The Express. — London, England, 1863-08-28 00:00:00

r 2 EVERYBODY KNOWS Mr. MILES. Alfred Webb Miles ItIMOVID PROM IKINENaTLIOIT to 711. 81.001WITIAZT lisnorereens" IS 1 The lea Trouserenteed by lena) In ell tbe :ieir Pattern; .. SWIM THAN Ehe •noreoo. TO 001tRISPONDENTS. aduallasseets taModed for TN, Myrna" London Wallas :per, must he at the odkm 10, houreMeatreet, by Two :ffk on Um day of yohnostka. Tim imam NINO JOHN. [lag John, Mr. Walter Nont peaery.—To be followed by • WWI( DIAMOND. 1111/TANNIA. Tna yysirps, THE A:ETIIE74 PEACE. illustrated by ma GREAT GROGT EFFECT Professor reppor's Adaptation of klr. Dtretis Inreotkm —Mr. Porter and Mr. eloolart.—And DIE DUI:MI E. or. TICCIT OF LEAV/C MON WAIDIN AT LONDON BALDOIL INo DAT Ilerstsa 1% IL. ..Aftiesoos. Id ltm. rwcolutow—maers& Ik. Ks— .Altintoos. fx 19A. LONDON, FRIDAY, AUGUST 28. SIR WILLIAM AR3ISSONO'II address as President of the British Association is interesting not only to philosophers and men of science, but to men immersed in the practical business of life, to intelligent artizans, and even to thrifty and saga-' cious housewives ; for while reviewing the latest discoveries and glancing at the higher laws of science, Sir WiLniam discusses at length ques tions connected with the commonest domestic duties, in which every householder and almost every man and woman in the kingdom may be said to have a direct interest. It is just twenty-five years ago since the Association last assembled at Newcastle, and in the interval physical science has advanced with such rapid and gigantic strides that it is scarcely an exaggeration to describe its progress during the quarter of • century as exceeding in magnitude of results the whole sum of its previous movements for two thousand years. The great discoveries and inventions which have followed each other in quick succession during this prolific era, have changed the face of the country, sub verted the old conditions, not only of trade and commerce, but of agricultural industry, and revo lutionised in many important respects the habits and manners of the people. It is difficult for the present generation to realize, even by • strong effort of imagination, what England was, and what the ordinary conditions of English life were, thirty years ago. That was the age of slow coaches, sluggish canals, sailing vessels, oil lamps, and elevenpenny letters. AU this is now so completely changed that those who have grown up amidst the splendid scientific discoveries and mechanical in ventions that have done so much to annihilate space and time, and render intercommunication of every kind as easy and common as it once was diffi cult and rare, are almost as widely separated from the England of thirty years ago as they are from the England of the middle ages. They have been familiar from infancy with the great and charac teristic powers of modern science which have sub dued nature, and ministered so largely to the re lief of man's estate. Speaking generally, heat in its various forms and applications may be taken as the sum and representative of these powers ; and beat accord ingly is the main theme or text of Sir Wrutsx AamsrsoNo's Newcastle address. Coal is, how ever, for practical purposes the chief agent in the production of heat, and it is perfectly natural and appropriate that at Newcastle this great scientific power should be mainly considered in connexion _ _ with the useful mineral which is to so large an extent its local embodiment and representative. Though Sir W■*.uav is a man of practical science rather than an artist, he is evidently not insensible to the effect of local colour. Early in his address he plunges into the familiar local theme, gives an interesting sketch of the neighbouring coal-pita from the earliest period of their working, investi gates the nature and origin of the mineral, and discusses at considerable length the state and prospects of the fields from which it is obtained. These fields are in all respects of the very highest interest and value to us. Coal is an essential constituent of the material power, the mechanical superiority, the wealth and prosperity of the country. Coal may fairly be regarded as funded heat, and our native coal-fields are thus rut storehouses of that marvel lous force which in its developed form, and work ing through the appliances of modern science, is able to move mountains, raise up valleys, span the mightiest rivers, fill the desert with the clang and roar of successful industry, and convert the wil derness into a fruitful field. It is clearly of the utmost importance that we should continue to possess a supply of this invaluable mineral equal to our growing need. At present the sup ply is practically unlimited. Our coal-fields are vast in extent, amongst the largest in the world, and with proper management may continue to meet even our enormously increased demand for a thousand years. But this is on the supposition that we exercise a reasonable amount of economy in our habitual consumption ; that we husband our resources, instead of squan dering them thoughtlessly away. Sir WIL LILY Aaxgraoso raises a warning voice. He declares that instead of exercising proper circumspection we are wasting our mineral sub stance in riotous living, consuming coal in the most extravagant and useless ways, and that unless we show a little inoreconsideration for the future,and retrench our lavish expenditure, the coal-fields will be prematurely exhausted, and the nation reduced, at no verydistant date, to a condition of bituminous bankruptcy. We are extravagant, Sir WUJJ/LII as serts, in our use of coal for mechanical purpose~_ when it is employed to evolve heat as a motive power. Science has demonstrated that the mechanical energy resident in a pound of coal and liberated by its combustion is capable of raising a weight of ten million pounds a foot high. In our best engines a pound of coal at present actually realizes only one-tenth part of this possible result, while the great majority only distantly approach by some thing like a thirtieth degree to this