The Express. — London, England, 1868-02-13 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 15, 1868. „..------- T” QUEEN INSURANCE COMPANY. Capital . TWO II ILLION4 Sterling, Ofncee : Queen Insurances Buildings, Liverpool Queen M aumee Buildings, 00, Oraosehurch•etreet, London. BONUS TZAR. The *scarify offered to Queen policy-holders ts Paid-ap Capital, zwirrs: Ylm Sesame Toad. C 77,538; of Annuity a nd Accumalated rands. 1.80,587 ; Unpaid portion of Sabscribed thptal, £1,719.748. The rapid growth of the Cow pony's *whom Is remarkable. 1861. 1866. 1066. 71re Premiums • • £47,410 £101,060 040, 577 New Life 801100.5 completed in Sums awned .. .. KOZO !OLWA WHAT At last valuation Milt a Bonus efaa'cleelareA to Partf We Poilcy•holders averaging 46 per cent. of the Yrentin e = by the Mewed, and In some Instances rising as high se 74 Per cent. The next Bonne fall, to be declared le at Met DlA•Mber, and all New Proposals completed before that date will be entitled to a i i r y a r Benue. J. MONCRIF.FF WIISON, J , ISO& Actuar_______--------and Gen Vend onager _ of a noble race. The monuments of our ancestors are our guides as well as our glory. The principles of every real reform aro to be found graven in our o wn history and laws. To guard jealously the noble heritage of our fathers, to extol, cultivate, and enlarge it, this, too, is surely the vocation of the journalist, as of every true Englishman. We shall hope to dwell much among the complacencies of public life, to mingle with political advocacy many a genial theme, many a warm congratulation, many a hearty triumph, and in this hope we this day offer to the Public our courteous greeting. THE USE OF THE QUEEN'S SPEECH AT THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. --- - --------------- BEST AND CHEAPEST LIGHT OP TDB AWL ----- DISTZS LAMPS k_cArerow-sism, MAR ST. PAUL'S CATBBIAL - ---- T --- --- RELOAR'S CUTTING , OCOUT FIBRE MA warranted anideathed. List of prices tree lay post. Imae. 67. Ludgate-111M BRZAKYAST.-E PPS'S COCOA. .lEBIG COMPANY'S EXTRACT of MEAT, -LA the genulee article. None genuine without Baron Llebig's, the inventor's, signature on every Jar. Great Improvement and economy In cookery. 14s. per lb., Ti. 6d. per elb k per ts. per 2ny. , equivrient to ld. half a pint of best beef tea Sold retail by I'ORTNUSI and MASON, Piccadilly : wholesale by all wholesale houses: and at the °Moe. 43, Mark-lane. the er*lre %US* ADVERTISEMENTS for for the BXPRESS received after 12 o'clock cannot be inserted on the same day. SAYILLILK BT. Tll9 EVENING, VIE BELOKKN-IIF.ARTED CLUB.—A WIFE WELL WoN. Mesas. Mothern, 11nel:stone, Hoare, Kendl, Braid, treathersey, &c. ; and Miss Roberteon.—Alter v E ZITAN Lana FEV.-VillidlON OF 111 F. BaIOAND. PZINCISIMPS. Tpri Enionici, THE OVri/ROON. Mr. and Mrs. Dion Bond man, Mr. J. 8. elute. Mr. Vining, &Mira Rimini! —Alter which ARRA LI NA POGU F.. Mr. and Mn. D. Boueicault, Mr. Vining, Messrs. Murray, Neville, & Shore , Bartlett and Mn. Addis. Teri Evairo OLD SALT. Ilr. Dyer! end Was "MIT Home. .—After which THE CALIPH OF HAMAD Messrs. Thorne and Jann,, . A le mlatnes Ada Swanhorounli, Johuat.oue, Harland, Holt, dc.—And COAL AND COKE. TEM EMU: fa, UPSIDE DOWN.—DON QUIXOTE. Mrs. 8. Lane, it Miww* Ellwin and Booth ; Pannwahnbda therm Deane, bathLOU* Ne to nlnuit. and VktiirelU: Mahe. ntaphLOan a Mae YAW conclude with ILIE VEAIRIE FWER.nd HIGH WATLII AT LONDON HMOS Tim !At —Unruh's, M. sh. 50s. toAlonao•—liongai. ea. 11.---Attanwo4 Oh. *Os. - - ------- - LONDON, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13. TO OUR READERS. TIM Express appears to-day with new features and arrangements, which it is hoped will increase its usefulness and find favour with the public. From this day forward, the independent dis cussion of all matters of political and social con cern will be included in our plan, and provided for in special and original articles. Tho many readers who have expressed a wish that this news paper should speak its own language on public affairs, who thought that a journal which has enjoyed a large measure of support for one-and twenty years ought to be nut a mere echo, but a voice, will learn with satisfaction that we shall no' longer sit rem ore c/a 11.94, while the fascinating drama of contemporary history is unfolding its wealth of character and circumstance fur the instruction of all who have eyes to see. But our reduction in price further intimates that we desire and hope to address tens of thousands of new readers, and to theme some profession of our principles and objects is reasonably due. We' enlarge the scope and field of our labours at a I time when the gravest issues are presented to I the legislator and the statesman. The present momentary suspense of political action deceives no one accustomed to reflect. Never before were national inatitutiona and national repu tations put to so severe a test. Tradition I and sentiment daily lose more of their hold I on mankind, and in the bestowal of our confidence, admiration, and sympathy we seem to have adopted the trying rule of " pay " ment for results." One effect of the great constitutional change accomplished last year will no doubt be to increase this tendency, and we' must be prepared to see the redress of admitted I evils demanded with a sterner voice in the new l'arliament than in the old. We believe that that the best security against rash and dangerous innovation will be found in gradual and cautious but certain and uninterrupted progress in the path of practical improvement, and in that belief the .E.rpn ss will once for all take its place under the flag of the great Liberal Party to which England owes the reforms of the last five-and-thirty years. The great measure of last session removes oat of the way a question which for half a generation embarrassed and embittered