The Express. — London, England, 1867-05-02 00:00:00

CONSTITUTION AL LIBERALISM. " CUE DAY." Phu One l'euny Erez-strest, B ENSON'S WATCHES end CLOCKS. By ispeolal Appanitmekt to 11 1111. TOR PRINCE OF WALES. Prize Ueda. Gordon, Class 22: 'Midi°, Clara 10. 'II inemeters, It ay leas, Kepeatern,Chrotigraolisote. •Li ' K Bur Drawing Roonis,Carrlaget,Churohes, de. JI.%VELLERE — , pecialilies in Monograms, Crystals, Diamonds, and title Cold. CI. %TE, and WORKe of ART in Bronze, ay Leading Artists. Eli 'Es a n d Descriptions, sea Illustrated Pamphlet, post tree. Is.it. lies ..sad Clueas sent to all touts nt the world. J. %V 11EN•oN, 25, OLD iO.SB-61 . 11Krr. Stealil F:u I ire and City Ahoy. kisinte. .5 and do, Ll' IX; E.ll ILL I' n-k ‘httiltion, 1e67, English Sti lion. 11aoa M. ~.~,~. B ROWN and POLSON'S CORN PLOITR fur CHILDREN'S DIET. I • HAW extra pr,alc ty Hie sale utter [tuns are suinethass Mfbroll instead of BROWN and PO[ `SUN. I,4in Erowii." "Juhu Poison," Is 'Sped o) the mimes eson owlet. Zhe lexirrtSfs. TO COIRE4PON DENIM. h*Tertisementa Intended for "The Ezprro." Loudon F:venhag Weyer, must be et the lance, 10, Bouverle street, 1 y Two o'clock oa the day of pahlleation. DRURY LA24 Z. 'lur. F.VSNINO, THE GREAT )levers. Warner. Mn. l.no. Itnnae, Ace.: Meallamiv Robertson, Le Thieve, 1...1 lbonipaon —To i....ucluda with 1t, 1 1.44:AL !ACK. ••1 Hunan and Neville ; Meadanivi ne and Thmdpviin. HAYMARKET. Tins EVININO, TELE - WOLF /NB VIE LAMB. Mews. Oklppais lale, furren, ac. Mn. hc.— A WILD rAhßre. Meena ivAltern, Backsloue, Molten, ac... Madmen Burke, Chipiwudale, HILL ac —Aihd A KB, IN AIE DARK. LITZUM. Ten. EVENI%O. 8AM8131311711 a . . Mr. Trice and Miss Kate Basbnp.—THE DOKE'S MOTTO. Mr. Yachter, Messrs. &eery. Widdloants. etc Misses Elsworthy, Grattan, and Car lolLs Leclerc.' —A Oren, Ballet. M. Kapinoa nophle. STRAND. THIS ETEmo, sWEETIISAJLTWAND WITYS. Mr. Bel ford -PYGMALION; OR, TUE STATUE FAIR. Slew& Thom, James. de.; Nlesdames A. Swarkborongh. Ratattam. Uolc, & Newton.—And THE FRENCH EXHITITION. HOLBORN. Tau Evasisa, 11T TiirtN I( T. Mr. Baboon: Musa Paola and Lennox.—And FLYING SCUD. Mourn Neville, Bet- MOM, Blake. Voltaire. &e.: Mesdames T. Juges:dn, C. Samars, Sin& Fordo. nicks. Lennox, linyinond. dn. BILITANNI4 : 'NM EysrtMQ, THE Llil9 SIGNAL. Messrs Peynolds, Howe, &c.: Miss Jane Coveney,—CHF.GEY AND PAIR oTAR. Messrs Bigwood, Leslie, Elton. dC ; Mrs S. Lens and Misses Edwin, Booth, and Maearthy —And TIIE DREAM UP AILEEN. HIGH WATER. AT LONDON BRIDGE. TIM DAY —Morning. OR 190 Afternoon. Ob. Oa TO-11011.011—Morning, Ih. ers.._ Afternoon, lb. Aim LONDON, THURSDAY, MAY 2. BETWEIN strikes and debentures railways are just now in such involuntary difficulties, that it seems cruel to blame them for voluntary faults. But even their shareholders may pardon us if the faults we would have them correct are each as must materially injure their own property. And, certainly, whatever has a tendency to pre vent people from travelling, by filling them with the idea that travelling is dangerous, cannot but have the most immecliately injurious effects upon the traffic receipts. For this reason it is only an act of kindness to the shareholders, while it is one of bare justice to the public, to call attention once more to the constantly recurring incidents that illustrate the necessity for establishing in some more efficient way than has yet been prac tised the means by which passengers can call for help in case of emergency. It would seem, in deed, from the letter of "A Still-surviving "Traveller," which the Dail y News publishes to-day, that even the pretence of affording such means has, on one of our principal lines, been abandoned. It is true it was at best an arrangement that would have served for only one of the many contingencies to which railway travelling is liable. Its use de manded that the passenger needing assistance should rise, should proceed to one point in the carriage, should break a glass case so delicately as to shiver the glass without either cutting an artery or destroying the machinery it protected, should read the instructions, and should turn the handle in the direction indicated by an arrow. Very self-possessed persons might carry out all this pro cedure in practice even in the case of a fire break ing out, but it is ludicrously inapplicable to any contingency of more rapid development. The idea of a woman in the grasp of a ruffian, or an elderly gentleman stunned by the blow of a life preserver, being able to avail themselves of this highly scientific contrivance, is painfully absurd. Yet such as these are the cases to be provided for, as everyday experience clearly shows. The truth is that the system of locking up men and women, companions by chance and not by choice, in enforced companionship for half an hour, or even an hour at a time, with no means of calling succour, and no possi bility of escape save by death, is a thing so wholly barbarous that it is marvellous it should have been endured for a day. But we all know what its consequences are. One day we read of a carriage full of passengers just rescued from burning, just as we read twenty years ago of a whole train full that were actually burnt. The other day we had a story of a girl saved from outrage by the happy accident of a guard looking in at the peril of his own life, just as a year ago we had a story of precisely similar character that happened on a different line, and as, a year before, we had a story of a woman who made her escape, and was saved by being held on the step of the next carriage by a passenger who had strength to support her till a station was reached. A week ago we had the story of a clergyman who was unjustly, but not it seems dishonestly, accused of an act of indecency in a railway car nage ; and this serves to illustrate another phase of the mischiefs the system produces. It is so notorious that foul-minded men take advantage of the opportunities that our present system of tra velling affords, that women become morbidly sen sitive to their danger, and sometimes fancy insult where it was least intended. Again, there are fre quent cases in which false charges of assault are brought for purposes of extortion, and in which it is as hard for the man to disprove the accusa tion as it would have been hard for the woman to lave escaped the violence had it been really offered. If railway directors fancy that all these matters have not a very material influence upon thine receipts they are very much mistaken. The difference between the travelling that is strictly necessary and inevitable, and the travelling that is for objects of pleasure, recreation, or idleness, is quite sufficient to make the difference between no dividend and a good one. The enormous increase of travelling that follows on a reduction of fares (whether in that case it is profitable or not is beside the question) proves bow much the disposition to travel is influenced by slight motives. But how much stronger motive than the saving of a few pence or shillings would be the assurance of safety from danger ! And if a small rise in fares instantly makes itself felt in diminished numbers, how greatly must they be reduced by the apprehension of perils which are known by daily proof to be of such frequent occurrence. Every man, indeed, knows among his own acquaintances many of both sexes who avoid railways as far as possible, and who resort to them with fear and reluctance, for no other reason than the dread of finding themselves alone THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 2, 1867. with a ruffian, a swindler, a garotter, or an expe rienced victim of undesignedassaults. It is no business of ours to devise machinery for remedying the evil, but we must take leave to observe once again that it is not inseparable from railway travelling, for there are several countries in which none of these dangers can occur. In the United States, for example, and in Switzer land, the carriages communicate by doors, and guards frequently pass up and down through the whole length of the train. This acts precisely as the presence of a policeman on his beat. There is no danger of assault, for the door may at any moment open, and then, even though the victim should have been overpowered at once and unable to make outcry or resistance, the guilty would be caught redheaded in a trap. In this assurance is found the perfect safety of the most helpless and unprotected. And in the knowledge of this safety lies the safeguard against the trumping up of false accusations. What is thus secured to the traveller in these republics may be certainly as easily secured in our realm, if our directors will only be good enough to cease giving them selves so much trouble in proving it impossible. But if they are incurably perverse in the belief that what the public like, and what coaxes traffic, is the possibility of being locked up tac-d-Nte with a felon or a too-expectant prude, we must hope that the shareholders will take the matter into their own hands. They at least have not the security of special trains, or of special attendance, secured by the wink that con veys the intelligence to every official that a director is in a certain carriage. They are subject to the accidents of meaner humanity, and their care for their own persona is in harmony with the interests of their pockets. If they will make travelling safe they will have more comfort, and better divi dends. And they can do it, by making this a " Government Measure." When directors are elected expressly to make railways fit conveyances for persons of civilized habits and decent morality, they will very soon find a practical way to carry that purpose into effect. no doubt, a bill will have been obtained which will fulfil the demands of the liberal party, and by which they may fairly be bound. Then the question of reform, for oar time at least, may be considered as settled. But "H. " very much doubts whether such a course will be adopted. No one believes the house to be in earnest about reform. I They have dethroned Mr. Gladstone because they knew I him to be in earnest, and have rallied round Mr. Disraeli for the very opposite reason, but behind the House of Commons there remains an indignant people. " H." con eludes with an argument in defence of the course which Mr. Gladstone has adopted, and with observing that the fabric of the tory system is at all events ruined to its foundations. This time it is not a party which the tones have destroyed, but a creed which they have annihilated. They have evacuated their Sebastopol ; let us take care irretrievably to blow up their stronghold. Treating of the probable order of the parliamentary pro ceedings on the bill, the Daily News apprehends that in the unexpected event of Earl Grosvenor's persisting in his amendment, its rejection is certain. In case it is with drawn, Mr. Ayrton's motion for the reduction of the re sidential qualification will be proceeded with ; and now that it is Mr. Ayrton's, and not Mr. Gladstone's amend ment, the government will not consider its success fatal to their measure. The principle of equality in the quali fying term of residence once acquiesced in, it is difficult to see on what grounds Mr. Hibbert's amendment can be declined. However, all improvements which are subsidiary and subordinate to the principle of the government measure are but superficial and in cidental. The bill is in its essence vicious. The clan which the compound householders' clause will bring in is the class which Mr. Disraeli thinks may he made use of for tory purposes. Household suffrage in small and rotten boroughs, and the introduction of such compound householders in the large ones as the local agent can answer for, arc the ends at which he apparently aims. A residence of one year will answer his purpose in this matter better than a residence of the two, as giving him a larger range of choice ; and Mr. Hibbert's clause will extend facilities of enfranchisement to the corrupt and wholesale manufacturer of votes aa well as to the honest individual claimant. tinder such circumstances, it is for the responsible leaders of the liberal party to consider whether they can combat a dishonest and illusory measure of household suffrage with any other weapon than household suffrage pure, simple, and hcnest. The Standard says there is not a man, in the honesty of whose reform professions anybody seriously believes, who is not anxious that the measure now before par liament should be pursed this session. Even as it stands, every honest reformer would be glad to see it become law. Nevertheless, our contemporary thinks it prudent to warn " tea-room" liberals that if they should desert the government in an important division, a dissolution of par liament may be expected. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. WAR NEWS. Notwithstanding the acceptance of the Congress the preparations for war do not seem to bo re- lased. A letter from Kehl, in the Mintier dui Bas-Rhin, says: Lieutenant-General Wear; has been appointed Governor of the fortress of Rastadt, and numerous other changes have been made in the officers of the higher and lower grades. Military measures Are in progress all along the Rhine. General Moltke has arrived in Mayence to inspact that fortress, which he did most mi nutely. It is said that a corps of 10,000 will be stationed there. Front Coblence we learn that Lehmann and Co., who were the contractors for the supply of provisions to the Prussian army in the recent war, have arrived there and made inquiries from the merchants re specting their means of furnishing provisions on a west scale, and also with respect to the number of hones that could be supplied. The Berlin correspondent of the Tinsel writes : The pacific turn in the policy of this cabinet, so far front causing military preparations to be viewed as super fluous, has, on the contrary, been accompanied by a stir in the War Department greater than before. General Moltke himself has repaired to Mayence to supervise the armament of the fortress destined to playa moat important part in the event of war. At the same time the journal ists of Mayence have been summoned before the autho rities, and prohibited mentioning any of the measures going on before their eyes. In Scbleswlg-Holstein and Nassau, where • conscription was to be made in June, recruits have been ordered to join in the beginning of May; in Electoral Hesse the reserves are on the point of being called out for drill ; and in Konigsberg • number of Landwehr artillery officers, ordered for service at this unusual time of the year, are busy practicing the management of the new rifled guns. While these facts are reported from the various parts of Prussia we learn that the reorganioation of the cavalry, so long expected and so often delayed in the minor States, is in progress in Mecklenburg and Bavaria. It seems also correct that 10,000 needle-guns have been lent to the Grand Duke of Darmstadt by Prussia, and there can be no doubt that Berlin firms who have undertaken to provision the army in a Western campaign are looking out for sub-contractors in Rhineland. Prince Ludwig of Hesse, the new commander of the Darmstadt divi sion, and General Bothmer, the new quartermaster general of the Bavarian forces, have been summoned to Berlin by telegraph. Generals Bus and. Kra /wizen, the commandants of the fortresses of Landau and Germersheim, situate in the Bavarian palatinate, close to the French frontier, have received equally summary no- tices to repair to Munich. General Waag has been ap pointed commandant of the Baden fortress of Rastadt, a post which since the dissolution of the old confederacy has bets only nominally filled. I may couple this intelligence with the fact that steps are being taken to insure the ser vices of American privateers against the French mercantile navy. (REUTER% TELEGRAMS.) FRANCE. PARIS, KAY 2. M. Jonas yesterday presented to the Minister of Foreign Affairs his credentials as chargd d'affaires for the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg at the French court. LONDON AND SOUTH AFRICAN BANK. (THIS DAY.) The sixth ordinary meeting of the shareholders was held at noon, at the London Tavern ; Colonel HOL LAND in the chair. The following report and accounts were presented : " The directors beg to submit the annexed statement of accounts for the year ending 31st December, 1866. After deducting all charges and carrying 8,0 , 10/. to the amount held against past due bills, the directors are enabled to recommend to the proprietors a dividend of 8s per share, which with the payment made in November last, will be four per cent. for the year. In their last circular the directors stated their conviction that a large amount of borrowed money could not, in addition to their capital of 500,0001., be for some time to come safely employed in the colony. Acting on this belief, which subsequent events have fully confirmed, they have effected a further considerable reduction in the deposits bearing interest. The policy of the directors in discontinuing branches, at which there is now noprospect of *sufficiently remunerative business, has been further carried out. The result has been to bring the operation' of the bank under more efficient supervision. During the late commercial em barrassments the business of the hank has necessarily been restricted, the directors having been desiroua to avoid all transactions which were not of an undoubted character. The directors who retire by rotation are Messrs. J. H. Lance, T. W. L. Mackean, J. It. Thomson, and J. Hogan who being eligible, offer themselves forre-election. it will be necessary to appoint auditors for the ensuing year. " Statement of liabilities and assets, London offices and branches, December 31, 1866. -Liabilities.-Dr. : Capital paid up, 506,000/. ; circulation, notes and bank post bills, 14,894/ Is. ; deposits, 228,218 /. 6s. Id. ; bills payable, and other liabilities, 74,2:W. 4s. Bd. ; reserve fund 18,1811. Gs. 3d, ; balance of profit and loss, 20,670/. 14 s. ; less payment on account of dividend to 30th June, paid 6th No vember, 1866, 10,0001.: leaving 10,6701. 14a. 4d. ; total, 846,1981. 12a. 4d. Assets-Cr.: Specie on hand and cash balances, 75,8301. 17s. 81. • bank premises, furniture, fittings and other property, 22 , 991! . 12s. 11d. ; local bills discounted, bills receivable, government and other secu rities, 670,514/. 541. 3d.; bills overdue and unpaid, 1.88,6101., 10s. 7d. ; less amount held against loess s thereon, 43/.869/. 6s. 2d. ,' partial payments, 17,98 q. 7s. 11d.; together,6l,Bs2l. 14s. Id. leaving 46,8411. 16e. 6d. ; total, 646,1961. 12s. 441. Profit and Lou Account -Dr. : To interest, commis sion, and exchange paid, 18,`4511. 12s 7d. ; to charges for the year, including rent, taxes, and all other expenses, at bead office and branches, 21,627!. 15s. sd. ; to rebate on bills not due, 4,2171. 4s. 6d. ; to payment on account of dividend for six months endng 30th June, 1866 (paid 6th November, 1866, free of income tax), 10,0001. ; balance down, 10,670/. 14s. 4d. ; total, 64,7671. Ea. 10d. Cr.: By rebate on bills brought forward from 31st Decem ber, 186.5, 6,772/. 17s. 7d. ; by gross profits for the year ending 31st December, 1 866, 6.5,994/. 9s. 3d. ; together, 72,7671. 6s. 10d. ; less amount reserved against past due bills, : 1866, June 30, 5,000/. ; December 31, 3,000/. ; together, 8,0001. ; leaving 64,767/. 6s. 10d.; by balance down, 10,6764. 14s. 4d." The CHAIP.XAN said at the last meeting it was announced that the policy adopted in South Africa was that of reducing liabilities and getting in debts as fast as possible. That policy had been steadily pursued, and this accounted for a considerable diminution in the deposit accounts and liabi lities, the desire of the directors being to enable themselves to recommence business in a satisfactory manner. Bad as things had been in the colony, there was now a little clear sky. The capital of the compare y was safe, and, a dividend of 6 per cent. having been earned, the board recommended the division of 4 per cent.