The Express. — London, England, 1867-05-20 00:00:00

f 2 JOHN BILOGDEN. ORIGINAL °OLD CHAIN MANUFACTORY, 16. HEN gLICITA-STEULET, 00YLVT•43111DILY. JOHN BROGDEN'S 18-carat GOLD CHAINS. JOHN BROGDEN'S GOLD GUARD CHAINS. JOHN BROGDENE GOLD ALBERT CHAINS. JOHN BROG DEN'S GOLD BROOCH CHAINS. B ROWN and POISON'S OORN FLOUR for CHILDASN'S DEBT. To obtain sites profit by the sale other kinds are sometimes °tiered Instead et DROWN sad POISON'S. aoh "Joha brown," "John Mason." is signed by the 'taken on whet. Eke (EVllmeoo* TO CORRESPONDENTS. ittverthemonte Intended for " The Kt press," London Wyoming Aper Ho st be at the Onlce 10, Bouverle-etreet b Two delock : 'u ntlie day of publlcattOn. DRURY LANK TITS EVENING, THAT RAM AL JACK. Meier*. Nome and Nenlle . Me.lames Alle)ne and Thompson —To conclude will TIIE GREAT CITY. Mvors. Warner, Morton, Fltzjames, Rouse, lrsfog, du. ; Mesdames Robertson, Le There, and Thompson. HAYMARKET. TRIG sillnne, DE Wrens. Compton sod Tanen, tc. ; Mrs. Iritswllilam, Ac.—A WILD GOOSIL Ileum &them Iluclunone, Howe, slows, Gordon, Re. ; Mesdames Barks, Chippendale, WH, laws, te.—And FAMILY JAILS. .! . W . Cll,l‘ TUN EnvWin. ANTONY AipCIL:iOPATRA Antony, Mr. H. Lnrdnr EaobvMu , Yr. C. Volum; Channian, M 1 Pao ; sat filieopatra, Miu filyn. LYCEr V. THIS Emir Mr. Plies and Wu Kate Ithhop. O JKWM MOTTO. lir. Pechter. Meters. Binary. Widdicomb, Jordan. Price, hc. Massa Ilsworthy, 'len sed% Grattan, and Carlotta Locking. UTW!D. 'Evrervo. WAITINGiORWIE UNDERGROUND.—THE LITTLE SAVAGE. —PYGSIALION ; OR. THE STATUE FAI R Mews Thorne, lames, etc. ; Mesdames Parsaborongh, Raynhouu, Harlacid,Juhastoue,rt Holt.—And THE FRENCH YXIII.IIITION. HOLBORN_ Tine ItYrimio, NY TURN la/T. Mr. Behoove: Weer toot* and Lennot.—And FLYING SCUD. Marrs Neville, Bel abor% Blake, ToWire, otc. Meediunee T. Jeeepba, C. Ssondere, Deed* Foote, Blades, Lasso; eapsood, ea, BISTAN/fTA. TEM T:vrirrao, THE 9TlA;lii6t:l7 Or IRELAND. Mrs. 8. Lane—THE VOLITNTEERB. 11r. Bigwood and Idles R. Edwin. —And THE OLU MAID LN Till WLEDING-RILIST. Mon 8. Mlles &J. Covens,. ITIOH NAT= AT LONDON DAMON. TWIN DAY —Morning, SL fna Afternoon. 3h. fan. 110-NLOAAON-11 °ening, 3h. Wm..— „Afternoon, Mt 6641. LONDON, MONDAY, MAY 20. THE Report of the Royal Commission on Rail ways might be welcomed as a meet opportune production if it dealt more particularly with the questions that at present interest the railway world. The worst fault of the report is that it is in no small degree out of date. It deals with railways as they existed a year or so ago, and necessarily treats but incidentally upon those matters that have prominently risen into public notice ; but, as will be hereafter seen, the most important of these points attracted attention even in the earlier stages of railway enterprise. The first thing that strikes the reader is the incessant interference of Parliament in everything connected with railways. The whole of the first part of the Report—extending over 27 pages, with the exception of a few lines—a great deal of the second, and some of the third, are devoted to an elaborate review of the legislation on this subject, beginning from the year 1801. The Committee state in the outset that " the railway system of " this country had its origin in the enterprise of " individuals," and that " their efforts were not " fostered by the legislature= objects of national " concern." In this manner due respect was paid to precedent. The policy followed with regard to canals for half a century before was again repeated. But if Parliament did not choose to =slat in developing railways they were deter mined to have at least some voice in the matter. A series of Acta have consequently been passed regulating rates, traffic, and nearly everything else, amending previous regulations, enacting new ones, and so on, until the number is interminable. As a rule these restrictions have proved either in jurious or useless. Occasionally, some valuable propositions have been made, but from some fatality they seem to have been disregarded. In 1866 an Act was passed to compel cer tain declarations before justices of the peace, and so forth, according to which mortgage debts are to be specified. It is desirable to know what are the mortgage debts specified. Certainly they are not debentures. According to some deci sions in the law courts--that of Lord CAIRNS in particular—it practically appears that a railway company cannot mortgage its property. The re pult is that debenture holders who fancied them selves mortgagees naturally feel nervous about the security, since their position is entirely reversed, and therefore want to get their money back as soon as possible. It has long been a subject of complaint that the action of Parliament with reference to railway matters is eminently unsatisfactory. The Com mission acknowledge this over and over again. A whole catalogue is given of both erroneous and conflicting decisions on material points. There is, in fact, an entire want of uniformity in practice, involving at times the exercise or permission of a distinct breach of faith. The remedy proposed is one that is hardly better than the existing evil. It is intended to refer all new bills, "after having " passed through the Committee of the House in " which they have been first introduced," to the consideration of the Board of Trade for further report. This would merely complicate the business and cause delay, although, on the other hand, it would ensure that each new measure would have the advantage of being examined by a permanent, and not as the Commission observe with regard to railway committees, a continually varying tribunal. Nine-tenths, however, of these questions could be settled by a very simple regulation. Let it be a fixed rule that no preferential shares be allowed, nor debentures, but that whatever capital may be required should be raised solely by the issue of ordinary stock at par. If the project were pro fitable there would, of course, be no difficulty in getting any subscription that might be wanted. If unprofitable, it would be got rid of at once. Contractors' lines live and feed upon preferential and debenture capital, and upon that only. This rule would of course apply to the purchase of already established independent lines. If the shareholders wished to dispose of their pro- perty, an equitable arrangement might be readily made by which they should receive neither a first charge nor preference shwas, but simply a propor tionate payment in ordinary deck. Of the remaining parts of the Report the greater portion is devoted to a consideration of Irish rail ways, on which Mr. MONSELL has prepared a sepa rate report of his own, and the remainder contains the conclusions of the Commission upon various matters of detail, accompanied by comparisons with