The Express. — London, England, 1868-06-13 00:00:00

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.- CITY OFFICE, t'hespaide.—KElTH. FROWSE. and sole City Agenti. Bores, pit, and amphisheotre stalls from 54. ri Autbond Li Opera bretti. 6.1.; the New Elliptic Binuoular Opera MA", era. (PRIZE AWAILI/IV:1).) ALLEN'S PATENT PORTMANTEAUS and TRAVELLING BAGS. with square uremia... laft DILI' WARDROBE TRUNKS, DRESS NG BAGS. with silver fittings. DESPATVII BOBIEt. %S KITING and ORKSSING CASES. and 600 other articles for home and continental trot riling. Illustrated cotaliorom. post tier. Allen 'a Barrack Furniture Catalano. of Portable Bedsteads. Drawer , . EilqChairs, Washhandatands. Canteen, Re., poet free. J. W. ALI.LN, Manufacturer and Patentee. V. West Strand. London. W.C. GALLERY of BRONZES d'ART, OARNI- Tußso de CHEMINEE. oLoexs. VA3E3. CANDE LABRA. no. —Sole Depot fur the oelebrated produntion. of F. Barbedicnne and 00. Price. the mune sr in Park. noth 3 Fro cool. added for exPoltoen. entalotruea with marginal nro.trations. orbit fine by prot —JACKSON and ORAKAII. tl. 33. 34. 35. 37. and 3a Oxford Arreet. ()SLEW 8 GLASS CHANDELIERS, Wall Luck and Lustrea for t,/as and Candles, Table MASS tr. (1L Pinner Bemires fur 11 persons from £7 13. Gila/a Dissect Service for If persons from it All articles marked in Ornamental WASS English and Foreign. suitable frnrl,nntS. Mom. Export. and Furnishing orders promptly executed. Los nos --illiow•reom.. Oxford.strnet, W. BI :1111/1 A ll—Manufactory and ehow•ruoms. Broad-street. Established 1807. VITIANDELIERS in BRONZE and ORMOLU `s— , tor DINING-ROOM end LIBRARY. 'anielabra. Moderator Lumps, in Bronze, Ornn.ln. Chau. and Mass. Statuettes in Portals. Vases and nth. r onnonentn, In a room erected expressly for them, urbeles. OSLEK. IS, Orford.street, W. PHILL 1 P S and P E A R C E, Artiste in taise and China to the Queen. aancii an inspection of their NOVEL and BEAr- Tann. LESIONS. They are original. moderate in Defoe, perfeot in torn-, orkmanship material. and manufacture. Mr. a 1a.... for IP Zearr at 111. St. James's-street, has the glass department under hie direction. Nye.l;s, Bondatreet, and MS and 3.19, Orford-street. London. WILLIAM CHITRTON and SON, HOSIERS and SHIRTMAKERS. LADIES' UNDERCUYTIf 91 and 92. OXFORD BEET. FIRST-CLASS CARPETS, DAMASKS, &c., LOWERT PRICES. Pattern/. can be forwarded to the l'ountry Free. T. VENABLKs and SONS. LONDON. K F IIIBT-CLASS SILKS and FANCY DRESSES. LOWEST PRIOLS. Pattern., wilt to the Country Free. I'. VENABLES and SONS, LONDON. K FIRST-CLASS DRAPERY, MANTLES, &c. LcovrEsr PRICES. - carriage Pn" , Eatallishyd nearly Half A (Nnltnry. FIRBT-CLABB MOURNING. LOWEST PRICES. Patterns sent to the Country Free. I'. VENABLES and SONS, LONDON. F. FIRST-CLASS FURNITURE, BEDDING, &c. LOWEST PRICES. An Ilhistrated Pisa. List Post Tree. T. VENABLES and SONS, 103. 104, and 106 Whitechapa and 2. 4. O. and 8. Commercialstreet. London. MIZIRY BRETT and Co's "O. D. V." RE BRANDY. Mt per gallon and 36e. par dos.. recom mended by the medical profession. In a case for the country, 39e., inolunee of railway carriage.—Bolliorn-barn. and 30, Regent street. WEAK DIG ESTI ON. DEPSINE: I --SIIV - iii . MEDAL.- PARIS EXHIBITION. IN7. - . Moison's Pemba; - 971;i. 7. -- iTMenasa—tbs remedy for weak &cesium Manufactured by T. 1101tfa and DOM 31. 33. and 114. SOUTHAMPTON-ROW. Russell lure. London. W.C. Bottle*. from 3a. Boxes from U. Od. 0 la Deals, from M. The Price of THE DAILY NEWS 4 now ONE PENNY. The proprietors of the "DAILY NEWd " have great satidaetion In announcing a step which they believe will be accepted by the public as It. own justification. for the journal only advances in the tin , of its natural development when it adjusts its publishiog arrangements to a state of things which for two-and-tweuty years it les laboured not unstmemsfully to promote. In preparing for this transformation one thought has predotal itated In the solicitude of the propristom Their aim has been t make "THE DAILY NEWS" intiversally accessible, not to atter its character; and they would corunder their labour worse than lest were they to consent to changes which would lower its tons or in any way impair Its title to hold its accustomed Waft in pulite Savour. THE POLITICAL AND LITERARY Direetion of She Journal will remain Undimmed. AND BE SUPPORTED BY AN ACCESSION OF EMINENT WRITERS. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE reit oa as ortaaiaation of Special sod Ezelcsive Conespop. ainoe. embractinitlie entire World. THE CITY AND COMMERCIAL NEWS be, OA heretofore, Full. Early, and Impartial. In a word, t►Lile ail the ;anent features of the paper will be maintained, Ite arrangements will undergo no other modification than such as ta necessery to a more thorough and raciest repreeentation wad dircussion of the occurrences, interests, and opinions of the dir. rrnusnma ANT) AIWERTIREMMT OPPICE, 21. BOUVJEIIIE-STILEET„ FLEErSTRZET. Eke •xlneiso. HAYMARKET. TRIR EV NINO. THE LADIEd . CHAMPION.- A HERO OF ROMANI 'E. Marra riothern. Baekatonr, Compton. Chippradale, Rogers. and Clark; Headsmen Robrrtaon. lone Burke. . dale, Fitrandram. Law, et , .—And A CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT. 11 .°T 4!.: LYCEUM TaZATRE. f`mfesew llisleTS - IAPAWFire FROTTETIIII.ERIAL, in their saarrellaw farewell performanee of Dalaneing, Topipinning, Tun Wing, U Butterfly, and great Ladder Fiesta. —Er sac EVPNIIII/ at Eight, Wednesdays and Saturdays haltpwit Two. Children ander la half-priee Mums smeared at the Boa-office host Te L n till Else; at Mr. Mitchell's, Old Sonditreet ; and principal braries. STRAND. Twm ETlmmo. SISTERLY SERVICE—THE FIELD OF THE CLOTH OF HOLD.