The Express. — London, England, 1867-05-16 00:00:00

• 2 B ENSON'S WATCHES and CLOCKS. By "pedal Appointment to WEIL THE PRINCE OF MALES. Prize Medal, 1.01141011. C% 3: Dublin, Clam 10. WATCRES—t henometers,lleyless, Repeaters,Chronograpbsolte. CLOCKS—Fur Inning mid Drawing Itooins,Caniages,(liurehos, de. JEWELLERY —SpetialiUes in Monograms, Cryitals, MIUDOCKIS. and Fine bold. PLATE, aid WORK :4 of ART In Bronze, ►y Leading Artists. PRICES and Urwrlptions, see Illustrated Pamphlet, post true. Matches and Clocks sent to all parts of the world. J. W. BINsON, 21, OLD RON O.KTREET. Steam 'factory and City Show Roans, 18 and SO. LUDGATE-HILL Paris F.ahlbittou, 1567, English Secuon, Clam B ROWN lind POLSON'S CORN FLOUR for CHILDIULTS MEL lo obtain extra ;wont by tbe sale other Ida& are eornethaht °Bend instead et !MOWN and PuLBuN'S. John Brows'," "John Polices." la signed bp the ambles ea ack packet. ghe erpreOL TO COERIMPONDENTS. advertisements hateaded forhome; L"ndon reeds( law. rutin be at the Ofhoe, 10, boayetie-atreet, by Two Maack ou the day of pabllcatlos. DRURY LANL TRII E'TTWEeeI, THAT rA.VAL .11 7 .71 C. Messrs. Rouse and . Mesdames Alleyne and Thompson.—T.. conclude with 111 K GREAT (*ITV. Mew& Warner, Morton, Eftrjarnes, Rouse, Arvin/6 tc. ; Modules Itabertaon, Le 'Mere, and Thompson. IiAYM ARK KT. FWD; EMUS°, DRAY A$ A IMA4T. Mew, compton sod Darren, dte. : Yea Fltzwlllhun, te.—A WILD DOOSIL Masora sothern, Buckatone, Howe, Koos; Donlon, tc. ; Mesdames Berke, Chippoodale, MU, Laws, Ate.—And FAMILY JABS. ranicara TRIM Evl:N xn. ANTONIf AIDTLEOPATRA. Antony, Mr. U. Loraine Enab•Mue. Mr. C. Verner; &Umlaut, M rage; and Cleopatra, Maw Olyn. LYCEIY Sr. THIS TvEnnio. Mr. Prfee sad Mee Este DUK E'S 11107 O. Mr. Feebler. Mews Emery, Widdiemnb, Jordan, Price. de. ; Mame Elewurthy, Hes. rade, Grattan. and ‘Yrlotta Lectereq. frwn, Tars Zvi=lC MARRIED 1111FCITTERS. Mr. P. Rol.. son.-- l'ff; M A IJON ; (lik THE STATUS PAIR. Mama Thorne, James, /Sc. ; Mesdames A. nwanboronik kaynkam. Harland, Johnstout, Holt, & Newton.—And THE F YEN C 11111113TION. HOLBORN. Tyne Emile% MT TUIS NIX!. Mr. Mum; Ibises root. and Lenox.—And FLYING SCUD. Maim Neville, hel l:om Slake, 'Collar', ,te. • Madam* T. Jamie. C. dannders, Bessie loot.. Addeo, laones. Raymond, a.. BILITAIRITA. THIS Emma, THE OLD MAID IN THE WHTDINGAITERT. Mr. floynsl4Ls, An. Misses:. Miles A: eureney.—CßEßßY AND FAIR STkR. Messrs. Iligersoal, Lethe, & Man ; Dm S. Luba& MMus Edwin, Bout)+, and Macarthy.—Aild BLUE BLAND. NIGH VIATICA AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tin DAT —Morainic. 00. 20.1......Att0rn005. Oh. mos. To-Noasow—Morning. lb. 14m......Altarnoaa, lb. 36. D. LONDON, THURSDAY, MAY 16. THI languid interest with which the public regards the progress of the Bribery and Corrup tion Bill is not very surprising, and certainly does not indicate indifference to the subject. That system which makes so large a proportion of our parliamentary representation a mere sham, which at once corrupts the voters and degrades the Legislature, is the object of a very vivid shame and abhorrence in the minds of the independent part of the public. Any proposal for really deal ing with it, with a view not merely to its detec tion but to its prevention and extirpation, would secure the wannest approval from the great body of true Liberals out of doors. But no such searching remedy is being entertained by the House of Commons, nor is likely to be suggested by the Select Committee to which the Bill has been referred. The measure of Government is practically nothing more than a proposal to apply generally the method of inquiry by commissions which we have seen lately exemplified in the tedious and fruitless investigations into the corruption of Lancaster, Yarmouth, Rei gate, and Totnes. The system of inquiry by par liamentary committees is to be superseded, in whole or in part, by a system of inquiry by bar risters appointed to visit the inculpated district. It is doubtful whether this will even diminish ex pense ; it is certain it will not in the smallest degree tend to abate the evil. The penalties still remain practically the same : there will be to the candidate the loss of his seat, with, if he is very rash and raw, an incapacity to sit again ; there will be to the constituency the chance of disfran chisement, temporary or perpetual. But no can didate will over be deterred from snatching at a chance of election by illegal means, when the only evil consequence of being found out is no more than the loss of that which save by such means he would not have gained. Nor will any voter ever be withheld from accepting a bribe by the mere possibility that if a great many others take bribes also they may all be disfranchised, and the golden goose be killed. Nor, again, will even the local instruments, by whom these things are managed, be kept back from their old courses by any apprehension of such consequences. They want to make their money when it can be made, and they will see no advantage in abstaining from auoh operations only for the purpose of maintain ing a privilege which is subject to such unprofitable conditions of existence. In short, to all the parties, bribers, go-betweens, and bribees, there is alike in the present and in the proposed methods of repression the fatal ele ment of uncertainty. The law will only be put in operation at all if the defeated candidate sees his own interest in invoking it, and feels his own hands to be clean enough to warrant his appeal. If the law is invoked there is the chance that it may be evaded by some technical defect ; if all these obstacles are surmounted there still remains the chance that any particular transaction may escape its vigilance. Inspired by so many chances of impunity, and urged by the present certainty of a golden reward, every consideration to which cor rupt minds are open will invite their continuance in the old practices. Does anyone suppose that the disfranchisement of the four boroughs which have been found out will have the smallest in fluence in stopping one single bribe from being offered, or accepted, in any of the other boroughs which have not been found out, or not disfran chised f If any one does he must be curiously ignorant of human nature, and somewhat wilfully ignorant of our own electoral experiences. - Very different will be the treatment which will be resorted to by the first Parliament which really desires to fulfil the just wishes of the people in this matter. It will make