The Express. — London, England, 1861-02-12 00:00:00

LL TEAS at MERCHANT" PROFITS. uoolis is min samosa. g estemest. is. N. •per Ilk 11110711 W sad co.. 3 a, Loallawbeidp. COW. putts FIRST CLASS and LONDON PRIZE lllttattA. WAVIER:4IIIN Yid BROGDEN. GlOLlll.ii i TIN And JEW EL L EIC4. Iggsabgearg, ta Ilenratta street, Covent-garden, W.C., tondos 11.1 t TN. establaduneut altar at 6 Ls the evening, and on Illetariess at I o'clock. I.T•RMONIUMS-NZW MOM:L.- I=i MAIM. MLR ird Oa. Ilk liferieWizesl. PARSHAN PAPER HANGINGS, a t th e redutikt utaty.-11. H. CILUIFIN. M and et WOAD NU= eked he the Prlaceete Itlemetre. gee •Icoreissi. I'o OCIBLISPONDENTS. Ldeutlimesta Inteuded kw " The Express" Loucks been Paper. mut be at tie elloe, 10, 3oavette4treet, by Two erefatk es the day of yablleaties, HMAILLIT. Tate Ivrea'. Til F. RIVA AT L& Ileum J. Rroentham, Rene, Chippendale, and Buckstone MI V. Willa& And QUEEN LADYBIRD AND HE& CHILDREN: or. lierleignia and a House on Vire. Hen Wk. T sI3cI rals,lllael.Wrlgliklils• E. Week's. MINCVVra. Teti NYINOPa. DON elariVE BAZA N. Mean. Pechter, P.,tter,& Newt . Yhs M. Harris, Mrs Weet..n —Aud ROISINSioN CRUM& ; et, IllAtlegehe ►rbis and The King of the l'arribbee WAN& Ws& iggesoms • WS,. L. Inunitatre, Yr. A. Forest XT. JAMEY'S. um inseam MY WL7 JOURNAL—THE ISLE OF ST. TEAM. Kama sad Emery •; Mrs. Buckingham White. KNDTSIION. Ileum C. Touni and Belmore : Illasee St. Car ejlerbert, and litemet.—Cueeriarixe at hall-put 7. BRITANNIA, MI ITS PRI PRINCE AND TR* OOP& Mama rltt. Pony, Joao Wilk Roby. & Newham ; NA I. C. Oloploa, Moo A. Wooing. Um W.Osolord.—And JOAN 01 , ARC. Moon lbryo..kb hAnytime; Moo I-Clayton HMI VAT= AT LONDON LIMO& Two DA! —Mania& lb. aSas..... Merano', 3b. AIL Tu-Noutuw—amoubs, 4b. Marna" 4b. 3ovi. LONDON, TUESDAY, FEB. 12. PAIRLIAMENT will soon be called to discuss once seces the beg-vexed question of Church-rates, Sir JOHN Taztawrir having seized the earliest oppor tunity of introducing his Bill, which was read the first time on Thursday last. The discussion on the second reading is likely to prove, as it ought to prove, more serious, energetic, and practical than usuaL It ought, moreover, to be not only an earnest but a final discus sion of the matter so far as the Lower House is concenied. No object can be gained by put ting off the decision to another See LlOll or a future day. All rational grounds as well as all the usual pretexts of delay have been exhausted. The com mittee of the Upper House have concluded their inquiries, and made their final recommendations. During the last twelve months the more active friends and foes of the rate have done their utmost to influence public opinion, and no amount of public agitation is likely substantially to alter their relative position in the contest. All the materials for a final decision are in the hands both of Par liament and the public. Under these circum stances a continuance of the agitation would be a pure evil for the Church and the na tion. The Church, however, would inevi tably suffer most. Hitherto the violent efforts of the pro-rate party have simply tended to convert the question from a religious into a political one, and no result could well be more fatal to the true interests of the ltetablishment. During the last thirty years, the Church having gradually renounced her extreme political character, has in that proportion gained in real usefulness and in fluence among the people. But if Church-rates are to be made a party question, the Church will again be dragged through all the mire of political contests in every town and borough of the empire. She will be exhibited in the odious character of a self-appointed but tyrannical and oppressive tax gatherer, fighting for a needless impost on frivolous and vexatious grounds, striving to exact the terms of a hateful bond when three times the sum would be voluntarily offered. Nothing could tend more directly to destroy the influence of the Church, and if her friends are wise they will never suffer this question to become a mere party instrument. The Church-rate conflicts that annually occur are already a disgrace to religion. But if the agita tion is suffered to continue under political in fluences, these contests will not only rapidly multiply in number, but become embittered by the worst and lowest elements of religious and political strife. To prevent this evil it is the interest of all good citizens, but especially of all true Churchmen, to abate the existing social nuisance on any reasonable terms and without delay. We therefore appeal to the good sense of mem bers on both sides of the House to consider seriously the actual state of the question. Only oue settle ment is now possible, and that is the uncondi tional abolition of the rate. The experience of the last few years has conclusively demonstrated this as the only feasible solution. Experienced statesmen, hke Lord JOHN RUSSELL, for instance, while theoretically in favour of the rate, have been compelled, by the progress of opinion, to renounce their speculative predilections, and unite with the unconditional abolitionists. Thu recent organized efforts of the pro-rate party have but helped to demonstrate that this is the only practical solution of the problem now possible. The " Church Institution," and other similar associations, have brought out the radical and hopeless differ ences which separate the nominal supporters of the rate, and render it impossible for them to unite on any common basis of action. The position of both parties in the contest thus point to the same con clusion. On the one hand, the abolitionists will accept of no compromise. They are a large and powerful party, comprehending not only the whole body of Nonconformists throughout the kingdom, but a considerable section within the Establishment itself. An influential minority of liberal and patriotic Churchmen, both in Parliament and throughout the country, are convinced that the impost cannot be retained, and on this ground op pose all delusive attempts at compromise. In ad dition to their numbers, the abolitionist party poe seises all the strength which thorough union and perfect organisation can impart. They act on a clearly defined principle in favour of a simple, straightforward policy. They originally began the agitation, and have carried it on successfully to its present point, and it is quite