The Express. — London, England, 1867-04-26 00:00:00

. NI LPPIN BROTHlCRB.—Zstablished A.D. D3lO. CHESTS of SILVICAPLATE for the COLONIES. CUTLERY and SILVER PLATE km IrITINUINDTG. MAPPIN BROTHERS, LONDON-BRIDGE. MAPPIN BROTHERS, 222, REGENT -BTRILKT. BROWN and POISON'S CORN FLOUR for CHILDREN'S DIET. To obtain erten profit by Ike We other kinds are sometimes offered instead et BROWN and POISON& •• John Brown." "John Potion," Is signed by the makers on each packet. Ehe erortofs. TO CORIUSEPONDENTS. •dvertisements intended for " The Express," London Evening Paw, must be at the Ofilee, 10, Bouverie-■treet, by Two on the day of publication. DILITEY LANE. Tew Evenino, THE iMIKAT CITY. Messrs. Werner, Mor ton, Eitnjames, Rouse, die . • Mesdames Robertson. Le 'niers, and Thompson —To conclu de with TEAT RASCAL JACK. Ileum Rouse and Neville; Mesdames Alleyne and Thompson. HAYMARKET. THIS Ertintwo. PgititterlON. Mr. Kendal a Min Burke.— AS YOU LIKE IT. Ahem Howe, Compton, Marren, Chippen dale. nogera : Mra licottetiktdo.n.--and HIS FIRST cnAm PAGN Messrs. Campton and Marren Miss M. Wright LYCEUM. • Tin. Even o, BAMBUZZLINO. Mr. Price and Mtsa Kate Wallop.—Till DUKE'S MOTTO. Mr. Yachter, Mews. Emery. Widdicornb. de. ; Mime Illawortby, Grattan, and Car lotta Leelerai. —A Grand Land. M. &pinata a 11dIb. Sophie. TRH ETlernid. RWEETTI - EARTFAND MITER. Mr. Tel ford —PN t; NI A LION. oft, THI STATUE PAIR. Mews. Morse, Um* de Mewl Ames A. Swatthorongh. RaynNun, Harland, Johnstoot, Ilolt, S Ntrrton„—And THY. FRENCH EXHIBITION. HOLBORN. THIS Ermine, MY TURN NILLT. Mr. Bohner*: Lhasa Foote and Lenner.—And FLYING SCUD. Mesta Neville, Bat men. Blake, Ventre, to. .• Masdaste F. Josephs, C. lisundars, Bade /wit Addeo, Lentos, Remand, to. Taw EVIMIN4I. TILE LIFE ;TONAL. Messrs. Reynolds, Drummond, Hone. Atc. ; Niw Jane Coveney.—CHEßßY AND FAIR STAR. Messrs. Birowood, Leslie, Elton, stn. ; lias R. Edwin and Mrs. S. Lane.—And THE DREAM OF AILEEN. RION WATER AT LONDON DEMON. TM DAY —Morning, Mt. NAB AlNreooa , 06, taa To-Nomow—Morning, 7d 1512 Afttesoca. 7d 4tlra. LONDON, FRIDAY, APRIL 26. NEARLY a century and a half ago an old gen tleman, named TANCRED, whose family had long enjoyed a manorial estate at Whixley, in the West Riding, being without children, resolved that rather than let the property go to his four un married sisters, and be broken up, ho would turn it into a charity. Accordingly, "in consideration " of the affection ho bore to his Manor House in " Whixley," and being desirous that his estate there " should never be diminished by a distri " bution among heirs female," he conveyed his manor, manor house, and sundry messuages and lands to the use of trustees for the pay ment out of the rates and profits of annual pensions of 50/. to twelve students in divinity, physic, and law, at Cambridge and Lin coln's Inn. A further part of his scheme was the establishment in the old Manor-house at Whixley of a hospital for twelve decayed and necessitous gentlemen, clergymen, or commissioned officers, who must be natives of Great Britain, not under fifty years of age, and members of the Church of England. These persons were to be lodged and boarded in the old house, and receive besides a money payment of 201. per annum. He further directed that 10/. per annum should be paid to the Master of Christ's College, Cambridge, and 5/. to each of thirteen Fellows there. The deeds came before the Court of Chancery upon the death of the testator, when Lord HENLEY, in pronouncing a decree, observed that TAN ERED seemed to have " cast off all natural " affection," and expressed himself reluctant to establish a disposition made in such a state of mind. Thu intention of the old man was, nevertheless, respected by the court, and a private act of par liament incorporated the governors and trustees of TANCREDN charities. The estate t h us settled now produces • gross income of 3,2511., its value having been greatly improved by an enclo sure. Of this sum, the masters and fellows of Christ's College get 751., and the fellows and scholars of Caine, 88/. per annum ; twelve pensioners, 201. each ; and twelve students, 501. each. The administrative ex penses of the charity have to be met, and the Hospital, as the house at Whixley is called, has to be repaired, and the establishment expenses paid, after which the surplus is equally divisible among the pensioners and students. Mr. F. 0. MARTIN, one of the Inspectors of Charities, last year made a thorough investigation of the affairs of the TANCRLD Charities, and his report, which has been laid before Parliament, is a very instructive document, which should be con sulted by anyone who may be thinking of settling schemes of benevolence to take effect after his death. We shall notice here only the Whitley Hos pital, as the central point of the TANCRED Chari ties, and the institution on which their author built his hopes of grateful remembrance by posterity. Whixley Hall, about three miles from York, is a substantial brick house, entered by a paved hall eight and twenty feet square. The drawing-room, of thesame size as the hall, and on the ground floor, is wainscotted, and adorned with portraits of the founder's family. It is little used, and the fire is seldom lighted. The chapel is fitted up with stalls for the pensioners, and benches for the household. On the right of the altar is a sarcophagus contain ing the remains of the founder, but as it is raised slightly above the ground, and there is no bodom to it, the coffin can be reached from beneath. There is no provision for warming the chapel, which in winter is very cold and unfit for old people, and smells from the drains are frequently perceptible, not to mention the venerable founder. The first floor is reached by a staircase, from the walls of which the paper is peeling with damp. The bed rooms of the mansion have windows which do not fit close. There is a smell from a water closet which is perceptible over the greater part of the house. Such is the home of the Tar earn pensioners. The inmates were nine at the time of the in spection, for the charity is little sought after. Two of them had been country gentlemen, and one of them in his day a master of foxhounds, two were clergymen, one was a