The Express. — London, England, 1866-05-04 00:00:00

MIIRTLE, TURTLE, TURTLE. Clear Thick, and Invalid TURTLE BOCPS always ready. 13T.JASIM'S-RALL RIEGILNT-ETRRIT, PICCADILLY. %IL DONALD, Proprivao_2l___'. TO WEST-END DINERS. —The WELLNG- TON, St. Jameasatreet, Piccadilly. Dales' Saloon lion rooms are now Dining-room on the Met fl oo r. The subscrip open. Terms, twelve months, .C.l ski month', £1 Is.— Apply yW D. Cameron, LONDON must heves SUPPER and MUSIC BOW for Geutleen.—Remember, we welt for you at " EVANS'," alter the Comrna Clar den the Ope Theatres. the erpreoo. TO CORRESPONDENT& Advertisements intended for The Express." London Par, must be at the (Am 10, Bouveriewtreet, by Two o'clock on the day of publication. HAY MARKET. THIS EVENING, A ROMANTIC ATTACHMENT. Meson Compton and W. Farren ; Mies AdaCsreedish. —TILE FAVORITE rn Or FORTN Mean Bucksione,Chipwohle, end Rothe UE. ; Mn Chippendale. do.—And A DAUGHTER TO MARRY. PRINCESS'S. Tors t!UTSO, A GHOST IN SPITZ OF HIMSELF.—After which THE STREETS OF LODON. Messrs. Vining, T. Mend, D. Murray, Shore, and Villiers ` MXL H. Marston, and Misses B. Barnett and 1. Rodgers. I.IOELTM. THIS Evverkei, A DAY AFTER THE WEDDING. Messrs Borman, Fitzpatrick, and Clifford: Mrs. klursman, di And c. — HAMLET. Messrs Ifechtez, Emery, Addison, Widdicomb, Yearn, Jordan, Fitzpatrick, ctc, ; Mesdames kliworthy and C. Leciercq. BRITANNIA. THISMNING,TIIE SAILOR'S aka u EN.—The Eclipses Family. --CLOUD AND MUSIIIIL Mr. James Anderson—To con clude with THE DARK KING OF Tlib: BLACK NIOUNTALNS. Miss Clilta CISSe, Mrs. S. Lale, and Master E. Senders. HIGH-WATER AT LONDON. BRIDGE TRii DAY —Morning, 4h 32m Afternoon, 4h. Anin. Tu-Mugnow—Murning, 511 Um Afternoon, Sh. 25m. LONDON, FRIDAY, MA Y 4. IN the Horse of Lonny, the Sunday Trading and Hawking Bill was read a second time. The Qualification fur Offices Abolition Bill was read a third time and passed. Earl RUSSELL moved that the house concur with the Commons in an address for royal commissions to inquira into corrupt practices at elections at Totnes, Great Yarmouth, Rei g ate, and Lancaster, but after sonic objection on the part of Earl GREY, the fruition was not pressed. The house then adjourned. IN the HOUSE of CouNtoNs, the report of the election committee for Huddersfield was brought up, which stated that Mr. Crosland was duly re turned. A new writ was ordered to issue for the election of a member for Stamford in the room of Sir Staff; ,rd Northcote, resigned. In answer to r. B xxev, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND said that it was substantially correct tlutt at a recent trial the Lord Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench in Ireland was obliged to obtain assistance to enable him to read a sentence of death. Mr. LEvitoy explained the circumstances of the case in question, and showed that the statement was not accurate ; the only hesitation which oc curred related to a date, for which the chief justice had to refer to an almanac. The ArrossEy-GENEast for IRELAND said that he was himself present at the bearing of the case, and he could state that the sentence was not pro nounced in due form ; and if it had not been cor rected, it would not have been legal. The matter dropped after soma further discus sion. Mr. MAC VIRE drew attention to the fact that cholera had appeared on board a vessel at Cork. Sir G. Gamy said that no information had been received from the authorities at Cork : but if they had communicated with him, as had been done by the Mayor of Liverpool, steps would have been instantly taken, as had been done in that case, to ensure that all necessary precautions should be taken. - The answer to Lord STANLEY, Mr. CARDWELL said that the report of the Jamaica commission could not be produced for three weeks. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER gave notice of a bill for the abolition of church rates. In committee of ways and means, The CHANCELLOR of the Exen EQC ER brought for ward his financial statement for the year. He began by expressing the relief he experienced, after the sharp debates of the previous week, in entering on a question which would involve no party struggle. He had not to announce asi molus reveu ue on the scale of the last three ) ears—the average of those surpluses being three millions and a half ; hut though his means would be more contracted, he would be able to make reductions not without interest. The expenditure was estimated last year at t;4.103,000/., while it had actually reached only 0,914,000/. To the expenditure of the year might be added the item for fortifications, 560,000 t., making a total of 66,474,000/. There was a portion of the expenditure relating to India which ought to be deducted, so that the real expenditure was 65,424,0001. The expenditure fur 1859-60 was 69,762,0001. ; and making certain deductions the actual expenditure of that year was 68,323,0001., which, compared with that of last year, showed a decrease of 2,900,(1001., while as compared with that for 1858-9, which was 63,225,0001., there had been au increase of 2,200,0001. The expenditure' of last year was—for interest of debt 26,233,0001. ; army and navy, 24,829,000/. ; civil service, including packet service, 10,250,0001. ; and the collection of the revenue, 4,602,000!. The ex penditure of the year was 65,914,0001., while the revenue was 67,812,0001., leaving a surplus of about 1,800,000/. The estimate of the revenue for the past year was 66,296,000/. while it had ac tually reached more than 67,000,0001., or about 1,424,0001. more than was calculated, there being an increase in the customs, excise, stamps, income tax, and every other item beyond tfiai estimate. Comparing the revenue with past years he showed that since 1864 there had been a gradual increase, the average