The Express. — London, England, 1866-04-02 00:00:00

I JOHN BROODEN'S GOLD CHAINS by troy weight, as matiasble value, and the workmanship at wholesale manufacturers' prima The gold in the chains gua ranteed, and repurchaaed at the Woe charged. I " Here 'a the note, How much your chain weighs to the utmost carat, The fineness of the gold, and chugs for W suim" Elsrisli. Itstarfictery, 16, Hasriettarstreet, covontgarden. Loodoe- rpuRTLE, TURTLE, TURT LE. 1 Clear nick. and TUITLE SOUPS always ready. sr JtheassßALL, apaarranuerr, nocADELLY. WU. DONALD, P 1 tor. T°WEST -END DIETERS.—The wzmnra- Toy, Timedlily. Indlee helm DIM/proem on the arst floor. The vabiertptlon room are now Mew Terms, twelve months. £1 tla ed.; mix months, Ll 11. — Apply to D. Cameron, 49, 9t Janteewdreet. PNDON must have a SUPPER and MIC .a-s ROOM for Oentienkea.—Bemewber, we wail t o you at " SVAlitr," attar the Covent Garden Opera anti the Theatres. ghe erprtoys. TO CORRE9PONDENTR. ,dvartisaments intended for The Emma," London Evening raper, must be at the Of 10, flouvariestroet, by Two o'clock on the day of publication. HATMARICST. TEM ILVEIMIO. A ROMANTIC ATTACITMLNT. Mesas. Compton and W. (amen ; MLa AdsCsvendiab.—TßE FAVORITE OF FORTUNK Mama &Widow, Chippendale, and Both= Meadsmen Chippendale, Saville, vita. —AndellOCßlNO Emus. PRENCESSE Tars EvEroo, A GHOST IN SPITE OF HIMSELF —Alter erlich THE STREETS OF LONDON. Mama Vining, T. Mead, D. Murray, Slum and Villiers; MIS H. Marston, end )LJ L Barnett and K. Rodgers. LYIINL. Tins lrarad. STYPSON A CI ND CO. Yam S. Amery sad C. Hamm ; Mesdames nryine Hernade, dc.—And TIE= YAM= Or NAWNSWOOID. Mama Pechter, O. Jordan, TWA. km" ; Madames Tessa, Ilswarthy, IC Lederal - - miffANA Toe ZTINING, 770 DAZE KING OF 771 Z BLACK 710171 C TAINS. NM Clara St, Came, Mrs. 8. Ime—Muter Z. Sanders —7lre 'Muse Fsalltr—Ald 7/US SCOTTISH CHIZF. Mr. Jima Anderson. HIGH-WATTS AT LONDON-81MM T® DAT — Moran. itt. Um Afternoon, 3k 40m. To-MoAnoW—Morning, 314 136 m Afternoon, elt. 1 Om. LONDON, MONDAY, APRIL 2. Ir appears tolerably certain that the shareholding public are at length becoming fully alive to the necessity of trusting the management of their affairs to directors who will exercise a real and not nominal superintendence over the general interest. It has taken a considerable time to produce this result. Among no class in the world could be found the singular apathy on matters of vital im portance which has been the almost unfailing cha racteristic of shareholders in public companies. A few individuals might occasionally be induced to protest against some apparently injurious oourse of action, but except in the rarest instances they could never reckon on the support of their co- proprietors. There can be no question that this entire absence of control has caused many evils. Directors became practically possessed of absolute power, and could not be expected to escape entirely from the faults which such a position necessarily entails. Some of the worst examples may be seen in the case of the railway companies. If the shareholders could, or rather would, have exercised their legitimate influence nine-tenths of the sums which have been squandered upon fierce parliamentary battles and profitless extensions would in all probability have been saved. As in the somewhat similar instance of bodies politic, lavish expenditure can only be efficiently checked by those who have to find the means. Other and like defects may be traced to the same source of virtual irresponsibility. An extravagant intoler ance of opposition, and a proneness to consider the interests of the directors as in some, if not all, re spects distinct from those of their constituency, are the most salient. Even in the best conducted under takings, which have either kept clear from, or not been exposed to, the temptations which have beset railway companies, there has always been a tendency to carelessness in the manage ment. Two, or at most three, of the board have taken „a real interest in directing the affairs a the concern, but the rest have done little more than take theirfees, and now ana trim sign their names. This easy system has, however, now re ceived a rude shock. The recent revelations of the scandalous mismanagement which may take _ _ place under the very eyes of a faineant board—the Joint Stock Discount Company affording at once the latest and worst example—have been too flagrant to be lightly passed over. Accordingly the share holders of public companies are beginning as a body to set seriously to work to put their House in order, to the manifest advantage both of them selves and, in the furtherance of commercial morality, to that of the community at large. The first evidence of this salutary change is shown in the resolution to exclude the members of the late Joint Stock Discount Company from all share in the direction of any other undertaking. It cannot be considered, even by those ever ready to apologise for official delinquencies, that this decision is in the slightest degree harsh. Making every allowance that could possibly be devised by the keenest ingenuity, the directors of this unfor tunate concern cannot be acquitted of a negligence that would be incredible if it were not so clearly proved. It is self-evident that an individual who has so utterly failed in his most obvious duty on one occasion cannot be safely trusted on another. As it was very pertinently observed at the meeting of the Bank of Australsais, if directors are not to be made responsible for what passes under their own eyes, it would be better to have no director s at all. But although the truth of this conclusion has been often recognised in the abstract, it has rarely been followed out in its practical conse quences. Too many instances could be cited where shareholders have experienced heavy loss through the almost wilful neglect of their