The Express. — London, England, 1866-01-01 00:00:00

JOHN BROODEN OMGM AL GOLD CHAIN MANUFACTORY, :41. MINALITTA-STZMICT. COVENT-GAZDEr. JOHN BROGDSN'S GOLD CHAINS. JOHN BROGDENS GOLD GL AHD CRAIN& JOHN BROGDENS G OLD ALBERT CHAINS. JOSH BROODINI3 GOLD BROOCH OHAIM. MESSRS. WATHERSTON and SON, Goldsmitlu and Jewellers, Rave Ready fer Inspection • Great Variety of JEWELLERY, of the Utast suitable for WEDDING PRESENTS and NEW-YEAR'S 011 Th. IS. Pall-mall Ku& &W. gut otrisrvligi. TO OUB.IIIOIPONDANTS. ,dvertleetnents Intended for " The Screw London Evening rg:, must be at the Othce, 10, Bonverlewtreet. by Two k on the clay of publication. HAYYABiIf. Tm. KVIBMIG, szoriiii SAM. Mews. Sothern, Buck arooe and owns.= ; misses Kelly Moore. nnowdon, OEPIIEUS IN THE HAYMARKET. Mears Ferree and [ Fisher: Mines Keeley, Howard & Wright —And SHOCKING EVENTS. PRINCISTB. Tins ITionio, QUIET LODGINGS.—AIter which IT 18 311V/U1 TOO lATI TO MEND. Nauss. Vining, G. Mahn* I. Mead, D. Murray, b. Cslhaera, F. Villiers. J. G. More, G. Mar. Ay, and R. Cathnkri: Wises L Moore and K. Rodgers. LYCIUX. THIS NVIIIII2O, THE 11111STIEGUS STRANGER. Mr. H. Widdicomb.—THZ MASTER OF ILAVINBWOOD. Meows. rockier. Jordon, Veen. Emery, Wkldkook, Fitzpatrick. Erma ; Meedamee Teresa, Li/worthy, Lamm C. laclorry. BRITANNIA. Tem Ramo, OLD DADDY LONOLZOR AND SIR BEGIRT CIRCUS; OR, THE RACE FOR THE GOLDEN APPLES.— M. and Mdme. Storizoobach.-Blfgoor BonaL—Olmar.—Showor of Golden Rafe,—And MK& TUX MORMON'S DAUGHTER. LONDON. MONDAY. JANUARY 1. IT will be seen from the report given in another column that a reform which we have frequently insisted on as necessary is promised in the admi nistration of the Houseless Poor Act. One of the many discrepancies between the treatment of va grants at different metropolitan workhouses is to be removed ; and, assuming that the several boards of guardians will consider themselves bound by the votes of their delegates, the food supplied will henceforth be alike in every case. We have reason to believe that this beneficial change has been for some time in contemplation, and that a scheme for a uniform dietary had the approval of the Poor-law Board long before the meeting of Saturday. That casual paupers should be fed or starved at the caprice of parochial guardians, that the fare should vary from hot cocoa or soup to cold water, from bread and cheese or bread and milk to bread alone, has been a manifest injustice and an undoubted violation of the spirit of the act. To ensure uni formity it was wisely determined to take the opinions of the several parishes, and to give official sanction to the scheme of diet recommended by the majority, instead of rousing susceptibilities which are sufficiently sensitive by issuing a formal order from Whitehall. A bare record of the result of Saturday's con ference gives but a faint notion of the proceedings at St. Martin's Hall. The parochial delegates were, in nearly every instance, chairmen or vice chairmen of their several boards, and the effect of this aggregation of parochial authority was an irre pressible, turbulent, and disorderly meeting. Pro poeitions to reduce the quantity of food were received with loud laughter and cheers, and several attempts were made to hector Mr. Farnall into ruling as chairman according to the wishes of a vociferous minority. Some speakers indulged in wandering autobiographical reminiscences until shouted down ; some put forward their love for the poor as a reason for denying them what others declared to be cruelly short commons ; and the meeting arrived by a series of circuitous routes at a practical conclusion only through the conciliatory skill and tact of the poor-law commis sioner. The proposed addition of a piece of cheese to the hunch of bread given at supper was indig nantly denounced, some gentlemen insisting on the state of luxurious repletion is which homeless wan derers, as a rule, sought a night's shelter at a work house. Another section of delegates considered that an allowance of gruel would be more comforting than cheese, and one gentleman was coughed down while indulging in vague denunciations of the presi dent of the Poor-law Board for daring to suggest "through an emissary" that it would be for the common good if the various parish authorities could agree among themselves. Mr. Villiers was promptly exculpated from this terrible charge by Mr. Farnall, who declared the meeting to be convened on his personal authority as metro politan inspector, and it was eventually agreed that gruel should be substituted for cheese. It may be mentioned that the latter article of food was only suggested to ensure something being added to dry bread ; a benevolent wish which, it was decided by a majority of two, should only be carried out in the winter. The theoretical effect of the resolutions and amendments, of the statements and counter-state ments of Saturday, is that at every workhouse in the metropolitan district the adult casual pauper will receive six ounces of dry bread at night, and six ounces of dry bread in the morning during the summer months, and a like quantity with gruel or porridge in the winter ; and that child vagrants under nine years of age will have four ounces of bread with half a pint of gruel on every night in the year. ' Another theoretical effect is, that all masters of workhouses are to give adult casual paupers a task of work before they leave in the morning ; and it will be for those watching the opera tions of the act on behalf of the public to see how far these resolutions are carried out. Several workhouse masters declare it to be im possible to apply the labour test in their present limited establishments ; one representative guardian left the room during Saturday's debate "dis gusted," as he assured us, "at the disgraceful inhumanity " of certain speeches ; and the very small majority by which each proposal was carried seemed to point to possible difficulties in the future. Constant watching and frequent publicity will, however, do much to ensure the uniformity agreed to ; and in the absence of more stringent control than the law at present allows to official authority, it is to these sources we must look. An amusing illustration of the garbled and prejudiced form in which information respecting the working of the act comes before the public is furnished in the re turns from workhouse masters recently published. Many of these parish officers dislike a measure which involves additional labour to themselves and their subordinates, and on being asked for their opinion, declared with great candour that they considered the Houselesa Poor Act to