being about a million and a quarter a year. The estimate of the loss;caused by the reductions of last year was 1,868,0001., while it had actually been 1,871,0001. The loss on tea had been less than ex pected, while that on the income tax was consider ably less ; and it had proved that the value of a penny in the pound of that charge was no less than 1,400,0001. In regard to fire insurance duty, the effect of the reduction was a loss, which could only be calculated on half a year, and had been 270,0001., the estimate having been 260,0001., while there had been an increase of payment of the duty owing to the decrease, which was in the gross about 8 per cent. ; but really, and taking the net amount, it was 5 per cent. It would be premature to deal with this duty at present ; but if it was hereafter to be dealt with, it would not be possible to look at it an a source of revenue. The revenue on malt had been favourable ; it had been estimated for the past year at 5,850,000/. , but had produced 6,410,0001. As regarded spirits, the revenue had been 13,950,0001, a very large return. The Exchequer balances had been reduced by unusual liquidations of debt. They were, on the 31st March, 1865, 7,691,000/. ' • and on the same date in 1866, they were 5,851,000/. The estimate of the revenue for the coming year was—for interest of debt, 26,140,000/. ; consolidated fund, 1,800,000/. ; army, 14,950,0001. ; navy, rather more than 10,000,0001. ; and with the collection of the revenue, above 5,000,0001. and the packet service, the total would be 66,225,000/, which, as compared which the ex penditure of last year, showed an increase of 78,0001. In detail, he showed that the in crease was inevitable, owing to works for army, navy, revenue, and miscellaneous depart ments. The estimate of the revenue for the coming year was, from customs, 21,400,000/. ; excise, 19,750,0001. ; stamps, 9,45,0001. ; taxes, 3,400,0001. ; income tax, 5,700,0001. ; Post-office 4,450,000/. ; and miscellaneous, including China indemnity, 3,100,0001. ; making a total of 67,575,000/. ; and the charge being 66,225,0001., the surplus would be 1,350,0001. It must be taken into account that 1,400,0001. of the revenue of the present year was anticipated by the reductions of last year, and but for those reductions the surplus would have • been 2,700,0001. The disposal of this revenue was next considered by the right honourable gentleman, and he referred to the existence of commercial treaties into which this country had entered in the moat disinterested spirit, with a view to inducing other nations to adopt the principles on which we our selves acted. The effect of the treaty with France on the export * rade of that country had been such, as regarded tissues, cotton, linen yarns, and other goods, that, comparing 1860 and 1864, the a mount was 32,900,000 francs in the former, and more than 50,000,000 franca in the latter, and the total increase had been, on all kinds of goods, from 58 nullions and a half of francs to 141,000,000 of francs. Treaties had been concluded withlßelgium, Italy, the Zollverein, and finally with Austria, on the same standard as that with France—no duty to exceed twenty-five per cent. ad valorem on all British goods. This involved two changes in our own tariff ; namely, the repeal of the duty on timber, and the equalisation of the duty on wine in bottle and in wood. The duty on timber was a protective duty on a raw material which this coun try had largely to import from great distances. Tracing the timber duty and consumption of the article from 1811 to 1841, when the duty began to be reduced, he showed that consumption had greatly increased in proportion to reduction of im post, until it had augmented 50 per cent. in the last six years. The revenue from timber for the year was only 307,000/., and this would be reckoned as an entire loss for the year. The repeal to be immediate. In regard to the equalis ing of the duty on wine, it had been at the rate of 2s. Gd. for bottled wine, while it had been at Is. a gallon in wood ; and the duty being made the same on both, there would be a loss of revenue of 71,0001. There were three other changes to be made. It was proposed to reduce the duty on pepper, which had been difficult to defend, and which often stood over for reduction ; and the present opportunity, when no greater matters in tervened, would be used to deal with it by abo lishing the impost at a loss of 112,000/. for the year. Turning to the duties on locomotion, he stated that the revenue derived from that source was 1,600,000/. , including carriages, horses, railways, Sc. He (lid not propose to interfere with the duty on any of these. In particular as regarded railways it was not advisable to meddle with the tax, except as part of a comprehensive scheme for the regulation of those means of transit. But as to the duty on post-horses, which was 266,0001., and on public conveyances, especially onmibuses, which was : 142,0001., it was proposed to deal with them, especially the latter, the question being one of the convenience and comfort of the work ing classes, as well as of the middle class. The licenses would be left as at present ; but the mileage duty would be reduced from a penny to a farthing a mile, at a loss for the future of 90,0001. a year. The post-horse duties included the hackney carriages, and with the duty on thu latter he did not intend to interfere ; but as to that of post-horses, the scale of the license duty would be so reduced as to place the small proprietor on a fair footing with the large ; and this would involve a loss of 20,000/. a year. This disposed of 560,000/. out of a surplus of 1,300,000/. Having stated that ho should move resolutions renewing the tea duties, and the income tax at 4d. in the pound, he turned to the