The Express. — London, England, 1867-02-14 00:00:00

BR" WN and I'OLSON'S CORN FLOUR for CHILDRILVS DIET. To ~ ' .tats extra profit by the sale other kinds are somethaes &Ter,. I Instead of Blttioa'N and puLsoys. John Brown. - "John Poison." la signed br the makers on ,•sel pt.ket. Vitt CaranerlsO• TO CORRE4PON ENV. Adre:tisxnentt Intended for "The Eprers," London Ivenlng Paper. must he at the office. 10, Bourerfe-street, by Two o'clock ou the dar of publlcattur DRURY LANE Tut, ETENGGI, TIIC MAN 61.1 . 1iF M 411: ID. Mr . rhelpi, E Malys, ttc. Acylothoff. peU:. and Isabel Manus—And NUM HER MP: OK : ILARLE -4e iN AND TUE GNOME KING OF VIE GIAN T MOUNTAIN. #AYMAAK Irr, Imi Es - cinuA A LOUV - 1 7 5A111.1:. Mew% adhere, Rosen., Clark, romptou, . 11ra. Chippendale, Biases Bill, Wr.al:t. Au-111C ur,1(1.)1 I. 1M I !..Y. Messra Iturkstuur, Bowe, Earren, stc.; Mesdames l'hippendsle, 11,ore, Burke, Ac. PRINCKIIB%. _ ..... Till Evslrnro , lIIS LEt.IS. Meson. Verner& Fenton; Mrs. It. What, and Miss Wentworth.—And sIIAL/OW TREE SHAFT. Messrs. Vining, Fhore, Verner, F. VllUen, Forrester, Mellon, and Cathcart: Misses Montagu, Edmonds, sod Ralgera. LI CCUM. Tim !Trims, THE Tc 1 1117;117.1. Mr. WEEMcorab.—And ROUGE ET NOIIL Messrs. Pechter, Emery, ('owner, Moreland, Yitztiatrt k. OJ4m , Reynol Is, bona., Andrews, Price, Ac. : Mrs. L Murray, and Mimes Heurade, :rattan, and C. Lecleivq. STRAND. Tun Brunie, n BOIT ii.742-titter which will be produced a Grand Burlesque, GUY FAWKEi.—And A EXIT OF TWPIEWS. ROLBORN. Tan ZVZIFINO, MY Ti : RI 7 IIIEKT. Mr. Ulmer*: Mimes Foote and Lennox.—And YLYINO SCUD. Mews. Neville, Bel more. Blake, Yolleiro, rte. ; limdames F. Jueepbs, C. Saunden, Beale Foote. Mae, Lennox, Raymond, dr. I!!!ITAjf!iTA, .. _ .. Ted ETIMNO, THE PRINCILIS or THE PEARL ISLAND: OR, THE THREE KINODoMS Or PEARL, GOLD, AND SILVER. Miss Jsooba—First•ntte Pautowimista. —And TUE RETURN OF THE WANDERER. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tin DST —Morning, Oft. l'en Afternoon, OiL MIL TO-ft,fttitorr—Yorniug, 101 l 3,101 Afternoon. llb. Um. LONDON, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14. A imosr every journal printed out of France has published a letter purporting to be addressed by the Count ne CHAMBORD to one of his devoted adhe rents, General Ds Sr. PRIEST, on the condition, the policy, and the prospects of France, which, natu rally enough, the Royal correspondent found to be all equallyunsatisfactory under the existing The letter, ostensibly written to the loyal legiti mist friend, was obviously a manifesto to the French nation, or, at least, to all who would take the trouble to read it in the spirit of its author. For the rest, it was very much what a Pretender's letter should be—full of chivalrous disqui.t and pathetic resignation, of self (lei otion and self denial, of idle tears and wild regrets, of exalted hopes and abundant promises, wanting only the possibility of fulfilment. It was not very difficult for Count as CHAMBORD to pick holes in the lm perish purple ; represent Catholic France as ashamed of the desertion ..f the Huta( FATHER ; military France as wou n ded by the Prussian con quests ; diplomatic France as irritated at the creation of Italian unity and the consolidation of German power ; liberal France as pining for the most necessary liberties, and chafing wider arbi trary and irresponsible government. No one would expect the Count De CHAMBORD tO take up his pen in this solemn and deliberate fashion for the purpose of persuading the French people to accept the Second Empire as the best of all possible governments, or of suggesting that, after all, the principle of hereditary monarchy might perhaps be more fitly represented by a Sovereign in pos session of a throne, and with a son to succeed him, than by a childlesa Prince in exile, though descended from ST. Loots. Obviously the Count DIS CHAM BORD would not have been duns Ant ;tile in cele brating, in the dithyrambic style of the e'unatite- Gomm,' and the Pont,, the splendour and mag nificence of the Second Empire in all its acts and in all its works—in the reconciliation of the Court of Rome with modern civilization in Italy, in the settlement of Poland with Vie tacit assent of French diplomacy, in the perfect restoration of order and tranquillity at home, in the increasing development of credit and commerce, in the transformation of Paris by the daring genius of Baron HAI'eMANN and an administrative Conan issMn placed beyond the reach of the vulgar impatience of taxpayers. Such was not the theme of the Count Pe CHAMB:JIRD'S letter. Why should he come forth from his retreat to tell Frenchmen what the ConstatiCee,af and the Pays are telling them with equal if not superior autho rity every day 'I No doubt there was something strange and unaccustomed in the tone of this letter from Frohsdorf, something that may well have jarred upon the cars of official directors of public opinion. HENRY V. had apparently been study ing the " Ideas" of another eminent State pri soner, who, by a marvellous destiny, has lived to prove in his own person how much easier it is for a theorist in prison or in exile to be a wise and temperate ruler of a tree and happy people than for a ruler to act up to the principles of a Pretender. The Prisoner of Ham was an un sparing title in the press of the Government of Louis Pet LIPPF, Malt has never been supposed that the lucubration' of the Prisoner of Ham destroyed the Monarchy of Jnly. Prince LOUIS NAPOLEON BONAPARTE was wont to complain of the absence of public liberties under the July Monarchy—to com plain publicly, though anonymously, week after week ; but seeing that he has not enlarged those liberties since he was able to do so, he can hardly now believe that Louts PHILIPPE was wrong in not assenting to them. Perhaps hu thinks that unfor tunate King