The Express. — London, England, 1867-05-01 00:00:00

'ION of GOLD. 0 prat' .. L 11 10 8 carats .. 8 34 7 carats .. 4 9 6 carats .. 1 1 6 car Ma.. 17 21 4 carats .. 14 3 carats .. 19 78 2 cash .. 7 1 1 carat .. 9 se 'Arden, London. W.C. BROWN and POLSON'S CORN FLOUR for CR ILDR6.Nre DIM To *Wein exits prong by the eel. other kWh; ire sonellines Whored Indeed et II hoWN and POLSON'S. au"th Jo w hn known." "John AMON is * signed * the ask= on het. fielreL6. TO CORRPI4NINDEVT4 advertisements Inten,kel for " The &pre's," London Evening P= i =net be at the Udine, 10, Bouverie- avert, by Two don the day of publication. JOHN BROG carats Ins, is worth _34 4 114 per °WIC!. 23 carats.. 4 1 2 22 carats (British standard,3 17 101 21 carats.. 3 14 4 20carats.. 3 10 01 111 *awoke__ 3 7 It Ilauulactory, 16, Bel DRUM' LANZ. Tins EVENING. TUE Mears. Warner. Mor ton. Fitsiantet. lannse. me. ; ?Madames 'Wharton?. Le Them awl . Ihumpsou. —To einielude with TUAT RASCAL JACK. Dimon. !tome and Nlewlatan Alleyne and Thompson. HAYMARKET. Trip: ETENnin, THE WULV AND THE LAMB. Ifeinrs. Chippendale, Ferran, Rc. ; Ilra ritzwilllain, Pte.—A WILD CHOSE. Mew. si,thern, Rucketinse, Konen, die.: Mesdames Hake, Chippendale, II llot.—And A KIM IS THE DARE. LYCEUM. Tntm Byrum). HAMBZIOICINZ. Mr. Price and Mai Katelatum.—THE DUKE'. murrre. ler. Pechter, Messrs. Emery, Widdicorah, tc. ; Mimes Elawarthy. Grattan, and Car lotta Leciercy.—A Grand Ballot. M. Espinosa & Mane. Sophie. An!AND. TEE VENUE, SWEETIIEARTFAND WIVES. Mr. Bel ton!. —PTO M A LION. THE ?TATI:R PAIR. Mews. rhnrve, James, de. Mesdames A. rivranborivtgb Raynham. Harland, Johnstone, Hult,B Nowtov.—And THE V &E CH EXHIBITION. HOLBORN. Thu rrmerwo, MY Tali nit Mr. Belmors: Mims loots and Lennox —And FLYING SCUD. Messrs. Neville, Bel- MOM. Blake, Vollalre, de. ; Mesdames F. Josephs. C. deanden. Bessie loons, Addis, Lennox, Raymond. de. alunutNlA. Tills MO M°, TIIP. Llikll63AL. Mown Reynolds, Rowe, etc. • Itim Jane Coveney.—CHEßßY AND FAIR STAR. Haws. IIlawn& Leslie, faton, &c : Mn. S. Lana and Mimes lalidn, booth, and Ilscarthy —And TIER DREAM OF AILEEN. HIGH WATER AT 143NDON.BRIDGIL TIUS Ilisges -- Artglioar. Ob. OM tO-Illoasow—Morning, Ob. No.._ _Afternoon, 42. LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MAY 1. THE second part of the Correspondence with Spain respecting the seizure of the Queen Vic toria by a Spanish revenue cruiser contains the letter of General CALONfIE, the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, announcing the decision of his Government to comply with the demands made in the name of Great Britain, and Lord STANLEY'S despatch acknowledging the communication. The Spaniard, even in this the latest stage of the con• respondence, is at great pains to maintain that the validity of the seizure—alleged by us to have been made beyond the limits of Spanish jurisdiction, and therefore utterly illegal— was nevertheless a matter for the cognisance of a local tribunal, while Sir Joni( Camirroir insists that an act so contrary to public law could not be dealt with like a smuggling case, but was one for which her MAJorry's Government was entitled to seek direct redress from that of the Queen of SPAIN. The correspond ence, however, ends most amicably. General CALONOE, after announcing the resolution to re store the ship, indemnify interested persons for their losses, and punish the guilty captors, trusts that in these proceedings ei the British Govern• " ment may see, not only a just satisfaction for " any injury that may have been suffered by " the British flag, but also another proof of the " uprightness with which the Government of the " Queen of Srsix proceeds in its relations with " that of Great Britain." Lord STANLEY, after formally acknowledging General CALONOE'S con cessions, writes to our Minister at Madrid : Her Majesty's Government have received this communi. cation with the greatest satisfaction. They could not bring themselves to suppose that the Government of her Catholic Majesty could uphold the proceedings of their subordinate authorities in the case of the Queen Victoria, and relying on the honourable feelings of the Spanish nation, they never abandoned the hope that a solution consistent with justice and the mutual regard which the two countries entertain for each other wooll le arrived at. The result has justified their anticipa tions, and you will make known to General Calooge, by delivering to his excellency a copy of this despatch, that the Government of the Queen our Sovereign is entirely satisfied with the solution which this affair has received, and that tit , y earnestly hope that any other questions which may at any time arise between the two eour.tries will be always treated, on both sides, in a spirit of conciliation and goodwill, and will not be allowed to impair for a moment the good understanding which the British Government is always anxious to maintain in its relations with the Government of the Queen of Spain. MR. JORSPH Comarrr, of the Reform League, has addressed to Mr. BEALL% President of that body, a letter on the resolution of its Council to hold " a bond fide meeting in Hyde•park " on the 6th of May, of which Mr. BRADIAUGH has stated that the League have not only called the mee.ing, but " mean to hold it, come what might," and not merely demand admittance, but " enforce that " admittance if required." Mr. Conicrr holds that the people have a right to meet in the Park, but before defying the authorities " men should " be prepared to act as men, and not as bombastic " children." As he understands the resolution of the Executive of the League, it is determined to call forth a demonstration similar to that of July last, so that if the authorities adopt the same course they did then, either an appeal to force must be the result, or Reformers would have once more to retire. Mr.Couirrr. believes that it would be not only impolitic but criminal to bring the question to such an issue as that, for these reasons : lithe people of this country are really prepared to join issue with the Government, then they have something better to do than to fight their fellow men of the army and the polio, about a question of admittance into the Park. However important the question of the right of meeting may be, if to settle it force must be re.. rt .d to and blood spilt, then the people must be prepared either to submit or to destroy the present political fabric. I think