The Express. — London, England, 1867-03-02 00:00:00

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To obtain stirs prnit by the sale other kinds an sometimes offered instead ,1 bit.INN and POLSON'S. John lirmu," Poison." is signed by the waken on each packet. gtte taroreliti. TO I:IIRREAPONDENTS. Advertisement. hate...1...1 f Um.lnn Evening Awe, niova in the ionic••. 10, lnutivinie-strett, by Two cru the JAI, of public- Won. DRURY LANK Tnla ETriixo. Till: NI IST c,r EN ICF. Mr. Their'', Mews. K PLC llw. I:trnit, Mead. nn•l nanlry Memlarnes 11. /111.1•:,1 —Arail NUMIIKK NIP: UK, II AKLF:• QUIN AND TIIKUMOMK KING 01 , Tug WANT MuI:NTAIN. ISAYMARKEL Zen EVINI , OI, A I.LisO% Ecia LIFE. Mews. Ilotheen, lagers, (lark. i' ,, neptn, he.; Mrt Chippendale, Mints Hill, Wright, he. —1.101:9 Di NOR':ARV MAIMILD AND DOPY. YOk. Sutistru. —And JEN NV LIN II AT LAST. Miss Burke. PRINCE:NM TEN Erring% UN Maws Verner ,t Fenton: Mra. ti. White wa.l Men Wentworth —A.4 astApnW Tim.; ?Mart Me,,+rs. Vunun. Zhore, Vetoer, V. Vlllien , Forrester, Melloa, and t Aneart, Mitts* Montagu, Edmonds, and Roslyn. EII:KUL Tim Ernerso. TIfI 11741,P7L19. Mr. Widdkorab —And 101'06 ES Nol K. Messrs. Ye,.hter, Emery. J..nl.us, Moreland, Fitzpatrick. Dalt..n. ItertsAds. Lomas, Andrews, Price. Az.. Mrs. L. Murray, and MINNA ileum* Grattan, and C. lAwlareq. STRAND. Tirei EVIMMO, MARI:IEIID raTER.4 AND YOrNOQtrS BA\OS.—I;vM ERA LOA: oR, TIIY. SENsATO IN GOAT. Messrs. Th..me. James. nolmm. and lamer Mesdames Meanhomugh, Newiod, Weathemby, A:c.—aad A SUIT OY IWIW t. HOLBORN. Tau Ending, MY WEN NEXT. Mr. Delmore: Maws Paola sad lasn..x.—Aud YLYISII MCI f. Messrs. Sevilla Hel •ore. Blake, V..llalre, ; Mesdames Y. Josephs, C. assulden, Isere Fouts. Fakirs. Les:lox, Rarreond, &c. BRITANNIA. TBa ETENINg, THE tiWi r LINK ole LIOVE.—To conclude with THE PRINIWAti 1W THE PEARL ISLAND; JR, THE THREE KINILItaMiOF PEARL, GOLD, AND SILVER. Mrs. Lane d; Mims Jac. lll n—Geist . 4 Me l .4Y ; First.rate Pantomimist& FITOTI WATKR AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tsl• DAT —ll(nrnlrm, 111. 17m Allarnomi, 11h. TO-3101M0M-110rulag, Oh. Om Afternoon, O. 250. LONDON, ,NATURDAY, M.4RCII 2. MIL DIMRAELI'S sketch of a Reform Bill serves so well to show what will )114 do, that it is a pity to confine attention to only one of its features. His ideas of redistribution of seats merit, no less than his proposal for extending the franchise, to be considered by reformers, as indicating the species of constitutional amendment to which the instincts of the Conservative party would incline them. According to this suggestion enough is done if boroughs having a population under 7,000 are " invited in all courtesy to surrender their " second member." The condition affects twenty three boroughs, and furnishes an equal number of seats to be dispostal of. To these are to be added the seats gained by the total disfranchisement of Yarmouth, Lana-tater, Totnes, and Reigate. Andtho method is in accordance with the Resolutions at first propounded, for the seventh of these famous aphorisms asserted " that it is not expedient that " any borough now represented in Parliament " should be wholly disfranchised." So that we know that the Conservative theory is, that you may take one of two members away, but that you are on no account (save as punishment for corrup tion) to take away the last member from any borough that now has, or then would have, only one. All the grossest evils of the present system would by this method of Reform remain in full luxuriance. We should still have Arundel, with its happy family of 2,498 inhabitants and its 174 electors, returning its member to Parliament ; we should still have Honiton, Lyme Regis, and Ash burton, the biggest of which is a village of 3,301 inhabitants, each possessed of a representative in the Imperial lAqislature. We should still have seven more of these rural towns, ranging from 4,000 to 5,000 inhabitants, sending seven mem bers to the House of Commons. We should, besides, have thirteen more with less than 6,000 inhabitants, and seventeen more that are still under the figure of 7,000, all with a separate member. Here are no less than 40 members that the Conservative Reform would still provide with seats in the House, each representing a consti tuency not averaging 350 voters. As London has but 16 members, and no other of our towns more than two, the result would be that these forty villages could outvote the metropolis, Liver pool, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edin burgh, and Dublin, and still have two to spare. This is no doubt an extreme example of a Reform that would be at once ridiculous and suicidal. But the question of the disfranchisement of petty boroughs has never yet met with duo consideration in any bill proposed by any party. It is of course obvious that there are reasons for this. Carried to even a moderate extent it would affect so many seats that no Government will ingly faces the interested opposition that would be aroused. Thus even the bill of last year proposed only to operate on boroughs under 8,000 inhabitants, and preferred the way of enlarging by " grouping" to that of disfran chising. But 8,000 is an absurdly low limit at which to fix the popalation entitled to a separate representation. A town of that size can rarely have independence of external influence, and still more rarely an exceptional intelligence entitling it' to an exceptional proportion of representation. It is far more likely to be under the entire con trol, either of some one neighbouring landowner, or of the general body of the surrounding agri culturists. Its ideas must be narrow, for it can not support any high class institutions, whether literary or commercial, by which they can be enlarged. It is sure to indicate the smallness of its intellectual capacity by being broken up into a dozen circles of " society," enviously look ing up to or contemptuously looking down upon each other; or into a scarcely less number of local parties, all squabbling over some local job. Such places as these are the last that should be credited with representing the intelligence and the large interests of the British nation. Not till we reach the magnitude, at the very lowest, in THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 2,, 1867. ordinary cases, of 20,000 