The Express. — London, England, 1867-12-31 00:00:00

REAKFAST.-KPPS'S COCOA. THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE. Sole Levee and Manager, Mr. F. B. CHNITERTON. TO-NIGHT, and every Evening until further notice, will he performed a new and original Farce, entitled lIONETDOVE's TROUBLES. After which will be performed the Drury-lane ANNUAL GRAND CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME, entitled YAW FEE IV FUM, or HARLEQUIN JACK the GIANT KILLER. ghe Orprexig. TO CoRRLSYONDENTS. advertisements Intended for " The Express," London Evening Paper must be at the °Moe, 10, bouverle-atreet, by Two o'clock on the day of publication. lIATMAIICET. Tills Eva:usu, A WIPE WELL WSZ Mom Sotharn, Buck atone. Uwe, Kendal. Rogers, Braid. Weathershy.&c. : and Mini Itohertann.—After which AN UTTER PKBeVEKIMON OF THE BKlGAND.—Comnienos at 7. PRINCE2B3. nos EVeirca, THE OOLLEEI DAWN. Mr. and Mrs. Dion Boueleault.—Mter which THE STREETS OF LONDON. Mr. Vining, Messrs Murray, Shore, Nerilk, Forrester, Mellon, etc. Misses Elaworthy, E. Barnett, Rachel Sanger, and Mrs. Addle. STRAND. Tnia EritaMG. KIND TO A FAULT.—/'Star which will he pro duced a Grand Christmaa Operatic Oriental Ext , avaganza, THE CALIPH OP BAGDAD —And NOTHING TO NUNEZ. I . I , OLDORN. TAI] ItTENING, THE TWO DOLTS. Mem,. Price and WM dlenmh —And VALENTINE AND ORSON : OR. II UtLEQUIN THE 611; NEAR AND THE LITTLE FAIRY. Megan. Lupine, GrrvU, and Rowell*: Mondanies Saunders, Goodall, Montero, Ac. BRITANNIA. THIS EVICMI.O. DON (i - UTi.CITT; OR, SANCRO PANZA AND CI IS WIFE TER F.ZA. Stn. Lane, it Misses FAlwlo & Booth ; Pan tontindst4 Mews Deane, Lott's, Newham, and VictorelU ; C. otephan and Mimi Rose Nathan.—And WHO DID IT HIGH WATIR AT LONDON BRIDOL TEM DAv —Naming, 5b 7m.---Aftentoon, NAm. TO-NolUlON—Norninx, sb. 61i. ban. LONDON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31. THF. year from which we are just parting has been one of disasters and distress. Convulsions of nature, stagnation of trade, the growth of pau perism, criminal outrages—springing not merely from individual depravity, but having their root also in political disaffection and class hatred —com mercial frauds and political immorality of the grossest kind, have marked its course. We turn the leaf upon it without regret. If, however, in the retrospect there is little that is pleasant, there is much that is instructive. The vague hope that the next year will be more fortunate will prove illusory if we trust only to the chapter of acci dents. We must make it better if we will have it so. The causes of the present suffer ing must be reversed, if the suffering itself is to cease. Without sharing in Mr. CARLYLE'S belief that England is shooting Niagara, we may admit that unless we take care what we are about we shall presently find ourselves in the rapids. To declare that the body politic is in a state of disorganization and decay is to exaggerate some symptoms of bad omen; but to neglect those symptoms, and to avoid grappling with the disease in its first insidious approaches, is to give reason to the prophets of evil. Extravagant as is the language of alarm and denunciation with which Mr. CARLYLE endea vours to startle the world into a sense of its pe rilous state, his diagnosis is substantially right. The habitual exaggeration into which the love of startling effects betrays the great declaimer, is perhaps more closely allied to fiction as a branch of falsehood than the poet's or novelist's exercise of creative imagination which fills him with such virtuous horrot. But it would be wrong to allow the grotesque caricatures of Mr. CARLYLE to blind us to the realities of which they present a distorted likeness. The calamities under which we suffer are of moral origin, and we must alter our ways if we would avert the gloomy fate which he de nounces upon us. Character is destiny, as one of the German sources of Mr. CARLYLE'S inspiration has said. The cure which the Latter Day Pamphli ti t r seeks in the imposition of an iron law of force from without, must commence in a re form from within. The character of a nation pronounces itself, perhaps, most distinctly in the spirit which it carries into its favourite pursuits. England is not a nation of shopkeepers. In Franco itself, to which we are indebted for this description, and in most continental countries, the bourgeois and ipirier class is more powerful and strongly marked. But England is a nation of great commercial enter prises. How do we manage these ? Let the present condition of our railway system answer. It is a bad sign that people are ceasing to be surprised by such disclosures as those which have this year been made with respect to the London, Chatham, and Dover, and the North British lines. Falsified accounts and the creation of illegal stock are coming to be regarded as desperate, but venial expedients in the war of commercial rivalry. Even when mattas do not go this length, the traces of a reckless spirit of gambling are apparent. Great companies precipitate themselves into enter prises without counting the cost or the profit. The case of the Royal Liverpool Bank shows how slightly men of character estimate the responsibility which attaches to the loan of their names, and the obligation which it imposes on them to watch ever the transactions of the companies to which they give their sanction. The punctilious chivalry of commerce is departing ; and even where honest and fair dealing is not openly discarded, a low standard of it prevails. With the example of this demoralisation in high places, no one can reasonably feel surprised at the retail scoundreliarn of the small shopkeepers who use false weights and measures. Nor is the mis management of our public departments wonderful, when the checks upon mal-administration come from a public opinion so lax and nnvigilant as that which permits mercantile dealings to be conducted as we have seen. The sequtnae of periods of commercial de pression on seasons of artificial and inflated prosperity is inevitable while the mania of specu lative trading pervades the nation. The effects are far reaching. The reverses which bring poverty and privation to the middle classes, bring pauperism and starvation to working men. The present destitution of East London is a sample of the distress which pervades the country. The high price of bread and meat, due to the defective harvest of last autumn and to the scarcity which trade artifices have prolonged after the cessation of the natural dearth pro duced by the cattle plague, have aggravated the existing causes of suffering. But the evil worked by unfavourable seasons and natural cala mities would