The Express. — London, England, 1863-02-09 00:00:00

jr FUN THIS WEEK, One Penny. W. & Lindley, M.P. Mee. Gordpinp. The Boor and lamed tole. Metropolitan Mobilise. ItAirmak hiss am" *a. ae4 Diary. Now seedy, bandifoodyboood in 0t04024 cloth, gilt, 'nice U. dd.: Raid fo, TEN SECOND HALLY-TIM VOLulli of FUN, with numer ous Sograidopby tolentedartlafo, sad arlioko by distinguished writers. The First Volume, uniform with the geoond Volume, on sale. Ogles. 80, Fteet-street. SNOOND-HAND PIANOFORTES. CRAMER, UAL; sad WOOD byes • large assortment et setoond-beed Plasokeem by tbe Ems ••••••• macre, at wetly redeemed yeles•-01. leopee•••••• gat •xlrexcii. adversammis t r ill" 07 7,7;1;11;;;;; . London Eventos =owl be at the Waco, je, Bouvertattreet. 0 Two on ilie day sit pubilastloa. COVENT HARDEN. TRTO ITintrito—dast, thaw -Lows TRIUMPH. Mr. G.Perren, Mr. W. H. WeLos. Madams Lam Brier. and Mir Louisa Pyne. —And HARLEQUIN BRAUTY AND THE =ART.—Conductor, Mr. A. Mellon.—Commenco at Mr Warr to 7. HAYMARKET. 1911 livionso, OUR AMERICAN COUSIN. Marra. &Altars aad Backsioas Mrs. R. Fi4.LLllam. - RASSRLAS PRINCE Of ABYSSINIA. Mr. Compton Lad Mir L Keeley.—And OUR MARY & Mr. Clark sad Miss Hareem.. PRINCESS'S. TIIII EVININO, LAW v. LOVL—ONK GOOD TURN DESERVER ANOTHER. Mr. R. Rosby and Miss Amy Sedgwlek. And RIQUIT WITH THE TUFT or, Harlequin and Mother Shipton. MemoYQann. E, tower, and Safford, Mira A. Collinion. tycyux, TEN Ensure, A BODDLY ' VeIiCIE. Main. Widdicomb, Garden. and Shan ; Mir Henn& and Mrs. Lee. - And THE DUKE'S MOTTO. Basra 'Whirr, G. Vining, Brougham, and Znymond ; Mimes C. Indere% K. Terry, and Zaworthy. - - - DIffrANIGA.. Tin Sousing, Os laaloTninta, --- AEON HABEAIf. Um taw . Yaw. avant, Loa* Newham, and Ildlle.Stephas : Tom 661ert as his two Maka.—THE CIRCLET OF GOLD. Wu Bophy DlRea—Aad MARY EDMONSTONS. —Commence at halt-pant 6. HIGH WATICIL AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tel! Wm. 1.-Moalow—Yarning. sb. 62te.....Afternom, 60. Ma. LONDON, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9. Ar a time when so many new banking and dis count companies are daily starting up, it is im portant to keep a watchful eye on the proceedings of the banking interest generally ; and, as there is no reason to apprehend that the old-established banks will be tempted to depart from the path which has conducted them to their present successful position, vigilance should be especially practised with regard to the new com panies. The older banks have for some time past settled down into a regular business groove, from which they will not be moved, unless, indeed, undue competition on the part of younger rivals should compel them to resort to expedients like theirs. It is scarcely necessary to say that such a course must be strongly deprecated, for reckless competition on the part of bankers and money lenders is sure to prove fruitful of evil. Experience has shown that in banking, as in insurance, and many other kinds of business, a certain ratio of profit is requisite to compensate for certain expenses and for occasional losses, as well as to admit of a fair remuneration to the pro prietor& Let that ratio be disturbed, and a host of evils follow. If accommodation be granted to the borrowing public on terms unremunerative to the lender, it is not cnly the lender that suffers, for, if he be ajoint-stocklbanker, he is frittering away the money of depositors, whose interests, as well as those of his own shareholders, must be jeopardised. There have been plenty of proofs that an ill-ma naged bank may spread embarrassment far and wide. Apart from the disastrous results to share holders and depositors, • system of reckless trading may be encouraged amongst the entire community within the scope of the operations of a bank of this character, for people who ought to be merely merchants and brokers are converted into wild speculators, and the legitimate trader finds him self placed at a serious relative disadvantage. To bor row an illustration from another order of things, an unscrupulous banker is like an unfair handi capper,who gives some horses only a feather weight to carry, while he virtually puts other competitors out of the race. Such a state of affairs cannot last long ; it carries within itself the seeds of collapse, and the goal itself is ruin, but as long as it does last it is peculiarly mischievouti. Such being amongst the consequences of eater sive banking competition, it is satisfactory to find that, so far as can be gathered from the published records of such of the new banks as have as yet called their shareholders together, there is no intention of departing from the safe and beaten track, or of initiating new theories of banking. Within the last few days there have been meetings of the proprietors of three of the new banks which have lately got to work—namely, the Alliance, the Imperial, and the London and Middlesex. It may be interesting to refer for a moment to their respective statements. Of the three, the Alliance Bank of London and Liverpool makes by far the best show. It is steadily calling up its capital, and will in a few months have such a sum paid up as will enable it to take a respectable position amongst the exist ing establishments. At the 31st December last— the date to which the first balance-sheet and state ment of accounts, now submitted, are made up— the paid-up capital amounted to 245,6051.