The Express. — London, England, 1867-02-20 00:00:00

BUNIIILL - FIELDS i;1•111.iL Glatt'Nl). The Leave to the I ..n+ rati• v • f •14.11 of thi- I itirmi Ground will expire at the eh Lo• .4 the prew et year.the Corporation have liven itt treaty with the &sett-via:me:a Com missioners. a ith the view of pet, I .l.•t froin lion by and hate ..Kt-reel to he the expense tit pre serving the tooth., and n-pairing, wvt, - hine. maintaining. anus keeping the ground ai an ornaineuLk: open >paev for the line of tberatthefor ever. The CamaidleSdligUii-tare retazed the over of the Corporation : nogutatitivaa have hi , ken .at , and at the end of MA year the Commivvionery bolo the right, to take potaravkon of the ground as the freettobh -Tho ....:n lvt: w taw lletoitito of 41in Wirer denerninat of PeritrKfmt 77Inellt6in have inemorialivel Loth the corp.:dem and the conintitsiotten, urging that •tt bhould be taken immediately to allay the anxiety of the. h., have relation. hurie.l ill the gnatinl I.y the dedievt ion of the place in perpetuity at an open upset., iavt thi, ha- tint been done. The Committer Invite the en-op,rati.m ~ 1 311 I.eriong t. ho fed interested io the presert4tlon of the ground frt.' dowrati." l . • C.lntutitlicatien3 to he addresm3l to the uhdenitated. •111:111E.11tD. Secretary to the liephtiee of the Three Tienotntnttiotet ut l'rute.t.tut thbtenters. 73, t reet, 1.6•Iglon. Felt IC, BENSO'NS WATCHES. 6$ and 60, Ludgate -hill: Oldliond-street. JOHN 13RoG ;DEN'S VALI:A' 'ION of GOLD. 24 carats line, Is worth .. fl 4 114 {w•r owl. a•. - __• t 1 carats.. 4 1 4 L'2 carats Itritish ISenrotta..3:3 3 Si 17 carats.. 3 0 2 'Gear:lts.. 21' 7i IScarats.. 2 13 1 carats . 2 9 tii 13 carats.. 2 G 0 12 carts.. 2 2 hi II carats.. 1 Is 11 lucarals.. 1 li, 44 twit tta,treut, 9 carats .. 21 11 10 1 otrats .. 1 8 81 7 ~ruts .. 1 4 9 0 carats .. 1 1 21 5 carets .. 017 8 4 carats .. 0 14 2 3 carats.. 010 71 2 carats 0 7 11 1 ..arat .. 0 3 8• g . :ll,lrn. L...11.1..n. eta/Ohm! 3 17 lui 21 canit.i.. 3 14 4 29 rarmi.. 3 10 "1 13 carats.. 3 7 3 .I;inufavtory, li., Ilia B ROWN and POLSON'S CORN FLOUR for CHILDREN'S DIET. To ~ htaln extra profit by the sale other kinds are sometimes °Tend Instead of BROWN and POLSON'S. "John brown," "John Poison," Is shined by the inane' on etch packet. Eh, en`tfifi• TO CORREsPoNDESTS. Advertisements Ntended for "The Fspress," London Evening Paper, most be •t the Office, 10, liouseric-itrect, by Two o'clock on the day of publication. DRURYLANE. Ting F.Trxileo, THE JEALOUs WI Ft: Mr. l'helym. E. I ilelpd, 11. :iryton, :opt DarriAt ; Mesdantei ll. Vezin and 11. Van.l , Alinff. MO Nl' M HER ; II ABLE- Qt:LV AND IDE ()NOME KING OF Tsf E GIANT MOUNTALS. 11A Y NI AIM LT. TAI! EVENING. A LE4.46N --- 1 7 11til FE. Messrs. &Ahern. Roger.. Clark, Enhiphin, : Sln Chippendale, II iflSell Hill, Wright, ke.-1,10RI) NIAHRIED AND DONE FOR. Mr. hi.tlitrti.—And JENNY LINO AT LA'T. Miss PRINrINWS. Tine svintrwo, 111 4 Messrs. Verner & Fenton; Mrs. H. White and Miss Wentworth—And SHA (POW 1 KEE. SHAFT. Sleasrs. Vining, Shore, Verner, Y. Villiers, Forrester, Mellon, and Cathcart ; Misses Montagu, Edmonds, and lisidgers. L 1 L21:111. THIS PArcistan, THE Tii.lll 7 Jait. Mr. Widdicomb —Antl ROUGE Er N. li It. Messrs. Pechter, Emery, Cowper. Moreland, //Hanalei-Lk. D.ltun, Reynokls, Lomas, Andreae, Price, Ac. , Mrs. L. Murray, and Misses [tentacle, Grattan, and C. Leclereti. Tinslrrcrwo, MARRIED DA6IiTTERS AND YOI"ND BAND.4.—Last Nights of GUY FAWILES.—muI A SUIT OF TWEE.D.S. ROLBORN. Trim Branum MY TURN NEXT Mr. Belmore: Mimes Foote and LlitiOX —And FLYING SCUP. Hews. Neville, Del more, Make, Vullalre, &c.: Meedunes F. Josephs. C. Saunders, Berle Foote, tlddes. Lennox. Raymond, Ike. BRITANNIA. THIS EVENING. THE PRINCE:LS OF THE PEARL ISLAND: 011.. THE THREE. KINGDOMS OF PEARL. GOLD, AND SILVER. Mi:. Jacohn —Pint-rate Pantomimist& —And THE NETURN OF THE WANDERER. MOH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. TIDI DAY —Nfornine, RIL 4m Afternoon, 3h 25at. 2D-Moßao4l-11orninz, 3h. 44m Afternoon, 4h 3M. LO:VDOY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20. Foe a considerable time it has been an en. pleasant task to comment on the affairs of Austria, but the reconciliation of the Imperial Government with the Hungarian Diet is an event which gives hope of better days for the monarchy. The history of the domestic government of the empire for the last twenty years has been little more than the record of a series of false starts on the roaAl of constitutional policy, each followed, after an in terval of exhausting elf , ,rt, by the discovery of error, and ending in dejection and collapse. Patent has been issued after patent, and scheme has succeeded scheme, but hitherto not one of them has been found practicable in its applica tion. The SclIM ARTZEN BERGS, 11ACHS, SCAM ER LINGS, and BELCREDIS have by turns tried their hands, and Bavaria and Saxony have been required to furnish Austria with statesmen capable of recovering the country from its embarrassments ; but until now a constitutional plan, in which the various peoples of the monarchy can co-operate for the common good, has not been discovered. The principal difficulties of the Austrian Government, as it seemed to distant observers, were found in the political sentiments and disposition of the Hungarian and Italian subjects of the Ex ezeort—the one demanding a position in the monarchy inconsistent with the plans of any of the successive advisers of the Sovereign, while the other turned away from Austria altogether, and required nothing less than separation from the empire and union with Italy. The Italian ques tion settles itself in two great foreign wars, leav ing thelltingiuian difficulty only the more promi nent. Defeated in their great and truly national insurrection in 1848, the Hungarians ceased to trust in the sword, but took up an attitude of patient and proud reserve. The Austrian Govern ment held that by the events of 1848 the king dom had entirely forfeited its constitutional rights, and that its territory and population were but so many elements which a clever constitution monger might freely dispose of for the purpores of his new combivations. All that the Hun garians could do was to submit passively to the measures which were