The Express. — London, England, 1867-01-01 00:00:00

'APPIN BROTHERS.—Establiahed A.D. 1810. CRESTS of SILVER PLATE for theCOLONIES, CUTLERY and SILVER PLATE for FUR.NISULNO. MAPPIN BROTHERS, LONDON-BRIDGE. MAPPIN BROTHERS, 222, REGENT sTuEEr. B ROWN and POLSON'S CORN FLOUR for CHILDREN'S DIET. To obtain extra profit by the kale other kinds are sometime@ otteral in.tent ItDoWN and NILSON'S. "John Drown," "John Poison;' is signed b'f • the 'makers on each packet. C he Ortmel4o• TO CORRF.M)SPF]T+. Advertisements intended fur " - rfir Expreits," T.nilnn Evening Paper, must be at the Iltfice. 10, Duuveriv-street, by Two o'clock uu the dal' of pubbe.alun. DRURY TANI:. Tnis EvENiNn, A 1).%A Aril It THE WEDDINii NIIIER NIP. Nle,dantes L e.trLhaihi. Vandenhott Nlessrb U Matthews. Clift.m, Ma,ter Itoloe., Lunt. Connsek, At. M.llles. Holm.and Marion. HAYMARALT. Tnh Evßxisn. A MERE CHILD Sleattrs. Nowt , . Gordon. *v. MeS.l:4llla, chippend de. Latta, ell. —A LE:OtON FPR LIFE. fleetsra. , othern. t -.I EN N 1 LIND AT LAST. 311,11turke. —And the BALLET . Mdlle.Suphia. PRINCVikr& Tins Evirtrio. BARNABY REDOE. Mews. 8. Calhaem, P. Villiers. J.G. and G honey: Misses Augusta them- SOLI and Katherine Kei.liters, Mrs. 11. Vining, and Mrs. C. Hors man.—Audi THE INVIiIBLE LIVEUM. Twin Evsnsinn, VIE TN7GI;CLI4. Mr. Widdleom ROUGE Er NOIR Messrs. Yachter. Emery, Cowper. Moreland, litzpatnek. D .IPoi. Kepi. , las, Lomas, Andrews. Ati.letwm, Mrs. L and Misses ileamale, tirstaan. and C. Leclereq. STRAND. Tws Evrma. NEIGH Wt it.4 .-- -LAfter which will he prnclncetl a Orand thuicaque, Gt. Y FAWKES.—And BOOTS AT THE SWAN. FIOLBORY Tins Ermened, MY Tia:T Mr. Delmore; Muses Foote and Lennox —MI FLYING SCUD. Meson. Neville, Bel more, It Voltaire. eve.: Mesdames F. Joaepbs, Lt. :Menders, Heade Foote, nide*, Lennox, Raymond, &c. BRITANNIA. . .. . .. . THIS EVENING, THE PRINcEss 01 , THE PEARL ISLAND; OR. THE THREE KINGOONts or PEARL. COLD, AND LVER. %IN lace ni,l MIAs .Incohs.—Eirst.ritte Paat,Guintisti —Awl THE lON CREW. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Mt DAT --- Aft;;;;;;, lilt. 1417. TO-MOlLROW—ltortung, lib. 461 n Afternoon, Olt Om LONDON, TUESDAY, JANU.I RY 1. THY. disastrous year which has just passed away, and on which we look back with that sort of regret which BYRON says one feels "in leaving " unpleasant places and people," was destined to close in Englithd with a calamity only too repre sentative of all its previous history. There is nothing very remarkable in a " great fire ; " it is a vulgar accident enough ; but such a tire as that at Sydenham on Sunday last seemed to concen trate into one great blaze of havoc a review of all the troubles of a twelvemonth ; of cattle plague, cholera, war, pestilence, inundations, explosions, fire, slaughter, panic, and a "crisis." One of the noblest palaces of art and pleasure ever built in modern days, perhaps the noblest ever built by private enterprise, a palace " that rose like an exhalation" out of the dawn of the new era of International Exhibitions, or, as some enthusiastic contractor described it, that was created out of the ribs of the Hyde-park Adam, barely escaped by the breadth of a cotton screen complete destruction in the course of a short December afternoon. Although the Crystal Palace is the property and enterprise of a Company, it enjoys a more than national re putation and popularity. Probably not one of the great cities and great monuments of historicinterest which all travelled people are supposed to visit at least once, is half so well known to what may, with less than the usual exaggeration, be called " all the world." Among the hundreds of thousands who have visited this great glass-house at Sydenhant, which gleams like a colossal diamond on all the horizon of this capital of fog and smoke, for the sake of its art galleries and spacious courts, with their unique reproduction of the whole life and story of the civilization of East and West ; or for the sake of its more than regal or imperial terraces and gardens, in which the simple charm of the English landscape is so skilfully ad qitAl to the more formal combination of French inagniiieence and Italian grace ; or for the sake of the fountains, with which the great waters of Versailles are superior in local interest and associations only ; or for the prodigal variety of popular amusements, which make the place a paradise to the multitude who possess no gardens or galleries ; or for the admirable concerts which have inaiie a fame of their own ; 'or to take part in roue grand ceremonial or cele bration fur which u , a other place of public resort is comparable in attract' and convenience— among all Ouse crowds of people of all nations who have found rational and harmless pleasure in this wonderful Palaee, the disaster of Sunday last will be counted as something of a personal mis fortune. And among the English public, not the public of Coeknoydien only, but of tho three kingdoms, it will be felt that the Crystal Palace can ill be spared. We are not so rich in galleries of art, and in public gardens universally accessible and universally enjoyable. Then the Palace and its gardens are already beginning to have associatiomi which au immense number of poor people WOlll.l mud willingly let die, such as the Handel Festivals, the Garibaldi days, the Volun teer prize distributions, the Dramatic College Fetes, not to mention the annual festi vals of fricudly societies, Odd Fellows, Foresters, and we know not how many other more or less helm:dial brotherhoods. Surely it would be no common chance that should suddenly make a ruin of this prodigious creation of enthusiasm and enterprise, in which the craving for instruction and amusement at small cost and with little teen uhe, the impatience and curiosity, the restless and versatile tastes and wants of an overworked generAtion, find so complete and so commodious an expression, and so easy and inexpensif. e a sstisfaction. The Directors no doubt will not lm surprised if, when so consider able a publi, are interested in the fate of a building, the cans and ori,,in of the accident of Sunday last is eagerly and anxiously, and even vociferously, debated. People will con gratulate th , f , Comp:lny on having saved by far the larger p,rti. of the Palace, but they will not be satisfied to hear but for the " providential " direction mid lightness of the wind, and for a temporary screen, the whole interior could hardly have escaped the conflagration. It will be asked, as it has }ken so I, ften asked before in similar cases, how so vast •L ra:l L ;e and collection of really in valuable property liap:fened to beleft almost to take care of itself for a whole day ? Whenever the origin of a tire is di.,•overed, a formula explaining everything is hit upon. In the present instance, the old story, " the flues have done it all," is given out ; and from the inquiries we have been able to make on the spot we have very little doubt that the