The Express. — London, England, 1866-12-18 00:00:00

1 i, , 1 i i 1 I. i 10 li,' l :\ I . 1 , 1 .. Ii ; ... L [ 1 i . , i : 1 ; I i ; .1; • , . 1 1 : 1 1. . ,.. ~ 1 1 ,I 1 ; i . •' ' 'l''' , 1 i i, 1 '• t ,1 ! 'APPIN BROTHERS.—Fatablished A. D.lBlO. CHESTSof SILVERPLATE for theCOLONIES, _ CY sad SILVCR, Plan foe MAPPIN BRUT , LOAN -tea. MAPPIN BIOTHRRB, 922, REGENT BROWN and POISON'S OORN MDR for CRILDIULTS MIST. To obtain aim prom by the sale other kinds ere sonislimes offered instead of BRAWN and MAW& John Brown,* "John Poison," is signed 11, the makers molt packet L.ETTS'S DIARIES for 1867 are sold in above -Li 100 varieties, at from Id. to 41 sac& by every bookseller in the civilised world. Catalogues gratis. Lettas Folio DlarY, No. 31, Interleaved with blotting, k the cheapest half -crown Mary Issued No. 8, one day to a page, ea. 6d., is the most generally ZElte erpreoo. TO 00EBESPONDENTS. Adveetiarasente Intended for " The Borer," London Evening MI, must be et the Office , 10, Bouverie-atreet, by Two on the dat of publication. DRURY LANE. TIM ESlNnts, !Urn. Mr. Phelps, Meows. E. Phelps, W. Harrbon, and J. Johnstone; Mrs. Herman yin and Mies Poole —And KAISEILINE AND PETRUCHIO. Mr. T. Swiubourne , Mr. J. Robins, sad Wm Label Adsms. MuontAzurr. TEM MEWL A GAMR OF SPECULATION. Maws. C. Mathows, Chippendale, P.ogers, do. ; Maclaine' Fitwilllam, Las, —ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. Messrs. C. Mathews, Comp ton, ic.; M es dames Mathews & 11111.—Fiall OUT OF WATER. AB csars. TRW BMWS. BAJLNABY RITDOL Mews. & Calhaesa, 1. VUliwe . J.G. Shan', : Mrs. John Wood, Wass Augusts Thomson and Katharine Rodgers, lira Yining, and Mrs. C. NOrswaiL—Preooded by THE MISTRESS OF TILE MILL. STRAND. Teas Ernarnio, NEIGHBOUR& Messrs. Panels, Belford, sad Murray ; Madames Bwanbccongh, Johnstone, end Hughes. KINILIVORTH. Mews. JBOO Thorne, & enton ; bles lames Bwanbo r ougo & Imola so. And TS AT Taß SWAN. HOLBORN. TRH MOHR% at 7, NT TURN NEXT. lir. Beillifire lames Foote and Lanni.—And FLYING SCUD. ews. CC. Saun Neville, den, Del more, Blake, Voltaire, He. Meadames F. J a e phs, Heide Foote, Addeo, Lamm RaTraceml. Ho- BRITANNIA. Taw Wrinnin, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Kr. Leslie and Ulu M. Booth.—Mr. "Dancing Mal" Brian ; Kr. Law n= ; Dugwar, the Indian er.—LitURLTITS BRIDAL , OR, MOSS THAN Arms T REYS.—And BITTER COLD. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BILIDOL Tail DAT —Naming, loh. Ma.— —Afternoon, lob. BOVA. in. TOMOUOW—Morning, llh. Era "Airman, 00. LONDON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18. THE Earl of SILLFTE4BURY is not a man to pay willing homage to the Ritualistic party in the Church of England, but he has written a letter in which the power of that party to change the character of the Church is exalted in terms that go far beyond anything which its own leaders have proclaimed. When Dr. PUSEY writes to the journals to defend himself against some rude and unlearned assailant, he pleads in the name of charity for such toleration as might be safely ex tended to a small and harmless body of clergy, content to live unnoticed in the shadow of their brethren of more popular opinions. We know that they do not like the Reformation, or the principles which governed that great change ; but we were no:. aware that they expected to be able to destroy RS results in Great Britain. Lord SHAFTESRURY, however, thinks that this is a serious danger. If the laity will not come forward and exercise their power, " a miracle alone, and " nothing less, will save the Reformation in Great " Britain." This is a startling sentence ; it is one which, even when every allowance has been made for the breadth of popular statement, is sufficiently alarming. It will be observed that Lord SHAFTES BURY has by no means adopted the language of contempt in which it has been customary to refer to the Ritualistic clergy. We have seen them and their doings discussed in important organs of opinion as if they were a new and strange kind of creatures—objects of curiosity almost as singular in their ways as the Texan ant, bat, on the whole, less worthy of study than that respectable insect. There is nothing of this tone in Lord SHAFTESBURY'S letter, just because, like a man of sense, he distinguishes between the out ward signs and the essential character of the move- ment. Ho does not write about architecture and music, and incense and ornaments and gestures, but about the system which they embody and ex press. He doesnot mention the histrionic clergy, but the Bishop of SALISBURY and Dr. Puszv,who, while they have no doubt been the greatest promoters of Ritualistic ceremony, can if need be dispense with it. He very clearly sees that if the pretensions which these distinguished men make on behalf of their order were allowed, they " would lay us helpless " at the feet of our spiritual advisers ; every right " of private judgment would be taken away, and " we should have to acknowledge, as it were, a " God in every member of the priesthood." But is it really true that the Reformation in I Great Britain is in danger, and that the only hope of averting the dreaded result lies in the prompt and energetic action of the laity ? Lord SHAFTES BURY himself, we are persuaded, would not maintain that the cause of the Reformation in Great Britain is absolutely dependent on the success of parties in the church of which he is so conspicuous a member. There is a church established in Scotland which is not infected with the poison he fears, and both north and south of the Tweed there are vigorous organizations of Christians, such as the Free Church, the Wesleyan Methodists, and those numerous bodies which adopt the Congregational polity, quite capable of giving a noble entertainment to Protestantism should it be driven from the Church of Eng land. We are not satisfied, however, that the case is so serious, and our dependence upon Lord SHAFTESBURY'S remedy so com plete as he supposes. He speaks on behalf of the laity, but has incidentally pronounced an opinion on the clergy which deserves further investigation. Will the clerical leaders of the Evangelical party endorse his statement that with all the advantage of their position, they cannot keep the Church of England Protestant except by the aid of an agitation ? We do not expect it. By so stating they would wrong themselves and their brethren. Lord Swarresarav has described the kind of I lay action to which he looks forward. The laity must " address their bishops, memorialise their " clergy, leave no abuse unnoticed, sustain one " another, and sink all minor differences to sub " serve the common cause." If the Reformation cannot be saved in this way, then "a miracle alone" can do it. Were these strictly the alternatives, we could not hesitate between them. We should decidedly prefer to trust in the miracle, not only as more efficacious, hut as more likely to happen. The intelligent and devout laity ought to have a voice in the affairs of the Church of England at all times, but especially at such a time as this. They are the strength of the Church, but no place is made for them in its councils. They are ex cluded from its representative body, while the composition of Parliament has rendered it unfit to give them legislative assistance. It is true they are told that their interests are pro- ~ ' THE EvitEßß, TUESDAY .EVENINCI, DECEMBIERt 18, 1866. tected by the supremacy of *a Imo! but this examination proves to be no more t i lie saw rity of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Coun cil, a body admirably constituted to preserve their benefices to clerks, but one that gives judgments spina which the Archbishops feel bound to pro test. There is no hope in such an agitation as Lord Snarrifsausy recommends. It is one in which reason and piety would not exert their proper influence ; it would produce nothing but a tem porary clamoux, which the Bishops would meet with barren phrases, and then the Ritualists would be stronger than ever. We see no reason whatever for believing with Lord Basra-sawn' that " the " laity have the power in their own hands," and perhaps this accounts for their remarkable inaction after the strong appeals that have been made to them. LordSsaresssxravtelleus that the vastmajo rity of the thinking workpeople of London and the North regard the Ritualistic principle with dislike; but they have no voice in the matter. Of the wealthy, professional, and business classes of Eng land he will affirm nolhing ; but Lord EsuxY, who agrees with him in his opposition to Ritualism, has lately said that he must honestly confess that, " having had excellent opportunities of studying " the question, it is his belief that the greater " portion of our influential laity are either in " favour of the Tractarian movement or indifferert " to it." If this representation be true we must turn to the other alternative ; there remains only the miracle. In other words, we must expect and hope for the revival and manifestation within the Church of those spiritual forces proper to ita nature and familiar in its history, to give a new and better direction to thought and effort. It is by a succeesion of such miracles—as they may pro perly be called, since they are always ascribed by ChristianstoasuPernatural source—that the Church has been sust-ined and its life renewed through the ages. Such was the Reformation itaelf— such the great revival which began with the preaching of WESLEY. But they cannot be pro duced to other ; if they express a need, they are not born of it. Although their results cannot be hidden, they themselves come " not " with observation." The new life of Europe had to be born in the soul of Lrrraza, amidst pangs and outcries, before the Reformation could b e come possible ; an soffit test movement, whose consequences appear pontous, began amongst quiet-loving men, and took firm hold upon some of the most influential minds of the generation before it wm heard of by the world. Ritualism, or rather the system which it represents, is quite as dangerous as Lord SuarrEssuae believes. There may be those who believe that its vitality lies in the qualities which constitute this danger. We prefer to believe of it as of other systems, that it exists in virtue of what is good in it, and in spite of what it contains of evil. There is a modern French proverb, which declares that " Nothing is destroyed until it ih re " placed." Let the more thoughtful of our clergy consider this truth, and ask themselves whether it is not at least possible that the religion of KEBLE contained some true religious element not to be found in the systems with which it came into com parison—whether if it did not supply, it at least reco?nised some legitimate human want which others had left unsatisfied. The inquiry can do no possible harm. A day of trial is at hand when all religious systems will be put to a severe test. The Ritualists may be the destined d es troyers of the Reformation ; but on the other hand they may be also a party raised up for the temporary purpose of giving their due place to some forgotten Christian virtues, and then dis appear. It cannot be wrong, it must always be useful to point out their error, trace them to their root, and restore to their rightful place the truths those errors are calculated to obscure ; but if any one imagines that a serious religious move ment is to be stopped by clamour or the opposition of worldly convenience, ho mut... have studied mankind to little purpose. Even the sacred interests of the liberty of the human mind can hardly avail to defend themselves in their own name on this ground, but require the pro tection of some form of faith with which they are ;n harmony. fenced this tsesk, the Pest remark/ thee the really gist apn in *into in the Omission of glide :sa ie wrelehed co ndition of most girls' schools is only y known to those whose duties have led the m into p • experience of the working of those establishments. But those who do know them can testify to the baldness, meagreness, and poverty of the instruction given. It in net to be wondered at, s i n eethe teachers themselveshave h ad no means of becoming better than they are. IS they taught Beglish tolerably well, French decently, music showily, and deportment grace fully, they held their mission to be fulfilled. Hence the large number of ill-grounded, half-educated, unreasoning' showy, superficial women, who so largely increase the insipidity of private society. But Cambridge has virtually said that if any schools or heads of families will so train their girls as to enable them to pass the same examination that the boys pass, the university will attest their snows in the same manner as it does the success of the boys. The wisdom of this is undoubted, and the success is yearly increasing. Tbis weak girls are being exam ined in Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge, Leeds, London, Manchester, Norwich, Sheffield, Wakefield, and Wolverhampton. The total number is two hundred and two, a small number in itaelf, but, as against one hundred and fifty-eight last year, it shows a marked increase in the acceptability