attainable economy of power. The average qua lity of coal, therefore, which we expend in realising a given effect by means of the steam. engine is about thirty times greater than would be requisite with an absolutely perfect heat-engine. Here, then, is ample scope for retrenchment, and for the operation of ecomical reformers. But our domestic expenditure of the heat-producing mineral is, it appears, equally lavish, if not actually marked by still greater extravagance. " It is computed," says Sir W. AmserioNo, "that " the consumption of coal in dwelling-houses " amounts in this country to a ton per head per " annum of the entire population ; so that up " wards of twenty-nine millions of tons are annually " expended in Great Britain alone for domestic " use. If any one will consider that one pound " of coal applied to a well-constructed steam " engine boiler evaporates ten pounds (or one " gallon) of water, and if he will compare this " effect with the insignificant quantity of water " which can be boiled off in steam by a pound of " coal consumed in an ordinary kitchen fire, he I " will be able to appreciate the enormous trade I " which takes place by the common method of " burning coal for culinary purposes. The simplest " arrangements to confine the best and concen " trate it upon the operation to be performed " would suffice to obviate this reprehensible waste." After all, our stock of coal is confessedly so l►rge that there is no immediate winger of its falling short, the earliest possible date of that national bankruptcy being two centuries distant. But that is no reason for persisting in the reckless waste of our resources. It is time for our rude and un scientific methods of consumption to be replaced by contrivances more in harmony with the ad vanced state of mechanical science ; and the fact of the subject having been prominently brought before the British Association will no doubt help to quicken invention in this direction. Ebt own. ROSENAIT, COBURG. Avacar 24. The Queen, accompanied by Princess Helena, attended Divine service in the chapel at the Kai= yesterday, where the service was performed by Superintendent Dr. Meyer. Her Majesty and the Princess remained at the Kalleoberg for luncheon, where the Duke of Coburg and the Crown Prince of Prussia had arrived that morning. Her Majesty and the Princess afterwards visited the Prince and Princess Augusta' of Saxe Coburg, at Coburg. Despatches were sent from the Colonial-olio to the Go vernor of Canada, and to the Lord High Commissions of tie lonian Islands. A LEGACY TO QUEEN VICTORIA.-SINGULAR LEGAL PROCIZDINGS. A singular case has just been brought before the Tribunal of the Seine. It appears that a lady, a native of London, who was married first toe rich English gentleman, was marrieds second time to a French nobleman, Count de Silly. She died in October last, and in her will, which cos tamped numerous legacies, was the following bequest :—" I bequeath to her Majesty the Queen of England a sum of 100,000 franca, to be employed for the benefit of the Louden poor." The several legatees and the executors mete to the English ambassador to acquaint him with the fact, in formation of which was in doe time transmitted to bar Majesty, who decided to accept the legacy. One of the legatees then insinuated that her Majesty should let the relatives have the money. The English legal authorities were consulted, and they gave the opinion that the relatives had no right to the money, of which the Queen was the sovereign dispenser, unless they came under the category of the poor. The general legatece then required the royal signature legally affixed to a formal document, and they proceeded to summon the Quoin to appear on the 2nd of July, either in person or 1 1 by procuration. The summons was sent on the 22nd June. The case then came before the Tribunal of the Song, the plaintiff applying that an order should be made for the pay ment of the legacy to her Majesty's ambassador. The legal representative of her Majesty proceeded to contend that the money should be paid over to the ambassador, who was recognised by all legal authorities, many of whom ware quoted, as representing in everything the person of his sous. reign. A precedent was cited, in which a legacy to the Popeof =estate bedbug given over to the nuncio after some dispute. The question, the advocate for the Queen contended, was not one of private law, but of international law. The advocate ce the other aide maintained that the legacy van made to the Queen as a private individual, and the intentions of the testatrix would not be carried out unless her Majesty became personally the almoner of the sum left at her disport. The ambassador represented his govern ment, that is, the Chambers of his country, the mi nistry, and the royal person ; but he could not represent one of those parties separately from the rest. The French law knew neither sovereigns nor ambassadors. The Queen ought to submit to the requirements of that law, sad to put her signature at the foot of a special and authentic pro curation. That was the only guarantee which the legalese could have that the sum left bad puma into the august heads for which the testatrix had deathbed it. The President of the Tribunal, IL Benoist, decided in favour of her Majesty, saying that an ambassador repre sented his sovereign in a supreme dives, and that ell he said and did was substantially mid and done by his sovereign. THE Pulses AND Prinrcsee or WALVi. —Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales arrived at the Fart of Fife's seat, Mar Lodge, Aberdeenshire. on Wednesday. The Relative Journal, is anticiretkin of the royal visit, says :—" Fran the time it was known that their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales were to honour Mar Lodge with a reit, the Earl and Counters of Fife bars been untiring in their exertions to provide for their reception. Brenner is, of coulee, merely a shooting lodge, but every endeavour has been made in fitting up the suite of rooms appropriated to the Prince and Princess to render them as simple and as elegant as time and space will permit. On Thursday their Royal High. names will drive direct to Old Mar Lodge, which they will reach a few minutes after three, after which the games will immedi►tely commence. There will be a mod torchlight ball on Friday evening, which must be a novelty to their royal highnesses, the only ate of the kind ever given in Soot• land being one given by the earl and counter at Mar Lodge in 1851, ou the OCCIiiOO of the vidt of the Queen ad Prince Crewe. Nearly all the aristocracy now in the Highlands have received iovitatious to have the honour of meting the 1 Prince sad Prioress.