The Express. — London, England, 1867-02-19 00:00:00

MAPPIN BROTllERS.—Eatabliahed A.D. 1810. CLIESTS of SILVER PLATE fur the COLONIES, CUTLERY and SILVER PLATE for FITINLSRI NO. MAPPIN BROTHERS, LONDON-BRIDGE. MAPPIN BROTHERS, 222, REGENT STRUT. BRowN and POLSON'S CORN FLOUR for CHILDREN'S DIET . To obtain extra protit by the sale other kinds are sometimes offer.' instead if BROWN and POISON'S. "John Brown," "John Poison," Is signed by the makers on each packet. late erPreoo. TO CORREs PON DENTS . Advertisements intended for •• The Express," London Evening Paper, must be at the Office, 10, nouverie-street, by Two o'clock on the day of publication. DRURY LANE. 211151 F.VYNINO, THE .11 7 :ALIUS \VI73: Mr. Phelps, Messrs. E. Phelps, II ,inelnlr, C. Meyton, and II:smolt ; Mesdames 11. Verdi, and 11. Anndenholf.—And NUMBER NIP: OR, HARLE QUIN AND THE GNO3IK KING OF THE GIANT !lOU:CLAM HAYMARCZT. THIS EnckMO, A LEC:i43S. FOR LIFE Ileum Sothern, Bogen, Clark, Compton, Acc.: 34ra Chippendale, Mls.es 11111, Wnght, am—LORD DENDREARY MARRIED AND 1141N 1 ,,' It/It. Mr. Saberu.—And JENN V LIND AT LAST. Miss Fluke. rantaaws. TEM TW 14 , Ills Liffli.:77.....Messis. Verner.% Fenton: Mrs. U. White and Allan Wentworth.—Aud SHADOW TREE 811 A FL Messrs Vining, Shore. Verner, V. VUllers, Forrester, Mellon, and Cathcart: Misses Montagu, Edmonds, and Rodgers. LI MUM, TNT! EvMiran, THE TV:4IIiLTS4s Mr. Widdicomb.—And ROUGE ET !SOUL Mews. Yachter, Emery, Cowper. ltorelaod, Fitzpatrick. Dalton, Reynolds, Lomas, Andrews, PtLe, hc. ; Yrs. L. Murray, and Misses llamado, Grattan, and C. Lectereq. STRAND. Ting tYLMMIO, MARRIED DAEGIITERS AND YOUNG lIUS. MNDA —1,4 Night., of GUY FAWKR.i.—Amd A SUIT OF TIERED'S. HOLBORN. THIS Relent., MY TFiiiNRXT. Mr. Delmore: Mimeos Toole and Lennox.—And FLYING SCUD. Mews. Neville, Bel lmore, BWce , Yolhire, &c. ; Mesdames Y. Josephs, C. Saunders, Bemis Foote, Addeo, Lemmas, Raymond, &a. BRITANNIA. TUN PRINCIM OF THE PEARL TSLAND'•. OR, TILE THREE KINGDONN OF PEARL, GOLD, AND SILVER Miss Jacobok—First-rate Pautomlugata —Awl THE RETURN OF TILE WANDERER. HIM! WATER AT LONDON BRIDOL MI DAT —Morning, 211. foul Afternoon, 21. 4Nn. TO-MotitOß—Morning, 4m Afternoon, Mt 25E4 LONDON, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19. THE elevation of a Scottish Judge to the peerage, with the avowed purpose that ho may in the House of Lords take part in the judicial business of the court of ultimate appeal for the three king- (loins, is an event at once novel and pregnant. Scottish barristers have, indeed, before now ful filled such duties, but it was only after they had been called to, and had long practice at, the Eng lish bar. The names of Lord LOUGHBOROUGH in a past generation, and of Lord BROUGHAM in this, will at once occur among those who have thus, after a period of practice in both countries, been placed in the position of Appellate Judges. And when the Court of Appeal is common for both, the most rational course certainly seems to be that its members should thus be certified to be acquainted with both the systems of law which they are called upon to administer and determine. Nevertheless, in regard to Scotland, such has not hitherto been the general rule. The names we have cited are but exceptions, and for above a century and a half it has been almost wholly by English lawyers that the decisions of the courts of Scotland have been reviewed. Yet when fur the first time it is proposed that this method should be reversed, and that a Scottish lawyer, with no special study of the law of England, should be placed in the posi tion of sharing in the decision of not only Scottish but English cases in appeal, it is impossible to avoid being at first startled by the novelty. But the proposition that what is good for the one should be good for the other, is so manifestly reasonable that the practical working of the anomaly in regard to Scotland deserves our con sideration. It is, we believe, almost universally admitted by the Scottish bar, and indeed it has been stated by the highest authorities that have adorned its bench, that the system of appeal to a court composed in general solely of English lawyers hrs been of great benefit to its jurisprudence. The first and obvious advantage is, that in cases in which the law of Scotland has been unsettled, there has thus been afforded an opportunity for assimilating it to that already established in Eng land. This has, to a very considerable extent, operated in bringing about a general accordance in the mercanti!o codes of the two countries. But a second, and perhaps more important advantage has accrtibtl to the development of the law in purely Scottish departments. It is the tendency of lawyers in all countries to carry their own principles to extremes. They love the doctrines they have so painfully learned, not wisely, but too well. They grow fascinated with their logical coherence, and will rather tell a lie—under the name of a legal fiction—than impair their universal authority. Legal lies are, however, in the end as bad policy as any ocher kind of dishonesty ; and the theoretical completeness of a system is constantly leading its authors into absurdities. Now, the great Luefit to the law of Scothrd in its administration by the House of Lords has arisen from its being subjected to the finelligence of men of ability who have had no such blind fondness for its theoretical consistency as to hide from them its practical inconveniences. The niost learned Scottish counsel have found it im possible to indoctrinate the Law Lords with such reverence for Scottish theories as to make them regardless of the claims of crnmon sense. Consequently, every principle has been test. d by the rules of common sense, and the result has been that the law has been relieved in some points (ruin logical deductions that led to absur dity, awl in others has been guided into a path which has proved, contrary to the opinion in Scotland at the time, to be not less sound than safe. But there in certainly no reason to he given why English law might not derive benefit from the like methods. It also is full, as the lieges know to their cost, of obsolete and false principles, of absurd fictions, of doctrines urged to an irrational extreme. What could better help to