be a mistake. Their views have been paraded forth as coming from " the authorities," and many people, misled by the grandiloquent synonym for workhouse master, have taken as a judicial verdict what in reality was part of the speech of a counsel for the prosecution. The best comment on the act is to be found, not in the unsupported assertion of this or THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, JANUARY 1, 1866. that man, or body of men, but in the state of our public thoroughfares ; and that these have hell fewer homeless outcasts than have been seen for many winters past any observegban testify whose business or pleasure takes him alid at night. In proof of the usefulness of fflosely examining into parish administration we may again quote the curious perversity of the wandering paupers of St. Olave's and Bermondsey, which a short time back resulted in upwards of a hundred males obtaining admission at the latter workhouse in a week, while but three or four took shelter in the former one in the same period. It was freely stated that this discrepancy was to be accounted for by the awkward fact that admission was illegally refused at St. Olive's to all male applicants. This wail stoutly denied, but on our asking to see the wards at the hour when they were supposed to be ready for bl oomers permission was refused, on the ground of its being " inconvenient "to show them. Upon a subsequent occasion we were more fortunate, and on presenting the official order we bad taken the precaution to procure, the sleeping cellars appropriated to casuals at St. Olave's were thrown open to us. This second visit was made within half an hour of midnight, and the majority of the beds were empty. The alleged refusals to admit were again formally denied, and half a dozen men in the week, against a hundred in the work house a few streets off, was declared to be due to the small size of the parish we were in. Last week the subject was referred to at the board of guardians, and the statements in "the public prints " again denounced as untrue, the master, it was said, not having re fused admission to any one for a very long time. Concurrently with the publication of this speech is the return of casuals admitted, showing that 38 men were sheltered at St. Olave's in the preceding seven days. Is it unreasonable to conclude that, although wayfarers and wanderers are not habitual readers of the daily press, there may be some mysterious connection between this increase of more than a thousand per cent, and the questions we publicly asked as to the cause of the singular discrepancy between the numbers relieved at St. Olave's and Bermondsey I OUR CONTEMPORARIES. (THIS DAY.) 1 nine mouths of 2,833,5004 lostead of this, the actual de. crease far those nine nreetke is but 1,116,8484, or not very much mete a third of what spa anticipated. Upon the quarter result i s e ven more remar k a bl e, t h e ac t ua l decrease b ut 62,18*, against an avenge estimated decrease 0444,5001. Imily, taking lita whole year 1863 as compared with 1864, the decrease is lee than • million. If the next quarter be but proportionately favourable, we ean hardly fail to find ourselves in the receipt of two mil. lions more than we anticipated. It will be an easy task to reduce taxation, and when we consider what an immense Moreau in the comforts of the poor must be represented by the additional ten million pounds of tee consumed, we may well rejoice at any further opportunity of pursuing the same beneficent policy. Yet, perhaps, the Times adds. with this continual advance in our income it would be at once just and prudent to pay more attention than we have done of late to the reduction of oar enormous debt. Every reduction of debt is a reduction of taxation, and a perm neat one ; and only less appreciable because spread over • larger number of years. If we could get rid of the whole debt, our taxation would be at once reduced by 25,000,0004 a year. In fact, when we spply the whole of a surplus to the immediate relief of taxation we are simply appropriat ing the whole benefit of our prosperity to ourselves, and denying any of it to our utoosesors. gig erOUTI. OSBORNE, Dir. 30. Her jesty the Queen drove out yesterday afternoon, sastespenisd by the Princess Louie*. The Hereditary Prince and Princess of Hohenzollern, Infanta of Portugal, arrived yesterday on a visit to her Majesty, attended by Countess Renaud and Baron de Branchitsch. The Princess Helena and Prince Arthur, attended by Lady Churchill, the Hon. Major-General Hood. sad Major Elphinstone, drove down to East Cowes to meet the Prince and Princess, who =aged o►er in the royal yacht Alberta, from Southampton, and acoompanied them to Osborne, where they were received by the Queen, The Prince and Princess dined with her Majesty and the royal family in the evening. Dec. 31. The Queen and Princess Helena, with the Hereditary Prince and Princes, of Hohenzollern, drove out yesterday afternoon, attended by Major-General the Hon. A. Hood. In the evening the Hereditary Prince and Princess, and Prince and Princess Leiningen dined with her Majesty and the royal family. The ladies and gentlemen in attendasoe bad the honour of joining the royal circle after dinner. Hass Majesty, Printer Helena, Princess Louise, and Prince Arthur attended Divine service at Whippingluun Church this morning, where the Rev. G. Prather° of6ciated. Despatches were received on Saturday at the Colonial• office from the Governors of the West India Islands. Despatches were sent to the Governor of Canada. PRESENT FROM THE QUEEN TO HER GRANDSON. Her Majesty has just presented to her royal grandson, Prince Victor, a splendid baptismal gift. This work of art has been nearly two years in hand ; it was in tended to have been presented on the first anniversary of the young prince's birth—the 10th of March last—but the great amount of artistic labour required for its completion caused the presentation to be delayed until now. The work consists of a statuette of the late Prinoe Consort in silver, and stands 3 feet 2i inches in height. His royal high nese is in a standing position with gilt armour, copied from the figure upon the tomb of the Earl of Warwick in War wick Cathedral. He is represented as Christian in the " Pil grim's Progress," and around the plinth on which the figure stands is the verse from Timothy, " I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." Behind the figure, and resting upon the stump of an oak, is the helmet of Christian. The shield of the prince rests against the stem, and near the tree are the white lilies of Purity, which are usually