—And HARRIAHE AT ANY FRICK BRITANNIA. Tll7ll EVINING, THE WAR IN ABYSSINIA. Supported by • dotarltatoat of Rota Fusilier Guards.lfz. and Mn. Y. iA J. Millicent ; Was Lydda Latimer . —Conelading with la 014.1.1131•; OR, THE BROKEN HEART. MOH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. To-D, --Morning, 7h. nm Afternoon, 7h. Atm. To-Itmotow —Morning. 9h. Om Afternoon, Bh. 33m. NOTICE. EdnitiArn an mutated to make their Post-o See ordeia payable to Mx. JOSAAH DAM/H.7OS, Post-can, Fleet-street, E.C. Norm. Of BIRTHS, MAIMIAORS, and DEATHS, ale reooived until 12 o'clock for insertion same evening. Price 2.6 d. & SECOND EDITION of the EXPRESS, CONTAMTNO The Latest Foreign Telegrams ; the Latest City ; Railway, Mining, and other Shares ; Sporting, and General Intelligence, IS PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. LONDON, SATURDAY, JUNE 13. THE ESMONDE WILL CASE. THE remarkable ease which has occupied eight da3s in the Probate Court at Dublin, has ended in a manner which reflects great credit upon the skill of the contending counsel, and the conscientious carefulness of the jury, a majority of whom, it is reported, were in favour of the validity of the will. It was a case which, in a country like Ireland, where public and private transactions are so often in flamed and embittered by religious rancour and ecclesiastical jealousies, would be particularly difficult for a jury to decide without bias or suspi cion. Indeed, the case was one in which it was almost impossible to exclude from the minds of the most scrupulous and impartial jury some other considerations than those before the oourt. It is due to the counsel on both sides to remark that on the whole they laboured not unsuccessfully to keep the issue clear from extra-legal pre judices and presumptions. How difficult it must have been to do so will be easily understood from the simple fact that it was a question of whether a sum of 10,000/. bequeathed by Lady &MONDE, a Protest ant, should become vested in certain trustees for the parpose of founding and endowing certain Protest - Int charitable and educational institutions, or should ilevolve upon Lady Ram ona's daughter, a new sad ardent convert to the Roman Catholic ! THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, JUNE 13, 1868. faith. It nas proved thst Lady F4mONDE had been in the habit of subscribing largely' to Protestant charities; that she was greatly dimth wied in mind at her daughter Lady GRA NARD'B, "conversion " to Romanian, and the:, after consulting several friends, Lady &MONDE being then indisputably in sound health, had, early in July last, ordered a draft will to be pre pared, under which all her chattel property as to be sold, and the proceeds applied to the uses of certain Protestant trusts. A few weeks later Lady &MONDE was stricken with paralysis, and being in that condition she executed her will by attaching her mark to it, being unable to sign it with her name. This will was disputed by the widower and his son-in-law and daughter, being Catholics, on the ground of undue influence being exercised upon the testatrix at a time when she was incapacitated by bodily and mental infirmity. It was contended that this undue in fluence had been exercised by the Rev. Dr. HUGHES, an old and trusted friend of Lady ESMONDE, and by her Protestant daughter, the Hon. Mrs. DEANE MOROAN, who, it was alleged, had prevented Sir Thomas Eseornin from ap proaching his wife during her illness, and had taken steps to exclude Lady GRANARD from her mother's house. Evidence was adduced on the one side to show the infirni and incapable con dition of the testatrix ; servants of the family de posed that the sick lady had told them she had been made to sign a paper, and was sorry for it. Sir THOMAS E.SMONDE, who is emphatically com mended by the Judge for having always abstained from interfering with his wife's religion or the disposal of her property, deposed that his wife had told him that if she had other witnesses, she would make another will. On the other side, letters were produced and conversa tions were sworn to indicating very positively a fixed intention on the part of Lady Es- MONDE to provide by her will for those Pro testant interests which she had so much at heart, and which she feared might be sacrificed in the hands of her daughter, the Roman Catholic " con " vert." The throe main questions, very fairly ad dressed to the jury by the counsel for the defendants, were as to the competency of the testatrix at the time she attached her mark to the will; as to her state of mind ; as to undue influence. Judge %EAMON in his firm and lucid charge, reminded the jury that the burden of proving incapacity and undue influence rested on the defendants. Lady Esnowns, it was admitted, had been a lady of strong mind, and on the conversion of her daughter to the Roman Catholic faith had expressed her resolve to bequeath all she could in trust for the furtherance of the Protestant religion. The Rev. Dr. Huonis, on whose constant presence in the house and attendance at the bedside of the dying lady, so many severe comments had been made by counsel, was clearly not an intruder in her house ; he was doing a duty of friendship. Lady EsnONDE had sent for hersolicitor to prepare the draft of a will in the absence of her husband, whose