The Express. — London, England, 1868-03-02 00:00:00

ROYAL NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION. The ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of this Institution mill be held at the London Tavern, Illehopegate-alreet, en TUESDAY, the 10th Ind., at 0 o'clock p The Right Hon. H. T. 1.. COSEY M.P., lint Lord of the Ad miralty, In the Chair. RICHARD LEWIS, Secretary. 14, Jobu.street, Adelphi, March 4. JOHN BROODER'S CLASSIC JEWELRY. pews FIRST-OLASS SILVER MEDAL,IB67. JOHN BROODEN'S 18-carat GOLD CHAINS. JOHN BROGDEN'S BRACELETS. JOHN BROODKN'S BROOCHZEI. JOHN BROODENE GEM and WEDDING RINGS. "OHN BROOM'S NECKLACES• 'ORE BROGDEN'S EARRINGS. RIG I NAL GOLD CHAIN MAN U FACTOR' 'O. 16, HICNRIETTA-STREET, Covent " Arden. FRAUD. —CAUTION. —Order BRYANT and )lAN'S PATENT SAYKTY MATCHES, trade mark an Ark. and Insist not hnring them a Imitations are angnetimes attend that do not afford PROIEVTION FROM PIM HENRY BRETT and Co.'s "O. D. V." P 1 RE BRANDY, 18e. per Balton. recommended by the medical iirof melon. Ina ease for the country MA. Inclusive of railway carrlawe.—Hulhoru.bara. end' a, B.egeat-streat. T RELOAR'S COCOA NUT FIBRE MATTING, WARRANTY.D UNBLEACHED. Ilst of Prices free by post. Warehousd. 67. LUDGATE-HILL ke enwto/$* ADVERT( if:VENTS mast be forward...l to Mew& .1. M. JOHN and SONY. a. Ca.tle-atteet, Holborn, and 53, Mallon G.-Arden, ties specially appointed Aganta. BAY'S ARK/it. Tms F.eßsree, Tllli BIWKRN-lIEARTED CLUB.—DAVID 3Araucti. Messrs. bothers. Burkstone, Rogers, Re. ; and Mtn Robertson —IIOX AND ()X . Mr. BueNstunc and Mr. Compton. —And FAMILY JARS. Mr. Compton. PILINCERWR. Tina Errsiso, AMMO( NA V W MIUIL /dr. and Mra D. Ren ck:mit, Mr. % lulus, Messrs. Dominick Murray. Neriilr, &Shwa: Miss Harnett & Addis.—after which I'HE (OCTIIROON. Mr. and lin, r.cutilcault, Mr. J. 9 Clarke, Mr. Vining, et Miss Mimms. WTILA2I O. TITI4 EVEXIM:, OLD SALT. Adesers. Emery, P.M. - m.lot Junes; Mt" Nelly \l,e.r —PARIS, OR, VIVI: LEM PRI ERE. Hams. Jame", Th.m.r, &Mem, and leritou ; Ue,duna SMMIX , r O U4ih. Barigud, Juhmlone, Ilea, te.—And COAL AND COY& BRITANNIA, TRIR EVENINO, VIE FijiNil4l7l:' INGLEWOOD FOREST. Meet,. Reyunhls , Charlton. Irslle, & Elwood; tleadanws Owe tenay. rovency. A Booth.—Mis4 Kate Clifton : Mr 4 J. Y. Brine; 31r. J. W. liskartt—Aud ALL El: tUN E. Mr. Reynolds, ac. HIGH WATIJIATLONDONBRADUL Tina A7 l .7lnrol;Tit, na. 19m. mokitoW 7h 4Uns Attmloun. 64. 24m. ISOTlrldi el BIRTHS, ILIT.II/AOE., and BEATIIi, are received u•dll 11 u'clo,k fur ineurtluil Lune eveuilog. • ric 31. LONDON, MONDAY, MARCH 2. THE INTER BEGNU3L THE space between the dissolution of one Ministry and the formation of another is like that realm of chaos which MILTON'S Satan traversed on his voyage of discovery in search of the earth. It is full of dim and shapeless figures to which everyone may give such form as suits his own fancy. It abounds in mysteries and whispers admitting of a thousand interpretations. Where facts are few, guesses are iminenius. An Adminis tration was never formed with so little change as that which was practically completed on Thursday, and which was formally constituted when Lord CAIENS and Mr. WA sO Hust kissed hands two days after at thibonie. The changes which were made were so inevitable as to be distinctly foreseen. Yet scandal has been called in to ac count for them. Gossip tells us of interviews and correspondence between very great persons which affect the purity of patronage. Quidmines are informed with minute accuracy of the sugges tions made by a great magistrate to the head of his profession its to the necessity of a good appoint ment for the administration of justice in almost its supreme tribunal. Counter-representatimis are described of a very urgent character, from a great leader and a great Duke, as to the prior claims of party in the person of one of its most zealous adherents. The LORI/ CHANCELLOR, who had given moat ample proofs of his devotion to his poi:tie:ll friends, for once, it is said, pre ferred the interests of justice to those 4 f a party, and has paid for his solitary act of virtue, by the loss of his place. The woolsack has been withdrawn front the siiretin •cumbent person of Lord Cliatmsvoitn, and, if we may be allowed so low a rat taphor, the sack with sic the wool has been presented t o him as the sym bol of his forfeited greatness. Such are the details with which inventive gossip or indignant gemility has tilled up the outlines of a catiaplaint issued anonymously from an appa rently well-informed quarter. If the public has talked about these things, it is because Mr. Disas ELI has given them nothing else to talk about. We uunld doubtless have had a similar scandal about poor Mr. WALPOLR'S retirement if Mr. Watitcl.s had dad any place of honour or emolu ment te give up. But that weeping minister, the Ilsirses TVS of statesmen, has surrendered nothing except a very bewail and equivocal honour, which lie cooks lot done,: to keep, and no one one else could ponibly covet. There are still a good many upon class left for the invention and cir ealation .ef piquant rumours ; and, so far sa the 'rarity material provided by Mr. Dis.nstra calves roam for their manufacture, the time will doubtless be sedulously employed by the p refessoused that branch of industry. What Mr. DISISs ELI wanted with th 2 week whiekLord &Amur demsaded on his behalf on Friday cannot be very readily conjectosed. In spite of Mr. Girl:errors'. indulgent admission that there were special cir cumstances attending the re-coustructiou of the present administration which entitled them to the delay they asked far, it seems as if the PRIME MINISTER desired time for tine's sake. Instead of sighing, after antique Roman precedent, to lose a day, he apparently aspires to lose a month. Parliament met this year a week later than usual ; and the business