The Express. — London, England, 1864-02-25 00:00:00

TROUSERS. --Special attention is sailed to the new WINTER STOCK . am gentlemen who do not mind min a fair peke fora good pair of Trousers can depend on material and patterns that cannot he excelled, at HAMILTON and KIMPTONB, 10. sr': \ND, Opposite Exeter Hall. T RELOARII COCOA - NUT MATTING an EARIPITLICON mos-cram WAREHOUSE, Recoorod from No. 4f to No. 10. LUDGATE-HILL. LONDON. 'FHE DEPOTS AIITHENTIQUES for SALE of flu: SNUFFS, Tobaccos. and elms, mauulacturva or HE CH GOVERNMENT TOBACCO ADMINISTRATION. ale at 202, PICCADILLY, W. 40, TL - lI7C WILLIA.II3TREEP, CITY. THE UNITED LIBRARIES, 307, REGENT.STREET, LONDON, W. Subectiptione from One Otunea. WESTERTON'S KNIGIMISRIDGE LIBRARY, IATHERE CAN WE MEET AFTER THE PANTOMIME , . My dear fellow! frentleoleu sup at EVAN °. Coreut-garden. HOW COLD IT HAS BEEN.—NEGRETTI and TAM KRA'S celebrate.' THERMOMETERS will cor rectly register the lowest tetriperstare. Price Ss 64.-1, Hatton garden SS, Cornhill ; 158, Fieti4ireet ; sad IE. Repot-street. Agents wanted. Ehe erpregigi. 70 . 09 . lIISPOICDKNIS. lltteertfronente tat;idei for "fie London Zemin Paper, wait be at the odegn, 10, Booverie-euvet, by Two o'clock oo the UT of pablloottoo. COVENT-OARDK? , I. THD ETilinfO, SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER. Ileum W. H. tvelu, H Corti, G. Perm. and W. Harrison Misses L. Pine and A. Wien—Conductor, Mr. A. Mellon—And the opening of ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON.—Comusauce at 7. HAYMARKET. Tilts Minn, LITTLE DAISY.—BUNKUM , rrtu: R. Mr. Sothern—OUß AMERICAN COUSIN. Messrs. sothern. Beek- Mose and Chippendale : Mesdames Angel, Snowdon, and Harris—And A KISS IN THE DARK. Mr. Clark. PRI 5CF.,k5.3. TEte Err(Mt. PAUIS Mean. Vining, Nelson, rtaher, ForreaterAtellou, Sefton, Cathcart. Mesdames Stanton, C. Carson. Po.eU. and Kate harttle.—And HARLEQUIN LITTLE TON TUCKER,, LYCEUM. THIS Evonso, THE LOPfeIIILD. Mr. Wlddleomb and Mho P. Leetereq.—BEL DK BONI°, a Lore Story. Messrs. Bidder, Brougham, Emery, Charles, and Jordan ; Mime Kate Terry, Lawsnue, and Chwortny y gud Mrs. Lee. R6ITANNL►. TRI! 'METING. THE OUTCASTS. Mesdames I - serial and Mlles—And HICKORY. HICKORY, DOCK. Mesdames S. I.3ne and W. Crauford.-I.l.M.rato - in . ntoen!mistp —Arthur and Bertrand—The Fa: rY Yountinn—Comanner at half.past 6. HIGH WAILS AT 1.4:4D0N BILIDGE. MO DAY %Congo& M. 44m .. .All•raoes. Sh. 58134. ivatoasow Mornlog., 4h. 1!m.... LtSenwoo. 4k. Ma. LONDON, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25. A tioou prospect seems to be opening out of an increase in the supply of animal food in this country. Whatever may be the disputes about the real quality of the diet of the working classes in old times, it is very certain that in our own cen tury the supply of animal food has not increased in any proportion to the increase of numbers, and that the dearness of meat keeps it out of the reach of whole classes who need it more than those to whom daily meat is a matter of course. It may be very true (and we believe it is) that there are many thousands of the middle and lower ranks who would have better health if they took less animal food, and who would stand better at the bank (savings bank or other) at the year's end if they spent less money on the luxuries of the market ; and it may be very true that the superfluity and wanton extravagance of these mis taken feeders would go far to supply the deficiency in diet of the labourers, who never taste anything better than bacon. But the wrong distribution is owing to ignorance, which it must take a long time to enlighten, and prejudices which seem to be exceedingly difficult to reach. The gormandiz ing classes really believe that their over-eating is a sign and a cause of health, and fancy that there is something generous and genteel in it ; and the poorly-fed orders really like bacon better than other meat, and, moreover, have wholly lost the relish of their catholic forefathers for fish. So great has been the popular neglect of our rich national resource of fish—and in Ireland even more than in England the people have sunk nearly to starvation point without showing any eagerness to avail themselves of either sea or river fish—that the new enterprises and arrangements ou behalf of fish-production will be regarded with strong curio sity by the observers of our social economy. The opening of the whole country to access from the coasts by railway has no doubt increased the consumption of fish ; but it is astonishing that, while butchers' prices range so high, the demand should not be very much larger than it is, and that the increase ahonld not be more striking in the cheaper sorts of fish. It is shrewdly sus pected by some knowing persons that the ancient taste will revive in the people generally when it is perceived that the gentry care enough about the matter to take the pains they are taking now to restore the river fisheries, and stock the streams. However this may be, there is every hope that we shall henceforth have more fish at our command by myriads ; and when they abound there will surely be somebody ready to eat them. Whether they appear at the tables of one class or another, they must, as far as the consumption goes, super sede a considerable quantity of butchers' meat, or afford animal food to labouring families who had none before. The proposed experiment of the Malt for Cattle measure seems likely to produce important effects on the popular diet. Every member in the House who speaks of this Bill at all calls it an experi ment ; and it is so, no doubt, in a financial sense and from the Excise point of view ; but there really seems to be no ground of dispute as to the effects of malt food on the quality of meat, or the eco nomy of its use in the stock-yard. The question is no new one, though the general public hears more of it than it ever did before. It has been a distinct and separate complaint, during the recent years of agricultural improvement, that farmers were hindered by the malt tax from using, as cattle food, in a