The Express. — London, England, 1867-04-05 00:00:00

MAPPLN BROTHERS.—Establiahal A.D. 1810. CHESTS of SILVER PLATE for theCOLONII3. CUTLERY and SILVER PLATE for 11111211311LN0. MAPPIN BROTHERS, LONDON-BRIDGE. MAPPIN BROTHERS, 222, REGENT WWI. BROWN and POISON'S CORN FLOUR for CHILDREIVIS DIET. To obtain extra Front by the sale ether Undo ere eoinelfmes odsre.l Instead of BROWN and POLSON't ••John Brown," "John Mem." le idgned b the maker; en etch packet. Eh, erinetOlS. TO COREFYIPONDENTIL advertisements intended for "The Express." London Evening Paper, must he at the °face, 10, bouverle-street, by Two o'clock oa the day of publication. DRURY LANE. Teo ERRIao , 11011 ROY. Phelps, T. Swiulnurne, W. Haerison, d'lutyre, Parrett, and Harcourt :.Mesdames E. (Vow, G. Le Mere, Hudspeth, and V.. Brougham—To conclude with WANTED SBANDS YOB 3LX. Ilia Hudspeth. HAYMARKET. THIS Emma, THE HEI6 AT TAW. Mews. Buckstone, Chippendale, Compton. Farrell. Rogers, &c. Mesdames Chippen dale. Moore, r —THY. SEKIOrIf YAM IV/. Masan. Buckstone, Farrui. &n.—And YEK,YECTION. Mr. Keudal and Maa Burke. murex/ors. Tats Krems°, NO. 1 , ROUND TER CORNER. Wears. Shore and Forrester.—And IT IS NEVER TOO LCD: TO MEND. Mears. Vining, Y. Villiers, Verner, Shore, Calheem, and Malkin; aliases Page and Rodgers. Lvcr.ot. Trim ETENCIO, BAIIPZIOZLING. Mr. Price and Mlu Este Bishop.—And TUC DUKE'4 Morro. Mr. Fritter, Mean. Jordan. Emery, Pri , o, Widdicomb. Fitzpatrick, etc. ; Ileac:ale, &worthy, (:return, and l'arlutLa Lecleruti. R[7 IN D. Tali Evelrma, MARRTiIipZi.ITIITERS AND YOUNG HUN DA N DS. L ; On, TH E SENSATION GOAT. Messrs. Hinny, James, ItAasm, and Turner : Mesdames BeranhoroVl, Hughes, Wealhendo, de.—Arbd THE FRENCH EXHIBITION. HOLBORN. THIS ETITING, MY TURN NEXT. Mr. Bellamy thaws Yoote and Lennox.—And FLYING SCUD. Messrs. Neville. Bel more, Blake, Voltaire, etc. ; Mesdames F. Josephs, C. Saunders, Bessie Foote, Fiddes, Lennox, Raymond, de. lIRTTAIRITA. EVCNINCI, FAUST 7 4R, A irtRAL`ISRITCS lIANDLE. Mrs. Lane and Montanus Jacobi, Idwla, and Ninth —Conchal tag with THE DUSTMAN'S TREASUME; OH, Wilk: AND TILE BOFFINS. NIGH WATIR AT LONDON BRIDGE. TEN DST —Morning, .21. 170 Afternoon. RI. 34m. To-Monww—Morning, f.h. Sta..--Afternoon, 313. Wan. LONDON, FRIDAY, APRIL 5. NOTHING could be more charming than the seductive ease and grape with which the Cruis e/4.ton of the EXCHEQUER began last evening by disarming his "right honourable predecessor." With ungrudging generosity, he congratulated the Committee and Mr. Gteneroet on the " saga " city of the calculations " which had not only stood the test of a financial crisis of extreme seve rity and a bad harvest, but had resulted in a surplus of nearly two millions and a half, and a surplus almost entirely derived from Customs and Excise, or, in other words, from the " consuming " power " of the country. Mr. GLADSTONE'S moderate estimates of income had been sig nally exceeded, notwithstanding the cala mitous trials they had encountered. The wholesome sources of national prosperity neither artificial nor natural disasters had been able to dry up. If the surplus on the year had suffered diminution it was from the increased expenditure, for which, though Mr. DISRAELI did not dwell upon this point, his pre decessor was in no degree responsible. On the other hand, the present CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER'S financial year opens with a happy release from that naval and military " Deadweight " Annuity" of 585,000/. due to the Bank of England, which our readers will be agreeably surprised to hear has been pressing upon them for the last forty three years, and which falls off the public back to day, so that only the last moiety of that burden -284,0001.—wi1l be charged to the account of the present financial year. Of the five millions of the public debt which Mr. GLADSTONE proposed last year to convert into a terminable annuity payable eighteen years hence, only the half due to the Post-office Savings Banks portion was dealt with, the monetary panic of last summer having com pelled the old Savings Banks to suspend the con version of their moiety of that amount. So that the interest on the national debt now payable is twenty-six millions, which Mr. Malian' is by no means disposed to consider " a mere flea " bite," or as he expresses it in more parliamentary language, " an incision by a " troublesome, but not unpopular insect." In deed, he protests that when he made use of that " familiar " expression on the hustings of his county, it was only in reply to some rustic financier who had urged that the amount of the national debt was such as to make it impossible for the country to defend its honour. We have not forgotten how Mr. .Mitt's eloquent appeal to the House to consider while they could their duty to posterity, and Mr. GLADSTONE'S earnest approval and ratification of that appeal, were derided by our Conservative contem poraries a year ago. Mr. MILL was de scribed as a dreamer of dreams ; and Mr. GLAD STONE as a financial visionary. But it is due to the responsible leaders of the Conservative party in Parliament to own that they were more cautious in their objections to the policy of reducing the national debt in prosperous times in stead of leaving it to " fructify " in the pockets of the fundholders. Mr. GLADSTONE proposed a scheme for converting 24 millions of the public debt by a double process of conversion and reconversion ; extending its operation till the year 1905. Mr. DISRAELI and others about him objected to the complicated cha racter and far-extending sphere of the project. But he did not commit himself to resistance to the principle of dealing with the National Debt by some more limited scheme of conver sion. And he now declares that, had the state of the money market permitted, the present Government would have loyally adhered to the plan of their predecessors. His own pro posal differs from Mr. GLarerroNe's in method rather than in scope. It does not attempt so much, but it is identical in principle. He proposes to cancel twenty-four millions of public debt within eighteen years by conversion of eighteen millions into an annuity of 1,332,000/., terminable in July, 1885, and the conversion of the remaining six millions into an annuity of 440,000/., ter minable in April, 1885. Deducting the interest now payable on the twenty-four millions, and the " dead weight" annuity to the Bank