The Express. — London, England, 1867-04-16 00:00:00

CONSTITUTIONAL LIBERALISM. Blzaad.THE DAY.' Peke Owe Penal-011106, 49, Eme.vatreet, IKAPPIiN BROTHER& —lstabbshed L. D.lBlO. IC, CH/031Sot SILVERI'LATZ for theOOLONIES. CUTLERY and SILVER PLATE for rug-moan% MAPPIN BROTHERS, LONDON-BRIDGE. MAPPIE BROTHERS, n, REGENT anuar. B ENSON'S WATCHES and CLOCKS. By Special Appointment to 11.11.11. THE PRINCE OF WALKS. Prim Metal, London, Clam 33: Dublin, Cies% 10. WATCllKi—Chrononieters,Keyleas,Rapeateraehrunographs,etc. CIA WKS—For ng and Drawing Rooms,Carriage6Charchea,&c. JEWELLERY—Specialities In Monograms, Crystal,, Diamonds, and Pine Gold. PLATT. sad WORKS of ART is Bronze, by Leading Artists. PRICKS god Descriptions, see illustrated Pamphlet, post free. Witches and Clocks sent to all parts of the world. J. R. BENSON, 0, OLD BOND-STRUT. Steam Factory and City Show Rooms, 68 and 60, LUDGATE-BILL Paris Exhibition, bet English Section, Clam IS. BROWN and POLSON'S CORN FLOUR for CHILDREN'S DIET. So obtain extra profit b 1 the We other Idnde ere ecenellines offered instead et BROWN and POLSON'S. each Jo poc hn ket Brown," "John Tolson.' is aligned bp the main OM the 111 rineeoo. TO CORRESPONDENTS . Avallesseeta Intended for " The itxprees," London Waft( sew be at the Mee, 10, Boa• try Two at the day of publication. 011011 Y LAIIE. On Kaaren Moaner ;April 22, will he produced an orininal Comedy-Drama, in four seta, entitled THE GREAT CITY, by Andrew Halliday. with new and eharacterLitic scenery by Idr. W Beverley. —To conclude with THAT RASCAL JACK. HAYMARKET. EVFNINO. PLRYWTION. Mr. Kendal & Miss Burke.— As YOU LIKE IT. Messrs. Howe, Compton. Yarren, vidppen dale, Bogen. dc.: Mesdames ao34l...Bfilduas, Burke, FitswWledo, ac —Aud 111. 111Bir CHAMPAOHL Mr. Compton. de. riaNcyffa. TRIM EvruNG, NO. 1, EXCITNOTITE CORNEIL Yams. Shore and Vorrester.—And IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND. Mews. Vilify's, V. viamn, Verser, MR% Calhaem, and Mellon ; Mires Page sod Roden& LYCEUM. Ori F.asna MoYDA Y. BAMBOOZLING. Mr. Price sad Mho Kate Bishop.—And THg DITKKS MOTTO. Mr. Pechter, Mean. Joni.., Emery, Price. Wick Womb. Fitzpatrick. dc.; Mimes Heard', glawurthy, Grattan. and Carlotta Leclercq. TRW ETesren, SWEETiIEARTIi AND WIVES. Mr. Bel ford. —ESSIERALDA : OR, THE SENSATION GOAT. Mesas. Thorne, James Robson, and Turner ; Hoodlums Bwanborough, Hughes, Weathensby, dc.—And THE FRENCH EXHIBITION. HOLBORN. Ten Swum. YT TURN NIST. Mr. Babson: Males route end Lamm—And FLYING SCUD. Mears. Neville. Bal mer., Blake, Voßabe, he. Madmen F. Josephs, C. Wayless, Bessie Foote. Mdse. Lease; Raymond, BRITANNIA. Tell ElrlnGlo, Two Acts of ROB ROY, with Grenadier Guards from the Tower. —FA CST. Mn. Lane, Misses F.dwin, Booth, &e. --4:rand Concert, Mr Croen, Madame Pedley, Mr. Adams, Little Lotto, Mill Bermund, the M'llaMes: Four Marvels of Mexico. HMI RAT= AT LONDON BRIDGE. TH Ili — AßZet — oar O. 354 To-Yolllow—Morning, O. 6911l.._..A1tarsoon, lb. Ma. LONDON, TUESDAY, APRIL 16. WHATEVER dangers attend the progress of the diplomatic question concerning Luxemburg, arise from causes which lie beyond and below it, in the wider policy of France and the convictions of the German people. Tho question itself is a product of those causes, and cannot therefore be isolated in the view of intelligent public opinion. It may not be indispensable for the safety of Prussia to keep a garrison in Luxemburg, and the territory itself is certainly not worth fighting for ; the fortress might be razed and the State declared indepen dent and neutral, or, if the inhabitants wished, the country might be joined to Holland, Belgium, France, or Prussia, without great detriment to any neighbouring power. Hitherto, however, the discussion of the matter has only inflamed and exacerbated public feeling both in France and Ger many, because it is regarded as the latest manifes tation of a policy to which the French Govern ment is committed, and which is so ego tistical that we need not be at all surprised that Germany is ready to take up arms, if need be, against it. The suspected policy of the French Government may be repre sented by two of its leading maxims : the first, that France has an interest in preventing the na tional consolidation of neighbouring peoples ; and the second, that when that consolidation takes place, notwithstanding the opposition of her Government, she has a right to compensa tion as if some injury had been done her. These maxims are applied either together or sepa rately, as convenience may dictate. We saw both of them acted upon in the case of Italy after the war of 1859, and during the last twelve months they have again come into prominence. Before the German war of last year the Emperor NAPOLEON publicly gave France and Europe to understand that if, in consequence of it, any German Power became considerably strengthened, France would require to be aggrandised. The war reached its crisis so early, and developed the military forces of Prusais in so unexpected a degree, that Austria was compelled to make peace before the Emperor of the FRENCH saw himself in a condition to insist on receiving in German territory compensation for his neutrality. But he used the office of a mediator to arrest the development of German unity, and imposed on Prussia the line of the Maine as the southern limit of the Confederation of North Germany. He could not have more fatally or more fruitlessly betrayed the motives of his policy, nor have done anything so calculated to em bitter the relations of France and Germany. As soon as the fact became known every German felt indignant that the band of a stranger should be laid on a purely national work, and the pro gress of German unification be arrested by France. As often as this or that detail of French policy arises for examination it is instinctively referred in Germany to the disposition thus mani fested by the French Government at Nikola burg. The fruits of this unfortunate inter ference are seen in the eager concern of the North German Parliament to complete the