The Express. — London, England, 1866-05-11 00:00:00

I SPRLEG OVERCOATS, for the RACES and pewees liesina. an kept ready for use, sad other &Alain d pealesaes's drew reads to order at HAMILTON sod lIITPION S, 106. Strand. opposite Exeter Hall MIIRTLE, TURTLE, TURTLE. Clear sad Invalid TURTLE Wig may. sr. ;Alms- spancrirrurr, plocApiur. 11)I. DOMALIN troPriskic mo WIRT-INEFDENKRE3.—The WELLING -IL TQN, St lIIMINeII4IIIII4. PleadMy Last Saban illmatroem ea the Drat Door. Tbe eatecriptlon rooms are now epee. to twelve months, Al ; eh months, al M— AIO to D. Cearwoe, St Jamee'rotreet. LONDON mast have a SUPPER and MUSIC mon ter Oentlemen.--Remember, we watt for you M "NUM" attar the Covent Garden Opera and the Theatres. ght El:PrefO• HAYMARKET. BYMMu• • ROMANTIC ATTACHMENT. Hamm 317TrandE. Panes ; Man Ada Caveadlan —THE FAvozrrs ITIIKII. MaaQa Enakatone, Chlppandalak, and IMAM= ; Man CRlDEanden. an. —And • DAUGHTER TO MARRY. PRINCE:BM svunto, ♦ LUCKY HlT.—Aftsr which TIM STREETS OW LONDON. Wain. 'Mini, T. Mad, D. Murray, Shaw, and lmlers ; lbs. N. Mantua, mil Minis K Berwett awl K. Rodgers. L 1131711. TAO =toss, A DAY APT&H THE WEDDING. Merin Hamaan Pitzpatrick, and Clifford; Mrs. linesman, de—And HAMLET Means. Pechter, Emery, Addison. Widdloomb, Perin, Jordon, lttspatrick, &a ; Mesdames Elawortby and C. Lsobtros BILITANITIA. ?Es Puma. TIO LAST APPEAL—THE rarßox cum sir. Joao Antitirean. —To coadado with THE DARK KING OF TRI MACK IKOUNTAI2i& Nias Clara 8t Canis, Mrs, & Lama aad Yids IL Sanders. HIGH-RAUL AT LONDON-BRIDOL tars DAT —Morning, On.. To-MOisorr—Morning, N00n... .AftenoOl7, Ilk Me. .Afternooe, Ob. Om. -LONDON, FRIDAY, MA Y 11. YERTZZDAY was, beyond all comparison, the most painful and difficult day ever experienced by the commercial and financial community of this city. The aims has gone on steadily culminating, and the time-honoured house of Overend, Guraey, and Co., established at the beginning of the century, and familiar as a household word throughout the kingdom, has succumbed to the pressure of the times, and stopped payment. No announcement of the kind within our recollection has produced so deep or so painful a sensation, or has excited so many testimonies of sympathy for the heads of the establishment. It was only nine months ago that the private firm of Messrs. Overend, Gurney, and Co. was transformed into a " limited" company, with a subscribed capital of 5,000,0001., in 100,000 shares of 501. each, of which 151. per share, or 1,500,0001., has been paid up. It was recently notified in some of our contemporaries that the first general meeting of the shareholders would take place at the middle of the present month, when a dividend was to be de clared, and a large sum carried to a reserve fund. Latterly, however, a desperate onslaught has been made upon these shares by speculative sellers, both within and outside of the Stock Exchange ; the ' price has gradually descended to a discount, and a ' steadily increasing pressure for the repayment of deposits has been experienced. Wednesday was a bard day for the company, and yesterday there was a " run" to such an extent that it became necessary ' for them to apply to the Bank of England for as sistance. Their application, being a matter of great moment, was referred to the weekly court of di rectors, which, however, did not meet till 2 o'clock, in consequence of it being Ascension-day, when according to tradition the directors are supposed to attend Divine service. The court promptly came to the resolution to refuse the assistance prayed for, the motive of refusal being the extraordinary pressure of the times, and this in face of the fact that the bills offered were of an unexceptionable character, and that the Bank's total reserve (as shown by last night's return) is still nearly 6,000,0001. The refusal transpired with a peculiar rapidity ; the rush for deposits vastly increased; and the managers of the company were most reluctantly compelled, shortly after half-past 3 o'clock, to notify a stoppage of payment, and to order the doors to be closed. When it is stated that the direct liabilities of this great establishment, irrespective of a large amount of bills under discount, which may be expected to run off at maturity, represent no less than about 12,000,0001., the gravity of the event will be un derstood, even allowing for the fact that, as we are assured, all but three or four millions of these liabilities are secured by bills of exchange. The announcement will produce a great sensation in every country to which our commerce extends, but the moat serious consideration now demanding attention is the effect it will have in our provincial districts. Overend, Gurney, and Co. have, during a long series of years, had extensive and close re lations with a largo number of country banks, to whom their stoppage cannot fail to be productive of extreme inconvenience, and, in many cases, absolute embarrassment. In addition, the general commercial connexions of the house are most widely ramified, and numerous mercantile failures can scarcely be ' averted. It is far from our wish to make one single remark calculated to promote alarm at this time of unparalleled distrust, but there are periods when to be outspoken is to do good service to the common wealth, and this is one of them. It becomes our duty, then, to report that not even in the panics of 1847 and 1857 has the apprehension shown yester day been equalled. The circulation of mercantile bills, no matter how good, is completely paralysed. Merchants who have even the most undoubted paper in their portfolios are finding themselves under the risk of inability to meet their engage ments by reason of the partial or complete collapse of the discount market, ordinarily so termed. The Bank of England is, in fact, the only establishment at which accommodation is freely granted ; and even there, as is well known, certain limits are imposed. It is a serious question what may be expected quickly to become of the credit of the great body of mercantile firms who do not keep a discount ac count with the Bank. Putting together this state of the discount market, the complete congestion of the