The Express. — London, England, 1867-12-17 00:00:00

OVERCOATS for the PRESENT SEASON. Gentlemen who do not mind mina a lair price fur lirsb ease W 'FEU OVERCOATS can depend on the best materials at lIABILTON uid KISIPTO N'S, Talton and Overcoat-makers. 105, STRAND, OPPOSITE EXETER-HALL B REAK FAST.-EPPS'S COCOA. VALENTINE and ()EStIN- -the Great Panto mime at 1867—will he procluewl on eIIItISTMAS•EVE, Dec. 24, at the HOLBORN THUM/tr. Mcenery hy Mr. Table. Principal Lialowite..Bl,llle. Montero. 4lown. the relebr.4,Bl little Molten*. lioB-onice open on wedneany, the 181 h inst. Zit, enire74o* CORRE4PONDENTS. advertisements Intended for The azpre.m," Imnden !Wahine; Pir, moat be at the Mace, In. I°olmile-street, by Two //dock on the day of publication. DRITRY-L P. TM? gra'MO, THE Mr. Phelm, Messrs, J. C. Cowper, IL aiPelair, IL Phelps, Barrett, Temple, ac.. Mrs. Hermann Vesta. Ilia °rattail. Ite.—Asd Til E LAM kW CLUB. Mesdames Beatrla Shirley, Kate Ilartleur, 11. Vandenboff, to. RAYM ARK ET. T2ts RT12220, OUR AMERICAN COUSIN, Messrs. Sothern, Raynion.l. Gordon. Roger, . Mettantes Cbh.penuate. Berke, Wright, D0:...rt..n, Re.—TO P.lltls AND BACK VON £F. Mr. Buckstunc.—Aud THY 4PECTRE MU DEG RUONI. Mr. Ray nrund. PEI NC TRIM EVINIIM, A LITTLE FLIRTATION.—AIter which TOE COLLECY LAWN. Hewn Bouelcaalt, U. !thorn.% Atkins, 0. Neville. J. G. ,1e re. 11. Mellon, &c Ara. KwicientAtot Mines Barnett and Llsworthy.—Aud O. ONE MUNI) TUX CORNER. STRAND. TSPI ETT.enfo, NOTHING TO NURSE. Mr. Thorne And Mee Neeton.—K IND TO A FAULT. Mare. ?smelt% Belford, and Jaint• ; Heeds:so Johnstone, Gwynn., and linghee.—And WILLIAM TELL WITH A VENGEANCE. sanmrsiA. TIIIS EVRN/110, tatlELLo,WitT:Eitt OF VENICE. Maws. Reynolds, Howe. Charlton, &a.: Misses Conrtenny and Comte,. —Mr. itubert Framer Sir. Mart Floyd; the Langans A: J. Mit. cent —And THE KLNG*3 DRS:TR-TRAP. Mrs. S. lane. RION WATER AT LONDON REMO& Mg DA —Morning. fili. 13m....—Atternoon, Mi. COs. TO - Moui o M—Morninit. 7a. 7111.......AMarn00n. 71%. 37m. LONDON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17. A etatiors question in the practical philosophy of life is being debated in some of our East-end parishes. Every day some broken man or other is called to determine on his own responsibility which of three courses he will adopt : whether he shall shut himself up, and starve in proud solitude; or make sure of food and fire by perpetrating a misdemeanour ; or, lastly, put a sudden end to his troubles by committing suicide. The alternative before these wretched people is simple—death or crime, and whichever they embrace, they are sure to offend some delicate minds. A fortnight ago we were startled by the case of Pcircuasn, a man who had at one time been worth three thousand pounds, but who fell into extreme distress, and being utterly without resources, se cluded himself and died, literally for want of food. Very severe judgments have been passed upon this man for not making his case known. Austere moralists of the press have decided that the pride which, in such circumstances, will not condescend to accept parish relief is not only foolish, brit positively sinful. To listen to these censors, PRITCHARD had only his own obstinacy to thank for his fate ; if he could only have overcome the false shame which too often besets the man who has seen better days, he might have come at once into contact with our admirable system of Poor law relief, under which, thank Gon, no one need die in this Christian land. Misanthrope that he was, to prefer death to accepting the helping-band of his fellow-man And yet, perhaps, PRITCHARD, blameable as he was, knew the facts bettor than his self-constituted judges. Perhaps in those long hours in which he mentally resolved his woes he had acquainted himself with the me thods and incidents of what is called Poor-law relief, and had observed that it was a grim mockery, not preventing death, but undoubtedly embittering it. If he had not, it was not for want of opportunity. On Saturday Mr. HUMPHREYS held an inquest , upon the body of a man named CHARLES Haysma, who had committed suicide by hanging. HAYNES had lived all his lire in one parish, that of St. Luke's, and had brought up a family on his earn- bags as a whip maker, but had recently fallen into destitution. Three years ago he broke his thigh, and was compelled to ask parish relief, but, with that exception, he had not been chargeable. Last week, however, he was again under the necessity of applying to the relieving officers, hoping to get assistance to enable him to keep on the room where his paralysed wife and two children lived with him. He appears to , have had a great fear of losing his "things," for which probably no dealer would have been willing to give him five shillings, but which constituted the furniture of his " home." On Wednesday HAYNES applied to the relieving officer of St. Luke's, stating that ho could get no employment, and representing his wants. He was asked whether he was able to work, and re plying that he was, was sent into the workhouse yard to pick oakum. At the end of the day he received Itoripclice. That sum was the relief given to a man who had to support himself, his wife, and two children. The next day he again applied at the workhouse, and the officer gave him another order, conferring the privilege of earning another twopence in tho same manner. He did not, however, use it ; his thoughts were already turning to another officer, and a different mode of relief. On Wednesday night, when ho took the twopence home, ho said to his wife that he should " do something," meaning that he should commit some breach of the law, "for it would be better for " him to be in prison than leading such a life." After receiving the order on Thursday morning, however, he appears to have abandoned this thought for another indicating a deeper despair. The reflections and anticipations of that forenoon fixed his resolution, and a little later in the day his wife came into the room and found him hang ing by his neck from a hook in the wall, quite dead. The jury before whom these facts were proved in evi dence