they are not yet rips for such an i,eue, and therefore I say that it would be unwise and criminal to necessarily produce violence and bloodshed, to no practical purpose• Suppose that the Reformer. were even to force their way into the Park, what then? Do you think that the Government would stop there? Whet if they bring armed force against you' Are you prepared to meet them ? What if Parliament were to pan a bill forbidding meeting in the parks ? Would you then turn Parliament out? For these reasons Mr. CoLLErr urges Mr. BEALCA to use his influence with his colleagues to reconsider their decision, and simply to invite the Reformers of London to go individually to the Park, avoiding anything that might have the ap pearance of a defiance, which they are not pre pared to support effectively. A royal proclamation is about to be issued re questing all loving subjects and peaceable citizens to abstain from joining the gathering which is announced to take place in Hyde Park on Monday next. FOREIGN Orrzer, APRIL 20.—The Queen has been pleased to approve of &tabor Jerk Henriques Fer reira es Connol at Liverpool for his Majesty the King of Portugal and the Algarves.— Gazette. OUR CONTEMPORARIES. (THIS DAY.) IDEA'S VALUN 18 earati..t3 17 carats.. 11 0 10carats.. 2 10 76 15 carats.. 2 13 1 14 carats.. 2 0 66 11karate.. 2 6 0 12ear.18.. 2 2 66 lit:Amts.. 1 18 11 10cantt0.. 116 46 irielt3.%trest, Covesity THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 1, 1867. • 6 • 6 2•• 3 S 1 2 • 2 Ini 1036' cr 0.14 3 b 0.06 3 06 0.24 2 e 4.10: 3 , I 3 e 0.04 6 co 0.04 3 to 0.10 5 e 0.14 2 e 0.01 3 • rbo 0.13 - lc 0.24 2 to Us 3 ru o.io 3 , boa W. s 1 to Y. 0 to 0.47 1 0 0 SI 2 THE PERCHASI SYWTEN IN THE ARMY. The really forcible arguments which the Times sees in favour of the purchase system are, first, that it insures such a retirement to the older officers as gives to regiments a due succession of men in the vigour of life ; and, secondly, that it prevents the evil of favouritism. On the other hand, there are certain evils which neces sarily belong to purchase. Mr. Trevelyan spoke last night of the "gigantic and inflated system of half pay" as having been raised to its present level to compensate officers for the price paid for their commissions. The remarks of Sir John Pakingtou were satisfactory, inasmuch as he announced that the question of our military organisation must be considered, and that the arguments for and against pur chase would be considered among the rest. It must not be forgotten that, as far as officers are concerned, the British army is a cheap one. The question is full of difficulties, and, on the whole, the Times is glad that the house did not commit itself to Mr. Trevelyan's motion by giving him a majority. The Daily Nen' describes Mr. Trevelyan 's speech as ad mirable both in substance and in manner, and as an im portant contribution to the formation of a sound public and parliamentary opinion. The speeches delivered from the Treasury bench and the seats behind it show that considerable progress has already been made in getting rid of the mile of commissions in the army. Sir John Pa kington rather pleaded for a reprieve than demanded an acquittal of the system, which he scarcely made even a feint of defending. Lord Harlington joined hie sue cessor at the War-office in explicitly acknowledging the objectionable character of the present arrangements;, and though Lord Stanley was, ex officio, silent, a younger member of the House of Derby argued against the practice of " buying responsibilities for a sum of money." Captain Stanley's speech is an additional tes timony to the existence of a just and liberal tone of sen timent among the younger and more intelligent officers of the army. The buying and selling of public offices which once prevailed in every department of the state has now found its last refuge in the army. But an annual debate and an annual division may gradually supply a motive power for getting rid of it, even there. With the exception of Mr. Greville-Nugent, who was horror struck at the thought that the abolition of the system of purchase might bring the sons of linendmpers into the service, the objectors I base their opposition solely on the financial difficulties involved in the change, and to this point, therefore, the advocates of reform must address themselves. The Daily Ncet believes the difficulty is not insuper►ble. The best officers are in the end the cheapest. When parlia ment and the nation have determined that the thing shall be done the means of doing it will be discovered. The Peat represents the whole question as one of pounds, shillings, and pence. The collective value of all the coin missions in the English army is estimated at something in excess of seven millions. Are the public prepared to re coup those who have expended this amount in purchasing the posts they at present occupy? The Standard is confident that if any expedient could be devised by which judicious selections and a fair acceptance of them by the army could be ensured, and if parliament would vote the capitd sum required to compensate the present holders of commissions, as well as fair active ler , vice and liberal retiring pay, the purchase of commissions would be abolished by a unanimous vote of the House of Commons. But at present no such scheme has been sug gested, and the country has given no indication of its readiness to accept such burdens. It was a sorry sight, remarks the Star, to see Lord Hart ington rise at the opposition side of the table last night, and endeavour to persuade Mr. Trevelyan to yield to the request of Sir John Pakington not to press his motion to a division. It is truly melancholy to hear the old whig song of unripeness in the public mind chanted, not only in office, but in opposition, by members of the official class, connected with what is supposed to be the party of pro gress. The Star denies that public opinion is not ripe on this subject, and says most emphatically, that so tar as there is a real public opinion, it is completely in favour of the change. The division of 75 against 116 was by no means an unfavourable one under the circumstances, and will serve, as Mr. Trevelyan said, at all events to start the question in order that the reformed parliament may run it down. THE REPOILX QUESTION. MR. DAMS' LETTER AND THE CONSERVATIVE DEPUTATIONS. The Daily News is by no means certain that it under stands what