was very wrong in letting the com plaints of a Pretender be published. But there are Pret•nders and Pretenders. A Pretender who appeals io the suffrages of ten millions of people against r. dynasty founded on Vie majority of a Chamber of Deputies elected by a very limited constant :icy, is a very different adversary front a Pretend. r who appeals from aGevernment founded upon tin will of an entire people to a dynasty thrice rt audiated by the nation, a dynasty without a succeto on, a dynasty with no other definite policy than the preservation of the temporal power of the POPE and a war to prevent the unity of Germany. Who w0..1d not have believed that a government based upon the national will, and strong in the confident affection of a whole people, would eagerly 1_ .ve the widest publicity to such a mani festo as t.tis last from Frohsdorf to the Royal Fau bourg? Mere was one point, and one only, which could lets l some slight significance to a letter from the Coup' DE CHAMBORD, and of this there was not a sign. Had HENRY V., a childless King, announc,.l the reconciliation of the two families of the i:oyal House, and the adoption of the Count 0.. PARIS as his successor, it is conceivable that son , t• too zealous or too timid councillor of the Em...acoa might desire to conceal that an nouncem-i.t from the tickle eyes of the French bourgeoioe; impracticable as in these days of uni versal ai..l instantaneous publicity any attempt at wholesale suppression must be. But we are bound t. confess, that under no circumstances could vr. have been prepared for such an exhibi tion of refrant weakness and violence combined in a Cover "lent reported to be the strongest in Eu rope, aft. ! fifteen years of secure sapremacy,within a week. after the sudden abdicationbythe Sovereign f extraordinary and arbitrary powers, and on the eve of the meeting of a Legislative Assembly to which the right of interpellations and the pri vilege of speaking from a Tribune have been re stored—as a Circular from the Posrmaarza-Git s ERA:. instructing every postmaster throughout the empire to search and detain all covered papers ( including, it should seem, all private letters) dile, ~ Th. of containing the manifesto of the Count oz C H vas )itti. With what degree of confidence can the Legislature or the nation hail the promised crown ing of the edifice, if one of the most arbitrary and violent outrages upon personal liberty that the most revolutionaryand lawlesaGovernment can commitis to decorate the cornice of this Temple of Liberty? Perhaps the dishonour of such an order as this may appear to be redeemed, and the mischief of it alleviated, by its unblushing publicity. Every sincere well-wisher to the Imperial Government must acknowledge that with whatever reserve and discretion it maybe obeyed—and we doubt not that the POATITASTER-GENERAL means it to be obeyed with the utmost moderation—it cannot fail to be attended with the most intolerable abuses. No act of arbitrary power creates and justifies so much public indignation and bitter shame as the violation of the secresy of private letters. The beat that can be said for it is that it is one of the misfortunes to which personal govern ment is exposed by the frantic servility of sub ordinates, whose zeal in the service of a pre sumed omnipotence nothing loss than omnipresence and omniscience in the Chief of the State would suffice to keep always within due bounds. OUR CONTEMPORARIES. (THIS DAY.) THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 14, 1867. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (nriga's T)LEG RAM.) DENMARK. COPENHAGEN, FICII. 14. The great majority of the Danish candidates in Northern Schleswig, including the town of Flens burg and the island of Alsen, have been elected members of the northern parliament. FRANKFORT. FRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAINE, FM 14. Baron Charles de Rothschild has been elected a member of the northern parliament by 5,300 out of 5,732 voters. THE DANUBLLN PRINCIPALITIES. BUCHAREST, Fes. 13. The Hospodar of Roumania has returned to this city with his brother. THE REFORM REROI.UTIONS. The Times depicts in gloomy colours the eon sequeneks of a vote on the part of the house declaring point blank that it will not discuss a single resolution. Speaking freely of the mismanagement of the ministers and the absurdity of their proposals, the Times neverthe les.+ believes that they point as s whole to a complete mea sure. Only a small fraction of the house, it believes, would hesitate to accept the resolution directed against class predominance, and, postponing the second, the fifth might be reached without any serious difficulty. The latter, however, which puts forward the principle of plurality of voting, must be summarily thrown aside and a substitute found for it. The second could then be taken up, and the values of the qualifying tenements in counties and boroughs inserted. The object of all well-wishers of their country should be to settle the reform question, and to settle it now. Nothing can be less desirable than that constitutional changes should be discussed in the midst of a tumult, nothing can be more unpatriotic than to post pone legislation until an exasperated populace demands instant action. The Daily Nera remarks that Mr. Disraeli did not refer ie any way in his speech to the topic of plurality of voting and the modificitions with which it is mentioned in the resolutions probably means that U the suggestion is re jected the government has no intention to insist ou its own ideas. The proposal itself, as applied to the election of members, is against the spirit of our constitution, which from its first days has refused to recognise degrees of qualification amongst those who were admitted as quali fied, cud most of all that such degrees should turn on the