inhabitants, do we come to a class of towns in which real intelligence, coupled with real independence, is •to be met with. And that figure is not too high to be fixed as the lowest carrying right to a separate member, for an (stud apportionment would give a popula tion of 40,000 to each constituency. But it is not necessary rigidly to disfranchise all the small boroughs in order to establish a rea sonable system. The idea of groupiTr, is a very good one, and it has been penal to cork well in both Wales and Scotland. It makes a great impediment to bribery, for the result of the poll cannot be known till the returns from all the boroughs come in. The telel,fraph might, indeed, I this advantage ; but, if it did, it would be easy to prohibit its employment for this pm , pose between grouped boroughs. And the method is no less a great obstruction to local jobbery, for the jobs of each town will be dis countenanced by all the others. The result is proved, where the plan has been tried, to ho that great independence of lord influence is established, one influence neutnilising the other, and a tendency is engendered to seek for the best Mein here, though nut connected with the locality. But then the system must be worked fairly. The blunder of the late Government was that it ap plied the grouping to only such towns as are already represented. Hence there were numbers throughout the country, entitled by population to florin part of a group, which were left out, and an opening was afforded for damaging cliti eism on the anomalies. But there ia no reason for instituting new anomalies when we are refunning an old system. The right course is tho simplest, to group together all towns, whether represented boroughs or not, that are above a certain limit of population. We do not profess to fix the limit, which is matter of administrative detail. Whether 5,000 or 8,000 were taken, it would at least be above the limit of many of the present constituencies, and we should sufficiently recognize the claims of prescription by permitting them, in virtue of their ancient privi leges, to sitrvive as members of a group, though below the regular standard. But beyond this leniency it is impossible that we should go. Mr. DINRAELI'S idea, that there is something sacred in the privileges of a represented borough which makes it sacrilege to disfranchise it, is contrary to the constitution and to common sense. To grant representation is to impose a r e sponsibility, not to confer a favour, still less a right of making money. So long as it could be nmintained that the small boroughs subserved purposes which the large ones did not answer, there was reason for retaining them. Rut nobody now maintains that as a rule they send better members to Parliament than those returned by large constituencies. And when the reason for exceptional privileges dis appears, the law which grants them should cease also. OUR CONTEMPORARIES. (THIS DAY.) The relation of the ministry to reform continues to be the burden of newspaper discussion. Perhaps the most remarkable article of to-day Is one in the Standard. The ministry in this are entreated to reconsider their course; abandon their present measure ; and proceed at once to household suffrage. It seems, however, that there should be conditions ; the householder should be rated ; the franchise should not be a merely toneruental one, and quail- fictions may be added calculated to enfranchise all the very numermis class of educated and respectable men who are not householders. Possessing this, the respectable working men of the country would consent to a fair re adjustment of the boundaries and fair consideration for the claims of the counties. They would agree, in all probability, to one member for every constituency under 10,000, and give a majority of seat' thus obtained to the counties. The only fault would be that such a measure might possibly give to enfranchised artisans en excessive share of power over the larger boroughs, but this might be perfectly compenaated by the cumulative vote, which might essay be attached to such • bill. Any smaller scheme than this will probably end in immediate defeat and disaster, and will certainly issue at last in bringing upon us all the perils, without one of the restraints and safeguards of the larger. The Testes thinks independent members of the con servative party may be pardoned if they resent the show of vacillation and distracted opinion which the government has exhibited. The cabinet was wise in attempting reform, but there its wisdom ceased. There is yet time, however, for the progressive section of the cabinet, if thiy are resolute men. One thing is certain, that the ineffectual compromise sketched out by Mr. Disraeli at the beginning of the week cannot be accepted. We must have, and we caa have, a bill which will put the franchise on a staple foundation, and distribute the seats of members in a way to give promise of permanent settlement. The Daily News observes that the attempt to legislate on reform has destroyed the unity of the oonservative party. The majority are wisely disposed to place in Lord Derby's hands full power to make such concessions to public opinion as he may think best, but the minority, represented in the cabinet by two of its most obstinate and headstrong members, is dogged and sullen. Lord Derby now knows what it is to have a " Cave " formed within his party ; but Mr. Gladstone and the liberals will not yield to the temptation to turn these circumstances to mere party account. Indeed, an agreement between the premier and the liberal leaders ought to be possible. The main body of Lord Derby's followers, aided by that of the liberal party, might carry by enormous majorities a bill framed on the basis of a U. occupation rating franchise in boroughs and a 10/. occupation rating in counties. If some such arrangement be not practicable then the go vernment is doomed. The Post thinks the resignation of the ministry must certainly occupy the immediate and anxious attention of the cabinet. It is the only course open to them. The liberals, reassuming office, will, in the opinion of the Post, probably introduce a reform bill, with household suffrage and payment of direct taxation as its main features, and this, with a moderate measure for redistribution of seats, will no doubt be carried in the