physician, and more than one had been a magistrate. Most of them had heard of the Hospital by mere accident. The only two who expressed themselves satisfied with their treatment and condition were—one of them blind, and the other confined to his room by infirmity. Most of the others were more or less discontented, and one gentleman de clared that the place was " hell upon " earth." If this seems a strong expression, it should be remembered what the establishment is and must be. It is an asylum to which twelve elderly men who have failed in life bring their dis appointments andchagrins, and are expected to live happy in each other's company, cut off from the world, and without any occupation or amusement. A more dismal club could hardly be invented. There is no conveyance to be bad to the railway station, and there are no persons in the neigh bourhood to take notice of the pensioners. The moral and social condition of the Hospital during the lust sixty years, as shown by Mr. Wattles extracts from the minute books, is such as might have been expected. Archdeacon HALE, who visited the place in 1843, writes : " The society " is torn to pieces by pettyquarrela and jealousies." In 1850 we find the Warden and Steward giving in a report that " the hospital at Whirley re " mains in a very unsatisfactory condition, and " we have too much reason to fear gross immo " milt) , still prevails among some of the pen " sioners. We suspect that two or three women " of very equivocal character are in the habit of " visiting the private rooms of Messrs. R—, " F—, D—, and W—, where they ire " (ineptly remain locked up for hours ; and, " among other excesses, indulge in ardent spirits, " brought thither by the servants of the establish " ment, by order of those pensioness. A minor " fact, in connection with this, is, that almost " every day at dinner Messrs. R— and F— " help themselves to at least twice as much as " they can eat, and then carry what is " left on their plates into their rooms, "as we believe, for those women." In 1857 we find Dr. CARTMELL, Master of Christ's College, called to investigate a complaint of one of the pensioners, that another had intentionally fired a gun at him, and finding that the charge had its origin in malice. This gentleman ob served that a childish disposition to quarrel about trifles ran through the hospital, and that jealousy and ill-will divided the whole body ; but he had also the penetration to perceive that this was the natural result of their situation, men originally deficient in some qualities essential to well-doing, and soured by failure, being here forced into intercourse with men similarly deficient and distempered, but different in their habits and feelings, and this without any occupation or any pursuit, and with no one to control violence, soften ill-humour, and draw their attention to worthier objects. It might, perhaps, have been expected that the presence of the vicar, who, as chaplain, has a stipend, aad undertakes to read prayers in the hospital twice a day, would exercise a beneficial influence, but Dr. CARTMELL remarks that he was the most discontented of the whole establishment. Mr. MARTIN does not shrink from declaring his opinion as to the course which ought to be taken with respect to this establishment, of which he declares that it has tended to degrade and de moralise the neighbourhood. In his opinion, " nothing short of the entire dissolution of the " hospital will put an end to the evils which have "so long disgraced the foundation." The disease is organic and incurable, and the attempt to make twelve disappointed aged gentlemen live in har mony while caged up in one house is futile and absurd. The first thing he would do is decently to bury old TANCRED% remains, and the next to sell his land without scruple ; holding, as ho does, with Lord HENLEY, that the views of the founder, with respect to his house and estate, are not entitled to any respect. The estate would sell to great advantage. By a sale a considerable in crease of income and a large reduction of expen diture would be at once effected, and an end put to complaints on the score of supposed extrava gance and mismanagement. At the same time the scope of the charity would be extended and raised, and the patronage of the Governors en hanced in value by enabling them to bestow on worthy objects, personally known to them, a provision which could be accepted without misery and degradation. Assuming that the estate would fetch 40 years' purchase, and the income to be 5,0001. a year, and allowing for the salary and expenses of the clerk per annum 1501., for the travelling expenses of the governors from Cambridge to London 501., for a reserve 300/.- 5001.—there would remain for charity 4,5001., which would permit the governors to pay 100/. a year to 45 persons, whether students or pen sioners. The advantages of this plan are, that the pensioners, instead of being a burden to themselves and others, might become valuable to their friends, and would be able to live in great comfort and in the enjoyment of domestic sym pathies, and some one would probably occupy the hospital who would be of use in the parish, in stead of a nuisance. This is the common-sense view of the case, and it may therefore be hoped that it will be adopted. OUR CONTEMPORARIES. (THIS DAY.) THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 26, 18etk- LATEST INTELLIGENCE. THE LUXEMBURG QUESTION. The halrenda ace Belge,commentingon the article of the Constitutionnel, says : The point of the article is clearlyin its conclusion, where it is said that France does not fear war if it is unjustly challenged thereto ; but that she is anxious no doubt should exist as to her wish to maintain peace. The lan guage of the Conatitutionnd is invariably the language used by nations who are about to be engaged in war, and if, to-morrow, war should break out the Moniteur and the Marquis de Monstier would not speak otherwise than the Conatittaioand. We do not think, therefore, that the object of the Constitutionnel has been to assure public opinion, but to prepare for the most grave declarations. Viewed in this light, the article agrees vith the prevailing impressions of the moment—impressions which, we