The Express. — London, England, 1867-12-24 00:00:00

LIFEBOAT SERVICES.—During the storms of the present year the Neatens' Lifeboat institution has autalibuted to the saving of 1,027 lives from various shipwrecks sue id vessels from destruction. The institution also expended CID, 635 in the same period on its Lifeboat Establishments, to Mission to grand. 444 for rewards. The Committee of the hotatutkat eany appeal to the public for saststanee to merle them to meet the continued heavy demands on their 186 Sit•satt Establidnents. _ . • ..... Uosdributlons wil l 110 thankfully received by the London and eseittry bankers, and by the Secretary, Richard Lewis, Fiq., at eke institution, 14, Johtuareet, Adedphi, Loudon. ?Atli EXIIIBITION FIRSDCLASS SILVER In:DAL. 1e67. JOHN BROCIDEN. fRIGINAL GOLD CHAIN MANUFACTORY, le, RZNILIKITA•STRXIST, COVKST-OASDKN. JOHN BROODICWS 18-oarat GOLD CHAINS. JOHN BROODEN'S GOLD GUARD/CHAINS. JOHN BROODER'S GOLD ALBERT CHAINS. JOHN BROGDEN'S GOLD BROOCH CHAINS. ORRIS TMA 8 PRESENTS. - GLOVE an d V HASDKK&CIfI F BOXIL9, Work Baskets, Sealskin and ether l'ur Muff Bags, Dressing Cases, Dressing Sags, Card Trays, rid an endless variety of the newest Parisian goods, from 2s. 1 110 . C a talogues post-free. and BP.RWIN, 81, Strand, W.O . and 69, Oxford-street, W. BREAKFAST. -E ppB'S COCOA. ihe enireoo. TO CORRESPONDENTS. liwartiannontB Intended for " Tbo inproou" London Evening now nuns be B,t She Mos. 10 Bouveriessrook by Two •lock on the day of publication. HATMARKIT. Tutu Emma, THE RIVALS. Melnik Buckstooe, Moen deb. Howe, Braid, Rogers, !c.: Mesdames Chippendale, Burke, Deli's. 'BiwaHans. itc.—AN UTTIM PEE-VERSION 01 , THE 3BlL:AND.—Concluding with A KI&3 Di TILL DARK. PRINCE/In. Tars Erwin. GUY MANNEWICI. Mews. T. Bartleman. C. WNA 0. Hooey, J. G. Shove, sad MI. Rebecca Iseacc—A CONCERT.—And A LITTLE PLIRTATION.—Commeace at 7. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE Ms DAt —Mom* Ob. 5 2m—,....Atternoon, lb. lIM. to-Mo now —Moraine. lb. 3820—....Atkim000, lb. Ohs. CHRISTMAS -DAY. To-morrow being Chris tmas-day, the Express will not be published. LONDON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24. THE first impression which arises from a re view of the great Fenian crime at Clerkenwell is that the history of conspiracies does not record a more conspicuous failure. Apparently its authors have not accomplished a single one of their ends. BURKE and CASEY are more closely guarded than ever : a feeling of revulsion from the terrible aspects of the crime, aided by the offer of a substantial reward, has brought forward informers, and led to numerous arrests ; and, above all, the national spirit of the commu nity has been inflamed to a pitch which makes all toleration of anything resembling Fenianism simply impossible. Not only have all classes of Englishmen closed their ranks and moved up nearer to one another, but an excitement against all that is Irish is spreading amongst us. Persona accustomed to observe the ways of our working men assure us that the position of the Irish labourer and mechanic in our large towns is becoming extremely uncomfortable. Employers look upon them with suspicion, and their fellow workmen regard them with distrust. Rumours of new outrages are spread, and discoveries of what look like silent preparations for further dreadful deeds of bloodshed aro reported. In vain the peaceful Irish protest their horror of aeta so diabolical. They gain no credence ; and as day succeeds day the prospect of an up rising against the Irish among us becomes more disquieting. Looking at these facts, and their evident bearing upon the present and future relations of the English and Irish people, we are inclined to ask whether it may not be that this, after all, is the very thing that the organizers of this wretched plot have been working for. We acquit the miserable wretches, whom it was reserved for a VAUGHAN to unearth, of any far-reaching schemes of action : such as they are made to be the ignorant tools of men of greater scope and deeper policy. Whether the movements of Fenisni sm are directed from Ire land or from America, its cunning leaders have never shown any regard fur the suffering of the poor people whose patriotic sentiments they have abused ; if it appeared to them necessary for the success of their ultimate designs to adopt mea sures which would expose the Irish in England to the utmost inconvenience, and even distress, we may be sure they would not shrink from doing so from any feelings of compassion for those whom they claim as their countrymen. A very little reflection will show that whatever may be the desires of the Fenian leaders, all their actions must be subordinate to one chief aim, that of effecting a permanent breach between the English and Irish people, and making it as complete and wide as possible. Whatever and whoever makes Englishmen and Irishmen distrust one another does their work. To make the Irish man as much disliked in England as the Hebrew was in Egypt ; to associate him with our recollec tions of calamity and terror, was a point to be gained at any expense of suffering. The advantage of this policy was that it was one in the execu tion of which the assistance of a large class of Englishmen, obeying only their blind instincts, might be relied on. Nature has made the two countries to be useful to each other, and the bonds of interest are not to be cancelled in a day ; but if, by the acts of a few Irishmen, the hostility of the English people could be kindled against them as a race and people, and be stimulated to express itself in deeds amounting to persecution ; if Irishmen as such were pursued with suspicion and