directors, and yet the latter have escaped scot free. The exceptions have been so rare that they only serve to prove the rule. Henceforward, any one who accepts a seat on a board will under stand that he will not be allowed the opportunity of shirking the responsibility. It is one thing for a company to experience misfortunes which may fairly be considered unavoidable, and another to permit it to go to ruin from want of the perform ance of the plainest duties. While in the former case the directors may justly calculate upon the forbearance and support of their constituency, in the latter they must, on the other hand, be pre pared to take the consequences of their malversation. The next step, it is to be hoped, will be to put an end to the system, which is becoming every day more prevalent, of individuals making a trade of sitting on directions. Beyond giving a mere per functory attendance at the weekly board this class of nominal officials do nothing but draw the largest income they can contrive to get out of the com panies to which they belong. It usually happens that they are supremely ignorant of the transactions they are supposed to supervise, an ignorance which they are at little or no pains to conceal. But, even with the beat intentions, it is often alto gether beyond their power, either mentally or physically, to obtain any knowledge that would be of the least practical use. It requires no small amount of time and attention to master in anything like detail the large and cow plicated business carried on by one temp= sloes: how much more, therefore, is the. labour mkt eased when the same person , belongs to three or foam Doubtless, in some but comparatively few instance, the difficulty is overoome; but in the majority of cases the attempt is never even made. This class of directors mostly confine themselves to silently registering the resolutions which their more hard working and conscientious colleagues maturely de liberate upon and propose. The evil, however, of this kind of sham superintendence becomes much worse when the same name is found upon the boards of seven, eight, ten, or even more companies, including perhaps the additional position of the chairmanship in three or four of the number. But even this is not all. The director enjoying so many diverse functions is often engaged largely in business on his own aooonnt, and perhaps is also a member of parliament. With such a multitude of distracting engagements it is impossible but that some of them marl suffer, and it requires little ex- , perience to perceive in what points the default will be. A directorship under these circumstances I becomes a mere farce. It would hardly be sup posed that persons of fair position and mercantile standing would lend themselves to a practice in volving positive deception, but unhappily such is the fact. To trade in this manner upon a name has become too common to be considered reprehen sible among the numerous and increasing body who are eager for directorial fees and honours. The present moment seems a favourable one for reminding shareholders how much the efficiency of the directors of public companies is in their hands. If one could believe that shareholders as a body were incapable of steadily pursuing a firm, reason able course towards directors ; that their conduct must be governed alternately by neglect and passion ; that at one time they would culpably leave everything to directors of whom they knew nothing, and then, on the occurrence of difficulties, in a spirit of blind reaction, turn upon good and bad alike, we should be compelled to conclude that joint stock companies could no longer be conducted with their present constitution, and that great organic changes were requisite. We do not, however, believe this. All that is wanted is that shareholders shall discriminate, and support good directors when they have them. Men who render conscientious service at a board will not submit to be made a mark for vituperation. It is for the interest of shareholders to have men at the head of their concerns who are jealous of their honour, and who will not hold any position on terms inconsistent with sell-respect ; and such persons will not consent to be made targets for invective because others have abused their trust. It is unnecessary to enlarge on this subject ; proprietors will see that their interest can only be served by supporting and honouring upright men of business on boards, while the fussy and incompetent are care fully weeded out. OUR CONTEMPORARIES. (THIS DAY.) THE EXPRESS, MONDAY, thronging Parliament-street from Charing-4i Westmiefilgr Abbey, they will erstinue tri ithe come t et resistants which they bre It is painful to read in journalsztr im4 hive att i t herited the tradition of liberal p • foolish dispa- Tegument of the action of the electors and non-electors of various boroughs and cities in calling and attending public meatiest on the subject of reform. Rome of thaw whe . grant the right of omuitiruenoiee to take such action ea is necessary for keeping members of parliament to their word demur to the propriety of paying any deference to the expressed opinions of the unenfranchised part of the nation. Appeal to their wishes, collectively expressed in the only way save that of petition which the constitu tion allows, is designated as simple terrorism. It is cen sored as an invocation of brute forte against reason and conscience. But, says the Daily News, they most effec tually deprecate an appeal to the preponderant form of the many who insist on a timely and respectful regard to their opinions and wishes, and who encourage the legiti mate expression of their sentiments. Those who refuse this, challenge a coarser trial of strength ; and with them, if it comes, will rest the responsibility of inviting it. In the view of the Poet, Ministers were under no obli gation to deal with