The Express. — London, England, 1867-03-22 00:00:00

MAPPIN BROTH/MS.—Established A. D.lBlO. CIIIESTSof SILVERPLATE for the COLONIES. CUTLERY and SILVER PLATE for FURNISHING. MAPPIN BROTHERS, LONDON-BRIDGE. MAPPIN BROTHERS, 222, REGENT min. BROWN and POLSON'S CORN FLOUR for CHILDREN'S DIET. To obtain extra profit by the We other kinds are sometimes offered Instead et BROWN and POISON'S each packet. "John Brown," "John Pontois 4 signed by the makers on inte erimtoo* CORRIESPONDEN'N. /Nowtlaments Intended for "The Express," London trellis( lft, mud be at the Moe, 10, bouverle-street, by two grik on the day of publication. DRURY LANE. Tins rasysnen, PATST. Mr. Phelps, Messrs. E. Phelps, F. Hanby. Fitzjames, Harcourt. il'lntyre, Warner, and W. ilani son : Herman redn. Mrs. 11. Vanienhoff,tt Isabel Adams. —And WANTED HUSBANDS YOR SIX. Miss Hudspeth. MIL TIIIAIK ET. Tau Evirmen. DAVID OAIIIIOE. Warm Boehm, Duck stone. Chippendale. linnets. Clot. : Mesdames Moore, Chip pendale. Ac —TIIE sKRIOUS IPASIILY. Mears. linekstooe, Bowe, rtc.—And JENNY LIND AT LAST. Min Darks. ?ftIIICIIII,S. TES I, IpS. HIS Lin LEG — Metre. Verner* Fenton: lira B. White and Slim Wentworth.—And THE STREETS OF LoNDON. Messrs. Vining. ►. Villiers. Shore,Calhaein,Forreater, and Mallon ; Mm. 11. Marston, Misses Montagu and *Wien STP.AND. TRIM Er/IN INO luau P.D DAUGHTERS AND YOUNG HUS II A N DS. —ES NI ERA LOA ; OR, TIIE SENSATION GOAT. Messrs. Th,,roe, Jam*, Robson, /MI Turner ; Mesdames Swanborough, Hughes, Newton, Weathersby, dc.—And A SUIT OP TWYMYS. HOLBORN. THis ErKIM, MY TUBB NBZT. Yr. Betimes Mose toot* and Leniaes.—And ILYLWG PA;UD. Maws Neville, Bel twee, Blake, Voltaire, &c. ; lieedlames ►. Josephs, C. ativradera. liessle Foote. Fiddiss, Leaser, Raymond, Ike. BBITANA'L►. TUN 1VE111 , 141, TIM iiLllCl.ll — e — sara. Reynolds, Cranford, and Einwinni: Mrs. Lane & Madames Edwin and Macarthr.— After which TUE ViATERMAN. Mlle Father Jacobn—Tu con. chide with Till LAST LL'4K OF LOVE. Miss S. Miles. HIGH WAT AT LONDON BRIDOL 311. :Net. T949oamoir—Mornlair. AL Attersoon, 4h. 13111. LONDON, FRIDAY, MARCH 22. Ir would be an injustice to the courageous Liberal minority of the Corps Lecgialatif of France, and in some degree to M. Revues as the organ of the Go vernment in that assembly, to take the brilliant discursive speeches of M. THIERS as complete illus trations of French sentiment and French policy. Undoubtedly M. Taigas may be regarded as a personification of what was once the ruling pas sion of his countrymen, the passion for military glory, for armed intervention, for an aggressive and domineering diplomacy—in a word, for the continental supremacy of France. No man, it is true, was ever more French in temperament and intellect than VOLTAIRS ; and VOLTAIRE, we know, was never tired of laughing at the vaingloriousness of his countrymen, and ridiculing the atrocious folly of war. But VOLTAIRE was a philosopher, and so was his intimate enemy, FREDERIC 11., who was fond of writing verses on the horrors of campaigning and conquests. VOLTAIRE paid the penalty of his good sense by living in exile. The French people have always been enamoured of war, and no wonder, considering the admirable soldiers they make, but those who escape the conscription are apt to be especially warlike in their tastes. The poor peasants would rather stay at home and wring a humble pittance from the land, but the political and professional classes in Paris and the large towns delight to draw the sword of France, more or less figuratively, on the slightest pretext. In the great debate which recalls the best days of French parliamentary eloquence, this inordinate, and to Englishmen almost incon ceivable, pretension of all parties in France to regulate and determine the policy of other great European States according to the exclusive interest and convenience of France, has been lamentably and, considering the condition of public liberty in their own country, ludicrously asserted by the leading orators of the Corps kfgia latif. It seems to be an ineradicable French idea that France has only to frown and flourish her sword to make every other European Power tremble for its existence. One would suppose that after the severe lessons of experience the fancy that no Power would dare to fire a shot without leave of France had subsided into a more modest and more intelligent apprecia tion of the value of boasting, and the calm ness of conscious strength. In almost all these liberal speeches, in many other res pects worthy of admiration, abounds the idea that France, and France alone, has the right to possess herself of strength and unity, and that the unity of Germany or of Italy is an insult, a menace, a danger to France. Let us note, how ever, the speech of M. GARNIER PAOREI as a noble exception. He was a member of that much abused Provisional Government of 1848 to which history will do justice for the honesty and mode ration of its dealings at home and abroad, and he emphatically protests against a policy of selfish arrogance and envious provocation. So does M. EMILE OLLIVIER ; but, unfortunately, with out the authority which belongs to a political independence beyond suspicion. M. Rouliza, as the spokesman of his Imperial master, repu diates by order the outworn policy of inter vention and dictation ; he declares that all that has taken place in Italy and Germany was due to natural causes, and that far from exciting the jea lousy or the apprehension of the Imperial Govern ment, it has been hailed as a consecration of that principle of national sovereignty on which the Second Empire reposes. M. ROCKER is one of those facile declaimers who are never at a loss for grand phrases and fine sentiments. He has a plentiful supply of all aorta, and the Legislative Corps may take its choice. He is as wise before as after the event, only the wisdom is of a different pattern when the Mexican expedition is in full career and when the French army has left MAXIMILIAN in the lurch at the outset of the German war, when the EMPEROR is expecting Prussia to be beaten and the Rhine to be the prize of French mediation, and when the battle of Sadowa has filled him with " patri " otic anguish," and Count BISMARCK, in reply to M. Daours DE Lanus, regrets that he cannot spare the smallest slice of German territory to the saviour of Austria. When M. Taigas and M. JULEs FAVRE expose with unanswerable force the capricious, irresolute, and incoherent policy of a personal Government, privately instigating the Italian war in 1859, and halting suddenly at Villa franca ; privately instigating the German war in 1867, and publicly crying for peace after Sadowa ; marching to Mexico to establish an Empire, and marching out again to re-establish the Republic, all impartial witnesses will acknowledge the severe justice of the indictment ; but when M. Ames Favite exclaims, " You might have pre " rented the alliance of Italy with Prussia," M. ROCKER is justified in asking him how, if not by an unwarrantable act of hostile intervention, or, in plain words, by an act of war. And when M. Taigas • • • jt t THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EILEWING, MARCH 22: , 1867: concurs with that devoted Imperialist, M. GRAMM DE CAIIIIAGNAC, in recommending that France should "arm and wait ;" arm in such a manner as not to arouse the susceptibilities of other States or to menace the peace of Europe, but simply to comfort and reassure France, and to preserve her dignity unimpaired and her frontiers from attack, and the balance of power from further disturbance, he only emulates in talk the inconsistent action which he denounces in the Government, and he evokes the very dan gers he deplores in driving M. Rouliza to the des perately foolish and flagitious avowal that if France has lost an inch in height by the growth of Prussia in stature France must draw the sword. M. Borman pays a poor compliment to his country men if he supposes them capable of applauding the delirious vanity of his piratical proposition, which can only have the instant and the certain effect of stimulating and strengthening the appeals of Count BISMARCK to the patriotism of the North German Confederation. Indeed, the publication of the defensive and offensive alliance between Prussia, Bavaria, and Baden is the happiest and most decisive answer to all this querulous fan faronnade from the other side of the Rhine. Much, we daresay, of the apparent inconsistency which seems to deface such splendid monuments of par liamentary eloquence as the speeches of M. TRIERS and M. JVLES FAME is explained by the political necessity of assailing the policy of the Government at all points, and especially at all the weakest points. To a Liberal Opposition, ashamed of the prostitution of French honour to the caprices of a personal Government, yet really desirous of peace, these contradictions are pro bably nothing more than tactical feints. We on this side of the water, who are not con cerned in the domestic politics of our neighbours, except in desiring for them all that we can desire for ourselves of liberty, of honour, and of pros perity, understand better the triumphant and un answerable question addressed by M. JULES Favas to M. Rornea—lf you are at ease and content with the state of things in Germany and Italy, why do you arm to the teeth and put the needle gun into the hands of twelve hundred thousand men, who would be better employed in the field, the factory, and the workshop, as fathers of fami lies, as peasants, and artisans, than in peopling Baron HAUSSMANN'S barracks with janiasaries of Imperialism, and perpetuating the insecurity and hypocrisy of that worst of all international con ditions—an armed peace ? OUR CONTEMPORARIES. (THIS DAY.) they should be defended by such arguments as we have described. There eon be but one opinion, says the Daily New, as to the principles of political and aristocrage• favouritism implied in Sir John Pakington's vindicailon of himself, and explicitly asserted by one of the Lords of the Admi ralty, Sir John Hay. Mr. Ayrton and Mr. Gladstone ex pressed themselves on this subject in a sense which par liament and the country will appreciate. If four young naval officers have been undeservedly advanced over the beads of nearly half their brethren for the simple reason that they are the sons of their fathers, then it is quite time that our ministers should be reminded of the duty they owe to the state. The country hu suffered too much in past time from the prejudicial interferenoe of parlia mentary considerations with the government of the navy to see with equanimity anything like a return to it. The Star remarks that, during his brief lead, Mr. Dix' raeli has only succeeded in debasing the spirit of the House of Commons in reference to jobs, the serious treat ment of which has, at least, been a happy accident of our party system. It will be one of Mr. Gladatone's high tasks, as liberal leader, to introduce a spirit of aver sion to all sorts of corruption ; and it is mere justice to one of his late colleagues to say that in this particular matter the liberal Admiralty stood well above suspicion. Sir John Pakington even complains that the Duke of Somerset mule so few pro motions of the kind which in the case of Mr. Yorke is so condemned. The duke enunciated some years ago, before a committee of the House of Commons, wholly unexcep tionable principles of promotion to which, unless Sir John Pakington has now succeeded in picking a hole in his ad ministration, be has always been faithful. political difference, however profound, can ever efface." The souvenirs alluded to are that M. de Girardin'a only daughter (now dead) was at one time the playmate of the youthful Prince on the sands at Biarritz. M. Thiers said, in his great speech, that 3,000 leagues separated France from the United States, and M. Rouher, while echoing the statement, called them " sea leagues." Both these eminent states men were terribly out in their figures. The asact distance between Brest and New York is 2,835 nautical miles—in French measure 5,306 kilometres, or only 1,326 leagues and 4 kilometres, instead of 3,000 leagues. The Bourse was greatly depressed, from political causes. Rente fell 40c. for cash, and 42ic. for account, closing at 68fr. 60c. in each case. Credit Foncier fell 27fr. 50c.; Mobilier, lofr. ; and Comp toir d'Escompte, Bfr. 75c. Railways, which have long been almost stationary, felt the downward impulsion very severely. Northern fell 28fr. 75c. ; Lyons, 11 fr. 25c. ; Southern, 13fr. 75c. ; Orleans, Bfr. 75c. ; and Eastern, 3fr. 75c. Italian was com paratively firm, and fell but 10c. WEATHER REPORT.