of the session, which in ordinary course would have begun on the Gth of February, is now deferred to the sth of March. Lord Mayo was prepared to state the Irish policy of the Government on the 25th of last month. Mr. WARD BENT, U a subordinate member of the Government, was doubtless pre pared to acquiesce in that policy, whatever it might turn out. The education of Lord CAIRNS cannot surely take so long as ten days. He is not so dull a pupil as all that woes to. If he had not been able to master his briefi; after a much more rapid fashion, he would still be plodding at the bar, and Lord CHELMSFORD, an elderly Aomori!, would not be now weeping in Naxos the perfidious deserter. The anti-reform speeches of Sir I : 1,70H CAIRNS in the House of Commons in 1866, and the Reform speeches of Lord CAIRNS in the House of Lords in 1867 show a pliancy and elasticity of THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVEWG, MARCH 2, mind which has never been surpassed. ltt. Lows could not be mire Conservative than the tossalms for Belfast, nor Mr. Bazaar more Radical than tits LORD Jut~ lcr, of APPEAL. Last session, it is true, Lord Csixtss emitted a No-Sur render speech on the subject of the Trish Church Establishment, which vibrated to the depths of the ()mitt Lodges, and awakened c omes which have been heard at Hill';oorough and in the Dublin Rotundo. But Lord Caistts's denials are like the lady's l'hTo," who, " saying " she would ne'er consent, consented." His protestations are most to be distrusted when most vehement. It will not be very difficult, we fancy, to induce Lord DAMNS to substitute for the old WM/1- diflllta of ascendancy, the new aumpainms of Mr. DISRAELI'S enlightened policy. . . On the Irish question, which is the question of the session and of the generation, Ministers will have until the 10th of March to make up their minds. Practically, on this subject and on most others, the Government consists of three men. In every administration there is a Cabinet within a Cabinet. The inner and smaller body originates and shapes the policy of the Ministry, and the larger body, the Cabinet whose meetings the newspapers chronicle, is allowed the privilege of discussion, and votes " aye" or " no." They are to each other as the Conseil d'Etat and the Corps Legislatif of France. A body not known to the law contains within it a body not known even to general rumour, and the latter rules the empire. Such is the tendency of the centre of power in England to conceal itself in forms, and to retreat inwards from public scrutiny. Of this inner Cabinet, Mr. DISRAELI, Lord STANLEY, and Lord CAIRNS will be the most potent members. They are the mind of the government. Their decisions will be its decision. On the Irish question Mr. DISRAELI'S real, though lately silent con victions are probably as revolutionary as Mr. MILL'S. Lord STANLEY'S opinions, though he has recently made awkward attempts to speak the language of Conservatism, are if more sober, yet Liberal. It remains to be seen whether Lord CAIRNS will associate himself with the colleagues to whom his intelligence naturally allies him ; or will prefer to be the Lord CRAN 'mime of the new administration, and to put him self at the head of the more stupid and obstructive section of the new government, who have numbers and want brains. THE paramount importance of independent in spection is the chief lesson to be derived from the revolting lunacy case we publish today. Given the temptation to 'make money rapidly on the one hand, and irresponsible r ower on the other, and it is not difficult to foresee the fate of the poor creatures who, afflicted with the most terrible of all maladies, are necessarily entrusted to merce nary bands. But the lunacy laws mercifully step in for their protection. The poor half-witted married lady for whom sixty pounds a year was paid, and who was employed as a menial on household work ; and the unhappy imbecile found in a room "twelve feet square and " six feet high," " lying on • straw mattress " with nothing on but an old flannel shirt " and a piece of carpet," and "reeking and " rotten with filth," are we fear but types of the condition of hundreds of lunatics before the pre sent laws were passed. The double pay of a hundred and twenty pounds a year charged on account of the last patient's noisome habits, would be sufficient to tempt many a needy man to accept him as an in mate if there were no stato guarantee that money's worth, in the shape of medical comforts, attention, and care should be given in return. Fortunately, however, the law is clear upon this point, and is in the main sufficient for its pur pose, though undue leniency is sometimes dis played in the prosecutions. The hideous incident in a half-forgotten novel, by Mr. HENRY COrICTUN, of a sane man being tickled into madness by two brutal keepers, while strapped to his asylum couch, in order that he might gnash and rave during the Commissioners' visit ; and the possi bilities so vividly detailed in Mr. CHAHtes READS'S brilliant story, might have taken place in the England of a hundred years ago. We should be sorry to think, how ever, that the villainous circumstances of the case before us are other than exceptional, at the present time. Mr. EDWARD CHARLES SHAW, surgeon and unlicensed madhouse-keeper, of Boreham wood, Elstree, Hertford, has been most properly sentenced to fine and imprisonment, as a result of investigations instituted by the Commissioners of Lunacy. Let a careful watch be kept for, and con dign punishment follow, the housing lunatics without a license, and we have the best guarantee for humane and fitting treatment. THE views advocated in the E.. press last week respecting a new telegraphic line to India meet with the valuable support of this morning's Times. The country is now paying 36,000/. annually on account of a Bed Sea cable