Reform, and if the Government oon treated liabilities which it is enable to discharge, the issue to be determined would relate, in the first instance at least, to the exercise of its discretion. The circumstance that an Administration which commenced business with a working majority of sixty, now appeals to the great towns to strengthen its hands against a " dirty conspiracy" in the House of Commons, is in itself significant. The " great meetings" that, declining to petition the Legislature, call upon it to take notice of their resolutions, so far from strengthening the hands of the Government, will simply exaggerate the difficulties that might, perhaps, be over- ' come by frank and faithful explanations. The Telegraph believes that Mr. Lowe is wincereithostile to reform, because he is eaten up with the bitter vanities of intellect ; that Mr. Horsman is a genuine tory in every thing save his hatred of the bishops; and that Lord Grosvenor has the sincerest feeling that between 800,0001. a year and a 71. franchise there is not that natural affinity which some people would like him to see. The fact is that these men have heretofore been hiding under the wide skirts of Lord Palmerston. Liberalism without reform was an empty programme, which the old premier's popularity could tempo rarily sustain ; but he has died, and as the parasites of the living mast quit the dead, so the " Pahnersionians" have now to show themselves in the light of day. The country does well, therefore, to repudiate and to denounos the theory of political morals which these people and their new friends set up. It is loot honest to pass muster as a liberal, with the main article of the liberal creed mentally reserved ; it is not decent to creep into a parliament which has reform to settle as a " liberal," being all the time an enemy of reform. No mild desire to have that kind of thing called by nice genteel names can make any word preferable to " dirty" as its just description. John Bright on Sunday Schools ! But why should he apologise for it? exclaims the Times. Without the least de murring to Mr. Bright's perfect right to a3itate, and even intrigue, for any amount of parliamentary reform, yet the Times can feel him quite as much at home on the platform of a Sunday School meeting as anywhere else that might be named. It is indeed a new poeition, and a new part, compared with our more recent experience of the member for Birmingham. That, no doubt, is what he feels himself. Before the world of scholars, teachers, ministers of religion, and committeemen, Mr. Bright is a philanthropist, a ption, a man descended from the clouds, speaking kindly and affably, as such men are wont to do. He is there to drop honeyed words, and distil the soft dew of a flattering en couragement. Not but what there is often a little dog matism and tyranny even in this smooth guise. But it is not the John Bright of our most recent recollections. That personage is no oondescendinz divinity, but an astgrand. Than about to scale the Heavens and din the Olympians down to earthly level. There he is with sinewy arms and tucked-up sleeves—if the Titans ever wore body linen— and such a voice as earthquakes announce themselves with. But the Times will greet him now in his last avatar—that of last Friday, at an annual conference of Sunday School teachers of Lancashire, Cheshire, and Derbyshire, held at Rochdale, and numerously attended, as it was, indeed, likely to be. All that the Timm can say of the speech is that it is very interesting, and even instructive. The Star remarks that the taste foe perfidy is an aoquried one, and that the electors of Stroud have not yet acquired it. The rest of the country wondered how Mr. Herrman managed to be re-elected at the general election. it now appears that he retained the position which he has continued to abuse by giving a pledge to which the innocenoe of Stroud attached very undue importance. Mr. }kremlin is now virtually dismissed from the service of Stroud by a resolution expressing deep indignation at his desertion of the liberal party, and declaring that he no longer possessed the confidence or represented the prin ciples of the electors. So perish the parliamentary future of all who play the people false. TRZ RITZNOZ EZTIIESS. The Tines observes that we can now calculate what the revenue will be in the coming twelve months, supposing no alteration of taxation to be effected. There will be a surphui—not so large as those to which we have been accustomed of late years—the greater part of which is already forestalled, and unless the Chancellor of the Exchequer ventures on some re arrangement of taxation, on which it would of course be -die to speculate, his teak will be an easy one. It might even be a question whether the moderate sum which may be anticipated to be left after providing for the current expenditure might not prudently be permitted to remain undisturbed, as a contribution, however small, to that liquidation of the national indebtedness which we all as knowledge to be desirable, but which we are so slow to take any practical step to secure. The Tilers estimates that the receipts of 1866-7 may be put down safely at 66,500,0001., from which must be deducted 250,0001. consequent on the abolition of the timber duties, which, by the treaty of Austria, we are pledged to abandon. As the estimates for the coming year are before the country, and as they show very little reduction in the expenditure of the last twelve months, the Times concludes that though the Chancellor of the Exchequer has a tale of con tinued prosperity and content to tell on the budget, he will, at the same time have little, if anything, to give away. The most prominent fact, says the Pod, which arrests our attention on glancing at the balance-sheet now pub lished is that the for to the revenue has been considerably lees than we were led to