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

CONSTITUTIONAL LIRE RALISM. 11.11 l'net One renuy.—Oftice, 49, Essex-street, t+Lran,l. BENSON'S WATCHES and CLOCKS. Ily Spocial Appointment to 11. R 11. THE PRINCE uY WALES. Pijze Medd. London, Clans Sl: Dublin, Class 10. W ATt • II Es—Chronometer, 6 eylms, Repeaters,Chrunogiesplis,&c. CLI teKS—Por inning:MA DraWillg RmintsAaninges,Churches,fic. JEWELLERY -specialiticc iu Iltmograms, Crystals, Diamonds, and Finn Gold. PLATE. and Walks ..1 Ant in Bronze, by Lending Artists. Illuntrated Pamphlet. post free. W.itcht a an.l I 'l.a-1 sent to all parts of the world. J. 11 2.'. OLD DWI 0-STREET. lion Factory sad City Show Maims, 5a and Go, LUDGATE FULL NH, I.;‘timition, bat', English Section, Class B ROWN and POISON'S CORN FLOUR f.d. CHILDREN'S DIET. To ohtain Slant pr,tit by the sale other kinds are 11011141ebnill offered instead of BK. oW N and POLS47i'S "John Brown," •John Poison," is gland b 7 the makers on each packet. &The OVVrefiO. TO CORRESPONDENTN. Advertisements Intended for " The Express," London Evening Paper, must he at the tehre, 10, Bourerle-street, b' Two o'clock ou the day of public-atm). IntrßY LANK. TEM Entstrin, Me.srs. l'hclps,T Ssinbourne, W. Harrison. NI Lint) and Ilarc.art . Mesdames E. Cross, E. 11. Thicre, II i' sp.u., am I F:. Brougham. —To conclude with WAISI ELF II t sll.l YOH SIX. Slim Hudspeth. HAY SIARA rt. Tins EVrNINCI, TIIEIII:I7C — iiiAW. Mears. Buckstone., Chippewlale, ... ..... .t. a•yiers, Me- d ames Chippen dale, I: , V.K WS ILI". SI es.n. linckstone, lama, a:c.—Autl CEKIEcTION. Mr. Kendal and Mlaallarke. PRINCINr& TRH EvE•oNn. ND. 1. WO ND VIE COSNER. Maws. Shore and Fori,iter —.tud IT N NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND. Mess,: Vining, Y. Villiers, Verner, Shore, Calhaem, sad Mellon; Misses 1 . . i,:.• end Roasters. 1.11'1.:1 H. Tnr. . -. lfr. Price and MI, Kate lIIE DI E. Nturto Mr. Ferbter, Nlesars. Joni... Emery, Priee. Fitzirttrick, ; Yiiq E.l.wortliy,Linitt , m, and Carlotta Luclerc 1. STRAND, Tate Evrsuin, MA RRI D %VG lITERR AND YOUNG HUM RAN 114.—I*INI I.: it t 1.1 /A , Ilk, Tilt: sENs vrioNGOAT. Messrs. Thorne. Jatuel, and turner Nich.l.lll. swatiboruuKh, Ilugbes, Weath,r.by, THE FUENCII _notwirx. ..... THIS lISTENTWO, MY TURN NEXT. Mr. Delmore; MIMI 10001 and lanuox.—And FLYING SCUD. Messrs. Neville, Del more. Disks, Vonore. dr. ; Mesdames V. Josephs, C. !Wunder, lklone Foot.. liddes, Lennox, Raymond, &c. BRITANNT A. . _ ... . Una EVitaiNn. FAI's1 : .111:, MARGUERITE'S mAxatr Nits Lane and Nlevldinns Junin, I:itwin. and Ifni with Till: DI sI'MAN'S TREAsUItE; till, WEOG AND TUE BOFFINS. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. 1.1 Dar —Montinz, 39 m Antennas 1K rata. TO-Montow—Morning, td. 17m Afternoon, 2K 34m. LONDON, THURSDAY, APRIL 4. THE House of Commons gave one more proof of its incurable indecision on Tuesday, in its treatment of 31r. CRAWFORD'S Resolutions respect ing the Debenture Debt on Railways. It may be acknowledged, however, that it had some excuse in the magnitude of the subject, in the novelty of the principle on which it was invited to act, and in the vastness of the possible applications of that principle. Mr. Caawroao proposed that, in cases where adequate security can be given, the State should assume the responsibility of the debenture debt of railway companies unable to meet their engagements, doing so upon conditions pro viding for the ultimate acquisition of those rail ways by the country, upon terms mutually advan tageous to it and to the railway companies. Per haps, instead of complaining of the House, we ought to be thankful that so bold a proposal was deliberately entertained, and fairly if not fully examined. Nothing is more easy than to meet a practical scheme of this kind with dogmatic common-places equally undeniable and irre levant, and this is the line which stone members of the House took OR Tuesday, and in which they have been followed by certain public writers. It is easy enough to say—it may even seem wise to say —that if a railway company finds difficulty in re newing its debentures, the line should be sold and the company wound up. Half the objections made on Tuesday to Mr. CRAWFORD'S proposal were the crude repetition of maxims which might perhaps have been usefully adopted five-aud thirty years ago, but which could not now be imported into our railway system, such as it has grown up, is all Cie absolute severity which is so fascinating to the theorist, without working the most cruel injustice. The proposition of Mr. CRAW FORD must be examined on its own merits, as a remedy devised to meet a particular order of cir cumstances. Railway property occupies a peculiar position among the results of joint stock enter prise. In the first place, it is sunk in roads, which having, in their universal development and their immeasurable superiority to those which they have superseded, become the chief and in dispensable means of communication for the whole country, must be maintained for the public use. In the secund place, it is to a great extent the creature of legislation. Parliament decided whether particular railways should be made at all, and what securities should protect the shareholders, what the creditors ; and this, which is true of all classes of investors in railways, is especially true of the debenture holders. It is too late for Parliament to turn round upon the large classes of persons who have put all their money in railway shares and debentures on the faith of legislative protection —upon the poor gentleman, the thrifty old servant, and the widow—and say that they stand on just the same footing as shareholders and creditors of a financial company or other speculative under taking not the child of the Legislature, and point them to the winding-up court. The House of Commons is bound to have regard to its own work, and to do what it can, without injustice to the public at large, to benefit a great interest which it has first called into existence, and then cer tainly prejudiced by its interference. Let it be clearly understood what is proposed. After the elaborate misrepresentation on this point which