of England now expiring, the whole operation may be accent. plished at a charge of less than half a million a year. For the present financial year it will reduce the estimated surplus to 456,000/. Of this amount it is proposed to reserve 246,0001., and to devote the remaining 210,0001. to a reduction of the duty on marine insurance policies to a uniform rate of threepence per cent., except for rime policies extending over six months, for which the duty would be fixed at sixpence, but which, ER Mr. DISRAELI justly observes, are in these days of rapid intercommunication out of date, and not deserving of encouragement. Such are the out lines of this simple and unassuming financial state ment; and the question that must strike every one who reads it is, how could Mr. GLADSTONE oppose it 1 If Mr. DISRAELI is the father of a lodger franchise, surely Mr. GLADSTONE is at least as nearly related to a scheme for paying off twenty four millions of the National Debt. The reduction of the duty on Marine Insurances may more pro perly be affiliated upon Mr. DISRAELI. Often recommended before, and never opposed on prin ciple, it was reserved until other burdens more nearly affecting the comfort of the poorer classes of the community had been removed or alleviated. No doubt, as more than one critic insisted last night, Mr. DISRAELI'S assumption that the remission of taxes to the extent of eleven millions during the last eleven years had left no tax remaining that injuriously affects the national welfare, except the Malt-tax, is somewhat excessive. There is the Fire Insurance duty, of which Mr. HUBBARD, who was a prominent advocate of the reduction of the Marine Insurance duty last year, now recom mends the abolition before the National Debt is touched ; and when Mr. DisitszLi congratulates the Committee on the product of the tea, coffee, sugar, tobacco, and spirit duties, we may be per mitted to regret that he does not reserve his congra tulations for the two last items of increase upon which it is some consolation to find that the largest possible duty compatible with the consuming power of the people can be exacted with an in crease of profit to the revenue. But it is per haps for his manner of dealing with the Malt tax that Mr. DISRAELI deserves the greatest credit. It was supposed that Mr. GLADSTONE had administered a quietus to the agitators against that impost by recommending them to agitate for retrenchment of national expenditure. Mr. DISRAELI has done more and better than this. The leader of the anti-malt-tax agitators, it is true, now dwells in a more exalted sphere ; another of them is a Junior Lord of the AdmiralLy ; but how sensible and submissive is the gallant member for West Sussex, and how plaintive the bleating of the member for East Norfolk ! Mr. DISRAELI cheer fully admits that the malt duty is injurious to the barley growers ; but then he also admits that in spite of an utter failure of the barley harvest last autumn, the Excise receipts show 000,0001. increase. lle pleads that the malt tax—a trifle of five mil lions revenue—is " a large question ;" all the larger perhaps for a Government which has added two millions to the expenditure. On the whole, the Budget passed through the fire of criticisms very favourably last evening. Mr. LAING'S objections to muddling away money in paying our debts, and his theory of fructification, are better understood in Paris by the Imperial Government, and by the Municipal Commission over which Baron HAUSSMANN presides, than by dull-witted Eng lishmen. Sir Groitos BOWYER'S objections to dealing with the national debt are objections to any financial policy that looks beyond the present hour. That a Tory Government should have en tered upon a financial policy which implies and involves the necessity of financial retrenchment is a result worth all, and more than all, the praises Mr. DISRAELI'S meet ardent followers are likely to give it. _ THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 5, 1867. the latter the less satisfactory is the complaint it assumes. The 2'issea stall indulges • hope, which becomes fainter every day, that a tardy compliance with our demands in both these cases may yet avert a rupture with Spain. On the other hand, we cannot disguise from ourselves that General Calonge's language and conduct betray a studied intention to affront this country. Had the Spanish govern ment so acted towards the United States, Cuba would probably have been occupied before this by American troops ; had they so acted towards France, the French tricolour would probably be waving over Barcelona. The English people are, happily, slow to anger, and know, moreover, how little the Spanish people are responsible for the acts of the revolutionary party which may happen to be in power at Madrid. Our patience, however, is well nigh exhausted. Negotiation has reached its final stage, and nothing seems to remain but an tatimatom, to be en forced, if necessary, by effective reprisals. The Spanish government, says the Daily New, appears to be losing, together with respect for the liberties of its own subjects, all sense of what is duo to its neighbours. As far as the Spanish people are concerned, it has acertain shadowy justification. There is a grain of truth in the harsh old saying, that in the long run every community gets as good a government as it deserves ; and the passive complicity of the Spanish people with the ignominious despotism that now weighs upon them partially condones the conduct of their oppressors. But the Spanish govern ment enjoys no immunity in respect of its international duties; no foreign power has given it a license to disregard the common obligations of public law. And yet it is acting as if it were in the enjoyment of some special and peculiar dispensation in this respect. Its treatment of the crew of the Tornado violates the most elementary principles of international duty, and is to this moment unatoned for. In a master so important we can afford to give the Spanish government all the time necesaauy to enable it to make up its mind. Rut should the reply be unsatisfactory, there will be no room for more correspon dence, and we must be prepared to act as the honour and interests of the country will then require. MEETING OF THE LIBERAL PARTY. (THIS DAY.) This afternoon, at half-past 2 o'clock, another meeting of liberal members of the House of Commons was held at