certain their efforts will never cease till the rite is abolished. On the other hand, the pro-rate party can agree on no common basis of action. They are, indeed, split up into hostile sections quite as bitterly opposed to each other as they are to the abolitionists. These sections may, however, for practical pur poem, be divided into those who are in favour of a compromise and those who are not. The party of compi.anige includes the great body of Conserve• tires and nioderate Churchmen throughout the country. This party has long since given up the rate as a matter of principle. The Bill of the late government, introduced by Mr. Wateout, provided for the self-exemption of dissenters, and the com mittee of the House of lords recommended a similar provision. The Church and Conservative party in both Houses, while thus practically abandoning the rate as a matter of principle, are, however, by no means agreed as to the form of compromise it would be expedient to adopt. Nor Is the extreme party which opposes all compromise at all more united either in principle or policy. Mr. DISILANYL, with the zeal of a recent convert, asserts that the principle of local self-government is involved in the maintenance of this impost, and that if Church-rates are abolished the political freedom of Englishmen will be undermined and destroyed. Archdeacon Desisox, the ecclesiastical leader of this faction, is still bolder. He defends the rate on purely Popish grounds. According to him the principle of the Church is at stake in the contest, and this principle denies the right of private judgment in matters of religion, and maintains the dogma of implicit faith in the priest. In his recent lecture at Clifton the Archdeacon, in explaining the basis of the agitation in favour of Church rates, says explicitly :—" Ever since the Church " of Cultist has been on the earth there has been " a conflict going on in every Christian land be " tween the principle of the Church and the " counter-principle. The principle of the Church " is obedience to a divinely delegated authority, and " the counter-principle is that which says, 'Nothing " 'shall come in between the individual conscience " s and the Divine Being.' " That is sufficiently frank and straightforward, and in dealing with so logical an opponent there can be no mistake. Church-rates are defended by the extreme section as an essential part of the principle that denies the cardinal doctrine of the Reformation—the right of private judgment in matters of religion. This principle, if successful, would of course be destruc tive of all religious freedom. It need hardly be said that all the sober organs of opinion within the Church, as well as her earnest and influential friends amongst public men in and out of Parlia ment, have repudiated this DENNION-DINRAELI alliance, formed on such a basis and for such ob jects. Nor has the alliance yet produced any definite policy. Archdeacon DENISON contents himself with protesting earnestly againt all ' schemes of exemption. " I would rather," he says, " see the whole Church-rate ex " tinguished than attempts made to change it " nominally by any plan of exemption." The moderate party are equally decided against any attempt being made to retain the rate in its pre sent form. Responsible members of this party, like Mr. Srsv Mel, the member for Cambridge, have publicly stated that if no compromise can be agreed upon they will vote for its abolition. The only point, therefore, on which the hostile sections of the pro-rate party agree is, that each would rather see the rate abolished than accept the scheme of the other. The abolition of the rate is thus the only good on which they can unite. From the point which the question has now reached and the position of all parties in relation to it, this is in fact the only course which can now be pursued with any chance of success. Practical politicians on both sides of the House have long perceived this, and some even on the Tory benches, like Lord Smartie, for instance, have had the honesty and courage to de clare themselves in favour of immediate and total abolition. Tait Bankruptcy and Insolvency Bill, the most conspicuous object iu the ministerial programme of the session, was last night introduced in the House of Commons with an exposition of its principles and provisions worthy of the subject, and of the high re putation of the Attorney-General. The aim of Sir It Stream. in the present bill is simply to effect those changes in the law which have been called for by public opinion, leaving the symmetrical arrange ment of the law for a more convenient season. The first object aimed at in the measure is the separation of the business of dividing a bankrupt's estate among his creditors from matters which belong pri marily to the administration of justice. In the eyes of the mercantile community a Court of Bank ruptcy is useful, or the contrary, according to the measure of rapidity and efficiency with which it per forms the farmer of these functions. The Attorney- General confesses, and perhaps the admission costs him little, that for facility and economy the Court of Chancery beats the Court of Bankruptcy hollow in the administration of estates ; in fact, that at present the estate of a deceased person may be effected more quickly and economically in Chancery, than it can be in private bands. It is proposed in this bill to give creditors a far greater and more effective part than they have hitherto had in the work of distributing a bankrupt's assets, and at the same time to sweep away a host of use less officers, whose fees, per-oeutages, and depreda tions under the guise of perquisites, have aggra vated the costliness of proceedings in the Court of Bankruptcy to such an extent as to make it as formidable to creditors as to debtors. The next leading object of the bill is to bring the non-trader debtor under the bankruptcy laws, so far as to apply to him the principle that the estate of an insolvent belongs to his creditors for e4ual division. This is a point on which the explans lions of the Attorney-General are very full, being directed to disarming the prejudices which were aroused against the measure last session. It does not follow, as some country gentlemen have supposed, that if the law is modified so as to bring the estate of both classes of insolvent debtors under the same