usual channels of monetary circulation, the vast area over which the embarrassments of Over end, Gurney, and Co. will extend, the effect upon their numerous customers and connexions, espe cially in the cotton districts, already em barrassed by the serious depreciation in the value of that staple and of the fabrics woven from it, and, finally, the probability that the alarm of the public will now be displayed in the form of a rush upon a number of banking and financial establishments in London, the pro vinces, and even Scotland and Ireland, we are jus tified in affirming that affairs are now rapidly approaching a crisis calling for instant and excep tional measures of relief. It would be unsafe to attach too much import ance to the, at first eight, comparatively reassuring character of the weekly Bank return, issued last night, and analysed in our City Article column. The reserve of notes, being 4,950,3261., pre sents, it is true, an increase of 111,0751. over last week ; but this increase is accompanied by and due to the large increase of 858,837/. in the Bank's liabilities in the shape of government de- ~ `v -.a~E~ posits. The effect of the changes showtOi ply that the sum paid in to the credit of santen ment balance has been chiefly paid out ilisPensseo on mercantile or "other" securities, the increase in which is 483,822/. The Bank being now the only free diseounter, and it being certain that the prevailing apprehension will cause a rapid increase of the pressure now shown to have set in, it be comes a most serious question how long that esta blishment will be able to meet the warning demands upon it from every side, especially from private and joint stock banks anxious to prepare for even tualities. We may expect to see the advances on private securities rise instantly and greatly, and though the drain thus occasioned upon the reserve will be mitigated—as it was in 1847 and 1887 — in proportion as the funds withdrawn from one de partment of the Bank are relodged with it as de posits, it must be borne in mind that on both the previous occasions of crisis referred to there was found only one inevitable issue to this see-saw process, and that was an ultimate complete ex haustion of the legal resources of the Bank. More over, in times like the present sovereigns are usually drafted away in great quantities by bankers, by way of precaution—no matter if they are to be returned within a few weeks with the boxes un opened. " • Assuming that these necessarily gloomy views are correct—and only a strong conviction of public duty impels ua to follow them out to their logical I sequel—we may expect to see immediately a run upon numerous banks, the suspension of several, and many failures in the mercantile world. The great question then arises—is all this ruin neoes sary, or is it preventible ? One essential feature of the present crisis must be kept steadfastly in , view, for it is our sheet-anchor in the storm. There is no foreign drain. So far as the foreign movement is concerned, gold is rather flowing into ' the Bank than out of it, as is evidenced by the ; operations at the bullion-office yesterday, which consisted of a purchase of 57,0001. in bar gold. The exchanges are already turning in our favour, although the Bank directors, doubtless from unwillingness to stimulate fresh alarm, have refrained from raising the rate of dis count beyond 8 per cent., notwithstanding the general expectation that it would have been fixed at 9. In fine, all fresh foreign commitments are at an end, and every outlet is being stopped as fast as possible under the sheer pressure of the times. We arrive, then, at this - result—the dis turbance is solely internal, and is being aggravated into absolute panic by the stringent operation of the Act of 1844. While trade is being stricken with paralysis through the fear of being unable to obtain the requisite amount of the circulating me dium, that Act imposes upon the Bank of England, not the duty of assuaging the throes of commerce, but that of combating its every demand with precisely the same weapons with which it would endeavour to stave off a foreign drain. Events move with extraordinary swiftness in these days, and we shall be surprised if, within a comparatively few hours, the Bank Act is not for the third time rent in twain, with the unanimous concurrence of a suffering community. Instant measures, in our opinion, are absolutely essential. Prudent bankers, well aware that in these times they cannot obtain any large advances upon even the best bills, have yet relied implicitly upon their government securities, but we are sorry to believe that, according to present ap pearances, even government securities will be found unsaleable for rash, as they were in 1857. Con sidering the limited resources of the Stock Ex change, especially at a time of panic, this result cannot be greatly wondered at. This point reached, how can bankers, no matter how solvent, possibly meet a prolonged run upon them ? There is, in our deliberate opinion, but one mode of escape from the impending difficulty, and it will be a great pity if the seemingbut deceptive sufficiency of the reserve still in the possession of the Bank delays its adop tion. If the bankers of this metropolis are wise, they will, before the area of lose be comes needlessly extended, and before the panic grows uncontrollable, organise an in , fluential deputation, proceed without delay to government, and urge an immediate relaxation : of the Act of 1844. If their hands are strengthened by the instant co-operation of influential deputa tions from Liverpool, Manchester, and other great provincial towns, so much the better. The counter ; argument of those who would ruthlessly see the whole of the trade and finance of this empire sacri ficed to a mere currency crotchet will, of course, be I that the relaxation of the Act will be the signal for a renewed export of gold. The answer is, as already stated, that the exchanges are improving, foreign commitments stopped, and gold coming in ; but, if further safeguards against this imaginary • danger are deemed desirable, let the issue ,of the letter of relaxation be accompanied