The Express. — London, England, 1867-12-16 00:00:00

LIFEBOAT SERVICES.—During the storms of the present year the National Lifeboat Institution has contributed to the saving of 1,027 lives from various shipwrecks ana n 3 vessels from destruction. The Institution also expended 428,1 : 45 In the same period on its Lifeboat Establishments, in addition to granting 42.444 for rewards. 'The Committee of the Institution earnestly appeal to the public for assistance to enable them to meet the continued heavy demands on their ISO Lifeboat Establishments. Contributions will be thankfully received by the London and country bankers, and by the Secretary, Richard Lewis, Esq.. at She Institution, 14. John-street, Adelpht. London. PABLI EXHIBITION FIRST.CLAsA SILVER MEDAL, 196 T. JOHN BROGDEN'S GOLD CHAINS by troy Weight, at realisable value, and the workmanship at wholesale manufacturers' prima. The gold In the chains gua ranteed, and repurchased at the price chArged. • Here's the note, How much your chain weighs to the utmost carat, The fineness of the gold, and charge for fashion." SHAILESPZARE. Manufactory, 16, Henrietta-street, Covent-garden, London. OVERCOATS for the PRESENT SEASON. t;entlemen who do not mind paying a fair prim for first ( Liss WI N TER OVERCOATS tan depend on the best material* at HAMILTON and KI NI PTON'S, Tailors and Overcoat-makers, 105, STRAND, OPPOSITE KM:TER-HALL BREAKFAST.-EPPS'S COCOA. vie el:1mo%. TO COERESPoNDLND3. ldvertimmients intended foe The ixprees," London Evening tfPag, most he at the °face, 10, Itonverle- street, by Two o er ck on the day of publication IMITILY-LANIL Tins Evlenxo, THELOVEOF VEYICE. Mr. Phelps, Mesas. J. C. Cowper, IL Phu:lair, Z. Phelps, Barrett, Temple, A. 4. , Mrs. Hermann Vesta, 'Miss arenas, itc.—And THE LADIES' CLUB. Mesdames &Mats Shirley, Kate Hastens, H. Vandenhoff, dc. HATILARKIT. T 319 Evaauwa, OUR AVERICAN 730111111. Yam Sotbara, Rapl,ll,l, Gordon, Rogan, tc, ; Me*lamas Lidamendale, Burke, Wright, Robertson. ds.—TO PARIS AND BACK FOR SA. Mr. Etnkstoue.—And THIS SPECTRE BRIDEGROOM. 11r. Raymond. PRINCESS'S. Tens, A LITTLE FLIRTATION.—After which THE COLLEEN HAWN. MISR Beweicault, D. Murray, E. Atkins, O. Neville. J. 0. Shore. H. Mellon, de. Mra Deucicsult, d Mimes Barnett and Elsworthy.—Aad NO. ONE ROUND THE CORNER. STRAND. Tr= Worm, NOTHING TO NURSE. Mr. Thorne and Miss Nes ten.—K IND TO A FAULT. Mean. !Mantle, Be:ford, and James: Mesdames Johnstone, O w y nne , and Hughes.—And WILLIAM TELL WITH A VENGILANCE. ORITAPITHA. TRH Evasive, OTHELLO, THE MOOR OF VENICE. Mews. Reynolds, Howe, Charlton, he. : Misses Courtenay and Coveney. —Mr. Robert Fraser. Mr. Mark Floyd: the Lemma A J. KM cent.—And THE NINO'S DEATH-TRAP. Mn & LAM. MOH WATIN, AT LONDON MUM Me DAT —Yoruba. sh. Ma......ATAirsoos, AIL Agm. TO•YOAAOIf—YarAtAR, IL lis« „Minseo4 64 40m. LONDON, MONDAY, DECEMBER N. Wilms it is impossible to exaggerate in a political point of view the effect of the recent Fenian outrages, there is equally no question that they have a serious bearing upon trade. Com merce can support and overcome many evils, but popular disturbance and uncertainty are drawbacks that in these days at least are not easily with stood. No ono cares to buy or sell when the whole current of affairs may be suddenly altered by some unforeseen event against which it is im possible to provide. Probably the present agitators reckon upon such a result. They must have heard that trade is one of the vital sources of English prosperity, and may imagine that the more they can injure it the better for their cause. A series of movements that may reduce half the factories in Lancashire to short time, and pro portionally diminish the iron and coal supply, form • desperate but an intelligible mode of warfare. It may be said that Fenian out breaks are not likely to damage our internal trade to a very great extent, since there must always be a certain interchange of commodities. We wish but cannot believe it. Our foreign commerce, however, will chiefly suffer. The tele grams that by this time have conveyed the news of the Clerkenwell prison explosion to nearly every country in the Old and New World will in directly affect the credit of even our most eminent bankers and merchants in London. To a foreign mind the impression conveyed will be simply that there is an end to English security. fence, although it is generally unsafe to make any predic tion on the course of monetary affairs—since no others are so much liable to be swayed by popular prejudice or by favourite and not seldom erroneous ideas—there appears good reason to believe that the large class of foreign depositors in England will become a little alarmed about the security for their money. Perhaps we may find the foreign exchanges on Tuesday to be falling, gold again drib bling out of the Bank, and in short the same signs of apparent distrust that were the accompaniments of the after-crisis—the three months of the Bank rate at 10 per cent.—in 1866. On the other hand, there is a more favourable side of the question. To give a parallel illustra tion. A year and a half ago foreigners were taking their money away as quickly as possible. A month or two later they were only too glad to send their deposits back. In the first instance they feared a mercan tile collapse ; in the second, they were satisfied that it would not happen. The effect was merely a revulsion of feeling. At first sight the stoppage of one or two great firms was feared to be the precursm of a general destruction of English com merce. The event turned out differently. In the same manner the Clerkenwell and other outrages are pretty certain to be deemed the precursors of the destruction of English prosperity, and with it, of course, of English commerce. Again, we think our foreign critics will prove to be in the wrong. Somehow or other we shall get through the diffi culty. For the time we may have to suffer no small inconvenience and loss, but it can hardly last for long, and just as we recovered from the commercial panic of 1866, we ought to recover from the mere semblance of a political panic in 1867. Passing from the trading tothe investing classes, it does not appear that