religions sympathies she was unwilling to offend. Her medical attendants declared that she was in a fit condition to sign a prepared document, but not to give detailed instructions for a will. Dr. litroffes re commended that a short will, on one sheet, should be prepared for her signature, as she had been reluctant to execute the larger instrument. Did she know the contents of this will when she executed it'' It had been prepared with certain alterations, or rather omissions, which simplified but did not in fact change the purport of the instrument. Undue influence, the Judge insisted, does not consist in giving advice, but in inducing a person who is not a free agent to yield to pressure against enyvvietion. Lady ESMONDE very probably had received advice from friends in whom she trusted ; but it was clear that she wanted no advice or penmasion to induce her to be queath this residue of 40,000/. in trust for Protestant purposes. The " conversion " of her daughter, Lady GRANARD, which had so deeply affected and distressed her, was suffi cient to account for this resolve. The law is properly jealous of deathbed testaments and dis positions for pious purposes to the exclusion of relatives and kindred. But in this case the clergyman who was accused of having exercised undue influence had no personal interest in the will, and the near relatives of the deceased lady were amply provided for, while the trusts for Protestant purposes under the will were truchin Lady ESMONDE had distinctly contemplated, while in sound bodily and mental health. It would be no doubt an injustice to suppose that any other scruples than those suggested by the conflicting testimony and the arguments of counsel prevented the minority of the jury from agreeing to a verdict in favour of the will. Roman ecclesiastics will, perhaps, discover in this trial the evil of mixed marriages. Yet one of the most satisfactory aspects of the case is the evident good feeling and tender regard for each other's faith that had always existed between the Catholic husband and the Protestant wife. Protestants will with better reason note such an instance as this—one among too many of late—of the unhappiness so often caused in families by " conversions." The Roman Church has not always shown itself particularly squeamish in winking atbreaches of the moral law when only a Commandment has stood between the Church and an estate. We should be sorry as Protestants that our faith should be served by " undue influence" at death-beds. The result of this painful trial at least permits us to believe that no moral wrong has been committed in the service of religion. _ _ by which the bill is to be discussed. Meantime, it is well to note that the Duke of ammoND, on the part of the Government, has expressed his approval of. the principle of the measure. He sees nothfiig to condemn in railway combinations and coalitions. It is true he stated that some of the clauses were objectionable; but wlich these were, and wherein the detects con sisted, be did not specify. Lord RIMESDALX, how e Jer, whose authority on such a subject is sooonl to that t f no peer, while assenting to the principle of malt motion, clearly indicated the shortcomings of the present scheme. In his opinion it is opposed to anything hitherto sanctioned by Parliament ; it is wholly oat -sided, the oompaides being empowers I to fit their own price without the public having any retinas. While agreeing that the seoond read ag should take place, he reserved the r:gh' to deal with the several clauses ht re fter as ho might think fit. This declaration is of good augury for the interests of railway travellers. After all, it is their convenience, and not the satisfaction of a small section of share holders, which must be consulted and considered. We trust that the House of Lords will do impartial justite to all the parties, although we cannot anticipate that all of them will consider they have been fairly dealt with. We hope, also, that in showing its care to act for the benefit of the great body of the people in this matter, the House of Lords will give a token, to be soon veri fied in a mere important case, of its disincline tien to put itself in antagonism with the majority of the nation. Takla for removing the disabilities of revenue pflaiirsis meeting with curious parliameciary treatment: On its second reading, its author, Mr. Moira, sacrificed eloquence to expedieacy, and, observing the ministerial beeches to be e.npty, carries bis bill through a critical stage without the usual speech. There is little doubt that a personal sacrifice was made. Statistics had probably been coached up, and the origin of the disability traced; but it is one thing to make a telling speech, and another to carry your bill ; and Mr. MONK gallantly pre ferred doing something towards securing the latter alternative. Last night the hour at which he moved the committal of the bill was so late, that the Government, as represented by Mr. WARD HUNT, in the absence of the PRILItURR, could only fall back upon a proposition for adjourning the debate. After contesting the point for an hour and beating the ministers in three di visions, Mr. Moats finally gave way, and the further consideration of his bill is de ferred till Monday. The Government servants who are at present debarred from voting are those who serve in the Customs, Inland Revenue, and Post-office ; and a return was published yester day, containing opinions adverse to the bill, from the conunissioners of the two