digestible state, the rough second-rate barley not good enough for brewery malt. The mere fact that the finest animals, yielding the priruest quality of meat, shown at agricultural ex hibitions, are very commonly fed on malt discloses what the conviction of breeders really is. They incur the cost of taxed malt for prize animals; and this in dicates how glad the owners of stock would be to give their cattle the same kind of food if it could be cheapened by release from the duty. There are maltetera enough keeping stock on their infe rior or unsaleable qualities of malt to show what they think of the value of the commodity, how ever lamentable may be the predictions of certain deputations of their order about the effect of Mr. GLArisroNl,4 13i11 on the revenue. It may be true, as some of them allege, that it answers better to feed some stock with duty-paid malt than with some foreign foods, which are much in de mand at 21. per ton more ; but they cannot but know that, in the present state of the grain market, prodigious waste is caused all round by the practical exclusion of inferior barleys from use. on the one hand, beef and mutton are disastrously dear ; and on the other hand, farmers are hindered from growing food for cattle and sheep, which would assuredly bring down the price of meat more or less. Only prinse4 pay malting purposes; and the lows c an be used except for feeding pi* and might, as some cavillers say, find Awe nutritio raw barley than in malt if they could try the che mical experiment fairly ; but they cannot ; they cannot digest the hard grain as starch, while they fatten on it in its softened state as sugar. While we have dear meat on the one band, and • great waste or non-production on the other, of the food which should cheapen them, we need not wonder at Mr. GLADeronz being convinced by the explana tions of plain farmers, nor at his telling any de putation, many mouths ago, that if it could bold out a prospect of beef and mutton being ld. per lb. cheaper, the case would be • very clear and strong one. The farmers believe that they can prove their point: they are likely to have the op portunity of an experiment ; and it seems evident that many of them will use certain soils, now pro ducing wheat which does not pay, for growing such barley as they can—knowing that they can keep for profitable use at home the qualities which will not suit the nialtater, thus improving his stock for the butcher, and finding encouragement to enlarge his stockbreeding, and offer more meat in the market. To the public generally the objections raised seem to be in such striking contrast with the measure and its grounds, in regard to importance, that the wonder is that they can be so loudly pro claimed. Those which relate to the actual work ing of the new measure are, of course, worthy of all consideration from the Committee and the public ; but to all evil prophecies about the effect on the revenue, and on the health of cattle, and on the pockets of the farmers, the proper answer is that of Mr. GLADSTONE :-" It is an experiment ; let it be tried." It should be remembered that nuiltaters and others have had warning for years of what is coming. They know what tke demand for malt dust has risen to ; and they are aware how foreigners can feed their cattle on duty-free malt, and then eend them into our markets, to compete with animals debarred from the food, or laden with the duty on it. They could never have doubted that something must be done in such • case ; and now the time has come. However the restrictive details of the measure may work, or fail to work, the essential part of it will stand ; and it is the anticipation of those who have fully tested the effects of malt in the stock-yard that a free use of it will at once improve and cheapen our prime meats. As even pigs thrive better on sprouted than bard barley, the labourer who sticks to his bacon may find his advantage ; but the beef and mutton eaters have more at stake. THk it E.X.TRESS, THURSDAY EVENIjG, FEBRUARY 26, Bet. HELP FOR THE SICK AND WOUNDED DANISH SOLDIERS. Some of the ladies and gentlemen who take a lively interest in the promotion of a subscription for the sick and wounded Danish soldiers assembled yesterday in Stratton-street, at the residence of Lord Clanricarde, and nominated a general com mittee to carry their wishes into effect, from which was named a managing committee, consisting of the following members :—Marquis and Marchioness of Clanricarde, Earl and Countess of Shaftesbury, Lord Enfield, M.P., Countess Grey, Countess of Donoughmore, Countess of Cork, Lord and Lady Robert Cecil, Lord Harris, Lord Ernest Bruce, Sir William Alexander, Viscount Chelsea. Sir Robert Brownrigg, and Alfred Seymour, Esq., M. P. Amongst the first contributors, in addition to the above, are :—Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess and Princess Mary of Cambridge, Earl and Countess of Derby, Marquis and Marchioness of Westminster, Marquis and 'Marchioness of Lans downe, Earl Grey, Viscountess Palmerston, Earl Stanhope, Earl of Beissborough, Lady Charlotte Denison, Lady Egerton of Talton, Lady Moles worth, Maria Marchioness of Ailesburv, Lord Bective, Sir Charles Wood, M.P., Mr. H. Peek, Lady Emily Peel, Earl and Countess of Maimed bury, &c., &c. ebt Court. WINDSOR CASTLE., FM 24. The Queen, accompanied by the Princess Helena, walked and drove in the groonds this morning. Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar dined with her Majesty yesterday. The Prince of Wales rode out on horseback yesterday morn. irm, attended by Major Teesdale. The Duke of Cambridge visited the Prince at Marl borough-house. The Princess of Wales, attended by Lady De Grey, drove out in the afternoon. A Cabinet Council was held yesterday at Cam bridge-house, the private residence of the First Lord of the Treasury. The ministers present were Lord Palmerston, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Gran ville, the Duke of Argyll, Sir George Gr, Earl Rus :ell, Earl De Grey, Sir Charles Woo d, the Chau oellor of the Exchequer, the Duke of Somerset, the Right Hon. T. Milner Gibson, the Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, Lord Stanley of Alderley, and the Right Hon. C. P. Villiers. A deputation from the guardians of the parishes of St. Giles and St. George, Bloomsbury, consisting of Mr. G. Hardiog (chairman), Admiral Barnett, Mr. Adams, Yr. Peacock, Mr. Moore, and Mr. Robinson (vestry clerk), had an interview with the Right Bon. C. P. Villiers yesterday, at the office of the Poor law Board, Whitehall. Despatches were received yesterday at the Colooial-office from the Lord High Comminiooer of the louden Islands. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales hon oured the Princess's Theatre with a visit last evening. The Duke and Duchess of Argyll received the Right Hon. the Cheapener of the Exchequer and Mrs. Gladstone. and a seleet party, lad eveolog, at their reel. donee, at Caropden.hill, Kensington. Lord and Lady Colchester entertained at dinner last evening, at their residesee is Berkeleyegnare. the fol lowing company .—The Marchioness of Ely, the Earl sod Countess of Derby, the Etrl of Carnervon, the Earl of Longford, the Countess of Donoughmore, Lord and Lady Colville, Lady Debasers, the Right Hoe. Spencer and Mrs. Walpole, the Right Hos. Sir John and Lady Puking* too, Yr. Batla•Johoatose. LP., de. _ _ • __- The Countess of Fife's entertainment last evening, in Grosvenor-place, wait honoured with the preemies of several members of the royal family sad the elite of the carpi diplomatigur and aristocracy at present in London. As mentioned yesterday, a series of beautiful tedeaut vivanta formed the chief attraction of the evening. These were supplemented last eight by a ball and supper. Frances Counteas Waldegrave and Mr. Chichester Fortescue, M.P., entertained et dinner last evening, at their residence in Carlton-gardens, his Excellency the Prussian Anibusador sod the Coasters Berastoff. hie Excellency the Italian Minister, his Excellency the Portuguese Minister, the Marquis and Marchiosees of Clanricarde, the £ll.l and Counter of Clareadoe, the Earl sad Coualleas Stanhope. the Earl and lady Constance Grammar, the Earl of St. Germans, the Earl of Abingdon, Lady Cremorne, Lady Seaford sod the Hon. Miss Hardy, Lady Margaret Beaumont and Mr. Beaumont, M.P., Hon. R. Edwards', &c. Later in the 'rennin her ladyship had an assembly, which was numerously atteodsl. . _ The Right Hon. D. Disraeli, M.P., has issued airds for slams dinner party on Saturday next, at his resi dence at Grosvenor•pte. Miss Coutta and Mrs. Brown have arrived at Holly Lodge, Highgate, from Torquay, when they have been staying for some menthe. ALBERT MIDDLI-CLABB SCHOOL, SUFFOLK.--WEI learn that there are no lees than 60 applications for the office of head-master of this school, some of which are from gentlemen of bigh ettainmeats and loon experience in tuition. The chortler of incorporation is being drawn up seder the direction at Sir Fitzroy Kelly.—Bury and Norwich Post. d INTELKE. "" is.EpLuaiDENMAiiK TO illitOPO OF A OONFER The following is a copy of a des from the Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Danish Legations abroad, dated Copenhagen, Feb. 12 : " Sta,—You are already aware that the army has evacuated the position of the Danewirke in order to occupy the second line of defence, that of Dybbol. "The reasons which have dictated this retrograde movement are of a purely strategical character. The extreme rigour of the season, the prolonged night-watches, and the excessive fatigue of the troops, together with the numerical superiority of the enemy, had rendered it impossible to hold any longer the Danewirke ; and if the army had, in this state of things, accepted a battle, there would have been grounds for fearing its entire destruc tion. "At present our troops occupy a position which menaces the flank of the enemy, and being backed by the sea, unites all the advantages which the geo graphical configuration of the country offers. DybbUl is in fact the only strategical position which allows us to sustain, reduced as we are to our own forces, a prolonged war, for which, it seems, we must pre pare ourselves. Before the occupation of Sleswig we could have concluded a peace with Germany. After this event the King's government has but one choice—that of continuing the war until the former state of things is re-established in Sleswig, and that duchy again placed under the authority of the King. It is only then that we will be able to renew our efforts for terminating by means of negotiations our conflict with Germany.—l have the honour, (Signed) " G. QUAADE." THE ARMY OF OCCUPATION. The want of a good understanding seems to in crease between the Austrians and Prussians. The Austrians meddle but little in the affairs, properly so called, of the Duchies ; they declare to those who will listen to them, that they have not come to make war ; they are polite to the inhabitants ; they courteously receive the correspondents of journals and offer them every kind of facilities ; they treat the Danish prisoners with kindness, and evince a feeling of buimmity which cannot be too highly praised. The Prussians cDnduct themselves in a manner exactly the reverse. The disdain which they show in their ordinary relations for all who do not wear a uniform is carried to the greatest extreme. (aW= a TELZGBANh.) DENMARK. AND SWEDEN. COPENHAGEN, FEB. 24, 9.15 r.m. Count Hamilton, the Swedish ambassador at this Court, has asked to be recalled. His request has been complied with by his Government DENMARK. HAMBURG, FEB. 21. According to an announcement of the Danish ConsulAir'enersl in this city, Holstein and Sleswig ships carrying the Danish flag and Danish papers and signals will retain the rights of Danish ships. THE CAPE MAIL. PLYMOUTH, FEB. 25. The Cape mail brings no news of Dr. Livingstone. Dr. Meller, of the Zambesi exploring expedition, has returned to England by the steamer &EMI. THE BOMBAY AND MAURITIUS MAILS. SOUTHAMPTON, Pm 25. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Poonali, with the above mails, has arrived here. She brings 55 passengers, including his Excellency Rainandrain Rainferingia, and the embassy from Madagascar, with the Rev. Mr. Duffus, interpreter. The Poonal; has 459 packages cargo, including raw silk value 40,000/. sterling. On the 22nd she passed the Pera with the out ward mails of the 20th inst. Sir Moses Montefiore returned to Gibraltar on the 17th instant in her Majesty's ship Magicienne, from the court of Morocco. His efforts on behalf of his co-religionista in the Sultan's dominions hare been successful, !Sir Moses having ob tained an imperial edict, which cannot fail to improve the position of the Jews in the interior of Morocco, and otherwise advance the cause of civilisation. A powder magazine has exploded in Morocco, causing a loss of life estimated at 900 persons. Her Majesty's troop ship Orontes, from Ports mouth, left Gibraltar on the 16th for Malta. Gibraltar.—Exchange on London, 53 1-16 to ; on Paris 5.28; Madrid, par to k prem. CALCUTTA AND CHINA MAILS. The Enxine, with the above mails, arrived at Marseilles, at 7.30 a. ro. this day. The mails were to leave for London at 11.30 a.m. (RIMS'S EXPRESS.) SPAIN. ROYAL DECREE OF AMNESTY. MADRID, FEB. 21. The following royal decree of amnesty for poli tical crimes has been published to-day : " Taking into oonsideration the report of my Council of Ministers, and in conformity with their recommendation, I hereby decree : " Art. 1. I concede an ample and general amnesty for all purely political crimes committed in the Peninsula and the adjacent islands up to the promulgation of this my royal decree in the same, excluding only from the benefit thereof those cri minals who have relapsed in abuse of the royal clemency. " Art. 2. The ministers whom the present decree concerns will immediately take the necessary mea sures to secure its punctual and complete execution bosh by judicial and governmettal order. " Given at the Palace this 19th February, 1864. " Isaants. "The President of the Council of Ministers, " LORENZO ARRAZOLS." The above is preceded by a letter signed by all the Ministers, recommending the Queen to issue a decree of amnesty, in commemoration of her happy delivery and return to public affairs. A letter from La Rochelle contains some further details relative to the submarine boat Mogen. She does not draw move than sight feet of water, her engine is of 80. bores power. steam is replaced by compressed air, sad her crew of 12 men are completely protected from all danger. The Ploageur is intended to be • formidable entice of de structioo. Her spar is formed like • tube, and en lama. diary shell may be placed in it. Should as enemy's fleet be at anchor the Ploogeur will drive her spnr into the nearest ship and then retreat, unrolling at the same time a metallic wire. When at a mfe distance •e electric spark will cause • great explosioo, the enemy's ship Wog blown up. A letter from Rome of the 17th says :—"For ten days we have bed delicious summer weather, though the distant monntaias are still covered with snow. Natty of our vision have rushed off to Naples, and times who re main are amusing themselves with the bait, cower* Shalt. sperm readings, and tee fights. Madame Rosati mad M. Itaroccbi gave a emend last night in the Palsies Aorta, which was well &Waded, and Mr. Stoehr's!e shortly cam- IMMO a wane of Shakspearian readings." EXIRESeI FROM PARIS. (revs Gel OWN CORMIPONDINT.) PARIS, WEDNESDAY iPVIDONO. The news telegraphed here simultaneously front; London and Vienna that a conference for the Danish question, proposed by England, has been accepted by Austria and Prussia, has produced im mense sensation, and, I am assured, no little chagrin iu official circles. It was confidently hoped that things would go on from bad to worse in order that the Emperor's proposal of the congress might be the more glorified, and the impossibility of doing anything without his lead fully de monstrated. tinder the influence of the above news, aided by a rise of f in Consols, the Bourse opened with great ani:nation, and a rise of 2.1 c. in Route and of 10fr. in Mobilier was sustained up to 2 o'clock. But after that hour there was a reaction, caused by rumours (probably unfounded) of serious news from Italy, and also by doubts as to the conduct of the French govern ment under the altered state of circumstances. Sales predominated at the close of business, and prices rezeded to within a shade of yesterday's quotations. The Archduke Maximilian and his wife are expected to-morrow at the Tuileries from Brus sels. I still continue to think it very doubtful indeed whether he will ever be Emperor of Mexico. The explanations given by the Mhnorial Diploma tip. of the reasons why his reception of the deputation come from Mexico to offer him the crown is delayed until after his visit to Paris are hesitating, and betray much want of confidence. That journal, which is not inaptly styled the archduke's Monifenr, says that he is deeply imbued with a sense of the " difficulties " of his task, and that he wishes, before seeing the deputation, to have a thorough understanding with the Emperor. The " difficulties " are indeed so great that I yet suspect they will turn out to be , impossibilities. The young archduke is probably a jesuit ; and at all events, according to outward observances and professions, is a very extreme Romanist. Whatever he may be personally, it is certain that the jesuits fixed upon him as their tool ; and if they find they cannot use him to restore the odious clerical government which re duced Mexico to its present degraded state, they I will none of him. The news telegraphed to the Patrir from Ham burg that a great many superior officers were ordered from Sleswig to Italy turns out to be • canard. Two officers ocly have gone from Flens bourg to Verona in consequence of promotion, and this simple fact has evidently no political significa tion whatever. The Marseilles journals of Tuesday state that the Paris mails, after 48 hours' delay, bad arrived there on the previous day, and that now railway communications have again become regular. The