be confined within a very limited range, and would be easily endurable, if they did not cooperate with a distress for which commer cial improvidence is directly responsible. Great catastrophes, such as that at the Fern dale Colliery, must be attributed to the same reckless spirit on the part of workmen or mana gers, or both, which neglects the precautions necessary to safety for the sake of a greater gain, or of the same gain at less trouble. Convulsions of nature, like the cyclones which have devastated the East and West Indies, and the earthquake at St. Thomas, belong, of course, to a different cate- gory. Still, the restriction of these outbursts to particular and strictly defined regions, and their occurrence for the greater part at special seasons, point to their dependence on local causes and climatic conditions, which it may be in the power THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 31, 1867. of man, watching the operation and sedulously endeavouring to preserve the balance of natural forces, to foresee and partially to obviate. The spirit of selfish and unscrupulous aggrandize ment which marks much of our commerce, and which, egging on compliant Ministers to force trade in new regions, has landed us in our miserable Abyssinian expedition, has been displayed in a 'flamer yet more violent and criminal in the outrages of Trade Societies. The murders insti gated or committed by BROADHEADandCROOKES, and the intimidation and outrage of the Sawgrinders and Bricklayers of Sheffield and Lancashire, are not, it must be remembered, new events, but only newly disclosed. There is no reason to think that the evil which they exhibit is on the increase. We must not allow ourselves to be panic-stricken by the clearer knowledge of facts, our ignorance of which was most alarming. The slip-shod and slovenly workmanship of our artisans too often shows that the honourable spirit of excellence and thoroughness which used to mark them is de clining. The cooked accounts of groat com mercial companies and the short weights of shop keepers have their counterpart in the scamped work of the labouring men. The laxity and unscrupulousness which we note in trade is painfully reflected in the political world. The history of the Reform Bill, the apostasy of the Tory party, and the Parliamentary leadership of Mr. DISRAELI, are signs of demoralization. When honour is forgotten, when pledges are cast to the wind, and convic tions are bartered for office by a great party, and the nation admires the cleverness more than it condemns the dishonour of the performance, the augury is of evil import. Happily, the reckless spirit of speculative politics has received a check in the repeated discomfiture* of its chief author, the Emperor NAPOLEON. The tragic catastrophe of the Mexican expedition, the consolida tion of Germany, in virtue of his efforts to divide it, and the embarrassments of his Italian policy, are warnings that the most dexterous adventurers have but a limited tether. From Europe, to which we have taught so many lessons, it is now our turn to learn some. We have at this moment a political conspiracy in almost all the great towns of the Empire, and three millions of people more or less disaffected in Ireland. Austria is strengthening herself by recog nition of the national sentiment of Hungary. The United States are solving the great problem of reconstruction. The rival States of Germany are drawing closer together in virtue of the ties of national feeling. On the other hand, Russia is seeking closer union with Poland, by endeavouring to stamp out every vestige of its separate national existence. For nearly 700 years we have followed a Russian policy in Ireland. During the last generation, we have repented of and abandoned this course. But we have not freely and boldly committed ourselves to the opposite policy. We have done our beat, accord ing to sadly imperfect lights, for the material improvement of Ireland. But, as we might have foreseen, and as Fenianiam now rises to tell us, this is insufficient. With the nations of Europe arming around us, on a scale and with a weapon of deadly force, unknown in any previous age, we cannot afford disaffection in any member of the Empire, or the growth of a lower tone of mind and character. The symptoms of decadence which are plainly visible are as yet only warnings on which we may act. Happily, the suffering and trouble have come early enough to put us on our guard. The eager haste to be rich at all costs, the vulgar ostentation of wealth, or of the false show of wealth, and the rivalry of taste less expenditure, are the chief source of the licence so strongly illustrated in the course of the year. Getting and spending, we have laid waste our powers; and they can be restored only by a return to the principles of plain living and high thinking from which the nation has departed. If this moral be practically applied, the lessons of 1867 will not have been in vain. Eke Court. OSBORNE, Dec. 30. The Queen drove out yesterday afternoon, ac companied by Princess Christian and Rimiest@ Henrietta of Schleswig-Holstein, the Equerry in Waiting being in at tendance upon horseback ; and her Majesty walked in the grounds this morning, accompanied by Princess Beatrice. Princess Christian, Princess Henrietta, and Prince Leo pold also went out. Prince Arthur and Prince Christian went out shooting, attended by Sir John Cowell and Major Elphinstone. Lieutenant-General the Hon. C. Grey had the honour of accompanying their royal highnesses. Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-office from the Governors of the West India Islands, the North American Provinces, and New Zealand. THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES.—Yester day afternoon their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales commenced their annual visit to the Earl and Countess of Leicester at Holkham-hall, Norfolk. Their royal highnesses travelled by ordinary train over the Lynn and Hunetanton and West Norfolk Junction Railways. Both these lines are worked by the Great Eastern Railway Company, and Mr. T. Stevenson, superin tendent of the northern division of the Great Baatern system, was in attendance on the train by which the Prince and Princess travelled. Holkham was reached late in the afternoon, and the royal visitors proceeded at once to Holkham-hall, a stately pile which iv one of the glories of Norfolk. The visit of the Prince and Princess to Holkham is expected to last until Saturday, and during the week the Prince and a number of distin guished guests will shoot over the Earl of Leiceeter's preserves. The party invited to meet the Prince and Princes of Wales at Holkham comprises his Serene Highness Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar, Viscount and Viscountess Powerscourt, the Earl sad Countess of Dun more, Earl Vane, Lord Methuen and the Hon. Miss Methuen, the Hon. T. De Grey, M.P., the Hon. Henry and Lady Catherine Coke, Captain Seymour, Captain Bateson, Miss Whitbread, Miss Stephenson, Miss Seymour, Mr. Powell, &c. The Prince and Princess of Wales are attended in their visit by Major Teesdale and the Hon. Mrs. Grey. _ _ The Duke of Cambridge had a dinner party last t evening at Gloucester House. The Marquis and Marchioness of Hastings are entertaining company at Donaingion Park. The Marquis and Marchioness of Donegall have been receiving • select party at Hampstead Mi•shail, Berkshire, during the past week. The Earl and Countess of Yarborough are enter taining company at Brocklesby HalL The noble earl's hounds meet to-marrow at Brocklesby. Colonel the Ron. N. and Lady Margaret Char teris have arrived at Highclere Castle, near Newbury, from visiting the Marquis and Marchioness of Donegal, at Hampstead Marshall. The Earl and Countess of Clarendon, Lord Hyde, and the Lynes Viniers, arrived in Rome from Florence on the 24th, and took up their residence at the Hotel de l'Europe. Lord and Lady Frederick Cavendish had had an audience of the Pope. Lord Thomas Grosvenor had left Rome for Florence. FASHIONS FOR JANUARY. (From I.e Follet.) There have been many modifications in the style of the short costume during the last few weeks ; and, as so very much of its gracefulness depends on the arrange• went of the two skirts, we will endeavour to give our readers an idea of the most usual and truly Parisian make. The under-skirt, though short, is not very short ; gene rally either red, violet, or black ; and is plaited round the bottom. The upper skirt, which is most frequently black, should be cut moderately trained at the back, and so looped up as to be perfectly flat at the front and sides ; whilst the back, being set in at the waist in large plaits, is quite bouffant. Four buttons are used for the looping up, two at the sides, and two at the back, those at the sides being so placed as to stretch the front breadth quite plain. This skirt of course is considerably shorter than the under-skirt. Fur is still much in favour. It is profusely employed as trimming. There are various ways of arranging it. For taffetas, cloth, or velvet dresses, a double row placed up each side of the front breadth is a very suitable style, • single band being put round the cuffs and armholes. The paletots of medium length have • square collar bordered with fur. We have heard the question asked whether a low body was considered indispensable for dinner dress. Without doubt it is so in Paris for all ceremonious dinners, so that it is quite custo mary for Parisians to have two bodies made to their silk, satin, moire antique, or velvet dresses. Thin material is reserved for young girls or very young married ladies. Last year black toilettes obtained an immense success—they were worn even at balls ; and our ladies of fashion appear to have no desire to give them up, so that it is expected many ball drosses will be seen made of black lace. Rich plain or broohe silks will be also worn this winter ; but young girls should never wear anything but light vaporous material for ball toilettes. The rage for gold trimming is as great as ever. Velvet spotted with gold, as well as velvet embroidered with coloured milk, is in vogue for grand. toilette. For at-homedress, cachemire, poplin, and velveteen are much worn. The bonnets, although still worn so small, are made wanner and more comfortable by means of the crossway strings of velvet or satin, lined, and generally edged with lam The " Ducheeee" is much admired, and is certainly a very becoming headdress. Thu s , a c h a p eau " Duchene" of black velvet, trimmed with a wreath, or rather niche, of lace, with • diadem of jet flowers ; at the tide an aigrette of gold and steel. Wide strings c f crossway velvet, lined with white satin and edged with lace. Or the same bonnet in grey velvet, trimmed with a ruche of blonde, and bandeau of gold and steel with banging ornaments of steel. Strings of crossway satin, fastened by a bow of the same formed of ends. At the back • bow to match, with two long ends of satin edged with blonde. A "Marie Antoinette" of violet velvet, edged with small feathers the same colour and &grates of gold and steel ; this trimming is carried down the strings, which are of crossway velvet and fastened with • bow of the same. Another, of ruby velva, was trimmed with folds and ro settes of the same coloured satin all round the edge, with gold hanging ornaments. Across the back a band of curled feathers forming a curtain over the chignon and carried down the strings, which are ruby velvet lined with white satin, fastened under the chin by a bow of velvet. A very comfortable and, at the same time, elegant bonnet may be made of black or coloured velvet, the front plaited, and edged with a wreath of small feathers to match the velvet, on which are placed small jet leaves. Soft full crown of black lace, over which falls a rich lace forming a mantilla, fastened over the satin strings by a satin bow. For visits of ceremony a very charming bonnet was of white royal, trimmed with rouleaux of white satin and • fringe of marabouts. Bandeau of steel and gold, and strings of white satin edged with blonde, fastened by a rich brooch. Bonnet of maroon velvet, piped with satin tho same colour ; small mantilla of black lace, fastened to • band of velvet piped with satin, which forms the strings; at the top a bow of velvet formed of ends. A ruche of lace forming a diadem, separated by a band of gold and steel. At the side a bouquet of small white flowers. A fanchon of bright black feathers ; strings of the sanie. At the side a bouquet of gold wheat ears, and • scarf of Chantilly, forming a veil at the back, and fastened under the chin. PRECACTIONS AT HAMPTON' COURT. —The mill• tary guard at Hampton Court, as was expected, has been increased at the Royal Palace. A full company of the saith Foot has arrived from Portland, and has t.dion up its quarters there. The detachment of Hussars, supplied from the bead-quarters at Hounslow, woo not sufficiently strong in numbers to provide the number of sentries required, so the infantry have come to help. The cavalry keep to their old posts, the 54ith doing extra duty. The " specials," whose employment we noticed last week, are still kept on ; the men are all armed with a stout cudgel at night, and are changed every two hours. The day watching is principally left to the civilians, but at night sentries are placed all round the Royal Palace, and in all the approaches. After dark no ose is allowed to pass without giving the sign, and if not known, is not alloyed to proceed without a guard with biro. Even in Frog walk, facing the green, passengers are challenged, and have to come forward to the light so that they may be seen. That part of the palace which fates the river is most care fully guarded, and heavy iron gratings have been placed over the mouths of the sewer. The watchmen and sentries are so arranged that there is a complete cordon round the whole place, and no one is left unsupported. THE Ganz BALD! Fu ND. —We have been requested to publish the following list of further subscriptions to the Garibaldi Fund, administered by the ladies' committee through Colonel Chambers :—Mr. S. Harwood, 5/. ; Mrs. Harkworth, 1/. ls. ; Miss Nellie Cobden L. IVilliaccia, 5/. Collected by Miss Cooke, 1/. 