flues had a great deal to do with it. But does not the mere mention of flues suggest the necessity fur extraordinary precautions ? Here THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 1, 1867. were all the materials of a tremendous con-' flagration brought together in the Tropical de partment of the Palace; overheated fines, board ing "as dry as matchwood ;" a carpenter's work shop, and a mass of combustible stuff belonging to the Christmas entertainments. On the other hand, there was a most plentiful supply of water always and immediately available—if there had been a sufficient ninuber of hands to work it. Evidently the inquiry will point nut only to the flues, and the dry boarding, and the combustible matter heaped about, and to the sufficient water supply, but to the presence or ab sence of a sufficient staff of regularly drilled and practised firemen, ready at a moment's notice to avail themselves intelligently and systematically of the means provided for putting out a fire. One constantly sees in public I buildings a perfect regiment of fire buckets, num bered and arranged with all the precision of a bankrupt's ledger, and the question is too seldom asked, But where are the hands to use these buckets ? It appears that in the Crystal Palace , there were not wanting a hose, and jets, and a large quantity of fire annihilators—only the hands for using them were wanting. It might be sup posed that a large staff of firemen would be always on watch in the Palace, and especially on the Sunday. The inquiry will show how many firemen were on duty in the building when the fire was first discovered on Sunday afternoon. During the winter season, when the temperature of the Palace is artificially kept high, and in the Tropical Department exceptionally. high, exceptional precautions must be imperatively required. The Company have deservedly obtained a large share of public favour by the spirited management of their great enterprise ; and if the public are more than ordinarily severe in urging a strict inquiry into this lamentable accident, the Directors may take com fort in the reflection that had the management of their property been less able and successful, the public interest in it would have been propor tionately diminished. In providing an incessant variety of attractions for people of all classes and tastes, for young and old, rich and poor, cultivated and simple, the Directors have understood the prudence of a generous expenditure. But we may re mind them that the most legitimate and the most remunerative of all items of expenditure is the cost of making ample provision for those casualties to which such a building as the Crystal Palace is peculiarly exposed. Some years since the Company was ridiculed by two sets of critics : by those who, for the gratification of their own special tastes, would have willingly con demned the Crystal Palace to a splendid insol vency, by insisting on its being maintained strictly and exclusively as a gallery of art; and by those who prophesied, that in order to pay it must become a " Cremorne." By the dexterous activity of its officers, and an attentive study of the public taste, the Palace has managed to avoid both ex- tremee, and has consulted at once the severer demands of a fastidious minority, and the more mixed pleasures of the multitude. But increased attractions have not been unattended with increased risks, as this disaster proves, and we trust the lesson will not be lust. Grievous as is the loss—nut, we hope, irreparable—it will be ultimately rather a profit than a loss, if it results in a system of precautions which should never have been neglected. OUR CONTEMPORARIES. (THIS DAY.) aaks for them. Nor are there any in the house, be they ever so indepoodent and free of choice, who can wenalstently support the plea fee delay with a simple view to cautions legislation, inch as proceeding by resolutions or royal commission. All sides, and they who are of no aide except the side of their country, have equally declared themselves against paltering or tempo- rising with the question. Some, indeed, see good reason for am indefinite postponement; but that is no longer in ques tion. If there is to be reform, the quicker it is done the better. With a House of Commons which has forfeited the con fidence of the nation, and a government which never bashed the confidence either of the house or the nation, the future, the Doily News observes, is reserved to the chapter of acci dents. Lord Derby and his colleagues are in a dilemma from which it will take all Mr. Disraeli's ingenuity to extricate them. To refer representative reform to a commission would be generally looked upon as a refusal cloaked in subterfuge, and a year of delay would be a year of angry political ex. citement. The probability is, we shall have at Mr. Disraeli's hands a measure purporting to be a reform bill. As to its nature, it is to satisfy, we are commonly told in effect, only those who are satisfied already, and to leave those who are aggrieved as much aggrieved as ever, an, this is the tory idea of a settlement. Of course, however, Lord Derby and Mr. Disraeli may disappoint expectation, but the probability in that we shall have either no bill at all, or an unsatisfactory one, and in either case we may prepare ourselves for a year of angry controversy and of larger demands enforced by a growing force of opinion, and, it may be, of passion. In finance, Sir S. Northeote, who is Mr. Disraeli's working coadjutor, is a pupil of Mr. Glad stone's, and, without possessing the genius, will probably be true to the principles of his master. Lord Stanley may be relied upon to keep England from embroilment with foreizn powers, and his policy does not stand in need or Lord Palmerston's military and naval expenditure. As to Ireland, if the government falls back on its old policy and in.pporters, as it evidently will, 1867 will be for that country a year worse than lost. On great questions, social and political, there is too much reason to apprehend that the year on which we are entering will be a year thrown away, and on minor matters one of mere continuation. The year 1867, the Tett-graph insists, must see, and will see the work of the year 1832 carried forwanl. We have lost a great deal too much time already, and kept far too ninny momentous imperial topics in arrears. The slightest appearance of insincerity now would wake to indignation the patience of the working classes, and would bring Mr. Gladstone back to his old place with a force at his back which could never be frustrated by a second series of dodges and Dankellin motions. The Standard enters into a long argument with the view of showing that Mr. Disraeli would be taking the wisest course in attempting to deal with reform, and that it would be better for the conservatives to risk their fortunes in an attempt to effect a constitutional settlement on their own principles than in an endeavour to postpone the question