the working of foreign countries, which are too technical for general interest. One passage, however, is worth reproducing. Speaking of the double gauge it is said : We are of opinion that the continued existence of the double gauge is a national evil. We think it worthy of consideration whether it may not he desirable to require the broad gauge to be put an end to ; and, as the evil has arisen to some extent from the proceedings of Parliament, whether a loan of public money should not be granted for that purpose. Here is a distinct intimation that Parliament having interfered in one sense to do harm, it should interfere on the other hand to do good. The same argument will apply with even greater force to the debenture question. Where the Le gislature has done so much already to little ad vantage, it is surely not unreasonable to expect it to do something to further the general good. It is only necessary to recall the Brat paragraph in the Report of the Royal Commission. The work of constructing railways has been performed by individuals, who at every step have been thwarted and controlled by the capricious legislation of Parliament. This is admitted. At the last moment Parliament declines to give the slightest aid. On the contrary, eminent lawyers raise a series of technical objec tions, admirable perhaps in a private suit at West minster-hall, but entirely out of place in dealing with a great public interest. National faith ought to be preserved even at the coat of over ruling legal prejudices. THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, MAY 20, 1867. Cht Court. OSBORNE, MAT 18. The Queen, accompanied by Princess Louise, drove out yesterday, attended by the Hon. Emily Cathcart. Colonel Ponsonby was also in attendance on horseback. Prince Leopold. ►ttended by Mr. Legg, went out for a cruise in the Elfin. The Hon. Mrs. Gordon has left Osborne. WINDSOR CASTLE, MAY Ilk The Queen, with Princess Louise, Princess Be►trice, and Prince Leopold left Osborne at 20 minutes past 3 o'clock this afternoon, and arrived at Windsor Castle at 7. In attendance were the Countess of Caledon, the Hon. Emily Cathcart, Major•Ceneral Sir T. M. Biddulph, Colonel H. Ponsonby, Mr. Legg, and Mr. Bahl. Countess Blucher has also arrived at the Castle from Osborne. The Hon. Lucy Kerr hu arrived at the Castle u maid of honour. Viaoonnt Hawarden and the Hon. Mortimer Saukville West have also arrived, as lord and groom in waiting. MAT 19. The Prince and Princess Chriatian dined with the Queen yesterday. The Queen, the Prises and Princess Christian, Princess Louise, Princess Beatrice, and Prince Leopold, and the Ladies and Gentlemen in Waiting, attended Divine service this morning in the private chapel. The Hon. and Rev. F. E. C. Byng, chaplain at Hampton Court Palace, preached the sermon. The Earl of Derby arrived at the Castle today, and had an audience of the Queen. A Cabinet Council was held on Saturday, st the ofScial residence of the First Lord of the Trea sury, in Downing-street. The Ministers pre sent were the Earl of Derby, the Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Marlborough, the Earl of Malmesbury, the Right Hon. Gathorne Hardy, Lord Stanley, the Duko of Buckingham, Sir John Pakington, Sir S. Northcote, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Right Hon. H. T. L. Corry, the Duke of Rich mond, Lord J. Manners, Lord Naas, and the Right Hon. Spencer H. Walpole. A Committee of the Lords of her Majesty's Most HOD. Privy Council sat on Saturday, at the Privy Council-ofSce, Whitehall, on the subject of the cattle plague. The lords present were Lord Robert Montagu and the Right Hon. Stephen Cave. Mr. Harrison and Dr. Alexander Williams attended the committee. A deputation waited on the Earl of Derby, at the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury, in Downing street, on Saturday, on the subject of increased endow ments to the University of Edinburgh. The deputation. which was in►roduced by the Duke of Bucclench, con sisted of the Earl of Dalhousie, the Earl of Airlift, the Earl of Stair, the Earl of Dalkeith, M.P., Lord Amberley, M.P., Lord Eleho, M.P., Lord Colonsay, Lord Henry Scott, M.P., the Hon. Arthur Kianaird, M.P., Dr. Cop• land, F.R.S., Dr. Tweedie, F.R.S., Dr. Sibeon, F.R.S., Mr. D. R. Macgregor, Professor Bennett, Professor Fraser, Professor Macpherson, and many others. A deputation from the Metropolitan Board of Works, consisting of Sir John Thwaites (chairman of the broad), Mr. Robert Freeman (deputy chairman of the works and committee), Mr. W. Newton (deputy chairman of the gas committee), Mr. Westerton, Mr. W. W. Smith, and Mr. Jno. Pollard (clerk of the board) bad an interview with the Duke of Richmond, at the °floe of the Board of Trade on Saturday. Despatches were received on Saturday at the Colonial office from the North American provinces. Despatches were sent to the governors of Malta, Gibraltar, Ceylon, Bong• Kong, Labuan, the Straits Settlements, the Aus tralian colonies, the Mauritius, and the Governor-General of Canada. The Earl and Countess of Derby entertained a distinguiahed party at dinner on Saturday evening, at their mansion, in St. James's-square. There were present the Turkish Ambusador and Madame and Mae. Musurus, the Austrian Ambassador and Countess Appouyi, the Duke and Duchess of Richmond and Lady Caroline C. Lennox, the Earl and Countess of Westmorland, the Earl and Countess of Wilton, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Mrs. Disraeli, Viscount Barrington, Viscount Newport, Lord Courtenay, Colonel the Hon. P. W. Talbot, and Mr. Leslie. After dinner the Countess had a brilliant assembly, which Ins very numerously attended. The Duke of Cambridge, attended by Colonel the Hon. James Macdonald, honoured the Earl and Countess of Clarendon with his presence at dinner on Saturday evening, at their residence in Grosvenor-crescent. Prince and Princess Edward of Saxe Weimar and a select party were present to meet the illustrious duke. Sir John Johnstone, Bart., M.P., and Lady Johnstone entertained Viscount and Viscountess Nevin, the Bishop of Oxford, Lord and Lady Carew, Mr. and Mrs. Johnstone, Mr. and Mrs. Thomson and Miss Thomson, Mr. and Mrs. Weldon, Mr. and Mrs. Jones Loyd, Ac., at dinner on Saturday evening at their residence in Be'grave-square. Mr. W. W. Fitswilham Dick, M.P., entertained the Marquis of Waterford, Lord and Lady John Mennen and Miss Mahan, Lord Bateman, Hcn. John and Lady Alice Henniker, Sir Henry and Lady Edwards and Miss Edwards, Sir Thomas and Lady Gladstone, Mr. John Hod dleston, M.P., Mr. and Mrs. Schenley and Miss Schenley, Mr. Banbury Lennox, &c., at dinner on Saturday evening, at his residence in Curzon-street, Mayfair. TIM BRAND TESTIMONIAL —The handsome testimon;al intended for presentation to the