of this movement amongst the class for whom it is specially de signed. In future years it must be greater. All the best schools will work hard to send up pupils, whose suc cess will bring credit to their teachers, and, with credit, profit. cliscutarreoce TOPICS. The Times continues to urge upon Turkey to cede the Island of Crete to Greece. Evidently it will be depopu lated before it is subjugated, and the affair at Aziedi has roused Greek enthusiasm to its highest pitch. Surrounded by dangers, it is full time for Turkey to collect herself and to concentrate her forces, and to this end the aban donment of Crete will materially contaibute. The Daily News sees in the renewed demand of the Irish presbyterians for an increase of region dons" an instance of the shrewdness of their class and the possession of the thrift of their ancestors. In perfect harmony with the precedents of two cen turies they are seeking to sell their loyalty, and, at a time when that quality in Ireland is by no means abundant, to obtain a reward and retainer for political services. When the presbyterian agitators find, as they will before many months, that parliament will not enter tain their application, it may perhaps occur to them that the true ecclesiastical reform of which Ireland stands in need is to be sought in another direction ; and that the 1 road to religious equality lies in the abolition, and not in the multiplication and nice counterpoise, of sectarian privileges. While premising that in the present stage it is impossi ble to form a decisive opinion on certain parts of the Overeud and Gurney case, the Times nevertheless thinks it clear that the old firm of the Gurneys have wronged no one, but as to the directors by whom the new company was organised, it cannot think that an invitation to the public with half the story concealed was morally justi fiable. Before further judgment is past it must be clearly shown whether the ultimate failure was caused by the ruinous nature of the bargain made with the old firm, or the ruinous nature of the business conducted by the new company. The Herald thinks that the ritualist' have an oppor tunity for honourable retreat, which it would be well if they turned to account. Not one of those bishops who have pronounced most decisively against ritualism as a system would ever think of interfering with every parochial clergyman, simply because all the rites and ceremonies used in his church did not quite square with episcopal views. Besides, it is well known that the bishops are not agreed upon ritual among them selves. If, then, every clergyman would look to his bishop's sanction before he introduced novelties into the public worship of the church many things would be permitted, which are apparently not according to law, and certainly contrary to the received interpretations of law. If, however, that extreme section in the church represented by the (extreme party in the Church Union shall still persist in innovations not sanctioned by the law, not approved of by their episcopal superiors, and offensive to the national instincts, let them blame them selves if they provoke a spirit of opposition which will brook no compromise. The Star thinks the only results of the present outcry against unions grid unions will be to hasten the inter national organisation of labour throughout Europe, and the adoption of those schemes for uniting the interests of capital and labour which, though advocated by Mr. Mill and Mr. Fawcett, and happily exempli fied at Messrs. Briggs and Co.'s colliery, are considered by many of the denouncers of trades r -lions as little better than socialism. .LArqot GERMANY. The old liberal party in Prussia—de Vlncke , doniit Schwerin, Simeon, &c.—has just published its programme for the elections to the parliament of the North. The following are the principal assages : F por the second time since 1848 we find ourselves in presence of elections for a German parliament. The task assigned to that Assembly is more limited than on the f or mer occasion, but it promises to be much more fruitful. The late success o f Prussia has dedded, once for all, the supremacy of that state. She plains her entire strength at the disposal of the new poli tical formation, and the Prussian government ex,pects the co-operation of a popular representative body in con stituting the confederation of Noithern Germany. The s tate to be created must oontsin in its general forms the faculty of extending itself to the whole of Germany, but it will not possess the necessary power of extension and attraction, unless it be provided with the guarantees of c onstitutional liberty. On the other hand, the funda mental condition of success appears to consist in aiming, provisionally, only at the end directly propoeed. The solidity and force of the new state will depend et first upon that limitation. If the parliament understands, as being among its duties, the complete realisation of Prussian supremacy, the transfer of military, diplomatic, and commercial affairs to the Crown of thePruia, will take place concurrently with th e establislunent f guarantee provided by the constitutional co-operation of the people in fixing the budget and enacting the laws. The mission of the liberal party is, above all, to place it self in that point of view, and to carry it out in the par liament. It must desire, first of all, that the directing ent should have a position s t ron g enough to re• presentpresen a nd defend the young sta te. Its duty will be, whilst efficacioudy supporting the needs of the govern ment in that respect, to acquire the necessary influence over the latter, and to consolidate it, with the full con sciousness of the high responsibility imposed by the great duties of the epoch. IPE COLLIERY ff CATASTROPHE NEAR f • ;;tl. • DAMN 'Mi. (fox eon anew. areOwege.) BARNSLEY, MONDAY EVICNINO. This afternoon a public meeting has been held in the Court-house for the purpose of organising the best means of affording re li ef. There was as large an attend ance of the public as the room admitted of, and the influ ence of the county was represented by Bari Fitswilliam, the Archbishop of York, Lord hfilton,ll.P., Lord Halifax, Lord Wharnoliffe, and numerous landed proprietors. The first-named nobleman, who is lord-lieutenant of thelikling. occupied the chair. The meeting was convened by the local authorities, who are termed constables, and the ex ceptional circumstance of opening such a gathering with the reading of prayers, was observed. The proceeding' were then introduced by the noble CHAIRMAN, who with much