—a very moderate sum, certainly, for the basis of • bank of so much pretension ; but a call since paid has raised the actual total to 340,0001. ; on the 13th April 100,000/. more is due, and by about July the paid-up capital will be increased by a further call to a total of 500,0001. Some of the most successful of the preeentinatitutionshave found this amount of capitalsufficient to command the con fidence of the public : for example, the paid-up capital of the London and County Bank is at this moment only 590,0001., though it must not be overlooked that that bank has, in addition, a reserve fund of 175,0001., which virtually is an increase of the paid-up capital. It is probably the belief on the part of the public that the paid up capital of the Alliance Bank is, or will shortly be, adequate to all requirements, which has caused as many as 800 deposit or current accounts to be opened with it, representing a total of 1,019,1801. It must be admitted that this makes a good begin ning, and we should imagine that the directors and managers have not let the grass grow beneath their feet, especially considering that this sum has been acquired within the short space of about seven months in London and six months in LiverpooL Indications of prudence are at the same time to be found in the retention of 278,9781. of cash in hand and "at call," as against 1,019,1601. of liabilities to customers. Yet the amount of net profits realised seems to bear but a small proportion to these figures. The gross profits, it is true, are put at 16,0121., but it is really vain to talk of profits until allowance has been made for the 3,0781. paid as interest on cur rent and deposit accounts, for the 6,892/. of cur rent expenses, and for the 3,3891. representing rebate of interest on bills still running, which has been carried to "profit and loss new account." Deducting these various sums from the 16,0121. styled " grow profits," there remains a real net profit of only 2,652/. as the result of the whole of THE !this bank's operations foe the six or seven) months since its formation. Shareholders might almost be excused if they showed imps tlenoe at such small gains, and ►ndifferent obser vers might wonder bow the shares have come to command 6/. and 71. premium in the market. But allowance has to be made for several draw backs, which will not be felt with equal force in the future. For example, the expenses ought now, under proper management, to be almost at their maximum, while the profits ought to increase steadily as the bank rises in public estimation. For two or three months of the period under review the bank's paid-up capital was but 40,0001., yet its expenses were probably running on at almost the same rate 1111120 W. The Alliance deserves, moreover, to have the fact placed prominently on record that it is the only one out of the three banks mentioned at the commencement of these remarks that has had the courage to make provision on the face of its accounts for " rebate" on bills not yet due. To talk of banking profits without allowing for rebate is perfectly absurd—almost as absurd as though an Assurance Company were to treat as profit all the premiums it receives ; yet, so far as the published accounts show, neither the Im perial nor the London and Middlesex Bank makes any provision under this bead. The operations of the Imperial Bank have not, as yet, reached to one half of the extent shown by the Alliance, its paid-up capital being, at the 31st December, 99,0801. (as against 246,605!. of the Alliance), and the amount of current and deposit accounts being 489,123!. as against 1,019,160!. of the Alliance. Yet the Imperial has been at work almost as many months as the Alliance, having been opened for business in June last. When we glance at the profits, the result become, much smaller. The gross profit is put at 5,0441., but after deducting 3,3621. for current expenses and ground-rent, there remains only 1,6811. to be car ried forward to " profit and loss new account." The accounts say nothing about rebate, so that it is impossible to tell whether there has really been any profit at all on the six or seven months' business. Moreover, the 4,3651. of " preliminary expenses" remain as yet entirely unliquidated, and a charge upon future profits. There does not seem to be much in these results to warrant the valuation of 61. premium at which, if our memory does not deceive us, the shares in the Imperial Bank were quoted at one period, when the Stock Exchange was in a san guine mood. The market now rates them at only die. to I premium, or, say par, though they ought to be much better worth a premium now, when the Bank has attracted nearly half a million of customers' money, than they were before this was accomplished. The chairman remarked at the recent meeting that "for some " months they had only about 45,0001. of paid-up " capital, and it required great care on the part " of the directors to husband their resources, and "at the same time give such accommodation as " would advance the interests of the institution. " A chief aim with them had been to avoid lend " ing money on dead loans, or loans for a long " period, but rather to put it out on short loans " on good security, or in discounting bills at short " dates, turning the money over and over again " as rapidly as possible, which he took to be the " true secret of successful banking." This is very correct and proper, but it is difficult to imagine that the directors have had a great deal of " husbanding " to do with a paid-up capital to the magnificent amount of 45,0001. 'We must not be too hard, however, upon the Imperial Bank. "Time," as the chairman most truly observed, "is required for such " an establishment to attain to permanent mucosa." The position of this bank is evidently, as yet, somewhat experimental, but there is nothing in it to disturb the equanimity of the shareholders'; sod when the directors declare that " their primary ' " object has been, not so much to realise large " immediate profits, as to conduct the affairs of " the bank on sound and safe principles, so as to " secure public confidence, which they know is " essential for the continued prosperity of the " undertaking," it is impossible to withhold from them commendation for their sobriety and caution. Meanwhile the paid-up capital is being increased, by another call, to a total of 150,0001. When the position of the London and Middle sex Bank is looked into, it is almost impossible to repress a smile at the idea which it gives of playing at banking. A meeting of the share holders was held on the 28th of January, with Lord TORYINGTON in the chair. The total amount of the