The Express. — London, England, 1866-04-25 00:00:00

JOHN BROGDEN. ORIGINAL GOLD CHAIN MANUFACTORY, 10. HENRIEITA-STRILET, COVIEFT-GARDIVI. JOHN BROGDEN'S 18-carat GOLD CHAINS. 'OEN BROGDEN'S GOLD.GUARD CHAINS. JOHN BROGDEN'S GOLD ALBERT CHAINS. JOHN BROG DEN'S GOLD BROOCH CHAINS. lIRTLE, TURTLE, TURTLE. Clear, Thick, aad Invalid TURTLE PICCAD ILL Yys d,y. BT. JAMMEN-HALL, REONNT-STltErr WY. DONALD. Proprietor. rpo WEST-END DINERS.—The WELLING it- TON, Pe. Janes's-street, Meathlly. ladles' Saloon Dining-Toon an the first gem The Enbecription rooms are now open. TIM" twelve menthe, £1 in dd.; six months, Ll le.— Apply 4,0 D. Cinema, 49, St. James'estreet. LONDO N must have a SUPPER and MUSIC BOOM tor Gentlemen—Remember, we welt for pea at • avAxEr," alter the Covent Garden Opera and the Theatre. Zite errpreoo. TO COERESPONDENTIL Advertisement+ intended for "The Koreas," London Evening , me at be et the Moe, 10, Bouveriedreet, by Two Paper k c onthe day of publication. HAYMARKET. EVmstno. A ROMANTIC ATTACHMENT. Mews. Compton and W. Fsrren ; Ads Cavendish. —THE FAVORITE OF FORTUNK Messrs. Bust:stone. Chippendale, and Botha= Mrs. ClAppenclale.&c.—And A DAUGHTU, TO MARRY. . _ PRINCESS'S. TEM ammo. A GHOST IN SPITE OF KIMBIXF —Atter D. Hmars OF LONDON. Medan. Yining, T. Mead, D. M u r ray, e, and ; Mrs. H. Marstork, a nd Mims K Barnett and K. Bodges. LYCEUM. Tele Evident°, A DAY AFTER THE WEDDING. Messrs. Horsnian, Fitzpatrick, and Clifford ; Mn. Horsinan, ix —And HAMLET. Messrs. Yachter, Emery, Addison, Widdicomb, Veen, Jordan, Fitzpatrick, ie. Mesdames Elsworthy and C. Lorlercq - BRITANNIA. TIRTSEVINTIKI, THE SAILORS RSTURN.—ThelEchneee —CLOUD AND SUNSHINE Mr. James Anderson.—To con clude with THE DARK KING OF THB BLACK MOUNTAINS. Mims am St Cease, list & lame. HIGH-WATER AT LONDON-BRIDGE. TIM DAY —Morning, Ilh. 4m Afternoon, 1113. WM. To-Moniow—Morning, Oh. Om Afternoon, Oh. Tm. LONDON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, Lass summer the case of the Abyssinian cap tives had almost become a party question in the House of Lords. Consul CA-11NaOH, from excess of zeal, bad exceeded his instructions, and, after reading that correspondence between the Foreign office and his predecessor, which repeatedly in sisted on the absolute neutrality of the British Government in Abyssinian affairs, had promised the Emperor THEODORE more than he could perform. It may be that Consul CAMERON'S in structions were somewhat too " general " in sense, too elastic and expansive for the strict restraint of a brave and energetic public servant, anxious to please a Sovereign who had treated him with marked distinction, and professionally ardent in the pursuit of that diplomatic phantom —British " influence." Instructed to remember the fate of Consul PLOWDEN, who had achieved such "influence " at the court of the Abyssinian Emperor that he subsequently lost his life in the service of that Sovereign, Consul CAMERON ap pears to have been encouraged by the EMPEROR'S lively sense of gratitude to read the recommenda tions of the Foreign-office by the light of that mo narch's countenance, and to hold out hopes which he could not fulfil, since their fulfilment depended not on his own good will, but on the will of the British Government. He brought, it is true, a royal letter and presents to the EMPEROR, and received in exchange for them a more than gracious welcome. The Emperor THEODORE, who, like SUMS Emperors of the West in these latter days, has risen to the throne by that force of character and of circumstances which is called good fortune when it succeeds, and who is as sensitive as other illustrious parvenus to the compliments of the legitimate monarchies, was doubly solicitous to conciliate the majesty of Eng land, as a power inspiring his imagination with all the terrorsof the distantand unknown, and at the same time very present to his perceptions as an active and enterprising maritime neighbour, and as the conqueror and ruler of the East. But he was unforttmately possessed with an obstinate delu sion ; he looked for aid from England against—of all people in the world—his enemies the Turks ! Accordingly, he proposed to Consul CAMERON to send an embassy to the Court of England, accom panied by the Consul, and he actually wrote a letter of thanks to her MAJESTY to that effect. The letter was forwarded, of course, to its destination ; but it was not answered ; and the only recognition the Consul received of the document was a formal reprimand for interfering against his in structions in Abyssinian affairs. After waiting in vain for an answer to a per fectly courteous letter, the Emperor THEODORE got angry ; and the anger of an Abyssinian Emperor is of a more torrid temperament, and less capable of dissimulation, of patience, and of reserve, than the brooding grudges of men of the same rank and title who live and reign in cooler climes. " Perplexed in the extreme," at length he laid hands upon the representative of the British Govenunent, with all the bitterness of disappointed hopes, barren expectations, rejected advances, and insulted dignity, and threw Consul CAMERON into prison as a hostage, together with some British, French, and German missionaries. And in prison they remained for months and months, forgotten apparently by the British Government and the British public. Consul CAMERON simply " was not ;" nothing was heard of him and his unfortunate companions in chains, in Parliament or in the press. Suddenly, in the spring of last year, " the Abyssinian captives " were brought to life by a young and vigorous contemporary ; in quiries were raised in both Houses, and it resulted that the Foreign-office was anxiously con sidering the means and opportunities of ob taining their release. In the House of Lords, where there is always abundant leisure to improve these eccentric difficulties into party attacks, Lord CHELMSFORD distinguished himself by his generous appeals on behalf of the captives, and managed to create a vague impression upon the public mind that the Government had some how been guilty of a moat aggravated neglect of duty and hardness of heart. There was no diffi