The Express. — London, England, 1866-01-19 00:00:00

LIFEBOAT SERV ICES.—During the storms of the pat year the National Lifeboat Institution, by its life boat and other means, contributed to the saving of 707 persona from different wrecks on our coasts. The institution also ex pended £21,374 in the same period on its lifeboat establishments, to addition to granting £4,950 fur rewards for saving We and exercising the lifeboats. The committee of the Institution earnestly APPEAL to the public for ASSISTANCE, to enable them to meet the continued heavy demands on the Institutions 153 Lifeboat Stations. Contributions are received by the London and Country Rankers and by the Secretary, Richard Lewis, Eat., at the In stitution, 14, John-street, Adelphl, London. JOHN BROGDEN. ORIGINAL GOLD CHAIN MANUFACTORY, 14 11311111ITTA-BTILISt COVINT-GAIIDLI. JOHN BROGDEN'S GOLD CHAINS. JOHN BROGDEN'S GOLD GL ARD 0 RAINS. JOHN BROODEN'S GOLD ALBERT CHAINS. JOHN BROGDZN'S GOLD BROOCH CHAINS. IVIESSRS. WATHERSTON and SON, Goldsmiths and Jewellers, Have Ready for Inspection a Great Variety of JEWELLERY, of the latest Designs, suitable for WEDDING PRESENTS and NEW-YEAR'S Gins. It Pail-mall East, S.W. LONDON must have a SUPPER and MUSIC ROOM for Gentlemen. —Remember, we wait for you at "EVANS," alter the Covent-garden Pantomime, and the Theatres. Zile eramtlifs• TO CORRESPONDWIS. Advertisements intended for The &press" London Evening paper, must be at the Office, 10, Bouverts-etrest. by Two o'clock on the day of pablication. HAYMARKHr. THIS EVENING, BROTHER SAM. Madam Sather°, Buck. no, and Compton ; Misses Nell.) , Moore, Snowdon &c.— 0 HEUS IN TH .6 HAY LI ARK KT. Messrs Farren &D. /fisher : Wane Keeley, Howard & Wrlght.—MY HUSBAND'a GHOST. MINCERS'S. Tars Emma, QUIET LODOINOS.—After' which IT TS BEVER TOO LATE Tr) MEND. Mean. Vining, G. Melville, Y. Need, D. Murray, b. Calhoun, F. Vrlllere..l. O. Shore, G. Mur• vim and R. Cathay{ : Wises L. Moore and L. Rodgers. LYCEUM. THIS Emma, THE ILLUSTRIOUS STRANGER. Mr. H. Wlddlcomb.—THE MASTER OP RAVENSWOuD. Meson. Yachter. Jordan, Veen, Emery, Widdlcomb, Fitzpatrick, Evans; Mesdames Ternan, Elaworthy, Lavcnu, C. Leclerc% BRITANNIA. THIS Manse, OLD DADDY LONOLEGS AND SIR REGENT MRCVS; OR, THE RACE FOR THE GOLDEN APPLES. 11. and Edme. Stertzenbach.—lllgnor Havant —oLnar.—Shower of Golden Halo.—And JESSIE, TES MORMON'S DAUGHTER. MOH WATIM AT LONDON-BUBO:IL TUB DAT Itaratog, 80. 39m..... Afternooa. 33 575. Lo-molsow -- MorAlm 40. leas.— —Monson!, 4h. Sow. LONDON. FRIDAY. JANUARY 19. EVERY now and then among the telegraphic gossip of the day appears an announcement, of more or less official origin, that the Austrian Government is about to introduce reforms into the organization of Venetia, "having for object the " greater development of the autonomy of that " province." We are most unwilling to suppose that this chronic effusion of goodwill to the Venetians is meant to simulate an accom plished reconciliation. We therefore accept it for what it is worth, as only one sign among many that the Cabinet of Vienna, having once adopted a constitutional programme, is begin ning to see the impracticability of maintaining things as they are in Venetia, and is prepared to take almost any steps, and to make almost any concessions, if that province will only be contented to remain an integral part of the empire. With every disposition to give the present Austrian ministry credit for the beat intentions, we cannot but observe that there are two parties to every bargain, and we would ask if the Emputoit's Government really imagines that anything it can offer will reconc"e the Venetians to Austrian rule, or abate their longing for union with the Italian kingdom. Putting aside for the moment any such vague and empty considerations as that sentiment of nationality which in many parts of the Austrian empire is apt to be so ridiculously abused, what is there in the condition of Venetia as a province of the Austrian Empire that should induce her to ac cept her present situation ? What progress has she made since the iniquitous Treaty of Campo- Formio ? or what prospect is there of progress now ? The question is but too easily answered. During the last seventy years the decline of Venice has been so rapid that it is hard to believe that she has not been sacked by barbarian invaders in stead of merely lapsing by the fortune of war, or rather by the lottery of a Congress after war, under the sway of a European Prince. Her palaces are deserted and falling into ruin, and, like her family pictures, may be bought for a mere song ; her great historic monuments are crumbling away; her public buildings are turned into Austrian barracks. Her commerce has not even been allowed to take its chance of life or decay, for it has been systematically sacrificed by the Govern ment to Trieste. Her lagu nes are becoming swamps, and the arrival of an English coal brig is now a maritime event in the waters which once sent forth fleets to save Christendom from the Turk. It is not only in a financial point of view that Austria suffers from this fatal possession. Her action as a great power—her credit as a solvent power— her reputation as a liberal power—is paralyzed by it. It is her two weak places—Hungary and Vene tia—which have lost her all her former influence in Germany, and which have caused her to be dragged at the heels of Prussia through a war on which she must now reflect with anything but pride or satisfaction. Tho EMPEROR has seen this, and has frankly, and, we trust, successfully, set to work to heal one of these wounds by the recognition of Hungarian rights, and by a determined attempt to appease Hungarian discontent. It has seemed possible to Austrian statesmen that the same plan might succeed with Venetia. But they overlook the radical, and to every one else patent, diffe rence between the two countries. Hungary is attached to the House of Harssuro by old historic ties of loyalty and affection, by common disasters and common triumphs. A quarrel between Hungary and her KING is a constitutional, not a national, quarrel. But, above all, Hungary is not one section of a great people, forcibly rent from the remainder, which exists in independence by her side. How can such a kingdom as this be compared to Venice, which, after a glorious history of ten centuries, was handed over seventy years ago, in a fit of spite, by one foreign general to another as a punishment for insurrection? It may be doubted whether even in Hungary itself the EMPEROR can hope to reap the full advantages of reconciliation until this Venetian question is finally settled. There are eminent Hungarians, who have far too much sympathy with their late fellow•suferers in Venetia to be ready to offer any active or willing co-operation in case of • war with Italy. Such an event