Mr. Gladstone'. residence, Carlton Howie-ter race, to consider the course which the liberal party should take with respect to going into committee on the govern ment Reform Bill. A numerous meeting an hour previ ously had been held at the Reform Club respecting some proposed alteration in the mode of electing members, and a large proportion of those present at the subsequent meet ing went direct from Pall-null to the right hon. gentle man's house. Among those present were :—Mr. M. Gibson, Mr. Hors man, Mr. Childers, Mr. C. Villiers, Mr. Brand, Mr. Layard, Mr. J. S. Mill, Mr. Maguire, Mr. It. W. Crawford, Mr. Clive, Mr. Jasper More, Mr. W. Cowper, Mr. Headlam, Mr. Lascelles, Mr. Samuda, Mr. Stanfield, Mr. Craufurd, Mr. Akroyd, Mr. Fawcett, Mr. Kinnaird, Sir F. Goldamid, Alderman Salomons, Mr. J. A. Smith, Sir C. Bright, Mr. Lefevre, Mr. Bag 'haw, Mr. The, Sir C. O'Loghlen, Mr. T. B. Potter, Dr. Brady, the Marquis of Hartington, Col. French, Mr. W. Gladstone, Mr. Hadfield, Mr. Baines, Mr. Laing, Mr. Duna', Mr. W. K Forster, Mr. C. Forster, Mr. W. Ewart, Mr. Ayrton, Mr. Wickham, Sir B. Col lier, Mr. Alderman Lawrence, Mr. Bl'Laren, Mr. Gregory, Sir G. Grey, Mr. Denman, Mr. Locke King, Sir F. Crossley, Mr. Milbank, Mr. Adair, Mr. Bright, Mr. B. Osborne, Mr. White, Mr. Grenfell , Mr. Layard, Sir R. Palmer, Mr. Hutt, Mr. Cardwell, Mr. Fortescue, Mr. Locke, Mr. Leeman, Mr. Baxter, Mr. Dunlop, Mr. Beaumont, Mr. Norman, Mr. J. Wyld, Mr. Ingham, The O'Donoghue, Colonel Packe, Mr. Grant Duff, Mr. Whitbread, Lord Amberley, Mr. Monsell, Mr. Eykyn, the Court. WINDSOR CASTLE, APRIL 4. The Queen, accompanied by Princess Christian, drove out yesterday afternoon in a carriage and four. The Hon. Lady Biddulph was in attendance. Princess Louise and Prince Christian went out riding, attended by Lady Churchill and Lieut.-Colonel G. Gordon. Princess Beatrice and Prince Henry of Prussia took a drive. Her Majesty, accompanied by Princess Louise, walked and drove this morning. Prince and Princess Christian walked in the grounds. Princess Beatrice, Prince Leopold, and Prince Henry of Prussia also went out walking. The Count and Countess de Bernstorff left the Castle yesterday. Lieut.-Colonel G. and Mrs. Gordon had the honour of dining with the Queen and the royal family yesterday. Colonel W. F. Cavendish has rucceeded Lieutenant. General Sir Henry Bentmck as Groom in Waiting. A deputation from the l•uited Kingdom Alliance, in troduced by Mr. Thomas Barley, M.P., Mr. J. A. Blake, M.P., Mr. J. Candlish, M.P., Mr. J. Cheetham, M.P., Mr. B. Whitworth, M.P., and consisting of the Rev. Dawson Burns (London), Mr. T. H. Barker (Manchester), Mr. B. Cadbury (Birmingham), Mr. J. Cadbury (Banbury), Mr. James Hole (Leeds), Mr. E. Jones (Hanley), Councillor Lewis (Edinburgh), Mr. E. Pearson (Manchester), Mr. J. Riley (Barnes), Mr. Alfred Smedley (Belper), Mr. E. Vivian, J. P. (Torquay), Mr. E. Whitwell (Kendal), Mr. Thomas Watson (Rochdale), and many others, had an in terview with the Right Hon. Spencer H. Walpole at the Home-office yesterday, on the subject of the liquor tr.iffic. A deputation consisting of Sir John Johnstone, M.P., Mr. Adair, M.P., Mr. Paull, M.P., Mr. F. W. Russell, M.P., Mr. Clay, M.P., Mr. Benyon, M.P., Mr. Watkin, M.P., Mr. Parke, M.P., Mr. Marshall, M.P., Mr. Leeman, M.P., Mr. Goodson, M.P., Mr. Kinnaird, M.P., Mr. Bee croft, M.P., Mr. Beck, Mr. Burke, Mr. Gray, Mr. Rich ards, Mr. Watson, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Martelli, had an interview with the Duke of Richmond and Sir Stafford Northcote, at the office of the Board of Trade, yesterday, on the subject of the Metropolitan Gas BilL A deputation from the select vestry of Liverpool, intro duced by Mr. Montan, M.P.,and consisting of Mr. Satchel', ' Mr. Beirstow, and Mr. Hagger (vestry clerk), had an interview with the Right Hon. Gathorne Hardy . at the office of the Poor-law Board, Whitehall, yesterday. 1 HER MAJESTY AND THE LEEDS MECHAM& INSTI- TuTE.—Mr. G. S. Beecroft, M.P., has received the follow ing letter in answer to a request for the patronage of her Majesty to be given to a large bazaar and fancy fair, to be held for the benefit of the Leeds Mechanics' Institute and Literary Society :—" Windsor Castle, March 30, 1867. Sir,—l have the honour to acknowledge your letter of the 27th inst., enclosing copies of the correspondence relative to her Majesty's patronage of the bazaar in aid of the funds of the Leeds Mechanics' Institution in 1859, and asking that it may be again extended to a similar undertaking. The rule on which her Majesty generally acts with regard to granting her patronage to bazaars for charitable or social institutions, G to decline it unless the institution itself is supported by her Majesty, and parti cularly when the object in view is entirely a local one, as it is not easy to select among the numerous applications in favour of local institutions one in preference to others without invidiousness. Her Majesty, however, bearing Li mind the patronage she accorded to the bazaar in 1859, and being informed that the Leeds Mechanics' Institution has receivedauch support as to render the construction of a new and bandsomebuilding necessary for the inereasingutility of the undertalcing,commandslme to signify toyou bergrecious intention of becoming patroness of the bazaar about to be held.—l have the honour to be, sir, your obedient humble servant, T.M. BIDDULPH.—Geo. B. Beecroft, Esq., M.P." The Marquis and Marchioness Townshend received at dinner last evening Lord Claud Hamilton, Lady Augustus Fitzclarence and Miss Fitzelarenoe, Captain and Lady Maria Fitzclarence, Hon. Lionel Ashley, Sir Edmund end Hon. Lady Filmer, Mr. George Farquharson, Mr. George Forbes, Ac. The Earl and Lady Constance Grosvenor have sustained a domestic bereavement by the death of their youngest child, Lady Blanche, which took place yesterday at Chiswick House, the residence of the Duchess (Dowager) of Sutherland. The Earl of Shaftesbury proposes to bring the report of the commissioners relating to the agricultural gangs under the notice of the House of Lords next Thurs day. Next Monday the Earl of Shaftesbury proposes to move an address to her Majesty for a return stating separately the following particulars :-1. The estimated adult male population. 2. The number of adult male householders. 3. The estimated adult male population who are not householders. 