military system of the now Confederation with the least possible delay, and the earnestness with which the States of South Germany are rallying to Prussia. The request made in August for a cession of German territory convinced the governments of the States south of the Maine that the intervention of the French EMPEROR had not been dictated by solicitude for their integrity, and threw them bodily into the arms of the Power with which a month before they had been at war. The French demand was not conceded, and then, to soothe public feeling in that country, the circular of the Marquis DE LAVALETTE was published. In terms, this state paper was conciliatory, and the Prussian successes which had filled the EMPEROR with " anguish," and which he had taken pains to limit, were almost justified ; and yet even in this document France was directed to take comfort in the thought that the power of Germany had been broken up, and that a Southern Confederation was about to be formed as a counterpoise to that of the North ; the writer apparently not knowing that at that very time treaties had been signed placing the military forces of South I Germany under the control of Prussia. Last of all came the speech of M. ROUHLR in the Corps Ltislatif, in which the same confidence in Ger man disunion was expressed, without any attempt to Hatter German pride. This was not the way to prepare for ,t,he maintenance of friendly relations between two great countries. Theyonsolidation of German unity should either have been reso lutely opposed as a national danger, or frankly accepted as an inevitable historical development. By pretending to mr,, , ard what has taken place beyond the Rhine as the mere aggrandisement of Prussia, the French Government denies principles which the EMPSROR has often proclaimed, and, what is more important, denies facts which are open to the observation of the whole world. The action of South Germany at this moment proves it. Communities which have been unjustly in vaded and attacked in the pursuit of unprincipled ambition donot soon forget the injury, leaatof all are they found on the morrow of defeat hailing an alliance with the aggressor, and endeavouring to draw still closer to his side. Hesse Darmstadt having had time to reflect on the example of her Southern neighbours, and with the full knowledge of all that is taking place on her frontier, signs a treaty offensive and defensive with Prussia. The Bava rian Chamber protests the readiness of the country to stand by Prussia, in the event of a war, for the defence of German territory ; and a popu lar meeting is held at Munich, in which the August treaty with Prussia is enthusiastically ap plauded, and the demand is made that Bavaria should be connected with North Germany as speedily as possible in a Federal and national bond. All this would be much to be regretted if it were the manifestation of a spirit of hostility to France. But it is nothing of the kind ; it is simply the expression of a desire and a determina tion to secure that the settlement of the interior affairs of Germany shall proceed independently of foreign control, and that the right thus to settle them shall not he purchased of a non-German Power. This legitimate resolve, far from threat ening war, must be regarded as a guarantee of peace. OUR CONTEMPORARIES. (THIS DAY.) THE EXPRESS, . TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 16, .1867. motion of Beres Iticasoli in the face ef a sew parlia meet which had shown every disposition to give his cabi net and his policy the support of a good working majority remains a mystery—and a mystery of evil omen. Where facts are wanting and appearances are ambiguous, rumour has a free field for mischief. The Daily News proceeds to mention some of the current reports. The new cabinet it de. scribes as a purely administrative one, composed for the most part of unknown men, who will be judged on the merits of their measures. The new parliament is believed by attentive and discerning judges to be the moat willing and manageable assembly that has come together since the death of Niour. The summons applied for by Mr. Rigby Wason against the Times is referred• to by our contemporary as exposing the incongruity of the existing law. So long as the de bates are public, if the speakers are privileged, those who report their speeches should be privileged also. In the present instance, says the Times, the public will probably conclude that it is because Mr. Wason is unable to avenge himself on Lord Russell and Lord Chelmsford that he has directed his vengeance upon us. We recommend him, however, to mak the candid advice of "his barrister" whether his present proceedings are likely to relieve him from " the contempt and ridicule " which he considers have been already brought upon him. The licrald devotes an article to the praise of Earl Russell for his speech on the third reading of the Canada Railway Loan Rill. This it speaks of as eminently sensible, spirited, patriotic, opportune, brief, pithy, manly, and robust, expressing the mind and heart of the nation. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. WAR NEWS FROM FRANCE. The Courrier de Lyon confirms the report of the A emir National as follows : What appears to be certain is that during the last few days a certain quantity of gun-carriages, of projectiles, and war materiel has been sent from the arsenals and maga zines of Lyon. in the direction of the east and north-east of France. The Vigie de Merbourg says : A ministerial despatch, which arrived on Friday at the headquarters of the subdivision of La Manche, orders the reorg►nisation of the 65th Regiment of the Infantry of the line. Two battalions of the 65th are, it is said, to be put on a war footing of 1,000 men 'each. The artillery depart ment is manufacturing a great quantity of cartouches. The Massager de Toulouse says : A new organisation of our infantry reginamits is taking place at present. Instead of two war battalions, each com posed of eight companies, there will be three In:battalions each