found that HAYNES had been driven out of his mind by want, through not being supplied with necessary relief. How long is this reproach to lie at the door of our boasted civilisation ? HAYNES is but tho latest known victim of the repressive system by which it is hoped to extinguish pauperism, or, as we would rather say, of its blind and undiscrimi nating application. When the relieving officer of St. Luke's was asked by the coroner if he had visited this family and 'nada himself acquainted with its wants, ho said that he had not done so, as he had nut time to visit all cases ; and every body knows that it would be impossible for the relieving officers of our large London parishes to snake a minute personal inquiry into tho circum stances of every applicant. The consequence is that the officers follow one hard, unbending, mechanical rule, which probably does its work very effectually in preventing fraud, but leaves men to die either of starvation or by their own hands, when life has become insupport able and reason reels in its seat. The plan is to receive every applicant as a designing im postor, who only wants to quarter himself upon the ratepayers, and to treat him accordingly. In this way you teach him independence and self- a ~► THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 17, 1867. reliance. This method may prevent the abuse of the provision for the relief of the poor, but unfortunately it also prevents its use. It has, however, been so far adopted that the administrators of the Poor-law, both local and central, are constantly in danger of for getting that the relief of helpless distress is, after all, the one object for which their offices exist. A system of relief under which people die of starva tion, or to which they prefer death, is a mockery. If the art of Poor-law administration does not con sist in relieving distress, we are maintaining a moat expensive machinery for nothing. The funds raised by rates must be jealously protected from encroachment, but in order that they may be the more freely and confidently applied to the ob jects for which they have been collected. A general and systematic contraction of expenditure must not be confounded with true economy. And yet as long as the administration of relief is practically aban doned to an officer who is unable to examine indi vidual cases, the work must resolve itself into a daily contest between that officer, as the guardian of the rates, and the crowd of applicants, deserving and undeserving, who seek access to the fund. The consequence is that the very object of a poor law is frustrated. Dr. STALLARD, whose expe rience in the official treatment of the London poor has been considerable, undertakes to affirm, in his instructive work on London Pauperism, that one individual dies weekly in the metropolis, either from starvation or by suicide, rather than take the relief offered in our workhouses. We believe the statement is not at all exaggerated. It is not three weeks since CHARLES Ma•uAox died of want in this same parish of St. Luke's. Let no one suppose that this inhuman system has the merit of cheapness. London pauperism is in creasing, and it will increase until we think fit to provide that the administration of Poor-law relief shall be guaranteed and made effectual by that strict examination of individual cases which is impossible under the present arrangements. Thomas and St. John, has been to acquire war porta as a security against European enemies. The islets lie in the very centre of the West Indian group, and nearer England than soy of our own colonies. This move on the part of the Americans has unquestionably altered all the relations between the countries in the event of a war, and is of fifty times more importance to England than all the manreuvres which have taken place about Turkey for the last hundred The Standard quite approves the conduct of Dr. Kenenly in abandoning the defence of Burke and Casey. Vitt Court. WINDSOR CASTLE, Die. 16. The Queen walked in the grounds this morning, and drove, accompanied by Princess Beatrice. Princess Louise went out walking, attended by the Hon. Flora Macdonald. Prince Arthur, attended by Major Elphinstone, left the Castle this morning for Greenwich-park. Despatches were sent yesterday from the Colonial-office to the Governors of the West India Islands, British Columbia, and British Honduras. The lords present at yesterday's sitting of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, were the Master of the Rolls, Sir J. W. Colvile, Sir E. V. Williams, Sir R. T. Kindereley, and the Judge of the Admiralty. DEPARTURE OF THE QUEEN YOR OSBORNE.— (THIe DAY.)—The Queen left Windsor at 10.45 this morning for Osborne. Messrs. Grierson, Tynoll, Higgins, and Besant had charge of the royal train. Viscount and Viscountess Castlerosse have arrived in town from their meat near Killarney. The noble viaoount and viscountess intend to go to the south of France for the winter. Lord and Lady Dufferin arrived on Saturday last at Clandeboye, his lordship's seat in the north of Ireland. The Duke of Leinater left Carlton-house-terrace yesterday, to visit Mr. and Lady Jane Lepton at their seat in Bedfordshire. The Earl and Countess de Grey have left town on a visit to the Countess Cowper, at Pansitanger, Herts. CantyEasirt COLLEGE HOSPITAL.