the latter have suffered much, if any, discouragement. Consols have cer tainly receded a fraction within the last day or two, but that is no uncommon circumstance at the end of the week. The public are, as it might be anticipated, in no wise alarmed respecting the safety of the Three per Cents. As regards other securities, there is an evident falling off in the demand for foreign bonds, a circumstance more to be approved than other wise. The fruit of the recent advance is, as usual, to be found in the reiterated notices that a fresh batch of loans is about to be introduced. Cer tainly, foreign Governments are insatiable bor rowers, and nine times out of ten the money is used for unproductive, if not harmful purposes. With regard to home enterprises, railway stocks continue almost stationary in public favour. The fluctuations are of comparatively little moment, seeing that they are almost entirely the conse quence of mere speculative dealings. BonA fldo transactions are, as a rule, few, and of those that take place it is difficult to find whether the majority Are rather for realization than for permanent investment. Yet there is no doubt that railways, properly managed, must prove a sure and productive in vestment. Unceasingly have these columns exposed the abuses of management, the lavish expenditure, manipulation of accounts, additions to capital, construction of branches that may pay 20 years hence, but not before, and a hundred other short comings. Still, we repeat, railway property is tangible. It rests upon solid security. Even in the worst cases, if its present date is bad, there is at least the hope of a future. The same may be said of the Irish trade. In old times Irish merchants and manufacturers were prohibited from English markets, but if the Ferns= wished to abolish the policy of exclusion they would find that it had already been done away with many years ago. Already in some departments of commerce —corn, _ _ for example—lrish traders take a prominent part. It is useless, however, to press these points. The commerce of the United Kingdom, there is no possible doubt, is more or less damaged by this kind of secret war which the Fenian are carrying on. The sooner the evil is radically removed the better. THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 16, 1867. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. OUR CONTEMPOILLETICS. (THIS DAY.) THE FERIAS OUTRAGE. The Times observes with satisfaction that the persona already apprehended on suspicion of participation of the above outrage have been charged with wilful mur der ; and, if this charge should be ultimately substantiated on legal grounds, it will receive the fullest sanction from the moral sense of the community. The crime removes all doubt as to the nature of the struggle in which we are now engaged. Our path will no longer be obscured by the shadow of political considerations. We are confronted by a gang of reckless criminals, who respect no laws, human or Divine, and the government cannot now hesitate in exerting the utmost vigour of the law. In another article the Times instances the cessation yes terday of the funeral demonstrations as a proof that the in stinct of order has not yet died out of the national mind. We are painfully made to feel, says the Daily News, that between us and the people who do these things there is no bond to restrain the impulses of a malignant fanati cism. They march straight to their goal, showing no con cern for their own lives, and none for us and our children, when we come in their path. The disregard of consequences to themselves is a perplexing element in the situation, for it disappoints the hope that an exemplary act of severity would teach them a lesson they would never forget. Al ready people are remarking that Caleraft's heroic remedy is a failure. We "hall of course continue to administer it until we find something better to do ; but confidence in its sovereign efficacy is gone. No measures the go vernment can take can be too strong which are directed to the detection of the guilty and the diffusion of a general sense of ease and safety ; but before proposing measures abrogating our ordinary constitutional securities it will be well to inquire whether the best use is at present being made of the powers already at the dis posal of the government. At present we are compelled to ' doubt it. If the reports which have been published are true, this explosion, with all its terrible consequences, might have been prevented by a little more vigilance on the part of the police. Meanwhile there is no fear that a fitting penalty will not be meted out to the authors of this crime ; and with regard to a provision for the innocent victims, the Daily New: takes leave to suggest that the peculiar origin of this calamity marks it as an occasion when the government itself ought to become the organ of the national feeling. The Herald trusts the researches which are now to be made will bring to light the persons in the background who pay the cost of enterprises of this kind. There must be a secret committee in London or elsewhere, a band of conspirators with considerable funds at their disposal, to instigate these outrages from what they imagine to be a position of security. The Telegraph looks to the catholic clergy for a useful alliance, and says it will be a great blunder if we give thew at this moment any offence. It would also be unworthy of the English nation if its anger against Fenianisin should render it deaf to the just discontent of the Irish people against wrongs that English legis lation still sustains—an alien church, the creature of conquest, and the living memorial of the penal laws ; and a lead system that makes Irish agriculture miserably poor. We may hang convicted Fenian" with a gcod conscience, but we should also thoroughly redress these evils distinctly due to English policy, and still supported by English power. The Post dwells on the fresh evidence which has been given of the incompetence of the London police to deal with the Fenian conspirators. The Star cannot bat believe that this deed will produce a reaction and a revulsion in the feeling even of Irish rebels. It would