3a. 6d. ; oolleoted by Miss Grant, 5/. ; collected by Miss Lucy Marianne Poole, of Manchester, for the wounded Garihaldian volunteers and the widows and orphans of the slain, 201. CRYSTAL PALACE. -- ONE SHILLING DAY, MONDAY, Ditc. 30. Atholonon• on payment, 4,002 ; ditto by season tickets, 1,693; total visitors. 5,696. sibility. When it was found by the experience of ; .SINGULAR MANIFESTO OF ROMAN CATHOLIC 1853 that not so much as a single individual ran his I CLERGYMEN. stick through a picture or damaged with it any article exhibited, the rule about sticks became relaxed to an extent which greatly interfered with what had been a profitable calling. The greater precedent of 1867 confirmed modern notions on the subject, and now people, instead of humbly surrendering their sticks when called upon to give them up, inquire fiercely whether the nuisance is obligatory. At the Bourse, where the broad flag stones and solid pillars could not possibly be damaged by sticks, the only pretext for taking them away was that the owners of them under excitement might get to fighting. M. Pietri's decrte, therefore, which assumes that this is no longer to be feared, may be hailed as a symptom of pro gress. At the Bourse there were few transactions, ex cept those necessitated by the approaching settle ment. The market was weak all day, and the closing prices of the Rente-68fr. 37}c. for cash, and 68fr. 25c. for account—show a fall of 24c. and 7ic. Italian, Comptoir d'Escompte, and Mobilier closed without change. Credit Fonder fell sfr. ELECTION OF DEAD MASTER OF ETON COLLEGE.-(THIS DAY.) Rev. James John Hornby, M.A., Brasenose, Oxford, and second master of Winchester College, was this day elected head master of Eton College. LOSS OP A SCBOONSIC AND SIX OP THE CREW. The Very Rev. Dean O'Brien and a number of Roman catholic clergyme n of diocese of Limerick have issued a remarkable declaration, which opens thus : " We have arrived at an epoch of great trial and some danger, and it is due to the people, the government, and our own position frankly to express some of the evils under which Ireland labours, and the remedy which, under the presence of God, we believe to be the most alas cions, if not the only one, to give peace, security, sad progress to the country. We belong to no party in the • state within or without the constitution. We have n o alliance with whig, tory, or radical. We have laboured many of us, and some of us incurred considerable odium, in our endeavours to preserve public order, and thus we have given a pledge that we are devoted to the interests of peace. In reflecting upon the present position of the us. tion, then ' and o ff ering our honest counsel, w e h ave no impulse to embarrass or to patronise any arty, and no object but to perform our duty to religion and the people with whom we are and have ever been perfectly identified; It would be an error and • crime to say that the disaffec tion of this country is not deep-seated and extensive. Deplorable as such a fact may be, no one who knows the country can truthfully deny it. Generally • blank hoplessness pervades the mind of the population, • dark brooding, all the worse because every day growing in intelligence. This hopelessness operates in two or three directions and in everyone of them is almost equally du. germs. Taking the form of emigration, it become, • long. ing and resolve to ' cone back ; taking the form of con spiracy, it is ever on the watch for its opportunity ; sag taking the form of Fenianism, it becomes reckless very often, and regardless of consequences, making dange r a t home and inviting evil from abroa d. We need not say that we know the people of Ireland well. They are emphatically ' our own people.' We have their confidence, and know their great virtues, as well as what failings fall to their share ; sod we solemnly declare that one of the most imminent dangers of the movement of this generation is the magna. nimous spirit of self-sacrifice which has animated the mu of those who think of risking their lives or spending them in even a hopeless contest. 'That they ' cannot be worse,' that there is no hope for the country,' and that 'it is as good to die 'are the sentiments and ethics which poverty and degradation have taught, and which are frequently repeated by American success and daring. In one wor n as en eminent prelate, • man even singularly diaton for his devotion to English institutions, has recently - IZZ, ' If the Grand Turk came to this country, and proffered a fair chance of eipelling English power, every man, woman, and child would follow him to the field.' We deprecate the continuance of this state of things—equally injurious to the spiritual interest of our flocks and the social and commercial interests of Ireland. We come before the country and the government, believing that the difficulty ' is not in. soluble, though we think it may be rapidly approaching that state of hopelessness. We appeal to the common sense and highest interest of these three kingdoms patiently to bear and judge; and should we fail in avert mg • dire catastrophe, we shall have the consolation of remembering that we have done our duty. Without any affectation of confidence we do think that the English people—the great body of that nation—would be inclined not only to justice, but generosity, were they sufficiently well-informed. To these we most especially appeal ; and we shall feel surprised if, having duly considered the con dition and claims of this country, they will for ever leave their own at the command of foreign nations sooner than reverse the policy of ruin." Replying to the inquiry " What are the roots of the evil ' the document then goes into a long history of Ire land, showing