composed of six companies, which gives an income of two companies. The Frankfort Journal has the following from Kehl, dated April 9 : A striking contradiction to the reports of peace is fur nished by the fact that yesterday all the workmen in iron and timber to be found in Strasbourg were engaged for service in the arsenals. Moreover, the railway takes, every day, heavy guns from Strasbourg to Metz to fortify the latter. Considerable earthworks and new ramparts have been raised during the year to protect the walls of Stras bourg. A French marshal is expected to-morrow to inspect these works. (REUTER'S 'MCGRAW%) THE FRENCH ARMY. PARIS, Aran IS. A circular has been issued by the Minister of War, dated yesterday, which fixes the sum to be paid for exemption from military service at 3,000 fr. during the year 1867. The price of exemption for each year of military service remaining to be per formed is fixed at 600 fr. ,~; . PRESS FROM PARIS. GENERAL CHANGARNIER ON THE RE-OR GANISATION OF THE FRENCH ARMY. (raom oua owN PARIS, MONIAT EVIPMIO. The new number of the Revue des Deice Mondes contains " A word on the reorganisation of the army," by a writer whose unaccustomed signature cannot fail to ensure the article many readers. General Changarnier, who has stood absolutely aloof from politics since his arrest on December 2, 1851, thinks the present " alarming state of Europe" calls upon him, as an old general, once a martinet " and difficu/t to satiety, but in whom the army recognises a devoted servant of France, and a passionate votary of their glory," to break silence and give his opinion. Although he dis claims any intention of systematic opposition, the aim and scope of his article is to show that the measure proposed by the imperial government would be at once costly, oppressive, and ineffica cious. His opening sentence is, "Itis a doctrine of political economy that old established taxes easily collected should be maintained as long as pos sible in preference to any new tax, however ingeni tautly devised. The same rule holds good in regard to i the blood tax." He admits, however, that after the battle of &dews, which he characterises as I I " one of the greatest disasters in the history of France, although she did not move a single batta lion, there was a pretext for a change in the organi sation of the army. It is the nature of the mea sure adopted which he criticises. While thinking it quite right that, to keep pace with the progress of military science, new breech-loading rifles should be manufactured, he makes light of the Prussian needle-gun, and does not admit it to have been the main cause of the defeat of Austria. The French soldier should, however, have confidence in his arms and not be allowed to suppose even wrongly that they are inferior to the best that can be made. If that impression prevailed in the army, even those generals who possess in the highest degree the art of " infusing their soul into the souls of their men" might be followed with distrust. His opinion of the Prussian cam paign of 1866 is that "the young army, backed by a reserve suddenly taken from sedentary occupa tions, abundantly proved that it was not fit for the fatigue of a long war. In the course of a very few days it left the roads behind it studded with loiterers, and its hospitals were crowded with sick. If it had had to meet a firm obstinate enemy, dis puting national ground inch by inch, it would, de spite its incontestable bravery, have been annihi lated long before the accomplishment of its task." He takes leave, as a " bourgeois and a parvenu," to laugh at the argument that the large infusion of the aristocratic element among the officers of the Prussian army contributed to M. de Bismarck's good fortune ; and thinks that if Austria had had such a captain as Archduke Charles, " our illustrious adversary from 1794 to 1800, the Prussian audacity now admired by the worshippers of success might have been described as imprudence." He denounces as a great exagge ration the assertion that Prussia had as many as 700,000 men in line in 1866, and he equally dis believes that she could now, after all her aggran disements, produce an effective army of 1,400,000. After rejecting altogether as unworthy of imitation the system of the Prussian landwehr, the General proceeds to criticise the scheme now proposed in France. He is for a comparatively small but thoroughly disciplined army as against the calling out of all the valid youth of the country, and giving them a " semblance of instruction." He has no faith in the virtue of a " few weeks drill." Young men may no doubt in that time be taught tolerably . well to handle their arms—" the least part of the education of a soldier,"—but such drill, though sufficient to make a fair appearance on parade, will leave them " unfit for fatigue and privation, not attached to their officers, uneasy in the presence of an enemy, apt to discuss the chances of victory or defeat, exceedingly prone to exagge rate the latter, capable of a generous effort, but extremely liable to panic." In his opinion it is a waste of officers, who are above all much wanted, to put them at the head of a force of this description. Through several pages he continues to sneer at " demi-bourgeois" soldiers, and to argue that the glorious traditions of France require an army powerful rather by its organisation and discipline than by its numbers. Without in terms taking issue with that most astounding assertion of the Emperor in his speech at the opening of this legislative session, that "the influence of a country depends upon the number of men it can put under arms," he supports throughout a widely different doctrine. He would not have generals rely upon the modern theory too lightly supposed to have been established in America and Prussia, that it is all in all to get possession of a railway line. Rifled cannon and sharpshooting guns are with him but secondary things. He is old fashioned enough to believe yet in the " legs " of a thoroughly formed infantry—in the old Roman maxim—ln pedite