for an uncertain period, with the probable effect, whether they fail or succeed, of handing over the office of settling it, whether at once ar in future, to their adversaries, the peril to their interests as a party being as great in attempted inactivity as in vigorous action. the (sun. OSBORNE, Dic. 31. The Queen and Princess Christian walked in the grounds this morning, attended by the Dowager Duchess of Athole. Princes' Louise, Prince Leopold, Primus Beatrice, and Prince Henry of Prussia went out also. Prince Christian, attended by Major• General F. H. Sey mour, visited the American yacht Henrietta this morning, on board which be was received by Mr. Bennett, the owner of the yacht. His royal highness afterwards rowed round the Fleetwing and Vesta. Commodore 11`Vickar, of the New York Yacht Club, had the honour of being presented to her Majesty yes terday. A committee of the Lords of her Majesty's Most Honour able Privy Council sat at Whitehall yesterday on the subject of quarantine. The lords present were the Right Hon. Spencer Walpole, the Right Hon. E. Hammond, and the Right Hon. Horatio Waddington. Mr. Harrison attended the committee. Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial. office from the Governors of the North American Provinces and the West India Mantis. The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Mrs. Disraeli left Grosvenor•gate yesterday for Ilughenden Manor. l i RUMOURED INDISPOSITION OF THE QL'ERN.—We regret to hear that her Majesty caught cold on the day of visiting the mausoleum of the Prince Consort. The cold resulted in a most painful attack of face-ache, from which the Queen is still suffering. Her Majesty has signified her intention to publicly open the Albert Memorial Asylum, Collingwood-court, Bagshot, in June next, and at the same time to lay the foundation-stone of a dining-room and chapel—Seotairian. THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES. Yiuterday their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, attended by the ladies and gentlemen of their suite, and accompanied by his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, left Sandringham House en route for Holkham Hall, where they will pass the remainder of the week with the Earl and Countess of Leicester. The royal party travelled in carriages to the Wolferton-station of the Lynn and Hunstanton Railway, and proceeded thence to the Heacham station. From Heacham they travelled over the West Norfolk Junction Railway to Holkham. The tr►in in which their royal highnesses travelled was due at the Heacham station ►t 4.45 p.m., so that it was quite dusk when the royal visitors arrived. The visit of the Prince and Princess is of a private nature, although there are several distinguished visitors staying at Holkham. The West Norfolk Junction Railway has been only recently opened for public traffic, but the Prince and Princess of Wales passed over it about twelve months since, although it was not then quite completed, as the new route greatly shortens the distance between Sand ringham and Holkham. The present is the fourth visit which the Prince and Princess of Wales have paid to the Earl and Countess of Leicester since their royal highnesees have fixed on Norfolk as an occasional place of residence. The Earl and Countess of Derby will come to town on Monday next, from Knowsley, for the mason. The Earl Howe is, according to the latest ac counts received from Copse' Hall, considerably better, a favourable change having taken place. Viscountess Chelsea and her infant son are both going on favourably. The marriage of Lieutenant-Colonel Clive with Miss Webb is fixed to take place at St. Paul's, Knights bridge, on Wednesday, the 9th inst. On the occasion of his presentation to the Queen on Sunday, her Majesty expressed to Commodore BP Vickar, of the New York Yacht Squadron, her thanks for the oppor tunity afforded her of seeing the American yachts under sail, and said she sincerely regretted the loss of the men belong. leg to the Fleetwing. Her Majesty also said she hoped the Americans would return to their country with pleasurable recollections of their visit to England, and of their recep tion in this country. Commodore M•Vickar, in reply, said that the most pleasurable and gratifying recollection of their visit to Great Britain would be the honour conferred upon the Americans, through him as their representative, of being presented to the Queen of England. At the con clusion of the interview her Majesty directed Sir John Cowell to show the commodore over Osborne House, the home fans, stables, and the grounds surrounding her marine residence. On Sunday the members of the Royal Yacht Squadron arrived at Coves from their several residences in the eountry, and visited the yachts at anchor in Cowes Hoods. To-day the Henrietta, Fleetwing, and Vests will come into harbour at Cowes to lay up for the winter. A committee has been formed of some of the inhabitants of Horsham and the neighbourhood, with the view of presenting • testimonial to the Hight Hon. W. Seymour Fitzgerald on his leaving England to assume the government of Bombay. It has been decided to present the right hon. gentleman with his portrait. By s singular coincidence, it seems that tho Rev. H. M. Hart, M.A., was advertised to commence a series of scientific lectures in the Crystal Palace School of Science and Art to-day, Jan. 1, at 3 p.m., on " Fire; what causes it, and how it is extinguished." The on dit at Oxford, according to the West *butter Garetk, is that Dr. Newman has abandoned hi, plan of going to Oxford, in deference to the opinion of a most eminent prelate in Home. Instructions were received last night from tho Privy Council, ordering the passengers of the Shannon to be transferred to the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Parana, lying in the river, and after 24 hours' de tention in that vessel, to be released. The Shannon is ordered to proceed to the Motherbank and to be thoroughly fumigated. The transfer of the passengers will be made in the morning, so that they will be detained in quarantine till Wednesday. Prince Ponistowski is now finishing s new mass, which will shortly be performed in the salons of Rossini. The money voted as an acknowledgment of the services of the Prussian ministers and generals was paid to them on Christmas-eve. Count Bismarck received 75,0001. and the Minister of 'War, General von Roon, General von Moltke, General Herwarth von Bitteafeld, General von Steinmetz, and Ceneral Vogel von Falkenstein, 30,0001. each. One account gives Bismarck 60,0001., and von Roon -1::,000/. Count Bismarck and General von Boon have already been beleagured by agents who have estates for sale. The King has also given each of the ahove-mem Honed ministers and generals a very handsome vase, from the royal porcelain manufactory. At the well-known confectioners of the Rue do la Paix, Paris, there are just now some precious novelties, which keep groups