subject of the national I debt, and stated that a considerable amount of Exchequer Bills had been paid off, and the sum that had been paid in reduction of the debt in the past year was 5,179,0001. Speaking of the un funded debt, he stated that looking at the great changes which took place in the rate of interest, it was difficult to deal with government securities of this nature. The amount of that unfunded debt was now 8,267,0001. as compared with over 18,000,0001. in 1858, and consisted of Exchequer bills and bonds. As regarded the national debt, he was convinced that the time had arrived when parliament should face that subject. He was aware that there were taxes which it was still desirable to reduce, but we had arrived at such a point in the relaxation of taxation as gave opportunity for considering the subject of the national debt. Next year there would be a large cessation of terminable annuities, not less than talo,ooo/. a year, which in a degree made the present moment favourable for moving in that direction. The na tional debt consisted, first, of the funded or ix:ma nent debt; secondly, the umf unded debt; and thirdly, the out-standing value of terminable annuities. The total of the national debt at the close of the great war was over 900,000,0001. ; in 1830, it was 842,000,000 ; and in 1840, it was 837,000,0001. On January 5, 1854, it was somewhat over 800,000,0001. During the Crimean war it was largely increased, but in 1858 it stoodat 823,934,000/. while in the year 1866 it was 798,909,000/. During the 40 years of peace the rate of decrease was about 2,000,000/. per annum. From 1854 to 1858 the rate of increase was about 10,000,000/. a year; while since then the decrease had been about three millions a year. This was not a satis factory state of things, and the national debt, he contended, was exercising an injurious social influence. Speaking of the American debt, he contended the burden it imposed was nearly 35,000,000/. a year ; but looking to the vigour and energy of that country, he (lid not think it would constitute any continuous burden on the .American people. The revenue of America was 00,000,000/. a year, which was being applied, as far as possible, to the reduction of the debt. This was an example to Europe, where borrowing was the growing vice of the governments of all European states. The debt of the nine principal European states was over fifteen hundred millions in the gross, all contracted in times of peace ; six of them increasing the amount of debt at the annual rate of sixty millions, involving a vast amount of social and political difficulty. As regarded our own national debt, he stated that we were living in a commercial era of extraordinary magnitude and increase ; and our conunercial undertakings were now as great, with our thirty millions of popula tion, as those of France and America with their seventy millions of people put together ; and the cause of our pre-eminence was to be found in the possession and the facile use., of minerals, and especially coal. It was a question whether our store of coal was practically inexhaus tible ; and a doubt had arisen, looking to the in crease of consumption, whether the limit of that supply could not be calculated. Even if a substi tute for coal could be found, it could not be peculiar to England, and if our coal was exhausted, the relative pre-eminent commercial position of this country to other nations would be lost. If so, there must be a decline of rents, profits, and wages, and this would be followed by the emigra tion of the receivers of wages ; and capitalists would invest their capital abroad; but the owners of rents could not migrate, nor transfer their property to other and more productive regions. The available coal of the United Kingdom was estimated at eighty-three thousand million of tons, while the increase of consumption annually was 3 per cent. at present; but if it increased in the same proportion, at the end of a hundred years it would have become ex hausted at 4,000 feet below the surface. The matter was one worthy of deep consideration. It was idle to think of stopping the supply of coal, to tax it, or to stop its export ; and therefore it was obvious, as we could not supply coal at low prices beyond a given time, it was desirable tu do some thing to meet an exigency which must arrive ; and this might in a manner be done by relieving the country, as far as possible, of its great mortgage. One way of operating on the debt was by surpluses, of which not much could be said ; but another was the conversion of perpetual into ter minable annuities. There was a sum of 24 millions standing on a deposit account of the trustees of savings banks, the whole of which the state was now bound to pay ; and it was proposed to take that sum, which now costs 720,0001. a year, and con vert it into annuities terminating in 1885, which would raise the annual charge to one million. If this was done in 1866-7 there would be a charge . something above 1,200,0001. In 1867-8 there would be a further charge on this conversion of 502,000/. ; but of this 293,000/. would be relieved by the failing in of other annuities. The total addi- hYliamwrill■•••••• THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY Coital charges, making all allowances, would be about 409,0001. per annum. Again, it was pro posed that so much of the dividends of the fund which it was intended to create as were found to b e t o spare, should be re-invested ; and the result would - be that in 1865 the charge would be 1,440,0001., while there would have been cancelled no loss than 50 millions of stock—while from year to year the state would be buyers of stock. He then stated that the surplus being dealt with in making the reductions which he had stated, amounted to 1,064,0001., there