political life, and pre vented the consideration of subjects which urgently call for remedial legislation. We can not profess to be satisfied with a state of the Poor Law under which, every week, a man or woman dies in London of starvation, while the private charity stimulated by such occurrences is pauper ising our people by hundreds. We are unable to accept as adequate to the purposes of a National System of Education arrangements, which leave whole populations to grow up in semi-barbarism. The crimes of a few Irishmen acting under a foreign influence, and the resentment they so justly provoke, cannot blind us to the injustice of maintaining in Ireland the church of the minority as a State establishment, while the ma jority of the people are burdened with the sup port of their clergy. Holding fast the great principles of Civil and Religious Liberty, we de sire to see every civil distinction founded by law on difference of conscientious opinion speedily obliterated. Protestants by education and un alterable conviction, we believe with the greatest divines of the Church of England that Religion is most honoured when the , duties and rights of the individual conscience are respected and exalted. On this ground we desire that the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge and all collegiate endowments should be open to all persons without religious tests. Accept ing the Reform Bill of last session as a satisfactory extension of the suffrage, we demand a Redistribution of Seats in I harmony with the actual state of our towns in respect of population, wealth, and intelligence. We shall advocate economy in all our public 0010111 1 / 2 to be secured, not by paring down the salaries of clerks already underpaid, but by a reorganisation of departments with a view to increased efficiency. We shall hope to be able to pursue these ob jects and contribute to their attainment without passion or rancour, for men of sincerity and convic tion know how to respect the sincere convictions of others. But honourable as is the occupation of the soldier, we trust we shall often find some occupation more agreeable than fighting. If there is much in Old England that needs reform, how infinitely much more is there to be proud of ! :We are ailed No t 4.) live lad not oi to be worthy Wrests of self-defence, on the other by the pomilility, to say the least, of the sudden and unknown disappearance of the missing person being attributable to sudden death by violence. No said ent in London, no v isitor to London, can pre tend to be indifferent to the possibility of such • grime being committed in the heart of this capital, and remaining undiscovered. There is no reason why the natural uneasiness of society, as it is expressed by public organs of infor mation, should intrude upon the sacred privacy of family trouble, or inflict needless and wanton pain by the ingenuity of impertinent suggestions or inquiries. Any mystery that might be supposed by morbid imaginations to underlie the fact of his disappearance, other than that of the mystery of an undiscovered murder, would be matter of investigation by the police, if not at the instance or suggestion of the family, at all events only with their permis sion. There are mysteries in the life and con duct of the most exemplary human beings, to which the clue is only given by such researches as death warrants and demands. There are mysteries in human life and conduct which no executor or administrator will ever pierce, no secret desk or drawer, no record, no token will betray to any human eye. To say this is perhaps to say nothing applicable to the present case. If a man who has disappeared from his home, his family, his friends, his duties, without warning, without any assignable motive, without explanation, is to be treated as, to all intents and purposes, a dead man, it belongs to the discretion of his nearest relatives to extend or to restrict the investigations of the police according to their own suspicions, or impressions, or means and opportu nities of judgment. The one clear duty of the police, acting in a public capacity as guardians of the public safety, is to treat such a disappearance as a sudden and violent death at the hands of some person or persons unknown. Our faith in the in telligence or the efficiency of the police, beyond the merest ordinary routine of duty, is, we con fess, not strengthened by all that we know of the constitution, the selection, the pay, the habits of the force, and by all that we have observed of their doings and goings by day or by night. Among them, no doubt, as among all such bodies of men, there may be found all varieties and degrees of conscientious ness and stupidity, and perhaps of sagacity. Physically they are almost, without exception, a splendid force ; morally they are, we dare say, above the average of their fellows. For rough work and for stolid regularity of movement in • fixed groove, they are for the most part excellently chosen. Amidst the temptations and trials to which their honesty, morality, temper, and self respect are incessantly exposed, they have need of more than ordinary force of character ; and this is more than can be looked for in the class and condition from which they are taken. Nor is their present semi-military discipline and drill calculated to disclose any latent force of character or acuteness of intelligence. A selected order of men, better educated, and therefore, better paid, and accustomed to personal responsibility and initiative, would do more for the preservation of the public safety in this vast capital than hundreds of those superior detectives in plain clothes whose charac ter is all that can be desired, whose courage is beyond praise, but whose capacity seldom rises above the sharpest animal instinct. Certainly it would be highly