of people stationed the whole day long before the windows, and attest the inventive faculties of the Parisian artists. These are two dolls, one represent. lag the city of I'aris in festive costume, the other the I:it:- versa] Exhibition. The latter wears as a head dress the tower of Babel, with a robe of white satin of immense amplitude, ornamented with the einblazonnients of all nations, the waist encircled with numerous orillanues, falling to the feet, inscribed with the emblems of art and manufactures, and with gold and silver medals prufuAtly scattered over it. In other shops the dolls represent certain famous historical personages, cliieGy, if not all, of the female sex. Thanks to the Russian Embassy at Pekin, which has uttered to forward private despatches, the Chinese public now enjoy the advantages of telegraphic communi cation with Europe. Telegrams are sent through the post or by express to Kischta, on the Russo-Siberian frontier, a fifteen days' journey, where the telegraph begins. \With the post, which goes four times a month, a telegram to St. Petersburg costa 30 roubles ; by one-horse express, tut roubles ; and a two-bone express, 147 roubles. For several clays last week Paris was overhung with a fog, and, though it could not pretend to vie with London at the same season, yet it was sufficient to inter cept the light of the sun so well that lamps had to be lighted in the shops at 2or 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Of late years these fogs have become frequent. The Court of Cessation at Paris has just decided on au appeal that singing in the streets by night doss not constitute the offence of nocturnal disturbance punished by Article 479 of the Penal Code, unless aggravated by circumstances which change the character of the act and cause it to become a nuisance to the inhabitants. The proceedings which gave rise to that decision were a charge brought against four young men marching in company and singing a piece from the "Dame Blanche" at • quarter to 10 at night. THE REVV/VF--SATIsVACTORT RETVIIN. The revenue, says the Times, continues to de velop itself beyond all anticipation. The return published this morning will, probably, surprise even the most san guine fintnciers, the receipts of the past nine months show a net increase over the previous year of little less than 1,000,00ei., while despite the large reductions in 1865, which told chiefly upon the first quarter of 1866, the net decrease for the whole year is only 410,8161. By the reductions of 1864 and 1865 Mr. Gladstone aban doned lit , le less than 6,000,0001., and the revenue has actually recovered to the extent of 3,500,0001. in the same period—the calculation exactly corresponding with the estimate made in 1864 by Mr. Gladstone. When the several items of this increase are examined the result appears still more satisfactory. The customs, which were the taxes chiefly affected, show actually a larger return than in the quarter before these large reductions were made ; and the condition of the excise, which has increseed for the whole year by nearly 1,000,0001., despite the deficient harvest, is more extraor dinary still. The customs and excise provide the real sub stance of our national income, and are the true tests of its prosperity. The income tax, however, also exhibits a similar development. For example, the return for the last quarter of 1864, when the rate stood at 6d. in the pound, I was 1,580,0001. The rata is now one-third less, which should have reduced the revenue to little more than a million, whereas, in fact, it is 1,314,000/. Estimating the results with which Mr. Disraeli will have to deal, the Times places in the right honourable gentle man's hands • probable surplus of about 1,750,000/. Whether it will be prudent, adds our oontemporary,in our position to apply this satisfactory balance to the reduc tion tf taxation may be • somewhat anxious question. It will be difficult to avoid some change in our military system, and we scarcely venture to hope that the govern. meat will increase the efficiency of our military and naval forces and at the same time diminish their expense. But to whatever purpose the money may be applied it is equally agreeable to know that we commence the year with a very considerable balance. If additional expendi ture should be necessary, our recent policy has enabled us to undertake it without in any way augmenting our burdens ; or, if we have more money than we want, we can still further lighten • weight of taxation which has already been greatly reduced. The Triegrapk, after giving the principal figures, re mark■ that they make plain at lent one thing. Who ever may be the Chancellor of the &chequer three months hence, lie cannot choose but follow iii the path which is marked out by so many signal-posts of success. There is room for a yet further extension of the beneficent prin ciple wham history is illustrated by an unbroken series of brilliant triumphs. Imposts may yet be simplified or re duced with benefit both to the treasury and the nation. If there exists anywhere • fossilised relic of the old pro tectionist party, who has clung with tenacious fidelity, through good and evil report, to the exploded doctrines of his creed, he may well ask himself how the commercial lei;islation of twenty years ago would have stood the crucial test which we have just borne. THE NEW TEAL-ANTICIPATION. The greater part of mankind wake from the old year, the Mac* reniarks, with a sensation of some particular work to do, and our best wishes for the season on New Year's Day, 1867, are that the nation may do its year's work well, and that year's work, so fel. as we can see, is parliamentary reform. It is almost idle to talk of other boons in store for us, or other business to be done—for this one work looms through the mist, still larger, still darker, meeting us face to face, and refusing to be turned aside. As to how it is to he done, the conservative opposi tion la-t year sternly decided that it must be in the form of a complete bill, and if the government wish to shirk it they would only have to take a d.viNion upon terns dictated by their opponents, who would also have the choie.y of time. If a bill cannot be promised at the opening of the session, then the debate on the address will be the day of brttle, and the House of 'ommons can hardly expect to be backed by their consti tuencies in a decieon to defer reform to a snore conve nient.opportunity. The least sign of vacillation or con cealment will be understood as a plea for delay, with the h , pe of tbat escape which delay may bring; and d-. are indeed dangerous when it ie an antogonist that MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS. The Times thinks the remarkable reception given to the American yachtsmen fully deserved, for they have accom plished a race which surpasses just as completely all the races we have ever designed u the yacht which they sent over when they first