check the further growth of such evils than the presenting them to the 1 of an able and experienced judge, to whom other systems of positive law are familiar, and who is ••erred in the circumstances of life in whiz!' law has to be applied ? Even in our own courts we have indeed precedents for such ideas. The Chancellor, who presides in the Courts of Equity, is an often as tint taken from the Common Law bar, and knew nothing of Equity till called .11 to aftinn or reverse the decrees of every other Chancery Court. So in the House of Lords, a pure Common Law barrister is often required to sit on appeals from the Courts of Equity. It can be no harder for a Scottish judge to t edify himself to decide a case' from either a common law or an equitable 'p THE EXPRESS, - TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 19, 1867. court in England, than it is for an English judge' who is acquainted with only one of these systems— so broadly distinct among us—to decide a case in volving the abetrusest mysteries of the other. But it certainly may be expected that when the mystery begins to verge into nonsense—as it must be confessed it sometimes does—a Scottish judge may gently hint that what is nonsense ought not to be declared as English law. For these reasons we are disposed to welcome, as a first step towards the improvement of our judicial system in its chief place, the elevation of a Scottish judge who, bringing with him the highest reputation for not only learning but ability and discretion, is about to be called to the House of Lords. And we believe the most enlightened part of the English profession will be ready to acknowledge the benefits which will ultimately follow from such an infusion in the high court before which they plead. It is a first step, indeed, towards placing an anomalous tribunal on a better footing, and the method adopted may, if it is seen to work well, be hereafter carried out more cou ipletely. But the advantages which we may expect from it suggest the necessity for deprecating any arrangement which would not merely impair, but reverse them. If the temptation of ease should lead to any division of labour, we should gain no benefit in England, while Scotland would unques tionably suffer. If, for example, there grew up any tendency to give to the new Scottish peer a virtual ascendancy in deciding appeals from his own country, while ho abstained from attending to those front England, we should lose more than all the advantage to be hoped from his appointment. In such a case we should merely see the decisions of four judges in Edinburgh reviewed by one in London ; and those at Lincoln's-inn or West minster, by melt of equal standing and no higher knowledge who sit in the Chamber of the Peers. Nothing is gained by re moving Sir 11 con CAIRNR from the bench of the Lords Justices' Court to that of the Lords, if he is only to do the work in the one place which he would have done in the other. But much is gained if he is not only to decide Chan cery casts but those at common law and from Scotland. So, also, there will be even more gain in obtaining the opinion on every point of English law, after it shall have been argued before him, of the eminent lawyer who has for a dozen years presided over the Supreme Court of Scotland. Even so, he will still not occupy the place of overwhelming authority which for so long has been advantageously filled by English lawyers in regard to the jurisprudence of Scotland. Instead of deciding solely, he will have but one voice among several. He can therefore influence simply by his reasoning, and will only arbitrate where English lawyers are equally divided. In such cases a vote cast in favour of reason and plain sense, rather than in that of technical consistency, will be of incalculable advantage to the future of our law. OUR CONTEMPORARIES. (THIS DAY.) against the employment of volunteers in the suppreasion of civil disturbances wee never doubtfal until Monday week, when Mr. Walpole seat to the Mayor of Chestsr the extraordinary instruction to use the loeal volunteers as a military force, under the name of special constables. The Jamaica prosecutions, promoted by people who have' as great an interest in the maintenance of order as the defenders of Mr. Eyre, offer no illustration of any ten dency to try officers for their lives for simply doing their best to put down rebellion. Neither Mr. Eyre, nor Colonel Nelson, nor Lieut. Brand, is called to answer for anything done in the suppression of what was at the time called the rebellion in Jamaica, which was effectually put down before the wanton hangings, and floggings, and burning' condemned by the Jamaica commissioners, or the execu tion of Mr. Gordon, for which Mr. Eyre and his sub ordinates are being prosecuted, were committed. No British officer who understande his duty, and can ap preciate the honour of serving a great and free country, can desire to place himself above the law ; and he would not be a friend to the belligerent services, however high his station, or whatever his opportunities of making known his opinions, who should represent subordination to the law as a grievance. AILMCA. (lIT ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH.) NEW YORK, FEB. 18, MORNING. The Senate has passed a substitute for the bill adopted by the House of Representatives on the 13th inst., establishing martial law in ten of the Southern states. The Senate's bill makes the military government in the South provisional until the formation of State governments, with the prin ciple of negro suffrage, the disfranchisement of prominent rebels, and the adoption of the constitu tional amendment. The Guion screw steamer Chicago arrived out yesterday. MR. DISRAILLIII EX PLANATIONM. Mr. Gladstone last night, the Times says, very felicitously summed up the feeling shared by all—that it is moat desirable parliament shall arrive at a legislative settlement of reform during the present session, and it is a sense of this th►t explains the abstinence of the opposi tion from taking advantage of the errors of the govern ment. Let it but appear that the administration is incom petent or unwilling to carry a measure of reform through parliament, and its days are numbered. The Chancellor of the Exchequer