culty in asserting, with patriotic emphasis, that a British Consul ought not to be allowed to perish in an Abyssinian prison ; and as it was not incum bent upon any speaker or writer to show how Con sul CAMERON could be reached by " the arm of " England," or to advise hostile operations against the Emperor THEODORE, it must be owned that the assailants of the Foreign-office had the best of it, while Lord RUSSELL was calmly and quietly taking the only steps that could possibly lead to the result now happily attained by the tact and discretion, the mingled firmness and forbearance, of Mr. RAM AN. No one, indeed, actually proposed to go to war with Abyssinia, though nothing less than war was the impossible alternative which impatient critics, with a prudent reservation, allowed the public ignorance silently to entertain. / Not that the impatience be blamed, or the ignorance corning the topography empire. But it iaaimi vernment Lord Roast Foreign-office—to bear in mind that this was pre cisely one of those instances in which a re sponsible Irmister must bear the burden of un deserved insinuations and reproaches, in order to fulfil his duty according to his larger knowledge and experience, and to attain the objecte which public impatience and indignation honestly but ignorantly seek, and which premature official dis closures and hasty official statements might irre parably injure. It presently appeared that Lord Etrassax had chosen for the difficult and delicate, perhaps dangerous, mission to the Abyssinian Emperor the very fittest person in her MAJESTY'S service—Mr. Ras sem, the Resident at Aden, a Nestorian Chal dxean by birth, an Englishman by education, and by habits and training particularly well qualified to conciliate and appease, without any inconve nient or unbecoming sacrifice of dignity, the sus ceptibilities of such a potentate as the Em peror Theorioaz. Nor was it enough to order Mr. RASSAM to proceed to the Abyssinian court ; the time and manner of his journey were essential conditions to the success of his message. It was indispensable that the permission of the EMPEROR should be obtained, and a sufficient gua rantee of the Envoy's reception and safety. Inferior messengers must be sent in advance with letters to the EMPEROR. Hence considerable delay in the actual departure of Mr. RAssAM from Egypt. The Foreign-office prudently entrusted the Envoy with the entire discretion of his proceedings. Mr. RASSAM waited for the EMPEROR'S reply, and immediately on learning that the EMPEROR would receive him with pleasure and confidence, he left Egypt for his destination. The EMPEROR desired him to avoid a region of the empire then in insurrection, and promised him a gracious and hearty welcome. It was clear that the Foreign-office had been well advised in its deliberate and forbearing course of action, and especially in holding to the conviction that the Abyssinian EMPEROR had imprisoned the Consul rather as a hostage to his offended dignity than as a victim to his anger. That Consul CAMERON and his comrades in captivity must have suffered severely in body and mind is beyond all doubt. But there is reason to believe that no one was more satisfied of the prudence of her MAJESTY ' S Government in not precipitating the demand for his release, in waiting for the Emperor THEODORE to relent, and in soothing the wounded pride of a sovereign against whom all threats must be worse than powerless, than Consul CAMERON himself ; and the despatch which Lord CLARENDON read to the Peers on Monday night amply justifies Consul CAMERON'S hopes, the counsels of Mr. Ras- SAM, and the confidence of her MAJESTY'S Govern ment. It appears that the EMPEROR had given Mr. RASSAM a reception so magnificent that a regular embassy could not have been treated with more honour. Within a few hours after his first inter view with his MAJESTY, the release of all the pri soners was ordered, and the EMPEROR directed that they should be placed under the care of Mr. RAs- SAM. The EMPEROR had sent his 011-11 Chamber lain to unfetter the prisoners and to bring them to meet the British Envoy ; he had writen a most polite letter to the QUEEN, and was loading Mr. RASSAM and his suite with handsome presenta. At the present date (though Lord DERBY seems still a little sceptical of the result) the mission and the released captives should be in all probability embarked at Massowah, and while we cordially join with those of our contemporaries who express the hope that the British Consulate at Masaowah will for the future be limited to that post of commercial observation, without extending its good advice or its good offices to the court of Abyssinia—wher ever that may be—leaving diplomatic compliments and the interchange of royal courtesies to special missions (and even to special missions nothing more than compliments and courtesies) ; we shall cer tainly not take the occasion of this happy release to call a sovereign a savage, who, while he resents, like any common Christian, discourtesies, is neither inaccessible to appeals to clemency, nor incapable of forgiving and repenting like the most uncommon Christian. OUR CONTEMPORARIES. (THIS DAY.) may happen if one only or Famed , leaving the rest to the hazard of time and events. Mr. Bright can justify this plan, no doubt, by his own view of what is desirable, but It is precisely because his view is not that of the great alias of educated Englishmen that they are found on one aide of this controversy and Mr, Bright on the other. The Herald say. that even were the second reading to per, which every hour renders more doubtful—in fact, ministers no longer count upon a majority—the Franchise Bill must be shunted into a siding, until the Distribution of Seats Bill comes up with it, so that both may go on together until the final collapse and dissolution takes place in committee. But this is not the spirit or the method upon which the House of Commons has been accustomed to legislate upon questions of importance to the nation now, bearing upon the destinies of many ages to come, and it is not with the paltry object either of forcing through a raw Franchise Bill, in