began the sport beat everything in these waters. In fact we should have thought of such a thing. It involves just so much of genuine Trans atlantic exaggeration as to be beyond our sphere. The longest race and the biggest stakes in the world are true American conceptions, but the actual success of the scheme is a real American triumph. We astonish the people of the Continent, and the Americans, our own kinsmen, astonish us. Without chiming in with the vulgar cry against any man who has laid open one of the wounds of society with the intention of applying a cure to it, the Daily News feels bound to express its conviction that the terrible suspicions which Dr. Pusey, in defence of his system of confession has been scattering as to the morality of English youth, have their origin mainly in a monkish imagination, stimu lated by the logical exigencies of an equivocal cause. The peculiar ethics of his school lead them to be always looking out with a somewhat morbid vigilance for tendencies of this kind. They regard marriage itself as a sort of fall from what Dr. Pusey, endorsing the language of another writer, calla • " higher and more angelical state." As to confession—what has the confessional done in France, in Italy, in Spain! Can it be alleged without absurdity that the standard of personal morality in protestant England without the con fessional has been lower, according to any rational esti mate, than that which has prevailed under the influence of the French, the Italian, or the Spanish confessor! The Standard believes there is no foundation for the report that the commander of the vessel which took off the Candiote refugees has been superseded by the au thorities at home. Her Majesty's government intend to pursue a rigid neutrality in the affair. They have de. dined to allow their representative: in Greece to become associated with the Philo-Cretan demonstrations, and they have refused to station a British man-of-war oil the island of Crete for the purpose of receiving the sick and wounded of the insurgents. On the other hand, they have not interfered to dictate the policy of the Greek government ; but they have informed it that if its policy should even tuate in a rupture with the Porte, Great Britain will not intervene to avert from it the consequences of its own action. WATERFORD ELECTION. DUBLIN, MONDAY NIGHT.-At the official declaration of the poll to-day, the majority for Mr. Dc la Poer was stated to be 4:07. No life was lost at Dungarvan, but several persons were severely injured. _ _ _ In many of the parish and district churches last night there were midnight services. At Bt. Clement*. Danes the service was conducted by the Rev. R. H. Killick, M.A. ; at st. Luke's, Berwick-street, by the Rev. Harry Jones ; at West-street Chapel, St. Giles's, by the Rev. R. W. Dibdin, M.A. At some Independent and Baptist chapels there were services, tut they were not so general as amongst Churchmen and Wesleyan.. The following is an extract from a private letter dated from Alexandria, in Egypt, Dec. 15:—" It is thought that during the ensuing year there will be a con siderable decline in the high prices which have prevailed here m long. The climate is truly delightful during these winter months. but the absence' of green fields gives the place • very desolate appearance. I have not yet made any excursions into the country as there is nothing of in terest to be seen without undertaking • very long journey. Cairo is seven hours distant by rail. The most interesting place which I have seen is the spot on which the battle of Alexandria was fought between the British under Aber crombie and the French. The mosque, into which Aber. crumble was carried, is still to be seen, as also the cannon balls embedded in the walls of an old Roman camp, th e scene of • terrible encounter, where 600 French were killed." How singularly a man may sometimes love his life was a few days ago exemplified at Berlin. A city functionary rode with a lady in a cab to the Frankfurt railway terminus, whence the lady intended to depart in the next train. As the cabman drove very slowly, the gentleman put his head out of the open window in order to admonish the cabman to make haste. At the same moment another vehicle which happened to drive past pushed against the door of the cab in such a manner that the neck of the gentleman was • jammed in, and his head remained outside of the cab door, his neck being so severely injured that he died in consequence of the acci dent by bleeding to death. Some of the boys at Russian public schools at Moscow, Petersburg, Kiew, and Kasen have sent Count Bismarck a warm letter of thanks for having so greatly facilitated the study of the most difficult part of European geography—namely, the political geography of Germany' The Honorer Courier has published a few speci mens of answers which have been given at the recent examinations for admission to the class of one-year volun teers referring to mathematics, geography, history, agri. culture, music, &c. A. declared Julius ewer to have been a Grecian king; B. believed Wallenstein to hav e been a Swedish general; and according to C., Mary Stuart was an English princess. D. thought that the source of the Rhine was in Bohemia ; E. that the Elbe flowed into the Baltic ; while F. could not remember any river that flowed into the Baltic ; and G. and It were not agreed es to the whereabouts of Odessa, which the former believed to be in the north of Russia and the latter in Spain. K. ascribed the alternation of day and sight to the revo lution of the earth round the moon. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (asom's rusakame.) FRANCE AND THE UNITED STATES. PARIS, JAN. 1. The Af"mittur of this morning contains the fol lowing :—" A telegram from New York states that a proclamation has been issued by President Johnson, placing French vessels in all United States ports upon the same footing as American shipping. In conformity, therefore, with the de cree published in Friday's Moniteur the American flag will be freed from all navigation dues in French ports." CANDIA. ATHENS, DEC. 29. A Russian frigate' has arrived here bringing numerous families from Candia who succeeded in embarking, notwithstanding the Turkish blockade. The latest news from the island announces that, on account of the winter having set in, no fresh engagement has taken place between the insurgents and the Turkish troops. THE NEW GREEK MINISTRY. ATHENS, DEC. 30, 6.30 P.M. A new ministry has been formed as follows : M. Coumoundouroa . . President and Home Minister. M. Botraris . . . . Minister of War. M. Ch. Tricoupi . . . Minister for Foreign Affairs. M. liehaya . . . . Finance. M. Christopulos . . . Justice. M. Lombardo . . . . Marine. (REUTER'S EXPREiS.) ADDRESS OF THE ITALIAN SENATE. FLORENCE, Die. 29. The following is the address, in reply to the speech from the throne, voted by the Senate at yesterday's sitting : Sire,—Extreme sacrifices, magnanimous