that the people of that country have been de proved by misrule, through long generations, of the means of attaining to prosperity, and concludes thus : " We think ourselves no enemies of the commonwealth by seeking to preserve it from such trials as it shadows forth in the state of affairs just described. All Europe knows these difficulties to which we allude, and America is every day acting upon them. How can any government vindicate its honour or guard its interests in such a state of things? The experience of the last two years proves that, were England at war with any European power to-morrow, that power would be able to fling • brigade of fifty or sixty thousand drilled and armed Irishmen into the field, perhaps into this country • and then what anti restrain the Irish population, enroied, poverty stricken , and hope less as they are' Again, we d eclare that the only hope of peace, order, progress, and at last real union,ls in tranquil lising Ireland. And we solemnly declare that the only meats of effectually tranquillising Ireland is by • restore, tion of her nationality. General legislation by the par !Lament of Great Britain will never be equal to the task of teaching, enriching, developing, and raising Ireland. Political economy will never do fora country like Ireland, any more than the ordinary food of health and vigour would do for the weak and sickly. The most exceptional legislation must be employed, the minutest knowledge mast be obtained, the most persevering local inquiry must be instituted, and a full, heart-whole, and we a mild say, exclusive attention, province by province, mast be directed to discover and remedy Ireland's wants ; and these things an English parliament cannot perform. An Eng lish parliament has already too much to occupy it ; an English parliament will always proceed by fixed principles applicable only to organised communities, and they will not do for Ireland ; an English parliament will have to command • combination of parties who know little of Ireland, and understand the necessity of entirely exLet tional legislation—a thing absolutely easntial to Ire And, above all, such • parliament will never satisfy the cravings of • whole people, whose intellects and whose hearts combine in the cry for nationality. A land tenure will accomplish something; removal of the protestant ascendancy, by ',being the protestant church in the same position before the state as the catholic church, will accomplish much ; equality in education and the re inoval of the anomaly of giving a freedom of educa tion on the condition of people giving up freedom, will do its share—and we will hail any and all of them with thankfulness ; but we feel bound to say that when all of them have been granted, safety from foreign danger, per fect development of home resources, above all the heart country of this will acquire nationality . Givelreland has awn legislature and the government of her resources— nationality and her federal amity will be a tower of strength to the empire. The country and people will have nothing to complain of any more—they will be themselves respon sible for their own condition ; conspiracies at home will hove nothing to plot about, and conspiracies abroad as promise nothing which Ireland would nut be ready to reject and resist. England will then be united to us by our beet interests, and will be the protector of oar most valued privileges, and the miserable conflicts of seven centuries shall have an end. We conclude then, firstly, that Iceland is poor and helpless, nut by any Rill of the Irish race, but by the force and fault of English legislation. Secondly, that the said English legislation exercised its power, not only in pauperising Ireland for • season, but in destroying nearly all the sources of Irish national wealth, and thus making poverty • perm*• nent condition of the country. Thirdly—That the danger to public order, both at home and from abroad, has been produced by and poverty and degradation. Fourthly— That the very nature of most of the remedies required to make Ireland rich and contented makes it impossible for a British parliament to adopt and employ them ; and, besides, that home aspirations and the plea for Irish intervention from abroad can never be met, unless by restoring Ireland her nationality, re-establishing the sovereign and Lords and Commons of Ireland. Before the face of Ireland and the whole world we make this de. claration—in the interests of Haven and earth—the pre sent and the future. With the thoughtful men who away the destinies of these kingdoms we leave the issue ; but our own honour and conscience required that we should e tc y l m l t t he thd tru ities th ;f an w d hich nothi a oh ng t n i t ,,n tl e i la e tr trut trut h ,th e f should not desire a ce of to take the responsibility. We have discharged our duty, and on the stitesmenship of England now rests the deeply important issue." Yesterday(Monday)the steam-ship Angliaarrived at Dundee from London. Captain Speedie, the master, re ports that when near the Newirp light ship he observed • schooner bearing down on him. He did everything he could to avert a collision, but the schooner made no attempt to get out of the way, and came into contact with the Anglia. The result was that the schooner re ceived a severe concussion, and sank immediately. por tions of her masts and rigging falling on the deck of the steamer. No sound was heard for sometime, but ultimately the voice of a man crying for help was heard. A boat was lowered with all despatch, and one of the crew of the schooner, Joseph Edwards, a black, was picked up in an exhausted condition. He quickly recovered, however. He stated that the vessel to which he belonged was the George, of Bridgwater, Wales, and was manned by a crew of six in addition to the master. He stated that the master of the schooner mistook the steamer for the Newarp light-ship, and was not able to relieve himself from the difficulty into which he had fallen until it was too late. The six men were drowned. The schooner was laden with pig-iron, and was bound from Middlesboro' to Cardiff. The general impression is that no blame can be attached to Captain Speedie. PROSECUTION OF THE PROCESSIONISTS AT DUBLIN. Mr. Alexander M. Sullivan, T.C., editor of the Nation ; Mr. Thomas Bracken, clothier ; and Mr. Michael Reilly grocer ; appeared before Mr. Dix, at the Dublin Head Police-ogice, yesterday afternoon to answer the com plaint of the Queen at the prosecution of the Attorney- General, and show cause why informations should not be taken against them, for that they, " on the Bth day of December inst., formed part of a certain unlawful