The Express. — London, England, 1868-05-28 00:00:00

_ln and after .)) NE P., the Price a TH E DAILY NEWS .:! he ONE PENNY. 11, tree: irises tt the • PAILY liWs'• h,ie peat satis:,:e• thiti in announcing a step ahi, ii they believe will In- accepted the puulie as it , own justification, for it *lily advances in the line of its natural de% elotinient when it adjusts its publishing arrabgenients t..) a state of things whioli for two-and•twenty ytars it has lahoured net iitisuc.iessfully In promote. In preparing for this transformation one thought has pre- Om:hatted in the solicitude of the pi oprietors. l heir aim has 1400 to wake "THE DAILY 11.:WS" universally a.-cesaible, hot to alter its anaheter ; and they would con,bler their labour wi rse thou in,t were they to consent b. cliiiiwes which would wry its toile or in any way in,l air its title to 1! , 1,1 its urn - li' e in p•iblie tawny. IDE POLITICAL AND LITERARY tion of the Journal will mmain ruchanged, AND 1:E SUPPORTED BY AN ACCESSION OF EMINENT WRITERS. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE w,urt,t << oil organisation of spedal and ri .11:girt I sortspon. den e, t n:lira in!; the entire World. THE CITY AND COIMETICIAL NEWS w!'.l tor lieret6fort.. Fkill, haily. and Impartial in a word, while .61 iia present feati:r , s will he lillintainud, it arrange ',olds will hn,lerg. , no e ther laraliti:ation than such as Is neces sary*, a inore tlioroith and efli lent representation and .11,o:wi t •.. I 111V0 0•' ,irren and .pinions 1 the day. I-111 \4. AND 41)V1.1111 , ENI F. \I s 11( E. :I. 0.1 , rhEi:T, FLEE( I I. A passion so universally diffused as that which finds its climax in the Derby cannot be preached out of existence. In the legitimate work of the day there i■ nothing that calls for re proof. No reason can be pleaded why the com parative speed of the fleetest horses in England should not be tested, nor can anything to the pur pose be said against allowing the victor to reap ample rewards of his judgment in purchase, his success in breeding, or his skill in train ing. The spectacle of noble animals putting forth their highest powers in a contest which excites their own emulation and pride, and which demands the utmost address, tact, and bold ness on the part of the riders, is an exciting but not a vicious one. Perhaps the practica of training horses for a struggle of two minutes and a half has not that good effect upon the breed which is sometimes attributed to the pursuits of the turf. An animal which is all swiftness and has no staving power is of little use for ordi nary purposes. lint the luxury is legitimate ; and the faculty of producing any quality that is needed in its highest possible degree may be turned by judicious selection and combination into the best account. It is not the, racing on the Derby Day, but the parasitic pursuits and in terests that have grown up round it, but which admit of being severed from it, that consti tute the evil to which men of no over-rigid morality are opening their eyes. There is no intrinsic reason why the horse races on Banstead Down should not be as innocent as the boat races on the Thames. Epsom is not intrinsically more vicious than Putney or Mort lake. True, the greater number of competitors multiplies the chances and affords a larger scope to the ingenuity of book-makers, a horse can be " got " at " more easily than a boat, and does not tell the tale of its treatment so explicity ; and flesh and blood are liable to a thousand honest accidents which do not befal wood and iron, and are not capable of being so promptly remedied. These illegitimate uncertainties, involving elements of chance which no skill can compute nor pre caution guard against, give its vicious character to the excitement and specula tion of the Derby Day. Good examples in high places might do much to abate the evil. hint when peers and millionaires, to whom the doors of every conceivable enjoyment are open, find life dreary without the excitement of ruining themselves and their neighbours, no one can wonder that the small shopkeeper, and the fagged-out City clerk, or apprentice, feel the temptation a strong one to relieve the monotony of a dull and sordid life by the excitement of betting on the Derby. The social incidents of the day considered by them selves, the holiday, the conviviality, the mingling of all classes and both sexes, the beatific vision of the upper ten and their equipages which rewards the eyes of the humbler sort, and the knowledge of the lower thousands, with their grotesque ways, which amuses the supercilious good nature of the humbler orders ; the view of, and the view from, the stand in which Mr. Ton HEATLEY'S guests were observers and observed ; the unrestrained good humour, the forgetfulness of c....res, sure to present themselves without special summons on to-morrow, are things good in them selves. A few excesses might, perhaps, be conveniently pruned away. But it is not the out ward evil of the Derby Day but its latent mis chiefs, not the things which appear on the surface but its secret history, that make it a day to be marked with other than white chalk in the national calendar. FURNITURE and DECORATION. ACE ,ON and GRAP NI invite families about to furnish to ltspc-rt the various departmenta of their establishment ithe laretst and met complete of its kind? and their manufactory adjoining, in which, with the aid of steam power and machinery, all means of e. onong ost in the production of first-elan furniture are employed. The shoe.rooms contain every descrip tive and style of furniture from that adapted to the require ment• of those who desire to furnish at the most economical I ale consisnt with good anti sound workmanship to that In width a rt industry of t he highest class Ii employed. Every article is marked In plain Ogr.res at cash prices. 