paid-up capital of this establishment is only 14,9481. The period to be reported on was only four months, but it is to be borne in mind that this bank is not entirely a new one, inasmuch as it has been formed on the remains of the Unity Bank—an establishment which, after eschewing for some years our advice to wind up, has at last acted upon it, and trans tarred its 170,0001. of deposits and balances to the London and Middlesex, though (as the chairman of the latter bank is particular in stating) the Unity retains its own liabilities. Owing to the nucleus of business thus exceptionally acquired, the total deposits and balances of the London and Middlesex Bank are 261,7431. As against these liabilities, its cash in hand is but 49,8781, The accounts are neither so explicit nor so full as could be desired, but they appear to show a " profit" of 3,5591., " after payment of interest "on customers' balances." Lord ToaaiNcrros is reported to have stated that " after paying interest " and all current charges, they had realised dur " ing the four months 3,5591., which he thought " extremely satisfactory ;" whereat some share holder of an optimist turn is reported to have cried " hear, hear," but we confess we do not find his lordship's statement borne out by the abstract of accounts before us. As we read them, 1,809/. of " current expenses" has to be deducted from the above-mentioned sum of 3,5591., and no mention whatever is made of rebate on bills yet running, so that we do not clearly see our way to any profit at all. This view is confirmed if regard be had to the further sum of 2,4391. standing against the shareholders ander the head of " preliminary " expenses." If to this latter outlay be added the 3,4501. expended on " bank premises," it almost requires a microscope of some power to discern the residuum of the paid-up capital of 14,9481. Ws disclaim all desire to press hardly on these new concern; but we should strongly advise the shareholders in the London and Middlesex Bank either to pay up • respect able amount of capital, or to arrange an amalga mation with some other company. Joint-stock banking success depends upon attracting an ade quate amount of deposits, and this is simply a question of public confidence. If a body of bank proprietors have so little confidence or spirit that they will only put their hands into their pockets to the extent of 15,0001. of capital, how ran they expect the public to rally round them, and pour their hoards into their till 1 No adequate advantage can ever result from playing at banking in this petty fashion. Our object is gained if, at a inmost when new banking prospectuses are so nuinerous, we lime succeeded in showing that banking success cannot be reached. by any royal road or short cut, but can only be acquired by care, perseverance, and time. No one should enter into a new banking partnership except with a deliberate regard to these essential conditions. Meanwhile, it is satisfactory to notice the recognition on the part of the directors of the new establishments that, how ever slow may be their program, they must pro ceed cautiously and prudently, as the only means of attracting that degree of monied adhesion from the public in the absence of which shareholders had better employ their own capital individually, instead of throwing it into a joint-stock fund, to be eaten into by expenses. IlMm EXPRESS, MONDAY' ‘. EVENING, FEBRUARY 9, 1863. bt Court. OSBORNE, F. 7. The Queen drove out yftterday morning, no by Princess Louise, and attended by the Hon. Mrs. Bruce and Lord Alfred Paint. The Queen walked and drove is the pounds in the after noon with Primer Louis of Hume. The Queen drove out this afternoon, accompanied by Prince and Princess Louis of Hesse and Princess Helena, and attended by Lieutenant-Colonel du Plat. The Lord Chamberlain arrived at Osborne, and bad an audience of her Majesty, to present the address from the House of Lords, in answer to her Majesty's speech. Prince Arthur, attended by Major Elphinatons, arrived at Osborne this day, from the Hanger's house, Oreeawloh.perh• SUNDAY. The Queen, Prince and Primer Louis of Hesse, Prince Arthur, Prince Leopold, Princess Helena, and Primer Lomita, and the Ladies and Gentlemen of the Household, attended divine servioe at Osbornethis morning. The Rev. G. Prothero officiated. The Prises of Wales visited Marlborough-house on Sa turday. His Royal Highness, attended by Lieutenant- General Knollya and Major Teesdale, honoured the per formance at the Olympic Theatre in the evening with his premium The Prince of Wales, with his Gentlemen in Waiting, at tended divine service yesterday morning in the Chapel Royal, St. James's. The Rev. Dr. Vaughan, chaplain in ordinary to her Majesty, preached the sermon from St. Luke, ob. 7, verse 23. The anthem, `• 0 how amiable are Thy dwellings, Thou Lord of fleets" (Greene), waa sung by Maws. Wynn and Benson. Her Majesty is expected to leave Osborne, for Windsor, on Wednesday, the 11th, or Friday, the 13th Mat. She will remain at Windsor until after the accouchement of the Princess Alien A Cabinet Council was held on Saturday at the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury, in Downing-street. The ministers present were Viscount Palmerston, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Granville, the Duke of Argyll, Sir George Grey, Earl Russell, the Duke of Newcastle, Sir G. C. Lewis, Sir Charles Wood, the Duke of Somerset, the Right Hon. T. Milner Gibson, the Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, Lord Stanley of Alderley, and the Right Hon. C. P. Villiers. A Committee of the Lords of her Majwity's Moat Honour- able Privy Council will meet in the Council Chamber, at Whitehall, on Wednesday, the 11th of March, at 11 o'clock a.m., to hear counsel on behalf of the petitioners against the confirmation of certain ordinances of the Scottish Universities Commissioners relating to bursaries in the University of Aberdeen. Despatches ware sent on Saturday from the Colonial office to the Governors of the North American Province, the Lord High Commis►ioner of the lonian Islands, and to the Governor of the Falkland Islands. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council eat on Saturday. Appeals from Canada, "Great Western Rail way Company v. Fawoett and Braid" (part beard), were concluded. Judgment was reserved. An appeal from Bar badoes, " Daniel v. Trotting'," was commenced. THE MARRIAGE OF THE PRINCE OF WALES. The "Royal Reception" Committee appointed by the Court of Common Council on Thursday, met on Friday, under the presidency of the Lord Mayor, when a variety of suggestions were brought forward and discussed, and it was ultimately neared that • deputation should be appointed to wait upon Sir George Grey, to learn from him further particulars relative to the route to be taken, and the time at which her Royal Highness was expected to arrive. On Saturday, accordingly, a deputation, conSatiog of the Lord Mayor, Mr. Anderton, and the City Remain breast, had an interview with the right hon. gentleman at the Home-office, It was understood that the route which would be adopted would be from the Bricklayers' Arms sta tion, through the Borough, over London bridge, through King William-street, by the Mansion-house, the Poultry, Cheapside, St. Paurs-churchyard, Ludgate-bill, Fleet- street, the Strand, and so on to the Great Western Railway station at Paddington. The South Eastern Railway Company have decided upon fitting up their stations at Gravesend and at the Bricklayers' Arms in a manner worthy of the occasion. At the London terminus there will be seats provided for the directors and their friends, and a limited number of spec tators, who will be specially invited. The floor of the station will be covered with scarlet cloth and groups of flowering pleats and shrubs, and the roof and side* will be gaily decorated with flap, conspicuous among which will be the British and Daniell colours. A reception room will be provided for the Lord Mayor, the sheriffs, and such members of the corporation as may attend. The royal train, for the conveyance of their royal high nesses the Prince and Princess, and their respective suites, has been taken in hand to be thoroughly beautified, and the engine which will draw the royal train will carry an English and a Danish flag. The chairman and some of the directors will be in attendance at Gravesend, and will travel with their royal highnesses to London. On the arrival of the train, a congratulatory address will be presented to the Prince of Wales and the Primers The Lady Mayoress will be prepared with a bouquet of choice &men to hand to the Princess on her arrival A guard of honour will receive their royal highnesses, and an escort of the household troops will accompany them to Paddington. Arrangements will be made by Mr. Commissioner Harvey to prevent the traffic of the City from impeding the pro cession on its way through the City, sad at Temple-bar the armagements of this description will be in the hands of Sir Richard Maybe. The members of the Honourable Artil lery Company, the Rifle Brigade, the 3rd City of London, and the 4th (Foresters) Corps will line the thoroughfares of the City. It is expected that some of the volunteer corps of Surrey and Kent will also line the streets on the Surrey-side of the river. It is also intimated that other corps will be oe similar duty west of Temple-bar. The Mandoe-house will be profusely decorated with flap, and seats will be provided in the balconies for • limited number of the friends of the corporation. Tem ple-bar will in like manner be magnificently decorated. An official communication has been received by the mayor and corporation of Gravesend, to the effect that her Royal Highness the Princess ateroodra of Denmark, accompanied by her parents—the Prises and Princess Christian, and suite—will disembark at the Terrace-pier from the royal steam yerlt Victoria and Albert, on Saturday, the 7th of March. The town of Gravesend will be beautifully deco. i rated on the occasion, and the day and evening will be marked by festivities and rejoicings of various kinds, I together with • general illumioation. Various details as to the reception of the distinguished visitors will be coo. sidered at the quarterly court of the corporation, which will meet oe Wednesday next. The arreagenesete for the diem barkatiou will take place under the direction of Commodore lSir F. W. E. Niooleoe, superinteodent of Woolwich Dea yard, sad flag officer of the port. The following letter has been received by the Mayor of Southampton :—'• Beekioghsra rake*, sth at February, 1863. Sir,—l have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, requestiog me to lay before the Prince of Wales the expression of the gratificatioa it would afford to the inhabitante of the towo of Southampton if hie Royal Highness and the Princess Alexandra would bowe r them by passing through their town on their way to Os borne. His Royal Highness has commanded ass to thank you for your communication, and to inform y ou that it is moat probable that, after the marriage, he will pus through Boothamptos, either is going to or returning from Os borne, but that at present it is not possible for him to my anything with certsinty.