be a sin against human nature to suppose that there can exist anywhere many creatures so utterly Mee and wicked as they who planned and they who per petrated the crime over which now all England shudders. PRESIDENT JOHNSON'S MESSAGE. The Daily News looks in vain through the columns of Mr. Johnson's message for any fresh recommendation, any suggestion of a middle course, or any recognition of the new conditions which two years of delay must necessarily produce. Mr. Johnson's statesmanship exhausted itself in the effort to reconstruct the Union apart from the advice and the legislation of congress, and he has never had a second oourse to suggest since the first course failed. Indeed he has never recognised its failure. The whole tone of the message shows that Mr. Johnson does not intend to conciliate congress. It is more impor tant to him vast he should have his own way than that the country should have peace. It is more needful that he should himself restore the South than that it should be re stored at all. While looking to see the people rally to his opponents, the Daily News Is not without hope that the majority in the congress will see that their strength is in quietness and confidence. The Times suggests that perhaps the most useful effect of the President's message may be the incentive which it gives to the labours of those who are advocating financial reforms. The taxation is not only extremely heavy, but unequal and oppressive ; and something better than • system of revenue constructed at haphazard is due from congress to the people. The Tdeornpli notes that the internal conflicts of the union, which form the burden of the chief magistrate's address, are sufficiently serious to offer a breathing space for that friendly settlement of the Alabama claims which England has expressed her willingness to accelerate. DR. X F.NEALT. The Tdegraph expresses its amazement at Dr. Kenealy's ideas regarding the duty of an advocate. When Burke and Casey were brought before Sir Thomas Henry at Bow street, on Saturday, the learned gentleman stated that he must throw up the brief which he held for the prisoners, because the explosion of Friday had so ix tluenced his mind as to unfit him for the task of defence; and because be was not quite certain that those by whom he bad been instructed did not " sympathise" with the wretches who were guilty of the outrage. A more extraordinary declaration has seldom been made in a court of justice. Of course, .if a legal gentleman is so delicate) , organised that the commission of a horrible crime by Fenian on one day readers him unfit to reason correctly on the next, we have no more right to blame him than we have to blame a cabman for inability to drive properly in Bloomsbury, because be has heard that a lifeboat has been capsized at Yarmouth ; hut policy would as surely prompt the barrister to conceal the fact that he bad lost the command of his feelings, as the cabman to conceal the fact that he bad lost the command of his horse. Not content with making a damaging confession, Dr. Kenealy insinuated a damaging charge ; those by whom he had been instructed, be said, had failed to convince him that they were not concerned in the outrage. But Dr. Kenealy was there as an advocate, not as a judge. And, even supposing Burke, friends to have been implicated, that was no reason for withholding legal services from Burke himself. In relation to the Madeira vintage this year Messrs. R. Symonds and Son state that, notwithstanding the fears entertained, from the want of warmth in the summer, that there would be the same disappointment as in 1866, and that the produce of the new vines would not show the improvement that ought to be looked for from the additional year'. age of the plants, the quality is un doubtedly good, and there is now reason to hope that Madeira is resuming Its place among the best wine-growing countries. tht Court. WINDSOR CASTLE, Dso. 14. The Queen walked in the grounds yesterday afternoon, and drove, aseompanied by Princess Louise. Prince Arthur, &Hooded by Major 112phinstone, arrived at the Castle this morning. To-day being the anniversary of ibe death of the lamented Prince Consort, the Queen, accompanied by the Royal Family, went to the mausoleum at Frogmore, this mailing, where her Majesty romained for some time. The Queen returned to the Castle at 12 o'clock, and passed the day in complete retirement. After the Queen's return to the Castle, the mausoleum was, by ber Majesty's command, opened for all the mein bers of the household, including the servants, residents within the Castle, and most of her Majesty's tradesmen in Windsor, to visit it. Princess Christian and Princess Henrietta of Schleswig- Holstein dined with the Queen yesterday. The Dean of Westminster and Lady Augusta Stanley arrived at the Castle yesterday, and had the honour of being invited. Mr. Theodore Martin has left the Castle. _ DEC. 15. The Queen, Prince and Princess Christian, Princess Louise, Prince Arthur, Prince Leopold, Princess Beatrice, and Princess Henrietta of Schleswig-Holstein, and the ladies and gentlemen in waiting, attended divine service this morning in the private chapel. The Very Rev. the Dean of Westminster preached the sermon. Prince and Princess Christian and Princess Henrietta remained to luncheon with the Queen. Prince Christian honoured the officers of the let Bat talion Grenadier Guards with his company at dinner, at the Sheet-street Barracks, on Friday evening. Despatches were received on Saturday, at the Colonial office, from the Governors of New Zealand, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, the Mauritius, the Straits Settlements, Malta, Bermuda, and Prince Edward's Island. Despatches were sent to the Governor- General of Canada and to the Governors of the Bahamas and Jamaica. THE PRINCE OF WALES. —His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales closed his visit to the Earl and Countess of Dudley at Beckenham-hall, Norfolk, on Satur day, and returned to Sandringham. During the present week the Prince is expected to pay a visit to Mr. H. Ville bois, of Marham, with whom be has had some good shoot ing in previous years. Preparations