has been resorted to, it is necessary to state that Mr. CRAWFORD does not expect to find in the present embarrassments of railway companies a means of paying off the national debt. He will be satisfied if, without prejudice to the public treasury, he can restore the property of the greatest joint-stock interest in this country from the depression into which it has fallen very much through the action of Parliament and the startling decisions in our courts of equity. It is true his resolution refers to ulterior advantages which the State may derive from the trans action which he recommends. It is objected, how ever, that mutual advantage is not to be looked for in a matter of borrowing and lending, buying and selling, and that the very suggestion of it stamps the arrangement with unreality. If so, then all trade is unreal, and we must go back to the old theory of commerce, and be lieve that whatever OHO party to a bargain gains must needs be lost by the other. Mr. Ca.►wroxn proposes that when a railway company is unable to meet its enmements, and judgments may be obtained against it, the company may apply to the Government, under the previsions of un Act to be passed for that purpose, and that if the se curity offered is found ample the Covennnent shall guarantee the interest and principal of the I company's debenture debt, taking as its own security a surrender of the company's free hold interest in lands, and granting to the company a lease of the same for 50 years, subject to a power of re-entry. The obligation assumed by the Government would be represented by bonds issued for a period of 50 years, and replacing the debentures ; and the company would be bound to pay weekly to the account of the Government a tiftyrsecond part of the sum necessary to cover the liability assumed by the State on its account, and a further sum as a sinking fund. We need not pursue the plan further to the period when the whole bonded debt had been cancelled, and the propertyhad reverted to the State. The immediate practical question is, whether we have not here a scheme capable of restoring railways essentially sound, but at present embarrassed, to a state in which shareholders shall get dividends, and creditors their debts, while the country acquires a valuable property. Of course where security cannot be given no money must be lent : no one proposes that the State shall come in and repair the follies of the past. If there are railway companies which can offer no adequate security, this measure can do them neither good nor Kann. It is said, however, that a company unable meet its engagements cannot give adequate se curity, and that, therefore, the terms of the pro peal are contradictory. This is equivalent to saying that no suspension of payment ever took place when the estate was worth 20s. in thepound. We believe, however, that in the City houses have been compelled to accept the assistance and for bearance of neighbours when it was notorious that they could pay, nut 205., but 40s. in the pound. Take the case supposed by Mr. CRAWFORD, of a railway company with a well-constructed line, earning a large gross income, and with working expenses and rates not exceeding 48 per cent. The Government would have half the receipts of the company, after pay ment of the working expenses, as security for a debt which could not be greater than one-fourth of the company's capital. If there is anything to be said against this proposal as a remedy for a state of things which we have all reasuu to regret, let it be urged ; but surely it is waste of time to tell us that in America, when money is wanted to pay offbonds, the traffic receipts are applied to that purpose. We are far from saying that that is not in itself the better course, and that it would not have been well if Parliament had loft our railway companies to raise money in this way. In such a case we might or might not have had to wait longer for the construction of our lines, hut certainly railway property carrying such liabilities would not have been, as it now is, the favourite invest ment of large classes of persons to whom the punctual payment of dividends is a matter of the utmost moment. Parliament has made these people railway investors by the security which it seemed to afford to this description of pro perty. We might have followed the American free-trade system, and gut the lines made cheaper; or the French system,and avoided the construction of duplicate lines ; but Parliament followed a system of its own, and Mr. LAING only uttered a notorious truth when ho said that to the incon sistencies of its policy the present distressed con dition of the railway companies is owing. We believe it was generally acknowledged on Tuesday night that the question cannot rest where it is. Mr. GLADSTONE admitted that it would be a grave mistake to pronounce a hasty judgment lipon Mr. CRAWFORD'S proposal, and we may hope that on the next occasion the opinion of the House may be , found to be sufficiently matured to permit of ac tion of some kind. " Tim communications made to me, and from " which I read freely and without reserve to the " House, were strictly of an informal character, " and therefore I shall not put them on the " table." Such was the substance of the CHANCEL LOR of tho EXCHEQUER'S reply on Monday to Mr. GLAes-roxz's searching question as to the alleged opinions of the present and late Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue respecting the taxing franchise. Thu words quoted do scant justice either to the " freedom " or " informality " of Mr. DISRAELI'S conduct. If our information be correct, neither Sir CHARLES PRESSLY nor Mr. STEPHENSON has expressed himself in favour of the proposed franchise, and one at least of them read Mr. DisaaaLl's daring quotation with feel ings for which amazement is too mild a term. Sir Cii.taLka PRIMLY'S " communication " was, we believe, of so " strictly an informal " character " as to consist of a private letter to his successor at Somerset-house, in which questions were answered and opinions expressed with the freedom common between friends. It is said, moreover, that the writer had as little notion