-(THIS DAY.) FRIDAY, MARCH Y 2. I A.M. P. Extreme. MCA. B. T. W. Ito .---A---... W. E. lae 12 P. D. 9. ------ -- Nairn - & 8 8.8. c- 2 Aberdeen W.W 35 S&L 2 E. he ,0.03 4 Leith 20.82 371 &E. 2 Z. co I- 2 Ardrowian 19.7024 E. 5 IL co :0.01 3 Oreencaatle 29.56 84, 1 5 &L on '0.06 4 Valentin .....211 .65 40 8.& W. 4 8. oc 0.24 1 8 Cape Clear - -I Uverpool 29.0682 MAE 4 ES.E. co 1 2 Holyhead _72047 38 NAL 3 Z. oo 0.08 3 Penzance.- '23.59 47 W.S.W. 3 B.E. re 10.90 3 Breit 29.0550 &W. 4 LE •rio 10.16 6 Lorlent 29.69 50 B.W. 8 B.l rb I oafi t 4 Rochefort Plymouth 00.69 46 Z. 0 RILE ob ;En. 8 Weymouth Portemouth 20.00 hi 8.1 4 LE or '- ' 3 London - Yarmouth 29.8416 8. 8 NIL Ibo - 6 Scarborough. 29.0436 9.& 4 ELL co -. 4 Shiebla 29.8838 6.1 6 ILE Ico- ' 6 Helder - - - -=';'L THE MEETING AT MR. GLADSTONE'S. The meeting at Mr. Gladstone's house, yester. day, was attended by 278 members. Mr. GLADHTONZ commenced his address by referring to the meeting of liberal members held a few weeks before in the same place. On that occasion he had dwelt on the necessity of the united action of the party, and had expressed himself as in favour of reading the government bill a second time and dealing with its details in om. mince. The bill now before the House of Com. mons he considered to be the worst measure proposing electoral reform that had ever been sub. matted to parliament. It would be found in practice exceedingly difficult to pan what good provisions there were in it, and threw out the bad. It was the opinion o f some members of the party that the second reading of the bill should be opposed-{cries of " hear, hear," " no, n o ,' and " yes, yea")—while others thought it would be a ohs. take to take that course. After giving the subject hi, most anxious attention, and having considered the result of the Droitwich disclosures, and the Downing-strest meeting, and after having studied the bill, he personally considered that opposition to the second reading would be the wiser course. But if union of the party Ina not to be obtained by taking that line, it roust not la adopted, especially when it was remembered that they had to do with opponents in whom the wisdom of the serpent was not quite counterbalanced by the simplicity of the dove. Mr. Gladstone then proceeded to point out the obis,. tionable features of the bill. Passing over the .mestions of boundaries, re-election on acceptance of office, and poll ing places, he came to the county franchise, the quali. fication for which was placed at too high a figure ; then came the redistribution of seats, the plan of which must ba entirely recast, a most difficult thing for an opposition to do. Voting papers, again, were objectionable, and so were the fancy franchisee, while the introduction of • lodger franchise was essential. The franchise derived frets payment of income and assessed taxes would lead to the wholesale manufacture of faggot votes. The household franchise, as it stood in the bill, would involve an infinite amount of trafficking with the lowest class of voters of a kind which the anti-bribery clauses of the bill would be quite powerless to prevent. Par liament had always, in conferring the franchise, proceeded to do so without making distinctions between the enfran chised, but this bill would divide the borough constituen. cies of England into five classes. First, there were the dual voters, who were the most favoured clan. Next came the 101. householders residing in the towns; then the 101. house. holders resident within seven miles, and who could qualify for any building within the borough. Two classes of these householders would come upon the register without effect of their own. Then there were the new householders not being compound householders, who can qualify only for dwelling-house, and must reside two years; and lastly came the compound householders, who, in order to vote, must go and claim to be put on the register, which would depend upon the parish authorities—the fact being that at prevent not two per cent. of the compound householden under special acts came upon the register; whilst of 750,000 houses which at present do not give their occupiers votes, 1100,000 are compounded for. Having thus reviewed the bill, Mr. Gladstone went on to say that from the extreme difficulty of dealing with a measure of this kind in committee, be thought it was very problematical whether it would come out of com mittee better than it went in. If they were to go into committee it must only be after getting from the govern' meet some acknowledgment of better principles than those which the bill at present contained. He had reason to believe that it was the intention of the government to fix a considerable interval between the second reading and going into committee. They must I therefore insist on the appointment of an early day, and also the recognition of the principle that equal facilities should be given to all those whom it was intended to enfranchise. The dual vote must be got rid of, and the arse of the compound bongo holders equitably adjusted. These matters might be sr tisfactorily explained in the speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer next Monday, but if they were not, the , liberal members would be naked to meet again, and in his opinion it would be wise to take a critical vote upon the question that the Speaker do leave the chair in order that the house may go into committee. In the course of his r emarks Mr. Gladstone said that an expression which had fallen from him in debate had been miaundentood. It had been supposed that he bad proposed to limit house hold suffrage at a 6/. rating, but this was not his intention. Mr. ROZBECR asked if Mr. Gladstone was in favour of household suffrage pure and simple. Mr. GLatorroNg said that he did net ask the meeting to pronounce an opinion as to the point to