amount of wealth. In application the new theory could not fail to be offensive and perilous. Are human beings who each are alike concerned in such questions as those between master and servant, the education of the people, the security of the person, &c., to be counted as simply so many fractions of a man, while those only are computed as men who have a thousand a year, or a professional educa tion? When England was divided into two sharply dis criminated camps, which side would win ? Does • thousand • year put n.oro strength in the right arm, or does a university degree make a Samson? An act of parliament is very powerful, but when it defies human nature it is but a rope of straw. The Post is now quite in opposition on the subject of the reform resolutions. The mode of procedure it says is such as compels • delay which will throw reform over for another year. Anything more vague and shadowy, not to say trivial, than the resolutions, it is difficult to conceive. They look rather like the random suggestions 'of political pupils beginning to feel their way to the A B C of their business 'than the serious proposals of practised statesmen for a settlement of the greatest .wes tion of the day. They offer no guarantee whatever that a satisfactory result would be evar approached by their adoption. The Herald regards the various manifestations of hos tility on the part of the radicals with perfect equanimity, as it sees every reason to hope that the government pro posals will command the adherence of the moderate men of all parties. However, while the conservative party are ready to make concessions and sacrifices to solve for many years to come the problem which has thwarted the usefulness of the legislature since 1852, there is a well-defined point at which submission will be equivalent to degradation, and then they will not shrink from telling the House of Commons that it must find other instruments to do its work. The opposition of the Telegraph increases daily in em phasis. The procedure is an utter violation of the decent order of English parliamentary action, and a ruinous pre cedent for evading ministerial responsibility, while it would retard rather than accelerate the settlement of the reform question. The Star accuses Mr. Disraeli of concocting a scheme which, while pretending to grant a free extension of popular rights, provides a system for increasing the power of those who at present usurp political privileges. The country will not fail to hold its author responsible for the excitement, confusion, and bitterness which are destined to be the result. lITSCELLVICOVIS TOPICS. The resolution on ritualism adopted yesterday in the upper House of Convocation is an unqualified condemna tion, says the Tines, of the innovations, and if the bishops will but act fairly, the consideration which they enforce ought to be sufficient to settle the question. At all events if, after this appeal by the bench, the ritualists should refuse to submit their practices to the arbitration of their respective bishops, the public would have no difficulty in pronouncing an opinion upon their conduct. It is now for the bishops to see that their resolution is made efficacious, by personally addressing themselves to the clergy who have introduced these innovations, and enforcing their submission. By asserting their authority they must not forget they have assumed a proportionate responsibility. With regard to the confederation scheme to be proposed by the ministers, the Alily News comes to the conclusion that successive English governments have so thoroughly ecunitittel themselves to the plan of a Federal union that some such measure must doubtless be adopted, and the affairs of Canada are in a state of so much uncertainty and embarrassment that it is perhaps necessary that they should pass through this stage if they are to become better. Nobody, however, who has devoted any attention to the affairs of British North America pretends to feel any slum; confidence in the success of what is proposed. The Post presses the government for more information respecting the panic at Chester. It may be, as it has been hinted, that it has been • sensation got up for the benefit of the brethren in America. It would be a great boast to be able to say that for a few hours the centres here had been able to frighten • large city, and even caused the despatch of a body of select troops to meet them. The dissolution of the Italian Chamber leads the Timm to comment severely upon Italian deficiencies. Were it not that during the two months which must elapse be. twven the dismissal and the reconstitution of the legislature such a combination may be entered into between Ricasoli and Itataszi as may secure them a strung majority among their respective partisans in the new inaliament, it would be impossible, the Times thinks, not to anticipate the direst calamities for the Peninsula. Were this year to close, leaving the Italians no further advanced in the solution of their financial and of their church and state difficulties than they were at its opening, he would be a rash man who would answer for the ultimate success of their mitional union, of their hardly-bought, but perhaps not sufficiently-valued independence. The Telegraph thinks it probable that if Riessoli is to retain office, he must mo..lify the policy to which he has pledged himself with reference to the church question. The vote of the Chambers was really, though not nomi nally, litected against Signor Scialoja's project. Reviewing American affairs, the Daily News concludes that any refusal on Mr. Johnson's part to execute the measures in reference to the South on which Congress 1111 y finally decide, would be universally held to justify his immediate impeachment. Yet it would be very hard for Mr. Johnson to remove his own governments and to carry