might possibly rekindle all the discord that a wiser po licy at Pesth is endeavouring to extinguish. It will no more detract from the mili tary prestige of such a power as Austria to aban don an unprofitable province, and to release from her sway an alien and irreconcileable population, than it could detract from the naval prestige of England to abandon the protectorate of the lonitn Islands, and to give up the gates of the THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 19, 1866. Adriatic. No policy, whether of violence or of conciliation, can prevent Venetia from gravitating towards the Italian kingdom, of which, by the de cree of nature, it forms a part. Yet, if in our con science we believed that we were asking theAtunrian Government to sacrifice to the peace and happi ness of Europe, to its own domestic welfare and prosperity, and to the common interests of civiliza tion, a natural frontier, an indispensable strong hold, a valuable possession, or anything, in short, but a false point of honour, we should certainly shrink from a display of that vicarious generosity which consists in recommending others to do as you would not do yourself. TIE Bethnal-green Inquiry has terminated in a chorus of self-praise. One of the parish guardians, speaking for himself and his colleagues, declared the evidence taken to have proved how excellently Bethnal-green Workhouse is managed, and "how " baseless has been everything said in the papers " to the contrary ;" and as it was no part of Mr. FARNALL'a duty to argue the point, the statement palmed without contradiction. Inasmuch as the principal allegations made against the system were proved by the evidence to be well founded ; and as the public is unsatisfactorily kept in the dark on one of the most important points in the inquiry, because of the untrustworthiness of pauper wit nesses, impartial people will regard the local con gratulations as audaciously premature. These remarks apply to the ease of the pauper FELLOW E.l, or FLOWERS, the circumstances of whose death we have already detailed ; but cruel mismanagement and shameful inefficiency were quite as apparent in the next day's inquiry. ROBERT SCOLLY was admitted into the work house at seven o'clock in the evening, by a porter who, following an established custom, dealt with him illegally, on his own responsibility, and without reference to the muter. The proper meal of tea and bread and butter was improperly with held, and the meagre supply of bread and gruel given to casuals was substituted. The poor wretch was unable to eat this ; and the pauper wards man—whose evidence, contrary to the rule pre viously laid down, was accepted in this case—on asking if he were ill , found that "he could not " or would not answer," and left him to his fate. At three the following morning, a change was seen to have taken place. but no report was made, and no assistance procured. SCOLLY was not looked at again until seven o'clock,when he was found on his back, with his mouth open, and dead. We submit that every word which has been written against a system under which such horrors as these are possible is justified by the indifference and neglect they prove. The insufficient stock of pauper•clothing, resulting in sick men's garments being dealt out to hale and well incomers—the other risks of spreading contagious disorders, properly condemned by Mr. lesmisu—and the irregularities in the mode of preparing and admi nistering baths to the sick—all point to misma nagement ; and neither a clean, well-built, and spacious workhouse, nor a reputation for main tairing strict discipline among its inmates, should be allowed to condone this. But, apart from this —the general—charge, the deaths of the paupers FILLOWEB and SCOLLY present so many glaring instances of the neglect which is cruelty, that unless public opinion is valueless, and public in quiry a farce, the guardians of Bethnal-green will find themselves condemned instead of exonerated, while their daring bid for approbation will be held to furnish another argument against the system they represent. OUR CONTEMPORARIES. (THIS DAY.) they could have lived, once launched, and, as the sea was full of ships, they might have beenpicked up. A. second, correspondent points to the obvious weakness of the hatches of the engine-room, and demands th►t these shall be strong enough in future to resist the blow and sweep of the roughest water ; but it may be doubted if any reasonable strength would have withstood the tremendous billows whioh stove in the stern of a vessel like the London. A third declares, from the evidence of many eye-witnesses, that the ship was overloaded, and that even when off the Nora she laboured so heavily as to attract the notice of passing vessels. In one sense the loss of the London is not a loss, for it has enriched the annals of our land with another tale of beautiful behaviour in the presence of that last enemy who finds out the hearts of all men. The Star regards it as a proof of the arrogance of the age that we should resent as au affront the supposition that man can be foiled by the powers of n►ture. Its childish to think that ocean steamers of our day can postpone their passages because bad weather is apprehended. The case of the London seems one in which no blame is attach able, unless, indeed, the decks did not sufficiently protect the interior of the vessel, or the condition of the ship's boats was not efficient. The London sank because the sea conquered her. There were brave ships wrecked before the London and will be after her. DISASTERS AT SEA. The Times is sorry that our shipowners have not something better to propose for getting at the causes of shipping disasters than the scheme recommended at the meeting held in the City of London on Wednesday. It appears that these gentlemen would feel confidence in a jury composed of five retircl mercantile captains, either selected or taken in succession from a jary list. From this jury there shad I be no appeal. From such a tribunal there would inevitably be, in the opinion of the Tiny', a notational default both of justice and of the public safety. The jury would have to try a cri minal charge, with penal consaqueuces, with a pro fessional fellow-feeling for the accused, but at the same time with all the maxims and traditions of an ordinai y English juryman. They would be reminded over an l over again, that a man must be supposed innocent till proved to be guilty ; that proof is no proof unless it amount to demonstration ; and that it is better to acquit ten guilty men than to convict ens who is innocent. This, of course, is very right when the question is whether to hang a particular individual or not. But that is a totally d , if.Annt sort of issue from any to be tried in an inquiry into casualties at se , . In that