ere being made for the distribution to the poor at Sandringham and the neigh bourhood of the usual Christmas presents made by the Prince and Princess of Wales to their humble neighbours. To-morrow their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Christian and Princess Henriette of Schleswig- Holstein leave Frogmore House for New Lodge, IVinkfield, on a visit to H. and Madame Van de Weyer. From New Lodge their royal highnesses proceed to Draycott, on a visit to Lord Cowley, and thence to Osborne, on a visit to the Queen. The Marquis of Lansdowne has arrived at Lans downe from Oxford, having completed his studies at that university. The Marchioness of Lanadowue has returned from Paris, after staying with her father, the Count de Flahault. The Marquis and Marchioness of Bath arrived in town on Friday from Chatsworth, where they have been visiting the Duke of Devonshire. The Earl and Countess of Warwick and family have arrived at Niee, where they intend to remain for the winter. The Earl and Countess Amherst and Ladies Amherst have left Montreal, the family seat near Seven oaks, for the Continent, and intend to pass several months abroad. Lord Stanley, M.P., left town on Saturday for Hatfield House, Herta, on a visit to the Marquis and Mar chioness of Salisbury. Viscount and Viscountess Holmesdale enter tained last week at Linton Park, Staplehorst, his Excel lency the Marquis d'Azeglio, the Countess Stanhope and Lady Maly Stanhope, the Earl Besuchsmp, Lord Eliot, Hon. Mania Temple, Lady Molesworth, Sir Edmund Fil mer, Colonel and Mrs. Burnaby, Colonel and Mn. Mar shall, Colonel Palmer, Major Alison, and Mr. CockerelL On Thursday evening the Viscountess Holmesdale gave a dance, which was attended by many of the members of the best families in the neighbourhood. We (Post) understand that the Star, Collar, and Badge of the Most Noble Order of the Garter were on Thursday lest sent through the Foreign-office to his Im• perial Majesty the Sultan at Constantinople. It is need less to remark that the decorations were of the most ex quisite workmanship and the jewels of the purest water. _ . A vacant chairmanship of an Irish county is at the disposal of the government by the death of Ur. Brere too, Q.C., chairman of the County Galway. Mr. William Hadfield, the proprietor of the Bill? Plate Mail, leaves London for Buenos Ayres by the City of Limerick steamer, with the view of organising an emigration movement to Brazil and the River Plate in conjunction with Messrs. T. M. Mackay and Son, of London. A meeting of the shareholders of the Dublin Exhibition Palace Company was held on Saturday, Sir B. Guinness, M.P., in the chair, and resolutions were adopted for the voluntary winding up of the unfortunate concern. A sanguine expectation is entertained that the government will be induced to include the purchase of the building and the establishment of a new institution for the encouragement of industrial science and art among the objects to which it may properly apply some of the funds, if parli►ment sanction additional grants. The following letter from Archbishop ltl'Hale is publiahed in the Irish papers :—" St. Jarlath's, Tuam, Dec. 5, 1867. Dear Sir,—Although political subjects may be viewed from various points, and although some honest and estimable Irishmen may differ with us on the repeal of the Union, yet on the blessings and obligations of works of charity there should be no diversity of opinion. ' For religion, pure and undefiled is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation.' Such or similar is the forlorn condition of the families of the men who have re cently suffered in Manchester. As you have generously undertaken to appeal to Christian sympathy in their behalf, I beg to forward, in answer to your letter, the annexed bank order for 51., to assist in allevi►ting their sad be. rerivement.—l remain, my dear sir, your faithful servant, t JOHN, Archbishop of Thom. Mr. John Martin." . - . ..-. The Nation suggests the erection of "memorial crows "to the " martyr , ' " in all the catholic graveyards of the country, and gives the subjoined as a model in. scription to be placed upon them :—" t Erected by the inh►bitants of in loving memory of the Irish patriots William P. Allen, Michael O'Brien, Michael Larkin, executed at Manchester, and buried in the yard of the New Bailey Prison, Salford, Nov. M. 1867. Requiascst in pace. ' God save Ireland.'" The Dublin Freeman says :—" We understand that the military court of inquiry which is holding its sittings, presided over by Colonel Hastings, ILA., at the Victoria Library, Royal Barracks, has a much more exten sive field to go over than merely to inquire into the alleged fact that Borne soldiers walked in the funeral procession held in Dublin. It is stated that it sits by order of the Duke of Cambridge, Commander-in-Chief, to inquire generally into the political feeling prevailing amongst the Irish soldiers in that part of the British army serving in Ireland, and to report thereon. The court, which is a private one, is empowered to call before it and examine such witnesses as it deems necessary for the inquiry." For persona who are frequently in the habit of sending telegraphic messages a new system is coming into I operation in Paris on the lot of January, which will be a great convenience to them, and will show at the same time to how great an extent the telegraphic wires are now em ployed. From the commencement of the new year ;Ohl , sire telegraph stamps will be issued, to be put on the ori ginal despatches by the senders themselves. Special boxes for the receipt of these despatches will be placed at the Bonne, the tribunals of commerce, and in the different quarters of the city. These boxes will be cleared every 10 minutes. As the despatches will be sent to the different offices by the atmospheric tubes, they must be enclosed in envelopes of given dimensions in order to COMM their immediate transmission. M. R4nan sent hie manuscript of " Bt. Paul " to M. Clap, his printer, some days ago. The largest yacht ever built at Cowes was launched there last week. It is about 140 feet long and nearly 330 tons burden. About 1,0001. have been raised to