emotion referred to the causes of the meeting, anti expressed his assurance that appeals for aid would not be made in vain. The Queen's telegram, offering • gift of 2001. if a subscription were set on foot. was read amidst general cheering. The first resolution was one of deep sympathy with the widows and orphans,and re gret at the accident which made them so. Th e Archbishop of Yorke, in moving this motion, which it is needless to say wa s carried unanimously, pithily observed that this was not a time for oratorical in dulgences, and that in an assembly called for each a purpose as this silence was almost a necessity. HL grave, referring to a proposal generally made in the loca lity to employ any surplus funds left from other colliery accidents to relieve the sufferers, hoped no such sur plus would be resorted to at a time when there was another dreadful accident in North Staffordshire demand ing public support. Lord WRAIINCLIM seconded the resolution, and said with considerable emphasis that if any parochial autho rities made the public subecriptions an excuse for reducing their allowances to the widows and orphans, he would at coos withdraw the subscription he intended to give and bestow it elsewhere. His lordship further urged that, in addition to the relief of immediate distress, it was the duty of the authorities to provide for the fatherless children until they were grown up. The second resol u tion was one of sympathy with the proprietors of the Oaks colliery for their loss of property, and for the " crushing sorrow" they felt at the deaths of their workmen. The Rev. Mr. Common (Baptist), amidst cries of thear, hear," and a call of " order f " objected as a owns to the fo rm man of Barnsley c the resolution,: because he said it was thought outside that had two other shafts been sunk in the colliery, this calamity might have been averted. During the cheering that followed this remark a gentle mao rose and called the 'meeker to order. Mr. COMMON claimed the right of public meeting, and pointed out that he and others had come to the court house to raise funds, but not to express their unquali fied admiration of the proprietors. A disturbance was imminent, the speaker's friends and opponents being ap parently not very unequal. Mr. Compston said he felt it to be his duty, lest the resolution should be considered to exonerate the colliery owners from blame, to move an amendment that would merely add these words, " The meeting also expresses ita regret that proper precautions were not taken by the sinking of proper shafts." The majority of the audience s howed unmistakeable disapprobation at this, and the Chairman ruled the Rev. Mr. Competon to be out of order, on the ground that the subj ect involved was beyond the province of the meeting. The resolution was then carried without opposition. The third resolution was one of sympathy with the families of the volunteer searchers who were lost by the second explosion. Thanks wore t a hen voted to the Queen, and it was deter mined to open p u blic subscription, to be headed by the 2001. sent by her Majesty. Detailed arrangements were then made, and numerous subscriptions announced. The conference of engineers to-day have just broken up, adjourning for another week. They have agreed to prepare a narrative of the first explosion and the facts up to the second explosion — t he whole to be prepared from reports of reliable eye-witnesses. The result of the meet ;'g's scientific deliberations is that the sealing up of the cupola shaft shall be completed without delay, and that one of the shafts at the pit mouth shall also be filled up, leaving the other for t he escape of air from the pit. Any further action will be guided solely by circumstances. At half-pmt 2 this afternoon two more explosions hap pened at the pit mouth , but n o in j ur y was done. ,be \ The Marchionesa of Hastings and Lady Con stance Blarehain, and Viscount Falkland, have arrived at the St. George's Hotel. The Earl of Glaagow has left the St. George's Hotel. The Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells has left the Alexandra Hotel, Hyde-park-corner, for the Palace, Wells. Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlayne entertained last week, at their seat, Cranbury Park, near Winchester, a select party of friends, including Prince Leiningen, the Earl and Countess of Winterton and the Ladies Maria and Cetherine Turnour, the Earl of Clonrnel, Major-General Lord William Paulet, Sir Bruce and Lady Chichester, the Hon. Mrs. Craven Berkeley, Sir Frederick Hervey Bathurst, Mr. Newton Chichester, Mr. Cameron Hamp den, &c. The well-preserved coven afforded the gentle men some good sport, and the festivities of the week were brought to close by a ball. Lord Brougham arrived in Paris on Saturday from England, and slighted at the Hotel Mirabeau. His lordship, who is in excellent health, has since left for Cannes. The Simaphore of Marseilles announces the arrival in that city from Italy of the Earl of Clarendon. It is not intended to fill up the vacancy in the Leeds District Court of Bankruptcy caused by the retire ment of Mr. Commissioner West. Last evening the prizes competed for by the members of the North Middlesex Rifles were distributed at the St. Pancras Vestry-hail by Mr. Thomas Chambers. Q.C., M.P. Mr. Harvey Lewis. M.P., and Lord Rare Ugh were among those present, and the latter, in the course of a speech upon the volunteer movement, said that it was a curious fact (and still more curious for him, a tory, to say it) that the members of the Reform League were in a better state of organisation, under Mr. Potter, on the occasion of their great demonstration, than were the volunteers of England. His lordship said the volunteer force was not in that state of organisation which it should be, and it was " a farce " for the government to ignore the fact any longer. Let them boldly face the difficulty, and come forward with some scheme to place the great volun teer regiments of the country in a proper state Of organisation. The Presse speaks in the following terms of the journey of the Empress Eugenie to Rome :—" The pilgrim- 1 age projected by her Majesty to the Tomb of the Apostles, the first idea of which was suggested by the illness some months back of the Prince Imperial, will very shortly re ceive its execution. The Empress, it is said, will spend the days of the Christmas festival at Rome. At that period, as is well known, the Pope, ac known, tradition, receives all the good wishes for the coming year, and sends his apostolic benediction to all catholic