introduced into the picture of the Pilgrim. Immediately beneath the plinth, and in front of the entablature of the pedestal, is the inscription :—" Given to Albert Victor Christian Edward, on the occasion of his baptism, by Victoria R., his grandmother and godmother, in memory of Albert, his beloved grandfather." In the panel below, and over the royal arms, is the verse : My Bose of Love with jean I laid In earth, My Lily ! Purity, bath soared to Heaven : tint Faith still lives, and Benin this new birth, How both once more to cheer my soul are given. On the panel on the aide, over the Queen and Prince Consort's arms, is the verse— Fight the good fight He fought, and still like him— Cherish the How ers of Purity and Love : So shall He when thy earthly joys grow dim, lint greet them in our' aviour's home above. On • third panel, and over the arms of the Prince and Prisons of Wales, is the verso— Walk as He walked in faith and righteousness : btrtve as He strove, the weak and poor to aid. Seek not thyself but other men to bless : So win like Him a wreath that will 00i fade. Beneath the front panel, over the figures "1864," are in ' scribed in large rim letters the prince's names, Albert Victor Christian Edward : and in an oblong panel, " Born January the Bth, baptised March 10th." Looking to the front of the work a figure of Hope stands at the right aide, one of Faith on the left ; and behind, or in the third niche, is a group of Charity each of oxydised silver. At the aide of each figure and group there are lilies in enamel. Upon the frieze over the figure of Faith are the words, "Walk as he walked—in Faith," the last word being inscribed be neath the figure. In the same manner, in connexion with the figure of Hope, are the words, "Strive as he strove in Hope ;" and ever the group of Charity, also in enamel, are the words, " Think as he thought in—Charity." Over Faith there is a lily of purity ; over Hope the water lilly, having appropriate reference to the baptism of the young prince ; and over the group of Charity, and resting upon the top of the niche, there is the lilly of the valley. The front panel contains in the centre the royal arms of Eng land, surmounted by the crown. The left side, as you look at the panel, has the arms of the late Prince Consort, and at the other side the arms of the Prince of Wales. The mottoes of each shield are thrown into flowing ribbons. The entire treatment of this group is in a fanciful and allegorical style. Jost beneath the royal shield is • white lily bending down over a broken rose, with, upon the back ground (of the rose) the word "Frogmare." To the right of the Prince of Wales's shield there is • figure of an infant boy looking up at a full-blown rose, which stands erect upon a perfect stem, with beside it a white lily, and imme diately over the baby figures a bunch of snowdrops, em- blematic of youth or spring. The entire group is enriched by the rose, thistle, and shamrock, tastefully introduced to form a background. The ebony (or black) moulding points to the death of the prince, and the white stars symbolise the heaven in which the Primie Consort now dwells. The arms of the Queen in one shield, dex ter ; and in a second shield, sinister, are the arms of the late prince. The panel is filled as the front one with • tasteful arrangement of the rose, thistle, and shamrock. The re manna; panel is filled in the same manner, but with, dexter, the Pnnce of Wales's arms, and those of Denmark sinister. The design throughout is medieval in character, and as• work of art reflects the highest credit upon Mr. E. H. Corbould, by whom it was designed. The figures have been beautifully modelled by Mr. W. need ; and the work has been executed in the highest style of art by Messrs. Ellnegton and Co. Additional and melancholy interest is imparted to the work from the circumstance of the inscrip tions having been written by the Queen herself, who has watched with mingled feelings of joy and sadness the pro gress towards completion of this interesting gift to her grandson. The verses were written by Mrs. Prothero, the wife of the rector at Whippiugham, near Osborne, in the Isle of Wight. —o:zerver. A new residence for the Prince of Wales will be immediately commenced in the Windsor Great-park, near Cumberland Lodge. It is thought that the new lodge will be ready to receive the Prince and Princess with their suite at the end of the summer, when it is expected the piety of Windsor, so long dormant, will once more be re sumed. His Excellency Count Lavradio is expected to arrive at the Portuguese L,gation about the middle of the mouth from Lisbon, in order to resume his diplomatic duties. The Duke and Duchess of Argyll and family will shortly leave luverary Castle, N. 8., for their residenoe et Campdeo-hill, Kensington. His grace will be in town for the Cabinet Council on the 9th instant. The Duchess Dowager of Sutherland, since her return to Stafford House, St. James's, from Inverary Castle, the Duke and Duchies of Argyll's neat in Scotland, has been slightly indisposed and unable to receive any visitors. The Earl and Countess of Derby have bad a select family circle staying with them at Knowsley, in eluding the lion. Frederick Arthur Stanley, M.P., Lady Constance Stanley, and Colonel the Hon. P. W. and Lady Emma Talbot. The Earl and Countess of Derby are ex. pected to leave Knowsley for London about the third week in the month. The Right Hon. B. Disraeli and Mrs. Disraeli have returned to Hagheaden Menor from Hatfield House. Sir Charles Wood will attend, it is, expected, the Cabinet Council summoned for the 9th inst. It is stated that Mr. Edward Buller, the member for North Northamptonshire, is to be created a baronet. Mrs. Longworth-Yelverton has commenced an action for libel against the proprietors of the Glasgow North British Daily Mail, on account of an article which appeared in their paper commenting favourably oe the verdict in " Longworth v. Saturday Review." A similar action will be brought on the same grounds against the Pall-Mall Gazette. Sir Fitzroy Kelly concludes a letter to the Times on the subject of the malt tax with saying, " Your own polished allusions to myself and my sincerity towards the farmers I pass by. You may say what you will of me to them. Be assured they'll never come to you for my cha racter." It is generally thought that Sir Edwin Landseer wilt be elected president of the Royal Academy ea encoemor to the late Sir Charles Eastlake. The Comte de Paris and the Due de Chartres are spending the Chriatmu holidays with a shooting party at the seat of the Comte de Jarnu, near