present session. A disso lution in the autumn will only make them stronger, and the party which has Mr. Gladstone at its head may look forward to the future government of the country. The Star also thinks "the conservative ministry is reeling to its fall," and urges the reformers during the next few weeks to press their advantage home. iddc and household suffrage on the other. So bitter is the dispute takt it eau hardly end without either the reap nation ec the reconstruction of the government, mote especially as a majority of the tory party—the squire members, in fact- have informed Lord Darby that what ever bill he brings in he must stand or fall by it, and not allow it to be :mended into a new measure. Mr. Disraeli's answer on Thursday night, when asked to fix • day for his bill, showed much indecision, and it is quite possible that the bill. if introduced at all, will differ very considerably from iNionday's programme. The detail of difficulties in the cabinet is of course rarely known abroad, but the split in the tory ranks is patent, and may be fatal. A ilia. united cabinet is proposing a bad bill in the face of a united o p position. The Sat 'inlay Rcri, to describes the sketch of parlia mentary rekrm drawn by Mr. Disraeli in a variety of de preciatory terms. It is a poor trumpery faltering measure; it is nothing but the bill of last session with a little colour able altenttions ; a few shillings more conservative, but that is all. Yet it is a bill which inay be modified and improved in committee, and if Mr. Disr.teli is ultimately forced to accept, perhaps a 5/. rating fruichise in boroughs, and a 101. or 12/. rating franchise in counties, the result will be tolerably satisfac tory. To the fancy franchises in themselves, the Sa• ,, nla,y • ',lle sees little or no objection, but thinks it ought to be fully discussed whether they should be accepted in lieu of a lodger franchise. Our contemporary sees no reason why the government should not adopt one mote fancy fratichixe and take in 101. lodgers. The redistribu tion scheme is timid to excess. Mr. Disraeli himself stated that the email borough seats might be reckoned at nearly DA. More than 130 of these would remain exactly as they are. However good the argument in favour of small boroughs may be, it is impossible to suppose that 130 is their right proportion, or that the position they hold is one which they can long retain. It may be greatly doubted whether the t* lity of the government is really conservative, and whether the proposal of the last government to give twenty-six new seats to counties and sixteen to English boroughs wits not really a more conservative measure than that now pro posed. At present, if the government deals boldly with small boroughs, it can ensure that a large proportion of the transferral seats shall go to counties ; but it cannot be sure of this if it leaves the number of small boroughs excessive, and remits it to a reformed parliament to say what shall be done with them. The early intention of the Cabinet, says the Imperial &eh r, was to propose household suffrage together with plurality of votes, and the advantages attendant on this bold method of dealing with the difficulties of reform were sufficiently obvious to secure the approval of the more clear-sighted and far-seeing of our statesmen. The Im perial Rerit to maintains that this project offers the best means of avoiding the supremacy of numbers,and of carry ing into effect conservative views with reference to the representation of capital and intelligence. The forth coming bill will probably fix the franchise at GI. in boroughs, and at 1:i1. in the counties. It will be needs. furry to adopt a system of cumulative votes, in order to pro. vide fur the representation of minorities, if it is finally decided to discard the principle of plurality. The pro 'nulls to confer the franchise on those who pay direct taxes and those who possess certain educational qualifi• cations will reItIOVO the glaring anomaly that now prevails, awl condemns by its action large classes of society, thoroughly competent to give well-considered opinions on public affairs, to exclusion front all share in political power. Whilst fully conscious of the m►ny obstacles that the Cabinet will have to encounter it relies upon final victory. MI that is necessary is union in the ranks of the party, loyalty to the leaders, and confidence in the ability and the suocess of the statesmanship that has restored to the conservative cause the power and position that once seemed irretrievably lost. Those who, actuated by a fatuous obstinacy, by a blind presumption, or by even less worthy motives, disappointed aspirations, or personal hostility, are tempted to desert their political colours, can be safely left to the condemnation of public opinion. • • THE WEEKLY PRESS. In the records of poetic justice, the Examiner rye, there has seldom been a case of more curiously just retribution than has overtaken the present cabinet. The project of a large and comprehensive measure had to be abandoned at the eleventh hour for a halting and incon sistent schema, in deference to the repugnance of four. fifths of the holders of officio and the great body of the party. As for this bill No. 2, it would be rash indeed to speak of it as a thing determinate and settled before it is a week old. Who can tell what it will be like, after it has been vaccinated ? We know if it does not submit to that operation it has not a chance of living: and then let Mr. Bruce say what he will, weakly infants do very often die in the process. 