which never worked properly, and which has long been given up as dead. This unhappy cable was guaranteed by the Crown, and though the causes which led to its failure are thoroughly understood, the government seems to shrink from repeating an experiment which was wholly unsuccessful. But the project for laying a direct line to 'twill, sub mitted to the Secretary of State for INDIA last August, included taking the responsibility of this wasted 36,0001. off the crown, and to, at the same time, lease the Persian Gulf cable ate rental of five per cent. on its original cost. The people who made and laid, and, to a great extent, owned the Atlantic cables of 1885 and 1866 are ready to stake their reputations and commercial credit upon the feasibility of laying a direct line to India profitably and well. But inasmuch as other undertakings of public utility in India--canals, docks, railways—have had assistance and encouragement from the Government, a guarantee of five per cent. is asked for as a condition of the suc cessful laying. This is simply want e d as an encouragement to investors. Not a tithe of the difficulties are to be feared which beset the cable to America ; and in return for a clear gain of 36,000/. a year the government is asked to give the recognition to the telegraph it already accords to the railway and canal. In the present state of scientific knowledge the risk seems slight, and the practical advantages would be undoubtedly great. Tas vicar of Terling writes to a contemporary in insist that his parish is now in Arcadia ; and that its inhabitants are happy beyond measure in the sympathy and friendship of the noble, the bene volent, and the wealthy. The typhoid fever which has recently killed off thirty-seven of its inhabi tants has, however, he admits, been due to " putrescent cesspools," and "deadly polluted " wells ;" to guardians insisting upon a "Fabian " policy," and on defying medical advice by pro viding " poisoned font ins," and " mephitic " btdiblair for the poor. lint all that hi changed, says the 'fear. Th. village has teen putt dad by chloride of lime and carbolic acid ; the Home Secretary has promptly responded to every application ; " the noble proprietor has been un " sparing in his expenditure ;" " his wife " visits the place with anxious solicitude ; " " the Bishop, Archdeacon, clergy, and gentry " manifest their benevolence ; " • !‘ lady foregoes "the enjoyments of affluence," and "devotes her " energies to the visitation of the sick," and within the cottages will be found " the neatness " and cleanly decency which are almoet peculiar to " the Saxon race." This is all very gratifying ; but what a misfortune it seems that some of this dormant kindness was not roused into action a little earlier. Can it be really necessary to let "a " giant epidemic " decimate • village before it is discovered that an " unnatural union of wells " and cesspools " is a certain destroyer of human life ? OUR CONTEMPORARIES. (THIS DAY.) The Times thinks it possible that the seceding members of the conservative party below the gangway may receive one or two [recruits, and it is, perhaps, with an intention to repress any disposition on the pert of streg glen to desert that a meeting of the conservative mean. hers of the House of Commons has been called for Thursday afternoon. Mr. Disraeli will then enlighten his followers on the main lines of his future policy. Under the circumstance, there may be some excuse foe this gathering, but the Times earnestly deprecates the adoption as • practice of this species of party assemblage. These "caucuses" are a recent importation into English political life, and their direct effect is to (la grade the leaders of party into servants instead of direc tors, and to divert from the HOW., of Commons into private and, we may almost say, "hole and corner" meetings the functions of examining and debating the policy of a government. Mr. Gladstone held several of these unrecognised assemblies last year and the year before, and to his own injury. Mr. Disraeli may learn from the experience of his opponent to be cautious before repeating a dangerous experiment. The Post mentions with some credence the report that Lord Caine and Mr. Gathorne Hardy are stiff-necked on the question of the Irish church, and hold out for the old protestant ascendancy policy ; but the opposition will be even more to blame than the ministry if this session is permittri to pass with no other legislation for Ireland than a Reform Act, for which the Irish people not care a rash. A writer in 131wkwood of the present month accepts the opinion of the Duke of Wellington, that in 1829 the choice lay between catholic emancipation and civil war, and adds that it may even be a question now "whether civil war would not have been the better alternative." Will Mr. Disraeli (asks the Telegro ph) indorse this in sanity, and think it better to encourage Fenianism, by chivalrously offering it an open field of combat, than to conquer our adveraarieo by doing justioe to Ireland? the durt. OIMORMS, le. The Queen drove out:yesterday afternoon OP millabiedb/Princemi and attended by the Deans al Athele. Prince Leopold walkeo j out. Prince Leiningsw, Coat Vitationn, Mr. Disraeli, and Bit Thomas and Lleiy Biddcdph bad the honour of dining with ber Majesty. The Queen drove one this morning accompanied by Prince Leopold. MISCH 1. The (NMI held a Privy Council yesterday afternoon at half-part 1 o'clock, rt which were present the Duke of Marlborough (Lord President), theEarlof Tankerville(Lord ikeward), and Sir John Pakington. Lord Chelmsford had an audience of her Majesty, and delivered up the Great Seal. Lord Calms had an audience on being appointed Lord Chancellor, to whom her Majesty was graciously pleased to deliver the Great Seal. The Right Hom B. Disraeli had an audience of her Majesty, and delivered up the