out the policy he has so violently opposed, and he is exceedingly likely to offer it a passive but ineffectual re sistance. That he will be removed if he resists it is hardly possible to doubt ; that he will " arm his supporters," as the " tall talk " of some democratic organ threatens, it is impossible to believe. The more probable thing is that Congress will decide upon a policy which will reconstitute the Southern governments from their foundations up wards ; that Mr. Johnson will protest against it, but to avoid a snore humiliating alternative will be obliged to be the reluctant and unwilling executive of the national will. Ott fzurt. OSBORNE, Fn. 13. The Queen drove out yesterday afternoon, accom panied by Princess Christian. Po Mons Louise and Prince Christian rode, attended by the Hon. Emily Cathcart and Colonel the Horn. Dudley do Roe. The Judge-Advocate-General arrived at Osborne yester day, and had an audience of the Queen. Viscount Halifax arrived in the afternoon, and had the honour of dining with the Queen and the Royal family in the evening. Lieutenant-General the Hon. Charles and Mrs. Grey and Lady Oeorgiana Grey lutil also the honour of being in vited. The Prince of Wales, attended by Major Teesdale, went out rabbit shooting near Windsor yesterday. The Princess of Wales took a carriage drive, attended by the Marchioness of Carmarthen. The Prince and Princess of Wales had a dinner party in the evening. The company included the Duke of Edin burgh, the Marsh Mums of Carmarthen, the Earl and Countess of Bradford, the Wart of Shrewsbury and Lady Gertrude Talbot, the Earl and Countess of Derby, the Earl and Countess Spencer, the Earl and Countess of Sef ton, the Karl and Countess Granville, Lord and Lady Cecilia Binzham, the Hon. A. T. Fitzmaurice, the Hon. T. de Grey, the Hon. Eliot Yorke (in attendance on the Duke of Edinburgh), General Knollys, and Major Teel. dale. The band of the Grenadier Guards, conducted by Mr. 1). Godfrey, was in attendance, and played a selection of music. The following members of the Water Supply Commis sion had an interview with the Lord President of the Council at the Privy Couucil-office, Whitehall, yesterday : —The Duke of Richmond, Sir John Thwaites, Sir Benja min Phillips, Colonel Harness, C. 8., Mr. T. E. Harri son, C.E., and Mr. J. Prestwich. A deputation from the meeting of delegates elected by the several metropolitan vestry and district boards, consist ing of Messrs. J. Beal, Dresser Rogers, Bradshaw, Bolton, Hillman, Smith, Armstrong, Jewell, Redfern, Dr. Corti., Mr. Dannell, Mr. Surridge, Dr. Shea, Mr. Dowden, Mr. Stanton, Mr. Sargon, and Mr. Phippard, Assistant Vestry Clerk of St. James's, Westminster, had an interview with the Right Hon. Sir Stafford Northcote at the office of the Board of Trade yestenlay, on the subject of a proposed government bill to amend the Metropolitan Gas Act, IMO. The deputation was introduced by the Hon. Captain Grosvenor, M.P. A deputation from the City, consisting of Mr. Deputy Fry, Mr. William Lawley, Mr. H. A. Isaacs, Mr. Scott (Chamberlain), Mr. Corrie (Remembraucer), Mr. H. Jones (Architect), and Mr. Haywood (Engineer), had an inter view with Lord John Manners at the Office of Works, Whitehall-place, on Tuesday. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yester day. Present, Sir KV. Williams, Sir R. Kindersley, Sir J. Colvile, and Sir Laurence Peel. THE MINISTRY AND REFORM.—The universal opinion of the public, that Mr. Disaarm's" Reso lutions " offer no basis for the satisfactory settle ment of the question of Reform, but mark an egregious political failure, is imposing duties on the leaders of the Liberal party from which they will not shrink. It is at present probable that Ministers will be asked to withdraw their Reso lutions, and either substitute for them a Bill or other resolutions of a more liberal, intelligible, and practical character, and upon the re ception given to such a request the con duct of the Opposition will depend. Another meeting of the Liberal members will be held next Wednesday. It will be observed that Mr. BERNAL OSBORNE is to ask Mr. DISRAELI this evening if her MAJESTY'S Government will inform the House what is the exact amount of reduction con templated " in the value of the qualifying tene " meat in counties and boroughs ; " also, the description of " other franchises not dependent " on such value," as mentioned in Reform Reso lution No. 2.—Daily News. The Marquis of Hartington, AL P., left Devon shire House yesterday for Helga Mowbray, to resume hunting with the local hounds. Viscount and Viscountess Cranborne had a dinner party last evening at their residence in Mansfield street. Cavendish-square. Later in the evening her lady ship received a select circle. The Earl of Pembroke, who has been attacked by measles, and has suffered severely, was much better yes terday, and late in the evening the accounts of his health were more favourable. The Hon. H. Stanhope, who has been suffering from very 'severe indisposition, is so greatly improved in health that iu a few days his friends probably will find him quite recovered. It is said that Colonel the Hon. Octavio* Dun combo will come forward ai a candidate for the North Riding, in the room of his nephew, the present Lord Fevershani, who has succeeded to the peerage by the death of his father. The Hon. C. B. Adderley writes from the House of Commons to the Tines to say that the arrangement as to the troops in New Zealand, for the present, is this : All the British troops there, already reduced from 10,000 to 3,100, are under onsets to quit, except one regiment of infantry, which this country will maintain ; hut, while it does so, the colony is to appropriate yearly 50,00 W. to native purposes. . . Mr. Arthur Kavanagh voted yesterday in the first division of the session ; that on Mr. Ayrion's