111 the view of the Examiner there is no hope of a settlement if both parties do not agree to a household or rate-paying franchise. There is no more logic or reason in aN. than in a M. test of qualification ; and as for the meagre out line of redistribution, unless it can be filled up in com mittee, and made to exclude and to include many places for which it does not now find room, it seems impossible to conceive that it should become permanently the political map of England. Among the rumours of the hour the Spertntor selects the following ma the most probable. There is a violent dispute within the cabinet, as within the tory party, as to the policy to be pursued with respect to the fnuichiae• One section is for granting as little, the other as much as can safely be given, the limits being GI. rating on the one t Court. WINDSOR CASTLE, 31.m0t 1. The Queen drove out yesterday afternoon, accompanied by Princess Chri.tian. Princess Louise and Prince Christian went out riding, attended by the Hon. Florence Seymour and Colonel the Hon. D. do Ras. Her Majesty and Princess Louise walked, and rode on ponies in the Home-park this morning. Prince and Princess Christian drove to Bagshotpark, and honoured Sir James Clark with a visit. Princess Beatrice and Prince Henry of Prussia went out walking, and Prince Leopold, attended by Mr. Sabi, drove. The christening of the infant son of the Hon. Frederick anal Lady Constance Stanley, took place in the private chapel of the Castle this morning, her Majesty the Queen standing in person as one of the sponsors, the others being Lonl Stanley and Lord Hyde. The child received the names Victor Albert. The Hon. and Vary Rev. the Dean of Windsor performed the ceremony. Princess Louise was present. The Duchess of Roxburghe, Lord Begot, the Hon. Flora Macdonald, the Hon. Florence hey . anon, Colonel the Hon. C. Lindsay, and Sir John Cowell, were in attendance on her Majesty. There were also pre sent, in addition to the Hon. F. and Lady Constance Stanley, the Earl and Countess of Derby, the Countess of Clarendon, and Lady Emily Villiers. The Duke of Roxburghe arrived at the Castle yesterday, and had the honour of dining with the Queen and the royal family. Major• General the Hon. A. N. Hood and Colonel the Hon. A. Hanhnge have suoceeded Lord Charles Fitzroy and Colonel the Hon. D. de Roe as equerries in waiting. The Prince of Wales honoured Monsieur Disderi with • sitting for his photograph •t 70, Brook-street, Hanover square, yesterdsy morning. The Prince of Wales went to the House of Lords yester day afternoon. In the evening his royal highness presided at the annual festival of the Most Loyal Society of Ancient Britons, in aid of the Welsh School at Ashford, Middlesex. In at tendance on his royal highness were Viscount Hamilton, General KnoSys, and Lieutenant-Colonel KeppeL The Countess of Macclesfield has succeeded the Mar chioness of Carmarthen as lady in waiting to the Princess of Wales. Lieutenant-Colonel Keppel hu succeeded Major Tees dale u equerry in waiting to the Prince of Wales. At the Privy Council-office yesterday Lord Southampton took the oath as lord-lieutenant of the county of North ampton, in the presence of the Lord President, the Right Hon. Spencer H. Walpole, the Right Hon. IL Corry, and the Right Hon. Gathorne Hardy. A Committee of the Lords of her Majesty', Most Honour. able Privy Council sat yesterday, at the Privy Council office, on the subject of the cattle plague. The Lords present were—The Lord President and the Right Hon, Gathorne Hardy. Mr. Harrison sad Dr. Alexand er Wil liams attended the committee. A deputation from railway companies, consisting of the following general managers :—Mr. Cawkwell (London and North Western), Mr. Smithetta (Lancashire and York .hire), Mr. Allport (Midland),Mr.Clarke (Great Northern), Mr. Grierson (Great Western), Mr. Moseley (Great Eistern), and Mr. Mason (assistant manager, London and North Western), had an interview with the Lord Presi dent of the Couneil and the Right Hon. Gathorne Hardy, at the Privy Council-office, yesterday, on the subject of the conveyance of cattle through London, &c. Mr. Harri son and Dr. Alezander Williams were present at the inter view. A deputation from tho Incorporated Law Society, con sisting of the President (Mr. Williams), Mr. Chloe, Mr. Burton, Mr. Gregory, and the Secretary, had an interview with the Right Hon. Sir Stafford Northoote, at the office of the Board of Trade, yesterday, on the subject of the land■ Clauses Consolidation Act, INS, and the Railway Clauses Consolidation Act, 145. A deputation from the govcrnon and guardians of the parish of St. Mary, Newington, consisting of 11r. H. H. Silvester, Dr. W. T. Miff, Dr. W. S. Corti., Mr. M. W. Williams, Mr. W. Sayer, Mr. 11. Marsland, Mr. Chester, and Mr. J. Burma (clerk), had an interview with the Right Hon. Gathorne Harty, at the office of the Poor•kw Board, Whitehall, yentenlay. Despatches were received at the Colouial.of6a, yester day, from the Governor-General of Canada. Despatches were sent to the Governors of the West India Islands, British Columbia, Vancouver's Island, and the Australian Colonies. The Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Mary of Cambridge, Prince Teck, and mite honoured the Olympic Theatre with their presence Let evening. SOCIETY OP ANCIENT BRITONS. The 152nd annivenary of this society was cele brated yesterday (St. David's-day) at Willis's Rooms, Kiag. street, St. James's, in aid of the funds of the Welab Charity School, Ashford, iihklkses. His Royal Highness the Prince of WALES presided. His ROTAL HIGIDIEnn, in rising to propose " The Health of her Majesty," was greeted with the most cordial en thusiasm. His royal highness said—Your Royal High ness, my Lords, Ladies, and Gentlemen,—The first toast which, in the capacity of chairman, I have to propose to you is one which I feel certain you will drink with every enthusiasm. It will require very little praise from me, as it is a toast which at meetings of Englishmen is never omitted. I propose to you "The Health of her Majesty the Queen." The toast having been drunk with the warmest acclama tions, The Duke of CA M PRI proposed "Her Royal High ness the Princess of Wales,/ and the rest of the royal family." The tole wan drank with every demonstration of loyalty. The Prince of WALL+, in responding, said it is unpin- Bible for me not to thank your royal highness moat cordially for the terms in which you have proposed this toast, and the company for the equally cordial manner in which they have received it. Your royal highness has been pleased to asy that I have always been ready, whenever it lay in my power, to assist at any charitable meeting of any kind. I mu as-ure you that I derive great encouragement at being present, either as a looker-on or as a participator in the proceedings of those assemblies, from the excessively kind manner in which I am supported on these occasions. When I look around rue this evening, for example, I have indeed every reason W be satisfied. ((,'heers.) As we have still a great many toasts before us, I will only add a very few words more, but I will thank you for the kind manner in which you have drunk the health of the Princess of Vt . :des. I :1111 truly happy to be able to cor roborate the statement of my illustrious relative,and to say that she is rapidly recovering from her late illness, and I trust she will soon be restored to her usual good health. (Loud cheering. ) His norm. Hit: HNEM: then gave " The Army and Navy, Militia, and Volunteers," coupling with the toast the names of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge and the . 