would be left a sum in hand of 246,0001. He should take the resolu tions reducing duties and those relating to the con version of debt on Monday. With an apology for having so long detained the house, he concluded, having spoken for nearly three hours and a half. Some discussion of a questionary character fol lowed. Some formal resolutions were passed, and the house resumed. The Exchequer and Audit Departments Bill was considered. The Crown Lands Bill passed through committee, as did the Convicts Projerty Bill. The Land Drainage Supplemental Bill was read a second time. The Grand Juries Presentment (Ireland) Bill passed through committee. Mr. AYN.TON moved for a new writ for the borough of Nottingham, to supply members in the places of Sir R. Clifton and Mr. Morley. Mr. R. Mims said the occurrences at the recent election at Nottingham were such, the town having been in the possession of a mob, that the house ought not to issue the writ without considering these circumstances. Sir H. VERNZY moved that the evidence before the committee be printed before the writ issued. Captain VIVIAN, on the part of the committee, stated that in their opinion, though there was a disturbance in Nottingham during the election, there was no absolute riot. The committee were also of opinion that the writ ought nut to be sus pended. The amendment was negatived, and the writ ordered to issue. New writs were also ordered to issue for Windsor, in the room of Sir H. Hoare and Mr. Labouchere, and for Northallerton in the room of Mr. Mills. The other business was disposed of ; and The house adjourned. Mg. GLADSTONE congratulated the House last evening on approaching a subject which he hoped and believed would involve no subject of centre- versy. It would be difficult to pay the CHANCEL LOR of the EXCHEQUER a higher compliment than he paid himself in this unaffected anticipation of the unanimous assent of all parties to his past and future measures and operations as Finance Minister. The House and the country are too well accustomed to such intellectual exercises to admire as it deserves the perfect ease and calm ness with which this prodigious Minister can turn, almost parenthetically, from the stress and storm of a fierce party conflict to concentrate all the energy and acuteness of his mind upon a clear and full exposition of the national debtor and creditor account. Yet in a commercial age and a commercial country it is not the versatility of a statesman's mind that commands the widest recogni tion and respect, but its concentration upon practical objects ; and nothing captivates the imagination of a mercantile community half so much as this mastery of figures, and this victorious application of the soundest principles of economy, by the chief of the most important department of the wealthiest State in the world. No party speech or party measure, however eloquent or enlightened, no close division, could embarrass the successors of the present Ministry like the remembrance of Mr. GLADSTONE'S financial administration and the legacy of his latest Budget. The Budget for this year is comparatively mo dest and unpretending in its scope ; and in sug gesting this comparison with some former years, with a modesty that disarmed expectation, the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER displayed the happiest artifice of an orator who stands on an eminence of recorded services. For three years past it has been his duty to dispose of a surplus of from three millions to three millions and a half. This year the surplus is but a nett amount of 1,350,0001. The actual expenditure of the last financial year was a trifle less than the estimate ; and the total amount was a decrease of 2,900,0001. com pared with the year 1859-60, but an increase of 2,200,0001. compared with 1858-59. That is to say, the annual cost of the military and naval ser vices is again slightly on the decline from that in crease which began in 1859-60. Fortifications have had something to do with arresting this slow and gradual decline, which, so far as it goes, is a satisfactory symptom, but can hardly be said to go as far as might be reasonably desired. More re assuring is the comparison of the estimated with the actual revenue of the past year, showing a surplus of 1,420,0001., and a surplus, moreover, through all the principal branches of revenue —Customs, Excise, Stamps, and Income-tax. The value of a penny of Income-tax has risen from between 700,000/. and 800,0001. to nearly double that amount, while the estimated loss on the reduction of last year is smaller than was expected. The result of the reduction of the Fire Insurance Duty, on the other hand, appears to have justified, in some degree, Mr. GLADsTONE'S apprehensions; and, after care ful calculation, he warns the House against expect ing any further reduction of this duty to afford an increased revenue. He, therefore, adopts the principle of Mr. HrEBARD'S resolution, which affirms the duty to be a burden on property, and its remission a relief to property, for which, if necessary, some equivalent must be found. Whether Mr. SHERIDAN will accept this quietus we know not ; but we fancy some of his usual supporters will. The Stamp duties are paying handsomely, and the Post-office is distinguishing itself as usual by rapidly repaying increased outlay. So that, in spite of last year's reduc tions having anticipated no less than 1,417,0001. of this year's surplus, we have still 1,350,0001. to dispose of. There is an obvious advantage in a surplus of this kind ; it is not enough to stimulate the sturdier mendicants for relief, yet sufficient to deal with the smaller claimants, who are apt to be lost sight of, because they don't cry out. The edge of novelty had been blunted this year by the announcement some time