—The Duke of Cleveland, LG., has consented to preside at the annual festival, in aid of the funds of this excellent charity, to be held at Willis's Rooms, on the `_'nth of February next. FENIAN PROSECUTIONS IN IRELAND. DUBLIN, MONDAY NIGHT. John Martin, Dr. Water, and J. Lalor appeared at the Police-office to-day to answer a charge of taking part in an illegal meeting on Sunday, the Bth inst. Scam was also summoned, but did not appear. Mr. Martin offered to facilitate the proceedings of the crown by admitting the facts of the proces sion and the speech he delivered. Evidence was however given by several policemen. Mr. Sulli van, proprietor of the Nation, who had been sum moned as a witness, denounced the crown solicitor as having formed a determination to have revenge on a man the government dare not prosecute, by endeavouring to make him a crown witness. It was an endeavour to accomplish his imprisonment fur contempt when it could not be done by fair means. He declared he participated in the funeral and defied the government. He characterised the conduct of the prosecutors as base and cowardly. Several other persons who were summoned de clared they would not give evidence. Sir John Gray, M.P., proprietor of the Freeman, said an effort was made to subject gentlemen in his esta blishment to the indignity of making them crown witnesses, but without success. He had been sum moned, but should refuse to give evidence. These declarations produced great applause, and the court adjourned in some confusion. THE O'DONOGHUE,M.P., AND THE FENIAN of Orleans which I have difficulty in believing. It says that at the hours of the lectures to young ladies, instituted by M. Duruy, he takes a con stitutional walk up and down the asphalt in front lof the Hotel de Ville, to mark down in his black book the girls who go in. Mgr. Dupanloup is fond of notoriety, and does not shrink from eccentricity, but I can hardly think, good taste apart, that his numerous occupations, among which are the cares of his candidature for the papacy, allow him time to act as his own spy. Madame Rude, 'tie Sophie Frdmyet, has just died in Paris, at the age of 70. She was the widow of the celebrated sculptor, and was herself a dis tinguished artist. She was a pupil of Devosges, of Dijon, and aftenvards had lessons from David. She was a constant exhibitor at the modern artiste' salon of Paris from 1827 to 1807. In 1833 she was awarded a medal of tho Ist class for the " Adieux de Charles I. et aes enfants,"—a picture now in the Ministry of the Interior. A great many of her works are in the Dijon Museum, the Mont St. Michel Chapel, and the D'Aremberg library at Brussels. At the Bourse the Rents was quoted ex div. The last quotations, 68fr. 90c. and 6Sfr. 75c., show (the coupon of 75c. deducted) a fall of 15c. and 123 c. Italian fell 3iic. ; Mobilier and Credit Fonder, 2fr. 50c. each. There was an impression that a loan is more imminent than was supposed a few days ago. Some speculative business was done in Mexican Bonds in consequence of the emphatic assertion of Viscount de la Gueronniere, who pre sided at the meeting held in the Champs Elysdea Theatre on Sunday, that government was studying the means of satisfying the " just and legitimate rights" of the bondholders. The only thing done at the meeting was to appoint a committee to sup port these " rights. " EARTHQUAKES IN THE WEST INDIES. ST. THOMAS, Nov. 21. The Royal Mail Company's steamer Lit Plat►, from Southampton on the 2nd, arrived off here on the 17th inst., and went to what is called the CregorYs, • few miles away, and transferred her mails, cargo, and passengers there. On the following day, the 18th, a dreadful catastrophe occurred, which totally eclipsed the hurricane, bad as it was. Early in the afternoon, and without anything in the atmosphere indicating a change, there was suddenly a whizzing and buzzing sound, the earth shook and trembled, and went like the waves of the sea ; the offices, stores, and buildings adjoining the wharves waved to and fro as though they bad been made, of indiarubber. Altogether the scene was beyond descrip tioa. The shock was • long one, lasting apparently about five minutes, but only in reality being swo minutes in duration. In the harbour the water was at the time very smooth, but soon after an immense roller was seen coming in from the sea, like a wall of white glittering in the sun, and very Noon broke in on the points of the harbour, rising to an immense height, and driving the inhabitants to the hills to save their lives. The La Plata was in great danger, but for tunately sustained little damage. The Conway held to her anchor, but the rushing water caused her to spin round like a teetottim. The roller completely flooded the lower part of the town. Shock after shock was felt throughout the night, but none like the first, and no seas. Many places round here have suffered ; most of the houses have been cracked, and 1/03:00 are completely down. In such a state are affairs here, that most of the people have gore up the hills. The shocks have since become much lighter and far leas frequent. The purser on board the La Plata, writing from St. Thomas on the 19th, says :—" Yesterday we had another visitation in the shape of an earthquake, at 2.30 p.m., and experienced a very heavy shock on board the ship. I was awoke by my boy telling me that the captain had ordered all the boats to be got ready for lowering. I went on deck, and there was an awful sight. Men and women were rushing to the boats, others on their knees praying, others looking for their children and friends ; and to the seaward I saw to my hor ror the bore or tidal wave coming right in upon us. Fortu nately there was no wind. We managed to get the ship in a better position to receive the shock. The first wave came without much broken water, but was followed closely by a. perfect wall of water, which came crashing and tearing on board. On the after-quarter of the ship three boats were carried away, one of ahem full of negroes employed coaling the ship was immediately capsized, and the men were mostly lost. Happily a boat containing five Lilies was not lowered sufficiently to share the same fate, and we suc ceeded in hoisting them in again. The sea came into St. Thomas' harbour, and completed the wreck the hurricane had commenced. The company's office was unroofed : the factory and procedure's stores were completely destroyed, with their contents. The steamer lichen going out met the tidal wave, and was immediately swallowed up, those on board being drowned. A number of shocks were felt throughout the day and night, but no more sea. All the coaling vessels were washed ashore. Business was com pletely stopped, and the panto awful. Communication with the shore was difficult. The sea damaged us con siderably, but nothing can be done to the ship until reaching Jamaica." The La Plata is not expected to arrive at Southampton until the 18th inst. WIATFIER REPORT.