11arl . of Shrewsbury and Talbot. The Duke of CAMBRIDGE and the Earl of SHREWBBERY having respectively returned thanks The Earl of Town; propoaed "The Church," and the Bishop of St. DAviiirs responded. . The' children of the school were then conducted round the room, and immediately afterwards they sang an ode adapted to an ancient `Welsh melody by Mr. lirinley Itichars. The children remaining in the room, His llov.u. HicHNENN gave th.:‘ . toast of t h e evening, " Prosperity to the Welsh Charity School, and Perpetuity to the Most Honourable and Loyal Society of Ancient Britons." (Cheers.) He said—l feel sure, gentlemen, I shall not have to call upon you twice to respond most heartily to, this toast. for all of you must know, perhaps far better than I can tell yam, the history of this society ; but at the same time it may be well that I should go back and give you a brief sketch of the society from its commencement. (Cheers.) In the year 1714, on St. David's-day, it was founded- -a day which was the birth day of Caroline, Princess of Wales. She took the greatest interest in its wellbeing, even independent of the fact of its having been founded to commemorate her natality. My ancestor, George 11., then Prince of Wales, he n.une the first patron of the society. In those times the society had nothing more than a day-school. In 1737 it was removed to Clerkenwell. There the school flourished, but in the year 1771 it was removed to Gray's-inn-lane ; and in the year MIS, at the death of the much-lamented Princess Charlotte of Wales, whose loss the whole coun try most deeply felt, fifty more children were admitted, and supported by public subscription, in remembrance of her name. (Hear, hear.) The school continued to flourish, but it was thought advisable, if possible, that it should be removed to the country, with a view of obtaining an atmosphere more beneficial to the children's health. In 11454 the school was removed to Ashford, and in 1857, on the 13th July, my lamented father inaugurated or opened the school. (Hear, hear.) lam happy to say I ROOOllll - him on that occasion. (Hear, hear.) From that time to this you will believe me when I say I have felt the deep est interest in the prosperity of the school. (Cheers.) It has frequently occurred on my journey from London to Windsor, and from Windsor to London, by the South Western line , that I have noticed the school as I passed by; but that alone would not be required to remind me of its claims to public support. When it was removed from Loudon to the country considerable expense was incurred, so much so that it was found necessary to reduce the num ber of children from biO to lit). But I am happy to be able to inform you that during the last century and • half as many as 3,000 Welsh children have been clothed and educated, and afterwards sent forth into the world, and provided to a certain extent for their future career. This must be a very gratifying announcement ; and brief and imperfect as the sketch may have been which I have given you, still I trust I have said enough to call upon you most heartily to continue that support which in past years you have given out the occasion of these annual festivals. (Cheers.) I thank you for the kind manner in which you have been pleased to receive these remarks, end I beg to propose to you, in a bumper, the toast of the evening, " Prosperity to the Welsh Charity School and Perpetuity to the Society of Ancient Britons. ' . . . . The toast WAS drunk with the most enthusiastic accla mation, and a collection of subscriptions was annoonced by the secretary amounting to 3,000 guineas, including id() guineas from the Prince of Wales, in addition to :Mk guineas previously contributed by his royal highness. The musical arrangements were entrusted to Iddlle. Lcibhart, Mr. George Perren, Mr. T. Lawler, and Mr. Brinley Richards, the laid-mentioned gentleman having had the honour of a personal introduction to his royal highness the chairman, as the composer of the popular air, " God bless the Prince of Wales." THE WORKHOUSE INFIRMARY ASSOCIATION. The special committee appointed to consider Mr. Hardy's Poor-law measure met on Thursday afternoon ; Lord Gaosvtxea, M.P., in the chair. Present—Lord Charles Bruce, M.P., Mr. Lawrence Oliphant, M.P., the Rev. Mr. WGill, Dr. Rogers, Dr. Can, Dr. Anstie, Mr. Ernest Hart, and Mr. J. C. Parkinson. The chief points discussed were the degree to which the oommoo•fund principle may be extended, and the nature of the pro posed control over existing boards of management. The leading principle upon which the Infirmary Association was formed, the end for which it agitated, and for the compass of which it originally commanded public support, was that the whole of the sick poor in workhouses should be placed under hospital management, and be provided for by one common fund. Mr. Hardy's measure falls con siderably short of this, and it was decided to urge upon him the propriety of providing for other kinds of disease than those particularised under his measure. The opinion expressed at the last meeting of the 1180Cia tion was fully endorsed, and the inadequacy of a system of amateur guardians to be nominated by the Poor-law Board. as s remedy for existing evils, unanimously insisted on. Finally, it was decided that Mr. Hardy should be communicated with prior to the bill going into committee next week ; and the result should be reported to the asso ciation, and a definite course of action be decided on forthwith. In the early days of this association, we pointed out that its deficiency was • lack of comprehensive ness, and that assuming all its expressed views to be earned, the old and infirm paupers would he still left to the mercies of the guardians, while the acute cases of sicknesswere receiving proper care. The answer held to be valid was that by limiting the efforts of the society to the poor people needing constant medical are the probabilities of speedy success were materially increased. As Mr. Hardy's measure subdivides these again it is not irrelevant to repeat that • very large pro portion of the inmates of metropolitan workhouses will run the same risks of injustice and ill-treatment as here tofore. CABINET CowiclL.