process of aqua! distribu tion, the testa of insolvency need be the same for each. That the same general principle is good for both has been all but universally admitted, and if the Attorney-General can show that the provisions by which he has sought to apply it to the case of the non-trader are calculated to protect him from injustice, it may be expected the objections made to the bill of last session will not be renewed. We have thus briefly noticed the general objects of the Attorney-General's measure ; we must speak more specifically of the machinery it provides when we have the measure before us. The Bill, it will be seen, was most favourably received by the House; the Government, however, had better improve than rely on the disposition of Parliament, and push the measure forward. THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 12, 1861. THE NORTH-NAST GALE TO TIM TDITOR OF TIM 1121,21111. Sia,—A column of your paper is filled to-day with accounts of a severe north-east gale. All the much frequented parts of our coasts might have been warned. A very few places were warned three days before the storm. On Wednesday last the following notice was given at Aberdeen, Hull, Yarmouth, Dover Liverpool, Queenstown, V a l en ti n , an d G a l way (be sides other places) by telegraph :—" Caution.— Gale threatening from south-west and then north ward. Show signal drum."—l am, &c., London, Feb. 11. ROBT. FITZROY. P.S. Adverting to frequent expressions of sur prise at the rising of a barometer with or before northerly gales, I would here repeat (what has been reiterated and explained elsewhere) that the air is lighter as well as warmer during southerly winds, heavier and colder before and during northerly, and that the influence of either ai shown by instruments some hours, if not days, Wore actual alteration is visible to ordinary notion. SW Court. The Queen and the Prince Consort, accompanied by the Prineesses Alice, Helena, sad Louise, visited the Photographic Exhibition, in Pall-mall East, yesterday morning. In attendance were the Viscountess Jocelyn, the Hon. Caroline Cavendish, Lord Alfred Paget, and Lieu- tenant-Colonel the Hon. 1). de Roe. The Prince Consort afterwards rode on horseback, attended by his equerry in waiting. The Princess Beatrice visited the Princess Mary of Cam bridge yesterday. The Queen and Prince Consort, accompanied by the Princess Alice, honoured the performance at the Hay market Theatre last evening with their presence. The royal suite consisted of the Viscountess Jocelyn, Hon. Caroline Cavendish, Lord De Tabley, Lord Alfred Paget, and Lieutenant-Colonel the HOll. 1). de Roe. The Belgian. Minister had an interview with the Duke of Newcastle yesterday, at the Colonial-oehne. A deputation from Dartford, for the abolition of the London coal dues, had an interview with Sir George C. Lewis yesterday, at the Home-office. The deputation con sisted of Lord Hohnesdale, M.P. ; Mr. George &send, churchwarden of Dartford ; Mr. T. H. Saunders, Ph(enix Paper Mills ; Mr. John Tether, brewer ; Mr. It. R. Herds, Royal Flour Mills ; Mr. Robert Merchant, Howley Paper Mills ; Mr. Henry Hall, paper maker ; Mr. Charles Seals land, calico printer ; Mr. 'Waller, Mr. Reeves, Mr. Beadle, and Mr. Archibald Kintner., parliamentary agent. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council at yester day. An appeal from the Court of Arches, " Poole v. the Bishop of London" (part heard), was concluded. Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-office, from the Lord High Con,musioner of the lonian Islands, and from the Governors of Bahamas and Canada. De- Mtehes were sent to the Governors of Malta, Ceylon, Hong eg, Labuan, and Gibraltar. THE PRINCE OF WALES. His Royal Highness tho Prince of Wales, attended by Major-General the Hon. R. Bruce, sod Major Teesdale, arrived, on Saturday, on a visit to the Earl and Count es of Hardwicke, at Wimpole Hall, near Royston, from Cambridge. A small circle were invited to meet his royal highness, including the Duke of St. Albans, Mr. Adeane, M.P., and Lady Elizabeth Adeline, Lord Royston, lady Agneta Yorke, &c. On Sunday the Prince of Wales attended divine service at the village church adjacent to the hall. Yesterday the Cambridgeshire hounds met at Hardwicke, when there was a large assemblage of lovers of the chase. The Prince of Wales, the Earl of Hardwicke, Major-General the lion. R. Bruce, Lord Royston, Major Teesdale, &c., were present at the "meet." The prince was to leave Wimpole Hall yesterday afternoon on his return to the University. THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKEL —Her Majesty, the Prince Consort, and the Princess Alice, honoured the per formances at this theatre by their presence last evening. Prince Tour and Taxis, who arrived at Ports mouth on Saturday morning from Madeira, where he has been in attendance on the Empress of Austria, left the same evening for Paris, on his way rid Mucich for Vienna. When the prince left Madeira her Imperial Majesty was in the enjoyment of excellent health. The funeral of Francis sixth Earl of Guilford took plaee on Saturday, his remains being deposited in the mausoleum, in Waldeeshare•park. Lord Courtenay arrived iu town on Friday from Powderham Castle, near Exeter, and left on Saturday for Paris, to assist at the nuptials of the Earl of Lincoln and Mies Hope yesterday. Mr. and Lady Emily Hesketh and Miss Hesketh have arrived in Portland-place from ()wry& Castle, North Wales, for the season. Sir Elkanah Armitage and Lady Armitage have arrived at the Queen's Hotel, Upper Norwood. Mr. and Mrs. William Paynter and family have arrived at their residence in Belgrave-square for the season. Lord William Graham on Thursday will ask the trader Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether it is true that a petition has been forwarded to the government, signed by 1,900 inhabitants of the state of Maine, praying for annexation to the British dominions ; and, if so, whether there is any objection to lay a copy of the petition upon the table of the house. The Bishop of Exeter has addressed a letter on church-rates to one of the archdeacons in his diocese. His gm* would retain church-rates as the legal instrument of providing for the maintenance of the edifices and church yards, "even if the support of the special services of the church were no longer