by a recommendation or suggestion to the Bank of I England that the minimum rate of discount to be charged in the event of an extra legal issue of notes actually taking place, shall be 9, or even 10 per cent. What commerce wants is a definite and explicit assurance that it shall not be strangled through an absolute dearth of that circulating medium which is its very breath. Merchants will scarcely care what rate they pay ; they only require to know that their solid securities shall be pre ; served from inconvertibility resulting entirely from the operation of our cast-iron currency law. OUR CONTEMPORARIES. (THIS DAY.) THE FILMIAL CRISIS. It would be idle to deny, the Times remarks, that the stoppage of such a firm as that of Overend, Gurney, and Co. will produce general and wide-spread incon venience. The company was practically the banker of the merchantswho discounted their bills at its establishment, and the annoyance caused by the sudden interruption of a great businees—to put it no higher—must be extreme. There is no reason, however, why the panic which has besot the Stock Market during the present week should I . I be intensified by this event, still less would it justify • general want of confidence in all departments of cons. meree. The suspension of Overend, Gurney, and Co. is due to faults from which all but the most speculative of financial companies are free. In the leading article columns of the Thies it is observed that only men who possess such information and experience as the governors of the Bank of England can determine whether it is the case that acceptances of persons of un questionable responsibility cannot be discounted solely in consequence of the pressure upon the market ooessioned by the stoppage of the greatest of the discount houses; and that the action with the government must be left to them ; but in the City article it is directly urged that this morn ing, without the slightest avoidable delay, the leading institutions and firms who see the jeopardy of the moment shouldforma deputation to the Chaneellorof the Exchequer, witha request that he should authorise the Bank of England to issue interest-bearing poet notes in the shape of ordinary bank post bills, either at the customary seven days or thirty days, or for any other period that might be considered better, to any extent they may deem 111103•1111ry and prudent upon unquestionable security. If this or some analogous request be axeded to there will be reason to expect an immediate subsidence of all unnecessary tia on th e .i hand, welting isiie, simple trample other dolik the arsmashat will long ate c0me..61 and *neon, rifts/ et 1888 will be of • character very different haft alee which have enabled them in each succeeding WAIN for so many yews past to congratulate themselves and the nation on the easiness of their task and the unbroken course of our material prosperity. The Daily News attributes the suspension directly to the sudden withdrawal of the large deposits which both Lon don and *pantry banks have been accustomed to deposit with Overend, Gurney, and Co. The moment is opportune for alarm, and the crisis so truly national in its effects as to demand the serious attention of the government. Twice it has been imperatively necessary to suspend the act of 1844. A third ordeal has arrived. Let the government follow the exempla of 1857, watch from day to day the events pawing before them, and not delay action until ruin has become general. The (momentous ques tion that comes home to every merchant is, whether through the working of the Bank Act property is to be come practically inconvertible! It is to be remembered that we have had experience of crises when the possibility of converting a security into money has not in the lead depended on the quality of that security, when money could not be got even for Consols. Are money-lenders and others to be alarmed into hoarding, and all the wealth and great resources of this country to be rendered, even for • week or two, next to useless, because capitalists, watching the decline in the Bank's reserve, and panic-stricken by the failures et a few banks or companies, hold their hands, and refuse to lend at all Whatever be the amount of preeentinconvenienosthere is some reason to suppose, the Herald says, that there will be no ultimate lees to the depositors end other creditors. The proprietary is large and respectable, the shares are widely distributed, and their owners are scattered over every portion of the country. The banks were all open till late last night, ready to afford such assistance as their customers might • require to enable them to tide over the crisis, and the applications for such help were, we understand, lees numerous than might have been expected. It may he that the leading houses and com panies may even yet feel it to be within their duty to afford timely assistance to an old and long respected competitor ; or, failing this, the larger creditors may deem it to be their interest to treat the fallen firm with the same generous forbearance as was shown in Glasgow, when the Denistouns were compelled to stop through the failure of their Aus tralian connexions. The Star observes that the business of the company— bill broking and money-dealing—belonged to the most speculative department of banking. The whole object of such a business is to find employment for capital by ac cepting paper in exchange, for a longer or shorter period, in the expectation of getting back the capital with in. creased interest. If a condition of affairs arises from the imminence of war, or the scarcity of gold, or both combined, which makes paper even of a high class unmarketable, and at the same time &sudden demand is made upon the company for deposits with which it had been entrusted for the very purpose of being employed in the business of bill braking, it is clear stoppage is inevit able, unless assistance be given by those into whose bands the money reserve of the country is. The Star trusts that neither the public nor financiers will permit themselves to be unduly alarmed. There will probably be a margin tocover the claims of the depositors. Should anyrun