departments first named. It is to be regretted that the views of the postal authorities were not also given, as they have similar interests at stake, and are similarly affected by the bill. If the Post office opinions are identical with those of the other departmental chiefs the case against the bill would be strengthend, if adverse we should have heard from official sources what is to be said on Mr. Mottles side. The disability of revenue officers dates from the STUARTS, and was, according to HALLAM, origi nally imposed lest the number of place-holders having seats in Parliament should become so great as to make it difficult N. impossible to outvote the party in power. Eke Court. BALMORAL CASTLE, Joys 10. The Queen drove out in the morning, accom panied by Princess Louise, and her Majesty again drove out in the afternoon, accompanied by Princess Beatrice and the Duchem of Athole. Princess Louise rode out, attended by the Hon. Emily Cathcart. Prince Leopold went out driving. Prince and Princess Christian entertained at dinner at Frogmore, on Thursday, Earl and Countess Cowley, the Marchioness of Winchester, Viscount Sydney, Lord a - id Lady Bokeby, .the Hon. Miss Montagu, Lord Strath naiiu, the Dean of Windsor and the lion. Mrs. Wellesley, Licut.-General the Right Hon. Jonathan Peel, I ady Susan Melville and Lieut.-Colonel George Gordon. The following had the honour of being invited in the evening :—The Duke and Duchess of St. Albans, Colonel the Hon. Dudley and Lady Elizabeth de Rai, the Hon. Mrs. Charles Grey, the Hon. Evelyn and Mrs. Ashley, Lieutenant-Colonel and the Hon. Mrs. Cecil Poel, Mrs. Henry Farquhar,Colonel and Mrs. Wilmot, and s. George Gordon. The Queen will hold a council at Windsor Castle on Friday, the 19th inst. Despatches were sent yesterday from the Colonial-office to the Governors of Gibraltar, Malta, Ceylon, Hong Kong, lalsnan, the Straits Settlements, and the Australian Colonies. A deputation, introduced by Mr. Boecroft, M.P., and Mr. Barley, M.P., and consisting of the governors and principal officers of the following water companies :—New River, Lambeth, East London, Chelsea, Birmingham, Cheltnilam, and Leeds, had an interview with Sir James Fergusson, at the Home-office, yesterday, to urge reasons against the second reading of the Water Supply BiU. A deputation from the Dublin Port Board and Irish Lighthcuse Commissioners, consisting of Mr. J. Pim, Sir A. Guinness, Bart., M.P., Mr. T. Bewley, and others, bad an interview with the Right Hon. Stephen Cave, at the office of the Board of Trade, yesterday. The following deputations were received by the Earl of Dtvcn, at the office of the Poor-Law Board, Whitehall, yesterday :—From the Fulham Union, consisting of Mr. James Curtis, Colonel Holy, and others; from the town ship cf West Derby, introduced by S. R. Graves, M.P., and consisting of Mr. John Davies, Mr. John Critchley, and others; and from the vestry of the parish of Lambeth, introduced by Mr. Thomas Hughes, M.P., and Mr. Dont ton, M.P., and consisting of Mr. T. H. Fowler, Dr. Fuckle, and others. CABINET Covtrem.—A Cabinet Council is ap pointed to be held this afternoon, at the First Lord of the Treasury's official residence in Downing-street. THE RETURN OF HER MAJESTY FROM SCOTLAND. —Her Majesty the Queen, accompanied by their Royal Highnesses the Princesses Louise and Beatrice, attended by the ladies and gentlemen of the court, is expected to leave Palmoral about Tuesday and arrive at Windsor Castle, wh'el is being prepared for the royal reception, on Wed. nesday. The Queen will reside at Windsor Castle for a few weeks and then visit Osborne. It is understood that her Majesty the Queen will make a trip to Germany this autumn. Prince Louis of Hease-Darmstadt, son-in-law of Queen Victoria, and oommander of the Hessian troops, is on leave for some time to reside in England. During his absence the command of the troops will be given to a Prussian general. The Prince and Princess of Hesse are expected about the 16th at Windsor Castle, and will spend some days with her Majesty, whose departure from Balmoral will take place sooner than was expected in consequence of this visit. The Gardeners' Chronicle says:—" We recently sow in a field of wheat adjoining the park and grounds of a Cheshire landowner a perfect swarm of rabbits—so that the whole surface was alive when they were disturbed— and eo that for 60 or 70 yards into the field the wheat, nearly coming into ear elsewhere, was eaten down, to the certain destruction of the crop. To demand • rent in such a case seemed to us at the time a great injustice ; but it now appears that a tenant having taken a lease of land by which the game is reserved to the landlord, has no claim even for the amount of damage done in such • The Thiiitre Francais is about to produce the "Agamemnon" of Seneca! "This," says the Aihenettem, "is a tragedy written to be read and not acted. It is a poor latin imitation of the nobler Greek; and filtered into French, it will be further still from the original model. The Latin choruses of this tragedy defied musk. Nothing is raid of a French version of them." Mr. &Ahern had an audience of the Prinoe of Wake on Monday, when (says the Era) his' royal highness presented him with a handsome diamond; ring, requesting him to wear it aa a tottronir. Mr. Benedict's annual morning oonoort will be given at St. James's Hall, on Saturday next, the 20th inst. A boat of celebrated artistes are announced to appear. Mr. Horace Wigan's benefit will