order to keep a dilapidated ministry erect, that parliament will hammer this piece of mechanical patch work upon the great organism of the British constitution, which is nothing if not maintained in spirit and substance as a whole, the repertory of the nation's life, and the source of all its freedom. Mr. Disraeli, in an unlucky moment, says . the Telegraph, uttered a sentiment which he must often have felt, but which, as Mr. Goschen now reminds us, he has actually expressed, and that, too, in parliament. In 1859 he said, "Yon cannot encounter arguments against the reduction of the franchise by sentimental assertions of the good quali ties of the working daises : the greater their good qualities the greater the danger." These words we foresee will become notoriousbefore we have done with reform ; but, as they are toolongfor frequent quotation,we will also give Mr.Gosehen's excellent paraphrase of them : " Honourable members opposite are more afraid of the working classes when they think than when they drink." That, indeed, is the real conclusion to which tory principles must come, and to which Mr. Disraeli, in an unguarded moment, admitted that they lead. Thus the only logical tory in all the heretegoneous array against reform is Mr. Lowe. The Star endeavours to show the fallacy of Mr. Wal poa's recommendation to obtain the assent of the com mittee of the whole house to certain propositions of prin ciple, and then to embody them in a bill. The Star would be sorry indeed if the majority in favour of the second reading were not large enough to give the government con fidence and security. We should regret it chiefly because of the new agitation, the fresh excitement, the weary, disturbing, perhaps dangerous interval of public suspense and anxiety which must follow. But even the defeat of the government would not be half so great a misfortune as the safety of the government if bought by any concession which seemed to involve s compromise of principle. HE XPRESS, WEDNESDAY see of .- ety* l- co 11 -- ' s h ies lll • % Eta the ticaty that ince of .1111tblie 7 „ 4 ., m en hi s • riv iti a t • )1 Q ) • • t, 4 1.51 'dons fferedt kplein . our '• i b er l y • • e. esn setts( SELL was then •at the measu re of which is unknown. Nol o tt say *hat 41..4 +ll6 WWI nre- mew barmen if one only of • series of ref is passed, AUSTRIA, PRUSSIA, AIR) ITALY. The Tdegraph believes that in spite of the solicitations of Count Bismarck the Italian ministers have positively declined to abandon a strictly defensive attitude till the tactics of Prussia shall be more clearly explained. In the event of war, Italy would unquestionably receive with favour any proposition, from either of the Teutonic powers, which should hold out valid hopes of completing her unity by the acquisition of Venetia ; but she is not prepared to engage single-handed in a conflict with Austria expressly to serve the designs of Prussia. The military preparations of Italy cannot justly be regarded as an immediate source of danger to Austria, since it is obvious that they are not for any practical pur pose, except in the contingency of an attack upon the empire in the north; and the good sense which has hitherto directed the policy of the South German power will doubt less hinder it from treating a mere demonstration as • serious attack. It is at Frankfort, we must repeat, not at Vienna, that the Austro-Prussian difficulty has to be solved ; and, thus far, the tenor of events encourages us to hope for a pacific solution, though there are indications that Prussia is rather anxious to gain time than definitely to abandon the pretensions which have brought Germany to the verge of war. AMERICAN POLITICS. The Daily News censures the writers who busy them selves I, by imagining all the difficulties which can attend the constitutional struggle in the United States and re presenting them as impending calamities, and shows the difference between this class in America and the wise, and I grave, and hopeful, and experienced citizens who clearly see the duty of the hour, and trust to see it still as each hour arrives, and have faith that all must be well at last with a nation which understands its ' own laws of political existence, and conducts its own political destinies. Every sensible citizen has known throughout that the war was only the first stage of the revolution, and that the colli sions which now cause such a clamour were inevitable in one form or another. They have their preferences as to the form of the collision, and they are putting forth all their forces of mind, speech, and influence to secure the choice of the best ; but they waste no time and strength in alarms and lamentations about the imminence of con flict, and evil anticipations of the issue. The large popu lations in town and country intend to do the national duty by the freed-people, and are disposed to do it without needless offence to the South. While resolved to finish this work before readmitting slaveholders to Congress, they believe that the excluded parties will wait the more quietly for their hope in the President, and will be growing more fit for a place in Congress when their time conies. The Post thinks the presence of the joint naval force which has been sent to the North American waters by England and America need excite no apprehension. Their mission is to prevent collisions, and to see that the treaty of 181$, now again revived from the dead, is properly observed. Past experience shows that an admirable un derstanding has always prevailed between the British and American naval commanders, and there is no doubt that they will follow out their respective instructions with courtesy and forbearance. Indeed the Post hopes it will not be long before it is enabled to announce the comple- tion of another and a satisfactory Reciprocity Treaty. The Teleoroph also thinks that the despatch of a fleet to the fishing grounds by President Johnson is a guarantee for a peaceful settlement rather than a menace. Besides, domestic subjects still distract the public mind of America to such an extent that the people have neither leisure nor inclination for the discussion