last night parried the questions of Mr. Ayrton and Mr. Baines, but there are limits to a policy of reserve. If there is to be no practical result of the license accorded to the administration, it must be re voked. The Times hopes for better things, and is loth to believe that the best opportunity yet presented us of solving a difficult problem is to be lost. The only means, however, of guarding against such a misadventure must be found in a clear definition now, while it is yet time, of what must be found in the statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer next Monday. If her Majesty's government come to an early end the motto on their tomb, the Daily News says, should be " killed by kindness." The house would fain make the Treasury bench a bed of roes for its leader, and it may be even that the Chancellor of the Exchequer would prefer something else to this brooding calm. These prelimi nary resolutions may be divided into the superfluous, the ambiguous, and the impossible, and clearly, if it were the object of the liberal party to trip up the go vernment on the earliest occasion, they need not wait for the second reading of a bill, or even for the first, much less for a committee on a bill. Common sense calls this way of approaching a bill, not by sapping up to it by a series of parallels, but by doubling back over the same ground by a series of sallies and re treats, a very unsatisfactory mode of ministerial engineer ing ; and the most charitable construction we can put upon it is that Mr. Disraeli fancies he is leading a forlorn hope of deserters from his own party against the citadel of the British constitution, which be boa sworn to defend, with the liberal forces cheering him on, and ready to fire into him the moment he gives way. The Post continues to oppose the resolutions, but thinks it worthy of consideration whether it would not be worth while to let the ministers make their faces and go through their posturing, in order the sooner to get to the real business of the bill. Even the lirrald confesses that as the government does not intend to uk the house to vote the resolutions with out explaining what particular measures it will propose to cani into effect the principles affirmed in them, it would have been better to have made that explanation in the first instance, and let the country know at once what it considered the bases for a fair settlement of the question. But this is, it adds, really a matter of no great import ance. In the opinion of the Telegraph Mr. Disraeli's tenacious adherence to a mistaken plan, when the fairest opportu nity was offered for an honourable withdrawal from it, is a greater mark of inability to understand the necessities and deal with the emergencies of statesmanship than was afforded by the original et nor. The Cabinet is now more deeply pledged than it was a week ago, and far more difti_ cult will be the task of extrication or retreat. No mi. niater ever before had such fair offers from professed and constitutional opponents; no offers of help could be more courteously, more delicately conveyed ; and the answer is silence—the dogged persistence in a course which may frustrate the hopes of the nation, and put off reform until the time for calm deliberation has passed away. The Star describes the silence on the Treasury bench last night after Mr. Gladstone had spoken as an extronli nary and unpardonable departure from ministerial pro. priety, and can hardly doubt that it will give the reflec tions of liberal members, between now and Thursday, a tone likely to conduce to the settlement of this question, and to repress for ever those arbitrary and dishonest pretensions on the part of the tones to which too much indulgence has already been extended. MILITARY REMPONSIBILITY. Observing that speakers and writem who have brought themselves to look with complacency on the wholesale homicides in Jamaica aro seizing the present occasion when the public mind is justly irritated by the outbreak of Yenianism to represent British law as little better than a snare fur the brave soldier who exposes his life for his country, the lAtiles News expresses its regret at finding the Cul iiiii ander-in-Chief employing in the House of Lords language which, contrary we may be sure to his intention, is calculated to encourage this erroneous view of the position of British officers placed in responsible commands. The won's of his royal highness have been generally understood as glancing at the prosecu tion of Colonel Nelson and Lieutenant Brand; but the uncertainty of which he coniplaimsl the holly Nsev believes to be of recent and artiEcial origin. The law MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS. The Times comments upon the report to parlia ment of the Lancaster commissioners. These gentle men, it will be seen elsewhere, do not hesitate to fix the guilt of enormous corruption, as far as the liberal party is concerned, on the two unsuccessful candidates themselves, Mews. Fenwick and Schneider. They add that, " with regard to the latter, at least, deliberate and long-formed determination had existed of carrying his election at any coat, by corrupt means, and in defiance of the law." Of both of them the commissioners say. " The very gold destined to be used in bribing in several instances passed through these gentlemen's hands . . . thus conclusively establishing their personal knowledge of and privity to the manner in which their election was being conducted." Mr. Lawrence they do not acquit of blame, but they do not find that be was cognisant of the acts of bribery committed in his name. On Mr. H. T. Wilson rests the guilt of the corruption on the conservative side. The Hembl says the latent rising of Irish rebels seems even more ridiculous than Mr. Smith O'Brien's campaign of the cabbage garden. It now remains to remove the causes of that ill feeling to the English government which displays itself chronically by outbreaks such as this. It is for us to conciliate the Irish cottier by removing those grievances connected with his land tenure which have so long rankled in his thoughts, and given a handle to sedi tious agitators and treasonable conspiracies. The peculiarity of the Fenian movement is, the Times says, its hopelessness. If Fenian, will rise as they rose at Cahirciveen, of what folly may they not be found capable It is true that they cannot endanger the Ruth°. rity of the Crown, but it is equally true they can create disturbances awl postpone the return of that tranquillity on which the hopes of Ireland depend. The suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act is formidable to the enemies of law and order, and must be maintained for the protection of public peace. THE PUBLIC INCOME AND EXPENDITURE. The gross public income of the United Kingdom in the year ended the 30th September last was 58,450,142/. ss. 3d. The total ordinary expendi ture was 2,253,090/. 