creditable to the civilisation of this monstrous capital if it could dispense with the services of an order of men more easily found and trained in States where political and personal liberty are alike wanting, where power is suspi cious of society, andorder is repression. But wehave not yet arrived at that golden age when such a city as London can dispense with a detec ti ve police, and we know that neither families nor private persons shrink from employing the services of a very doubtful profession of "private inquirers," who make it their business to lend to private malice or scandal the shrewdness or unscrupulousness which might be better employed for the public safety. The only question, therefore, is how to obtain the ' aid of keen brains in the pursuit, as well as of stout arms in the arrest of crime in this horrible human jungle. Murder in so vast a city may be easy enough : but the attempt to make away with the dead body, or to conceal it, has again and again been the first step towards discovery. Nor can murder that pretends to elude de tection be committed by one man's hands. It is too probable that the reward of £5OO offered for information leading to the discovery of the miss ing man, or of the means by which he met his death, might fail in its object unless a free pardon were also promised to accomplices not actually engaged in the perpetration of the crime. " &row and hail : pains in the cheek and jaw , " much atmospheric disturbance "—such is a weather prophet's wonted forecast for February. We should be unwilling to take and transfer it ab solutely to public life and present as a prophecy of the coming political weather. To assert that • February will be stormy is according to expe- rience ; while tranquillity, on the contrary, usually reigns during the opening of a session. Yet for such an augury there is some reason. The Parliament of 1868 begins without a " QUEEN'S Speech ;" and the absence of the Speech will, we believe, provoke speedy distur bance in the course of public business. Theoretically, the cause of her summons which the QUEEN declared to Parliament in last November, applies to the session of this year. In reality it does not. The scheme of public business planned by Government in November dues not fulfil the' requirements of the present time. No one could dance this afternoon to a waltz tune heard last night. Although the SOVEREIGN three months ago prescribed for Parliament one course, events may tend—perhaps they do tend—to prescribe another. The use of a " royal speech " will thus, probably, receive illustration by the coming weeks ; for a use does belong even to those vague sentences that are put into the SOVEREIGN'S mouth. They case the labour of parliament by chalking out the route Legislation may adopt. Those formal paragraphs proclaim what Government will attempt. What ought to be attempted by Government is established by the debate that follows. Thus restless anticipations are allayed, disappointment is prevented, and by the royal speech, and by the discussion it provokes, the main features of the session receive a clear definition. " Winter" sessions deprive Parliament of this advantage. The working session practically begins without such a declaration of the cause of summonsaswillserveas a parliamentary programme. For not only may the government scheme of work formed in November prove inoperative in February, but discussion on proposals that must lie dormant during winter is idle, almost ha possible. Now, though the " Speech" is often said to tell nothing to anybody, yet the debate on the Speech must tell the Ministry a good deal. That debate must exhibit the more conspicuous currents of public thought ; it may also reveal those slight fluctuations in that current which are the fore runners of a counter change of tide below. That the ablest tacticians need such a clue to popular will, was proved by the events of February ten years ago. In 1857, as in 1867, occurred a winter session. Parliament reassem bled for the year's work, as it dues to-day, on February 4, 1858. That evening Lord PAL mcarrox announced the coming " Conspiracy to " Murder Bill," and he was cheered. Four days later be carried the Bill over its first reading ; the cheers were louder. Then came the Bill's second read ing, and Lord PALMERSTON was greeted with cheers still louder; but they were cheers at his defeat. Where he was strongest, there he proved weakest. Never did statesman, certainly never did Lord PALMF.RSTON, meet a more signal overthrow. The band that statesman so lightly, yet so sentiently laid on England's pulse, had quite misreckoned the boat of English emotion. Had he been able to guess at the fate of the "Conspiracy Bill," by vague mention of such an idea from the Throne ; had that proposal thus undergone the customaryamotmt of debate, he might have escaped his fall. But the ORSINI attempt was in January, long after the opening of the Session 1858 ; Lord PaLexu- STON had no opportunity of foreshadowing his pro posal to Parliament and the nation. The spider like instinct of the Minister was, for once, at fault ; he lacked that test of the impulses that thrilled over the fibres of his net. And he was blown out of office by • single night's debate. European society has not been shaken during the last few weeks, as it was shaken by ORSINI in January, 1858. The Ministerial catastrophe that then ensued will hardly again recur. Not less, however, do Ministers need a general discus sion of their scheme of action to guide them safely through the session, or at least to save the course of public business from untoward interruption. A movement based on the present requirements of the Empire may arise, for which the government has prepared no place in the session's work. Government is even prepared to resist the move ment, should it