Mr. Baines wants. It cannot accept his statement that the reform party is leaderless, without • qualification. Does an army cease to have • leader when the general who has often conducted it to success thinks the moment unpropitions for en ad vance! The costermongers of Mr. Bright's speech are for the moment omnipotent for mischief ; as they can transfer to Mr. Disraeli, in his most prevari cating mood, the majority which their constituents re turned them to give to a liberal minister. While Mr. Disraeli is twisting them round his little finger they vaunt their independence. Were they bought back with concessions they would be more slippery than ever. Until the liberal party is ready to unite, and either for mally or virtually repeal the arbitrary qualification created in it■ vote of April 12, the principles of the present bill can be made neither intelligible nor durable nor equal in their application. It is not necessary to apply pressure to Mr. Gladstone ; he is ready enough to co-operate in improving Mr. Disraeli's bill whenever he has the opportunity of doing so ; but no true liberal can desire to see him made in any degree a party to a measure framed to deceive both tortes and radicals, and certain to enrage the unrepresented people if it should unfortunately become law. The Standard says that Mr. Baines makes a vital ooturti tutional question the stalking-horse of the office-mongers, and that he Lopes to find his personal account in a length ened tenure of his seat for Leeds. He has traded on reform during the whole of his political career, and now that he is confronted with it as a living reality he shrinks back in dread lest its march should sweep him before it along with the rest of the shams. The Star describes Lord Derby's oration yesterday as entirely devoted to the object of inducing the working man to accept compliments instead of rights. To vindicate working men against the offensive conduct of those who would enfranchise them as working men—nay, who would even describe them as working men—is now, it would appear, the one grand object of Lord Derby's policy. The speech was free, indeed, from the vulgar personal taunts and sneers in which Mr. Disraeli indulged at the expense of his great political rival ; and it conveyed to his audience with some frankness the intimation that the government do not intend to stand very closely to any bard and fast line of principle anywhere if retreat will enable then, to cling hard and fast to office. But beyond these merits—the one negative, the other very doubtful—the speech had none. The Herald contends that this Reform Bill once passed, in whatever form, will long outlast the life of Mr. Glad stone. The only opportunity which be will ever have of in troducing only an electoral system based on personal rating Ruch provisions as he may deem 'lemur , " is now afririled him ; according as he accepts and uses, or sullenly neglects it, will his party esteem his judgment and history pro nounce upon his character. The Telegraph still contends that any attempt to cure the inherent vice of the government bill must be abso lutely hopeless. The question whether the majority of occupiers in a borough shall pay their rates with their own hands, or mediattly by their landlords, is at present de termined in the several plates by local circumstances, unconnected with political opinions. The matter is settled in each parish by purely fiscal considerations; the parishioners regard it simply as a question of con venience and economy in raising their revenue. But here Mr. Disraeli steps iu, and says that the parochial resolution adopted on merely economical grounds shall have a most important political effect superedded to it. If the parishioners have, for the accommodation of the rate-collector, omitted three-fourths of their own num. ber from the rate-book, those three-fourths shall also be excluded from the list of parliamentary electors. Was ever a more fantastic and preposterous role invented! The only conceivable way of improving the scheme is to sub stitute for it something essentially different. Such poor palliatives as Mr. Hibbert's amendment, even with all the other patching which the government is pl►inly afraid to resist, would never be seriously offered by those who really understood the subject. THE SYSTEM OF PURCHASE IN TILE ARMY. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION lIST NIGHT. Motion wade and Question put, "That, in the opinion of this house, the system of purchasing Commissions in the Army tends greatly to diminish the efficiency of our military force" —(Mr. Trevelyan.) The house di vided—Ayes, ; Noes, 116. A Y LS. Acland, T. D. Forteseue, C. P. Miller, W. Adam, W. 14. Fortescue, D. F. Mille J. R. Allen, W. S. thildsmid, Sir F. lliteheU, A. Amberiey. Visa. cower, F. L. Moffatt, O. Aytonn, It. S. Cord, J. E. M o nk, C. J. Bagwell. J. Goschen, 4:. J. Morrison, W. Baines, E. Create% H. It. Neale, C. llazley, T. Gridley, rapt. Norwood, C. M. • Beaumont, W. B. CriMth, C. D. O'Conor Don, The Bright, J. Grosvenor, Capt. CV &widen, Sir C. Buxton. sir T. F. Hadfield, O. Peel. A. W. calthorpe, F. 11. Hamilton, E. W. Philips, R. N. Candlish, J. Hankey, T. Follard-Urquhart,W Cave, T. Holden, I. Potter, E. Cavendish, Lord F. Howard, C. W. Rothschild, Baron Clay, J. Ingham, R. Salomon*, Ald. Clive, Cl. Jackson, W. Simeon, sir .1. Colebruoke, Sir T. Kinnaini, A. F. Smith, J. B. Cowen, J. Labouchere, H. Stock, O. Crosaka, Sir F. Lamont. J. finnan, E. J. IMIR. R. Latham, fi Latham, W. H. Tailor, P. A. Dillwyn, L. L Leeman, O. Vanderbyl, P. Knot, lord Link, A. White, .1. Ewart, W. IPLaren, D. !ELLIN& Fitzgerald, Lord 0. Maguire. J. F. Sykes, Col. Pointer, W. E. MW, J. S. Trevelyan, C. 0. . . NOR& Adderley, C. B. Greene , K. Naas, Lord Arantall, Capt. Hamilton. 1,4 L Claud Neville-Grenville, R. Ark. - right, R. Hamilton, Lord C. J. Newport, Vied. Bagge, Sir W. Hemlines, Vint. Noel, G. J. e Milli. H. J. Hardy, G. North, Col. Barnett, H. Wirdy, J. Northeote, Sir S. Barrow, W. H. Hervey, Lord A. Paget, R. H. !latent'', Sir T. Ila,vter, Capt. Pakington, SirJ. Bathurst, A. A. Heathcote, G. H. Parket 31, ajoir . W. Beecrott, U.S. HennikerWajor, J. Parry, T. Benyua, K Herbert, Col. Percy, klajonOen. Beresioni, Capt. Heygate, SD P. Read, C. 8. Bingham, Lord Hiblyard. T. B. }lepton, 0. W. Bourne, Cal. Hem Lt.