The Express. — London, England, 1867-02-21 00:00:00

QUEENSLAND COVERNNIENT SIX PER CENT. LOAN. Authorised by Act of tlicA•oloutal Legislature. 29 Viet., No. 24. I, 1 , 9:4 . The undersiuned having been appointed by the Government of Queensland its timmeial agent in London is eullionvre.l to re• eels," TEE:IA.:Ks f..r the S WON 11 NiST ILII ENT. an...totting to .C 150.000. of the :0..5v loan. of o hied loan 5.35.n000 hus already been issued According to latest advieri the I.:overmuch( n , t parpo,e to sine the ts.ticiiiiing I h . hentitn . s L2'.!onf.o having obtained the reonitsd aii,ont by the sale it Trea-nn Urn, pa) able at all Carly data iu the ralous ionly. The Ikrkallarr• art. la amounts of sAtiO • a:.no. an.' Lear interest at u. per vent. per :minim. from Nt .troinaey. until their Toataray gal Ist .duly, ],al. met payable, I, th priuviptit and int. test. in Loal , loll Or la boatie. :ir the Oratroll of she hob 1,. _ . --. thy etne•uslan•l ',wog are secured upon the whole son. sidniated Itesentte in the Colon), upon which the interest is made a iltsC charge .1.1 of the volonial Legislature ; and the piddle creditor k further protected Art of the Imperial Parliament 14 and 2.1 Victoria, cap. 44 , which provides that itotwitlatcliding the Arpaiati..ll at au) future time of all) por lion of the ph, rat I*.dony of ipt .ettslatol, the territota weparated shall I...Jinni,' to it' liaide for the whole amount of this loan. and of those which have preceded it. lit total ectiniatc..l call revenue of Queensland for the current p..er t. C•!::.114.); extnnatva expenditure ititen•st on loans is Kiting a .urplus, after pun - Idoig for ell contingencies, of .4.:13,1040. alc.l Gv.doi. eeu t In: tom annexed, and will he te -4,4,01 for any moonlit divaitile by 000 without fractions, instil one 11'01.11 I, 0,0 27th Inctant they will then to opened at the I Ilion itant, of Auxtralia, in the pla., , vilev of those nacre-tett alio may aftLool, atld oll,ttell N the highest lii , iders provided the rates ..tfered are not lo,low the minimum of .01, which includes two months' accrued interest. Ten per .Clolier Lion howl is to lie paid 4.11 went. when ..•tip will be issued. The bolder therrnf will have the optiiin ..folisaniiiia debentures "I. payment of the balance on 411, sl.,rch • ur of 111,111 l until any da3 up to 3lst May lAA( tb. a 113M141: of interest fr•an 2 Slh at the rate nf 3 per vent. per minion ; of this one day's notice will be required by the leiuliers Forms of tender may be priwured at the Queeniland meat Emigration intiee, Old Broadatieet, ,or from the Itsnk of Australia. London, ltAii February, lout. R. O. w. 11F:RRFRT. financial Ageut fur tilleentlantl. TENDER orEEN,LANI) toAN. 4:1.170,9".0 Robert f; lit •rt. Ea' F'inanrinl Agoot, or the Colony of Queensland, 3s, 41.1 liniail.street, London, E c Sir,— brreby tender Gat of Debentures of the above Loan, under the conditions specified in your Aver tisciiiint flitted the sum of t.... . ..... for every one hundred pounds. If thi, tender lie. ..edited the Debentures to accordance with your advertisement. . ... our obedient servant, Tribe ') None stattil in • Address full. ..... February. To The 'hinds are requested se nearly as possible in the following propurtions: .In !louden( C.:00 each. t „ B ROWN and POISON'S CORN FLOUR for CHILDREN'S DIET. To obtain extra profit B 7 the saki other kinds are sometimes offered indeed of BHOWh end POISON'S. "John Brown," "John Poison," is signed 13) ths makers on each packet. eke erpreoll. TO CORRESPONDENTS. Advertisements Intended for" The Express," London Evening Paw, must he at the Ofdce, 10, Bouverkatreet, by Two o'clock on the dav of publication. DRIIItY LANE This TIIE JEA I.lHiti WIFE. Mr. Phelps, Messrs. E Phelps, 11. Sinclair, C. Seyton, and Barrett Meadarnes Vezln and 11. VandenlintT—And NUMBER NIP: OR, HARLE QUIN AND 'ELIE UNOLE KINO UP THE GIANT MOUNTAIN. HAYMARKET. Ten KeltNtlo, A LF435.N1 7 01. LIFE. Meagre !Other°, Rogers, Clark, Compkw, he. ; Mrs. Chippeodale, 3.lleset 1101, Wright, ke -LORD DUNDREARY MARRIED AND DONE FOR. Mr. Setheru.—AudJl-NNY LIND AT LAST. Miss Burke. imnrcmors. TRIO ITIOSING, 1118 LAST LEAS. — Mese& Verner & Fenton; lira B. White cud M 1 Wentworth.—And SHADOW TREE SHAFT. ;rt. Vining, Shore, Verner, F. Villiers, Forrester, Mellon, and Cathcart; Montagu, Edmonds, and Rodgers. LI CEUIL Tine Emma, THE TV761.45114.. Mr. Wtddleomb.—And MOUOE Ef MAR Messrs. leader, Emery, Cowper, Moreland, Iltsi*CAA. D dron, Reynolds, Lomas, Andrews, Price, ; Mrs. L Murray, and Muses Uenrede, ()rattan, and C. Leelereq. TRTFI MARRIED DAUGHTF.ItS AND YOUNG HUS BAND 4 —Last Nights of GUY YANYKY.S.—And ♦ SUIT OY TWMLLYS. HOLBORN. 'CMS IMlxtratl, MY liii.";(l.lßiT. Mr. Removes lbws Root. and lALITIOX.—And FLYING SCUD. Messrs. Nevins, Bet more, Blake, Voltaire, Sc. Mesdames F. JoitepLa, C. Saunders, Drab Foote. /Addeo, Lennox, Raymond, &c. BRITANNIA. ...... Ten Everts, THE PRINCI I 2B OP THE PEARL ISLAND • OR, THE THREE KINGDOMS Of PEARL, GOLD, AND . SILVER. ilia. Jacobe.—FlrsFrole Pantomimist& —And THE METERS OF TIRE WANDERER. HIGH WATER AT LONDOZI BRIDGE. TIM DAY —►toning. 311. 44m Afternoon, 01. 3ao. To-Mozzow—Mornlng, fit Atterooon, 40. 41.. LONDON, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21. by Mr. (YBEI RN E. 011 a particular esl in the County Down, the tenants, by building houses, making roads, fences, and drains, and by other improvements, increased the renting value of the land from 31s. 6d. an Irish acre to 575. lid. The landlord has taken advantage of their ex penditure of industry and capital to raise their rent from the lower to the higher sum ; and in the event of their not acceding to his terms they will be expelksl, without compensation. That this state of things needs remedial legisla tion cannot be denied. Lord NAAS proposes to grapple with it by extending to tenants, even tenants at will, the borrowing, powers which the Land Improvement Act confers upon owners, and by making the loans which they may con tract a charge upon the land, that is to say, upon the occupiers of it for the time being. The improvements for which money may be borrowed are divided into six classes . Main and thorough drainage. 2. The reclamation of waste lands. 