which the fray chin ought to be lowered. After a few observations from Mr. Ayrton and Mr. Cogan, Mr. BRIGHT felt he had really little to say after the clear statement which had been mad( to the meeting by Mr. Gladstone. He thought, under the circumstances in which they were placed, that statement was one in which they might all concur, and the course which 1 , 148 recoup mended was one which they should all support. At the same time he did not wish it to be concealed that he would himself have recommended a different course. But in mere question of procedure, in which there was no great principle involved, he should not like to set his owu opinion up as being better than the opinions of others. He would always go willingly and loyally with the political party with whom he was connected, but he begged to clear himself from responsibility if all should not turn out as well as seemed to be expected, by saying that after more than twenty years' experience in midis. moot, he never knew • bad bill brought in by a govern. meet made • good bill in the course of its passing through the house or through committee. He feared it was hare, to be hoped that they could by any possibility make such an entire change as was necessary to be made with this bill in order to render it satisfactory to the country der ing its passing through the house. He cousidered the constitutional plan of parliamentary action was this—that the majority in the house ought to provide the members of the adininistratMo, and that a great qualities like that of reform should be in the hands at its friends, and not in the hands of its enemies. If the spirit of the Chancellor of the Exchequer could be there and could inspire them what he wished them to do, they would do just what they had determined upon doing to-day, and when he had succeeded in that be might say, "The Lord hath delivered them into my hands." Notwithstanding, however, these rather gloomy anticipations, Mr. Bright expressed a strong hope that im might in the result be proved to have been entirely mit , taken. Whatever he could do he would do most cordially whilst the measure was passing through the house to inste it such • one as would settle the question ; that is to ay, not settle it merely in the House of Commons sense, bet in a sense satisfactory to the great body of the people. After some remarks by Mr. Graham, the proceeding' terminated. —.—... The Earl Grosvenor and Loed Echo were preventel attending the meeting. THE REFORM BILL. PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. Captain Hayter, on going into committee on Representation of the People Rill, will move :—"That an parliamentary borough in England or Wales having a pops. !titian of less than 10,000 persona, according to the ceumt of 1443, shall of itself return a member to parlianu at ; and that all parliamentary boroughs having a less pops. lotion than 10,000 persons, shall be increased by addict either from the immediately surrounding district, or from one or more neighbouring boroughs or towns, a sufficient number of inhabitants to give to every parlisinentar/ borough a population of not less than 10,00 st persons." In committee on the bill Sir G. Bowyer is to wort amendments, and Mr. Fawcett will move to !cave out Clause 24, and insert the following clause: - "(Expenses of necessary requisites for conduct of election to be defrayed from rates)—That all expenses lawfully incurred by the proper officers fur the provision of hustings. poll cle rks. polling booths, and any other necessary requisit.s for the conduct of the election, shall be defrayed, in the case of any county from the county rate, and in the case of sal borough from the borough or municipal rate." Mr. Serjeant Gaselee will move " That every b o rough is which the population is under 5,000 be disfranchised, and that from every borough in which the population is under 10,000, and which now returns two members, one ntemh . r be taken." Quails and prairie chickens are selling in Kansa' city, Missouri, st sd. and TA each. • THE LIBERAL PARTY AND THE REFORM BILL. The Times is glad that Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Bright have deferred to the wish of the majority of their party, and have determined to delay their de cision till the Chancellor of the Exchequer has de clared, on the second reading of the Reform Bill, what portions of it the ministry are willing to re linquish. The dual vote, of course, must go, and some enfranchisement of lodgers is absolutely essential. The objections to the portion of the bill which deal' with the compound householders can be perfectly well met in corn. mittee—the Times thinking it open to debate whether the best solution of • difficulty which is felt on b"th sides of the house may not lie in • reduction of the limit of fit. fixed by the Small Tenements Act to what is practically found lobe the limit of the personal responsibility of the householder, and in making the Small Tenements Act, thus modified, one of universal application. The other questions which arose on Mr. Gladstone's " interpella tion" last night were eminently such as should be con. sidered in committee. The Daily News also thinks that the deliberations issued in • very sensible and prudent conclusion, though it still feels it to be doubtful whether a reasonably good measure can be made out of the bill. If anything is to be made of Mr. Disraeli's measure, it must be treated like Sir John Cutler's silk stockings, of which Martians &rib leen tells us, which were darned until not a thread of the original texture remained. Of course there are certain provisions which cannot be left to the chances of ►mend ment in committee, and some expression on the part of the government of its willingness to renounce or reconsider them must be required. The fault* of the new franchises to which in committee the main attention of reformers must he directed are that they facilitate the manufacture of faggot votes and establish invidious distinctions. The Post finds it difficult to understand why the oppo sition to the bill should not be made in the usual and constitutional way upon the motion for the second read ing. The