adopted at Vienna in pur suance of the right of conquest, while they care fully avoided all active participation in the affairs of the empire. Every attempt to induce them to enter into the new policy of the Austrian states men found both leaders and people immovable. They had lost all material power ; their sons were taken for the Imperial army, and their money for Imperial taxes, without their consent. They could not help it, and they would not stoop to complain, but they could and did stand aloof, believing that the time must come when the EMPEROR would be compelled to approach them with other tones than those of a conqueror, and when they would have an opportunity of expressing their sentiments freely without loss of dignity. Year after year they waited for such a time, and for a while it seemed as though the Austrian Government was acquiring a power and authority in Europe which would make it indifferent to their situation ; nevertheless, they preserved their attitude, admired by a few, but blamed as impracticable by more of their friends. The recovery of Austria, however, was rather in appearance than reality, and even in appearance it was only partial. When, with the invasion of the Danubian Principalities by Russia, and the consequent expedition of French and English armies to the Crimea, the long period of European peace was interrupted, and governments had some thing else to do than league together to suppress domestic revolutions, the internal discord of Aus tria again became a manifest source of weakness. The Congress of Paris was a warning to the Em peror FRANCIS JOSEPH to set his house in order, and was followed, three years later, by the Italian campaign, which saw his fine army completely defeated, and one of his richest provinces torn from his empire. Impelled by the necessity of doing something to restore public confidence, so thoroughly shaken by this heavy blow, the EMPEROR made what was intended to be an appeal to the public *4 of his_ peoples,. and issued patents purpostin . g 'to establish some thing like a national representation. But beneath all his measures lay tho assumption thaethe ancient constitution of Hungary was annulled, having been forfeited by revolution, and that the ground in that kingdom was cleared for the con struction of a new political edifice. The Hunga rians, more than ever convinced that the necessi ties of the Imperial Government would in the end arable them to make good their own position, and effectually assert the unbroken continuity of their historical rights, would have nothing to do with the EMPEROR'S schemes, and the Reichnath met at Vienna without their representatives. They were not deceived. In 1861 the EMPEROR made a real and decided advance towards his Hungarian subjects. He restored their Comitats, replaced the German functionaries of the kingdom by Hungarians, declared Magyar the political language of the country, and convoked the Diet. The system which the Emssioot desired to intro duce was not, however, satisfactory to the repre sentatives of the nation, who in their address to the Crown declared that, not seeking themselves to make laws for the hereditary States of Austria, they could not divide with any other party than their national Sovereign the right of making laws for Hungary. They must, therefore, decline to send deputies to the great Imperial Diet at Vienna, or acknowledge the right of that body to make laws for them. They were ready to live side by side with the other constitutional peoples of the monarchy, as one free and independent nation with another, under the Emesatox, and thus only. We need not repeat the history of the subsequent negotiations. The first few weeks of this year have witnessed the com plete success of the Hungarians. The EMPEROR has yielded everything essential in their demands. In an Imperial rescript, read in both Houses of the Diet, at Pesth, on Monday, he declares that, " confiding in the loyalty of the Hungarian na " tion, and putting entire faith in their readiness " to co-operate with him to preserve the empire,' "he restores tho Hungarian Constitution." Ile' asks no more in return than the Diet had declared itself ready to perform. " The Esirmum desires " the integrity of Hungary, and will defend her " Constitution, and ho expects that his people " will also defend the throne and the empire." His MAJESTY'S words were received with enthu siam by the Diet, and the kingdom has given itself ' up to rejoicings. It may well be glad; it has suc ceeded in a cause in which many a brave people wiih equal right on its side has had to succumb to force. A twenty years' struggle, disastrous alike for Austria as for Hungary, has been brought to a close. The EMPEROR asks an indemnity for his Ministers—a thing which would have been inconceivable a few years ago—and the Diet in return appoints a deputation to convey its thanks to the EMPEROR. it is a proud moment fur those patriotic statesmen who, without passion or resentment, have steadily pursued the path of constitutional legality, to have reconciled the kingdom with the EMPEROR, and restored it to its old place in the Austrian States system. It is also a triumph for Baron BEtsr, the first Austrian statesman who has had the cou rage and resolution to carry the most urgent, but long delayed, business of his master to a con clusion. We trust he may be equally successful with the non-Hungarian people* of the empire, whose representatives are to assemble • month hence at Vienna in the constitutional Reicluwath. OUR CONTEMPORARIES. (THIB DAY.) THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 20, 1867. • THE ADMIRALTY AND ITS CRITICS. The absolute want of confidence of the nation in the men who control the navy expenditure expressed last night by Mr. Seely, who has now made out his case, is shared, the Times sty., by the House of Com mons and by the Admiralty itself. Sir J. Pakington's announcements, however, inspire the hope that real changes will be shortly undertaken. As late as 1861 the present First Lord recommended that there should be one person above the Hoard of Admiralty and free from its influence, who should he responsible directly to the crown and par liament for everything that is done, and if the Board of Admiralty remain—and we doubt not it