Thomastowo, county of Kilkenny. The Prince imperial has received as a Christmas gift from the Emperor of Austria, through Prises de Met ternich, the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Stephea, so. oempsaied by as autograph letter. THE NNW TELL We are always ready, observes the Times, to hope most from the newest ; and at the beginning of a new period there are certain predictions which invariably recur. But in actual truth a little dead reckoning is all that we can venture upon. We know where we ought to be, and where we shall be soon, if we do our duty, and if nothing hinders, and if the compass be all right, and there is no error in our calculations. Experience, nevertheless, may im press upon us some great lesson, and so it is now, and that lesson is mutual consideration between persons, parties. classes, states, and the champions of grand principles. la the readjustment of our representative system we shall need to bear this in mind. America has learnt it ; France, which is little else than a volcanic plain ooveced with the ruins of its political excesses, has pushed empire too far, and has to draw in : what has Rome gained by her fatal obstinacy The pride of the Dane, the pedantic nationality of the German, and the brute power of the sword in stronger hands, finding no compromise, have led to • scandal and a difficulty which time alone can solve. Nor can we be blind to domestic examples hardly lees mischievous. In religion, in education, in matter' of local administration, in the working of our great departments of the public service, we have seen repeated, over and over again, what happens, and must happen, when people will insist on thinking only for themselves, and having all or nothing. We may venture to hope that we are a little wiser for all this. The year 1866 will not leave us trackless wanderers in an Australian desert, nor yet in a mere labyrinth of impassable woods and insurmountable heights. It will bring us, we will hope, to a pleasant, open, easy, and varied region, where many various forms of nature will contribute to use, to pleasure, and to progress. In the spirit which looks out upon the world of action and events with neither eager illusion nor resigned indifference, would the Daily News hail another New Year's-day, neither affecting to disregard nor tempted to exaggerate the good or the evil of the age and the society in which it is our lot to live, but striving very simply to do some little honest service as we pass. The new year opens upon a world at peace, and despite the fact that there is much on the surface of politics and society that must always discourage super. ficial and sentimental observers, it is far more true than false tomcat that English civilisation is rising and advancing —that English liberty is a light in Europe, and the strength of England a benefit to mankind. And when we survey the European Continent, though France rejoices in imperial ism, and Germany is panting to be ruled by one central military monarchy, end Ruuia is grinding down Poland to her own level, it cannot be affirmed that either in Ger. many, France, or Russia, the present period is a period of absolute reaction. In each of those countries the forces of emancipation and enlightenment are pressing their noiseless way, breaking up the soil and preparing it for freedom. And then, beyond the ocean, on the plains and in the valleys of America and Anstralia,is a boundless borne of peace and industry, where pauperism and ignorance will. be remem• bored only as "the night of evil dreams." The Post dwells upon the increased significance given to the prospects of the country by the contemplated extension of the parliamentary franchise—the machinery, that is, by which it is purposed to compass organic changes ; and the advantages which will accrue by the resumption by her Majesty of the ceremonial of sovereignty. The Queen's title to moderate and arbitrate would be acknowledged with more than lip loyalty, and, if we are on the eve of parliamentary conllicts, it is not improbable that her Ma. jesty may be called upon to represent the dispassionate and instructed judgment of her subjects in the selection of her advisers. The Herald finds it • pleasant characteristic of a year which forms the fiftieth, in the series of our peace with France, that n were we in better relations with that great country and its Sovereign. Another is the evidence of an increased moderation in the expression of opinions in America, where Mr. Johnson's addresses might serve as • lesson to courts on this side of the Atlantic. The British empire is in peace, and the sup plies of our industry have no longer to meet the pay. meat of armies every day decimated, and the substitution of • war material that, once destroyed, disappears for ever. Let ne hope that, with the downfall of the diplomacy of ambition, all the civilised nations may be allowed to pur chase the comfort& of life under seater conditions than in times before the superfluities of our country were, in some sense, made the property of all others. The Telegraph anticipates that 1866 will be a year as famous as 1832 for the beginning of large and salutary changes. This year the patient and intelligent masses will be rewarded with an extension of the power which they know how to use temperately. Justice to Ireland; a really national education ; nationalising the universities, purging the statute-book of its relics of medimralism in testa and oaths, and effecting retrenchment at home—these are the noble tasks before us, and to which electoral re form is the pass-word. The Star points out a few of the occurrences which seem meet likely to fix the attention of posterity upon the year that is gone, trusting that the year now opening. though it may bring to us trouble, will close without bringing us shame. TEE EIVEZIIII IXTURNZ. The returns of the revenue for the three months and year just expired are analysed by most of our contempo raries. The net result of a comparison between the returns and those of the oocrespondieg periods in last year exhibits. of wane, a decrease, in consequence of the heavy reduc tions of taxation in the last budget ; but thin decrease the Times remarks, is surprisingly below what might have been expected. Mr. Gladstone remitted taxa tion to the extent of five millions in the finan cial year, and be estimated the probable recovery, in consequence of iecreawsd consumption, at a million and a quarter, so th►t the decrease whioh he anticipated on the whole year was 3,778,0001. This would give a dooreseo foe JAMAICA. The Daily Naas notes in the Jamaica advice. the