33, 34, 35 27, and 3s, (isfordstroet. L11:72" OSLEIVS (:LASS CHANDELIERS, Wall Lights. and Lustre,. for (las and Candles, Table Glass, (.1...e Irinner :sem nee for I 2 persons. from £7 Ina. Olma Peseert 'service for 12 perv,ms from £2. All articles marked In glum f.g,sres. Ornamental Glass, English and Foreign, suitable for pre.rilt9. alts, Idipt.rt, and Furnishing orders promptly executed. • v —Show • room .1. Ov fo, Al .• t reet .W. 1111.vINGITAM—M autifn . tory and , how•rooMs, Eroad.street. lau.ldished 1807. - - - ----- CRIANDELIERS in Am! BRONZ E t'and r an la d l•ra. M ORMOLU tur VINING 1:ta)%1 kßY.ode I;ronre. tonoolu. 1111113. and law. StalluAtes In I arlau, VA., and ,rlitr .Tuaniente, In a mom ere..ted expreaaly Itr !Ili article,. a , 1.1-.E. tosford •treet. W. PHILLIPS and PEARCE, Artists in (lain and (I:ina to the Qlieen. respectfully solieit an inse.l n of thi ir NOVEL d I(E.tETIFUL fiEsIONS. The y a xe original. moder Ate in pr ice, perfect in tone. workmanship. material, and nmnfarture. Mr. D. Pearce tur IS )ears at 19. St. James s.street) has liel:lAss department unde- his direction. :A5, Sew Itonii , treet, and VI and 359, toford-stro t. frnilOn. ----- WILLIAM CHI and SON, 110 , -IV.FV‘ end SHIRTMAKER ,- . I•NDERCLOTHING. V! and t. 2, US YOKI).<TREET. - FT —ST-CLASS CARPETS, DAMASKS, &c., LoWE , T PkICE.. ..:teras can he b rwartltll to tligCo;.otry tree. VENA ELLS I SONS, CDNItoN, E. yr-ST-CLASS SiCES;n(IFANCY DR] It wrcT 1 . 1:177M Pancras twut to the• Country Fire. T. VY-NAT.LEN N SIN•. LONDON. E. FIRST-CLASS DRAI'ERY, MANTLES, &c. arriage 4 ree. ti nt;al) half a reuk:q•. ---•• FIRST CLASS MO RNI ?...OwE•T ra:terns soot to tie r.o , ntrl Free. T. & SONS. LON PON, E. • FIRST CLASS FURNITURE, BEDDING, &c. LOWE , T Nn 111nstratc , 1 Itice List l'ost Free T. VENAP! Es k SONS, 103. 104 . Nrul 105. Whitechapel, end 2,4, b, and B, Ctsrfon..trial-gritt, Landon. - • - ITENBN BRETT mid Co.'s " 0 . D. V.' BRAN Nl, , es. tar gallon and '..14;e. per doz., it‘tnrnetnlitl by livenelnn prelexclon. In a la se for the c übtu, ,trJlway nn.l :,0, Re;.-ent—treet BoRWICK'S PURE _I.Je AK INC 111 W DM: is the BEST. —Ask for and have only ottwn•K3 l'l . llE FAKING POWIIPT.. Odd evcrywherr. AGIFT to the UNINSURED. THIRTY -HORT 1:F.1.1!1.: ( to THIRTY COMMON OE,' E. 1116 N, ly W. II to.l.ed, author o I •• Handbook to Medical Ro ((rec.:4*c. `oeut To(oA free (.ro applratior to Mr E. 11.00i1O ( , Agent County Fire and provident Life (office, (7, Strand, M c. Elie ervirMS. kt AVM ARK XT. :me TVINING, 1111. I.‘l.Es CII ANIPION.—A HERO T./MANCE. Mews. Pothers, Buckstene, Compton, Chippen Ode, l'a,gers.dt I flak; Mesdames Wrenn's. lone Burke, 'ale, i &c —Acd A CO ICEIt ATI VII 'MOVEMENT. ETILAND. 111 , F. , . tNING. EAU( SERVICE.—THE FIELD OF THE • LOTH OF GOLD. -And %LAME! AGE AT ANY ITTE. BRITANNIA, ;nl , ACK If 1. NTERN 1 11:, 1 . II E lII•1'F. RII:• I$l,N tIF IRE T 1 RI Mtstra. Craufitral. l'itt. I %atm flay hoot)), dit —Mr. and Mrs. Wigan D 411 K `IDE (ri TIIE GREAT MElllOl . Ol_ !S. Mn. Lime. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. rni PAT —Morning. t.h. --Atterroor, r,l. !,*en. T(-11(ILLCW-.-Mollailla, 7h 2n— --Afternoon, 7A. .!,ca. relic Es (.1 I:17.111q, MAERIAGE., and DEATH.. are received intil 12 Cclw. k lor Insertion same evening. Price 21. Gil A SECOND EDITION of the EXPRESS, CONTAIFING The Latest Foreign Telegrams; the Latest City; Railway, Mining, and other Sham ; Sporting, ant Genera] Intelligence, IS Sri...L:9IIED EVERY EVENING. LONDON, THITSDA Y, MA Y 28. 171 E .1161:AL THE DERBY DAY. T Derby Day has come and is gone. The excitement of many previous months, and the fortunes of a whole life-time, have been compressed into some thing more than two minutes and a half. Colossal revenues have changed hands. Hopeless ruin has become more thoroughly hopeless and I inure comoletely ruined. Desperate fortunes, trem nling in the balance, have received another chance of redemption, or have been converted into safety . and wealth. There was scarcely a horse which ran in yesterdays race that did not carry on his back besides the jockey some sporting C.F.-.A I: and his fortunes. 104 ',di, of at The critical two minutes aid a half det,rinined for many an ornament ~ f BURK E'S "Peerage '• and Landed Oentry - the issue between Mayfair and Homburg, or Belgravia and Baden. Large acres which, had the event of the (lay been other than it «as, might have descended unencumbered to some youthful hoir, whose interest in horses does not extend beyond the rocking-horse or the Shetland pony-- if such pristine innocence still lingers even in the nursery- will now come to him laden with mort gages, or will be brought to the hammer, and pass to some cotton spinner from Manchester, or contractor from the City. On a lower rung of the maiid ladder, Bloomsbury may find a temporary asylum at Boulogne ; and may bless the dissociating sea which severs it from the land (-I its birth and of its creditcew. In yet humbler families the table will be more scantily furnished, •he boys' or ',finis' schooling more suddenly termi :.ateO, the old clothes worn a little longer than they would have been if the favourite had not sub- THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EtrENING, MAY 28, 1868. raided to the caprice of fortune and proved the fallibility of racing prophets. Too many an apprentice will find a temporary solution of his difficulties in the inside of his masters till, only to find them renewed in the inside of the nearest