-(THIS DAY.) TUESDAY, WEEDER 17, II 41.11. TILE WRECK OF TILE BOSPHORUS. FORTY-EIGHT LIVES LOST. FULL DETAILS. (From the Cape Argus.) _ _ The following fuller particulars of the lots .4 the Bosphorus steamer are taken from the P El, zubrth Telegraph: On Saturday lasi (Oct. 19) no coals being preeerabk Simon's Town, the Bosphorus, after a splendid passage from Liverpool, left that port for this for the pelvis ! et taking in coals to bring her on to Bombay, from whence she was to be despatched by the Indian goverin,i, with supplies to the base of operations of the expedis ec despatched against Theodorus, of Abyssinia. On Sit,. day all was fair sailing, and the ship with her gre at steaming qualities soon lessened the distance between be t and this port. Early on Sunday, however, a chimp i e t h e barometer indicated that it was not to be all plain sailing, that a -.rind was rising, probably a gale cowing which was but too truly verified as the day wore ear, for it blew with tremendous violence from the 31e,. the sea rising mountains high, and tossing the ship like a cork upon the now angry but buoyant waters. On, hoe. ever, she careered, ploughing amain, until the pall of sa;C:t gradually covered the face of heaven, when a lull tek place in the storm, and by degrees the wind abated, lair. ing behind a tremendously high se• running. On, on size kept, riding her way amid the thick darkness that pe e veiled, all on board unaware of danger other than that threatened by the storm, when at about 1 o'clock in tt, morning, the ship going at full speed, a terrible collision took place that made her reel and stagger again with eit:.; was at first unknown, but gradually the conviction gese upon them that they had been hugging the coast to, closely and had struck upon a reef of rocks. The order e. " back" was given, but nothing but a dull grating seed could be beard, and the ship remai•ed immovable. The cog terrible anxiety reigned on board as to the nature of the catastrophe which had befallenthem ; but,notwithstanditz. all was order and obedience, and the voices of the eaptaii and officers, as they gave their orders, were distinctly heard, and their wishes as promptly executed. The sea we now running very high, and the rumbling and roaring vi the boiling surf, as it thundered against the barrier thr opposed its progress, WWI but too well beard by al In order to ascertain their exact position, as well as distance from the land, a boat with the proper complement of men was at once lowered, but scarcely had it touched the water when it was taken upon the crest of a huge wave and cap sized, the men with the greatest difficulty making their w.,) , to the ship, where they were landed safely on board. Effort after effort was again made, but with the like result, until at last, after three weary hours, • worse calamity stared them in the face. The ship was gradually beginning to break up, and all at once split up the centre, a number or the engineers, stewards, and stokers being engulfed be tween. Others got on the starboard quarter, and sank with the hull, to rise no more ; while the remainder of the craw, some on pieces of improvised raft, others on portions of the wreck, made their way to the shore, where they lay exhausted, naked, cut, torn, and lacerated by the sharp rocks with which they came in contact, the captain, like a brave English sailor, being the last to leave the wreck, having stood fast to his ship while a life could be saved ; and then, committing himself to the boiling sea, unable to swim, and weakened from over.ezertion, he battled manfully from raft to raft until he at last reached the shore in safety. There they stayed until daylight dawned, when all the horrors of the scene were realised in their fullest intensity. In trout of them lay their late noble ship, smashed to pieces, made the sport of the waves as they leaped and dashed over het now sunken hull. Around them was nothing but a rocky, iron-bound coast, no human habitation within ken, not a patch of vegetation to relieve the monotony of the scene ; while torn, lacerated, without clothes or food, they knew not whither to bend their steps to relieve their sore and pressing wants. Some, however, as the martini advanced, made their way inland, and having espied a lad on horseback, hailed him, and having to'd him their necessities, he at once guided them to the farm of Mr. Moulman, whither the rest fol lowed, and everything that could be done to relieve their sufferings and help them on to Humansdorp was cordially done. The civil commissioner of Humansdorp was at once made acquainted with the calamity, and as fast as fleet horses could bring him to the scene he was there to render any possible assistance. Their entry into Humanedorp was • melancholy specta cle. As we before stated, most of the men landed without any clothes, but having secured towels, sheets, ice., th.it washed up from the wreck, they wrapped them roan! their loins, and in this pitiable plight they entered the village on Tuesday evening, the captain having a rived there the morning of the same day. On the fol lowing day the wagons with the crew left for this place, where they arrived this morning, presenting spectacle somewhat similar to that witnessed seine Eve mouths ago, when the crew of the Osprey were conveyed here, but infinitely more saddening, as 48 valuable lives (a(out one-half of the crew) have been lost, and a deep, settled gloom will thus be cast over many a harry homestead deprived by the rude waves of its help aid stay ; while the countenances of the survivors bore the impress of deep-felt sorrow at the loss they had sustain in their brave comrades. Zitzekaruma Point, the scene of this dire calamity, ea situated about fifteen miles west of where the (myrey struck, and has been oft-times the scene of many a aimilm catastrophe, though perhaps not so dire in their result' as the present. On its dangerous and unmarked real the Runnymede, some years ago, became a total wreck. while within the last fifteen or twenty years over a dozen vessels have met with • similar fate. It is a locality pregnant with shipping disasters, its low table-land surface tendiug to deceive the eye, while its projection to an extent farther than is marked, and its low reach of rocks beyond again, as well as the force an,i Vllll.l. tion of the currents along the line of coast, which are best but imperfectly known, have, alas ! afforded too many facilities for such mishaps. It has indeed proved to be the Scylla and Charybdis of our coast, and we ti.ink it ie the bounden duty of the authorities to recommend she erection of a lighthouse in order that calamities of a like nature may be avoided for the future. The freittent oz. currences of shipwreck and loss of life along its margin calla for such • provision, lied we hope that a int uotnre il) necessary and desirable will before long rear its warning head above the Point. We have been furnished with a correct list of the mama of those who were drowned, as follows: DROIA NE% Sailing Department. John Leigh, able seaman Wm. Nixon ord. •e.iusm Frank Downden do. John Murphy do. Robert Fleetwood do. Jog. Maybrick do. Tim. Palmer do. Jos. Stephens do. Christian Dick do. Frank Ross do. J. Tasked T do. _ ....... _____ Henry Hutton do. James Hopkins do. l;v_•s Alfred si .. John Pyc do. .7 , ,:1n Eason do. William Elder do. John Eye Win. Davidson do. .7 .hn Webster .:,. - &IA! (loy) %Vara a.. Griflins(bOi) _ . Engineer's Department. Robt. Storm, chief engineer. John Clark, lire:nan. John Martin, 2nd do. Peter 0. David Reid, 3rd do. Owen Drlnnuin.l, Jo. Geo. \Vllson, 4th do. Th. Peycie John Ninon, fireman. Tho.. lock, .io. Pat. Connelly, do. Peter C 1.4 k, Li. Shaw, do. Daniel L.nn, no. Steward's DepartmeLt. Geo. Rae, chief steward lohn Hunt, at~~c art W. Avery, second ditto Thos. Thos. Rissack, clerk (111. A. Jcnki , . Co T. Wilkinson, storekeeper Lt...rn..iitt Staunton Breard, steward no,. :•!•11-1! Twenty bodies have been reco% er, 3 and I beach near the scene of the wreck. Two of t'l,:it wcn: identified : one being that of :dr. storm, the :).;,- neer, and the other that of Mr. Wilkinson, t!:: keeper. The survivors of the crew are in a vc:)' tressed condition, having lost the wiledr of th, it dothin; and effects. A subscription list on their \lie, , t the shipping office, contributions to wLieh will le thank fully accepted. (From the Cap. A rgtiß, Noe. 7,1 FORT ELIZABETH, 4. The Court of Inquiry into the circun.stanc. , 'lit: the loss of the Bosphorus gave judgment this soornim:. Captain Alexander absolved from blame. Court of opirion that disaster is attributable to the strong current w;11 1, generally runs to the westward after fresh w,telly g . as well as to the existence of a northeasterly enner.t. which sets directly on to the shore from Fornmsa roils; to Cape Recif, between the Agulhas current and the c 01 . 4• and which was unknown to the said master, not lgmg stated upon the chart by which he was sailing. OUR CONI'EMPORARIEB. (THIS DAY.) THE FENIAN 011THAOTA. Assuming that no one is surprised, however shocked he may be,at the Clerkenwell massacre, the Times endeavour to explain how this occurs. The thought of such a crime would never come into the heads of the worst confederacy of law-breaking Englishmen, but these Fenian' have done it in as quiet a way as if it were only taking so many pigs to market. And yet the natural affec tions of Irishmen are strong, and in the sacrifices they make for their relatives they certainly excel the Engliah. The reason for the detestable villanies they commit the Times pronounces to be the outrageous egotism, the utter selfish ness, the shortsightedness, and the downright folly of an exaggerated national sentiment. Of coarse, it began with the tribe, or the sept, or whatever it was called, and it is only in latter times that local feelings and antagonisms have almost merged in the national, or what is thought national. Putting out of count his torical and local variations, tho ordinary Irishman just thinks of the object before him—the land to be obtained, the tenure to be secured, the quarrel to be avenged, the nation to be vindicated, the party engage ment to be curled out—and shuts his eyes to everything else in the world. Had the race been one-eyed, to see a foe alone; one-handed, to do naught but the deed of blood ; and with that simplicity of reasoning powers to see one law of life and set of instincts suitable for itself alone, it could not have been more thoroughly made to the head of agitators and demagogues. The Doily News observes that the sense of a shifting and inapprehensible peril which is the main element in the pre sent disturbed state of the public mind, has some excuse, but is not altogether jastifiable. Much that has occurred in the Fenian troubles displays a want of intelligence and promptitude on the part of the police which mars even their fidelity and courage. The law properly ►pplied is adequate for the ends of prevention and protection, and to go beyond it is to imitate the conduct of the Fenians them selves. When the ordinary rules of procedure and evi deans are laid aside, the most trivial suspicions become evidence, and the slighter they are the more obstinate is the credulity which attaches weight to them. If we treat all Irishmen as if they were Fenian*, or sympathisers with Fesianiam, we shall do something to make them so ; and shall Lwow the peril against which it is our business to guard. The Herald praises the government for calling out spe cial constables, snd looks to see the call responded so alth alacrity. The Standard firmly believes that the institution of an efficient system of street patrolling by a citizen guard, acting calmly, intelligently, and entirely free from any exaggerated alarms, would not merely ensure the detection of Fenian, but would be a sure method of prevention. If they find that every householder is on his guard, and that there are constables in every street specially occupied in looking after them and watching cm/ lurking idler, and every suspicious act, they will soon find that the game is up and incendiarism impossible. Moreover, the moral effect of such a demonstration