isqvl fwe want to know, with regard to a particular point of the Atlantic Ocean and a particular state of the weather, which is the way to the Cape of Good Hope, and which to Las Roccas, or the bottom of the sea. We are thinking of ourselves as well as the accused. The sort of court, therefore, proposed at the Landon Tavern would prejudge questions of immense practical interest, with certain wholly irrelevant maxims of our criminal juris prudence, and the equally strong professional bias of what we must call a pack d jury. Dwelling upon tke recent disasters at sea, the Ti»tr3 ob serves that it is not the appalling calamities which terrify the public and raise the rate of marine insurance, that really occasion the greatest sacrifice of human life and proper ty, but those which come from a shallow water and a lee shore. The darkest part in the ghastly tale of the year's wrecks is that which is filled by the coasting trade. The only consolatory reflection suggested by the perusal of the dreadful records, is the thought of the courage displayed, which raises even men of ordinary mould to the moral level of heroes and martyrs ; the golden deeds performed and forgotten by the actors, without any self-conscious appre ciation of the'- trio character ; the self-devotion, the highest of which our oat ire is capable, exhibited by rude and humble seamen as well as by the veteran with a Pfelong reputation for gallantry to sustain, No natiinterest cut surpass, none perhaps can equal, rem►rks the Doily News, the mercantile merino of Great Britain, to witch the royal navy owes its origin, its strenttb, an I its maintenance. In the naval defence of the America' Uuion how effective a part was played by the merchant service of our kinsmen! Within the last 20 years oar mercantile marine has elevated its own character and position in a marked degree, especially in attracting a class of officers superior in education and in social advan tages to those of the last generation. Parliament has shown little discretion in some of its occasional attempts at legislation in behalf of the shipping interest, and the de mand of the shipowners and shipmasters for a fundamental change in the constitution of the courts of inquiry in the case , of casualties at sea—exceptional tribunals as they s'aed—are especially just and moderate. In the royal navy, in case of wreck or donne, the commander and officers of a ship are tried by a court composed exclusively of naval officers of their own or of superior rank. Why should not the commanders of merchant ships be analo gously tried by courts composed of officers of their own rank in their own Berries, instead of by an anomalous and nondescript court composed of two civilians and two "nautical assessors," salaried officials of a government de partment' The Post insists that a more ample explanation than we have yet received of the loss of the London steamship is demanded by the interests of the public. The Telegraph mentions a few practical suggestions which have been addressed to it. Ooe correspondent asks why such a ship should go to sea with open iron cutters instead of lifeboats sufficient to carry off her crew and passengers. One boat, it is true, of the right descrip tion was swept out of the davits, and one was shattered by the waves ; bat if there bad been four or five more THE CATTLE PLAGUE. The Daily Mica gives its readers an outline of the steps taken in Aberdeenshire to meet the ravages of the cattle plague ; ooacluding, that the facts seem to show that infec tion will not explain all the observed phenomena, and that though slaughtering may not in other counties extirp►te the disease, as it has done in Aberdeen, it is, at all events, in our present state of knowledge, often a necessary expe dient for at least diminishing the virulence of infection. And whether we slaughter or cure, the principle of local enmpensation, administered by those who have a personal interest in seeing that it is not abused, offers the only ad missible means of diffusing and mitigating the pressure of THE ENDOWMENT OP THE IRISH PRIESTHOOD. To the Times the change which Fenianism—which knows no crime but the possession of property—has made in the position of the Roman catholic clergy with regard to the great mass of the people seems to offers great opportunity and • peculiarly favourable occasion for making a provision, at the expense of the state, for the Roman catholic priesthood in Ireland. They are suffering, and are likely to suffer, for their adherence to the cause of pesoe and order. Their influence ought as far u possible to be conciliated at this juncture. They would speak with more boldness and authority against Fenianism if they were assured of • provision not depending upon momentary popu larity. Of •ll the money that we spend in the year, the half million that we might devote to this purpose would yield us the richest and the best return. We have tried everything that could be thought of with Ireland, except providing a suitable maintenance for her clergy. If wo wish them to tell their congregations the truth, we must place them in a position of independence in which they can afford to tell it. Though we well know the amount of opposition such • proposal would create, it is nsverthels as our duty from time to time to point out these thinii, in the hope that a period will at last arrive when the nation will determine to rid itself of a source of per petual danger and weakness, and consent to look for once at the position of the catholic clergy in Irel►cd from the point of view of a statesman, and not that of a contro versialist. MR. LATIRD. The Time, has much pleasure in contradicting the report, originating with the Telegraph, that Mr. Layard had re signed his OffiC3 as Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs. The Telegraph explains itself in the following terms : "The public will learn with satisfaction, that the immediate apprehension of Mr. Layarers retire meat from the Foreign-office has passed. For cible as the motives must have been which induced him to tender his resignation, and at the same to decline the proffered distinction of a summons to the Privy Coun cil, be has set aside his own wish in view of the aid which he can still render to the business of the country in the active session now approaching. Mr. Layard has thus added one more to the number of those statesmen whom we have already mentioned as waiving personal considera tions in the earnest desire to support Lord Russell's government, and to promote the united action of the liberal party." MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS. The Times accepts the figures of Messrs. E"ison and Heywood, of Liverpool, as trustworthy estimates of the cotton trade for the entreat year. Very nearly 70,0)0,0001. is calculated by the