Right Hon. Henry Brand, M.P., in recognition of his services its " Whipper-in" to the Liberal party, will be presented on the 19th of the ensuing month, at a grand banquet at Willie's room., when the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P., will preside. A CPRIOUs Cusrom. —The old-fashioned custom of " beating the bounds" was observed a day or two ago in the parish of Waddesdon, in Bucks, in • manner which will, we understand, result in legal proceedings. A party, as usual, perambulated the boundary of the stop ping at all the important points of junction. parish, At tnew places they caught some unlucky individual, and if the boundary line was marked by • wall or a tree the aforesaid individual was " bumped" against it thrice. If there was nothing of the kind then his head was placed in a hole cut in the turf, sundry slaps being at the same time ad ministered to another part of his pence ; but him wounds were mollified by the application of certain horns of ale from a bottle carried for these and other persons. On the occasion referred to the party so far forgot themselves as to endeavour to remove a clergyman from his carriage, and to practise this horseplay upon him. The parties excuse themselves by the belief that on such occasions they are empowered to operate upon whomsoever they please, and that, to use their own expression, "no law will touch them." We believe, however, if legal proceedings are taken, they will be disabused of this belief.— Times. LUNACY INQUIRY.—Mr. Samuel Warren, Q.C., and • jury concluded an inquiry at Gateshead, on Friday, as to the state of mind of Mr. Charles Murdue, a gentle. man, who took a somewhat prominent part in public affairs in Newcastle some time ago, and who has recently been an inmate of • private asylum at Dunston. A few yearssinoe Mr. Murdue lost • lawsuit, and in consequence, it was alleged by his son, • medical man, he took to drink and became subject to hallucinations. He had been confined in an asylum upon the certificate of two medical gentlemen, and he had escaped and had bean reconfined. There was a considerable conflict of evidence, one set of medical gen tlemen mimetic' that Mr. Murdue was, and another set that he was not, insane. The jury examined the alleged' lunatic themselves and after deliberation a majority of 12 determined that he was of sound mind and capable of managing his own affairs, an announcement which was hailed with great cheering outside the court. Tun CIVIL Sanotee SPORTS.— Members of the Civil Service, their relatives, and friends have every rea son to be proud of the assemblage at Beaufort House on li Saturday, the second and concluding day of the Civil Service sports. There must have been nearly I,soopersons present; there were carriages and equestrians in scores, and the whole scene reminded one of Goodwood or Ascot in the pre-railway days. Everything went off excellently, and it is impossible to conceive better .port than was afforded by some of the trials, no•ably by the three-mile walking race, which was contested is the gamest manner, and created extraordinary excitement. It was won by Mr. Williams, of the Ecclesiastical Commission-office, who was handicapped at forty-five yards, and who walked splendidly, completing his three miles under twenty-four minutes, and beating Mr. Beaufort, of the Audit-office, who had made tremendous pace throughout, by six yards. The high jumping was very good. The prize was won by Mr. F. Smith, of the War-office, at sft. 4in. ; Mr. Guy Tyne, of the same office, who is looked upon as the Civil Service champion in general, doing the same height, but losing by being handicap red for an inch. It will be pleasant when we n e ed be no longer beholden to our friends the South Middlesex for the use of their ground. Perhaps the playing fields of the Civil Service College (when the college is erected and the fieldsacquired), might be rendered available. Apropos of which, there is a meeting of vice-presidents of the college to be held in the Geological Ifueemn, Jermyn.street, on Wednesday, the 29th inst., with Earl Russell in the chair.—S4ar. OUR CONTEMPORARIES. (THIS DAY.) THE NEW AMENDMENT IN THE RZTORII BILL. The Times quotes the fall of the compound householder as an instance of the energy of the House of Commons, and the sudden influence of the independent member. The Chancellor of the Exchequer is quite right in saying that had it been proposed at the outset of the session that compound householding should be abolished the proposal would probably have been defeated, but the last month bas produced a remarkable conversion. No one knows better than Mr. Bright how very different this is from what Mr. Sandford calls "household suffrage pure and simple." The conditions of residence and of payment of full rates will, according to his estimate, exclude about one-half of the householders inhabiting houses below IW. annual v.due who ►re in other respects eligible for the franchise. Mr. Gathorne Hardy, who is sufficiently experienced in the practice of rating, has acknowledged that this is a tolerably accurate state meet. As to the practice of compounding, it obtains in but a minority of our parishes and fails to give satis faction even in those where it has been adopted. With regard to the mode of its abolition, the Times would have Mr. Hodgkinson's proviso adopted, be lieving that the obstacles to an entirely separate bill would be found to thicken. If the determination of par. 'lament be effectually expressed, however informally, the rest must follow, and, in Mr. Henley's language, "every thing can afterwards be made smooth with half the trouble." Mr. Poulett Scrape writes to the Times, with the object of showing that his proposal to absolve from the burden of rate-paying, and therefore from the privilege incidental to it, all householders inhabiting houses rated below 44., would affect but very little, if at all, the rates of other ratepayers. The Times, which continues to regard Mr. Scrope's suggestion with favour, add, that the principle of his proposal is sanctioned by the exemption of the lowest rink of receivers of income from the incidence of the in come-tax. The declaration which will be made from the Treasury Bench to-day cannot, the Post thinks, be doubtful. It will either be that Mr. Hodgkinson's proposal will be ac oepted and passed into law as soon as possible, or Mr. Poulett Scrope's plan may be taken as a compromise. In the first place we shall have gained a household suffrage such as till a very short time ago would have been scouted by every tory on the government benches ; la the l►tter, the settlement would be almost identical with Mr. Glad stone's last proposal of a M. franchise. The Standard has changed its opinion upon the merits of Mr. Hodgkinson's amendment. To-day