the penalties on the crime something heavier than the mere possibility of losing the benefit of iniquity. It will not trust to declarations of innocence to be taken by the per sons whose conduct shows them to be devoid alike of honour and morality. It will seek for sharp punishments, to be inflicted by the in terventi.m of persons who will have an interest in enforcing them. It may cast perhaps a regretful glance at the pillory as a mode of public retri bution for a public offence which would be at once exemplary and appropriate. But deferring to the tenderness of modern sentiment, it will at lewd have no difficulty in assigning a certain term of imprisonment, combined with the recreation of oakum picking, as the due reward of any uncon scious candidate, white-handed banker, or highly respectable attorney, who may be proved to have bribed or connived at bribery. It will authorise any individual whatsoever to prosecute for the crime, and take care that the trial is conducted in a locality where neither the bribers nor bribed shall sit on the jury. When this is done we shall soon see how far the pretence is true that public opinion is not decided enough to warrant us in treating such matters as a crime. If juries convict and judges sentence, we shall have a public opinion strong enough for our purpose. And we need not consider what can be done in case they should not, until wo have given them an opportunity of doing it, or of fail ing to do it. The same determination which would root out bribery would dispose of other forms of expendi ture, leas reprehensible morally, but of the same tendency practically, because all concurring to make seats costly, and therefore confined to the wealthy. Paid canvassing is one of these abomi nations. It implies that votes can be turned by the venal agency of attorneys and their clerks, or it is a means of securing for a consideration the illicit influence of some ono of local authority. It is idle to say that a candidate must have agents, and must pay them. All the legitimate business of an agent could be done in a bruited number of hours, and a really earnest Parliament could have no difficulty in forbidding and prevent ing any further payment to agents than would suffice to cover that expense. Conveyance of voters, exhibition of placards, and similar sources of expense, might be as easily dealt with as the use of bands and banners was a few years back. One principle would regulate the action of Parlia ment in all these questions, if it were influenced by any principle which it could avow. It would fix the limits beyond which expense should not go in any individual case. It would visit with a heavy penalty whosoever, directly or indirectly, gave or accepted more than the fixed amount. And it would secure these provisions from technical evasion by making the candidate as guilty if they were done without his knowledge, when he had the means of knowledge, as if done with his knowledge. The evasion of punishment because the guilt was committed by another, and the party who profited by it forbore to inquire how it was done, should no longer disgrace our attempts at simulated repression. What a man does by his agents is held in law to be done by himself, and if ho employs agents who are guilty of illegality, it is not too hard to impose on him the punishment, though he did not happen to direct it personally. OUR CONTEMPORARIES. (THIS DAY.) THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 16, 1867. ILT - i.ll N.K. C• • • eo ' ro •.28 oe o I 0 : " I Cm I I F. Extrema 12 F.l D. _ 1 1 ' NAL 1 1 1 EEL 2 2 E. 3 3 N. 2 3 R.N. 0 4 N.W. 4 4 3.E 1 1 L 1 6 L 3 4 Z.N.Z. 4 6 XL 3 1 3 N. 4 i 4 W. MR. Hl'GREs'g RUNDAT TRADING BILL. The objection which first occurs to the Times in considering the bill of Mr. Hughes, is that it deals with the symptom and not with the disease. As to the pro- tection it would give to tradesmen, there is often an eagerness for gain, which is neither prudent nor creditable, at the bottom of this appeal. If nine-tenths of the tradesmen in a district were prepared to hold to a prudent resolution, they would be very little in jured by the competition of the remaining tenth. So long as the demand occasioned by the continuous em ployment of the week exists, any law on the subject of Sunday trading will be more or less evaded. This bill will obviously be very roughly handled in committee, and even then the house will do well to be cautious before they finally adopt it. The Post hopes Mr. Hughes may succeed, as it does not believe there is any necessity for permitting trading on Sunday as at present openly carried on ; while the Herald says the general expectation will be falsified if the bill passes through all it■ stages in the House of Commons without undergoing material alteration. It sets out, in point of fact, with enacting a license for buying and selling certain articles within certain hours, and thus expressly recognises practices at present under the ban of the law. The Herald looks to see these objectionable clauses expunged before the measure receives the final sanction of ptrliament. It need not task very hardly the legal ingenuity of the learned member for Lambeth to draw up a bill which may prevent Sunday trading throughout the noon and afternoon of the day of rest without legalising it in the early morning. But if such a task shall ultimately be shown either to exceed the powers or to disturb the equanimity of the gentlenisn who has undertaken it, we fear the Howie of Commons will have no option but to relegate this well-meant but ill devised scheme to that political Inferno which is paved with so many similar legislative abortions. CLERICAL The Daily Neva suggests that Lord Shaftesbury, in placing before churchmen the dangers with which the es tablishment is threatened, may have rendered a greater service than if he had succeeded in his immediate design. Either his speech was too large for the bill, or the bill was too little for the speech. When you have shown that • clergyman of the church of England is offering the mass as ► sacrificer for quick and dead, it is • small thing—and, if we might my it without offence, a mean thing— to propose simply to take away his chasuble. The debate shows the mischief to be apprehended from the impunity which these practices have enjoyed. The laity are acceding in large number, ; and • great change is coming over bodies of dissenters like the Wesleyans, who have hitherto declined to regard their work as