3. The clearing of the soil from rocks and stones, and the removal of old and use less fences. 4. The erection of faun dwellings and buildings. 5. The making of fences. 6. The construction of roads. A tenant who desires to effect any of these improve ments must make application, in the terms of a printed form, to the Board of Works. The Commissioners, through one of their number specially appointed to carry out the proposed Act, will notify the application to the landlord, and will then investigate the propriety and advantage of the suggested improvement. If their opinion is favourable they will grant the tenant a certifi cate authorizing him to begin the necessary works, and advance the money for the purpose, which must be repaid in thirty-five years by half-yearly instalments. The sanction of the landlord is not to be necessary for the execution of improve ments of the first three classes ; but his dissent is to be conclusive against the remainder— the erection of buildings, the making of fences, and the construction of roads, which a consolidation or redistribution of holdings, or the conversion of the land from tillage to pasture, might deprive of their value. If the tenant, instead of borrowing from the Government, chooses to invest his own money or labour in the soil, he may, by availing himself of certain forms, make this expenditure a charge on the land ; and on giving up the farm, or on being evicted from it, he will receive in a lump sum the value of his investments, minus the instalments he would have paid if he had borrowed the money in the ordinary way. This scheme does not, we confess, appear to us a promising one. Before any tenant makes a drain, or clears a field of stones, he will be obliged to serve a notice up. , n the Board of Works of his intention to do so, and to obtain the approval of the Commissioners. Lord.NAAS makes light of the difficulties which an illiterate man may experience in drawing up the necessary specifications, inasmuch as in every district there will be a Surveyor of the Board of Works, whose duty it will be to give the tenant all requisite help, and who will have an interest in persuading him to make applications for advances, inasmuch as he will be paid according to the work which he may induce the farmers to under take. In other words, official busybodies are to be placed inevery district, empowered to meddle with the affairs of other people, and having a direct interest in such intormeddling. The feeling of the landlords towards these persons may be anticipated ; and the tenant at will who inclines to their persua sions will often, we fear, find his notice of an improvement answered by a notice of ejectment, and see himself improved out of his holding. Then, again, where is the agricultural infallibility to be found whichisindispensableinthe new Conunis sioner of Works to whom the working of the pro posed Act is to be entrusted ? He is to decide upon the expediency and probable cost, and to lay down specific directions for the execution of any improvement which may be proposed on any farm in Ireland ; his veto is to be absolute against the tenant's proposals, and in certain cases his sanction of them is to be valid in spite of the landlord's disapproval. Lord Ness's Bill pro ceeds on the assumption that Government officials can manage other people's business for them better than they can manage it for themselves. It is based on the principle of foreign interven tion, or, as Lord DERBY calls it, of " meddle and muddle." As Mr. BLAKE re marked, no provision is made in it fur the moat frequent case of all, that of the tenant who, little by little, and without any settled intention of doing so at the out set, succeeds by long years of labour in reclaim ing the bog or clearing the mountain aide of stones. Anything like experiment or tentative processes of improvement are discouraged. The tenants of Ireland do not need loans or guidance from the Government ; they require such security for the investment of their own capital and labour as will afford them, on quitting their tenure, compensa tion for the unexliausted value of their ins provementa. They ought not to be put in the leading-strings of the Board of Works, or prevented from acting on their own judg ment of what is best. If their invest ments are imprudent, let them pay the penalty of their imprudence ; if sagacious, they should reap the full benefit of them. We fear that Lord Nass's Bill, if it became law, would either be inoperative or would tend to strengthen the tendency, already too prevalent among the Irish, to rely upon external aid and counsel instead of on themselves. The teaching of experience and the costs of failure will be more efficient than that of Commissioners of Works and District Sur veyors. LORD NAAS does not offer the Bill which he explained to the House of Commons on Monday evening as a final settlement of the Irish land question ; but it is certainly a step towards that satisfactory conclusion. It marks the abandon ment by the Tory party of a principle which has hitherto stood in the way of beneficial legislation, and which was affirmed last year by Lord Naas himself in the most emphatic terms. The amend ment which he then proposed to the second reading of Mr. CHICHESTER FORTE.SCUE'S Bill declared that " compensation to tenants should be secured "in respect of those improvements only which " are made with tho consent of the landlord." He denounced the measure of the late Govern ment which set aside this principle as " entirely " repugnant to all principles of British law," and " fatal to the rights of property ;" and he re marked upon " the singular coincidence that these " changes were promised at the moment when the " exigencies of party were peculiarly severe, and " when equal divisions were expected." A year has not passed since Lord Naas thus expressed himself ; and now he introduces a Bill embodying the very principle which he condemned in his amendment and which he denounced inhis speech, and he does so • amid circumstances of suspicion identical with those on which he based his innuendoes against the late Government. Quoin tenure is nosmet tertrra vuuimvr iniquant. Lord NAAS'S conversion to doctrines which last session he reprehended as savouring of commu n ism is not influenced, we are ready