seals of office of Chancellor of the Exchequer, which Mr. G. W. Hunt received at the Council, and was then sworn in as a Privy Councillor. Her Majesty was pleased to confer the honour of knight hood on Mr. William Ballo' Brett, M.P. (Solicitor-General). Mr. Arthur Helps was Clerk of the Council. Count Vitztbum ►nd Mr. flinch left for Loudon.' Sir William Janney arrived. The Queen, accompanied by Printer Louise, attended Divine service this morning at Whippingham Church. The Duchess of Athole and the Equerry in Waiting at tended. The Rev. G. Prothero officiated. Prince Leopold walked out. The Prince and Princess of Wales dined with Prince and Princess Mary of Teck, at Kensington Palm*, on Saturday evening. The Prince end Princess of Wales, with the Countess of Morton and Lieutenant-Colonel Keppel, in waiting, at tended Divine service at the Chapel Royal, St. Jamei's, yesterday. The Communion service was read by the Rev. the Sub dean and the Rev. A. SitwelL Anthem, "Lord, let me know my end," Goss. Solo by Mr. Winn. Mr. Goss presided at the organ. The sermon was preached by the Lord Bishop of Roches ter. from St. Luke, chap. 17, ver. 32. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge attended the servic,.. Despatches were received on Saturday at the Colonial oflice from the Governor of British Honduras. Despatches were sent to the Governors of the West India Islands, the North American Provinces, British Columbia, and the Australian colonies. CABINET COUNCIL.—A Cabinet Council will be held this (Monday) afternoon at the First Lord of the Treasury's official residence in Downing street. The Prince and Princess of Wales honoured the I Princess Mary Adelaide of Teck and the Prince of Teck with their presence at dinner on Saturday evening, et Remington Palace. The following company bad the honour to meet their royal highnesses at dinner :—The Duke of Cambridge, the Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar, the Earl of Westmoreland, Lord and Lady Cecilia Bingham, Lady Katherine Coke, Dr. Quin, Ise. The Duke and Duchess d'Auniale honoured Frances Countess Waldegrave and the Right Ron. Chiches ter Fortescue by their company at dinner on Saturday, at their residence in Carlton-gardens. The Austrian Ambas sador and a distinguished circle bad the honour to meet the guests, and later in the evening the hostess hail a small and early party. The Duke and Duchess of Marlborough enter tained • numerous and distinguished party at dinner on Saturday evening, at their residence in St. James's-square. and afterwards the duchess bad • reception, as which • distinguished company assembled. Mrs. Gladstone has issued cards of invitation for evening parties on the 4th and 18th instant, and on April the Ist, at the family residence, on Carlton-house-terrace. THE SPEAKER'S DINNER.—The Right Hon. the Speaker gave his second parliamentary full dress dinner on S►turday evening to the following noblemen and gentlemen :—Mr. Gladstone, Marquis of Hartington, Lord Otho Fitzgerald, Viscount Castlemur, Viscount Enfield, Lord John Hay, Right Hon. William Cowper, Right lion. C. P. Villiers, Right Hon. Milner Gibson, Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, Right Hon. William Monsell, Right Hon. T. E. Headlam, Right Hon. Chichester Fortescue, Right lion. Austin Bruce, Right Hon. G. J. Goachen, Hon. Henry Brand, P.C., Sir Roundell Palmer, Right Hon. James Lawson, Sir Robert Collier, Mr. Knatchbuld kinsmen, Mr. Adam, Mr. Shaw Leferre, Mr. Eamosde, Mr. Childers, Mr. lityard, Mr. W. E. Foster, Mr. Stens. feld, Mr. Bonham-Carter, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Young, Mr. Grenfell Glyn, Rev. Dr. Merivale (chaplain), and Mr. Alfred Denison (private secretary). FASHIONS FOR MARCH. (From Le Pollet.) The late season has brought in quite a trans formation in the make of robes. No longer do we see those almost plain skirts so narrow that they were anything but graceful. Our readers must not suppose that the short costumes are done away with—by no means that—they are far too useful to be easily given up ; but instead of being scanty, as formerly, they, as well as the long or trained dresse', are made flat in the front, but very full tow/ante at the back, set on at the waist from the sides and across the back in very thick close plaits, so that they hang in plaits the whole length of the breadths. We need scarcely say this is much more becoming to the figure. It is principally in ball-dreams that this make has been seen atpresent, but is beginning to show itself in toi lettes. Onenovelty we must mention, more because it isa no velty than for ite gracefulness, is the fashion of looping up the skirt of • very long dress at the back by means of • very wide sash, the ends of which hang to the bottom of the skirt ; it is more eccentric than pretty, but many scarfs of Chace bery, with satin dresses, have been worn in this style in evening toilet lately. Sometimes the sash is fastened at the side instead of the back. Los increases in favour every day ; it seems indispensable that a lady of elegance should have her lace tunic, flounces, shawl, fro. Passe. meraterie has not, however, disappeared from its former place as a trimming. Fringes eta light kind trim thin material, whilst the heavier silk fringes are reserved for satin or taffetas. Wreaths or bouquets of small flowers or leaves cut in satin or taffetas, lightly button-bole stitched at the edp with a vary fine cord, make an ex. esealiegly pretty trimming for alpaca, taffetas, or foulard dresses; for instance, a white foulard with a wreath of violets their natural solour placed round the top of the hem, sad carded up ea tanner on the skirt, and forming bretelles upon the body end 'boulders ; or a dress of black silk trimmed with mall roses. There is a rumour of larger bonnets coming into fashion again ; at present it is certainly