and se ditious assembly of persons gathered together at Thomas. street and at other places, and, did then and there take part in an illegal procession." James Jennings, clothier, Kingstown - avenue ; William Stankidge, and George F. Gilliam, also appeared to answer • summons, charging them with a breach of the Party Precarious Act only. The last-named defen dant was formerly charged with complicity in the Fenian conspiracy and with having been asso ciated with the convict Michael Moore In the manu facture of Fenian pikes. He gave evidence before Mr. Strange at the Lower Castle-yard, but subsequently de clined to give further information, upon which he was arrested, charged on his own evidence with being a mem ber of the Fenian Brotherhood, convicted, and sentenced to penal servitude. The case was brought before the Court of Criminal Appeal, when it was decided that the conviction was ill-founded, and the prisoner was accord ingly discharged. Mr. Murphy, Q.C., appeared for the prosecution * • Mr. Constantine Molloy appeared for Mr. Jennings, and Mr. Crea for Mr. Reilly. Mr. A. M. Sullivan and the other defendants were not professionally represented. After the evidence. Mr. Sullivan addressed the magis trate at some length. In the course of his remarks he said that Lord Derby had declared in the House of Lords that the Cork procession was not illegal. This declara tion must have been made after consultation with the law officers of the crown, and was the result of the independent judgment of the minister before the revolt of the Ulster contingent—before the Heygates and the Braces sought to wrest the law as they had done in this case. Lord Derby, in the House of Lords, and Lord Mayo, more strongly in the House of Commons, promised that be fore anything should be done by the government the people should receive warning of it by proclamation. Who would believe that in the free of that promise, driven by the desperate necessities of party, Lord Mayo imme diately on his arrival in Ireland should turn upon men who acted upon that— who were allured into that course of action by himself and hie chief, and draw them into a law court amidat the e-nteurpt of Irish public opinion? Having referred to the correspondence between sir F. Heygate and Lord Mayo ' Mr. Sullivan continued to say that as yet no breach of the Party Processions Act bad been proved against the defendants. He met the crown plainly and frankly on the issue whether the motive, tha. meter, and object of the assemblage was seditious. It was simply a protest against the death of the men at Manchester as attested by the almost universal sentiment of Ireland. Were they to be told that it was illegal to doubt the policy of an execution ? Were they to be told that men had never been put to death ere now on a wrong verdict? Would Mr. Murphy read his ancient and modern hiatoryback wards, and tell them that men had never been executed on • wrong verdict? Perhaps in the Castle editions of Hume and Macaulay, facts so heterodox were scored out. Perhaps they would be told that it was their duty as loyal subjects to believe that the government never yet erred —never put a man to death on a wrong verdict, or in a moment of national Illeeeloll immolated an innocent man. If they wanted to maintain this prosecution it would be necessary to put up this theory. But he challenged then, to prove this theory to be law ; and if it were law, as it was not, the judgment of Christendom would regard it as an outrage and coercion of conscience which Caligula himself would not have dared to attempt. Mr. Sullivan, in con clusion, said they maintained that they had committed no otrenee, and that it was to *Owl - ye their party purposes the government had instituted these proceedings. But they challenge the government now to the issue. Let them try them by jury . ; but they had a wider tribunal to appeal to—they bad their own consciences and the judgment of humanity. Mr. Murphy briefly replied, submitting that the ques tion was entirely one for a jury, and that the magistrate should grant the informations. Mr. Dix said be was there merely in a magisterial capa city, and he hail no doubt that upon the evidence he had no other course than to send the case for trial. Of course bail would be taken for the appearance of the defen dants. The .lefendania then entered into their own recogni. Fences to appear for trial at the next comndaaion. The proceedings then terminated. MR. TRRODORR MARTIN.—It is rumoured that her Majesty proposes to show her sense of the valuable assistance she has received in her literary labou g from Mr. Theodore Martin by conferring upon him the bonnet of knighthood.—lmperial Review. Tux AGILICCLTURAL GAM: Ace. —This act cornea into operation to-morrow. The act prohibit& the employ ment of children under eight years of age in agricultard labour, and also enforces a separation of the sexes in field work. Gang masters and gang mistremses are to be licensed; applications for licensee" at Is each, being granted at the discretion of two justices of the peace. with right of appeal to the quarter sessions in case of the re fusal of appliciticas. Penalties are prescribed in case son-compliance with the act. A letter from Rome, dated the 26th, says : " Yesterday the Pepe officiated at St. Peter's, surrounded by the customary imposing splendours of the Christmas solemnity. His Holiness looked remarkably well on the occasion, but the attendance of foreigners was less nume rous than usual in the ladies' tribunes, and in thereat nave of the church, the present season being decidedly a thin one with respect to visitors. During the ceremony no spec tators were allowed to witness the corp-d'rril from the gal lery which runs round the inside of the cupola above the transept. Several English visitors were much disappointed at this prohibition, which, however, was general, and strictly enforced ; and very wisely, no doubt, for in these bomb-throwing days there is no knowing what desperate conspirator might have gained admission in a black dress and white tie to that commanding position." During a great snowstorm on the 13th a bold robbery was suocessfully perpetrated in New York. A messenger of the Bank of New York, while on his way along Wall-street from the " clearing-house " with a satchel containing cheques and drafts, was accosted by a man who jumped from • sleigh and seized the satchel. The man at once got into the sleigh and it was driven off, the messenger still clinging to the satchel and being dragged along the street, the thief and two others with him beating the messenger on the head and arms to make him let go. After being dragged a hundred