it says that, after all, the amendment is not antagonistic but ancillary to the principle of the bill. It is confident, however, that the House of Commons will be freely willing to press for ward with the bill, and rely upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer's pledge to deal with the question with all passible promptitude. Mr. Gladstone, the Standard thinks, is self-muzzled for the rest of the session by the engagement into which he entered on Friday. If Mr. Disraeli, the Tetryrank says, will to-night be frank, generous, and straightforward, the main difficulty of reform is at an end. A franchise based on payment of rates, side by side with a law abolishing all vicarious pay ment, is household suffrage. Bet reformers must not re lax the attitude of watchfulness till they get deeds as well as words from the government. It is clear to the Star that the only conceivable effect of the small distinction which now exists between Mr. Dis raeli's principle and that of pure and simple household suffrage will be to create unnecessary confusion, incon venience, and, probably, discord in several localities. To one condition, at any rate, the House of Commons must hold firm ; it must know how the government intend to embody this new change in a legislative enactment before we proceed with this part of the Reform Bill. Mr. Disraeli's suggestion that the Reform Bill should go on exactly as if no understanding on the subject of compound occupiers bad been arrived at is entirely unworthy of serious consideration. IN TOPICR. The Daily News discusses the system of education in Scotland apropos of the report of the Scotch Education Commissioners. The object of the latter body in framing a national system for Scotland has been to adopt every part of the existing system which could be adopted, but to insist that those wheels and schoolmasters who are incor porate with the national system shall be thoroughly effi cient. The regulations under which the denominational whorl' will be placed are such, that if the management is denominational they will be used for strictly national pur poses. It is not very probable that any managers will con tinue for any length of time to maintain schools over which they can exercise so little control, and the inevi table result will be that they will transfer them to the management of the ratepayers. It is assumed, moreover, that many new schools will be required, which will in the first instance be managed by the town councils in burghs, and by a school committee appointed by the ratepayers. Fur the future no school—if the recommendations of the report are adopted—connected specifically with any reli gious denomination will be recognised as a public school, or entitled to any pecuniary aid from the Treasury, or from any public fund raised by local assessment. In short, in Scotland the denominational system will be arrested. The Tian regrets that the inquiries of the railway com missioners were limited by the order of reference so as to prevent them from investigating and reporting on the questions of railway finance. The various points urged by the commissioners against the acquisition of railways by the state, are ►dopted very emphatically by the Tillie". Insisting that the Fenian prisonera are thoroughly de serving of death, the Standard nevertheless thinks they had better not be turned into martyrs, and so in mercy to ourselves, and not to them, we must not hang them. Thus we may add one more rankling insult to the long list of injuries of which Fenianism is the product, and the very apt expression. The Telegraph appeals to the police to repress the worst of the excesses which usually characterise the return from the Derby. It is a notable fact that many who make themselves conspicuous by bad conduct are, technically speaking, gentlemen ; and almost every year some of the chief offenders are officers of the army. A more sensible UM of mounted police might render the journey back aa pleasant as the journey down. We have authority to contradict the statement that their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh were present at the races at Chantilly yesterday (Sunday). ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY, REGENT'R-PARE, —At a inserting of this society, held last Saturday, Professor Robert Bentley in the chair, the following were proposed and elected fellows of the society. The Be.. H. Waco, Edward Newman, the Rev. J. J. Evans, Samson Cops stake, Miss Squire, Mrs. Skinner, W. H. Reynolbi, the Hon. Mrs. John Ashley, Mrs. A. S. Pigeon, J. E. A. Owynne, Madame Sharps Smith. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (uvru's TZLIOIAMS.) PORTUGAL. LISBON. MAT 19. The Infanta Dona Isabel Maria and suite leave to-morrow on their usual tour to Rome. The Chamber of Commerce, after a long discus sion, has resolved to recommend the proposed treaty of commerce with France to the favourable consideration of the Cortes. TURKEY. CONSTANTINOPLE, M. 16, The Porte has just granted to the Viceroy of Egypt the title of Hidiver, which is equivalent in Persian to King. Some other minor ooncessions are also granted. The Ottoman Imperial Bank has just published a statement showing that 900,000 liras have been encashed, and 410,000 liras will fall due in time to meet the July coupons of the general debt and the foreign loans. THE BOMBAY MAIL. MARSEILLES, MAY 30. The Delta arrived at 7 a.m. to-day. The mails leave for London at 11.30 a.m. AMERICA. QUEENSTOWN, MAT 20. The Cunard extra steamer Malta, from New York, arrived here at 9.20 a.m. to-day, with 123 pas sengers and 131,973 dole. in specie. After landing 15 passengers, she proceeded for Liverpool at 9.40 a.m. All well. CROOKHAVSN, MAT 20, 10.30 A.Y. The Inman steamer City of Paris, from New York, is now passing Browhead signal station. She will probably arrive at Queenstown about 3 p.m., and letters reach London to-morrow at 6.25 p.m. SOUTHAMPTON. MAT 20. The New York and Bremen Company's steam ship Western Metropolis passed here at 4 a.m. to-day. EXPRESS FROM PARIS. (now ant OWN CORRZIWONDINT.I PARIS, SUNDAY EVILNINO. Rumours of preparations for war continue to circulate ; M. de Cassagnac's Paya will not have it that the ratification of the treaty of London by the King of Prussia a fortnight before the time stipulated is in any way a reassuring symptom. Cassagnac preaches distrust of M. de Bismarck, and affirms that all the diplomatic acts of Prussia are but masks to conceal her secret designs (arriires permies). He insists upon the armaments of Prussia as a reason why France must go on arming. At the same time letters from the Chalons camp say that showy grand manceuvres and mock fights are to give place this year to serious training, hard marches, and evolutions of a simple and practical