-CoL Ridley, Mr Si. Bruniky, W. D. Holton!, R. 8. itoberlson, P. F. Bruce, sir H. Mahan", Lord Rummell, Sir C. Bought, Mir P. Howes, K Ifelater-Booth, 0. Campbell, A. H. Iluddkston, J. W. Selwyn, C. J. Cartwright, Col. Hunt, 0. W. Seymour, G. R. Care, 8. Jones, D. Stoptord, S. 0. Cecil, Lord E. Karslake, Sir J. Strange. BD J. . Cony, H. L Kerslake K. K. Stuart, Col. Cox, W. T. Kavanag h', A. Sorties, Ir. Mk, Y. Kendall, N. Sorties, H. E. Dickson, Major Kennard, It. W. Sykes, C. Dimsdale, R. Ring, J. K. There'd, Sir J. Disraeli, B. Kingscote, Col. Tottenham', IA:Co. Du Cane, C. Knight, F. W. Turner, C Dunkellin, Lord Knox. Col. Verney, Sir H. Dunne. Den. lAscelles, R. W. Walcott, Admiral Edwards, air H. Leader, N. P. Walpole, S. H. Egerton. Sir P. Lennox, Lord H. Walrond, J. W. Egerton, It. C. Leslie, C. P. Walsh, A. Yielder'. J. Liddell, H. O. White, Capt. Feliewes, E. Lindsay, Col. C. Williams, F. Si. Mooch, Cal. Lopes, Sir It. Wise, H. C. Garth, R. Manners, Lord J. Getty, 8. 0. Mnotagu, Lord R. TELLBBB. Gooch, Sir D. Morris, O. Whitmore H. Gore, W. B, Slowbray, 3. R. Taylor, Co.l tire Court. WINDSOR CASTLE, APRIL 30. The Queen, accompanied by Princess Beatrice, drove out yesterday afternoon. Princess Louise and Prince Christian, attended by Lady Churchill and Lord Raglan, rode on horseback. Her Majesty drove out this morning, attended by Lady Churchill. Princess Louise, attended by the Hon. Flora Macdonald, went out walking. Princess Beatrice rode in the Home•park. Earl Granville arrived at the Castle yesterday, and had the honour of dining with the Queen and the Royal The Prins of Wales rode out yesterday, attended by Captain Ellis. A Committee of the Lords of her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council sat yesterday at the Privy Council-office, Whitehall. on the subject of the cattle plague. The Lonla present were Lord Robert Montagu, the Right Hoe. Spencer H. Walpole, and the Right Hon. Stephen Cave. Mr. Harrison and Dr. Alexander Williams attended the committee. Mr. Cartier (Attorney-General of Lower Canada) had an interview with Lord Stanley, at the Foreign-office, yesterday. A deputation from the working men of Norwich had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, at his official residence, in Downing-street, yesterday, on the subject of parliamentary reform. The deputation was in troduced by Mr. Howes, M.P., and accompanied by Sir W. Bagge, M.P., and Mr. C. S. Read, M.P. A deputation from the guardians of the parish of Clerk enwell, consisting of Mr. Gillingwater, Mr. Willcocks, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Croucher, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Scargill (clerk) ; and also a deputation from the guardians of the Dorking Union, consisting of Mr. Edward Kerrick and Mr. Henry Lee Steers, bad interviews with the Right Hon. Gathorne Hardy, at the office of the Poor-law Board, Whitehall, yesterday. FIER MAJESTY'S LEFZE-(THIS DAY.) By command of the Queen a ley& was held to day in St. James's Palace, by his Royal Highness the Prince of Wale■, on behalf of her Msjeirty. Notwithstanding the previous levies of the season, the number of cards left at the Lord Chamberlain's office on the part of persona de sirous of presentation have been very numerous, in cluding officers of the army and navy, members of the judicial, legal, and clerical professions, and private gentlemen. The Prince of Wales was escorted by a detachment of the Life Guards from Marlborough House to the Palace, where he was received by the great officers of state of the Queen's household. The date of the next levee has not yet been publicly announced, bet it is expected that it will be on one day in June, and that it will be the last of the present season. The Marquis and Marchioness of Westminster and Lady Theodora Grosvenor are expected to remain at Motoombe Park till the 10th or 12th inst., and then come to Grosvenor House for the season. His Excellency the Prussian Ambassador and the Countess Bernstorif and the Countess Th6rese Bernsorff returned to the Prussian Embassy on Monday, from Brighton. Lord Stanley, M.P., will give a grand dinner to • large party of the leading members of the diplomatic corps, this evening, at the Earl of Derby's official resi dence in Downing-street. There will be an assembly later in the evening. We read in the Owl :—" A marriage has been arranged between Lord Gifford, eldest son of the Earl of Clanwilliam, and Miss Kennedy, (laughter of Mr. Kennedy governor of Vancouver's Island ; also, between Colonel Wilbraham Lennox, son of the late Lord George Lennox, and Miss Susan Sinclair, youngest daughter of the late Sir John Gordon Sinclair, Bart. ; also, between the Neapoli- tan Prince Teano and Miss Ada Wilbraham, daughter of Colonel Hon. E. Wilbraham, and niece of Lady Derby ; also, between Mr. Selwin, eldest son of Sir John Salvia, and Lady Thbetson ; and between Arthur Gooch, Esq. late captain in the 16th Lancers, and the eldest daughter of James Whitaker, Esq., of Eremitism Lodge, near Tad caster." We (Om° understand that the Duke of Beaufort will be appointed lord-lieutenant of Monmouthshire, in the place of the late Lord Llanover. The mortal remains of the lamented Lnrd Llanover will be removed to Wales for interment at the end of the week. Among the visitors already arrived in Paris to see the Exhibition are the Duke of Edinburgh, the Duke of Marlborough, the Duke of Sutherland, Lord Lyons, Lord Cochrane, Lord Leigh, Lord Hill, the Duke of Gluck,- berg, General Cabrera, &c. Mr. William Law has been appointed an addi tional assistant-secretary to the Treasury. Mr. Law is one of the principal clerks, and was private secretary to Lord Russell for many years. The supporters of ministers have been urgently requested to be in their places to-morrow evening, when Mr. Ayrton, the member for the Tower Hamlets, will sub mit an amendment on clause 3of the Reform Bill, to re duce the residential qualification for new voters from two years, as proposed by government, to twelve months. . - During Easter recess the Ladies' Gallery of the House of Commons, over the Speaker's chair, has been rendered more comfortable, and by the removal of some unwieldy benches eight-and-twenty additional visitors can be secured accommodation. Neat softly-cushioned chain of artistic design have been substituted for the primitive oaken benches. C&Tu♦Tai. Pecs. ONZ SEILLISNO Dxr.