Times to have ben lost through the cotton famine by a single provlnce of the nation ; but the evils of our former situation have been permanently cured. We are going t 3 other markets than ineet:ca for oar raw material ; and of the thousand mil lion pounds of cotton which it is estimated we shall import in the coming year it is not ►nticipated that the American contribution will be more than 27 per cent. of the whole, instead of 80 per cent., as it was befo.e the war. The question of our future supplies is entirely a question of price. The power of production of the Southern States has been so reduced by the disorganisation of society, as to render it probable that the average price will vary little from that of the past year ; and in that case the supply from the Eist, from the Mediterranean, and from Brazil will increase rather than diminish. Nevertheless the quantity of the American supply cannot be determined with anything like precision ; it is the comparatively un known element io the problem. The Daily /ff co has good reason to believe that, in answer to an express inquiry made by an impartial power, the Austrian government has ye./ recently stated that it persists in regarding the Duke of Augustenburg va the rightful heir to the crown of Sleewig-Holstein. Were it to act upon this, sad declare that the jolt wishes of the German nation shall not be disappointed, much worhl be done to restore the morale of the German people, and to show that Germany still has princes and statesmen capable of postponing dynastic advantage to n►tional objects. Austria would by the act restore that nolo° with the great body of the German people which was destroyed when it unwisely, as we conceive, abandoned the secondary and minor states of Germany, end placed itself by the side of Prussia. The Herald cannot believe that the idea of withdrawing his troops from Mexico has ever entered into the serious consideration of the Emperor Napoleon. To abandon the country would be to give up all hope of obtaining payment of the 8,000,000/. due to France from Mexico, to say nothing of the loss to the French through the hat two Mexican loans ; while the dangers of continuing in the coontry are ►ll pretended ones. Until the Emperor of Mexico can be left with some other reliable European force the Emperor Napoleon will not retire. The Star interprets the recent despatch of Mr. Dronyn de Lime on the subject of Mexico to mean that whenever the United States recognise the empire of Mexico, Louis Napoleon willwithdraw hie troops, and it would like to know whether anyone can suggest a better solution of the diffi culty. The report of the Consolidated Bank (formerly the Bank of Manchester, Heywood, Kennard., and Co., and Hankeys) to be presented on the 25th inst., state% the available total, including a previous balance of 6,812/., to be 67,9511., and recommends a dividend at the rate of 10 per cent. per annum, and a bonus of 3s. per share (being ►n additional 7i per cent. per annum), which will absorb 52,5001. The sum of 10,0001. is to be added to re serve, which will thus be raised to 81,8081.. and 5,4511. will remain to be carried forward. The liabilities of the bank on current accounts are 3,037,4351., and on acceptances, 780,563/. The manager of the Italian Opera at Paris has foiled it necessary to raise the price of admission on the Patti nights, as that popular artiste demands no less than 3,000 fr., or 1201., for each representation. It seems to be the policy of the manager to pay the most extravagant prices to a few of the more raze singing birds, whilst the utmost economy is pre:tised in the general production of an opera as regards subordinate singers, chorus, and mise en let ne. This mode of conducting the Itali►n Opera at Paris is a subject of some discussion in society and the Parisian press. A letter from Brest says :—" The few cases of cholera which have taken place here, particularly amongst the garrison of the Mittman, which is being evacuated, have not increased ; even a alight diminution has been re marked. Moreover the character of the epidemic appears comparatively mild, and there is every reason to believe that the malady will only have just made its appearance in the town without any power to spread to such an extent as to wise uneeeinesa.* LATEST INTELLIGENCE. THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON AND THE OCCUPATION OF MEXICO. The Paris correspondent of the isdhpesdases Beige, after alluding to various rumours as to what the Emperor Napoleon will say in regard to Mexico in his approaching speech from the throne, says, "That which appears to me the most probable is that the Emperor, while antici pating withdrawal, will not pledge himself to any fixed period, means not having yet been discovered for defending the interests founded by the Emperor's government and the dignity of our flag. As for the precise terms of this declaration, supposing what is said to be true, they are still unknown to the ministers them selves, and will no doubt be modified by the news which will be brought at the last moment by the packet ship on the 19th or 20th." Wanes Tumults.) THE MILITARY REVOLT IN SPAIN. MADRID, JAIL 18. Official despatches announce that the insurgents passed the night of the 17th at Berlanga. It was believed they would pass through Llerana to-day in order to enter Portugal at Jerez de los Caballeros. The sergeants who attempted to get up a mutiny of the Alcala regiment and release the convicts were shot here this morning. Tranquillity prevails at Madrid and throughout Spain. PARIS, JAN. 19. The Moniteue of to-day says :—" On the 17th instant General Prim passed the night at Berlanga, on the frontier of Andalusia. It is not known if he will attempt to penetrate into Andalusia or cross over into Portugal. FRANCE. PARIS, JAN. 19. Professor Wurtz has been appointed Doyen of the Paris Faculty of Medicine. SAFETY OF THE RHONE. SOUTHAMPTON, JAL 19. The Saxon, just arrived here, spoke the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company's ship Rhone, for Lisbon and the Brazils, on the 13th inst., fifty miles south-west of Vigo. She had suffered much in a heavy gale, and lost all her boats on the post side, and appeared to be going slow. gbe Court. OSBORNE, JAN. 18. Her Majesty, accompanied by Princess Helena, Princess Beatrice, and Prince Christian of Slestvis. Holstein, drove out yesterday afternoon in a carriage and four. Pnnoess Leiningen and Princess Hermann of Hohenlohe dined with her Majesty in the evening. The Dowager Duchess of Athole has succeeded Lady Churchill u Lady in Waiting. A committee of the Lords of the Privy Council for the affairs of Jersey sat yesterday at the Council-chamber, Whitehall. Present—The Lord President, the Lord Chancellor, Lord Chelmsford, the Right Hon. Sir George Grey, and