build s con sumption hospital at the Unduelift, in the Isle of Wight. THE UNITED STATES. GENERAL GRANT FOR THE PRESIDENCY. At New York, on the 4th inst., an influential meeting was held to promote the candidateship of General Grant as the next President of th 3 United States. It was a gathering more important from the character and standing of those who participated in it than from its actual numbers. A. T. Stewart presided, and the names of Francis B. Cutting, William B. Astor, John Jacob Astor, jun., William N. Vermilyea, William T. Blodgett, Hamilton Fish, Moses H. Grinnell, Paul Spofford, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Moses Taylor, Robert L. Stuart, and others largely identified with the commercial and financial interests of the country, gave importance and significance to the proceedings. The New York Herald of the sth urges the formation of " Grant clubs." Grant, it says, unites the fame of the first soldier of the Union with the reputation of one of the moat honest and capable executive officers America has had since the beginning of the war. "His courage and generosity would insure to the South an honourable and liberal settlement of the much-abused problem of reconstruction, while his Jackson-like adminis tration of the war department is sufficient gua rantee of his desire and ability to carry out a policy of retrenchment and reform that would speedily decresse our present ruinous load of debt and taxation. It is time for the respectable por tion of the people to give effect to the verdict of the recent election by entering at once on the grand conservative campaign of 1868. Push on the ball!" The New York Times says the meeting embraced men of a large variety of shades in political senti ment, and gave indications of a community of action such as can be called out by no public man but General Grant : This movement cannot be engineered by selfish party politicians. If such men attempt to obtain control of it, or to use it for their own purposes, they will be shaken off at the outset, and will be defeated in their ultimate end. If ever there was a political movement in this country that had its spontaneous origin with the mass of the people, and that was apart from the intrigues of wire workers, the schemes of place-hunters, and the projects of narrow-minded partis►ns, it is the movement for elevating Grant to the high position where his great practical abilities can be fully called into play for the settlement of those distracting public (questions which have thus far failed of solution, and which even now are constantly becoming more threatening and complicated. The New York Tribune finds in the " platform " put forward on behalf of General Grant " no word of promise, even, that the loyal governments now being organised in the Southern States shall be sustained, or that the leyal people of those States, who had the misfortune to be torn black, are to be guaranteed any rights whatever. So far as we can see, almost any life-long adversary of republican principles and ideas might stand on that platform, and be supported thereon as a candidate for President. In the long catalogue of names paraded as officers of the meeting, we remark, among those of many good and true men, those of several citizens who can only support General Grant on the presumption that, if elected he is not to be, nor to seem, a republican." The Tribune purposes not to hold General Grant in anywise responsible for the utterance or the positions of those who choose to nominate or to support him: We assume that he wP 1 speak for himself, at what be shall deem the proper time, with the frankness of a soldier and the earnestness of a patriot. If he is on the right side —the side of humanity, of progress, of equal rights and equal laws—he will so declare himself, and will thereupon be renounced by some of the noisiest and most vehement of his present supporters. If he shall see fit to fulfill the expectations of such supporters as Montgomery Blair and General Torn Ewing, jun., he will render it impossible for sincere republicans to support him. It is idle to hope that the gravest and most imminent questions of the hour may be blinked, and a candidate for president found who will satisfy the require ments and secure the votes at once of those who bold that all men were created equal, and of those who, on the con trary, hold that blacks have no rights which whites are bound to respect. The silent multitude, who do not figure as officers at political meetings, but whose votes count heavily in an official canvass, will be sure that they are not betraying principle, in subservience to an office hunting expediency, before they deposit their ballots. FRANCE AND PRUSSIA. The Arenir National contains the following : It was easy to foresee that the embarrassment which the French government has thought it desirable to create for itself in Italy would give fresh strength and boldness so M. de Bismarck. In point of fact the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Grand Duchy of Baden spoke • few days ago, clearly and explicitly, of • proxi mate annexation of that state to the confedera tion of the North. It Is too late now to say to Prussia that she must not cram the line of the Main. She has already crossed it. What does it signify to us whether the people of Baden send deputies to the parliament of the North or not, when we have already implicitly authorised them to send their soldiers and money to M. de Bismarck ? It was after Bedews that our diplomacy should have been active, and have checked the ambition of Prussia. Instead, however, of protecting what remained of the in dependence of Bavaria and Wurtemberg, it looked for ter ritorial compensation, which, even if granted would have been insignificant. Now, the mischief is done, and our position in Italy would prevent us from undoing it, even if it were in our power to repair it. Ourinterest and our duty ia to resist—not German unity, but that military and and illiberal form which Prussia has impressed upon it. But the only means which the French government possesses of exercising an action at once indirect and efficacious on this point would be to restore to France so much liberty that the liberal and democratic movement in Germany may expand and become triumphant over the military party in Berlin—the constant ally of Russia. Unhappily the second expedition to Rome has not been undertaken to inaugurate at home the restoration of liberal ideas, and we have been carefully told that it has been directed against the revolutionists at home and abroad. M. de Bis marck may therefore continue his work a :th the utmost tranquillity of mind. 