expect. On the entire year tho net decrease is just two millions and a half, the items in which the falling off is shown being of course customs and property tax. These, however, combined fall considerably short of the Chancellor's estimate, and an additional proof is thereby afforded of the soundness of the doctrine that increased consumption and other causes prevent the loss to the revenue occasioned by diminished taxation being pro portionate to the amount of the impost which is removed. The nation not unnaturally looks for some considerable retrenchment in the naval and military departments of the public service ; but it is impossible not to feel that the present is not a time in which it could be judiciously effected. It is true we enjoy profound peace ; but no one can tell the moment when that peace may be violently disturbed. The Post fears, therefore, that we cannot ex pect from the Chancellor of the Exchequer the ►nnounee ment of an enormous surplus, or a consequent large re , mission of taxation. But, on the other hand, the revenue returns for the past year testify so convincingly to the ad vancing prosperity of the country, that when the oppor tunity for retrenchment presents Itself the burden of taxation can be diminished to an extraordinary degree without at the same time materially impoverishing the national exchequer. The Telegraph dwells on the skill with which our present Chancellor of the Exchequer secures the con tinuance of ever increasing benefits. The income of which Mr. Gladstone will dispose in the coming twelvemonth will be, in the opinion of the Telegraph, about 06,396,0001. The expenditure will probably lie some where near 63,750,000/. Thus he will have but a surplus of 650,0001. to deal with. This an nounonnent is calculated to paralyse the energies and abate the expectations of Sir Fitzroy Kelly and the malt I tax agitators. Be that as it may, the Telegraph can scarcely think, after studying the revenue returns, that its countrymen will do much to encourage the factious and captious opposition to the Reform Bill, which, if successful, will tear the helm of the Exchequer from the hand of Mr. Gladstone, and deliver it over to the guidance of Mr. Samuel Laing, Sir Stafford Ncethoote, or Mr. Disraeli. TEN 113701L11 BILL. The opponents of tho Reform Bill are in the estimation of the Daily New hard to eatisfy. They ridicule the indifference of the nnenfranchised classes when they are silent; and protest against their action when they begin to stir. The public meetings, of increasing number and importance, which are now being held almost daily in every part of the kingdom, put the feelings and the intentions of the nation beyond dispute. The bill of the government is regarded as a tolerably fair compromise between the just claims of the majority of the nation and the fears and vested interests of the present possessors of power. Un fortunately this conception of it is not that which a large and powerful party in the House of Commons entertains. They look on the bill, not as the part payment of a debt, bat as a free gift, going beyond the limits of a wise generosity. When these two opposite theories try their strength, it needs little foresight to be oer tain which of them will prevail. In the interests of safe progress and gradual transition, the gores mesa demands somptanes by all conservative etas worthy of the name. If they wish to sae earnestness rislag into passionate excitement, differences of opinion converted into &roe sectional and personal animosities, end the quiet and ante* meetings in the several towns of the empire contributing their quote to n infest mob, HER MAJESTY AND NIL PEABODY'S crrr. Referring to the autograph letter addressed by her Ma jesty to Mr. Peabody on his return for a while to America, the Times remarks that it will be read by all Englishmen . - with feelings of the greatest satisfaction. Mr. Peabody, feeling himself unable to accept either of a baronetcy or of the Grand Cross of the Bath, her Majesty has been obliged to confine herself to this personal expression of her feelings, and in order to mark them the more distinctly and per manently she also asks Mr. Peabody to accept • miniature portrait of herself, which she will have painted for him. There never was • more appropriate occasion for such an expression of Royal gratitude, nor could there well be an instance in which such an act on the part of the Sovereign would be more welcome to the feelings of her people. Even apart from the considerations of gratitude which the Queen so gracefully expresses, the act of Mr. Peabody would not have been un worthy of such • Royal recognition. Her Majesty justly characterises his two successive donation,' es acts of " more than princely munificence." In such a signal mark of gratitude from the Queen, Mr. Peabody has, the Tiesesthinks, received a far higher honour than could have been conveyed by any mere title. It is seldom that a Sovereign thus breaks through the strict rules of court etiquette, and to be the subject of so marked en expression of royal favour is a distinction that must be reserved for the very few. The present occasion, however, was amply worthy of such an exceptional course, and in this graceful act of condescension her Majesty has done equal honour toher sense of duty as &Queen and to her feelings as • woman. It enchanoes at once the generosity of Mr. Peabody, and the significance of her Majesty's acknowledg ments, that this great benefit has been conferred on ns and this acknowledgment received by one who is not • citizen of this country—by a man who is with us but not of u. It is to an American that we are indebted for the greatest boon ever given to the poor of London, and it is to a citizen of the United States that the Queen has thought it right to address this personal expression of gratitude. The Times cannot but believe