lock-up. This mischief which, like pale death, beats with impartial foot at baronial halls and city clerks' lodgings, is beccining graver and more penetrating. It is telling upon the national character ; and some I of its reflex influences may perhaps be traced in the madness of trading speculations, in bubble com panies and contractors' lines, and in the frau dulent weights and measures of Lambeth shop keepers. I■ there no cure for this worship of horse-flesh, except a hippophagic one tTo get rid of the multiplying evils of the turf by converting possible winners of the Derby into horse-beef would be a violent remedy. The Doman Em peror made his horse a consul. We make our winner of the Derby a divinity. The Derby Day has more than the honours of a Saint's Day in the Parliamentary calendar. The House of Lords and the House of Commons would as little think of sitting upon it, as they would of sitting on a Good Friday. We date from these annual struggles, and the names of the victors enter into our chronology. " Dundee's year " is not less historic than that which passed Colutille Phi ore. 39URNALDS.11 AND LITERATURE, THE professions of the journalist and of the littiratoir are frequently combined, but they are as frequently distinct, and it is possible to pur sue one with success without achieving reputation in the other. Almost every great writer of the day has done good work in journalism, and there are authors of high reputation who, like Miss MARTINEAU, Mr. LEWES, Mr. FORSTER, and Mr. CARLyie, have devoted to it some of their choicest labour. But there are many' men distinguished as journalists who have I failed in gaining, or have never attempted to gain, a literary reputation. They have de voted themselves to the interests of the day, and have written upon them with consummate ability ; but their knowledge of politics, or of great social questions, has been expressed solely in the columns of the newspapers. They have done, it may be, ' noble work as citizens ; but they have done no work which deserves to be ranked as literature. In the present day, the force of journalism seems, upon the whole, greater than that of its more dig nified rival. Life is so much more rapid, more interesting, more earnest, even, than in former times, that every day brings with it important subjects for controversy and discussion. The electric telegraph and the steam engine have placed us ru rapport with the whole civilised world ; and the interest in public events is first stimulated and then gratified by the newspaper press. Our daily paper has become as necessary to us as our breakfast. To be for four and twenty hours with out news is to relapse into the realm of chaos and old night. A newspaper keeps its readers civilised—it takes them out of the narrow world of business, or the still narrower world of pleasure— it gives them a variety of interests and breaks up the selfish isolation which is as hurtful to indi viduals as it is to nations. The seed it sows springs up with tropical rapidity. The service it renders is of instant value, and perhaps the main Wonnsworan observed with critical sagacity (although the remark once made appears obvious enough), that there is a literature of power as well as a literature of knowledge. Great writers do not so much convey information—small writers may do that—as they suggest thought. They inspire rather than instruct, and it is this inspiration which gives to what we may term pure literature an influence entirely distinct from that exercised by journalism. It has been said that the two can not act together harmoniously, that the one is a trade, the other a dignified profession—in other words, that a newspaper is a mercantile specula tion, while a good book is, in !Mixon's language, " the precious life-blood of a master spirit." If this be true it is no reason why the journalist should be separated from the man of letters by any distinct line of demarcation. Indeed, although, as we have said, it is possible to be a journalist without being in the strict sense of the term a literary man, yet it is evident that up to a cer tain point the powers exercised by each are of necessity alike. Both, to be successful, must be men of culture and refinement—must have read much and thought more, must possess command of language and felicity of diction, and both after parting company and choosing different roads are again and again attracted towards each other by mutual interests. Call journalism, if you will, a trade, and litera ture a profession, or call both by the same name ; yet it is evident that in both cases one of the main objects in view is to make money. This may be a blunt statement ; but it is perfectly true, just as the object itself is perfectly legitimate. Physicians do good, and do it gladly, in the exercise of their calling ; but they would never enter the profession if they did not receive as much as they bestow ; and we do not fear to assert that the literature that has been produced, in the best sense of the term, professionally, in as good as, if not better than, the literature from amateurs and wealthy die,t tantes who have never received a penny for their labours. Money may, of course, be sought after too eagerly in this profession as much as in any other, and an avarice of pence may result in sterility of thought ; but on the whole, men write best who are paid the best for writing ; and on the whole, too, though there must of necessity be exceptions, men who can demand the highest fees are the best entitled to receive them. When Mr. DISRAELI affirmed the other day that literature was as well organised as it is honour able, he stated what he would find