of this letter coming under Mr. Disaszu's eye, or the statements it contained being brought before the House of Com mons, asany one corresponding with wife or brother has that his family gossip will be published to the world. Nor is this all. Sir CHARLES PRLNSLY'S opinions are known to be adverse to the very franchise in support of which portions of his private correspondence were moat unwarrantably read to the House. It is for Mr. D,SRAELI to explain the anomaly. It is only by virtue of the special knowledge acquired in the service 'of the Government that either Sir CHARLES PRESSLT'S or Mr. STEPHENSON'S opinion carries weight ; and it is but just that the public should have the full benefit of the experience thus gained. It is disappointing if this expe rience is misrepresented for party purposes ; and it would be instructive to know on authority how it happens that either the late. or the present Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue has been publicly credited with opinions opposed to those they are generally believed to huld. General Dunne intends to move, on the Civil Service Estimates, that the vote for the expenses of Hyde. park be reduced by a SUM of 18,.107/., and a resolution " that it is just and expedient that the amount necessary to repair the damage done to the railings and park itself by a mob of rioters some months since, should be levied on the city of London and surrounding districts, in the same way as damage emoted by similar outrages is levied in Ireland, and that such procedure is in accordance with justice and the ancient law of England." Mr. Whatinan has given notice of his intention to move, as an amendment to Sir Morton l'eto's motion, on Tuesday, for a select committee on the London, Chat ham, and Dover Railway Compmy, to add, at end. "and also into the means adopted by three of the members, for Huntingdon, Bristol,, and Dover, for raising money for the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada and the London, Chat ham, and Dover Railway." After Easter, Sir Frederick Heygate will move that the present condition of the great majority of Irish railways, whether as regards management, charges, and convenience of the public, or the interest of their creditors and shareholders, is eminently unsatisfactory, and strongly demands the immediate attention of her Majesty's govern. went. WAR-OPTICZ, APRIL 2.—The Secretary of State for War has appointed Surgeon William Perry, Royal Artillery, to he the visiting surgeon at Aldershot, under the " Contagions Diatoms Act, MG."— Gazette. THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 4, 1867. OUR CONTEMPORARIES. I (THIS DAY.) THE WATERFORD ELECTION. The Times regrets that the decision of the Water ford election committee seems likely to encourage the notion in Ireland that violence and terrorism can be em ployed with impunity. Candidates and partisans now know how far they may go with safety. They may drive back the enemies' voters at a dozen points, they may force those who have voted to steal back to their homes like criminals, but they will have done nothing which ought to invalidate an election. The decision was no doubt, grounded on the conviction that the majority for the sitting member was larger than could be accounted for by the success of the mob in keep ing away Captain Talbot's voters, and that consequently no substantial injustice had been done. This may be so ; but the moral effect of the decision may be not the less hurtful. It is impossible to believe that such shameful acts should be committed unless they were in some way in stigated by those who are concerned in the election, and the only way to restrain them is to show that whoever re sorts to such unfair means is defeating the cause to which he has attached himself. The Star, on the other hand, cannot refrain from ex pressing its satisfaction at the issue of the petition. What ever irregularities might have been charged against the liberals, they were amply excused by the audacious in sults to free opinion and common sense of which the land lord party on their own showing were guilty. Such riot ing as took place originated in strong and immediate pro vocation. Every witness summoned on behalf of Captain Talbot was compelled to admit that the influence of the landlords was exerted directly and vigorously in favour of the tory candidate, that bands of tenant-voters—un willing to vote against their consciences and afraid to offend those on whose liberality they depended for sub sistence, were gathered together under the guard of cavalry and infanty, of magistrates and police, to be hurried to the polling-booths. Is this more legitimate, more con sistent with representative institutions than the terrorism of riotous mobs? MISCELLANEOUS TOP/CS. The Daily NI ins returns to the subject of our naval expenditure, explaining and commenting on some of the more important of Mr. Seely's calculations and state ments. The figures produced give some idea of the laby rinthine difficulties of our Admiralty accounts, and show the nature of the service which is rendered by those who break through the barriers erected to exclude the intel ligence of the unofficial world, so as to bring the facts under the cognisance of parliament. The Times refers to the statements of Mr. Childers and Mr. Stanfield, who, it says, deserve credit for having placed our naval expenditure during the recent debate in a vely clear light, and enabled the country to consider the esti mates front a comprehensive and important point of view. The expedient recommended of maintaining what in fact would be marine Aldershot' at one or two selected points instead of breaking up a large force into weak detachments, is discussed with evident sympathy, and the conclusion arrived at is that the mere duty of observation or demnn atiation, which is all that our squadrons can accomplish, might be left very well to a much smaller number of vessels. We have been told that the " policy" which de termines the strength and number of our foreign squad rons is so deep a secret of state as not to be imparted to all the lords even of the Admiralty itself ; but it is a sub