regret to say, have almond completely extinguished all pacific tendencies. It is unhappily too true that in London, as well as in Paris and Berlin—and we speak of even official circles—all hope is abandoned of preventing a conflagration, the destructive consequences of which to the whole world are regarded with affright by everybody. A Paris correspondent of the same journal says : There are to be three active armies, one under the special command of the Emperor, having under him Marshals MacMahon and Dimino, Marshal Revisit de Saint Jean d'Angely, of the Imperial Guard, and Marshal Niel, head of the staff. This is the army-200,000 strong at least—which is to operate in Luxemburg and to march towards Berlin. The army of the Upper Rhine is to be under the command of Marshal Canrobert. Another army, called the army of the Elbe, is to be under the corn. mend of General Count de Palikao, whilst a fourth army called the army of reserve is spoken of as under the orders of Marshal Baragnay d'Hilliers. I need notaay that this is as yet a mere rumour. But this I can add and way without the least inconvenience that if not at this moment in • very short time the government will be in a position to place in line 427,000 men and 700 pieces of cannon. At the latest date there were 20 battalions of Masseurs and two corps d'armie provided with the Chaaespot gun. 250 ambulances are ready. 20,000 horses have been bought in Hungary, and finally it is said that 320 of the small cannons, the marvellous effects of which the Etendard and other journals have spoken of, have been distributed amongst the regiments. The support of Italy is said to be certain. King Victor Emmanuel will place at the disposition of his most inti mate ally seven armour-plated vessels and 60,000 men, on condition that they are to be supported by France. The active support of Holland, who it is said will send 80 armed vessels immediately to the Baltic, is also relied upon, and in case Russia should join Prussia the northern powers would immediately enter into a league with France. FOREIGN A7►AIII& There is something almost angelic, the Times thinks, in the temper with which the Comet:shorted assures us that France " puts aside every claim," and is willing to allow the Luxemburg question to be *Dividend as • Euro pean one. If it were true that the question is reduced to the mere ramparts of the citadel, the solution would only be too obvious. What Prussian pride might refuse to the peremptory demands of France might with a good grace be granted to the represent►tions of friendly powers. The destinies of the Luxemburgers should be left in their own hands, and, whether they declared in favour of an in dependent government or voted for re-union to Belgium, the fortress should by all means be made over to the free but defenceless Belgian community. to whom, as we learn from Lord Stanley, we are really bound by clear engagements—if to any state on the Conti nent. If the mediating powers will but act with earnestness and unanimity, the Times thinks they will have • less arduous task than is generally imagined. France seems to show sufficient complaisance, and Bismarck is not the man to be led astray by the mere outcry of beer-house enthusiasm. The Dail y News refers to two supreme follies in cos nexion with Italian politics, which happily have yet to peas from the region of vague conjecture into fact, and which, to the last moment, it refuses to reckon among the possibilities of the future that is to make or mar the destinies of the Italian peninsula. Rumours of something like a coup Waal, though not perhaps of a coup do tat of strictly Parisian type, have passed from ear to ear and from mouth to mouth in the public places of the Italian capital. It was doubly unfortunate for Signor Retard that be should have succeeded to power at • moment when such rumours were rife. As to the expectations formed of Italy by the Emperor of the French, Italy, the Daily News feels sure, will never turn round upon an un sentimental but unselfish and safe ally, to whom, if to any foreign power, she owes the liberation of Venice, to become the contingent of an imperial army, and to drain her life-blood for a Third as for • First Napoleon. Abaci. lute neutrality in the event of war between France and Prussia is a question of life and death for the kingdom of Italy. The Herald, recalling the significant fact that Italian Five per Cents. have been sold this week at 42, insists that Italy must disarm. She has no enemy to apprehend, and she is not in • position to concern herself with the affairs of her neighbours. Small economies will not do—the day has gone by for them ; the fleet must be kid up to rot, or, better still, sold ; and the army must be reduced till it is nothing more than a gen darmerie. It is rumoured, indeed, that remedies so radical will not be assented to by the highest person in the realm. That may be the intention at present prevailing at the court, but it cannot prevail long. The Star sincerely trusts that our government has not committed our influence, even by the weight of • diplomatic note, to France, to whom belongs the aggressive side of this deplorable quarrel. Whatever right Prussia has to gar rison Luxemburg now, it is certain that until she herself superseded the Germanic confederation she had not only the right but the obligation of garrisoning it. We can hardly wonder, therefore, if she refuses to understand that her own victories actually diminish her rights, and that because she has conquered the Genniknic Confederation, she is bound to yield to a demand which no one would have dared to make upon her while she was the servant of that confederation. TIM Telegraph shows the opinions which are entertained in France of the subject in dispute. Frenchmen, it says, sincerely believe that in opposing the transfer of the duchy and the fortress, Prussia is simply striving to carry out a system for reducing their country to the position it occupied in the dark days of their history. The belief, the Telegraph is convinced, is erroneous ; but popular impres sions founded on far less basis of fact have ere this driven nations into war. MI9CELLANTOUR TOPIC& Mr. Caird's plan for obtaining indirectly an Irish