Fins• bury Estate BilL On Wednesday next Mr. Leeman will bring for ward in the House of COMMOWI a bill to amend the law in respect of the sale and purchase of shares in banking companies. The members of the General Committee of Elec tions will be sworn on Monday at 4 o'clock. _.. This morning was issued the bill presented to the House of Lords by the Earl of Carnorron, intituled ' An Act for the Union of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, and the government thereof, and for purposes connected therewith." The bill occupies forty pages, and consists of 147 clauses, treating of the union, executive power, legislative power, the Senate, the House of Commons, money votes, provincial con stitutions, distribution of legislative powers, judica ture, revenues, &c. The last clause but two relates to the Intercolonial Railway, and is sa follows:—" Inas h as the provinces of Canada. Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, have joined in a declaration that the con struction of the intercolonial railway is essential to the consolidation of the union of British North America and to the assent thereto of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and have consequently agreed that provision should be made for its immediate construction by the government of Canada ; therefore in order to give effect to that agree ment it shall be the duty of the government and parlia ment of Canada to provide for the commencement within six months after the union of a railway connecting the river St. Lawrence with the city of Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and for the construction thereof without intermis sion and the completion thereof with all practicable speed." EGYPT. rARIS, Fn. 11. The Moniteur of this morning says :—" A tele gram was forwarded by M. de Leeseps to Paris from Suez on the 11th inst., announcing that he had visited the works of the isthmus with Lord Clarence Paget and the Governor of Bombay. The waters of the Mediterranean reached on that day as far as Serapcum. A vessel from Siam con taining 100 packages of objects for the Paris Ex hibition had taken the Suez canal route to the Mediterranean." OVERLAND MAILS. THE BOMBAY MAIL. ALEXANDRIA, FE!. 12. The Ceylon left at 11 a.m. and the China at 4.30 p.m. to-day. The former may be expected at Marseilles on the 18th and the latter at Southampton about the 25th instant. OUTWARD MAIL OF JAN. 27—FEI3. 4. SUEZ, Fn. 13. The Ottawa leaves for Bombay this morning. EXPRESS FROM PARIS. (FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDMIIT.) PARIS, WEDNESDAY EVENING. There is a talk of the dismissal of M. Vandal, the Postmaster-General. This would have been a plausible solution of a great difficulty before the communique which approved and sought to justify his act. But it would be far from logical now, because the communique has made the whole go vernment responsible for his sins. So far from there being any genuine contrition on the part of government for the scandalous violation of the secret of letters in the case of the Count de Cham bord's circular, an inquiry has been ordered to find out and punish those postmasters who gave up M. Vandal's peeping instructions to publicity. The public does not know that this is by no means M. Vandal's first offence in this kind. The managers of the interpellations in the Corps Logialatif will be able to point out upwards of a dozen similar cases which were kept secret. The government ought to think very seri ously of this matter, because when it comes to be discussed it will find no friends unless those imme diately in its pay. Cardinal Richelieu, who opened letters with as little scruple as ho performed any other act of tyranny and treachery, was wont play fully to call the operation le rumolliseement de la cire (the softening of the wax). If Napoleon 111. 'sgovern meat in 1867 persists in justifying the practice, it may be properly designated as le ramolliamment du cerotau (softening of the brain). There is an undoubted revival of public spirit, and opening letters is one of the things which the French people will not stand. France, at the moment of the opening of its great exhibition, will not resign herself to be at the tail of political chilisation. Particular ministers may be bumptious for a while, but the Emperor will have to cry peccaci. The blue book containing the exposition of the situation of the empire will be distributed to members of the chamber on Friday next ; and the yellow book, which contains such diplomatic docu ments as the government chooses to publish, will come out on Saturday. It was reported a little while since that the latter would be unusually light, but the rumour now is that it will be made bulky by copious despatches on the Eastern question. The Bourse was depressed. Rente fell 17ic., both for cash and account, closing at 69fr. 62ic. and GDfr. 57ic. The Emperor Napoleon desiring to witness some experiments on the moat recent applications of electricity, directed the Abbii Moigno to attend the evening before last at the Tuileries and lecture on the latest discoveries in that science. The new electric lamp of M. Foucault had been placed in the middle of the Salle du TriMe for the projection of the spectral analysis, and the great diversity of the images produced by the combustion of the different metals reduced to a state of vapour were watched with deep interest by the persons present. Several ex periments were made to show the lighting power of the galvanic pile and the chemical and calorific effects of the light. The Empress and the Prince Imperial appeared to take the greatest interest in everything exhibited during the lecture. The Bulgian journals state that another Con gress of students, like that held last year at Liege, is in preparation at Brussels for the Easter vacation. M. Guizot has