fact th►t the ministry may be prepared to Rive up one of the objectionable features makes no difference in the case, and ought not to be counted upon as • reason foe departure from the ordinary rule. What should be required is that the ministry should bring to the second reading a bill such as substantially and essentially they intend to abide by, and if the bill proposed is not such as can be accepted in its substantial and essential parts it should be then and there rejected. The Standard is shocked at the inconvenience to which members were put at yesterday's meeting. One would have thought, it says, " that a party leader would live in a house big enough to hold any guests that he might in vite, or that, at the least, he could find • friend, who would 'pare him the annoyance of turning • number of gentlemen who responded to • pressing invitation, into that outer coldness and desolation which is the portion of servants and supplicants." Both Standard and Herald, however, congratulate tho liberal party on their decision to permit the bill to go to • second reading. The Herald adjures the conservatives to be f►ithful to their chiefs. If they are not to be deprived in future of all active part in national affairs, then it behoves them to stand by Lord Derby in the present emtrgency. The firm conviction possessed by the Star that the liberal party will have to reject the bill at last, makes it little inclined to applaud a course which seems to accept delay for no purpose, and to invite danger where certain safety lies in prompt and decisive action. A NAVY JON. In the hope of putting an end to a practice which causes • public scandal, the Tissu calls attention to the case of the promotion of a son of Lord Hardwicke, brought be fore the House of Commons last night. The charge was fully substantiated; the defence was of the weakest, and it only remains for the nation to decide whether such things shall any longer be. Lieutenant Yorke, the peer's son in question, is being promoted to the rank of commander over the head of 370 of his seniors ; over 128 first lieutenants of ships in commission, over 60 gunnery lieutenants, over 40 lieutenants in command of vessels, over two lieutenants who had received the Beau fort testimonial for their special qualifications in passing at the Naval School, over the senior lieutenants of the ten different stations, and, lastly, over a large number of officers who had been specially mentioned by their admirals and captains. Now, it cannot be denied, and has not been denied, that this promotion is solely due to the fact that Lieutenant Yorke is the son of Lord Hardwicke, a great conservative nobleman, and a former colleague of the pre sent ministers. Sir J. Pakington's argument was simply a is quogre to the last Board of Admiralty. He showed that Lieutenant Graham, son of Sir James Graham, Lieutenant Wood, son of Lord Halifax, and Lieu tenant Fitsclarence, • son of Lord Munster, had been similarly promoted without any special claim, and seemed to consider that these instances entirely exculpated himself. Sir John Hay positively laid down the principle that political or professional distinction on the part of a father is a ground for the undue advancement of a eon, to the injury of all his comrades in the service. It is scarcely possible to listen patiently to such doctrine*. No wonder they startled Mr. Gladstone into a hasty pro. test Every man who values the efficiency and reputation of the naval service is bound to protest also. It is a disgrace that men in high office on either side of the house should Lave been concerned in making these appointments ; it is a disgrace that the sons of men of fortune should accept them to the detriment of their poorer and less favoured comrades ; it is a disgrace that - - - the Court. WINDSOR CASTLE, MARCH 21. The Queen drove out yesterday afternoon, ac companied by Princess Christian. Princess Louise also drove out, attended by the Countess of Caledon. Her Majesty walked out this morning, attended by the Duchess of Roxburgh/. Princess Christian and Princes, Louise drove out. Princess Beatrice rode in the Home-park, and Prince Leopold went out walking. Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Bentinck has succeeded Colonel Caveudiab as Groom in Waiting. The Prince of Wales, attended by Lieutenant-Colonel Keppel, rode out on horseback yesterday. A committee of the Lords of her Majesty's Most Honour able Privy Council sat yesterday at the Privy Council offioe, Whitehall, on matters relating to the cattle plague. The lords present were the Lord President, the Duke of Buckingham, and Lord Robert Montagu. Mr. Harrison and Dr. A. Williams attended the committee. A deputation, consisting of the Marquis of Hartington, Lord George Cavendish, Mr. Bright, M.P., Mr. Ewart, M.P., Mr. Whitworth, M.P., Mr. Fildes, M.P., Mr. Gilpin, 111. P., and Mr. G. Wilson (Manchester), accom panied by Mr. \Vhcatcroft, the solicitor for the prisoner, had an interviewwith the Right Hon. Spencer H. Walpole, at the Home-office yesterday on the matter of the convic tion of Edward Wager. Lord Stanley received yesterday, at the Foreign-office, Lieutenant-Colonel Rawagi and thirteen young officers who have been sent to this country by his Majesty the Tycoon of Japan, to be placed under the protection of her Majesty's government. They were acoomp►nied by the Rev. W. 0. Lloyd, of the Royal Navy, who has been appointed by Lord Stanley, with the permission of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, as their guardian during their stay in this country. A deputation, consisting of Earl de Grey, Lord Londes borough, Lord Feversham, Admiral the Hon. Arthur Dun combe, M.P., Mr. C. M. Norwood, M.P., Mr. Christopher Sykes, M.P., Staff-Commander Calvet. R.N. (Admiralty Surveyor), Mr. W. Wright, and Mr. J. Lumsden (Humber Conservancy Commissioners), Mr. Dudley R. Smith, Cap tain Cator, R.N. (Conservator of the Humber), Mr. Hawk shaw, C.E., and Mr. E. L Wilson (Secretary to the Con servancy Commissioners), had an interview with the Duke of Richmond and the Right Hon. Stephen Cavo at the office of the Board of Trade, Whitehall, yesterday, on the subject of the Holdernesa Embankment and Reclamation Despatches were received yestenlay at the Colonial-office from the Governors of Malta, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Cey lon, Labuan, the Mauritius, the Australian colonies, Sierra Leone, and Logos. Despatches were sent to the Governor- General of Canada. HER MAJESTY'S LEVEE.