the Right Hon. H. A. Bruce. Earl and Countess Russell and family returned to town yesterday from Pembroke-lodge fur the season. BANQUET AT FISHMONGERS HALL. Last night a banquet was given at the Fish moogere-bell, under the presidency of Mr. Yenning, the prime warden ; and the wardens Mr. Spicer, Mr. Hinshaw, Mr. G. Moore, Mr. Kyneston, and Mr. J. T. Smith. A numerous company assembled on the occasion, amongst whom were Mr. Alderman Finnic, Mr. Alderman Abbiss, Mr. Alderman Dskin, Mr. Alderman Waterlow, Mr. Alder man Stone, Mr. Secondary Potter, Colonel Fraser, Colonel De La Rue, the Master of the Merchant Taylors' Company, the Master of the Salters' Company, the Master of the Vintners' Company, Vicomte de Thury, Sir S. MortonPeto, M.P., Dr. Heinrich Qaioicke, Mr. Owen Jones, Rev. It. B. Aspland, Rev. D. G. Bartlett, Captrin Sbaw, Mr. T. Wood, F.G.S., Mr. T. Kershaw, and the Rev. F. Trestrail. The touts of the evening included those of " Her Majesty the Queen ;" the "Prince of Wales and the other members of the Royal Family ;" the " Army, Navy, sod Volunteers ;" which was responded to by Colonels Fraser and De La Rue ; the " Lord Mayor and Corporation of London," which was responded to by Mr. Alderman Finale ; the "Livery Companies of the City," which was responded to by Mr. Foster White, the Muter of the Merchant Taylors' Company ; the " Prime Warden," pro posed by Mr. Alderman Abbiss ; " Mr. Owen Jones," the artist who has just decorated the dining-hall and the adjoining rooms, and whose labours were the subject of ad miration to the company during the evening, &c. Mr. Jones, in responding to the toast, said that he had only endea voured to bring out, by the aid of colour, the form which the building already possessed. He had allied colour to form, that was to say, he had endeavoured to give perfume to the flower, and a soul to the body. (Hear, hear.) It may be added that the decorations of the dining-hall were brought out with admirable effect under the brilliant light supplied by the City Cu Works. A selection of MUSIC under the direction of Mr. Henry Buckland was performed by Mies Hiles, Miss Palmer, Master J. Brown, Mr. W. Coward, Mr. George Ferree, Mr. Fred. Walker, Mr. Henry Buckland, and a select choir. Mr. Harker, jun., acted as toast-master. THE PRINCESS OF LEININGEN.—Her Serene Highness the Princess of Leh:anima was yesterday afternoon delivered of a son and heir, at Oiliorne, Isle of Wight. The gratifying news was shortly afterwards received by the Prince of Leiningen (captain of her Ilajesty's yacht), at present in town. We are informed that the princess and infant are both doing favourably. The Prince of Leiningen intends to leave St. James's Palace by the early train thin morning for Southampton, on his way to Osborne. The Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne have been entertaining a large circle of friends at Bowood. Wilts. Oa Tuesday night a ball was given to the tenantry and others at Bowood, to celebrate the coming of age of the Earl of Kerry. The distinguished guests staying at the house participated in the festivities for a few hours. Earl and Countess Russell and family returned to town yesterday from Pembroke Lodge, for the season. The Right Hon. Sir Charles Wood, M.P., and Lady Mary Wood and Miss Wood have arrived at their residence io Belgrave-square, for the season. Major-General Hall's shooting party at his seat near Newmarket comprises, amoog others, his Royal High sem the Prince of Wales, Major G. H. Grey, the Marquis of Bowmont, Lord Elcho, Lord Colville, Lord George Manners, Lord Hantingfield, Hon. T. de Grey, awl Mellor Hall. The Dfarquis and Marchioness of Hastings and party arrived at Loudon Castle, Kilmarnock, from the south on the evening of Wednesday last, for a short period of relaxation in the country. A correspondent of the Manchester Guardian says the reoordership of Birmingham, about to be vacated by Mr. Matthew Davenport Hill, will be conferred on Mr. Sergeant O'Brien, of the Midland Circuit. We (Stamford Mercury) regret to hear that on board the steamship London were Mrs. King and her daughter, the sister-io-law and the niece of Mrs. Hall, the mayoress of Lincoln. Mr. King is a professor of music at Melbourne, and his wife and daughter were returning home after a sojourn of two years in Europe, three months of which they recently sprout on a visit to their friends at Lincoln. Advices from Madrid state that the Society for the Abolition of Slavery established in that city has unasi• moody elected Lord Brougham its honorary president. The fact of any such body being in existence in that city is of itself a very significant circumstance, as indicating the strong feeling which is springing up in favour of negro emancipation. THE DESTRUCTION OF A RAILWAY•BRIDGE AND TRAIN AT BECKENHAM. CORONER'S INVESTIGATION.-(THIS DAY.) BECKENHAM, FUMY MOBSINO. At 10 o'clock this morning, Mr. J. C. Carttar, coroner for the county of Kent, opened an inquiry at the Railway Hotel, Beckenham, into the circumstances of the catastrophe on the London, Chatham ' and Dover main line on last Sunday morning, by which a stoker named John Masted. aged 20, lost his life. Mr. Church, solicitor, represented the London , Chatham, and Dover Railway C ompany, and Mr. Mills, C.E., Mr. Martin, C.E., and Mr. Bishop, superintendent, were also present. The jury having been empanelled, proceeded to view the body of the deceased man, Muted, which pre sented a shocking appearance. Benjamin Muted, Seasalter, Whitstable, a farmer, iden tified the body of the deoessed as that of his son John Mu ted. He had been an engine cleaner, and Ink just been appointed stoker on the London, Chatham, and Dover Rail way. He was a steady man, and had been two years in the service. Thomas Smith, 5, Lucas-place. Battersea, said that he was a goods guard in the employ of the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway Company. On Sunday morning he was guard of a train which left Herne-hill, and approached Beckenham at 3 minutes to 4 o'clock. He suddenly found the train by some means fall, snd he did not know well what happened. The train consisted of an engine, tender, two break sus and 30 loaded waggons. Witness was in the front bre ak next the tender. He did not know where he fell. He got out through a hole which was knocked in the van by a girder of the bridge, but he was so confused he did not well know. Witness had seen the deceased and the driver on the engine at Herne-bill. Witness and the driver searched for the deceased after the accident, and in four hours they found his body under the rains. He mimed to have clutched to the kook. He was dead. It was impossible to get his body oat then. It was not in the water. The water of the stream clone by was running at the rate of eight miles an hour. Christopher