character such as would be required in actual warfare. It is, moreover, said that most of the army of Algeria is to be brought home and re placed by local militia. The severe jobation lately given by an inspecting general to the Algerian militia for their want of instruction, lends some probability to this story. I know not what credit may be due to a para graph going the rounds of the French papers, sug gesting that a question of etiquette may very pos sibly prevent the expected visit of the King of Prussia and the Emperor of Russia together. The King, it is said, was very anxious to accompany the Czar in order to avoid fete d tete diplomatic interviews which might be embarrassing. But the Czar, it is said, would rather not come with the King of Prussia for the following reasons William I. is the senior sovereign of Europe—he is, moreover, the maternal uncle of Alexander 11. On this double ground it is apprehended that he would claim to take precedence of his nephew; and then people would say that the conqueror of Sadowa was the first sovereign in Europe. Is this delicate question a journalistic phantom or not ? Si non i vero i ben trovato. A ball at the Tuileries last night—called a private ball, because " only " a thousand invitations were issued—closed the series of fates given to the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh. Their royal highnesses have, I believe, left Paris to-day. At Lady Cowley's ball the Duke of Edinburgh did not wear the Grand Cordon of the Legion of Honour because it had not then been conferred upon him ; but the Emperor gave it him the next day, and he appeared with it yesterday. I hear it said that Kossuth is at this moment in Paris. Some idea of the magnitude of the preparations made for the late ball at the British Embassy at Paris may be gathered from the fact that among the 1,300 people assembled there were 60 detectives. Four or five of them, whose boast it is that they know nearly every conspirator in Europe, were constantly in the ballroom, where they appeared covered with decorations. The Emperor and Empress, as also the King and Queen of the Belgians, un. like all the other guests, CMG in at the back, through the garden, and the havoc which has consequently been wrsmght in the flower beds by the wheels of the carriages and the feet of the horses is pitiable. "No one seeing the place to-day," writes a Paris correspondent, "could imagine that yesterday it was, after that of the Elysee, the prettiest garden in Paris." A mysterious occurrence is at this moment causing a considerable sensation at Fontainebleau. Some excursionists in the forest three days back discovered near Franchart, in the underwood, at a short distance from the road, the body of an elegantly-dressed lady, the face of which had been devoured by some carnivorous animal, probably a wolf. The corpse bore no other signs of external violence than the mutilation just mentioned. A judicial inquiry has brought to light the fact that two ladies bad about a week before alighted at one of the hotels in the town, and, after breakfasting, had taken a carriage for a drive in the forest, but had paid and sent back the driver on arriving at Fmnchart. In the evening one of the strangers returned to the hotel in apparent distress, saying that her companion had quitted her in the forest, and asking whether the latter had since called there for her. On receiving a reply in the negative, she at once started for Paris. There is little doubt that the body found is that of the miming visitor. TH6 EMPEROR MAXIMILIAN.—The New York correspondent of the Tines writes on the 4th :—" The im perialist forces have been vanquished, General Miramon is dead, Dias has routed General Marques, and when the liberal armies entered Queretaro Maximilian was ' nowhere to be found.' Some rime about the middle of April Diaz entered the city of Mexico, and the remnant of the imoe rialista at Queretaro were dying of hunger. So complete and hopeless a disaster has seldom been recorded in modern annals, The few details of which we are in possession make it evident that the adherents of Maxi milian struggled hard to avert the ruin which menaced them. The imperialists were besieged in Queretaro, and the liberals held them at a disadvantage in being able to make forced levies upon the surround ing country. The Emperor appears to have exerted him self to obtain an amnesty for his Mexican fol lowers, but the liberals under Juarez massacred all upon whom they could lay bands. There were not more than about 7,000 imperialists to defend Queretaro, and they could do nothing but pro tract a hopelees siege. It was thought that the Emperor had fled to the city of Mexico, but the =cons of Dias does not support that belief. Juarez had no design, if the accounts may be credited, to take Maximilian', life, hut it was not probable that he could keep under restraint the bloorithirs•iness of his followers. At the date of the last advioes it wee very doubtful whether the Austrian prince was alive." THE HALL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE BY HER MAJESTY.-(THIS DAY.) The first stone of the projected Hall of Arta and Sciences was laid this morning by Her Majesty under circumstances of considerable pomp and gaiety, but with little to denote the purposes of the edifice or the precise void it is designed to fill. The Queen, however, was seen to great advan tage by many thousands of her subjects, and from the time of her Majesty's first appearing on the dais to the moment of her heading the procession through the huge tent to the Horticultural Gardens her presence evoked an enthusiasm as unbounded as it was respectful and sincere. Although the period for the ceremony was not until 11.30 a.m., carriages began to arrive soon after 9 a.m., and the huge place filled rapidly from the latter hour. The assembly was mixed, but in the main fashionable. Parisian dresses and bonnets of the latest fashion, mysterious persiflage as to Derby glove-beta, speculations as to the possibility of leaving the gardens in time for Madame Sainton's concert, and that strange society-jargon which conveys so much to the initiated— all these signs and symbols were to be seen and heard on every side. But no one seemed to know or care what the grand building was intended for, and a general disposition to " chaff" the arts and sciences was very apparent. The "Hall of Omni science" went from mouth to mouth ; and predic tions were freely hazarded as to the commonplace uses to which the future edifice would be put. The art of dress and the science of display were the ones most prominent at this stage ; and the whole pro ceedings resembled, perhaps, a botanical fete or • Handel festival rather than a solemn festival in augurating a new era in the improvement of man. The