The Express. — London, England, 1862-03-18 00:00:00

l‘. FARIS FIRST CLASS sad LONDON PRIZE WATIIWTO MADAM N and 111100 DIN A. v, 001 . 1, 111111 e sod JIWILLIPA BkoakireeurisUsalrest. Covinefeeeek ICC- 14 "" X.B sasetasuist drum Ita the maim me ea Namlies M I o clock. B•RMONIIIMIL—NSW MODIL. Guam. awa ma wow% mt. Rif•es l-atred• site erprego. TO O.O4ILWON oftwlimmosalm bilisied M. "7b Loudon Weft mirS be at Ike sise. * ftum . l•Mrest, b Two ea the 44 el publlssillin. I AAAAAA 17.. T. ammo. OVI (IlladailiVlTN. ti er* %them & w imp..., mum ard Sewn . Mrs C. Tema leise Other. —TOE It IeIIeTSATT. llr. How. sad Itre.C. Yoaug Ar..l \LILY LUIS. lir. Compies. —Cereemee at T. yaiwommL Tars Vim" CA= T. cam Wlddleaub sad Mtge . ILAIL Mr. Fechter and Nisi C. Lecleroi. MI TANKER SOVIIIIIICIPIL *,. and Yes, W. J. Incesses.-1101 Tu GAILUIALDUNS. R. IAMBI& Ts num /RIMS OM YOWL Mama O. Than% llsboore. Marlton ; Mseduess Itrowr, se=fis. ll = MUM AND ANDROMEDA. 3118. P. Matthews awl Ma DMI t ..oammosso et 71. 801 . 1,1111116 110 01.10. IDLY O'COSPDX. 100 Remold. sal Dram woad: 16a& 40-11ESIXX1 IX 71111 MCI( V. 43 Hue's arelolo,—AM 71111 SONS OF MU AID' L. 10.1001 I. Tamil 0111, Qytaa--Uo.se.a i re. nen WAS= AT 113.50.01 MOM Ts 04T—Marsita Lflemess. i Ms. TO-lIMAOIII Afterusse. 4L LONDON, ruzsaar, YAMS 18. I r Lord WIDCTIIVItY should prove himself an able legislator, his Chancellorship has fallen in the hap piest times. That there are grievous abuses and defects in the law of England is admitted on all hands ; nor are the peculiar subjects which demand immediate attention difficult to ascertain. Not even among the host of veteran lawyers and ex-Chancellors who occupy seats in the House of Lords is there one who does not profess and sincerely feel the reoessity of consoli dating the Statutes, of facilitating the Transfer of Land, and of amending the procedure in Lunacy. Two of these subjects have already engaged the attention of Parliament within the last few days, nor is it possible to take exception to the tone in which they have been discussed. There is an ob vious anxiety in membersonboth aidesof the House to divest themselves of all party spirit, and to agree upon some practical measures to amend the defects generally admitted to exist. In this country the CHANCELLOR is the Minister of Justice, and it loins province, as such, to devise legal measures, and to obtain for them the assent of his brother peers. The intellectual powers mammary to fulfil the duties of such • minis ter are comparatively rare; nor does it by any means follow that the man who has won his way to the Woolsack from the Bar should really pos sess them. At the Bar the advocate is every thing ; and it would be difficult to name any who displayed more consummate ability as an advocate than Sir Runitase Bwram.i.. In subtlety of intellect, in arrangement of topics, in power of statement, and in fertility of resource, Sir Rice tau Beretta. stood pre-eminent above all his contemporaries. But he has now entered • new arena, and it remains to be seen whether, as Chancellor Wnirse an, he will achieve the same success as • legislator which he achieved as an ad vocate, or whether the peculiar genius which raised him to his high position is somewhat leas adapted to the duties which he is now called upon to discharge. The power of explaining and illus trating a design is very different from the power of constructing it. Genitor. STIPHENRoN was no doubt less plausible and less ingenious in conver sation than Barest ; but &memento"; was always practically right, and Buren. was sometimes prao tically wrong. Hundreds of theoretical mathe maticians have constructed machines which they could make work admirably in conversation, but which utterly failed when reduced to risible machinery. It is rare to find the man of ideas , and the man of practice combined ; and there is some fear lest Lord WEATICMY may prove an illustration of this ancient axiom. It would be difficult to find • more remarkable con trast than that exhibited by comparing a speech explaining some new measure, pronounced by the late Sir ROUX? Pint, with the speech of the present Cnancstion, pronounced upon his Land Transfer Bill, or upon the subject of Lunacy. The lidetirstal WlYDaaw case occupied the Court 32 days, and =et each side 15,000/. Me. WINDHAM proved his sanity at last, but the coo elusion of the jury was reached long after every sane person out of doors who had read the evi dence had made up his mind upon the subject. Such a case is a scandal to the administra tion of justice. Lord Weerseae, therefore, was almost required to consider the subject, and to provide • remedy. That remedy is embodied in • Bill now before Parliament ; and it may be useful to consider some of the principles which Lord Wiersetv announced in his address upon the subject. It may be assumed that ti's substitution of &Common Law Judge for a Master in Lunacy will be • very substantial improvement; for such • magistrate will not only ponces more judi cial experience than the present Mastersin Lunacy, but will have more influence both over the jury and over the counsel. And there are several other provisions which will be of considerable advantage. For the present, however, we omit' all notice of the preliminary stages, and assume that the inquiry has reached the point at which the sanity or insanity of the alleged lunatic is to be tried by • jury before one of the Common Law fiTU e ell• At this st.;i: :4 the procedure the CHANCELLOR proposes several modifications. In the first place, the alleged lunatic is at once to be examined by the jury. As Lord CHELMAYoRD said, this person is, in fact, part of the petitioners' case. He is the most impor- tant piece of evidence which can possibly be produced by the petitioners who have undertaken to establish his insanity, and therefore it seems most reasonable that he should be the very• first fact, as it were, submitted to the jury. It is, of course, possible that the jury may at once come to the conclusion that he is sane ; but in case they require further evidence, the proper course would seem to be that the alleged lunatic should be continually before them. The sanity or insanity of a man is not always discover able in a single interview, however protracted. 