weather was also much milder. The Mete sager die Midi says that the fall of snow at Montpellier and its neighbourhood was heavier than has been seen iu that district for many years. The snow indeed appears to have been general in the south, for theCourrier de la Drotrie et de P.a rdeche announces that in those departments it has fallen to the depth of nearly a foot. The Gard makes a similar statement. At Lyons the cold continue severe, and the Saint Public says that the recent sudden changes of tem perature have had a most unfavourable elect on the public health, and caused a great increase of mortality, especially among elderly persons and young children. M. Itenedetti, French ambassador at Turin, arrived on Friday at Marseilles, where he was detained till Monday by the snow. On that day lie left by rail fur Nice on his return to his post. THE FORCIBLE ABDUCTION OF MISS NEUMANN AT WARSAW. The following particulars of this event, which has caused universal indignation at Warsaw, are given in the Putrie :—" A new crime has been com mitted, which must visit the government of General Berg at Warsaw with the execration of all homiest men. Two Russian officers having seen Miss Neumann, a young lady famous for her beauty, and not having succeeded in obtaining access to her, determined to carry her off by force of arms. One night these gentlemen, after summoning several policemen, who were stationed in the street, to their aid, entered the house on the pretext of searching for insurgents, and seized Miss Neumann, who is the sister of the owner. No one knows what has become of her since, not even the Director of the City Police, Trepoff. It will be easily oou ceived that such an event has produced au inde scribable sensation here. No one is safe against this species of violence, and all are exposed at any time to see their wives or their daughters taken from their houses at night on some imaginary charge. This is, however, but a natural conse quence of the regime introduced by General Berg, who has outraged all the rights of humanity by driving from their homes, and sending to ban ishment, the most worthy and respectable ladies in the city, whose only crime is that they are Poles." CAPITAL PUNISEME.VT IN FRANCE. Some of the Paris journals announoe that a peti tion to the Senate is nee being rigwd, Pealing fee the Abo lition of capital punishment. The following is the test of the documset : ;' Yesiean lea Bellateell—Yon are the pretences of the principles of 1789, inscribed at the head of the entalitatioe. Your musics, however, is not confined to the guardianship of them principles on which society and the &Me re poss. The legislator has willed that you should have the right of reviving the expreesioe of what chimes desire, and of transmitting it to the Emperor's ministers. The Senate is sot only the guardian of the progress already accomplished, bats desigeed to become the initiator of future improvements. The undersigned think that in the tint reek of the storms which pubEc opinion respectfully solicits, should be planed the abolition of the pasiskineet of death. The most exalted and the most generate minds, daring the last bandied years, base pro fessed and propagated the eminently Christian sad democratic belief that human life is inviolable. History, when it shall be called on to speak of the 19th century, will my that it wee greater than all which preceded it, be cause it was more humane. Louis X VI. will be /dorsally respected for baying abolished the rack. What glory is therefore reserved for him who shall swe away the scaf fold The undersigned express a de/ire th at the punish ment of death be expunged from the penal code. They hepe that rin will take that wish into oonsiderstioo, and they subscribe themselves, with profound respect, your very humble, eta"-1 Hers follow the signs/area) The select committee on poor relief conaists of Mr. Villiers, Sir John Aron, M.we. Baxley and Boavorie. Sir George Bowyer, Mr. gird, Lord Robert Cecil. Lord Fermoy, Lord Edward Howard, Sir William Jolliffe, Morro. Locke, Lowe, Lull, Kekewieb, and NM* Colonel Pea nut, Alderman Sidney. Mews. Tollemacho and Walpole. Five to be the quorum. On the Bth of next month Mr. Adderley intends la move that greets made from the Treasury to schools for the working clews, should not, in every case, be reduced by the whole amount of all endowments, aid that, before laying new minutes of mused on education upon the table, the Visa President should explain to the house, after due notice, their purpose. On Monday evening a crowded meeting of the Royal Gingraphioal Society was bold at Burlington Moms, the President (Sir R. L Marchlama) in the chair, to Wee to the sarratime of a men adventurous jimmy by Mr. Gifted Pavers (mos of t h e late Sir Freesia Poignant), from Gam, le Sonthora Syria. soma North Cestral Arabia, is a early dimmed limo, to E 1 }Matti, oa the Persian Gulf (paring by the capital of ths WAWA* monarchy), sad themes to the littlo•lrsowe kingdom of Oman, at the a• trams sealant waver of Arabia. DENMARK AND GERMANY. DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE. This afternoon was issued a batch of correspon dence, filling 145 pips, respecting the affairs of the Duchies .gsf Holstein, Lannburg, and Sleswiz. The paper' begin with a despatch from our representative at Copenhagen, dated as far back as January 1863, and which is succeeded bycommunintions from British representatives at Berlin, Vienna, Hamburg, Hanover, Frankfort, Stock holm, Leipsig, Coburg, Dresden, and Munich,—making known to the foreign minister every important incident in connection with the Sleserig-Holstein question, and transmitting various documents. This series of papers, which is marked (No. 2), is brought to a close by • despatch from Earl Russell to her Majesty's Minister at Frankfort, in which his lordship says : " If the representatives of the duchies of Holstein and Lanenbarg are to have a veto on the proceedings of the Danish parliament and of the Danish government, it is ob vious that manures the most necessary for the defence