just finished the concluding pages of the eighth and lut volume of his memoirs, which ter minate with the recital of the three days of the July re volution. This volume will be published in April. M. Saint Marc Girardin has received a magnificent album from the Greek population of Trieste, offered to him in testi mony of their gratitude for his exertions in the Hellenic cause. The new Opera-houso at Paris is progressing. A number of busts of composers and poets are already placed in the •rile, and a more curious collection cannot be imagined. They have been executed either front origi nal busts or from authentic documents. Some are cuiffiv a la Titus, others are wigged, some wear long hair, and some have none whatsoever. The costume of the musical composers of the early part of this century points them out at once ; but as several of the others appear in plain frock-coats their identity is not so easily to be discovered. The gaieties of the carnival at Vienna seem only Ito increase as the lesson approaches its conclusion. On Fridays all riotous entertainments are prohibited, but on Saturdaye—on Sundays especially—the pleasure-seeking Viennese flock to their masked balls by tens of thousands. Ten or twelve masquerades are held in different places on these nights, and yet at one place alone, the largest esta blishment of the kind in Vienna—Schwander's Colosseum —the number of guests is usually between 5,000 and 6,000. One of the most popular actresses at the Carl Theatre, Vienna., has retired from the stage on the occasion of her approaching marriage with a Prince of Thurn and Taxis, one of whose brothers is married to a sister of the Empress of Austria. Another brother, who was adjutant to the King of Bavaria, eloped the other day with a oele brated actress from Munich, and married her In Switzer land. Letters from Damascus announce the arrival there of the great annual caravan from Bagdad, consisting of 2,•500 camels, one-half of which were laden with tonm beki (the tobacoo which is used for nargilee), while the remainder carried the travellers. This year the Desert is reported to have been perfectly quiet ; no attempt has been made to molest any traveller, and the caravan passed without encountering any difficulty. A Berlin journal mentions that the old his torical windmill of Sans-Soma has just been blown down during a gale of wind. .AXPRESS OFFICE, Thursday, 4.30 p.m. OPENING OF THE FRENCH CHAMBERS. (THIS DAY.) SPEECH OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON. (RWTEtes TELEG PARIS, Fn. 14. The French Chambers were opened to-day by the Emperor in person, who delivered a speech, of which the following is the chief portion : " MASSIEIJES LES SENATILL'ES, " MESSIEURS LES DEPUTES, " Since your last session serious events have arisen in Europe. Although they may have asto nished the world by their rapidity as by the impor tance of their results, it appears that, according to the anticipations of the Emperor, there was &fatality in their fulfilment. Napoleon said at St. Helena : ' One of my great ideas has been the ag glomeration and concentration of the same nations, geographically considered, who have been scattered piecemeal by revolutions and policy. This agglomeration will take place sooner or later by the force of circumstances. This impulse is given, and I do not think that after my fall and the disappearance of my system there will be any other great equilibrium possible than the agglomeration and confederation of great nations.' "The transformations that have taken place in Italy and Germany pave the way folk the realisa tion of this vast programme of the union of the European states in one sole confederation. The spectacle of the efforts made by the neighbour ing nations to assemble their members, scattered abroad for so many centuries, cannot cause disquiet to a country like ours, all the parts of which are irrevocably bound up with each other, and form a homogeneous and in destructible body. We have been impartial wit nesses of the struggle which has been waged on the other side of the Rhine. In presence of this conflict the country strongly manifested its wish to keep aloof from it. Not only did I defer to this wish, but I used every effort to hasten the conclusion of peace. 1 did not arm a single additional soldier-1 did not move forward a single regiment; and yet the voice of France had influence to arrest the conqueror at the gates of Vienna. Our mediation effected an ar rangement between the belligerents, which leaving to Prussia the fruit of her successes, maintained the integrity of tho Austrian territory with the exception of a single province, and by the cession of Venetia completed Italian independence. Our action has been exercised, therefore, with the view of justice and conciliation. France has not drawn the sword, because her honour was not at stake, and because she had observed a strict neutrality. In another part of the globe we have been obliged to employ force to redress legitimate grievances, and we have endeavoured to raise an ancient empire. The happy results at first obtained were com promised by an inauspicious concurrence of cir cumstances. "The guiding idea of the Mexican expedition was an elevated one. To regenerate a people, and implant among them ideas of order and progress ; to open vast outlets to our com merce, and leave the recollection of ser vices rendered to civilisation to mark our path--such was my desire and yours. But as soon as the extent of our sacrifices ap peared to me to exceed the interests which had called us across the ocean, I spontaneously determined upon the recall of our army corps. The government of the United States comprehend that want of conciliation had embittered rela tions, which for the welfare of both countries should remain friendly. In the East troubles have arisen, but the