it very difficult to prove. On the contrary, we may assert, and with gratitude, not that it is disorganised, as Mr. FROUDE stated at the Royal Academy dinner, but that it is still—as in this country it ever has been— without organisation. No possible kind of cor poration would be of the slightest service to litera ture. Enough that the man of letters is free from the degradation of being forced to seek a patron, and can rely upon the verdict of the public. All he requires is that he shall not be hindered by un just laws from receiving the full fruit of his labour ; and there can be no doubt that an inter national copyright with the United States would be of more essential service to him than any attempt to raise his status by an official recognition. He does not want an academy ; lie does want to have his work protected from the plunder ..f en terprising pirates. THE minority clause which it is proposed to insert in the Scotch Reform Bill in order to secure a Tory member for Glasgow is, we hear, to be strongly opposed. The scheme is disliked in all the large towns, and the Tories in Parliament chiefly favour the novelty from their belief that it is so distasteful to the Liberals that they will cease to call for the disfranchisement of any more small boroughs lest the spare seats be transferred to large towns with the condition of the Cumulative Vote attached. The Opposition intend, we learn, to press for a committee to inquire as to the amendments needed in the Registration Act in order to allow of a dissolution in October. THE question of contributions by the State for religious purposes is provoking unusual attention in New York. The Common Council of the city have, fortunately, no power to assess taxes or make special appropriations, but are compelled to submit their estimates to the State Legislature. For some years past grants have been made for sectarian objects—the Roman Catholic churches alone obtaining annually some £45,000. This year an attempt is being made to largely increase the charges on that account, and the better to suc ceed, increased sums are offered to other denomi nations. It appears, however, that these grants have much more to do with politics than religion, and are given to the work of incresaing the demo cratic majority in New York City rather than to the labour of Christianising the poor. The expendi ture, by its very recklessness, may possibly oome to an end altogether. Some of the institutions have refused the grants proffered by the bill ; and the newspapers begin to demand a discontinuance of all the grants. It is not just, they now argue, to raise money by taxation to support any eccle siastical or theological system, organisation, or school. No money should be raised by taxation for private expenditure ; and no institutions, not managed and controlled by persons appointed or re movable by the government, should be the recipient of public money. The Right Hon. Sir Stafford and Lady North li - cote bad a dinner party yesterday evening at their resi dence in Harley-street, at which the following were pre sent : —Viscountess Midleton and Hon. Miss Brodriek, Lord and Lady JoeelimPerey, Sir Francis and Lady Gelds mid and His Jekyll, Sir H. Montgomery, Colonel sad Kn. and Mile Pape, Mr. and Mn. Ashley, Mr. Faner, . Mr. Frederick Ferrer, Miss Richmond, Mr. Sekter-Booth, M.P.. and Mrs. Booth, Mr. GUrdOD, Mr. Hardy, he. Ting JATANBU TROUTS AT THE LYCEITH.--The Prime sad Prisms of Wales sad ..it, and the Crown Primes of Denmark went to the Lyman& Theatre last evening to triton!' the performances by the Japanese troupe. The committee say it is evident that the receipts, end some of the payments of the fund, arise from regulations of much importance and nicety, forming links in the chain of the purchase system which it will be impossible to deal with satisfactorily without entering upon the merits of that system ; but this question was beyond the scope of their inquiry. They observe, however, that the recent regulation entitling en officer after 2.1 years' service to retire, without bringing back another from half-pay, has had the effect of increasing the flow of pro motion, and the rule laid down by General Peel, when Secretary of State for War, under which any difference exceeding 4501. between the regulation price paid to • retiring officer and that received front his successorotould be applied to the grant of • first commission without pur chase, confers advantages on candidates for such commis sions ; but, on the other hand, it is urged that if to a greater extent than now commissions in succession to officers retiring on half-pay were granted without purchase, advantages at the expense of the fund would result both to the retiring and the succeeding officers. Whatever opinion, however, may be entertained on this question, the committee are of opinion that the fund should be wound up. They think that no public monies should be at the disposal of a minister (aa in this case, in which the Secretary of State has power to levy charges on persons seeking commissions or pro motion in the army and to apply the proceeds to public objects at his own discretion) except such as are voted by parliament or charged on the conso lidated fund. Although the reformation of the Yeomen of the Guard, the Gentlemen-at-Arms, and the Military Train has no doubt been beneficial to the public service, that consideration does not appear to the committee sufll ' dent to warrant the application to such purposes without the authority of parliament of sums received from sales of commissions in other branches of the service. The committee therefore recommend that any p►y ments which may in