absence of the exciting military reports which have formed the staple of previous mails, the loss not being compen. sated by the opening of any new vein of intelligence. The time had not come, as the Kingston Morning Journal openly says, for the people of the island to speak freely, In the assembly a return had been moved for of the number of persona OW by the rebels and of the number of rebels killed ; but the govern ment divided against it, and the motion was lost. As to the legislative measures which occupy so large a space in the advice., it is inconceivable that the imperial govern ment should ratify seta pseud in a state of panic or in the confused excitement and suspicion which follow a panic, Happily the government has succeeded in con itituting the Jamaica commission, whose work will be to enlighten the government and the nation by their inquiries, though not su perseding in any way the established machinery of justice. The Herald allows that if the government have done well in issuing a commission at all, they could not have chosen men better fitted for the work; but the very appointment of the commission is a slur both upon the governor and the parliament of Jamaica. That parliament has given an honourable acquittal to Governor Eyre, and the Herald knows of no process by which it is open to the crown to revise such an acquittal by a colonial court of competent jurisdiction. Possibly the white population may refuse to aid or recognise the commissioners—a course which would place the latter in a very undignified and embarrassing position. The Tekgroph assumes that the constitution of the nom mission gives no one any cause of complaint, and that it will prevent any jarring conflict whith the local admi nistration, securing the authority of the governor for the due appearance of every official document that ought to be produced. The inquiry will doubtless present to parliament au array of facts which will guide us to determine very much the future government of the colony. The Star comments upon the extraordinary legislation which is reported by the Jamaica mails. It appears, in the opinion of this journal, that the governor and the majority of the legislature and governing class in the island are living in a fool's paradise, or that, somehow or other, the world has gone all astray, and that we here have fallen upon quite a different order of rates both of courage and morality. MAUI AND FINANCE IN 1865. The Daily News devotes considerable space to a review of list year's trade and finance, taking each month in suc cession, and pointing out its characteristics and issues, and claiming the experience of the whole as affording an irro fntable proof of the entire issufficiency of our currency system. For once there has been a storm in a clear sky. Trade has been conducted on a legitimate footing, and the rates of discount have not been maintained at an injuriously low point ; yet at the close of September money went in ten days from 4to 7 per cent. The explanation need only be repeated that a rapid expansion of trade following the suppression of the American civil war muted a corres ponding increase in the demand for the circulation. The Bank, tied down by the restrictions of thirty years ago— never designed, it should be observed, to meet a contingency like the present —was obliged in self-defence, to render the new development of trade as unprofitable as possible. In point of fact, the directors virtually said, cud they had no help for it, "The country is doing more business than we can accommodate, and, therefore, we must stop it to the best of our power." This, in plain language, is the gist of the arguments for the necessity of protecting the reserve of notes, the bullion, and so forth. We commence the pre sent year with the rate of discount at 7 per cent., solely because the resources of the bank are insufficient under the existing law to meet the common every day wants of commerce. Of course trade suffers, and with it the national prosperity, but that appears considered by theorists to be of little consequence compared with the " maintenance of the Bank reserve." It is high time that the influence of such antiquated ideas should be dismissed once for all, and no better opportunity will be found than in the opening year, when a new parliament can thoroughly examine the question, untrammelled by timeworthy pro judice, and steadily bent up upon knowing the truth, The JAMAICA CommissioN.—Mr. John Blossett Mauls, of the Midland Circuit, Recorder of Leeds, has been appointed the third member of the Jamaica Inquiry Com. mission, to act with Sir Henry Storks and Mr. Russell Gurney. Mr. Menlo has received the highest recom mendations from the judges on the circuit, Mr. Justice Shee and Mr. Justice Mellor. A communication to the Mayor of Leeds has been made as to the appoint ment of Mr. Mauls, similar to that made to the City of London in the case of Mr. Russell Gurney. These com munications were not absolutely required, but were made in courtesy to the municipal bodies with whom these gen tlemen were judicially connected. Mr. Gurney and Mr. Mauls will proceed to Jamaica by the next packet, and will be accompanied by Colonel Walpole, military secretary on the staff of Sir Henry Storks. Mr. Roundel), barrister, will act as secretary to the commission, and not as secretary to Sir Henry Storks, as was erroneously stated on his de. parture with the new governor.-01.4crver. The Telegraph has reason to believe that her Ma jesty has signified her intention to confer the Grand Cross of the Bath, left vacant by the death of Lord Palmerston, on Sir Robert Peel. The circumstances under which this mark of royal favour is conveyed are peculiar. "In the desire to make some acknowledgment of Sir Robert's energetic and effective assistance, the government had already offered him a peerage ; but the right honourable gentleman, for the second time within 15 years, courteously declined the proffered dignity ; preferring, as his father had done before him, to remain in that house of parliament which is the real vantage-ground of political action. The same reasons will scarcely apply to the present distinction, which, although not in popular estimation so exalted, is unattended by the inconvenience of carrying with it any practical change of position ; while it yet possesses a considerable significance. The Grand Cross is seldom conferred upon civilians, unless they are already of noble r►nk ; and we are not aware of any commoners who actually hold it, except three or four, and they are, or have been, cabinet ministers. Nor do we recal any precedent