1 Such an interview is fair neither to the judges nor to the person judged. Should the inquiry con tinue • certain number of days, therefore, it' should be in the power of the jury to require an interview either at the beginning, or at the end, of each day's proceedings. In the second place, the Cats:wet-Loa proposes that there shall be evidence of no facts which have occurred more than two years prior to the time at which the inquiry takes place. There are many cases in which such • regulation would be eminently useful. But in the case of Mr. WIND BAH it is difficult to understand how any such re gulation could have been fairly enforced. The case was one of congenital imbecility. It was said that from his birth to the day of the inquiry Mr.WIND- NAM had constantly shown signsof Wad. If such a case is henceforth to be excluded from oonsideration, let the CHAwcasom say so. But if, on the one hand, congenital imbecility is still to form a good ground for finding • man lunatic, how is it to be proved except by tracing the conduct of the alleged lunatic 'from his birth If, on the other hand, this history is to be excluded, is congenital idiocy to be proved by the evidence of doctors, founded on an inspection of physical peculiarities? Surely it cannot be forgotten that the most cogent proof of Mr. Wt. , : tuctir's sanity was the mode in which he conducted himself at Eton, and the treatment which ho met with there. Is it proposed that the alleged lunatic is to be prevented from producing such evidence, or is he to be allowed to produce it, and are the petitioners to be forbidden to contra dict it It certainly seems that if such evidence s really relevant to the issue, which it was in Mr. WIN otwess cue, it must be admitted; and if it be not relevant it ought to be excluded by the presiding Judge, acco-tung to the present rules of evidence. The same line of observation applies to the pro posal of the CH•NCELLOR. to check the " mad ;lectors." It is obvious enough that in Mr. WIND- Hsu's case a mane of scientific evidence was admitted which ought to have been excluded, and a number of questions were asked which ought not to have been answered. But when the CHANCELLOR. ' proposes to lay down by Act of Parliament that the evidence of mad doctors shall only be admitted " when the subject is removed from the ordinary " sphere and knowledge of common sense," he proposes a rule which it will be very difficult to enforce. In ordinary cases before the Common Law Judges it Is matter of great difficulty to prevent doctors stating their opinion as to the state of a lunatic's mind so as not to usurp the functions of the jury. According to present rules, at least as illustrated by the WINDHAM case, the doctors in the witness-box were only asked as to what they saw and what they observed, and to state their opinion, as medical men, upon the ease. The jury were allowed to draw their conclusion as to whether the facts proved sanity or insanity. But in what way the CHANCELLOR proposes to reduce the number of mad doctors who may be called, it is difficult to understand. It must be observed that all the doctors examined in Mr. WINDHAM'B case were persons who had seen and conversed with him, and who stated to the jury facts of which they had personal knowledge. These facts were all material to the inane, though questions may7have been put which ought not to have been put. And so long as any doctor is put into the witness-box who has per sonal knowledge of the conduct and demeanour of an alleged lunatic, it seems impossible to refuse to hear his evidence, or to prevent any number of such witnesses being produced. Lord WESTBURY may, no doubt, shorten the inquiry by placing on ' the bench a magistrate who has knowledge and authority strictly to enforce the rulea of evidence ; but no new Act of Parliament is required for this purpose. It is the capacity of the presiding judge, not the law itself, which most needs reform. " EITIAOILDINAZT ROBEIELIES AT THE GENERAL Pour-omes." Under this heading we pub lished on Saturday a statement, furnished to as by a reporter of long standing, relating the circumstances under which there had been stolen, it was said, from the Post-office a registered letter containing 5,0001. in Bank notes and cheques, the whole of which had been realized at the Bank of England in gold, and was eons& f l uently irrecoverable. We are now able to state, on the best authority, that, with the exception of the fact that a registered letter had been stolen, the statement was utterly false. The stolen letter contained the halves of notes to the amount of 651., and a cheque for 91. 9s.—together W. 9s. ; and as one set of halves reached their destina tion, and payment of the cheque was stopped, nobody will lose a farthing by the disappearance of the letter. Some of our re►ders will doubtless remember similar previous reportsof extraordinary derangements and mishaps alleged to have occurred at the General Post-office, and there can be little doubt that they have a common origin in private animosity. Reserving the right to take all mea sures necessary to protect ourselves and our con temporaries from further imposition of this kind, we think it only due to put the public on their guard.