take place upon any one or two concerns in the course of the week, it is to be hoped that there will be no disposition to refuse them assistance in the foolish belief that a few competitors les s will make more business for those who are left. One ! failure of the magnitude of that which has occurred causes more loss by the destruction of confidence than any amount of diminution of profit to the older establishments by the successful rivalry of younger houses. LATEST' LA IWICL I LIGENCE. • 7,,; MR WAR NEWS. The latest despatches inform us that the whole Prussian army is now mobilised. The Prussian representative at the Frankfort Diet has notified to that body that Prussia will willingly con sent to suspend her armaments if the Con federation does the same, but if the Con federation will not or cannot disarm, then Prussia will feel herself compelled to take those measures which her own security and her position as a great European power demand. The Italian journals speak of war as imminent. The head-quarters of the Italian army are esta blished at PiaCellZS. The royal palace at Modena is prepared for tae reception of the King. The Lombardia says that the decree appointing the Prince of Carignano regent is already prepared, and the Italia men tions that the King will leave Florence on the 15th to take the command of the army. The Alleanza of Milan reports that there are 40,000 Austrians in position between Udine and Nabresina ; they are every moment expecting to be attacked by volunteers. The Gazetta de Milano says the rail way station there is a regular camp. Nothing is to be seen or heard but troops coining and going and singing patriotic songs. The Sentinella Breseiana reports that the Austrian patrols are guarding the frontier with arms in hand as if they expected to be attacked from moment to moment. Their troops are massed at Nabresina, and they are raising new fortifications on the hill of San- Lorenzo. A correspondence from Vienna dated May 8, says that whilst diplomacy is still going on the whole Auatrianarmy is being placed on a war footing. It is said to be agreed between Austria and Saxony that the troops of the latter should take up a strong position before Dresden and de fend it against the Prussians till the Austrians arrived to their support. _ _ The Florence correspondent of the Debata says : " The preparations for war continue. On the 6th a decree mobilising 50 battalions of National Guards, or 30,000 men, is published. These batta lions are taken from Tuscany, Romagna, Umbria, Naples, and Sicily. They are to be ready by the 20th of May. It is said that Austria will regard the calling out of the volunteers as a declaration of war." The Moeiteur says that the Emperor was the object of an ovation on the part of the workmen of the Trocadero when he visited the works re cently. It has been remarked that ovations of a similar kind preceded the war of 1859. . . The military force, represented by the various States of the German Confederation who voted for the Saxon proposition calling on Prussia to disarm, consists of 911,150 men ; that of the States who voted against the proposition of 563,100 soldiers. DISSOLUTION OF THE PRUSSIAN CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES. The Prussian Moniteur contains the following report from the minister to the King, dated May 9 : In consequence of the threatening attitude of several neighbouring governments towards Prussia, the relations between the nation and other powers have become strained. Your Majesty has been forced, after the moat active and persevering efforts to relax this tension, to take important measures in the interest of the security of the country. In these circumstances the undersigned ministers of state believe that your Majesty will consider that the time has come when the representatives of the nation should be assembled round the throne in order that those measures, which the state of the country may re quire, should be adopted, and in order to give legal expression to the sentiments with which the Prussian people are animated when the maintenance of the nation's honour and independence meat stake. Although a majority of the present Chamber of Deputies would un doubtedly, in presence of the dangers which threaten it, give pledges of its devotion to the country, that chamber was elected under the influence of other circumstances than those which should now deter mine the choice of the electors. Your Majesty will appreciate the necessity of knowing and obtaining an expression from the Prussian people of the feelings which actuate them in the existing state of things. We respect. fully submit, therefore, that your Majesty should dissolve tho present Chamber of Deputies, conformably with Art.sl of the constitution of Jan. 31,1850, in order that new elec tions may immediately take place. We therefore pray your Majesty to ratify the ordinance for the dissolution of the Chamber of Deputies. To the report are attached the names of the Ministers. The king having complied with its request, the electors must by Art. 51 be convoked within 00 days and assemble within 90 days after the dissolution. The Debais considers this a politic stop on the part of the Prussian Government. Herr von Bis marck believes that the new Chamber will, under the war feeling, be more favourable to his policy, and that the country will see in the appeal to the electors a concession to liberal principles. (111:7T11101 TZLIORAIIB.) THE ITALIAN MINISTRY. FLORENCE, MAT 11. A modification of the ministry is about to take place. General La Marmora will have a military com mand. The Minister of Finance has presented his budget for 1867 in the Chamber of Deputies. The Florence papers regard war as inevitable. AUSTRIA AND PRUSSIA. CARLSRUHIC, Mitt ii. The official Karisrvher Zeitung publishee a letter announcing that Count Bismarck has declared to Count E. Karolyi, the Austrian Ambassador at Berlin, that he would only accept a solution of the question of the Duchies from a German parliament. 1; a "4 ~...,...