ject, nevertheless, which, as it governs the application of eleven millions a year, may very wisely be drawn into that area of more open discussion which Mr. Childers has suggested. The Standard and Herahl contrast Mr. Disraeli's method of dealing with the Reform League with Mr. Glad stone's, finding all the advantage on the side of the Chan cellor of the Exchequer. The Telegraph expects that Mr. Disraeli will propose to-night a repeal of the remaining duty on fire insurance, and while approving of the step, adds that the remaining duty on corn should be taken off, as it prevents the im porter from landing his grain under bond and reshipping it. Nor can the movement towards the extinction of the national debt he allowed to subside. The Standard expects to see Count Bismarck use what is called public opinion to intimidate France, and prevent the cession of Luxemburg if he can ; but if the Emperor should pluck up courage enough to maintain his bargain the count will certainly yield. As to the statement of the Owl that Count Bismarck has succeeded in inducing Lord Stanley to interpose in his behalf the Siamdart is quite certain that the English government will not use its in fluence at the Hague to enforce the cancelling of a bargain which does not concern this country in the slightest degree. The Daily New remarks that the adjournment of Con gress till the usual day of meeting in December is the beet proof which can be given of its confidence in the success of its reconstruction policy. The prevalent impression in and out of Congress is that the judiciary committee to which the question of impeachment is committed will have no occosion to report, and that Congress and the President may meet in peace, if not in amity, on the 2nd of Decem ber next. Under the Supplementary Reconstruction Act the co-operation of the President and the Southern people would render it possible for nearly all the states to place in his hands new constitutions to be submitted to Congress when it meets on December 2. At the latest the states may be ready to claim representation before the end of January, and it will be the fault of the people themselves if they are not represented in Congress before any im portant legislation has been completed. Mr. Johnson's next message will be received as an overture of final con ciliation with Congress and the country, if he is fortunate enough to be able and wise enough to be willing to an nounce that the Reconstruction Act has been duly exe cuted, and that even a few of the excluded states are at the doors of Congress waiting for admission in obedience to it. THE SALE AND PURCHASE OF SHARES. —The fol lowing is a copy of Mr. Leenisn's bill, as amended in committee :—" Whereas it is expedient to make provision for the prevention of contracts for the sale and purchase of shares and stock in joint-stock banking companies of which the sellers are not possessed or over which they have no control : May it therefore please your Majesty that it may be enacted, and be it enacted by the Queen's Moat Excel lent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal,and Commons, in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same : I. That all contracts, agreements, and tokens of sale and purchase which shall, from and after the day of 1867, be made or entered into for the sale or transfer, or purporting to be for the sale or transfer, of any share or shares, or of any stock or other interest, in any joint-stock banking company in the United Kingdom of Great Rritain and Ireland iss u i ng shares or stock transferable by any deed or written in strument, shall be null and void to all intents and pur- Poses whatsoever, unless such contract, agreement, or other token shall set forth and designate in writing such shares, stock, or interest by the respective numbers by which the same are distinguished at the making of such contract, agreement, or token on the register or books of such banking company as aforesaid, or where there is no such register of shares or stock by distinguishing numbers, then unless such contract, agreement, or other token shall set forth the person or persons in whose name or names such shares, stock, or interest shall at the time of making such contract stand as the registered proprietor thereof in the books of such banking company ; and every person whether principal, broker, or agent who shall wil fully insert in any such contract, agreement, or other token auy false entry of such numbers, or any name or names other than that of the person or person in whose name such shares, stock, or interest shall stand as aforesaid, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and be punished accord ingly, and, if in Scotland, shall be guilty of an offence punishable by fine or imprisonment. 2. Joint stock banking companies shall lie bound to show their share register to any registered shareholder during business hours from 10 of the clock to 4 of the clock." THE ST. ALBAN'S PROSECUTION. —The MC for the promoter in the prosecution of the St. Alban's clergy will be conducted by Dr. Stephens and Mr. Coleridge, Q.C., that for the Rev. A. H. Machonochie 'ay Sir g. Phi Elmore, the Queen's Advocate, and Dr. Deane. The solicitor for the promoter (nominally the Bishop of London, but really the Church Association) is Mr. J. Murray Dale. The defence will be undertaken by th e English Church Union, in connexion with which a Urge subscription is expected to be raised. This body at p resen t numbers about 5,000 members, who are "banded to gether for the defence of the doctrine and discipline of the Church of Euggland." Cite (sun. WINDSOR CASTLE, APRIL 3. The Queen, accompanied by Princess Louise and Princess Beatrice, drove out yesterday afternoon in • car riage and four, attended by Lady Churchill. Prince and Princess Christian also went out driving. Her Majesty walked and drove this morning, attended by Lady Churchill. Prince and Princess Christian went out walking. Princess Louise, attended by the Hon. Emily Cathcart, also walked out. Prince Leopold took • drive, attended by Mr. Legg. Princess Beatrice rode in the Home-park. . . . The Prussian Ambassador and Cotinteu de