- IrI'EMIIT, APRIL :M. —Admi , l6ooB on payment, 2,034; ditto by sewn tickets, 1,604 ; total visitors, 3,638. THE SOUTH LANCASHIRE LIBERALS AND MR. GLADSTONE. A public meeting of the liberal county electors in support of the Right Hon. William Ewart Gladstone, M.P., was held last night at Hengler's circus, Newington, Liverpool, Mr. W. Rararimsg, jun., in the chair. The building holds about 3,000 persons ; the admission was by ticket, and was chiefly confined in the first instance to county electors, of whom about 1,500 had signified their intention to attend. The CHAIRMAN read the following letter from the Right lion. W. E. Gladstone, M.P.: .. Hawarden Castle, April 29. "My dear Mr. Itathbone,—l am deeply grateful to the liberal elector. of the Hundred of West Derby for adding to their previous acts a kindness the generous support which they propose to afford me by the meeting about to be held in Liverpool on the 30th instant. I am further obliged by your giving me the opportunity of appearing among them on that occasion ; but I am of opinion, on the whole, that my taking part in the proceedings, associated as they are with my personal position, would not be advan tageous to the common cause. Tothat cause I need hardly, I trust, assure you and them of my continued devotion. Every step I have taken since the commencement of the session has been in strict fulfilment of the pledge given by me in July last, after retiring from office, to resist every illusory and every reactionary proposal, but cheerfully to pro mote, by all the means in my power, • liberal and effectual settlement of the question of reform. The last three months have been spent in the endeavour to redeem the first portion of this engagement. By all such legiti mate means and opportunities sa may be afforded me I shall continue the struggle, be it long or short, until the end in view shall have been attained by the passing of • measure based upon principles liberal, intelligible, durable, and equal in their application to the various classes of persons whom they may affect —I remain, my dear Mr. Rathbone, very faithfully yours, W. E. GLADSTONE. " To Mr. Rathbone, jun., Liverpool. " The following resolutions were adopted :—" That the liberal electors of the West Derby Hundred of South Lan cashire beg to express their continued confidence in their representative, the Right Hon. William Ewart Gladstone, M.P., whose zeal, earnestness, honesty of purpose, and commanding eloquence, point him out as the true leader, alike in the House of Commons and in the country, of the great liberal party."—" That this meeting records its condemnation of the Reform Bill proposed by the tory government as • measure which, if carried, will not settle the question, but will give rise to continued agitation."— "That this meeting greatly deplores the divisions which seem to exist among the liberal members of parliament, and earnestly hopes that henceforth a united liberal party will support Mr. Gladstone." —" That a copy of the foregoing resolutions be forwarded to the Right Hon. William Ewart Gladstone, M.P." Letters regretting their inability to attend, and express ing their warm concurrence in the objects of the meeting, were read from Mr. B. Heywood Jones, J.P., Mr. William Halliwell, J.P., Lieutenant-Colonel McCorquodale, J.P., Lieutenant-Colonel Gamble, Mr. Henry Deacon, J.P., Mr. Henry Woods, 111. P. Wigan, Mr. R. A. Macke, sod others. Sir Thomas B. M.P., But. wrote as follows : " The Hazles, April 28, 1867. My dear Rathbone,-1 am sorry it will not be in my power to attend the meeting of the liberal electors of the West Derby Hundred of the county, proposed to be held on Tuesday evening, to ex press oar continued confidence in our representative. Had I been present it would have been a pleurae to ma to have expressed my concurrence in the object of the meet ing.—Very truly yours, 'Norms B. Bincw." Mr. J. C. Swart wrote :—" New Brighton, Birkenhead, April 28, 1867. My dear Rathbone,—l am very sorry it will be quite impossible for me to attend the meeting on Tuesday evening, as I must be in London. I believe we never had a more sincere and honest minister than Mr. Gladstone, and whatever temporary differences there may be among some of the liberal members of the House of Commons, I am sure, as a party, we have the greatest confidence in him as our only true leader. I hope he will not allow the conservatives to do what they please with the bill, but will still endeavour to make it as perfect sa he can.—Ever truly yours, J. C. Ewaar. W. Rathbone, jun." Mr. J. P. Heywood wrote:— " 15, Hyde-perk-place, London. Dear Rathbone, —As I be unable to attend the meeting of our lo ath Lan cashire Registration Society, I must beg you to be good enough to apologias for my abeencs, and to assure the meeting of my cordial acquiescence in their proceedings.— Ever yours faithfully, J. P. HEYWOOD." Mr. T. Weld Blundell wrote :—" Ince Blundell-hall, April 29. Dear Sir, —I regret exceedingly that I shall not be able to be pre sent to-morrow at the meeting called to express the con fidence of the liberal party in Mr. Gladstone. I hope your meeting will go o ff well, and assist in encouraging Mr. Gladstone. If you think it worth while, state to every one an unavoidable engagement in London has pre. vented me from attending, and that I fully concur in the objects of the meeting. mrs sincerely, T. WELD Btonnui.." We (Advertiser) have much pleasure in being able to announce that Mr. Graves last night intimated his in tention to various members, and other private gentlemen, of withdrawing his bill relative to the licensing of public houses, which stood for the second reading to-day. On the 1 ith Serjeant Barry will bring under the notice of the Henze of Commons the loss of life which took place at Dungarvan during the late Waterford county election, and to move the following resolution :—" That, whereas it appears by the verdicts of coroners' juries, that two persons were killed by a soldier or soldiers of the 12th ]cancers at Dungarvan during the late election for the county of Waterford, under circumstances which led in one case to a finding of manslaughter, and in the other of wilful murder, it is not, in the opinion of the house, satis factory that the conduct of the military on that occasion has not been made the subject of further inquiry before any tribunal, either military or civil." _ _ Mr. Moffatt intends on the motion for going into committee on Factory Acta Extension Bill, to move that the bill be referred to • *elect