The Express.
London, England, 1863-06-29 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, JUNE 29, 1863.

the regiment is conclusive. No man is fit topont-
mind a regiment who is guilty of such pus ne-
glect. It may be assumed, therefore, that' there
was ample ground for the sentence passed upon
Colonel Dicasox by General zeros And as for
the question of conspiracy, there is not a tittle of
evidence to prove that any combination or con-
spiracy existed for the purpose of displacing the
Colonel from his command. But, on the other hand,
it is equally clear that the process by which the
conclusion was arrived at was by no means satisfac-
tory. The Court of Inquiry which was directed to
assemble by the Horse Guards wee confessedly cod-
ducted in a very singular fashion. Though it was
alleged that the President was selected because he
had long been in India, and had uo sort of connexion
with the parties implicated, still it is abundantly
clear that he knew nothing of the rules of legal
evidence, and that he bad interviews, not only
with the Earl of WILTON, but with the authorities
at the Horse Guards. Whatever may have been
the formal issue submitted to this court, it is clear
that, practically, the character of Colonel DICKSON
was at stake. It is admitted that one of the
matters which Colonel DICKSON desired to submit
for its consideration was the fact that the Earl of
Witrox was perfectly cognisant of the state of the
accounts from the beginning to the end of the
business ; and yet it is an admitted fact that the
Court of Inquiry refused to allow Colonel
Dicnson to examine the Earl of Wivros, or I
rather allowed that nobleman to be absent
notwithstanding the earnest remonstrances of the
Lieutenant-Colonel. It is true that the court
gave that officer the option of calling the Earl of
Wivrox as his witness ; but those who have had
any experience of judicial proceedings will readily
recognise the distinction between calling =adverse
witness to give evidence, and cross-examining an
adverse witness who is called by the other side.
Indeed, General Pest distinctly declared that if
he had known that the presence of the Earl of
WILTON was required by Colonel DICIBO2t, be
would have insisted upon that nobleman being
present; and with equal candour he admitted that
the proceedings of the Court of Inquiry
were totally inconsistent with those of
ordinary courts of justice. If, therefore,
the condemnation of Colonel DiciaoN had de-
pended upon the report of this Court of Inquiry,
it would have been difficult to defend the proceed-
ings of the War-office. But, according to the
statement of General Pear., his condemnation of
Colonel DICKSON did not depend upon any such
circumstance. His decision was entirely based
upon the statements of Colonel Dicxsox himself,
and upon the irregularities of which that officer
confessed himself guilty. Nevertheless it must
be admitted that the proceedings of courts
of inquiry, as they are commonly conducted, are a
scandal to the military administration of the country,
and ought without further delay to be placed upon
a more satisfactory footing.

be Court.

WINDSOR CASTLE, Jury 27.

Her Majesty, accompanied by Princess Beatrice,
drove oat yesterday afternoon, attended by Lady Augusta
Bruce. Major-General Hon. A. N. Hood also attended, on
horseback.
Prioress Louise, attended by Lady Caroline Barrington
aid the Hoe. M. Sackville West, honoured the performance
at the Covent-pideuThestre last night with her presence.
Her Royal Highness returned to Windsor Castle as twelve
o'clock.
The Dowager Duchess of Sutherland arrived at the Castle.
SUNDAY.

Her Majesty, accompanied by the Queen of Prom* took
• drive in an open carriage yesterday afternoon, attended by
Major-General the Hoe. A. N. Hood.
The Prince and Princem of Wales, attended by the Cous-
teau de Grey and Lieut.-Colonel Koppel, arrived at the
Castle yesterday.
Prince Arthur, attended by Major Illphinstone, arrived
at the Castle.
Earl Granville and the Rev. Dr. Stanley also arrived.

Fail Granville had an audience of the Queen.
The Queen, the Queen of Prussia, the Prince and Princess
of Wales, Princena Helena, Princess Louise, and Prince
Arthur, with the ladies and gentlemen in waiting, attended
Divine service this morning in the private chapel.
The Rev. Dr. Stanley officiated.

The Prince of Wales rode on horseback on Saturday
mornisg, attended by Lieatenant•Colonel HeppeL
The Prince and Princess of Wales, attended by the
Countess de Grey and Lieutenant Colonel Kennel, left
Marlborough•honae at a quarter past five o'clock on Rater
day after noon for Windsor Castle.
The Priocess Mary of Cambridge visited the Prince=
of Wales on Friday.
The Prince and Princess of Wales honoured Mr. Vernon
Heath with a sitting for their photographs at him studio in
Piondilly.