Barrett said that he was a guard in the iron break behind the train in question. It was going at the rate of eight miles an hour when his break was suddenly brought to a standstill by a concueion. He was knocked down and rendered nearly senseless. When he got out he found the front part of the train down in the field and river. There were 17 waggons on the line, the rest were thrown down. Witness had seen the signal to stop, and that was the reason the train was going so slow at the time ; but the signal was taken off again when the accident happened. Amos Greensteed, signalman at Menge station, said that a goods train passed down from London at 2.30 all safe. The next goods train passed at 3.55 at this rate of 10 or 12 miles an hour. Directly after it passed witness heard • crash. He went to see what had happened. sad he foand part of the train at a standstill, and the last witness looking into a waggon aa it he was stunned, and thought he was at a station. Witness then found the front part of the train down over the embankment, and he heard some persona groaning. He went across the river and found the engine-driver, who told him to stand back lest the engine should blow up. The river was six feet deep, its ordinary depth being one foot. By the engine -driver's wish witness ran for a surgeon. By a juror—The water covered the fields all over. Wit. ness's box was situated between Penge and Beckenham. Up trains had passed ever the bridge that night. The water had never been so high within the last 14 years. It was two feet higher on the night of the accident than on any previous occasion. No inspection of the foundations, fsc., would have been possible. The signals were at " stop" when the train approached, because telegraphic communication had been broken down through the storm, and for the sake of caution each train was slackened by I signal as it approached each station. The train was quite right to slacken at first, and to take off the breaks and go on again when the signal was changed from "stop" to "caution." Witness believed the stream had scoured its bed that night only. By Mr. Church—The signals did not cause the accident in any way. Wuliam Baxter, signalman at Beckenham station, said that he was on duty in sight of the bridge that gave way. The signal was up and the train approached and whistled. Witness lowered the signal, but the wire broke, and it flew up again. The train finding the signal still up at " stop" eon. tinned to whistle until witness put the semaphore over it. The train apparently then moved on, and immediately he saw it go through the bridge. He ran to the spot, and found what had happened. The stream was extraordinarily deep and wide. The ruins blocked it up. The fields were, in fact, covered, and the river was some ten feet deep. Search was made for the deceased, but he was not found until morning. The engine was blowing off her steam, the valves being open. Witness did not know the height of the bridge over the river. Joseph Collier, porter at Beckenham station, said that he beard the crash on the morning in question, and he went to the spot. The stream was then very high. It went down 2 feet between that hour, 4 o'clock, and 8 o'clock. He had never seen the water so high before. Thomas Lifford, night•watchuun at Beckenham station, said that when he went to the scene of the accident he found the guard, who asked him to look at his face and see if it was cut. He then found the engine driver, who went to the engine and let the steam blow off. Witness had seen the stream higher on several occasions than it was then. It hail overflowed all the meadows this season before this occurrence. James Denyer, platelayer, said that he was on the bridge at 4 o'clock the night before the accident. The bridge was then sound in every respect, and the stream was not very high. It wu not rip to the brickwork, and there war no scour. Next morning the stream was much higher, and was up to the brickwork. On Monday, when the stream had fallen to the level at which he had seen it on Saturday, a large piece of ground had been swept away, forming a hole apparently under the foundations. He could not tell whether the scour of the stream or the damming of the stream by the engine, k. 0., had caused that. By the coroner—On the Saturday witnesu made his fort nightly official inspection of the bridge, and it seemed safe then. He did not go down or underneath it, for he meld sae well enough from the top. Besides, he had made an inspection underneath on Saturday morning. No banks had been milled away then. At 4 o'clock the water had risen over the Addisoombe hoe of railway. The witness said that the scour had lowered the bed of the stream 5 feet. He be lieved that was under the foundations of the brickwork of the bridge, but he did not know. Mr. W. Moore, station master at Beckenham, Mr. Mills, resident engineer of the Loudon, Chatham, and Dover Rail way, and one or two other witnesses were thee examined. The coroner, in summing up, said in his opinion the catastrophe was due entirely to the late extensive floods. and the company could not fairly be held accountable for the giving way of the bridge, which had been built by an eminent engineer, and bad stood the pressure of traffic for many y ea without soy sign of weakness. j The ury then had a long debt gyration in private. Upon the public being readmitted, To. foreman said—We have agreed to a verdict of "Accidental death" simply, but we leave to the engineer of the company, Mr. Mills, the consideration of the evidence taken here to-day, as to the question of the state of these streams and bridges and such matters._ Coroner—Weigentlemen, your verdict ia one of " Acci dental death." The foreman—Yes, that is our unanimous verdict. The proceedings then terminated. The New York Herald of the 4th states that one of the best steam cutters in the revenue service had just left that port, under the command of an experienced and energetic officer, to cruise on the Atlantic coast between Cape May and near Cape Cod, for the purpose of relieving vessels in distress. The Opittivn Nationale says :—" The interdiction laid on the Incle'pendasee Belgc by the Minister of the Interior will be removed on the let of February. M. Berardi, the owner of that journal, came to Paris for the purpose of obtaining the removal of the prohibition. Solos of his ft ends advised him to solicit an audience with the Emperor. He did so, ►nd was most graciously received by his Majesty. The Emperor, it is said, even assured IL Berardi that he did sot dispute the right of the jouroab to criticise the seta of his goverment, The New York Times of the Bth says :—" The French merchant steamer C.ravelle, belonging to the French West Indian line of steamers, which runs between Kingston, Jamaica, sod Santiago de Cabe, was rather roughly saluted on her last voyage from Kingston, a cannon ball having been fired from the fort to cause her to stop, as the dues, amounting to some sir or seven shillings, had not been paid. This rough behaviour is the more unpalat able because the Caravel!e had been of great service to the Jamaica authorities during the late riots in carrying troops and ammunition to different party of the island, for which services the company had declined, whoa offered, to receive any compensation." _ - Frufam PaLace.