-(THIS DAY.) By command of the Queen, a levee (being the second of the present season), was held at St. James's Palace by his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, on be half of her Majesty. There were • large number of presentations, naval, military, judicial, legal, eccle siastical and parliamentar►, those presentations being by the Queen's pleasure equivalent to presentation to her Majesty. The Prince of Wales was escorted by a detachment of the Life Guards from Marl borough House to the Palace, where he was received by the great officers of state of the Queen's household. Her Majesty's body guard of the hon. corps of Gentlemen-at- Arms were on duty in the state saloons,under the command of Sir W. Topham. Her Majesty's royal body guard of the Yeomanry of the Guard was on duty, under the command of the Eton in Waiting. The Prince of Wales entered the throne mom, accompanied by the Duke of Cambridge and the members of the royal family, and attended by the Lord Steward, the Earl of Bradford (Lord Chamberlain), Lord Claud Hamilton, M.P. (Vice Chamberlain), Visct. Toning ton (Lord in Waiting to the Queen), Lieutenant-Colonel Keppel and Major Teesdale (equerries to the Prince of Wales), and other officials. The foreign ambassadors and ministers were introduced, and the general presentations were then proceeded with. The date of the next levee has not yet been announced. Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Saxe Coburg arrived in town last evening from Dover, where they landed yesterday afternoon, from the Conti nent. His Royal Ifighneu Prince Christian arrived by the tame boat. Lady Moleaworth received at dinner last evening his Excellency the Marquis d'Azeglio, the Right Hon. Chichester Fortescue, M.l'., and Frances Countess NValde grave, General the Right Hon. Cecil Forester, ALP., and Hon. Mrs. Forester, Lord William Hay, M.P., the Right Hon. C. P. Villiers, M.P., Lady Susan Vane Tempest, the Right Hon. Milner Gibson, M.P., Lady Tierny, Mr. Ber n►l Osborne, M.P., Mr. Hayward, Mr. Costa, and Mr. Pakenham Alderson. The Earl of Lauderdale has been elected a repre sentative peer for Scotland, in the room of Lord Gray, re cently deceased. We Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant has ap pointed the Rev. Charles William Russell, D.D., President of Maynooth College, a governor and guardian of the Na• tional Gallery of Ireland, in the room of the late Mr. William Dargan. A meeting of the Digest of Law Commission wan held on the 20th inst. There were present Lord (`ran worth, Lord Westbury, Lord Cairns, Sir James Wilde, Mr. Lowe, Sir W. Page Wood, Sir G. Bowyer, Sir R. P►lmer, Sir J. G. Shaw Leferre, Sir T. Erskine May, Mr. Daniel, Mr. Thring, and Mr. Reilly. The committee on the Church-rates Abolition Bill is deferred till Wednesday, May S. The select committee on the Libel Bill meet on Monday neat. The meeting of the select committee on the Army (India and the Colonies) is postponed till Tuesday. . . Mr. Otway intends in committee nn Mutiny Bill next Thursday to move that clause 22 be postponed, in order that her Majesty's government may bring up an amended clause in accordance with the resolution of this house, pawed on Monday, the 18th instant, relating to fiorging in the army during the time of peace. On Monday Mr. Monck will ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies when he intends to move for leave to introduce the Guarantee Bill for the In teroolonial Railway of British North America. Sir Robert Collier intends to call the attention of the house to the case of the Tornado on Friday week. Viscount Amberley has deferred till Tuesday week his bill to amend the Act of 23 Geo. 111., chap. 49, " for preventing certain abuses and profanation on the Lord's Day called Sunday." LATEST INTELLIGENCI. THE EASTERN QUESTION.' The latest Vienna journals in general deny that there is any truth in the reports of the movements of Russian troops. The Vaterland alone speaks of the movement of Russian troops and their con centration in Volhynia and Podolia. Large pur chases of hay, straw, and grain have been made, and the soldiers, it adds, are armed with breech loaders, and have adopted the Prussian tactics. THE GERMAN TREATIES. The Debata of to-day says : The publication of the treaties concluded by Prussia with Bavaria and Baden does not seem to have caused any emotion in Austria. This is not surprising. Even those who were ignorant of the existence of this treaty might have suspected it. No one at Vienna any more than at Paris could be deluded into imagining that the Southern Confederation would remain without allies in Germeny, or that it would not prefer an alliance with • vic torious and all powerful Prussia to an Austria beaten and humiliated, and reduced, no doubt, to weakness for a long time to come. The Presrt of Vienna informs us that the Austrian government had been long ago aware of the treaties published yesterday, and saw nothing in them contrary to the stipulations of the treaty of Prague. The Nue Presac goes further, and pronounces in favour of an Austro-Prussian alliance. Perhaps we may learn to-morrow, from Vienna, that the Austrian statesmen see in these treaties a new triumph of Austrian policy, and may speak of them with pride. Certainly it is not we who should blame them. The truly wise put on the semblance of happiness when they cannot prevent what is disagreeable. COUNT BISMARCK UPON THE FUTURE OF THE POLES. Count Bismarck, in repudiating in the parlia ment of Northern Germany the pretensions of the Polish deputies, expressed himself as follows : The re-establishment of the Polish republic OD the limits of 1772 is only a fantastical dream of the nobility of that country. The thing is impossible, for there are not Poles enough in the world to accomplish it. Amongst