of external affairs. I The Herald looks to President Johnson to declare the I Civil Rights Bill unconstitutional and illegal, and refuse to allow it to he put in operation. Such a course would certainly expose him to the risk of impeachment, but it would be only the logical consequence of the position which he has taken up in the matter. The committee on public petitions report that up to the 20th, 818 petitions, with 511,196 signatures, have been presented to parliament in favour of the Government Franchise BilL 227 petitions have been signed officially, or under seal. Three petitions have been signed in favour of Lord Otoevenor's amendment, with 1,918 signatures. Thirty petitions have been presented against the bill. The Owl believes that if the majority of the go vernment on the Franchise Bill should barely reach two figures, thereby perilling the ultimate attainment of a re duction of the franchise, it will result in the immediate secession from the Cabinet of Earl Russell and Mr. Glad stone. They will most probably be accompanied by ad vanced followers, such as Lord Hartington and Mr. Goschen, leaving a proportion of the existing ministry, who will be ready to form a coalition government with Lord Stanley, Mr. Walpole, and Mr. Henley. The oppo sition which will thus be formed will be a strongly co hesive party, headed by Mr. Gladstone, and might fairly be estimated at a strength of about two hundred and fifty, exclusive of the Irish members. An influential meeting to inaugurate the National Freedmen's Aid Union was held yesterday at the Westminster Palace Hotel. The Duke of Argyll preeided, and mode an earnest appeal in support of the Union, whose main object is to diffuse extensively correct infor mation on the condition and character of the Freedmen, so as to induce contributions of money, clothing, useful materials and implements, to help the American Freed men's Aid Commission at Washington in their efforts to supply the pressing necessities of the negroes, and to advance their moral and industrial training. Sir T. Fowell Buxton, M.P., Mr. Bright, M.P., Mr. Hughes, and other gentlemen, addressed the meeting, which passed resolutions in support of the anion. ANOTHER CONCESSION. Last week the conservative peers accepted the Parliamentary Oaths Bill, and yesterday evening they made another concession in assenting to the third reading of the Qualification for Offices Bill, which hitherto they have invariably thrown out. Henceforth we shall not have to pass the yearly Indemnity Act, by which offi cials of all ranks are mercifully relieved from punishment for not promising to maintain the Church of England. The Times suspects that the conservative chiefs desire an opportunity of abandoning the position they had rashly taken up in by-gone years, and so Lord Derby, having fought his ship as long as she could swim, now strikes his colours and surrenders. Absolute religious equality is demanded by thinking people of every class, and in resisting this the conservatives have wasted their real power, and so have failed as a party in spite of their numbers and organisation and the social position of its members. We hope we may accept the recent speeches of Lord Derby as signs that a more liberal spirit, and consequently a more prudent policy, will prevail. There is now a good op portunity of placing the whole system of poli tical oaths and declarations on a more equitable basis. It would, perhaps, do little harm if in many cases they were swept away altogether ; but if this be considered too revolutionary, let them be at any rate assimilated to the parliamentary oath, and confined to a mere profession of allegiance. Lord Houghton proposes a declaration in the terms of the parliamentary oath, and Lord Derby thinks this a proper settlement. But it would, perhaps, be better that government should bring in a bill applicable to all persons and offices. Lord Romilly reminded the house that protestanta still take one oath when admitted as solicitors, and catholies another, and Lord Granville added that it was the same with magis trates. There evidently is room for a comprehensive measure on the basis of the Parliamentary Oaths Bill, which has now so happily passed both houses. THE REFORM DEBATES. The Deli y News tells the Chancellor of the Exchequer that by adjourning the reform debate over two or three days, the spirit of rising members, not over. eager perhaps at first, is still further cooled. His refusal to give Sir F. Kelly another day than the one which he had already obtained for his motion on the Malt Tax, involving as it did a break in the continuity of the reform discussion, was regarded by some as an indication that the Chancellor of the Exchequer's heart was in his Budget rather than in the Franchise BilL The sacrifice of last evening when Mr. Sheridan, notwithstanding that on Monday he turned • deaf ear to all entreaties, withdrew his fire insurance mo tion, must be due to very questionable parliamentary management. The arguments which convinced Mr. Sheri dan on Tuesday, might, we presume, have been urged with equal effect on Monday, to the saving of the time and patience of the House of Commons and of the country, and to the advantage, in some slight degree, of a measure the chances of which are not improved by protracted talk and needless adjournments of talk. The Times gives one leader to the speech of Mr. Lowe and another to that of Mr. Bright. Mr. Goschen's address is described to be that of a man who, having been initiated into a great mystery, is surprised and indignant that the world refuses to share his illumination. He has been .1 Court. LA' • •,..4. osßoßNE pni jiti The .Qteipetgieeompanied by • , went out in lbt rotunda yesterday morning, sled drove in the afternoon, accompanied by Princess Helena attended by the Hon. Caroline Cavendish. Colonel Du Plat was in attendance on horseback. Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon, Scots Fusilier Guards, arrived at Osborne yesterday. A deputation from parochial boards in Scotland had an interview with the Lord Advocate in Spring-gardens yes terday, on the subject of the Lunacy BilL The deputation consisted of Mr. Curror, chairman, and Mr. Grey, in spector (city pariah of Edinburgh) ; Mr. M'Lellan, chair man, Mr. Beattie, inspector, and Mr. Lomond, solicitor (barony pariah of Glasgow) ; Mr. Jamieson, chairman (Aberdeen city parish) ; Mr. Hay, solicitor (Dundee parish); and Mr. Hope, parliamentary agent. A meeting of the English and Irish Law and Chaneery Commissioners was held at 6, Adelphi-terrace, on Monday last. Present, the Vice-Chancellor Sir W. Page Wood, the lion. Mr. Justice Willes, and Robert Bayley Follett, Esq. ; W. Neilson Hancock, Eel., LLD., and H. R. Vaughan Johnson, Esq., secretaries. Tss TRAINING SHIP WORCESTER. —The Prince of Wales has consented to honour the committee of the Thames Marine Officers, training-ship Worcester, off Erith, on June 28, by distributing the prizes to the cadets ; and purposes going from there to lay the foundation stone of a new hall for the Merchant Seamen's Orphan Asylum at Wan/teed on the same day. _ . . Tins Panicass ALICE.—To-day is the anniver sary of the birthday of the Princess Alice. Her royal highness was born on the 25th of April, 1843, and was married on the Ist of July, 1862, to his Royal Highness Prince Louis of Hesse, B.G. At a recent meeting of the inhabitants of Kew, presided over by the Rev. R. B. Byam, vicar of the parish, it was unanimously resolved that an address of congratu lation on the approaching marriage of her Royal Highness Princess Mary of Cambridge should be presented to her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge, and accord ingly on Monday afternoon the deputation, consisting of the Rev. R. B. Byam (vicar), the Rev. P. W. Nat (curate), and Messrs. J. D. Rigby and F. Irwin (churchwardens), waited on her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge, by appointment, at Cambridge-cottage, and presented the address, which was signed by upwards of 250 of the inha bitants of Kew. The Duchess returned the following reply :—" Mr. Byam and gentlemen,—l am much gratified at receiving the address of congratulation which the clergy and inhabitants of Kew have been good enough to present through you on the approaching marriage of my daughter, the Princess Mary Adelaide, with his Highness the Prince of Teck. After a residence of nearly thirty years at Kew I cannot but regard with the warmest affection *place in which so many years of my life have been passed, and where I have received from the clergy and inhabitants such undeviating marks of goodwill and sympathy on this and on former occasions. It is most acceptable to me to learn from the kind expressions you make use of that my daughter's feelings towards Kew have been so thoroughly appreciated, and you may be certain that her interest and attachment will remain unchanged. I know it will be a pleasure to you to be assured by me that I have every reason to believe that the Princess Mary's happiness will be secured by this alliance, and that under God's blessing this marriage will be se prosperous as you all desire. In my own name and that of the Princess Mary I offer you our sincere thanks for your good wishes.—(lligned) AUGUSTA. Cambridge Cottage, Kew, April 73, 1866." The Owl understands that the House of Com mons are to be asked to vote three thousand pounds a year for Princess Mary of Cambridge on her marriage. His Royal Highness the Field-Marshal Command ing-in-Chief will hold a levee at one o'clock on Tuesday, Ist May. The Countess d'Apponyi intends shortly to an nounce two balls at Chandos House, in order to introduce the Countess Helene Apponyi to society. The Earl and Countess of Derby intend passing a few days at Colonel the Hon. W. P. and Lady Emma Talbot's suburban residence at Sudbury, near Harrow-on the-Hill. Both the Earl of Derby and the Counteu have materially improved in health since their recent illness, but the countess has not as yet regained her strength. Mrs. Gladstone will have an evening party this evening at the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exche quer's private residence on Carlton-house-terrace. Sir Erskine and Lady Perry received at dinner last evening, at their residence in Eaton-place, his Excel : lency the Prussian Ambassador and the Countess Bernstorff i • and the Countess Theresa Bemstorff, the Countess Frances Waldegrave and the Right Hon. Chichester Fortescus, M.P., Count Maffei, Lady Georgians Russell, Lady Moles. worth, Lord West, Mr. Bright, M.P., Hon. Edward and Mrs. Russell, Mr. and Mrs. Higgins, Sir John Medcalf, &c. I The marriage of Misa Ida Waldegrave Money, daughter of the late General and Lady Annette L. M. I Money, and niece of Frances Countess Waldegrave, with Major the Hon. Edward Boyle, was solemnised yesterday morning at St. Martin's-in-the-Fields. p, APRIL 25, 18011!Nr'' ' INTELLIGENCE. ; -- .t • THE I.Af3T ADOIRIAN DESPATCH. Subjoined is** haat of the despatch addressed E by the Vienna cabinet to Count Karolyi at Berlin, iMI proposing a simultaneous disarming, as already mentioned : Vienna, April 18. By order of his government, Baron de Werther has banded me a note from the cabinet of Berlin, of the 15th, _ . in reply to a despatch which I had the honour of addressing to you on the 7th. The Prussian government has perceived that the expla nations contained in the despatch of the 7th have set aside, after the mutual assurance of the two sovereigns, all ideas of aggression ; th►t consequently the reasons for military preparations fall of themselves, and that any dis cussion on the subject of the priority of the alleged arma ments becomes superfluous. Neverthadeas, the answer of Count de Bismarck continues to argue on that idea. The Emperor of Austria does not believe that to be the true means of arriving at an understanding so necessary to the situation, and he has ordered me to submit the subjoined propositions to the government of King William. By the repeated and direct communications which I have bad with the cabinet of Berlin, it has been informed that there had been some partial movements of troops in Austria, and that some corps bad been sent towards her north-west frontier. His Majesty now declares that he is ready to reverse, by