only • whisper ; nor do we see much probability of the present elegant, and in most cases becoming coiffures giving place to the old bonnet ; and, while cur skilful modistes take so much care to arrange the fashion la as to suit ell ages, we do not see that any advantage would be gained. Lees, either black or white, forms • necessary part of every coiffure—and whet is more softening and graceful than lam or blonde to the face no longer youne— No that a fang= of velvet, crepe, or tulle, trimmed with a vedette of Lee felling over • soft crown of crape or tulle, and ending in lappets fastened by en elegant brooch under the chin, may be made to suit a lady of any age. There is not much change in the materials used, as the season is not sufficiently advanced. The diadems are made to come quite forward, the most elegant being formed with mall feathers or lowers, although bands of gold and steel, er velvet sad gold or steel ornaments are still much used. 3X7OND AND CANDRIDOI BOAT-RACK.—The Ox ford Arm ham amoniemied &olive training, and may be assn iwoh day ea the Lis sticking steadily to their with. Ur. F. Willa. bevies returned from Imam, has re. moo d Id/ place, N.. 7, is the boot. ll'he Ursierpradr ww j ot , speaking of the mew, says:—" It is to be hoped sm.* they may soon melt away some aE that a m nions riNgbt, which at present images moos than moo, nfi. per men. When la propar modifies the army. weight ten _probably be 17klglb., or soma where theriebeals. This INS crew an said to be more lonised Ora • asivetzdty sight has bees far yam. Be thet as it may the rowing is Dot what it light to be ; then to lose el strum* sad week, but the osai *rot Gene nal of the water Upriser, Adel :an t. 1.4 „Lwow set is Braden indbridsal fatale and at wader B ahr e &mewi ng,those a. go stroke, mead We hop le ass remedied by eareful • esa. es the pet of watt, and attention and ea He part of the 18 J r , .y 1 8 6 FOREIGN NEWS. (THIS DAY.) ---.....- THE ILLNESS OP THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON. Since his sudden illness on Wednesday evening, the Emperor Napoleon has had frequent attacks of short breathing. Dr. Corvisart is in attendance, and the members of the " Medical Cabinet " have been ordered not to be absent a moment. Writing last evening, our Paris correspondent says : " The Emperor, whose illness was characterised by a succession of sudden asthmatic seizures of short duration, was well enough yesterday afternoon to ride on horseback in the Bois de Boulogne." IMPORTANT JOURNEY OF PRINCE NAPOLEON. PRUSSIA AND FRANCE. The mysterious character of Prince Napoleon's presence in Germany is made more mysterious to day by a telegram from Berlin which annihilates the news of the Petrie that his imperial highness has only gone to Stuttgardt to pay a long deferred visit to his Wurtemberg relations. The Prince is in Berlin at an hotel. His coming was not announced to the Prussian government, nevertheless he is to stay at Berlin several days. This really does look like a " mission," and if the Preen of last night is to be believed, the mission must be one of capital im portance because tending to drive Prussia into a oorner and make her declare her intentions. NARROW ESCAPE OF A RUSSIAN AMBAS SADOR FROM ASSASSINATION. Baron de Budberg, the Russian Ambassador, who has just returned to Paris from St. Peters burg after a long rouge, narrowly escaped assassi nation in the refreshment room of the Verviers *station in Belgium. While at table Baron de Meyendorff, son of a celebrated Russian diplo- matist, came up to him and said, " Bonjour, Baron." " What, are you here replied Baron de Budberg, who evidently knew him. An alter cation followed in the Russian language, and after the lapse of a few seconds Baron de Meyendorff struck Baron de Budberg in the face, and was in the act of drawing a sword from a stick to assault him, when M. Beckmann, a writer on the staff of the Trmps, who saw the movement, rushed upon him and snatched the sword-cane from his hand. Thereupon Baron de Meyendorff drew a revolver front his pocket and levelled it at the Russian Ambassador. The latter exclaimed, " Secure him, he is a madman." A waiter at the buffet, with much presence of mind, took away the pistol, and the Baron do Meyendorff was taken into custody by the police. It seems that some time ago the Baron had sent a challenge to a French gentleman, who refused to fight him because Baron de Bud berg had certified that he was not in his right senses. Desirous to avenge himself on the Rus sian Ambassador for this slight, Baron de Meycn dorff had laid in wait for him at the Belgian fron tier fora whole fortnight. DISUNION IN THE AUSTRIAN CABINET. According to the North-Eastern Correspondence, intrigues are going on in Vienna with the view of ousting MM. Giskra and Herbst from the ministry. Prince Auersperg, the herid of the Cisleithan Cabinet, is said to be dissatisfied with the pre sent state of things, and to be anxious to reintroduce the principle of aristocratic centralisa tion in this division of the empire. With this view he has hold communications with Herr von Sebmerling. They by no means desire to retrace the steps that have been taken with regard to Hungary but simply to establish a strong centralised goveni meat in Vienna, in which the German element would be predominant. The new combination, if successful, would include Her• von Plener and Count Putoki. The ministers who are threatened are aware of these intrigues, and are re solved to defend their position ; but they find themselves in a very embarrassing situa tion. Herr von Beust is said to be neutral in the matter. The opinion of the North-Eastern Cor respondence is that if this aristocratic coalition succeeds they will not be able to stop short, but must adopt an illiberal policy abroad as well as at home. (R LITER'S TELEGRAMS) SPAIN. MADRID. MARCH 