—There will be a Cabinet Council this afternoon, at 3 o'clock, at the First Lord of the Treasury's official residence in Down ing-street. Tug DVICE or EDINRUROH.—His Royal High nese the Duke of Edinburgh left Plymouth Sound on Tuesday morning for Lisbon, and will afterward, visit Gibraltar and Malta. A sojourn will then be made of few months in the Mediterranean ; after which his royal highness will proceed to Australia, where he will proba b ly stay two or three months. He will next visit Bombay, Calcutta, China, and Japan, besides other places that may attract his attention, and be afterwards decided upon visiting. To carry out these intentions his royal highness will be absent a little over two years.—Court Circular. The Court Circular states that it is now definitely arranged that the marriage of the Count de Flandre with the Princess Mary of Hohenzollern is to take place with great pomp at the palace of Berlin early in May • and besides the Prussian royal family, the King of the Belgians and the Prince and Princess of Wales will be present. The christening of the infant Princess, daughter of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, will, the Court Circe/ar believes, take place in the private chapel at Windsor Castle at the latter end of this mouth (should the health of the Princess of Wales permit), and the same state ceremony will be observed as on the occa sion of the baptism of his Royal Highness Prince George, the second son of the Prince and Princess, in July, 1865. ADMIRALTY, FEB. N.—ROYAL MARINE LIGHT IwrArrar.—LieutensnteCeneral Thomas Lemon, C. 8., to be colonel of the Plymouth Division, vice Delsoombe.— Gazette. At a numerously attended meeting of tiro members of the Clarendon Club, held at the Club-house,St. James's-street, on the 26th ult., it was unanimously re solved to abandon the idea of making it a political club, and to carry It on vigorously as a private and social club, without reference to the political opinions of its members. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (iztruis TELEGRAMS.) FRANCE. PAM. MAWR 2. A prosecution has been commenced against M. E. de Girardin on account of the article which ap peared under his signature in the Lib. ate of Wed nesday last. SPAIN. MADRID, MARCH 1, EVEXINO. A royal decree has been issued authorising the Minister of Marine to contract for laying a sub marine telegraph cable between Cuba, Porto Ritid, Mexico, and Panama. PORTUGAL LISBON, MARcit I, _ _ A mass meeting has been held at Opo v rte to peti tion the government against the proposed new taxes. INDIA AND CHINA MAILS. MARSEILLM, MARCH 2. The Euxine arrived at 7.30 a.m. to-day, having been delayed by bad weather. The mail leaves for London at 11.30 a.m. (Letters on Monday morning.) EXPRESS FROM PARIS. (mow ova OWN CORIUMPONDENT.) FRIDAY EVMINO. . _ The authorised pen of M. Boniface gives a sketch of the new press bill as finally settled by the Em peror in the Council of State yesterday. It differsin only two material particulars from the statement of the Frowe, which I lately sent you. One of these differences is for the better, the other fur the worse. The stamp duty, instead of remaining at 6 centimes, is to be reduced to 4. But, on the other band, newspapers, instead of being liable to suppression only for crimes, may be suspended and suppressed by the correctional tribunals at their discretion, after two misde meanours committed in the course of two years. This is severe, but still far better than the present arbitrary system. The correctional tribunals almost always convict when called upon by government to do so, but they seldom inflict any thing like the maximum punishment, and the pressure of public opinion may be safely relied upon to prevent them from assuming the re sponsibility of confiscating such a large property as a journal for slight and trivial causes. M. Emile 011ivier, who still addresses M. Emile de (lirardin as his " dear friend," writes the fol ios it:g letter to the Libcrti in justification of his conduct: Paris, Feb. 28. • Yon say I was wrong not to become a minister and to make myself ministeriaL• Allow me not to consider the question whether I was right or wrong not to be come a minister ; but let me also complain without rancour that you should call me ministerial. Nothing can be more simple than what passed in the last sitting of the Corps Legislatif. B. Rouher hav ing reproduced the ideas which I had developed last year against him, and having even added a word of ad miration for that group of " five" which I shall for ever be proud of having belonged to, I thought it but loyal to sapiens an adhesion wl'ich it was all the easier for me to snake that I did it without arri< re penile of any kind. As to reserves, I had none to make ; they were implicitly contained in my words, and in my antecedents still more than in my words. If the laws on the press and the right of public meeting shall be conformable to my hopes, my adhesion will be come definitive. If they should be as draconian as the journals have said, I skill cede to no one the privilege of opposing them. But should I adhere definitively, I shall not, therefore, become ministerial. Rightly or wrongly, the word means one who systematically approves all the government does. Now, I shall never deviate from the principle which forms the honourable engagement be tween me and my constituency—neither systematic lq probation nor systematic hostility. Yours, EMILE OLLIVIr.R. The only notice which M. de Girardin takes to-night of his " dear friend's" letter is that it re dounds to his honour, because it shows that had he been a minister of January 10 he would have listened patiently to the " most disagreeable truths." That on another occasion ho will pick to pieces the very lainecase made by the letter I do not doubt. A cashier in the immense shop called the Maga sins du Louvre, was convicted yesterday by