insisted upon." This concession he thinks would meet the "most specious" argument of con scientious objection. The necessary charges for public wor ship are not of a formidable amount, and "those which are unnecessary—euch as for organs, for lighting, warming, and the like—may be (shall I be afraid of saying ought to be) no longer demanded of those who cannot enjoy the use of them." The element at the Holyeoramunion ought to be ex clusively provided by three who actually communicate, and cost should be taken out of the offertory. In conclusion, the bishop adds the expression of an earnest hope that "in any modification of the existing law on church-rates, which shall now be adopted, the enforcement of them would be trans ferred from the ecclesiastical to the temporal courts." . _ _ A pastoral from Cardinal Wiseman, dictated from his sick-room, was read on Sunday in the several Roman catholic chapels in Westminster. The faithful are exhcrted to remember often before God "the spoliation of His sanctuaries, the banishment of His pious prelates ; the imprisonment of His zealous priest', the cruel dispersion from the houses in which they had vowed to live for ever as His spouses," &c., and they ere urged to subscribe to the temporal necessities of the Pope. A collection is also to be mode in support of the movement for obtaining greater foci• lilies for the Roman catholic inmates of workhouses. The cardinal, in conclusion, requests "an occasional prayer for ourselves, that God's will be done in all things regarding us ; only, that whether in sickness or in health, whether it be His holy will that we should continue still to languish in infirmity or to be restored once more to full vigour, we may devote ourselves exclusively to the promotion of His glory by the faithful administration of our ecclesiastical office." The Sussex Advertiser of to•dny reports; the pro ceedings at tha interview on Friday between a deputation on Hop Duty Repeal and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The right hon. gentleman dealt with the various matters in the memorial, point by point, during ita reading, eliciting the views of the several members of the deputation upon them, and discussing the general subject freely and unre servedly. The questions of bonding and an acreage duty were also referred to, the latter in reference to its tendency to relie►e the inequality of the incidence of the duty in different districts. The deputation strongly repudiated any views in that direction, and objected to any course that would have the effect of permanently saddling a duty, even in the most modified form, upon the English grower. ST. THOMAS CHARTERHOUSE SCHOOLS. Last night the new wing which it has been found oeoeawary to add to these already extetudve and valuable schools was opened with an address by the Rev. F. D. Maurice, Y.A. Although the school accommodation already provided was adequate for 1,300 scholar at one time (exclusive of the Golden-lane schools), the increase of scholars, especially is the evening schools, was so great that it was found requisite to make further addi tions to the building. The new wing contains a reading-room, museum, lecture room, and ac commodation for 200 additional whalers. When it is stated that the number of separate schools in which instruction is given on week days is Di, of which 8 are day and 10 evening schools, some idea may be entertained of the great amount of benefit which I. diffused by the agency of this educational institute, the establishment of which is mainly due to the exertions o f th e R ev. W . Roger.. In addition to the usual branches of education Intim French, and some of the higher mathematics are taught.• Lectures and readings are also provided, and judging from the attendance last night this will sot be the least popular mode of conveying in formation. The Rev. Mr. Maurice opened his ad dims by recognising in terms of well-merited praise the amnia Mr. Rogers, who, he said, did more than any per is Loudon to promote the education of boys and girls. He did practically on weekdays what he inculcated on the Sunday, and surrounded the working classes of the district in which he was placed with the mews of meaning their ' rights as rem of resisting strong temptations, of rising in the social scale, of mskiog their homes happier and pleasanter, of associating their lives with the past greet men of England, and of transmittindbetter and higher influences to the generations that were to succeed them. The address was mach applauded, and a vote of thanks passed to the rev. fmtlernen for its delivery. This evening there will he • .kire by Mr. Ellis, on " Work to b e d one , an d wbe is to do it. On Thursday, the Rev. W. H. Brook . field, inspector of schools, will read some scenes from the " Merchant of Venice," and an Friday the prima will be awarded to the students by the Rev. W. Rogers, on which occasion the rooms will be thrown open to the friends of the institution, LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (=ma's ROME. ROME, FEL 10. Cardinal Dellagenga is on the point of death. The Abb4 Passaglia, formerly belonging to the Order of Jesuits, has left for Turin on a special mission from the Pope. The carnival has passed off without any disturb ance. Few foreigners are in Rome. A popular movement hiss been suppressed at San Marino. A pontifical gendarme was killed on the the occasion. Mgr. de Merode is still organising reactionary movements. One of the chiefs of the bands in the Abruzzi has returned to Rome. Gaeta is in want of wood for fuel. MILAN, Fae. 12. _. _ The Persereranza publishes a telegram, dated Rome, 10th inet. , aooording to which other expe ditions of brigands had been organised at Carsoli. Lovers had distributed 1,500 muskets sent by Cardinal Antonelli. Four hundred and seventy Bourbon soldiers, armed by Mgr. de Merode, crossed the frontiers on the 9th inst., taking the direction of Carso li. TURIN, Fla 12. The Official Gazette announces that General Pinelli, commander of the Bologna brigade in the Abruzzi, has tendered his resignation. The Gazetta di Torino is of opinion that the de finitive solution of the Gaeta question is imminent. THE OCCUPATION OF SYRIA. BERLIN, TUESDAY. It is asserted that Austria and Prussia have declared themselves favourable to the opinion of Russia and France in reference to the necessity