take place nett Friday, at the Olympic Theatre, when Mrsg Keeley will appear in London Assurance, supported by Mr. and Mn. C. Matthews and Mr. W. Farren. The Dean of Westminster has consented to pre side at the Anniversary Festival of the Printers' Pension, Almehoose, and Orphan Asylum Corporation, to be had on the ith of July. Mr. Warren De 1.44 Rue, for nearly thirty years a member of the firm of Menus. Thomas De Ls Rae end Co. (of which he has for a long period been sour ner), has lathed fro® business. Herr Joachim is mid to have produced a mal ef fect at the Whitsuntide Cologne ?mire by playing a violin rottcrefo, the composition of Herr Max Bruck. The singers there were Mesdames Dustmann and Joachim, Herren Guns and Hill. The Society of Arts have awarded the prise they had offered for the best essay on harvest work and the possibility of eitificial aid during it under unpropitious natural circumstances. to Mr. W. A. Gibbo, of Gifivraii Perk Idewsmistoem N.E. The judges to whom the tore. petite( amp were submitted were Meson. C. 8. Read 1f..P.. 0. Wren Halves, sod J. C. Mouton. FOREIGN NEWS. (THIS DAY.) -.-- THE ABBASSINATION OF PRINCE MICHAEL OF HERVIA. The Princess Ouka-Constantinowitch, who WWI wounded at Topchicklie by the side of Prince Michael, died on Wodneaday night. According to private despatches received last evening in Paris. the cause of the dreadful act was private resent ment, not in any way connected with political affairs. The assassins are said to be the father and two brothers of a young lady of good family, named Radovanowitch, whom Piinoe Michael, a.- parated from his wife for heveral years, had pro mised to marry. The rumour of the speedy return of the Princess to Belgrade is said to have led to the dreadful act of vengeance mentioned above. THE INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE OF PEACE AND LIBERTY. "The International League of Pear and Li berty" has published the programme of the general meeting of the Congress which is to be held at Berne next September. This document lays down three great principles :--list. That re ligion must be excluded from politics and public education, "so as .to prevent the Church from interfering any longer in the free development of society; " 2nd. That the European States can only be united by an organisation bused on democratic institutions, and on the principle of federation and equal rights both for individuals and communities; and 3rd. That the present social system must be altered "by an equal division of wealth, labour, prosperity, and edu cation," in order " that proletarianism may be abolished and the working classes emancipated." In accordance with the above principles, the fol lowing questions are to be discussed at the con gress :-Ist. What are the advantages to peace and liberty of the abolition of standing armies as distinguished from the advantages of a system of national militia or a general disarmament ? 2nd. What are the relations between economical or social questions and those of peace and liberty 3rd. What are the advantages to peace and liberty of the separation of church and state How may the federative principle be.carried out in the various countries, and how is the constitu tion of the United States of Europe to be esta blished THE BRITISH MINISTER AT BERLIN AND COUNT BISMARCK. It will be remembered that the Journal Al bats, in an article which was much noticed at the time, attributed to Lord Loftus, the British Minister at Berlin, certain diplomatic action in re ference to the meeting of the German Customs Parliament. The statements of the Nbots were formally denied in the Prussian official journal. The Berlin correspondent of the Dnsits returns to the subject, and says, under date of June 9 : No one need be at any difficulty to account for the denial of the Prussian Noniteur. It is one of those proceedings which is adopted here as well as elsewhere when it is considered useful. The denial of the Premien Mon iterr has caused general surprise amongst the mem bers of the foreign diplomatic corps, who are all perfectly cognisant of the step attributed to Lord Loftus. There may be some differences as to minor details, but of the fact itself the papers, when presented to the legislative assemblies of London and Paris, and even of Berlin, will afford indisputable proof. But (continues the Dilate) what has interested us most in the correspondence of the 9th June is the account it gives of the state of Count Bismarck's health. It is certain that it is very much shaken. Excessive work, opposition of various kinds, perpetually recurring diffi culties, obstacles, and unforeseen resistance have contri buted seriotudy to affect the health of the oelebrated minister, whose powerful organisation has given way. For more than a year Count Bismarck has been suffering. He was advised to take rest, but the pressure of public business, and the inflexible will of the minister kept him at his post till he was so severely attacked that he was compelled to take repose. It is raid that he will be absent for at least three months. His absence will create not only a void, but will have a bad effect on the destinies of Germany, and especially of Prussia. Neither new Prussia nor the Confederation of the North are finally completed. The parts of which they are composed have not had time to assimilate and solidify. The presence of Count Bismarck at the head of the governments of Prussia and the Confederation of the North was a great benefit. That minister is