- - 4 ?SS% 1 1 l RIDAYOICVEMiIIer, - r MAY 11, 1661: i_ - ... TH/I STATE OF SUROP?. The Times remarks that though the general opinion may be that Austria would show good policy and good general. ship by waging a defensive war, it is not at all certain that the Emperor or his generals would be content merely to defend the Quadrilateral or Bohemia. In Germany it is, indeed, almost certain that the Austrian generals would assume the offensive. This, in fact, would be the only answer they could make to the first Prussian act of war, which would probably be an attack upon the Austrian corps of occupation in Holstein. In such a campaign we have no reason to conclude that yin. tory would readily favour either side. There might be bloody battles on a theatre of war where Germans died half a century ago in a better cause, and yet after a long campaign neither side might have much to boast of. Not unlike this may be the fate of th e Italian campaign. The wave of Italian enthusiasm may ' break in vain against the works of the Quadrilateral, and months of war may only place Victor Emmanuel in a position to sue for further aid from his ally of 1859. So well will " neutrality" have answered, and then, perhaps, may corns the time for " liberty of action." The would•be conquerors who are rushing into the present war might wisely reflect on this. If they could gain all they want by their own unaided strength, there might be in the morality of state craft some justification of their policy. But if, as seems likely to all but themselves, Austria prove a stubborn adversary, they may have to relinquish their hope of spoil, or buy it by humiliating concessions from an arbiter who will then appear upon the stage. The Star is not in a position to confirm the report that, In consequence of negotiations in which the English and French governments took a part, Austria has signified a willingness to treat with Italy for Venetia, but it will venture to state that something in the nature of en inter change of ideas has been going forward between England and France on the one hand and Austria on the other, which the former powers hope may lead to such a result. The Star cannot indeed say that it has yet been successful, bat It is something reassuring to believe that it ha. not yet failed. It is not likely that in any case war will break out for eight or ten days, and the western governments ►re not quite without hope that before the expiration of that time the danger may be averted. NOTTINGHAM ■LULTION. Mr. Bernal Osborne's immense audacity has been re• warded, the Telegraph observes, with success, but neither his candidature nor his ways of conducting his election have been worthy of his professed devotion to liberalism, or of his unquestioned ability. Our debates are not so lively that Mr. Osborne should not be welcome in the House of Commons again ; and there is really fine sport for him among the country gentlemen. But, as regards his own party, it will yet require proof that he is seriously aware of the importance which it attributes to the present struggle—in comparison with the issue of which forty Bernal Osbornes would become insignificant. That view did not seem to impress itself upon the now honourable gentleman during the election ; but should it do so even at last, all will be well. His vote is • good vote, with • glib and cutting tongue to explain which way it goes ; and if Lord Amberley consoles us for the temporary loss of Mr. Morley, the thrice will more than once regret, we think, that they exchanged the silent " aye" of Sir Robert Clifton for the anything but silent vote of the member for Nottingham, who now returns to his old place to laugh at them. Ilia Star compliment. the electors of Nottingham for giving Lord Amberley the opportunity which he desired and deserves. As to Mr. Osborne, the Star always liked his rough, rasping humour, as it showed itself in the HOW* of Commons, and never supposed him capable of such displays as thaw with which he has charmed the lambs of Nottingham. It were bettor for his reputation that he never entered parliament again, than to win by such arts as he has employed, the votes of the Nottingham forks and the cheers of the Nottingham rowdies. We did not think there was one man living who could have added to the vulgarity of a Nottingham election. In committee on Redistribution of Seats Bill, Sir Hervey Bruce will move a clause affirming that Ire land is entitled to three out of the seven representatives proposed to be taken from England; and on the second reading of the Representation of the People (Ireland) Bill, Sir Frederick Heygate will move " That in the opinion of this house, the relative population, valuation, trade, number of electors, state of education, and crime in the province of Ulster as compared with the rest of Ireland gives that province an undoubted claim to at least its present number of representatives. Mr. Hadfield intends to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on ➢fonday, whether, as the Pasliamentary Oaths Amendment Bill has been passed, and the Qualification for Offices Abolition Bill having passed both Houses of Parliament, he will consider ft neoessary, in this or any future session, to bring in a yearly indemnity bill ; or whether he considers such in demnity bill will be unnecessary when the royal assent is obtained to the Qualification for Offices Abolition Bill. BAVARIA. MUNICH, Mar 11. The Bavarian government has, in consideration of the serious state of political affairs, ordered the immediate mobilisation of the entire Bavarian army. The Chambers have been convoked for the 22nd inst. THE DANUBIAN PRINCIPALITIES. BUCHAREST, Mi 10. Signor Visconti Veneta, the new Italian Ambassador to the Sublime Porte, was received with enthusiastic demonstrations on his journey through the Principalities to his post at Constan tinople. The municipalities of Giurgevo, Ibraila, and Galatz, presented him with addresses expressing their sympathies with Italian unity. Signor Visconti Veneta replied, thanking them in the name of Italy. NEW SOUTH WALES. SYDNEY, MARCH 20. Great excitement has prevailed in parliament on the state aid (Z free trade) question. The debate on the subject has been adjourned after lasting 20 hours. ' • It is expected that parliament will be