—l bare the honour to be, sir, your met °belies, servant, W. K.111)1L78." LATEST INTELIAGENUI. . _,__ AUSTRIA AND POLAND. A letter from Vienna, in the Debats of to-day, states that several interviews have taken place within the last few days between the Russian ambassador and the Austrian minister for foreign affairs. It is believed that Russia is very dissatisfied with the conduct of Austria in allowing enlistments for the Polish insurgents to take place in Galicia, at Lemberg, Cracow, and several towns and vil lages on the Austro-Russian frontiers. It is also said that heavy transports of arms and ammu nition have passed the Galician frontier without any obstruction on the part of the military and civil authorities. It is added that measures have been ordered by the Austrian Cabinet, which may appease the susceptibilities of the Court of St. Petersburg THE INSURRECTION IN POLAND. Numerous detachments of troops are being moved towards Poland. It is remarked at War saw that the government has not published any news from the government of Angustow, where the insurgents are most numerous. One insurrec tionary corps is solidly established between Biala- Brzesc and Lukow. More numerous and better organised than elsewhere, they intercept the communication with Lithuania. The Russian government has despatched a large force against this corps, as well as against the insurgents who have fortified themselves at Lypa, the prin cipal station on the railway line between St. Pe tersburg and Warsaw. It is further stated that the insurgents are concentrating themselves in the neighbourhood of Genetochaoewa. The insurgents are likewise taking advantage of the facilities offered to them by the forges at Lypa to manufac ture firearms. The accounts published of Generals Miersow lowski and Wipwki being with the insurgents in Poland are false. These officers are in Paris. The town of Wengren in Podlachia is the rallying point of a large insurgent force, and it is more im portant than the position of Lypa. The insurgents there are commanded by a Polish officer named Mucha, who served in the Turkish army during the Crimean war. The most numerous and best organ ised body of insurgents, however, have posted themselves on the frontiers of Galicia. Of these 700 are armed with rifles and as many more with scythes. There are likewise a body of well-mounted cavalry, armed with lances, attached to this corps. This corps is commanded by a young officer who quitted the Polish school in Piedmont last year. Other bodies of insurgents, less numerous, are scattered over the ancient itiogdom of Poland. They are defi cient neither in numbers nor in bravery, but they have neither fire-arms nor ammunition. Neither do they possess the means of centralising and directing their operations so as to insure ulti mate success. The combatants on each side appear to be animated with an indescribable deter mination. The Russian soldiers show no mercy to the wounded prisoners. On the other hand, the Russian officers distinguish themselves by their humanity. One of the most desperate engagements took place on the estate of a Polish landed pro prietor named Riembielinski, in the neighbourhood of Louse, in the government of Augustow. Riembiclinski was loaded with chains by command of Colonel Volkuer, but an order was sent from Warsaw to release him. A corps of grenadiers, 40,000 strong, have arrived in Poland from Lithua nia. The official accounts estimate the Russian military force in Poland at 110,000 men, but the effective is not computed at more than 70,000. PRUSSIA. THE KING'S LETTER TO THE CHAMBERS. At the sitting of the Chamber of Deputies on Friday, the president read the reply of the King to the address, the ministers and deputies remaining standing. The following is the substance of the royal letter : The tenor of the address, as well as the mode by which it has reached his Majesty, shows that the chamber desires to know his pensontl views and the expression of his will. This is why his Majesty replies to the chamber without the intervention of his Ministers. The address states the grave disagreement between the situation of the chamber and that of the government. It accuses the ministers of having acted unconstitutionally in continuing the administration without the fixing of the budget, and of having by this means violated article 99 of the constitution. The chamber, it is true, has banished all doubt as to his firm with to maintain the constitution ; but it has taken some acts of his government done with his went as the bases of complaints against the ministers. He would not have admitted these acts if they included an at tack on the constitution. He must therefore reject the complaints of the chamber. The chamber has made use of its constitutional rights relative to the esta blishment of a budget in such • way that his government finds it impossible to adhere to the impracticable decisions of the chamber. The Chamber of the Lords has used its constitutional tights only to reject the budget. His Ma. jesty is of opinion that the Chamber of Deputies has ex its powers in maintaining that its partial de cisions are definitively binding upon his government. If, on the one side, the address says that the new session hu begun without the government showing by some initiative the possibility of returning to a normal state of the administration, on the other, it has pulped over in silence the fact that the royal speech has promised some propositions for that purpose. On the occasion of these regrettable conflicts his Majesty has received numerous addreues, in which the signers express their adhesion ; but his Majesty has seen with pain that his subjects are spoken of as • small minority which has long been foreign to the nation. The cham ber has spoken, moreover, of an abuse of power in some measures directed against some public functionaries. The limits of legal discipline have not been exceeded, and the representatives of the nation have no reason to raise complaints in that matter. His Majesty much regrets the divergence of views, but he will not lead himself to an arrangement, by sacrificing the constitutional rights of his crown, and of the Chamber of Peen. It is his duty as Sovereign to maintain intact the oorstitutiona rights and prerogatives of the crown. His Majesty expects that the chamber will take into account the conciliatory steps of the government, and will contribute on its part to an arrangemeot This accord is • necessity for his royal heart ; for all his efforts tend to develop the prosperity of the Prussian people, surd to secure to the country its his torical position, the result of/ a glorious harmony between the King and the nation. (REUTER'S 7T.LEGIWIS.) SPAIN. MADRID, Fie. 8. Government has not yet taken any resolution respecting the dissolution of the Chambers, and