of Denmark against • foreign enemy may be hin dered, the whole action of the Danish monarchy may be paralysed, and the integrity and indepen deice of Denmark may be seriously impaired. Her Majesty, by the treaty of London of May 8, 1852, is bound to respect the integrity end independence of Denmark. The Emperor of Austria and the King of Prussia have taken the same engagement. Her Majesty could not see with incliner ' once a military occupation of Holstein, which is only to cease 41 upon terms injuriously affecting theoonstitution of the whole Danish monarchy. Her Majesty's government could not re cognise this militaryoccupation as alegitimate exerciaeof the powers of the Confederation, or admit that it could pro perly be called a Federal execution. Her Majesty's govern ment could not be indifferent to the bearing of such an act upon Denmark, and upon European interests. Her Majesty's government, therefore, earnestly entreat the German Diet to pause, and to submit the questions in dis pute between Germany and Denmark to the mediation of other powers unconcerned in the controversy, but deeply concerned in the maintenance of the peace of Europe and the independence of Denmark." Among the papers is • despatch, dated Paris, Sept. 18, in which Mr. Grey communicates to Earl Russell the re marks of M. Drouyn de Lhoys upon certain propositions of the noble earl. Mr. Grey says:—" The communication which I made to hire to-day involved, he (M. Droops de Lhays) said, a more formal step, and one in which be, for his part, could see no prospect of advantage. The offer of good onion would he thought be useless (inutile). The second mode of proceeding suggested by your lordship, vie., 'To remind Austria. Prussia, and the German Diet, that any acts on their pert tending to weaken the in tegrity and iodependenoe of Deomark,would be at variance with the treaty of the fhb May, 1852,' would be is • great measure analogous to the donne pursued.by Great Britain and France in the Polish question. He ha r d no inclination (sad he frankly avowed that be should so speak to the Emperor) to place France in the some peti tion with Marna to Germany as she had ben placed with regard to Russia. The formal notes addressed by the three powers to Russia had received an Newer which literally meant nothing, and the position in which those three great power. were now placed was anything but dignified, end if England and France were to address such • reminder as that proposed to Austria, Prussia, and the Getman Confederation, they must be pre pared to go further, and to adopt a course of action more is arnordases with the dignity of two great power than they were now doing in the Polish question. Francs was not, his excellency said, by any means in different to the maintenance of the integrity and inde pendence of Denmark, and it was not from any indifference that he disapproved of your lordship's suggestion. He bad already represented to the German powers, that if they invaded Holstein for the purpose of effecting • revolt in Slant* or if they went farther and invaded Slegwig itself, they would be infringing on the rights of se independent sovereign, and entering upon • grave question affecting the balance of power in Europe, to which France could not remain iodifferent. His excellency conceived, therefore, that all your lordship now suggests had been done, unless it was desired to take • more formal step, arch as the presentation of an idiotic. note, or the simultaneous presentatnn of notes of similar purport. To this mode of proceeding he had the strongest objection, for the reasons stated above. He de sired to preserve entire liberty of action for France in this matter, and miler her Majesty's government was prepared to go further, if necessary, than the niere presentation of • note, and the receipt of an evasive reply, be was sure the Emperor would not consent to adopt your lordship's eu genic's." Another important paper is the following, marked " extract :" " EMIL RUSSELL TO COUNT WACHTIMSTSI. •' Foreign-office, September 25, 1883. "(Extract.) " Her Majesty's government set the highest vales on the independence and integrity of Denmark. Her Majesty's go vernmest would be ready tooffer their good offices to the two parties about to contend in arms. Her Majeety's go vernment would be ready to do so in conjunction with France or alone. But the coarse which her Majesty might be advised to take with regard to these matters if the good Aloes of her Majesty's government should be unsuccessful, must be the subject of future ociasideration and decision. Her Majesty's government are not prepared to say that Denmark is altogether in the right, or that Germany bee not some grounds of com plaint in reference to the middies al the German popula tion in &swig. But they think these differences should be the subject of negotiation either in oosferenoss or otherwise, and should not be brought to the inane of war. Her Majesty's government will be ready to remind Austria and Preemie of their treaty obligations to respect the integrity and iadependence of Denmark." In September Prince Gortchakoff, on behalf of the Russian gove rnment, wrote to Biros Brunnow that Russia, Friar" and England had an equal interest in the maintenance of the independence and integrity of the Danish monarchy, and "if the Cabinet of Linden thought fit on its pert to reassure the Dudek mamma on the result in the event of war, its representative at Copen hagen would meet with the most sinosre co-operation oa the part of the Baran de Nicolay." And to the Remiss ambas sador at Copenhagen, that no one could contest the right of the German Diet to give effect to the resolutioes to which it gave ea:peados by ite vote of July 9. But "it will reflect, we trust, upon the serious consequences for the tranquillityof Germany it self, which might be incurred by an iutervention, which dioald exceed the stria limits of its competence. Whatever may be the rights which may result to It from the arrangements of 1851-52, as regards the duchy of fileswig, the diet could not have the intention to cause a purely Federal question to assume the proportions of an international affair." The immediate Utmost of this cerrespoadence is lammed by the fact that it all took plane prior to the death of the late King of Denmark. Votrwrzea CLAM FIRING.