of its bestowal on a statesman still so young as Sir Robert Pest" The Exhibition of Water-colour Drawings will open at the Dudley Gallery on Monday, February 5. AU works intended for exhibition must be seat to the gallery on Monday, the 81b, and Tuesday, the 9th, January next. The "Flaneur" of the Star gives the following as the latest addition to the " quiddita, quillets, tenures, oases, and tricks," of the lawyers. At a dinner of certain benchers it is the custom to drink the toast, " Wine and Woman." On a recent occasion the chairman announced that he thought the same toast could be proposed in terms more complimentary to the profession, and, thTrefore, he begged to give them —" Lush and ghee !" BALL IN WOECIISTIEBAHIRIL—Mr. H. Allsopp, the Burton brewer, gave a grand ball at his residence, Hindlip, Worcestershire, on Thursday evening. A pavilion wee erected in front of the drawing-room, and no expense was spared to make it as gay and festive as possible. There were about 200 of the !hie of the county present, amongst them being the Right Hon. Lord Lyttelton, the lord lieutenant of the county ; the Earl of Dudley (the wanton being prevented owing to the death of a relative/ ; Bir J. 8. Palmtop ' Bart., M.P., G.C.B. ; M r . A. H . Royds, high sheri ff , and Miss Royde ; Mr. H. F. Verne., M.P., and Lady Georgians Vernon ; Mr. H. A. Be., M.P. ; Mr. Lyttedtow, Major and the Hon. Km. Neebury, to. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (ulna's micastaus.) AUSTRIA AND FRANCE. PARIS, JAR. I. Yesterday the Austrian Ambassador, Print* Metternich, on behalf of his sovereign, mooted to the Emperor, for the Prince Imperial, the Order of St. Stephen of Hungary. At the ceremony of the presentation Prince Metternich said his Austrian Majesty wag desirous that the heir to the French throne should early learn the sincere in terest which he felt, and would never cease to feel, for his imperial highness. The Emperor, in thanking Prince Metternich for this act of the Emperor of Austria, replied that he was deeply touched, and added that the Prince Im perial would always preserve that high mark of solicitude on the part of a sovereign to whom his father had vowed sincere friendship. Generals d'Alleville and Vinoy have been ap pointed senators. ITALY. FLORENCE, Doc. 31, Emilio. Count Hompesch, the new Bavarian Minister, and the members of the Corps Diplomatique, were received in public audience to-day by the King. To-morrow his Majesty will receive the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. OUTWARD AMERICAN MAIL. QUEENSTOWN, D. 31. The Royal Mail steamship Scotia arrived here to day (Sunday) at 7 p.m. She embarked the mails, passengers, and latest telegrams, and proceeded at midnight. All well. She experienced a terrific gale. EXPRESS FROM PARIS. AN ILLUSTRATION OF PARISIAN MANNERS. (nom ouR OWN OONENSPONDENT.) PARIS, SUNDAY VINING. A great horse-dealing case, just decided by the Civil Tribunal of the Seine, elucidates a great many curious points of modern Parisian manners. We learn from it not only that a French duke pays the astounding price of 0001. for a horse to give to—a lady who is anybody else's mistress as well as his own, but that the intimate friends and associates of that lady are counts and princes, moving in the very highest circles of court society. The plaintiffs in the case were MM. Caviller and Cellier, horse dealers in the Rue Jean Goujon. The defendant was Mdlle. Cora Pearl, one of the queena (do not mistake the spelling) of the demi-monde. The action was brought to recover 2001., the price of a bay horse, sold, as the plaintiffs alleged, to Miss Cora, and also the sum of 1,134 fr. for the standing at livery of a grey horse belonging to her, and sent to their stables for sale. From the evidence it ap peared that some time ago the Duke de Rivoli made a present to Cora Pearl of the grey horse in question, which was a remarkably fine animal, with "high action," and for which he paid 15,000 fr. ! This horse unluckily turned out to be somewhat too "playful," as a Mayfair groom would say, for the lady. In fact he ran away with her twice in the Bois de Boulogne, and the second time threw her off. After this mishap she resolved to get rid of him, and sent him to Caviller and Cellier's stables. At that time the defendant was on excellent terms with M. Cuviller, as is shown by a letter read at the trial, in which she speaks of having sent him a set of shirt studs which she hoped he would like. Her answer to the action is that the plaintiffs took the grey horse in exchange for the bay one, and that she owes him nothing. As usual in horse cases there was a good deal of hard swearing on both sides. A prominent member of (a jeunesse do*, Count de Vauvineux, deposed that at the request of Lis friend Prince Achille Murat he went to look at a grey horse belonging to Madlle. Cora Pearl, and that Prince A. Murat greatly pressed him to buy it. As, how ever, it did not match any of the horses in his stables it did not suit him, but he recommended it strongly to several of his friends. He was quite certain the plaintiffs had told him that the horse did not belong to them. Other witnesses for the plaintiff certified that when they looked at the horse with the idea of buying him they were referred to Mdlle. Cora Pearl for the lowest price. The principal witness for the defence was Prince Achille Murat, who wrote the following letter, which was read in court : I certify sad attest that is my presence M. Curlier, horse dealer. exchanged with Male. Cora Pearl • bay horse (aged) against • grey horse, six years old, belonging to MdUe. PearL The bargain was concluded in my pre sence, as an out and out exchange, without any money to be paid on either side. (Signed) PnErscl ACHIL LE. After this positive evidence of the Duke de Mouchy's brother-in-law, the court said, it being impossible to know on which side the truth really lay, the only true rule for the decision of the cause was that the burden of proof should be thrown upon the plaintiffs, and they having failed affirma tively to make out their case, the action was dis missed with costs. Cora Pearl, therefore, is vic torious. It came out that the vicious grey horse for which the Duke de Rivoli paid 15,0001 r. was sold by auction pendente lite under an interim order of the court for 2,800 fr. The communique to the Opinion Nationale on the extradition treaty appears this evening. It is by no means ferociously worded, and admits that the article in the Opinion contained " interesting and judicial considerations." But the French govern ment maintains, contrary to the assertion