2. The Senate has passed the bill respecting the reorganisation of the courts of justice. It will shortly discuss the bill regulating the subsidies to be granted to railway companies, and also the measures which have been proposed to prevent the exportation of grain. TURKEY. CONSTANTINOPLE, Fax 29. The Grand Vizier, accompanied by Cabou li Pacha, Servir Effendi, and suite, arrived here this morning from Crete, and immediately bad an audience of the Sultan. An action was lately tried against an English dentist, named Mallow, upon a bill for 287 ducats, signed at Bucharest in 1884, to the order of M. Tapponier, a citizen of Geneva. The bill was en dorsed to a Wallachian firm in Paris, who sued upon it. Mr. Mallow demurred, on the ground that the whole transaction was among foreigner s , and that the practice of French courts, instituted for the benefit of French citizens, was to decline to do justice between foreigners. But the court oven ruled the demurrer, because Mr. Mallow having so other domicile than his residence in Paris was, foe all purposes of jurisdiction, a Frenchman in regard to his contracts with foreigners. The cane will come on subsequently on the merits. PARIS, SATURDAY EVENING. M. Vormorel, editor of the Coen Fraikais, who is at this moment in prison on a previous conviction, was yesterday sentenced to to o months• imprisonment and a fine of 1,00(0., for an article in the number of January 16, which is held by President Delesvaux and his brother judges to amount to a recommendation to the army and navy to disobey orders. Judgment was given yesterday in the Me which I lately reported of an application by the son of the late General Delos, to have his remains ex humed from the grave in the Montmartre Ceme tery. The court, adopting the opinion of the imps nal advocate, refused to order the exhumation on the ground that the deceased had been domiciled in Paris ever since the Haytian revolution of 184, and had clearly shown an intention to bring np the children of his second marriage in France: and that, considering his recent death and the unsettled state of the republic of Hayti, his widow was en titled to say that his remains should not be dis turbed. Tho Emperor has, I believe, decided th a t M. Houseman's projected boulevard through the Montmartre Cemetery, for which he only got L a m majorities in the Senate and Corps Legisiatii, shall not be made. The Bourse, after some hesitation luting the reponse des primes, closed with very great firmness. Rente closed at 68.95 for cash, and 69.124 for ac. count, with a rise of 45 and 221 c Italian rose 60c. ; Mobilier, 13f. 75c.; Credit Voncier, 2i ; and Comptoir d'Escompte, Of. THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIIx;h: UNIVERSITIES TESTS As 7. The following is a copy of the bill brought in by Mr. Coleridge, Mr. Bouverie, and Mr. Crud Duff, t o repeal certain tests and alter certain st.autes infecting the constitution of the Universities of oxfonl and Cambridge: " Wherees it is expedient that the benefits of the unb vanities of Oxford and should he r , o.lered freely accessible to the nation : and whereas, by west, of divers restrictions, tests, and disabilities, many of h er Majesty's subjects are debarred from the full enjoyment of the same : and whemis it is expedient that such re. strictione, testa, and disabilities should be remos.,l: be it enacted by the Queen's most exc , :llent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords spirttud and Temporal, and Commons, in this present pailinnest assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows : " I. This act may be cited as ' The Oxford .ad Cam. bridge Universities Tests Act.' • 2. In the construction of this act, the wank ' Pro. fervor' and ' Professorship' shall include respectively all assistant or deputy professors and public residers, preelectors, and lecturers in each university, and their respective offices. The word ' scholarship ' shall include the binaries appropriated to :Any college in Seuthind. The word ' college ' shall include the Cathedral or house of Christ Church in Oxford. "3. From and after the pawing of this act. no person 'lull be required, upon taking or to enable bin, to take any degree (other than a degree in divinity) within the Uni versities of Oxford and Cambridge. or either of them, or as a condition of exercising any of the rights or.l privileges which may heretofore have been or may hereafter he earn. deed IT graduates thereof mapectively, to subscribe any article or formulary of faith, or to make any .I...larat ion or take any oath respecting his riligioun belief or profes.ion, or to conform to any religions observance, auythie; in any act of parliament or statute of the said universities or either of them to the contrary notwithstanding: prodded always, that in case Any such degree shall be tendered .ta a qualification for any office now tenable only by a mender of the united church of England and Ireland, for which such degree has heretofore constituted one of the uecessary qualification, being other than an office within the said universities or either of them, or any of the college. or halls thereof respectively, the person or peison* rim ond. Mg or electing to such office shall require the 10 r.,11 so tendering such degree at aforesaid to subscribe such forma. !Ivies or to make inch declaration as he would hate hot required to subscribe or make on taking such degree if this act had not passed. " 4. From and after the passing of this act, no person shall be required as a qualification for or as a c ondition of holding any public professorship or other academical office or place of emolument which is or may bo tenable by a layman, or as • condition of teaching, with... the slid universities or either of them, to subecribe any article or formulary of faith, or to make any declaration, or take any