rebut-. He was dumbfoundered when M. Rouher spoke contemptuously, a few days ago, of 300,000 men as the utmost force that France could send against an enemy under the present organisation. He thinks 300,000 really good soldiers a most respectable figure. Numbers should not be too much relied upon. No doubt if 3,000 men are pitted against 6,000, the odds are very great in favour of the larger force. But when you come to 60,000 against 100,000, the chances change considerably. and the higher the numbers go, the less important it is that an army should be equally matched. Ho thinks it ruinous and absurd fur France to attempt to put on foot an army equal in point of numbers to the largest that could by possibility be brought against her. The larger an army the more difficult it is to handle, and there is a point soon reached at which it cannot be handled to any good purpose at all. General Changarnier thinks the present or ganisation of the army, with certain technical re forms which he indicated, quite sufficient for the defence of the country. He would not have the reserve drilled at all until actually called out on an emergency in pursuance of a vote of the Corps Legislatif. A little drill in his opinion costs much, is a great waste of power from the number of officers it employs in a thankless task, disturbs citizens uselessly from their ordinary occu pations, and tends to make them worse soldiers than they otherwise would be if they should be called upon for actual service. The Menitenr du Suir announces that the Aveeir National is to be prosecuted for " false news" on account of something it said yesterday about mili tary preparations in Lyons. A new count to the indictment may be added to-day, for the A renir cites a budget of war news from various provincial journals. Among other things, it mentions the arrest of two Prussian officers, who were caught making drawings of the fortifications of Thion ville. Petty press prosecutions of this kind, at such a crisis, are indeed contemptible. At the Bourse the peaceable current of iiluts (which set in on Saturday) continued. Rente rose 20c. for cash and 25c. for account, and closed very firm, at 67fr. 10c. and 66fr. 95c. Mobilier ruse Bfr. 25c., and Italian 50c. EXECUTION FOR MURDER.-(THIS DAY.) FRIGHTFUL SCENE. James Longhurst, aged 22, a labouring young man, was executed this morning at 9 o'clock, at the usual rhos of execution for the county of Surrey, on the top of Horsemonger•lane gaol. The culprit was convicted at the late spring assizes, before Baron Bramwell, of the murder of • girl 7 years old, named Harriet Sax. The murder was committed by stabbing • the unfortunate child in the throat, this act of violence being no doubt committed by the culprit in consequence of the child resisting the prisoner's attempt to commit another serious crime. He was aKrehended almost upon the spot,' and his victim was able to recognise him as her assailant, and died almost immediately afterwards. The trial of the prisoner would, in ordinary course, have come I on at the summer assizes last year, but en application wad made on the prisoner's behalf for a postponement to afford an opportunity to produce evidence as to the state d his mind, but in the result it appeared that there was nothing to show that he was in such a condition as not to be criminally responsible, and the trial came on at the next amines on March last and ended in a conviction, th e I jury, however, recommending the prisoner to mercy on a -1 count of his youth. The prisoner has been for nearly twelve months, in cow sequence of the circumstance above mentioned, in the cu. tody of the officers of Honernonger-lane Gaol, and the re ' port they make of him is that his intellect was of the very lowest description. No effect, it appears, was made in any ' quarter to save him, but the Rev. Mr. Jeasopp, the ordi. nary of the prison, felt it his duty to make a communica. tion to the Home Secretary, Mr. Walpole, represent. ing this fact, and that although the prisoner was 22 years of age, his appearance was only that of a lad of 18, and that in his opinion his mind had ceased to grow at • very early age. He also expressed his opinion that the jury were induced to recommend the prisoner to mercy on the ground that, although there was every element of horror and atrocity in the crime, yet the fact of putting to death the being before them was as s'ocking as executing a boy of 15 or a mischievous imbecile who bad committed • similar act. The wretched per. goner down to the period of his execution appeared to have behaved very well. He paid as much attention and seemed to appreciate as much as was possible for • mind like his, the exhortations of the reverend chaplain. It appears that he has never attempted to deny his guilt, and on several occasions he asked the Rev. Mr. Jessopp to communicate to the parents of the child his sorrow for the trouble he bad caused then,. It should, however, be stated that this appeared to have come more from a suggestion originally made by the chaplain than from any impulse of his own. The culprit was visited by Mr. Molyneux, the high sheriff of the county of Surrey, on the 4th inst., with ' a view to satisfy himself as to the state of his mind, and on the 9th he was visited by his father and • mother, who are labouring people residing at Dorking. This interview was of the most painful cha racter. The mother clung round the wretched boy's neck, and could with difficulty be separated from him, and his last words to her were, " Oh, mother, do try to save me." It appears that upon the return of the unhappy parents of the culprit to their home a memorial was prepared to the Secretary of State praying for a commutation of the capital punishment, which was signed by several of the gentry and • number of other persons residing in the neighbourhood, but the reply to this, as to the representation made by the Rev. Mr. Jar sopp, was that the Home Secretary did not feel him se . justified, having regard to the atrocity of the crime and the circumstances connected