antagonistic to the church of England. In hun dreds of eases parishioners are compelled either to wit ness services which, if not illegal, are at any rate un known to the law, or absent themselves altogether; and if some remedy is not found, • bitter feeling, such as we have never yet known, will be awakened against the esta blishment. Liberty, at least, should be allowed to the laity when driven from the edifices in which their fathers worshipped before them, to constitute themselves, without forfeiting the character of churchmen, into separate con gregations, and choose and support their own minister, who will adhere to the doctrine of the Reformation. A knowledge that they had such freedom would do more than anything else to restrain the extreme clergy. This, however, would only palliate the evil. A church cannot be at once national and congregational, for the country would not long be satisfied to seo the church of England become • congeries of sects, held together by the bond of material endowments. The fact that 46 peers, including 11 bishops, expressed by their votes their concurrence in Lord Shaftesbury's measure, is commended by the Tines to the attention of those clerical gentlemen who look to the Upper House in case of an emergency. But Lord Shaftesbury's speech only brought out in still more force the unfitness of par liament for the discussion and settlement of such ques tions. Public taste will not allow such a scandal to re ligion and manners as a series of wrangles in the House of Commons, where there are not only many Roman catholic' and dissenters, but perhaps quite as many who care for none of these things. One enactment on these externals of divine worship would, be certainly followed by further ones, and parliament would either resign the task to other hands or have to discus externals with a view to their supposed spiritual significance. The plea for protection of the laity is sound, but there is no reason why it may not be as well urged before a commission as before par liament. The Pod thinks it very doubtful if as yet this question has been sufficiently investigated in a calm and impartial manner to justify legislation without farther and more careful inquiry. A bill brought in after the investigations of a royal commission, and flamed on the conclusions drawn from a careful and impartial consideration of the whole of this important subject, would have far more chance of being accepted as decisive, and of healing the differences which are now bringing so math disunion into the services of the church of England, than a bill intro duced by any private peer or member of parliament. The Star has no faith in royal commissions cm this 'ab ject, or in the efficacy of acts of parliament. Until the legislature concedes to the laity its proper position in the government of the church ; until the parishioners of Eng land have a voice in the appointment of their elm ministers and in the management of their own services, the wrangling, of convocation, the hair splitting' of royal commissions, and tho►c interminable disputatious of Lords and Commons which are impendirg, will prove an unpro. Arable wade of time and energy. Mt TIPICB. The Tintes describes in powerful language the state of armed peace in which we are left by the conference. If the present race of armaments is to continue, Europe may come to think open war itself a preferable alternative to the protracted anxiety and ruinous expenditure it entails. Natious will fight, not because they have any just reason or any large policy, but to anticipate those who would otherwise attack them. Till the conviction that this terrible game is no more in the interest of princes than of nations shall be brought home to the imperial and royal houses of Europe by the signal reverses that have so lately overtaken many of the European potentates, we see little chance of that disarmament which alone makes peace at tractive and offers a security against the perpetual recur rence of war. The first monarch who seriously moved in this direction would acquire a claim on the love and re spect of his own subjects, and a weight in the affairs of Europe that nothing else could give. The Daily News glances at the revolt in Candle, which has now lasted for the greater part of a year, remarking that the graphic and vivid letters of its correspondent with the insurgent army have, for the first time, lifted the veil of distance, official falsehood, imperfect knowledge, and baseless conjecture, which has hitherto concealed from Western Europe the true character of the struggle. The Deily News enters into various considerations in defence of what it regards as a measure of justice and policy, namely, the completion, so far as Candia is concerned, of the work of liberation which wu as much thwarted as assisted in 1830. The Telegraph and the Star refer to the reform meeting in tit. James's-hall last night in proof of the fact that the character of the government bill is at last thoroughly understood. " Meetings like those of last night," the Teleyraph says, " will be repeated until the country shall ring with the demand for a prompt, an honest, and a just re-arrangement of the franchise on a broad and simple basis." The Star goes so far as to warn Mr. Disraeli that his bill as it now stands will never receive her Majesty's assent. The agitation which has yet been is as nothing to that which will be if its monstrous inequalities are persisted in. tics Cattrt. OSBORNE, MAT 15. The Queen drove out yesterday afternoon, ac companied by Princess Louise, and attended by the Hon. Mrs. Gordon ; and her Majesty walked and drove in the grounds this morning with Princess Louise. Prince Leopold and Princess Beatrice also went out. A Committee of her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council sat yesterday at the Privy Council-office, White- hall, on the subject of the cattle plague. The lords present were the Lord President, Lord Robert Montagu, and the Right Hon. Stephen Cave. Mr. Harrison and Dr. Alexander Williams attended the committee. Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonialofice from the Governors of the West India Islands. The Prince of Wales appears to be indefatigable in the attention he pays to the many objects of striking Interest to be met with in the world's fair. On Tuesday he again visited the Champs de Mars, arriving about half past 12, accompanied on this occasion by his brother the Duke of Edinburgh. He was received by Mr. Cole, C. 8., and shortly afterwards joined by Lord Royston and Major Teesdale. The day was devoted almost exclusively to the French section. The Prince went on Monday night to see La Grand Due/tease, in which piece the renowned Schneider performs the grand role. So tremendous is the crowd attracted by her charms, that the Prince could only obtain a stall. The Duchess of Manchester and Marquise de Gallifet were among the audience. The last anecdote of his royal highness is, that as he was walking along the Rue Casimir Perier on Sunday evening a fire broke out in Madame de Coursers apartment ; the Prince immediately entered the house and offered his services, but by the time be arrived all danger was over. The ceremony of christening the infant eon of their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Christian will take place on Tuesday next in the private chapel, Windsor Castle, in the presence of her Majesty and the royal family. The court is expected to leave Windsor on the following day. His Excellency the Prussian Ambassador and Countess Bernstorif entertained st dinner last evening, at the Prussian Embassy, on Carlton House terrace, his Excellency the Spanish Minister and the Countess Vista bermes,. and Ildlle. Owens, Lord and Lady Poltimore, Lord Claud Hamilton, Lord Stanley, Prince Oortchskoff, the Right Hon. Sir Stafford Northoote, Bart., and Lady and Mims Northcote, the Eight lion. the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Mrs. Disraeli, Le. The Earl and Countess Percy and Lord Wark worth left Northumberland House yesterday for Alnwick Castle, where the young lord's coming of age will be cele brated on the 29th inst. Mr. Warner, M.P., and Mrs. Warner entertained ►t dinner, on Tuesday last, his Excellency the Turkish Ambassador and Madame and Mdlle. Musurns, his Excel lency the Prussian Ambassador, the Archbishop of Armagh and Mrs. Beresford, the Marchioness of Thomond, Lord and Lady Otho Fitzgerald, Viscount Milton, M.P., the Right Hon. Charles P. Villiers, M.P., the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P., and Mrs. Gladstone, the Right Host. Sir William Hutt, M.P., and Lady Hutt, Mr. and Lady Rose Weigsll, Baron and Baroness Schmidth►ls, Baron Liie, Sir Robert Shaw, Bart., Mr. and Mrs. Vansittart, and Mr. W. H. Gladstone, M.P. The annual regimental dinner of the Grenadier Guards is fixed for the 12th of next month at the Albion Tavern, Aldersgate-street. The antral regimental dinner of the Scots Fusilier Guards is appointed to take place at the Albion Tavern, Alder gate-street, on the let of the ensuing month. The officers of the army and navy who served during the late war in New Zealand will dine together on Friday, the 24th inst., at Willis's Rooms, Ring-street, St. James's. General Sir Duncan Cameron will preside. The Evening Mail says it must prove in the highest degree satisfactory to the Irish public to learn that a meeting of Irish peers and members of parliament will immediately be held on the question of the position of Irish railways. "We do not apprehend," it adds, " any difference of opinion when the conference takes place, and we trust that its result will be to present to the govern ment and to parliament so powerful an array of arguments, supported by a roll of influential names of men of every party, in favour of a state sawainption of Irish lines as will overcome all mere theoretical objections, and gain for Ireland the large commercial and social advantages which that policy would infallibly secure." The Dublin Evening Post having commented sharply on Sir George Bowyer's voting on the reform question, has received the following letter from the hon. baronet :—" Sir, I see that in a leading article you are pleased to describe me as en English legal gentleman from Doctors' Commons. It is true that I have cultivated and written on the civil and canon law ; but I never was in Doctors' Commons, though I hold an honorary degree of D.C.L at Oxford. I am simply one of the oldest English baronets, and possessor of a considerable hereditary estate. As for my conduct in parliament, I am responsible to my respected constituents at Dundalk, who, for fifteen years, have honoured me by their support ; and I have voted on the Reform Bill—a purely English matter—together with a good many liberal members of the house. I request you to publish this letter.—Your obedient servant, Gitosos BOWTEIC—House of Commons, May 9, 1867." Sir R. Murchison writes :—" As I have always was reason to doubt the accuracy of the report of the death of Dr. Livingstone, chiefly on account of the men dacious character of the Johanna men who brought the news to Zanzibar, so lam now happy to inform you that the ray of hope that be might still be alive has been much strengthened by a document just placed in my hands by Colonel Rigby, late her Majesty's consul at Zanzibar. At any rate, the small boat party which will !Pave this country on the 9th of June will, by ascending to the north end of the Lake Nyasa's, set the matter at rest as to the reported death of the great traveller." The All England Eleven were beaten by eight wickets in the cricket match with Nineteen of North of Ireland yesterday. A meeting of the Dublin tailors was held hat night to eympathise with those on strike in London. A subscription list wee opened. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (itzurza's imicmum) THE BRAZIL MAIL. ARRIVAL OF THE NAVARRE. RIO DE JANEIRO, Arm, 24. Exchange on London, 231 to 24}; on Paris, 395 to 401. Coffee 6.100 to 6.309 rein. Total shipment since the departure of the last mail 103,529 bags, of which 33,789 were for the Channel and the North of Europe ; 12,848 for the Mediterranean, 47,543 for the United States, and 9,359 for sundry other porta. Sales, 90,003 bags. Stock, 85,000 bags. Fieighta, 525. to 545. BAHIA, Antic 29. Exchange on London, 271 to 27Z. Sugar, whites, unchanged ; browns, 2.125 to 2.200 rein. Cottons, 12.400 to 12.800 rein. PERNAMBUCO, MAY 1. Exchange on London, 23j. Sugar, whites, 4.400 to 4.800 ?cis ; browns, 2.250 to 2.500 reis. Cottons, 14.000 to 15.500 reis. The Guienne was at Dakar on May 5, and the Shannon at Pernambuco on April 28. BUENOS AYRE3, APRM 14. Exchange on London, 19„. Wet salted hides, 34 ; dry hides, 42 for 23. Tallow, 15. Lumber, 34 to 42. Sugar, 19. AMERICA. CROOKHAVEN, MAT 16, 10 A.Y. The Inman steamer City of Washington, from New York on the 4th Mat., is now passing Brow head signal station. She will probably arrive at Queenstown at 3 p.m., and letters reach London to-morrow at 6.23 p.m. LIVERPOOL, MAY 16. The Guion steamer Minnesota, front New York, passed Crookhaven early this morning. On Aniarrio TELZOILLPH.) NEW YORK, MAT 15, 6 P.Y. A riot has taken place at Mobile, when Mr. Kelly, a member of Congress, was mobbed. Several persons were killed, and order was restored by the military. The negroes at Richmond and New Orleans are manifesting a disorderly spirit. The Persia takes out nearly 2,000,000 dole. The Cunard steamer Java and the steamer St. Andrew from Glasgow have arrived out. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Gold, 137. Sterling exchange on London, 1091. Illinois, 114 i. Erie, 68i. Cotton, 29. Petro leum, 26. [Received in London ►t 10 a.m. to-day, May 16.] EXPRESS FROM PARIS. (110 N ODA OWN COI PARIS. WZDNESDAY EVENTNO. The ferocious growlings of the disappointed organs of the war party continue ; but 1 do not think they deserve for the present the compliment of an echo. M. Granier de Cassagnac, the most truculent apostle of the doctrine of " natural frontiers," records his opinion in the Pays that what the Minister of Foreign Affairs speaks of as a full, final, and friendly settlement of a grievance of " fifty years' " standing, is no settlement at all, and that the " general question " between France and Prussia remains open. But after a torrent of " big 'ords," he very wisely concludes that the best thing now to be done is to " rely upon the Emperor's wisdom." We shall soon see in what direction this wisdom points ; and we may be very sure that M. de Cassagnac, after a few flashes in the pan to cover his retreat, will leave off talking about the annexation of Bel gium and the left bank of the Rhine, if he learns that the theme has ceased to be an agreeable one in the highest quarter. For the moment fashionable intelligence and the doings of the kings and princes here on a holiday is on the order of the day. This evening there is a dinner of 80 covers at the Tuileries to which are invited the King and Queen of the Belgians, the Queen of Portugal, the Prince of Wales, Prince Oscar of Sweden, and the Duke de Leuchtenburg. Prince Napoleon has a sort of opposition grand dinner at the Palais Royal. M. Schneider has a grand dinner at his official residence in the palace of the Corps Legislatif. M. Drouyn de Lhuys gave a grand dinner yester day to the brother of the Tycoon of Japan and five of his suite—the smallest number with which this illustrious little personage consents to be attended, the Duchess de Fernan Nunez, M. de Lichtenfeld (the Dutch minister), and Baron and Baroness de Seebach. At half-past 9 the young prince asked leave to go away on the ground that he was very sleepy. He habitually rises at 6in the morning. _ . _ _ On Sunday Prime Oscar of Sweden dined with Baron James Rothschild at the Chateau de Fer rieres, where Prince Metternich, Prince d'Hlnin, the Duke and Duchess de Vallombrosa, the Countess Prezdziejha, and the Countess de Piadail lac were invited to meet him. The latest announcement of the intended visit to Paris of a crowned head is that of the Shah of Persia, Naspo-ed-din, son of Mohammed Shah, to whose throne he succeeded in 1848. He is ex pected in July. The following proposed interpeUatiun was lodged at the Corps Legislatif to-day : We Jemand to interpellate the government touching the ministerial decree which fixes the rate of payment for exoneration from service in the army for this year, and to inquire whether under the altered circumstances, the figure of 3,ooUfr. may not be reduced. E. PICAVD, J. FAVRE, CARNOT, JULFS StMuN, E. PELLETAN, J. MAGNIN, PICKON, LIMA. This question, though one quite apropos to the new situation, will doubtless be burked in the bureaux, otherwise it must give rise to an inter esting debate. A general meeting of the Social Science Associa tion was held at the Hotel de Ville, in Brussels, on Sunday last, M. Vervoot, formerly President of the Chamber of Representatives, in the chair. Among the foreign delegates who took their seats at the bureau was the venerable M. Van Lenuep, the Dutch novelist, now 75 years of age. M. Cony reur, a writer in the Indipendence Beige, the secre tary-general of the association, read a report of the steps taken with a view to fix upon a European city in which to hold an international congress to further the purposes of the association, and showed how political reasons had prevented the choice of either Geneva or Berne, Florence or Turin. Under these circumstances the committee had received a letter from M. Michel Chevalier, recommending that the congress should be held in Paris, and an nouncing that the Prefect of Police had promised to give the necessary authorisation. The com mittee, composed of MM. Michel Chevalier, Ch. Dupin, and Perdonnet, which had been appointed to organise conferences relative to the Universal Exhibition, was charged to put itself in communica tion with the committee of the congress, and it was held out that either the hall of the Senate or the Corps Legislatif would be lent for the meeting. The committee, therefore, being of opinion that the congress could fulfil its civilising mission with the most complete independence in Paris, moved a resolution that the meeting sh , uld be held i n that metropolis. A warm debate followed, which lasted for upwards of four hours. M. Lacroix, the Paris publisher, M. Potvin, a Belgian author, and M. Madier de Montjau, a member of the French Le gislative Assembly of 1848, opposed the motion. The latter more especially protested against the idea of making the Social Science Congress a sup plementary entertainment for visitors to the Paris Exhibition, by the favour, and nnder the control, of the Prefi.ct of rolice. As to the promises and guarantees which M. Michel Chevalier took upon himself to endorse, they were absolutely nothing worth in a country where the most eminent citizens were not tree to lexpreas their opinions on political and social questions. The choice of Paris was defended by two Frenchmen, and by M. Genilier, a schoolmaster from Liege, and M. Berardi, the editor of the Lidipendance Beige. On a division the motion was negatived by 29 votes to 27. MM. Vervoot, Couvreur, and Be rardi, considering this vote as one of want of con fidence, immediately resigned itheir seats in the committee. The Bourse was calm, with very little change. Bute fell sc. for cash, and 20c. for account, clue ing at 69fr. 15c. and 69fr. 35c. Credit Filmier fell 10fr., and Mobilier 2fr. 50c. Railways were from to 2fr. higher. WEATHER REPORT.