prorogued. Despatches were sent yesterday from the Colo 'jai-office to the Governors of Malta, Ceylon, Hong and Lama. IMMO) 4 .e CASTLE, ItAT 10. IL Queen drove in the grounds yesterday after noon, ittended by lady Churchill. sad went out walking this morning, accompanied by Winos' Helena Princess Louisa and Princeus Bookies went out driving. princess Helena, attended by the Hon. lady Biddulph, went to Twickenham yesterday afternoon, and visited the Duke and Duane' d'Aumale. Lord and lady Wodekonee arrived at the Castle yester day, and had the honour of dining with the Queen and the Royal family. Lady Holland had the honour of an interview with bar Majesty this afternoon. The Primes of Wales visited the studio of the traited Association of Photography yesterday. The Prince of Wales, aosompanied by Prince Alfred , rode ont on horseback. The Princess of Wales look a carriage drive, attended by the Hon. Mrs. Harding.. In the evening their Royal Highnesses went to her Majesty's Theatre. A Cabinet Council was held yesterday, at the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury in Downing street. The ministers present were Earl Ruasell the Lord Chancellor, Earl Granville, he Duke of Argyll, Sir George Grey the Earl of Clarendon, the Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, the Marquis of Hartington, Earl de Grey, the Chancel lor of the Exchequer, the Duke of Somerset, the Right Hon. T. Milner Gibson, Lord Stanley of Alderley, the Right Hon. G. J. Goachen, and the Right Hon. C. P. Villiers. A deputation of clerks and other cams of tsunrdke roads transacted business with Mr. Rn►tehbnf-Hugeren, at the Home-oflioe, yesterday. The deputation was intro duced by the following members of the House of Com mons : —Sir Fitzroy Kelly, Mr. Brim*, Sir Mint* Far. unbar, Bart., Mr. Beresford Hope, Mr. Hadfield, Mr. Gout, Mr. Gore Langton, Mr. H. F. Beaumont, Sir Charles Russell, Mr. W. T. Cox, Mr. Hibbert, Mr. Goodson, Sir Thomas Winnington, Mr. G. W. Hunt, Colonel Bourne, Mr. J. A. Smith, Mr. Holden, Mr. C. N. Newdegate, Mr. liardoutle, and Mr. Richard Long. Caturtirr Courreit.—Yesterday evening, after the breaking up of the Cabinet Council, summonses were issued for a meeting to-morrow afternoon, at 3 o'clock, at the First Lord of the Treasury's official residenoe, in Downing street. -- His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales will preside at the annual dinner of the 10th Royal Hussars on the 19th inst., at Willis's Rooms, King-street, St. James's. His Royal Highness Prince Alfred has joined the Navy Club, and is engaged to dine with the members on Tuesday, the 12th of June. The prince is the only member of the royal family since the late King William IV., when Duke of Clasen's, became a member of the club. His Royal Highness Prince Arthur, attended by Major laphinstone and Mr. Aron Penley honoured the Institute of Painter. in Water Colours with a visit yea. terday. Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cam bridge and the Princess Mary, accompanied by his Highneu the Prime of Tea, arrived at Windsor Coatis last evening from Cambridge Cottage, Kew, on a visit to her Majesty. Their royal highnesses and the prince will leave Windsor to-day. The Duke of Norfolk arrived at Constantinople on March 28 by the Marseilles steamer, and was the guest of his uncle, Lord Lyons. The ambassador and his grace purposed making a tour to Breams. THE POLICE COURTS. (THIS DAY.) DOW4MII7. MO Itat WITH 1111 CAM? SAO. Jabs annies7who mid he wee • tau, bat *Mei* bad no eppearanes of hub/ ever worked at that sift, e e , charged with stealing from a chaise in the Strand, to* of the Strand Music-hall, a carpet bag, containing a na. bauble, a nigger wig. • rod okirt, • nita shirt, a see, towel, vete, two Pik of 12044 •. • tin box, met ei Si va mufti boom, two erisketer's belga, and one pin a , ireed the_ whole ed valued at X, the property of* * " R anh Dismon oomiaa. Hr. Diamond stated that sheet 20 minutia pas 9 0,1. d, Led evening (Thursday) he came out of the,f la b hall, having previously sent his carpet beg contaiei ng chugs of dries, lc., by • boy who was to place it in la, liaise. The chaise was wailing at the door to take bh„ on to Weston's. He found, however, that soar ale had stolen his bag from the chaise. He went with a hum to the s tation - house to give information of the rabble, a, the pollee. William Brown, a lad of about 16 years of spel i:pri a. tie d to the prisoner) stated that be was puling d m Strand 'about half put 9 o'clock last night and saw de primmer run from the direction of the Strand Mule Re towards Charing-cross. Near the Lyceum Theatre he at into the road and crossed the Strand. Witnes wed% the station-house to apply for an order for • night's hip big in the casual ward, and while waiting for the order ie heard the prosecutor ge 'mg information as to the he, the carpet-beg. He then stated what he had seat, abi the prosecutor told him that if he could find the did and point him out to the police he should have saaellie g for his trouble. Having to wait some time befogs he could get admiral= to the casual ward, he went oat aid wandered about the hreete to pass away the tiros, le d meeting the prisoner in Won-street, Strand, p a , him in custody to Police -eue Marlow, U 6 F. The prisoner denied his identity, and cross.examineddie wither Brown with oonlidaelle skill, dw e lli ng w. tioularly on the inducement of " something fee trouble." When called upon to give some seism* of himself, he said he was a tailor, but la, been out of work for about a month. He metal at that time for a man who took work at home, sad who lived on the High.etnest, at Chiakester. goes that he bad been lodging at a beer-house, called tie Malt Shovel, at Kingston ; and the night before hei b e at Branford (Brentford.) , the gaoler, after looking at the prisoner's bands, said he had not worked with a needle fora keg time. Marlow said he understood there wee no Highetreet Chichester. The prisoner was remanded for further inquiry d r . Vaughan directing that on the next occasion the b e , who planed the carpet bag in the chaise shoe& be produced to give evidence. MARLBOROUGH-STREET. • BRACE