hatred, and made to feel that they could no longer expect common justice at our hands, a very important point would be gained. Ap parently this step on the appointed road may very soon be reached. The occasion calls for the exercise of reason and self-control Now, more than ever, it is necessary to punish the guilty and protect the innocent. Crusades are barbarous and obsolete, but a crusade to be conducted in the interior of civilised society would be the moat barbarous of all. And it would be the most foolish. Suppose that the Irish in England are not, as a whole, of so sound a loyalty as we could wish, while they are at work they are at least under superintendence. To turn them into the street would be to throw them bodily into the hands of the Fenians, with a spirit exas perated by a sense of injustice. The wiser course is to encourage them to remain at work, and let them see that, while we are able to detect and resolved to punish crime, so long as they conduct themselves well they will not fare the worse for being Irishmen. Tun resignation of the Mr:fauna Administra tion after the rejection of Signor Borrwaannti's Order of the day would be regarded in all constitu tional countries u a matter of course. That it should have been thus precipitated is nevertheless THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENtiG, DECEMBER 24, 1867. `always' our right to Rome as the capital of Italy." The Chamber again cheered. Rattazzi said, " I feel compelled to throw back with disdain the words of M. Rouher in the Corps Legialatif. I deny that the crown of the Two Sicilia' was the gift of an individual to the King of Sardinia. It was given to the King by the vote of the people— by that same suffrage which placed Napoleon 111. on the throne of the Carlovingians." Wild applause followed this allusion, and a member of the Left turning round to the French envoy, who was present, said, " Listen to that, Monsieur de Malaret." According to Signor Nicotera, both the Rattazzi and the Ricasoli cabinets gave secret support to the Garibaldian expedition. Nicotera read a telegram, which was sent to the Prefect of Perugia—" Pursue Garibaldi, but so as not to catch him ; burn this telegram." Nicotera added— " Garibaldi was living quietly in Caprera. One day three persons, not belonging to the party of action, but to the moderate party—three members of the National Committee in the pay of the government (Ricasoli's)—arrived at Caprera, and said to Garibaldi—' All is ready—the spark only is required.' Garibaldi then left for Florence." The Italian ministry, as we know, was defeated by a majority of two. "The result of the debate in the Italian Cham ber of Deputies is serious in this view," says the Inclepenclanee Belge "that it renders very difficult the holding of power by the Menabrea ministry. The resolution of the Italian government, sanctioned by the vote of parliament, to suspend the payment of the pontifical debt, has produced a great• sensa tion in Paris, especially in government circles. It is a direct reply to the pretension of France that the September convention is in all its force notwithstanding what has taken place before the gates of Rome, notwithstanding the presence of French troops at Civita Vecchia, notwithstanding the declarations of M. Rouher contesting with Italy her right to her natural capital, and laying it down that this has always been, and always will be, the policy of the Tuileries." The Avenir National says : The vote of December 22 signifies the rapture of the alliance between Italy and France. It signifies that the people of Italy were to go to Rome in spite of the veto of M. Itonher, and that they will, if necessary, ally themselves with Prussia and Russia in order to get to Rome. This il3 what we have gained by the second expedition to Rome. ' a matter which the most intelligent friends of ' Italy must regret. Signor BONFARDINI, by the resolution he proposed, invited the Chamber of Deputies to affirm a number of distinct and inde pendent propositions. They were at one and the same time to declare that Rome was the capital of Italy, that any attempt to obtain possession of it by illegal means was to be deprecated, and that the conduct of the Ministry deserved ap proval. The introduction of this very composite order of the day appears to have had a confusing and provocative effect. General MENABREA could have done very well without an express approval of his acts if the Chamber had been ready, as probably it was, to give him its general and tacit support. Signor BONFARDINI. however, placed his fellow members in a position in which they could not support the ministry without reflecting on parties whom they had no wish to condemn. The KING can ill afford to lose General ME NASALS at this time, and the interests of the country will not tolerate a state of prolonged uncertainty. It will be noticed that the Italian statesmen who have gained the highest repu tation for independence, and who, like RI CASOLI and CIALDINI, are best known as maintaining Italian interests against foreign patronage or encroachment, decline to serve the KING ; as if they had reason to believe that they should not be supported in a national policy. On the other hand, if the Paris newspapers are to be believed, the vote at Florence has induced the French EMPEROR to order the preparation of transports to carry an additional 20,000 men from Toulon to the Italian coast. The Chambers are prorogued, and it seems probable that General MENA BREA will re-constitute his Government, which would perhaps be the best practicable ar rangement under the circumstances. OUR CONTEMPORARIES. (THIS DAY.) THE NINIEITITAL CRISIS IN ITALY. The