it is considered uncertain whether this step will be taken. ALLEGED INSULT TO A PORTUGUESE PARIS. F. 9. The Paris papers of to-day publish s telegram from Lisboa, dated the Bth instant, asserting that an English steamer had insulted a Portuguese steamer in the port of Angola, but that the com mander of the former gave satisfaction the follow ing day. The telegram contains no further details. The mayoress of Southampton has composed and published a piece of music, which is dedicated, by permissitio, to lady Palmerston. EXPRESS FROM PARIS. (PROW 0171 OWN PARIS, SUNDAY EVEIIIIIG, The warning given by the . Moniteur that the journals will be prosecuted if they continue to give the commentaries upon the debates which they have been in the habit of doing without molesta tion for the last two years is the most reactionary measure that we have seen since the Emperor's decree of November, 1860, brought the word "liberty" into fashion. This tyranny is illogical on the part of a government which has ceased to garble the reports, and proclaimed the principle that the speeches of the senators and deputies are to be published as spoken. It is paltry, petulant, vexatious, irritating, but withal ridiculous and im potent tyranny. The foolish resolution was taken at a solemn council held at the Tuileries yesterday afternoon, at the breaking up of which the black man was sent round immediately to the newspaper 'offices. The thing was done in a panic occasioned by M. Jules Favre's exposure of the Jecker business in Mexico. All ideas of consistency were thrown to the winds, the Emperor's recently expressed admiration of liberty was forgotten, and M. de Persigny's formal and deliberate promise that the press should be free except when it attacked the dynasty was flagrantly violated for the wretched object of preventing certain journals from presenting to their readers, in a leading column, and in a short and perspicuous form, the substance of those speeches of Jules Fevre, which are reported at length in the third and fourth pages for anybody to read who has leisure. The text, as well as the spirit, of the constitution is violated by this childish interdiction. Everybody knows the difference be tween a report (e,ompte rendu) and a criticism upon a debate. The intention of the imperial constitu tion was to prevent the newspapers from publishing private "reports" which, when the press was free, were often, in some of the least respectable journals, unfairly done. Therefore it was that one official report was prepared, and all the journals were bound to take that, and that alone, if they wished to report the debates. The habit has been to copy these reports, but at the same time to make some comments upon them in a leading article, carefully avoiding always any false quotation of the words of any speaker. M. Troplong himself, the greatest legal authority in France, admitted lately in the Senate that this course was wholly unobjectionable in a constitutional point of view. Now, all this is to be changed, and the journals gagged by a simple administrative act. The Emperor's speeches may be commented upon, but not a word must be said about the speech of any senator or deputy. The "acts" of ministers, as we have lately been told over and over again, are fair sub jects for criticism, but the speeches of the ministers without portfolios are sacred things. A journal may print at length speeches affirming totally op posite things, but if it attempts to dissect the debate and suggest an opinion as to which aide the truth lies, it is to be prosecuted, fined, and perhaps suppressed. Not always, however ; for, with that love of unfairness that habitual use of two weights and two measures— that systematic denial of all individual rights which is of the essence of the imperial system of home government—a journal will be quite safe as long as it praises the minis ters and abuses the opposition. The Temps points out to-night that since the officious warning was given yesterday the government journals have railed at M. Jules Fevre, on account of his speeches, in the most insulting way. They have accused him of want of patriotism, of firing upon the French flag, of hurling poisoned javelins against the French honour, and so forth. What would have happened it any independent journal had dared to say a tenth part as much about M. Bil lault ? The Opinion Nationale laments that by the announcement in the Moniteur the ground gained two years ago has been lost. Even the France pro tests against the insane measure, and not a single government journal has yet been hardy enough to say a word in praise of or excuse for it. AMERICAN AID TO THE LANCASHIRE - o - PIRATIVSS. ARRIVAL OF THE GEORGE GE.I23WOLD. (LIVIER% TILIGEAII.) LIVERPOOL. Fn. 9. The George Griswold, from New York, with contributions of provisions for the Lancashire ope ratives, has arrived off this port. She will enter the Mersey this afternoon. PRINCE LOOM OF HESSE. SOUTHAMPTON, MONDAY. His Royal Highness Prince Louie of Hesse, attended by Lieutenant• Colonel Du Platt (Equerry to her Majesty), Captain Von Weeternwella (Equerry to the Prince), and Commander Christian, R.N., landed in the docks this morning at half-past eight, from Her Majesty's yacht Fairy, Master Commander Welch, from Osborne, en route for Birmingham, rid Basingstoke. His Royal Highness wee received on his arrival by Mr. P. Hedger and Mr. John Levy, principal °timers of the docks, and Mr. R. Beach, of the Beath Western Railway Company. The Danmark of the sth says :—"A great ball, in honour of t h e future Princess of Wales, was given last Thundity at the British Embassy here (Copenhagen) by Mr. Augustus Paget and his lady. Besides the Princess Alexandra, a crowd of titled and fashionable persons attended the festivity, parti• cularly her royal highness's parents, the Prince and Princess of Denmark, and the other members of the royal family. The Hereditary Prince Ferdinand and his consort the Princess Caroline were, however, unavoidably absent, the prince being still