to believe, by the dis creditable motives which he imputed to his anta gonists. Longer consideration, and the practical responsibilities of office, have brought him to a wiser mind ; and ho has a perfect right to con sole himself with the reflection that he is not alone inconsistent. Mr. CARDWELL, in 1865, was an assenting party to a resolution identical with Lord NAAS'S amendment ; and in 1866 he was a member of a Government which intro duced a Bill directly contravening that resolution. All that can be said is, that he is a year in ad vance of Lord NAAS ; and this is generally the extent of the difference between an official Whig and an official Tory. The difference between the measures of the late and of the present Government is not one of prin ciple, but of detail and machinery. In many respects Lord NAAS'S! Bill is an improvement upon the law as it stands ; but there is some reason to fear lest the apparatus which it provides should be too complicated to be worked. Mr. Foareseue's Bill simply teLognised the fact that in Ireland permanent improvements are usually the work of the tenant, and not of the landlord ; and provided that in the case of the dis possession of the occupier he should have a right to compensation in a lump sum equivalent to the increased letting value which his labour and capital might have given to the land. This is the rule of England, within the more limited range to which usage confines the tenant's improvements here. Mr. Fortresere's Bill shared the fate of the Ministry. The necessity of provisions such as it con tained is illustrated by a case cited on Monday night Mr. Holland will ask the First Lord of the Admiralty to-morrow whether the attention of the govern ment has been called to the existing "Steering and Sailing Rules ;" and whether it is intended to cause any inquiry to be made as to their efficiency, with a view to prevent disasters arising from collisions at see. To-morrow Mr. Rearden will ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether it is the intention of her Majesty's government to introduce a Reform Bill for Ireland this session ; and, if so, whether it will include an important increase in the number of members and voters at elections to be taken by ballot. Mr. Baxter intends to-morrow to ask the Secre tary to the Treasury if he will lay before the house the recent correspondence between the Postmasters-General of Great Britain and the United States with reference to the postal service between the two countries; and whether, in making the new arrangements consequent on the ter mination of the Cunard contract, care will be taken to give the public the benefit of the great competition now existing between the various steamship companies having vessels on the North Atlantic. ' OUR CONTEMPORARIES. (THIS DAY.) ACCIDENT TO THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD o► TRADE—We regret to state that Mr. Cave, Vice-President of the Board of Trade, met with an acci dent yesterday. While riding in St. James's-park, to wards the Horse Guards, his horse, • young and spirited one, reared and fell back upon him. In rising it struck the right honourable gentleman twice, cutting his hat through, and braising his face. Fortunately, although considerably shaken, Mr. Cave escaped serious injury, and will probably be able to resume his duties after a short confinement. ~_ ~~ ~ , THE EXPRESS, T.HURSDAY EVENTING, FEBRUARX 21, 1867. KTARY DIVISION.: LATEST HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FEB. 20. ANNUITY TAX AEOLITION (EDINBi'IiGS, PARISH OF ('ANONGATE) BILL Order for second reading read ; motion made and question proposed, "That the bill be now read a second time." Amendment proposed, to leave out the word " now," and at the end of the question to add the words " upon this day six inonths"—iSir James Ferguson ). Question , put, " That the word now' stand part of the ques tion." The house divided—Ayes, 74 ; noes, 107. . . . . AYES. Allen, W. S. Forster, W. E. Monk, I. J. Amberley, Visit. Forteseue. D. E. Morris, W. Ayrton, A. S. Gavin, Major Murphy, N. D. Barnes, I'. Gilpin, C. O'Beirne, J. 1.. Baxter, W. E. Gosehen, G. J. O'Brien, Sir P. Bailey, T. Gridley, Capt. Oliphant, L. Beaumont, W. It. Hadfield, 0. Pease, J. W. Bowyer, Sir G. Harris, J. D Potter, F.. Brady, Dr. Ilnuley, Lord. Potter, T. B. Bright, J. Hibbert, J. T. Browne, Lord J. Hurst, R. H. Candlish, J. Ingham, IL ti Chambers, T, King, P.. 1. Si m e o n.SS'e hen it f hin C ' O, E. 1). : ASir., U. J. Clay, J. Kinnaird, A. F. Smith, J. B. 0111111, J. Laing, S. Stansfeld, J. Dalglinh, R. Lawrence, W. Stuart. Col. Davey, R. Lentliam, W. H. Sykes, Col. Denman, O. Liienian, G. Taylor, P. A. Mike, sir W. Lefevre, G. J. Trevelyan, li. 0. Dillwyn, I. L. Lennox. Lord G. White. J. Edwards, C. Lewis, H. Willialll6oll, Sir H. Erskine, Viee.Ad. Locke, J. Young, R. Ewart, W. Lusk, A. Ewing, H. E. lien/. J. TELLERS. Eykyn, R. Mill, J. S. M'lAren, D. Fawcett, H. Mills, J. R. Haines, E. NOES. Adam, W. P. Fei'den, J. Northcote. Sir S. H. Agnew, sir A. Forde, Cal. Parker, Major Bane, W. Forester, tics. Patten, Col. Himmel, C. Goddard, A. L. Peel, Gen. Bailie, H. J. Goldney, G. Powell, F. S. Barclay, A. C. Iloodeon, J. Read, C. S. Barrow, W. H. Gore. J. R. Ridley, Sir M. Bateau, Sir T. Gov't, J. E. Robertson, P. F. Beach, Sir M. Graves, S. R. Roll, Mr J. Bentinck, G. C. Gramma, G. Russell, A. Illunnerliassett,SDß Grey, T. tie Schreiber, C. Bonham-Carter, J. °Minh, C. I). Scott, Sir W. Bridges, Sir B. Gurney, R. licouriteld, J. H. Bruce, Lord C. Gwyn, H. Selwyn, C. J. Bruce, Major Hamilton, Lord C. Seymour, G. H. Burrell, Sir P. Hardy, G. Simonds, W. B. Carnegie. C. Hartopp, E. B. Smollett, P. B. Cecil, Lord E. May, Mr J. C. speirs, A. A. Chatterton, H. H. Holland, F. Stanhope, J. B. Clive. Capt. Mullion, Lint Stirling-Maxwell, Sir Cole, H. Howes, E. W. Cole, J. L. Huddlregon, J. W. Stuart, Lt.-CoL Colehrooke, Sir T. Hunt, G. W. Suttees, H. E. Colthurst. Sir G. Karsiake, Sir J. B. Taylor, Col. Coolly, T. Kekevrich, 8. T. Tottenham, 12.-Col. Corry. 