—We are authorised to state that the impression which appears to be entertained by many volunteer corps that an altera tion in the targets and mode of scoring in class has been sanctioned is without foundation. Class firing should be conducted as heretofore, iu accordance with the musketry regulations of the army dated Feb. 1, 1859. BUST or SRLICISiPEART FOR Tag PRINCE OF Waura.—Mr. W. Perry. of Korth Audler-nreet. wood Garver in ordinary to the Queen, who has is band a band Shakespeare, which be is carriog for her Majesty oat of the wood of Heroe's oak, has just received ceders for another similar bast a little smaller. for the Primo of Wales. The Right Hon. the Speaker gave his third parliamentary fall dress dinner last ends. to the follow 's( soblernim sad gostlemee : —Lord Harry Vane, Viseoust Rubel& Lord Robert Cecil, Lord Breen Bruce, Lord Alfred Hervey, Lord Hothem, Admiral Duserrobe, En Freesia Baring, Sr William Heyter. Sr David Dundee, Mr. Hors mu, Mr. Hoary Herbert, Sir M. Shaw Stewart, Sir Wil liam Heathcate, Sir Henry Willoughby, Sir Edward Kern sou, Sir William Miler, Admiral Wildcat, Oohed Wawa Patin, Mr. Hastings Burrell, Mr. Whitbread, Mr. Bethel Osborne, Mr. Thomas Baring. Mr. Seamans, Mr. awns I Fafnir, Mr. Green, Mr. Lefroy, Mr. Wright's", Mr. Sohoitheld, Mr. Ingham, Mr, Basil Woodd, Mr. Haman, Mr. Boribam-Carter, Mr. William Reran ; Rev. Chador Manville. chaplain ; and Mr. Alfred Demises. seerstary. The Liverpool Town Council are about to seek parliamentary powers for the improvement of the renew and unhealthy courts with which the beseech abounds. The death-rate is very high in Liverpool, and last year it was much ithreased. Whilst in Lando, it is little more thee Zi in a therzatin the borough of Liverpool it is 36, and in the net 29. We have beet authority for stating that a codtnanas being* to Kilauea, at pressas la the Holy bas bee, onernissioned by the British Camel at Jerusalem to storey a box costalniag inter hem the River Jordon to be lased is the baptism of the royal What Deader Adentirer. ARRIVALuF THE MADA(;ASCAIt EM AT SOUTHAMPTON.-(THIS DAY.) (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) (PROM OCR OWN L'ORRESPONDM.) SOUTHAMPTON, Tint.-u The Poouah, which ha. jit,t arrived, bri,_ among her passengers their Excellencies IL.. andraiu and Raiuferingia, the court of Madagascar to Great Britain. They 4n of the Malagash tribe, are short, tout. men dressed in European coAttune. They spent. little English. Their complexion. are dark ; t have thick lips, and very little hair on their One of them is &singularly jovial, pleaNant 1,, ;hi, man. They are accompanied by the Rev. Mr Duff its, who acts as interpreter. SOUTH•EASTERN 12AFLWAY -( THIS DAY. , The half-yearly meeting of the sh trellubler. held at soon at the Bridge•house Hotel, Loodoc.bn,l 4 . Mr. JAMES BENG is the chair. . . . . The report sad accounts having been circulated pt published, were taken as read. The CHAIRMAN, in moving their adoption. said :dthol:h the board could not reportau increased revenue, they had maintained the exceptional increase of the previous yea,. 'l),. company had derived considerable advantage from the r, vised scale of fares which came into operation iu last. The aggregate result of the new local traffic was line. and showed that such traffic would yield a fair return fox its accommodation. The opening of the sharing•cross flail. way was as yet of a mere partial character; the trae,, manager thinking it desirable to proceed gradually, and tr, board concurring in that view. It was far better to bear a lose of revenue for a few months than to incur rand., of accident. It wee, however, highly en. ouraging that the.. had already been enabled to carry 40,015) passenger week and he did not doubt that in the spring there would be a considerable addition. As regarded sew projects. various lime had been proposed for the South Faster° district, It would be the least trouble to let new oompsniea proceed as they pleased, but that would not conduce to the interests of the comps', and the board had, therefore, arranged f...r the purchase . of several branches. They had, in fact, been compelled to depart, to a certain extent, from the non-extensiou poly •t and they now recommended such measures as seemed ma. pensable for the accommodation of the district, with a new to their being made and worked in the moat ecooomical manner, and in the way mart likely to benefit the company. (Chasm) Mr. H•MILTON then read &speech to the meeting &mil considerable interruption, and the meeting ultimately tided by show of heeds that it would not hear him. H. persisted, however, in continuing his remarks, although Lord A. Paget and other shareholders protested against hisdoingso. After considerable uproar he was allowed to proceed,andhe then referred at some length to Unfailing off in the traffic. He added that while that company's traffic, both in goods and passengers bad fallen off om siderably, that of the London, C ba tbam, and Dover Com pany had greatly increased. After some discussion, and some remarks from the chair. man in reply, the report was adopted, and the meeting ter minated in the mull manner. VICTORIA (LONDON) DOCK COMPANY. (THIS DAY.) The half-yearly meetins , of the shareholders wit-. held at 1 o'clock at the Loudon Tavern, Mr. CHARLEi Momuson in the chair. The following report of the directors was presented : "The directors submit the accounts for the half. en ending 31st December last. During that period 1,137 ships, measuring 454,782 tons, mitered the Victoria Docks, show. ing • decresee of 124 ships, and 110.446 tons. as compared with the same period in 1862. This falling ott is accounted for io the decreass in colliers, amounting to 177 ships, measuring 106,048 toes. The following is • comparative statement of the vessels and their tonnage which watered the undermentioned docks in the years waling 31st December, 1802 and 1863 respectively : Victoria-1862: Ships, 2,808 ; tonnage, 1,117.4102. 