Bernstorff arrived at the Castle yesterday, and had the honour of dining with the Queen and the Royal Family. Captain Von Schroetter had also the honour of being invited. The copy of Winterhalter's portrait of Prince Christian, exhibited by Mr. J. A. Vinter, at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, is a lithograph, not a photograph, as stated yesterday. The King and Queen of Denmark and the Prince of Wales, attended by Madame de Bilk, the Danish Minister, Ocneral d'Oxholm, and Captain Ellis, paid a visit to St. Bartholomew's Hospital yesterday. A deputation from the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science, consisting of Sir J. Kay Shuttleworth, Bali, Mr. H. W. Rummy, Dr. Hardwick°, Mr. S. H. Carl, Rev. W. L. Clay (Secretary), Dr. Archi bald H. Jacob (Dublin), Dr. Lankester, F.E.S., Mr. James Real, Mr. Charles Hawkins, Mr. L'yard, M.P., Mr. Beadle, Captain Clode, Colonel Sykes, M.P., Mr. A. Pocock, and Dr. Stewart, had an interview with the Lord President of the Council at the Privy Council-office on Tuesday to present a memorial from their council in favour of a revision, consolidation, and amendment of the laws relating to public health. The Princess Mary Adelaide and Prince do Teck 1 honoured the Lord Chancellor and Lady Chelmdord with their company at dinner last evening, at their residence in Eaton-square. There were also present the Earl and Countess of Longford, the Earl Grosvenor, Viscount Hin chiribruke, Lord and Lady I)elamere, Lord and Lady Col ville, Colonel and Lady Jane Taylor, Hon. Charles and Mrs. Thesiger, Hon. Edward Thesiger, and Hon. Hiss Thesiger. Hie Excellency the Prussian ambassador and the Countess Bernstorff returned to the Prussian embassy yesterday morning, from a visit to the Queen at Windsor Castle, and are now on a visit to the Duke of Rutland at Belvoir Castle. The Earl of Derby was last night "decidedly better," but his lordship is still compelled to keep his bed. It is thought the noble earl will not be able to resume his duties in the House of Lords till after the Easter holidays. Frances Countess Waldegrave and the Right Hon. Chichester Fortescue, received at their resi dence in Carlton-prdens last evening to dinner his Excel lency the Austrian Ambassador and the Countess Apponyi, the Earl of Clarendon, the Earl and Countess of Charle mont, the Earl and Countess of Dartrey, the Countess of Cork, Viscount and Viscountess Halifax, Lord and Lady Lyveden, the Lord Chief Justice tr Alexander Cockburn), the Right Hon. Sir George Grey, M.P., and Lady Grey, Sir John Johnstone, M.P., and Lady Johnstone, Mr. Gregory, M.P., Major-General Francis Seymour, and Mr. Hayward. The Duchess of Marlborough last night had a ■mall and early dancing party at the family residence in St. James's-square. Nearly 230 of the leading fashionable society at present in town responded to the invitations. The question of Liverpool versus Birkenhead, which has agitated Liverpool for more than 15 years, is now before a committee of the House of Commons in the shape of a petition from the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, whose debt amounts to 13,444,289/., to be allowed to mice more money. Mr. R. W. Crawford, M.P., says that the aver age number of journeys made by every individual in the United Kingdom in the year is eight. The following Roman catholic clergymen have been served with • summons from the Speaker of the Howie of Commons to appear without delay before the select committee of the house at present engaged in trying the merits of the petitions presented against the return of Captain the Hon. Charles White, and have left for Lon don :—The Rev. John Scanlan, P.P., Toomevara ; Rev. Joseph Magrath, P.P., Silvermines ; Rev. Eugene Malone, P.P., Puckane ; Rev. Cornelius O'Brien, P.P., Lorrha ; and the Rev. Con Gleeson, R.C.C. of Poi troe. A letter from Rome says :—" We have got half through Lent without British society in Rome having achieved any of its usual annual matrimonial Anti. It is, indeed, reported that the princely representative of one of the oldest families in Rome has proposed to the beautiful Miss W—, related to a noble English house, whose bead is now high in authority. Difference of religion forms an obstacle, and it is hardly expected that the young lady will change her creed for a coronet. The current of true love runs smoother between young Prince Ruspoli, son of the head of that Roman house, and Miss Davis, of New York, whose union will not be prevented by any difference of creed. Two of Miss Davis's sisters are already married in Rome—one to the Marchese Oavotti and the other to a member of the Duke Lante's family." M. de Girardin is not quite satisfied with the Exhibition, particularly with the obstructions to circula tion during the opening, when the invited, foreign visitors, holders of season tickets, ite., were shut up in their respective salla, where they could see nothing, and which they could not leave when they wished. It was, indeed, the perfection of "order "—that is, order such as Is conceived in France and practised in China—" order raised to the dignity of immobility." lie would have nobody pay for admission ; and he would not have ex hibitors, after going to considerable outlay, higgling about minor expenses; and a few millions of francs more would be of little importance to France and its capital. The money saved for space in the building, and the money saved from entrance would be spent in Paris by the visitors. The Emperor of Brazil having heard of the desire expressed by Rossini to taste a particular kind of Brazi lian coffee, the excellence of which bad been greatly praised, has sent to the celebrated maestro ► quantity of it, enclosed in a box inlaid with the most precious woods of Brazil, and of such exquisite workmanship as to deserve a place in the Universal Exhibition._ THE HEREDITARY PEER.