that such an occurrence will have no little influence in augmenting the good feeling which should prevail between the two countries. AURIRLI AND PRUSSIA. The Prussian government, says the Herald, is now avowedly preparing for war. It seems to have been Count von Bismarak's object to force Austria into the commence ment of the contest, or at least to drive her into the adop tion of measures which he could interpret as intended as menaces to Prussia, and which might furnish him with a pretext for taking the offensive. He has got his pretext now. Threatened by Austria, Prussia mart now, he says, seek guarantees for her security, and she seeks them first by an appeal to the minor states for assistance, and then by preparations to force Austria into the concession of everything that Prussia thinks needful for her interest. But Austria and Praia will be left to settle the question themselves, and the only hope of peace that remains to us is the old one, that Austria will decide at the last moment to take some compensation for the cession of the Duchies, indeed of risking absolute ruin in the endeavour to secure them for the Prince of Augustenburg. The risks of war are for Austria so enormous that her government, if it listens to the dictates of prudence and consult, the true Merest, of the empire, will yield. It has not, however, much time left for oonsideratkin. ]L211121 AND TEN ITALIAN PA Napies oorrimrpondest d the Paris Tempt says that hbasini will probably be prepaid at Nisestro, where ea abeam is to take plies ea the 81b, sad where be hat already bad from 75 to 80 Totes. bleralas, it is thought. will retsra him again. i\ G, AP: ;, I , 7tt Court; wnwsoa cesnhirWasea The Queen, with the Primus' a - Wales**4 , Princess Louise, drove out yesterday afternoon in a ow, rugs and four, attended by Major-General F. H. Sernenr, on horseback. Princess Helena and Princess Hohenlohe also took a drive. The Queen, accompanied by Princess Helena, Princess Louise, and Prince Arthur. drove in a carriage and four this morning to the Cavalry Barracks in Windsor, where her Majesty was received by the Ist Regiment of Life Guards, commanded by Colonel the Hon. D. do rtes. Her Majesty afterwards impeded the barracks, the hos pital, and the building in course of erection for married quarte The Prince of Wales amid the Prince of Hohenlohe geubourg, attended by Lieutenant-Colonel Keppel, went out hunting. The Princess of Wales, with the ?Anomie of Hoherdolie Langenbourg, accompanied the Princes to the meet, and then returned to the Castle. The Princess of Leiningen arrived at the Castle Prince Arthur, attended by Major Elphinatone, met the Princess at the railway station, and accompanied her to the Castle. Arm 1. The Queen, with the Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Helena, Princess Louise, Prince Arthur, Prince Leopold, Princess Beatrice, the Princess Leiningen, the Prince and Princess of Hohenlohe Langenbourg, with the ladies and gentlemen in waiting, attended Divine service this morning in the private chapi3L The Hon. and Very Rev. the Dean of Windsor officiated, and administered the Sacrament of the Holy Communion. The Prince and Princess of Wales, with the Princes Victor Albert and George, left the Castle this afternoon for London, attended by the Hon. Mrs. Stonor and Lieut.- Colonel XeppeL The Prince of Hohenlohe Langenbourg accompanied their royal highnesses to London. Despatches were sent on Saturday from the Colonial office to the Governors of the West India Islands, the North American Provinces, British Columbia, and Van. censer's Island. INSPECTION OF THE FIRST LIFE-GUARDS BY HIM MAJESTY. The distinguished and highly disciplined regi ment of the First Life Guards, under the command at Colonel D. C. F. de Roe, now stationed at the Cavalry Barracks, Windsor, was inspected on Saturday morning last by her Majesty the Queen, who arrived at the barracks shortly after 11 o'clock in an open pony carriage with attendants in plain liveries, accom panied by their Royal Highnesses the Prisons Helena, Princess Louise, end Prince Arthur. and attended by Major-General F. H. Seymour, C. 8., and Colonel Pon sonby on horseback, as equerries in waiting. In a second carriage were lady Waterpark, the lady-in waiting, and the Hon. Lucy Kerr, maid of ho nour. Major Elphinstone was also on horseback, in attendance on Prince Arthur. The regiment having been drawn up in line received her Majesty with the royal salute, the band playing the National Anthem. The Queen weed along the front and rear ranks, with Colonel de Roe walking by the side of her carriage. Afterwards her Majesty and royal party alighted from their carriages, and were conducted by the colonel and Mr. Luard, the engineering officer superintending the new building, to a wing of the soldiers' quarters, the improvements of which were commenced last year, and are now completed. After inspecting another building her Majesty returned to the square and witnessed a post practice, whioh was cle verly performed by a squad of non-commissioned officers and men in the horse parade, and before taking her depar ture her Majesty expressed to the commanding officer, the Hon. D. C. F. de Roe, her great satisfaction at what she had witnessed. As her Majesty was leaving the square the regiment again presented arms, and the band played the National Anthem AUTOGRAPH LETTER OP THE QUEEN TO MR PEABODY. The following letter has been written by the Queen to Mr. Peabody : " Windsor Castle, March 28, 1866. " The Queen hears that Mr. Peabody intends shortly to return to America, and she would be sorry that he should leave England without being assured by herself how deeply she appreciates the noble act of more than princely muni ficence by which he has sought to relieve the yenta of the poorer clam of her subjects residing in London. " It is an act, as the Queen believes, wholly