since, that, in pursuance of the treaty with Aus tria, the small remaining Timber duty was to be abolished, and that, in deference to the reasonable appeal of the Burgundy wine growers, the duty on wine in bottles WM to be aaaimilated to the duty on wines in the wood. By the abolition of the Timber duty a sum of 307,0001. will be sacrificed, and by the assimilation of the Wine duties a nett sum of 58,0001. From timber and wine Mr. GLADSTONE pongee to pepper, somewhat to the surprise and amusement of the House, which had not noticed the fact, now brought to their atten tion, that pepper was a superfluity which, in the meagre diet of the poor, was almost a neces sary of life, and especially so in Ireland. Mr. GrAnfrroxis stated the case of pepper with characteristic carefulness and nicety, and made t. it the text for some strong remarks on adul t teration (to which pepper is especially subject) as " peculiarly an .English vice." The 100 upon pepper will amount to 112,0001. From ET I ENING, MAY 4, 18_66. pepper to locomotion is an easy flight for a financier. The hackney carriage duty, and the mileage duty are ancient grievances, which have repeatedly solicited Chancellors of the Ex chequer. Mr. GLADSTONE has thoroughly investi gated the subject, and has arrived at a very sound and liberal distinction between the locomotion of the rich—carriages and horses—and the public conveyances—omnibuses, flys, and vans—which serve the wants not only of the middle and lower middle classes, but of the labouring poor, espe cially in large cities and towns, where the growth of railways has depopulated whole districts, and compelled working men to live at a distance from their work, and to spend half their capital, that is their strength for work, in walking to or fro early and late. It is proposed to reduce the mileage duty ou stage carriages from one penny to one farthing a mile. The loss on this reduction will be 61,0001. for the year. The duty on hackney carriages (else where than in London) it is proposed to reduce so as to make it fall comparatively lighter upon the keeper of one carriage and horse only than upon the keeper of several; at present the duty falls heavier in proportion on the man who can least afford to pay it. The loss on this reduction will be only 16,0001. for the year. These reductions, in themselves apparently trivial, are really, we believe, substantial benefits to large numbers of people, and out of all proportion to the loss of revenue. Before he had reached This point in his state ment the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER had en larged, in a most instructive and interesting manner, on the subject of international commercial trea ties ; noting the results of the French treaty, which has so admirably disappointed the fears of the protectionists over the water, has set so beneficial an example to Austria, and enabled us to complete similar negotiations with Belgium, Italy,and the Zullverein. He paid a graceful com pliment in passing to the diplomatic and otheragents who had been active in overcoming the difficulties of the treaty with Austria, and he managed to convey in the friendliest and pleasantest way advice and com fort to certain of our neighbours who have not yet been persuaded of the reciprocity of Free Trade. After disposing of his surplus, Mr. GLADSTONE now approached a subject which alone might have more than sufficed for the energy and ambition of any ordinary speaker —the state of the national debt and our duty to coming generations, who, if recent speculations are to be trusted, will be burdened with our liabilities without our resources to meet them. Referring to Mr. MILL'S recent memorable speech, and expressing regret at the absence, from illness, of the Member for Westminster, Mr. GLADSTONE called the attention of Parliament to this great and growing evil of national debts, which is over spreading Europe. No language could speak more eloquently than the simple figures of the national debts of six European Governments, and of the United States of America, since their civil war. Mr. GLADSTONE argues very hopefully and encouragingly of the power of our American kins men to redeem their obligations ; but of the European States, which are borrowing millions upon millions to lavish upon military expenditure, he speaks in tones of the gravest admonition and reproach, and we trust his words will echo fax and wide. But what of our own National Debt? It was larger by a million at the end of the great war than is popularly supposed ; it was reduced some sixty millions between 1815 and 1830 ; some five millions between 1830 and 1840 ; from 1840 to 1854 some thirty-six millions and a-half ; from 1834 to 1857 it rose again some thirty mil lions ; from 1859 to the present year it has again decreased some twenty-five millions. We now stand much as we did before the Russian War. Mr. GLADSTONE makes a startling calculation of the total amount of the national debts of the :European States at the close of the present century. But calculations of this kind, from their very enormity, are slow to lay hold of the imaginations of men of business. Whether Mr. GLADSTONE'S solemn concurrence in Mr. JEVONS' estimate of the probable exhaustion of the coal treasures of Great Britain within three generations from the present time will affect the public mind more impressively we cannot say. At any rate, the CHANCELLOR of the ExcuEouEit proves the sincerity of his own apprehensions by setting to work this very year to re lieve our posterity of some part of the burden, which he reminds the representatives of the landed interest must fall upon their descen dants whenever England ceases to be the market and Workshop of the world by the impossibility of selling her coal in competition with America. When labour