- a rate which could not be exceeded prudently. As regarded the deposits, he must observe that at s ix or seven per cent. they could not be very profitable. There was a small reduction, he regretted to say, in the note circulation; but in that as in other matters he believed that when their character for sound business became more generally Known the result would be satisfactory. The charges for the year were 3,000!. less than those of the preceding year , and those of the ensuing . ear would show an equal retire; tion. The branch at IV wn had been discontinued, because it was found that there was only sufficient business for one bank. By reducing the branches they had • better chance of securing the best kind of officers. Under all circumstances, the directors thought the bank had now turned the corner, and that there was good hops for the future. He concluded by moving the adoption of the report and accounts, and the declaration of a dividend at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum. In replying to a question, The CHAIRMAN stated that the last advice. justified the board in stating that the liabilities on account of past due bill. did not exceed 76,0001. In reply to a further question The CHAIRNAM Mid the board believed that if the con cern were now wound up 17/. per share would be returned. The liability to pay up 20/. more, though very remote, no doubt affected the market value of the shares. (Hear.) A SitAncaotina thought it ought to go forth to the shareholders generally that in the wont view of matters only 31. per share had been lost. After some further discussion the report and accounts were adopted, and a dividend at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum declared. The proceedings terminated with votes of thanks to the directors and the officer. WEATHER REPORT.-(THIS DAY.) THOR/IDA; DLT S. II LL F. , Extroom Am. R. 'Li W. Ito ~.—.--...1 W. L. 4to 0.2 1. R. I .. •—.---- -,-..--. -.- -.-- —-- Nairn 130.034 61 24.1. 2 N.L cm& - 2 Aberdeen '30.36 CV B.R. 1 14.1. Os - a Leith . 30.06 44 W.N. W. 1 Z. ro 11.04 1 Ardroomn '30.01 44 N. 3 9.R. It - 2 Greenmails 9.89 60 W.S. W. 1 I L ob - 1 Valenti... '39.64 50 B.W. 4 B.W. la 003 II Cape Clear 29.96 54 S.W. 4 . B.N. f 0.35 4 '29.tn 54 8. 1 ; W.N.W. cb - 1 Holyhead -30.02 60 8. 2 1 12.8. W. c- 13 Penzano '30.06 53 8.1. 2 • rf O. 2 Brest 30.08 64 N.N.W. 4 . (W. r lap 4 Latent 20.04 65 W. I 1 : I W.B.w. ro 14.16. 3 Rochefort 30.06 65 W.S.W. .3 i W. ro , 0.16 6 Plyraouth 30.06 5s NAL .1 : I B.M. oo .o.oB' 1 Weymouth 30.11 53 8. 1 1 B.W. fl 1 -13 Portsmouth _ 30.07 51 8. 3 N. e 1 - 2 London 30.09 47 Z. 0 W.N.W. ob ' - - Yarruoutb 30.08 47 N.N.W. 1 2 8.8. W. 100, -' 3 Scarborough. 30.08 47 Z. 0 N. oI- II ..,hiolga 30.15 48 S. 2 8. 0 ' - 3 Helder OUR CONTEMPORARIES. (THIS DAY.) THE • 1R1( NEETING IN HTDZ-PARK. The stand ; has a somewhat ambiguous inti mation with regard to the proposed meeting in Hyde-park. While it states that the announcement of the illegality of the projected demonstration necessarily places the go vernment under the obligation to bring those who violate the law to justice, it adds, after cautioning the indifferent to beep away, that the park will be left, if the demonstra tion is persisted in, to the members of the Reform League, their friends the roughs, and the agents of public security. No one, therefore, nays the Standard, need fear that Mon day next will be memorable in English history for any serious disturbances The Telegraph considers we are in the presence of facts which have become very serious, and which may lead to consequences of a most deplorable kind. 111-advised and uncalled-for ea it deems the manifesto of the government, it trusts that, upon further reflection, the Reform League will recognise the expediency of coming to some prompt determination which may take the question back into the domain of law, and avert the prospect of an alarming dis turbance of the public peace. The Post considers that the government has very pro perly forbidden the meeting. It advises that the shops in the great thoroughfares leading to the park be closed, and it thinks that the men who keep them and are employed in them might make an exceedingly impressive demonstra tion in the cause of order. Either as special constables, or simply as her Majeety's subjects, they could walk into the park and be ready to render the police the maistance that might be required. In the opinion of the Star, the government proclam►- tion exhibits the length to which the ministers can go in obstructing the free expression of opinion. The govern- meat, having doubtless taken the opinion of the law officers of the crown, find they cannot exclude the people from the park. The Star presumes uo attempt will be made to shut the gates or to club those desiring to enter, as on late occasion when "Mayne Prefect" issued his edict to that effect. The length to which the proclamation goes is to admonish the people not to enter the park with a view to attend, aid, or take part in a meeting for the purpose of political discussion. They may enter for any other legal purpose, and it is perfectly easy for the reformers to make an effective demonstration without holding a formal meeting for political discussion. Three cheers for the Queen and reform will be quite as effective as any number of speeches. THE REFORM BILL. A communication from " IL," treating at great length of the present position of reform, appears to-day in the Tines. The subetance of the observations is to this effect : The paining of a reform bill, ho says, by no means neces sarily settles reform, but on the contrary may lead to agitation with a force proportioned to the disappointment which the bill may hays occasioned, and this he believes to be the present state of affairs. The government measure, it will not be disputed, has inspired among the very classed it was intended to conciliate a dissatisfac tion not less general and violent than that which ensued lon the rejection of the bill of last session. It is easy for a conservative government to pass a reform bill, but in the same ratio is it difficult for them to settle the question, and a measure which, like the present one, is opposed by the great body of the liberal party will never satisfy the country. The personal payment of rates is a principle which has been repudiated by the whole liberal party out of the House of Commons, and even Mr. Roebuck and Mr. Bass, under other circumstances, have condemned it. The inequality of its operation—admitting in a few places all in a lump, and excluding in a great many places all whole sale—has never been justified. Pointing out the mode in which the bill would operate respectively in Sheffield and Birmingham, and showing that it would practi cally give the representation of Leeds to one of its suburbs, " H." proceeds to describe its effect in the different parts of the United Kingdom, asking if anyone expects that the men who are excluded in this way will quietly acquiesce in their exclusion ? Cunning and treachery may secure the puling of this measure, but it is one which to the utmost and the latest of their