—Daily Neits. LATEST INTILLIGENC& ITALY. At Turin on Saturday, at a grand dinner given by the President of the Council to the Diplomatic Corps, the senior member of the diplomatic body proposed a toast to the King of Italy. M. Rattuzi thanked the English ambassador for the sentiments he had expreseed towards the person of the King, and proposed a toast to all powers friendly and allied towards Italy. The Prussian ambassador, whose position was not without embarrassment, had the tact to propose as his toast, "The Prince Hum bert." The American Minister then proposed— " The happiness and union of a divided people." This toast doubtless referred to Italy, but was also susceptible el being applied to America, "although," says the Nahosalites, "it has not been generally deemed appropriate on inch occa sions to propose a tout to one's own nation." (now oua owl THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 18, 1882. EXPRESS FROM PARIS. PARIS, MONDAY EVIIIING. In the Corps Legislatif to-day, M. Baroche, re plying to the attacks of M. Picard upon the muni cipal administration of Paris, taunted him for having brought forward the same amendment as last year, supported by the same arguments, and likely to be voted by only the same five persons. He expressed the determination of the government to maintain the present system—namely, a munici pality appointed by the Emperor, and not elected by the citizens, and gave, for a reason, that this system is " good, useful, and necessary, and that the present municipal council of Paris is intelligent, laborious, and profoundly devoted to the interests of the city." Replying to M. Picard's assertion that if Paris were polled it would prefer an elected to a court-appointed municipal council, M. Baroohe said that he would not inquire what might be the opinion of Paris, because the question was one eminently political, and concerned all France. Even if all Paris should be against the present system, that would be no argument, unless you, the " representatives of the country," should be of their opinion. This was a very artful way of putting the case, because M. Baroche knows very well that the present chamber is in the habit of voting against every proposition brought for ward by the five members. It is an unanswerable appeal to Bunkum before this audience to say, "Gentlemen, are you not the representatives of the people 1" because (except in the ex traordinary and unexplained case of Count Palikao's flotation, which, moreover, is not yet finally settled) the Emperor's nominees have always dutifully obeyed his orders, This same rhetorical flourish was always used with equal success when K Picard exposed the other day the habitual frauds practised by the prefects, mayors, and all other functionaries at elections. " What," said MM. Baroche and Billault, in the teeth of the most damning evidence, "are you, gentlemen, not the real representatives of the people 1" Of course they voted that they were. The mode of reasoning is a piracy from K Guizot, who, when pressed to grant parliamentary reform, exclaimed, by way of a clincher, "Gentlemen, do you feel yourselves corrupted r But on this particular subject of the municipality of Paris, K Baroche's adoption of the old form of argument is not plausible. The Corps Legislatif may agree with him that not Paris but all France is interested in the administration of the municipal funds of the capital, and yet it does not at all follow that the municipality should be appointed by the Emperor. They might even disapprove of the Emperor's pre rogative in that respect, but their disapprobation would not alter the law, because they have no initiative, and can only accept or reject such pro. positions as the Emperor chooses to bring before them. If the reason why the Paris corporation should not be elected by Paris citizens is that it represents France, and not Paris, then France should have a voice in the election, but that is not proposed. K Baroche is still speaking while I write. There can be, of course, no doubt about the fate of the amendment, but M. Picard's humorous saying, that the government would do well occasoinally to "take warning" from the observations of the journals, instead of "inflicting warnings" upon them so often, will not soon be forgotten. The debate on the address will pro bably finish to-morrow. The Revue Contemporaine (speaking of the debates up to the date of its new number, March 15) says that the discussions in the Senate and Corps Legis latif seem to prove that the concessions of Nov. 24, 1860, require " either a complement or a cor rective." Those concessions maintain for the most part the political system established in 1852, and are confirmed by subsequent laws and decrees, framed in a spirit quite in accordance with the constitution of that date. Up to Novem ber, 1860, the country was assumed to be content with whatever was. But now the Senate and the re presentatives of the people are authorised and en couraged publicly to criticise every act of the go vernment, It is not wonderful that after ten years of silent adhesion, not (in many cases) by any means voluntary, the suddenly unloosed tongues shoull empty long pent up vials of wrath. But now the question arises how far it will be possible to dissociate the power of free criticism from the power of remedying what the great bodies of the state think wrong. Men of diametrically opposite opinions, such as M. Pietri and hi Segur d'Aguesseau in the Senate, and M. Jules Fevre and M. Lemercier in the Corps Legislatif, condemn in very splendid language this or that policy of the government, and are invariably told by the speaking ministers that the prerogatives assumed ten years ago, with the sanction of univer sal suffrage, will continue to be exercised. If this kind of thing is to go on—if the members of the assemblies may say what they like of the government on condition that their observations are to go for nothing—there must be angelic patience and self-denial on one side or the other to prevent a crisis in which the government will be seriously annoyed by censures and the cham bers tired of giving advice which is despised. The great question is whether the dilemma will lead to a forward or • backward step. The positive declarations of MK Billault and Baroche that the present laws on the press, the laws of public