'We have once before been simple enough to promote his designs. We are doing his business still better to-day. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) MALTA. MALTA, DEC. 14. The Orontes troopship has just arrived hero from Portsmouth with 614 officers and privates, women, and children belonging to various regi ments, and two naval officers. The Leith steamer from London for Alexandria, with stores for the Abyssinian expedition, has broken her rudder, and is repairing hero. The weather since the 2Gth November has been very tempestuous. Many ships, with cargoes of grain, have taken refuge here. AMERICA. SOUTHAMPTON, DEc. 16. The North German Lloyd's steamer America, from New York, has arrived here, with 109 pas sengers for this port, Havre, and Hamburg, 48 sacks of mails for London, 92,000 dole. in specie for England, and 156,000 dols, in specie for France. (Per the America, Till Southampton.) NSW YORK, Dec. 5, Iroaxrso. The Senate has passed a resolution, calling for papers relative to the Alabama claims, and has also passed a bill declaring five to form a quorum of the Supreme Court. A resolution has been laid on the table denouncing those portions of President Johnson's message in which he con demned the course of Congress as a breach of j official propriety, and recommending Con gress to express reprehension thereof. Senator Sumner, in a speech opposing the printing of extra copies of the President's message, denounced the message as incendiary, and calculated w stimulate rebellion and provoke civil war. It was evidence, he said, of a coalition existing between Mr. John son and the rebels. Mr. Davis, whose successor Mr. Johnson was, would have sent just such a message. Mr. Dixon, a conservative republican, defended Mr. Johnson, and declared that Congress was mis representing the people, and that it should reflect on the lessons taught by the conservative victories in the recent elections, which were a rebuke to the radicals. A resolution has been referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, declaring that no claim of a foreign government over naturalised citizens of the United States shall affect the right of such citizens to Federal protection, and that the government shall at all hazards protect naturalised citizens, both at home and abroad. General Hancock has reinstated several judicial officials in Louisiana who bad been removed by General Mower. The Alabama Convention have passed an ordi nance suspending all civil courts, with the excep tion of the Supreme Probate and Criminal Courts. General Pope has ordered the Convention to adjourn, on the ground of its action injuring re construction. The Virginia Convention has elected Judge Underwood as president. He addressed the Con vention, advising it to exercise all Christian charity consistent with future safety. Governor Brownlow has published a card deny ing the evidence of Chief Detective Baker before the Impeachment Committee, and declaring that he never testified, and does not believe, that Pre sident Johnson ever corresponded with Mr. Davis, or any other rebel, during the rebellion. The negroes of Bullock County, Alabama, have organised courts of their own. They were armed, and threatened to seize the property of the whites. General Swayne sent a detachment of troops, who dispersed them and arrested fifteen of their ring leaders. Mr. Hoffman, a Democrat, has been re-elected mayor of New York by a majority of 22,000 over the opposition Democratic and Republican candi dates. The Republican vote showed a decrease of 7,000. Intelligence from Mexico of the 20th nit., pub lished by the New York journals, mentions a rumour that a messenger had arrived in that capital from the Emperor Napoleon to President Juarez. EXPRESS FROM PARIS. EXPECTED RUPTURE BETWEEN FRANCE AND ITALY. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARIS. SUNDAY EVENING. I have reason to believe that a diplomatic rup ture between France and Italy is imminent. Gene ral Menabrea, after doing his utmost to preach patience though not resignation, is so pressed by public opinion that he feels the necessity of doing " something." In all probability, whether there shall be a change of ministry at Florence or not, Baron de Malaret will receive his passports next week, and the Chevalier Nigra will be recalled from Paris. The French government fully expects these events. According to the Temps M. Signs will not be re called in anger against Franco but simply re placed by M. Visconti Venosta. I believe, how ever, that the situation is more serious than the Temps supposes. It is rumoured that M. Nigra will be sent to London. The Journal de Paris contains the following rather alarming news : Our correspondent %rites from Berlin that the French ambassador has lately received a despatch desiring him to tell the Berlin cabinet that the attitude of certain political personages in the Southern Gelman States was calculated to raise a suspicion that the stipulations of the Treaty of Prague relative to the line of the Maine were about to be infringed, and that the French government trusted that Prussia would observe that treaty. Although the de spatch is couched in most courteous ternis it betrays an ►ttitude on the part of France which she has not hitherto assumed. The Gazette de France, in quoting the above, Bays : Who shall say whether the seed sow.' in this present month of December wi , l produce palms or bayonets in April or May ? Very sad accounts are given of the health of 31. de Lamartine, now at his chateau in Burgundy. He sits all day long in an arm chair without saying a word, and scarcely seems to recognise visitors who come to see him. At meal times two servants