power the real liberal party in the country will labour to subvert, and they will continue their agitation till the day when the House of Commons shall be compelled to abrogate it. All the real leaders of the libertl party—Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Bright, Mr. Forster, Mr. Baines, Mr. Stansfeld—are pledged against it, and they are not men to com promise a principle which they know to be false in its basis, and unjust in its operation. Why are one set of men to have the franchise without condition, when it is refused to others except upon con dition ? Everyone knows perfectly well that the " prin ciple" has been adopted because, and only because, it would necessarily restrict the numbers, and it is the confi dence that the great majority of householders in boroughs will be excluded that teconciles Sir Stafford Northcote and the real tories to the measure. They support it be cause they believe and know it to be an imposture. It is because the liberal party are entirely of this opinion that they do and always will to the end make war upon it. The House of Commons may pass such a bill if they please. but the party who demand reform never will accept such a measure as a settlement. The proposition of the dual vote, then of the personal pay ment of rates, and thirdly of the lengthened residence, all show that the scheme of the government was framed on the principle of distrust of the class which it professes to enfranchise. Unless the decision of the 12th of April is virtually reversed—unless Mr. Hibbert's amendment can be moulded so as to make it clear that a man is not to be excluded from the suffrage simply because he pays his rates in one form instead of another, the bill cannot be accepted by the country. A solution may, how ever, still he possible. If Mr. Gl►dstone's amendment in some form or other be virtually adopted ; if the residence clauses are struck out ; if a lodger fran chise be added—if, in short, household suffrage without restrictions (and something more) be cor ceded ; if the county franchise is materially lowered ; if a sweeping measure of redistribution is carried ; then, Via Court. WINDSOR CASTLE, MAY 1. The Queen, accompanied by Princess Louise, went to London yesterday afternoon. Her Majesty travelled by special train on the Great Western Railway to Paddington, and drove from thence to Marlborough House and visited the Prince and Princess of Wales ; afterwards her Majesty returned to Windsor Castle. Lady Churchill and Lord Alfred Paget were in attendance. Prince Arthur, attended by Major Elphinatone, arrived at the Castle from Greenwich-park. The Duchess d'Aumale, attended by Braille. Clinchamps, visited the Prince and Princess Christian at Windsor Castle yesterday afternoon. The Queen, accompanied by Princess Louise and Prince Arthur, drove out this morning. Princess Beatrice rode in the Home-park. To-day is the birthday of Prince Arthur. Major-General the Hon. Alexander Gordon arrived at the Castle yesterday, and had the honour of dining with the Queen and the royal family. Sir Francis Grant, President, and Mr. Knight, Secretary of the Royal Academy, had the honour of presenting to the Queen this afternoon for her Majesty's signature the diplomas of Mr. George Richmond and Baron Marochetti as Royal Academicians ; and of submitting for her Majesty's approval the names of the officers of the Royal Academy who will serve during the present year. Lieutenant-¢enerai the Hon. C. Grey and Colonel H. Ponaonby have succeeded as equerries-in-waiting. His Majesty the King of Greece, attended by Count Rodoetamoe, arrived at Marlborough-house yesterday morning= a visit to the Prince and Princess of Wales. The Prince of Wales and the King of Greece rode out in the forenoon. The Hot. Mrs. Stoner ham succeeded the Countess of Morton as Lady in Waiting to the Princess of Wales. Major Teesdale has succeeded Captain Erna as Equerry in Waiting to the Prince of Wales. A Cabinet Council was held yesterday at the official 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 Malmes bury, the Right Honourable Spencer H. Walpole, Lord Stanley, the Duke of Buckingham, Sir John Pakington, Sir S. Northcote, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Right Hon. H. T. L. Corry, the Duke of Richmond, Lord J. Manners, the Right Hon. Gathorne Hardy, and Lord N 643. A committee of the Lords of her Majesty's most Ho nourable Privy Council sat yesterday at the Privy Council office, Whitehall, on the subject of the cattle plague. The lords present were the Lord President and Lord Robert Montagu. Mr. Harrison and Dr. Alexander Williams attended the committee. Despatches were sent yesterday from the Colonial-office to the Governors of the West India islands, British Columbia, New Zealand, and the Australian colonies. The Marquis of Exeter (Captain of the Hon. Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms), the Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot, and the Hon. Spencer Ponsonby dined with the Hon. Corps of Gentlemen•at-Arms, at their mess, St. James's Palace, last evening. Lord Stanley, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, gave a grand diplomatic banquet last evening at the First Lord of the Treasury's official residence in Downing-street. There were present :—His Excellency the Austrian Ambassador and the Countess Apponyi, his Excellency the French Ambassador, his Excellency the Russian Ambassador and Baroness Brunnow, his Excel. lency the Belgian Minister and Madame Van de Weyer, His Excellency the United States Minister and Mrs. and Miss Adams, his Excellency the Bavarian Minister, his Excellency the Swedish Minister and Baroness Hochschild, the Earl and Countess Stanhope and Lady Mary Stanhope, the Earl of Sefton, the Lord Chancellor and Hon. Miss Thesiger, Lord Hy. G. Lennox, Lord Hyde, the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Mrs. Disraeli, Hon. Freak. and Lady Constance Stanley, and Mr. Sanderson. Later in the evening Lord Stanley had an evening party, at which a brilliant company assembled. _ _ The Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P., and Mn. Gladstone and family, arrived at their residence on Carlton•house•terrace yesterday afternoon, from Hawarden Castle. Mr. Bright, M.P., who has been staying at Street, in Somersetshire, visited the city of Wells and the beautiful cathedral there last week. The great sale of shorthorns of Mr. Betts, the partner of Sir Morton Peto, took place at Aylesford yesterday, and, from the celebrity of the cattle, attracted an enormous attendance. The total amount realised at the hammer exceeded 13,0001. The chief buyers were the Duke of Devonshire, Lord Spencer, Colonel Towneley, and Mr. It. S. Oliver. The following letter from Mr. Thomas Hughes, M.P., wee addressed to the chairman