would be overwhelming. The Star has no doubt whatever that by the vigilant use of the police, backed by the abundant voluntary ser vile of the public, the government will soon succeed in allaying all public apprehensions, and removing those painful impressions of our state which have only too promptly been created throughout these realms and over the European continent. The Telegraph warns the Fenian that they may meet with Lynch law. English justice is nobly slow in trying and punishing accused men, but if English artisans are once roused by the wail of their murdered children, and the sight of their burning workships, a Fenian incendiary "caught in the act" may get a very short time to repent. The Telegraph also prints a communication from the "London Committee of the Irish Republican Brother. hood," emphatically disclaiming any connection with the Clerkenwell outrage, pledging themselves to do their utmost to discover the perpetrators and punish them, and expressing the belief that " it has been the deed of individuals acting from personal motives and impelled to it by one whom, if our suspicions be verified, we shall execute without compunction as one unworthy to live in our own interest as well as in that of humanity at large." Our contemporary has also received a number of threatening letters, two of which it prints. One of them say a :—" Keep the Police ►t a more respect full distance, or, if not, your premises, bein; composed principally of brick and mortar, may possibly came tumb ling about your Editorial ears." .11 ,, CEI,LANEous TOPICS. While emphatically disapproving of the conduct of Sir C. Darling in Victoria, and approving of Mr. Cardwell's refusal to assent to a vote of money to him, the Times nevertheless advises the Legislative Council of the colony, which has hitherto opposed the vote, to now give way. Our contemporary then strongly condemns the conduct of the Duke of Buckingham, whom 'it assumes to have re called Mr. Cardwell's refusal of the assent of the crown. Without the consent of the minister the question could not again have been raised, and that consent has been given. Writing on the Irish question to the Daily News, Mr. Goldwin Smith insists that the Irish church establishment must go, but observes that when it is gone Irish disaifecti, n will not cease. Useful tenant-right measure., such as I ro hibiting for the future the entail of land, are to be desired. But this is not what Fenianiam demands. What it asks is, in fact, a measure of agrarian confisca tion. The only cure, Mr. Smith believes, for the chief malady of Ireland, is such a measure of decentralisation as will satisfy the national aspirations--such, for in. stance, as tbo residence of the court at Dublin—a p irliamentary session, say once in every three years, in Dublin—a liberal measure of local self-government for Ireland—each province having an elective council of its own authorised to deal with all matters not essential to the political and legal unity of the empire —employing, for example, as they chose, the property of the Irish church establishment. No doubt this would be • great change, but then the peril of the disaffection of which Fenianism is the present phase is also great. The Star quotes the words of Mr. Johnson's message to show that the object of the United States in souring PIiOCESIIO-VS. The committee by whom the intended procession at Killarney had been organised issued the following pia card announcing its abandonment : " Fellow-Countrymen—The government have issued a proclamation announcing their determination to prevent, if necessary by the employment of armed force, the funeral procession which was fixed to take place in Killarney on next Sunday. It was our intention to have emulated, and, if possible, to have excelled, by the quietness, order, and solemnity of our proceedings, the patriotic example set us by the men of Cork, Dublin, and Limerick. The slightest disturbance of the public peace would have defeated our objects; and such disturbances could only have been planned or executed by a traitor. The government know this well. So far from having any grounds whatever to anticipate a violation of public tranquillity, they had in the funeral processions held elsewhere so many guarantees that our procession of next Sunday would have been a model of order and decorum. The proclamation, then, is not sent forth to maintain the security of life or pro perty, for neither were in the least degree endangered ; but its sole aim is to prevent the Irish nation from mani festing its horror of the policy which carried out the Man chester executions. Fellow countrymen. yielding to the threats of armed force, but under solemn prote.t, we will not hold our intended procession ; but while we take this course as the most prudent, and under the circumstances the most patriotic, we wish all the world to know that no power no earth can eradicate from our heart.; the love of Ireland and of those who serve her faithfully. We may rest satisfied with having done our duty so far, and w ith having proved that amongst the millions of true Irishman the men of Kerry 'spired to a foremost place. (Signed) " O'Dogoonug, Chairman. " JOHN J. Ilgamr, Secretary of the Committee." COMPETITION IN THE DOCEYARDS.—The half yearly open competition of boys for the situation of ap prentice in the government dockyards, and engineer stu dent in the steam factories, has just been held at the various yards hy the Civil Service C ommissioners There were 172 candidates for the former class of situations, and 75 for the latter. At the same time the large annual competition amongst the dockyard artificers for promotion to the higher grades took place. These examinations are now also, at the request of the Admiralty, conducted by the Civil Service Commissioners, the test consisting partly of exercises in arithmetic, ke., and partly of prac tical questions prepared at the Admiralty. The number of competitors on the late occasion wee 649. Sr. LAWEENC!. GRESHAM-STREET. —There will be a choral marries this evening at eight o'clock, when the Bishop of Illinois will mach a farewell sermon previous to his leaving England. The offertory will be given to the relief of the distress in the metropolis. It will be remem bered that Bishop Whitehouse, of Illinois, preached the opening sermon as the recent Lambeth conference. The bishop leaves on Wednesday. RAILWAY BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.