tenant right is described by the Times. The sort of operation that he advises the state to assist is an arrangement between the holder of ten or twenty acres and his landlord that the latter shall make the Aquisite permanent improvements— such as buildings, drainage, fences, and roads, by aid of a public grant, for the repayment of which the farmer shall be charged five per cent, for ;td years. During that period the tenant is to have a lease of the land, subject, of course, to the payment of this five per cent. in addition to his pre sent rent. The improvements are to be previously sanctioned by competent government officers, who will also have to see that they have been properly executed, and for the whole of the thirty-four years a certain amount of work, as well as risk, would have to be thrown on a public office by every arrangement thus made. It is anticipated that there are landlords under such circumstances that they could and would part with the entire possession and free use of their land for thirty-four years—that is, for a period that only the most healthy and sanguine can hope to sur vive. They would henceforth have to give up all thought of comprehensive improvements, of larger farms, of new systems, or of applying the land to other purposes. Their rent. it is presumed, will be more secure, and perhaps more punctually paid ; the landlord will see further improve ments growing up spontaneously under the protection of the lease, and will have contented and prosperous tenantry. Just at this point, while a parliamentary franchise will be a new thing to so many, they should be taught, the Daily News says, its value and importance, and the acceptance of a bribe should be considered by the legisla ture to endanger the possession of the franchise ac much as personal liberty is endangered by theft. A legal stigma should be fixed on electoral venality before corruption has beoome a habit. A prosecution in the usual way and a trial in the common form, associating it with other crimes, would meet with general acquiescence. Did it result on conviction only in perpetual disfranchisement, the most appropriate penalty, the moral effect of a trial before judge and jury at assizes, would be very great. The Herald has a curious method of drawing to its side the meetings which have been beld to denounce the go vernment Reform Rill. The assemblages, it says, are not formidable in point of numbers, and they are so insignifi cant in respect of influence and character as to show plainly that the true feeling of the country is against them. The liberal party in parliament we told that if they remain under the suspicion of complicity in the projected demon strations in London they can hardly expect that the con sideration due to loyal parliamentaii opposition will be conceded to them. The Star predicts that Lord Naas's Land Bill is still- born. While it seems so illusory to liberals, It looks too much like meddling with the sacrosanct principles of pro perty to be very pleasing to the tones. alit &curt. WINDSOR CASTLE, APRIL 25. The Queen went yesterday afternoon to Bushey Park, and visited the Duke of Nemours and Princess Mar guerite. The Duke and Dnehes of Aumale and Prinee and Princes Philip of Wurtemburg met her Majesty there. The Queen drove in a carriage and four, and was ac companied by Princess Louise and Princess Beatrice. Lady Churchill and Lord Alfred Paget were in atten dance. Prince Arthur, attended by Major Elphinstone, left the Castle yesterday, for Greenwich-park. Her Majesty and Princess Louise walked and rode on ponies this morning. Princess Beatrice went out walking. The Duchess of Cambridge and the Grand Duchess of Meeklenbtulpfitrelitt, attended by Colonel Home•Purves, visited the Queen this morning, and remained to luncheon. Their Royal Highnesses also visited Prinoea'i Christian. To-day is the birthday of Princess Louis of Hesse. A Committee of the Lords of her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council sat yesterday at the Privy Council Office, Whitehall, on the subject of the cattle plague. The Lords present were Lord Robert Montagu and the Right Hon. E. Hammond. Mr. Harrison and Dr. Alexander Williams attended the committee. Cams= Coy/fem.—Last evening summonses were issued for a cabinet council to-morrow (Rs turday) afternoon, at the First Lord of the Trea sury's official residence in Downing-street. Viscount and Viscountess Oranborne have sus tained a bereavement by the death of their youngest child, which occurred on Wednesday last at the family residence in Mansfield-street. Lord and Lady Otho Fitzgerald intend to leave Cowes for town on Monday next, for the season. _ . Lord Elcho, M.P., who has been staying with Lily Bich° and family at Cannes during the recess, is expected to return home on Monday or Tuesday next. We (Post) are requested to state that there is no foundation whatever for the statement as to the intended marriage between Lord Brownlow and Lady Adelaide Talbot. On Thursday Mr. Henry Morley, Professor of English Literature in King's College. London, delivered the first afternoon lecture for the MIAMI in the Lecture Theatre of the Museum of Irish Industry, Dublin. The subject was, "The Influence of the Celt upon English Literature." There was very numerous attendance. On Thursday last the Rev. Charles Thomas Jex Blake, clerk, M.A., was instituted to the rectory of Lingo eura-Whitwell, in Norfolk, on the presentation of the Rev. Henry Lombe, of Bylaugh Park, Bylaugh, in Norfolk aforesaid, clerk. Hans Christian Andersen says :—" I generally found the jovial Alexander Dumas in bed, even long after mid-day. Here he lay with paper, pen and ink, and wrote his new drama. I found him thus one day—he nodded kindly to me and said ' Sit down a minute, I have just now a visit from my muse, she will be going directly.' He wrote on, spoke aloud, shouted • rira, sprang out of bed and said The third act is finished.' " ROYAL ITALIAN OPRBA.