arise. Ireland is the pivot of this movement. Strong desires may spring up that an effort should at once be made to tranquillise that country. A leader of English thought, powerful out of Parliament, has a professed a strong desire that way ; and the temper of the country is favourable, but it tends to disturb the course of this session, for the scheme of parliamentary business, drawn up in November, excludes all remedial legislation for Ireland ; and there is to-night no QuEsN's Speech to afford an opportunity for the exhibition of feeling on the subject. So if this movement gains strength, interrup tions to the Government plan for the year's work may soon occur. The wish to drag in Ireland; to stop public business if Ireland be not heard— will more and more assert itself, and may assert itself by interruption, by waste of time, by much irritation ; and this interruption and irritation will be aggravated by the want of the Address from the Throne, because Parliament will have had no means to modify the leading features of the Session. This, at least, is certain. If " the instant time be the fittest time " to attempt aught for Ireland, and if this chance be thrown away because the Liberal party fear to risk collision with Government, because they prefer to shirk all the responsibility of reform, not only will this lost opportunity be a lamentable evil, but it will also bring a curse upon the political life of England. THE POST-OFFICE REVENUE AND VALENTINE'S-DAY, compliment to his mistress cost him ten "than: " That's the highest we have in stock at present, " sir," he will probably be told, " but we maks " them up to any price, and can show you " patterns, and have one ready by poet nine this " afternoon." The highest Valentin warehouse in London reminds one a little just now of the best bon-bon shops in Paris prior to Le jaw de r Att. At the latter you may buy boxes of sweetmeats at hundreds of pounds each. Dolls filled with sugar plums stand in thewindows ladenwithrealdiamonds and costing thousands of francs. The great desi deratum seems to be to make the shell carrying a few sugar-plums prodigally expensive. Some thing like this appears in the silent revolution which has taken place in English Valentines. But with a delicate compliment to the practical genius of the nation, the adjuncts which make up the oast of the sentimental gift here, are all useful in a greater or less degree. There is no bespangling of dolls with jewels out of mere waste. The gift conveyed throh ug the medium of the Valentine is a thing apart from the flowers and allegories surrounding ' it, and is intended to be used when they are faded and forgotten. The customer anxious to be merely wasteful cannot spend more than a couple of guineas on his fancy, and for this will obtain a fairly executed little painting on white silk or satin, or a stuffed humming-bird or two with love notes in their mouths, or a basket of artificial flowers, or what is called a " rich Watteau paint ing." One of the prettiest of this class costa but one guinea, and consists of a real humming bird on full wing towards the opening of the letter, flying through a bower of artificial roses with his message of love. From this class you step at once into extravagance which is literally unlimited. A ring, the value of course dependent upon the donor's generosity and length of purse, nestles among flowers speaking in their own language the sender's sentiments. Jewelled smelling bottles, fans pearl-handled, bejewelled, and with expensively painted sides, glove-sachets embroidered and ornamented, brooches, bracelets, studs, pins, and ear-rings are all cunningly intro duced beneath a full blown heart or a true lover's knot, so as to give a distinctly valuable meaning to an expression of good-will. The musical Valentines are among the greatest triumphs of ingenuity, and are comparatively cheap, ranging from one guinea to five. There are boxes which are wound up before posting, and begin to play directly their lid is lifted. " Come " where thy love lies dreaming" ; or " Sweet " Spirit, hear my prayer," will greet many a maiden or—leap-year being considered—many a swain, to-morrow morning, on opening the bulky packet the postman has brought in. The State functionary, if of a philosophic turn, might easily moralise on the strange conjunction of depressed commerce and increased letter registration. But though dividends fall, trade be stagnant, and speculation paralysed by fright, love and folly are perennially fresh and bold, and continue to make the world go round. MR. GATUORNE HARDY is seldom seen to such advantage as when conciliating the vestry-class. His blond platitudes and even flow of words keep steadily down to a parochial level, and his speeches are never marred by originality or daring. Yester day, in replying to an angry deputation of London vestrymen who were severally "satisfied with the " present law ;' were "strongly opposed increas " ing rates and to Mr. Mrs.'s proposals for " Municipal Reform ;" and were also of opi nion that the " present acts were ample," the Home SECRETARY became positively unc tuous in his admissions. " The deputation had " admitted by ' cheers '—which was an English " man's mode of expressing himself"—that "some " slight amendments were required in the govern " ment of the metropolis," and therefore he would urge upon his colleagues the non-adoption of Mr. MILL'S proposals. "Local institutions," Mr. HARDY declared, " best consulted their own " interests when they carried out that which was " committed to them ;" and with this profound con clusion, the deputation departed, much gratified at the favourable reception accorded them. All this would be amusing enough if it ended here. How far a few parochial authorities are gratified and flattered by a Secretary of State is of no