11. L Lanyon, C. Tracy, C. R. Cooper, E. H. Lennox, Lord H. Wakiegrave-Leslie, Craufurd, K H. Lindsay, I,'ol. G. Cabin, G. Lowther, J. Walker, Major Dickson, Major NPLagan, P. Walpole, S. If. Dimsdale, R. Malcolm, J. W. Whitmore, H. Du Cane, C. Manners, Lord J. Wise. H. C. Donne, Gen. Miller, W. Yorke, J. H. Earle, R. A. lionerelff, J. Egerton, A. F. Muwbray, J. R. TELLIRI Egerton, E. C. Naas, Lord Fergnsenn, Sir J. Brans, T. W. Neste, C. Montgomery, Sir G. Pane, Col. Noel, G. J. THE LIEERAL REFORM POLICY. As.suaiing that the plan of proceeding by resolu tions is adopted, and putting aside as having a factious look, the method of negativing the resolutions altogether. the Valle Naos submits that the two first might pass without a word of discussion, and out of the 13 there are seven on which, with a mingle word of comment from the leader of the opposition to the effect that assent to principle does not mean acceptance of unknown details, not a word of debate seems necessary before proceeding to vote. Wiest they contain of good or bad will be contained in the practical machinery for putting them in force. But the remaining resolutions, after this winnowing, cannot be so easily dealt with. In these cases the form of pro cedure must be by amendments so conceived as either to express the opinion of the house definitively, or to with hold its opinion altogether. It will be from the leaders and the body of the liberal party, in their deliberations on Tuesday next, to decide which of these courses is the best dculated to secure a prospect of early and useful legisla tion. AMERIC.IN LEGISLATION. Protection, banished from the Old World, says the Tim,s, has found rest in the New, and 30,000,000 of our race ere there nestled under her wings. Under the existing tariff every article of foreign manufacture is taxed at the port from 50 to 80 per cent. Everything made by British hands, or any hands not American, is only allowed to enter the United States on the condition of paying to their treasury either half or three-quarters as much as it has paid altogether to producer, manufacturer, merchant, ship and crew, importer, and everybody concerned in its making and bringing. If any gentleman, or lady, or labourer happens to prefer English material or Eng lish make to that of their own country, they have to pay for their choice by an additional cost which reallyis beyond calculation or estimate. In fact, the cost of the article is often more than doubled by the operation of the tariff. But this is not enough. The new Tariff Bill now in Con gress, and sent hack by the Senate to the House of Repre sentatives with amendments in the protectionist direction, proposes to raise these exorbitant duties fifty per cent., thus bringing the average import duty to a hundred per cent. on the value. The industrious and rising States of the far West are the sufferers, and a whole twain of evils must be looked for. Look ing a little forward, we should find whole cities de pendent on enormous differential duties and liable to col lapse in s day on their reduction. Then come smuggling, officialcorruption, illicit manufactures, and the establishing of classes of men that will live without law. The Americans are reviving, far beyond the dictation of neces sity, and in the interest of private citizens, the exactions, the extortion., the taxes, tolls, fines, benevolences, and all the fiscal robberies of old Europe. Yet they will not see that they are only repeating old enors to entail the ' old penalties. The Daily News notices a late gathering of Southern politicians at Washington, which has resulted in the adoption of a resolution to be proposed by the governors of the Southern states to their respective legislatures, embodying a new version of the constitutional amend- ment, and amending the constitution of the states. The proposal is a sign of returning good sense on the part of the South ; but we have as yet no means of judging how far such a modification of the amendment would be acceptable at the North. Our fear is that it is too late. The republican party are, however, somewhat divided as to the step to take next, and in the hesitation which results from this division this compromise, if speedily offered, may have a chance. It will come much more acceptably as a direct offer from the South than as a sug gestion from Mr. Johnson, and if made with cordiality, unanimity, and good faith, before Congress has committed itself to a snore radical policy, may not be without its influence on the future settlement. MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS. The Tihus cannot look on the scheme of the confedera tion of the North American provinces as one which pro mises stability. Its provisions contain no trace of any policy teaching the permanent relations between Great Britain and her dependencies ; it points to a continual de pendence upon the mother country injurious to it and to us. Yet we must acquiesce, and were Canada alone con cerned it might be questioned whether it were politic to utter what can only be an idle protest. But we have other colonies besides those in North America, with which questions almost daily arise, and an opportunity should not be lost of insisting upon the necessity of carrying on our colonial administration in a spirit which looks in ad vance of what is immediately Lefore us. It is very satisfactory to the Herald that at the dawn of the session parliament has so decidedly rejected the Annuity Tax Abolition Bill. The history of this agitation, it says, is the history of all struggles against the Esta blished Church of England and Ireland, as well as of Scotland. The moral of that history is also the same, and it teaches us that with certain fanatical and theoretical politicians no terms can be made, no compact agreed upon, no compromise thought of, simply because they demand nothing short of unconditional surrender and absolute submission. The TefeffrapA has an article upon yesterday's event in the royal family. The following extract, which is taken verbatim, will show the nature of the comments :—" Our youngest princess entered the world yesterday morning at half-past t o'clock, and the guns which fired at mid-day to salute her distinguished arrival must have announced the fact for the fad time to a great many of the lieges. Prince or princess, we are quite sure that she is heartily welcomed, as a fresh blossom on the fruitful rose of Eng land, and an accession to the illustrious house around which cluster