the assize court of the Seine of extensive embezzle ments. The prisoner, a young man named Pig nolet, aged 24, born at Evreux, in Normandy, had a salary—considered a handsome one for his age and position—of just 1121. a year. With these ostensible means of subsistence he dressed like an exquisite, appeared on Sundays and in the long summer evenings in carriages in the Bois de Boulogne, cut a great figure among the demi-monle, and went to races, where he betted, if I may be excused so bad a pun, with his betters. But for his extravagant way of living his frauds might perhaps have never been discovered, for the Magnetite du Louvre turn over 13 millions of francs a year, and in such an enormous sum his embezzlements, though large, were but as a flea-bite, and he effected them with great skill and caution. But it coming to the knowledge of some of the managers that he was spending money quite out of proportion to his apparent means, they spoke to hint on the subject. Ho said he often received money from his relations, and had lately inherited a consider able sum. Notwithstanding this answer, it was thought necessary to keep a close watch upon him, and it was very soon found that he made false entries in the books, and sometimes contrived to receive money without entering it at all. He was arrested. The management, on the closest inves tigation, could only find out frauds to the extent of 40,000 fr. ; but he subsequently confessed that lie had embezzled as much as from 70,000 fr. to 80,000 fr. Among the papers seized in his lodgings was a list almost as long as Leporello . ' catalogue in " Don Juan " of the different ladies he had known, the periods with which ho had been acquainted with them respectively, and tho sums of money lie had spent on each. The Droit publishes for the information of the curious in such matters not only the names but the addresses of all these ladies. M. Lachaud defended the prisoner, and succeeded in persuading the jury to convict him only of embezzlement, and not of forgery. He was sentenced to four years' imprisonment. • M. E. de Girardin never mid this. Whet be said was, that M. Emile 011ivier was expected to make a diocvegn stinistre—a very different thing. The ball at the Tuileries on Tuesday evening WIN unusually brilliant, about 4,000 persons being present. The Emperor and Empress entered the rooms at 10. The Empress wax attired in white satin trimmed with roses. the leaves sparkling with brilliants. The Princess Clotilde wore a robs of white muslin. The Cologne Gazette states that in an election for a deputy to the parliament of Northern Germany for that city, M. fiasco, a catholic priest of Frankforton•the- Maine, has just been returned, having ob ained 8,379 votes to 8,106 polled for his opponent, M. Ludolph Camp hausen, candidate of the old Prank= liberal party. PARLIAMENTARY BURIN= POE TES ENSUING WEIL The following notices of motions and orders of the clay stand in the order book of the House a Coot. moos for the ensuing week : NONDAT, Meant 4. OADZIIB Or THZ Day. Supply—onnimittee ; Supply —repori ; British North America Bill —committee ; Capital Punishment within Prisons Bill second reading ; Mulder Law Amendment Bill—second reading ; Criminal Lunatics Bill - -committee; Admiralty Jurisdiction Bill—second reading; Duty on Dogs Bill as amended, to be considered ; Sugar Duties Bill—as amended. to be considered ; Tim:int* Improve. ment ( Ireland) Bill—second reading ; Land Iniprotenu nt and Leasing (lrehind) Bill—second reading ; Ways :Lod Means--committee ; Oyster and Mussel Fisheries Bill second reading; Counsel to the Secretary of hist, for India lall—cotunsittee ; Associations of Workmen Bill— second reading ; Land Contracts (Ireland) Bill- second reading. Noire or MOTIo:18. Mr. Neste and Mr. Warner—To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer questions relating to reform. Mr. Torrens—To ask the Under. Secretary of State for the Colonies when he will lay upon the table the correspondence between the Secretary of State and the thivernordienend °ICU:MALI. as also with other perNons in the colony, regarding the extradition of M. Lamirande. Mr. l'ease—To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the attention of her Majesty • go. vernntcut has been drawn to the evils arising fr.al the fact that a separate jurisdiction exists for granting licenses for the retail sale of spirits, beer, and wine ; and whether her Majesty's government propose to bring in a bill to place the granting of these licenses under one jurisdiction. Lord John Hay—Fig Iron (liockyanlal—Copy of Messrs. RyLlniTs and any other reports received on the subject all pig iron in the dockyards since August, 1866. Mr. Osborne—Lieutenant Brand—Cupy of recent cor. respondence between the Board of Admiralty and Lieute nant Brand, R.N. General Peel—Army Estimates (in committee of supPIA On going into committee of supply. Mr. Otway —On Army Estimates, to move, " That this house, reserving for future consideration when requisite the question of the exigencies of a state of war, is of opinion that it is unnecessary that the punishment of flogging should be awarded during the time of peace to soldiers 0/ the army or corps of Royal Marines serving on shore. TIABOAT, MARCH L. None Eli OF MOTIONS. Mr. D. Griffith—To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Britiah artisans who have been or are about to be taken out by Colonel dlerewether to Massowah are to be exchanged for the captives now de. tained in Abyasinia, or axe to be sent into that country after the latter are released ; and, if so, whether it will not require great care and attention to prevent the trauma. Mon front simply resulting in the change of one set of pri. boners for another. _ _ Mr. Lusk—To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if eight of the crew of the Tornado are still kept close prisoners by the Spanish authorities ; and, seeing that it is admitted in a despAth to Sir J. Crampton, date d Foreign-office, February 8, 1887, that all the cre♦ of the ship have been "arbitrarily detained, on one pretext br another, fur many months," and that " they have been subjected to hardships as unnecessary as they were cruel," if it is the intention of her Majesty's government to take any steps to obtain redress for these unfortunate end ill. used British