sovereigns. Her Majesty may in this way receive the pontifical blessing at Rome itself. The Empress will probably be again in Paris for the customary receptions of the New Year." The Danish Parliament (Rigsdag) is continuing its Labours. The bill granting a dowry of 60,000 six dol lars (2s. 2d. each) to the Princess Dagmar was adopted unanimously and without discussion. The Folkethiog, or Lower Chamber, has just voted in its integrity the propo sition of the government to open a credit of 1,347,930 Az dollars for the new armament of the Danish army. Since the French occupation of Mexico it has been the custom of the French government to issue pro missory notes at sixty days' sight, payable in Paris, for the service of the Frees& army, an the indorsement of the chief of the expeditionary corps, and on being presented at the proper government department at Paris they have always hitherto received a formal rise equivalent to an acceptance. An amount of these notes, however, which has just been remitted to moms English merchants has been refused a vise, on the ground of no advice' having been received. The difficulty is supposed to be owing solely to the confusion prevalent in Mexico during the existing crisis, but until the French government shall, officially recognise them according to custom the holders are likely to experience anxiety and inconvenience. the Court. OSBORNE, DEC. 17. Princess Louise and Prince Leopold attended Divine Service at Whippingbain Church yesterday. The Rev. George Prothero officiated. The Queen and Princess Louise walked and drove in the grounds this morning. Prince and Princess Christian walked out, and Prince Leopold and Pi:nem Beatrice went out also. Dr. Jenner left to-day for London. OUR CONTEMPORARIES. THE Di - RE OF EDINSUROIL—NoRwrcti, Mow- DAV EVENINCI.—His Royal Highness the Duke of Edin burgh arrived here this afternoon, en route for Gunton park, where he will pass the remainder of the week with Lord and Lady Suffield. His Royal Highness was expected to have been accompanied by the Pi ince and Princess of Wales, but as the latter distinguished personages stand in need of a abort period of repose, they remelt' at Sandring ham-house for the present, although it is understood that the Pi ince of Wales will pay a short visit to Mr. Villebois in the course of the cue rent week. The Duke of Edin burgh travelled by the ordinary train leaving Lynn at noon, but on reaching East Dereham he came on to Norwich in a special train, which was under the manage ment of Mr. Stevenson, district superintendent at Nora:ch. He arrived at the Norwich (Thorpe) station at 10 p.m., having made the run from East Dereham, a dist ince of twenty-four miles, in thirty minutes. Lord Suffield was on the platform to receive his distinguished guest, who was attended by his equerry, Lieutenant Haig, and accompanied by the Hon. Mr. and Mrs. Coke. Lord Suffield had a dashing four-in-hand in readiness for the royal visitor, who took his place on the box seat of the drag by the side of Lord Suffield, who drove himself. The distance between Noiwich and Gunton-park being about 24 mi'es, the Duke and his host would, after partaking of refreshment at Norwich, wive there between 5 and 6 o'clock this afternoon. To-morrow the Prince will com mence shooting on Lord Suffield's estate, which is heavily stocked with game. Among the distinguished circle in vited to meet the Duke of Edinburgh at Gunton are Lord and Lady Alfred Paget, the Marquis of Bowmont, Vis count Newry, Colonel and Lady Emily Kingecote, Lord and Lady Rendlesham, &c. Lord and Lady Suffield will give a ball during the stay of their royal visitor, who, ac cording to present arrangements, will return to Sandring ham-house on Saturday. THE QUEEN AND THE WINDSOR INFIRMARY. Her Majesty the Queen, who, in company with the Princess Louise, recently visited the Windsor Infirmary, caused the following gratifying letter to be forwarded to Mr. G. Cortland, the secretary :—" Windsor Castle, December 11, 1866.—Dear sir,—l am commanded by the Queen to ex press the gratification which her Majesty derived from the visit which she paid yesterday to the Windsor Roy-1 Infirmary. Her Majesty particularly remarked the clean, wholesome state of the wards and the general good ventila tion of the house ; but what made most impression was the contented looks and tone of even those who were suf fering moat from the accidents and complaints which brought them into the hospital. This can only have been caused by the care and attention of the three gentlemen who devote so much of their time gratuitously as visiting surgeons, to the house surgeon's skill, and to the matron's constant kindness and devotion to her business. It was also explained to the Queen that the successful working of details is effected mainly by an active weekly board, who sacrifice much of their time to the good object, aided by a painstaking secretary, and her Majesty was glad to learn that the establishment of this local infirmary has in no respect diminished the usefulness of the old dis pensary, which bad so long alleviated the sufferings of the poorer classes in their own homes in and around Windsor. I will thank you to communicate the ooatenta of this letter to the committee, as well as to those who have been named as hating attracted the approbation of her Marty. —I am, dear sir, your truly, FRANCIS H. SEYMOUR." On the following day six brace of very fine pheasants were sent to the institution, with a letter seating it to be her Ma jest 'a wish that all the inma t e s (whose eases would allow) might be permitted to partake of them. It is a pleasur able fact that with one eion all the patients were allowed by the 'arrows to beesasted with the m oi l w e , which they heartily enjoyed. Major-General Seymour LIMED-SIFT EXAMINATION OF GIRL& attended at the institution during the day by request of Commenting in congratulatory terms upon the Cam- her Majesty to ascertai an n how my of the patios& had bridge University local examinations which have coin. been permitted to partake of the game. (THIS DAY.) AMERICAN AFFAIRS. Candour must compel us, says the Times, to acknowledge that themanner in which the American nation is bearing its load of taxation, and the promise which it gives that its stupendous debt ~,a1 be paid before the generation passes away which saw it created, surprises us not only in itself, but because it runs counter to what we anticipated, considering the quarter in which it is discovered. The conduct of ever? State in the Union, with the single exception of MUM' chusetts, had cast a