of the Opinion and the Times, that no single instance of the delivery up to French justice of a criminal refugee in England has ever occurred under the treaty. The statement that from 10 to 14 French men had been surrendered by England since 1843 is based upon the mistake of reading in the tables, "demands granted" for "demands made." A complaint is made that in one particular case the arrest of a refugee ordered by a French colonial judge was refused, because, although the judge was a Frenchman, he had no jurisdiction in France. I dismiss this point with the observation that the English magistrates undoubtedly put the right con struction on the treaty in refusing the extradition in that instance. The communiqué admits that the English government has never in terms refused to act upon the treaty ; but it seeks to draw an invidious distinction between the English government and English magistrates. The latter, it says, require the presence of a prosecuting attorney or counsel, "at great cost," and are so unreasonable as to re quire evidence before they will commit an accused party for trial. Here is the gist of the whole diffi- I culty. The French government requires that any French subject enjoying the Immunities of British soil shall be delivered up on the mere accusation of a French functionary. That is a thing which the English parliament will never accede to. The principles of French and English law are radically different. In England every man is presumed innocent till he is proved guilty. In France the contrary principle is, if not openly avowed, practi. witsolf OJ cally acted upon. The hardship whick th e Prn it i i government complains of,that it should be expen ii to send witnesses to E ng l an d , cannot be 80 great, when it is remembered that in the case of th, murderer of Mr. Briggs when he fled to araeri; witnesses were sent all the way to New YOCk tit the extradition was only obtained after asse t *. cross-examination of them before an American ti burial. It is quite certain that English Inii o i,„. can have no desire t o re t a i n i n England "-di; at large French cut-throats and burglars. If, th at fore, France would have a new and more eg ad% treaty, it is for her to take the trouble, whi s k, * present facilities for communication s emi %I Channel, is very little indeed, to lay Inept pi % /acie evidence before an English police-cant the connnuniqui talks about the implicit m os which should be placed upon a French wirr i ,“ arrest it quite forgets a principle of French la n civil cases which is laid down in all the book, 4 English judgment is in principle examine, France, but only when a French court has tocn i i si the grounds of it and satisfied itself that its ens tion would not clash with French legal pd.*, An ioquii lass of the 1 which got ul asle on Ifridg THE EXILE OF Y. WAGNER FROM Blnik The Paris Temps of to-day contains a keg ho t from Mania, detailing the circumstances camels' eik the matt singular exile of the composer, Wege.... Bavaria. According to this account, the Kai 008 .4, 4 intense admiration for thematic of the Luther el Mel % heuser, and was at special pains to induce him to satin live at Mnnich, where an elegant villa was amigos' the King paining almost all his leisure in his society. Il i Queen-mother was in great distress, the couleesr ministers were sullen, and the sides-de-camp lee eh moustaches in anger. The clerical party soon found Bea Wagner was not only a democratic thinker bet a rens* in religion, and they learnt that under his inflame Mak. was reading prohibited books, while he closed hied.* apael the priests. In October last some distarbansm teekpy s between the pimento and the police, and under the Hier influence the Bavarian ministry was cleared ef MI 0 ral element. These events were at once used by I cal party against M. Wagner, whom they woad sting the King from his people, and the chief of th cabinet published a letter insinuating that he sad leagues were opposed to certain foolish demands , Wagner was making in regard to °Wain for new musical undertakings. The tames were delighted, and in the midst excitement Prince Charles obtained an salaam grand•nephaw, and represented that • revolution take place if the King did not part with the composer. mother of the young King implored him with to give way, the Archbishop of Munich him to deliver himself from the spirit of the ministry offered their resignation. The evening the King wrote an affectionate to M. Wagner asking him to leave Bavaria f weeks, and the next day in the official journal hie said " he sacrificed all to the love and to the cool his people." The liberal journal at Munich declaration of the Bavarian progressive party in read, "The King in exiling the composer Richard ‘, said, ' 1 wish to show to my faithful peep!s that , their confidence and love above all.' The believes then that the presence of Richard ' had alienated from him the heart& of his people grossly deceived. The person of Wagner had nothing in common with the public affairs of the , and the efforts of the progressive party. His promos ing nothing to do with the agitation his removal not restore calm." The article then pee say that the true CUM of the public tent lies in the influence of a hidin _ sible council, first shown in the nastelia &maimed of • minister who was dear to the nation confidence and loveof the people are to be had at t' of • sincere application of constitutional goverei of the sacred principle of ministerial responsibility. -. S . m i m e G. B. (urinewin d s at Fel *hist officer wee Captain —My name b o ld • oer l i n er. lam POO Of Lo' Meld numb 4 Maishall, of !Mese Rehm oak ; she is rl I lid as A I wen, inoludi ruPr A asd el uerrissa Yr. George I had ose p I soon about with fine wee Wit.mills Notl we sighted which was at ordered a emu Bead about 9 sighted Dung bearing W. the 8. W. • be put well in I vrea running o sot come a b to run for it MBA., undo A l i Bank. AN the be stowed, am overboard. Tt him, sad bald the ship rolls board, the r life, sod was sails were all sail, sod the She breakers i worded to let ',truck. with Institution Aid, THE DUTIES ON TORSION WINES IN tbem and pn we . to ENGLAND. direction S. large muse s The Mintorial Diplunsatilar publishes the lei. Bay's, and lowing intelligence :—" Oar Vienna letters inform,' or brig ht f that the chief di ffi culty which had retarded the ceeeleim t he g of the commercial preliminaries between Austria ni the crew s England consisted in the hesitation of the St. Jamli Waists in we Cabinet to lower its tariff in favour of Austrian eras was then has Mr. Gladstone, foreseeing