Times does not give great weight to the majority of two against the Italian Ministry, and remarks that the split arose on a mere personal matter, for on the main political subject not the least difference of opinion existed. With regard to the diplomatic revelations, it will not be easy now to convince the world that it was not at some time or other on the cards that the Italians should march on Rome, or that the French did not go there greatly against their inclination. The question is, how ever, not how Italy was brought into her present position, but how she is to get out . of it. So long as the present state of things continues, the convention is in abeyance, and Italy can at least withhold payment of her share in the Pontifical debt. So long as the French are in Rome, or reserve the power to return there, all negotiations between the contending parties are at an end. France can hardly go to war with Italy to enforce the payment to the Pope of money which the Pope never did sad never would claim. One might wish that Italy were as male against all dangers of internal anarchy as from defeat in her foreign policy. THE VOLIINTZER FORCE. Observing that when an officer in the position of Lord Ranelagh declares that the volunteer force is a sham, we cannot afford to let the remark pass without examin►tion, the Daily News proceeds to discuss the grounds upon which his lordship rests the assertion. He states that the force is at present so defective in battalion organisation, meaning by this the manoeuvring as a body and its operation in eombination with other battalions, that it would be useless in presence of an enemy. The Daily News fears that this criticism is just. There are very few regiments of volunteers in which any knowledge above that of company drill is possessed by the officers. The simpler battalion movements are got through in a manner more or less slovenly, the more corn. plicated are blundered. Moreover, this is so well known to inspecting officers that they do not venture to put the matter to the test. Volunteer officers are never examined before appointment, and battalions are brought together only once or twice for drill, and when they are, half the time is occupied with movements of mere parade. Though without a commissariat, a military train, and ambulances, • volunteer army would be dead or dispersed a week after it took the field, yet we give them none of these neces saries. Do we expect that our enemies, if ve have any, will give us more than six weeks' notice to prepare our own organisation ; or do we believe in our government having such a Heaven•bestowed gift for organisation that they can improvise it? The matter is very serious. Lord Ranelagh has not put it too strongly when he declared that at present our force is a " sham." J 9 TOPICS. The Times quotes from the Fria/imam and the Nation newspapers a number of passages, with a view of proving the toleration of the British government, which it believes to be without an example in the world. Another object is to let the Irish party portray itself. The Times also gives some ammunt of a pamphlet published with considerable reserve at Philadelphia, containing a manifesto of Fe nianism at a time when the organisation was considered to be in its meet hopeful condition. Whatever substance there was in the conspiracy, our contemporary concludes, was imported from abroad. The Herald thinks M. Rouher should be credited when he affirms th►t the army bill, so far from menacing ► war, provides only for a slow and gradual development ; is no menace, is no response to any challenge, and simply pro vides for the maintenance of the great national interests and the independence of the country. The perusal of the debates does not either impress the Standard with the belief that the objections to the measure are well founded. The burden to be imposed upon France will still fall short of that cheerfully borne by Prussia. . . The Post thinks that the army policy of the French government has been to a great extent forced upon them. It certainly does not manifest any warlike intentions on the part of the chief of the state, even assuming, for the sake of argument, that this vast increase in the military strength of France will not prove to have been needed. The Dail y News contend, that while the funds of trades' unions ought to obtain the protection of the common law, this privilege should be accompanied by certain responsi bilities, and the funds should be liable to satisfy claims arising out of the illegal acts of trades' unions. Thus, if • workman is kept out of employment or suffers any other injury by the illegal action of a trades' union, it would be right that its fonds should be liable to satisfy his claim fur compensation. the Court. 031308 NE, Dec. 23. The' Queen, accompanied by Princess Louise and Prince Arthur, drove out yesterday afternoon, attended by the Equerry in Waiting upon horseback, and her Majesty walked in the grounds this morning, accom panied by Princess Leopold and Princess Beatrice. Princess Louise and Prince Arthur also went out. THE PRINCE or WALES.—Yesterday the West Norfolk fox•bounds met at Sandringham, where the mem bers of the hunt experience' a hospitable reception from his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. The Prince's devotion to the chase continues unabated, and he is a subscriber of 50 guineas to the funds of the West Norfolk peck, which is now under the able and spirited manage ment of Mr. A. Hamond. Hunting has rarely been more popular in Norfolk than at present, as, in addition to the West Norfolk, the county has the Ran Norfolk (Lord Hastings') hounds, the North Walsham harriers, the Nor folk harriers, the Rest Norfolk harriers, and the Norfolk and Suffolk harriers. The Duke of Hamilton haa entertained a large party at Hamilton Palace during the peat fortnight, In cluding Lord de Tabley, Sir Norman Lockhart, Hon. F. Bertie, Lienk-Colonel Knox, Mr. Burton, Mr. Darrell, Mr. Crenshaw, &c. Excellent sport has bean had in hia grace's preserves. _ . The Earl and Countess de Grey arrived at Studley Royal, near Ripon, from visiting the Comical Cow as Psashaapr, Herts. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. THE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION. To-day those of our contemporaries who have special correspondents in Abyssinia publish letters from them, the latest date being in the Daily News, " Annesley Bay, Dec. 5." The correspondent of the Daily News describes the camp life, and communicates interesting details on the subject of roads, piers, sup plies, and water. The Aboona, whose death is mentioned in the news from Magdala, was the head of the Abyssinian church—a man who did not personally bear a high character, but whose loss is to be regretted, as he was an enemy to Theodore, and has been latterly friendly and useful to us. If the new Aboona, who is conse crated by the head of the Coptic church at Alex andria, should rouse the fanaticism of Abyssinia against us, this death might prove of political im portance. At Magda's, nearly a hundred political prisoners had been carried off by a dreadful epi demic, but none of the Europeans had suffered. On the sth the advance upon Senafd was in course of execution by the 3rd Light Cavalry, the 10th Native Infantry, and Major Mallet's battery of mountain trains. It was said, on excellent authority, that Kussa, the leading chief of Tigrol, one of the chief provinces of Abyssinia, and that nearest the coast, was in the immediate neighbourhood of Senafd with 7,000 men. He had sent word that his intentions are friendly, but Dr. Krapf, who was with our advanced guard, and who has lived for many years in the country, advises no weight to be attached to such protestations until they were sup plemented by the material guarantee of an impor tant chief sent as hostage. No matter what ob stacles and difficulties the nature of the country or the policy of local chiefs may oppose to our advance, an immediate establishment upon the crest of the plateau, the correspondent of the Daily News says, had become necessary. As yet there has been only one death from natural causes ; but mortality among the camels and mules was very great. Much confusion was caused by the want of drivers and of responsible men to control the muleteers. Goods, including a complete telegraphic apparatus, with sappers to lay it, which would establish commu nication with the high land, had arrived in large quantities from England. The correspondent of the Times gives a formid able account of the task before the Bombay com raisssziat—the country about Annesley Bay not supplying any article for consumption or use except fuel. This gentleman had paid a visit to Maasowah, where he had seen several messengers from Magdala and Debra Tabor. The belief in the country was that the English intended to make them proselytes by the sword. Massowah itself, it seems, is exceptionally free from disease, and healthy even for Europeans. Among the per sons stopping there was a German, a Rev. Mr. Hausman, who bad been imprisoned with the Magdala captives, but was released on Theodore's discovering that Mr. Hausman had not, like Dr. Blanc and others of the captives, been writing or speaking against him. A letter had been received from Mr. Flad, dated Oct. 12, at which time Theodore was said to be on his way from Debra Tabor to Magdala. Mr. Fled's letter was written in a very desponding tone ; and as if the captives had begun to despair of English aid; but otherwise all was well with them. Theodore was taking them with him. He is said to have at last heard of the arrival of the advance brigade, and to be boasting, in the half crazy style which has for some years been habitual to him, that he will " soon send the English back without their heads." The correspondent sends a translation from the Amharic of a proclamation issued by Sir Robert Napier to the Abyssinians. It runs as follows: Hear! Tedros, King of Abyssinia, by binding Cameron, the Consul of England, and Rassam, the Envoy of England, with many other men, has violated the law of every country where the people abide by laws. Now, al: friendly measures tried to free them having proved aseleas, lam coming, commanded by the Queen, with an army to libe rate them. Whoever is the friend of those prisoners, and who will help to deliver them, shall be rewarded, but whoever ill-tre►te them shall receive severe punishment. Further, reflect in your heart, 0 people of Ethiopia, in the time of the coming of the army into your country, that the Queen of England has not a thought of anger against you, your country, your liberty and existence. All your persons and property, all your convents and churches in your oountry, shall be protected with much care. All who may bring provisions for sale will receive their price. The in habitants who remain quiet will not be troubled by any one. The Times correspondent was at the last date on his way up to the Abyssinian plateau, and on the Srd inst. was at Upper Soroo. This is de scribed as a pleasant place, over 2,000 feet above the level of the sea. The scenery of the ascent was not at all what the correspondent had been led to expect by travellers' account of Abyssinian passes : The acacia covered every mountain side with monotonous uniformity, no other shrub whatever being visible, until