-(THIS DAY.) TRI"R9DAY. MAY 16, t A.M. B• It 1 Nairn '70 .121431 E.S.E. Aberdeen 30.14 40 N. Leith '30.14144 E. Ardrcaran 3611 45 8. Greencaatle 40.07148 S. Valentin.-- WWI 53 Z. ape Clear 10.1660, &W. liverpool 30.14 49 LAE. Holyhead US 44 R. Penzance 30.09 48 E. N. E. Brett 30.04 60 N.L Lorient 181.93 50 N. Rochefort 19.84 66 N.W. Plymouth 30.06 60 N.L Weymouth 30.0648 N.L Partamouth 30.01 46 64. L London 30.03 46 E. N.L Yarmouth 30.06 46 E. Scarborough 30.14 44 L Shields 60.18 46 E. Helder — RY.MARKS. The increase of atmospherical pressure over the British Isles still continues this morning, and b greate4 in the south. The winds in the west have veered to south ant south-west, but else where are chiefly north-easterly there has been but little change in temperature. The weather has become clearer to the west, but is generally overcast. TUE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLRRY.—The total number of visitors to this gallery, during the year 1866, was 24,666, being an increase of 8,024 over the previous year. Twenty.two portraits belonging to the gallery were removed to South Kensington on the 21st of March last It has been found necessary to have some of the most valuable pictures fixed in airtight cases with strong plate glass before them. The trustees have a special pleasure in announcing one of the donations made to the gallery during the year. They say in their report, issued this morning : " The Queen, in gracious compliance with the application which the trustees in a former year bad addressed to her Majesty, has on the 3rd of April last presented to this gallery a full length portrait of his Royal Highness the Prince Consort. It is a repl lea by M. Winterhalter of the last portrait which that eminent artist painted from life of his royal highness, and it seem, to the trustees, both in faithful likeness and in artistic excellence, to afford to the public a worthy representation of the much-lamented Prince. On the receipt of this most welcome donation, the trustees have presumed to express to the Queen how much of gratification and of interest would be afforded by a corresponding portrait of her Majesty. In reply, they have received the gracious assurance that the Queen is disposed to accede to their wishes, and will present her Majesty's own portrait to the gallery at a future time." Mr. Dill wyn, to-morrow, will move an address for a return of the names of all persons employed or en gaged by this country in connection with the Paris Exhi bition and the Exhibition catalogue, the part they have taken in the work, the nature of their previous employ ments or professions, and the amount of remuneration paid or to be paid them ; and a separate account of all monies paid or to be paid for travelling, rent, lodgings, and all other expenses. Mr. Milner Gibson proposes, to-morrow week, to call attention to the state of the law respecting the securities which are required from the proprietors of news papers and certain other publications ; and to ask the Attorney-General, in reference to the proceedines which have recently been instituted against certain newspaper proprietors for non-compliance with the security laws, whether it is intended to enforce the sevarity system upon all publications to which the security statutes apply. Mr. Chichester Fortescue, on the 24th, will call the attention of the Howie of Commons to the present position of the Queen's University in Ireland. A Danish gentleman, who a few years ago bought a property and built a house near Olevano, where he habitually resides, visited Rome a few days ego. He de scribes his position as critical, the brigands having cap tured his next neighbour, and cut off his ears on account of his inability to pay the ransom they demanded. Mr. Bl—, the Dane, however, is a determined man, and well provided with firearms to defend himself in his castle, wherein, moreover, he has deposited 2101 b. of gunpowder, as he is resolved to blow up the house in case the brigands should force their way in, rather than allow himself to be taken. A Paris correspondent is afraid, if the truth must be told, there is a little deception about the nation ality of some of the shows at the Paris Exhibition. Some of the foreign restaurants—got up by Frenchmen— have nothing really national about them but a few foreign hired waiters, and one or two costumed women. The kitchen in most instances is French ; the articles of food, if foreign, bought in Peril. "When von go for your thick café in the Tunisian house and bear the dismal monotonous music of the East, you are told that the natives are Jews of the coast, and not thoroughbred Tunisians. A dreadful revelation was made to me this morning. There is now open a Chinese house and theatre. The Chinese seen on the stage have been picked up in the streets of London, and the acrobats are Englishmen ! The proprietor of an American drinking bar is a Frenchman, and all the cocktails are liquid shams at the eatabl:sh. meat I refer to, but the real thing may be h►d else where, with black gentlemen to wait on you." The Freemasons of France are beginning to address their " brothers of the mystic tie ^ of Germany. All masons, the lodge called Perseverance, of Saumur, says, are well aware that their first duty is to defend the soil and the Bag of their country. But Germany and France have no need to give proofs of their military courage ; they should consolidate the fraternity of nations and close the eza of conquests. There is now but one serious conquest to make—that of liberty, of self-govern. meat, and of the dignity of the great human family. The lodge conjures its German brethren to join their efforts to those of the French masons in the cause of peace. AUDACIOTE ATTEMPT AT ROEBERY.