safety, and other laws, severely attacked, will not be parted with, and an exclamation of regret let fall by Count de Morn) , in regard .to the reforms already granted, do not authorise the belief that the government inclines, for the pre sent, to lean towards the liberal party. A debate is coming on about the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and, apropos of this, Bullier's Correspondence says that the government has made • compitomise with the leaders of the society—they are to elect their own president, subject only to the Emperor's approbation. M. Grote, the first secretary of legation at the Russian embassy here, has just been appointed grand marshal of the household of the Grand Duke Michael, and will leave Paris immediately. This appointment is cited as evideuce of the liberal tendencies of the Grand Duke, because M. Grote, whose father made his fortune in the red herring trade, belongs to the new or parvenue nobility. The annexation of Nice has brought a curious law case before the court of Aix. An advocate of Nis has brought an action against the ex-Duke of Parma for 600,000 fr., the amount of fees alleged to be due for professional assistance rendered to his royal highness in the matter of negotiations with the French government. The Bourse was firm, but without animation. The Rents left off at Saturday's prioe for cash, 80fr. 70c., and 69fr. 80c. (with a rise of 5c.) for account. Mobilise rose Ur. 25c., and the Italian Loan 25c. Railways were from Ifr. to 3fr. higher. Prince Napoleon is expected to leave for London the day after to-morrow. A bill la now before the American Oongreee for the establishment of an tagetooltural apirenasst to be. pieced wider a commimicata appointed by the Presiding,. gbe Court. WINDSOR CASTLE, Yawn 17. Owing to the unfavourible state of the weather the queen did not have the Castle this morning. The I hike of Cambridge arrived from Loudon, and n. turned in the afternoon. A deputation from the ponds at AU &ids, Poplar. bed an interview with the Bight Has. C. P. Vinton, M.P., yesterday, at the odes al the Poor law Board. The dew. intim ameisted d Mr. J. T. Thiebar, J.P. ; Mr. C. Dar ling, and Mr. J. P. Penne% churchwardens ; Mr. W. J. Gibbs, sod Mr. C. Nor* overseers ; Mr. W. G. Cody, clerk to the TilligiON ; Mr. K Colman, Mr. Jolts Caner, Mr. G. Barney, Mr. J. Gate', Mr. J. Y. Gibbs, Mr. W. Jes, Mr. K. K. Elias, Mr. Jobs Allen, and Mr. W. Bisbee, sad Ina lairedsood by Mr. Ayrtoo, M.P. Despatcbm were received yesterday 4 the Colonial-offioe Dom the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian Wand; end from the governors of Ceylon, Hoeg Koog, the Amtra. lien Colonies, Canada, British Columlis, sad Vancouver's lakod. Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess d'Asiside have returned to Orleans House, Twickeeksm, from their seat in Woreemershire. His Excellency the Spanish Minister will leave as i'hundai next for Spoli. Frances Anne Marchioness of Londonderry comes to town today from Wynyertl Park, Durham, tot the MM. Lady Carolina Muse bad an miserably last even ing at bar residence in Upper Grosvenoratreet, which was attended by the diplomatic corps aid the members of the aristocracy at present in town. Mr. and lady Edith Hastings are expected in town in a few days from St. Leoeard's.on.Sea. Mr. Hast ings has takes a Toshio:moo in Grosvenor•square for the maim. The Dean of Worcester has left Farranee's Hotel for the Deanery, Worcester. The deanery of Ferns, rendered vacant by the death of the Very Rev. Henry Newland, D.D., has been conferred by the crown on the Rev. Hamilton Verschoyle, seelor chaplain of the Bona-street episcopal church in Dublin. Mr. Verschoyle was for many years the honorary secretary of the Church Education Society. An entertainment took place at the Bing's Palace, Berlin, on the 14th, when Madame Blake recited some favourite pieces, especially a poem by lornertino, the soliloquy from the " Maid cd Oriesas," "Farewell ye French, sad • soliloquy from " Marie iltaart" The 14th of March was ushered in at Turin by Balm of artillery, to celebrate the birthday el Kies Victor Km vessel, and Mae§ Humbert, the heir apparent. The Xteg ma that day attend his 43rd year, sad the Prime Liu 19th year. The King of Saxony has published an address to I the people, thanking them for the sympathy which they' had manifested on the occasion of the sudden decease of the Princess Sidonajoho lately died at the age of 28. THE lONIAN ISLANDS. Letters from Corfu of the Bth describe the pro oeedings of the newly-elected parliament, which commenced its sittings on the 27th ult. Most of the deputies, before taking the constitutional oath, made reservations in favour of the national prin ciple. An incident of no little significance is reported. It appears that two deputies who were elected for Cephalonia, who have always been fervent adherents of the union with Greece, and suffered seven years' exile on account of their participation, represented them selves to be so annoyed by the choice which the government hes made of Count Canino as Presi dent of the Senate, that they insisted upon resign ing their sesta. The assembly at once made this an occasion for a demonstration, and elected them unanimously President and Vice-President re spectively of the chamber. No difficulty was raised by the Lord High Commissioner ; and the chamber, in a body, followed by an immense crowd, proceeded to the houses of the two deputies, and induced them to withdraw their resignation and accept the new posts. Sir H. Storks closed his speech in opening the session by expressing the hope that the chamber would unite calmly and dispassionately with him in effecting those reforms which were required in the administration of the finances and of public instruction. In the course of his reply, the president (the former exile) observed, "Assn emanation of the noblest sentiments and wants of an Hellenic people, and as representatives of