designs, such as only the consciousness of right and the firm will to make it prevail could inspire, have guided Italy to the glorious accomplishment of her destinies, which has been attained, thanks to two noble and powerful alliances, and by ways different from those which human sagacity could foresee. Italy first returns thanks for this result to Providence, and next to the King, who has gloriously guided her, to the land and sea forces, and to the intrepid volunteer s who shed their blood for the country, to the co-operation of two great nations, to the moral support and the sympa thiti testified by others. Augmented, by the conclusion of peace, by illus trious provinces she so greatly desired, and by formidable defences, Italy presses around your throne while awaiting that agreement between church and state of which your Majesty has spoken, and which is the wish and the hope not only of the Italians, but of all the catholic world, and which must be carried out in such a manner that the church, truly free and independent in its sublime sphere, does not afford any impediment to the state in the exercise of its sovereign right* and in the development of its legitimate aspire. Mons. This will be the seal of our greatness and the starting-point of a revival of religious feeling, in case, pos sibly owing to the ardour of past struggles, it may any where have fallen off. With accustomed wisdom your Majesty has correctly announced that Italy being now completed it is time to organise her definitively by providing for interior affairs, military, economic, and administrative. The Senate entirely agrees with your Majesty in the idea of so constituting the military • forces that, without too heavy outlay, Italy may keep the place appertaining to her among great nations. I:ut it hopes that in re-arranging the military institutions the problem will be definitively settled, for frequent modifica tions in this respect are a scourge to finance. Retrenchment upon a large scale is indispens►ble to re establish the position of the public treasury. The Senate hopes that your Majesty's government, which has already entered upon this course, will courageously pursue its task. One consideration that cannot have escaped its perspicuity is that a souse, of retrenchment worthy of attention will be found in caution to avoid that system of incessant changes in the staff of provincial functionaries, which entails even more lamentable consequence. upon adminia. trative order and in the interest of the provinces than in an economic point of view. ratriotinn enables citizens to endure the taxes, although very heavy, bat it is more difficult to tolerate the vexa tious method of their levy, their unequal distribu tion, uncertain of the bases of their assess' went, which give cause to disagreements both frequent and costly to the ratepayers. The Senate has heard with joy, from your Majesty's august mouth, the promise of bills to remove these serious in. c nveniences. In the examination of those bills the Senate will display all that diligence and maturity of mind your Majesty and Italy have a right to expect. Sire, the Senate cannot omit to do homage to another great principle proclaimed by your Majesty. All the soli citude of the King and of his government to revive the economic conditions of Italy would be far from proving sufficient, if it were not seconded and ripened by individual ctivity and initiative. The interference of the government in these economic undertakings is useful in certain cases, but more frequent it is pernicious.; Agriculture, trade, and commerce offer inexhaustible sources of prosperity to individual, intelli gent, and persevering labour ; to the collective efforts of private companies, armed with sufficient capital and the requisite knowledge. The Senate, with your Majesty, desires that our courageous and intelligent youths should not forget that it was not by incessant discussion, but by action, that our ancestors enriched their country and made it illustrious. Public education in its various branches, and especially in technical knowledge, claims the care of the government and all the attention of the Senate. Up to the present time, there have been too many disastrous experiments upon various systems which have only produced very little fruit. Let us hope that the time has arrived for definitive re-organisation established upon better bases. Sir, the Senate is persuaded that Italy feels profoundly the great responsibility that weighs upon her; that the nation will know how to use liberty without abusin, it ; that the government, by the sagacity and ma turity of its views, the stability of its pl►n., the value of the men it employs, will acquire that authority which it requires to administer properly, and that the empire of the law will be complete, evident, absolute, and perpetual over the governor, as well as the governed. The Mairersal German Gazette describes in the following curious terms the meeting of the King of Prussia and the King of Saxony at Groubeeren :—" The royal train stopped at the right side of • platform arranged for the occasion. King William walked quickly to meet King John, and said to him ' Welcome, brother-in-law !' The latter, holding his plumed hat in one hand, and with the other straight down by his aide in quite a military attitude, with a serious and deeply moved air, to the King, ' Your Majesty, I'—King William did not allow him to finish, but, taking him by both bands, drew him near,ex claiming, ' No ceremony, brother-in-law !' and kissed him on both cheeks. They afterwards entered the royal car riage arm-in-arm, followed by the Prince, Royal, Albert, who, with a profound bow, kissed the hand of the King of Prus4a." The Chelwfur d Chronicle announces the death of Mi. George Mega, who, for nearly the last forty years, halt been one of the proprietors of that paper. Sir Henry Paulet and Mr. John Morant are can didn ted for the office of verderer of the New Forest, vacant by the death of Mr. H. C. Compton. The election takes place at Winchester. The vot•-rs are freeholders of llionp shire, and the poll may be kept open 14 days. F.tI,SE WEII:IITS AND ATEA:it Rm.—During the past year 126 Islington traibamen have been tined by the local justices for ha. ing on their premises false weights, scales, and measures. Publicans head the list with 42 ; marine-store dealers, 14 ; greengrocers, 13 ; beershop. keepers, 12; butcher., 11 ; grocers, 7 ; general dealers, 6 ; oilmen, h ; checeemongers, 4 ; coal-dealers, 2 ; confec tioners. 2 ; bakers, 2 ; milkman, 1 ; ham and beef dealer, 1 ; dock dealer, 1 ; fishmonger, 1 ; costerutonger, 1 ; tripe dealer. I. This noinbt r exclusive of those fined at the Middlesex. Quarterly Sessions.