an ordinance which should be dated the 25th of April, those changes of troops which the cabinet of Berlin regards as military preparations directed against Prussia, se well as to take all the measures which would be the necessary result of that step, on condition that the Prussian government will on its side engage to order, on the same or the next day, the reduction to a peace tooting of the different corps d'armee which since the 27th ult. have been reinforced. By this proposition the Austrian government believes that it is doing all in its power to give a pacific solution to the exchange of explanations which have taken place. Your excellency is begged without delay to express these sentiments to the President of the Council, and to recommend, in leaving him a copy of this despatch, to the most serious consideration of the cabinet of Berlin the proposition made above, which is a new and incontestable proof of the desire of Austria to maintain poses. Ds MtIfIIDOILTP. (RELIT R 8 TZ12011.42111.) FRANCE AND THE GERMAN QUESTION. PARIS, APRIL 25. The Conatitutiowne/ of this morning publishes an article upon the German question, signed by M. Paulin Limayrac, demonstrating that France could do nothing better during the German difficulty than preserve, with entire neutrality, all liberty of action and every means of influence for the moment when they might be use fully employed. " Facts," the writer continues, " justify the course taken by the Emperor. Left to themselves, Prussia and Austria have agreed to disarm, but it is very doubtful whether foreign in terference would have more easily or promptly obtained a similar result." PRUSSIA. BERLIN, Aram 23. The semi-official Provinzil Correspondenz of to-day says : " The reform of the Federal constitution will be undertaken with an earnest determination to carry it through. From present indications it is evident that the Prussian government is striving to establish the Federal organisation upon a basis which shall secure the solid national development of Germany in all positive and practical matters, especially in the organisation of the Feder& army and fleet; the common treatment of questions affecting German commerce, such as the customs, railways, telegraplusouid post; the due representation of these interests before the Federal Diet, the com mon representation of Germany by Consuls, and the protection of German subjects abroad." Count von Bismarck will receive to-day the Roumanian deputation, which arrived here this morning from Dusseldorf, where Prince Charles of Hohenzollern is at present staying. AUSTRIA. VIENNA, APRIL Z 5. The Ocsterreichische Zeitung of to-day says : " Nothing is known in well informed circles in this city of the alleged incursion of freebooters into Venetia, or of the reported encounter between them and the Austrian troops near Rovigo." ITALY. FLORENCE, Arm 25. The journals of this city publish news from Venetia, according to which the Austrian govern ment has ordered all its land and naval forces to be placed upon a war footing by the let of May next. All soldiers on furlough are said to have been re called and armed, and arrangements made for an extraordinary concentration of troops in the pro vince of Rovigo. The Nazione believes that Austria desires to mask under the pretext of measures of defence against Italy an infraction of the understanding between the two great German powers for mutual disarmament. " Prussia," says the Nazione, much more than Italy, ahould at once direct her attention to the Austrian armaments in Venetia." The rumours of a conflict in Rovigo between the Austrians and a body of Italian volunteers is abso lutely unfounded. TURKEY AND THE PRINCIPALITIES. CONSTANTLNOPLE, Aram M. The Sublime Porte has instructed its ambassador in Paris to protest at the next sitting of the Paris oon ference, against the election of Prince Charles Von Hohenzollern to the throne of the Principalities, and against any infraction of the suzerain right s of the Sultan as settled by treaty. RUSSIA. ST. PETERSBURG, Area 25. The man who recently attempted to assassinate the Czar is named Varokosow, and is a native of the province of &rata. He is a hypochondriac. SPAIN. MADRID, Amu. 24, ErENINC, To-day the Minister of Finance brought forward in the Congress a bill for assisting the railway com panies by lending them Treasury Bonds upon the security of a deposit of railway bonds. INDIA AND CHINA MAILS. BUZZ, Aran Z 3. The Messageries Imperiales steamer Cambodge, with the above mails, arrived here to-day. THE BOMBAY MAIL. SOUTHAMPTON, Anui. 25. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam ship Syria arrived here this morning with the heavy portion of the above mail, 133 passengers, 1,9881. in specie, and 255 packages of general cargo. She experienced east-south-easterly gales across the Bay of Biscay and up channel. On the 16th inst. she spoke the barque Dorothy, of Shields ; on the 17th, the brig Azof, of Plymouth ; and on the 20th, the barque Mary Elizabeth, of Cardiff ; and the Belgian barque Alcida. The steamers Dido, from Liverpool ; and Cromwell and Sabrina, from Cardiff, have arrived at Gibraltar. Exchange and freights at Gibraltar unaltered. THE CONTAGIOUS DISEASES BILL. We have this morning a special report from the select committee on the Contagious Diseases Bill, together with the official record of the proceedings of the committee. The report is to the effect that the committee have reason to believe from information furnished to them from govern ment departments, that much good has resulted from the efforts of an association formed at Devonport for the purpose of reclaiming persons placed in the Royal Albert Hospital of that town, towards which some pecu niaty assistance has been afforded by the Admiralty, and they recommend that the government should take into their consideration the desirability of affording aid to similar associations for the purpose of promoting the reformation of patients detained under the provisions of the bill. The committee have gone through the bill and made amendments in it. The following important clause was moved by Mr. Hunt, at a meeting of