the dominant ideas of the time, the members of this chamber cannot but place themselves at an elevated point of view in seeking to advance the prosperity of the country, to preserve their honour, and to accelerate the advent of their national future. In acting on these principles they love to hope that the great nation represented here by your Excellency will appreciate their conduct, and concur in the realisation of their wishes." (arum's rzczawn.) AMERICA. ARRIVAL OF THE NIAGARA. QUEENSTOWN, MAsce 18. The Royal Mail steamship Niagara, from Boston on the sth, and Halifax on the 7th inst., arrived here at 8.20 am. She brings 36 passengers and 52,453 dole. in specie. She landed 134 racks of mails and two passengers, and proceeded for Liver pool at 8.40 am., all welL NEW YORK, liAsca 4, Evrnaro. (Per Nieves via Boston and Queenstown)l_ The Southern press le strongly urging the Con federate government to assume an aggressive policy. The Federal mails now run to Nashville. The Confederates have evacuated Murfreesbro', and have moved further south. Andy Johnson has been appointed Provisional Governor of Tennessee. He will repair to Nash ville to organise a state government and. to arm and protect loyal citizens. It is reported from Norfolk that the Confede rate steamer Nashville has arrived at Wilmington, North Carolina. The have completely laid Columbus in ashes and retired to Port Randolph, carrying away guns and everything available. The House of Representatives has passed a resolution, asking for oorrespondenoe or other information regarding Mexican affairs, and the alleged European design of establishing a monarchy in Mexico. The Committee of Ways and Means has re ported on a tax bill for levying the following taxes :--Spirituous liquors, 15 cents. per gallon ; printing paper, 3 wells per pound ; flour, 10 cents. per barrel ; 3 per cent. on incomes above 800 dole. ; tobacco, 3 cents per pound. A legacy duty is also proposed. Oil, gar, salt, leather, railroad and steam boat passengers, advertisements, carriages, matches, plate, and cattle, are all taxed. Licensee will be required for carrying on any business. President Lincoln, on receiving the Peruvian Minister, said—" The prosperity of America is sought not only through peace on her part, but through peace among all nations. The United States, thus friendly to all other nations, do not conceal the fact that they cherish special sentiments of friendship for those who like themselves have founded their institutions on the principle of the equal rights of men. Such nations being more prominently the neighbours of America, as co-operating with them in establishing civilisation on the American con tinent—such being American principles—Peru will be liberally dealt with." THE DEBATE ON TB Z ADDRESS IN THE CORPS LEGISLATIF. PARIS, Ktiten 18. Yesterday, in the Corps Legislstif, K Lemercier spoke in favour of the society of St. Vincent de Paul. N. Billault in reply defended the right of the government to appoint its president. Paragraph 10 of the address was then adopted. N. Brame proposed an amendment in reference to the treaty of commerce, and asked for an inquiry into the working of this treaty. The discussion will be continued to-day. THE SPANISH PASSIVE DEBT. MADRID, Kam 17, Emma. The Iberia of to-day publishes an article de manding a settlement of the Paesive Debt. The Epoca says, on the same subject :—" We be lieve that the government will satisfy the legiti mate claims of the bondholders after the question has been seriously taken into consideration." THE OUTWARD BRAZIL MAIL. LISBON, MAN= 17. The Royal Mail steamship Tyne, with the out ward Brazil man, of the 9th ult., arrived at Per nambuco on the Ist inst., at 2 p.m. The following goods have been sent to the Imonatioesi Exhibition is London tram New Hamp shire, is the Usitod Mates :--A stela freengins, estenb. &Mime, and time goods, ssunlass boo, • mei* mains, and sons ploughs. FRENCH MAYORS AND THEIR MERITS. The Moniteur of Saturday publishes a list of not lees than sixty-four mayors who have been decorated with the Cross of the Legion of Honour. The list is preceded by a report from the Minister of the Interior to the Em peror. The minister declares that he has not confined him self to selecting mayors " in the more important centres of population. Among those whom he proposes is a certain number who adminster rural communes, and among them are simple cultivators." The greater number of those proposed by X Persigny are persons who in the course of nature cannot long enjoy the distinction conferred on them. In most cases the ages of the recipients are specified ; the youngest is 68 years old. There are some from 70 to 79, several over 80, and one 94. Some have been over forty years in the exercise of the functions of village mayor, and many have the addi tional recommendation of having served in the army under the first empire. The reasons alleged by the minister for the bestowal of these rather tardy honours are sometimes curious and touching. One, the first on the list, is 74 years old, has been 44 years in the exercise of municipal functions, " has run. dered numerous services to his commune, has made the mast honourable use of a considerable fortune, and has led a patriarchal life." Another, 77 years' old, and of 48 years' service, is " the senior of the mayors of the department, and one of the best of them." besides him 37 years' service, has "shown the intelligent devotedness of a virtuous man," &c. Another, a cultivator, "enjoys much consideration." Another 82 years old, is ' the vigilant guardian of the interests of his commune." Anotbeq " ai;ordsOrdier, wounded in 1814, near Paris ; attached to his duties; active, intelligent ; of great consi deration." Another, 94 years old, is repotted as "an intelligent and conscientious administrator," ' the model of country mayors." Another is " a rich cultivator making a noble use of his fortune." Another is "much