4. Reports from the overseer of each parish stating, so far as can be 'ascertained, the proportion of lodgers who pay for unfurnished rooms 4s. a week or upwards, and the proportion who pay less than 4s. a week. 5. Such reports also to state the lowest weekly amount per lodger paid by any considerable number of lodgers within such parish. Mr. Henry Bailite, on going into committee on the Representation of the People Bill, will move—" That, in any reduction which may be made in the occupation franchise in counties, care should be taken that one-half the value of the qualification should be in land." Mr. Harvey Lewis, on Monday, will ask the Secretary of State for India whether be will lay upon the table of the house the system of marking proposed to be adopted by the Civil Service Commissioners at the Exa mination of candidates for the Civil Service of India at the examination commencing on the 9th inst. ; and whether it has been proposed by the commissioners to deduct a cer tain number of marks ; and, if so, what number of marks on each subject before a candidate can be allowed to count any marks to his credit. The Speaker gave his eighth parliamentary full dress dinner on the evening of Wednesday lost to the fol lowing noblemen and gentlemen :—Loral Edward Howard, Lord Pelham, Lord Edwin Hill Trevor, Lord Claud J. Hamilton, Hon. Major J. Henniker, Hon. George Den man, Sir John There'd. Sir George Colthurst, Sir Edmund Cashmere, Sir He Winston Barron, Sir Joseph Bailey, Colonel Keller, Colonel Stnaror Walker, Captain Kearney, Mr. Arkwright, Mr. y, Mr. Armstrong,. Mr. Bagge, Mr. Coleridge, Mr. all, Mr. Barry, Mr, Edward', Mr. Bryan, Mr. Harvey, Mr. Howell Gwyn, Mr. J. G. King, Mr. MoLagan, Mr. P. Wykeham Martin, Mr. A. Mitchell, Kr. R. Jasper More, Mr. Dyes Niool, Mr. E. L. Prue Mr. Stopford, Mr. Surtees, Mr. Cnbitt, Mr. Sykes,Mr.Jervoirar Smith,and Mr. Alfred Denison, pri vate secretary. The right hon. gentleman afterwards held a levee, which was largely attended. OUR CONTEMPORARIES. (THIS DAY.) The Times approves of Mr. Disraeli's financial plan, the concern it feels at the growth of our expendi ture being balanced by its satisfaction at the provision made for the " reduction " of the debt which is its second and better feature. Mr. Disraeli'. method of reviewing the national finances, prospectively and retrospectively, was simple to severity. Compared with the ornate rhetoric of his predecessor, it amounted almoit to baldness. At the same time, never was a budget made more intelligible to an audience. There was not, indeed, much to tell, but it was told with such a just distribution of its details that the mind was in no ease fatigued with irrelevant disquisi tions before the central part of the story was approached. With regard to the duties on marine insurance, it would be difficult to spend 200,000 f. better than by reducing them toe moderate and nearly uniform rate. The narrowness of the means at Mr. Distseli's command is a conclusive answer to the other demands which were made for the reduction of taxation. The Daily News compliments Mr. Disraeli on the suc cinct simplicity of his exposition —one which deserves to be famous for its brevity, since by carefully avoi ling theo retical disquisitions and generalisations that invi' e attack, and by letting principles take care of themselves, it h not very difficult to make • balanle sheet, in itself satisfactory, intelligible and acceptable to the re presentatives of • rich and prosperous community. The Daily News proceeds to show that Mr. Disraeli's na tional debt proposal is identical in principle with Mr. Gladstone's, while the reduction of the duty on marine insurances may be fairly appropriated by Mr. Disraeli. The budget, on the whole, passed favourably through the fire of criticisms last night, and it is a satisfactory result that a conservative government should have commenced a financial policy which involves the necessity of financial retrenchment. The Herald and Standard regard it as unnecessary to say anything in vindication of the government proposals, and the former anticipates that they will become law without a single division. With regard to the National Debt proposition the Standard says that the intellec tual credit of this plan—its actual authorship— is Mr. Gladstone's. But the credit of having it carried out, of having withstood solicitation and pressure, and the temptation to gain popularity by reducing obnoxious taxes, belongs to Mr. Disraeli. It is no small honour to him that on the first occasion when the chance is offered him of compoting with his rival in that race of popularity in which the latter had so long a start, he has reuounoed that opportunity in order to carry out the scheme of • rival, because it has approved itself to his mind as just, politic, and calculated, at a sacrifice which will last his lifetime, to produce results which will enure to the benefit of a remote posterity and which posterity win most likely associate with the name of Mr. Gladstone. This very day will probably show whether Mr. Gladstone is capable of a similar act of self-sacrifice—of a similar preference of the public good to private feeling or personal popularity. The Post speaks favourably of the budget. The Tele graph, admitting that it is simple and effective, says that nevertheless it saddles us with an increased expenditure. If Mr. Disraeli is a convert ' . to the fiscal policy of the liberals, he is not yet a convert to their sounder views of economy. The budget of 1867-8 would hare been a great success, had it included • decrease instead of an increase of two millions in the expenditure. That single fact shows us that the battle of economic efficiency, the contest which is to secure the largest amount of available public force in all departments at the least expense to the country, has yet to be fought. • The Star says that to have been faithful to Mr. Glad xtones schemes is the only boast Mr. Disraeli can make except that of having made a short speech. The statement, remarks the Dee, was not only a brief one, bet it was as lucid as it was concise ; and while possessing the merit of clearness, it bad the rare good fortune of being generally satisfactory in its proposals. A more striking contrast could not easily be imagined than that afforded by the clear and intelligible financial statement last night, and the vague and shadowy reform resolution submitted so abort a time since by