the committee on the 16th instant, and read a '3COM' time, by a majority of 1 :—" If on any woman leaving a certified hospital a notice in writing is given to her by the chief medical officer of the hospital to the effect that she is stil affected with a contagious disease, and she is after wards in any place for tho purpose of prostitu tion, without having previously received a certificate in writing from a visiting surgeon, appointed under this act (proof whereof shall lie on her), to the effect that she is then free from contagious disease, she shall be guilty of ! an offence against this act, and, on summary conviction before two justices, shall be liable to be imprisoned with or without hard labour ; in the case of a first offence, for any term not exceeding ; and in the case of a second or any subsequent offence, for any term not exceeding . . . ." This clause was supported by Mr. Ayrton, Sir James Fergusson, Mr. Hunt, General Peel, Sir C. Russell, and Sir H. Verney, and was opposed by Admiral Erskine, Sir J. Gray, the Marquis of Hartington, Mr. Kinnaird, and Sir John Pakington. Mr. Ayrton voted alone for a motion, " That provision be made in the bill to punish any person who may communicate a contagious disease to a woman in the places scheduled to the bill." On Monday, a deputation of members of the Irish Presbyterian Church waited on the Right Hon. Earl de Grey and Ripon, at the India-office, consisting of the Rev. Dr. Wilson, moderator of the General Assembly; Rev. John Rogers, ex-moderator ; also the Rev. S. Hon son, and the Rev. A. Robinson. The Parisian fashionable world are already beginning to contemplate a visit to the mineral waters of Germany and France. The Ereuessent comes to the assist ance of the idler and the invalid, and tells them—" For chest complaints go to the waters of the Bonne., Caute rets, Labasserre, the Mont-Dore, Saint-Honors, Marlios, Allevard, Enghien, and Pierrefonds. For affections of the nervous system, our sources de Rareges, Luchon, Aix en-Savoie, Balaruc, Bourbonne, Saint-Amand, and la Malou are certainly as efficacious as thee. of Aix-ls- Chapelle, Wiesbaden, Ga.tein, Wildbad, Pfeffers, sad Ischia (Italy). For skin diseases, for which sulphurous waters are desirable, the Pyrenees for their mineral qualities may be recommended ; and amongst them may be mentioned Saint-Gervis, Aix-en-Savoie, and Mime. For gravel there is nothing better than the waters of ' Contrexeville, Vittel, Pougues,Vichy,Evian, sad Laredo. The waters of Carlsbad are too strong, and should only be had mamma to in =trams mass." LAW INTELLIGENCE. (THIS DAY.) COURT OF PROBATE AND DIVORCE. (Before the Judge Ordinary.) AWFUL Rene. In this ease a testatru had made a will in the yak 1885 ; but the attorney by whom the instrument ma d rawn had, per incurs= written the dabs isaa. me happened bat the testa trix had executed aaother teal& mentary paper in Nod ; and this latter appeared, they, fore ' on the face et the two documents to be the last. D. /Via& argued that the rule of law which farbod i t cour t to vary & will on parole evidence appli e d, an d therefore probate ought not to granted, ae there wa a another will in existenae of late!. date. Dr. iffainbay, on the other side, contended that the dais was, in point of fact, no part of the will, and that tar court had a perfect right to satisfy itself by parole e•ids* as to the real date of the execution. Sir J. Wilde considered that the court wu baud ts *sustain which was the last will of the testatrix sa k 2A a this purpose it ought to have fresh evidence. Be decreed probate of the misdated instrument, the eos i n come out of the estate. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY. (Before Mr. Registrar Roche.) IN RE CHARLES UNWELL —THZ LONDON JOINT ATo DISCOUNT COMPANY. The bankrupt was a stock broker, of Wamefindie d k late in partnership with C. T. Allen. He monies 44 failure to disputes with his partner, and constipate,* peneion on the Stock Exchange by the committee—le o d business thereby, and want of capital. T he liabilities ea about 10,0001., of which 3,3001. is due to Messrs. Oven* Gurney, and Co. This was the first sitting. On the proof of Ma d , Overend, Gurney, and Co., being submitted, it was skid that they had discounted the bills fur the Lotidau Jsiph stock Discount Company, who had p rocure d at to be drawn and accepted by the bank/apt s person named Irving for the InFlree of tisk, money by their discount. As the bills had not isei indorsed to Messrs. Overend and Co., obJeetkin win tigd by Mr. Leversou to their proof • but it spawn( that It had given value for them, the . hag We o w • a right to prove under this estate. Mr. T. Saffery, accountant, of Old Jewry-chambers, chosen assignee. Messrs. Lowrance end Co. are the erg eitors under the proceedings. THE POLICE COURTS. (THIS DAY.) CLERKENWELL EXTENSIVZ ROBEERY BY A sHOPWoIgAN.—A SAD CAW Harriet Blom, aged 20, • shop woman, was eine* before Mr. Barker with stealing several plum of gloves* other articles, of the value of between 7/. and 8/. tho p, perty of her 0 1 , 141oyer, Mr. William Davis, liaseikap ; of 182, Freest! Lilington. Mr. Ricketts, so licitor," defended. The prisoner had been in the service of the rarer for about a month, and when he engaged her he lead excellent character with her from her h. sq. A ployer, in whose service she had been for the* 18 months. From what came to the knowledp of lk I Davis he suspected that the prisoner was robbing Sew he asked her to allow him to look at some lora she h been wearing. She produced them, and the found his mark on them. The prisoner at that = she had stolen them, but afterwards said that al goods in her possession with the prosecutor's make them belonged to him. Police-constable Newbolddl k i was then called in, and the prisoner was given isto A large number of pairs of gloves were then Saadi prisoner's boxes. Mr. Ricketta hoped the magistrate would deal with elk ease as one of unlawful possession, as by Kr doing th e pi sonar would not then be branded aa a febe. the to young, and as this was her first offence he hoped the re locator would lean to the vide of mercy, and