of the late reform meeting in South London. "April 26. Dear Mr. llurpby,—l have just received your note, and am very sorry to say that I have an engagement which I cannot postpone for to-morrow evening. I shalt be obliged if you will let the meeting know how thoroughly and heartily I agree with you. I think the liberal party (so•called) have behaved disgracefully, and are quite unworthy of such a leader as Mr. Gladstone, who is thoroughly and nobly in earnest. However, let both sides of the house do all they can, I have little fear but we shall have a good bill yet before long, in spite of their teeth and their tricks. I am, yours very truly, THONAB Huoites." SPAIN. MADRID, MAY 1, Evinaro. The Duchess of Montpenaier has given birth to day to a son. The amount of the Spanish floating debt at this date is 105,000,000 reala. PORTUGAL. LISBON. MAY 2. The health of the Queen having been one of the reasons which gave rise to the projected foreign tour of the court, it is now stated that her Majesty will probably leave the capital on the 4th inst. for Italy, via Madrid. The King will remain at Lisbon. AMERICA. (NT ATLANTIC ITLIONATE.) NEW YORK, MAY 1, 6 P.Y. Closing prices :—Gold, 135 j. Sterling exchange on London, 104. 5-20 United States Bonds, 1071, ex coupon ; Illinois, 1141 ; Erie, 63i. Cot ton : Middling Upland, 29. Petroleum, refined, 25c. EXPRESS FROM PARIS. (FROM OUR OWN CORRISPONDRICT.) PARIS, WED/MOAT EVINCING, The Pays, M. Granier de Cassagnac's journal, the especial organ of that war party which characterises as a recniade any arrangement calculated to pre vent bloodshed or which presupposes that France will be content not to trespass on her neighbour's territory, sneers at the Patric—a government journal like itself—for speaking of the apprehended war as a " catastrophe" averted. In the view of the Pays, it is cowardly to talk of the war, which it desires both as a means of territorial aggrand isement and a blow against liberty at home, as a catastrophe. This journal quotes with delight the opinion of the Frew, which struck me yesterday as worthy of citation, that peace will not grow out of the conference. It moreover tells its readers that the general tenor of the telegrams bears out to a certain extent the impression that a peaceable solution of the Luxem burg question is by no means certain. This is a pregnant confirmation of my own summing up of the news yesterday. The France, always against any angularity, always for compromises, and always for smooth news, regrets that according to all the most reliable information the conference will meet without any distinct programme for its deliberations. It would have been better, says the France, if the evacuation of Luxemburg by Prussia—" a point on which everybody is agreed "—had been admitted as a con dition precedent to the negotiations. In saying this the France makes itself the echo of that false hood which, notwithstanding the conclusive denial of Lord Stanley, continues to be promulgated by the French press ; that England and all the other powers referred to have already expressed a legal opinion against Prussia. Marshal Forey's apoplectic attack, which will probably have put an end to his military career, notwithstanding the official news that he had com pletely recovered, has led to the appointment of General Ladmirault as his successor in the com mand of the Chalons camp. . _ M. Gamier Pages, deputy for Paris, accompanied by MM. Herold and Dufreux, has gone to Berlin for the purpose of assuring the Prussian people that French liberals look with horror upon the prospect of a war between France and Germany. At the Bourse, the Rente, after rising to 67fr. 95c., closed heavily at 67fr. 75c. for cash, and 67fr. 77c. for account, with a rise of 10c. and 27c. Mobilier fell llfr. 25c., and Credit Foncier 20fr. The market, without any characteristic feature, was the reverse of buoyant. The Count and Countess of Flanders made their official entrance into Brussels on Tuesday. They were received with enthusiastic, all the public buildings being dressed out with flags. The Communal Council and ti • Artillery of the National Guard were stationed on the principal square to compliment them. Troops lined the roads on both sides, and the people cheered loudly. In the evening the city was illuminated. &KMARkS. Bammetrical pressure hra - ,;;;;ti;i4 to Increase mince yester day over the greater portion of the British Isles ; but a decrease has occurred to the south-west and on the west of France, where the pressure Is still diminishing. The winds are light and vari able. Weather Is generally floe, but rain has fallen hi the south west. FALSE WEIGHTS AND BALANCES.—This morning was issued for the information of parliament a return, corn. I posed of 106 pages, of " the number of persons convicted in Great Britain of using or having in their possession any' false or unjust weights, measures, or balances for the quarter ending the 24th day of June, 11466 ; showing the nature and extent of each inaccuracy, the business carried on by the offender, and the date when the offenos was c ommitted, together with the penalty and costs in each case imposed ; and whether any such weights, measures, or balances were seized and condemned; and whether all or any portion of the said penalties and costs and articles condemned was given to the informer who laid the infor mation, or other persons engaged in enforcing the law ; distinguishing between offences committed in any shop, warehouse, or store, and those committed in the public streets. Also, the amount of salary and other remunera tion given to the inspectors of weights and measures (in continuation of parliamentary paper No. 56, of Session 1865)." Mr. Maguire to-morrow will ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the intention of the govern- ment to allow the adjourned debate on the Irish Land Bill to stand for the first business on the evening of Monday, the 13th of May. . . . . Mr. Pint has given notice of a bill to facilitate the Improvement of Landed Property by extending the powers of limited owners of land in Ireland. Lord Ernest Bruce will ask the First Commissioner of Works, on Monday, by whose authority the statue in St. Margaret's-square of the late Right Hon. George Can ning has been removed from its pedestal, and in what situation it is proposed to re-erect it ; and whether a site has yet been granted for the erection of a statue of the late Right Hon. Sir Robert l'eel, Bart., subscribed for in 1850 by his political friends and admirers, and long sine* executed by Baron Marochetti. THE LATE CARLO PORRIO. —Raised to high die ' tinetion by his sufferings, and by the character of the man who described them, Poerio could hardly ever be induced to allude to the subject, even in his freest intercourse with intimate