The Express. — 1864-08-31 (London, England)

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.  (nor ous OWN oosasepoirnarr.) PAI3IB, TOI3DAY Ennio.  The Side would have religion practised in France according to the evangelists, and no encyclical letter or bishop's pastoral escapes its searching criticism. It would seem that four protestant churches at Montb4liard trouble the slumbers of the Cardinal Archbishop of Besancon. The sleep of the prelate is restless, not so much on account of the numbers of peasants which flock to rival establishineuta, but because the spire of the catholic is not so high as that of the protestant place of worship. The cardinal has ideas like those which possessed that imaginary personage Vathek when he set about the second Babel. His eminence is grieved, so he says in a begging letter written to get funds for so much additional steeple, to sex the spirit of the age invading the country ; and, after writing much on charity and the perversity of the days he has lived to see, he gives a sketch of himself. The picture seems taken from the first volume of " Les MisZrables." Our good old friend Bishop Bienvenue, who could even visit a conventionalist, has come to life again ; but one thing must be remembered, which is that that exemplary character never published a detail of his good works. The Cardinal of Besancon remarks, is conclusion—" Perhaps people will say to you ' The cardinal's revenues are sufficieut, why does he not expend them ?' This is what 1 have done, even to compromising present and future. I give to the poor, to the churches, and to a crowd of wants either known or hidden, as much and even more than I can afford. I have no carriage. Igo about with worn out shoes, and a mended surplice. Very likely you have wore than once smiled at seeing me with patched sleeves." The Siècle says the bishop has 4,000/. a year. He might, perhaps, give a better direction to his charity, and not publish it, hut it would be nothing new for a catholic bishop to spend even beyond his means in alleviating the wants of his flocks. The late bishop of Loissons was an instance.  More visits of royal and semi-royal personages are spoken of to-day. Victor Emmanuel is said to be desirous of holding the eldest son of Prince Napoleon at the baptismal font, and will consequently visit France about the month of October. The semi-royal guest expected here is Prince Couza, who is first to seek another interview with the Sultan and then to come on here. The bad understanding known to exist between this government and that of Russia may have determined the prince to migrate. A curious case is about to be tried here. A lady is about to prove in open court that she is not the mother of her children, or rather the children which her husband attributes to her. This matter is to be demonstrated by decisive arguments, the lady herself demanding to plead. It is said that amusing revelations will be made.  Now that the marriage of Prince Humbert with the Princess Anna Murat Las fallen through, Copenhagen writes to claim the honour of being future Queen of Italy for Marie-Dagmar, second daughter of King Christian. This princess was born on the 2ritli December, 1847.  Our latest sulvices from Mexico state that the Emperor has instituted public audiences every Sunday. Everyone is admitted, without respect to nationality, to expose his griefs and propose whatever measures he may think would be conducive to the welfare of the nation.  I The France gives a translation of a certain advertisement published in the London Life, offering a reward of 600/. for an assaasiu to murder the director of a railway company. The France, with a credulity worthy of M. Mocquard, adds, " Well, it is sad to say, but we have it from a good source, that a large number of demands have already been addressed to the offices of the London Life. 11 y a plus que l'ensbarras du choir." ' Lord Cowley and family have gone to Tarbes to spend some days with M. Fould. The report of this visit has been received with great satisfaction by English residents here. There was a good deal of excitement on the Bourse to-day, iu consequence of a fall in Console. The aspect of affairs in the London Stock Exchange is supposed to have caused this decline.