subjects. Mr. Watkin—Limited Liability Acta—Select committee to inquire into the operation of the Limited Liability Acts. Mr. O'Beirne—Merchant Shipping Acts—That the Mer- chant Shipping Act of 1851, and all subsequent acts upon the same subject, be referred to a select committee to in lui and report to the house such amendments in the law, if any, as they shall consider to be necessary for the better protection of the public and the mercantile marine of this country. Mr. Bouverie—Uniforniity Act Amendment—ln cuss. mittee of the whole house, to move for leave to bring in a bill to repeal certain portions of the Act of Uniformity. Mr. Mg./igen—Genie Preservation (Scotlan.B—Bill to amend the laws relating to the preservation of game in Scotland. ORDERS OF THE DAV. Rale and Purchase of Shares 11111—adjourned debate on amendment on second reading :--(Order fur second reading read ; motion made and question proposed, "That the bill he now read a second time :"—Amendment pro posed, to leave out the word " now" and at the end of the question to add the words " upon this day air m on th s :* (Mr. Fades) -Question proposed, " That the word • now' wand part of the question ;"j Execution of Leeds Bill —committee. ___ WRONESDAT, MARCH 6. Oanzrui or rme DAY. Tests Abolitionßiliort reading ; Refl. gious, &c., Buildings (Sites) Bill— second reading. THURSDAY. MARCH 7. ORDERS Or THE DAY. Metropolitan Poor Bill—coimnittee; Shipping Local Dues Bill—committee ; Vice•Prcsident of the Board of Trade Bill—committee ; Laud Tax Cominbsioners' Names Bill—committee : Railway Companies' Arrangements Bill—second reading ; Lyon King of Arms iscotlanill Bill —second reading; Metropolitan Improvement* Bill— second reviling • Thames Embankment awl Metropolis Improvement (I:oans) Bill—second reading; London Coal and Wine Duties Continuance Bill—second reading; Dublin University Professorships Bill—committee. Sorters or Mori..ss. Mr. Ayrtm—East London Water Bills, &a., Committee —That all petitions which have been presented during the present session relating to the utattas referred to this committee, be referred to the said committee, awl such of the petitioners as pray to be heard by them , elves, their counsel, or agents, be hoard upon their petitions, if they think fit ; and counsel heard in favour of the bills :—That the committee have power to send fur persona, papers, and records. The Attorney-General—Bankruptcy—Bill to oonsolidate and amend the acts relating to hankniptcy in England. The Attorney-General—Judgment Debtors Bill to abolish arrest on final process in civil actions in England, except in certain cues ; and otherwise to amend the law relating to judents, decrees, and onler.. Mr. P. Wyn&am—ln committee OH Metropolitan Pear Bill—After clause 81, insert the following clause : "Where the asylum is provided for the reception and relief of the sick, every such asylum shall he provided with a hospital carriage, of such a pattern as the Pour-law Board shall approve of, for the conveyance of run.ollo suffering from email pox, fever, or other infection. disease. Colonel Barttelot—On second reading of Railway Corn- Nunes' Arrangements Bill, to move that it be read a second time upon this day six mouths. FRIDAY, MARCH 8. ORDERR OF THE MAY. Petit Juries (Ireland) Bill--ercund reading; twat el Chancery (Ireland) Bill—second reading; Common Lan Courts (Irel.uul)Bßl—seeoud reading. NOTICEM OP MOTT‘7NR. On going into committee of supply, Mr. William Forster—To call the Attention of the house to the uncertainty as to the position of the volunteers consequent on their late employment as :in armed force at Chester ;ant to ask the government what steps, if any, they intend to take to remove this uncertainty. Mr. Bermford Hope—To move that :ix the Customs revenue is now derived from an exceedingly :melba of articles, the prices of most of which w London and Paris are equal, this house considers that no a ppreciable injury would be indicted upon the income of the country were the present practice of the '.arch of the baggage el travellers at Dover, Folkestone, Newlin, to, and is London suspended during the period of the French Exhibition of 1+4117. Mr. Gregory—To call the attention of her Majesty's go. vernment to the condition of the Royal Irish .Ividcmy. Mr. O'Reilly—To call attention to the position of the present officers of the Straits Settlement. awl to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonise whether he tut state which of these officer. will be retained and which auperstsled ; and, with regard to the latter, what measures are proposed to prevent the transfer of the settlement fnim the Indian to the colonial govermisent injuriously affecting their position and future career. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge hnd a dinner party on Thursday at Gloucester House, Ticeti dilly. The Marquis of liartington, M. P., has gone on a visit to the Duke and Duchess of hlancliester :Lt Kira. boltou Castle, Hunts. The Earl and Countess of Shaftesbury had a dinner party last evening at their resiiienee in litieacnor• square. hater in the evening A ',elect circle The Earl and Countess of Dudley hail a small and early party yesterday evening at Dudley Ilieise, Park• lane. Lady Molesworth entertained at dinner last evening his Excellency the Marquis d'Azeglio, the Mar quis of Sligo, the Had and Count, ,a of Essex. V i s counte , i Hohuesdale, Lady Augusta Cailogan, the 11. n. 113 *Til Temple, Lady Egerton of Tateon, (;,neral Mr. F. Courtenay, Lady Tierney, Mr. Millais, li.A., and Mr. Pakenham Aldet son. —• The Hebdomadal Council at Oxford hire declined to take action upon the memorial present. .1 to them, praying that the honorary degree of M.A. shoahl be givot to Mr. Robert Browning, in onbv to qualify him to be a candidate for the Poetry• Professorship. In consequence of the high price of all kinds of food the caterers of the line regiments in France experience great difficulties in providing for the support of the men. The Emperor, taking into consideration thin mate of things, which can only be aggr.tvattal in Parit. during the Exhibition, has decided that there shall hr accorde.l to the troops a daily supplement of three centimes per man for those quartered in Paris, and two to those in the neigh bourhood, from the lit of April to the dose of the Exhibition.