energetic " authorities " gave all those present ample opportunities of becoming ac quainted with the personnel of the trusty and well beloved councillors to whom the nation and pos terity owe so much. The tent itself was a plain but convenient structure, adorned with some flags, but showing bare rafters, and, save upon the dais itself, with few attempts at decoration. Those present were classified thus :—The ministers and principal officers of state surrounded her Majesty and court at the principal entrance ; to their right were large divisions of the House of Lords and Commons respectively, the members of which with theirfriends filled one sideof the building. The diplo matic box, containing the various foreign ministers, faced them, and M. Van de Weyer, Baron Brunnow, and Musurua Bey were among the earliest arrivals. Immediately at the foot of the platform or dais sat such provincial mayors as chose to assert their local dignity by wearing their robes of office, and the remainder of the building was filled by the general public. The first public reception was given to Lord Derby, who was warmly greeted as, looking pale and worn from his recent illness, he walked slowly down the tent. Lord Stanley was recog nised next ; but as the other officers of state and public men generally entered by another door and took up their position without passing through the assembled crowd, the time of their arrival passed unnoticed, and they got down without a cheer. Mr. Disraeli, with a huge cocked hat, and wear ing the same inscrutable look with which it is his pleasure to treat the House of Commons, sat motionless and stony as the Sphinx. The Right Hon. W. Cowper kept with the general public, as did Mr. Hunt, • the Secretary to the Treasury, whose portly form loomed larger in hie tight-fitting diplomatic dress. The Duke of Cambridge, in tield•marshal's uniform, was the first member of the royal family to arrive ; then came their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh, in their military and naval uniforms respectively; and finally, after a few false alarms, the cheers outside waxed louder, the scarlet figures in the background became more numerous, and in another moment the Queen, dressed in the deep mourning with which we have, alas ! become too familiar, was grace fully bowing her acknowledgements to a hearty burst of unaffected welcome. This was the moat effective tableau of the day. The Queen as central figure ; the Princess Louise and Princess Beatrice in pale green silk to the left ; the scarlet uniforms of the Duke of Cambridge and the Prince of Wales contrasting with the deep blue and gold of the Duke of FAclinburgh, the High land dress of Prince Arthur, and the cadet's uni form of Prince Leopold, and the diplomatic dress of Lord Derby, Lord Granville, and Mr. Gathome Hardy, and the rich fringe of colour presented by the various officers of state, among whom the white robes and benignant face of the Archbishop of Canterbury looked somewhat out of place. Her Majesty was received by the Premier and Mr. Gathome Hardy, whose new position, as Mr. Walpole's successor, gave him a prominent place in the proceedings. After the cheering had subsided, the Prince of Wales proceeded to reads short address, the Queen listening attentively, and repeatedly bowing approval. Then, handing the large bouquet pre sented to her on her arrival to the Princess Louise, her Majesty read the reply. It is customary to d well upon the exceptional distinctness of the Queen's enunciation ; but to-day neither her Majesty nor the Prince of Wales were heard a dozen yards from where they stood. Her Majesty was evidently labouring under suppressed emotion ; and though chatting cheerfully with her children, and smil ing frequently during the proceedings, there were times when the effort was apparent. The polished foundation stone was duly prepared with mortar by the Messrs. Lucas, the charter and coins were deposited, and the trowel and levels handed to her Majesty, who performed her portion of the task with workmanlike precision. The Arch bishop of Canterbury then offered up a short prayer ; the National Anthem, and a hymn composed by the late Prince Consort were sung by the choir ; and the Queen, followed by her family and the other distinguished people assembled, passed through the tent, amid loud and enthu siastic cheers. By this time the Queen's equani mity had returned ; and it was pleasant to note not merely that she appeared in excellent health, but that her spirits were more buoyant than they have seemed for some time past. Her Majesty gra ciously stopped to specially thank Signors Mario and Costa for their exertions, and distributed gracious smiles and bows on all sides. The weather con tinued fine throughout the ceremony, but a heavy rain set in soon after her Majesty's departure from Paddington. THE SCENE IN HYDE PARK. The scene in Hyde-park and in the High-road, Kensington, was very animated. The fact that her Majesty would peas through brought numer ous groups there, and the numerous equestrians and the number of carriages containing fashionably attired ladies made the park particularly gay. A detachment of the Life Guards kept the line from Hyde-park-corner to Kensington. The first signal of the approach of royalty was the appearance of the state carriages (three in number) containing his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and mite. As they entered the north-east gate to the tent, the Prince was hailed with cheers. Shortly after wards a rush was made in the direction of the Queen's gate, and the hearty shouts of those assembled indicated that her Majesty was near. The Queen and party, conveyed in seven car riages, and escorted by • number of Horse Guards, entered the northern approach to the tent. During her Majesty's passage through the park and from the Queen's gate to the site of the intended Hall of Arts and Sciences the people rent the air with cheers, and the Queen frequently responded by bowing. The cheers did not cease till it was known her Majesty had entered the tent, and the band inside commenced playing the National Anthem. The royal salute waa fired in the park by a detachment of the Horse Artillery. Twenty-one guns were fired, the report from which made the ground tremble. LAW INTELLIGENCE. (THIS DAY.) COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH. After Term Nisi Prins sittings at Guilehall.