after some four miles or so we came upon occasional specimens of the salvadon, tamarisk, tamarind, and wild fig-tree ; and the mountain, themselves, though often displaying great beauty of outline, had little gran deur or majesty about them. But within three or four miles of Upper Boroo, at which I am now writing, and which is some 12 miles distant from Koo maylu, the character of the scenery suddenly and com pletely changed. The par n►rrowed until now and then it appeared about to be brought to an abrupt termination by huge masses of converging rock, and the mountains, in stead of receding, as they had hitherto done, in graceful slope, leant forward, seemingly overhanging their bases, their summits towering at a tremendous height imme diately above the pass. At every turn of the road, which was often hidden altogether from our view at a few paces distance, we found ourselves, as it were, close prisoners in a fresh chain of precipitous cliffs. Huge boulders, washed down by the torrent, constantly lay right across the path, and gave it, to my unpractised eye, the appearance of being utterly impassable to wheeled ordnance ; but I am told that the engineers consider there are no obstacles which cannot be overcome. THE DEBATE IN THE ITALIAN CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES. During the debate in the Italian Chamber of Deputies there was not a singe member who did not, in despite of M. Rouher's celebrated "never," affirm the right of Italy to Rome. General Menabrea, the prime minister of Italy, protested against the French minister's dictation by supporting an order of the day which preserved intact " the national programme proclaiming Rome the capital of Italy." General Menabrea further intimated that as France had violated the convention of Septem ber he would not pay to the pontifical government the Italian portion of its debt. General Menabrea was cheered when he made this declaration. He was also vehemently applauded when he said that " Rome was the crowning of the edifice." When Crispi said—" M. Rouher has had the cowardice to insult"—the President of the Chamber interposed by observing, " If' others have failed in their duty that is no reason why we should imitate them," which produced more applause. Signor Depretis, a member of two Italian cabinets said, " I feel that to the unheard of ' never' of M. Ronher we should give an immediate reply. But we can assert by an PRUSSIA AND ITALY. According to the Avenir National M. Von Use dom, the Prussian envoy in Italy, is to receive in a few days, credentials as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the Confederation of the North to the Court of Florence. The Italian Correspondence says " that the news has had the most favourable reception in Italy." (axonal ?meows.) FRANCE. PARIS, Die. 24. The Constitutionnel of this morning, in reply to a statement in the Weser Zeitung, recalls the speech of the Emperor at the opening of the session, in which he said that France frankly accepted the changes which had taken place at the other side of the Rhine. THE HUNGARIAN DIET. PE3TH, Dzc. 23, EVENING. The Upper House of the Diet has unanimously adopted the bill regulating the debt of the empire and the Customs Convention. The house further agreed to the Jews' Emancipation Bill, by 64 votes to 4. The election of the delegates will probably take place on Saturday. AMERICA. (lIT ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH.) NEW YORK, Dsc. 24. The severe storm which raged yesterday, prevent ing the departure of the outward-bound steamers, continues, but with less severity. The Borussia, from Hamburg, and the Caledonia, from Glasgow, got safely in and landed their pas sengers without accident. The storm caused a partial suspension of business. A telegram from Sandusky, Ohio, says that the water in the bay has risen five feet, causing much damage to the shipping and warehouses. NEW YORK, Dse. 23, 6 P.M. The North German Lloyd's steamship Hermann arrived out on Sunday. Closing Prioes 1334. Sterling exchange on London, 110. 5-20 United States Bonds, 1081; Illinois, 1294 ; Erie, 723. Cotton : Middling Upland, 14. _ . . PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 23. Petroleum, standard white, 24i0. (aania's ricsaaatt.) ARRIVAL OF THE WESER. SOUTHAMPTON. Deo. 24. The North German Lloyd's steamer Weser, from New York on the 12th inst., arri►ed here to-day with 80 passengers for this port, Havre, and Bremen, 34 sacks of mails, and 141,617 doh. for London and 1,500 doh. for Bremen. NEW YORK, Dix. 12, MORN 1141). A bill has been introduced into the Senate declaring null and void all laws and eats of the Confederate govern ment. Mr. Morrell made a long speech in the Senate in favour of the purge of the bill providing for the payment in gold, after the 4th of January, 1869, of all legal tender notes not bearing interest, and authorising the sale of all surplus gold remaining in the Treunry after January, 1868. In the House of Representatives Mr. Banks announced that the Secretary of State is preparing papers to submit to congress relative to the trial and imprisonment of natu ralised American citizens in Great Britain. - .. Mr. Washburn., of Wisconsin, made a speech in the house against the congressional appropriation for the pur chase of Walnisaia and St. Thomas. The Tennessee Senate has rejected a resolution request ing Tennessee to send a delegation to congress to sustain the confiscation policy of Mr. Thaddeus Stevens. It is reported th►t a majority of the National Republican Committee is in favour of the nomination of General Grant to the Presidency. Senator Wilson has addressed a OSUMI of the Virginia' Con qention, advising