slur of suspicion upon the honesty of the collective nation, but this sus picion the Federation has hitherto put to shame. The Times, however, goes on to express a doubt that this wll I mat, conjecturing that when the fundamental questions of reconstruction are once settled Congress will address itself itself to a revision of the tariff and give some relief from the oppressive nature of the existing system of taxation. It is obvious to the Daily News that Mr. Johnson is one of those men in whom reflection and time work no change. In the Old World such men provoke revolutions, and nearly all the political wrecks of modern history are due to their mismanagement and obstinacy. Fortunately for the American republic, Mr. Johnson's power for mis chief is far more limited than bis power for good. Not only is he wanting in that instinct of statesmanship which accepts measures which are possible when those which are most desirable are impracticable, but he is not sufficiently a patriot to sacrifice his own opinion in the interests of his country. The leading men of the repub lican majority evidently regard Mr. Johnson's reiteration of his old positions as a sign of fatuous obstinacy, but, if so, it will lead the more certainly to resolute and sweeping measures. Congress will not allow him much opportunity o! exercising his obstructive power ; and if it makes a moderate use of its great victory, and is co ntent to reduce Mr. Johnson to powerlessness, without in any way giving him the dignity of martyrdom, it will be u successful in legislation as it has been in azitation, and will carry a wise and healing policy to complete este ' blishruent. The Herald, alluding to the passages in the message relating to Irish discontent, expresses a wish for his sake, and for thatof thepeople of America over whom be is placed, who in default of him may have a less humane and less en lightened ruler, that Mr. Johnson could see his way as well through his troubles as we can through ours. To the Telegraph Mr. Johnson's position has the immense merit of being perfectly intelligible, of being recommended by sound patriotism, of harmonising with the opinions of the wisest fathers of the republic, and of being calculated to promote, easily and at once, the mate rial well-being of the commonwealth in all its sect:loos, and the Telegraph yet trusts to see the nation enlisted on his side. Treating of the part of the message which bears on the Alabama case, the Star observes that Lord Stanley has but one course to follow, and that is to make the best arrangement possible for a settlement of the question. It will get worse the longer it is delayed, and the humiliation will be even more bitter if we permit the present opportu nity to escape, when we may settle it with some show of hoe will. (rteuTEß's nuown.) FRANCE AND ITALY. PAM, DEC. 18. The Moniteur of this morning Publishes the con vention concluded on the ith inst. between France and Italy for the settlement of the pontifical debt. The articles of the convention correspond with the information already published on this subject. ROME. ROME, Dsc. 17. The Pope paid a visit this morning to King Louis of Bavaria. His Holiness afterwards went to the Capucin church. THE BANK OF SPAIN. BLADRID, Dac. 18. The Bank of Spain has reduced its rato of dis count to 6 per cent. (BY ATLARTIC TELEGRAPH.) AMERICA. NEW YORK, DEC. 17, Em-rso. Gold, 138. Sterling exchange on London, lamp 5-20 United States Bonds, 107 tr ; Illinois, 118 ; Erie, 73. Cotton, middling upland, 34i. EXPRESS FROM PARIS. (ram' OUR ows conaespommi 7 '.l PARIS, MONDAY EVENING. The Emperor, Empress, and the Imperial Prince arrived at the Tuileries from Compiegne at 3 o'clock this afternoon. The journals continue to speak doubtfully of the Empress's pilgrimage to Rome. The France gives a list of the suite that will accompany her, " if" she goes. General Fleury figures in the list. Much pains are taken to impress the public mind with the notion that her Majesty's trip will have no political character, and that she will be merely fulfilling a religious vow, taken long ago, when her son was ill, to visit the toral of the apostles. As I mentioned yesterday, the temptation to the Emperor to allow the desirei journey is that it might tend to persuade the ignorant catholic population that he stands well with the Pope. The prefects of Lyons and Mar_ seines, in both which cities there is a large ca tholic element, have undertaken that her Majesty shall have an enthusiastic reception on her way to Rome. The unpopularity of the scheme for the reorgani sation of the army increases visibly. The friends of the project grow lukewarm as its enemies wax more and more bold. It begins to be rumoured that the project will be mutilated in the Council of State, and that the Corps Legislatif cannot be relied upon to pass it. The vital clause empowering the Emperor to call out the reserve whenever he pleases is highly unconstitutional. The Emperor is the commander-in-chief of the army, but not (constitutionally) the sole judge of the numbers of which the army shall consist. There is a talk of M. Fould's financial report coming out before Christmas, instead of at the be ginning of January, as usual. To make things look pleasant it will not contain any estimate of increased expenses for the army, and so will show a handsome surplus. It will not in the least interfere with the government project for an in creased military force that the bill shall be sent in later. The following mysterious paragraph appears in I l the France under the heading " Latest News, 3 o'clock :" A most serious piece of news is current about the Em peror Maximilian. Before publishing it we await further information. I have no idea what the particular news referred to may be. All I know is that his farcical empire has long been at an end ; that if he could have done as he liked he would have followed his bag gage and arrived in Europe at the time when he was expected ; and that whatever forms may have been used for his retention, and in whatever light his countermarch from Orizaba to Mexico city may be represented to the public, be is only there, in point of fact, as Marshal Bazaine's prisoner. If any news more "grave" than this is about to be published, I am ignorant of it. The Bourse fluctuated a good deal, the Rente, which ultimately fell only 5c., was not the princi pal subject of speculation. Mobilier fell 20fr. Rumours have long been current that the usual New Year's dividend of 25fr. per share would not be paid this year. Hopes have been held out that by the aid of a