—( l3e6 d Mr. Justice Mellor an a Common Jury.) . JUDD a. RASIDDIO. This was an action to try the right to certain household furniture. The defendant pleaded several pleas, on them being that the goods in question were furniture ps a chased for the express purpose of enabling one Adams to carry on the occupation of a prostitute. Mr. H. C. Cole, Q.C., and Mr. Joyce were moue] fe d the plaintiff ; Mr. Serjeant Ballantine and M r . Pearce am, oounsel for the defendant. The plaintiff is a linendraper in High-street, St. Jae,. wood, and the defendant is • furniture broker in Yu*. bone-road, end toe question was the right to certain ior. niture which the plaintiff claimed under a bill of salq Annie Adams, who was living under the pr a t e mit of • gentleman named Hy ams , a t Lime-villa, 'w e b lingtoa-road, St. John's-wood, and had been ka dv , to the plaintiff as • customer for some tine Mrs. Clifford. Hyams and Adams frequently e i; to his shop and purchased goods, and on one wanes Hyams complained that he found it very expensive to po, three guineas per week for the furnished house, ope which the plaintiff suggested it would be much better ke Mr. Hymns to purchase the furniture. Mr. liya m h o not the means of purchasing the property, be d ti was eventually arranged that plaintiff should numbs** furniture, and take • bill of sale as security foe ih s money. Plaintiff accordingly purchased the furniture fer 1401., and in August, Miss Adams being indebted to bi d in a nun of money, a bill of lisle was even by Adams (Hyams having purchased the goods for ha' i s the . plaintiff for 1951. It was arranged between e a that Rpm' should pay down 201., sad balaooe by monthly instalments of 81.65. Bd. The y were paid, and the instalments for some time, It January, 1866, Hyams left Miss Adams, and sh e b e , acquainted with Captain Gould, and in the autumn, tkes being several instalments due, Captain Gould gave its plaintiff a cheque for about lot., which, howeve r , v eventually dishonoured , and he ltimately gave the olie. tiff a bill of exchange for 901. for the balance, which , also dishonoured. - Miss Adams afterwards sold the ills'. tare to the defendant for WI. The plaintiff was called, and in addition to the slam statement said he gave receipts to Miss Adams in her name. There was no interest named in the bill of o w , but it included 151 . 15 e. bonus f or p urc h as i ng the tannins. In cross-examination be stated that he had knows Annie Adams for five or six years, and how she was living. Captain Gould succeeded to Hymns. (Plaintiff thee vim into the account, which appeared to be of a rather ea. pleated character.) Up to October, 1866, there iral a balance due from Annie Adams of 751., and in that NM* Adams drew a four months' bill for9o/. Is. 6d., which ins accepted by Captain Gould, and endorsed by Adams me the plaintiff. Mr. lieeant Ballantine—Which was duly paid? Plaintiff —Unfortunately not. (Laughter.) Mr. serjeent Ballantine—And Captain Gould and tie lady have both gone? Plaintiff—Yes ; and I have not been able to find the, Captain Gould gave him a cheque for 26/. which was pa Captain Gould gave a second cheque for 36/. (part of It, money lent, and 11. interest) which was not paid. Asa. amnion was put in for rent. He never said to anyone that be had taken Gould's bill of exchange to replace the bald sale, but as Gould was gone he should stick to dr furniture. Never promised to take the bill of sale Miss Adams. He hail no recollection of having had giro to him • policy of insurance. He made inquiries slims Captain Gould of his agents in Pall-mall, and ? good account of him, he took his acceptance for the amount in arrears. Adams was in debt to named Hart, and he introduced plaintiff to a paws Harvey to discount Captain Gould's bill. He did he had taken up the bill to square up all accounts. Re-examined—The bill of exchange, if it had been paid, would have settled up aIL (The plaintiff was enamel bow he made up 901., but he seemed to so misapprehend al the questions put to him that the learned judge °Mend he had got the thing into such inextricable continue the it was impossible to understand it.) It ultimately twin out that a subsequent private account of Miss Adams In been included in the amount. After the bill was give Kiss Adams asked for the bill of sale, but he refund a Fromit until the bill of exchange was paid. He ascension from the agents that Captain Gould was on the stalf the Bengal native infantry. Mr. Serjeant Ballantine, for the defendant, mid should not support the plea of immorality to defeat th plaintiff's claim ; but he should ask them to give their se diet for the defendant on the substantial merits et is ease. There was only one instalment of $l. Cs. MAN on the Ist of September, 1866, and the phintiff bs no right now to introduce an account for dispel subsequently had as secured by the bill of al on the furniture. The plaintiff might have nth • bad bargain in taking the bill of exchange and timelier; but he could not now come back on the bill of ale Captain Gould was anxious to relieve the furnitan from ineumbrance, and the plaintiff willingly took the if exchange in payment. Miss Adams considered the gent had reverted to her, and in that belief sbe sold to it plaintiff about 541. worth of the furniture and took tas remainder. [Theeaae was proceeding when our report left.l MIDDLESEX SESSIONS. (THIS DAY. The May adjourned general sessions of the peas for tie county of Middlesex commenced this morning stile Sessions-house, Clerkenwell-green, before Mr. Boaz ass istantlndge; Mr. Joseph Payne, deputy - wets * judge ; and a bench of magistrates. The calendar contains the names of 95 prisoners CO. mitted for trial—of whom 86 are indicted for felony,' fs misdemeanour. The offences 0011lifl:. of robberies from ths person, stealing in dwelling-houses, embezzlement by et. rants, robbery from the London and North Western Ink way Company, robbery from the Crest Northern KW., Company, assaulting members of the metropolitan ples force whilst in the execution of their duty, lead desk% rescuing a prisoner whilst in the lawful custody of limbs. constable, and several other offences. The state of education of the prisoners was reporkd ra follows :—Can neither read nor write. 