—Auber's Mitsanietto was announced for but night, with Madame Leinmens-Sher rington for the first time as Elvira; but, owing to the sudden indisposition of Signor Nandin, the opera was changed for Verdi's Un Rano in Mosehera, with the same cast as on Tuesday last, as noticed in Wednesday's Daily Neva. The promised performance of Hawaiian is postponed to Tuesday next. THE LIVERroot. PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY,—We understand that the committee of this society yesterday elected M. Jules Benedict to the poet of conductor, vacant by the death of Mr. Alfred Mellon. The choice lay finally, we believe, between Messrs. Benedict, C. Halle, and Otto Goldschmidt (husband o f th e f amous Jenny Lind) ; but amongst the candidates were Messrs. H. Manns, C. J. Harytt, E. Silas, Arditi A. Sullivan, J. L. Hatt on , J. Hullah, and other well-known musicians. hf. Benedict, we believe, was not a formal candidate, but he has been so intimately connected with the society for many years past, that his being selected for the much-coveted post will occa sion no surprise. CONARRVATIVE DINNER AT NORWICH.-A con servative dinner took place at Norwich yesterday evening. The leading announced guests compnaed Sir W. Blume Bart., M.P., Mr. K Howes, M.P., M r . C. S. Read, M.P., , the Hon. T. De Grey, M.P., a nd Si r E. Lamm, M.P. Lord Stanley had been invited to attend, but was unable to leave town, THE LIVERPOOL LIBLRALS AND MR. GLADSTONE. —A public meeting of the oonstituents of Mr. Gladstone has been summoned by the South Lancashire Liberal As sociation for Tuesday evening next, at Heugler's Circus, Liverpool, on which occasion a vote of confidence in Mr. Gladstone " as the true leader of the liberal party," will be proposed. Mr. W. Rathbone, jun., is to preside. THE WORKING MEN OF PARIS AND BERLIN. The working men of Paris have replied as fol lows to the working men of Berlin : Workmen of Berlin—We have received with joy your pacific salutation. Like you we desire only peace and liberty. As citizens, indeed we love our mother country, but when the spirit of the past is endeavouring to confirm preju dices, when the worshippers of force wish to revive national hate, we working men shall never forget that labour, which unites us in reciprocal bonds, can only be developed in peace and liberty. It is not • ques tion of deciding by arms the natiorality of a slip of terri tory, but of uniting our efforts to bring about a reign of equity. Have we not enough sources of misery and suffering to fight with, enough of unmerited wretchedness, without going to deetroy and devastate with our town hands, leaving the field. unfilled and the machine idle? Con querors or conquered we shall still be the victims. Labour is • duty and • right—it is the law of modern society; war between peoples can only be con sidered a civil war—a retain of civilisation. Workmen of Germany and of France, we have only too much need of all our strength and energy to organise ourselves for the purposes of labour and exchange. We desire peace and liberty. Peace—to produce and exchange with one another. Liberty—to establish between each other more intimate and friendly relation., for the more we know the more we shall esteem one another. Brethren of BerlM ! brethren of Germany! it is in the name of universal soli darity, advocated by the International Association, that we exchange with you a pacific salutation which will cement anew the indissoluble alliance of working men. Signed on behalf of the Paris commission, Torrair, Famormc, Vaar.m. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) THE LUXEMBURG QUESTION. BERLIN, Aram 26. A Cabinet Council was held yesterday evening, to consider the proposals of the mediating powers upon the Luxemburg question. The Biirsenzeitung of to-day considers that an understanding is possible on the basis of the neu tralisation of Holland and Luxemburg, and the evacuation and demolition of the fortresses, which would take place after converting Trier and Saar louis into an important military position, to the cost of which Holland would have to contribute. The semi-official North German Gazette of this morning replies in moderate terms to a warlike article lately published by the Patric. The same paper adverts to the article of M. Paulin Limayrac published in yesterday's Constibitionnel, declaring the peaceful intentions of the French government, and adds, " These peaceful assurances of the COlL stitutionuel are, however, in contradiction with the irritating language of the other Paris papers." It is stated that the King of the Belgians will return to Paris with fresh proposals for mediation. CROATIA. AGRAM, APRIL 2.5. The party favourable to the union of Croatia and Hungary has recently considerably increased in number. Herr Cesch, the royal commissioner for Fiume, has arrived in that town. He was enthusiastically received by the inhabitant.. THE (HEAVY) BOMBAY MAIL. SOUTHAMPTON, APRIL 26. The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's steamer Nyanza, with the heavy por tion of the above mail, arrived here to-day with 107 passengers, 1,0401. in specie, and • general cargo. GIBRALTAR, Antic 21. Her Majesty's troop ship Himalaya left here on the 19th inst. with the 86th Regiment for the Mauritius. Her Majesty's ships Prince Consort, Royal Oak, Skylark, and the yacht Undine were in the harbour. Exchange on London, 49/ ; ditto Paris, 5.25 ; Madrid, 1 per cent. discount. INDIA, CHINA, AND AUSTRALIAN MAILS. GIBRALTAR, APRIL 25. The Tanjore, from Southampton, on the 20th inst., arrived to-day at 2 p.m., and leaves at 5 p.m. for Alexandria. She experienced two days'Zbad weather. All well. INDIA, CHINA, AND JAPAN MAILS. SUEZ, Aram 24. The 3lessa,geries Imperialea steamer Tigre arrived here this evening with the homeward India, China, and Japan mails, 206 passengers, and about 2,000 packages of merchandise. ' "M. Schneider, President of the Legislative Body and proprietor of Oreusot," says the Union, " has expended, we are assured, not less than 000,000 fr. to maintain the honour of French machinery at the ExhtTi tion. He employs more than 20,000 workmen, 10,000 at the mines and as many In his workshops, and with his eon directs the little kingdom himself." March 4, 1861, the national debt of the United States was 66,180,834 dollars; March 1, 1867, it was 2,530,763,889 dollars. The highest it has ever been was ea the 31it of August, 1865, it was 2,757,781,189 dollars. EXPRESS FROM PARIS. (PROW OUR OWN CORRESPONDINT.) PARIS, THURNDAY