—With a large number to be a peer is equivalent to being • great man. A noble man is born not only with a silver spoon in his mouth, but also with a golden key in his band, which serves to un lock innumerable doors. The very nurse who dandles him, looks upon him with awe, for will not the puling infant one day sit among the highest in the land ? At • public school, the young nobleman may suffer at the hands of his comrades, who, along with the disingenuous ness of youth, posse., the healthy instincts of republicans; yet he will have the compensation of being the centre of attraction to tuft-hunters at the university. Should he be the heir to a splendid title and large possessions, he will have society at his feet. Where others would not dare to sue, he will be entreated to accept all the gifts that beauty can bestow. Let him attend • public meet ing, and be will be voted into the chair by acclamation, and his speech will be applauded, whether appropriate, in telligible, or the reverse, simply because it is his. Let him write a commonplace letter to a newspaper, and the editor will honour it with insertion in the large type and conspicuous place reserved for the weighty articles of dis tinguished writers. If he condescends to attend the debates in the House of Lords, and take an apparent interest in public affairs, the members of his party will agree that he is • heaven-sent candidate for a seat iu the cabinet. What wonder is it that such a man should defend the privileges of his order, resist innova tion, openly or insidiously combat reform ! It is neither a merit nor a fault of his that he has been born a member of the British peerage: like every man he loves to exercise power, and dreads anything which may tend to lessen it. And, after all, his high position is far less enviable in reality than in appearance. His luxuries are not enjoyed, because they are common things to him. His estates may be large, yet his accustomed outlay may render him more dependent than the man who earns with the labour of his band or brain the bread which he eats and relishes. Instead of having the prospect of rising to social emi nence by industry, or benefiting mankind by his talents, the peer is denied social advancement as the condition of his rank. Seated among the gods, be is not stimulated, as other men are, to strive for • place on Olympus. Hence his ambition is confined to discharging some menial duty at court, to holding a wand, or guarding a door. If he fail to obtain such • post he Is a bitterly dissatisfied man ; he becomes a nobleman having a grievance which gives him as much pain as any that can oppress • com moner. Than this he can staffer no more poignant anguish, except the denial of • request to the prime minister of the day to be allowed to wear • ribteei across his shoulder or • garter round his knee.— Westminster Revive, April number. t . ! 1. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. MET % TELEGRAMS.) FRANCE. PARIS, APRIL 4. An imperial decree has been published promul gating the declaration relative to the duty on re lined sugars, signed on the 20th November, 1866, between France, Belgium, England, and Holland. THE LUXEMBURG QUESTION. BERLIN, APRIL 4. Information has been received here from the Hague that the King of Holland has relinquished the proposed cession of Luxemburg to France, and that Count van Zuylen, the Dutch Minister for Foreign Affairs, has communicated the resolution to the French minister at the Hague. AUSTRIA. VIENNA, APRIL 4. The text of the treaty of commerce and navigation concluded between Austria and Belgium has been published to-day. The treaty places each of the contracting states upon the footing of the most favoured nation. SPAIN. MADRID, APRtL 3. The journal La Politick has been seized for the fourth time. PORTUGAL. LISBON, Amu. 3. The visit of the King and Queen of Portugal to the Paris Exhibition has been postponed. The bill brought forward in Cortes for the reform of the civil administration will undergo great modi fication. THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA. LIVERPOOL, APRIL 4. The African Company's steamer Calabar has arrived here to-day. Her dates are—Benin, March 5 ; Fernando Po, March 1 ; Cameroons, March 1 ; Old Calabar, Feb. 28 ; Brass River, New Calabar, and Bonny, March 4 ; Lagos, ith ; Accra, 9th ; Cape Coast Castle, 10th ; Cape Palmas, 12th ; Monrovia, 14th ; Sierra Leone, lith ; Bathurst, 20th ; Tenerife, 20th ; and Madeira, 28th. The Calabar brings 2,2050 z. of gold dust, 4,190 dollars, and 631 sovereigns in specie. At Cameroons, Fernando Po, Old Calabar, and Bonny, trade was brisk. At New Calabar, owing to hostilities having commenced in the interior, trade was dull. Health was generally good. THE BRAZILS. SOUTHAMPTON, Amt. 4. The Royal Mail Company's steamer Shannon, with the Brazil mail, passed the Needles at 11.40 a.m. to-day. MEXICO. CRITICAL POSITION OF THE EMPEROR MAXIMILIAN. NEW YORK, APRIL 3, 5.30 P.M. Official news has been received at Washington , from Mexico, that the Emperor Maximilian was at Queretaro, cut off from all communication. The natives were deserting him. The City of Manchester, the Arago, and the Java have arrived out. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Cold, 1334. Exchange, 108/. Five-Twenty United States' Bonds, 1091. Erie, 544 ; Illinois Central, 1154. Petroleum, 174 . c. Cotton—mid dling upland, 29c. —Tinieo (second edition). EXPRESS FROM PARIS. (ram ova orN coniumrommare.) PARIS, WEDNEYDAT EVENING. The Emperor on leaving the Exhibition on Mon day did not go out,according to the programme, by the gate fronting the Ecole Militaire, exactly op posite the one by which he had entered. On the contrary he returned as he had conic by the Pont de Jena. What can have been the reason for this inconvenient departure from an arrangement an nounced and upon which the public had calculated I have heard a suggestion which I incline to think correct. By 4 o'clock in the afternoon of Monday his Majesty must have been aware of M. de Bis marck's answer to M. Benningsen's intorpellations, which unmistakeably means that Franco shall not have Luxemburg unless she fights for it ; and stung by such a check he did not choose to pass under the shadow of the colossal equestrian statue of the King of Prussia, which he must have done had he left the building by the Ecole Militaire gate. The Prussian commission had in the course of the morning pulled off the great gar