has emigrated in search of work, and money in search of a market, " you," he says in effect to the landed gentlemen, " will be left " alone with your immoveable property, with fallen " rents and a deserted labour market. " Is it not already time to provide for the future ; unless our motto is " Eat, drink, and be " merry," and the warning of our fate is toprompt us to despair ? Mr. GLADSTONE proposes to re duce the National Debt from thirty-nine to forty millions within nineteen years by the conversion of a sum of twenty-four millions standing in a deposit account of Savings Banks Trustees into annuities terminable in 1885, and by annual re-investments of the spare dividends accruing from the same source, in annuities terminable in 1905. THE LONDON (CITY) TRAFFIC REGULATION BILL. The select committee to whom the London (City) Traffic Regulation Bill was referred, and who were instructed " to inquire into the best means of regulating the traffic of the metropolis," have agreed to the following special report : "1. Your committee have heard evidence as to the general street traffic of the metropolis, and as to the attempts made to regulate it under several acts of parlia- ment passed to give to the various authorities in the City, and in the metropolitan police district, power for this Purpose• " 2. Your committee are of opinion that any legislation ' which may be necessary fur the further regulation of the public traffic within the City of London would be ineffica cious and incomplete unless corresponding regulations were in force in a much larger portion of the metropolis, and that such!regulationalshould be submitted for the ap proval of the Secretary of State by the Commissioner, of Police for their respective districts. "3. Entertaining these views, your committee think that it is not desirable to proceed with the bill referred to them, which is limited to the regulation of the traffic within the City of London ; your committee therefore re commend that a general measure to correct the present defects in the law, and to give additional powers to regu late traffic in every portion of the metropolis, should be brought forward by the government." Mr. Alderman Salomon', on Monday, will sat The Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can give tie house any information on the prevent untoward aspect of continental affairs, and if her Majesty's govern. ment has, either by itself or in accord with France, made any friendly offers to the governments of Italy and Austria with a view of soothing existing differences, and averting from Europe the threatened calamities of war. THE ROYAL ACADEMY. PRIVATE VIEW.—(THIS DAY.) The brilliant May morning that smiled upon the Academy to-day, after the cloudy gloom of yester day, seemed to mark with unusual favour the annual event of the artists. The spacious rooms were rapidly filled, first with the moat interested of all comers th e painters themselves, and some of their best patrons, the great picture dealers and their clients. But amongst the earliest it was most gratifying, and happily most significant for the welfare and Interest of art and ar- tists, to see there the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and not the less auspicious certainly that Earl Russell was accom panied by Lady Russell, and Mr. Gladstone by Mrs. Gladstone. Her Graoe the Duchess of Argyll, escorted by one of the young Lairds of the house, was also amongst the first arrivals ; and the Bishop of Oxford, who is rarely absent where art is to be discussed, was to be seen one of the most interested and animated of the connoisseurs who soon filled the galleries. The exhibition will, we think, be univer sally pronounced a very interesting one, not remarkable for any very great achieve ment by the academicians, unless we except Mr. Maclise's study for his great fresco picture in the House of Parliament, which is unquestionably his chef d'ceuvre, but highly in teresting in the great amount of varied talent shown by the rising men and the matured work of those of the associates, like Mr. O'Neil, Mr. Leigh ton, Mr. Anadell, Mr. Calderon, and Mr. Dobson. Those young painters, too, who have not yet reached the first step to the threshold of the Academy, have also done well. The great room never presented a finer appearance than this year. At the top of the room hangs Sir Edwin Landseer's delightfully natural picture of the white Arab mare and foal lying under an Indian tent, on the top of which sport two monkeys, and under it, in snug comfort of skins and rugs, two hounds. Above this fine work is Mr. Phillip's striking por trait of the Lord Justice of Scotland ; and to the right is Sir Edwin's long-contemplated work, "Lady Godiva"—a charming picture of a horse, but the lady not quite so dainty a beauty. The picture is called " Lady Godiva's prayer," and she raises her arms to heaven as she starts on the devoted penance on behalf of the citizens of Coventry. There is also a most life-like sketch in crayons by our great animal painter, in a large life size group, of a stag chased by a hound. Mr. Maclise's noble study of the Trafalgar Victory occupies the centre wall on the left and is, if possible, a more: impressive picture than the great fresco, for the scene comes more readily under the eye. Opposite to this is Mr. Phillip's admirable work, which wo have described below, while the end of the room is occupied by Mr. Goodall's beautiful version of the favourite subject, "Hagar and Ishmael," a work in which the artist has surpassed himself in the magnificent landscape of the desert, and the fine expression given to the figure of Nagar, who is seen not despairing over the fainting boy, but in fierce and determined spirit striding out over the dreary desert. Mr. O'Neil's picture fills the right angle