EVENING. The Corps Legislatif met to-day for the first time after the Easter recess. On President Schneider taking the chair, M. dums FAVRE said—l have the honour to present a demand for leave to ask questions (interpellations) rela tive to the affairs of Luxemburg. I may not now enlarge upon the purport of these interpellations, but, in presence of the anxiety which prevails in the country, everyone must feel that explanations are necessary. (Agitation.) . President SCHNEIDER—There is no 00010i011 to accom pany your demand for interpellations with any comment. M. JULES FAvur—l make none, M. le President. A Voles—What Luxemburg is it you want to talk about! M. Jut= FAVRE—If anyone in this assembly can make a joke of the Luxemburg question, I leave him responsible to the country. President SeHNEIDEB—I did not hear any joke, and would no more have sanctioned one than U. J'iges Fm ee. (Applause.) The order of the day, which contained nothing but formal business, was then called on. It will now be necessary that M. Jules Favre's interpellations—not about the mutilation of the Luxemburg gardens, but about that great Lux embarg question which threatens to deluge Europe with blood—be taken into conside ration by the bureaux. These will do as before what the government orders. It is, how ever, possible that if next week the government shall be in a position to make a communication of some sort or other to the chamber, and more espe cially if that communication shall not be of a com plete and decisive character, it may find the form of replying to interpellations less embarrassing than a spontaneous government message. The article in the Constitutionnel signed Paulin Limayrac is commented upon by several evening papers. The Avenir National says of it : It is not inch paragraphs as these which 1411 tran quillise opinion now ; the Conseitutiamatl having no thing more to tell us would have done better to keep silence. It is for the government to speak in the .Vonikur, or better still in the Corps Legislatif. The deputies must firmly and persistently call for explanations. The Liberti says of M. Limayrac's effusion : This well considered article is in reality a semi-official ultimatum, the precursor of the official ultimatum which is coming. It is a categorical answer to the articles of the North German aazdte, the avowed organ of M. de Bis• merck, and the articles of the Kreulz Zeitung, the organ of the old Prussian party. The Univers, with as much confidence and even more brevity, is of opinion that Those who believed in war before they read the article in the Constitutionitel will certainly not change their opinion. The Temps is quite of the same opinion. It sees in M. Limayrac's professions of peace and concilia tion and his protestations that France does not desire war nothing but the common form of a de claration when war is about to break out that the responsibility of it rests with the other side. It severely blames the French government for having accepted the King of Holland's offer without first inquiring how Prussia was likely to view the transaction, and thus making a cane lfrelli about a " little province" of which, according to all official declarations, France would never have troubled her head, but for the Dutch suggestion. The news from Nancy of yesterday's date is that Marshal Forey is very much better ; since his apoplectic attack he has been able to correct the proof sheets of instructions for the Chalons camp, which is to be under his command. It is remarked with uneasiness that nothing has been said by the semi-official journals for many days of the health of the Prince Imperial. The " to-morrow" on which it was announced that he was to go out never comes. The King of Holland has appointed a M. Jonas, a Luxemburg councillor of state, charg6 d'affaires for the grand duchy of Luxemburg in Paris, and M. licehr, a member of the state assembly, is to be sent to Berlin. The Bourse has in no degree recovered from the panic feeling which has long held possession of it ; but the amount of business done to-day was ex ceedingly small. Route, after fluctuating between 65fr. 40c. and 65fr. 10c., closed with a rise of 10c. for cash and a fall of sc. for account, at 65fr. 40c. and 65fr. 20c. Credit Foncier fell 7fr. 50c. There was no change in Mobilier. Italian rose 15c. The Northern Railway rose 3fr 75c., but the other lines were worse, Eastern falling 12fr. 50c., and the rest about 2fr. 60c. THE FENIAN TataLs.—The Commission for the trial of the Fenian prisoners resumed its sittings in Dublin on Wednesday morning before the Lord Chief Justice, Judge Fitzgerald, and Baron Deasy. The greater part of the day was occupied with discussions relative to certain legal technicalities and the arraigt.ment of several pri soners. We learn by telegraph that the Commission was occupied the whole of yesterday in the discussion of legal objections raised by the prisoners' counsel. A jury was sworn to try Thomas Burke and Patrick Doran, after which the court adjourned until to-day, when the At. torney-General will state the ease for the prosecution. . . A letter has been published which purports to have been written in Paris by Kirwan, the Fenian Centre, who escaped about ten days ago from the Meath Hospital, where he was under surgical treatment. He says:—" I shall stop with M— until I feel able to start for the United States. My health is much better than you can imagine, but I think the excitement attendant on the journey had much to do in keeping up my spirits. I hope no reaction may follow. M.'s family surgeon examined the wound this morning, and says that I will be able to travel in n days. . . . With one heavy curse on Ire land's hated oppressor., I remain, kc., JOHN KIRWAN." - - THE PRINCEBB or WALES.—Each day during the last week has been one of satisfactory progress in the con dition of her royal highness. Natural sleep during the night has also been fully restored. On Wednesday the Princess had a refreshing sleep of seven boon. The swelling and other inflammatory symptoms in the knee joint have greatly subsided, and it is much less sensitive on being handled. The general health has throughout been well maintained ; and there is, happily, no room for further anxiety than that which attaches to the doubt as to the possibility of restoration of the natural movements of a joint which has been so roughly invaded by an insidious, prolonged, and severe inflammation.