The Express.
London, England, 1864-06-04 00:00:00

ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY.

The 90th anniversary festival of this society
was celebrated yesterday at the Freemasons' Moire, a
lapse of four years having takes *es also, the last
beaqeet. The chair was occupied by Lord Dufferin, and
aniciapt those who were numbered with his immediate
supportre were, Sir W. Fraser Bert., Y.P. ; Sir Brooke
Bridges, Bart., M.P. ; Yr. Edward Esetwick, Mr. W. H.
debar,. Kr. Doseld Nicoll. The Bev. Cason Nepeaa,
Oaptem Terhon, C.B. ; Hs. IL B. Sheridan, Y.P. ; Mr.
T. Page, C.&
The CHAIRMAN, in propoting the tosetof the evening. mid
that nearly a century had elapsed since they,kied dint mitered
on this conflict with the powers of the grave mad dared to dis-
pute with the angel of death the spoils he bad already °muted
as bin own. Each rooceesive year had stabled them to
inscribe troth victories on their walla • nor seed they dread,
like Orpheus, to look bath with d:
„. and food's= on
the triumphs they had achieved. undoubtedly had
hew engaged is ensilages. efforts The advance of seems,
the spread of reedit/lion. had doss mach to pieseeve the
world from the inroads of disease. The citadel of human
life was bettor guarded now then formerly ; bat the utmost
that either mimic* or eivilisatios dared pretend to was a
defensive attitude ; to them alone had it been given to carry
the war into the seemy's country, and annex a proviso, of
his empire, to pesetrete beyond the mysterious frontier
which separated time from eternity, andreatore to the kindly
light of day, and the pleasant love of friends,
them who had tasted the bitterness of death,
whose eyes bad peered into the dim border lead
beyond the grave, whom feet bad wended one stage on that
Journey not to be roiravellediutortal man. These results
ad b been itemised by the aim mesas, and the humblest
'snoop& them might claim it share. Thank. to the ad-
mirable organimn of the society, the veriest child or the
feeblest woman might be enrolled amongst their supporters.
He hoped that the sphere of its menthe/se might be more
' widely enlarged every year, sad its operatics§ perpetuated
through all time, until the day should come when the cry
of despair sad agony should no longer rise from the bosom
of the deep—when the human heart shoed cease to buffet
with the billows of adversity—when they should mead on
the shining weed beyond the Sleet river, sod become
catimm ai that country whose only wawa were the waters
of life. _ _

It appeared from the datisties presented oo the oecesiol
that daring the past year 2123 (saes of rescuing or at.
tempted rescue from drowning were brought vadat the
mottos althea society, cosepriong 262 persoos. Of these 246
were seocemsfully treated. but 16 were unfortunately be-
good recovery when takes out of the water. Sixteen of the
launcher wereceseeof attempted suicide. The society had
also is the same petted conferred and distributed to those
who were instrumental in saving life from drowning the
following rewards, via.; four silver medals, 73 bronze
medals, nine thanks of the society os vellum, 73 thanks I
no parchment, nod 69 pecuniary rewards of various
enionats. In the pest summer no leis than 255,142 persons
were estimated to have bathed la the Serpentine river. It
was sot surprising that 38 esmolties should have onerred
out of so large a number of bathos; but it was satiefortory
to Mate that, owing to the ettestios of the society's min,
not one bad proved fatal.
The speech in which the chairman made the above re-
narks, and introduced • mention of the condition and
operations of the society, having been cordially responded
to, the medal. weer distributed to the various persons who
had distiegelebed themselves by the saving of human life
duriag the past year. heirept the recipient; of these
hooours was Mr. Doeald NIOOII. who had ruled his life in
an endeavour to wive that of • boy who fell into the lake
frosting Me suburbia hotel in the Vale of Health at
ileaspdeed.
Mr. ki mit acknowledged the bosom in very grateful
Wroll, sad said he felt a pride is having bad as
of doing that which any fellow.Chriatiaa would r==
to do under similar circumstances".
A subscription het wee Uwe reed arnewitlag b alwatlBol.
The mama te were wader the direrlies of
Mr. T. Yoeft, who the adreatege of the reliable sir
Moaner of Wm Bylea,
_Miss J. Wells, Mr. Wilbye (hops,
lir. laarler, sad Ma. kdnii, Hoyle&