moderation in council. The report of the revolution in Durango (Mexico) is contradicted. NEW YORK, Dsc. 13. A telegram from Havana dated the 11th instant states that it is reported that President Benz bad offered the Bay of &mane to the United States for the loan of 1,000,000 dole. in gold. Small bands of revolutioniats still continued to flock into Hayti. Very heavy weather prevailed in the Gulf of Mexico. An arrival from Honduras reports that an earthquake had occurred there. It was also stated that severe shooks of earthquake have been felt in Venezuela and among the island' in that vicinity. We read in a letter from Rome :—" It is likely that political antipathies will render moat places of public resort in Rome unfrequentable this winter, judging by what took place the other day at the Dantesque Hall, where several members of the corps of Pontifical Zouaves took tickets for the concert. Their presence save rise to • demonstration of unpleasant feeling among she rest of the audience, and several persons made an injudicious dis play of their aversion to the uniform by leaving the hall. In such cases a trills may lead to a general row, and cones quently we must not expect very crowded attendances this season in places of public amusement, although we are promised Don Carlos at the Apollo, with Jaoometti, Stolz, and Sterhini; and the Argentin► often a varied bill of firs in the way of opera betra." EXPRESS FROM PARIS. (Idol[ ova OWN 0011128PONDINT.) PARIS, MONDAY EVZNINO. M. de Goltz, the Prussian ambassador, bad a long conference with the Marquis de Moustier this morning at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is thought that their conversation turned upon the serious situation crested by the defeat of General Menabrea by a majority of two in the Italian par liament. The gravity of the resolution of the Italian Chamber is of course immensely aggravated by the consideration that even the order of the day which Menabrea was willing to accept took as distinct an issue with France as any of the many wordings proposed by independent members .. 1 General Menabrea does not dare, and I believe does not wish, to propose a reversal of the resolution of 1861 that Italy claims Rome for her capital. And now a bare majority of the Chamber, though fully alive to the danger of a rupture with'! France, thinks a platonic reiteration of the propo sition, which France has fought and is again pre pared to fight to contest, not enough. Although M. Rouher, the supple organ of one or more, according to momentary convenience, of those four or five different lines of policy of which M. Emile 011ivier complained the other day, may give foreign ministers various attenuated versions of his famous "never," the prevailing im pression in the lobbies of the Corps Legis latif is that as soon as the army bill is voted there will be a dissolution, and that "never" will be the watchword of the new elections. The Pope probably is far from easy in his mind as to what the Emperor may do when he is once more assured of an overwhelming legislative majority for six years to come. But for the present " never "is the rallying cry against the democratic opposition. I see no prospect of even that provisional compro mise between Italy and Rome which has been called a media vivendi, and which General Mena brea talked of the other day as desirable. There are rumours of important naval and mili tary movements at Toulon. The iron-clad 'Medi terranean fleet is about to be augmented from six to ten frigates, and two frigates are to be added to the Atlantic squadron. M. de Budberg, who has actually left for St. Petersburg, had a long interview with M. de Bis marck as he passed through Berlin. M. Theodore Rousseau, who disputed with Corot the palm of the greatest landscape painter in France, and who obtained the gold medal in 1855, and the grand medal of honour in 1867, has just died at his villa on the borders of the forest of Fon tainebleau. He was only 56 years of age. His will requests that he may be buried in the forest he so much loved, and in whose picturesque sites his successful genius revelled. The Bourse was considerably affected by the Italian news. Rente fell 45c. for cash, and 40c. for account, closing at the lowest price of the day, GBfr. 65c. Italian fell 45c., and would have gone down much more were it not powerfully sup ported, with a view to financial operations. Credit Foncier fell sfr. ; but other securities were not much lower. ULTRANONTANISK AT NAPLES. The Conciliatory, a kind of Italian Univers, pub lished in Naples, contains the following remarks on the connexion between the wrath of God and certain physical phenomena at present existing in Naples:—" We have been witnessing for some tune certain atmospherical facts, which point out to ns catholic, what the wrath of God is. Observe: Vesuvius is throwing out fire, lava, ashes, and other substances ; and in the evening it presents a sublime but terrible spectacle) Wird& (fire). On Friday, towards noon, there was a thick hail-storm—grando (hail): in the evening there was snow—a circumstance very rare in Naples—nix (snow). The cold wee intense—glades (icy coldness), and then ter rible lightnings and thunder succeeded with such fre gurney as to inspire men with alarm —spiritus procellarunt (the storm howl). Is it not the language of the prophets that you are hearing—ignis, granite, nix, Aides, spiritist procellarum t These are the calamities coming upon us for our sins ; and Ecclesiastical; axis., 35, has said rondo, fames d mere mania km ad tindidass create suet—which in the vulgar tongue means fire, hail, hunger, and death have all been created for vengeance.' Don't you believe it? The time will come when you will. I warn you of it. Proverbs xiv. say, ' The fool l►ugh. at sin, but the hones of the wicksd shall be rent.' Do yon understand?