17s. 10d. less ; but, as 400,000/. was spent for fortifications, the excess of income over expenditure during the year is reduced to 1,853,090/. 17s. 10d. The balances in the ex chequer on the 30th September last amounted to 3,790,532/. 19s. 2d. STATISTICS OF ARTISANS AND THE SUFFRAGE. On the 4th of March Earl Russell will move, in the House of Lords, that an humble address be presented to her Majesty praying that there be laid before the house : " 1. A list in alphabetical order of the cities and boroughs in England and Wales returning members to parliament previously to the passing of the act 2 and 3 Will. IV., cap. 45, and stating the nature of the suffrage existing in each city and borough. " 2. A return showing the number of electors in each city and borough in England and Wales for 1865-6 G, classed according to the several qualifications in respect of which they are entitled to vote ; and the number of such electors who come within the description of mechanics, artisans, and other persons supporting themselves by daily manual labour, classed in like manner. "3. The number of electors made out from the fore going return, distinguishing those who come within the description of mechanics, artisans, and other persons sup porting themselves by daily manual labour in the cities and boroughs entitled to return members to parliament before the passing of the Reform Act, and distinguishing the mechanics, al Weans, and other working men entitled to vote as scot and lot voters, potwallers, and other ancient right qualifications from those entitled to vote as freemen or as 10/. occupiers. "4. A similar return of mechanics, artisans, &c. in cities and boroughs entitled to return members to parlia ment for the first time by the act 2 and 3 WilL IV., cap. 45 ; and also in the borough of Birkenhead." tire eaurt. OSBORNE, 1 7 18. IS. The Right Hon. B. Disraeli arrived yesterday, and had the honour of dining with the Queen and royal family. Mr. Disraeli left Osborne this morning for London. Major-General the Ron. A. and Mrs. Gordon have also left Osborne. The Queen and all the royal family drove and walked out this morning. A Committee of the Lords of her Majesty's/dost Honour able Privy Council sat yesterday, at Whitehall, on the subject of the cattle plague. The Lords present were— The Right Hon. H. Corry and the Right Hon. Stephen Cave. Mr. Harrison and Dr. Alexander Williams attended the committee. Mr. Griffin, secretary to the Surrey Commercial Dock Company, and Mr. Newell, their parliamentary agent, bad an interview with the Earl of Belmore, at the Home-office, yesterday, on the subject of the Traffic Regulation (Metro polis) Bill. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yesterday. Present—Lord Romilly, Sir R. Kinder,ley, and Sir J. Colville. Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial. Of from the Governors of the Australian Colonies, Hong Kong, Ceylon, Canada, and the West India Islands. Despatches were sent to the Governor of Malta. HEALTH OF THE PRINCESS OF WALES. (THIS DAY). There were many calls at Marlborough House this morning. The following bulletin was issued:—" Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales has had but little sleep during the night, but slept for some hours this morning. There is a slight amendment in the general condition." His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales con tinues in town." CABINET Con:tem.—There will be a Cabinet Council this afternoon at the First Lord of the Treasury's official residence in Downing-stmt, at 1 o'clock. His Royal Highness the Field Marshal COM mar.ding-in-Chief will hold a levee at 1 o'clock on Saturday, the 23rd inst. Mr. Waddington was much better yesterday, and is now able to discharge his duties as under secretary for the Home Department. The Times contradicts a report which alleges that the Lord Chief Justice of England is about to retire on account of declining health. His lordship's health, except for a slight attack of influenza, from which he ha s completely recovered, is, and has been, excellent, and he has no intention whatever of depriving the country of his services. On Friday last the Rev. Charles Haughton Aitkens, clerk, M.A., was instituted to the vicarage of Aylsham, in Norfolk, on the presentation of the dean and chapter of Canterbury. _ __ On Thursday Mr. Corry will present to the Howe of Commons a minute connected with the Code of Regulations of the Committee of Privy Council on Educe. tion ; and make a statement to the house. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. ITALY. MANIFESTO OF THE OPPOSITION DEPUTIES. The Italia publishes a manifesto of the parlia mentary opposition addressed to the Italian nation, and signed by 77 members of the late Chamber. After finding fault with the govenuuent for its past conduct, the manifesto, which is dated Florence, Feb. 17, says : Advocates of the sacredness of the human conscience, we desire equality of creeds and not the pre-eminence of an episcopacy under the egis of governmental pro tection—of an episcopacy armed with privileges rind threatening usurpation. still worse—an oligar chy fatal both from a political and religious point of view, which seems incapable of keeping within the limits of its ministry, and is incessantly invading the domain of the civil power. We will not imperil the safety of the state by maintaining a servitude in the bosom of the church which would place anew the inferior clergy under the tyranny of the high dignitaries, become the dispensers of wealth which in their hands will be an instrument of war against the country ; whilst by means of a proper arrangement that wealth may be made to serve as a basis for the reorganisation of our finances, and become, in consequence, a source of prosperity for the State and the communes. In fine we do not desire that the State should bend the knee and disarm before a political pontificate which strikes with its thunders and disputes with Italy her capital. The country, whose right of public discussion has been inter dicted, is punished for the moral support which it has granted to its representatives; the right of meeting in Italy is assailed in order that there may be no disarrange ment of the negotiations with the Vatican, from which proceeds that breath of reaction which strikes with an absolutist vertigo even those ministers who formerly de clared themselves the friends of liberty. The dilemma is now put before the country in precise terms. It is for the country to decide between the theory of the caprice of government in the place of law, or the precise text of the law defended by parliament ; between economy reconcileable with the security of the state, the exigencies of urgent wants, and the national welfare ; or persistence in a system which, to the great detriment of the public treasure, impoverishes us more and more and threatens fresh dangers to national credit and honour. We calmly appeal from the verdict of the government to that of the electoral urn, at whichwW be discussed the questionsof law and liberty, which, for the safety of the country, we have defended with our votes, and which, if necessary, we should defend at the coat of our lives. THE NORTH GERMAN CONFEDERATION. According to a communication from Berlin in the Avenir National the first proposition to be submitted to the North German parliament will be one for conferring on the King of Prussia the title of " Emperor of the Germans." The Cologne Gazette publishes the full text of the new constitution for the Confederation of North Germany. (BETTER'A TILLEGELES.) FRANCE AND CANDIA. (OFFICIAL OP./WATCHES.) PARIS, Frs. 19. The official yellow-book contains about 00 pages referring to Crete. Numerous despatches from M. Drouyn do Lhuys and the Marquis de Moustier attest the constant solicitude of the French go vernment for the Christians. One despatch of M. Drouyn de Lhuys, dated August 27, urges the Porte to send a commissioner to Candia without delay to examine the position of affairs, and devise means for remedying it. A despatch from the Marquis de Moustier to the French Minister at Athens, dated Oct. 12, denies the rumour that the marquis, when he passed through Athens, made use of threatening language at an interview which ho had with the King of Greece. A despatch from the same minister, dated Nov. 8, addressed to the French representative at Con stantinople, counsels the Porte to adopt measures of clemency, and adds, " The question now is under what conditions Turkey will henceforth be able to govern Crete, in order to repair evils and efface painful reminiscences." Another despatch of the 7th December asserts the inability of the Ottoman government to quell the Cretan insurrection, and continues as follows : " Turkey should be sensible to the danger of allowing the evil to increase to such an extent that the position of the Turkish empire would at length necessitate the employment of extraordinary remedies. We consider that we give a fresh proof of our interest in Turkey by calling upon her to devote to this question all her solicitude and reflection." A despatch dated December 14 says :—" Public opinion in Europe with regard to the Candiotes begins to be sympathetic, and more distinct marks of encouragement are being afforded them. It is, therefore, in the highest degree incumbent upon the ministers of the Sultan thoroughly to examine the state of affairs, and foresee the consequences to which it may lead. If the Porte is deficient in fore sight, it may, before many months, have to meet still graverand more imperative necessities." A despatch dated December 28 points out that the difficulties with Crete have successively increased, and adds : " Admitting even that the insurrection should be speedily quelled, the question at issue would no longer be what it was a few months ago ; solutions which at the beginning of this crisis might, per haps, have pacified the Cretans, now run a risk of being considered insufficient. We cannot dis guise from the Porte the serious anxiety felt by the French government on the subject. Things have now reached a point at which the fullest candour is certainly the greatest evidence of friendly feeling which we can afford to the Turkish government." The last despatch contained in the yellow-book on the subject of Candia is addressed by the Mar quis de Moustier to the French minister at Athens. It says :—" We have learned with much satisfac tion that the tendencies of the new Greek cabinet towards Turkey are not aggressive. The agitation which the Greek government permitted to extend might have produced the most deplorable compli cations both for Greeee and Europe. We could not remain indifferent to anything which might increase the prosperity of Greece, but as the price of our good-will and solicitude we are justified in expecting that it will not be sought to impel us prematurely against our will into any line of policy. We must always desire to be left free to suggest at the proper moment and in our own time whatever may appear to be expedient." CHINA. (By telegraph from Galle.) HONG-KONG, Jae. 13.• The rebels are threatening Hankow. Great fires have taken place in the North of China. Advices from Japan state that Prince Stotabaahi has been elected Tycoon, and has announced a policy favourable to foreigners. • This message has occupied 21 days in transmission from Galle. The commercial intelligence is anticipated by the telegrams of later date published this morning. Gaiignatti states that " Cora Pearl," the debu tote at the Boulfes, has closed her brief dramatic career. That despotic gamin of the Quartler Latin, Pipe-en-Bois, who hooted Gaetano from the stage, is said to hare signi fied his dioplessure ; and in compliance with this injunc- tion a new Cupidon now ploys in Orpher. This disturb. ance is a severe blow to the Bouffes' exchequer. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Opening prices : Gold, 1364. Sterling exchange on London, 1084. 5-20 United States Bonds, 110 ; Illinois, 1162 ; Erie, 1554. NEW YORK, Fxs. 18, EVININC. Surratt has arrived here. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Closing prices : Gold, 1361. Sterling exchange on London, 1081. 5-20 United States Bonds, 1101 ; Illinois, 1151; Erie, 56. Cotton, Middling Upland, 331. (From the second edition of the Tiv&) (PER ATLANTIC CABLE.) NEW YORK, FEB. 18. The Bill for the Military Government of the South appears likely to fail. The impeachment scheme loses ground. The new tariff may bo regarded as probably dead. The Fenians are excited, but no raids have occurred. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Gold, 130. Exchange, 104. Five-Twenty United States' Bonds, Ma. Illinois Central, 1151 ; Erie, 55j. Cotton, 33c. PetroleuM, 18c. NEW YORK, FEB. 18, Evran. Prices little changed, except as to Five-Twenty United States Bonds, the supply of which is very limited. Sales, 1101 ; demand active. REPORT OF THE LANCASTER COMMISSION. The report of the Lancaster Election Commission is published. The total of the money spent on the election is said to have been 14,5301. its. Bd. The muse adopted by both parties is thus described :—" The machinery by which these sums were passed from the pockets of the candidates and their friends into those of the voters was much the same on either side. Each bad a cashier to whom was entrusted the whole of the funds employed. The borough and county within the circuit of seven miles were divided into districts, over each of which was set au officer called ' a captain,' who dealt directly with the cashier, and drew from him the iuoney required within the district alloted to his charge. Under the captains were ' sub-captains,' who looked after sub-divisions of the district, or particu l ar families, or knots of voters working under the same employer. To these were joined a staff of assistants and sub-assistants, whose duty it was to treat and drink with the voters, and collect them at the critical times of payment and voting. It is due to the chief captains on either aide to say that they discharged the shameful work on which they were engaged with real and fidelity. Very few received remuneration. On the conservative side were five chief captains marked off from all subordinates. Their services were all gratuitous. The liberals divided their ground into many more districts, requiring a corresponding number of captains, and rendering it more difficult to draw a line separating chiefs from subalterns." In concluding their report the commissioners say :—" We have now to point out by name those on whom rests the guilt of thus debauching and degrading the constituency. We have no hesitation in affixing this stigma on Messrs. Fenwick and Schneider, nor of adding that, with regard to the latter at least, a deliberate and long-formed determination had existed of carrying his election at any cost, by corrupt means and in defiance of the law. The very gold destined to be used in bribing in several instances passed through these gentle men's hands on its way to those who were then engaged in bribing on their behalf, thus conclusively establiabing their personal knowledge of and privity to the manner in which the election was being conducted. We forbore to summon them as witnesses, both because they could add little or nothing to the information we had already received, and because we were unwilling to place them in a position to demand from us a certificate which might have the effect of shielding them from the consequences which their conduct seemed to us to have deserved. We, however, offered them the opportunity of making voluntary state ments before us, of which Mr. Fenwick availed himself ; but we have be en: unable to extract from his state ment any matter which could vary the testimony we had already received, or throw any new light on the subject of our inquiry. Beyond all question the conservatives, as a body, were quite as guilty as the liberals ; yet as we bad no evidence to connect Mr. Lawrence with bribery in the same sense as the late sitting members were con nected, that is, by direct personal action, and as it sass only by a strict examin..tion of him that we could hope to arrive at a true conclusion upon this point, we felt that we should not be justified in abstaining from calling him ; and we cannot find either from other evidence or from his own any proof that he was cognisant of the acts of bribery committed im hie name. We do not wish to be understood as acquitting him from all blame ; we cannot but think that from his own account he surrendered his own judgment, and followed his ' injudicious friends' with a too passive submission. We cannot but think that, to a man dwelling in Liverpool, versed in politics, the character of the borough of Lancaster, even at that time but too well known, should have iised a spirit of in quiry. We think also that he did contemplate the ex penditure of a sum, indefinite, though within limits, yet in excess of what he must have conceived a per fectly pure election could cost. We think, too, the aspect of the town as described to us by his general agent, Mr. Clark, should have caused inquiry on Ms part. On the other hand it is proved that he did clearly give his supporters to understand that he would contribute no more than 1,0001., and that he did not in fact at any time intend to contribute more than that sum ; and that the above-mentioned payments of money by the firm of E. Lawrence anti Co. were made during his absence, and were in fact without his knowledge and consent. On the conservative aide, the guilt of originating a corrupt expenditure rests upon Mr. H. T. Wilson." The following are the technical " findings" of the con. miuioners :—" We find that corrupt practices very ex tensively prevailed at the election of July, 1865. We find that 844 persons were guilty of bribery at the raid election by receiving money or other valuable consideration for having given, or to induce them to give, their votes. We find that a further number of 130 persons were guilty of corrupt practices at the said election by corruptly giving or promising money or other valuable consideration to voters fur the purchase of their votes or on account of their having voted, or by cor ruptly advancing money for the purpose of bribery, or by treating ; and we further find that of the said 139 persons 89 were electors and 50 (named in schedule B of this report) were not voters for the borough. Finally, we report to your Majesty that, with rare exceptions, corrupt practices have for a long time prevailed at contested elec tions for members to serve in parliament for the borough of Lancaster." WEATHER REPORT.