the same orator, and to the same House of Commons. In the one case it was evi dent that the speaker was in earnest, and wishei to be understood ; in the other, the object kept in view appeared to have been exactly the reverse. THE IHIFERENCIC WITH HPAIN. The circumstances of the seizure of the Queen Victoria and the subsequent transactions are described by the Totes as in onaity revecto worse than anything hitherto disclosed in the Tornado cue, though the more we hear of TRANCE AND LUXEMBURG. Assuming the correctness of the announcement that the King of Holland has relinquished the proposed cession of Luxemburg to France, the Times hopes that France will never again be led by imperialist traditions into an attempt to extend her territory by war. The Luxemburgers show clearly that they desire to remain ae they are, in close connexion with the Fatherland, to which as German they belong. All along the eastern frontier, in every city which French ambition threatens, there is the strongest national sentiment, and the politicians of these provinces are among the most zealous in urging on the work which Count Bismarck has in hand, in order that they may find a better safeguard against foreign dictation. France will show her deference for European opinion by ahandoning this ill-omened negotiation as to Luxemburg, which would not only unite all Germany against her, but break off the intimate friendships which prevail between her and other European powers ; but it is a disgrace to French states men that such a scheme should ever have been entertained. If the French Emperor is wise, the Herald thinks, he it ill now desist from pressing the matter, and will defer it, at all events, to a more convenient moment than the present. As far as we are concerned, it is of no importance whether Luxemburg belongs to Germany, or France, or to the Sultan of Turkey. It is only as a possible cause of a dis turbance of the peace of Europe that the question has any interest for foreign nations. THE BUDGET RESOLUTIONS. The following are the resolutions embodying the financial plans of the Chancellor of the Exchequer: " 1. Resolved, That, towards raising the supply granted to her Majesty, the duty of customs now charged on tea shall continue to be levied and charged on and after the Ist day of August, 1867, until the Ist day of Angst, 1866, on the importation thereof into Great Britain and Ire land, viz., tea, 6(1. per lb. " 2. Resolved, That, towards raising the supply granted to her Majesty, there shall be charged, collected, and paid for one year, commencing on the 6th day of April, 1867, for and in respect of all property, profits, and gains mentioned or described as chargeable in the act passed in the 16th and 17th years of her Majesty's reign, chapter ii, for granting to her Majesty duties on profits arising from property, professions, trades, and offices, the following rates and duties (that is to say) : For every twenty shillings of the annual value or amount of all such property, profits, and gains (except those chargeable under schedule (B) of the said act), the rate or duty of 4d. ; and for and in respect of the occupation of lands, tenements, hereditaments and heritages chargeable under schedule (B) of the said act, for every twenty shil lings of the annual value thereof, in England, the rate or duty of 2d. ; and in Scotland and Ireland respectively, the rate or duty of 1 id.—subject to the provisions contained in section 3 of the Act 26 Victoria, chapter 22, for the exemption of persons whose incomes from every source is under 100/. a year, and relief to those whose income is under 200/. a year. " 3. Resolved—That the stamp duties now payable in the United Kingdom under the Act 7 Vic., c. 21, and the Act 28 and 29 tic. c. 96, for policies of sea insurance shall cease and determine ; and that, in lieu thereof, there shall be charged, collected, and paid for such poli cies the stamp duties following (that is to say)—For every policy or other instrument whereby any insurance shall be made upon any ship or vessel, or upon any goods, mer chandise, or other property on board of any ship or vessel, or upon the freight of any ship or vessel, or upon any inte rest whatever in or relating to any ship or vessel which may lawfully be insured, for or upon any voyage, in respect of every full sum of one hundred pounds, and in respect of any fractional part of one hundred pounds thereby in sured, 3d. And for every policy or other instrument whereby any such insurance as aforesaid shall be made for any time, in respect of every full sum of one hundred pounds, and in respect of any fractional part of one hundred pounds thereby insured—where the insurance shall be made for any time not exceeding six months, 3d.; where the insurance shall be made for any time exceed ing six months and not exceeding twelve months, 6d. But if the separate interests of two or more distinct persons shall be insured by one policy or instrument for a voyage or for time, then the duty of 3d., or the duty of 3d. or 61., as the case may require, shall be charged thereon in respect of every full sum of 1001., and every fractional part of 100/, thereby insured upon any separate and distinct interest. " 4. Resolved—That no allowance shall be made for the stamp duty on any policy or other instrument whereby any sea insurance shall be made, except in the first case specified in the first section of the Act 54 Oeo. 111., c. 133." Mr. Hubbard will move on an early day "That a further reduction of the fire insurance duty should precede the institution of a new measure for the reduction of the national debt." Mr. H. B. Sheridan, as an amendment to the proposal to reduce the national debt, will move " That this house is, by its resolutions, pledged to • reduction of the are insurance duty to an extent greater than that which has been already made. That the reduction at present made does not satisfy this house or the country, and is of too limited • character to attract increased insurance. That the duty in its operation tends to diminish the revenue ; that it offers, in effect, a premium for the non-preserva tion of property ; that it increases charges upon local rates ; and that, in the opinion of this house, it is not expedient to maintain the present high rate of duty in order that from its product funds should be provided to pay off or diminish the national debt." BISHOP COLENSO AND LORDRONILLY'S