great consequence to Londoners generally. But unhappily the comfort and well-being of the metropolis are at stake. Our streets, our rates, our drainage, our health, and the condition of our poor rest upon the fiat of such gentlemen as Mr. HARDY bandied compliments with yesterday. Mr. MILL's pro posals are probably capable of improvement, but " decided hostility" to them implies a serene satisfaction with things as they are, and a deter mined opposition to municipal reform. London, therefore, if our Ho3lE SILCRETARY'S opinions are to prevail, is to remain tied and bound in the hands of its present masters. We all know how " legislation to force vestries to perform their " duty" ends ; and the interview of yesterday will give keen satisfaction to the mighty tribe of jobbing contractors and parochial office-seekers to whom the present system is naturally dear. IT was estimated last year that a clear revenue of 11,421/. went into the coffers of the Past-office for the carriage of Valentines alone. Three hundred thousand more of these sentimental superstitions were posted in 1867 than 1866 from London to town and country alone, and to-day and to-morrow are expected to show a still larger increase over last year both in numbers and receipts. Five years ago a registered Valentine would have been an absurdity, save as a hoax. It promises now to become as common to register Valentines as money-letters, and with good reason. Formerly, an elaborate white satin pancake, with a lace frill, and a centrepiece of hearts and darts, bordering some inanimate pink and white effigies at a pariah church, was the highest effort of art to be bought for money, as appropriate to the 14th February. The enterprising foreigner who has made the British public familiar with sweet scents in a variety of strange places found a great field open to him, and promptly came, and saw, and conquered. Twenty pounds was in 1863 con sidered a fair week's receipt for Valentines at a first-rate West-end shop. Five hundred pounds taken over the counter is now held to be a fair but not extraordinary business in the seven days Ir we are rightly informed, the forthcoming Opera Season will see some important changes in our operatic managements. Her Majesty's Theatre will not be rebuilt. Mr. MArtzsoN will forfeit his deposit at Drury-lane Theatre, and, in place of competing with Covent-garden at Mr. CEATERSTON'S house, will accept the management of Covent-garden under a joint-stock company (limited), Mr. Ova having consented to retire. Mr. At:recall:us ILissis, who is now in Russia, at the Imperial Theatre, acting as stage manager, will probably remain there, and London will have " only one grand Opera-house, viz., Covent-garden " Theatre." This is the latest rumour in well informed theatrical circles, and we give it for what it is worth. Drury-lane will console itself with a new drama by Mr. ANDREW HALLIDAY, which has been some time in preparation. IN the French Corps Legialatif, a day or two ago, during a debate on the Press Bill, M. PiLLITAN having observed, that " in politics the " prison does not dishonour, but often iminor " tables the victim," one of the " seven wise men,' M. Guarani Di CAARADNAC, interrupted him. We quote from the Monitaw : M. Gamma Di Ossisaisso—Thst is an error. A die. pace can never beams en honour, and it is always an inominy to attack the interests Oi the flake sad public order. (Noire.) ht Pirsarts—The obeerredon of M. Gautier 4. Oarecnao roaches much higher than myself, for there ore forma political prisoners who now reign. (Intorreption.) The Pasuniurr—l admit the idea that the prison dots not always diagram, hat I do net allow that a «adman. tics pronounced by *Nat tea be an hamar. (Hoar, beer. ) Ilisarax—Tbea I.• obliged to refer you to his tory. The preceding and including to-morrow. Mr. SAMVIL SLICK used to ask permission to leave one of his clocks in charge of a farmer's wife, and having once created a want left the rest to " soft sawder" and " human natur." Mr. Bractsiene Disasxm boasts of educating his party until they swallow eagerly whatever he chooses to provide. The great Valentine purveyors combine both principles. They have spent five years in creating a new and expensive want, and in educating their patrons up to purchasing point. Their teaching has been patient, unremitting and progressive. Year by year, valentines have increased in coat line's and taste. One of the first novelties con tained real flowers artificially scented, and grouped to convey tender nothings to the receiver. Then came one by one trifling presents, all symbolical of the day, and all forming part of the Valentine. These presents have grown more and more expen sive, until the ardent but incautious love r asking gel ;he bout Taisintim ii the shop, will find his far seyseV, I oust resell you to the question. (Heir, bear.) Perhaps M. 011118AONAO will See that he would do better to observe on this delicate subject the silence IQ With noomalsoded by Prmaosas. OPINIONS OF OUR CONTEM PORARIES.