land of laurels which was hung around the helmet, but this delicate attention did not suffice to re move the objection. It is noticed by the papers that the telegram with the report of Bismarck's speech, which left Berlin on the morning of April 1, was kept back from the public till the same hour on April 2. The Moniteur du Soir contained a wretched paragraph last night trying to make out that Bismarck's speech was quite satisfactory to France, and being rightly interpreted meant that Prussia had not the least objection to the King of Holland doing what he liked with his duchy. But the government having slept upon the matter feels that this con struction is too absurd, and accordingly the big Moniteur this morning does not reproduce the rea soning of its little brother, but contents itself with giving a report of what took place in the smallest possible print. The Empress is indisposed ; and in consequence the usual Thursday evening reception and a grand dinner which was announced for to-morrow arc postponed. I presume that the treacher an north wind which accompanied the bright April sun on the opening day of the Exhibition gave her Ma jesty one of those annoying grippes which are now very prevalent. Visitors to the Exhibition will do well to bring with them a sufficient wardrobe for the whole period of their stay, and postpone the experi ment of a French coat (unless they would put up with a ready-made one) to some future op portunity. The strike of the tailors is uni versal, and not one of the great houses will undertake to execute an order within any given time. There is to be a meeting to-morrow between a committee of masters and workmen, at No. 14, Rue St. Anne, but a fashionable tailor on the Boulevard des Italiens tells me he has very little hope that an arrangement will then be come to. it is scarcely credible, but yet a fact, that the great majority of the Senate referred to ministers as worthy of favourable consideration a petition praying that all private manufactories of lucifer matches should be suppressed, and that the state should have a monopoly of making safety matches by a peculiar preparation of phos phorus. It was in vain that Baron Buteval pro tested that such a law would involve the revision of various treaties with foreign countries, and that it was nut the duty of the state to stand in the place of fathers of families, who should take care that children did not poison themselve s ~ cith lucifer matches, or of the police and law c”iirts whose business it was to punish crime and culla ble neglect. The petition was sent to the ministry, where, of course, it will go into the waste paper basket. The Bourse has not recovered, and closed (Ara weaker than yesteniay. ENGLAND AND SPAIN. IMPORTANT DESPATCH OF LORD STANLEY.- DEMAND FOR COMPENSATION AND AN A. 1.0. LOGY. This morning was issued *hatch of ozrispon. dence respecting the seizure by a Spanish revenue enther, the Toro, of a British coasting vessel belonging to Gibraltar, called the Queen Victoria. It will be seen from th, lowing important despatch of Lord Stanley, dated SatuN day last, that her Majesty's government insists upon toe restoration of the ship, proper pecuniary indemnity, an expression of regret for the outrage committed cai British flag : " LORD STANLEY TO 81R J. CRAMPTON. " Foreign-office, March .4. _ " Sir,— 1 have received from Mr. Consul Dunlop a co p y of his report to you of the 19th of Feb., on the case of the Queen Victoria, and, having again consulted the law O E. cern of the crown, I am at length in a position to instruct you as to the reply which you should make, on behalf of her Majesty's government, to General Calonge's letter of the 9th of Jan. last, of which a copy was inclosed in y ou dispatch of the 11th of that month. "The Queen ViCtOtia was relied so long ago as the nth of Jan., 181;6, by a Spanish guards-costa, on the high and not within Spanish waters, while on her voyage from Gibraltar to Laraiclte, her crew being first terrified into submission ; she was taken to Cadiz, where her crew were dispersed, money being given to enable them to depart from Cadiz, and threats of violence being used if they should remain in the place. The master of the vessel was for a time placed under restraint, and his papers were taken from him ; the name of the vessel was defaced from the stern, and on the second morning after hat arrival at Cadiz she was reported as having been found derelict off Rota, at the mouth of Cadiz harbour. This allegation, however, was afterwards abandoned, and no the following March, without any intimation of legal pm. ceedings being pending against her having been given to her Majesty's consul, who was in constant communication with the Spanish authorities with a view to her release, the vessel was condemned, for having been found landing contraband goods on the Spanish shore or close thereto, and the goods found on board her sold under a public advertisement. "I do not think it necessary to recapitulate at length the proceedings at Cadiz, as reported by her Majesty's consul, or the ineffectual remonstrances which, under in. structions from her Majesty's government, you made at Madrid, when demanding redress for the' outrage which had been committed on a British vessel on the high sc.s. " It is enough to refer to the assurances verbally given to you by the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, as re ported in your despatch of the ith of June, that he greatly regretted that her Majesty's government should have sup posed that the delay in replying to his representations re. ganling the Queen Victoria had proceeded from disincline. tion on the part of the Spanish government to do justice to that of Great Britain, and that the matter was in the hands of the Finance Minister with a view to the institu. tion of a most searching inquiry into the facts of the mit., which he agreed with her Majesty's government in eon. sidering to be of a serious nature. "In his letter of the 24th of May, inclosed in your despatch of the 26th, the Spanish Minister for Foreign Attain had previously assured you that he had • earnestly impressed ou the Minister of Finance the