22 ' • can read alb 12 ; read and write imperfectly, t 7 ; read sad vim well, 4. THE POLICE COURTS (THIS DAY.) GUILDHALL. STIALING A CHEQUE- William Rowan, a porter, was placed at the her remand, before Alderman Hale, charged with gain: cheque from his master. George Pavel.)). said—On Friday, the '22nd of lane la he sent the prisoner, who was a porter in his emplse," the Itirkbeck Bank with a cheque for 16/. to get Gabel, and bring the proceeds back to him. He had not seats since until he was in custody, fur he never mturnad to d 1 work. Henry Horace Browse, clerk in the Birkbeck Bak Southampton-buildings, produced the cheque in imam which he cashed on the 22ad of June, 1866. It was pe vented for payment by a boy, but he could net Meath the prisoner as the boy. He paid it in two 51. Iss. d silver and 61. in gold, late in the afternoon of that day. Henry Canons, 444 A, said on Monday night he west* Peter's-hum, Cow-cross, and apprehended the prisoner ea a warrant issued from this court. As soon as the prude saw him be said he knew what witness warted line he. He further said it was about a cheque, and it was WOO two young men he had met on the mail, hut that it hid come home to them both, for they had since got IS raw* each. The prisoner had been previously convicted. The prisoner said he had only been convicted NO W one month. He had nothing to say in defence. Alderman Hale fully committed him for trial. MARLBOROUG H-STREET. RAIIIBIRY AT A RAILWAY sTATRA. Wm. Thomas, • lad, was charged before Mr. }f wie with stealing • purse containing W. from the pens , " Mrs. Charlotte Jennings, of No. 17, New Unioirstree t, Moorfields. The peosecutrix rid—Last night shout 10 o'zleck 1 mo d standing in company of my husband on the plalk!"' the Portland-road station of the Metropolitan Rml"y' there being a large number of persons there at the tat waiting for a train to the City. I noticed the prieom r ; keep standing close to me, and he pushed again., me kept following nie. Suddenly I felt something belga my pocket, and on turning round I SOW the my puree. containing MI. in gold and some silver, m II bawl. We seized the prisoner, lint be succe,dol Pd ° ins the puree to a man in the crowd. Mr. Jennings, husband of the prosecutrit. O S similar evidence, • eit il Policemonstable James Thompson, NM sanl , duty last night in Osnaburg-street, when I was fedi ,. the Portland-road station of the 'Weil:round Railwaysf the prisoner was given in ch..rge for stealing the cntn is purse containing SI. ( searching the pris oir , found some coppers in his pocket, and in his hoot 45.. 4 Mr. Mansfield —Did he make any answer to the chef.' Constable—He did not. Mr. Mansfield—ls he known' Inspector Hubbard—l cannot say at prevent, bu s believe if he is remanded he will be known. Mr. Mansfield remanded the prisoner for a week. WEST/ON:3ITR. A Mr. Samuel Nicholas Ca , a gentleman 111.0,1,1% Of years or age, was charged with baring been .hunk ••• disorderly. Polioe-oonstahle Cregen, 1% 8, said, that at • Col put 11 last night he was on duty in the 11e grive"`" Pimlico, when he saw a number of pimple m aembledelf" site 89, F.celeston-square, and found the defendant n!tP.l,6 the bell and knocking at the door there. He W" and riotous, and witness took him into custody. Defendant, Witness — Defendant to drive him grave -read . where he wei that it was 111 magistrate m Mr. Self. — Defendant. to the ezeit being drunk" constable. I lg.. in the p Pk. Seik— o( her Maisel Defendant. Mr. Belie — Defendant- Mr. Belk fi ne d Us. 4d. It wan imn ape :nanny. I defend jything to di 2103 . Magitt Magistr cum pick replied n il torni Cranfi bel suppc I disc 001 a ILAM a trei vifteri take of 4 SI *Alp 'Use Wei: eon h am • Catharine J ie tiro s ee house, was c ently p as alloted to her maim Ift meet. nave t o p i , Faller, the' owe, Dm was an inmet di better kr ',den to plat Mures km refused te pc 1, 7, red it into custody. ameba e t h, The defend ity foe t h had been sent unhurt fet hard after th tad k la, a place of pt in by Rte prison than ai for bet, a The master etyma tit Board to put' • fi e leer tock gm L The 3g, Defe ndant i e time, le for disorderly I ebe bese t ahrOsing to dj tutu, the e The Markt Id Rye the tended as a 7t Teter, as, The muter re the pl ea . , which r ee restrict her fir other females Id the hob. themselves. I own fancy woe *the aka vent that. tarns in her The Magistr bill of at e , at such work. Le fusitore, The master I had know him. !was lir*, The Magistr Et thee yen to oakum pick rather ma. He replied n there we s Punt. that real The Magistr , chiding considered the Adams ore woman to oak( sn evasion of t aid I diacharge the 1 Id 1111,1 tie THE ACC! e find thee A wu mia. STATE 01 (put of 10t. This morni id. Asa. Walter Smith, anyone gat friars new bri t x the bill d The name of tick to do Thomas Cranfi I of sale le It is new bet g had Owe sequence of wh 'dries use was used in thi 1 hurter II the river. Rid and theme got on top of a to a pent weight was res Luce oared quently takes I did sot ay fall of the link ants. chain to swing' i been paid, a emceed 'prebend el The actual Ige 6 wr'ef return issued to Arnim the the Ist day of d dely tame Adams he meats towards I mu Pre year 1867.8, wa L refund le The select I asceriaieel the Ad 4 i, their opinion it I period of the se nt, mid is parliament of n o defeat th any alterations i ", their ' 6 ' the provisions f writs of dr which hare hitk , re. sd. dm Lustig he Mr. Tom Ti for drsmo the Holborn Tl 2, ill el ate • be called / ha mil the m dem At a public ill of elk t . ptou het wee lain het • und, Mr. OW the kg 4 . 1 ted that the rl the gesis sold to dm . enging the nd took s. 'duet match ; icket match w left.] worship had ign • he offered t S. to of Souther • d consider I • lenger that 1 ther chief me eke for the A Roman vi ning at the Hants, by the Ir. Bode. . • :yea/Mast It is been guppy roam MO ve been disc 'elony. 9ig . • pottery, iis from the ' as, Clan& neat by om eaters KM tug, Re. la Bahl red to have be ditan pobes The cold e ad duke. !dapple. tely hare dos crop in the reporkd At Woolato t read alb sad ma .the leaves e e yellow colt"' Ma. GILD:. B. • *elite ^ writes I . Gledstone .estYthing. lAel was fairl it wantec I—l. The eh notion of tt :be Mr a • er franchie gale: ' le and bon se . older ; 5 f Jose lag. Is the reside employ, 0 eU, four of th get c rib'. on the point Let smoke endment or nee d t o lie • • not h are h e ernment join tek Bark, ooncemion of ,n mesas 7 found then t was 1 ) " . . victorious ft" et Ws* • Id be to an a, .V. bugs d met at the art day. „lug a cou nc il h e erste ZXTIUOIDI N prisoller il •ILYESI IN LEI be primo the old cos NI him fat Mr. Matthew cal Week • fling between the; it hid den and f" pe wade introduction tea. bleat nutby, al teal* W hi ch had :mere sot were tree thbe e t , eseeri 1 11, and then • }l e vied teed with glee ....a d • that the only dowered, •ti its bein g e ri ti cessively attic clack 1 arg art daily. Fi platform d jog up the It o Ilailr`d' Owing t t the now disea se eon , • "` l t ; as to th e re at rme Id be a acerta ~ g bell: ! and they ~, , ..e r woe • i n • The 0 ,or. is S i ' . the etre , 0 1 in Po !i Mients ta ke' • los 1 I :wing P m to dia 00 :1 the dead an I --I vg . forth every fetcht 4 A ll for the Ailway.ff• ! the WO; ace Low; 0 ' rotate ' . Arrro r . ut 4e. , oe x.—, the litte he Mul l. the atrium- l a Ravel-pit a the !at, but I event cos 1 7 'Pot The _. were not Wi lilring 0, I/4 that she w ark of 1 • Palk jumped hunk I S eke of h er t wo Palled her t o r'sm being d t • 4" 146 eel the pit tn"'" aL I dgPth of wt abled ell" an t ri, _etlefwas her e l aw are and as was di m .' I it w as • ) sake • 1