A Cabinet Council was held on Saturday at the
official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury,
in Downing-street. The ministers present were
Viscount Palmerston, the Lord Chana.llor, Earl
Granville, the Duke of Argyll, Sir George Grey,
the Duke of Newcastle, Earl de Grey, the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, the Duke of Somerset,
the Right Hon. T. Milner Gibson, the Right Hon.
Edward Cardwell, Lord Stanley of Alderley, and
the Right Hon. C. P. Villiers

Despatches were sent on Saturday from the Oolaoielro
to the governot a of the North American proviecea

DWARTURE OF TliZ COURT FOR OBBORICR.—Her
Majesty the Queen, accompanied by the younger members
of the royal family, sad attended by the ladles sad gentle-
men of the court, is expected to Lave Windsor Castle on
Friday or Satarday next for (*borne, Isle of Wight.
1 Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess
of Wales, will, it is slid, visit Duorobin Castle, the seat
of the Duke sad Duchess of Sutherland, during their sojourn
la Scotland in the month of August next.

The health of Prinoe Leopold continues, we re-
pet to learn, not quite satisfactor►. His royal highness, it
will be remembered, went to Madeira a couple of years
since to try the effect of a change of climate. .
.... .

Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess
d'Aumale entertained their Royal Highnesses the Duchess
of Cambridge and the Princes Mary at dinner last evening
at Orleans House. The Duchess d'Aumale will give a
dinner end cowed this evening at Orleans House.

The Earl and Countes; of Zetland purpose to
leave town about the 10th proximo fora short visit to Paris.
Mr. Beriah Bot6eld, M.P., continues very ill, but
hopes are entertained that the hoe. member will recover.
Viscountess Palmerston bad an assembly at
Cambridge House, Piccadilly, on Saturday evening. Previ-
ously to the assembly the noble viscount and viscouutess
received at dinner the Prince and Pelops; Beadini, the
Marquis and Marchioness of Clauricarde„ the Earl of Shaftes-
bury and Lady Victoria Ashley, the Earl of Clanwilliatn,
Visconsteen Jocelyn sad the Hon. Misses Jocelyn (2), Lady
Howard de Walden and the Hon. Mir Ellis, Baron James
de Rothschild, Lord and Lady Harry Vane, Lord Schoenberg
Kerr, lady Marisa Alford, Hon. Lionel Ashley, Hon. Lewis
Winfield, Commander Fitaclarenos, Ac.

The Countess Waldegrave and Mr. Chichester
Forteecue, LP., are entertaining a large and distinguished
party from Saturday to Monday (this day), at Strawberry- '
la. mar Royal Highnesses the Duke sod Duchess
d'Atimsle sad his Royal Highness the Count de Parte diaad
with the nisei, os Saturday.
HRALTR Or LORD PALblitaroll.—The &beano° of
Lord Palmerston from the House of Commons for the last
two nights of the past week was ceamirmed by so attack of
gout. Hi attendance on Moeda, is still uncertain ; bat it
is expected that he will be in hie place on Tuesday evening,
when Mr. Roebuck is to bring forward his :notion ca the
recognition of the Confederate States of Amerks.—Olverocr.

DRAMA.

IMINOBBIM

. _
hidlte. Stella Colas, the young French actress,
made her wound appearance at this theatre u Jnliek io the
English language, on Saturday night, before a crowded and
appreciating audience. Her success was as remarkable and
undoubted as on the Wednesday before, and .be was he-
' toured with an enthusiastic call at the end of each act. An
engagement to perform in the Imperial French plays at St.
Petersburg may carry her off for a time, before long ; but
we have up hesitation in saying that a splendid future is
before her in England. The energy, perseverance, courage,
and dramatic genius which have carried her so far will
surely carry her still further. A few more lessons in Eng-
lish peonunciatioo—not in English stage elocution, me it is
called—will remove those few flaws in the mechanism of
her art which are all that stand between her and perfec-
tion. She is announced to appear four times this week in
the character of Juliet.

SURREY.
An illustration of the determination to force bad
French
down the throats of the people was afforded at the Surrey
Theatre on Saturday eight by the production of a version 4
of Paul Fevers Hunchback. While
Jhe version
amof this
extremely wooden piece, made by Mr. ohn Brough for •
Mr. Pechter, is plainly called the "Duke's Motto"—the
version prepared for the Surrey Theatre is called "Le Bosse."
While Mr. Fechter's refined audiences are favoured with
• title that looks like English ; the playgoers in and about
the New Cut are supposed to be too deeply versed in
French to require such • schoolboy translation.
If the title of this Surrey version was clear, however,
even to the noisiest costermosger in the gallery, the story,
we feel certain, was far more misty. Le Boson, like ell
pieces produced at the minor theatres—if we except such
good old stock draraas as the Orphan of Gen:vo, and • few
others—presents no story to the audience which they can
foUow or comprehend. They see a series of incident', ap-
parently unconnected, and that is all. Such pieces always
enjoy every brief existence, while Shakespeare's dramas are
always welcomed by the same audience. Strong simple
language, flesh and blood characters, and straightforward
stories always make their way, even where • critical appro.
elation of the text is wholly wanting.
The Surrey Theatre is now in the bands of Mr. Henry
Loraine, who is supported by Mr. Calhaern, Mr. Barrett►
and several other members of the late Drury-lane company.
In acting as they did on Saturday night they are doing
very little to improve themselves, and in producing such a
version of such • piece they are doing nothing to improve
their audience.