—yes or no." FOREIGN MAIL& CALCUTTA AND CHINA MAILS.-MALTA, DEC. 23.—The Nyanza left at 6 ►m., and the Poonah leaves at noon to-day. The former may be expected at MazeeMes on the evening of the 25th bit., and the latter at South ampton on the let J►nuary. OUTWARD BOMBAY MAIL . —MALTA, DEC. 23. —The Bangalore, from Southampton 12th inst., arrived on the 21st at 9 a.m., and left at 4 p.m. for Alexandria. The Pera, from Marseilles 20th hut., arrived on the 22nd at 5 p.m., and left at 11 p.m. for Alexandria. BOMBAY (HEAVY) MAIL.--GIBRALTAB, Die. 23. —The Ceylon leaves at 9 a.m., all well ; she may be ex- pected at Southampton on the 28th iruit. QUEENSTOWN, DEC. 24.—The Cunard extra steam-ship Aleppo, from New York, arrived here at 8.43 a.m. to-day with 121 passengers. She landed despatches and 36 passengers, and proceeded for Liverpool at 9 a.m. ; all well. Among the company recently arrived at Rome are Lord and Lady Beaumont, Hon. Miles Stapleton, Mr. and Mrs. Brio Smith and family, Lady Norris and family, Lord and Lady Frederick Cavendish, Mrs. Hall and family, Sir C. Hartley, and Colonel and Mrs. G. Wilkinson. The new Austrian Ambassador, Count Crieslll, has just arrived at the Hotel di Roma. The Cork Examiner states that the remittances to Ireland from emigrants to their friends are beginning to assume something like the proportions they bore five or six years ago. During the American war the &benne' of many at the Beene of action, and the inadequate rate of exchange, caused the transmission of money to Ireland to sink to almost nothing, prepaid passage tickets forming the staple of the gifts from the other aide. Now, how ever, numerous money orders are passing through the different Irish banks from Irish• Americana to their rela tives in this country. The Rev. J. 0 Neal, Vicar-General in the Roman Catholic Church, says that among the catholic clergy of London there is only one bearing the name of Father O'Connor. He has for more than four years been confined to his room by palsy, and had he been in possession of his health and strength would have been among the first to protest against all sedition, practices on the part of catho lies, or any subjects of her Majesty. _ _ _ _ In consequence of the weekly communication with India, by the new contract with the Peninsular and Oriental Company, the Australian mail will leave London every four weeks, and not on the 20th of the month, aa at present. The first Australian mail under the new con tract will be sent from London on the 14th of March. Sydney, in New South Wales, will have 12 days to answer correspondence, and Melbourne, in Victoria, 18 days. The course of post to Australia, by way of Marseilles, will be 16 weeks. In the mouth of August next there will be two Australian mails made up in London. Tns Darr or INDIA.—The debt of India stood at 344 million pounds in 1840, and at Sh in 1858. The mutiny raised it to 98 mil li ons in 1880. t may now be taken at a hundred millions, or lees than two years' in come, a much smaller proportion than in any other country. The *huge for interest has ineresaed from 1,595,7781. in 1840 to 4,482,3851. in 1885—a quarter of a century. The interest, all round, is thu 44 par eent.—• moderate rate for the East, oonsiderg ithat there imperial guarantee exises.—Pricad of .lisid4s, - Nov. 14. THE VICTIM. DT AMID TIIIIITTBON, PORT LAIIII4II. (From Good Words of January.) L A plague upon the people fell, A famine after laid them low, Then thorpe and byre arose in fire, For on them brake the sudden foe So thick they died the people cried " The gods are moved against the land." The priest in horror about his altar To Thor and Odin lifted a hand. " Help us from famine And plague and strife ! What would you bays d us ? Human life? Were it our nearest, Were it our dearest, (Answer, 0 answer)) We give you his life." IL But still the foeman spoird and burn`d, And cattle died, and deer in wood, And bird in air, and fiabes tnrn'd And whiten'd all the rolling flood; And dead men lay all over the way. Or down in a furrow scathed with flame : And ever and aye the Priesthood moan'd Till at last it seemed that an answer came " The Bing is happy In child and wife ; Take you his nearest, Take you his dearest, Gies us a life." The Priest went out bil;B6th and hill; The King was hunting in the wild; They found the mother sitting still ; She cast her arms about the child. The child was only eight summers old, His beauty still with hie Tears increased, His face was ruddy, his hair was gold, He essem'd • vkfim due to the priest. The priest exulted, And cried with joy, Here is his nearest, Hare is his dearest, We take the boy." iv. The King returned from out the wild, He bore but little game in hand; The mother said " They have taken the child, To spill his blood and heal the land : The land is sick, the people diseased, And blight and famine on all the lea : The holy Gods, they must be appeased, Bo I pray you tell the truth to me. They have taken our son, They will have his life. Is he your nearest ? Is he your dearest ? (Answer, 0 answer) Or I, the wife ?" v. The King bent low, with hand on brow, He atay'd his arms upon his knee ; " 0 wife, what use to answer now? For now the Priest has judged for me." The King was shaken with holy fear ; " The Gods," he said, " would have chosen well ; Yet both are near, and both are dear, And which the dearest I cannot te l But the Priest was happy, His victim won. " We have his nearest, We have his dearest, His only eon !" vt. The