great Powers are acting in concert to bring about a state of things which may satisfy the legitimate wishes of the Christian populations, reserve the rights of the Sultan, and prevent dangerous complications. At Rome we have faithfully executed the convention of the 15th of September. The government of the Holy Father has entered into a fresh phase. Left to itself it maintains itself by its proper strength, by the veneration which is felt by all towards the head of the catholic church, and the surveillance loyally exercised upon his frontiers by the Italian government. But if some demagogic conspiracies should audaciously seek to threaten the temporal power of the Holy See, Europe, I do not doubt, would not permit the accomplishment of an event which , would cause such great perturbation in the catholic world. " I have only to congratulate myself upon my re lations with foreign Powers. Our connexion with England becomes daily more intimate by the simi litude of our policy and the multiplicity of our commercial relations. Prussia seeks to avoid everything which might arouse our national sus ceptibilities, and agrees with ua upon the chief European questions. Russia, inspired by concilia tory intentions, is not disposed to separate her policy in the East from that of France. The same is the case with the empire of Austria, the great ness of which is indispensable to the general' equilibrimu. A recent commercial treaty has created new ties between the two countries. Lastly, Spain and Italy are upon terms of sincere agree ment with us. " Thus, therefore, nothing in present circum stances need arouse our uneasiness, and I enter tain the firm conviction that peace will not be disturbed. " Assured of the present, and trusting in the future, I have thought the time had arrived to develope our institutions. You have ex pressed your wishes to me every year that this should be effected, but being justly convinced that progress can only be accomplished by complete harmony between the powers and the state you had placed in my hands— and I thank you for your confidence— the privilege of deciding upon the moment when I might think the realisation of your desires possible. Now, after fifteen years of calm and prosperity, due to our common efforts and to your profound devotion to the institutions of the empire, it has appeared to me that the time had come to adopt the liberal.measures which lay in the minds of the Senateand the aspirations of the Corps Legislatif. I respond to your expecta tions, and without departing from the constitu tion, I propose to you laws which offer new guarantees for political liberty. " The nation, which does justice to my efforts, and which again recently in Lorraine gave such touching proofs of its attachment to my dynasty, will make a wise use of these new rights. Justly jealous of its repose and of its prosperity, it will continue to disdain the dangerous Utopias and excitements of parti es . For you, gentlemen, the immense majority of whom have constantly sustained my courage in the always difficult task of governing a people, you will continue to be with me the faithful gu ar di an , of the true interests and the veritable greatness of the country. " These interests impose upon us obligations we shall know how to fulfil. France is r e . spected abroad. The army has displayed its valour, but the conditions of war being changed, require the increase of our defensive forces, and we must organise ourselves in such a manner as to be invulnerable. The bill upon this subject, which has been studied with the greatest care, lightens the burden of the conscrip tion in time of peace, offers considerable resources in time of war, and redistributin g burdens between all in a fair proportion,thus satis fies the principles of equality. It possesses:ill the importance of an institution of the country, and I feel convinced will be accepted with patriotism. " The influence of a nation depends upon the number of men it is able to put under arms. Do not forget that neighbouring States upon themselves far heavier sacrifices for the effective constitution of their armies, and have their eyes fixed upon us to judge by your resolutions whether the influence of Franco shall increase or diminish throughout the world. Let us constantly keep our national flag at the same height. It is the most certain means of preserving peace, and that peace must be rendered fertile by alleviating misery and in creasing general prosperity." IMPROVED INDUSTRIAL DWELLINUS CUR. PANY.-I THIS DAY.) The seventh ordinary half-yearly meeting took place at the Mansion-house this afternoon, Mr. Alderman WATERLOW in the chair. The report, which gave a very flourishing account of the operations of the company, was taken u read, and its adoption was moved by The CIUIRMAN, in a speech in which he said that the company had completely solved the problem of the posii• bility of erecting a superior class of dwellings fur the working classes at a comparatively low rent, and which would afford a remunerative investment to capitalists. The report was unanimously adopted, and a dividend at the rate of sf. per cent. declared. Mr. GoecucN, M.P., stated that he had carefully w• veatigated the accounts, and found that the dividend was paid entirely out of revenue, and that every possible item that could be char„ed to capital had been first deducted from the revenue, such as interest during con,truction, anti ao forth. The meeting was attended by Mr. S. Morley. 