—The nine teenth half-yearly meeting of the above instituti on was held yester&y, at the offices of the Great Northern Rail way, King's-crow, 14r. W. Grinling in th e c h a i r . M r . Mills, the secretary, read the report, which stated that. notwithstanding the continued depression in railway and mercantile affairs, the institution has made a fair progress in the pest six months. The further corn of 1,000/. has been added to the inveAted fund, which now stands at 15,800/. At the oorrespondingperiod of lot year the amount was 13,7001. The receipts from all source@ amount to 1,4251., being 751. more than in the half-year ending October, 1866. The claims upon the funds have also in creased, the amount distributed being 517/., as against46Bl. The whole of the interest derived from the accumulated funds of the society will be absorbed in the payment of the annuities alrea dy granted, and the board cannot there fore recommend that any further additions be made at this meeting to their permanent liabilities ; but they are glad to state that all applicants have received temporary awistanoe, to an amount equivalent to an annuity, out of the current income. It is proposed to alter the rules, so that " annual " be anbstituted for " half-yearly" meetings. In June next the tenth year of the institution will be completed, and the alteration suggested, if it meet with the acqui escence of the members, will defer the general meeting from June, 1868, to June, 1969. The New Year's-day collection will be held as usual, and afford an opportunity for a general effort to increase the funds. Nearly 11,09) railway servants contributed last year to the casualty fund, but the board feel justified in urging all station-masters to increased activity in making known the objects of the collection, so that a considerable addition may b mole to the number of members in BM. The financial st,te meets showed the total income for the half-year, including 3881. donations and 6021. subacriptions, to be 1,425/.. and the total expenditure, including 212/. paid to widows, 134/. to members, and 170/. to children of ditto, to 825/. The report was adopted. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. THE FOREIGN ARMY OF OCCUPATION IN ROME. A letter from Rome in the Indipendance has the following : The corps of Pontifical Zonaves, which consisted of two battalions only, has been increased by two others. The greatest numbers have arrived from Belgium (500), France, and Holland. Some have also come from Scotland, Ireland, and England, and even from the United States, which re cently sent a considerable contingent. Independently of the volunteers, who have come expressly to enlist as Zonaves, 50 Scotch have arrived under the conduct of Cap tain Gordon. They are to form the nucleus of a legion of Highlanders in the Pope's service. During the last two months three millions of francs have been received from different towns of France for the Pontifical army, and Ire land has sent 40,0001. The Duke de Nemours has sub scribed .50/., and Count de Loring. has sent 100 bottles of his best Hermitage for the wounded Pontificals. A large quantity of tents have likewise been received from France. ARMED FRANCE. In an article under the above title M. E. de Girardin writes in Let Libcrtl , : Whether as soldiers, as moveable national guards, as men drawn by lot, or as subsidiaries, an enrolment of every valid Frenchman—such is substantially the new law presented to the Corps LegialAtif on the army and move able national guards in loSo7, when the Napoleon idea of "grand agglomerations " was put forward as a great step in the path which led to a " European confederation." GERMANY. The Avenir National publishes a telegram from Berlin to the effect that the Prussian ministers at foreign courts will receive next month new creden tials in the name of the Confederation of the North. The same journal quotes the following language, used by Prince von Hohenlohe in the Bavarian Chamber of Deputies, as very significant: The feverish state of transition in which Europe is now plunged makes a great crisis imminent, and demands an increase of military power which would nut Bavaria in a condition to make herself respected and to mature to her • proper position amongst the states of Europe. By adopting the Prussian system Bavaria will have a good army, and will be able in concert with her allies to repulse any power which might threaten her tights. THE TEMPORAL POWERS OF THE POPES. The Temps, contrasting the words of M. Rouher that Italy should " never" be master in Rome with the continuous decline of the temporal power as demonstrated by history, puts this question : " Can it be believed that the movement which has reduced the Papacy to the condition in which we now see it will come to a stand-still all at once I After having destroyed theocratic and feudal Europe, can it be supposed that this move ment will expire at the feet of a petty sovereign of the Comarca I Is it not absurd to imagine that it will bo arrested before it has accomplished that separation of church and state which seems to be the end to which the entire history of modern times seems to be tending 1" THE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION. The following telegram, forwarded from Suez yesterday, has been received from the special cor respondent of the l'imes with the Abyssinian expedition : " The advanced brigade reached Senate, in Abys sinia, on Dec. 6 ; all well. " Tho natives are friendly in their behaviour, and offer supplies. " Water is abundant. The climate is good ; the variations of temperature ranging between a maxi mum of 73 degrees and a minimum of 33 degrees." (UTTER'S TELEGRAMS.) ALISTRIA. VIENNA, DEC. 17. The Dcbatte understands that Count Taaffc, and not Prince Carl Auersperg, will probably be charged with the formation of the new cabinet. The official Vienna Gazette is authorised to deny, as altogether baseless, the report now current as to an impending loan for military purposes, and that an increase of the tax upon coupons is intended. ITALIAN BRIGANDS. AIX, Dec. 17. At the trial of the Italian bandits accused of murder Coda, Quaranta, Nardi, and Mulateri wcro condemned to death ; Cardino, Oggero, and Tri vero were sentenced to twenty years, Varsovic to fifteen years, and Milano, Bassano, and Serra to ten years' hard labour at the galleys. Malotti was acquitted. AMERICA. AILAICTIC TELEGRAPH.) NEW YORK, DEc. 16, 6 The steamer Tarifa arrived out to-day. Closing Prices :—Gold, 1342. Sterling exchange on London, 110. 