rites prepared, the victim bared, The knife uprising toward the blow, To the altar-stone she sprang alone, " Me, me, not him, my darling, no !" He caught hexaway with a sudden my ; Suddenly from him brake the wife, And shrieking" I am his dearest, I I am his deafen !" rush'd on the knife. And the Priest was happy, " 0, Father Odin, We give you a life, Which was his nearest? Which was his dearest? The Gods have answered : We give them the wife !" CRYSTAL PALACE. The position of Ly this year, so new the middle of the week, has given the various caterers for the public amusement an excellent opportunity for holding public rehearsals of their entertainments, and by that means getting them into perfect order preparatory to the expected popular invasion of Boxing-day. The Crystal Palace bad its public rehearsal yesterday. and if we wife to augur anything ftom the approbation beetowed on it by the judicious audience assembled, we should say that Sydenham Boxing-day will, no matter how cloudy may be the weather outside, be within a "perfect blaze of triumph." ALHAMBRA PALACE. The Christmas entertainment at this great theatre of varieties commenced last night, and consist chiefly of a new comic ballet with the eccentric title of X. X. X.; or, Gorgibuster and the nappy Ashen, and a new grand spec- tacular ballet called The Golden Plumes. The comic ballet introduces several novel effects, including a giant twenty feet high who takes up three men in his teeth and hands, and three of the best pantomimists and comic dancers is the theatrical market—Messrs. 'Nathan, Warde, and F. Evans. The spectacular ballet introduces a scene of great splendour and mechanical ingenuity, invented, painted, and constructed by Mr. William Calloott. The stage is one mass of golden feathers, and a bunch of these ornaments at the back of the stage holds suspended about fifty girls. Both ballets are invented and produced by Mr. J. Milano, the permanent ballet master of the estab lishment. In addition to these new productions, the May Blossom ballet is played with certain seasonable alterations, and there are some novel pantomimic gyp:meatier; by Messrs. Almonte and the two Delavantis ; Signor Farini and Son introduce their remarkable new sensational per the " Mid-air Summersault," and there is the usual high-clues instrumental concert by M. orchestra of sixty, the solo cornet player now being Mr. Reynolds. The general entertainments and arrangements of the building are as complete as ever. There will be • morning performance on Boxing-day, and • few Saturday morning performances. AGRICULTURAL HALL.—The usual Christmas en tertainments at the Agricultural-hall commenced yester day, under the management of the Messrs. Sanger, who have provided a programme this season which can scarcely fail to be attractive to holiday visitors. Meters. Sanger claim, however, the indulgence of the public for a few nights, owing to the short time they have bad the building at their disposal, for the completion of their arrangements. We reserve for the present, therefore, our notice of the performance. Tae TURY.—Betting upon the Derby is quite a dead letter, and is likely to continue so for some time to come, and it is endeavoured by the metallic fraternity to substitute the Waterloo Cup for it, and to convert grey hounds into racehorses for the time being. Alfred Day, whose illness I made your readers acquainted with some months back, is given over by his medical attendants, and cannot survive many hours; so another great jockey will have gone to his long account. By the returns which have been published of the principal winners, it seems the Mar quis of Hastinp is at the head of the poll, with • credit of 30,451 f. The Duke of Beaufort is second, with 21,2781.; -- and the Duke of Newcastle third, with 16,610/.so each of theeenoblemen may be said to have ?aid their training bills and bad something in hand at the finish. We will now come to the commoners, of whom Mr. Chaplin is the bead, as his team have brought him in 14,0711., with " The Whip" at Newmarket. Sir Joseph Hawley has to receive in Burlington•street, 14,3145/. ; and Colonel Pear son's balance, when it was struck, came to 12,055/. ; and Mr. Pryor was returned 11,2251. These are the top weights, and, strange to say, the once formidable Lord Zetland is the feather, se his lordship, who at one time swept the Northern Circuit of all the great races, has this year only won a solitary 1001. Of the animals that have been running, Vauban has won the most money, fit. 13,4251. ,• Achievement comes next with 12,05. V. ; Lady Elisabeth is third on tb• poll, with 9,165/. •, and Hermit may be said to be beaten not more than half a head from her, as his credit is 9,1051. Your readers will now, there• fore, have at a glanax an idea of what " the cracks of the day, both human and equine, " have done during the ex piring season, which has beer more prolific of sport than any within my recollection.—" Argue of the Peet. SOUTH KENBINOTON MUSEUM.— Visitors during the week ending Dec. 21, 1087 :—On Monday, rural , and Saturday (free), from 10 s.ra. till 10 .m., 5,231 ; ea Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday ( admission 6d.), from lo m . till 4 p.m., 1,152 ; total, 6.3A3 ; average of ow , responding week in former years, 7,048 ; total from the opening of the museum. 7.107,26. PATENT-OFFICII MUSEUM, SOUTH KINGINGTON. — somber of visitors for the week ending Dec. 21, 2,51 Total number dace the opening of the Museum free duly (12th May, 1868) 1, 212,868. CRYSTAL PALLOX. 0111. SHILLING DAT.— MONDAT, Dm. 23.—Admiosiona on payment, 1,144 ; ditto by mama Vesta ; 2,235; total visitors, 3,379. I / ik e A