may have its official and administrative uses—it should at least be made entirely subordinate in every respect to the national Mi nister of Marine, who when once appointed should really govern where he now only reigns. The want now is some one who shall unite power with responsibility, and not a niece addition to the number of inferior functionaries who , can only move in their own groove, who are sum soon to fall into the usual official apathy, and are secure in their obscurity from public censure fur anything- but flagrant misconduct. paying a tribute to Mr. Seely for his modest and labo- rious devotion to public interests, and instancing him as a reformer less eager for personal display than for hard dry work, the Doily Newts observes that the hon. gentle man was received by Sir J. Pakington with a cordial frank ness and sincerity which deserve recognition. What Mr. Seely and other Admiralty reformers ask is :—Cannot some approach to unity of administration and simplifica tion of responsibility be attained under the existing form of naval government' It appears from Sir John Pak ington's reply, that by the new arrangement of the Comptroller's department, a much stricter supervision of the work in the dockyards and of the accounts will be secured, and Mr. Seely has the satisfaction of finding that his persistency is already bearing fruit. There is at least one characteristic of the Admiralty which covers a few sins, and that is tho readiness with which even its official defenders, its past and present lords and secretaries, avow its deficiencies and take rank among its reformers. Who has ever seen such a prodigy of public virtue as an army reformer trained at Whitehall' And yet, as compared with our army administration, who doubts that the Admiralty is almost immaculate' The Ster regards the popularisation of the legislature as the certain prelude to a great invigoration of all the ele ments of improvements in political and official affairs. With a reformed parliament there would be an effectual demand, to um an economical phrase, for alterations which are now admitted to be salutary while they are too readily assumed to be impracticable, except on the occurrence of some disastrous crisis. THE CANADIAN CONFEDERATION. According to the Daily News the pressure put upon the maritime provisoes of British America by the home go vernment to induce them to accept the scheme which was brought forward by Lord Carnarvon last night has been unusual and severe, and the politicians of Novo Scotia and New Brunswick have yielded to it. If the scheme work well, the defects of its origin will be forgotten ; but if ill, the present action of the imperial government will be held to detract very much from the force of the " Treaty." Already the colonists have acquired the conviction that they are conferring an obligation on the mother country by giving up local legislative power. The bill in reality sacrifices intension to extension, destroying a close union which has been tried for the sake of a looser connexion which is avowedly an experiment. As to the supposed augmentation of the means of mill tory defence, if anything is to be gained in this way it must be either by Canada sending forces to New Bruns wick and Nova Scotia, or by these latter provinces send ing forces to Canada in case of war. Does anybody who knows the distances between them and the extent to which each province would be exposed to incursion believe that either colony would part with its national defenders under the supposed circumstances ? If not, the whole question falls to the ground. MISCELLANZOIIB TOPIC.. The Times sees in the postponement of the meeting of the opposition till Tuesday next fresh proof of the mode ration of the liberal leaders, but if the government is wise they will take care not to misunderstand it, for the object . _ for whisk the housn Maus protests tins government 3uakes it incinsbent upon,* goversusent lobe precise and busi nesslike in its proved', end lockfrolto to sem •• i • dis conmgernent to discussion 41 7 44 mend' theoreti cal,—such ns would be occasioned Mr. Mill's resolu tion respecting minorities, which is sufficient of itself to occupy as much time as the thirteen resolutions of the government put together. Let Mr. Mill lend the weight of his authority to secure what can be done in the time and with the means at our dis posal, rather than afford an opportunity for the concealed opponents of reform totlissipate the rest of the session in the investigation of Utopian theories and in WM19,910E111 which must be fruitless. Is it altogether improbable, sake the Poe', that, even up to this moment, the Cabinet may not have quite decided what they intend to propose, and that the real reason why the Chancellor of the Exchequer seems determined to extend the Asian mystery to the politics of this country is that he is not yet quite in the position to declare what the elucidation of that mystery will be? We have heanl of a budget completely altered during the journey from Downing-street to the Palace at Westminster on the even ing of its statement, and Mr. Disraeli is clever enough to be able to speak at a moment's notice equally well on any proposal of reform. The Tama sees in the meals of the Hungarians in their new arrangement with Austria a step which is not only calculated to embolden the extreme liberals of that vain and restless nation, but also greatly, and not perhaps unreasonably, to irritate the tribes of the Parke Annexe., which will look upon themselves as deprived of sufficient guarantees for their local liberties. On the other hand, in the Cis-Leithan division the discontent arising among the Germans from the loss of that supre macy they have so long enjoyed in the ancient empire will be as deep, if not as loud, as the outcry of Czechs and Poles, who look upon themselves as entitled to the same privileges as have been granted to the Magyars. Never theless, beret though the Austrian government is with ins precedented difficulties, the Times would not consider the position desperate if it could detect the least symptom of firmness in the conduct of the Emperor's advisers. The Emperor Francis Joseph is certainly animated with the best intentions. Let him only not show himself utterly helpless, and the soundest