for an extension of the occupation of Syria by French troops, and that they will support that opinion in the conference which is to be held on the question. WEST COAST OF AFRICA MAIL. LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY. The steamer Ethiope, from the West Coast of Africa, has arrived here with dates from Benin to Dee. 24 ; Fernando Po, Jan. 3; Uspe Coast Castle. Jan. 14 ; Tenerife, Feb. 1 ; and Madeira, Feb. 2. The Ethiope brings 2,331 ounces of gold, and 1,4001. iu specie. On Jan. 16 she passed the steamer Cleopatra. The steamer Athenian arrived at Madeira on the 2nd inst. H.M.S. Alecto was at Cape Coast Castle. The other news brought by the Ethiope is unimportant. EXPRESS FROM PARIS. (nom ova owl PAPA Moan ► 7 &LIMA. A pamphlet (believed to be semi-official) on the Roman question is announced for to-morrow. It gives, I am told, a long history of the efforts of the Emperor, during the last eleven years, to serve the Pope, and, without coming to any definite con clusion, seeks especially to establish that if his holiness is now in a position of inextricable diffi culty, it is entirely his own fault. A Turin letter says that as soon as Victor Em manuel shall be proclaimed King of Italy by the national parliament, he will formally ask the Pope to accept the protection of Piedmontese troops, and to consent to the withdrawal of the French garri son. It is certain that a very strong party in the Senate and Corps Legialatif will make a demonstra tion against the recall of the army of Rome ; and if the Emperor, whose real intentions on the sub ject nobody knows, should ultimately decide to keep the troops there, he will be able to say that his hand is forced by the representatives of his people. At the Bourse the Bente, which on Saturday fell from 68fr. 700. to 68fr. 55c., sustained a further decline of 15c. and 10c., closing at 68fr. 35c. for cash, and 68fr. 45c. for account. Business was very slack. Mobilier left off without change. Railways were from lfr. to 3fr. lower. The French government being about to collect the statistics relative to manufattures, which are made up every ten years, has addressed a series of forty-four questions to the principal manufacturers of France as to the articles they produce, and their value, the number of workmen, and the steam power they employ. M. Darimon, the opposition deputy, observes in the "'ruse that the " statement of the affairs of the empire " just laid before the two houses is, in point of fact, nothing more than a compliance with Art. 2 of the constitution of 1862, which provides that the "president of the republic shall send a message " every year. This article, which is copied almost textually from one in the republican constitution of 1848, had hitherto been a dead letter, awl M. Darimon now congratulates the government on the " satisfaction which it has given to the letter and spirit of the law." He notices, however, the meagre ness of the financial part of the statement, which is much less developed than the explanations which tho Moniteur has till this year published some weeks before the opening of the session. The bud gets of 1860 and 1861 are not yet finally made up, but it is quite certain that neither of them will realise the anticipated surplus. It is true that against the loss of 90 millions in the budget of 1860 attributed to the new tariff there is to be set off an augmentation of 99 millions. But then there are heavy supplemental credits occasioned by the Chinese war, the expedition to Syria, the reinforce ment of the army at Rome, and the annexation of Savoy and Nice. The Chinese indemnity fund will in part compensate for these extraordinary expenses. The budget of 1881, which was voted with an estimated surplus of 664,000 fr., is now known to present a deficit of about five millions, but to compensate for this the additional tax on tobacco is looked to, and this it is thought will produce as much as 30 millions. To day the Court of Caseation, presided over by M. Troplong, decided that a woman who married a liberated convict without a knowledge of the fact of his conviction is entitled to a decree of nullity of marriage. The Supreme Court, overruling the judgment of the Imperial Court of Paris, holds that the mistake as to the person which the code lays down as a cause of nullity is not restricted to the " physical person," but comprehends a mistake as to an antecedent of a party which changes his " civil person " in such a serious degree as a con viction for felony. This case excited extraordinary interest. I venture to think that the judgment of the court below, though not taking the popular side of the question, was the soundest of the two. The Italian Government has placed a steamer at the disposal of the senators and aspetice of the Neapolitan provinces. Th 6 steamer is to leave Naples on the 15th. The anniversary of the revolution of 1848 Iwas celebrated at Messina with great solemnity on the 29th ult. VENETIA. A letter from Venioe hue the following The French and Italian legitiatista assiduously frequent the salons of the CavaLi Palace, which, however, remain dull and mournful eincte the mysterious deaths of Don Fernando and the Count and Countess de Montemolin. The situation of Venetia becomes more desolate. More than famine, more than the want of good government, and very often of the ordinary administration of justice ; more than the annoy maces of a prolonged and crushing military occupation and the ignorant suspicions of an intriguing police, is the uncer tainty by which all minds are poisoned. Are we on the eve of a crisis? is the question everywhere asked. A speedy rummer is indispensable. We do not want a compromise with the enemy, but we do hope not to be worn out by ex haustion before the arrival of our liberators." THE FRENCH BLUE BOOL CARDINAL ANTONELLI AND IL DE ORANNONT. Amongst the papers contained in the diplomatic blue book just laid before the French Chambers, is one giving an aoconut by M. de Grammont of a conversation with Cardinal Antonelli relative to a proposal of the French government in March last that the Pope retain the suze rainty of the provinces detached from his dominions, and that their government be made over to Victor Em. manuel as lay vicar of his Holiness. " The cardinal observed (says Y. de Grammont) that in the eyes of the Holy Father there existed