future be made for purposes now charged on the reserve fund should be defrayed from monies appropriated to such purposes by parliament ; and that future receipts, together with the balance at the credit of the fund, should be paid into the exchequer. They are also of opinion that any regulations for the com position of half-pay should only be made under the authority of a statute. attraction of journalism, as a profession, is the definite and immediate influence it possesses. On the other hand, the influence et literaiure, while it is more subtle, more precious, and mon endearing, is infinitely less palpable. We know to a considerable extent what journalism does for us, but we never can know the power exercised in the world by a great literary work. We can some times estimate, at its full value, the service ten dered by an orator, but we cannot approach towards an estimation of the service rendered by • poet like MILTON, or a novelist like Oxoaon ELIOT. Who shall say what SHAKESPEAF.E'S work has been in the world, or who will venture to measure the significance of Mr. TENNYSON's labours 1 This, however, we may safely affirm, that national greatness does, in large measure, depend upon a nation's literature, and that great thoughts, exprened in books, are as essential as great actions to the vitality and growth of a people. It is probable that the words stimulate the deeds quite as much as the deeds inspire the words. MILITARY RESERVE FUNDH. The *sleet committee appointed in February kist to inquire into the origin of the military referee hind% the manes from which thew are derived, and the objects to which they are applied, have mat Ili* Mon: which was paiashed this morning. From the evidence t,aktn by the committee it appears that the fund we. croutituted an its present basis by the Secretary at War in 1850. Slue that time no balances have been paid over to any public account, and until 1660 no return in regard to the fund was rendered to parliament. The return pre seated on the 18th February last, however, including • balance from 1866 of 5,3571., shows the total receipts for last year to have been 162,5471. 5.., and the expendi ture 78,5311. 18a. 4d., leaving • balance of 84,0151. Ad., of which 65,0001. has been invested in Exchequer bills. The resources from which this fund is fed are the sales, in certain cases, of commissions in, succession to o ffi cers retiring on full pay ; the differences between the pur chasing price of certain other commissions, and the amounts which the sellers are entitled to receive, as in the case of an officer who has not served for twenty years ; the differences between the value of full pay and half-pay commissions paid by officers who have received that mount on going to half-pay ; and the sales, in cer tain cases, of first commissions. The charges borne by the fund, are, like the receipts, of various kinds. First, there is the allowance granted to officers retiring on half-pay, who have been permitted to compound that half•pay for a sum equivalent (in the ease of an officer of the line) to the regulation prices of the commissions of the rank from which they retired, less the difference received between full and half-pay. These sales of half-pay oommissions, however, are wily permitted when there is a large balance on the reserve fond. Then there are the cavalry officers who, having entered previously to 1860, are entitled, on retire ment, to receive from the fund the difference between the old and new regulation prices of their commissions. In the cases, too, of Yeomen of the Guard, Gentlemen-at- Arms, and the Military Train, which, since 1861, have an been converted from purchase into non-purchase corps, " compensations to (misting interests " have been granted out of this fund ; and from it also have payments been made for the purpose of absorb ing commissions which became supernumerary in consequence of reductions in the regimental establish ments ; but these charges were in excess of the receipts of the fund, and the balance hu been mainly provided by the sale of first commissions. Che Court. BALMORAL CASTLE, Mat 25. The Queen drove out in the morning accom panied by Princess Louise, and her Majesty again drove out in the afternoon attended by the Duchess of Athole. The Queen received an address from the parishioners of Crathie expressing their sympathy and congratulation on the recent escape of the Duke of Edinburgh. The Queen gave a ball to the tenants and gillies of the Bs/moral, Abergeldie, and Birkhall estates and the royal servants in celebration of her Majesty's birthday. The Prince of Wales, Princess Louise, Prince Arthur, Prince Leopold, end Princess Beatrice were present, and the Queen was also there fora part of the time. This day is the anniversary of the birthday of Princess Christian. - . MAY 26. The Prince of Wales, attended by Major Teesdale, left Balmoral this morning. The Prinoe of Wales, attended by Major Teesdale, ar rived at Marlborough-house yesterday morning, from a visit to the Queen at Balmoral. The Prince of Wales, accompanied by the 'Crown Prince of Denmark and the Prince of Leiningen, and at tended by Major Teesdale and Captain Lund, went to Epsom race.. The Princess of Wales drove out, attended by the Countess of Macclesfield. In the evening, the Prince and Princess of Walee and the Crown Prince of Denmark went to the Lyceum Theatre. Prince and Princess Christian, attended by their suite, honoured Lady Augusta Stanley and the Dean of West minster with their company at dinner on Tuesday. The Queen received an address from the pa rishioners of Cratkie on Monday in reference to the at• tempt upon the life of Prince Alfred. The