• Her Royal Highness the Princess George of Emsoay will les.. Scarborough next week is a tour. Baron Gendorff, loag resident in England as Berea Meister, will sooompsey her royal highness. BMWS, Blame (wife of the Hsnoveriae chargi &affair*, who hag bees staying with the pianos, is Dot expected at the Haeoverian legatiaa until the deputese of her royal highness on her return to Germany. The Earl and Countess of Derby will entertain a large circle of friends at Knowsley the week after next. His lordship has been unable to avail ham& at invitations to the north in consequence of Lis Mom( disks to person ally fail his duties as chairman of the losomidre Belief Committee. The Earl and Countese Grey are staring on a 'kit to the Wight Hoe. Edward Ellice, at Gleoquoich, Earl Granville, the President of the Council, who is in attendance oa the Queen daring her Majesty's stay in Germany, arrived at Coburg oa Monday, Iron Frankfurt. The Earl and Countess Russell, Lord Amberly, and the other members of the noble earl's family. arrived at Loohearnbead Hotel, Perthshire, on Tuesday last, and left on Wednesday for Callender sod the Trammels. The Archbishop of Dublin continues in the same etate. Up to a late hour on Wednesday evening no no. &valuable symptoms had bees reported. The Chancellor of the Exchequer acknowtedges the receipt of a 201. Beak of England note " for the public service r• A new edifice for religious worship, entitled the Yentas-hall, was opened at Dublin on Wrdansday. It boa boas erected by public subscription, at a cost of 16,0001., and is intended for the celebration of divine worship with. oat any of the distinctive characteristics of the different sects, thus " affording a neutral ground on which Christians of all denominations may unite in public devotion." The building, which is situate at the corner of Lower Merriam. street and Harcourt place, is constructed of whits Suffolk brick, with a richly orosniented front of Caen and Portland stoos. It covers an area of 6,800 superficial feet, end will accommodate 5,000 persona. The Rev, James Denham Smith, by whom, admirers the project was set on foot, will be the principal minister. • - Sir Charles Trevelyan ham, it is said, made certain recommeadatioas to the India•offce for &sages in the system of selectiog civil servants by oonmetitioa. Leaving it, as at pretreat, quite unrestricted, he would limit the age for posing t h e first esaiinatioe to Mitres 18 sod 21, sad seed all who paned to either Oxford or Cambridge for two years, without any allowance for sponse. H. would have each competitive ma study the two veroaeaLus of the Presidency to which he is to be appointed daring these years, tartest of is lad* sad would seed the young civilian iminsdietely on arrival to hie station in the interior, detaining only the net men to begin work is the secretariat alas o[ Calcutta, EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 28, 1863. THE SCHELDT DUES. PARIS, Ammer 28. The treaty for the suppression of the Scheldt dues was published this morning. THE FLORIDA. LIVERPOOL,Auover 28. The ship Anglo-Saxon, bound from Liverpool for New York, was burnt by the Florida, thirty miles from Kinsale, on the 21st inst. The crew have been landed at Breit. ' LATEST INTELLIGENCE. PRUSSIA AND THE FRANKFORT GATHERING. The rod: Zeitung of the 25th inst. oontredicts, with mulch vehemence, the rumour spread by a Vienna journal as to the alleged desire of Prussia to retire from the Germanic Confederation. "The idea has not occurred to any one," says that jour nal, "to make such a threat. Let it be borne in mind that Prussia is now maintaining herself firmly en the ground of the federal right. She will willingly assist in reforms, but she will never allow the foreigner to dictate them to her." According to a letter from Berlin, the French government has issued instructions to its represen tatives in Germany, to maintain the strictest reserve with regard to everything which concerns the internal affairs of Germany. The Press of Vienna says : Advice@ from Frsnkfort state that it is more particularly the King of Saxony who uses all his influence to procure the success of the great work of reform. That is the more surprising that Saxony would perhaps have reason to com plain of a place inferior to that of Bavaria being attributed to her. It is, moreover, stated that the Duke of Sere Coburg displays much activity, ►nd that his attitude does sot a little contribute to inspire more ooseiliatory sseti ments in the Grand Dukes of Baden and Weimar, who are not veru well disposed in favour of the Austrian project. The bergemuten of the Hansa Towns, also, to a certain point, side with the Duke ci Saxe Coburg. ITALY. The Na:ione of Turin says: Y. Alexandre Dumas bee had 500 photographic portraits printed of the unfortunate Matteo Ferrara, whose eyes were tom out and his nose and earn cut off by order of the brigand chief Crescenzo Cravina. The intention of N. Dumas is to send those photographs to France, in order that some of the horrors of brigandage may be seen there. It is well to here remind our readers that this Cremenzo Gra vies, the author of the horrible mutilation, is the companion of Cipriano La Gala. (a M'S TILLIGIWOL) GERMANY. THE SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN QUESTION. FRANKFORT, Amon 27, Evranvo. . . In the sitting of the Federal Diet to-day the declaration of the Danish government with refe