-(THIS DAY.) TOIVDAY, F)BRVART 19, 3 LX. B. T. F. 1 lExtreme.! W. 12 1 F. D. Nairn —I W. I 1 W. Aberdeen . 1 30.3040 8.8. W. 2 3 8.9. W. Leith Ardreeman —30.25 46 S. 14 4 BE. Greencastle 30 1143 S. 4 6 B.W. 29.98 4? B.W. i 4 9 8. Cape Clear-129m 461 B.E. 4 4 8. W. liverpeol 30.33 45! 8.8. !1I 1 ; 8.8. E. Holyhead 3024 471 E.S. E. 4 3 8.8. W. Pensnce 30.30 50 S.S.E. ,6 i b S.s. Breit 8. 3 3 E.B.E. Larking WU 48 E.B.E. ; 2 2 8. Itochefort... 30 39 45 BE. 3, 2 8. Plymouth ... '3O 34 49 E.S.E. 2 3 8.8 L Wermonth .. 30 40 46 E BE. 2 1 8.8. Parlanionth.. 30 40 47, B.E. 1 2 I 8.8. E. Landon —.30 42 46 S. 1 2 E. Yarmouth... 30 46 44' BS. E. 2 3 ! 8.8. E. licarboroegh. 30.45 39 B.M.W. 2 1 B.E. Shields ..... 30.33 43 B.W. ! 6 3 &W. Helder REMARKS. The wind* this morning are variable in direction, and generally moderate In strength on our western coasts, and light on our other coasts. The sky is overcast with haze or tog Is ninny places. Barometrical pressure la decreasing. Temperatures ge nerally have changed but little. Thunder with heavy rain is re ported trum DOWNING-STREET, FEB. 14. —The Queen has been pleased to appoint David P. Chalmers, Esq., to be magis trate for her Majesty's settlement on the River Gambia on the Western Coast of Africa.— Go:rite. • THE ROYAL INFIRMARY, CITY-ROAM—Since the foundation of this hospital for all chest diseases, 70,313 cases have been admitted. The number under treatment last week was 824. Acute cases are received for in-door treatment without any letter of admission. The present winter is now being felt severely, and public benevolence alone can help the hospital to keep pace with the claims on its resources. LAW INTELLIGENCE, (THIS DAY.) COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH. After Term Nisi Prima sittings at guildhall.—(Before the Lord Chief Justice and Special Juries.) GALE'S PRuTECTED GIIiPOWDER COMPANY (LIMITED) V. LAIIIIIR-LIBEL. This was an action for libel The esprendant pl ea d e d no t guilty, and that the article complained of was true in sub stance and in fact. Mr. Coleridge, Q.C., Mr. Serjeantßoutine, and Mr. Hume Williams were counsel for the company air R. Collier and Mr. Lopez were counsel for the defendant. The defendant is the proprietor of the E.11 , 11t !mil Mere dry, published at Plymouth, and the article com plained of had reference to the formation of the G a le n Protected Gunpowder Company (Limited), of which Sir John Hay, M.P. is the chairman, and Sir A. ]fuller, and others, the directors. The article qated that the scheme WWI matured, a company was formed, and the bubble, as it swelled, exhibited gorgeous colours, throw. ing couleur de rose into the shade, and the patentees received the magnificent reward of their labours in the shape of some 25,000 f. The patentees and their agents set to work in all directions to get the patent taken ap, but the gunpowder manufacturers could not be prevailed epee to see the slightest merit or utility in the invention." The article also stated that names had been added to the list of shareholders, who were merely the nominees of the patentees, and it was said to bear the construction that the directors had received money presents. Before the jury was sworn a conference took place be. tween the learned counsel. after which, Mr. Coleridge said they had arrived at a settlement. It was an action brought by the company against the defend. ant for certain comments made by him upon the company, and, as it was understood by the plaintiffs, on the char ac . tors of the directors also. The actioo was brought, boa. ever, not for the comments on the invention and formation of the company, because they were matters open to free and fair comment, but for certain passages in the article which reflected directly or indirectly on the character of ther e who were connected with the company. He was intoned by his learned friend that Mr. Latimer never intended that the passages should be understood as imputing per. serial dishonour or discredit to those gentlemen, and he regretted that it should have been so misunderstood. That being PO the plaintiffs were willing to withdraw a juror, tndletthis mater rest. . Sir . It. Collier said the defendant inserted the article from a sense of duty which he owed to the public in warn. log them against entering into • speculation which he honestly believed was not likely to succeed. The defendant still adhered to the comments he had made with reference to the fact it contained, and still believed them to be true. With regard to the personal honour of the directors, Yr. Latimer had no hesitation in saying through him that be never intended to make any such im putation on the directors, who were, as they all knew. gentlemen of the highest honour, and he was s u rp r i se d that any such interpretation could have been put upon the article. Mr. Latuuer regretted that any such interpre• cation should hare been put upon any part of the article, and he was willing, under the cucnnuitances, to agree to the withdrawal of • juror. The Lord Chief Justice said he thought the article wu capable of the construction that had been put upon it by the plaintiff, and he also thought that the learned counsel had arrived at a satisfactory conclusion. A juror was then withdrawn. COURT OF EXCHEQUER. Sittings at Nisi Prius.—(Before the Lord Chief BANE and Special Juries.) COOPER (INFANT) V. WELLS. . . . This was an action by s Miss Cooper, a governess, against Mr. Wells, • surgeon, practising in Grueveuor•strect, Grosvenor-square, and having a residence in Hampstead, for improper dismissaL The defence wan that the plaudit had written anonymous letters of a disgraceful and inde cent character to herself and Mrs. Wells. The first witness called for the defence was Mrs. Wells, the wife of the defendant, who said she engaged Mies Cooper as governess for her young children in February, 186.4 and she remained with her until the 2c,th November. 