respected by those whom he adminis ters—the type of honesty and uprightness." Another, with 52 years' service, is " venerated for his spirit of charity, modesty, and devotedness." Another, besi des 49 years' service, and being senior in his department, is " • man of duty and disinterestedness." Another, an old soldier of the first republic and the empire, is " • useful mayor, esteemed and devoted." Another, "firm and energetic in difficult times." Another, "a soldier of the empire, wounded and made prisoner at the defence of the bridge of Charenton in 1814, a cultivator generally esteemed." Another, "• cultivator of patriarchal morals, administers with intelligence ; repaired a se.hoollouse at his own expense ; loved and esteemed." Another, devoted to his duties, males a noble use of his fortune ; one of the most honoured men of the country." Indeed, there is hardly one of the 64 veterans who is not described as the model of every virtue personal Auld BENZVOLENT SOCIETY OF ST. PATRICK. Yesterday being St. Patrick's-day, the 79th &n -aive:sou of this society was celebrated by a banquet at the Freemasons' Tavern, Great Queen-street, Litiaoln's inn fields, under the presidency of the Duke of Cambridge, who was supported by the Earl of Courtoun, the Furl of Lan ford, the Bishop of Kilmore, the Attorney-General for Ire land, Sir Bernard Burke (Ulster King-at-Arms), Sir Ralph Howard, Bart., General Pennefatber, Major-General Wet. kins, Lord Arthur Hill, Major Snell, Colonel Dunne, M.P., Mr. Herbert, jun., of Muckross, Colonel Latouchs, Samuel Jones, Mr. Morgan John O'Connell, D. O'Connor, D. Mtwara, &a. Thebesefits arisiegfrom this institution will be best appro. dated by reference to the statistics of the society, which show that it was founded in the year 1764, and had for ite object the improvement of the condition of the children of poor but deserving Irish parent", resident in London. Five hundred such children of both sexes are now in the schools of the society, where, In addition to • plain but sound and useful education, they have the advantage of good clothing, and a substantial daily meal during the winter months. The society's care of these young people does not, cease with their departure from the schools but after being fitted for respectable service during several subselitYears they are watched over sad manually comme nded and rewarded should their employers report favourably of their conduct. Many of the boys are apprenticed to useful trades, and to them the same system of supervision and reward is ex tended. In numerous instances former pule have attained to positions of trod and respectability. So far as its means permit, the Benevolent Society of St. Patrick extends its benefits to all children of necessitous Irish parents resident in London, irrespective of creed, and no interference what ever is attempted with their religious belief ; but the children in the schools are enjoined regularly to attend the teaching of the ministers of the religion in which their parents may wish them to be brought up. The usual loyal and patriotic toasts having been disposed of, that of her Majesty being given, at the request of the noble chairman, in silence, The children who are receiving the benefit' of the insti tution were then introduced into the room, sod after they had made their obeisance to the illustrious chairman, his Royal Highness gave the toast of the evening, "Prosperity to the Benevolent Society of St. Planck," observing that the children who had just been seen were only a smell portion of those educated by this charity. This was owing to the unfavourable weather, which had prevented the promoters of the society from producing all the children under their care. The objects ef the institution were cer tainly of • most laudable chereeter, mod its benefit" had been greatly attended. There were now MO girls and 300 boys receiving the benefits of the amity, mid assuredly their ap pearance was calculated to show that • greet amount of good had been conferred by the society in dothin them decently and enabling them to make a respectable figue in the world. One great point to be observed was that they were not overeducated, but'were brought up in a 'Maple and unostentatious manner. In his opinion it was a most foolish thing to over educate children in their position. There should be • "happy medium" preserved, and education should not be pushed beyond that point which the circum stances in life of the pupils required. They might depend upon it that if they educated children above than station they made them discontented ; and he was glad to God that this society had adopted the wise and prudent come of giving to those under their care • sound and useful educa tion, the result of which had been that a great num ber of good members of society had peeped through this school, and had shown such merit as enabled them to con duct themselves satisfactorily. After they had been edu cated they were not sent forth into the world without further assistance, but they were provided with the means of starting in life ; and he had reason to believe that the mode in which they had uniformly conducted themselves bad been most praiseworthy. The institution was one of old standing, having been originated in the year 1784, and afterwards amalgamated with the Dial' Charitable Society in 1787 ; and be was happy to say that the two societies combined were now in a flourishing condition. He could not but regret that there were not more Irish present, as they might assemble on an occasion such as this upon nen. trel ground, end under circumstances which sanctioned re ligious toleration and the exclusion of all political feeling. The toast was res ire q . a i d , e: to with the warmest enthusiasm, and was followed "The Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland," and "The Bar of " he. These touts were received with cordial acclamation, and subscriptious were announced amounting in