following was her Majesty's reply :—" I thank you for your loyal and affectionate congratulation on the providential escape of my dear son from the hand of the assassin. The expres sion of sympathy and of loyal attachment to myself and to my family which this outrage has called forth from every pert of my dominions, has been most gratifying to me ; but nowhere has it been more grateful to my feeling than when coming thus cordially and spontaneously from you, the friends and neighbours amongst whom it is always a source of happiness to me to reside." The Earl and Countess of Malmeabury had • dinner party yesterday at their residence in Stratford place. There were present the Duke and Duchess of Buckingham, Viscount Hawuden, Lord Stanley, M.P., Lord Strethnairri, Lord and Lady Edward Thyme, the Solicitor-General and Lady Brett, Sir James and Lady Edith Fergusece, Sir Rowland Erriisgton and Miss Erring ton, General and Lady Emily Hankey and Miss Bening, Mr. and Mrs. Cavendish Bentinok, to. The Lord Chancellor and Lady Cairns enter tained at dinner lad evening, at their residence in Crom well-houses, the Archbishop of Armagh and Mew. lioreaford, the Earl of Eldon, Lord and lady Claud Hamilton and Mire Hamilton, Lord and lady Chelms ford and Hon. MiasThesiger,Lord Hodes&le, Sir Edmund sad Lady W. Maenaghten and Miss Marmaghten, Mr. and Miss Henley, Mr. and Mrs. George Hanbnry, Mr. and Mrs. M'Neile, Mr. Paterson, Mr. Alexander M`Neile, Lady Molesworth received at dinner last even ing, the Marquis of elanricarde, the FAA and Countess of geatield, the Mohan Dowager , of Bt. Albans end Lady Diana Beenalork, the Hon. Frederick and Lady Adelaide (Megan, Viscount Torrington, lord Albert l a mer& Hewer, ILY., the Rigid Hon. Sir Hoary Wirer, Sir Jelin end lady Herington, the Hon. GINCSO vomitus, Sir Checks Esascll. X.P., the Eight Hoe. Frederick Peel, Mr. Alderson, and Mr. F. Knoll" at her sesidence in Eaka-plies. THE GERMAN CUSTOMS' PARLIAMENT. The German journals publisha declaration signed by twenty-six deputies from South Germany to the Customs' Parliament, which has just closed its first sitting. In it they say : We have moreover admitted once more that an entry into the confederation of the north would neither favour the union of the entire nation, nor constitutional liberty, nor the particular interests of the Southern Stated ; that, on the contrary, under one or other of these points of view, and in face of the constitution of North Germany, the maintenance of the autonomy of the Southern States is commanded by the preponder ance given by the confederation of the north to military aims which strikes at the culture of moral and material interests, and leads, without lightening the financial situation of Prussi►, to the imposition of increased burdens on its allies. As • necessary consequence of the tradi tional policy of Prussia, these burdens will continue. For almost all parties north of the line of the Main, the subjection of the States of the South is but a question of time and the aim of the mission of Prussia. That the consequence would be the final absorption of the South into one united Prussia must be apparent to every man who is not deceived by the semblance of purring po litical forms. The preponderance of the State President, augmented by annexations, leaves no . place for the position to which the mall states of the Confederation have a right. in view of this situation the task is to harmonise the energetic main tenance of the autonomy of the States of the South with the honest fulfilment of national duties. There is but one mode of attaining this double end— a decidedly liberal policy and the firm union of the Southern States amongst themselves. We are convinod that for these States, governments, and peoples, it is indis pensable that they should emerge from the unten able isolation in which they at present find them selves, and that they should take common action, especially u regards the military defence of the south, even within the limits of the Zollverein, and to assume • fruitful initiative in regard to matters of general utility. The existing treaties give us a right to enter upon this road. The union of the political forces of South Germany for common action cannot be hostile to any other part of the German nation. On the contrary, its rac will consist in acting as an intermediary between the great powers ; it will thus render • service to European peace and to mate rial interests, and it will permit the States of the South exactly to fulfil the duties resulting from the treaties with the north of Germany without exposing them to the danger of being absorbed by Prussia. If even the close union of the Southern States cannot be regarded by us as the complete and supreme satisfaction of material wants, it still appears at present the only mode of attaining, whilst awaiting the dangers which seriously threaten us, the final end—a free and united Germany. (REUTER'S TELEGRAXS.) HUNGARY. PESTH, MAY 27, EVENING. In to-day's sitting of the Lower House, the cen tral committee proposed that the titles of the sove reign to be used in the treaty of commerce between Austria and the Zollvereiu should be " Emperor of Austria and Apostolic King of Hungary." The Ministry have promised that the title ques tion shall soon be definitively settleu. The Croatian deputation has recognised the union of Hungary and Croatia into one state. EGY PT. (Per Malta and Alexandra Telegraph.) ALEXANDRIA, MAI 28. The amount for which the Viceroy may purchase the proposed breakwater and docks at this port when complete is 1,500,000/. Her Majesty's ships Trinculo and Manchester arrived here on the 26th inst. from Beyrout. THE BRAZILS. LISBON, MAY 28. The Royal Mail :team Packet Company's ship Shannon has arrived here from the Brazils, &c., and will leave for Southampton at noon to-day. She brings 6,064/. in specie, 614 bales of cotton, 121 packages of sundries, and 81 passengers. The Oneida, with the outward mails of the 9th, was at St. Vincent on the 19th inst. FOREIGN NEWS. (THIS DAY.) AMERICA. (BY ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH, THROUGH MR. REUTERS AbENCI.) NEW YORK, MAY 'r. The steamers leaving to-day for Europe take out 1,000,000 dole in specie. The National steamer France arrived out to-day. Closing Prices : —Gold, 1392. Sterling exchange on London, 110/. 