oommittee. Mr. Chichester Forteecue, to-morrow, will ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland what course the govern ment propose to take with respect to the Queen's Univer sity in Ireland, and whether they intend to bring in a bill to remove doubts as to the validity of the acceptance by the senate of the supplemental charter of last year, and to place the graduates to be admitted to degrees under that charter upon an equal footing as members of the corporate body of the university with the other graduates. Sir Frederick Heygate will ask the Chief Secre tary for Ireland, to-morrow, whether he intends to bring in any measure this session on the subject of Irish rail ways. In committee on Representation of the People Bill, Mr. Candlish intends, at page 2, line 6, after "dwell ing-house," to move to inaert, "or part of a dwelling house." Mr. Biddulph will move for leave to insert a clause repealing so much of the Act 41 Geo. 111., c. 63, as relates to non-beneficed clergymen. An examination of the Registrar-General's re turns shows that the last quarter of the year, classed as the autumn quarter, is that in which there are most mar riages. There is no exception to this rule, and the diffe rence is very great indeed. The quarter least favourable to marriages is the winter quarter, or that terminating on the 31st of March, during which the marriages in all Eng land are about 36,000. The two following quarters are tolerably near each other, with about 45,000 each, the spring having rather an advantage over the summer. But in the autumn quarter the numbers jump at once to 55,000 or 56,000, showing an increase of at least t 0 per cent. over the totals of winter. Whatever may be the ex planation of this phenomenon, it is absolutely invariable. The rate of the whole year may be high or low, but whether it be high or low, or whether the marriages be many or few, it is quite certain that in the last quarter of the year there will be half as many again as there were in the tint. BRITISH AND FOREIGN FREEDMEN'S AID BAZAAR. —A very interesting, rich, and varied collection of articles has been furnished by the friends of the society in the Hanover-square Rooms. Contributions have been sent from different parts of the United Kingdom, America, Africa, and Jamaica. The stag are well furnished with useful and elegant articles of needlework and natural curi osities, and the friends of the object have a good oppor tunity to manifest their sympathy and support. - • His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury will preside at a meeting to be held in St. James's-hall, Picca dilly, at half-put two, on Thursday, May 9, in behalf of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. The Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P., the Lord Bishop of Oxfo r d, the Right Hon. the Ea rl of Devon, and others will address the meeting. The society provides for the maintenanoe of 517 clergy and 700 lay agents in the colonies and among the heathen. A meeting of the Trades Unions Commissioners was held yesterday (Tuesday), April 30, at No. 1, Park-prospect, Great Queen-etreet, Westminster. Pre sent :—Right Honourable Sir William Erle, chairman ; the Earl of Lichfield, Right Honourable Sir Edmund W. Head, Bart., K.C.8., Sir Daniel Gooch, Bart., M.P., Mr. Herman Merivale, 0.13., Mr. James Booth, C. 8., Mr. J. A. Roebuck, Q.C., M.P., Mr. Thomas Hughes, M.P., and Mr. William Mathews. Mr. J. H. Patteson, secretary to the commission, was also pessent, LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) ITALY AND THE LUXEMBURG QUESTION. FLORENCE, Aram 30. The Opinione of this evening says :—" The Luxemburg question, which threatened to disturb the peace of Europe, has now entered the phase of pacific arrangement. The Italian government, convinced that no deliberate intention of making war existed either at Berlin or Paris, and being informed that its good offices and disin terested counsels would not only be accepted, but were desired on both sides, did not hesitate one moment in coming to an understanding with Eng land, and uniting with her in order to propose a settlement of the most impartial and equitable nature which would fully satisfy the interests and just susceptibilities of two great nations, having equal claims upon our friendship and alliance." THE PRUSSIAN CHAMBERS. BERLIN. Aram 30. In this evening's sitting of the Chamber of Deputies Herr von Fortenbeck was re-elected Pre sident and General Stavenhagen first Vice-Presi dent of the Chamber. Three ballots took place for the election of the Second Vice-President. The conservative candidate, Count Eulenburg, obtained a majority over Herr von Carlowitz, of the party of the Left. The members of the Left Centre party, and Dr. Simeon, the former President of the North German Parliament, hitherto belonging to the old liberal faction, have joined the national liberal party. The latter has resolved to pro pose an immediate vote on the whole federal con stitution. SAXONY. DRESDEN, MAT I. In yesterday's sitting of the Chamber of Deputies the President, Herr Haberkorn, declared that it was necessary fur the representative assemblies of the different States of the North German Confederation to abandon all objection■ against the Federal constitution of the North. He, there fore, urged the Saxon Diet to settle this question as speedily as possible in order to terminate the present precarious and threatening state of things. The chamber then resolved that a vote should be taken on Friday next for the adoption or rejec tion of the whole federal constitution. THE HUNGARIAN DIET. PE:3TH, MAY 1. The Ministers Baron von Eotvos and Gorove have been unanimously re-elected members of the Hungarian Diet for the 2nd electoral district of Buds and for Pesth, respectively. The town and district of Fiume have been sum moned to send deputies to the Croatian as well as to the Hungarian Diet. SWITZERLAND. BERNE, MAT 1. France and Prussia have promised Switzerland strictly to respect her neutrality in the event of war so long as she herself maintains it inviolate. SPANISH FINANCE. MADRID, MAT 1. The Budget for 1866-66 shows a deficit of 340 million reals. The ten months of the current year belonging to this financial period show an excess of expenditure over revenue of 300 million reals. The Epoca states that the deficit will be covered by reductions in several state departments and by new taxes. THE SPANISH PASSIVE DEBT. MADRID, Aram 30, Evcraxo. The usual monthly auction for the sinking fund of the Passive Debt took place to-day. The prices fixed by the government were 27.30 for the Ist Interior, 14.25 for the 2nd Interior, and 21.05 for the 2nd Exterior. Private tenders were made at 26.70 to 26.98 for the lit Interior, and 13.75 to 14.25 for the 2nd Interior. No offers were made for the 2nd Exterior. AMERICA. (NT ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH.) NEW YORK, Aran. 30, 6 P.H. Closing prices :—Gold, 136. Sterling exchange on London, log}, firm. Five-Twenty United Statesßonds, 111 i. Illinois, 114 ; Erie, 65. Stocks strong. Cotton—Middling upland, 30. Petroleum, refined, 26. The City of Washington has arrived out. WEATHER REPORT. -(TH IS DAY. ) WSDNISDAY, MAT I. A.N. IF. R. Ito Nairn 29.811 44 N.E. 1.4&t Murder 1:.1 1846 i 1142 &N.