take him by the shoulders and carry rather than support him into the dining-room, where he eats with a ravenous appetite, but still remains silent. His friends are extremely uneasy about him. Lord Shaftesbury, at the head of a deputation from the Bible Society and the Paris Conference and Evangelisation Committee, waited on the Em peror at St. Cloud, on Dec. 13, to present an ad dress of thanks to his Majesty for the facilities which had been afforded during the period of the Exhibition for the distribution of Bibles and tracts and the erection of temporary places of evangelical worship. His lordship took the opportunity of , presenting the Emperor with a handsomely bound copy of a protestant Bible. His Majesty graciously accepted the present, and stated that it was a principle of his government to give pro tection to all religious bodies. The enuncia tion from the throne of this undoubted doctrine of the French law and constitution is not without importance at the present time, when the catholic party is making convulsive struggles for ascendancy. The Rev. J. Davis, chaplain of the Salle Evangelique, and the Rev. E. Forbes, chaplain of the English church in the Rue I d'Aguesseau, who formed part of the deputation, addressed short speeches of thanks to the Emperor. Gustavo Dorf has just sold the immense picture which occupied so large a space in the central salon of the Annual Exhibition at Paris this year to an American ama- teur for 2,200/. The subject, it will be remembered, is gambling•tablo at Baden. Several of the celebrated ano nymu of the day set, it is said, for their portraits in this picture, which is a life-like photograph of the scene daily enacted at a German kursaal. A rich old lady, 90 years of age, has just died at Clifton, in Somersetabire, who for a long time past believed that she never could sleep except In her carriage. She used, therefore, to ride out in her carriage every afternoon with the blinds drawn to take her daily rest. The carriage was seen daily travelling at a snail's pace over Clifton Downs. The take of sprats off the Hampshire coast last week was the largest known for some years ; nearly 1,000 bushels were sold at Southampton for sixpence a bushel to be converted into manure. GREAT NORTHERN HORTITAL, CALSDOIRAN-ROAD, N. Number of patient. for the week ending Deo. 14, 1,009, of which 293 were wew owe. THE ABYSSINIAN )N. 2.1 Intelligence has been received fr om Woad Merewether, dated " Camp, Tubboo, linddas River, 13th mat." The Kumoyla Pass was qu ite ready for a force to move in, so it is expected th a t an immediate advance would be made, the clim ate being such an improvement on that of the plain, The greatest height arrived at by Colonel Me e . wether's party was 7,000 feet above the level of th e sea, from which they could see right down in to Abyssinia, only five miles distant. It w as very cold ; but the temperature is not giv er The Scinde brigade has not yet passed thrup g h here, but is expected daily. The transpo rt', with stores, mules, bullocks, &c., keep pa se i N, but no more troops. The heat at Zulla was it i a very, great, and a came or two of sunstroke had occurred. The landing pier was pro gree m eg rapidly, and would be ready for the Seh e i e brigade. Large numbers of native craft la te been sent from this and other porta up th e R ed Sea for landing purposes, so that they are pretty well off for lighterage. A condenser is being se n t from here , to be erected at Zulla l an di ng - phee, that will ake 4,000 gallons per day. Others are coming from Bombay. WILkI'HER REPORT.-(THIS DAY.) MONDAY. MIMI le , II LM. f. Isimcww. , 7,, c1... 11. W. 11.3 ...—"---% W. &,i l e u Y. D. --- — ... Nairn 29.221 W.W. 2 W.N.W. OOA 2 Abode= 29.301 9 W. 1 &W. It au 6 tedtli intros 29 SS 1 W. 6 W. 9 0.44 6 Gresseestle UST t W.z2.12. 4 W.B.W. co te7 - Valenti& 19.951 2 W. S W. rte tee 1 Cape Ckar 29.96 W.N.W. 8 W.N.W. No 813 7 Noelmie2t 9 Bl 2 W. 6 W. o— I 4 11= 19.74 2 W. 4 W. re 0 SV, L Berl .. 16130 N.W. 6 W.B.W. tr 14 4 Laciest. —llan W. 1 W. to 8 Thsosth 02 t 1 W. 8 W. 4 Weymouth .99r 1 W. 8 W. o, 4 toremouth 29.9er W.N.W. 7 W. to . Ocl, 3 tondos 19.96r 1 W. 6 W. Al - Yarmouth ISM W. 6 N. W. rc I 2 toarbannest 1 4 81 W. 6 w.N.W. e 0.57 3 fildolels 29.49 W.I. W. 4 W.N.R. 00 1 1 Barometer corrected sad reduced to 32 deg. at sea lerei. nr letter. r biter, 2 (falling), a (steady), Indicate direcdos d motion of the within last 12 hours. Theanometer mama la shade. Extreme force, with Its direction duurrilnaga lag 24 Matra Z.—calm. Weather: b.— t•lee ear; clouds(detacDd) : L— fog:l.—lightning; m.—misty ,hap); o.—overust r.—rain; c—mow: t.—thunder. italsrfati, scow et hall melted), during last 24 boon. Sea disturbance. REMARKS. The rapid decrease In barometrical pressure which was reported on Saturday continued at all stations yesterday. This morning 04 the coasts of the Channel and on oar south eaat coast an Memose is shown. Low pressures said in the north at Nairn the reading Is nearly 940th, of an lath lees than that at Brest. Temperatures continue high and uniformly se. Yesterday very high wimp, from the westward blew on the wed coast of Ireland, and on our south coed. Wong westerly winds are reported this morning from the west of Ireland, bat on our other coast* winds are moderated. Rain since Saturday bas been general, mid hu fallen in considerable amount on our u.rth and east coasts. Snow and hall fell at Nairn yesterday. On Saturday afternoon the distribution of medals and prizes to the successful students of the Female School of Art wok place at Burlington-house, Piccadilly. Not. withstanding tho wetness of the afternoon there was a good attendance of visitors, the larger portion of whom were ladles. The chair was taken by Sir FRANci , GRANT, president of the Royal Academy, and among the occupants of the platform were Lady Grant, Professor Donaldson, the Rev. J. Bach, and Marrs. R. Westraacott, R.A., R. Redgreve, R.A., O'Neill, R.A., Pocock,Godwiti,Valpy, Henderson, H. A. Bowler, J. IL Fordhana, and G. Hard. ini t . Mils Gann, the superintendent of the school, sat at the table on the right of the chairman. THE MANSION-HOUSE HURRICANE RELIEF FEND. —The