part of his people will be sure to help him. We read in the Star :—" Report has it that the govern ment have resolved upon offering a 61. rating franchise in boroughs, should the principle of plural voting be rejected —which, in any case, it is quite certain to be. If the plural voting proposal were adopted, then it is said that ministers would be prepared to give household suf frage—under the circumstances an easy and valueless gift. A rating suffrage of Gt. would be about equivalent to an 8/. rental franchise, and of course absolutely unacceptable so far as the liberal party are concerned." QUESTIONS AND MOTIONS IN PARLIAMENT RESPECTING REFORM. The following questions and motions pertaining to reform are now on the order-book of the House of Commons : Mr. Borman, to-morrow, to ask the President of the Poorlaw Board whether he can furnish the house with any explanation in detail of the discrepancy between the electoral return presented by command last session and the electoral return, No. 494, of last session, just delivered. Mr. Darby Griffith, on Friday, to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer " whether the government really mean to ask the house to oome to a conclusion in favour of the reduction of the qualification for the elective franchise, without at the same time affording a clear indication of what that reduction is intended to be." Mr. H. Baillie, in the place of Resolution No. 5, to move the following resolution :—" It being desirable that the electoral privileges of all her Majesty's subjects should be placed upon an equal footing, no elector for a county or borough should be allowed to vote for more than one candidate at any election." Mr. J. S. Mill, in committee on the act 2 and 3 Will. IV., to move :—" That, in order to secure to the utmost extent possible the real and equal representation of every elector, it is expedient that any electors, amounting to • certain number, should have the power of voluntarily combining with one another to elect • representative." THE REFORM AGITATION GUARANTEE FUND OF 40,000. It was announced at the meeting of the National Reform Union, held last night, at Manchester, with respect to the proposed guarantee fund of 50,000/., that circulars inviting subscriptions were only issued last Thursday, and that the response in subscriptions already amounted to the sum of 10,869/. The subscription list was read amidst great cheering. It includes the follow ing :-Hugh Mason, 1,000/. ; Robert Platt, 1,000/. ; T. Thomason, 1,000/. ; Samuel Morley, 1,000/. ; James King, 1,000/. ; Sir Menah Armitage, 5001. ; R. N. Philips, Esq., M.P., 500/. ; F. Steiner, 500/. ; James Chadwick, 500/. ; John Rylands, 500/. ; George Crosfield, 250/.; James Sidebottom, 2501. ; Benj. Whitworth, M.P., 250/. ; T. C. Ryley, 2501.; H. Ashworth, 200/. ; Jno. Cros. field, 1501.; R. D. Roden, 1001.; Jos. Spencer and Co., 100/.; Samuel Pope, 100€.; D. Sandwith, of Kars, 1001.; Colin Mather, 100/4 Joseph Fenton, 1001.; C. 0., IOW. ; Morland Crosfield, 1001 .; Samuel Ad a m s , 50/. ; J ames Rosa, 50/.; Robert Greeley, 501.; Abraham Howarth, 501.; James Mills, 501.; Charles Cheetham, 50/.; Henry Ather ton, 50/4 Robert Smalley, 5014 J. Porritt, sen., 60/.; S. T. Hobson, 501.; E. Walmsley, 50/4 John Kay, 40/.; I Mark Price, 201. ; J. D. Morton, 20/. ; J. E. Davis, 20/.; and a great number of other subscriptions ranging from 25/. down to 1/. and under. RAILWAY DEBENTURE HOLDERS BILL. The following is a copy of the bill for affording better security to the bolder, of railway debentures brought into the Howse of Common, by Mr. Wathin, Alderman Salomon, and Mr. Laing : " Whereas it is expedient to make further provision for the security of persons lending or advancing money to railway companies on mortgage, bond, debenture, and de benture stock, and to ensure the continued use of railways by the public. Be it enacted by the Queen's most excel lent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: " 1. This act may be cited as ' The Railway Debenture holders Security Act, 1867.' "2. In this act, the term Debenture debt' means and includes money raised by a railway company on mortgage or bond, or by debenture stock, mortgage preference stock, or by any other stock, by whatever name the same may be celled, issued to represent loan capital of a railway company under the authority of any act of parliament or certificate of the Board of Trade, and constituting a charge on the undertaking, or having priority over the preference and guaranteed shares and stocks and ordinary shares and stocks of a rail way company. The term 'railway company' includes every company constituted or empowered by act of par liament, or by certificate of the Board of Trade, for the purpose of constructing, maintaining, or working or con veying the traffic on a railway, either alone or in conjunc tion with other purposes. The term ' instrument' extends to and includes a mortgage bond, stock certificate, and other document issued in respect of any such debenture debt. The expression ' person' shall include a corporation, whether aggregate or sole. "3. The undertaking as defined by the Companies Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845, and all the engines, car riages, waggons, and other plant, moveable and immoveable (including workshops), used or required for the proper management and working of the railway, and belonging to the railway company, shall be security fur the payment of interest or dividend on the debenture debts of a railway company, and, as the ease may require, for the repayment of the principal money of the debenture debt ; and it shall not hereafter be lawful for any person to seize or take in execution, in satisfaction of any debt or claim (other than rates or taxes, or rent charges in respect of which there is a power of distress, or compensation for personal injury or loss) incurred or made after the passing of this act, such undertaking, engines, carriages, waggons, or other plant, including workshops as aforesaid. " 4. This act shall not, as against any simple contract or judgment creditor, or bolder of any instrument issued in respect of any debenture debt previously to the passing of this act, have any retrospective operation." THE MEETING OP THE LIBERAL MEWHERS.