the 24 millions of inhabitants of that territory, there are only 7i of Poles, and of that num ber one million is dispersed in various countries They therefore demand that GA millions of their country: men should rule over 18 millions of inhabitants, non. Polish. But the state of affairs in Ciallicia shows the sort of feeling entertained by the latter towards the Polish domination. Nor is it even certain that the six-and-a half millions desire the supremacy in question. I have no desire to extol the rule of Russia—(laughter)—but the people of the country districts in Poland have still more confidence in the Russians than in their own nobility. Renounce, therefore, gentlemen deputies of Poland, the idea of keeping Europe in commotion, for you are deceiving yourselves as to your own strength. Unite with us, and with the majority of your fellow-countrymen, the peasants, to enjoy the benefits of civilisation, to which the confederation of the North is about to give fresh securities. But to the Reichstag, I hold up the example of the Poles as a warning ; showing the condition to which a powerful empire may be reduced when directed by a warlike nobility, preferring liberty to security. The whole energy of that nobility is at this day insufficient to re-establish that empire. As the poet says, " What thou haat at one moment refused, eternity *al not bring thee back." (Mayes and murmurs.) (REUTIERN TELEGRAMA.) PRUSSIA AND SOUTH GERMANY. BERLIN, Aluicti 22. In addition to the agreement on the military question, a complete understanding is stated to exist between Prusais, and the South German states, Wurtemburg excepted, in reference to the future position of those states towards the Northern Confederation. This understanding will be carried out immediately after the adoption of the Federal constitution. The Buraenzeitung of to-day publishes an article advocating an intervention against Wurtemburg. It is expected that a plebiscitum will take place in Luxemburg on the question of the entry of that province into the Northern Confederation. Prussia is not opposed to this course. SKBVL(. VIENNA, MARCH 22. The Turkish Ambassador in this city has officially announcod to the Austrian government that Prince Michael of Servia will set out on Mon day next for Constantinople, and that all dif ferences between Servia and the Porte have been settled. AMERICA. QUEENSTOWN, 14kitcH 22. The Inman steamer City of Antwerp, from New York on the 9th inst., arrived here at 4.20 a.m. to day with 30 cabin passeng,ers. She landed tho mails and passengers, and proceeded for Liverpool. All well. EXPRESS FROM PARIS. (nom OUR OWN onsoirommir.) PARIS, THURSDAY EVWXG. The rumour at the Bourse, to which the consi derable fall of the day was attributed, was that M. Benedetti had received instructions to press the Prussian government to " consult the populations" of Luxembourg. I have since heard that General Fleury has started for Berlin on a special mission. It is hard to believe that the Emperor can have courted further humiliation by any attempt to in terfere diplomatically with the course of events in Germany. If he desires to plunge his country into a groat war to restore his damaged prestige he has no doubt the power to do so, although I do not think he would be able to carry it on long. There is a growing un easiness lest a war should break out almost imme diately to disturb the harmony of the opening of the Exhibition. " Who knows," said the Liberte last night, "that M. Granier de Caasagnac, who boasts that he for one has not abandoned the policy of conquest," may not be the enfant terrible of the empire, and have blurted out a secret which M. Rouher does not know I Let the Emperor, if he can screw his courage to the sticking place, give the word, " Let go," and confirm by a decisive act Marshal Canrobert's fanfaronadez, of which the salons are now talking. But M. de Bismarck will receive with supreme contempt any diplomatic representations which may be made to him by General Fleury or anybody else not intended to be followed up by arms. Further particulars of the imperfectly reported row in the Corps Legialatif on Monday continue to ooze out. I sin told that M. Rouher, in command ing tones, three times desired Count Walewski to call M. fliers to order, and threatened to descend from the tribune and leave the house if it were not done. Count Walewski, who is really deaf, thought it desirable to be deafer than usual on this occasion, and would not do what he was told. The situation is decidedly tres teneine ; the publi cation of the treaties of August 22, coupled with the reorganisation of the army, here excites great alarm. People talk politics in the streets and in cafes with an animation and a contempt of spies not witnessed for years. There is a talk this evening of a secret sitting of the Senate to take some important resolution. The Liberec, in quoting the paragraph from the Cuoistitrdionitel on the illness of the Prince Impe rial, rejoices to think that the bulletin is re-assur ing, and says :—" There are souvenirs which no REMARKS. Atmospherical pressure Is less than it was yesterday MOTOing, except at Valenti& Temperature has Increased considerably In the south, and a little in the north, but has scarcely changed elsewhere. The winds are south-easterly, moderate in the north, fresh in the east : but they are south-westerly, moderate, in the south-went of the British Isles, where much rain has fallen. Much snow has fallen in Landon, and some Is reported from several northern stations. The British Medical Journal believes that the meeting of the General Medical Council of Education and Registration of Great Britain may be expected to take place in London early in May. The Bishop of London writes to the Prefect of Paris :—" Fulham Palace, Feb. 16, 18f7.—Sir, I beg in my own name and that of the clergy and other members of the church of England who are likely to visit Paris during the coming spring and summer, to express to you our thanks for the kindness which you have shown to them in arranging, on the part of the imperial government and the city of Paris, respecting a site for the temporary place of worship about to be erected for the joint use of British and American subjects, members of the episcopal com munion.