-(THIS DAY.) The Them reviews the " Parliententar: Notices " mow ' standing on the order-book for the next four weeks. with the intention of showing that the old legislature hoe • good deal d work to dispose of before it dies. In • mama i article oar contemporary treats at length of the proposed legislation on election petitions and the prevention of bribery, expressing • want of confidence in the methods hitherto proposed. Increase of punishment defeats itself ; and the bake is a specific recommended neither by reason nor by experience. If, how ever, the principle of the Parliamentary Elec tio•e Bill, which is to withdraw them from the ocusidastion of committees, and remit them to • common law judge, be adopted, a great advance will be made. If it be true, es reported, that the judges depre cate the new functions proposed for them, their hesitation to accept them may not unreasonably be imputed to a fear that their investigations may be too thorough far the public digestion. In any case, the substitution of a local examination carried on 'molding to judicial precedent, Eike eaurt. OSBORNE, FEB. 10 on lepl principles, and under the responsibility of a eingln person trained in legal practice, would of itself be a change worthy of soosptanoe. - The Queen drove out yesterday afternoonact 7:m. ponied by Primer Louise, and attended by the Duchess of Aiholo. Count Bernstorff, Lord Stanley, and Baron ?darn, at . rived at Osborne on a visit to the Queen. Lord Stanley had an matinee of her Majesty, mad ore , minted Count Bernrtorff, an ambassador from the North German Confederation. Colonel Mande ham left Osborne. The Queen went out this morning, accompanied by Princess Beataioe. Count Bernetorff and Lord Stanley left Osborne. The Princess of Wales drove out yesterday, attended by the Countess of Norton. _ _ The Countess of Morton ha succeeded the Iron. gi n. W. Grey as Lady-in-Waiting to the Princess of Wales, Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonel• office from the Governors of the Straits Settlements, Vie ea* South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, 'West Australia, and Malta. Despatches were sent to the Co. Ivernor-General of Canada and to the Governor ( go d) i Bahama. The Daily News remarks that the character of the corn ing session is determined by the circumstances amid which parliament meets. As the great principleSof parliamentary reform were fought for and obtained during the seaaion of 1867, it is probable that the subsidiary party questions in relation to the same subject will, by common consent, be held over until the meeting of the reformed parliament• But there will be plenty of work for the present or future parliaments to do, in settling the relative claims of England, Scotland, and Inland, on the basis of the new constituencies, and in dealing with a variety of • " • ' Deputations from the following parishes and districts had en interview with the Right Hon. Gathorne Rudy, at the Home-office, yesterday, to state objections to the bills lately introduced into parliament by Mr. Mill, Kr., for the government of the metropolis by municipal corp. o . rations :—St. Marylebone, St. Pancras, St. George, R AW ,. ver-square, St. Martin•in•the•Fields, Westminster, Km. sington, St. George the Martyr, Southwark, St. Mary Newington, Greenwich, Lewisham, and Wandsworth. other questions, social, political, and commercial, which await settlement. The leader of the Opposition will, probe bly, find an occasion to define for himself and his coadjutors the policy which they are prepared to advocate on the great questions of the future ; but the business of the present session will be to sweep away the remnants of old and virtually settled controversies ; and on the ground thus cleared to define the position and attitude of the contending forces of progress and conservatism in regard to the problems of the future. The Telegraph says the liberal party must compel th e Government to give the most explicit statement of their views and plans, sad the country will also expect the responsible statesmen on the liberal side to put out a programme, in the preparation of which they will not forget that the next Parliament will furnish them with stronger machinery for the execution of liberal measures than any English statesmen have hitherto possessed. The Star expects to see the tones abandon the Irish church rather than consent to en honest redistribution of seats or accept the ballot. They will throw all the pro testant clergy of Ireland one by one to the wolves, rather than yield their cherished power over small boroughs. The times, however, are not propitious for the saving of either. Field-Marshal his Royal Highness the Du Cambridge yesterday afternoon held a levee at t. Horse Guards. It was very numerously attended, ro,ul) 2100 officers being in attendance. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has fixed Tile , - [ day, the 25th inst., for receiving deputations from the ()Pantry associations in connectioc with the National Coe sureties and Constitutional Union, together with clan council of the union. The Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, ac companied by the Misses Maxwell, have arrived at en their way to Rome. His Excellency the Spanish Minister and Countess de Vietahennosa entertained at dinner Last evening, at the Spanish Legation in Mansfield.strcet -The Bight Hon. Lord Stanley, the Right lion. 'jrr dohn and lady Pakington, his Excellency the United States Minister and Mrs. and Miss Adams, his E.cellency the Danish Minister (General Billow), his E•collency the Belgian Minister and Baroness Da Jardin, his Excellency the Swedish Minister and Baroness Hoch.child, and M. Urrutia (Secretary of the Legation). The Marquis of Waterford has been suffering from very serious illness, but is now pronoweed out of danger. Mr. Leeman, M.P., last night addressed his c. [n stituents in the Festival Concert-room, York. At t[,o conclusion of the hon. gentleman's speech, a resolution passed expressing approval of his past conduct, and or. abated confidence in him for the future. The annual meeting of the Leeds Chamber [ , l Commerce was held yesterday, and, in accordance with the custom which has been observed for many years for the borough members to be present on these occasions, Mr. Baines, M.P.. attended and addressed the meeting on various topics of commercial importance. His colleag.o, Mr. Beecroft, was unavoidably absent. The Hampshire papers record the death of Mr. John Coupland, at the age of 70. He was until recently the proprietor of the Hampaitire Adm.