5-20 United States Bonds, 1882, 111/; 10-40 ditto, 1051 ; Illinois, 1481 ; Erie, 71i ; Cotton : Middling Upland, 30/. Petro leum, standard white, 29.1. Flour, extra state, 9 dole. 50c. Cern, old mixed, 1 dol. 15c. OUR PARIS LETTER. AGITATION AMONGST THE STUDENTS. (71011 OVK OWN COMUISPONDINT.) PARIS, WEDNESDAY EVENING. There continues to be some agitation in the Quartier Latin, but it will soon die out, so far as regards foolish breaches of order, although the pre vailing sentiment against clerical pretensions to domination is taking a fast hold upon the rising generation. It was reported this morn ing that one of the students who came into collision with the police yesterday had died of his wounds. This is net true ; but he is in the Chariti Hospital, and his face is much dis figured from the blows he received. To-day, when Professor See took the chair to deliver his lecture he was so vociferously and continuously applauded that he could not make himself heard for more than ten minutes. At the end of that time he said, " Gentlemen, allow me to tell you that it is ten minutes past two, and my lecture therefore begins ten minutes behind time. We professors are often reminded that we are paid by the state, and that the public money we receive is given on condition that we contribute to the ad vancement of science." This rebuke produced silence, and the lecture, the subject of which was " typhus fever," went on. A great many students daily leave cards upon M. Sainte-Beuve. Some of those implicated in the row yesterday proposed to give the rough music to Dr. Machelard, one of Cardinal de Bonnechose's friends, but who in a letter, humbly ad mitting that he was altogether wrong, excuses himself on the ground that he is bard of hearing. M. Sainte-Beuve made a little speech to as many of the students who came to see him in a body yesterday as were able to find standing room in his small apartments in the Rue Montparnasse. He told them that as an old pupil of the medical school he was very grateful for the compliment paid him. He hoped for better times, and looked to the study of natural, physical, and chemical sciences and phy siology' as a most important element in the progress of the nation. He exhorted the students to work with perseverance, and trusted they would avoid any conduct calculated to give their enemies a hold upon them. An snidest happened yesterday to that prettiest new toy of the season, the captive balloon of the Hippodrome, in which hundreds of people have lately experienced all the sensations of a balloon went, minus the danger. M. Arthur Aguado On Tuesday morning, a boat acciii. :.• , • . . lancholy nature, resulting M the loss of th. ...• .„ men and a boy, occurred near the Curr.A., the information we have at present glean.... .•;.: circumstance, it appears that a yacht twhargha: tleman residing in Belfast, and a •ton..s, s pert y of Mr. Thomas Lyons, of Little !',::::• s. • •:.. lying adjacent to each other at tta• r.:. distance from Larne Harbour. Ectwekh, o'clock yesterday morning a dingy w p :‘,: the stone-smack was put out to the yacht I. i• •'; of conveying a man and boy who were if. on shore. A sailor named Robert l'airb...: I the stone-smack, also got into the punt, the purpose of assisting in running th• •. land. The sea beinz somewhat ber.xy ;:. • the punt war capsized, and the unfortai.. Tt t precipitated into the water. A short tin.... punt was discovered by some men to ta• water upside down. The yacht was beaA..! found to be deserted; and on making ~ (~. the smack, Fairbairn was discovered to • . tr• only information obtained being that he 1.... • •• h punt for the purpose of assisting in rowing..:.;.d boy of the yacht on shore. At a late boa; were informed that the three bodies were ' Fairbairn, who belongs to Belfast, has family, and the grief of the poor woman whee quiries at the quay last evening as to the frith t.: :Le occurrence was most heartrending. The man and boy belonging to the yacht have 1.4 , : certainty been obtained, but it is believed th..: te• is the son of a Belfast pilot.—Norther„ ;SES. arid some of his friends h ad wade ar. rangements with the MM. Godard for a real balloon voyage in the Titan, and at o'clock they started, under the care of M. E. Godard. Owing to some miscalculation, the Titan came into collision with the captive balloon, which, attached to Its rope, was hovering in the air —fortunately anybody in the car. The Titan, as if in wrath with the counterfeit, struck the imp:ILI/1.4v three times, and finally burst it, rising at the Bailie time into the air, while the Ballon Captif , retti.ttql to nothing but shreds of canvas, and the car came to the ground. Some of the party r,;s. tained slight contusions. They did out inahe a long journey, as was interidisi, ac e . soended, probably as soon as they at Ivry. As to the "toy," it Rill re,,...re 20,000 fr. to repair it, and those ascents, five francs enabled an astonished p .hi le to the Arc de Triomphe