without pa rallel, and which will carry its best reward in the con sciousness of having contributed so largely to the assist ' once of those who can little help themselves. _ . " The Queen would not, however, have been satisfied without giving Mr. Peabody some public mark of her sense of his munificence, and she would gladly have conferred upon him either a baronetcy or the Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, but that she understands Mr. Pea body to feel h,imself debarred from accepting such dis filmdom'. " It only remains, therefore, for the Qneen to give Mr. Peabody this assurance of her personal feelings, which she would further wish to mark by asking him to accept a miniature portrait of herself, which she will desire to have painted for him, and which, when finished, can either be sent to him to America or given to him on the return which, she rejoices to hear, he meditates to the country that owes him so much." We are authorised to state that her Royal High ness the Princess of Wales will, on behalf of the Queen, hold Drawing-rooms at St. James's Palace on Wednesday, May 23, and on Saturday, June 9. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales will also on her Majesty's behalf hold Levees at St. James's Palace on Wednesday, May 2 ; on Saturday, May 12 ; and on Wednesday, June 6. - THE KING or THE BELGIANB.—WO (Post) un derstand that the King of the Belgians will arrive in London this evening in order to attend the funeral of the Queen of the French. . . . . The Duchess (Dowager) of Sutherland has con siderably recovered her health, and will, in the course of a few days, go to Cliveden, her seat in Buckinghamshire. The Countess of Ellesmere, who is at present staying at Bridgwater House, is slowly recovering from her recent severe indisposition. The Countess of Desert has left her residence in Eatou-square for Redgrave Hall, Suffolk. Viscount and Viscountess Sydney left Cleveland square on Saturday on a visit to the Earl and Countess of Sandwich at Hinchinbroke, Hants. _ _ Lord and Lady Edward Clinton left town on Saturday on a visit to the Countess Frances Waldegrave and the Right Hon. Chichester Fortesene, M.P., at Strawberry-MIL The Hon. Mr. and Mn.s Edward Russell have left town on a visit to the Countess Frances Wsldegrave and the Right Hon. Chichester Fortescue, MS., at Straw berry-hill. Lady Charlotte Schreiber has issued invitations for a ball at Lanham House on Wednesday, the 18th inst. Sir Norman and Lady Macdonald Lockhart and /asses Macdonald Lockhart have left Farranoe's Hotel for their town residence in Lowndes-square. - - Mrs. Henry Barnard Hankey's ball will take plaoe an April 18, at 38, Lowndas-square. THE Manor OF LONDOII.—The Bishop of London was by no Ines:ono well yeeterday (Saturday) Awning, but the report in the afternoon was of a more favourable character. His lordship's condition, at one period far more grave and perilous than many supposed, fo ~ bMs the possibility of ramming his diocesan labours for some saa siderable time.—Sunday Gazae. H ----- aavnt or THS Sraassa.—The Speaker of the House of Commons makes but little program towards con valescence, and resent amounts are not of the mod smearing character. The right hon. gentleman's medical advisers looked forward to marked improvement from complete rest and seaside sojourn during the Easter noses, but they have not been able to emotion his removal from London, and the only exercise allowed him is either in a bath chair on the river terrace, or en hour's daily drive in a does carriage. It is feared, notwith s tanding the Speaker's a sty to resume his duties, and the annoyance be expo ricoed - at having been kept so king from the inewles of the House by an unfote accident and its effect as his eau. ✓titution, that Mr. Dodson's services as Deputy Speaker must be again called into requisition after the 1041111111 MI. Wag of parliament —Sunday Goselit *. ' 186 -41tJr6. `". 'Mi t [ORT AT ROCHDALE. * ••43n flitheSey afternoon Mr. Bright laid the ' corner atone of a new town-ball at Rochdale. The borough as incorporated about eleven years ago, and had hitherto been Tithed any better accommodation for its municipal departments than is afforded by some inconvenient offices erected for the police commissioners who previously governed the town. The new erection is to be one of con siderable architectural pretensions, and is estimated to cost 110,0001., including the land, of which the area covered la more than 16,000 square yards. The building will be in the English style prevalent towards the end of the 14th century, free use being made of the mullioned windows of many light+, square headed, for such offices as may be called domestic. At one of the angles a clock tower will rise to the height of 150 feet. Besides a great hall for public meetings or other assemblies, there will be asoom modation for a commercial exchange, for the magistrates . court, the borough police, the town council, and the whole executive of the borough corporation. The architect is Mr. Crosland, of Leeds. The site faces the river Roach, which intersects the town, and it has • background planted with shrubs, and sloping upwards to the parish church and vizarage. As appeared from the remarks made by several of the gentlemen who took part in the ceremonies of the day, the °erasion had been seised by the local authorities and inhabitants to offer to their distinguished townsman, Mr. Bright, a public proof of their neighbourly regard and esteem. The day was observed as a close holiday, and notwithstanding the weather was wet in the forenoon , an immense gathering of people accompanied Mr. Bright from his residence in a long procession, comprising the local magistrates, aldermen, councillors, officials, deputations from cooperative societies, and friendly societies, with their banners. Every spot near the site which could