loan from the Duke of Gallicia, 12fr. 50c. might be paid,but doubts were expressed to-day whether there would be anything forth coming. The affair of the Socidt4 Immobiliere's lottery is still sub judice. Italian fell 30e., Credit Foncrier rose 3fr. 75c. " The state of Count de Bismarck's health," says the Union, " whatever may be said to the contrary, occa sions serious uneasiness. Our own information states that four medical men of the first eminence met in consultation at Berlin three days back. Were the malady not of a very grave ammeter, such an appeal to the greatest medical celebrities of Berlin and Vienna would certainly not have been made." Foraiahed houses and apartments in Paris are now only Ist b mespiers for a short period * spa in many oases no engagement is made to extend beyond the month of January. ~~ ~~ ._ ~: • . • L After Term the The Solid abiPpto e "O d d s hiallo of e o f the 0 ' T ues day be neat con' greet 000 Jurym en wee thst it would be d The Lord no doubt. was a • • its Th e 21oH. t L he o will be the. The Soli.. make the other • • • The The fart . in& It consequent; the • Mr. Me i 1 plaintiff bir Georg fondant. Mr. Ba fore punt • customs, Maned afterwards from Lis • • Coast of steamer in been any tion requ • vice she The Lo • to this as from the wm no • tart in i faith a ought to the • • tain an oommuoi were View of whether • at what self the it was not, to common served arose as rebellion mused se re .. • a give • Lovernm ion whi for th e kaowl had . The Game that • is. Georgia est he had ✓i. time of The entered move • la re. Si . bra This mob& ~ the de' been e via could .• int some - dant, , Of was dant Angles idsd on th ford, was gi the Mr. a it ids d Lewis . it w that Mr. • our. bo y were p. y the p Cr. s ve the bete shares tom before ri iee Court. were O tie mark read • Soon mad Dud • c Os the . • I is Eve Mr. A • e l e s rt d cc" beam elt• the o agile • forth bet ttei helm misc a sum :be am bank Is ' for e. the ide tee • tbe arra • beak memo It se sort. ;WO bank L, 3 sed 6 call .. a iR Ilea ? WO .Lira K rag:: • t ido. etao lll • • T le Ts I TUei WM. W D ilipsol l . • eh. aufacto . he ,mo d had for w rad° the • g him. ostaweb . had d set b. genre codd hi d not e beeu i y wed, d Th t time de Haw' oestiseild the. TM ri d Th tbenfidi' paai wows court ties fa!: • est, 11..1, - rate ass wt° l " c'g ra o o l4 ' s lay the CmPini' • T the oil •es od e odd as do too• klt LI V 3 r — t w iLop • amilt , " In rte N ye : oi this Ins ta d s sor *dui twos . ta gate Frerel l no t • tot bi that KI in BetP'" -- ; a • the . Po d °me in di g ences': r derett y`by rt step • e badsoeso4l rocgb the lw 0 11 I ex em. P ie hose ever IP"' the • . . • le &awl'', . . is Ando' . • aw l the •••r - a iriter fel° G. THE CATTLE PLAGUE. Yesterday afternoon a deputation from th Central Chamber of Agriculture waited upon the led President of tits Pvivy Council for the of nem * some sungestions with reference to tE kri" re:en . t otder council [focusing the opening of certain galik ( Oo , end the for the p i tre of presenting certain resolutions et* to view to being embodied in an act of parliament Ot t the part of the deputation there were present Mr. Iy4, land, M.P.., Mr. Read,9LP., and Mr. Pell; ldr. Cskrig e and Lord Courtemiy were also present. The members,( the Council present were the Lord Prelident, Corry, IL ?., and Sir Stafford Northoote, M.P. Mr. Prix, in introducing the balms, said that ti e deputation, though small n number, represented it body of men, including the members of twenty • tonal societies working with them. The i r e Ch a mber of Agriculture, in considering the pr o sent position of the cattle plague, had wee to a series of resolutions the first of which related to arrangements now exist ing for the regulation o f „ we markets, and the others to some provisions cd winch wished to see embodied in a permanent act They believed that the of the 7th of Neuss* authorising th e o pening of certain markets in the cove t% lied been productive of harm, inasmuch u it tended * make people believe that the rinderpest had almost ltd the country. and led to a loose construction of pbe ea strictive provisions regulating the movement of cattle, n* • general relaxation in the law, which might prove vei l injurious by inducing a return of the pert. The LORD PINNITIDENT reminded Mr. Pell that He order of the 7th of November was more stringent than*, previous regulations in respect to the removal of cam, to the markets which were licensed. It had oven to the knowledge of the government that large im a m of beasts were being sold and moved shout the come* surreptitiously, and there was a general relaxation k regard to the oonetruction of the orders in council. The government thought that it was far better to allow de animals to be sold at Hemmed markets under strict sops* vision than than they should be moved about tab roan * the event of any CM of rinderpest showing itself at es* market the disease might be traced to the exact sp i e whence it o riginated, and measures might be taken A..goOkdeal of conversation took place se to the k n e mode of dealing with the disease in its present etas, sect the numerous evasions of the law. mellentran mentioned a singular and systematic mei* practised by dealers at Angle**, which consisted in pq g to three or four magistrates and getting a limes fun cash to remove the same cattle to different town. pit instance, from one magistrate they would get a henna move cattle—say to Rugby ; from another a second hum to move them to Leicester ; and a third would le obtained, say . , for Norwich. Then, in the event of fie ca ttle n ot bang disposed of at the first plass, that them was torn up, and another was produced showing thetas cattle were en route for the second place, and so on. ease had been brought before the rna,Tistmtes of this kind, tit th did not see how they could interfere. The LORD PRISIDINT stated that he should be glad i s have some authentic particulars of such cues, etes the council would consider the subject, and devise some means of meeting such evasions. Mr. Real) then referred to the second series of ninth tions, containing suggertions for the permanent regalia* of the cattle trade. They were of opinion that the lee portation should be confined to certain ports, that all lei cattle should be slaughtered at such ports and sent to the various markets, that the lean stock should he 'Upend to stringent quarantine regulations, that lairs and othe facilities s hould be provided, that means druid is adopted for rapid transit, and that water should