104(3 Ships, 2,554 ; toensge, 958,557. London, for yes:, ending 30th November, 1862 sad 1863 (loaded from foreign portal —1862: Ships, 1.015 ; tonnage. 488,915. 1863: Ships, 1,114; Menage, 540.401. St. Katharine-1862: Ships, 914 ; tonnage. 228,947. 1863: Ships, 908 ; tonnage, 237,401. East and West India (loaded ships which have discharged their of rgom)-1862 : Ships, 3,518 ; ton. nage, 834.366. 1863: Ships, 3,316 • tonnage. 817,1 V, The total number of ships, and their a ggregate register too. nage, that entered the port of London with cargoes from foreign ports during the years ending 31st December, 1062 and 1863, respectively, was:-186 _, ships, 11,551; too. nage, 3,313,078; 1863, ships, 11.521 ; tonnage, 3,411,881; decrease in ships, 30; increase in tonnage, 98,802. The company have received the ram of 25,0001. from the Charing-mass Railway Comiskey, agreed to be paid by the latter on their taking possession of the Steelyard. The board have applied to parliament for power to carry out the resolution of the special general meeting of shareholders, held on the Ist December last, agreeing to the proposed sale of the property and under taking of Mee company to the lessees. The obligs tioan of the agreement between those teatimes and the company are (as the shareholders were informed at the special meeting) ooatingent upon the London and St. Katharine Dock oompsnim obtaining power to amalgamate, and to purchase t h e Victoria Docks from Misers. Pete, Bette, and Bressey. Those companies have applied to par liament for the nemesary powers for these The CHADIMAN, in moving the adoption !IT: I :port and accounts, said the spore contained all the board had to say. The prePtiekols would be sorry to see that there had been a falling off as compared with the previous year ; bat it should be recollected that for some years before there was • constant increase. This would. however. tend to satisfy the shareholders generally that a good bargain had bees made with Messrs. Fete, Bressey, and Bette. The bill had been read a second time in the House of Lords, and se far as the beard were aware there would be DO opposition to the bill ; at all events there had been none up to the present time. A MAU:HOLDER inquired bow it was that when it was expected that 1071. 11.0 s. per cent. would be paid is Joao the stook was only about 100 in the market. The CH•lanatt said he supposed it was owing to the general uncertainty of all parliamentary proceedings. Up to the protect time there was so opposition in parliament. Mr. WILD Moved, as an smeeiltnent, that the meet ing be adjourned Mr a month, and that a committee of five shareholders be appointed by M. Morn, who was a shareholder, to investigate the affairs of the oompsay, mon particularly with reference to the proposed sale of the dock. He considered that it would be very unwise to give up si per met for 11lj years, with the prospect at the aid of that period, in exchange for 4 or 4i per cent. at the presort time. If a oomaintes were appointed, went fully into the matter. and reported in favour of what had been done, then could be no further objention. He had no doubt, however, that if the arrangement were carried out the other companies would get sor 6 per mot. out of that dock. He was not opposed to anialgainatioe, but to amalgamation on the terms proposed. A lfimasznoune inquired whether the board were mai. measly in favour of the disponi' of the dock on the terms Yvonne& The CHAIRMAN replied in the affirmative. A SaAarnouna had thought that this matter was disposed of at the lest meeting. (Hear, boar.) There was thee a large majority in favour of the arrangement, sod he believed that the shareholders generally were very well satisfied with it. Another SHAREHOLDER could net MHgIeHMARd what Mr. Wild's object was. There was an offer of 1071. 10a. at tem. and in his opinion it was far preferable to an annuity of 51 per mob fee eleven years. He was exceedingly sorry to me so good an arrangement imperilled by opposition. The CIRLISIAII said the oppositioe expressed at that meeting safficintly explained why the stock was so low comparatively in the market. He had already stated that the bill bad been read a second time in the Holm of Lards, and if a committee of shareholders wen appointed it would probably lead the Home of Lords. acme( on the advice of Lord Redesdale, to postpone the committee of that house. He then repeated his opinion that the sale of the dock on the terms proposed was a de sirable one for the shareholders, including ladies and others who were inteiested in receiving a fixed income. Mr. WILD ultimately withdrew his smtadment, and the °fiend motion was agreed to. The meeting tismiteated with the usual vote of thanks to the Chairmen and his colleague. A gratifying presentation was made last evening to Mr. Benjamin Webster, lessee of the Adelpki sad St. James's means, and Master of the Dramatic College. The testimonial was • beautifully illuminated scroll, on which Mr. Webster's services to t►e drama were recorded. Mr. Robert Bell made the prwmt•t io e, and is 'anew- Wins; it Mr. Webster delivered • happy epsech. Mr. Alfred Wigan was acting at Edinburgh all last week in various comic parte. Last Monday night was bar benefit eight, Prince Alfred, Dr. Lyon Mayfair, and Major Cowell being in the royal box. The play was The Aftrotent of Paltry, and Mr. Wigan acted Shylock for the first time. and represented that character, it is said. with complete assess& Veteran theatre-goer declared the► had never sees • representation of the character more natural and self-consistent in the minutest detail and so complete's free Inns rest. Me. Henry Squire, of King William-street, City, has had the imasiar et submitting to his Royal Highness the Prises et Wales ►is new "extra rapid " lee. toe oasts de visite portraits. and numerous photographs, of which hi• royal highness was pleased to express his approval.