possibly afford a view of the congregation of persona assisting at the ceremonial was oovered with spectators, and so urgent was the desire to have the scene photographed with the mayor in a se& ciently pictorial attitude as be opened the proceedings with a speech, that he was made to pause in the midst of his remarks when the artist had got his apparatus adjusted, in order that the worshipful figure might be taken without distortion. Mr. Bright was received with great cheering on his arrival at the site. After introductory speeches from the Mayor (Mr. fitett), and the Town Clerk (Mr. Z. Mellor), Mr. Bright went through the usual formalities with a silver trowel, presented to him by Mr. Alderman G. L. Ashworth on behalf of the corporation. Mr. Barone then said a few words relative to the uses to which the building would be applied, speaking of it ea likely to be one of the finest of its kind erected in England during our time. The occasion was not a political one, but he could not help feeling that had it not been for the approval of his career by his townsmen, he should not have been there that day. Mr. Parrs*, M.P. for the borough, afterwards addressed the assemblage, and the proceedings at the stone termi nated with cheers for the mayor. Afterwards there was • luncheon at the Public-hall attended by about 250 gentlemen, the mayor "gala pre siding. A marble bust of the late Mr. Cobden, by Mr. Barnard, sculptor, of London, which is an excellent like nein, bad been lent by Mr. Bright for the omission, and was placed at the end of the room facing the platform, where the principal guests were seated. Mr. BRIGHT, in responding to the toast of his health, referred to the great changes which had taken place during the last twenty or thirty years in the local government of the town, observing that in his opinion there was scarcely anything more important in • country than an honest municipal government. Their experience ought not to make reasonable men afraid of a large number of votes. He then proceeded to refer to members who had sat for the borough since its enfranchisement, Mr. Fenton, Mr. Sharman Crawford, Mr. Miall, and Mr. Cobden. He drew an argument from the im provement of the municipal government of the town eines it was based on an extended suffrage in favour of • similar extension of the electoral vote, and concluded by alluding to the great importance of public meetings in a free country, and of the utility, therefore, of providing build ings in which such expressions of public opinion can appropriately take place. A number of other haste were given, and the pressed ings terminated about six o'clock. THE LATE QUEEN MARIE AMELIE. All the arrangements connected with the funeral of this venerable lady have now been completed. The hearse, drawn by eight horses and preceded by mounted mutes bearing wands, will leave Claremont Palace at a quarter past 11 to-morrow. All the mourners will follow to the park gates on foot. Only the princes of the House of Orleans will wear cloaks ; all others who are Invited to take part in the ceremony will be in plain evening dress, without either cloaks or hatbands. Outside the park gates, and drawn up on the left to precede the hearse, will be two mourning coaches sad four, one for Bishop Grant and the clergy of his diocese who may assist ; the other for the late Queen's private chaplains. Immediately following the hearse, three mourning coaches will convey the Princes of Orleans—namely, the Comte de Paris, the Duc de Chartres, the Comte d'Artois, the Prince de Join villa, the Duc d'Anmale, and other members of the family. The rest of the pr ocession will be erraneed in the following order, the diplomatic corps being in the carriages immediately following those of the princes: . . . Fur Carrie.—The Austrian Ambassador, the Prussian Ambassador, the Belgian Minister, the Bavarian Minister. Second Carriage—The Italian Minister, the Portuguese Minister, the Saxon Minister, and the Spanish Minister. Third Carriage.—The Brazilian Minister and the Mexi can Minister. Fourth Carriage.--General Count de Montesquieu, Gs neral Count de Houdetot, General Count Dumas, and General Count Chabannes. Fifth Carriage.—The That Belgian Officer, General Baron Chabaud Latour, and lie Elion. Sixth Carriage.—Count de Jarnac, Lieut.-General Sir Edward Curt, the Second Belgian Of ter, and Captain Morlain. Seventh Carriage.—MM. Guist, Thiers, Duchatel, and Remusat. Eighth Carriage.—MM. Detain, Duman, Hebert, and General Changarnier. Ninth Carriage.—M. Bother, Count de Grorudeld, and MM. Fortunate and Trognon. Tenth Carriage.—Dr. de Mussy, MM. Octave Band de Bretzil, Alison, and Amelia. Eleventh Carriage.—MM. Begnier (pere), Gauthier, Fauval, and lengeL Twelfth Carriage.—MM. Collett: and Allaire, Fleury, and A. de Latour. Thirteenth Carriage.—MM. Jolly, Replier (fib), sad Mesnierd. After the pexession has started from the park gates the princesses and the ladies of the household will leave the palace and proceed to Weybridge by another and shorter route through Walton and Outlands-park, so as to be in the chapel before the arrival of the hearse. This part of the cortege will consist of five carriages, conveying the fol lowing distinguished mourners : First Carriage—The Counter of Paris, the Duchess of Chartres, the Princess Marguerite, the Princess Second Carriage.—The Duchess d'Aumale, the Duchess of Wertemburg, the Princess Salem., the Countess Air- Third ru • Carriage.—The Marchioness de Lasagne, the Baroness Irinquerlui, the Countess de Chabaones, the Marchioness de Beauvoir. Fourth Carriage.—Mdlle. Maser, YdlL. Boeris, Madame de Porquet, Marquis de Beauvoir. Fifth Carriage.