—l have the honour to be, sir, your obedient humble servant, A. C. Lonion." The French Protestant Historical Society pro pose two questions for this year's prize essays. The sub ject of the first is left open to the choice of the competi tors. The work must, of course, be original, and must bear on a personage or an episode of the French Reforma tion. The subject of the second is the biography of Antoine Court, who from the year 1720 undertook to re store the Protestant and Desert Churches destroyed by the Edict of Nantes. The disturbances at Roubaix have now com pletely subsided, and work hu been resumed in all the manufactories on conditions mutually agreed to between the employers and the men. _ _ _ The strike of the slaters and plumbers at Rouen has not yet terminated, as is shown by the following notice inserted in the journals of that city :—" The master plumbers in Rouen and the neighbourhood, being unable to satisfy the demands of their workmen, and the present dispute being a cause of delay in the execution of their contracts, beg the builders and proprietors of houses to have for them all the indulgence possible." The Lloyd of Pesth has the following :—" In the last meeting of the Hungarian engineers a communication from M. Wendenlin Kulifay was submitted to the assem bly. He professes to have invented an aerostatic machine ' able to carry travellers and goods, and solicits the support of the Company of Engineers, to whom he has sent a de scription of his work. He has also addressed a petition on the subject to the Diet of Pesth. The company named a committee charged to draw up a report on the invention, and proposes to carry it out if found to promise succesa." The sale of the late Hippolyte Behinge"s pictures has just taken place at the Hotel des Ventes, Paris, and attracted a great concourse of amateurs. The following are a few of the prices obtained :—" Cuirassiers filing off before the Emperor with Austrian colours taken in battle," 4,0.30(r.; "The Evening of a Battle," the Emperor, accom panied by his grenadiers, passing through • number of wounded, 5,000 fr.; " Episode of the Retreat from Russia," a grenadier of the Guard supporting • ♦ivandiere carrying a young child, 6,000 fr.; "Episode of the Return from Elba," a large picture representing the inhabitants of a valley in the luau acclaiming the Emperor, 8,100 fr.; ••Combat in the Streets of Magenta," 9,250 fr.; "The Guard dies, but does not surrender," the artist's last pic ture, and representing several grenadiers still defying the enemy by their haughty and determined demeanour, 10,630 fr.; and "The Cuirassiers at Waterloo," passage of the sunken road, 12,riUfr. The whole sale brought 69,425 fr. Last Monday a State Concert was given at the Tuileries. Dancing being utterly forbidden throughout Lent, the great world is only allowed to listen to music. The programme included the chorus in Gounod's PAilemor , the trio of Joseph, and • scene from Mignon. Princess Clothilde, the Nuncia, Abbe Bonaparte, and the Mur►t princes had seats on the dais behind their Majesties. Several Quaker missionaries left Southampton last week in the Caps of Good Hope mail steamer, bound for Madagascar. Amongst the presents which they took out was • large clock, to be erected at Tanaranivo, the capital of the island. NORTH BRITIBII RAILWAY. —The report of the directors shows an increase of 11,00 W. in the receipts, and states that the traffic is healthy and improving, but owing to the increased charge for renewals and mainte nance, and all expenses being strictly placed against reve nue, the balance available fur dividend is only 101,00 W., being about 12,000 f. short of what the investigation com mittee reported last half-year. Consequently, while all the stocks which were deprived last half.year of dividend are again deprived of dividend, the North British Prefer. ence, 1863, and Port Carlisle Preference now drop out, and the North British Preference, 1862, gets 31 per cent. in place of 5 per cent. Until the financial bill is obtained all payment. of dividends are necessarily deferred ; but nearly all the debenture loans falling due have been renewed. The directors do not think that the accounts now pre sented should be deemed unfavourable, looking to the peculiar position of the company. Tun Panceses or WALES.—We have much plea sure in stating that her royal highness's progress towards recovery continues uninterrupted. Pain has considerably diminished in the affected joint, with a corresponding im provement in the night's rest, which at one time was a vat dcsl disturbed. Latterly, indeed, natural sleep has been frequently procured, and the assistance of opiates rendered unnecessary. That a sudden or even rapid recovery can take place is quite out of the question, however in uch the im patient affection of the public at large may look for such a result. The repair of the injury produced by inflammation of • joint, and especially of the knee-joint, is always a slow and often a very tedious process, and in the palace no less than in the hospital time is required ere the integrity of so delicate • mechanism can be restored. This much, how ever, it is very satisfactory to learn, that although from day to day the alteration in her royal highness's condition is but slightly marked, any change there may be is always towards thet perfect recovery of the use of the joint which it is confidently expected will ultimately take place. It is scarcely necessary to contradict the rumours which have been afloat as to the immediate removal of the Princess to Sandringham. Such a step would, of course, be quite in consistent with the maintenance of that perfect rest which joint inflammations, perhaps more than other maladies, require.—Lancet. DS. PUSSY. Mr. Sclat eretarf to tin resignation o sot involve t The Pilk ettmatanoos I ago, came I assizes yutei for obotracti4 to pay 4/. dai had sustains served for a 1 The Suut have added i the Caesarea. ships. The feat} continued se Poood. and sl tome. We of both Greer several week, eke for a ir Arlen