— /s/itigton Cd;ette. EXPRESS FROM PARIS. EXTRAORDINARY LAW SUIT. (nom 0112 owl' oonseroinnire.) PARIS, MONDAY MVINDIO. A very extraordinary family law suit concerning the custody of two young ladies, aged respectively 20 and 17, occupied one of the Paris courts last week. The plaintiff, M. Baiason, a gentleman of property, living in the Rue St. Honord, is the father of the minors in question by a first wife, who died many years ago. M. Balloon has several children by second marriage. Immediately after the death of his first wife he placed his two children, then in fants of tender years, under the care of his mother in-law, the defendant, a widow. This lady be came passionately attached to the girls, took the utmost care of their education, treated them in all respects as her adopted children, relieved the father of all expenses for their main tenance, and made no secret of her intention to leave them the whole of her very large fortune. Under these apparently most happy circumstances, the utmost harmony prevailed between M. Baisson and the mother of his first wife ; he was able to devote himself to his new family with the know ledge that his elder children were in the hands of a tender, judicious, and wealthy relation whose greatest object in life was their welfare. But a few months ago it happened that the eldest Mdlle. Baisson fell in love—a most improper thing foe any young lady to do according to French notions. The rule of good French society is that a girl until married is never to speak to any man unless in the presence of her parents or guardians, and then only in monosyllables. A well-bred French girt knows that she is one day to be married, and looks forward to the event with pleasure as one which will give her an opportunity of making mans old schoolfellows jealous by the display of her trousseau. But she is supposed to have no prefer ence on the subject. One day her father comes to her, and says, " My love, I have found you a hus band !" To which she replies, kissing her father on the forehead, " Merci, mon pore !—who is it r He gives the name, mentions a proximate day for the wedding, and then the young lady consults with her mother about the wedding outfit. These well-known rules were not regarded in the case of Mdlle. Baisson's attachment. Yes :--she absolutely formed an attachment, and her rich grandmother, who had brought her up and was prepared to do everything requisite, humanly speaking,to make her future life happy, was privy to it. The object of her attachment is an army surgeon, a man of merit both personally and through his foregoer.. His father was a distinguished general officer, and he himself wears upon his breast a constellation of medals and decorations attesting his good services. But his only fortune is his commission, and on this sole ground M. Baisson, when informed of the engagement by his mother-in-law, peremptorily de clared that the army surgeon was no fit match for his daughter. The father, who had been content to delegate to her grandmother the entire care of his daughter from her earlist infancy, came forward resolutely to exercise the stern parental authority which the law gives him in order to prevent the marriage of a girl almost of age with the man of her choice, and who had courted her with the approbation of the relation who stood in loco parentis, and had been through out her life her best friend. M. Benison went to his mother, in-law's house, saw his daughter, tole her that he would never give his consent to the marriage ; and moreover, that ho a ould no longer allow her to live with her grandmother, and that she must come away with him directly. The young lady, in obedience to this parental command, packed up her trunks and gut into her father't carriage, which was in waiting. But the carriage had only gone a few yards when she suddenly opened a door, at the risk of break ing her neck, jumped out into the strike, and ran back to her grandmother's. M. Baisson thought it undesirable to make a scene by attempting then and there to bring his daughter away by force. He contented himself by saying that he was in flexible, and she would hear from him in a few days. When next he went to the house he was informed that the whole family hie,' gone away, and had left no address. M. Haire ei went over almost all Europe in search of his daughters. Ho inquired at all the Bernt:in watt ring-places and at every town in Be!„, , iitni, but with out any result. At length he hit upon the expedient of sending a money letter to the grand mother at her old address in Paris, and he learned through the post-office that was delivered to the very army surgeon nine leseensions to his eldest daughter's hand formed the rams He afterwards found that the two kills were concealed under false names in a catholic convent in Glasgow. Thereupon he brought all action aeithe,t his mother. in-law, requiring her to bring. the girls back to France and hand them over to his custody. The tribunal of first instance made a decree in his favour, and ordered theyou rig lath , s' grandmother to pay I,ooofr. a day fur two months unless the girls were restored to their father. Site. thinking that the penalty of this decree would be the worst of the matter, let the two mouths ii‘rire, and actually paid the large sum of GO,lkkiir. into court—a sum that she was prepared to sacribee either than sir trehneu he broughtgirlsderthe a.i f urther to th e ir at a million of francs. M. De; ,re d, the lady's counsel, told her that the haw wasiilto , :ether on the father's side, and that if she did not give the children up he might go on briw_;:ng, actions until ho utterly ruined her. Acting uis.n Beams rest's advice, the grandmother lots :,•.w brought the young ladies back from Glee..., . The father has gained his point, they are noir in his custody. The only question ultimately bet-.re the omit was, what damages site alibeid testy to the father for interfering with his authority. The sum, after his counsel, M. Jules 1•'.1.11.0, hid been heard, was fixed at 5,000 fr. and t' liiiiance of the 60,000 fr. interest is to be refuhded to the lady. As matters now stand Mdllc. I;.n cannot marry in France till 25, without her fatl,cr:: cuwwnt, but in a few months she will be 21, and t'• a lie will have no legal right to prevent ier is-in living where she pleases. A duel which was to have been foilie.t Satur the Yuuy s a da to n y d pped be M t .:H ee o e r n n , ri M pe ltoc r i h ih t i t e: s l f , o d rt o o ,:: l o 34 :f l., t l : 4 l , i i ac . .s::::::',. has bra de Cassag,nae refused to tight in and M. Rochefort's seconds, who are bet , ' ii..etary men. agreed that the meeting should Like e 1.,. in Bel gium. It was agreed that four 01.4 sheul,l M, exchanged at twer ty paces ; hot the secol having failed to obtain their colti s h ;s•riinw , "l to leave their barracks, found theinsi•:vie eblieee to threw up their functions. It is nee said t hitt M. Rochefort has sent two other friends to M. Paul de Cassagnac, with full powers to accommo date him on his own terms. 'rho Bourse closed rather heavily, with gravel,' any change from Saturday's quotations. Rents after touching ti9fr. 67c , desist at Wile sec. cash (with a riso of 5c.) and at tlfrfr. 