with it,'in taking say steps to interfere with the course of the law. On Saturday the culprit was visited by his father and his brother, and this interview was also of a very painful character. For some little time after the departure of his relatives he appeared depressed, but very soon recovered his customary stolid demeanour. On Sunday morning the condemned sermon was preached by the chaplain, and he took for his text the let chapter of St. lames, 13th, 14th, and 15th verses, " Let no man say when he is tempted I mu tempted of God, for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempted by any man. But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust. Then, when lug* has conceived, it brings forth sin, and sin, when it is punished, bringeth forth death." In the afternoon the convict dictated a letter to the schoolmaster of the gaol, to be forwarded to his mother, in reply to one that she had rent to him, and))e inclosed a tract, which he requested the ohaplain to give him •for that purpose. The Rev. Mr. Jessopp visited the culprit before he went to bed on Mons day night ; he appears to have slept soundly for several hours, and ate his breakfast this morning with his usual unimpressible manner. The first thing he said when he was visited by Me. Jessopp this morning was to request that a lock of his hair might be sent to his mother, accompanied by a statement that he died forgiving all who had ever injured him, as he himself hoped to be forgiven. He particularly expressed a wish that an expression of his contrition and hope of forgiveness might be conveyed to the parents of the poor girl whom he bad killed. Notwithstanding the fact of the prisoner thus appear ing to be in a state of mind becoming his awful situation, when he was taken down from the condemned cell to the yard to be pinioned, a frightful scene ensued. The moment the culprit saw Calcraft the executioner sp• preach him with the straps to pini n his arms, he started back with an aspect of horror depicted on his countenance, and began to struggle violently with the turkey. The chaplain spoke to him and endeavoured to calm him and this for a moment appeared to have the desired effect, but upon the executioner requesting that the culprit might be taken outside, as he could not see sufficiently well to fasten the straps properly, another fearful struggle ensued. The culprit being a young powerful man, it required the exertions of four or five of the warders to kohl him. It was necessary to throw him down and bold bin on the ground while he was being pinioned, and during the struggle the prisoner kicked most violently, one or two of the turnkey, being very much hurt by the kicks they re. seised. During the whole of the struggle the wretched prisoner did not utter a word, and his conduct seemed to be actuated by an uncontrollable horror of the light of the executioner and the api aratus of death. After he had been secured he walked quietly by the side of the chaplain, until he arrived at the steps leading to the scaffold. Immediately he caught sight of the gib bet his terror appeared to return ; be again strufk:kd violently as well as he was able, and was forcibly dragged up to the steps, and held under the beam by several tun• keys while the rope was adjusted round his neck. Al speedily as possible the bolt was drawn, and after a fee violent struggles, the wretched youth ceased to exist. At 10 o'clock the body was cut dowel, and it sill he buried in the course of the day within the gaol. A vet/ large crowd assembled to witness the execution, hut Al is now customary when these dreadful exhibitions take 0301 the sciffold was hung with black cloth, so that after the drop fell, very little of any of the body of the culprit could be seen. ENnLISH WORKIIHN IN PMl's.- Fur some week* past oommunications have taken place between the dele gates of workmen', unions la Pena and London with the view of misting each other at the period. of ettite‘ Political parties here host il e to the government have encouraged these intercommunications of workmen under the impression that it would add to the embarrsannents of the government. Thus Otrardin and H. Picard have identified thenuelvra with the movement, and openly expressed their sympathies with the French and English tailors concerned in it. Oa Pr i " day, having waited upon M. de Girardin to thank him for his support of their cause, the unionists, On le .ving. were met by M. Ernest Picard, who expressed to them how much he sympathised with their efforts. He toll them that lie and his colleagues considered it to he a katriotic duty to abstain from giving them active assiAance in order not to offend the authorities, who were at liberty to put a Al' t° their meetings in virtueof their diseretionsary Power- It was therefore for the workmen, relying solely upon them selves, to proceed boldly in their own course. H. Picard told the English delegates how much he was interested, is the efforts which the people of England were now makil to crown the edifice of their liberties with the right 0 suffrage. He begged them to express his whites to their colleagues of the democratic opposition at the meeting about to take place after their return to Imaden. The English workmen loudly applauded the representative 0( the Seine, and shook him very heartily by the hand rut name of ther brethren in England.