—We are authorised to state that the meeting of the liberal members of the House of Commons, fixed for to-morrow, is postponed to Tuesday next. This step is taken in order that the meeting may be in possession of the explanations promised by the government on Monday, before they decide on the course to be taken with a view to the settle ment of the question of reform. ACCOUCHEMANT OF THE PRINCESS OF SALES. (THIS DAY.) Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales was safely delivered of a princess this morning. The following bulletin has been issued : "MARLBOROUGH HOUbE, PALL-MALL, P.:;',o A.M. " Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales was safely delivered of a princess at 6.30 this morning. " The confinement was most favourable, and was in no way affected by the rheumatism from which the princess is suffering. " Her royal highness and the infant princess are going on quite well. Signed, " ARTHUR FaRRr, M.D. " Wll. JENNER, M.D. " EDWARD H. SIEVEKING, M.D." A telegram announcing the event was imme diately forwarded to her Majesty at Osborne, and to various crowned heads of Europe. The event is announced in a supplement to the London Gmette in the following terms : " MARLBOROUGH HOUSE, Fre. 20. " This morning at half-past 6 o'clock her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales was safely de livered of a princess. " The confinement, which was most favourable, was not in any way affected by the rheumatism from which the Princess is suffering. " His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was present. The Secretary of State for the Home Department arrived at Marlborough House shortly after. " This happy event was made known by the firing of the Park and Tower guns." The following bulletin was issued last evening : "MARLBOROUGH HOUSE, Frs. 19. " Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales has for some days past suffered from acute rheumatism. " The pains and the febrile action are somewhat less to-day than they were yesterday. The Princess has enjoyed several hours of calm sleep to-day. " WILLIAM JENNER, M.D. " ARTHUR FARRE, M.D. " EDWARD H. SILVERING, M.D." THE ARMY ESTIMATES. This morning were issued the estimates for the army services from the Ist of April, 1867, to the 31st March, 1868. The sum asked for the whole of the effective and non-effective services is 14,752,2001. The total amount voted last year was less than this by 412,200/., but the estimated amount of extra receipts exceeds that of last year by 119,200/., so that the total increase of charge over 1866-07 is reduced to 293,000/. The item in which the greatest increase occurs is the pro posed vote for the commissariat establish ment, services, and movement of troops, which exceeds the amount of last year by 155,2001. The vote for clothing establishments, &c., is increased by 115,6001.; manufactur ing departments for warlike stores, by 56,700/.; miscellaneous services, by 54,400/. ; barrack esta blishment, by 42,700/. ; hospital establishment, by 29,1001. ; the volunteer corps, by 12,9001. The whole sum now asked for the volunteer corps is 361,000/. For out-pensioners an additional sum of 12,900/. is asked. The total force, the coat of which is to be defrayed from army funds, is 139,163 of all ranks, being a difference of 11 only in the number voted last year. Her Majesty's British forces in India, exclusive of depots in this country, are numbered at 65,292 of all ranks. Int !Court. OSBORNE, FEL 19. The Queen, accompanied by Prince and Princess Christian and Princess Louise, and attended by the Duchess of Roxburghe, the Hon. Emily Cathcart, and Lord Charles Fitzroy, drove yesterday by West Cowes and Yarmouth to Alum Bay, where her Majesty took lun cheon. From thence the Royal party drove to Freshwater Gate, and returned to Osborne by Afton Down, Shorwell , and Cariabrook. Her Majesty and Princess Christian walked and drove in the grounds this morning. The other members of the royal family also went out. Dr. Norman Macleod arrived at Osborne yesterday, and had the honour of dining with the Queen and royal family The Rev. Malcolm Taylor also arrived yesterday, and left to-day. A Cabinet Council was held yesterday at the official residence of the First Lord of the Trea sury, in Downing-street. The ministers pre sent were the Earl of Derby. the Duke of Buck ingham, the Earl of Malmesbury. the Right Hon. Spencer H. Walpole, Lord Stanley, the Earl of Carnarvon, General Peel, Viscount Cranborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir John Pakington, Sir S. Northoote, Lord John Manners, the Right Hon. Gathorne Hardy, and Lord Naas. A Committee of the Lords of her Majesty's Most Honour. able Privy Council sat yesterday, at Whitehall, on the subject of the cattle plague. The Lords present werc Tim Lord President, the Right Hoe. C. B. Adderlcy. and the Right Hon. H. Corry. Mr. Helps and Dr. Alex ander Williams attended the committee. A deputation of Irish members, headed by Mr. Blake, M.P., waited on Mr. Ward Hunt, M.P., at the Treasury, yesterday, for the purpose of requesting the exercise of the powers given to the Treasury with respect to the Railway Companies (Ireland) Temporary Advances Act, 1866. Yesterday preparations were being made at Windsor Castle for the reception of her Majesty the Queen and the royal family and suite, who are expected to leave Osborne on Friday next. The day originally fixed was Thursday. Her Majesty will land at the Royal Clarence Victualling-yard, at Gosport, where a South-Western special train, in charge of Mr. Godson, the traffic superintendent, will be in readiness. Mr. J. Grier. son, the general manager of the Great Western, has charge of the arrangements from Basingstoke to Windsor, the Queen being expected to reach the royal borough about 6 o'clock in the evening, unless other arrangements are made. His Excellency the Turkish Ambassador arrived yesterday at the Turkish Embassy, in Bryanston-square, from Brussels. The general committee of elections have selected the following six members to be the chairmen'. panel, and to serve as chairmen of election committees for the present session:—Mr. H. E. Adair, Mr. W. E. Baxter, Admiral Danoombe, Sir P. G. Egerton, Mr. T. W. Evans, and Mr. E. Howes. Mr. William Forster on Friday will ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether it is the intention of her Majesty's government to bring in a bill for placing the telegraph lines in the kingdom under the superintendence of the state. On Friday Mr. Bentinck proposes to call atten tion to the estimates for the designs of the new Courts of Justice ; and to move " that, in the opinion of this house, it is expedient that all arrangements respecting the build ing of the new Courts of Justice should be effected under the sole responsibility of her Majesty's government." Mr. H. B. Sheridan intends to move the follow ing resolution in the House of Commons on the 19th of next month :—" That, in the opinion of this house, a further reduction of the duty on fire insurances would have a tendency to bring within the protection of in surance a large amount of the present uninsured property of the country, and that a further reduction of the duty should therefore be made at the earliest opportunity." There being a cabinet minister's pension vacant, the Ow is glad to learn that it has been conferred on Mr. Walpole, who has now served the required time. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (REUTER'S TIM ELAM ) ITALY. MINISTERIAL CIRCULAR TO THE PREFECTS. FLORENCE, Fre. 19, EVENIEG. The President of the Council of Ministers has issued a circular to the prefects of the kingdom, announcing the dissolution of the Chamber and the convocation of the electoral colleges. It says : "The late Chamber did not give proof of possessing all the elements which are necessary to accomplish its task in a parliamentary system. The ministry, influenced by the urgent necessities of the state, and faithful to the glorious tradition which reminds us that by one and the same pro clamation the accomplishment of Italian unity, and the promise of the liberty of the church, were announced to the nation, presented a bill for resol•-ing the question between civil and religious society." The circular pro teed' to advert to the causes of the late parliamentary and ministerial crisis. " The true motive of the dissolution (it coutinues) has been to form a firm and compact national majority which may give strength to the govern ment. Italy is fatigued by sterile discussions. The weakness of government arising from the perpetual changes of individuals and programmes, and the mute- tions of ministries, is the cause and principle of ad ministrative disorder. This can only be remedied by a new parliament. The present ministry, nevertheless, consider it to be necessary to state their ideas upon the finance question. They believe that an increase of revenue I ought to be sought in economy and the reorganisation of existing taxes rather than in fresh imposts. Th. ministry ' will present the budget for discussion immediately on the opening of the new parliament. The economic condition of the different provinces is of a very variable character, particularly as regards means of transport, and we consider this state of things as one of the most serious evils. ' The bill for the liberty of the church raised doubts which would havebeen removed had the debateuponthe measure taken place. The ministry could furnish explanations that would allay many apprehensions that have been ex pressed on this subject. Italy has the glorious destiny of seeing the only political question still remaining for her to solve, intimately connected with the great social question of the relations between church and state. The govern. meat looks for the solution of this problem in a fresh and ample application of the principles of liberty. In drawing up a new bill the government will take into account the verdict of public opinion on the subject. The ques tion of the liberty of the church is bound up with that of the eocleinutical property. Nothing is further from the intentions of the ministry than the idea of rendering the bishops arbiters of the church property, of depriving the religious institutions of every guarantee of stability, and abandoning the inferior clergy to the power of their ecclesiastical superiors. Italy feels the necessity of a strong government and does not desire a hazardous policy. It is therefore necessary that the new parliament should be composed of individuals ful filling these conditions." The circular concludes by inviting the prefects to make known to the electors the intentions of the government. NEW HUNGARIAN MINISTRY. ESSEG, F. 20. The Hungarian party in Selavonia is fully satis fied with the nomination of the new Hungarian ministry, but the congregation of the province has declared that it cannot recognise that ministry until the Croatian Diet has passed a resolution assenting to its formation. SPAIN AND THE ARGENTINE CONFEDE RATION. MADRID, Frs. 19. The Epo.a of this evening states that the press of Buenos Ayres and Monte Video are in favour of an alliance with Spain against the Pacific republics. PORTUGAL. LISBON, FIB. 20. The Chamber of Peers has received unfavourably the bill re-forming the ministry for foreign affairs. OUTWARD INDIA AND CHINA MAILS. MARSEILLES, ?LB. 14. The Messageries Imperiales steamer Said, left here to-day with 66 passengers and 58,680/. in specie for India and China, 17,0001. for Alexandria, and a full cargo of merchandise. AMERICA. (BY ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH.) NEW YORK, F. 19, Evkasmc. The House of Representatives has rejected the Bill passed by the Senate as a substitute for the Military Bill. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Closing prices :—Gold, 1364. Sterling Exchange on London, los/. Five-Twenty United States' Bonds, lII}. Illinois, 11511. Erie, 56. DISSATISFACTION WITH THE PARIS UNIVERSAL EXHIBITION. The Preece, in a curious article, which cannot to be much remarked, attributes the omission of any mention of the exhibition in the Emperor's speech to his Majesty's dissatisfaction with the whole arrangements, and his expectation that it will turn out a gigantic failure. According to the Presse, the general public takes little interest in the affair, and the prices fixed by the controls sion are altogether too high for most pockets. The writer then goes on to say : " The external appearance of the Exhibition Palace is far from satisfying to the eye ; it is vast, but without grandeur ; low and heavy ; of a sombre tone, which the lively colours of flags or hangings will not neutralise. This erection which, from the entirely modern character of its destination, afforded full scope for the genius of an architect, does not present the great and pure lines which that art so willingly reproduces in France, nor has it the powerful originality which was so striking in the Crystal Palace. Those who have had the privilege of penetrating into the interior speak in still less favourable terms. The oval form adopted in the construction does not permit any extent of view, and the eye falls upon column after column which succeed each other perpetusi'dy like a moving wall. in this building, which covers 150,000 square metres (about 182,000 square yards, or 37i acres) space is wanting; there is not enough for the manufactures of the department., so rich in pro ducts of all kinds : tissues of silk, cotton, wool, em broidered, or printed ; perhaps there is not even sufficient for Parisian industry itself. And then, with exorbitant tariffs, what becomes of the ho‘pitality which France is understood to offer to manufactures and art' How are those two great principles which ought to preside over every really Universal Exhibition. prn.en-ing its double character, national and public, to be realised and guaranteed—namely, that every facility should be offered to whoever can show a work of merit, and should also be provided for its examination by those who are interested in the review of efforts tending to the amelioration of material life and of the results acquired by their perseverance ?" . _ . The writer then declares that he does not intend dis cussing the question of price, but that the public is of opinion that the general good has been too much disre garded in favour of individual interest. The article then says : To these observations, which we have reproduced without enlarging on them, are added some fears which will probably be dissipated by a note in the Alomiteur. Those who arc acquainted with the interior state of the works ask if, in fact, the palace can be open to the public on the let April, and, in case the opening does take place then, if the incomplete arrangements will not be of such importance that the Exhibition will run the risk of being lessened in the estimation of the foreigner,: consti tuting the first guests. We hope these apprehensions are exaggerated. The commerce of Paris awaits with legitimate impatience the movement which that accumulation of elegance and riches ought to produce. These exceptional and unforeseen augmentations in consumption form part of the benefits calculated on in a city like Paris ; they re establish the equilibrium in business which, in traversing such a period of activity, finds a compensation for the past and &stimulus for the future." NEW ZEALAND. The following telegram is from the Colonial Secretary to Mr. John Morrison, agent of the New Zealand government : " Wruntoroar, Jaw. 17 (riff Galle, Feb. 17). "Peace prevails throughout New Zealand. The Governor's journey through the centre of the native country, from Tauranga to Wanganui, aid Lake Taupo, was everywhere loyally received. The Governor, writing from Taupo to the Superinten dent of Auckland, states The whole country from Tauranga and Orakee (1) on the Waikato is in a most satisfactory state. The natives show greater desire to have Europeans among them, and tofi.ll.,w our customs. Many natives are anxious to let their lauds for sheep runs.• " ASSOCIATED CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE. (THIS DAY.) The members of the Association of the Chambers of Commerce of the United Kingdom resumed their sittings et 10 o'clock this morning, at the Westminster l'aLee Hotel; Mr. SAMINAON S. LLOYD, the president, in tie chair. THE BARR CHARTER ACT AND s cueßney LAWS. . . Colonel AKILOYD, M.P., moved the following resolutiot, of which notice had been given by the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, vie., " That a petition be presented by the association to the House of Commons in favour of to appointment of a select committee to inquire into tis operation and effect of the Bank Charter Act during C.e recent panic." The hon. gentleman, in the course of an interesting speech, reviewed the circumstances connected with the recent panic, which, like similar moneu r y disasters, had, he said, been caused by the redu, tion or ex,hatistion of the reserve. Under no cu. cunistancee in France had there been such nee.. ! ., alarm and panic as in England, and this was iv , rdy attributable to the greater caution exercised by the I recd, merchants, traders, and money operators, owing prebuly to their improved bankruptcy laws. No one could duly that there had been a greater amount of reckless spar:. lation in England than in France. (Hear, hear.) In ti,e Bank of England there was an artificial scarcity at cce time and an artificial abundance at another, and then was thus a perpetual variation in the money market. Tie great fluctuations in the rate of interest were prodattini of the evils which they had all seen, and probably ex. perienced, and it was therefore evident that the object of the community was to maintain a steady, eve rate of interest. The seeds of panic were Pon at the time of cheap money, because it was ties that bubble companies were started. (Hear, hear.) In 6ur competition with foreign manufacturers, we found out• selves at serious disadvantages by the fluctuations la the rate of interest, because year by year while paying a higher rate of wages we were subjected to an excessive charge in the rate of money. All these circumstances were &lc. tion from a fair remunerating profit, and it was impossible for ns to sustain competition unless we had greater en , Linty in our manufacturing operations. (Hear, lieu.) He concluded by saying that as the Bank of England awl the government had adulated the necessity of some legs. lative enactment respecting the currency, it was advisable to adopt the step which he recommended. Mr. ELLIS of Dewsbury, seconded the motion. Mr. NORW 00D, 11. P., in supporting the motion,expreosed his dissent from the statement made by certain parties, that the Bank of England ought to be a great discounting concern. The Bank of England was .haply a joint-stock bank, employed by the state for state purpose., to issue the note currency of the country, and to transact onlinary banking business ; and so long as they issued their note in conformity with the law no responsibility rested with them. As far am banking business was concerned, we bad no right to dictate to them. The ground on which he thought we had a right to complain was the insufficiency of note circulation. The Bank Charter Act passed into law years ago, but since then we had had free trade changes, and the fifteen millions to which the currency was then fixed was altogether insufficient at the present day. The present system was an unfair one. and discount accommodation was by no means sufficient. The smaller traders were allowed to be ground to the dust, and it was only when the great joint stock banks, who had been the authors of the panic, found the results of their indiscretion that they came forward to receive indemnity for their sins and iniquities. An Wits ' tration of this system was furnished by the deputation of joint stock bankers and other large tuouty operators. who waited on the Chancellor of the Exchequer iu May hit, and told biro that if he did not relax the law they would withdraw their balances, and bring business to a stand. After a short discussion the resolution was agreed to. Mr. THuMAS, of Bristol, then introduced the resolution adopted on the same subject by the Bri‘tol Chsmber of Commerce. It was as follow. :—•• That in the opinion of this association the convertibility of promissory motes pay able on demsod into gold should be secured by law." Mr. ATKINSON, of Hull, moved •• the previous clues. tion," which on discussion was carried. The following resolution was then brought forwent by Mr. Thomas, of Bristol, but was subsequently withdraws: " That In the opinion of this association the issue dep.r.. meat should be taken out of the bands of the Bud d England and placed in those of commissioners on the of the nation." PARTSERS)i I r. COMMANDITE Mr. AUGCRTIN PHILLIPs, of Bristol, introduced the lowing resolution : "That in the opinion of this sown. tion the system of partnership en ••,annanditr should to. come law in this country, by which the liability of tin managing partners in a company is unlimited." A proposition in favour of the substitution of the ski."' " should be committed by law," instead of " should come law," was suggested for the consideration of tai mover and adopted by him. . A negative amendment was moved, awl on a dirMa the resolution w•as carried by a majority of one. The CHAIRM V.l said such a majority rendered the n r lotion inoperative. LOANS TO TRADING CONCERNS, Mr. Ls.•Proft, of Leeds, brought forward the following resolution on this subject —" That the law permitting the loan of money to trades, in consideration of a shore of tbs profit, without constituting a partner.•bip, is not in 4 satisfactory state, especially as no provision is mode for a registration of such loans, or of the ten.s on which they are mule, and that a memorial founded on this rcsolotim be forwartic‘l to the President of the Hoard of Trade." Mr. ATKINSON, of Hull, seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. PATENT LAW AMENDMENT. Mr. SMITH, of Sheffield. introduced the followirg resa lution on this subject :—" That a demitation l.e appoioted to wait upon the President of the Board of Tnale to arge upon the government the great importance of an stood. client of the present law with respect to jatenta." [Left sitting.] A meeting of the Schools Inquiry Cionunissi.e was held at 2, Victoria.stmet. S.W., on Tuesday, the instant—present, Lord Taunton, the chairman, Lord LP telton, Rev. Dr. Temple, Rev. A. W. Thorold, M.A., )li. Acland, ILP., Mr. Baines, Mr. Forster, M.P., and Dr. Storrar. The secretary, Mr. Roby, M.A., attosiai the meeting. The Owl understands that the Right Hon. Jobs Inglis, at present Lord Justice Clerk, and Lard Rector d the University of Glasgow, is likely to be appointed n 0 censor to the Right Hon. Dusan 31`Neill as bard Juste General and Lord President of the Court of Sevion, vb offices are vacated by Mr. Dl'Neill's elevation to the peerage. A conference of gentlemen representing varioni chambers of commerce throughout the United Kingd.. 3l and some of the consular authorities in LOII.IOII took pLes last evening at the Society of Arts, as to the io lvisibihl of establishing in this country a uniformity of uiessurh weights, and coins. Sir J. Doering. who pre-ided, de• eland that the question had assumed so much public is portance, and the value of the metric .-y-aeon bel bocce so generally acknowledged, that the time had rived srl.l the representatives of the various coentrie. intereA should confer together for the puipose of having system universally adopted. After an interesting ilia., sioe,, resolutions were passed testifying to the (~, m it of the metric system, and adopting 111CabtlIV. r.,1C214"1 to have it generally established in the United Kinmh. , REPORTING EXTRAORPINART. --The %slue newspaper reports of the proceedieg. IR our lsw police courts consists in the strict impartiality with wiiat they are conveyed to the public. A nport, which h comproned by a strong manifestation of fen hug loses et , primary requisite of a trustworthy reoinl. An instant , this kind occurs in the Row-street police report of Vi morning's Macs, in which the reporter, after cr treating the case of Colonel Nelson and Lieutenant Rr.;tl with that of Muller, continues in the folio"ityt terms '` Muller wore the downcast aspect of a Mall seeking to avoid the execrations of a mob, and conscious of the terri ble retribution Awaiting him. The it. fondants in the le sent case, however, were greeted with l u sty chfais oti ing gaily into their cabs, and not even the impres,!,, gravity assumed by the learned counsel for the prwecutint —tempered as it was by his unvarying courtesy and COa: . deration towards the accused-appears to have disturbe i the conviction of his auditors that the entire promed ig was a mere mockers of jWS f." The Journal &Anvers, of the 17th, says :—" Tye empty boxes in which the meat of the cattle slaughtet 4 . at Hasselt had been sent to England were seized is morning on their return by tile police, who caused theme be burned."