all to upwards of The business of the evening was enlivened by some excel lent singing, under the direction of Mr. Land, the principal vocalist" being Miss les, Mies J. Wells, Mr. Baxter, Mr. W. Cummings, and Mr. Lewis Thomas. A return of 147 pages was issued this morning, °omitting exclusively of "Copies of all memorials and letters which have been addressed to the Lord President of the 004111 Ca, or to the secretary of the Committee of Council an Education, on the subject of the revised code, by the anthoritiss of any educational society, board, or committee, or of any training schooL" To-morrow Mr. Wykeham Martin will move in committee of the whole home for leave to bring in a bill to amend the laws relating to the sale of spirit'. The select committee appointed to try the Great Grimaby election petition will be chosen by the Glom' Committee of Elections as the let of April Mr. Baxter on Friday will move that, " In the opinion of this house, the multiplication of fortified places in distant plane involves a useless expenditure ; and that the cost of erecting and maintaining fortifications at plains not being great naval stations, in self-governed colonies, is not a proper charge on the Imperial tressury." Mr. Lindsay intends to move on the Ist of next month, "That, in the opinion of this house, it Is the duty of her Majesty's government to adopt, at the earliest possi ble period, the neosseary measures to carry into effect the recommendations of the commissioners ►ppointed in 1858 to inquire into the formation of harbours of Mop on the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland, and to carry out the resolution of this house of the 19th of June, 1860." Mr. Stansfeld will put a question to the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, on Friday, relative to the armed interference of Austria in the Sutorina, which took place in the beginning of December last. On the 4th of April Admiral Walcott will draw the attention of the Chief Commissioner of the Dowd of Wads to the locamplete state in which the base of the Nelsen 'Leawood is dill suffered to remain. ' Qunurrewrion nos Omen' BILL Lord' Taunton has lined the monad reeding of this hill for the 25th last. (mot Tuesday), by which time, therefore, it will be necessary that any pinnies in in favour iniald in pre. seated. 1115/MIDAT. x. arttahi. - -4. - LW r io N.W. bosh to dross o/m7. Intisat—(l.ll. to N.W., mo derato to fro* 'shay. Oentral.-B.W. to N.N.W., trash, some rain. Z. Coast —B.W. to N., mode rato to fresh, showery. Kagland.-8.8.W, to ti.W., W.S.W. to N.N.W., strong to treats to strong, rainy. moderate. W,S.W.toY,;tiong to mo• derate. W. to. N. fresh to moderate, W.& W. to N., moderate, showery. W. to N., trash. SHOCKING MURDER IN FLANDERS. ftehefl room blows u'euPied on by the Arezead' A horrible murder was committ e d on the nightof Saturday last at Stade; west Fl an d ers, i n the houseof a gentleman named Asses. The j ourna l s o f Bruges give the following details :—" The murderer s , w h o entered by, t went into fearful into the whom roof, firs they with a hammer which they found in the house. Th e y then went to the room of the servant, dragged him f rom his bed, and assaulted him very cruelly. Having ea tortj from him where the money was left, they then threw h im on the bad, leaving him for dead. Returning to the roorr. of M. Asses, they broke open the cupboard where the motry wee placed and carried it off. Recovering hi s Ret, 4 , rte servant escaped by the window. In his fright he , an wildly, without knowing where he was going, and fell inm several ditches. He was at last received into a house, in t r it was found that his wounds were of a most dangemui rider. He had been horribly ill•treated, and could sql,, t , little. The body of M. Ames wee found near the door of his room. The head was so mutilated that :le features could not be recogniesd. The walls were sprinidal with blood and braille. On Sunday morning a boy's e rg , was found near the border of the farm and was at owe take, possession of by the gendarmes. Going to a little school the neighbourhood they asked, with an air of indifference, if any of them had lost a cap. Several boy* at once Tee :vi o l it as belonging to one of their number who w s , not then at school, named Van Der Zypes, The gendarme* went immediately to the dwelling of th e latter, and the boy acknowledged that the cap was his. They then entered the house and arrested a man nam e d ' Pierre de Sodt, a former ner, who lived in the boiaeof Van Der Zypsa. Severalgarmente of De Sodt were covered with blood, ea ware also the trousers and the blouse of the little Van Der Zypen, from which it is evident that this child was present at the murder. It appeared from th e inquiry that Alois Van Der Zypen, 11 years of se, penetrated by the roof into the house of R. Auer, and opened the back door to the murderers. o n being interrogated with regard to the stains of blow which were oheerved on his trousers, De Sodt replied that he received the trousers from a man who sold red earth, and that the stains came from that. But the little Vs. Der Zypen dated that De Sodt was wrong, that he had ob. Lined the trousers from 000 of his acquaintances at Stake. Seeing that he bad twice committed himself in speeds;, the boy would not answer any more questions. The police are on the track of others." ALARMING IFIRES.