5-20 United States Bonds, 108 ; Illinois, 133 ; Erie, 722. Cotton : Middling Upland, 151. . . . PHILADELPHIA, Dec. IG. Petroleum : Standard white, 25k. EXPRESS FROM PARIS. (FROM OUR OW CORREsPONDEEIT.) PARIS, MONDAY EVWNG. The Pattie suggests that M. Rouher, in the con versation represented by M. Nigra as admitting the idea of a joint occupation of Rome, merely meant to say, " If you sincerely wish to see the conven tion executed, come and join us in firing upon Garibaldi." A more authentic explanation than this of the difference between the two governments disclosed by the Italian Green-book can scarcely fail to be made. The Presse this evening in ono column represents the news of a probable diplomatic rupture between France and Italy ; and in another, without at tempting to explain the contradiction, says that Chevalier Nigro, will be replaced by M. Visconti Veneta. It thinks that M. Nigra will be removed, not to London, but Berlin. It is asserted that a diplomatic conference will be held this evening at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to talk over the Roman question with the Marquis do Moustier, and that tho Pope's Nuncio and the Austrian, English, Prussian, and Russian Ambassadors have promised to attend. The talk will, of course, lead to nothing except perhaps to an admission by the French government that " the conference" for business, which it has hitherto professed to believe in, is impossible. The liberal press in Paris is determined to op pose M. Thiers's re-election, and I think it most unlikely that he will again sit in the Corps Legis latif for a Paris constituency. Hu was elected last time not by Orleanists, legitimists, or clericals, but by the democratic opposition, who took him up be cause he was an effective debater likely to damage the government. It cannot be said that he has not p'rformed his mission, but his speech in favour of the temporal power will not be forgiven by his former supporters. If Paris will not have him, I cannot think of any other set of electors who will, unless he can arrange to come in as a government candidate. Then, indeed, his return would be easy. The Opinion Nationale tells a story of the Bishop V. I Extreme. Sea LP W. ItO ~."•••'..••••••••, W. L 1 to 14, y. D. g . Nairn .. 75 1 0 S.W. 1 W.N.W. ob 0.17 2 Aberdeen 119.•94 41 W. I N.W. re 0.01 2 Leith - Ardrossen 29.4ar 7 W. W. oc 0.23 $ Greeseastis 20.42 42 W.B.W. W.N.W. ace 0.07 Valentin 89.74 48 N.W. W. arm 0.27 2 Cape Clear 51.711 49 W.N.W. I W. Ic 0.07 8 Roches Pt 2964 f 471 W. B.W. oc .- 5 Liverpool 29 541 9; W. B.W. cr 0.13 2 lielyboad 19461 W. N.W. b. W. o - Penzaace 129.87831 W. W.N.W. ono 0.10 3 Brest .._ 29.921 W. W.B.W. rfo 4 Loilent p.. 96 LW. W. to —ll loehefeet Plymouth ,29.781 W. N.W. tar 0.04 4 Werniouth '27.781 511 W.O.W. W. o b Portsmouth 19.761 ; W.S.W. W. or 5 London 9.071 , W.B.W. W.S.W. co - Yarmouth-19558f 52 W.S.W. I N.W. co 3 IlearboroughWAV N.W. W. cb 8 Shields $7.37 461 N.W. W.N.W. c 3 Barometer corrected and reduced to 32 deg. at sea level. The letter r .rialog , 1 (falling). $ ateadyl. Indicate direction of motion of the meretirywithlu Met 12 hours. Thermometer exposed ... Barometer corrected and rah-, .is 32 deg. at k !L The letter r f (failing), a steatly , , ludleate etion of motion of the mercury a 'thin In kt 11 hours. Thermometer exposed la shade. Extreme force. with Its direction during last 24 hours. Z.-calm. Weather: b.-blue sky; c.- clouds 'detached f.- fog h.-hall; ; ,har;.; ; 0.--overcas4 !dull); r.• -rain : c-snow ; t.-thunder. kaitt-tall, snow or hail ,meited,, during last 24 hours. Sea disturbance. It Ell ARKS. The decrease In preserve which has been reported for the 'net tea du)* hi rid' in pnea.aa and It hag atnoutited to nine:v.ls of ti-lOtlis of en inch in the wroth nail writ. In the north It has igen eery , light, end the pressure has begun to Increase again since last night. The ilitterenee between Nuini and Rochefort I t manly o s loch. A diminution In temperature has iiceurreit at most stations. A gale tram the neStwarll occIIITe.I last night in our southern NO western masts, tond also on our ].ML coast. Very stronnwitnis blew. This nioniing high muds (flint the sane direction prethil a; the entrance of the( Intuit and In ...nth of I r.. 15111.1 , Kahg has fallen on our N.W. coasts, and much tog Is thinirted how the wtht coast of France. CALCUTTA AND CIIINA 3IAILS.—SCEZ, DEC. 16.-- nm Mongolia arrived At I; a.m. to-ilay. Bombay, Dec. 7.—The Columbian anivcd to-day, a) clays from South ampton. THE WEST INDIA AND PACIFIC MAILS.—PLY YOUTH, DEC. 17, I.:10 A.M.—The Royal Mail steamer La Plata has just anchored in the Sound. All well. No sickness on board. " Advice' from Brussels," says the France, " state that the condition of the Empress Charlotte con tinues to improve. She goes out every day, when the weather permits, for a long drive or a walk. She visits their Majesties regularly twice a week at Brussels, and the rest of her time is divided between music and painting, for which latter art she has a great aptitude. The Queen, bee sister-in-law, does not allow a day to pass without going to see her, and she receives frequent visits from the King and the Count and Countess de Flandre." 31. Emile 011ivier is about to publish a pam phlet, " Is Confession," which is to be given to the read ing public on the 15th Jammu,.