— British Medical Journal. THE PRINCE IMPERIAL.— The Prince Imperial boa so far recovered that all serious anxiety is now at an end. lie is gradually resuming his former activity. After the somewhat prolonged confinement within doors to which he has been subjected, it may be desirable that be should have the benefit of country air ; but there is no question of any change of climate being necessary. His general health is at present good.— British Micheal Journal, _ MR. TIDD PRATT AND THE REFORM DEMONSTRA rioNs.—Mr. Tidd Pratt comes forward to put another handle at the service of anti-reformers, by addressing a letter to the Tines, in which he describes his own official action in the ease of the Farriers' Society, some of the members of which took part in the reform demonstrations of last December. It appears that the use of the horses which the men rode and of the banners, was charged to the society. Upon this coming to the knowledge of Mr. Tidd Pratt, he informed the members, he says, that such • use of their funds was illegal, and that unless the money taken was replaced he should proceed against thew. In answer to this intimation the society has assured him that the sums have been replaced, and that the expense of the demonstration has now, therefore, been personally assumed by the members. TRANSLATION OF — TIIII OLD TISTAMENT INTO MAORI.—" A work of tat literary interest," says the I Hew ZeMinui Herald, " been accomplished, viz., a complete translation of the Old Testament into Maori, copies of which have been presented to the Bishops of New Zealand and Wellington, by the Rev. Dr. Manned!. This work is a monument of the Christian zeal and literary ac complishments connected with modern missionary enter prise." MB. LEATHAM, M.P., OP THE crovaßs.vexr REFORM BILL. WAKEFIELD, THURxDAT EVENIN... This evening Mr. Leatham, M.P., addrus.l crowded meeting of his constituents in the saloon of the Corn Exchange. He said—Mr. Disraeli, after having get s through the throes of parturition, had produced wh at was scarcely a seven months' bantling, which, he r . ever, he (Mr. Leathern) thought might with a little careful nursing still live and prosper, (Loud laughter.) Now that the amendment respectin g the personal payment of rates had been thrown out, h e hoped that if Mr. Gladstone did not move his sullen!. mcnt reducing the two years' residence to twelve month, (which he, however, hoped he would do), some one would endeavour to do it for him. (Cheers.) He spoke of X ; Hibbert's amendment, which would place the compound householders below 101. on the same footing an thos e above that amount as a very important one, and mid that if, as he had heard, the government were disprnta to consider it, it was a great concession, and one which ough t to be received with thankfulness by the liberal p a rty. With the exception of about 3,000 householders in Calve,. thorpe and Themes the bill would enfranchise the whol e of Wakefield, and therefore he looked upon it with favour, He had never been in favour of household auttra o pure and simple, and a 41. rating would have met his vier a 51. rating he considered too high. The governme n t bill , be said, was much more radical than Mr. Gladstont'.. 7/, bill, and he did not wish to diagnise the fact that be had not the same sweeping condemnation of it as had Xr. Bright and others. He was disposed to view it in a more favourable light, and to try something good could not be made out of it, He also thought that the redistribution portion of the bill w tl:O l u s g u h Pe h ri e o di r d to not tha a t pp icdu ro tm ve of ftd the total the IdateisfranPvcenuahisemetent; of Lancaster and Yarmouth. The hon. gentleman continued by referring to the principal measures before the house, and at the close a resolution expressing approval of hi t conduct in parliament and confidence in his sound liberal principles was adopted. The following resolutions were subsequentlycarried: "This meeting, being of opinion that the government measure of reform is deceptive and dishonest in principle, complex end objectionable in detail, and invidious and unjust in its class distinctions, tenders its thanks to Mr. Gladstone and those who have supported him in endeavouring to obtain a simpler, larger, and more efficient measure of reform." " Thia meeting, while regretting the defections of those liberals who voted with the government in the late division, expresses its unabated confidence in Mr. Gladstone, as the leader of the liberal party in the House of Commons." STANDARD BANK OF BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA (LIMITED).-(THIS DAY.) The half-yearly meeting of the shareholders was held at noon at the offices, 10, Clement's-lane, Mr. W. Nem( in the chair. The report said :—" The accounts now submitted to the shareholders for the half-year ending December 31, lee, after payment of interest on cur rent and deposit accounts and charges, making allowance for rebate on bill, not due, and providing for bad and doubtful debts, show a net profit of 13,4191. Ils. 9d. The directors recommend out of this profit a dividend for the half-year of 101. on the shares with 25/. paid, and of 45. on the shares with 101. paid, which will require 9,748/. 2s. ; that 2501. be written off preliminary expenses account, 1,000/. off amalgamation account; and that 1,000/. be added to the reserve fund ; less. dog a balance of 1,4211. 