rence to Schleswig which has been received was referred to the committees The Danish ambassador, who was unable to be present on account of illness, reserved further explanations. FRANKFORT-ON-THF,MAINE. Auouer 28. The Frankfort Jouraai of to-day says :—" We are authorised by the ducal cabinet to declare the assertion to be unfounded that the Duke of Saxe- Coburg was the author of the pamphlet published at Brussels under the title of ' Revelations.'" VIENNA. Amour 2', EVINDICI. The Botschafter gives an analysis of the memorial remitted on the 3rd August by the Emperor of Austria to the King of Prussia at Gastein. This memorial states that the condition of Europe renders it incumbent on the Sovereigns to insure to themselves a tenable position, and that the German people are entitled to demand a reform. It states, also, that the will of Prussia may legally and in fact prevent a reform, bat that the governments who believe it impossible to remain in the *tutu quo would be finally compellod to sepa rately introduce federal reform in their states by the most extended application possible of the righ of free union, at the same time preserving the federal bond. The same journal announces that there is every reason to believe that federal execution, with which the Germanic Diet has menaced Denmark, and the occupation of the duchy of Holstein, will take place. " Sufficient forces," says the Botathafter, "will be placed in the field to put these measures into execution." THE POLISH INSURRECTION. LEMBERG. Almon 27. A considerable insurrection of the peasants against Russia has broken out in the Ukraine. RUSSIA. ARRIVAL OF THE GRAND DUKE CONSTANTINL ST. PETERSBURG, Ammer 27, Emma. The Grand Duke Constantine arrived at Tsarskoe- Selo yesterday. The Imperial Bank resumes specie payments to morrow at the September rates, viz., 2 per cent. premium. TRIIMTE, Amon 27. 25,000 Russians from the Caucasus have arrived in Odessa. Part of their number will go to Nioolaieff, the remainder to Kiew. GREECE. TRIFITTE, AUGUST 27. News received here from Athena says that four Greek ministers of the moderate party have sent in their resignation. The English ambassador has required of the Greek government the punishment of the guilty patties in the riots at the Pirtens. _ K Kalergis has been appointed to amompany the King upon his journey to Athens. THE EAST. MISTS, Ammar IT. Intelligence from the Levant says that the arma ments in Turkey continue. The capture of Herat is reported to have arouaed an extremely warlike spirit at Teheran. MEXICO. PAIUB, Amer 28. The French papers publish the following intelli gence from Mexico, dated Vera Cruz, the 18th instant : " General Forey is still in the city of Mexico. "A French corps d'arzne is marching upon San Luis Potosi, which is held by Juarez with 15,000 men. " Miramon has re-entered Mexican territory with a few thousand adventurers collected in Texas. "An expedition will soon set out for Tampico. "Few cases of vomito now occur. "The adhesions to the empire are numerous, but the population would prefer the throne to be occupied by a French prince." SPAIN. MADRID, Amon 27, EVECING. The Ministry have sent a oonrier to General Dales, conveying their approval of his acts tending to the suppression of the slave trade. Senor °lowa is expected at Madrid. The Progreeaiat party have held preparatory electoral meetings at Barcelona and Valencia. Notwithstanding the opinion expressed by the Madrid committee, divergence of opinion still prevails relative to the policy of abstaining from voting. THE REVOLUTION IN MADAGAI3OAR. ILEI7NION, Ame_n 7. MM. Duped and Lambert left Madagascar on the 30th of July. Anarchy is reported to prevail at Tananarive. The Sakalawes affirm Radama to be still living, and refuse to recognise the authority of the Queen. New sugars have not yet been brought to market. Coffees are rare. Prices of vanilla good. EXPRESS FROM PARIS. (FROM OUR cows mar.) PARIS, THURSDAY Evianto. I have lately mentioned as one of the most 1112- portant symptoms of the irrepressible tendency of public opinion in favour of liberty, the indisposition of the judges to support the government in political cases. In the early days of the empire to prosecute was to condemn. The judges were but servile echoes of the public prosecutor, and (with but few honourable exceptions) did whatever they were ordered to do. It is well known that in the famous case of the Orleans confiscation, which occasioned ; serious scruples of conscience in the Court of Cu- Bastion, M. Troplong, who was commissioned to get the thing carried through quand mime, said to his brother judges :—" Now, look here, gentlemen, it is idle to waste time in discussing nice legal distinc tions the trite and the only practical question is whether you intend to remain a Court of Caseation or to be dissolved 1 That question you have just half an hour to consider ; at the end of that time I have no doubt you will all adhere to the judgment which I have here ready drawn up." The judges of the supreme court, understanding that the fearful bread and cheese question was paramount, and, perhaps, comforting their consciences by the consideration that the ruin of themselves and their families would not have saved the Orleans property, succumbed to a cis major, It was au awful fall, and for many years France was resigned to the fact that the indepen dence of the judicial bench had been undermined. But now a great and happy change is taking place. The judges, few of whom were corrupt, although during a certain time the majority yielded to ter ror, are now taking courage. The traditions of French courts of law, which are really excellent, and the good opinion of the enlightened bar with which the judges are in daily contact, are more dear in their eyes than the favour of a government which no longer dares to resort to violent measures against them. They feel, I venture to say, that the empire must either persevere iu, and improve upon, its recent liberal tendencies, or be upset. They show now almost daily a belief that the legislation