no difference between the loss of these provinces by annexation and their loss tempered by a vicariate. It was • spoliation founded upon rebellion. The Pope was not free to abdicate hie rights for an unjust cause. The territorial cessions stipu lardreeelmthe treaty of Tolentino had been i ns t ance d as t;a but the circumstances were widely dif ferent. The Pope had waged war; he had been defeated ; he suffered the consequences of defeat, and his conscience could not blame him for what he had done. He had ceded some of his provinces by treaty, just like the Emperor had ceded Lombardy, after having lost it by the fortune of war. "But, H. Le Cardinal, I then observed, it would thus reethat if the King of Sardinia had m a d e war aga i ns t l4e, and taken the Legations, his Holiness would be allowed by his conscience to cede them to him by treaty? " The Cardinal—lt would be requisite that the war should be legitimate. "H. de Gramrnont—You have just said that the Em peror Francis Joseph was at liberty to cede Lombardy by treaty, having previously lost it by the fortune of war ; you do not question the justice of that war on the part of France and her ally, whose territory Austria had invaded; you ought, therefore, to accept the events which have taken place in Italy, and which are the consequence of that war. The fact is, this is not a question of principles ; the pre sent state of things in Central Italy is the result of war, and as such it is included in the category you h ave jnst defined, as leaving his Holiness's conscience sufficiently free to treat and negotiate about what be has lost, so as to diminish his losses as far as possible. "The Cardinal—We do not look at things from the same point of view. According to us it is a question of principle, enhanced by the duty which devolves upon the Holy Father not to recognise governments which support their reforming and revolutionary works even upon the Protestant propa ganda, as we have proofs. The question is a mixed one—it is both political and religious. 1 once and again repeat it, the Pope will never consent to a comproinise. "M. de Grammont— Has your Eminence discovered any solution reconcilable with this inflexibility on the part of your government? "The Cardinal—Yes. We require neither the interven. Lion of France nor the intervention of Austria ; we require the provinces of the Holy See to be evacuated by the troops of the League—let the Piedmonkee and foreign soldier', officem, and employh withdraw ; let Piedmont withdraw its muskets, its artillery, its money, and let ma be left to deal with the provisoes in the same condition as they were when the Austrians took their departure. We require that the Pope should not be prevented from appealing to the catholic powers, excepting France and Austria, for a con tingent, and we will undertake to restore the papal autho. city throughout the revolted territory. M. de Gmmrnont —But how will you bring . about the re.eitablishment of the state of things which existed at the time of the departure of the Austrians ? " The Cardinal—The moral influence of France can do it. The Emperor has only to say that he wishes it and it will be done. " Id. de Gramment—You are, M. le Cardinal, profoundly mistaken on that point. Yon forget that the Emperor has more than once measured the extent of his moral ascendancy over three populations, and the thing is so evident that you must excuse me for saying that I cannot believe that you are convinced of the truth of what you say. As to the contin gent of the catholic powers, you are making the experiment, and we both know its present results, and its future pros pects. Thus your solution is impracticable, and it is on a basis equally unsound and futile (childish) that you ground your system of absolute resistance. Permit me to say that I see only one waref_aerounting for it. I begin to fancy that you wish for a cataclysm. You cannot shut your eyes to evidence ; you see the movement that hems you in. You know that the revolt of Umbria and the Marches in imminent ; you are ►ware of the dangers which menace the kingdom of Naples, and when a compendia might avert the storm, save the remainder of the Papal Metal, save Naples which you are mercilessly sacrificing, save Italy, perhaps, from a general convulsion, you refuse all arrangements, and provoke the tempest as though you speculated on the fragments of the wreck." The cardinal replied that so far from such being his idea, the Papal government was exhausting its resources to pre pare an energetic defence. de Gramtnont retorted that that resistance would be ineffectual. The cardinal replied that his government had made up their minds, and would yield nothing, and the conversation closed. LOBS OF THE WHITBY LIFEBOAT. The following appears in the Times: " We have had a fearful dorm to.day at Whitby ; half a mile of our 'trend is already strewed with seven wrecks. Our new lifeboat was but launched a few mouths ago, and was manned with the old crew of the finest picked seamen in Whitby. Five times during the day . had they braved the furious sea, and five times returned with crews saved from vessels in distress. A sixth ship was driven in behind the pier. The men, all exhausted though they were, again pulled out, but before they had gone fifty yards a wave capsized the boat. Then was beheld by several thousand persons withiu almost a stone's throw, but unable to assist--the fearful agonies of those powerful men, buffeting with the fury of the breakers, till one by one 12 out of 13 sank, and only one is saved. I have to add that 11 out of these 12 were married, and have left families; and I am sorry to say that I myself know, that, owing to the severe winter to fisher men, nearly all are left destitute. Whitby will do its duty to its bravest hands ; but I feel assured that an old life boat's crew, who have saved hundreds of our fellow-crea tures from such a fate as this, and at last perished in the noble discharge of duty to the public, will have the wants of their bereaved families cared for by the reader+ of the Thus.-1 am, sir, your moat obedient servant, liVimanat KLAN?, perpetual curate of Whitby.