of the great room on entering, and in the corresponding place is Mr. Calderon's charmingly simple, but very richly painted, picture of a little child queen, it might be Anne of Brittany, passing in great state along a corridor, with her attendants and train bearers. It is called " Her most high, noble, and puissant grace." Mr. Frith, R.A., contributes a small but extremely well conceived picture of Widow Wadman and Uncle Toby (73), the lovely widow tracing the battle on the map as the old boy tells his story, and looking into his face with be witching archness. Mr. Hook, R.A., has several of his seacoast scenes, none of which, however, struck us as quite so good as some of his former works of the same kind. Mr. Frost, A.R.A., contributes a large picture of " Dancing Nymphs," suggested by the verso " Come unto these yellow sands." Mr. Yeames, in a picture of " Queen Elizabeth receiving the French Ambassador after the news of the Massacre of the Huguenots," shows a decided advance ; in the heads of the figures there is very great variety of character, and the whole composi tion is managed with very great technical skill. Mr. E. Nicol's " Paying the Rent," (335), an Irish tenant scone, is a picture, that for racy humour reaches a point that Wilkie himself, or even Ostado, never touched. Mr. Ansdell, A.R.A., contributes some good ex amples of his talent, and in ono picture especially, " The Posada," with a party of Spanish country people dancing, he displays all the best qualities of colour and picturesque composition. In Spanish subjects, however, there is another remarkable success from Mr. Burgess, the painter of the " Bravo Toro," of last year ; it is a Spanish hawker selling fans and trinkets at a fair (350), and nothing can be more full of humour and charac teristic incident than this man and the groups around him. Mr. H. B. W. Davis sends another noble work of animal painting, chosen like his last from the broad plains of Artois, it represents two teams ploughing, with the young colts gallopping wildly over the furrow by the side of their dams. A similar scene has been admirably painted on a smaller scale, by Mr. W. H. Hopkins (525.) Two large pictures of rifle matches will be re garded with much interest ; the one represents rifle practice in the old times in Scotland—called a " Wappenschaw"—by Mr. T. Faed ; the other is by Mr. Wells, and is a most clever portrait piece of a party of volunteers at Wimbledon, the figures being nearly life-size. Mr. V. C. Prinsep has painted a large picture of a feats. party on the Lido, Venice, less remarkable, except for its size, than moat of his former works. Mr. Marks maintains his reputation for humorous painting in a picture called " The Notary " (565), with a bash ful Flemish couple come to be married, and Mr. Leslie's " Clarissa " (410) may vie with anything in the exhibition for delicious evening tone in the landscape and charming sentiment in the figure, reading a love-letter by the quiet fish-pond. Mr. Ward, R.A., contributes only one picture, and this a comparatively unpretending one of two figures—Leicester and Amy Robeart. We may suppose the courtier earl is seated in some splen did chamber at Kenilworth, and has consented to gratify the devoted lady's often expressed wish to see him in full court dress, with all his orders on his breast. Amy Robsart, as beautiful as paint can make her, has half fallen at the feet of Leioes ter, and plays with the jewelled Order of the Garter hanging from his neck. Leicester is—if not quite the man—at least superbly arrayed in all the luxury of costume and colour that Mr. Ward is so com pletely master of. Mrs. Ward, after whose name we really ought to be able to write R.A., has a very clever picture of poor Palissy, the patter, in despair at another failure of his oven ; his whole batch of su a ti ft fsguiines lying broken on the floor of the smith* cabin of a house, his childr en , half-starved, 1006111 on in dismay, and his termagant wife, who looksi to settling all the bills with the success of thh baking, bringing in the neighbours to witness O s mad folly of her husband. Mr. Phillip, R.A., could not be ex come out with another such magnificent of his prowess as the " Murillo " of last year, he has given us a gem of artistic beauty and lightful humour in hissmallpicture "A Chat , the Bremer° " (No. 132)—egroup of two mk ladiesand two mischievous beauties, with their feet on tho warm brazier, one immoderately the other trying to restrain her laughter at story which the padre is telling with as much liberation as unctuous relish, while he light s cigarette from a piece of burning wood. xi Phillip has also a superb full-length portrait of A t Lord-Advocate of Scotland, which might be rem pared with Velasquez for the mastery of painting, which hangs at the top of the large ro A small portrait study (533) of a Spanish lef t is an admirable specimen of rich colour and refs * ment in expression. ' Mr. Leighton, A.R.A., one of the youngest most promising members of the Academy, h m chosen a fine subject which suited admirably his sy quisite taste for beauty of the refined and dm* order, in his large picture representing a " Proems : , of Syracusan Brides to Saaifioe at the Altar Diana," suggested by an allusion of Theocrite his second Idyll. In its long and narrow form ski picture resembles the work which brought th young painter his first fame, " Cimabue, wits th Procession of Florentines bearing his Picture d the Virgin to the Church of St. Maria Novella ;^)A{ it will be found to be a more important work, s o one in which there is much more matured power, The beautiful Greek girls are shown in every font and type of antique beauty, some carrying gul l * others leading leopards, young tigers, and paatbea, and one principal beauty, separated