now the partisan of the peace of Europe precisely because he knows that peace must strengthen hi, work, and that war would compromise its duration. But this pacific disposition is not agreeable in all quarters. It has in Prussia strong and vehement adversaries whom the vigorous and firm hand of Count Bismarck keeps in check with much difficulty. What will happen in the absence of the minister, or if his influence should diminish Y If we can judge by some symptoms which have recently appeared, it is to be feared that the party of war has prevailed. This party may precipitate Germany and Prussia upon new adventures. Let us hope that King William will provide against this danger, and that he will remain faithful to the policy of the treaty of Prague, that is to say, a policy of peace. PRINCE NAPOLEON IN VIENNA. The Vienna correspondent of La Liberte writes Prince Napoleon is in constant communication with Baron Bcuat, whom he considers the representative of the German nationality of Austria, with Count Andrassy, in whom he sees the representative of the Hungarian element, and with Count Potocki as repre sentative of the Polish fraction. He has expressed his desire to see Generals von Gablenx and Ramming ; and it is raid that they will meet him next week in Peath. Much agitation exists in the Polish circles of Vienna. MILITARY PREPARATIONS IN CANADA. OTTAWA. Juzx 2. The military preparations for the anticipated Fenian raid are complete. Field brigades have been formed in the several districts, composed of regulars and volunteers, having attached to each a battery of artillery and a troop of cavalry, under the command of officers chosen from the line. Bach brigade can act independently, or they may be brought together, as circumstances shall require. Tents and field stores of all kinds are ready for use, and the troops could take the field at a moment's notice, fully equipped for service. The volunteers are to receive 60 cents per day, in addition to free rations, when in active service. In addition to the preparations for the service on land, gun boats have been stationed at Prescott, Lags ton, Toronto, Fort Brie, and the St. Clair, manned by sailors of the Royal wavy, and supplied with Armstrong guns. The Field Brigade, composed of regulars and volun teers, in Toronto, has been placed in a high state of efficiency. Four guns of the Royal Artillery, stationed in Toronto, departed this morning for Prescott. A strong guard from the 29th Regiment has been placed over the drill-shed and the new gaol in Toronto. A provisional battalion under Major Brown, of the 100th Regiment, is to be formed at Chainbly for Fall practice. Onsocaa ma. =ma's Anszter4 BERVIA. PARIS, 'CIA 13. The Afouifevr of this morning publishes the fol lowing in its bulletin :—" According to telegrams received from Constantinople the Porte oonsiders the oomposition of the provisional administration established in Servia to be of a nature to offer the desired guarantee for the saintenanoeof order, RAILWAY MONOPOLY AND THE HOUSE OF LOADS. IT is a novelty to look to the House of Lords for protection against the hasty legislation of the House of Commons. Indeed, when a ball panes through the Lower House without serious opposi tion, it is thought unseemly of the Lords to refuse their assent. But the case of the monopoly for which the South Eastern, London and Brighton, and Chatham and Dover Companies have striven to get legislative sanction, is altogether an etcep tional one. Were it not for the fatal prepon derance of the Railway interest in the Commons, that very questionable measure would have been either summarily rejected, or elaeamendad in the interest of the general public. The lesson may prove a useful one, we hope, to the new conitittt encies. They will probably be chary of riending a representative to parliament whose sole cations consist in his having a seat at a board of railway directors and lucrative patronage at his dispoz , al. It is premature to assume as our morning contemporaries have done that the House of• Lords has virtually quashed what is obnoxious in this bill. We shall be ready to " thank GOD that we have a House of Lords" when we find wane definite result from the labours of the oeiataittes - -- GENERAL GRANT'S PROGRAMME. GEIsKIt&L GRANT'S reluctance to make a speech, and the verbal shots with which he contents him self when compelled to break his ordinary silence, are common remark in America, and havebeen tho subject of much speculation. It is easier, however, to write a letter than to address an assembly ; and the General in formally accepting the nomi nation of the Chicago Convention, enters, for the first time, we believe, since the war, into a statement of his political views. Writing from Washington on May 29, to the Pre sident of the Convention, after speaking highly of the proceedings of that body, he adds : I endorse their resolutions. If elected to the office of President of the United States, it will be my endeavour to administer all the laws in good faith, with economy, and with the view of giving peace, quiet, and protection everywhere. In times like the present it is impossible, or at least eminently improper, to lay down a policy to be adhered to, right or wrong, through an administration of four years. New political issues, not foreseen, are constantly arising, the views of the public on old ones are constantly changing, and a purely administrative officer should always be left free to execute the will of the people. I always have