as a thimble, and ri„. carriages and horses in the Avenr.e de ;l in' !r;.. trice as fleas, must be suspended for ••ame Possibly, when they re-commence, people will • fed quite so sure as they have done ih..t Qt, no danger. The Bourse was a shade lower thi..l and business was very restricted. Marshal N,. report informing the Emperor thal 41! tlit fantry in the army are now provided v ith •• Chassepot rifle, and know how to news that, contrary to custom, t 1... tingent of 100,000 for next yo., • be voted before the budget ; and the of the pamphlet " Peace by War, ,, back some weeks ago, were commented I. " bears" as symptoms the reverse ( . there is so little speculation now that of some great " fact" will prod‘ae ft: I, upon the market. Bente for ace, f.. 1; closing at 69fr. 60c. ; Italian rase biller 7fr. 50c. Credit Foricier ic!! .VELANCHOLY BOAT ACCIN.ST. THREE PERSONS ORO EXTENSIVE BUROLABIE. On Saturday last, in consequence ,-f • turbine's, haring taken place in Taunton betw- , r. u. lice and some of the militia, who were on that day diste.i., the whole of the policemen stationed at Wellington a' withdrawn from the town and sent as a reinforceinee: Taunton, from whence they did not return until betwe 4 and d o'clock on Sunday morning. Th., I..ct a• ‘: have become known to a desperate act of thieves. it, much as no less than five burglaries occurred in the cei of the town of Wellington, and property to a consider.' :- extent was stolen. The several places operated on as follows, viz.:—The dwelling-house of W. I . Esq., lately for many years the manager of Bank, where the thieves obtained an entrance ..t tie of the house, after having scaled the garden wet: a,: ladder taken from the premises of rrederiA W 1,.• • , magistrates' clerk. It appears that a pane 4: . cleverly taken out of the window, appal am. ) (.7n diamond, the window unfastened, and an mitt.... n : toe means effected. Here they found variou , • .• •of plate only, some of which had belonged to tie , ..1, ei Mr. Honey a great number of years, bearii , 4 !..,, ..y crest. The thieves were evidently adepts, for -It:LA.I; articles in the room was a set of castors in which appeared to have been unworthy of it., with the exception of the mustard rers..on, silver, was taken, after having the nitistard it with one of the servant's stockings. Ni': f... Horsey's back premises, although in abothe, ••: • •r the premises of Mrs. Cormier, who keeps .. fate ) • sitory and a chemist's and druggist's shop, trance was also effected, and here, unfortunan!:: ).• s. Cormier (who has the sympathy of all her lair the loss to her is a very severe one), they met se, box, which contained no less a sum than 1...... . pounds, besides several articles of plate. The ihhu. v • been received by Mrs. (..ormier on the trustee, and was to have been paid on the •Ati.• i..y a expected commercial traveller, who utifortonat• !y happen to call. In the same street (south not far from where the ladder was taken, I premises and dwelling-house of Mr. /Incas T.ty draper, &c., where no grext booty us- found: being simply deprived of his Sunday dinner: p:.:'.•' sr. wax a pudding, a portion of which his since he , h thrown to the dogs of Charles Elworthy. Esti. It !...e street the house of Mr. Cutler, stationer. entered, and • few articles of plate taken : th :. • appears the thieves were dittturbed, as M.. petted to go down t..tairs to fetch something fro, h: to children. Near Mr. Cutlet's is the shop of N apothecary, where an entrance WAS attempt-- f • neighbour—Mr. Hill, cooper- having been 0h1ig... 1 . up, heard • voice, and probably was Itint.te,l that no entrance was effected at Mr. iktde r. return of the police from Taunton every effort u..s s..:r to trace the thieves, but up to this time (Tue.l.V. no clue Lila been obtained, although partie sent in every direction.—Sherft.rnt Jmiihrt!. WEATHER REPORT.-(THIS DAY.) THURSDAY, MAY 21., 8 B. T. W. Nairn Aberdeen Leith Shields Scarbore Yarmouth 30.28i 66:41 I N.W. 1 Helder — — l Cuxhaven fikudeames Valentla 130.1- 66154 S. Cape Clear 130.05(69,5d' SW. Roche's Pt 30.11 r 5755 S. Holyhead 30.17r 55 . 54; S.S.W. LiverpooL '30.26e 56 53' A.R. A rdrossati '30.14r 61'51 S.W. Greencastle 130.071'57'53' S.W. Penzance '30.211 55 64' S. S. E., Plyraouth '3o 25r:58 661 E. Weymouth 1 Portsmouth 30.27 r 58,56 S.W. I _ l; l 22llt * , 2. 5 G 3 ,W 4 r , ,VV-` ."- • W 3 r , v"• 2 2 2 4 'A' 3 , I 1 5 W."% London C. Cris Net Brest Lorient Rochefort Biarritz Coruna Brussels Park Strasbourg Lyons Toulon 1 Bares Con 81!4.6 N.E. - - - 161136 ? 130.10 f 73 68 IL 30.134 77 74 N.W. I - - I ! - - 1 4 Al'. 1 3 S.o'. 3 . 3 k: 4 : $.H. 5 I 1 I Li . 11100479 76, N.E. 29.494'41 a) S. 1 • 2 W. Barometer corrected and reduced to 2 dec. at 6,. . letters r f (falling s .stead)), indioitt .• Bon of the mercury within last la hour, rhe,.,,,quel• . posed in shade. Extreme force, with its dilvaieti 41 Jut 24 hours. Weather is.—blue 0 066 ; tacheC ; f.—fog ; ; l.—lightning : rw`:) . o.—oseicast (dull' ; ; a.—sooty ; fall, soow or hail ,mclte , l', aiming 12,1 ?4 turhance. ELVARK . . A high and uniform preware is repolt,d tliss couta of these islands, and a general increAsc is . extent in the south. but upwards of three-it ntlis 31, Scottish stations. Temperature has risen st most stations it is rather high. The prevaieut during continental the last 24 hours has been south-westerly ot• northern anti western coasts It is now front sout vs hto , moderate. On our Channel coast It is light and run weather to generally one. U NIVERSIT Y COLLEGE, LONDON. STORM—The fourth annual meeting for alkagto win be held at Beaufort -troupe, Walken:lmo , .1" J . one o'clock.