from the rem in the centre of the picture, leading a limo decked with flowers ; all are moving along skid of raised marble platform leading to the temple, before which the veiled priestesses of the MO goddess are making their acts of reverence, vlula below we see the heads and half figures of du people—an old man and a dark eastern man vitt some boys,whose swarthy forms contrast with audit oT the refined beauty of the scene above. Thai are twenty-six figures in the picture, and every ore is painted u ith the same exquisite grace and feel* for beauty that the artist shows in his milk works, and in many respects, as in the : with even mole elaborate care ; and yet the is markable work was begun and finished in lid more that six months. There is certainly no pis ture in the t xhibition which will excite more wan an 1 general interest, and none that more complete)) deserves it. Mr. O'Neil, A.R.A., has, perhaps, never reader happier effort than in his picture of " The is Momenta of Raphael," a subject which though I must be so familiar to all artists yet has so seldom been attempted. Those who remember Mr. O'Neffr " Dying Moments of Mozart," painted sous twenty years ago, will remark with how much is creased power he has treated this somewhat [Mods scene ; in all the technical part of the art, and colouring especially, it is immensely superior, and in the conception there is much as poetic feeling. The great painter, pale di worn with fever, seems to have radii himself from the couch, by the side of which si the Cardinal Bibbiona watching him, and his der friend and pupil Giulio Romano, who presses Is ar.n affectionately. Ho looks towards the ope window at the evening sky of that last Good Fridaj (he was born on Good Friday, 1483, and died a Good Friday, 1520), and breathes the air feed with the scent of spring flowers. Marc Antonia the famous engraver of his works, and Francini Penni, another pupil, stand at the head of th bed with a third figure, and the painter's gent last work of " The Transfiguration " is seen at as teennntddoaft.he apartment, being uncovered by an at e . to i . 7 ~IN Mr. Armitage contributes two pictures, one al which especially " The Remorse of Judas," will to found more than to justify the expectations formed by his works of the last two exhibitions ; it is con. oeived quite in the high academic style as a cow position of four life-size half-length figures, Mal being of course the principal figure, and very forcibly represented appealing to one of the three Jews to take back the money he holds in his out stretched hand. The agony of remorse and despair with which Judas is convulsed is finely contrasted with the stolid contempt in the countenance den Jew, whom he almost begs to take back the re ward of his treachery. The other picture is of lase pretension, though it will probably give rise to some discussion as to the appropriateness of repre senting the parents of Christ seeking him at Jerusalem, Joseph having completely turned lie back towards Mary, who appears to be inquiring of some people at the well outside the city. There is, however, much beauty in the figure of Mill and the group at the well under the shade of the sycamore, and the gleaners with their thirsty childrea ' In these figures and those of the children playng with birds in the courtyard, the oxen drawing home the ripe harvest, and other accessories, 1f- Armitage displays a more simply picturespe manner than in his other works. CABINET COCNCIL. —There will be a cabinet council to-morrow at Earl Russell's official resideno Downing-street. It iA appointed for one o'clock. — Mi. Oliphant, on an early day, will ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, ti the opinion of her Majesty's government, existing Enrorst frontiers are threatened by the present complicating upon the continent ; and, if so, whether he will state le the house what steps have been taken to secure the mine tenance of treaties to which Great Britain is a party. "The taste," nays the Moniteur, "for historical studies, which is one of the particular characteristics cd the present age, is beginning to penetrate into the Ent. The town of Edcemiadzin, near Mount Ararat, in Armenia' the residence of the patriarch, contains a splendid libratil composed of 3,000 Armenian MSS., of which the literati world was hitherto quite ignorant. A catalogue of the cello Lion has now been printed, and presents a vast field for it searches into the religious and political history of Central Asia. It reveals the existence of unknown works by alla fathers of the church, and of fragments of Diodorna &Mitts and of Aristotle. The Armenian Patriarch states in an official preface that those manuscripts which half been kept secret will be for the future not only open S° examination, but that extracts may be taken for learned men in all parts of the world, if they pay the cost a copying." THE APRIL SUPPLY OP FAT STOCK TO TO M ETR OPOLITAN CATTLE MA the b e ll April comprised 14,640 head, and out of which 7,037 well foreign breed ; of sheep and lambs there were 136irt among which 38,560 consisted of continental imperto 301 tt° 6 There were nine market days in the month, and bat fat calves were exhibited, and Z 33 were Dutch br ty eed. There has been an increase' in the supply of pigg.. o4 prisgate number 3,835, and foreign iMporiallos INt4 e l 1 e 4) hogs. There have been no alga Wee enlim A d 110 CPIII! mo l ts, an . beds" 1 °- and Pm' lodiing. the Boheanis., ceder of W. *en Pe VehiCe. The V on the entire The N been of cadres , eg eral d form _ The Flog m ays that kingdom he in dire) for the Admiral I Turin, an was to leo mead of Adriatic. under d il l Austria in the Q and, with buy wt fortresses Th Prom arrive of thi beeu to tfi Emp the 1 and °anti beta war pub] forl for' eve mil