11lemon Stone, Alderman Finnic, Sir C. Fox, Mr. Bodkin, and Mr. Russell Gurney, all of whom concurred in the statement that the company was a complete success. SECOND EDITION. THE ABOLITION OP TESTS AT OXFORD. The following is a copy of the bill introduced by Mr. Coleridge and Mr. Grant Duff to provide for the abolition of religious tests in connexion with academical degrees and offices in the University of Oxford: "Whereas it is expedient that provision should he made for enabling her Majesty's subjects to take degreo oth, than degrees in divinity in the University of Oxford, sad to hold public professorships, raiderships, and °Oar academical offices which are or may be tenable by laymen therein, without requiring from them religious tests: it enacted by the Queen's most excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the lords spiritual sad temporal, and °ominous, in this present parliament ae. sembled, and by the authority of the mime, as %limn: " 1. From and after the paving of this act, no person shall be required, upon taking or to enable him to take degree (other than a degree in divinity) within the sail university of Oxford, or as a condition of exercising en • any of the privileges and rights which may her • tofore have been or may hereafter he exercise' ! enjoyed by the graduates thereof, to subscribe any arm or formulary of faith, or to make any declaration or ta's , any oath respecting his religious belief or prof's:Wet, or to conform to any religious observance, auythm; in the forty-fourth section in the act passed r the session of parliament held in the seventeen:.- anal eighteenth years of her present Majesty, char eighty-one, or any other act of parliament or statuteef e • Raid university, to the contrary notwithstanding: pn vided always, that in case any such degree shall he tender , as a qualification for any office now tenable only by a ea I, ber of the united church of England and Ireland for which such degree has heretofore constituted one of the na. nary qualifications, being other than an office within said university or any of the colleges or halls thereof, th, person or persons appointing or electing to such office shall require the person MO tendering such degree se aforesaid subscribe such formularies or to make such declaration as he would have been required to subscribe or male ,n taking the degree of toaster of arts in the said tutivenity if this act hail not passed. 2. From and after the passing of this act no person shall be requiem', as a qualification for or as a con.lities . i holding any public professorship, readership, or other academical office which is or may be tenable by a I , FT , within the said university, to subscribe may arm! , • formulary of faith, or to make any declaration or task oath respecting his religious belief or profession, or t form to any religious observance, anything in th, - tith, and 10th sections of an act passed in the parliament held in the 13th and 14th years of ; Charles 11., chap. 4, or in any other set of parliamenr r statute of the said University, to the contrary notwei . standing. 3. Provided always, that nothing in this act rectal!.' shall be taken to apply to any headship or fellowship, or any office of or in any college, house, or hall within ale said university, not being a feline-ship or other meat in such college, house, or hall attacked to see.. public professorship, readership, or other actikmia: office in the said university, and hob' by virtue thenof: NEw PEERS.—We understand that it is the n.- tention of her Majesty—of course, on the recomnier.: tion of her ministers—to confer the dignity of the age on two eminent lawyers—the Lonlotiithe-rleuix „ ! DPNeill and Sir Hugh Cairns. The nis,sity oi providing for the appellate jurisdiction of t he thrxe of Lords, which the increasing legal businis- of r: country makes every year more important more onerous, is the object of this. , poinom to. The Right Hon. Duncan 31'Neill was Solicit , : a ion r.I for Scotland during Sir Robert Peel's sin rt admaa-trame in 1534.5. He was LoriltAdvoeitte from PLI*2 I' lie ha. been Lord Justice-General since rCe.f. A• Scotch cases are brought before the House of 1..0. i• but reasonable that a Scotch lawyer should !::,te a the house, and we have no doubt that MI. WN , eminently fitted for such an honour. Hut have the old evil which renders the lion, i c .4lie" rt spite of so many promotions. It is emend, to as ' a "t t". Lord Justice-General was born in 171Ii.iind or r", 7.1 years of age. If his peerage he ar: .. 1 good ; but if it he conferred to increase tho of the house, we may regret that its utility ir h • last but a very few sessions. The 111.1118 , ..f Cairns is free from any such objection. T ,, .. ','" Justice of Appeal is still young, bri!, f"" their full vigour to the business of the 1,............hi be able to spare su ffi cient time from the dori court, he will, no doubt, render important si 1-• country. Times. TILE ELECTION FOR CORE Col•NTl' to the electors of the count.: have Ivon M . Carthy Downing an d Mr. A. 11. sm,t't Mr. Downing appeals to his r onneshr , of years duration with the liberal party In the t an ,ty . as the ground of his claim tipoa the coon h. the constituency, and declare= for all 1•, • matt of the law of landlord and t, n•. withdrawal of state endowments fan,, equality for all creeds in the rustier •,` • education, and the modification of the oar iono! accordance with the wishes of the hierarchy. Lastly, he advocates a large mentary reform. Mr. Smith Barry decline t ph self to any Party in the state. is in favour of " as fr statesmanlike" solution of the land ipoistioa . r." freedom of education, religious equality, and -a , ! , justment of the church que , tion as will equality without interfering with vested iurr , • removal of "catholic" diAabilities, a rolliet it" tion, and increased government expenditure in country. With respect to parliamentary reform . • is in favour of such changes as win a dmit the int , lhr , artisan to the suffrage withont transferrimi to any one class in the comounnity. Colonel 51,im..1. wrs also about to address the electors, has retiris'. Di f of Mr. Downing.—Cork Nramteer.