far from well." The Duchess of St. Albans and Lady Diana Beauclerk and Viscount Falkland intend to return to town on or about the `27th inst. from the Continent, The Marquis and Marchioness of Clanricarde are expected in town in a few days from Portumna Castle, Galway._ - The Earl and Countess of Tankerville left town on Saturday for Brampton Park. Huntingdonshire. Lord and Lady William Powlett will leave town on Wednesday for their residence at Bath. Mr. and Lady Margaret Beaumont arrived at their resideoce in Piccadilly a few days since from their seat, Bretton Park, Wakefield. The fine screw corvette Racoon, 22, 400-horse power, Captain the Count Victor Gleichisn, fitting in the Medway to convey his Royal Highness Prince Alfred on a special cruise, has been removed from dock, and is now moored off the west shore, where she is being completed for sea with all possible despatch. It is stated that Priam Alfred himself selected the Racoon for his cruise from having admired her so much when in the Mediterranean. The Racoon is fitted for service on the Home Station at present, and it is rumoured at Chatham that she will visit Norway, Sweden and Denmark prior to proceeding to Australia, whiob is understood to be her ultimate destina tion. A pinked band of twelve musicians will be attached both. Rococo during the time she is in commill6o4l. It is proposed that there shall be two great volunteer brigade field days in the county of Essex during the ensuing summer—one at Coloheeter in conjurectioo wit► the regular troops eneemped in that neighbourhood, and one on the other side of the ceasty—possibly apse Nixing-emu. mon or Wanstead-bate ; the whole to be under the command of • general officer, with a staff to be appointed by his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding-in Chief, provided it matte with the eetire approbation of the Right Hon. her Majesty's Secretary of State for War and his royal highness. SERIOUS RAILWAY AOCIDENT.—ORZAT Ds, STRUCTIOR OF PROPERTY.—(THIS DAY.) This morning, shortly before 6 o'clock, a Very serious accident happened on the Bow &stamina of the Blackwell Railway, which, is addition to °suing • greet destruction of property and serious injury to the works of the line, occasioned the complete stoppage e g all the up trains on the North London, Barking, Tilb„. y , Southend, North Woolwich, and Woodford Railways to P.p. churchotreet. It appears that • heavy goods train from the Camden-town station of the London and North-Wear, ere Railway was on its way to the Hindu. square goods depot, and had reached • point some 300 or 400 yards on the Bow aide of the bridge which passes our the Regent's Canal, when • truck about the middle of the train left the mends. The trein was then going at a speed of some 2.5 miles an hour, and owing to the obstruction offered by the train which had left the rails, most of the waggons in the rear got off the Toed, and the couplings hold. log firm the trucks were dragged along in the most dreadful confusion. The line runs on arches, and as the upturned trucks were canted along, they came with a fearful null against the coping or wall of the line and carried away • large portion of the brickwork. The engine driver as soon u he felt the extra strain, or drag, did all he could to bring the train to • stoppage, but as the goods engines employed by the London and North Western are of great power, some distance had been traversed ere the trucks which had left the rails had become deteched from the portion of the train in front. A scene of the most indescribable confusion and wreck then presented itself. Some of the trucks were toppled over and crushed, and overhanging the parapet, and Sienna and road beneath were strewed with the contents of the waggons—cheese, flour, and other merchandise. The per manent way was torn up in sad havoc, and a heavy piece of brick work at the Bow-common-bridge, where • line of rails runs in, had been shivered by one of the trucks which had dashed against it. In another part of the coping a couple of truck wheels, with the axle entire, had been forted through the brickwork of the wall and had fallen into the road beneath. The coping up to the Regent:m..l%nel bridge appears to have been torn away by the waggons as they were hurled along, but the bridge does not seem to have sustained any damage. Information of the mishap was immediately communicated to the Bow works, and a large number of the work•people proceeded to cleat and repair the road, but it was some time ere that could be done. Trains io and out of the City on the North London and the before-mentioned railways were prevented running, thereby occasioning the greatest inconvenience to the large number of travellers who are occupied is the City. In the course of the day the permanent road was restored so as to admit of the passage of the train, bat a large portion of the brickwork will have to be entirely restored. Notwithstanding she fearful character of the accident we could not learn that anyone bad been seriously hurt. Had it been later in the day, when numbers are pouring along the road beneath, some sad catas trophe mast have happened. The damage to the trucks, goods, and line will involve • serious loos to the two com peel's. The Lord-Lieutenancy of Wilta (observes the Saharry Journal) is now vacant by the demise of the venerable Marquis of Lansdowne. It is rumoured that the Marquis of Ailesbury is likely to succeed to the office. At the evening meeting of the members of the Royal Institutiou on Friday, Mr. Weigher delivered a lec ture as " Aerial Scientifie Ressamh," in which he described his recent aerial voyages with Mr. CoxwelFs balloon, wads at the request of the British Awociation. A Paris letter says :—" The Countess de Per. 