— Whitby Parsonage, Yorkshire, Saturday Night, Feb. 9.' The Emperor Napoleon has just purchased for 25,000 fr. one of the last painting executed by M. Ingres. It represents thej scene of Louis XIV. receiving Maths at his table in presence of all the gentlemen of the court. Some of the Paris journals state that, by order of the Emperor, the Cbineee curiosities sent by the army in China to his Majesty are to be exhibited during tea days in the Pavilion Henan of the Palace of the Tuileries, and the public are to be admitted without cards. His Majesty has, besides, directed that a catalogue of the articles shall bo drawn up. Among the articles sent are said to be 75 splendid pieces of fur for the Empress ; a/so some beautiful corals, and a pearl necklace of unparalleled beauty. A hostile meeting, originating in a dispute at the Jockey Club, took place two days since at Paris, between M. de Grammont•Caderousse and M. }tension, in which the former was wounded in the arm. The King of Holland, in a touching address to the people, calls on them to make throughout the king dom, on the 19th, • collection for the sufferers from the inundations. The last accounts from the country districts are more satisfactory. The Rhine had fallen, and was free from ice between Arnhem and Wyk, and the Withal was also subsiding. A Warsaw letter states :—" Public opinion,which is here generally very silent, has been recently aroused by a fact which is somewhat important in a local point of view. Colonel Leuchte has been sent to the fortress of 7amosk, to be imprisoned for several years. He killed, in a fit of passion, several of the peasant* on certain property which the state had made him a present of. In the time of the Em peror Nicholas, he would only have received a simple repri- mand, but the Emperor Alexander views those affairs in a different light. His Majesty ordered the colonel to be brought before a military tribunal, and the court having shown itself too lenient, he ordered a fresh trial, which ended in a condemnation." By the deaths of Marshals Boequet, Reille, and Prince Jerbme, a marshal's Won become. vacant, although the number of manbals exceeds that fixed for the time of peace. According to the law el 18:i9, the number of mar shale is to be six in peace, and may be raised to twelve in time of war ; but when in peace three vacancies occur, one new nomination may be made, even though the number of marshals is more than six. There are now ten marshals, and all were promoted to the dignity by the present Em peror, some of them at the time he was Prince Preeidest. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE: THE LINCOLN SPRING MEETING. TO THE EDITOR 07 THE MCPHEE& Stn,—Thauka to the new rule in the revisal! Queen's Plate articles, the race committee at the Lavoie Spring (?) meeting will in future be bound to alter the date of their day's sport, or forfeit one of its chief attractions, as Art. X. ...Lys " Her Majesty's Plates to be run for between the 2:4h of March and the 15th of November," consequently as they have only one meeting in the year at Lincoln, Mr. Ford mast forfeit all claim to the 100 Guineas when fixing his meeting for the 13th and 14th of February. Now, this fixture appears most unnecessarily early, as there would be plenty of time to get through the early " opine gatherings—the half-dozen that take place before Northampton—were the ball set rolling a month hence, for between the last day at Warwick (March 21) and the first at Northampton (April 2), there is quite a blank, and nothing takes place worthy of mention between Linoola and Nottingham (March 5). To get Her Majesty's Plate into the programme again, there is only one course to adopt—that of appointing the fixture for the last week in March—between Warwick and Northampton- -and 1 cannot but think the meeting would benefit by the change, as it proved almost a failure last year, and its prospects are not very blooming in 1861, for the change is the weather yesterday raised doubts in the minds of ninny whether the affair could be brought to a consummation, so that even should Mr. Frost not get sufficient hold on the turf he will have au effect on the attendance, both biped and quadruped. This fact, coupled with that of so few hones, after a severe winter, being fit to fulfil their engagements so early as the second week in February, will prevent the meeting attaining that success which might be its lot were a later period of the " winter" (for it is a fallacy to call it spring) fixed upon; and the 4,00(Y. put down as added money is not likely to prove a remunerative speculation, however successful it may have been in promot. Mg large entries for the seven items already complete. The mile Thal Stakes, although boasting such a lot as The Lawyer, 3 yrs, 74 131 b ; Kildonan, 3 yes, fist 131 b ; Aare. Tian, 3 ps, fist 131 b ; Sawcutter, 3 yrs, fiat 13lb ; Isthmi an , 3 yre, 7st 31b; Dartmoor, 3 yre, 6st • 13161 Cowin& inn, 3 yrs, 64 131 b ; Amsterdam, 6 yrs, 104 6lb ; and Fuss Lord, 4 yrs, 9st 61b ; may not bring out a good field, o r , perhaps, either of the three "cracks " fleet mentioned, for even supposing Kildonan was once a " certain starter," n r , Parr is not likely to forget his last year's disappointment with Rattlebone, and he may not send either the Derby "creek" or Dartmoor until in possession of certain information teat the ground is in good order. The Lawyer, again, has Me many valuable engagements for his legs to be jeopardi se d on such hard ground, and a horse of his sise— over sixteen hands—cannot be fit to run yet. Con sequently, the moderate animals may have early all the fun to themselves ; and Isthmian having been die gracefully beaten in a " trial" on Saturday leek Amster. dam may be found the winner, followed by Sawcutter and Conundrum. The 2-yr-olds in the Brocklesby Stakes are, of course, "dark," and I can only point at Tokay, Queen of Spain, and Marcia as being promising youngsters. The City Handicap, one mile and a quarter, has very few others betides platers in the list, and did either First Lord, 4 yn, Set 216, or North lancaahire, 4 yrs, 74 31b, perform, they should beat all comers ; they are backed in good quarters for the Charter Cup sad in the absence of the pair, Parmesan, 4 yrs, Tat 31b, Vine, 6 ps, 7st 41b, and Estella, aged, 6st 111 b, must settle tbs matter. In the Steeple-chase, Colonel, Cockatoo, Premier, Doubtful, and Jerusalem, are all backed for money, bet from what I saw of Jerusalem last autumn, his heavy weight is not likely to stop him, the only doubt possessing my mind being whether he can give two stone to Doubtful The Lincolnshire Handicap, one mile, has no appearance of briefing out those most leniently treated, for in my humble opinion, Master Begot, Fakdale, Donner-und-Blitz, and Golden Pippin have all the best of the weights, and should they see Lincoln let me have either in preference to either if the present favourites, of which the best to my fancy sp pear to be Elpioebox and Jenny Longterm, as the three-year. olds cannot obtain my suffrages so early. Next to thee comes Walkingtoa, who possesses a turn of speed fora mile, and is so well prepared that he should finish in the frost rank. In the Hurdle Baas, Estella ought to show well; but the other event closed is quite out of my latitude-1 am, lie., NAVAL AND MILITARY. ADYIRALT; Fax 11.