JUDGMENT. —Dr. Coleus° has issued a circular address, dated January 31, 1867, referring to the decision given in his favour by Lord Romilly, and declaring that he is now bound to act for the maintenance of order in his diocese. He there fore calls upon all clergymen who have formerly received his license to pay him due canonical obedience, and that any who may not have done so, and wish to officiate within the churches of his diocese, will apply for his license. As to others, he says : "If any of the clergy are not willing to comply, as above, with the plain demands of the law, but will still persist in declaring the bishop of this diocese, appointed by her Ma iny to have been lawfully deposed and excommunicated, defiance of the repeated decisions of the courts of law both in England and in this colony, and will therefore still refuse to pay him that canonical obedience which is Wally due to him, while assuming to minister within the churches under his authority, it will be obvious to all of you that they can have no t any longer to be regarded as clergymen of the Unite Church of England and Ire land. And I am sure that you will feel that the sooner such an an9malous and disorderly state of things is brought to a close the better for all." LATEST INTELLIGENCE. THE LUXEMBURG QUESTION. The A roar National of to-day says : The Courrier de Luxemburg announces that the King of Holland is desirous that the Luxemburg! question should be submitted to a European congress. The correspondence from Berlin Makes no mention of a congress !and our own advices smell rather of powder. If we may believe one of our correspondents the general opinion in Berlin is that] war is imminent, and that in diplomatic circlesj an: immediate and most serious communication is expected from 111. Benedetti, the French Ambassador, he having been instructed, it is said, to declare that France did not admit the right of Prussia to oppose the acquisition of Luxemburg. It is further added that this would be considered a challenge by France, and that the North German parliament would reply by an order of the day that all Germany would ties to defend the national territory. We need not point out the exaggeration of these reports, but they prove the ex citement which exists in Germany, and make it desirable that the French government should give those explana tions which it ewes to the nation. The SUcle of to-day thus puts the case of the occupation of the fortress of Luxemburg by Prussia: Prussia says to Holland : Here is a house of which you are the sole and only proprietor. If I had formerly some right to cccupy a part of it have none now. I openly admit that you are absolute master here, and thatthe treaty which authorised me to remain in the house with you is broken. Now that ou• respective positions have been so well defined, I shall shut myself up in the house and shall not stir from it. The German correspondent of thu Monde reporta that General von Goben, a personal friend of King William, has been fixed upon as successor of Ge neral von Branchliach for the post of governor of the fortress of Luxemburg, and adds that there is no ground for believing that he goes there for the purpose of giving up the fortress. The lidipendance Belye says that in the official circles of Paris, the language of M. de Bismarck continues to be the object of praise, and that the public believe in a secret understand ing between the cabinets of Paris and Berlin. On the other hand one of the Paris ooi.uspondenta of the same journal speaks of the possibility of war and mentions a report of a movement of the army of Lyons towards Strasbourg. Another states " in the most positive manner" thzt the war depart ment at Berlin is making all the necessary prepara tions for war, and that the Prussian government calculates with certainty on the support of Russia. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) AUSTRIA. VIENNA, Aram L. The establishment of a special ministry for agriculture is stated to have been decided upon. HUNGARY. PMTH, APRIL 4, EVENING. The ministerial bill regulating the relations be tween Croatia and Hungary will be brought fur ward to-morrow in the Lower House of the Diet. The Etanua of Croatia has been summoned by the Emperor to Buda. SERVIA. BELGRADE, Areic 4. In consequence of orders received here from Constantinople, the evacuation of the citadel of Belgrade by the Turkish troops will commence on Monday next. PORTUGAL. LISBON, APRIL 4. The postponement of the King and Queen of Portugal's projected visit to Paris arises from the unwillingness of Dom Fernando to undertake the regency in the present agitated state of the public mind. EXPRESS FROM PARIS. (ram OUR OWN CORRRIVONDZSIT.) PARIS. THURSDAY EVIZENG. At the sitting of the Corps Legislatif to-day, M. Schneider read an imperial decree appointing him president in the place of Count Walewski. He addressed the following short speech to his colleagues on the occasion : Messieurs and dear colleagues—l am profoundly touched by the testimony of affectionate sympathy with which you have received the announcement just made, and am proud and grateful for the eminent distinction which the Emperor has conferred upon me by placing me at your head. We are old acquaintances. I need not, I hope, assure you of my impartial and complete devotion to the duties of my office ; but I ask leave to say that I reckon upon the continuation of the kindly sentiments which I have always met with from you, and upon the support of which you have given me so many proof!. It was, I believe, originally intended not to fill up the appointment of president this session, and to leave M. Schneider to preside with only the title and' emoluments of vice-president, as he did for months after the death of the Duke de Morny ; but he refused to be a warming pan a second time. He is perhaps as good a man as could have been named to the post, and far better than Baron Jerome David, who was spoken of. The latter's appointment as second vice-president was not an nounced to-day, and I should doubt whether it would satisfy his ambition. By the way, the re actionary club in the Rue do l'Arcade, of which this Baron Jerome David is the leading Mamelnke, has received the cognomen of "Arcadia." M. Rouland, in justifying himself in the Senate on April 2, for having, when Minister of Public Instruction, appointed M. Ronan to the Hebrew Professorship in