—Mdlle. Bernard, the Countess Bernie, the Boron/sr Wangenheim, and Mdlle. fit. Aubin. From the steps of the palms to the park gates, and from Weybridge-heath to the vault, the hawse will be attended on each aide by General Count Montesquion, General Count Houdetot, General Count Dumas. and General Count Chabannes. The body, as we have stated, will not be taken into the little church, but direct through the churchyard to the external entrance to the vault in which the re mains of Louis Philipps are laid. This little IBM s:ileum is so narrow that it has bad to be en larged to admit of Queen Marie Amelie's coffin being laid by the ride of that of her husband. In the chapel itaelf their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge will meet the mourners, and remain during the funeral service. When this short ceremony is ended, the members of the royal family will go down to the vault, and after they hayloft the members of the diplomatic corps will also pees round the coffin, and after these the members of the late Queen's household. General Count Dumas will stand at the head of the ooffin till all have passed through the vault, and will remain to see it finally closed. Tors ANWOIIIIB To Psnrcuss HzussrA AND Plum ALmo.—TM two ode at mat Lowe bona knowd panting easisides to PtiaeowtHeiewed LOOM. as her rearrieire with Moos Melillo., end VOW to Prism Alfred. " =Wet to Noah ousditiews ea her Mojeekr soy dtreet." Both eausuitise we to " tees et ma UFA% wometaiwty mid aulars." The airlift to ?thee Allred is to dos tem ths Oth Agent. kik what IdS. zwrg MO* sees mood ego. LATEST INTELLIGER( AUSTRIA AND PRUSSLI. In the anticipation of a war, says t 1 dame, all eyes in Berlin are nature towards France and Italy. Those war reckon on the inaction of Fran the French diplomatists in Gerais an attitude of expectation, and Is inaction of France would lead to the is other great powers, as in the case of tho Denmark. With regard to Italy, would be that of France, the line she not yet clearly drawn. All that is to Gen. Govone, who is stillat Berlin, is the utmost possible attention, and that byl lug to his mission, the Bing of Pn pointed Captain de Burg to be nulitar , Florence. At Vienna, it is said tha alliance has been already signed bet and Italy. But this is, to say the lean The Natione of April 1 denies the any understanding has been come Prussia and Italy. Otromes Taml=o THE EASTER BENEDICT] ROME, Ann. The Pope gave to-day the benedic Orbi. The crowd on this occasion w and his Holiness was received with d The ex-King of Naples and his fami and Princess of Saxe Coburg Goths, Flanders, and the diplomatic corps w THE BRAZIL. MAIL LIABOI The Royal Mail Steam Packet C Domobasarrivedhere fromtheßrani for Southampton at 6 p.m. to-day with specie, 7,7242.; 189 bags of coffee, cotton, 368 rolls of tobacco, and 11 sundries. The Oneida, with 9th of March rived at St. Vincent on the 19th, 1 Brazil on the 20th inst. BOMBAY AND MAIIRITILI The China leaves at 9 p.m. to-da, where she may be expected on the 4 EXPRESS FROM P, (nom °us ow common PARIS, Sot The Patric, in announcing that left Vera Crux on March 6 to returt that he is expected at St. Nasai undertakes to say that he has u mission, and that the French is will commence their evacuation September or the beginning of 0 not, however, anticipate that more will come home this autumn, as they will be replaced by " nearly" I of Austrian volunteers. The report that M. Hidalgo, the to the court of Paris, had arrived by the Tasmanian, is contradicted. he delayed his departure in con Langlais's death. The finance de Mexican empire, on the death of confided to M. de Maintenant, finance, who went out as M. Lea assistant. There is a rumour that the Empe summer to make a tour in several meat', accompanied by the P Auxerre will probably be the first Program The Council of State has given affair, pointedly alluded to due* the address, of the Duke d'Aums the Princes of Conde," which was any warrant or pretext of law in The publisher applied to the Cow leave to prosecute M. Boitelle, tb Police, for his illegal act. The I Council of State has ruled that, Boitelle acted under an imperial sibility was entirely covered. Th recognition by the most competes fearful doctrine that when the Ei do an illegal thing the subject hie The panic at the Bourse goes o number of believers in the posaib meats daily. I say the possibilit, persuaded that if war were really evitable the fall in the rotten stag market would assume proportic present depression gives but a f to-day fell 25c. for cash, and 3 dosing at afr. 50c. and 671 r. 4 16fr. 25c. ; Credit Foncier, 151 lfr. 30c. The latter heavy decli the successive falls of the week The Orleans and Lyons railways PARIS, We have a passably fine East soft southerly wind, grey clouds, pleasant enough, only embarrass is scarcely cold enough for a Fest warm enough to do without public, abroad in great numbe little about the great European matists fear, and which may p before another Sabbath conies they feel secure in the a Paulin Limayrac in the Cu while " God only knows " and Austria will fight or French government has "Pr eventuality," and cannot possibl The Debate, however true to n frostkur journal, refuses to be Corsetitutionnel, and sees in its alarm rather than confidence. to the uttering' of Delphos, Trophonius, and compares it to tl deceived Cronus and Pyrrhus, of antiquity. If it were possible upon the assertion of the Coast' policy of France may be summed " neutrality"—it would be all r tnnataly this complacent semi-( on to say that " all possible provided for." This is a oont goes before. There are evident!, cies than that of the neutrality the French government has " pr are these I The Constitution's! It is impossible at this grave el ber M. de Bismarck's visit to Bb and the puffs that were publishe semi-official press of Paris. If plunge his country into a we be but that he is peel Los the Rhine frontier 1 expects her support in return i preponderant in Germany. Austria frustrate this diabolical would may see her own true I , .! 1 i t l'P