& K. Ardrome 29.89,48 8.8.1. Greaseasils 19.9010 W.& W. Vakmtla 30.09 49 W. Cape C 1.., 00.0 51 &W. 4verpool 19.02 62 W. Holyhead Painnoe 20.10'51 W.N.W. Brest 30.12 52 W. Latina 20.1 t 50 W. Rochefort 140.20'55 W. Plymouth 10.06 51 W.N.W. Weymouth 80.0664 W.N.W. Portamouth 19.9951 N.N.W. London 2'9.9060 W.N.W. Yarmouth 2.4.94 48 W.N.W. Scarborough N. 96 45 N. Shlehls 18111 46 N. Helder Ertzuse. Z. 8.11. B.k. N.N.W. W.N.W. 8.8. W. w. W.N.W. W.B.W. W. N.W. W. &W. 8. 8.8. E. 8. K. RKS. Atmospherical pressurebairni;Waied generally since yester: day ruing. but chiefly la the south-west, and is still increasing. The winds are light to moderate., and are more northerly. esivtit In the south of Ireland where they have backed a little. Thu weather Is overcast, and rain ha+ been generaL The King of the Hellenes is in Paris. Among the persons present at the Princess Mathilde's reception on Sunday evening were the Princess Bonaparte, Marshal the Count and Countess Bernath de Saint4san d'Angely, Duchess d'Elchingen, Countess de Moltke, Countess de Meray-Argenteau, Baroness de Begens, Chevalier Nips, &c. Mdme. Boucher and C.a. doni sang several times, and in the duet of the Trit luta obtained much applause. A Florence letter in the Temps says :—" The novel of Mdme. Rattazzi, of which von have heard, now produces something more than mere scandal here. The men designated in the work, brothers, lovers, or future husbands of the ladies decried, have made a sort of league, and are going to call M. Rattaszi to account one after the other. The storm has become more violent since that statesman became President of the Council. Amongst the demands of reparation is that of Marquis Pepoli, a relative of Madame Rattazzi. The marquis, to whom several pages are devoted, in the description of Ilicheville, sent his seconds, Count Arise and General Ci►ldini, to the husband of the authoress. The friends of the President of the Council met immediately, and began by making the Princess-novelist write a sort of retracts. Lion. She has declared in the Ga:efte di Firenze, that she did not mean to describe or offend anyone. After that step, the friends of M. Rattazzi decided that the chief of the government could not fight a duel under such circum stances, unless a jury of honour should establish his re sponsibility. MM. Arise and Cialdiui accepted the pro posal, and the jury in question is still deliberating. It is affirmed that the cartels sent to M. Rattassi were fifteen in number. Galiptani states that Mdlle. Patti has signed with M. Bagier a new engagement of eight months, for next winter, to commence on the Ist September. EXPRESS FROM PARIS. (PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDINT.) PARIS, TUESDAY EVENINt.. I am sorry to say--and before saying so I hi ve endeavoured to struggle against pessimist that the opinion of those most likely to know th e tendencies of the imperial policy is that the pre. jected conference, if ever it meets, will not preserve the peace of Europe. The semi-official journals write, and their editors talk still more strongly, is the tone of the military party which will - hot hear of any renunciation of the pretensions of France to a large extension of territory. The note in th e Moniteur announcing that no " fresh measures' shall be taken for increasing the armaments of France is not generally construed in a satisfactory sens e , Practically it is of no importance whatever, because during the few weeks, or perhaps days, that roust elapse before we know the result of the recent " pacific intelligence" the impulsion already mated to be given will not wear itself of and the promise only is that no new measures the same kind will be talien. But the terms which this very limited engagement is made too sulkily conceived to be very reassuring. reason is said to be that no " pretext" eh( be afforded to public opinion to be "dis quieted," and that no check may be given to the hopes of peace. A " preter.' for uneasiness is not a very lucid expression, though one understands that any reason for thinking from day to day precisely what govern. ment desires, according to its necessities, may be stigmatised as a pretext. The word is evidently used in a bad sense. The scrupulous desire not to thwart the hopes of peace is not expressed in terms expressing much hope on the part of the official writer. This verbal criticism, if it stood alone, might not be much worthy of no- tice ; but it is more important to note the comments on the present phase of the situation, verbal and written, by those who habitually speak in conformity with the feel ing prevalent in the highest quarters. People who take their ideas from the Home-office scout in pri. mate conversation the notion of peace, but chuckle over the cleverness of the Emperor in getting six weeks or two months more time for preparation by accepting a conference. The Presse to-night tails exactly like those generals who will not hear of any engagement on the part of France, as a condition of the present settlement of the Luxemburg question, to cease for the future to covet and desire the Rhine frontier and Belgium. What Europe wants—namely, a settlement which shall give security against French aggression for the future, is precisely what the most authorised government writers will not hear of. I take it for certain that if the conference meets, the Emperor, so far from restricting the discussion to the Luxemburg question, will endeavour to bring before it all those schemes for his own aggrandisement founded on the caducity of the treaties of 1815, which led