( ism, the chief conservative journal in the south of England, and winch he established about 50 years since. Mr. Coupland was originally a London printer. There is now a prisoner in Taunton Gaol who has just had a legacy left him of 16,0001. The Vienna journals announce the marriav of the Archduke Henry with Mdlle. Hoffmann, an actress. The ceremony took place on the 4th at Botzen, and imme diately afterwards the newly-wedded pair left for Inn. spruck and Italy. The bride is 26 years of age and tLa Archduke is. [ The Military Tribunal of Florence has just tried Major the Marquis Federigo Csrandini on a charge of [ embezzling 1,1531 r. from a sum confided to him by the [ Ministry of War foe purchasing books for the garrison [ library of Brescia, of which he was the director. Tian &sensed was condemned to six months' imprisoomeut and degradation from his grade and honours. The Frenuknblaft of Vienna states that the government had renounced the hope of arriving et a friendly arrangement with the Holy See relative to the concordat. In consequence, the Minister of Public Worship, 51..10 Hamer, will shortly present to the chamber a bill declaring ' purely and simply that "the treaty concluded in Is. - [:[ by the Imperial government with the Holy See, and known under the name of the Concordat, is abrogated, as being nu longer compatible with the existing situation." A meeting of the Neutrality Laws Commis sionen was held yesterday, at 2, Victoria-street, W.-t• Enlister. Present : Right Hon. Sir William Erle, George W. W. Bramwell, Sir Travers Tikes, Q.C., Mr. W. Vernon Harcourt, Q.C. Mr. Thomas Baring, M.P., and Mr. W. E. Forster, M.P. Mr. C. S. A. Abbott, tubed to the oompuision, and Mr. F. P. Owilow, the woretary, were also present. A speculator in Dublin, whose engaLtemenis range over Christy Minstrel', panoramas, and other amusing entertainments, has, it is derstood, entared into a treaty with G. F. Train for two lectures. Train, says rumour, is to receive 1001. ter each performanee. Monday evening he delivered his third lecture in Tough]. Mr. Marcus Costello, one of the most prominent members of the old Catholic Association, and a col'atholless'oilo ll of O'Connell in the agitation which followed ROLAWSIpOIiOn,_ died on Sunday last, at hi. lodging", in Upper Sackvilleetreet, Dublin. He held for a long time the o ffi ce of attorney-general at Gibraltar, ts which be was appointed during the viceroyalty of the Earl of ilidgrave , when Lord Morpetb, a fterwards Lord Carlisle, toss chief se cretary for Ireland. REPEFAIIIRATIOW OF Hisuirou.--The Solicitor- General, after canvassing throughout Monday, returned Tuesday to London. In a short address Mr. Brvtt e x. plains that the onerous duties of his office mture ins presence in London. As soon as possible he will returt. sad personally call on the electors. Tee liberal party hoe toy not been inactive, and early on Monday a meeting held to consider the position of the party. It was cene! rally considered that the register showed a decided liberd majority, yet for reasons superior to party ones it was de: aided to seek an interview with Mr. Brett to sage's a means of avoiding a contest. The meeting who I goesdtedi Mr. T. H. Edwards , con ve y ancer, the officer of mayor last year ; of Tniprison, another prominent member of M . liberal party, to propose to Mr. Brett that in can ,. aideration of his now being returned unopporl, surgeon, also an ex-mayor ; and Mr. R. G. Bova, another election he should retire in favour of the liberal candidate. Mr. Brett received the gentlemen most court , ' ously, but declined to accede to the suggeetion. dr",, l !: meeting was held in the evening, and the party that no honourable arrangement was possible, it. 7" decided to (woes Mr. Brett. Falling back on the pledir_ given by Mi. IL Rogers in Juirlast, that gentletnal wit again invited to become a andidate. A manifesto. WV by a large number of the town electors,. has h ere P i ' Ilia:tad., in which the liberal electors ere invited tog f: .1 ! bser and unanimous supportto Mr. Young. It . er Tag 81.1/LE MvernitY. —The Times believes it is , we rat emardinfil7 himself. Our sympathies are dill with him, and wee,' justified in stating that the Pollee are now in posses ° only for the dissolution of the present parliament to g l ,l l . hdorstah loll which promises to =POI' poet of alas to the • public expression of our perfect confidence bin; mystery of Mr. Spoke's abeam% " hough , of course," it !again returning him as our member." Both PO" " this promise may be disappointed." Mr. J. Dor- , no w working with deterniination , and each appreciate , sd t's power.— Western Moretwg News. ~• *non, owner of the house in Quenequare, writes :—l e ir en I IiCILASI Or Till IRISH RAILWAYS BY UOlO. - "Me. Spice knew that his sinter was in Oksicestershire, DIZST.—On Monday, a meeting of merchants, traders, ra sal art in London. He had no book or pared to re- other inhabitants of the city of Armagh w es held in the delve or deliver at my house. The howler is not left in' Court-house, Armagh, Mr. William Bold ... i! eoe . angle of only cas servant. The housekeeper, who bee oink, Pursuant to • horaernhal J , - e sigu te eei rai m q w 7ped WWI in my employ for many years, was not out o t t h e to take into consideration • Irish reierslt b/ . ,to government for the purchase of the Wes s Mae* on the Bth Ot JaWlary, nor was she ARMS t h e comm itt ee iippo i n ud b y t h e Irish peers and '? gr lar d ' the=7 Part of the day. The Pro in the iron monies to confer with government on that , [dims halm eat et the gardsn into the park is kept can. , Mr . Gault made a lengthened statement in tr e e:W e i dm* leaked dazing my Assume from town, sad elm the uciereetingetthlgl::erearitTisedb7g:regemnetTetmenuwou agree illimiglee a " , 411 that gide et the hem. ' The " bee ' with Mr. Gladstone