the College of France, alleged that M. Renan had made promises as to the nature of his lectures, which he ultimately did not keep. M. Ronan now writes to the Temps to deny this ; the only engagement, he says, which he could pos sibly have been understood to have made was the one resulting from the character of the chair ho was called upon to fulfil. That engage ment, he submits, he fulfilled. As to any written or verbal promise limiting his discretion in the composition of his lectures, he declares that nothing of the sort was ever given. This morning at half-past 10 a building in course of construction and nearly finished, in the Chains& Clignancourt, which was destined as a depot for the omnibus company, came down with a crash, and 20 or 30 workmen wore buried in the ruins. Thirteen have been got out in the course of the day, some of whom were dead and others seriously injured. This afternoon the curd of Clignancourt Church, which is hard by, mounted the highest point of the heap of rubbish and gave absolution to the men yet underneath. There is a good deal of excitement in Montmartre in consequence of this fatal accident, which the public possibly, without any good reason, attributes to the parsimony of the Omnibus Company. Although the fall of the last three days led to some very large purchases at the Bourse, and a momentary rise in quotations, the closing prices were lower than yesterday. Bente fell sc. for cash and 71e. for account, closing at 68fr. 65c., and 68fr. 50c. Mobilier fell 2fr. 50c. ; Credit Foncier, 25fr. ; Italian, 50k. ; and railways from 2fr. 50c. tv sfr. TIPPERARY ELECTION COMMITTEE. (THIS DAY.) The select committee appointed to try the merits of the petition and the return of the Hon. Captain White for the county of Tipperary resumed their inquiry this morning ; Sir Philip Grey de Malpaa Egerton in the drab. The other members of the court were Mr. Walter Morn. son, Mr. Arthur Russell, Lieut. Colonel Hogg, and Mr. G. Moyer. The counsel for the petitioner were Mr. Ryan, Q.C., the Irish bar, the Hon. R. Bourke, Mr. Macnamara, and Mr. Cunningham ; and for the sitting member Mr. Serjeant Ballantine, sad Mr. Hackett, of the Irish bar. Mr. Mennamara resumed his address to the committee in reply upon the whole cram. He alluded to the decision this week in the Waterford committee, and contended that the Waterford case was not at all analogous to the present one, and ought not to be t-Iken as a preeerlent. In t h e Water(ord committee there was no allegation of clerical influence, and the committee rejected the petition bemuse there was no evidence implicating the sitting member or his agents in the improper practices which were alleged to have taken place. But in the present case general riot and general intimidation were charged, and to establish those charges it was necessary to prove agency. The maks in fluence exercised in this case was altogether different from that charged in the Waterford case. It appeared that in the county of Tipperary there was a very large body of Roman catholic clergy, who were active and zealous m en , and were superintended by an archbishop, who took a warm interest in politics. The archbishop had introduced a rule into his diocese that when the majority of the clergy approved of any particular candidate they were to take public action on his beh a lf, but the minority, whatever their feelings we re , were to be restraine d from taking any public action to give expression to them. It would be seen at once how vast and powerful such a combination was, and yet this was the combination that was brought to bear against Mr. Waldron. The complete organisation and perfect machi. net/ which the Roman catholic clergy should bring to bear upon any subject in which they took an interest were shown in this case. On the 13th of October the clergy, at a meeting convened by the archbishop, signed a rem. lotion pledging themselves to use strenuous exertions to secure the return of Captain White ; and on the very next day (Sunday) there were denunciations against Mr. Waldron from the altar of every chapel in the county. Is one instance a Roman catholic priest, the Rev. Hugh Gleeson, declared that every man who voted for Mr. Wal dron ought to be ducked in the river ; and in another, the Rev. Mr. O'Connell from the altar called upon his congregation to commit perjury rather than vote for Mr. Waldron, adding that if they voted for him they would vote against their conscience, their creed, and their country, and it would be better for them to vote for a heretic or an infidel. The use of suck language was ca'culated to,produee but one effect, and as it had not been contradicted it must be taken to be is. capable of contradiction. He admitted that a portico of Archbishop Sealey's address to his congregation breathed a spirit of peace and order, but he contended that it plainly pointed out what course was to be taken is the coming election, and that Captain White was to be re. garded as the good man for whom the electors were to vote, while Mr. Waldron was the bad man they were to reject. There was the fullest evidence as to the events which really did occur at the election. From an early hour on the morring of the polling day the voters of Mr. Waldron were subjected to unheard of obstructions and interference. Their care were stopped, the traces cut, the horses takes out, the wheels removed, and the voters dragged from the sesta ; walls were built to crone the raids ; at the polling booths the voters were stoned and bludgeoned, and whir sonic of them were dragged into Captain White's tally room and detained others were covered with wounds and bruises, their heads cut and their teeth knocked out, and one poor fellow in endeavouring to defend his landlord— Camel Purefoy—from being murdered by the mob around him received such injuries that he died soon after. It was necessary to bear in mind that all this was done in tl'e face of large bodies of the military and police who had been called in to protect Mr. Waldron's voters and to sup press riot and tumult. Nor were these riotous pro- ceedings confined to one place, but throughout the day of polling they were going on simultane ously in different parts of the county at considerable distances from each other. Yet not one of Captain White's voters was obstructed, nor did any one of theta require an escort of constabulary or military. He asked the committee if it was probable that such men as Mr. James Speight, the member for Limerick, Mr. William Speight, Col. Bagwell Purefoy, and Capt. De Burgh would have been alarmed at the aspect of affairs without adequate cause. He denied that landlord influence had anything to do with the rioting, and also contended that the disturb &aces were the result of • systematic and organised attempt to intimidate Mr. Waldron's supporters. The learned counsel then at considerable length reviewed the evidence called on behalf of the sitting member, and urged that it failed to shake the case of the petitioner. [Left sitting. j THE LATE MR. R. CULLING HANBURT, M.P.