not inn 6 case harshly. The friends of the prisoner were highly ee 'packable and felt very sad at seeing the prison la sail position. Whatever puniahment she relieved her bier would when she left prison see to her sad take repute of her. The prosecutor said he should wish to reerumad,th prisoner to the merciful consideration of the cork Mr. Barker said that he considered cues of rebel le servants who were placed in situations of trust as nej grave offences. After what had been said in the prewar favour, and the recommendation to mercy, he weld ei send the case for trial, but he should paw on het a re tence of four months' imprisonment with hard lath and she might think herself fortunate that she was at sent for a longer term. The prisoner, who seemed to feel her position mark was then removed, ribbing bitterly. A DISORDERLY APPRENTICE itmer TO MO. George Bradbury, of No. 10, New-end, Hanisisid, or brought before Mr. Barker and charged by his nethe,th. William Mark Wade, plumber and zinc works, el re liornsey-road, with unlawfully absenting himself Enable work without his master's authority or other lawfalara The defendant has before beep charged with silk offence, and then his master begged him off. Os trim run the defendant stopped away from his work, preterit that he was ill. From inquiries that Mr. Wade mobil surgeon he ascertained that the defendant was fit to wok The defendant was very negligent at his work el would not keep proper hours. As Mr. Wade bad eta apprentices in his employ, he asked that the defamer might be punished as a w.irning to them. Re had do all he could to encourage the defendant to behave hind properly, but all to no put pose. The defendant seemed to treat the matter se a gal joke, and said he was not bound to go to work if he fek unwell. Mr. Barker said the certificates produced 'hewed id the defendant was able to go to work. The deltsid must be taught that he could not do as he pkerf. then sentenced the prisoner to 14 days' imprison:at is the House of Correction, with hard labour. The defendant, who seemed surprised at the dearth was then removed in custody. ANOTHER UNRULY APPRENTICE Thomas Bank, of 2, Tavistock-terrace, Upper Rellonfi wi ww th e a har sir l ilar by o h ff i e s n ra ce la trt r h , complainant, gr. Mr. Ricketta appmre.l for the comp e M abo r. J v o e hn . Pratt, a brudenthee. Wakeling for the defence. The case he did not w was ish f t tly m def ad en e dan ou t t ; b puni t her4 the ocen he plathallt ualy him cautioned. tol M d r him . Bar h k e erdischa rged iu t ili h eidwefheantdbeentwaiwithab:uretellt. 811 FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE THAMES EEEASIKIDIL —(THIS DAT.)—This morning James Fordyce, • Isdia o l employ of Mr. Furness, contractor for the westerse. of the Thames Embankment , whilst eng a g ed cc fell into the river. The lifebuoy was promptly eat sval and boats put °if to the rescue, but all efforts to sink , were unsucceesful, and he was drowned. The bcd/ not recovered for some time after. Information WINO , forwarded to the coroner. SHOCKING DEATH PROM THE SITE 01 , A Doo.-- An imquest was held yesterday, at Middleton-ma" near Darlington, before Mr. J. Settle, eorener,l body of Humphrey lee, 39 years of age, with w e ': three children, who died on Sunday evening Ira"' bite of a dog, which developed hydrophobia. It IP peered from the evidence of the deceased's Wen Matthew Leo, and others that about six wag, the deceased was bitten by a dog, when exPIP I loosing him from a rabbit trap in which be had bult caught. The wound healed up, and no notice fro kW_ of it. About a week before his death th e decesieg unwell, and, after being at Harlington on felt EW 1416114 showed very feverish symptoms that night, A pains in his finger where he hid been bitten, end all did not like to sleep with his wife, as he felt dirred,, * lay hold of her like a dog. The chief evidence Ina of the surgeon who attended the deceased will •• occasional assistance of three other medical lay,. This gentleman, Mr. Robert Pattie, Oiled rc on Saturday the deceased on his grit seeing Ittle_,Y; a repugnance to water, and at this time the peels eye' were dilated. Various remedies and stuts:Pill s .;l relieve the deceased were tried, colloidal]; of blisters, icc. The only thing a ff ording relief, sad it! only of a temporary character, was chloratorve..a• deceased got worse, and on Sunday morning, t'be, mn r . notion of the handkerchief applying the I =s, ceased him to leap from his bed, and wywn of and knees in one corner of the room, barking He afterwards partially yielded to the drug, .t".„..„. wholly. At eleven o'clock on Sunday morel I' l l - fellow had to be bound to the bed, his feet and Dew ever being left at lib.irty. The deceased was goal; conscious, and warned off all about him who paroxysms came upon him which hapeemd fit The it quently, especially on Sunday afternoon. ceased at this time frothed at the mollt• nostrils, barked, spat, and yelped, at the taro itel pashing his teeth. About 7 o'clock on Sunday rr, rag the poor man got thoroughly exhausted, and from!! time to his death, which occurred about exhausted, an ode comparatively calm. As showing the peculiar of this disease, the witness stated that for two bours Sunday afternoon the deceased could not bear the IWO. noise in the room without experiencing • fit 1 10 4 returned a verdict of "Death from hydrophobia , " the following addenda to their venlict We thla!•,„ imperative that immediate steps should be taken , or s by the local or other authorities, to compel the me • all dogs going at large to provide muzzles for and that the police should be empowered to dolls, r; dog found straying without being muzzled. I , l _° ther think it would be wire policy on the pert °I I 'We meet to compel the owners of all dogs to Pi ta le. ' de order to ensure their doing so, that the government sun' rities should provide a collar at the expense of the w and any dog found straying without such Collar nor, destroyed.° The deceased was a respectable ens, °°" parish clerk el Middleton. Mr. Hams Ka inctoi . e m 1 coil tree our M fm If be' ties I than ree lie ra siel