so many faithful hearts, so many hopeful thoughts." The Star thinks that the discussion yesterday on Mr. Wlaren's bill is a presage of future success. Sir James Ferguson, in the blundering way in which the opponents of a measure sometimes do good service to the cause they oppose, has intimated to the inhabitants how they may be successful in getting the bill passed next year. The petition signed by so many thousands and the request of the corporation have not influenced him because he finds that the tax has, on the whole, been well paid. The re quest of the corporation has been of no avail, the petition of the inhabitants following upon • solemn protest by 4,000 electors is nothing ; but Sir James Ferguson seems to intimate that if, iu place of 11,000 signatures to a peti tion the inhabitants were to send up next year 11,000 un paid notices for the rate, the tones would be glad to grant relief to the city, and to do something for the promotion of Christian charity. The Paris Exposition is causing a great amount of travel from America to Europe. It is said the Euro pean steamers to Mil from New York already have their full oomplemeut of passengers engaged for the next three months. MEETING OF THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY.—OOIOHeI Taylor has addressed the following circular to the sup porters of her Maiestr's government in the House of Com mons :—" lam desired by Lord Derby to request that Dou will do him the favour of meeting him at No. 10, wning -street, at two o'clock on Monday, the 2.lth of February. T. EDWARD TAT TAIL-20th February." MR. BRIGHT ON THE REFORM RESOLUTIONS. The following letter has been received by the secretary to the Birmingham branch of the Reform League from Mr. Bright :—" Rochdale ' Feb. 18. Dear Sir,—l thank you for your note, and for the copy of the resolutions larat the great meeting held on Tuesday last. I e; i e that all you say about the government and reso lutions offered to the house is quite true, and I hope that no attempt at legislation will be founded upon the resolutions. The reform question cannot be dealt with in a manner satisfactory to the people by the avowed enemies of reform, and it will be better for us to wait till we have • government honestly favourable to reform before anything further is sought to be done in the Rouse of Commons. I hope all classes of reformers in the country will combine to bring about such an expression of opinion as to induce the legislature to deal honestly and generously with the question of representation. In Birmingham, I believe the middle class is ready to work heartily with the working class ; and I hope • thorough union may take place with you, and in all parts of the kingdom.—l am, very respectfully yours, Joins BRIGHT. Mr. Roger Bateson, 12, Ann-street, Birmingham." WORCESTER AND THE REFORM RESOLUTIONS. At a meeting of the Worcester Reform League held last night, resolutions were unanimously adopted expressing indignation against the government for proposing resolu tions which were only calculated to waste time and post pone a settlement of the reform question. The represen tatives of the city were requested to support a vote of want of confidence in ministers. PAIRS. FOR. Mr. C. Forster _ AGAINST. Mr. C. F. Seartets Air T. D. Lloyd Mr. W. W. Beach lion C. Carington Mr. D. W. Repton Mr. D o ulton Mr. Neerdegate Mr. Buxton Blr J. Pekinglon Mr. Hardcastle Colonel Barttelot Mr. W. D. Fordyce Lord ISliot Mr. Me& Mr. Beresford Hope Mr. Warner Mr. Grant Mr. H. Sheridan Mr. Arkwright the Court. OSBORNE, FEB. 20. The Queen and Princess Beatrice rode on ponies yesterday afternoon, attended by the Duchess of Rex. burgbe, and her Majesty walked in the grounds this morning, accompanied by Princess Louise. The other members of the royal family walked out. Her Majesty received this morning the gratifying intelligence of the safe confinement of the Princess of Wales and the birth of a princess. Dr. Macleod left Osborne this morning. A meeting of] the governors of Wellington College was held yesterday in the Fine Arts Commission-room, at the Palace of Westminster. Present--The Duke of Cam bridge, K.G., the Earl of Derby, K.G. (Vice-President), the Archbishop of Canterbury, Earl Stanhope, the Earl of Ellenborough, G.C.8., Viscount Eversley, the Bishop of Oxford, Sir James Weir Hogg, Bart., Sir Alexander Woodford, G.C.8., Mr. John Walter, Mr. Thomas Baring, MP., Mr. Henry R. Cox, Bev. G. R. Gleig, M.A., Colonel the Hon. W. P. Talbot, Honorary Secretary, and Mr. Chance, Secretary. The governors met at 11 o'clock and sat until 1 o'clock. Deputations from the parishes of St. Marylebone and St. Pancras, introduced by Mr. Harvey Lewis, M.P., and Mr. Thomas Chambers, M.P., and consisting, as respects St. Marylebone, of Sir W. Hamilton, Dart., Rev. C. J. P. Eyre, Mr. J. Tavener, Mr. Greenwell (vestry clerk), and others ; and, as respects St. Pancras, of Mr. Robson, Mr. Eckett, Mr. J. R. Collins, Mr. T. Roes, and Mr. Watkins, had an interview with the Right Hon. Gathorne Hardy, at the office of the Poor-law Board, Whitehall, yesterday. Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial office from the Governors of the Capeof Good Hope,Natal, St. Helena, and Malta. HEALTH OF THE PRINCESS OF WALES. (THIS DAY.) A great number of inquiries were made at Marlborough House to-day, and the subjoined bulletin was issued : " MARLBOROUGH HOUSE, PALL-MALL, " FED. 21, 1867, 11 a.m. "Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, though still suffering from rheumatism, is making satisfactory progress. " The infant princess continues well. (Signed) "ARTHUR FARRE, M.D. "WILLIAM JENNE; M.D. "E. H. SIZVEKING, M.D." His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge honoured the Marquis and Marchioness of Clanricarde by his presence at dinner last evening at their residence in Stratton-street. The Duke of Cambridge arrived at 8 o'clock, attended by Colonel the Hon. James Macdonald. There were present to meet his royal highness the Earl and Countess Stanhope and Lady Mary Stanhope, Lord Colville, Lord Dunkellin, Lord Dufferin, Lady Frances Gordon, the Right Hon. the Speaker, Mr. and Lady Mar garet Beaumont, Mr. Bernal Osborne, M.P., the Right Hon. Robert Lowe, M.P., and Mrs. Lowe, and Mr. Tomlin. The Duke