1866. She entered at length into eircunintances conhertol with the receipt of the letters, but her evidence in chief had not concluded when our report left. THE POLICE COURTS. (THIS DAY.) CONNICTION FOR KEEYINk; UNIMEGEOUND InELLINa YUJI THE POOR. Robert Bea vomit, of 6, Albert.terrace, York-road, was summoned by Mr. William Mayes, sanitary inspector of St. Mary, Islington, for knowingly suffering to he seen. Tried • front cellar on the basement fluor of the above house, contrary to the provisions of the set fur the letter local management of the metropolis, 1$ and 19 Vic, cap there not being an area three feet wide in any put from six inches below the floor of the room to the Burke* of the ground adjoining. Mr. Mayes stated that he inspected the place corm plained of, and found it (a front cellar) to be occupied by • man, his wife, and three children. There were two beds in the mu. The open area in flout of the cellar was nut six inches below the flooring of the room, and wits only one foot seven inches wide, whereas to comply with the provision of the act it should be three feet wide. He had fiequently seen the defendant and cautioned him that he was doing wrong, and had also served him with notion to abate the evil, but the defendant took no notice, and treated the matter with contempt. The defendant did not deny the complaint, but said that there were other houses as bud an his. _ _ The magistrate said that this was a very bad ease. slid ordered the defendant to pay a fine of 2tM. and 235. ants, or in default 14 days' imprisonment. The fine and emits were paid. WANDSWORTH. KNOCKING DEATH OF A CHILD. • ' A young Malr ;;;;41;;;pir io 1 ;;;;;;; was brought before Mr. Inghi:in, charger( with causing the death at Charles Easey, aged 7 years. William Easey, a little boy, the brother of the deceased, stated that on Saturday aftenioon he was lied,* a truck up Nine Elms-lane, when he was met by the pH• saner, with a cart and two horses. Witilees w, on the left.hand side of the road, close against the wall. there being no footpath on that side of the raid, and his little brother was walking at the side of the truck lon his right hand. The homes 81111 cart were 2130 on the left hand ,side of the road. The prissier wa. at the hack of the cart. The horses were walking ; and after they had passed witness the wheel of the cart caught the truck, which was knocked over on to the ilece.essl, whe was thrown down, and the wheel of the cart weld over his bead and killed him onthe spot. Just as the truck WO going over witness called out to the prisoner, " Look to your hones," but he made no answer. If he hail bees at the side of his horses, or on the right side of the ,o id, the accident would not have happened. The prisoner said he was at the side of his cut, sad when he heard the witness call out, he ran to the hones and stopped them. The witness said the prisoner atom il the tint horse be. fore the wheel 'used over his brother's hi He saw the wheel resting on his brother's head, and the iart hod to be backed to remove him. James Green, a companion of the pri.oner, said he WOO driving a cart in front of the other. He caw the truck, and passed it. He admitted that the truck 1133 on the proper side, and that as their proper side was e iiiere.l with granite they avoidedit for the purpose of easing their horso. He said the road was narrow at the point whi re the acci dent happened, but on being questioned by the mine trate he admitted thin there was room for three carts to pries at one time. He heard the witness heiloa, and ea looking round he saw the deceased under the wheel. To prisoner was then at the side of hi' horses. Alarguret Easey, the mother, was coil..' lint ,11, el no evidence to give. She hail not seen her sin the AC• cident as the body had been removed to the dead Mr. Ingham remanded the prisoner for the attenilance of a surgeon and directed the deposition. to he takruni tiro interim. ESCAPE OF Two PRISoN R.:. —Ye•tt.niav 100111. ing two prisoners escaped from tle c‘11; of the Wolverhampton police-station. Ti,, aro. • so•timt• 4 Jackson, traveller to Messrs. J. and * II. Below, Lathe merchants and boot makers, of Deamz:,te. MAN(' h. - f ! , 1; and Benjamin Jones, alias Thomas Smith.:. latrm.! , t . Birmingham. Jackson was committed tat for perjury. Jones is a Birmingham thief, and wet- , rry'li l on Saturday night with others. cletezed with a -dap robbery. Ho must have been out on a titketeidetvc , for he was last convicted at the )lamb as-m• at Derby, and sent to four yeah 'renal set , dude. Tie), first cut away the portion of the solid :dew by w hicli the grating-bars of their cell wind.w w.•re held Ceti. Their tools seem to have been a dirge imil and a 'rip of wood, both of which they tore front a M.iter.Cll.u, tISCII in the cell. To deaden the somul frau the conetts-ion of the wood used u a mallet it. still:Mg tha head of the nail used as a chisel. a silk I.:,:elketchi. was tied round the wood. The iron frame best:net!. thoe wnl counterpanes were tied together to Itiake a ntrc , whilst one end was put out M the a inflow the other end was fastened to the displaced frame. Alizlded iu the cell yard a high wall stood between them and the public At nets. Fortune favoured them, for here they found a holder. the top of which reached the summit of the wall. the ladder baring been left there by a 'minter who had been tut. 'doped on the exterior of the cells on satin-the. This Labler was found lying on the street side of the wall at a little before 4 yesterday morning by a policeman. told led to the detection of the escape. A pursuit was (stout , and the ex prisoners were traced to Birmingham. w. , ern they changed their clothing and continued their debt. METROPOLITAN FREE H. ).4 r 1T.% 1.. DEVON ,ti 1 1 , 1 1 : iu l i A 7 R 0 R, I C e; ITI to. ". taee — lk :Fh l i :20 AR Iing vega ; aFt te .hii n c6: n .7. l . l l,l r w _ i , r ,wl n . Cu t 557.0.21e.rue41. bf 2 el 1 o 3 Co 0.02' S tr 0.46 4 hr . I 0.11 4 c 4 nr ' 4 1 co 4 !co 2 o 1 fin 3 1 Into 0.01 - fc 4 Iw 2 tu 3 Sea, R. 1 to 0.