of 1852 is not destined to govern the riling genera tion. In spite of texts most artfully framed for the purpose of suppressing anything like liberty, the French judges now show that commendable "astuteness " which Blackstone speaks of, to twist harsh texts from their rigorous meaning, and give them an interpretation consistent with sound sense and sound usage. In former letters I have shortly referred to several cases illustrative of this position. Others have occurred, and some remarkable ones very recently, which, in the hurry of daily correspondence, have escaped my notice. But I have now before me a judgment of a Marseilles court in the case of the acquittal of the Semaphore, from which I pro pose to make extracts. Mr. Kinglake himself never wrote anything more bitterly ironical upon the men of December than some of the subjoined passages, in which the Marseilles judges condemn the hitherto received opinions about the crime of issuing "false news." The legislation of 1852 against liberty was not serious. It was a juggle. It shrunk hypocritically from declaring that the government was despotic, but endeavoured with extreme ingenuity to secure for the government absolute power under the forms of law. For in stance, the law against " false news" was in tended to make it a mortal offence for a journal to circulate any political rumour whatever, without authorisation, and for a long while the courts servilely interpreted the law in accordance with the intentions of its authors. Ministers put out feelers in the mini-official journals and then instructed their organs to eat their words ; but any independent papers who stated anything im portant which they could not judicially prove were liable to be prosecuted for false news and pretty sure to be convicted. But now the judg ment of the Marseilles court, in the case of the Semaphore, is a solemn judicial protest against the prevailing government doctrine on this subject. The legislator of 1852, knowing that his prin ciples would not bear the light, enacted that press prosecutions should not be reported, and therefore we know nothing of the facts of the trial of the Semaphore beyond what can be collected from the text of the judgment of acquittal. It appears that the Sema phore had spoken of an autograph letter from Napoleon 111. to the Czar, and had mentioned ru mours that the French fleet was ordered to the Black Sea. For this " false news" it had received a warning, and then the prosecution came to do double duty in respect of the same offence. The court gives the following, among other reasons, for its judgment of acquittal Considering that the ►rticle incriminated speaks only of vague rumours circulating in drawing-rooms, in theatres, and at the Bourse, where they were represented as on das, and that the corespondent of the journal confesses that he is not in a position to verify the rumours which, moreover, are so inconsistent and unimportant that the court cannot find in them the semblance of "false news ;" that the like observation holds good of an alleged dismission In a council of ministers which the author of the article merely alludes to by the way, saying carefully, as the same tame, that he does not know what passed at St. Cloud ; Considering that the decree on the press has given no de finition of " false news ;" Considering that to constitute the offence of false news in a judicial sense the journal must hays published or repro duced ; some definite, precise, and certain announcement which he presents to his readers as a thing existing beyond all doubt, as, for instance, the taking of a city, a victory or a defeat, the departure of an army or a squadron—pal pable beta which are in their nature absolute, certain, and independent of all di/erasion ; Considering that the good faith of an honourable citizen cannot be held to be dependent upon the daily fluctuations of politic in ministerial offices ; Considering that although it may not be strictly true that clerks were working night and day to send to Vichy maps of ► supposed theatre of war for the Emperor's pa rasa, yet it is well known that such maps exist in the office of the Minister of War, and the statement that dupli cates of maps, which the Emperor coo always consult when he thinks fit, having been sent to him, is not, under the circumstances, a thing worthy of being characterised as false news _ . Considering that it would be impossible to edit a journal If articles written in good faith, and containing nothing den prons to the public peace, were liable to be iocriminated for the reproduction of current rumoun ; Tlis court acquits. The public prosecutor has appealed from the above important judgment. M. Xavier George Fleury, the murderer of Ma dame Petit, the btanchisscisse in the Passage Cher bourg, is a sub•lieutenaot iu the 4th Voßigours of the Imperial Guard. He was made an officer on October 1, 1861. At the time of the murder he was quartered in the barracks of the Rue de la Pepinibre, within five minutes' walk of the resi dence of his victim. THE FORTHCOMING STATISTICAL CONGRESS. The Dan t', in speaking of the International fitatistioil Omni' which is about to west at Berlin, throws out soma awful suggsatioas. It says: . . . " That body, which hu now been bin years la existence, will bold its fifth session from the 6th to the 12th of Sep tember. Its four previous meetings took place at Bruise's (1853), Paris (1855), Vienna (1657), and London (1860). The programme of the business of the coming session has just been published; it is from the learned and animated pen of H. E. Engel, president of the committee charged with the organisation of the Congress. This document presents an abundance of the valuable information and judicious remarks which distinguish all the labours of the director of statistics in Prussia. The Congress of 1863 will be divided into six sections, which will respectively discuss-1. The organisation of statistics; 2. Real property; 3. Prices, wages, and railway traffic; 4. The comparative mortality of military and civil populations ; 