of Newcastle arrived in town last 1 evening from Lincoln. The duchess has gone to Paris on a visit to her mother. The Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury en tertained his Excellency Count Apponyi, the Earl of Clan. william, Lord Redesdide, Lord Stanley, the Right Hon. General and Lady Alice Peel, the Right Hon. Sir Hugh and lady Cairns, Sir Alexander Bannerman, the Hon. Mrs. Rose, k.c., at dinner last evening at their residence in Arlington-street. The Countess of Derby will have an assembly on Saturday next. The Earl of Stamford and Warrington is suffer ing from a severe attack of acute rheumatism in his shoul der, and has not been able to leave his room for the last ten days. _ _ _ Mr. and Mrs. Granville Vernon received at dinner on Tuesday evening, at their residence in Belgrave. square, Frances Countess Waldegrave and the Right Hon. Chichester Fortescue, M.P., the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P., Mrs. and Miss Gladstone, Mr. Goshen, MP., and Mrs. °Goshen, Hon. Ashley and Mn. Pousonby, the Right Hon. Robert Lowe, M.P., and Mrs. Lowe, Lord De Manley, Mr. William Harcourt, Miss Mildmay, Mr. Alderson, do. The Garter vacant by the death of the Marquis of Exeter will, it is understood, be conferred upon the Duke of Beaufort. Meagre. Kingseote and Oriasell, two of the three members of the committee of supervision in the case of Overend, Gurney, and Co., have issued a circular to the shareholders stating that the liabilities of the company do not now amount to one-sixth of the sum at which they stood on the 10th of May last, and that money is accruing for a further dividend, which, should no fresh obstacles be interposed by the " Defence Committee," the liquidators will at an early day be in a position to declare. Further they express regret at the damage indicted on the estate, and consequently on the shareholders, by the litigation carried on, and add that they have roman to believe that the report now in preparation by the liquidators will prove satisfactory both to shareholders and creditors. SPAIN. The following proclamation was posted in all the public places of Madrid on the 16th inst.: Don Juan de Is Pestle* Count de Cheste, Captain-Ge neral of Castile, notifies as follows : The exemplary punishment recently indicted on persons guiltyof clandestine publicationanot having been sufficient to prevent a repetition of the offence ; and being resolved, as long as I possess the exceptional powers con ferred on me by the state of siege, to spare no pains to extirpate, at a single blow, those vile publications which are intended to injure, to dis credit, and destroy the holiest, most respected, cherished and honoured institutions of the Spanish people, to relax the discipline of the army, and to foment conspiracy against the public safety—l declare that I will inflict the punishment of death-1, on any person who shall edit, write, or print clandestine papers against religion, the Queen, her dynasty, public order, the security of the State, or the obedience of the army ; 2, on any person who shall aid intellectually, materially, or pecuniarily in the execu tion of such publications. Every person caught in the fact will be carried before a court-martial, which will at Once proceed to pass sentence on the prisoner conformable to the tenor of this proclamation. Madrid, Feb. 15, 1867. Cue-TE. A letter from Madrid of the 17th says : The Lando of yesterday has not much frightened the population. It has been received with profound indif ference. Its matter and form has been condemned. The small amount of emotion which it has produced is very surprising, and is attributed to the profound conviction of the population that the ministry itself will go to pieces when it shall have exhausted all the arms in the arsenal of its important rage. (ItITTEWS MD:MAIM ) SWISS ARMAMENTS. BERNE, FE'. 21. The Federal government will issue a loan of 12 million franca on the Ist March, for arming the Swiss troops with the Winchester breech-loading rifle. The loan is to be boned in two series. The sub scription will be public. OVERLAND MAILS. CALCUTTA, CHINA, AND AUSTRALIAN MAILS. GALLS, FEB. 17. The Salsette, from China, arrived on the 15th inst., and the Avoca, from Australia, to-day. The Nubia leaves for Suez to-morrow. OUTWARD MAIL OF NOVEMBER 20-2 G. The Bombay reached Melbourne on the 11th, and Sydney on the 13th December. 01.711VARD MAIL OF JANUARY 4-10. The Bengal arrived at Galle on the Bth February. INDIA AND CHINA MAILS. ALEXANDRIA, FEB. 20. The Poonah arrived at 1 p.m.; will sail at day light to-morrow for Marseilles ; Massilia at same time for Southampton. The former may be ex pected at Marseilles on the 27th inst., and the latter at Southampton about March 6. BOMBAY (HEAVY) MAIL. GIBRALTAR, FEB. 20. The China left at 1 a.m. to-day for Southamp ton, where she may be expected about the 24th inst. (afternoon). (aPM'S EXPILL.44.) MILITARY CONVENTION BETWEEN SAXONY AND PRUSSIA. DRESDEN, FEE. 18. Subjoined is a summary of the military conven tion just concluded between Prussia and Saxony, settling the future position of the Saxon forces in the army of the North German Confederation : 1. The Saxon troops shall be organised by the Ist Oct. next into a complete army corps, to form the 12th in the army of the Band. 2. The Prussian drill, military system, and army regula tions shall be at once introduced among the Saxon forces. 3. Although the King of Prussia will not interfere in the internal administration of the Saxon army corps, King John binds himself to pay any surplus remaining from ' the estimates into the Federal treasury. After the Ist of January, 1863, the Saxon corps will be reckoned upon the strength of the Federal army, and shall share in the benefits of all its institutions. The Prussian government will supply any arms that may be required. 4. To obtain uniformity in drill and service with the rest of the Federal army, certain Saxon and Prussian officers shall serve one or two years in either army. The King of Prussia, as federal commander-in-chief, will inspect the Saxon corps at least once yearly, either in person or by specially-appointed persons. Any deficiencies observed in the corps will he communicated to the King of Saxony, who will have them rectified and report to the King of Prussia. S. During peace the King of Prussia will only avail him. self of his right of federal commander-in-chief to order the movements of the Saxon troops when he mayoonsider such measures essential in the interest of the confederation. It has been agreed between their Majesties for the present to occupy the places named in the annexed protocol. 