be gies in sufficient quantity to cattle in transit's. There sea provisions for the proper inspection of ships' hold', fat ventilation, for inspection, &c., and the ressintioss fen they suggested that persons knowingly exposing any ti r mal for sale aMieted eith the rind erpest should to pWld with fine and imprisonment. Lastly, it was summed g e t there should be an efficient inspection of des - time*. Some further conversation ensued on the ruins pile referred to, and The Loan PRESIDENT intimated that as it we is tended to submit a government measure to pulithell soon after it met the suggestions would hays due Ogni. deration. The present system was not to allow fat sal. math to leave the London market alive. He plumed the agricultural societies did not wish that to be changed! Mr. R EAD --Ceti/4211y not. The LORD PRZSIDENT pointed out that adricultuel b). cieties might give the government much asseseace u ference to this subject. The great evil the council rude contend with at present was a general apathy, les* b the dismissal of inspectors, &c. He was very glad to be. the views of the deputation, and th might te issal that the government would give them ey the fulket consideration. his Mr. Phu. thanked l or dship for the courtesy sit which they had b e en received, and the deputation Mini THE DISTRESS AMONGST THE OPERATIVES°. DEPTFORD AND GREENWICH. - - Last night, at 8 o'clock, a numerously attended and influential public meeting of the inhabitants Depdord, Greenwich, Lewisham, Charlton, Lc., au held at the Literary Institution, Royal-hill, Greenwich, in sod d the movement for the relief of the many %Musa& d unemployed and destitute iron shipbuilders in OS district. The chair was occupied by Viscount liouthstuth loll'. for West Kent, and on the platform were Sir Ch Bright, SLY. for Green w i ch ; Mr. 013yree, Y.P. it Cashel ; Admiral Hamilton ; the Rev. Canon MBe Vicar of Greenwich, &c. The Chairman mid lis net fully persuaded, from the fact which had been kid Mho him by the committee, that the most wideepread inns prevailed in that locality, and that a clear case India made out for appealing to the British public. It mewl that 4,000 applications had been made to de committee for relief, but the funds were quite opal to meet the emergency. It bed been rammi that the stoppage of iron shipbuilding on tbs Thames, and the consequent distress had kest caused to a great extent by strikes the ironworkers of the north, but if such w a tt case, It ought not to be visi ted upon the distressed opm tives of Deptford. Another rumour wat the wr ighte now unemployed were o ff ered work during ist parts of a day, and to receive wages in proportion, batter these terms were declined by direction of the trades Inca Now, if they appealed to the public, nothing could te um fatal to obtaining public sympathy than to bass itle lieved that the distress wa s mused by strikes or th e Ile coca of trades unions. He wished not to discuss the pis ciple of a trades union, but he would ask the (prosiest the working classes preeent, did such unions fay ! It we true that in many cases they had succeeded us Ms** rate of wages, but had they not driven up wages to mai 6 point that it was a most difficult thing for the Brine to compete with the foreign manufactutar ?TO it not a fact that at the present time irm locomotives, iron-ships, and manufactured timber Pal were being supplied by foreign firms at a mu Oki* ch &MS rate than this country coul d su pp ly them, mud suited from the difference between the logo d IS, artisans employed. He appeared there not to set dim against Labour, or labour agatnst capital, but he sr ow vinced that the time must come when this wagetquoio would have to be considered in the interests of bothpulier or some most important branches of British mmufartim would be driven from our shores. T he Rev. Coon lb& fully concurred in the remarks of the cla, 01_ moved—" That this meeting deeply deplores the Pair trees at present existing amongst the working flans this locality, which irises mainly from eirtunistmensk, yond their control " If the word mainly had net W. in the resolution he did n ot know th at be could kil, moved it, because when he heard that the men day sork or sesl! them had been offered three•quarten , • three-quarters pay, sad that they had to wait threat " before they got a reply from the tradesunion,hethough proved a state of tyranny on the part of these tom • __I A which he hoped would toot last much lo n g er. no Fri c ondition of these shipbuilding operatives and th s enu." lies was most distressing. They bail in MID t- i with the whole of their furniture, and as fah._ Warted d were quite insu ffi cient. Sir Charlo. Bright,lLL,l! seconding, endorsed the statement of the chairman asten! advantage gained by foreign manufacturers in °ottani. oej of the cheapness of labour. The motion was. „ 641 °P7: Mr. Byrne mid, having been for years offislol 1 1; netted with the Thames Iron Ship Building Conl ai l , could bear the most complete testimonyng men to tie oil es honty, and intelligence of the worki" W A.. At the 0101 direction and now out of em p lo y strikes were di s t ur bing the country these m en took so in the movement, and he never asked a man tn. an thing without meeting with the utmog ill ”,.. A were also delivered by Admiral Hamilton, x" (tumor Airey, and others. ----"----. -.'------"--"..- - -- _.....,40/10 A letter from Rome of the 11th says Porrtifical corps de garde on the piazza Colima lak gummy inauguration yesterday morning. Du s O4 tale by auction of horses belonging to the French . _„ . 1 0,1 1 on the Piazza, in front of the guard-Louse, a*47,, robbed a gentleman of his watch, but was pumpe d , and by several other bystanders, who joined in "Y. into Th. th thi e Peisszaf made d piforettrahe, his Via dei 18.411.... p05ie leading co!" barred by the soldier on guard, o f the iodite r egiment, who, presenting his bayonet, on lered las halt. There are different accounts given by the witnesses as to whether the thief could not stop 4041 his headlong career, and so ran on the Mr: ra o . whether the soldier purposely plunged the wei him; bat certain it is that he was run through**, end after s t ag gering a few steps fell down opirir6% WWI put into • carriage and taken to the hosPs' He was a youth of 19 or 20, and never 40 0 'Mg t wounded." The Ls/ertJ, by the pen of M. Emile de Gialt reoommends the French government to standee al 7; all its blear of anny-organisation and establish the 401 as a great neutral power, refraining from interfells° general European politics. I