respected that will, and always shall. Peace and universal pros perity—its sequence—with economy of administration, will lighten the burden of taxation, while it constantly reduces the national debt. Let us have peace. This view of the functions of the executive meets with general approval. If Congress, it simply means, remain Republican, General Galan exe cutes Republican laws without any question ; if Congress become Democratic, he will take equal care that Democratic laws be executed. There is good reason to believe that his election will contri bute materially to bring about the realisation of his own appeal, " Let us have peace." OLD AND NEW BOOKS. OF books, as of pictures, it is often true that the old is more valuable than the new. The mere fact that a volume was printed many years ago is suffi cient to render it exceedingly valuable in the esti mation of many worthy and opulent men. Its contents may be worthless or even improper. Book collectors are all the more eager to acquire it, if, in addition to being very old, it is also very unreadable. In some cases a blunder will eve a source of wealth. Copies of the Scrip tures containing obvious, but unintentional misprints are literally worth their weight in gold. The desire to obtain rare and curious editions of old books is not so con spicuously manifested now as it was several years ago, when Earl SPENCER was famous as a biblio maniac , and DIBDIN recorded the praises of those who rquandered their substance in hunting after unique copies of printed works. But if the mania of noblemen for purchasing books be less conspicuous in these days than for betting on horse races, it is still manifested in several quarters, and still receives due consideration at the hands of those who at once encourage and profit by the malady. Mr. Quanrrcu is well known among those who delight to collect books they rarely peruse. He has just published a catalogue which illus trates the changes in literary taste, as well as fur nishes information of value to those for whose benefit it has been compiled. We find on referring to it that the prices of old books are much lower than they were when bibliomanis was in fashion, while new books are to be had at a large reduction on the publishing price, such an work, for exam ple, as the " Maker pieces of Industrial Art " at the Exhibition of 1862, which originally cost 26/. 12s. 6d., being now obtainable for 7/. 10e. On the other hand, if any one desires to possess the first edition of " John " son's Dictionary," he must pay 2/. 10s., a stun less by nearly one-half than the same work sold for in 1840, yet, in our opinion, quite 88 much as it is worth. This is a fair specimen of the books which are sought after, not because of their worth, but on account of their eccentricity. The happy possessors of them may read, for instance, " Excise, " a hateful tax upon the commodities, and ad " judged not by the common judges of property, " but wretches hired by those to whom excise is " paid;" " Lexicographer, sharmlese drudge," and other things of like importance, which the editors of subsequent editions have suppressed. Some times the recommendation appears to resemble a warning rather than an encouragement. Thus, of an " Heroic poem to the Duke of York," it is said, " the poem is remarkable only for its disgusting " servility." Now, some persons would hardly feel disposed to give twelve shillings for such a pro duotion, yet that which may deter them may be an attraction to others. Neither should we regard a copy of the London Gazette, cos aiding of more than one hundred volumes, " a great bargain " at 30/., notwithstanding that the original price was about MI.; still, others may think it an attractive and interesting work which should have a place in every gentleman's library. there are, of course, many works in this catalogue of great importance; but, on the whole, the monetary, seems out of proportion to the in trinsic value. It is a companion, but not a rival volume to that published by Mr. H. G. Bow( in 1841. .The latter has never been matched as a catalogue of old books. Notwithstanding the taunts that are levelled against the collectors of " large paper," " tall," and " unique" copies of books, those who indulge in this pursuit do no harm to their neighbours, and are, &flout, as de serving of eulogy as the sportsmen who amuse themselves by bunting foxes or shooting game. A bibliomaniae is the most praiseworthy azdong fana tics. - - and for the reguLir .f In fact, thanks to the ine,L4.ll-, 1 _4(.1, 0 grade, tranquillity h.. 64 1“, o. 1: . di%turbed, and there im ev”ry the lamentable crime %%hid) 11,, iip• 11 in ~;:.„‘ over fiervia will not comproiai., tl:,. obt.tim4l by the efforta of l'rin .• HUNGARY. pE,ri f. Prince Napoleon is exiog ted h..c• f, inst. It is ~ aid that hie journe ) to C o p ; haw ben abandoned, in c0n,...pt0n,•• • • occurrences at Belgrade. The Landwehr tinNition wia ra sot , 801 ution. '1 THE NEW AMERICAN MIN I.:TX:t I.; LONDON. The Pre idrnt ha: m , •uin.it , d th..111 , ,r Johnwon na Minister L) Or•lt. Iln. Senate haw nninitnon4ly went. OUR PARIS LETTER (FROY OVII OWN CORRl•ssinoNthry Frin,y !a , A spe(ial train to Fontainehfr aii. the service of ministers, now does Paris in one hour and twenty-fi„• - first ministerial council is fixed f•.r t a quarter past nine, and the mini•t, 1., fast with the Emperor aft.•r•, oh, 1, minister in turn goes t:, 1; frequently to transact bitsi .