47ir.. T r account, being the last closing price. fell lfr. 25c., and Credit Foncier rose 21r. LAW INTE (THIS COURT OF C (Before Mr. Hall, ; THE BRADFORD THEATRE OP. rig IirCESTONE AND WILDE.—A TH > 20 This was a suit by the 1.: ,1 4 Company (Limited) against A market Theatre, and Mr. W Y a epecific performance of an .. . he Bradford Theatre. The ruse part of Mr. Wilde, for furthe cIY to the hill of complaint. ' a Mr. Froome , from the offi• a Loves;, appeared in support of Hawklol and Bloxham were for 11 ' Buckstone's solicitor did not ap ir- the bill had not expired. On the part of the plaintiff Ki. on the ground that the present be Mr. kroome said his client w di file his answer. lie hoped the • application. ad The Chief Clerk asked whet!, M- that the answer could no t b e e t i Mr. Froome said he had no a In ; The Chief Clerk should declin .e. time without art affidavit, unles the other side. MI, Mr. Frome—But my client is DEL On the part of the plaintiffs . to Mr. Froome said that ass co. • e would expire on Thursday, w - iplication be adjourned to a jm of i The Chief Clerk said be o ,Vuesdays and Fridays in the GO ji rather indecorous to ask that ite Awed to the judge. le. Mr. Froome repeated that he making such an application. ot fief clerk to any inconveniene- s. On the part of the com pa ny • Bred te th er than an adjourn, La : e place. Se The Chief Clerk thought that • ymmt of amts. In In. r. The proposal was acceded to id --- - le 4 - THE POLICE ly • (THIS D er ar- , ;. to '-'.... WORSHIP-S • mincommer OF A grill: lli ' F Charles Hall, 24, a powerful er ~ . was charged with drunke• r v -; , . . Mr. Alfred Hopkins and l'• or G Division, while in the executi • Sergeant Leather 6G, de • kit .io 7 o'clock,' was 'called to th • . , of High-street, Shoreditc ge i ); . • "Bees is Mr. R ' Ito partner, w Of •le PowelL Defe ndant was ly quor, end acting under inunic ' I directed Powell to take him fro tc . • while so doing flung the c• lo indow of the door; it broke au. ' Mr. Newton—Where' er Witness—ln the back, sir ; be of . ted through both uniform coo it Mr. Newton—Where is Le' Witness—Unable to attend, air as - (Certificate was produced from LB! . ...ft, stating that the constabl of • re contusion on the back, and ound there.) il. Leather—l believe that there is Lill • • :0 made by Mr. Hopkins, and I ....me bail for the prisoner in tee ' hat it required four men to take Le. I,• .. • his conduct was that o f a , . Prisoner offered no defence, and or Mr. Newton told him be roust nt . • would be taken in one surety • re . . • ouble that amount. Bail not being in attendance he 3', LAMBET . M ROBBERIES or VouLi • In . Frederick Tarlaenny, aged 13, o of . of juvenile thi eves w h o i n f ect th ~ district, and wh o plunder the ti "' ', ruinous extent, was placed at the 111 ;ty on a charge of stealing a prime pi. t i ,, t , shop of Mr. Henry Thaix, checsem ~,f New-road. ter • Mr. James Ballard, cheesemonger id .- ", road, said that on the evening " . home, and not far from his own sh .. • and another youth on one side or I ) „ others of the same c l ass on th e of • at I , , to be thieve s h e determined to wa i ". rnediattly after h e s a w the prison ig Mr. Thai =' s shop, tak e a pi ece o f , i it under his coat, and walk awa y . • lin e stan ua tl i y .ic f k o ‘d l . low u e r l t , h a e n b tec n ured hie t le •._ Police -constable , TOP, s a id th e et .his custody by th e last witt.eas, a !another youth was locked all in r•• *diately after witness heard the pri. n what be be boningaaa a b rought of there p . r k . for.” TI It "That old Ballard saw me e from the board, but I shall stir e ely, that he h a d picked up tb. vise him to do the same. The 1- prisoner had been bef o re eon, i,:ted ir lie was remanded to a future da Th,near Iff'dliwne, ano th er yout h Li remanded on a charge of stealing ri , party of Mr. Elphick,a pork butehe m THAMES. E A RErIiArToRT r.‘ # Margaret ir r., 19 , re, a you; s infant in her arms, was hrought 1- charged with violently assaulting h ie Both women hove been f o r some Stepney uni on -h ouse at B romley,. I. ?lament was descril....l by Mr. Par d . louse, as a well-conducted person • a , reverse, and h a d v i o l a t e d a ll t h e . : the establishm en t, wan cont i nual) is inmates, and d o i ng acts su b vers i ve 1 aipline. Mr. Park er ' s o t ate tnent . the nurses, who said the prise d pored young woman fuel continu , the other females. She would properly. It appeared from the evidence o 1 • prisoner had quarrelled with her a ✓ * tonedrrenni kin. l2 s e n t :l th Yesterday reatene,l the Ito .shit 1 Mr. Partndge asked the ma-ter if t r , Yoked the prisoner. ' Mr. P a rk er b t li eve d net. The IV ill-tempered, morose woman, and g e on the most frivolois t pretcet f did taunt her necatnionally when sb.. being the mother of two bastard., r was A singular one. She was the dati i a and enterprinhm Smtab farmer settle And he sent her to t das g o w to visit I , bar education in Scotland. ( to i'seduced by the captain of the e and became pregnant. she was deli i Glasgow, and her aunt sent her hock 1 same chip t11::t hriamlit her here. Th. t captain was renew..l, -:rid nhe beta,,,.. Clue. and gave I , i-tit to the child sli. I She found her way tothda-ountrvagain I weeks in the .inst I iing of 11, reducer, raw quarrel., tnok place betweei • and her rival, and the prisoner t house and found her way to the u since remained. e •I • The prisouer, in .1, fenze, said the .. names. t Mr. Partridge said tl-e prisoner hat refractory and vio`vid manner. anal ) month's imprisonte.nt aedi hard lahou I Greatly. i I OFFNINt. ..r T••r Ni:w LINE, CHATHAM. AND 1a. , . Fa R %HAL AY.- morning the e u- io•- , of the Met r of the Lotel..ii, I liatimie, :nu. ; from iLrixtim to t h e new l over the ThaiTlev, :anal on o n station, were ..p.., ' for p u bli c : May now 1 ,..... , . l'• M ilk i1,,,11 th length from 1,u,14.1•C ball to Victoria. from the City a'; 1 henceforth rut minutes, and: , v a. I, Au) 0..14 i talon ha Sr. I'AI'L • , L 'AT:: '., :: it. The , preachers „,,,..i,(..! , y • 'lv IliOtola of [ the Cathedral nn Son.l .v morning month :- Jan. eh the P.A. ltenianiiii !% of St. John's r. 0 : .t • 0.d....1,..•. reef Jewry ; Jan. I' . tl. e • !:.... Jol n Et. St. John'm Co!,•-,.: . caml.ridge, ri. 1 1 Thames -strut, a, , I La-. 1 Ihvor'g eh i Rev. Itiebaril I:era, ~, I:.1' , of St. .1 I bridge, senor of I'l , rr1'i,..L...1 ; Jar'. i Anriol, M.A., of rhrist,hurch, Oaf Dunstan's.ill.lliv•Wi,t. GREAT SNi on' ST. 'RM. —M , AFTF:ItNoON.—L L.L. 1. i;:.‘ z t the " Grec summer flower, ....,,, way t.. a hard fr. round to N.N.F., fret, which qua Morning • heavy snow nutria has set i • welds have only been white over once and that for stew hour , only. At Mn 8 inches of snow has fallen, and Helmsley, end the ni- , r, sneak of • There is every pown,et , t enntinUaller seems likely to Live an unexpectedly .. :~