—APronsimams.—Captain G. P. T. Hamby, to the Neptune, vice Campbell, super. ceded at his own request. Acting Third.Clus Assistant Engineers, A. N. Miller, to the Fisgard, as supernumerary ; T. West, to the Trident; and H. Swiss, to the Fisgard, for service in the Warrior. DEATH OF ADMIRAL MllNDY.—Admiral of the Red Sir George Mundy, K.C.8., died at his residence Faton.equare on Saturday. The deceased veteran entered the Royal Naval Academy on the 9th of July, 1789, and embarked in October, 179'2, as midshipman on board the Blanche frigate. In June, 1815, he was nominated a C.R ; was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral when in con. mend of the Royal George yacht, in 1830 ; was created a K.C.B. in Febrway, 1837 ; Vice-Admiral, November 2,t, 1841; and Admiral, Dec. 24, 1849. WOOLWICH, Fax 11. The S itfire, paddle-wheel steam veeael, Master Commander Allingbam—which has arrived at Plymouth from the slave preventive service on the West Coast of Afrier—is ordered to be paid off at this dockyard. The Trident, iron steam vessel, Commander Nicholls, having received the whole of hor crew, is ordered to leave the harbour on Thursday next for foreign service. ELECTION INTELLIGENCE. BOLTON. The election for this borough took piece yester- day morning, on hustings erected in the Marketequare, where about a thousand people were collected. The pre. ceedings were conducted during a fall of snow, and were very brief and quiet. Mr. Harwood, the Mayor, officiated as returning officer. Mr. ROBERT HAYWARD proposed Mr. Thomas Barnes as a fitting representative for the borough. Mr. JABEZ JOHNSON seconded the nomination. There being no other candidate, Mr. Barnes was dee dared duly elected. Mr. BARNES, in reply to a question, said he should sup port the separation of church and state. A vote of thanks was given to the bon. member by arch. oration ; and the proceedings closed with a similar emate meat to the mayor. BRADFORD. The nomination of a candidate to supply the vacancy in the representation of Bradford, caused by the retirement of Mr. T. Salt, took plum yesterday morning, on hustings erected in front of the Court-house at Bradford. The weather was exceedingly forbidding ; hail and snow fell at intervals. Mr. W. E. Forster, of Wharfaide, Otiey, was the only candidate, and he arrived at the busting with • large body of supporters. Some 1,200 or 1,400 peewee assembled in front of the hustings. The Mayor (Yr. lam Wright) officiated as returning officer,the town clerk read ing the writ, &c. The Mayor invited any elector to propose a candidate. ➢lr. Alderman BROWN then proposed Mr. Fontes., and Mr. Alderman lirromu. seconded the nomination. The MAYOR then &eked if any elector lied any other an dilate to propose, and, receiving no reply, be declared Mr. Forster duly elected member fur Bradford. . ._ . Mr. Folikrim briefly addressed the assembly, and referred to several questions on which both the conservatives and liberals would be agreed ; for example, the French tem. mercial treaty, amendment of the bankruptcy law; law reform, the reduction of taxation, &c. ; and then exmrd himself mast decidedly on those questions on which there was likely to be some difference of opinion, namely, the foreign policy of the government, the exten sion of Lhe suffrage, /to. His old friend Mr. Bairns would, he was glad to bear, on Tuesday night ask fir leave to introduce a measure for the extension of the suffrage; and, with the growing feeling in the country for reform, ' he would not be surprised if seine measure were ante d during the present session. The proceedings terminated with thanks being presented to the Mayor. Great expectations are entertained of Mr. Forster as legislator. He is an old politician, and a bawl philanthro pist connected with families of renown in this respect. He is the Nephew of the late Sir Thos. Fuwell Buxton, Ball, M. P., and is sou-in-law of the late Dr. Arnold, ..1 Rugby. A BERDISICNSH IRE ELECTION. —TO-Illorrow hay bee, fixed for the nomination of candidates to repment t$ county of Aberdeen, and should a pill be demanded, .b i ck is considered probable, it will take place on the Friday fol• lowing. DIRORDERLY HOLISM AND THE PROTECTION 0 ? FINALE CHILDEEN.—The Bishop of Oxford has introduced two bills into the House of Lorda--oue being an act for More effectually preventing and punishing the keeping I houses of ill-fame, and the other extending the protecuan of female children. The first ordains that the costs of pr , secutors and witnesses against keepers of bad houses real l+ ordered to be paid by the court, as in eases of prosecution. for felony. The other provides that the abuse of gab above ten and under thirteen, instead of under twelve, at present, be a misdemeanour. GAETA AND ROME.—TIIO Ese.ro gays :—" Ia spite of the greeted vigilance on the part of the Owl. Gaeta and Rome are in constant communication. Cardi °4 Antonelli and Count Trapani exchange letters and des patches with the besieged. This corre•ipondence is kept uP by meauts of • periodical service of mall vowels, which elude the maims both unaltering and leaving the harbour of Gaeta. Besides this, continual signals are inten:haur i between the Roman and the Bourbon courts by mans of two telegraphs —one at fkete, on the Tone d'Orhuide ; Mine on an eminence sear Tecrecka." sea will dry mad Leh &CYO lent Pre bad l.a. t Is. I Up 0 Pd to si Lime hu I self i dote; ?di do w Nu at th Set unifo pit . er pock Inds taken SCe knew Ltt, Tb, lee • torn i fi; ciie n 111 OINGI We oteali the pocke into Tb that Cal bus out. i Ni t , aover given