—Paris Vorramowl , n t of Pod. THE LIBERAL POLICY. Regarding the situation as too grave to be made the theme of personal recriminations, and urging that the future should occupy attention, the Daily News insists that Mr. Disraeli's liberal allies are bound to provide, if possible, some compensation for the restriction which they have imposed in voting for the exclusion of compound householders an such from the suffrage. Lord Grosvenor's amendment, less liberal than the propo- sitions of either the government or the opposition, needs not, it is to be hoped, to be seriously discussed, and were it carried by a combination of reactionaries on both sides of the house, the government would be bound in personal honour and political consistency to consider it fatal to their measure. Though the qualification of 12 months below as above 10/. is to be preferred to one of two years' residence, to throw the bill out upon it would be a serious error. But the acceptance by the go vernment of Mr. Hibbert's amendment, which renders the franchise equally accessible to compound householders above and below 101., is earnestly to be desired. It re mains to be seen whether it can be compelled. The posi tion which Mr. Disraeli has gained gives him a fulcrum from which he may use greater leverage than before against less resistance. The power which the liberals have of amending the bill in any essential particular is not very great ; but they may prevent it being deteriorated. If they cannot coerce Mr. Disraeli, they may check and nen halise Lord Grosvenor. We shall probably have a bill this year ; but the bill will not be a settlement. The Star also opposes Lord Oroavenor's amendment as limiting the amount of enfranchisement, but thinks Mr. Gladstone's proposal to alter the residence to one year must be pushed forward, whether the government says it is fatal to their measure or not. If the liberal members vote on this point with Mr. Gladstone he will have a majority, and the government will either succumb, go out, or appeal to the country. It must come to this in the end. With the unsatisfactory county franchise ahead and the miserable readjustment of seats, the bill cannot be accepted as a settlement. The parliamentary episode of Friday is commented upon by the Telegraph and Star. The former says Mr. Osborne is followed in the inquiry by public gratitude and interest, and that what has since transpired confirms the ugly look of the intrigue. The Star says the only substantial dif ference between the account, of Mr. Osborne and Mr. Dillwyn is that the real terms of the negotiation did not bind the government, though they were to buy the radicals. A lodger franchise, based upon a payment of the rates, commends itself to the Standard. Under the present law a lodger whose rent is 101. • year may insist upon being rated in conjunction with his landlord, and may thus ob tain his vote. The principle is capable of extension here as in the tenant's case generally. Let a man prove that be has resided • year or two in the same apartments, and that he has personally paid his rates, and justice demands that he should be entitled to the franchise. Even with out this substantial justice is open to all under the special franchises. TRADICS' tarbms. The Times publishes bits of the evidence which is being heard by the Trades' Unions Commission, selecting espe cially the st►tements of Mr. Harnett, the secretary of the the Friendly Society of Operative Masons. This society, it appears, fixes a minimum rate of wages for each district, and any member is fined, and ultimately expelled, if he accepts anything below the tariff. The same penalty is inflicted on the mason who takes piece -work, for " the society does not recognise piece -work." It disapproves overtime in general, delegating the power of dispensing with the prohibition to district lodges, whose consent must be obtained before any workman can exceed the usual hours. whatever the emergency. Its rules against " chasing " are apparently peremptory, and it distributes black lists of those who have worked in opposition to its laws. While fully anticipating that the habits of providence and self-government encouraged by the trades' unions will be recognised in an impartial report, the Times greatly fears that practices of this kind, contrary not only to po litical economy but to common sense and common justice, will be proved to be very general among them. If a man who possesses greater strength or ability than his fellows chooses of his own accord to join a society which forbids him to earn more than average wages, it is his own con cern, bat it is monstrous that he should be intimidated or bullied into joining the society, or for working on his own terms without joining it. While interference with liberty of contract is prescribed or sanctioned by ta-ailese unions, as we know on Mr. Harnott's authority that it is, protests against narrow theories of political economy are vain and hypocritical. Ir 4 TOPICS. The decision in the case of Admiral Pentane) is shown by the Time. to have been the necessary result of his own de fence. On coming up with the enemy, he suddenly quitted his flag-ship, which was afterwards sunk, and, unknown to the rest of the fleet, went on board tke Affondatore. This he did, be says, that be might better survey the chances of the battle, but it seems that he only once put his head out of the strong turret. Dur;ng the engagement the Affondatore was steered straight upon an Austrian vessel, and twice was the shock avoided. Captain Martini called out " port," a movement which would have made the collision inevitable, but Persano cried out "starboard," and wrathfully added that "it was for him alone to give orders." " The Kaiser's fire," he observed, was "too heavy." The Italian fleet all through was without a commander, and it is easy to understand why after the disasters of the Re d'ltalia and Palestro the Italians remained paralysed. Scarcely half an hour after the first encounter, and as the two squadrons were about to recommence, the admiral suddenly revealed himself, and, after perplexing the fleet by contradictory signals, led it from the enemy. The Daily Nein observes that the sudden and abrupt the Court. WINDSOR CASTLE, APRIL 15. The Queen drove out to-day, attended by Lady Churchill. Princess Louise, attended by the Hon. Flora Macdonald, went out walking this morning. Prince Christian also walked out. Prince Henry of Prussia, attended by Captain Von Schroetter, went to London and visited the Prince and irineesa of Wales, at Marlborough-house. His royal high• nese afterwards returned to Windsor Castle. Prince Arthur, attended by Major Elphinstone, has left the Castle for Greenwich-park. Lord John Manners, the