'ivy's ball has eclipsed all given this season by the Elm. preiw. It was impossible for about a thousand people to look mom brilliant or more animated, or oonsicleriag the preempt ugliness of the (Polito °, for the ladies to look better than they did oa this occasion. The Princres Netteraich was dressed in her usual eccentric style. Her skirt was covered with horse-shoes of silver ribbon with blue silk malls, and a diamond horseshoe supported her mass of fair hair." A CLUB SCANDAL AT PARDL —The Paris COr respondent of the Indipersdance thus mien to a circum stance mentioned by our Paris correspondent :—" The recommeodation of political reserve which was made to-day to the journals wan accompanied by another re lative to a private fact, which ought to fall within the domain of justice. It refers to a scandal amongst gamblers, who accuse each other of cheating and robbery. The scene occurred at the house of one of the celebrities of the Parisian demi-monde, sod amongst the actors in it are mentioned, ea the one aide, several personages well known at the clubs, and on the other a renowned gambler, IL 3—, and the director of a great artistic enterprise, U. C—. The two latter, it is said, bad won a considerable sum, 180,000fe, when the losers alleged that the game was not fair. IL G. was searched, and as there were found upon him packets of prepared cards, the players refused to allow the winnings. It is even said that violence was used towards the two over-ruccessful players. The latter assert that much more was taken from them than they had gained, and they are cot sparing of recriminations and accusations against their adversaries. Their protests, however, do sot seem to have had much weight ; for IL G— was yesterday expelled two clubs, the • Carole des Amrikains, and the ' Gavle 1mp(1.61,' of which he was a member. It was the Duke de Moray in person who was active is this step at the Cottle Impirial." FURTHER REDUCTION OP DAISIBIJS FARES FROM PADDINGTON TO THE EAST END, AND TICE Yu/ie.—This morning the proprietors of omnibuses running between Pad dington and the eastern districts of the metropolis reduced their fares for the whole distance to Wbitechapel Church to threepence ; and front Paddington to the Bank or London bridge, threepence ; the return journies being performed for the same price. Passengers are conveyed from the Farriogdm terminus to the Bank or London-bridge for a peony, and to Whitechspel twopeoce, and vice versa. DEMOLITION OF FIFTY HOUSES IS SOUTHWARK.— (TMLS DAy.)—This morning numerous bodies of workmen commenced pulling down fifty houses situate in Friar street, Hill-street, Belvedere-plaos, Belvedere-buildings, and South wark Bridge-road, the sites being required for the Cannon street (Cay) Extension of the Louden, Chatham, and Dover Railway ; and notices of removal have bees served by order of the company upon the occupier. of a eimilar number of buildings, the mites of which are required for the same purpose. SOCIETY or ArriQuaituri.—On Thursday evening next, the 12th inst., at half-past 8 o'clock, Earl Stanhope, president of this society, will lay before the meeting the correspondence which has takes plan between the society and the Admiralty on the subject of the tides off the Straits of Dover, with a view to determine the place where Cosa landed cm our shone. The Admiralty have for some months been engaged, at the Whom of the Society of Aotiquariee. in Mbar; observations as this matter, and their report will also be laid before the meetiag. THE ARCHDEACONS! OP WILTS.—We (Salisbury Journal) undentand that the Hoe. and Rev. Charles A. Harris, M.A., who was formerly rector of Shaftesbury sod of Whim, both in the diocese of Sarum, and was chaplain to the late Bishop of Salisbury (who appointed him to • prebendal stall in this cathedral), and is now one of the chaplaios of our percent bishop, la to be the suconeor of the late Archdeacon Drury iu the vicarage of Bresnhill-cum- Highway, sad in the office of Archdeacon of Wilts. EXTRAORDINARY PRESENTIMENT OP SUDDEN DZATH.—Mr. F. W. Dingell, of Wood - house. East Ham, of the firm of Moen. James Dingell and Sons, died sud denly on Thursday evening last, under most singular cir cumstances. He was sitting at dinner with the family, when be observed to his father, " I have a presentiment that I shall die soddenly." The words were nu sooner pro nouued than his bead drooped, and be expired without a groan or other indication of death. The poor of White chapel have lost a valuedfriend. THE SUSPECTED CASE OP POISONINC AT BALLY MINA.—Tbe magistrates oe Friday commenced an investi gation into the circumstances connected with the death of Miss Carey, of Grace-hill, near Ballymena. The investiga tion lasted the entire day. The principal witness examined on Friday was the mother of the deceased, whose evidence at the inquest we fully reported in our column. Mrs. Leo- Sara Smith, sister of deceased, was next examined. She stated that deceased refused to see Dr. Courtensiy on the Monday previous to her death. assigning as a reason that be had violated her person. "He did it on her." Witness re fused to repeat the exact words in which this charge was made, but she wrote them down. Mr. Oltorke, for the Crowe, objected to the answer, and said it was not evi dence, but be would not let Dr. Courtenay's solicitor seethe document.. The answer was written again, and the purport was that "he" had violated her person. She was not de- Brous then, but much excited. The court then adjoined till Wednesday next. A painful diaeovery was made at a meeting of the Marylebose board of guardians last week. Their secretary, Mr. T. B. Rae, was found to be deficient in his cash, and on being questioned acknowledged that be had applied about 6701. of the mousy of the parish to his own uses. He asked, however, that a week should he given to him, and he would make up the sum with the assistance of his friends. The guardians, however, resolved that they were bound to promote, end os Saturday Mr. Rae was brought up at the Marylehone policemoart charged with the embezzlement. He was remanded for a week. ROYAL FREE 110611TAL, GRAY'S-INN-ROAD.--The number of patients relieved at this hospitz.l during the week ending Feb. 7, was 3,084, of which 989 ware sew oases. MI thl Ell P°' Ga Sitti que4 and wish