him to propose the congress which was not accepted some years ago. The 15th of May has been mentioned as the day for the meeting of the conference, but according to all the beat news here the negotiations have not yet got over the preliminary stages. That London is to be the locus in quo is decided • but the time, so far from being fixed, is nut yet even a subject of deliberation. Orders were given this morning to the French papers to substitute the word " vicissitudes" foe the word " eventualities " in the last paragraph of the King of Prussia's speech. What good is to be got by that change—the change of a bad transla tion for a correct one—is hard to tell. The Bourse was not affected by the note in the Mcntiteur, and clocked rather Hat, with scarcely any change. THE LUXEMBURG CONFERENCE. According to the Owl, it is now settled that Holland, as most immediately concerned, shall lane the invitations to the signitaries of the Treaty of 1839 to meet in conference. All are agreed that the conference shall be held in London, and all are lillliollithat it should assemble as speedily as possible. In the meantime the Owl is glad to be able to announce that "both France and Prussia appear to be animated by a sincere desire for peace. The Cabinet of Paris and the Cabinet of Berlin have both signified their assent to the neutralisation of the territory of Luxemburg. Of course; a neutralised state cannot be occupied by foreign troops, and therefore the Prosaism will cease to garrison the fortress. This is quite under- stood, and so perfect an accord hoe been arrived at that the conference will meet, not to wrangle and dispute and refer for instructions, but to register and sanction arrange. menta already perfected." The San Francisco advicca atate that continuous shipments of grain were taking place to England and else where. According to a telegram of the 9th inst. the ship Chieftain, for Cork, sailed on that day with :01,500 sacks of wheat, together with the Alia, Ball, for Liverpool, with 31,000 sacks. At the rime time 5,700 barrels of tour were cleared for Rio de Janeiro. THE BRITISH ARMY AND THE SNIDER RIFLE. — It is with the greatest satisfaction that we are enabled to state that the whole of the infantry in the army of the United Kingdom are at this moment supplied with the Snider ride, whilst there is an abundance of ammu nition ready for their use. All the difficulties to which we have from time to time alluded have been overcome, and the reports from all districts announce a perfect satisfaction with the arm as • practical weapon. A con siderable quantity of converted arms are in store reedy to be served to regiments on their return from foreign ser vice. It is intended immediately to issue these arms to the army abroad, commencing with Gibraltar and Malta. Application has been ramie by the volunteers of Canada fur the supply of the arm to that force. A abort ride has been adapted for the use of the Irish constabulary. The country may therefore rest content that , pending the at. periments that are to be conducted by the I 'committee on Small Arms, prolonged as they must be, our military forces are, in the respect of breech.lowling rifled arms, in as advanced and satisfactory a position as can be desired. —OW A Nzw Ezottrz or WAR.—A letter from Heidel berg in the Temps says :—" M. Gustave Struve, the chief of the Baden insurrection of 18-18, raises a corner of the veil which covers the new engine of war called the ' hall pump.' He has published in the Ite , Aneltte r of Stuttgard a letter full of the most terrible promisee of destruction. He says :—' I have known this instrument of death since the autumn of IMD, and have seen it working both in London and New York. It has been offered me for sale twice. But in as well as is 1:4;1, I had not the resou mei necessary. lo 1861, at the moment of the I niteil States war, there was • question of using it against the Southerners. Among all those who :IIN• acquainted with it there was only one opinion as to its frightful effect. In Americo. however, nobody dared take the responsibility of intro ducting it into a struggle amongst brothers.' The einem I in question has often been alluded to before rue, but I have always attributed to it a sort of legendary cote coca. M. Struve, who knew it by right, and not b 1 hearsay, is persuaded that no power in the world would be capable of resisting this arm if the different calibres of which it is susceptible were applied to it. It would en' able any body of men to face ten times their number. The construction and motive power are the secret of the in ventor. All that is seen is an iron plate, which receives the India end • tube which discharge. them with the rapidity of lightning. The visible :,ppissrstua is a winch worked by hand or steam according to the weight of the projectiles. M. Struve his seen it in operation in both manners ; it fired balls of two, twelve, and eight pounds ; not at fifty • minute, as has been said , but at three hundred. The stream of bullets can only ke compared to the jet of water from a fire engine. This machine presents, besides, other advantages. There is DO recoil, no noise is heard, nor any smoke. The bowel never heats if even red hot shot is fired. Powder, fulmi nate of silver, and wadding are useless. The mach's, never fouls rind works for ever. The range dependi! %Mon the strength of the motive power. ' I have ...cm it, mar M. Struve, 'throw hallo across the Hudson where at was a mile wide, when eight men turned the handle. venter has assured me that it would carry two miles hire the pm Nerve male ly, in hear ranee the urea' lance ense, muse must treat ad. out, 'es of is in e are The tould be text" text" • al- r not vets. ay be Lently not al in I the stood no- note of those feel- who pri. tickle g six in by talks tar of lition ion, lhine nely, Abut what I not rence ;the will t for ity of o the I ago. day t° a not ,nden time, [Ned reach foe 'ph of to be anala- n the Y any that ne the ) meet tall be amble o glad 'ragas The e both Titer, not be [Bailin/ ander- t that • and range- moue else- , ship sacks • with r were Le. — aided my of with ront• 'bid/ cane, erred con- ay to WT. IS to lalta. made 13 ball The I Ca. e oa Reg 5, in tired. idel• chief the ball- toed :lion. since .b is me I in In there Iler• was ntro- mica iut I t by Id be ,s of I mi- ne e civet , the Inch the both )ight but r This LS DO arra amt. bias wan pays ram •