5. Provident institu tions and insurance ; 6. The unity of weights and mea sures. It is unnecessary to dwell on the importance of this programme. Who ran fail to see how the solution of many important problems may be promoted by accurate statistics relative to prices and salaries, for in stance, or to provident institutions! And who is not aware of the present incompleteness of our statistics on those points? The fifth session of the Congress will. therefore, continue the work of its previous sessions with great ad vantage to both theory sad martin. It also appears des tined to do more, and better, by first of all transforming the Commas itself. Hitherto it has only taken cognisance of official statistics, or thou collected by govern ments. Their delegates are now endeavouring to deter mine is coaxal the measures to be employed for collecting, classifying, and publishing statistical reterna,with a view to comparing together those of different countries. This is certainly a very useful undertaking. But statistics are every day extending their domain. There ere menifeeta time of social life which do not fall directly within the province of government, and on which It is severtheires desirable to ponces correct data, well classified, so as to admit of ready comparison. Railway companies, bank ing establishments, insurance offices, benefit societies, ho., publish statistics ; an intelligent development of Uses pub lications is no leas opportune than that of the government publications relating to population, international trade, finances, and other questions, of which the constituted authorities are alone in a position to obtain and 0002611Ni site accurate information. Why should the International Congress not extend its action to these non-official statistics, when the subjects to which they relate are daily samming greater importance?" THE RAILWAY CATASTROPHES IN PRANCE. The Courrier du Gard gives the following details respeoting the accident oar the railway from Names to Beancaire, announced by telegraph. It appears that the engine, just before reaching a bridge over a canal, went off the rails, and, after running on the ballast above 50 yards, rolled down the embankment, dragging with it • luggage van and three passenger carriages. One other carriage with passengers and • luggage van were rued from falling by the braking of the coupling-irons. The engine-driver and breakemee with four tra vellers were killed ; twelse other poisons were more or less injured. Five of them, including a military officer whose leg was broken, were taken to the hospital at Beancaire ; the remaining seven were able to continue their journey, or to return home. Among the latter were M. Doane, rector of the Academy of Montpellier, and his wife, who received only some alight centurions. An inquiry has been instituted to ascertain the cause of this unfortunate occurrence, which, °minty to the supposition at first entertained, does not swear to have been the result of a criminal act. Since this &oddest, the Lyons end Mediterranean Company have been informed by telegraph of two aecideote osi their lines, both of which occurred oa the 24th. The first was at La Fonillonse ; where • slow train from St. Etienne to Paris ran into a train from St. Etienne to Amberien, killing four penious, sad wounding several others. The second wee at the station of Aooe, neat Villafrancle, where a ballast train no into a passenger one from Paris to Lyons, Jointing several persons, but none of them fatally. The following are details conowntog the first of thane last-named accident@ as given by the MOsoria/ de is Loire :—'• The train which passes through Bast Etienne at a quarter to 6 in the evening was oonskierably behiedhand. The official', how ever, thought they could safely said off the train for Asdresisux. They did no, and it stopped at La Fault less@ to take in water. It was almost ready to start whoa the noise of the express coming up at full speed was heard. The greatest alarm was at once felt, but one of the porters, named Allard, had presence of mind to rush along and open the doors. The moaner. jumped out as quickly u they could, but there wee not time for all to escape, se the train came up with great rapidity, and ran into that which was ' Needing still. All the hindmost carriages were smashed to pieces as well as some of those in the centre, sod four passengers were killed ; Mine. Roder, mistreat of a nett at St. Etienne; Y. How -1 tier. formerly ao stout, brother of the councillor of state ; Y. Sablieres, a velvet manufacturer ; and another pence, name unknown. The number of wounded was fifteen, and amoopt them were Mau. Cliaillot, who had a leg fractured ; Mute. Veodre, • rib broken and other injuries; Mlle. Itodet, greatly cut in the face and neck, and who would probably have been killed, bad she not been protected by the dead body of her mother. kr. The shock was so violent that the locomotive became detached, and from the strong impulsion it bad reoeived, ran to St. Gelmier, where it was stnnetert. WEATHER IMPORT.-(THIS DAY.) FRIDAY, AVMS IL • A.I. &11 1.1.1 11. 1/. 2. Q. I. &1 S. -,--- , — Nairn aars'es a ir.z. e.rs alma«. own; - all Leith 1 29.07 51 4 3. 41.13 Shields lmes sr! a rust to le r =l 19.60 Mr 2.1. 0.30 1 19.80 501 H.H.H. I. Galway 119.010 11.1. Wangle 'l9 45 47 L 11.6. Queenstown l— 40 ILL 0.13 Liverpool 1963 67 SS. 1 0.00 Holyhead '19.4 967 N. N.L 110 Pembroke l2elo Or W. SO 1.00 Pen LIDOS ... an MI R. W. 10 Brost WO 61 126. L 42 10 L'Orie ot Ism 801 L 111 0.08 itacterort 23.43 80, X 1 10 1.02 1 Plymouth ,29.60 01' 3 R.W. 5 10 0.12 Weymouth 29.01 021 11. W. 1 18 0.09 Portsmouth 39.4011! IS W. 612 O t l Landes - Dover 'te.rs -I - S.W. 6 14 1 Yankee* OW 01, 8 &W. . 4 Id 2 liellgoland 19.73 01. 2 &W. 4 20 004 0 PROBABLI SATITIDAr. OP TWO WINS. && to aW. and N. W., Noant-LIT. W.S.W. to N.N. W., moderate to strong, fresh. m E.mte eaty. rly to S W., mo- WI!? MAR& W.S.W. to N., strong dente to strong, tta- to moderate. settled. && to W., fresh to SOUTH COMM. &W. to N.W. and N.E., strong. seam rain. freak. S.W. to N. sad bark. ttoom.Eost. aw. to N., fresh to moderate to strong, moderate. some rata. North-lart=Calthnesa to Norfolk. West= Donegal to Corr wall. fleuth=Chanuel and Bay Corte. Bouth-Friat=Strait or Dover to Norfolk. 