OF SCOONDIMUL George Bennett and James Smith, two well-droned Id. lows, were charged before Mr. Knox with the Moe* disorderly conduct: Police-oonstable Wood 202 C, said that about lislfiaa I that morning be saw the two prisoners rush out ef fie urinal in Vine-street fighting, and Bennett tried to aelsi the other with a stick. He then took them into cutely. Inspector Harrison said he believed Gordon, 36 0, ceold throw • little light on the cam. Gordon said the prisoners belonged to a gang of manlike frequented urinals for the purpose of extorting moseying' gentlemen. He believed they had got some money fiaa a gentleman, and could not agree about the division Inspector Harrison said there had been mammas ca• plaints of persons of the prisoners' class. The stick found on Bennett was banded to the air trate, and was found to be loaded at one end. Mr. Knox said he should require the prisoners to bd surety of 501. each to keep the peace for three wails THAMRS. HORRIBLZ ILIVINGE OP A worn. C7tartotte Horrid Stollard, a drunken and disavow woman, too well known in this court, was brought him Mr. Partridge charged with thrusting • red hot Ma late her husband's left eye and destroying the sight Merest. Richard fitollard, a lighterman, of No. 3, Jammeirset, Cannon-street-road, St. George-in-the-Eat, said fie prisoner was his wife and the mother of his Ilk ebl dren. Yesterday she attended at that court to saner a summon' for assaulting his sister. She did not appar when the case was called on, and a warrant was plated for her apprehension. He returned home in the themes, after • hard day's work, and his wife began to ahem him, and she said, " You ---, I'll do for yes." She took • piece of red hot iron oat d the fire, and while he was passing across the room WNW pioious of her intentions, she took the iron out of the be and thrust it into his eye. It stuck there until he pant it out, and he burnt his hand in doing so, and thee pet the iron into • vrashhesid-basin and cooled it. He ran dorm to the street, and called for the police. Mr. Partridge—Was she drunk' Witness—l don't think she was sober. Mr. Partridge—What caused her to commit this bus rible act' Witness—Because I same here as • witness for my sister yesterday. I had not been on bad terms with my wife. In cross-examination by the prisoner the witness said be had lived sway from her for some time. He did not ay to her yesterday " I have just left your mistress," w any words of the kind. • William Hatt, a carpenter, lived in the house where the Stollards were dwelling. The prisoner was a regular out aance, a most savage, depraved woman with a bad taiga. She once set the house on fire. He saw the prosecutor come down stairs yesterday afternoon with his eye bleed ing. The prosecutor was a quiet man. Two written irou• ings had been given to the Stollards to leave the haw. The prisoner disregarded both. William Card, 38.5 K, took the prisoner into custody. He found the room where the act was committed covered with blood. Mr. Partridge committed the prisoner for trial, and di rected the constable to summon the surgeon who drasedtbe wound, to give evidence at the messiorue. He should oommittbe prisoner to the Central Criminal Court. He had no doubt of the prisoner's guilt. It was a most shocking case—ths worst he had ever heard, and he hoped the prisoner would meet with the punishment her savage conduct so richly merited. WANDSWORTH. THE CATTLE PLAGUE OEDEMA-CONVICTION OF A RAILER SZCILITABT. Mr. Frederick Clarke, the secretary of the South Western Railway Company, was summoned by Inspector Armstrong, for that he did on the 24th of April last, un lawfully move upon the South Western Railway seven Ist oxen from the metropolis—to wit, from Nineolzes to Kingston-upon-Thames, in contravention of an order in council dated the 24th of March, 1866. The secretary did not appear, but he was represented by Mr. Crombie, the law clerk of the company. Mr. Superintendent Butt attended on the part of the commissioners to support the summons. Mr. Crombie then explained that the cattle had been removed under • misapprehension on the part of the oilers of the company, who were entitled to carry from the cattle market. He bad • certificate stating the the cattle were perfectly sound, and also for their removal to their railway. The company's officers fas Old that the metropolis meant the metropolitan police and it appeared that the boundary of their hne at Barnes. This was the first case of the kind, sad under the circumstances he pleaded guilty, and asked far the infliction of a nominal penalty. Mr. Butt said there had been a mistake. The office d the Cattle Market had misinformed the drover. As con as he (Mr. Butt) found it out he sent to the Cattle Market, and stopped the practice. Mr. Dayman said mistakes were committed every del by persons who did not seem to read the general or dsra which said that no cattle should be removed from the metropolis. This led to an argument between Mr. Crombie and t 4 magistrate, who held that the metropolis was like s Usl% Once the cattle entered the metropolis there was MO PO ° to remove them out. Mr. Crombie said the companywe l constantly removing cattle to Portsmouth, for the g em** ment, to Southampton and other places, where there no power to receive them. Mr. Dayman thought the company wove wrong. He said that he understood it was intended to enlarge the arse coextensive with the Metropolitan Police district. At pre sent the orders acted rather hard upon the butchers 140 were just outside the boundary, as there was not sufficient accommodation in the metropolis for the alaughterof cattS• lie then fined the company 20a., and 2s. ousts. - - - One thousand seven hundred singers ball already promised to take pert in the great Choral Patin! in Salisbury Cathedral, the latter end of this month. A NOTICE TO TENANTS.—Tess GREAT RANO WEETION.