the undersigned are bound by a
promise not to prosecute his " worthy
colleague," M. Grapier de Caassgnac, the
engagement does not extend to him, and they
call upon him to publish within three days the
documents alluded to in his calumnious certificate
to the Pays, otherwise they will apply to the Corps
Lsgislatif for leave to indict him, without prejudice
to a civil action in case the permission should be
refused by "the majority to which he belongs."
The government yesterday suffered an important
parliamentary defeat, resulting in the definitive
rejection of one of the most objectionable clauses
of the amended press bill. You may re-
member that the original proposal to
11 enable the police tribunals by way of sup-
plementary punishment to deprive a convicted
journalist of his civil rights was shown by the op-
position to be an insidious device for disqualifying
prominent writers for a eeat in the chamber.
In order to soften down a little this monstrous
consequence the government consented to
an amendment, making this disqualification only
applicable to a second offence (recidire). But yes-
terday, on the report on the amendment, MM.
Carnet, Pelletan, Picard, and Berryer made a
terrific onslaught on the clause altogether. They
scorned the guarantee affected to be given
by limiting the disenfranchisement to a
second offence. A journalist who was consistent
in his opinions could not help being a recidiviste
within a very short time, and it was greatly to be
apprehended that after a dissolution prosecu-
tions would be rapidly instituted for no
other purpose than to keep distinguished
opposition members out of the chamber. Cato,
said M. Carnot, was • hardened offender, for he
wu tried fifty times for the same thing, and a
correctional tribunal of the present day would cer-
tainly have no mercy upon him. The majority
seemed to have a prophetic instinct that the
clause which they were now asked to vote against
their adversaries might some day be used against
themselves, and in spite of the utmost efforts of
the Ministers Baroche and Pittard, and M. Nogent
Saint-Laurens, the reporter, it was rejected by 134
votes to 72.

Mr. Disraeli's letter to the Ingliah papers elicits
the following observations from the Opinion
Nationale :

We do sot dearly understand Mr. Disraeli's point. Mel
he mean to deny that the " education " of his puiy was
accomplished by himself! DoWeemeantosay it waseffeeted
by the foroe of events! Due Is that ease what becomes
of the reputation he has hitherto enjoyed of having been
the only man astute enough to restore his party to power'
There is another consideration which his letter leaves in-
tact. The tory party up to the last moment set its face
against reform, and represented lithe aimless and dangerous.
We are, therefore, driven to regard the conduct of the
tales of 1867 as the result of a sudden Illumination rather
than of a gradual eduestiol. Mr. Disraeli would certainly
have been wiser had he held his tongue.

The nautical piece, the Vengeur, was produced
at the ThLtre Chitalet last night. In the appre-
hension of some manifestation attending the cry of
" Viva la Republique," with which by the Em-
peror's special permission the piece was to conclude,
at least live hundred policemen in plain clothes,
to say nothing of those in uniform, were distributed
in all parts of the theatre, in the adjoining
caUs, and among the crowd in front of
the doors. It was not till 1 in the
morning, when the audience was fairly tired out by
a very bad piece, that the dreaded cry was raised,
and then so feebly that the sinking crew of the
ship must have been supposed to be terribly ex-
hausted. No echo of the cry was attempted in the
body of the house.

WEATHER REPORT.-(TBD3 DAY.)

MONDAY, 810acii 0, 8 &IL

ATTEMPT TO MURDER THE MEP CONSTA BLE
• OP DERR TERME.

On Saturday evening • desperate attar'. ,iaa
made upon the life of Mr. W. G. Fox, chief constable of
Derbyshire. Between 5 and 6 o'clock Mr. Fox vae
walking tawards his office, at the top of Station street,
Derby, when he was met by a man named James Connor,
who was recently discharge from the county force,
Comber said, " la that your sad became very abusive
At length he said, "D— you, I will shoot you," nodl
: palling from his pocket a pistol, presented it at ge,
Fox's bead. Mr. Fox tried so persuade the mitt to
go towards the office ; but the fellow said, "
sir, I shall not go with you, I will shoot ",
at mum," and therempoa fired the pistol. The pu.
tol was heavily charged, and Mr. Fox was woucded
in both hands and legs. Ten or twelve shots 'ere et•
traded from one leg, and eight or ten from the other,
Several shots were also extracted from his hands. mr.
Fox, after be was shot, rushed at his would.be murderer,
sad the two struggled together, Mr. Fox at leogth ne,
eeediog in wrenching the pistol from Connor, And
dragging him to his office, where he is now in cist.ly,
waiting a magistrates' it:wary. Mr. Fox's injuries are
net dangerous. There is no doubt it was the position in
which he held his umbrella that prevented the 'bora
from entering his head. The umbrella is complaely
riddled with shot. Yesterday Mr. Fox was going on vett