that France, in virtue el kr Z os ere an m r a e ln i treaty with England. would immediately claim fa he h et in t ow , own wines all the advantages that might be accorded let ~Elhaweers wen Austrian, promised to place those of the lux on board. the country in the second class of the English sae b L ie w s ii tT b t which includes potable liquors whose alcoholic stres": and with ve reaches 25 degr . On examination, the minim sands and in was found to be illusory, inasmuch as Autry nes was so et wines, with the exception of some few of 111.12011 te,tin i g th e eh growth, had an alcoholic force rto the above. IL'atngL into however, the Austrian government persisted in makragra then return 4 diminution of the wine tariff a eine qua non coedit*" The vessel pi the new commercial arrangements, the English mils"' t *ma. from I ended by adopting the step of equalising the duty ea MN of t ' °l)l by fixing for all countries and qualities, sad wig* a Another any di ff erence on account of alcoholic strength, st to - day , four -- shilling per gallon, whether the wine be importell Sullivan). cuffs or in bottles. The English cabinet having Well nailed from into a formal engagement to present a bill et the 9th inst., that object in the next session of parliament, the profs h i ul en of on N' Davie' have been at last definitively signed at Vim and became s Thus, owing to the efforts made by Austria, England is receiving jot length about to accomplish a customs' reform which la boat of the ? srdestly demanded by the French wise-producers, si bet trawipor which consists in assimilating the duty on wine impel I the vessel h, in bottles to that levied on the sans is asks. In happily over differenoe of duty was an almost insurmountable °basalt fortunate cre the propagation and consumption of French wines amens number on b on: neighbours on the ether side of the Channel. lbws forward the wine-trade in France will derive from * Anglo-French treaty of commerce all the silvan** WEAI which the Emperor's government was justified in erjes le r " AMERICAN LAM Es. —The A m erica n corretpocrigl of the Spectator writing of American ladle, says :—"11* shrink from appearing in full dress, however moderate so-called faloess, in a stall, or in the open bozo ele theatre, or at the dinner table of a hotel, whips open to the public, and where they may be in clone** inlay to entire ',lmogene of whom they know only Ike they can afford to pay for their seek e their dinners. The distinction made in this spect is very marked at the opera, to which ladiaidell in full drees, and from the opera to parties. Bat 6! never go in full dress unless they have a private box the stalls, the parquet, on the first tier of boas , , id'" single seats are sold, they appear in elegant demi•takaz of ten wearing bonnets of incomprehensible strutters wonderful to behold. And this is not a matter of "Id . ° familia,. The same woman will be at the opera on ONO.* in full dregs in a private box, and if the does not own slot at the next performance in the stalls or the PUt with arms, shoulders, and head all covered . A lady * I knew had rather an unpleasant experience in an atteo some years ago to disregard this tacit undentasding_ ,1 811 the sex in record to dinner dress at hotels. She belselm v an ultra-fashionable set, and having married a South Cgs Boa planter, soon adopted what we call " plantatios see, sere " and a ff ected no little scorn of simpletm assel% rimo : Ted New England folk. She was at Nord j k oar great sea-side watering place, and having jut rsll from Europe, took great airs upon herself. One efild!s, at the tea table a gentleman sat down near her aidr s butter plate before him happening to have no butt/gill by it at the moment, he, instead of calling the waiter Rif waiting for one to be brought, used has own perfect', height knife to take a bit of butter. He was a man of ohm and social standing, but a Yankee. and one whose Dais' FP:, tension she wished to fl out. She seized the opportnui t f ,e r calls( a waiter, said in an elaborately subdued, b" aided, tone, "Take away that butter. That gentlemank * had his knife in it." He took no notice of the remis k J which drew all eyes upon him and upon the lady,,f : by and bye she stretched out her hand, sod "" from the plate some chipped dried beef which Aced to tweet, her sod her victim. This was well enough, ot t but he turned at once, and calling • waiter said, oely es i were asking for more tea, "Take away that dried bl. this lady has had her fingers in it." In this esorwld'F' mob as it was, be was thought to have had the bezi d it and she did not forgive or forget. Sz a few days aftenfo° (I should have mentioned that there was the slighted'. sible acquaintance between them) they being et O l t she, conspicuous in the f a ll dress she had adopted ei ool , tour to Europe, and which was so very • fall' that it s ew have attracted attention under any circumstance* , 6:4..,."" from • dish of fresh figs before her, and putting it of a Pr, handed it to him with an expression of complaissomf, saying in a tone of unmistakeable sigeificanoe, which be heard all around her, A fig for you, sir.' He it graciously, and taking is his turn a leaf from tber;„ tare of the dish, offered it to her. with ' A fig-led fo r madam.' She fled the table, and kept her room ania Weeded victim left the hotel," MUCK. WI TA " . " 1 ., The time was a shore snows !Seas and by thi dM d i attached, w _,_ of these appl the Pal the assistance ad WI heavy surf wi II ASK board before a elm taken to Wm ahem with all neces was found tc t 6 ugh. Al sa d Y anchors, pni ion so , and as posit daring Sal o her side on setami ' Pith lalthough the ad, rho '• 04 its ka 21, for em g br Ifspir During • l a hre i n D t g rat Y ) Sag half m ted by th rd Sem i that I m I, whirl ty and dm Tho 11 1 17 men of a WIVE blowing ; battik ning so hi shoe* lifeboat regain the ha e lifeboat "SW IP snake for Poi moral eimi Greenock. be m a l, sugar. The d ia , • sot come to perished, nrapw any sense of talataila pins in such dioa Ik m eii , This morn %Captain Mai Gull Light Head Light Nem Aberdeen Leith Ardrossad Greencastle -Valenti* . . fepe Clear . verpool olyhead . nrance ;t r Zent . ?oebefort ymouth Weymouth outh don ' arm ar oulh elds . elder.... TU CSD, .B.W. to varying fro to fresh, snow or rat above. esterly adroog, sqi settled. next ahoy' Northern= les. Kon tern= FM One of t week os play :bin RAIL W A afterna the Malt th of ono ton. ANJTIIE tee' clerk nserehani 'Gentle a eing at Ta temeut it ween 61 curial ks tl oloti in the • wil thorities and cos Hight the' re. i I i t