8.-Barometer corrected and reduced to Sl° at half tide level. Each ten feet, of vertical elevation, causing about one hundredth of ma inch DiMalmo, . and each ten degrees, above 22v, cana log nearly three hmidredths INCIIItABE E.-Ezpookt thermo meter In shade. D -Diffenvace of wet bulb for evaporation and dew point). W.-Wind, direction of ;VIC/I-two points Li?? of magnetic). r.-Yorce 11 to 12-utimated). X.-Lttreme force since last report. Q.-Quarter whence earwig hum (NNIL=f, to S:=N). I. - : sky. c.-010114111 (detached :I f -fog; 11.-hall L -lightning m.-misty ;hazy) ; •.-overcast •,dull) r.-rain s.-snow t.-thunder. ft. gain-fall, snow y hall imelted„ since last report. 8.-bea disturbance (1 to 9). Z. -Calm. The advice, from Stockholm make the aatisfac tory announosment that, after a long dissuardoe, led by the Minister of State Melmeten, the deputy chairman of the burghers, M. Muth; and Count Posse, the chairman of the committee on taxation, who strongly supported the proposition, it was resolved that all export duties on articles of Swedish produce and exportation should be totally abolished. Among the articles effected by this resolution are several, which it is considered will, before long, be im ported i n to England, such as cattle-bones, cant and pig iron, copper, rags, ores of metals, and many kinds of wood. The journey of M. Lesser,/ back to Egypt seems to have been one great glorification. When he mired at Cherbourg, the ecieotific senoras there assembled pounced down on him, and presented him with the first of the three medals decreed by " the institution of the French provinces" to him who hu " most distinguished himself by his services and devotion to his country." At Trieste Y. Lesseps was received by a deputation, which assured him of "the great interest hit by Austria in the snows& of the great undertaking of Sue; sod of her sympathy with its promoter." The Chamber of Commerce of Syracuse, and the Agricultural Club of Cue°. have also sent addresses, sod the municipality of Spoleto has also expressed its wishes for the success of this vast undertaking. MUSIC. MR. ALFRED MELLON'S CONCERTS. Last evening was a "Beethoven" night, the first part of the concert having been eschuively devoted to a selection from the works of that greatest of musical classics, chosen from different periods of his career loss to exemplify his earlier and later styles. Of course, in the short space of barely an hour and a half, but slight notion can be given of the development of the most progressive genius th►t over appeared in music. Between the first and last works of Beethoven were many intermediate phases, each pomades its marked characteristics, and exereisiog the moat Wpm• tent results on the art. Foreign Critics may anus themselves by classifying Beethoven's works wider three or four styles or periods, bet the fact is that almost everyone of his productions is a step in that gradual and endless development which is characteristie only of the very highest order of genius. Mr. Melloo's selection, how. ever, was calculated to afford as good a popular notion of the progress of Beethoven's genius u could well be pined within the limited time appropriated. The following was the programme : FtretSyrophony In C major. Sur; The Savoyard Soap and The Stolen Kim"— Conc osh erto violin ;Bret movement,. Lotto. Aria, In mums tombs." Male. Georg', Adagio, from the Math Symphony. Overture, Leonora ;So. X). The interval is wide between Beethoven's First Symphony, with its clearness of form and outline (in the Haydn and Monist school), and the abstract idealism of his last great orchestral work, which has no antetype, and has therefore been so little comprehended by those who have judged it by reference to any other standard than itself alone. The noble overture to Leonora, the gnarled of all orchestral preludes, formed a fitting climax to the selection. It is scarcely neceseary to say that the performance of these works by the magnificent Royal Italian Opera band was characterised by the utmost firs, brilliancy, and refinement The "repeats" in the first symphony might have been observed, as indicated in the mom, without unduly prolonging the performance ; and the work would then have been given literally entire. M. Lotto has enhanced his already high reputa tion by hie skilful performance of Beethoven's Concerto—the difficulties of which are much greater than those of many mere show pieces. Beethoven's Concerto, like Mendelmohn's (each being its oompoeer's sole work of the kind), is rather a symphony with violin obbligato than • mere solo of display in which the orchestra is but a support. leg adjunct. The passages of execution are so interlaced and interwoven with the general structure of the work that the solo player, while preserving his own individuality, has also to study that fusion with the rich and elabor►te orches tration which is necessary to produce a harmonious whole. M. Lotto is evidently well aware of the difference between music of this high character and the flimsy staff of which violin solos are frequently made ; and his performance was that not only of a skilful violinist but also of • conscientious musician. In the "Cadenza" (his own, we presume) he introduced some great mechanical difficulties, particularly a sustained shake accompanying the principal theme of the opening tutti, his execution of which drew forth a perfect storm of applause. The Toed specimens (not perhaps the happiest selection fora popular audience) were expressively sung by Mr. Swift and ldadlle. Georgi, and formed an agreeable contrast to the instrumental performances. The second part of the evening's entertainments consisted of the usual miscellaneous selection. It the audiences continue to increases& they have done, Mr. Mellon will have to omit the word "promenade" from his announcements—the crowd