6. The oath taken by the Saxon troops will be modified as follows:—" That I will faithfully serve his Majesty as a soldier during my time of service, will obey the federal commander-in-chief and the military laws, and always con duct myself as a brave and honourable soldier. So help me God." 7. All appointments of generals to command in the Saxon corps made by the King of Saxony shell be subject to the approval of the King of Prusaia. The latter will appoint the commander-in-chief of the corps. All Saxon generals dial take the oath to the King of Prussia as federal commander-in-chief. The King of Prussia will appoint the fortress commandants. 8. No compensation will be paid for the fortifications situated in Saxony, or for their armaments, and these fortresses shall become federal property. Territorial sovereign rights and the rights of individuals will remain unchanged. 9. Reinforcement or mobilisation of the Saxon troops depends upon the commander-in-chief. The federal trea sury will pay the expenses, but the Saxon government will advance the money so far as it is able. To the convention is appended a protocol stated to be intended to complete and explain Art. 5. It stipulates that, provided the federal constitution is adopted and published by the Ist July next, the King of Prussia will withdraw his troops from all parts of Saxony except Konigstein, Leipzig, and Bautzen. All expenses of removing troops after July 1 will be defrayed from the federal treasury. The Saxon government undertakes the charge of the Dresden fortifications, and will keep them in repair so long as the King of Prussia requires. Out of regard for local interests, the King of Prussia will not at present declare Dresden a federal fortress, and will not extend the fortifications there during peace. "As a mark Of especial consideration for his Majesty the King of Saxony, the garrisoning of Dresden shall be left from the aforesaid date to the Saxon army corps." The Saxon troops will peas under the direct com mand of the federal connuander-in-chief after the let April next. The Italian journals state that M. Girolamo Seola, proprietor of the celebrate,' Villa del Galcotto, near Lem°, on the Lake of Como, and posaesaor of an immen , e fortune, has just blown out his brains. The cause is attri buted to grief at having lost a small sum of money. 'When, after his death, the authorities Game to make an exarninA tion of hie house, they found there upwards of 200,000 fr. in gold alone. The steamer R. R. Cuyler, which recently cleared from New York for Aspinwall, has been seized at the former city, and is now held in custody on suspicion that she is a Milian or Peruvian privateer. She is one of the fastest vessels afloat, was found to contain a heavy armament of Dahlgren guns, and a sloop with 125 barrelv of gunpowder for her has also been seized. [GENCE. EXPRESS FROM PARIS. (FROM ova ow CORRUPONDENT.) PARIS, WEDNISDAT EVENING. In the Corps Legislatif yesterday, the opposition endeavoured to establish the precedent that de puties have the right to present their demand for internellations publicly ; whether they succeeded or not I can scarcely say. For this time, at any rate, the object of the two interpellations pre sented is made known by the report of the sitting, but Count Walewski tried hard to impress upon members that presentation of interpellations should be by rights a hole-and-corner proceeding. On Vis count Lanjuinais stating that he desired to present an interpellation on the subject of themodifications made in the decree of November 24, 1860, M. Walev:ski said it uas not " necessary " to present interpellations publicly, but that they " might be" communicated privately to him. Subse quently, when M. Picard presented an interpella tion of the violation of the secresy of letters, M. Walewski said more positively than before that such motions "ought to be" handed in to him ; and, in answer to an observation of M. Bethinont, he denied having said that there were two modes of presenting interpellations, and insisted that the only right way was the private one. Nevertheless the public way was adopted in this instance, and I think the precedent will be fol lowed, although no doubt the spirit of the im perial conception was that not a word should be said publicly without the consent of four bureaux. The Aoenir National says of the proposed Press law : The government has done a thing which we should have thought impossible. The decree of Feb. 17, 1852, made ns regret the laws of September, but now the new law makes us regret the decree of 1852, issued at a moment when the coop d'etal regime of December 2 was in full bloom. The worst laws of the restoration are outdone. ASSOCIATED CHAMBERS OP COMMERCE. ( THIS DAY.) The third and hat sitting of the members of the Association of Chambers of Commerce of the United Kingdom took place this morning at the Westminster Palace Hotel, Mr. SAIIPriON S. LLorii in the chair. ALTERATION IN BILLS OF LADING. Mr. Arurnaon, of Hull, moved the following rem.. lution on this subject :—" That it be a recommenda tion from the Associated Chambers to all ship pers to English colonies and foreign porta, and to all masters of vessels, that on signing bills of lading the same should be numbered in a similar manner to bills of exchange (being designated as first, second, third, kn.), and that the first bill of lading should be looked upon as the primary document upon which the receiver of the goods is to act, and which should be the bill of lading for reindorsement when the gouda are shipped to order." Mr. HEYMANN, of Nottingham, seconded the resolution, and it was carried. ADVANCES BY PUBLIC LOAN COSINIssIONERs TO HARBOUR ACTIWEITIES. A resolution on this subject was brought forward by Mr. FALLows, of Middl . It was us follows : " That the government be as ed to introduce a bill in the next session to empower the Loan Commissioners