—The following curious notice to his tame has been issued by the Earl of Denbigh *dints have been made to me of the damage dais by rabbits in the cultivated parts of the p r operty, an d I am anxious to meet the wishes of my tenant s as far " possible, I have arranged with my keeper to destroy tis rabbit, as far as he can on the arable land ; ands order ensure this being attended to satiafactorily, I have IP"' orders that two appointed rabbit-catchers shall be at the disposition of the tenants from Feb. 15 till the at the breeding season, on the following terms : b — e itt g manta shall have full leave to ferret all the hedgerows *Meg arable land on their farms (sxospnag covert h as often as they like during that period, unng nag:eget nor gun, but only purse nets over the burrows. All die rabbits so caught by each tenant shall be kept by him, ye • tbs wires of the rabbit-oatcher so bag . acs he err ploys him. No tensed to turret without Wine sop s ' pained by the rabbit catcher. cronsidgration of this cow cession I expect my tenants will preserve strictly for ma an other pine. As frequent complaints have been made of self-hunting doge being seen on the property, I have glsis orders to my keepers to destroy all such found hunting ; and I request each tenant to tie or abut up any dog he istl have at such times as he is not actual, with his inar,r , and to use every endeavour to prevent him from hurling; when ticoompanying him. —Dirgmee- — Nswnh am Paddoks; April, 1866." THE CANNON-STREET MURDER. FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE PRISONER. (THIS DAY.) William Smith, alias William Denton, the man who stands charged with the wilful murder of Sarah Million, in Cannon-street, was this morning brought be fore the Lord Mayor, at the Mansion-house, for further examination. Mr. Wontner again appeared for the prosecution ; and Mr. Mason Williams, inetracted by Mr. Scarth, for the defence. The ease still appears to create a great deal of public interest, and the court was crowded the moment the doors were opened for the admission of the public. The prisoner maintained the same cool and confident appearance that has characterised him throughout the inquiry. Mr. Wormier, addressing the Lord Mayor, said he did not propose to adduce any additional evidence on the pre emit occasion, but he thought it right to state that, since the last examination, further inquiries had been made in re ference to the matter, and particularly with regard to the extraordinary evidence that was given by the wit ness named Smallmen. He thought it was only an act of justice to the prisoner to state that the inquiries that had been made with regard to this witness had led to the result that in his opinion be ought not to ask that this witness should be bound over as a witness against the pri soner. His lordship would remember that the testimony of this witness was very extraordinary, but from the in quiries he had directed to be made he was of opinion that the jury would not consider it was reliable, and he therefore felt himself justified in withdrawing hie evidence altogether from the case, and he had come to this conclu sion after the most careful consideration. The prisoner, as his lordship was aware, already stood committed for trial upon the coroner's inquisition, and when the evidence of the witnesses had been read over, he should ask his lordship also to commit him for trieL Mr. Williams said that before his lordship gave any de cision, he felt it his duty to protest in the strongest pos. eiblo manner, not only against the way in which the prose cution had been conducted, but also spinet the application that had just been made by Mr. Wontner. It appeared to him to be altogether too late to talk about fairness, and he complained that the prosecution against the prisoner had been conducted most unfairly, and that there was the more cause for complaint when it was considered that the question of life or death was involved in the inquiry. With regard to the application that the witness referred to should not be bound over to attend at the trial, he considered it was a most unprecedented one, and on the part of the prisoner he should ask his lordship to bind over that witness as well as the other. Mr. Wontner had stated that the reason he did not wish this witness to be bound over was that his evidence could not be relied upon ; but if this was the ground, he thought it equally applied to the extraordinary evidence that bad been given by another witness, the woman Bayley, for be thought that after the admissions she had made in cross-examination no jury would think of placing the slightest reliance upon her evi dence. The case against the prisoner, as it appeared to him, was of the slightest possible character, and that it depended entirely upon identity and the nicest possible measure of time, and he had no hesitation in saying, ea an old Eton man, and well acquainted with every inch of the distance, that it was impossible for the prisoner to have gone from the Mem-arch-bridge at the time he was seen, to catch the train at Slough ; sad that a man on horseback could hardly have done It. Them was no lack et funds on the part of the prosecution, and yet there was no evidence as to the distance, and this was another circumstance that he thought he had a good ground for complaining of, on the part of the prisoner. He concluded by stating that he hoped the Court would not needs to the application of Mr. Wontner, but that the whole of the witnesses who had been examined would be bound over. The clerk then read over the depositions that bad been taken at the former examinations against the prisoner. The witness Smallman, who was examined at the last hear ing, was not in attendance for the reason stated by Mr- Wontner, but his deposition was read with the others. The Lord Mayor said he should not make any further observation relating to the nee then, but in answer to what had been said by the learned solumelis to the blunder of the pollee, he would observe that it ap peared to him that they had performed their duty very properly, and he wee perfectly satisfied. All he had to de was to cement the prisoner to take his trial. The usual formal caution wee then given to the prisoner, and he said in reply, " All I have to say is that I am en tirely innocent of the charge, but by the advics of my counsel, I reserve ay defense." 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