„ „ Majesty. The Minister of W:,r 1, the General commanding the the Emperor will arrive there• remain there during the 26th, 27th. There are not so many trophi.•; aud 1-11,1•.: • the amateur plastic art of the 1: years, and the reason is said to b.• th . are kept so hard at work in pia, ti• 11 ,; !. . , manoeuvres and trying the new . have no time for recreative pursuit:. r... of the month of May and th.. MO, . last week have made sad havoc tt ith t , • laid out around the tents of the supei M. Chesnelong, the deputy who the tribune the day after the more seizure of M. Napoleon Champigny. for his country house. When h.• po,-Irr came down from the tribune, few .4 colleagues were aware that he w.t. but rather supposed that he h:•I down in his speech. A 7,04 at hi, is attributed by the Fig aro to " th.• Tillancourt :" "M. Chesnelong is quite t 1... r of the Bourbons: be has learned everytlar: : , forgotten everything." The Assize Court of the Aisne lately tr:. , ! cal inet-maker named Bachelet, a man of 18 v of ago, for the murder of a " Sorcerer." 73 prisoner, who had never been accused o' 1:7 crime before, and bore a very fair character, under the impression that his victim, au man of 67, named Cuvillier, had looked him with an evil eye or, to its. French expression, /ail emit jets le sort. Citri!!l• he said, owed him a grudge because he bad roi•—• to remove his furniture for him when ht. '.s changing his lodgings, and in order to ,„as himself he had trafficked with evil spirit. t., his, Bachelet's, body covered with vermin. Not v.:t Bachelet himself, but all his household, s, pestered with lice for a whole year, in 1 all the means tried to get rid of th.mi, Sill st being out of patience, and knowing that !I plague was owing to the machinationl Cuvillier, he went to his house. meaning t• punish him severely, but the beating be ;I • caused his death. The prisoner said triiimphasl that the proof that Cuvillier had sent tb•• his household was that the moment the lacali at. out of Cuvillier's body the vermin all die.l, orn those that were in dirty linen--a thing which I had never known before. Several witne,,,,,whn asked whether Cuvillier was really a sorce.r. shook their heads, and said they believed so n:w or less. The jury found a verdict of gtulty with extenuating circumstances, and 111- sentenced Bachelet to live years' imprisonment. The Erenemehe publishes a letter datod Grad Hotel, June 10, purporting to be written by il.•• Marquis of Hastings. but I can warily belie the authorship, because his lordship is to .0. that since his horse The Earl won the Great Peri. Prize he considers himself "in some sort representative of the English nation." Ta object of the letter is to say that there can be in truth in the story of a freers after the raees twcen a Frenchman named Boulay and " Lwi Chester," because there is no lord of that name 0 England. The letter bearing his lordship's sig- nature takes the opportunity of saying as while the writer desires to bear testimony to the noble qualities, great courage. and Id shown by Frenchmen in combats with sword ma pistol, they are no match for the English 0 boxing or scuffling, and he is persuaded that if match were to be made at fisticuffs. thirty a side, tit Frenchmen, to nse the charming and poetical lan guage of Mdme. Selmeider, would get a most serest licking." That may be all very true, lint in Oa particular raw• of fisticuffs which called forth OS letter the Englishman, not Lord Chester. got the worst of it, and this is all the more to be et grefted because the Frenchman was the wive; doer. Two young American lions (male and female'. which belonged to the unfortunate Emperor 3Giti milinn, were landed at Calais yesterday from Lao. don. The story of these lions is that they wed stolen after Maximilian's execution sad sent to London to be sold. Victor Faninantiel bas bought them for the Turin menagerie, and they :works , a: through France under the core of one of his valeta. The Bourse was tolerably firm. Een'e for count rose 50., closing at 70fr. 55e. Italia r' o _ 35e., and Mobilier 7fr. 50c. Credit Fonder lfr. 2.10. The Austrian Emperor, desirous of rearw: rating the barristers who undertook the perilous data ). defending his brother Maximilian, offered each of tlivi gentlemen a large s® of money, which they Oft- 14 refused. The Emperor has, therefore, sent to ea!' magnificent service of plate of the value of KW 2 ' 5.; and to the priest who accompanied the captive to tit place of execution, a jewelled cross of equal value. Since 1860 there have been a groat many duel in Italy, often for frivolous causes, and usually with very slight injury to the parties engaged. B lit encounter of unusual fierceness has just occurred at Ihnin between a lieutenant of Benagliesi and an ex-Ovihs l6l6 , The duel wan to he " to the death," and returnee's' 01 ' pistols. but apparently the combatants were pow w vl " men, for they fired four shots each without any aloe. , being done. They then took to sabres, and the tisnow dien received Seven wound., DOM of them ilangyroui besragliere was wounded in four places, and tiro n,t . wovndr, in the head, are said to be dangerou , bad to be sespeadei. A lady is reported to have bean. raw, of the qi arrel. Lately, at Milan, a retired ol° of the army, who is row editor of a neirimper, bito4o". whole regiment upon his hands by some afire , ' KIWI ( upon its dicers. He be 1 • series of duels. in nen' l l‘ j which he came off conqueror. I SI LAS After lhe Mt (,no Mr. ;arm' fund: Ti tingß, extra Bdgi son. : VI/ 011 :I ill" Mr -It i =