—The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of a new chapel for this palace took place yesterday morning in the presence of some 50 persons. The new chapel will join on to the palace. It is to be of moderate proportions, and from cbrste designs by Mr. Butterfield, the welbknown architect. The foundation stone was laid by Mr. Craufurd Tait (►n Etonian, aged 16), the bishop's only son. His lordship came on the ground in his robes shortly after 10 a.m., acaompanied by the Rev. W. F. Erskine Boollys, M.A., Rev. A. Mr* Jammu M.A., Rev. W. H. Fremantle, ILA., and the Rev. E. H. Fisher, M.A., four of his chaplains. The religious service called " The Order for Laying the Foundation Stone of a Church" was read on the omission. FOXES AND THE RINDERPECT.—SeveraI foxes have been seen within the last few days on and about the farm of Mn. Clarke, at Breekenborough Plantation, near Louth, where several diseased animal have been buried. One of these vermin was seen between Marsh Chapel and Grainthotpe, sad we have heard of a case of rinierpsst occurring on the immediate spot just afterwards. Great indignation is being felt and expressed at the selfishness of those lovers of sport who cootioue to course over the very lands where the plague is stirring, the bounds passing amongst cattle whose owners are using every exertion to prevent an outbreak of the dreadful plague.— Stamford Mercury. SHERIFFS' COURT, RED LION-SQUARE (Before Mr. Under-Sheriff Harebell and a Special Jrrf) INA TRUSTEES OT THE DOTS' HOME I\D - ,TRIAL 90100 j T. TIM MIDLAND MAMMAS CoSITANY. This was a compensation else for the Bon' Bs Industrial Schools, in the Easton•road. required 0 1 Midland Company for their St. Pancras Evans The Rev. Mr. Mansell sad Mr. T. Hughes, H.P.. AWd! in court as trustees. The claim, as made, was 9,93 01 i from the interest created by the proceediogs sod the sew her of witnesses on both sides a long inquiry um and pated. Mr. Hawkins, Q.C., and Mr. C. P.Uock apparelu counsel for the trustees ; Mr. Hughes. .1L P.. led lb Mr. Maurice were in consultation with toe learned pe r ► men. Mr. Lloyd and Mr. Wills were for the cornfml. Only nine special jurors answered. Mr. Hawkins asked the indulgence of the road for I few minutes as much time would be spared. The parties consulted, and it was IkX)11 ewideot that dr matter was settled. One of the jurors said be vs till gated in the Midland Company, but was toll it did PI signify as the verdict would be by consent. Toe sworn. Mr. Hawkins announced that the sum agreed Om il l 4,000 guineas, and the verdict would be by enema. Under the direction of the learned Coder•Shail I verdict was recorded for 4,2001., and the proceadoP =hinted. LORD RLN We morn satinet Lord of No. 3, Be Beat, the au Railway, for elms dark% Rodlike, of Mr. J. Cr in support 9 Chi the d guilty or not taioly I solo Henry Fel Kingston, al Ant clasi is . he discovers to desist, am Lord Ram passengers i Is. Witness -1., pay did nol said, "The I keg u we I By Mr. Ti In answer bow to the I pocket, and, attention to corn man i ty. II oa the Richn gers were in they had oh • be thought ' de eo. Mr. Daya • smokers. I , the smell 01 . as the coast t• lOWA keep 17 11 Jane. As I • Impose a is in 1 FENERA Yesterday, , when there Sir Cherie.] the body of ,dranghtsom 'Cemetery, i :Among thos in-law), Mr !Faster, Mr. Mr. T. Dal 18ally, and 1 THE LA' tt t ra,pei s eriatbo t h h emn s i l 'ln the list 11011 • * lis sister. 'emitted psi l lthat repose Im:reit his engsgement Web his 0 F t e m oin„ hi : t Dublin, I • nested I, . of the GEORGE luciong the 1 lin the tine t . circa, go and I the Hoe, the I the Ls", the Lau; palm° loo i leCtlid, lin 'Mini 16, LAW INTELLIGENci s. • (THIS DAY.) sod on her rotor w ith two thane —e-- th e y were her e I COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, bail in her trine &weir' a vio mn Sittings in Banco.—(Before the Lord OW j . t o W the hospiti Justirms Blackburn, Mellor, and Lei Ll Eadthreateeed I THE CASK Or THE CONVICT CHARLOTTE bijs • share of The Lord Chief Justice, seeing , eing the Solicit,'" osellY• in court, said he bad been i n et James jamas Dawso that lamed gentleman would have t e d - • o e ledoniabroad fo lica r tion bearing before arguments thia fo on l aze to. h e in the cue of Charlotte Wieser, who h a d 6 4 . 0 and left for execution, bat afterward' murder of the 114vtimid child of a worna e rNighl k Mr at Torquay. He thought the case ought sot lot s It was a to stand over to take its chance. It was now him. should commit Mei', and if it were to wait its turn it omit ae r lahour. this term. Dl= The Solicitor-General said he yesterday vo w e down t s A K r aged es o . h i n g iic ii St a i owm v ibxi°l with e t i hi li 1 Mr. James I Folkonl,the convict's counsel, and asked him if ire.,," James's, atteni convenient to him to argue the case to-morrow ai --‘ young man in ti He said it would be inconvenient to hi m to ~,,,,, BA. James's. either of those days, and he (the S o li c iter4, - "") Mr. Morgan consequence, postponed his application, otheewi ei c s ‘ brought to his have made it yesterday. ow e pad of fir The Load Chief Justice said it WAS impossible lo ss the fish to be br order to has arguments tomorrow y, which wes or M wn paper day- The 4 a /1• • li ne euslo n _ll,,in The Solicitor-General said Wednesday sad . and ga, _oo. u" would be inconvenient to him as he had 2 ...._ th T osie he da Lo yi s i d on eh t i h d e j ßllall uitio._ an w d K in ir .r e:Eire. y su l ioeltym r ... ... es i it iM hsd he i .....jr d t: The Solicitor-General—Yes. Mr. Knox sal The Lord Chief Justice--Then let it come m ea communicate w day next. steps could not —. who bought tb COURT OF EXCHEQUER, amount if he di. , Sittings in Banco.—(Belere the Lord Chia Bere t Mr. MoMorganMr. Knox sal and Barons Martin, Bramwell, a n d Pigott) BETA= 0. RICHARDSON. proem'''. After satisfyi This was an action to recover 441. 