bat night wee so dense that but little room was left for change of position, and certainly none for promenading. THE EARL OP CARLISLE ON THE PRESENT CONDITION OF I3ELAND. The annual show of the Royal Irish Agricultural Society was opened on Wednesday, at Kilkenny, under very favourable auspices. The show of cattle and imple ments was exceedingly good. The Lord-Lieutenant snivel • little before 1 &alma at the Town-hall, and w•s received by the mayor and other civic authorities. His Excellency having visited the show, was present at a banquet in the evening. In replying to the toast of his health coupled with "Prosperity to Ireland," he dwelt upon the historic recol lections awakened by the ancient city of Kilkenny. It w•e his painful duty at the later meetings of the society, and especially at the last held in Limerick, to speak in gloomy tones of the then existing agricultural condition and prospects of the country. It IRS true that four sueceenve most unfavourable seasons had preceded the present year. 1859 was • year of unusual drought ; the three following summers were of al. most continuous rain. If they only dealt with memory and did not consider what was due to hope, this would be a moment of the greatest depression ; but be trusted they might thank God that they could read in the sun ' beams which of late had gladdened their eyes tokens of returning plenty and recovery. It had been computed that if the crops of the present year ontequalled the average yield of the tea last years, their value would exceed the value of the crops of 1862 by some ten millions of money. Although the distress arising from recent bed seasons had fallen with most injurious effect upon many parte of Ire , land. he was happy to say that while the rate for the relief of the poor amounted in England and Wales to tis. per head, in Ireland it was only 2s. 6d. per head. The educational statistics of the country showed a great im provement. In 1841 the number of males in 100 who could lead was 54, and of females, 41. In 1831 it hadriaen to 58 out of each 100 of the male population, and 49 of the female ; and in 11401 to 6.5 per cent. of the male and 58 per cent, of the female population. In the county of Kilkenny, in 1851, 1 of every 10 of the population attended school, and in 1861 1 in 6. Within the past year, he was glad to be able to state, crime had orasiderably de creased throughout the whole country. After alludiog at some length to other topics conuected with agriculture, his Excelleocy coucluded as follows :—Now, my lords and gen tlemen, I will only add, this is not a country to despond •bout. (Hair, hear.) There are uow two sets of prin ciples and influences at work for mastery over ire future destinies. Os that mountain top which overlooks so great a portion of the county, on the majestic Slievenamon— (hear)—one set of these principles and inficences finds ire vent in shrill and ill-omened shrieks for strife, for discord, and for the bloodshed of those who ponces std those who till the soil. (Prolonged applause.) The other or counter eat of prindples breathes through such organs as this sod other kindred societies, of which it is the humanbiag sad healing purpose to spread the knowledge of useful improve ments, to encourage the proprietors of the lad to reside upon their estates—(hear, bear)—and to take an interne is the land they live on, and the wee they live with ; and to unite all classes and all grades—landlords and tensed', farmers and labourers—in one blessed reciprocity of good will and good deeds. (Load and prolonged applause.) AMR Ex•mitritetOles.--The next examination of candidates for admission to the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, will commons on Thursday, December IT, at Chelsea Hospital ; and that for admission to the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, on Mooday,Jantary 4,1564, at the same place. While Eugland is doing honour to our two Indian officers, Spoke and Grant, the Bengal Asiatic Society, to which the former presented many of the spoils of his West African expedition, lave paused the following resolution : "That this meeting desire to record the high gratification with which they have heard of the successful issue of Cap tains Spoke and Grant's expedition in Eastern Africa, and to offer to those officers their warm congratulations on the great discoveries which have resulted from it." Cap tain Smyth, of the Bengal army, was the friend and amo ebae of Spoke, and was appointed by Lord Canning to bead an expedition into Thibet. This fell through from the re fusel of Sir F. Bruce to obtain passports for the party. The Bengal Asiatic Society say that Contain Smyth, with a trusty few, is eager to rival Spoke by discoveritg the sources of the great Berhampooter. At Calcutta Mr. Maine has just prepared two bills to meet a want which told severely on the property of Englishmen is fedi' who died intestate, or left trustees to execute their will. One bill creates the of ice of official trustee, and the other applies to India all the improve moats which have of late been introduced into the English law of trusts and mortgage. " The rapidity," writes • Calcutta correspondent, " with which British bore subiecta ere acquiring property in the hill districts of leans is anasiog. In the cities on the pixies almost all landed property is in the hands of natives, and Europeans are birds of wage. But out so in the cooler climate of the hills, now last being covered with tea. These estates will descend from father to sou, and must be protected by English law. We have reached the stage in our occupation of this great empire where colonisation of the hill slopes is a fset as much as it is in Queensland or Sooth Australia." The Quebec Gazette states :—" One hundred and ninety.two Polish Jews arrived iu port on Thursday last by the brig Rick, from Hamburg, end left oo Friday by the Grand Truck, en route for the West. They are all from the agricultural distiate of Poland, and intend settling, we believe, in the country back of the Ottawa." Win P lIIIMEN...