that nothing would confer gtre I smisesimm perfectly entiltfiod that aohhing °MU T " advents', on the country than the purchase rotes Mem is the Iran ex garden. I have been several times ' athe railways, the amalgamation in one syst.,_,„e. la Imam al ass She 86 al January, always arriving eetabliehment of a low and uniform tarti! Ter cece l 7/ - . that Mr' Young mot on,it parcel', are. thmailsout the entire ltd 66 my hems Wilma previous notice, and everything g=r o i nson, zsa. d unk -- - a - /m u m % mo ved the bee bees order bnod as it should be." resolution, viz. —" That we believe the interests of O . The sale of dm valuable collection of ancient country would ( greatly °tad by the railway art:: sad mean Moo mac the progerly el Priam Paul Demi. , land being _p under government 001,1: l and supervision ." wean Bond seconded tbe BA has rodeos imeamonst *residing 310,000 fr. which pseud unanimously. Captain Crsig, J.P., Thaddeus Ste nenslum introduced a bill into cons - the next remind= :—" Resolved, That we hereby man piss asisting esis essellesfregs, whit* and black, by all the government to bosoms ywhams of the nulws a ri placed under one m nabs WSW 21 year. again ave United States, at all eleo thmene t and g a t s low that al an e r uniform rate of c r" , VMS Oi hidden, N fisodPiesiden[o, and member, of Con- ii mehll's," This mm h it i ee , an d c am in flalh at the object, Wen adopted. THE CASE OF HE. SPEER. THE question—What has become of Mr. SPEKE t is one that belongs to public curiosity, only so far as it concerns the public safety and becomes the subject of investigation by the public authorities and the police. The limits of public curiosity and of public investigation are very dearly traced in such a case. They are bounded on the one hand by the common inn r ; I q ARCHDEACON DENISON'S EDUCATION MEETING. The Times regards the movement commenced by Arch deacon Denison, as an attempt to resuscitate put illusions in order get a subsidy in the way which will give him the least trouble, and leave him free from all interference, The proposal to surrender the education of the people to the church and the sects, the legislature being their very humble servant, is one of the most wonderful ever seriously made. Under his plan we should place it abeo lately at the mercy of the clergyman or the managers of a dissenting school whether children shall be admitted. The Conscience Clause is simply a moderate provision for avoiding Shim hardship, and for insuring elementary teaching to all children of whatever denomination. It is opposition to that alone which is at the bottom of yester day's meeting. But the country has in principle passed beyond that question years ago. The Standard allows that yesterday's meeting was not at. tended by none who are recognised as among the respon sible and influential representatives of their party ; still there is much that deserves attentive consideration in their plans. The scheme of the Mancheaterparty is simpler, more in accordance with the popular notions of the age, and probably cheaper than the other ; while, on its side, the plan of Archdeacon Denison and his friends is more con sistent with the strong religious feeling of the English people, and with the maintenance in perpetuity of the chief advantages of the existing system. But the weak point of the archdeacon's case is that it provides nothing for those districts where deno minational zeal has failed to provide machinery, or to meet the case of those children of dissenters who, in a parish where only a Church school is, on the denominational system, practicable or desirable, refuse the teaching of the Church. The scheme of the secular party has at least the merit of being possible, and their opponents, if they wish Ifor success should lose no time in supplying a plan by which these difficulties may be overcome. LIBERAL 80 4SIA. The Daily News gives an interesting account of a state ment on behalf of " Liberal Russia," which has been made by the celebrated Russian exile M. Herren, in his journal the Bell. Only the most igno- rant prejudioe, rye the Daily Aries, can doubt the c►pa bilities of the Russian people or the good intentions of their present ruler. The government of Alexander 11. has already abolished serfage, reorganised the magistracy and judicature throughout the Empire, favoured the principles of administrative decentralisation and provincial self government, permitted some sort of discussion in the pries, and fostered the growth of a superior instruction in the university. Many of theme ameliorations have per haps been undertaken in a tentative and hesitating spirit, but they unquestionably mark an epoch of propose. Com pared with the Buasia of twenty years ago, the empire of Alexander 11. may almost be called a " Liberal Russia." But the Russia of 1868 is very far from being the Russia of M. Herzen's aspirations, or his Bell could not be the sox clowienlis in desert°. The Daily News is ready to believe with him in the expanding future of a people which, having secured the land to live by, may perhaps in time to come redress the balance of those abortive democracies of Waiters Europe with which the French Revolution has disturbed and disappointed the hopes of mankind. THE FENIAN TRIALS IN DUBLIN. DUBLIN, WEDNEsDAT NIGHT. Patrick Lennon was put on his trial to-day for shooting at Sergeant Kelly. The sergeant posi tively identified him as the person who fired the shot, as did also two women. In a declaration made by Kelly when in the hospital he stated that he would not know the man again, and his descrip tion of him differed in several particulars from the account he now gives. Mr. Purnell addressed the jury for the prisoner, and some witnesses were examined before the court adjourned. r IFNI.. S 1 und gati tell Fra chi in a star pen not