oath respecting his religious belief or profession, or to conform to any religions observance, anything in any act of parliament, instrumect of foundation or endowment, or statute of the said universities or either of them to this contrary notwithstanding. " itt, Provided always, that nothing hereinbefore con. tainted shall be taken to apply to any headship or fellow. ship, or any office of or in any college, house, or hall within the said universities or either of them, not being a fellowship or other endowment in such college, house, or hall attached to some public professorship or other aca• denlical office in the said universities or either of then, and held by virtue thereof. "ti. From and after the passing of this act, the pro. Vll.lOll/ of the several acts mentioned in the schedule, so far as the• same respectively apply to any inastershipor headship, fellowship, tutorship, lecturership, scholarship, exhibition, or any other office or place of einelunient, or to the membership, of or in any college, house, or ball within the said universities, or either of theni, or to the eligibility or qualification of persons for or the conditions of tenure of any such office or place, shall be and the A. 0114 are hereby repealed. " 7. Provided, that nothing in this act contained shall be taken to extend to the provision heretofore male for the celebration, according to law, of the public worship of the church of England within the said universities or either of them, or within any college or hall therein TO. apectively." WEATMIR RIPORT.-(IBIS DAY.) MONDAY. 31/PAC - a II ALM V. Brimme. : I IN. WW. i5ai,...........-..., w lt ile I .....--- -.-,- - --- —i -- ,L-.... 1 Nairn 1 abreasee 28.71r N.W. : 5 W.N.W. •rb 00:., 3 1 i s m - A:drowse 29.86111 N.W. n W,& W. r' 0 li.; I Groonourtle 161.92r, N.W. S ' W.B.W. ' r '0.47 - I Valenti_ a . 80.18 r 'l N.W. 0, N.W. !r 0 31 , 1 5 Cape Clear 80.17r10, N.W. 9 N.W. air ; 0. - 1 11 I ' Roches Pt 110.23r1M N.W. ,a ' N.W. ~ , 3 Liverpool - M. 9- 48 W.B.W. 6 I W. r '0.12. 4 Wolybowt 0.28r17' W. :8 B.&W. o :0.31i - 1 flaartoe 30.94r 41 N.W. , 8 W.N.W. c 0.02, 6 Brat_ _ „-- M.39r,48 N.N.W. • 6 N.W. •ro' - : 6 1/16166 30.24108. W.N.W. . 8 W.N.W. to -I6 Ibraireket 10.1a1413; N.M. , 4 N. cm .- 14 Coruna 18.04 160' N.W. - - e - . 8 m j Plymouth itt& 481 N. ,7 i N. c ;003, 2 Weymouth 84.17 r N.W. •11 I N.W. eI- I S Portenontb '20.12r N.W , I 1 W.N.W. ro •0.01.3 London , WOW W.&11. ,T ! W. bco 0.02, - Tainrontb SLOT 44 W. .8 j b.W. otu -I 4 lawboroargb W. 41 N.W. ,6 1 W. au . 0.07 6 Okada 1141.81 r W.W. 6 • W.N.W. c,- , 2 Welter .. 119.78 W. • - - c • -1 3 Brawls.. - '29.92 47 &W. '- I - oI- I - w.- - o ' - . - 4ona 016 43 N. ci - - aerViCon 129. 9 N.W. 1 N. ab 1 1' 4 MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS. The Daily News quotes from some letters which were read by the chairman of a joint stock company the other day, to show that a number of shareholders are ready to consent to, and even demand, to receive a dividend from whatever source. In the case of the Caledonian railway, every shareholder has had it shown to him th►t the divi dends paid in 1866-67 had not been earned ; and yet they have given to the chairman and the old team such a pre ponderance of support that those of the body who have laboured to establish the prosperity of the line upon a real foundation, have seen their labours frustrated, while the authors of fictitious dividends appear to be stronger than ever. Like the five shareholders who wrote to the chair man of the City company, they want dividend, and do not care were it comes from. Commenting upon the operation of the personal rating clauses, the Star contends that the right to vote has no more to do with a man's payment of his poor's rate than with his pay ment of his baker, although, indeed, the attempt made in parts of the country to extend the penal principle from poor's rates to all other rates as well, shows an inclina tion to make the new system an engine of oppression hardly less fantastic and cruel than if the Reform Bill were only a modern adaptation of Alvit's famous tax on buying and selling. Whatever is done or left undone thii session we must get rid of this absurd appliance for petty torment. lest year we abolished the system of compounding ; this year we must invite it back again by repealing the ratepaying climes. The Tiraes and one or two other papers treat at length of the singular career of the late ex• King of Bavaria. The Tata describes him as • placable man. He had his choice of the royal residences in town and country, but he became • wanderer, and was to be seen at Rome, at Nice, at Perim, wherever the skies were bluest, wherever men made colours, or forms, or sounds, or dreams the real business of life. A courteous Prince, and sociable, sympa thetic gentleman ; a poet, too, in a small way, leaving behind three volumes of his juvenile pieces ; taking his diamond collar from his neck at Weimar, and putting it with his own hand round Goethe's neck ; he had a gracious, winning, kingly way of his own, and, many as were his faults and his foibles, neither his son nor his grandson has supplanted him in the affections of the Bavarian people. Granted, says the Daily News, in reply to " Historians," that it is unprecedented to accede to • proposal to refer to an arbitrator the propriety of our having recognised the belligerency of the South, what follows were we to stretch a point and make a precedent Why, that precedent would tell in our favour in the future. We should then be entitled to appeal to it in support of any claim which we might have to urge either against the United States or any other power. Onr present sacrifice would thus re dound to our ultimate advantage, and if statesmanship consist in providing for possible contingencies as much as in meeting present demands, then to he strengthened for the encounter, cannot, in fact, be termed a loss, although it may involve a fancied diminution of dignity. The Herald is end to see the supremacy of the law vin dicated by the conviction of Mr. Johnston, the grand Orange master in the north of Ireland, for violation of the provisions of the Party Processions Act, and hopes the people of Downpatrick will be completely disabused of the commonly-entertained idea that an Orangemen would never be brought to justice by a conservative government, and be induced by such a proof of the untruth of the sup position to place more reliance on the impartiality and good intentions of the administration. SEA FISHERIES.