—A young man. of gentlemanly apprnn se, who refused to give any I name and description of 'maelf, or to say where lie came from, wee arraigned before the magistrates, at Richmond, yesterday, on the following charge :—Mr. John Cockburn, jeweller, of George-street, Richmond, was in his shop on Saturday last, about noon, when the person in question, who seems to be about 33 years of age, rode up to the 1 door on horseback. He alighted, and giving his rein to • boy, came into the shop. He asked the jeweller to show him some handsome rings, because he desired to purchase one se a present for a friend. Mr. Cockburn produced • tray, on which were 24 diamond rings, worth together about 7001. After inspecting the jewellery fur • little while the seeming purchaser suddenly snatched the tray and rushed with it from the shop. He sprang upon his hone and would have made off, but the jeweller pursued and caught the bridle, whereupon the thief sprang from hie saddle and lied. He some of the jewellery as be ran toward the railway station, but the major portion of the he put into his bat. He was pursued, , and in due time was handed to the police. Yes ;;;Nri.he remarked that the case against him was en clear he had nothing to say whatever. He was committed for trial. .1 .11. LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND sou RAILWAY.—(THIS DAY.) The adjourned special meeting of shareholders wee held at noon, in the International Hotel, L og ,k,,, bridge ; Colonel Baarraurr, M.P., in the chair. The i:HAIRMAN, in opening the prom* logs, sald_G t .. tlemen, I now have to declare the result of the poll on the amendment to Sir Charles Jackson's reactance. For the amendment there are 10,200 voter, re d against it 51,399—a majority of 41,199. (Cheers.) I have therefore to declare, in the first inetante. that the amendm e nt Is lost. (Cheers.) I have th en tonne from the chair the resolution of Sir Chas. Jackson, bat be. fore doing that I may venture to say that I earnestly h el y and trust that all angry feeling may now cease —( 2w bear)—that no time may be lost in adopting the line of policy that will best conduce to the interest of th e proprietors. (Hear, bear.) I hope that this meeting may psis off quietly and with good temper, and that all se x differences may cease. What has been done has be te , thought to be done for the best ; whether it was 90 en not, time will show ; but this I may soy, that tamp m ost anxious and earnest wish is for the welfare of the mm. pany. (Hear, hear.) I now have to put the re.clut,c t of Sir Chas. Jackson. Mr. CONHIGHAM (one of the directors), before the resole. tion was put, expressed a wish to explain the reasons which had induced him to write to the newspaper rumours* his determination to resign his seat on the board, H. was sorry that Mr. Schuster and Mr. Laurie, the fernier of whom was mainly responsible for tho present poeitios af the company, and the latter responsible in a far lq degree, were not present to defend their policy. He eat sorry to be obliged, while speaking in his own behalf, u cast censure upon others, but he should state 44 all along he differed from the policy of tie two gentlemen referred to, and that he 1.4 endeavoured to avoid litigation with Mr. Mackenzie, ra g to bring about an understanding between that gentleca s and the board. It seemed to him that the past p o li c y the company stood self.conderuned, and Mr. Schui.ter, by not corning to defend himself, had allowed jud gment te go by default. It was due to Mr. Laurie to state that when lie took the chair he inherited enormous diffieultus. lie (Mr. Uoningham) believed that the paying of 6 ' , orals, was not a judicious course, and that it was one of Ma many elements of the misfortune that had befallen then. He reminded Sir Chas. Jackson that Mr. Laurie sad the Union Bank possessed enormous power, and that they h a g 700,0001. of the securities of the company, so that even aa selfish principles alone, it was the interest of the shoo holders to treat them in •oonciliatory spirit. Referring * * s to his opposition to the policy of Mr. Schuster, he sod the system of paying dividends which they could not pay, sad going into debt with the banks, had been the milkos e whico had hung round their necks. He asserted that tie depreciation of the value of their property was not °rip. nated by the policy of the directors, but with the Map of policy in parliament. The resolution of Sir Charles Jackson was then put sul carried unanimously. Sir CHAS. JACKSON, who wed received with cheers, It. joined that the directors had adopted a dignified cane, and not demanded a further polL He felt that any fin. they promulgation of the contest would only lead to seek exasperation. Having now attained the object which is had sought, namely, a full and thorough investigatica islt the affairs of this company, he thought he might alms them that their sole object would be the protection improvement of the shareholders' property. (Cheers.) fie had received several communications suggesting the advir bility of at addition to the committee. He and his colleague would take the matter into consideration, and they laf already availed themselves of the services of Mr. It, Horn, who, he hoped, would be on the board. The mee ting was then adjourned. The Whsrncliffe meeting which was submit was only of a formal character. The throe obi bills had been withdrawn, and the bill in its form received the sanction of the committee of lion and the entire body of shareholders. SOUTH EASTSLN RAILWAY.-(THIS DAY.) A special general meeting was held at now d the London-badge station, Mr. WATK IN, KY., in the chair, for the purpose, if thought fi t, of authorising tas directors to exercise their powers with respect to tit creation and issue of new shares or stock and debentiar stock in lieu of debentures and borrowing on mortgage. The CHAIM AN said the act which they we: t rirce of putting into operation passed during the priest re aion. It consolidated the .18 existing acts of the comply and placed under one view the entire capital scores el the undertaking as it now stood. The result was tan upon an expenditure of 15,831,000 f. they had a our* over all their liabilities of 1,927 000 f. The directorspropted to restrict the present expenditure to 98,0001., but user the bill they had power to raise 782,50 W., and althoosk it was proposed to take authority to exercise this ps. vision in the act it was not intended to raise this ad& tional capital, having reference, as it had, to the Keane line, a portion of which it Would be necessary to go is parliament to take power to abandon. A series of resolutions authorising the exercise of the power contained in the act of this session sere the agreed to. The CHAIRMAN then entered into an explanation of tie preliminary agreement for a fusion with the Wan Company. This agreement he explained was fused a I principle known as that which applied to the Soil Eastern Railway. It would be virtually an annual vile thin of the net profits of the two undertakings, but w capital responsibility whatever would be undertake& Each oompany would have to deal with its oe capital, and when the net amount of profit Isi been ascertained each company would have to distribute g among its own shareholders. There were points is tia agreement yet open to settbament, but before it caddis thoroughly carried out it would be necessary to obtain tai sanction of the shareholders and to go to parlisroni either in the present or the next session for a special act. The matter was still under discussion of the two board+. of he therefore proposed that the meeting should stand si• journed for a mouth, when he would be prepared * enter more fully into details. A vote of thanks woe then given to the chairman, sal the meeting stood adjourned for a month. PROVINCIAL BANK OF IRELAND.