friends. He did not add his volume to the al ready extensive library of which Pellico, Maroncelli, An dryane, Pallavicini, Trivulzio, and other political prisoners filled the shelves. A less egotistical, self-asserting man than Petri* Italy never produced. Like other victims familiar with thedreariness of prison life, Poerlo in hislater days was sociable, genial, and jovial ; but as to story, " he had none to tell." That story had been so emphati cally, so efficiently told as to work out not only his de liverance, but also his vengeance. Mr. Gladstone's denun ciation determined the fall of the government, which be described as a " negation of Providence," and Poerio, who exulted at that overthrow leas for his own than for his country's sake, seemed as much above any idle expression of resentment as above any vain display of forgiveness. Cer tainly by nature no man was leas calculated to play the part 1 of a conspirator or of a revolutionary chief than Mr. Glad , stone'sbero. In ordinary times, under a free and enlightened government, Poerio would have been an, unassuming, un influential citizen. Under Bourbon prosecution he mu; sublime. He had the genius of endurance. reerio's mis sion was over when suffering was at an end. The very softness of the nature on which the blow fell bears witness against the tyranny that dealt the blow.—Times. LAW INTELLIGENCE. (THIS DAY.) CHANCERY CHAMBERS. (Before Mr. Buckley, Chief Clerk.) OVEREND, GURNEY, AND CO. This day the adjourned application on the put of Mr. Oppenheim for two creditors for a further of 10/. came on before Mr. Buckley, and apared to create considerable interest. The call would produce 1,000,0001. Mr. Linklater asked for further time, and entered into the report presented. The indebtedness wee 18 millions, and reduced at the present time to 3,440,0001., whilst the assets had been represented as exceeding 5,000,0001. Mr. Denten (Maynard and Denton) would submit the matter to the Vice-Chancellor, whether this was a proper time for a call. Mr. Danes (Ashuret and Morris) asked for the Gall to be made. The question was whether the creditors were to wait longer. Mr. Gay (Mr. Dale, Fnrnival'a Inn), represented a large depositor named Stephenson. In this case a long discussion took place. There had been two dividends amounting to 6s. in the pound, but Miscall now proposed would produce another million. The Chief Clerk said the present application was mot important, and under all the circumstances he should prefer the application both as to time, and also as to the call being decided by the oourt. The matter was appointed to be heard before the Vice. Chancellor. COURT OF QUBEN'S BENCH. Sittings in Banco.—(Before the Lord Chief Justice and Justices Blackburn, Shee, and Lush.) THE QUEEN V. THE JUMTICIS OF EDIT. Mr. Poland said this was a rule calling upon the guar dians of the Medway Union to show cause why they should not pay the costs of a mandamus and also the costs of this application. The mandamus was to the justices of Kent to compel them to eater continuances to hear en appeal relative to the maintenance of a pauper lunatic. The rule was made absolute on the 28th of April, last year. The appeal was heard in the July following, but no application was made for costs until the last day but three of Hilary term, made returnable the last day of term, allowing the whole of Michaelmas term and the greater part of Hilary term to pass by without making any application for oasts. The learned counsel contended that the application should have been made in Michaelmas term, and that it was too late to come in Hilary term. Mr. Barrow appeared in support of the rule. Rule absolute.. THE QUEEN r. SPOONEC AND A.NOTHER. The Solicitor-General (with whom was Mr. Hannan) showed MUM against a rule, calling upon Mr. Spooner and another gentleman, two of the justices of Staffordshire, to show cause why they should not state a case for the opi nion of the court. Mr. Baker, inspector of mines, had laid an information against Mr. Harrison, the owner of a colliery near Walsall, for using an engine in lowering men without a break, whereby two of the men were kills& The respondent contended that he had not infringed the 12th rule of the act Zird and' 4th Vic., oh. 151, which provides that a break shall be used on the engine employed in lower. ing men into the pit. The magistrates considered he had, and adjudicated and had refused to state a case. It appeared that the engine in question was used over a shaft for the purpose of pumping water, and the men who were being lowered were men employed to repair the shaft, and not colliers going to their work in the colliery. He could hardly, under the circumstances, resist the rule, and the question was whether their lordships would de aide the question of law upon this rule or upon the return of the case. Mr. H. Matthews appesred in support of the rule. The court, under the circumstances, thought it would be better to make this rule absolute. EDMOND/4 V. GRENVILLE. Mr. Lopez showed cause against a rule calling upon the plaintiff to show cause why four warrants of attorney and the proceedings that had been taken upon them should not be set aside with owls on the ground that they had been obtained from the defendant whilst in custody under ca. se., and without their being read over to him and ex plained. The learned counsel read an affidavit denying that state ment, and showing that they were given freely, and that they were read over and explained to him in the presence of an attorney. Mr. Hawkins, Q.C., said that after that statement he could not support his rule. Rule discharged. • THE COMMIERIONERS OF SEWEES V. THE METROPOLITAN Mr. J. Browne, Q.C., moved on behalf of the Commis sioners of Sewers of the City of London for • rule calling upon the Metropolitan Board of Works to show cause why • mandamus should not issue commanding them to rectify the asceument they had made of the City of London, by which they had raised it upwards of half • million, upon which they had made a main-drainage rate, on the ground that they had proceeded on a wrong basis. Rule granted. COURT OF EXCHEQUER. Sittings in Banco.