-SIX MORE LIVES SAVED 'iliiiiitsTALiiiorTrik• - s ikiiisT This (Tuesday) morning, at an early hour, much excitement was caused 'in the immediate vicinity of Rishopoptte-street Without, owing to • file on the Femme belonging to Mr. F. Dodswell, • grocer, mrrying on business at No. 157, in the before. named thoroughfare. It appears that one of the City policooonstables succeeded in arousing the inmates, but there being • glass door leading from the shop to the staircase, the beat of the flames ottickly demolished Meeks' of the door, when the suffocating smoke rushed up the stairs, and cut off all means of escape by the regular way. The scene then became one of a painful character, for the following persons made their appearance at the second. floor window, screaming frantically for help, and expecting that each moment would be their last, viz., Mrs. Watts, aged 58 ; T. Wood, aged 24 ; R. Heldron, aged 24 • G. Mac. kenzie. aged 41 ; T. Heiden, aged 24 ; and R. Appeiyard, 19. The Royal Society's escape arrived just in time. Conductor Steer, having placed the machine against the burning house, fortunately succeeded in bringing from the wood floor the whole of the endangered persons. The fire was not extinguished until the stock in trade was nearly destroyed, and the upper part of the premises severely injured. For. tunately the su ff erer was insured in the Sun Fire Office. The adjoining premises of Mr. Lee, oil and oolourman, also ms tamed some slight injury, which will fall on the County Office. . . . rise also happened in the premises belonging to Mr. R. H. Dixon, a coruchandler, No. 48, Penton-street, Penton villa. Serious mischief was dose to the property of Iddr. Mum, and also to the Ode wall at the premises to lir. T. }lath. a tailor, whose stock was also inT l M ln b g y hasty removal. Kr. Hisao was insured in the Westminster Fire oSco, sad Mr. North was lamed in the General Fire Moe. WEATHER REPORT.-(THIS DAY.) TUIIDAT. XiSCII 14 8 A.IL I. S. IL I D. F., C. I. IL 8. Nu —far. 70.18 87 96 8.8. W. 3I 3 et &Mum 18.66 41 Ili IL 4 9 • Wm 19.86 41 18 X. 6 9 • ••• BMW= 29.93 46 42 N. 9 r 33•80666 i 1384 41 18 Z. 4 5 • Poniou 29.96 43 42 N. 1 9 0 GALWAY 18.54 60 18 IL • I 1 b 1111191.91. . 19.78 41 41 RN.* 2 8 r 806uo80008 29.76 41 41 RN.I. 1 I 4r 0.73 /121.1•0/621) 19.98 41 40 f b Lrvoaroot. . 43 42 W.N.W. 1 9 1r 0.06 QUEZNITOWi ILK 49 48 Z. 4 Vuzifia 91.80 66 46 L • 4 To 1/4amotera 2390 41 41 r blew 10.12 41 40 LW. 1 9 1* 0.21 DOM ll.ll 49 43 W. 1 9 158 0.22 Ponfoocera reaTLAND 999 984 48 N. 1 .143 1* 0.62 Mucus rooseua• Zwer EXPLANATION. corrected au!d reduced to 42 at . mean te!. _„ le;e1 ; ma — lO feet, of vertical rise, causing about one-hundredth of an Inch diminution; and each 10 deg., above 02 deg., moans nearly three - hundredths increase. 2.—lsposed thermometer In shade. M.-91oisitensd bulb (for 'vaporettos and dew point). D.—Direction el wind (true—two point. Solt of meg netic). F. —Pores (1 to 12—estimated). C.—Cloud (1 to 9). (. Initials: b, blue akr e., clouds (detected); f, tog; h. lightning . m, misty (hazy) ; o, ot menet (dull, ; r, ruin ; S. crow t, thunder. B.rain-fall, or snow. or hall. sines Loot report, in Inches and dedmals. 9.—Sea-disturbance ,1 to n. z.—Cabe. On Sunday the Prince Imperial entered his seventh year, says Go "It is universally admitted that he is exceedingly advanced for his age. He speaks four langoses, excels in all bodily exercises, rides particularly well, is of a gay, lively disposition, and remarkable for his general intelligence. He is mast popular among his young comrades of the Imperial Guard, has a thousand questions to ask when they meet, and always separates from them with regret." The chief administration of Algeria has agreed to sell the territory of Trembles, near Aumale, to a pro testant minister of the Hantes-Alpes, was has guaranteed the arrival of forty families of his co-religionists. Forty hate are being constructed to receive the new colony. The Gazette of the Academy of St. Petersburg contains the following :—" We understand that, on the proposition of the committee of foreign censorship, the sale of some works hitherto prohibited in Russia is now allowed in all the booksellers' shops, and that the committee has been charged to re-examine all the books which have been prohibited at different periods, end give an opinion on the subject." Luring the last three or four days, owing to the mildness of the weather, the gardens in the environs of Paris have presented a most agreeable amect, the apricot, almond, and cherry trees being coveted with blossom. The late success of the Federal troops in North America has created a belief among French merchant that an arrangement will shortly take place by which an end will be put to the civil war, and that commercial relations will be resumed. This report has had a very favourable effect in the manufacturing districts, particularly at Lyons. A letter from hfarseilles mays that a considerable rise has taken place in the price of silk in that market. °niers from Lynn are said to have been the cause, the last ac counts from America leading to the hope that business would shortly be resumed. EXTRAORDINARY BURGLARY IN LI YERPOOL.--011 Saturday morning, the house of Mrs. Richardson, 93 , Bedford•treet, was entered by thieves under somewhat singular circumstances, and plundered to • considerable extent. A forcible entry was effected by the use of • chisel or some inch instrument, as was proved by the marks left on the injured woodwork. The thieves succeeded in carrying off cons to the value of about 73/ chiefly in French Napoleons and Prussian single Fredericka. together with some English Imam. They also carried off two dozens of silver spoons sad forks. Singularly enough, in their preda tory search, they threw asides waist belt in which were con tained bask soles to the value of about 2001. More singular still, it appeared that some of the inmates had not gone to bed till after sae o'clock in the morning, and that so far as can be learned the burglary took place about half. past six o'clock. In the course of Saturday afternoon two yours( men were fouod lurking about the neighbourhood. and taken into custody. On being searched, • chin)l was found is the pommies of am of them, which, on being compared with the marks found at Mrs. Richardson's house, oonespooded with them exactly. Nose of the stolen pro perty has tree fogad; but Mr. Wass, after hearing the circumstances above referred to. mat them to prison for three months as suspected persons.