yards be was beaten off, and the sleigh disappeared with the booty. The satchel contained 3,600,000 dollars in cheques mad drafts, sad • small amount of money. BREAGII OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE. A cats wan heard in the Secondaries' Court, Guildhall, yesterday. " Yardley v. Tyler" —on a writ of inquiry to :o'seu the amount of damages in an action brought in one of the superior courts for a breach of promise of warns^ the defendant having allowed judgment to go ly default. Donnas were laid at 2,0001. The action WAS brought hr tit) father of the plaintiff, who way a young lady under age, and connequently an infant in law. Mr. Yardle y , who was a gentleman of independent means, spent a grelit deal of his time on the continent, and it happened that his daughter, Miu Harriet Yardley, who was we , in her nineteenth year, was a passenger by the Boul,me host. She was put on board by a lady, and the defen lured er•ter undertook to take charge of the young lady during the trip. The defendant, who was 'Muted to bold :on excellent position as contractor to her Majesty's Board of Works, was present, and an introduction took place wlich reit . se• quench , led to great intimacy between the tad faunheti and ultim a tely to a marriage contract. After ."we pun however, the defendant broke off the match, on the grousd of an apparent incompatibility of temper h e tween!isi and the plainti ff . The jury 'wattled the plainti ff '' 4l ' damages. Tug WESTERN HERRING Fl ail KRT. —Lime ottani of herrings were made off PlynionVi during the past wee k and the fish were readily disposed of at from I•2s. to le per 1,000. On Friday morning upwards of lUf boats be• longing to Plymouth and the Cornish putts lauded esirodi ranging from 5,000 to 30,000 herrings each. Two masts, apparently belonging to a water logged ship of GOO tons, were noticed to be sticking tweifff, feet above the surface of the sea, eiAteen wiles SA •d; Eddystone, on the 21st December, when they were pasta by the Avon, which has arrived at Gravesend. OUR CONTEMPORARIES. (THIS DAY.) Most of the journals this morning print, instead of the ordinary leading articles, a lengthened review of the event' of the closing year. The Daily Nero discusses the Army Reorganisation Bill in France, describing it as a measure born of rage and panic after the Prussian victories in Germany and Bohemia, and not a measure of mere army reform. The details affect the French people only, bit it is a fact that the only unofficial apologists of the bill are the Emperor's nominees, and a few domestic adherents of the imperial house. The liberal minority in theilluunber represent those classes who suffer most from Aar; they represent the principles and the interests of peace ; and when they give eloquent expression to the better spirit of the people, and are not afraid of declaring, in the face of vulgar prejudices and base passions, that " to be true to France it is not necessary to prevent Germans from being true to Germany and Italians true to Italy," it is wise and just to give them credit for sincerity. There is a fatality in the conduct of governments as of men's lives. ilapoleonism has its destiny to fulfil ; and if that destiny be peace, we shall be agreeably surprised. A " high sheriff," writing to the Times on the subject of Ireland, Nays :—" The church establishment is certainly so glaring a grievanoe to the four-fifths of the people of Ireland that the sooner for all parties interested in her welfare it is swept away the better, and the sooner will intolerant bigotry on all aides be quelled. I, myself, a Roman oatholio, pay a large sum annually to protestant clergymen, for which not a soul on my estates gets the smallest benefit, nor do I believe that the recipient is aware even of the locality of the lands from which he derivcs his income ! I do not seek to benefit myself in pocket by the abolition of the church establishment. My estates were purchased years since with these charges on them. What I want is value in some way or other, and not the enrichment of • number of men who, though ever so estimable in themselves, one must admit are in a false position as regards religious emolument in this catholic country." Her Majesty's government have declined the proposels for reducing the duty on Portuguese wines im ported into Great Britain which have been submitted by the Portuguese government as a basis for the negotiation of a commercial treaty between this country and Portugal. DEATH or THE HEY. Da. HANNAH.—By the death of the Rev. J. Hannah, DD., the Wesleyan body has lost a venerable and faithful servant. Dr. Hannah was born at Lincoln on the 3rd November, 1792, and at the time of his death he had consequently just entered on his 70th year. In 1812 be was removed to the college at Dids bury, where he remained as theological tutor till be became a supernumerary at the last conference, in June. In the year that he was removed to Didebury be was elected president of the Conference (London) ; and he was again president in 18.11 , when the conference I met at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He was secretary of that ssaemb'y in the years 1840, 1841, 1849, 1850, and 1834 to IR3B. On two occasions he represented the Wesleyan Conference, once with the Re.. R. Race, and the second time with Dr. J. F. Jobson, before the American General Conference. At the time of his death he was the oldest member of the legal hundred. Though advanced in yews, he was physicallyand mentally vigorous ; be preached even so recently as the end of last month. A few days ago be took cold, which resulted in congest;on of the lungs. No danger was apprehended till Tuesday (a week eines) ; from that day he gradually sank, and at 10.45 on Sunday morning be calmly passed away. He leaves a widow, to whom h e was married more than 50 years ago, and a son, the Rev. Dr. J. Hannah, warden of flity College, Glenalmond, and who was Hampton Lec turer a few years since. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (sstrrat's 77.1103.018.) FRANCE. PARIS, Dso. 31. The Afoniteur of this morning publishes a decree fixing at 292 the number of deputies to be elected during the electoral period from 1867 to 1872. The department of the Seine has nine members to elect. The departments of Ande, Cher, Finisterre, Gironde, Herault, Isere, Jura, Orne, and Pyrdndes Orientales will have each one more deputy. Count von der Goltz will be received to-day by the Emperor u the official representative of the North German Confederation. HUNGARY. PESTH, Dn. 30, Eve.Nnvc. In to-day's sitting of the Upper House of the Hungarian Diet, the Railway Construction Bill was adopted. Both houses adjourned sine die. Herr Deak is still ill. He was visited to-day by the parliamentary members of his party in a body. AMERICA. The North German Lloyd's steamer New York, from New York on the 10th inst., arrived off Cowes this morning (31st Dec.) with 63 passengers for this port, Havre, and Bremen ; 41 bags of mails, and 245,268 dole. in gold for London ; 502,661 dole. in gold for France, and 5,071 dols. for Bremen. NEW YORK, Dix. 19. Tbe House of Representatives has passed an amend ment to the Reoonstruction Act introduced by Mr. Stevens, providing that only a majority of those voting, instead of a majority of registered voters, be necessary to ratify or reject the new State constitutions in the South. Mr. Sherman, from the finance committee of the Senate, haareported shill similerto the one he introduced in Novem ber, providing for the funding of the national debt in Forty- Year Six per Cant. Bonds, the principal and interest p►y able in coin, and redeemable at the option of the govern ment after ten years. and to be free of taxation ; and ►lso authorising the Secretary of the Treasury to Issue Forty-Year Bonds to the amount of 500,060,000 dole., bearing 4i interest, payable in coin ►t London and Frankfort, to be sold or ex changed at par for 5-20's, and redeemable at the option of the government after 20 years, The bill has been laid over until after the holidays. President Johnson has sent a message to the Senate, communicating General Hancock's order announcing that the law in his district will be enforced, but that the Habeas Corpus and the right of trial by jury will not be crushed, the civil courts will be upheld, and the rights of the people respected. The message of the President compliments General Hancock for his magnanimous forbearance, and recommends Congress pile licly to recognise his patriotic order. The letter of Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams, of November 27, has been published. The Secretary announces that Lord Stanley's proposed reference to srbi• tration of the Alabama claims had been declined, because It had been based on the condition that the Federal Go• vernment should waive Its previous objections to the Queen's proclamation granting belligerent rights to the Confederacy, which condition was inadmissible. The Georgia Convention have recommended General Pope to remove Governor Jenkins. General Reynolds commanding in Texas, has ordered all refugees arriving at Brownsville from Mexico to be re turned to the Mexican authorities as deserters. General Hancock has ordered the elections to the Texas Convention to be held from the 10th to 14th February. The New Hampshire Republican Convention ham re nominated Mr. Harriman governor, and endorsed General Grant's andid►ture for the Presidency. Decided came of earthquake were felt yesterday in the interior of York State and the valley of St. Lawrence. Advice. from Mexico state that inert: has sent • mes sage to the Mexican Congress in which be praises the United States for aiding the defeat of the European inter vention, and declares that Mexico never solicited the re• newel of European relations. Fatter Fiecher bas been released. The British Minister was preparing to leave. (lIT ATLUCTIO TILEGRAPH.) NSW YORK, Dice. 30. The North German Lloyd's steamer Deutchiand arrived out this morning. Closing Prices :—Gold, 1331. Sterling exchange on London, 110. 5-20 United States Bonds, 1081 ; Illinois, 133 ; Erie, ill. Cotton : Middling Upland, 161. PHILADELPHIA, Die. 30. Petroleum, standard white, 24}. EXPRESS FROM PARIS. (YRON OUR OWN CORRRAPONDENT.) PARIS, MONDAY EVILYING. It is thought that the amendment prohibiting substitutes in the Mobile National Guard has a great chance of being adopted. Deputies of all parties incline to the opinion that a force which in ordinary times will only be subjected to the trifling inconvenience of a few days drill in the year, and which would only be called into active service in case of a serious war, should include all classes of society without distinction, and that money ought not to be able to command exemption. It is confirmed that Chevalier Nigra is going out of the way of the new year's receptions. He leaves Paris for Florence to-day. This diplo matist must be glad of a rest, for within the last week he has been in constant motion, fluttering between the Falai' Royal (Prince Napoleon's), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Prussian and other sympathetic embassies, and his own office. I do not know whether it is quite certain that Count de Coke will be away on January 1, but it is known that the Corps Diplomatique will not be represented on that occasion by Count de Budberg, the Russian Ambassador, he being at St. Petersburg. I am happy to announce the grant of a new liberty which Frenchmen will come into the enjoy ment of on New Year's-day. It is a franchise, the granting of which may reasonably be considered as evidence that those who govern France are of ~pinion that her citizens are loss quarrelsome than they used to be. A staring placard in front of the Bourse, signed " Pietri, Prefect of Police," pro claims that from and after Jan. 1, 1868, the public may enter the building without being forced to leave their sticks and umbrellas at the door. This is another stage in a great movement which commenced in 1855. Before that date to go about with a cane was almost as expensive as to keep a cab ; wherever two or three were gathered together under any roof, there was somebody at the door to demand in an im perious tone the delivery up of the stick, and at the same time a fee of at least two sous for taking care of it. The fee, though in the long run onerous, was less annoying than the time lost in waiting to get your property again when you came l away. In 1855 it was foreseen that the perquisites of the cane, umbrella, and parasol vestiaire in the Champs Elysies building would be of immense value; and by way of making a handsome provision for an eminent actress in her old age the post of care taker of sticks, was given to Mdlle. Georges. It was, however, ulti mately calculated that it would be utterly impos sible to ensure the redelivery of these articles to the public within any reasonable time ; and then that fearful innovation was made which caused the hair of many an official to stand an end, which per mitted the public to enter a public building carry ing their sticks in their hands on their own reapon- 1 ~f~ ,~ ;' MI -u Pri. down Mr. Gri me. COI Ti chars name Jag it AnZ lap-ro Mr. writte tion of the mm the pri thereh the _O4l house. Lisp con.td Mr, Vint: .° 7r . Rowel rod cl nard The his hal Mr. Mug: prisoi had I