The Express. — 1861-10-19 (London, England)

PARIS, FRIDAY EVIIIIING.  M. de Persigny's circular is commonly spoken of this morning as a decree for the suppression of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul—a measure which has for some days been rumoured to be on the tapis. But such a description is by no means borne out by the text of the document, which merely intimates that the government intends, to an extent by no means practically clear, to revive sleeping laws against all unauthorised societies, and to exercise its own discriminating discretion in regard to permitting their continuance. The circular places the freemasona,who exist only by tolerance, on precisely the same footing as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and other religious societies. There can be no doubt, however, that, whatever may be the construction and consequences of the circular, the immediate occasion of it is the notorious hostility to the government of the directors of the Society of St. Vincent de PauL It is in vain that the Bishop of Angouleme protests this very day in the Monde against the interpretation put upon a recent discourse of his at a conference of the society held at Lusignan. The government knows as well as the public that the managers of this society have long made use of the funds subscribed in the name of charity for the purpose of maintaining an ultramontanist propaganda. Nevertheless, M. Persigny thinks fit, probably on the principle of equality, to drag in the freemasons upon the present occasion. It is true he speaks of them in complimentary teruis, which will give great offence to the clerical journals, but the plain meaning of the circular is that hereafter no masonic lodge can meet without the permission of the prefect, and no delegates from any lodge can be sent to Paris without the permission of the Minister of the Interior. I have heard it suggested that the real intention of the government is to take into its own hands the nomination of the presidents of all the charitable societies (including masonic lodges) to which the circular refers.  The Opinion Nationale is by no meant pleased with the circular. It sarcastically remarks upon the "extraordinary impartiality" with which the minister speaks of all societies that come within the scope of the expression "unauthorised." It draws the conclusion that, notwithstanding the daily attacks of the bishops upon the principles of 'B9, and the undisguised hatred of the clerical party of democratkal institutions, the government "does not yet dare to treat that party as an enemy." Whether the forbearance arises from fear of the future or from a souvenir of a former alliance, the Opinion cannot say, but it regards it as very unfortunate that, while the government is so tender towards its enemies, it alienates the only friends upon whom it could one day reckon. The Bourse, without being at all brilliant, was firmer. The Rents roes 10c. for cash and account, closing at 67fr. 90c. and 67fr. 95c. Mobilier rose 3fr. 76c. The Italian Loan was in considerable demand, and rose 38fr. Great anxiety is felt to know whether K Rothschild undertakes to pay the coming dividend. Railways were from 2fr. 60c. to 6fr. higher. A grenadier of the 3rd Regiment of the Imperial Guard hung himself yesterday morning in his sentry-box at the park gate of fit. Cloud. It is said, apropos of this catastrophe, that the remarkable circular against suicides in the army which Marshal Maguan issued several months ago has not had the effect of diminishing their number.