Upon the 18th nit. Grant's whole line assaulted
Lee's position, carrying the outer line of the Con-
federate rifle pita. Further progress was however
impeded by a strong abattis, the Confederates
pouring a destructive fire from their breastworks.
General Grant, discovering the strength of Lee's
fortifications, ordered his troops to retire to their
former position. General Grant's loss amounts to
about 1,200 men. Fighting was not renewed.
General Lee occupies an entrenched fortified
camp and a strong natural, position, and is ward-
hating no disposition to opine out of his defences.
General Lee has issued a congratulatory order to
his troops, recounting the Confaistala eneemesa,
and stating that the principal army of the enemy
bad thus far been checked, and that heavy losses
had been inflicted on him. He urges the troops to
brave and endure all till the enemy was driven
back.
General Butler has retired from his advanced I
position to his entrenchments at Bermuda Hundred,
between the James and Oppotomax rivers.
The Confederate attack upon Butler on the 18th,
during an intense fog, caused considerable confusion
and loss among his troops.
Federal General Hickman was captured.
The destruction of the Deanville railroad by Ran-
ter's cavalry has been confirmed.
Sheridan has left the Peeinsula to join General
Meade.

Sherman occupied Kingston on the 19th, continu-
ing the pursuit of Johnstone, who was still retreat-
ing towards Atlanta.
One Federal division has occupied Rome,
Georgia.
Generals Crook and Averill have destroyed the
railway, and defeated the Confederates with consi-
derable loss in Western Virginia.
Southern papers reiterate the report of the capi-
tulation of Stele's army. This requires confirma-
tion.

The Confederates have blockaded the Red River
below Alexandria. It is reported that they have
partially blockaded the Arkansas River below Little
Rock, and the White River.

The Confederates are demonstrating againstyort
Hudson and Baton Rouge.
It is reported from Orleans that the Confederates
have captured two blockading vessels off Sabine
Pass.

The Federals have occupied Tampa, Florida.
It is oonfidently asserted that President Lincoln
will shortly call for 900,000 troops.
Secretary Stanton has announced that the Go-
vernment will keep up its forces until the rebel.
lion is overthrown. A draft to supp?y the defi-
ciency of the forces will be made on July L
The Governor of Pennsylvania has urged the
people to form a military organisation in readi-
nees to respond to the calls for troops.
A private telegraph line has been seized under
suspicion of transmitting false documents.
The Federal authorities have arrested the secre-
tary of the Mexic►n Governor Vidaurri at Browns-
ville, and delivered him to the Mexican Govern.
ment at Matamoros, by whom he was hung.
The New York Berald's correspondent says :
" General Butler's forces are safe in their entrench-
ments, and able to withstand an attack from all
the forces the rebels can bring against them.
Butler's object in making his advance from City
Point and Bermuda Hundreds was to create a di-
version in favour of Grant, and be was eminently
sueecemful."

The lii,:hmond Examiner of the 13th ult. says—
" The enemy is concentrated in Virginia, and if
beaten here is beaten everywhere. If be wins
here he wins everything. If Virginia is lost the
present Confederate organisation will probably not
survive. Heaven and earth now call upon the
Government to bring up all the troops at ita com-
mand."

The Canadian news by the North American is of
no importance.
The North German Lloyds steamer Hansa,
Captain von Senten, from New York, on the 21st
ult., arrived at Southampton last night. She
brings 212 passengers for that port, Bremen, and
Havre ; and 136 begs mails, of which 40 are for
England ; also 71,200 dolls. for France, sad 61,700
dole. in specie for England.

THE CONFERENCE.
FRANKFORT, Juin 3.

The Frankfawkr Postuitulig of to-day publishes
a telegram from Loudon, stating that iu yesterday's
sitting of the Conference the Danish plenipoten-
tiaries declined a prolongation of the armistice, but
promised, at the solicitation of the neutral Powers,
to procure instructions from their Government in
time for the Monday's meeting of the Conference.
In the discussion of this question the Austrian and
Prussian envoys took no part.
According to reliable information, in yesterday's
sitting of the Conference the neutral powers in-
sisted upon the river Sahlei being laid down as the
demarcation line in Bless*, and that no new
fortifications should be constructed in the German
portion of that province ; that the frontier line
should run through the town of Apenrade, as
proposed by the German Powers, was rejected by
the neutral Powers, and a proposition from the
same source, that under certain Arcumetanoes the
inhabitants of the Duchies should be consulted, was
also rejected. On the question of the prolongation
of the armistice the Danish plenipotentiaries said
that they could only declare the intentions of their
government on Monday next, should it appear
probable that on that day abasis for the future con-
clusion of peace woull be secured.

THE DUKE OF AUGUSTENBURG.
BERIJN, Joys 3.
Duke Frederick of Augustenburg has left for
Dolzig.
It is uncertain whether he will carry out his in-
tended visit to Vienna.

ITALY.

TURIN, Join 3, Rourra.

In the Chamber of Deputies today the Minister
of the Interior, in reply to a question of Signor
Bath*, sasorel the Chamber chat he had no
information whatever of any enrolments or congea-
-1 Iznik= of Italian emigrants. The preeminent