subscriptions in aid of the sufferers consequent on the hurricanes in the West Indies have fallen off consider. ably during the past week as compared with the contribe. atone received in the first few days after the fund was originated, the total amount paid in to the Lord Mayor at the Mansion-house up to Saturday afternoon being mly 8,7001. Among the more recent contributions are Imr. from the Fishmongers' Company; LW. from Mmes. Anthony Gibbs and Co. ,• 501. from Messrs. Lad, Come and Co.' from the Hon. Miss Arden ; and 211. from Messrs. Day and Muth). Hee MAJESTY'S THEATRE. —We learn that it is extremely improbable that Her Majesty's Theatre sill be rebuilt. It is known that, some time Mom, the geom. meet wished to obtain permission of the site, with the view of erecting a West-end Post-office there ' • and it u understood that advantage will be taken of the preset opportunity, in order to determine the lease, and cane out this plan.—/isperial Review. INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE OF PEACE AND LIBERTY. —A meeting was held on Friday evening at IS, louvers. street, for the purpose of founding a branch of the above organisation, which has its headluarters at Berne, is this country. Mr. Beales presided, and letters approiing the object of the meeting were read from Mr. Taylor, ILE, Mr. Slack, and others. After a long discussion, in which M. Amend Goegg (vice-president of the central coal. mittee), Karl Blind, Professor Casual, and Mr. Wales took part, it was resolved to establish the branch on the ban+ of the resolutions pained at the Geneva Congress. Mr. Beales was elected president, and Mr. Joseph Guedalls snd Professor Casual were elected joint hon. secretaries. ANOTHER CHURCH PRONECUTION.—AIT•DgeMeDII are being made for a prosecution in the &desisted Courts of another clergyman of the church of Enelsed— this time a gentleman who holds what are celled broil church views, and who adopts many of the theori, s atho rated by Dr. Colenso, Bishop of Natal. The clergyman against whom the prosecution as about being commenced is the Rev. Charles Voysey, M.A., of St. Edmund Hall, Oxford, rector of Hmhugh, in the archdiocese of York. The prosecution is to be undertaken by the English Chant Union, of which the Hon. Colin Lindsay is the presidest, the body which is conducting the defence of Mr. Mathew chic in the well-known St. Alban's case now before the Arches Court. Mr. Voysey was for some years en active London clergymen, having been curate of St. Nut's, Whitechapel, and St. Mark's, Victoria Docks, known connexion with " Londoners over the Border." ORDINATION OF • MISSIONARY AT ICING . 4 COL* LEGE—Yesterday morning the ceremony of ordainM; a missionary of the church of England, who is to proceed to the distant island of Borneo, in the Eastern Archipelago, ' was held in the chapel of King's College, strand, the officiating prelate being the Right Rev. Dr. Francis Thomas McDougall, Bishop of Labuan, who was educated for the medical profession at King's College, where be obtained the gold medal in 1837, subsequently broom* denionstrator of anatomy in the college, anal a member of the Royal College of Surgeons. After the ordinary morn ing service, which was of the simplest possible character, the bishop delivered a brief address. The Rev. Prebends , / Plumptre, R.D., professor of divinity in King's C then presented to his lordship Mr. John Parbani ae t j o f C ordained deacon. The ordination service was then pea ceeded er'th, the bishop being assisted by the Rev. Dr; Jelf, the principal of the college, Professor ritimplTer, end other clergymen. Mr. Parham will accompany the bislim, who will leave England for Borneo in the coursed a few weeks. COLLEGE or PRECEPTORS. —A meeting of the council of the corporation was held on Saturday. The role lowing persons were elected members of the college :—) 111 C. H. Andrews, 22, Richmond-place, Brighton ; Baker, Wood-green Grammar School, N. ; Mr. R. Kirby, 19, New Walk, Leicester ; Mrs. B Perrot, Burton-bow , Brixton, 8. ; Mr. G. H. Shipley, Lindern-house, Lincoln: Mr. J. Smith, Marlborough-house, Kennington-road ; 3 / 4 . W. F. Spray, Congregational School, Attercli ff e; Mr. P. Stewart, Palmer-house, Holloway ; Mr. J. St. flub School and Choir Master, East-street, Chichester ; Mr. IL Browne, Sevenoaks. COLLISION ON THE LONDON AND NORTH WVITERN RAILWAT.—On Saturday evening about half past 8 o'clock • railway oollision of a lesions character, la which caused considerable injury to neatly a score 5 1 persons, occurred at the goods station of tho London and North Western Railway, at Wigan, is few hundred yarif south of the passenger station. At 7.41P.M. • trai n Manchester (via Eccles and Tyldesley) for Wigan. where" is duo at 8,30. On Saturday it proceeded safely as far al the spot where the line from the Wigan goods statue joins the main line, which it reached after an ascent frox a very considerable gradient. At the station an e ngine ,wo employed collecting waggons for several train furl 111 1 to leave during the night, and just before the time of the accident it had been moved to a fi" (4 70 yards from the junction and stood theta tender foremost, with • lot of heavily laden lu‘spl trucks behind. When the Manchester train reached, no junction the points were all wrong, and the engine tat at nearly full speed, dashed down the incline into de luggage station with most disastrous consequences. s it , of course, came into collision with the stationary mole" which was lifted off the line, and the end stand in. l? ,0 luckily the fireman and stoker had noticed the impendue accident just in time to escape. The front portion of 11l passenger engine was also • complete wreck, but ' wider driver nor stoker was killed, though the first severely injured, and the second was foiled 17 4 insensible on the step of the engine. The . ti t carriage, a third clue, was a perfect wrec k. was also the second, a composite first and second else. and it is wonderful how the occupants escaped death. Nearly • score were more or less injured, „... 0 " many had to be removed to the surgeon's in CAM accident occurring on • siding caused but little inten'4' tion of the traffic.