-(Before the Lord Chief Baron and Barons Martin, Bramwell, and Pigott.) SLADE V. SLADE,. . This case came again before the court to-day. The plaintiff was General Sir Marcus John Slade, Baronet, and the defendant, Alfred Frederick Adolphus Slade, who ap =lby the name and title of Sir Alfred F. A. Slade, t. The action was one of ejectment to recover possession of certain property in Somerset, and raised the question whether the plainUff, the claimant, and the twin brother of the late Sir Frederick William Slade, Q.C., who died in August, 1863, was entitled to the Slade taro netcy and estates as against the defendant, who was the eldest son of Sir Frederick. The Solicitor-General, Mr. Kingdon, Q.C., Mr. H. Buller, and Mr. Howe were for the plaintiff ; and Mr. Coleridge, Q.C., Mr. Mellish, Q.C., hfr. Henry Matthews, Mr. Bee, and Mr. Wallis for the defendant. The Solicitor-General having been heard at great length on behalf of the claimant, it was now the turn of Mr. Coleridge to argue the case on the part of the defendant. Although there was a considerable array of counsel, it is the practice of the court in cases on the " special paper" to hear only one on each side, but the counsel who is first heard has a right to reply. Mr. Coleridge at the outset of his argument said that the following were the propositions for which he should contend :—lsk That the onus of proof was on the Solici tor-General ; that it was for him to make out that the mar riage of Sir Fred. Slade with Lady Slade at St. George's, Hanover-square, in December, 1833, was a bad mar riage. 2ud. That it was for his learned friend to show that the priest Nagy was competent to perform the marriage between Carl Von Koerber and Barbara Maria Mostyn, at Milan, on the 6th October, 1825. 3rdly. That it was for him to show that the banns of that marriage had been published. And 4thly. That it was for him to show the incompetency of the defendant to dispute the validity of the Milan mar rage. Having submitted that the Solicito r had foiled to satisfy any one of those propositions the learned counsel said the point for their lordships' deter mination was the validity of the English marriage, the birth of a child of that marriage being one of the admitted facts of the case. They had to say whether upon the evi dence adduced the defendant should be denuded of his in heritance and name. According to all the ordinary rule' of law the plaintiff ought to make out his case, and if be failed to prove that the marriage in Hanover-square was bad, he failed to establish the cardinal proposition on which his whole pretensions rested. He was not to raise any doubts on the subject nor to raise ques tions upon which the court had to speculate as to whether the whole balance of evidence was in favour of the badness of that marriage, but must make out his allegation by clear and unassailable proof. All the probabilities, all the pre sumptions were in favour of the marriage of 1833, which was performed according to the rites of the church of England. There had been issue of that marriage— many children had been born—there had been thirty years' cohabitation, and there had been no oats sion—although it had been suggested, but not proved. when the parties to that marriage, the late Sir Frederick Slade and his wife, ever manifested the slightest doubt of the validity of the ceremony which was gone through. It was true that in the course of the cross-exa mination of Lady Slade, his learned friend Mr. Buller asked her with reference to a letter she had writ. ten, whether under some particular circumstances. and at some particular time, Sir Frederick Slade had not treated her after the marriage as if she were not his lawful wife; but if their lordships looked at that pert of the evidence they would find that Lady Slade repudiated the imputation with the greatest indignation. The letter so much talked about was never produced, and the cross-examination appeared to be ad dressed to her for the purpose of insulting her and giving her pain, but it came absolutely to nothing at all. if the marriage at St. George's, Hanover-square, was bad, the defendant, who was a young man, was a bastard, his mother a criminal concubine, and his father was guilty of criminal conversation. Their lord.hips could not shrink from the issues which were distinctly raised ; they could not shrink from considering on whore . was the onus of . rood to make out affirmative issues sn serious and so soleigo. The English marriage could only be made out bad by proving the validity of that which was said to invalidate it—by proving, not suggesting that that r which made it bad was good in itself. (The le.rned counsel was proceeding with has argument • when our report left.] COURT OF PROBATE. (Before the Judge Ordinary.) SMITH AND SMITH v. TEDDITT OTHILDS.—DIPORTg a CADE. Sir It. l'almer, Q.C., &fiend Bellantifte, Dr. Spink• Q.C., and Dr. Swabey for the plainti ff s ; the Queen' s Ad v ocate, Mr. Edwar J d ames, Q.C., and Dr. Tristram foe Mrs. Tebbitt, the principal defendant ; the Solicitor. G en eral, Mr. Coleridge, Q.C., and Mr.Scarle for the others. The Bev. J. Thwaytes, incumbent of Trinity Church, Carlisle, a grand nephew of the testatrix's husband, and s legatee to the extent of 10,0001., also deposed to the per. feet sanity of the deceased, and denied that her COD . venation was inorthodox. In 1846 she had told that .h• a tiu the u nderstand She and elt the gees . minister. ,ernions. it suggest lOUs. t Jud theofi but w .1 her pecul Lev. w to Mr. S the deco opinions . eadogati by the de Inmen's dwelt e been costa of giving testatrix 1 went. lie learned] port left.] (Bah 'BATCH OF • (lay Mr. :in pronto . • 1 ilia imcd wer of Thomss : lie suit he suit of ely. at the of George I e suit of I uit of Sara . at the sui Druce, at t vile, at thi y, et the su surrender inted for tt TELE 'err° Stigmas etto two I ni, was bi r. Edward for the risoner ; an • e, attended r. Edward I r on the ph anni, and o in his hen e Middles .resent rem hospital to I . L Lewis would give been stated to apply i . K Lewis The podia e constable si the surgete was ndt abl r. d'Eyneot a knife w should not I r. L. Lewis .ner had be . E. Lewis . d'Eyncos 'cation for 1 - Rgt ansak with bet table-spoon, will be reu PrePnity in country al , in reply t ns were giv, *dow Lying s e by train 1 ed to try it money. r. Inspector nd numen respecting .scribed in t n from the in possessie pass into wsa no in ole had ind r. Newton t 'onus Taylor e bar, chart John Gel seway. . James G, • , and oi the shop at tides wen t, and after out makini evening. ' produced, a manta he suspect constable b ✓ the pri ed for men t lately, hi Y. e magistri •ners beton itntes had hn Dunn, ay ifternoi • last witnt about to and tool scary produ custody. th.prisone lensently been in she could e magisti e constabt In the d • worship widow, wh Mr. Day instances. her of the ing sick al ednesday 's funeral, was not en. nded at I not hay 511,h of Mai thtundert -pL?aymais cant (w. r. towns= felon, his ey. answer to arrears wer hter stated hdttit itt t, - Kentiit4 r. - Drywall member v efit of the a n taken. I unimoix the innate) ha ified. hes applicar 'eh she had 1 ra retired. • tiocietxt: n Morvin, • be, MR ti Nig rop. • SOW, hutch knee, wbc 1, and gore/ (1, and neel the animal . ut.nn. The et dispomitic eiciausness c Yeaterilay large new ktcrworks, t Id about 100, d th e rel 4 th e new one rioir of the -Htary power Pelbied, or Mids.