—The bill drawn up for the pur pose of carrying into effect the convention between her Majesty and the Emperor of the French concerning the fisheries in the seas adjoining the British Islands and France,and to amend the laws relating to British fisheries, was issued this morning. It has been prepared by Mr. Stephen Cave, Mr. E. Egertos, and Mr. Shaw Laterite. The caravan of the pilgrims of Mecca left Damaseoe on the 6th of February, with the ancient and traditional ceremonial observed on these oessaions, Aw cording to custom it will stop for a period of 15 days at Mezerib, a village situated about 60 kilometres from the city. This halt is made in order to give time for the partite in the rear to elms up, and it will hardly be be fore the 22nd tbatthe whole of the pilgrims will definitively net out for the two sacred cities. Their number is com puted at from 1,200 to 1,300. A vessel arrived last week at Southampton with 6,000 quarters of wheat from the Black See, the largest cargo of wheat ever brought to Southampton in a single vessel. Egyptian wheat L now being imported into Southampton for the purpose of being ground into flour. Hitherto it has only besa mod for other purposes than for human food, but by means et a patented process to which it is now 'objected, it can be adapted for the miller and kker, and converted into wholesome food. A vessel laden with brandy arrived at South ampton a day or two since from France. The captain re ported that be had been frozen in for three weeks in the river Charente. Suoh severe weather is never remem bered to have been oxperleaced before. The captain aka etates that in me* with brie portions of callow of wrecked vessels, each se spirit auks and butter tubs, an his passage, which betokens omen weather and &atm don of shipping. OUR PARIS LETTER. (racy ova ows oinizeroiruire.) PARIS, SUNDAY EVINING. A letter in the Figaro lately revealed something ) that had passed in the bureau of the dramatic cen sorship, relative to a nautical drama shortly to be produced at the Theatre Chatelet, called Le Vett intr. The plot turns upon a celebrated naval action of the last century, in which a French ship of that name, after prodigies of valour, went down amidst cries from the crew of " Viva la Republique !" The censorship thought " Vive la Republique " could not possibly be allowed in a theatre at the present day, and as it would be too ridiculous to enforce a cry of " Vive le Rol " for a period when royalty had ceased to exist, or " Viva l'Empereur " before the Emperor existed, it proposed, as a compromise, the cry of " Viva la Nation !" The satirical observa tions of the Figaro attracted the notice of the Em peror, and the affair was brought before his Majesty in person at a recent ministerial council. The Cos stitutiannel announces the certainly unexpected news that the Emperor, on the plea that history ought not to be falsified, and that the gallant action of the Vengenr was performed when France was • republic, has decided that " Viva la Republique !" may be cried on the stage. I am curious to see the working of this liberal permission. I have a very strong persua sion that the police will construe it as leave to say "Viva la Republique" on the stage alone, but not in the body of the theatre. In the present temper of the public mind it is, however, abut* certain that the house will be thronged by people desirous to echo the cry. If the Parisian public takes it into its bead to make anything like a " manifestation" in the Theatre Chatelet, it will be so much the worse for the piece, for it will not last long. Barometer correated and enlaced to 112 deg. at ea lereL The Were r (ding), t (tolling), a (etamly), indicate directice et motion ot them wywithin last 14 hours. Thermometer erlawid In shade. Irtresne tome, with 'Mardi= daring tot 24 boon. Z.—calm.. Weather: b. blue sky; o.—loads (detached,; tog; h.—hail; I.—tightaing ; ((ham): o.—overcoat kr): r.—rain: a.—anow t.—thunder. tainian, mow or e i mailed), daring lad 24 hours. Bea dtourbsncs. REIf•RXII. Over our Wands the barometrical preessuss are considerablf greater than they were on Saturday, having steadily inereaW dace the afternoon of that day The difference in gnssure between northern and southern stations Is large. amounting to upwards of six-tenths of an inch. Temperature diminished yes terday over our islands, but this morning It Is Nan rather high. except in the north of Scotland. On Saturday night a beery gale from the south-west blew In the Bay of Biscay sad in the English and Irish Channels, and continued to blow yesterday with a north-westerly direction In the month of Ireland, and in the muth-west of England. The wind this morning Is fresh from the north west on the Irish coast, but moderate in the English Channel. Rain fell In large amount on the south eosin of Eng land on Saturdny n*ht. Mist prevails in places on our coast. and weather is -By overcast Mr. Dickens is to sail for England on April 23, and on April 18 he ia to receive a diaper from the jou• nark of New York. The lambing season in the south of England hie been in numerous iastaacua vary favourable. Such a number of twin bathe were dropped as were scarcely "." before known. • , i,