—I 771 Is PA I'.) The generAl yearly meeting of the sharrholdett of this company was held at the bank premises, Old ratol• street, this day, Mr. 741=14 in the chair. The first hue nem was that of re-electing the four directors abe Te by rotation, Mr. C6llEl2lllo,_llr. Jam.. Fletcher, Mr. I Hoare, and Sir J. W. Hogg, and on the motion the chairman they were all re-elected. The r business was the ra-election of a director in the room late Sir IL lap~~Ler . There retl;;;eeind Mat A. Barnett, M.P., Mr. P. Lyoett Griffin, and Mr. White. On a show of hands the former was elected large majority. The secretary read the report. el stated that the balance of profits standing to credit Go . 31st of March last was 255,018/. 6a. !Id., out of which 0 0 directors proposed to pay in July the usual divides.] V. 10s. on the 1001. shares, and of 11. on the 101. shuns The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the roe, oongrstulated the meeting on the prosperous state t their affairs, and complimented the manager. of the bad on the prudence displayed before and during the lek panic, by which the bank had been saved from loss. The report was adopted, and the prooeeding's nested with the usual compliment to the chairman, to' voto of thanks to the managers. According to the last advice, from Slianghst ,l Prussian nun-of-war was them. The ob;eet f tl.e Md . was to negotiate with the Chinese government for of land on the island of Formosa, for the one of the Bello go►ernment. A meeting of the Neutrality Laws Commis.,ioserf was held yesterday, at 9 , Victoria-street, Westwil„ 4l l Present: — Lord Cranwor t h, Lord Cairns. It.ght °„,'"- Stephen Lushington, Sir William &le, Rir Bramwell, Sir R. J. Phillitnore, Noe, Q.C., Travers Twigs, Esq., Q.C., Thos. Ilariag• )LP., W. H. G nagor y, E sq . sad E. lotetel. Esq., M.P. Mr. C. ff. A. A bbott, attached to the 0 . intasion, was also present. DEPARTURE OP THE QUEEN or Dr.NNI announcement was received yesterday morning by re.e graph at Woolwich Arsenal, from the War 1k1.. 0 ,. informing the officials that the Queen of D. Wu"' suite would take their departure on board the .tantraN yacht Enchantress. for Antwerp, at :t o'clock p.m• that her Majesty, who would travel incognit, order tb title of Countess of Mecklenburg, desired that all Wash ties should be dispensed with. The male mat female Fe' • I.tr vents were ten in number. The Queen, bolding band a bouquet of choice flower., piocee.lol pier in conversation with the officials. a nd, descest the low tide gangway steps, took up her place in , pat saloon on the quarter deck. The tide was thee T9'. receding. and the Enchantress required some l'ou d _l rnanship to keep clear of the pier in swinging r°"' -, which, however, was effected with some frw minutia delay, and the ship made her way down the river shot 1 ,1. before 4 for the Nose, where she would probably lay t" the night, and resew° her voyage so as to reach Act. o soon after daybreak this morning. BVMM:in FIRE. —A fire broke out le wil t o'clock last night in Park-road, Albion-road, Stoke. ington. in some extensive workshops, needw esrit i l and joiners' shops. The property belonged to Br. 8 d o • builder. In the course of a few minu tes whole once of workshops were on Ere from end to and pile after pile of timber became ignited. N ° eat was lost in getting the engines to work, but in sla'f: the vast torrents of water, in a comparatisely brie of time the whole of the shops, the mens' tools, destroyed, and many piles of timber were eommned Jtt fire continued to smoulder until nearly noon. The ‘ 94 i' ing-house was also destroyed. yens e$F tuiln j o g Rio Phitnt4 L isa n I r• rie '.iise. 1..45, nquin f cust4 tom WWI tit the juc udirm , the c a Pesl4 Mr. A thii - ; - . lbess in t . attltV ol the oottet fear's jai l he ip c 4 boot" i Cross-e %.1•11 !tight th L. V. the ay bid. Al Ike hi; r 4 Ilr. Vi i kr. A Xr. v 1 Mr. E r , 24. V% str This I he fa The oss :I:lred it palati al ! the ine l n a far leo t o brie C. lie els ve rsed la b ehalf, n Railwa state 4 4 Lord cy the Lord t he of h o d mato skemie, sad at gelltleoa di to vals stet policy a t PPe ll a scen,. te , 4 the judgment to The, o state that 'th os I ditfieuloss • of bpereeta, one of rh o sum. . „, !fallen that lurie and the This heY bsi list cos that eveu ca marked of the also , ferringages he soui the This not for the pay, ad milktoni destroy 'ed that toe tendon' ram not obi). Leieest h the damp 1865' the wo ben put std n se cheer, re the o t th .tat soy fw• it mtu sad to mak ct which h. Premift tisane's ion a sung ought some p lied s2 l hems) 1, they ou igthesdviss. pleaded dB cell/epee LI ted any Ind It we Mr. R. W, ury sh, hat th. on. I 'neatly held o suit )bjectionahle sing. its tf i r updr. e2d4 7 rt t::! The Air. A.( 'S DAY.) QC., the defe at nom st The is the General t horning tie P mesds The ta sped to the t debenbas 612(448( Si pretest en the mammy al acorns d t: In thi, alt was the the (rl d asw / iii for leave *rsis`'l'sss , but cod valuable code i n od although t h em em to to this ° thieS th interest the linden it will business ss7 W S * the failu rc•me of ti oonsider item the which e, stone oh but his dion of ti le Meta 't hosed oa t Mr. the Nora assignee, order th nual velar gs, but n might h undertake& assignee, it . 0 , A s et profit W sad ! - 'IIS distributed stout Ci into to ea Adieu it could is s obtain ti Upon parkas% elsPeaitio to John' boardr as farm d stead stl• 91 shd par Bf. PrePereS airman, 'al FIIS DAY) arehelders HenrN , Old Drosi• before] e first bal • to the w h o wis value of !r, Mr. L /Luis N% motisi, 1 the Lon Th e nerd Prisoner room of tM °facer H Mateo—St I Mr. elected . port who Ipillia edit on di was cbal which th , the prop divideol of from Ulu V. shim street •• .. s l s 4 4 4 6 4 6 6 8 1 3 2 2