14s. h e ...... human mosam, baoco, pipes, and other articles supplied to th e -•''' who set up the plea of infancy, and was tried i before Mr. Baron Bramwell in the Excheque r when the jury found a verdict for the planing Josiah Paym 201. master airman Mr. H. T. Cole, on the part of the defaming, et* the Soo. G. 0. for a new trial on the ground that the verdict es food, and marl the evidence and of misdirection by the bused j e k t charge. be contended, ought to have told the jury th at 1 4. From the 1112 20 CIAO. prisoner and otl The Lord Chief Baron—The question is whea t • quantity 01 . for the purpose of smoking are a necessary het Thames at man under 21 years of age. men was tha Mr. Cole—And who lives with his father and is vendor every by him in every respect feed the horn Mr. Baron Martin—Was he in a state of heath • to take several smoking? (Laughter.) ' horse being fou 1 Mr. Cole—There was no pretence for saying e e , as to be scarce' Mr. Baron Bramwell—Nor did he smoke for left no doubt t Si. poor horse Mr s . Mr. Baron Martin—l understood cigars heal h e A cowkeepo not to be necessaries. Old Kent-row Mr. Cole—lt has been held that soda water sad mew was app are not necessaries, and I should have thought sty • provender be lc were not mesmerise, particularly to thkenormel e manger on his furnished in this cue. This witness a Mr. Baron Bramwell—lt is very desirable to he alb was 'lli the Gm ' i on to hie I lay down some rule on the subject. I told th e jury • I enough that wine in the one sense was not a provender to 1 Mr. Cherry, because some people were obliged to do without e la sad he exam h content themselves with beer,. but I suggested to * wi ce tha T t h c e ig i r th w e e h re ie o i rd ß i aro narz — lux Ta u k ries. e a rule, Side nil. COURT OF PROBATE AND DUN= ,4 . , been s: thefnreg °d before Evidence e p . r L n e•e d no ot fully commas. (Before the Judge Ordinary,) •. / 1 - TODD T. TOLD. ~, Dr. Spinks and Mr. Price for the petitioner ; Dr. Taw Georye Brol for the respondent. • ' was brought This was a petition for a dissolution of minim le . ' illicit distmet mated by Mrs. Josephine Marian Todd, on the pe, i o At one tim , desertion and adultery. The petitioner maths &some a commission agent named Bleck, end her murk, m at h e respondent was against the wishes of her poem h . 1 kind. The afterwards went to India with her husbanA whs tel mired clew partner in an Mum tea plantation ; and her acs w eek night, and tl after living with him there for a few months he WI • Th ere h ave e failed, and she returned to England. Her husbaci atm* sad thee re pone for the I wrote to her telling her that he had never loved *of the kind at i that he would never live with her apain. When be Mkt caythilated s was restored she wrote to bits several times begi.g Wm e i tere polish , allowed to return, but he did not answer her letters. b th e ste l ae de, was the desertion complained of. Mr. Freder [The case was proceeding when our reportkill stated that li, Bedford-aqua COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, Mr. Vanstont (Before Mr. Commissioner Bolrojd.) ..., into the "rr IN kg DIMETT, ALIAS CECILE. in brickwor The bankrupt was a dress-maker, of George4trest,Pet fitted the I man-square. This was the sitting for exammatbn olio ie complete,teof far charge. Debts about 400/. a Mr. E. Reed opposed ; Mr. Sargood supported. the produce c The bankrupt, examined, stated that she had teni : im p lement " business for seven years; for the last )oe/ in ewe street. Bs basins", was principally with ladies c/111 1 0 .4 I ___,‘ % ‘ t T l l n is . il he b: Sometimes they paid when their accounts as . t and also. . . . '', sent in, and sometimes they delayed. (A IBM c ; 7 ) .., 0 1: 0 7 She had never kept any books. She made out bilk he the books of her merchant,. Nearly all was paid km she thought" , money. Colonel Wheatley's lady owed her C / The debt was not inserted in the acoxtuta b had been known, and had traded as Medias fhb foundit w res p o nsibleiawas e rec t s t e he p t fe r , She admitted having deposited money in the Wass, The p •t perfectly rigl street Savings' Bank in the name of Urania NSA isdetected said that she bad none there now. She bad De Citep was atiiallra.npdattei party, and had bought none for the last few yea II 1863 she bought some property at Rochaa. is b h aw etegfe . name of Dennti. The price was to be 26.000 62A hked stem payable by instalments. She had pid About 4036 . • as smuggled sosount, but half of it was her sister 's. A mud" Mr. Paget 200/, was made last summer. loner 301. , at Mr. Reed asked that the petition should be diebemi• sod keptto i the ground that the bankrupt had only been howl to tel creditors as Madame Cecile. Mr. Sargood asked for leave to amend. LORD RANI His Honour said it was too late to do that AA This more bankrupt bed traded, and had sued her debtors inborn agains t 3 LO B I of Cecile ' the petition mast be dism dismissed. The muse wi of No . , of opinion that the bankrupt ought newer to tunas!! court Bool ea n, tot os o u i the cet at all, but ought to have mode an effort toehold her creditors. class carriage THE POLICE COURTS. (THIS DAY.) CLERKENWELL DESERTING • WIFE AND FAMILY. Waliam Bitteil, a plumber, who refused his Adler's, la charged before Mr. Partridge, who sat for Mr. D'Einesea., with deserting hie wif e an d f our children, whereby WI WI become chargeable to the parish of St. PiIIiCISL It appeared from the evidence of Mr. Clods, meg" . relieving officer ' and Mr. Riley, the constable d SI Panama. that the prisoner deserted his ra and four children on the ith of August hot and was now indebted to the parish in the • of 261. Ile. Although every effort bad been made to a' prebend the prisoner he had manned to escape until terday, when he was apprehended in the following siefW! way. His wife and her eldest son went to the pia! schools at Aserley so see the younger childresi 61 ' were returning by the train, when at Croydon prisoner opened the carriage door, mid ptyalin woman said there was room for four. When the sew him along with another woman she screamed. which the prisoner rushed out of the carriage, be t A panned, and taken into custody. It was stated that aa prisoner's wife was a hard-work , og, industrious wow° and that the prisoner had no good reason for dessrtiall, The prisoner said he had no defence to make, sif t deny that he was ooktabiting with a female. Mr. Clunie said he had to press for punisbmesti Ytlb class of offence was very much increase. Mr. Partridgesientenoed the p on riso the ner to 21days' inIPW . meat with hard labour in the House of Correction. MARLBOROUGH-STREET. • 8011 ASBAULTINO 1118 MOTHER. John Hardy, about 30 years of ate, descri .wmit hod rsr labourer, was charged before Mr. Koos with assaulting his mother by striking her cm the lissd -11 ± a chair. He was farther charged with etesbat , chairs, the property of his father, but that chap v s. " pressed. Mrs. Tobannah Hardy the wife of a clerk. 29, Charlie-street, ldiddiesex Hospital, said that yes ' the prisoner, who was her sou, came to her room sad away a looking/Lai. She west oat to look foe ivory hors Ipstai -Amt prison Air tl