necessity of hastening as much as possible the proceedings in order not to delay the satisfaction due to her Majesty's gee. re inent, either of well-founded explanations or of the pu :jab ment of those who had infringed the law in a manner Car. responding to their offence, if, in fact, the result should prove such infraction.' " tip to the 6th of November last, however, no such solution hail taken place, and it was only on the tith of January of the present year that, is reply to your letter et the 6th of November, expressing, hy my direction, the sur prise of her Majesty's government at a satisfactory reply having been so long delayed, the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs announced to you that the Finance Minister and the council of state had discovered • that the nature of the matter in question did not, and does not, n it of the action of the executive, as it is solely in the province of the Spanish tribunal to decide upon the legality or ille gality of the capture of the Queen h turns, the cargo of which consisting, as it almost entirely did, of tobacco, could not but excite suspicion concerning the true destine. tion of the vessel.' _ _ " General Calonge, in hie letter of January 9, goes on to say ' that, in view of the non-intervention of the lintish consul and of the parties interested in the inquiries set on foot at Cadiz, and although they made no reclamation at the proper time, confiscation decreed against this chip should be declared void in equity, thus leaving open the road for the 'add consul, and the other persons whom it may concern, to present themselves and defend then in terests before the tribunal which take- , cognisance of the matter, and to elnint what they may conceive to he due to them by right ; and further, ' that, if in the final result of the trial, the British government should consider that there be notorious injustice committed to the detriment of the defendants, there would then be a fitting opportunity fur treu:iug by diplomacy.' " Her Majesty's government regret to say that they can attach nu weight to these tarty assurances extracted from the Spanish government after the lapse of nearly a year from the time that the wrong was dune, and of more than half a year since a prompt settlement' of the question was formally recommended to the Spanish Minister el Finance by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, as stated to you by the latter in his letter of the 11th of June, inclosed in your desp.teli of the lOth of that month. " Her Majesty's government must observe, in noticing that part of the statement of General Calonge iu u high he asserts that the British consul and parties intereqed omit ted to intervene and make reclamation, that General ea. longs has been misinformed on this subject. From the moment that the news of the seizure of the Queen Vicuna came to the knowledge of the British consul, he made in cesaant and urgent dennuida for the delivery up of the vessel and cargo—demands which her l'ilajesty's govern. motif regret to state were wholly ineffectual to prevent the unlawful proceedings of those who persisted in condemning and confiscating the property seized. "The original capture, then, was a lawless and wholly unjustifiable act; justice, though frequently demanded has been denied ' • the sale of the Barge and of the seas& was illegal ; and all the proceedings taken against the yee eel were not only contrary to juxtice, and therefore void, but they must have been taken with a full conviction of their illegality, and were adopted, as her Majesty's govern ment are conetniined to believe, fur the purpose, or in a of the purpose, of covering or concealing the unreal law. less ace of the captain and crew of the Spanish guilds. coact.. " In this state of things her Majesty's government mast decline to accept the conclusion act forth in Cener.il Calonge's letter of the 9th of January, that the coati:es tion decreed against the Queen Victoir, shall he &dared void, so as to open the root for the consul and other re' sous interested to present themselves :old their interests before the proper tribunal. 00 the contrary, her Majesty's government must at once in,i,t on the im mediate restoration of the ship and cargo, or their full value, and on proper pecuniary indemnity to her espy= and Crew ; accompanied by an expres.sion Of rcgrct dressed to her Majesty's government fur the outrage Louis matted on the British flag. " You will furnish General Calogne with a copy of this despatch, which is the reply of her Maposty s tit to his letter of the 9th of January, and smi wig ss the earnest hope of her Majesty's government t1...t t.bo government of her catholi c 3lajesty will not snow this matter to assume the proportion of a sei Mileicnes between Great Britain and Spaiii.-1 am, ac.. (Signed) " %NT t)." The brother of the Tycoon is yia•c pouted at Marseilles, with a suite rer.,lls. Ile brings with him 30 youths belonging to the iiio.t nt families in Japan, who are coining to cwwplc to tl.c.r ~iac ation in France. A letter front Wellington (New Zealan.l), dated two months ago, nays Ilia excellency Canterbury, proposing to Lave for ()tag., to.xt reception has been most enthusiastic, an.l e,in.eially et Westland, the site of the west coast diggo,.. Three years ago no one had ever crossed the Sinitherti dividing the east and west coasts of the .11i.1 , 11.• bland. There was &tradition that a party of a lion Ired naf. , es had once attempted it, but all save two or Caw. 1.a.1 perished. The discovery of go:afield* quickly changed everything—passes were discovered. bridle tro 14. col. 3111.1 finally a road made, along which Cobh s Ameriv in coaches now rapidly bowl. Hie excellency and 'old" r. 1.: to Hold' tika, the principal town on the west coast, in two days; the illuminations in his honour attracting four thousand people in the streets, which two years ago ware primeval forest. The only accident, we are told, was a slight ca plosion of gas at the' Prince of Wales twr.i.ltouse..7 The Fenian prisoner 141`Clure was itioa 0,41 yesterday by the Knockadown ccsuitguardsnien as the leader of the party which sacked that *Labia.