9s. 9d. to be carried forward. At the request of the leading inhabitants of Richmond, the centre of a large wool-producing district, a branch has been opened there, to supply banking facilities with which that town was previously unprovided. The bank does not suffer by the late financial embarrassments at Natal, and it participates with the general productive and mercantile interests of the Cape in a steady p e The CHAIRMAN, in moving the n adoption of the report and accounts, said the directors felt pleurae in meeting the shareholders with amounts which showed that the bank had been moderately successfuL The accounts sub. mined evinced on the whole a favourable state of affairs. There was soi increase in the note circulation of 1,4001. The bank post bills bad rather diminished in amount. The liabilities on current account were satisfactory, there being an increase during the half-year of 89,0001. There was a decrease on bills payable of 61,0001. In the balance at bankers and in cub there was an increase of 21,0001. The profits, though not so large as the board would bays liked them to be, admitted of a dividend at the rate of 4 per cent., a considerable amount being carried forward. Not. withstanding the crisis at Natal the company had escaped any loss, and the withdrawal of two competitors would of sours) tend to augment their profits in future. As regarded the question of reconstruction the di. rectors were Impressed with a sease of the in. advisableness of taking such • step during the preen lance of panic. A meeting had, however, been convened by Mu, directors, which was attended by representatives of Cr other limited liability banks, to consider the subject, but the conclusion arrived at was that it was not then &sir. able to attempt reconstruction. A measure had since been introduced into parliament by Mr. Welkin, and the whole subject would come before parliament. While that question was under the consideration of the board a letter was received groin the general manager deprecat ing reconstruction. He was happy to add did any liability beyond 251. • share was really mp ducal, all the transactions being so small and of such • nature that no serious losses could be incurred. He concluded by reading a letter from the manger (Mr. Stewart), dated Port Elizabeth, general 15, in which that gentleman expressed his belief that • large portion of the debts set down as had would be recovered, and said in effect that the canon amounts were increming, and the business is going on satisfactorily. (Cheers.) In reply to questions, The CHAIRMAN stated that if Mr. Patterson 'e estate should return to anything like its normal value it would yield 20s. in the pound, adding that the bank had a first lien on that property. In reply to a question respecting calls, The CHAIRMAN said although the board did not want money, he 'Hemmed the time was coming when all the I shares should be put on the same footing. ' A litnattenot.nnt urged on the directors the necessity 1 1 of getting the liability on the shares reduced, observing that few prudent men would be disposed to buy share, with a liability of 75 per cent. banging over their heads. The CHAIRMAN observed that personally the dinettes were of the same opinion as the hon. proprietor who bed just introduced the subject, but they felt hound to yield to the strong objection of their general manager. In reply to a further question, The CHAIRMLN observed that the hoard were quite alive to the importance of wiping out the amalgamation count, and they would not recommend a dividend of more than 5 per cent. until that object had been accomplish , d. After some conversation the report was adopted, and s dividend at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum dechred. LAND MORTGAGE BANK OP INDIA (LIMITED). (THIS DAY.) The annual meeting of shareholders was held at 1 o'clock at the London Tavern. In consequence of thc indisposition of the chairman of the board, Mr. H. Nelsoc, who was meant, Mr. P. N. LAURIE presided. The report, which was issued about ten days got b.". tug been taken aa read, The CHAIRMAN moved its adoption. He commenced referring to the eventful and serious character of the pot year aa regarded commerce. The effect of the crPto was, he said of course to stop the ;asinine de bentures. Of the 57,0001. issued during th Ise year 37,0001. was issued before Black Friday. When the crisis occurred orders were at once sent to Imlia, onleriag an immediate restriction of operations and the remittance of funds to England. These orders were complied with, and a necessity for a call was thus avoided. He was harj'Y t° say that the whole of the bills had been pen r" The loss by exchange had been written otf, and also the interest on mortgages which were sublet to depreciation. The directors had no intention of making any further mil. The company's liabilities wen very small, and there was, in fact, no necessity for further capital. The debentures issued by the company were fee periods of five, six, and seven years. He was harry may tint the payment of the three years' debentures was already 1 1 °' vided for. Those debentures would not be remwel. nor, he believed, would those for five or seven year , . Stich w'. r the prostration in Bombay that the government hin t bad debts to the amount of 2,000,000/. Advanced on insolvent estates. (Hear.) That was the state of things even with government care and supervision. The losses incurred bf the bank were placed in the accounts at the worst. One estate on which a loss was expected bad b een $ 4l. s ea the whole amount of debt realised. Confidence was slosh re viving at Borubay,aud he believed that b e tter times we re is store for it, and tho con.peny would come Wit with lea loss than had been contemplated The comps* . advanced 270,0001. on tea estates, which were sllniv at 002,000/. In concluding he exprerned his confidence in the intrinsic soundness of the concern. adding that the es• penile* had been reduced from 10,0001. to 13,001 v. Pt annum. ?dr. H. NELsolt seconded the motion. A Sit sugmotstrit urged upon the meeting the neeestity!f carefully restricting future operations in order to lowa further boa ; and moved en amendment to the effect that no call should ever be made without the coll.-it of the shareholders. [The meeting wee proceeding when our report left _ On the 23rd of March there were stored in Chicago 65,2:16 barrels of flour, 511,31.7 bushels of •'h 875,069 bushels of corn, 743,275 bushels of oats, 10 4 ,"' bushels of rye, and 168,517 bushels of barley. Ar;; •mend The Mr. °sea ze ftitista e Ikrui or. ' 4, The 6 .1 till w. was the of ti not bees begc ita dent Fred The Port One the 11011 Di Q.c. will July wido Wit. had t know prom draw to ue Th befor blow did n He in for tl in tht count Th 4 and a nation of 30 of 1,4 Mr, to an a vier, A p haPkr 46; and tt to b e the 1111