— Yesterday morning the mortal remains of the late Mr. Hanbury, M.P. for the county of Middlesex, were takes from his family residence in Upper Grosvenor-street, to The Poles, his father's seat near Ware, in Hertfordshire, for interment at Thunbridge Church, a chapeiry in the pariah of Ware, Herta. The charch being • comparatively short distance from the house, it was a walking funeral; but there were three mourning coaches for the female members of the family attending the solemn rites, The sacred edifice was entirely draped in black. The service commenced about 3 and was very plainly con ducted. The co ffi n is of solid pannelled English oak, with • Maltese cross on • brass p r tr i , and the inscriptions— " Robert Culling Hanbury, M.P., died 27th March, 1867, aged 44."—" For ever wi the Lord." Mrs. Robert CPU rg Hanbury (the widow) and the youthful son of the deceased, by his first wife, were the chief mourners ; then followed Mr. Robert Hanbury, sen. (father), Messrs. Geo. and Charles Hay Hanbury (brothers) ; Mr. Abel Smith, M.P., the Hon. and Rev. Lowther Barrington and Mr. A. D. Chapman and Mrs. Chapman (brothers-in-law sad sister) • the Rev. W. H. Fremantle, rector of St. Mary's. Maiflerone, and Mrs. W. H. Fremantle (sister of Mrs. R. C. Hanbuty) ; Sir T. F. Buxton, Bart., and Lady Vic toria Buxton, Mr. C. Buxton, M.P., Mr. T. F. Buxton, M.P., the Earl of Shaftesbury, K.G., Captain Trotter, the ker. J. W. Reeve, minister of Portman Chapel, Re. WAR EXPENDITURE IN EUROPE.—Tho Mug Public, of Lyons, says :—" The quantity of arms whisk Europe is at this moment engaged iu transforming or manufacturing is estimated at 11,000 cannon and 3,2011,1erl idles. If the former are valued at 2,000 fr. each, thee gives a sum of 22,000,000 fr., and that is an extremely kw price. The rides at 40fr. each represent • sum of 11l and that in most countries is far below the actual sum, the Chaasepot resting 75fr., and the Swiss Winchester 100 fr. This amount will therefore probably be exceeded, and as all the accoutrements will also require tnunforna tion, this expenditure. which, according to the most mode rate calculation, would already be 22 millions for canoes and Let for r ifies, together 150 millions, will certainly he doubled. It will rise to triple, or 450 millions, taking WO accost the munition powder, lead, cartridges, Stc. hat us say , in round numbers. 500 millions ! bolt a milliard (20,0C3,0e3/.)! We ask any intelligent cues, is it rot the most grievous thing possible to see half a milliard thus spent in instruments of war, when the peoples everywhere are in want of primary schools, appreutisasge instructive, and profeasional training ; when there are the mat urgent applications for the execution of roads, .bridgay and the most indispensabl e means of communication ?' • CHRISTIANITY IN JAPAN. Mid seeing that our own political and social system can only be regarded as a gigantic failure, as compared with the Japanese, if, in the wads of the American constitution, " the pursait of happiness" be the test of success, it would be as well for our national vanity if we estunated our civilianss at its true value, and admitted that it is ten thoussad times more powerful for evil than it is for good, and that perhaps the nim.t fatal defect in it is, that it seeks to varnish over its inherent rottenness with a religious glow which it calla Christianity, but which, as practised hl those who profess it, bears no resemblance to that religion, so that Japiusese who are instructed for the first time is the actual moral code laid down by Christ are penetrated with amazement. " W by," they exclaim, "H is teaching isms tuidlysuperior to that of Confucius. We had no conception Christianity was such a religion as this, hut believed it te be a superstition only fit for the common people and shor keepers, like Buddhism. Why do the people who come here not live like Christians! Is it because they 1 1, ignorant merchants who only underst a i a l auperstition! " No," we are compelled to reply ; " they are all the same at home." " Then," they say, astonished, " why do nut your learned men follow purely the teaching of ChM* as our learned men follow purely the teaching of Con. fucius!" Such are the questions with which the intelli gent Japan e Confucian plea the Western Christian. and it is long before be is enabled so completely to overcome the prejudice which the praclice of Christians excites is his mind, as thoroughly' to realise that it has scarcely Al relation whatever to the sublime precepts of the Diva.) Founder of the religion he professes. For the Japanese as we have already said, is a man who due,. not know what compromise means, and it is to him astonishing that • man should say he believes one thing, and practise in his daily life another. In a word. he is capable 0f sublime appreciation of Christianity, if it were not for an inveterate horror which he entertain' of contact with the Christian. It is ' doubtlea, owing to the purely ethical character of his own re' ligion that the educated Julianne bas no religion!' bigotry as applied to dogma. He hates bad practice, lint he listens with respect and toleration to any new theelo: gical opinions, and imbibes with delight the ekvsted principles of pure Christianity. All good Japanese are In the constant habit of prayer, and only the lower chi practise ceremonial. Hen are great there according to their lives, not their intellect. Thom the most enacts. scholar is discredited because he gave one doubtful Ono! the redact i, t o n h li ar who tlsare°lofmrrise It ty . tians on m : l as; mi ssionaridsnehaly es i W th l render it m' possible for a people who only judge of a religious 5!,! . . tern by its results, to accept Christianity.— Blacke,." Magazine for April. F r.