Right Hon. Spencer Walpole, and the Bishop of St. David's have also left the Castle. The Japanese troupe had the honour of performing before Princess Louise, Prince Leopold, Princess Beatrice, and Prince Henry of Prussia at Windsor Castle this after noon. The ladies and gentlemen in waiting were in at tendance. The following bulletin was Usual this morning : " Princess Christian has passed a quiet night, and the Princess and Infant Prince are well." A Committee of the Lords of her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council sat yesterday at the Privy Council-office, Whitehall, on the subject of the cattle plague. The lords present were the Lord President and the Right Hon. E. Hammond. Mr. Harrison and Dr. Alexander Williams attended the committee. The Earl of Derby is daily getting better. It is hoped he will be enabled to attend in his place in the House of Lords shortly after parliament resumes business. _ . The Earl and Countess Russell and family have left Chesham-place for Pembroke Lodge, Riehmond-park, for the holidays. The Right Hon. Sir William Hutt, Baal., M.P., and Lady Hutt have left town for Faris. In a few days Mr. and Mrs. Gladstone go to Paris for the Easter ewe's. The Right Hon. Edward Horsman, M.P., and Mn. Horsman left town yesterday, to visit Sir John and Lady Gwendoline Ramsden, at their seat in Yorkshire. Lady Emily Peel and her infant son are both programing most favourably. The Duke of Cambridge called personally at Sir Robert's residence in Whitehall gardens. The Queen ►nd the Prinoe and Princess of Wales have sent to make inquiries. . _ _ The marriage of Min Venetia Stanley Errington, daughter of Sir Rowland Stanley Errington, with Viscount Pollington, will take place on Wednesday, the 24th inst. The mortal remains of the Countess Dowager of Ripon were removed at an early hour yesterday morning from the family villa at Putney, to Norton, Lincolnshire. The Earl De Grey has left town to attend the funer►l. Lord Shaftesbury and other active promoters of religious assemblies are in Paris, providing for the " spiri tual wants" of the exhibition multitude. Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess of Prussia has opened a fancy fair in her palace in aid of a charity for the support of invalided soldiers. During the six days of admittance it has been numerously visited, and would seem to have realised a very large sum. Among the gifts received for sale was a selection of costly and useful articles contributed by Queen Victoria. The Princess Royal, besides an infinity of other presents, gave some paintings by her own hand. During the sale, in the true oriental style of gallantry, M. Aristarchi, the Turkish ambassador, took a bouquet from one of the stalls and laid down a 1,000 thaler note. A good many half penny biscuits were bought at about D. 10s. a piece. _ . The Bishop of Peterborough has appointed the Rev. W. L. Collin', for many years curate of Bralleld, to the vicarage of Kileby, county Northampton, diocese of Peterborough, value 300/. The Bishop of Peterborough has appointed the Rev. G. E. Gillett, rector of Waltham-le-Wolda, to an honorary canonry in the cathedral church of Peter borough. THE EPISODE IN FRIDAY'S DEBATE. The following letter from Mr. Brand, M. P., appears in the Times : " Sir,—Having read in your paper of this date letters from Colonel Taylor, Mr. Stanley, and Mr. Dillwyn, touch ing the ' Episode in Friday's debate,' I beg to supply the missing link of the chain through which the statement read by Mr. Osborne, was communicated to him. On Friday last Mr. Stanley called upon me and informed me that he had seen on the previous evening in the House of Commons a memorandum, drawn up by Mr. Dillwyn, stating, on the authority of Colonel Taylor, that' Lord Derby and Mr. Disraeli were in favour of accepting Mr. Hibbert's amendment.' He added the memorandum had been freely shown to manymembers, and expressed surprise that I had not heard of it. It struck me that this statement was of the greatest importance as affecting the question before the house, and I accordingly asked Mr. Stanley whether he could give me the terms of the memorandum. He thereupon dictated the memorandum, which was after , wards read by Mr. Osborne, and he assured me that it was substantially correct. He declined to moot the ques tion himself, but was willing that it should be raised in the house, and would be prepared, if appealed to, to vouch for the substantial accuracy of the memorandum. I showed the memorandum to several members, who, without exception, concurred with m e i n thi n ki ng that the matter should be cleared up openly in the house. Among those I showed it to Mr. Osborne, and invited him to raise the question in the house. He mid that he would consider the matter, and commu nion. with Mr. Stanley, to wh om I refe rred him. So much for the facts of the case. I may be allowed to add a few words as to the grounds upon which I acted. I was well aware of the desire felt by many members of the op position that the government ahould accept Mr. Hibbert's amendment. Colonel Taylor, in his letter in your columns, frankly declares that this desire was shared by members on both sides of the house. It is obvious that the accep tance of the amendment by the government must have had a material effect upon the course to be taken by the house. It seemed to me that if Lord Derby and Mr. Dis raeli were in favour of the concession, it was not right that the knowledge of that most important fact should be confined to those members to whom Mr. Dillwyn might exhibit the memorandum • and I thought that th e h ouse was entitled I to a public dec laration from the government upon • ques tion of such vital importance. Hence Mr. Osborne's in quiry. It is deeply to be regretted that the house has been, and still is, kept in the dark as to the views of the government with regard to Mr. Hibbert's amendment ; for the timely announcement of concession on this point would have gone far to settle the vexed question of the borough franchise, and to have avoided the conflict of Friday last. —I am, sir, yours faithfully, " H. BRAND. " 2, Upper Belgrare-street, April 15. " P.S. I take this opportunity of repeating my regret, already expressed in the house, that I was precluded, through Colonel Taylor's unfortunate accident, from giving him notice, as Mr. Osborne requested, that the matter was about to be brought forward." DISTRESS IN CORNWALL.