of Public Works, on the recommendation of the Board of Trade, to make advances to harbour authorities for the purpose of extinguishing their existing debts ; such advances to be repaid by instalments, including principal and interest, and to extend over a period not exceeding fifty years." Mr. WHITWM, of Kendall, seconded the motion. It was suggested that the words " with the view of re. ducing the charges on shipping " aliould be added to the resolution. The wooer isdopted the suggestion, and the resolution in its amended form was agreed to unanimously. INSPECTION_OFIIIIIPPING AT SEAPORTS. Mr. ALLitungs, of Newcastle, propoeed the following resolution :—" That as there is reason to believe that the enormous losses and casualties at , ea are frequently owing to vessels being sent out in an unseaworthy manner, inefficiently equipped or over laden, and that in many oases the disaster, may be traced to incompetency on the part of those in command, it is expedient to urge upon the Board of Tride the desira bility of an inspector of shipping being appointed at the principal porta of Great Britain and Ireland, whose duty it shall be periodically to examine such vessels as bold no certificate of class from either the London ur Liverpool Lloyds' in England, or the French Veritm,. :aid to issue under his hand a certificate of seaworthiness of such vessels, with whom the possession of such certificate shall be cone pulsory, wider penalties, on default, as are imposed by section 3rd of the Merchant Shipping Act upon owners of passenger steamers. It m also expedient that to every local marine board a legal functionary shall be attached, to conduct oil behalf of the government inquiries into losses at sea (there being a manifest nobs. ',coition on the part of private individual , to undertake such inquiries), and finally, that all masters engaged in home carrying trade should be obliged to pass an eXaMilli• tion, and to obtain a certificate of competency in the same manner as those engaged in the house passenger and other trades." The resolution having been seconded, Mr. Weisr, of Hull, moved an amendment to the effect that the consideration of the question be postponed. On a division, the amendment was curried by a large majority. REIWCTION OP OCEAN POSTAcE. Mr. WERT, on behalf of the Hull Chamber of Commerce, submitted the following resolution for the consideration of the association : " That a reduction of one-half of the present postage rates to foreign cointrics, and to our colonies, would confer a great Isle:lit on the mercantile interests of this countiy ; would be calculated greatly to extend our intercourse, and promote our political and social influence ; while it would be equally beneficial to the colonists an.l foreigners. That from the experience of the effect of a reduction in e, both inbred and foreign, there is every reason to la rie,agethat the increase in the number of letters would be 'o great as to make up the deficiency from the reduc tion in the rates. That suitable reprc:entations be nude to the proper government authorities, to effect this de sirable object." Mr. W. E. FORSTER, M.P., suggested the omission of the word " one-half," as well as the advisability of hil• pointing a deputation to wait upnii the Poothaster. General and the Secretary to the Tn.:wiry en the subject. The hon. gentleman said it was sot only our own poet-oltice they had to deal with, hut the arrange• nents our post-odice authorities were able to make web foreign governments. Therefore the resolutions t ightsa to be so definit.: as to suggest the amount of redacts.a. They did not know the proportions paid by the se cr r d governments. They must also bear in mind that then ws an expense connected with foreign and colouial He referred to the sum paid for contracts and the subs'• dies to steam-packet companies to enable them to car/ the mails. It was a question of meisi.lerable difficulty, and came under the notice of the l'e.asiiry. ss a,ll as the Post-office. It would be well t.a peas the matter upon their attention, and in any . 1. presentation made especial stress should he upon the present extreme charge to Ana.rica. bear.) They could hate no doubt that if by am arr.aige ment between our government :and that of the States the charge could be reduced there a ‘Ol l . l 1 . 1 , 4 enormous increase in the number of letters 11. 0- .lng.`'" tween the two countries. Such nuitibcr in all prohabdity would make up the difference. (Hear, hear.) The motion was carried after being amended in ' l ' manner suggested by Mr. Forster. TELDrItAPHIC coniaugicAtl..N. Mr. MORRIS, of Halifax, moved- - Tlisit the asitaiati a do petition government in favour of placing th, Weir i• phia communication of the United Kingdom %mat !:,e control of the Post-office." Mr. Asmstritotic, of the South of Scotland Chandet of Commerce, seconded the resolution. In the course of a discussion whiib ~ .. members of the association ni..11 tio• systiot of combination adopted by tekgrapit cvulp.itaius iu tte making of charges. Mr. FoBBrrit, M.P., said he had given notice to rte government of his intention to ask a tote, ti.sll ..n this sot. ject. He regretted that he hail not rt., ivisi iito.ait before the question came under the ciao‘iikritiiin of it" association. The resolution was carried. Al! the subjects F fated in the erogrammc loaning hcrn disposed of, the proceedings terminated with of thanks to the chairman. - The United United States navy now contains 274 ‘vsla . : s of all kinds, of which 49 are ironclads. Of th.• are now at League Island, near Philadelphia, 10. d N. • Orleatui, 8 on the Mississippi, and ti at Wa,liington. Poet-office money-orders cati now be drasn in the United Kingdom on the following foreign emintli. l and British colonies and dependencies, viz.: AlesatAi... Antigua, Bahia. Barbedoes, Berbice, Bermuda, Bucaai Ayres, Canada, Cape of Good Hope, Cowtantinopl, I ko. • new, Dominica, Gambia, Gibraltar, Honduras, Jainaic. , Lagos, Mdta, Monte Video, Montserrat, N,• Brunswick, Newfoundland, New South Wales, Nov 7,* land, Nova Scotia, Pernambuco, Prince Edward's Ida , J. Quebec, Rio de Janeiro, St. Kitt*, Mt. Lucia. st. (W. 1.), Sierra Leone, South Australia, Tastudda, Trinidad, Turk's Island, Victoria, Webteru ! i I