—CIeat distreu prevails in the mining districts in Cornwall, and public subscrip tions are being raised in the emergency. In oonsequence of the complete stoppage of numerous mines and the p•r tial suspension of operations in many others. some hundreds of poor families are reduced to • state of great destitution, while the number of unemployed cannot be far short of 3,000. Indeed, in three parishes alone—namely, Sithney, Rreage, and Wendron, there are shout 2,000 out of wor k. In and around Camborne and Redruth there is also a vast amount of distress. ITALY. FLORENCE, APRIL 16. The Prefect Colucci has been appointed Director- General of the Department of Public Safety. The Italian government has given very stringent orders to prevent or repress any attempt to violate pontifical territory. THE ITALIAN PARLIAMENT. FLORENCE, APRIL 16. In yesterday evening's sitting of the Chamber of Deputies, Signor Ferraris requested information from the government relative to the late ministerial crisis, and also upon the intentions of the ministry respecting the composition of the cabinet, the Roman question, the finances, administrative de centralisation, and the ecclesiastical property. Signor Rattazzi replied that he did not feel justi fied in giving information respecting the late minis terial crisis. The present cabinet, he said, is guided by the same general principles as its predecessor— these principles being also &hared by nearly all the parties in parliament. The ministry will bring forward administrative and financial measures upon the first opportunity. Relative to the ecclesiastical property Signor Rat tazzi stated that he should firmly maintain the ideas which he had expressed to his electors on this question. Referring to the Roman question the minister said :—" The government will loyally execute the September Convention, and will pre vent any attempt that might compromise the future of this question." With regard to administra tive decentralisation the minister declared his ideas to be radical. He proposed to leave to the govern ment solely that intervention which was necessary to good administration. Signor Rattazzi observed respecting the composition of the cabinet that no one could say that one province of Italy more than another was represented in it. Upon the conclusion of Signor Rattazzi'a speech the subject dropped. Deputy Monzani has been nominated Secretary- General of the Ministry of the Interior, and Com mander Srevzhi to the same post in the Ministry of Finance. No secretaries-general are to be ap pointed to the Ministries of War or Marine. Garibaldi arrived at Florence last night. THE MEDITERRANEAN SQUADRON. LA VALETTA, APRIL 15. Her Majesty's ship iron-clad Ocean has left for Gibraltar. The Resistance is expected here from Athens. The Victoria and Arethusa are awaiting sailing orders. THE MAURITIUS MAILS. lILARSEILLFS, APRIL 15. The Menageries Imp‘riales steamer Pelose, with the above mails, arrived here to-night (midnight). OVERLAND MAILS. 130318AY MAIL. ALEXANDRIA, APRIL 11. The Masailia and Nyanza left this morning. The former may be expected at Marseilles about the 20th, and the latter at Southampton about the 27th inst. OUTWARD INDIA AND CHINA MAILS. MALTA, APRIL IS. The Pera, from Southampton 4th must. , arrived on the 13th at 9 a.m., and left at midnight for Alexandria. The Syria, from Marseilles on the 12th inst., arrived at 2 a.m., and leaves at 7 a.m. for Alex andria. WEATHER REPORT.-(THIS DAY.) TUESDAY, APIIL le, • A.X. P. Nitrous. Sea, N. IT. W. Ito, ' -,1 W. B. ISc jl2 F. D. 10. Salm Abode= Leith 19949 47 W. 4 W.N.W. cj— , 4 Anions= ,29.6t 46 W.N.W. 5 • N.W. ol J 2 Orreumatle 129.56 46 W.S.W. 2 N.W. ro 02 - 2 I Valenti& .. 29.78 47 N.W. ! 4 W.N.W. of 003 4 Cope Clear 29.84 49 N.W. 1 4 N.W. I m 0.15 S 4 IJoirpoot 29.416 47 W.S.W. 2 , W. Ico ' 9.02 1 Holyhead 29.62 42 41.8. W. , I ' W.N.W. Cr :012 3 Peosauce '19.88 63 W.N.W. 6 : N.W. :cno' , 4 Brest 'woo 52 W . B.W. W. ; , W.N.W. om —I 4 Lorient 29.96 54 W. 14 W.N.W. I, on 11.416 • Rochefort 00.0856 W. 1 4 W. of 6 Plymouth 29.84 63 W. I 3 . N.W. Ico 0.02 3 Weymouth 29.8048 W.&W. 6 W.N.W. cm ;001 3 Portsmouth 207947 &W. S: : N.N.W. , r'o.oo 2 London 9978 46 W. 2 I W N.W. ' oer .0.03 - Yarmouth _ 29.09 47 N.W. 3 ' N.W. 100 ' 2 Scarborough 29.63 45 W.N.W. 2 , N.W . .W. Ico —l3 Helder Shields — 19.51 46 N.W. • 1 N.W. co —; 2 ——--I - - REMARKS. Atmospherical d generally shine yester day morning. The winds have backed a little with diminished force, whilst temperature has remained steady. Weather gvue rally overcast, with mist lu south, and little rain. A letter from Marseilles says :—" A large placard on the walls of this city announces that the celebrated Theresa is to give a concert at the Aloasar Music Hall on the 23rd. The price of admission is Axed at 20fr., 10fr., and Mr., accenting to the places. The notice does not, however, mention whether a glass of beer is included, and whether the audience will be expected to liquor afresh after each song. In any ease, 20fr. to hear the Gazdeuse d'Ours ' or the ' &pear,' even sung by Theresa, is rather high, when for the quarter of that sum the public of Mar seilles have had Nourrit, Dupree, Tambezlik, Mdme. moreau, Alboni, and Patti, who certainly did not sing the FCIIIIIIO i Barba,' but were nevertheless great artists." A strange epidemic prevails at this moment amongst the feline race in the environs of Brussels. Cats are dying in large numbers and my rapidly, after con tinual vomiting, spasms, convulsions, and other symptoms resembling poison. 11 i V 1 Qe tho SOY jull Um 1%.111 tie we Mar heal My ebtil .18 1111 lakth Th rect., Th PIM dek,t, that 1 radii been lotne