The Express.
London, England, 1864-12-17 00:00:00

ORTTAN!CIA.

Ting ETTTnn. DICK WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT.
—Su 1 ) the• Great Vaiiee, the Little Steele,
booth awl toe c,.lebrAted D'Aubani.—An.l THE MoTIILR'S
DYING CHILD MN s. Lane.—Cumineuee at hat-past e.

ntGrt wATEr. AT LONDON.BRIDGP.
Tuts NT M M. 2;tu Afternoon. 4h. 44m.
31uraius. bh. Sin Alters:two, biz. Una.

LONDO.V, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17.

THE return of an anniversary full of poignant
memories has been thought to afford • suitable
occasion for Pli admonition to the Qum( on her
supposed neglect of public duties ; and suddenly,
no one knows how, the demeanour, habits, and pre-
ferences of her MAJE-:Tv have become • matter of
newspaper controversy. We cannot but think
that this is an occurrence much to be regretted.
The Qt LEN has made her people communicants
with her in her most sacred sentiments, and
her touching confidence, we presume to think,
demanded a better return. It is not for the pur-
pose of adding one more polemical article to those
which have been written that we briefly refer to
the subject. Remarks on the importance of the
QUEEN'', presence at Buckingham Palace, as the
chief hostess and natural leader of English society,
nave no particular application in the week before
Christmas, when the past London season is for-
gotten and the next has not begun to take shape
and complexion. The many who by next May
will be concentrated at the West-end of London
as "society are at present dispersed in family
groups in a thousand rural homes. The subject,
therefore, if important, is not of such urgency as to
need forcing on the QUEEN'S attention at a moment
consecrated to solemn and sacred thoughts.
We cannot assert with some who have publicly
treated this topic that the yrees's retirement into
privacy is a matter of no public consequence, and
that all the suggestions that have been offered to
the royal consideration may wisely be set aside.
Assuredly it would have never occurred to us that
the head of the Itayal House which is identified iu
the hearts of British people with such a union of
liberty, order, and prosperity as was never before
realised in this or any other country, "could not
" afford " to be absent from state balls, drawing
rooms, and levv'es. When we remember the
thousand pr.,ofs of genuine and heartfelt affec-
tion which have ascended to the throne
from every rank and class of the people; when
we recail the demonstrations of personal
regard fer the QreeN which have taken place, not
only in our own colonies, as in Canada and Aus-
tralia, but wherever the English language is
spoken ; x hen we think of the shouts of welcome
which reaomided through the free cities of the
great transatlantic Republic at the sight of the
Quet.N.. son ; and further, observe that in the
midst of their sore troubles the Americans love to
ascribe a part of their remaining happiness, the
peace they enjoy with this country, to the good
will of the 12uLks, the bead of their race and
ours, we are astonished at the suggestion that
her M.‘JISTV is still under some sort of necessity
of canvassim: for popularity at the expense of her
personal feelings. We cannot but think that •
wrong is done to the classes in whose supposed in-
terest these representations have been made. We
have no fear whatever that the Throne will become
an with:l:marl relic, or that the authority of the
Sovereign will be weakened while her MAJESTY
discharges her constitutional duties as she has
hitherto done, and illustrates her high station by
her privec virtues. The insinuation that the
ite has neglected her public duties by
holding herself aloof from intercourse with the
ablest and most respected public men in the land
may be left to the refutation of the daily Court
Circular. But we should be sorry, while repu-
diating these suggestions, to convey the impression
that to the public it can be a matter of indifference
whether her Mai i:sry shall remain in the se-
wiestered privacy of the last three years, or mingle
freely once more among her people. To do so
would be to pervert public sentiment. A year

ago we took leave to represent what we believeds;
and still believe, to be the ardent desires of thg
Qt ass's loyal subjects. The dutiful expression of
their hopes did not seem to us to transgress the
limits of our functions, or to be an invasion of the
royal liberty. Last spring it was her blaJzsry's
gracious pleasure to command the publication of a
I statement of the circumstances and considerations
by which her resolution was determined. It
' seemed to ns that by that expression of the Royal
views, feelings, and intentions the whole case
was concluded ; and since then we have not felt at
liberty to make personal appeals to the
QUEEN, and still less, under colour of zeal
for interests which are in no danger, to address a
lecture to the Sovereign. Every wish that the
people of this country form respecting the radon'.
tion of the social intercoure which an overwhelm-
ing calamity has interrupted is dictated by the
deepest affection for the QUEEN's person. Many
of them sincerely believe that it would contribute
to her MAJESTY', happiness if she could once more
permit them to manifest their affection in the once
familiar ways. But there is in the heart of the
people no disposition to prescribe to the QUEEN in
so sacred a matter as the indulgence of her grief.
Englishmen would not treat their QUERN worse
than they would allow any one to treat their own
widowed daughters and sisters. We shall all be
glad to know that her Manny can once more
qualify with social alleviations a grief which all re-
vere and none presume to limit. It is the duty
of the press not to conceal or obscure this feeling.
But having expressed it, we leave the measure of
its gratification entirely to the judgment of the
QUEEN. It is not to be mentioned as if it were a
subject on which we can have constitutional demands
to prefer. The nation cheerfully acknowledges the
conscientious zeal with which the QUEEN has dis-
charged her public duties throughout a season of
profound affliction. And while we respectfully
commend the hopes and prayers of the people to
the Sovereign,we do so without the least fear that
the interests of loyalty will be imperilled by any
resolution which our experience of the QUEEN'd
reign leads us to expect.

144.TA1T lbellilLL 10 ZNCB.
SAXONY AND PRUSSIA.
At a banquet which took place a few days ago at
Dresden, on the occasion of the birthday of the
King of Saxony, M. de Beset, in proposing the
health of his Majesty, said :
We see again mumbled to celebrate the birthday of the
Bing, which is a day of joy for the whole country. Bat
our hearts beat now more warmly than ever ; a new and
grand enthusiasm animates us, for, thanks to our
master, we have pealed through a grave crisis
with honour. A serious complication has menaced Saxony ;
but she has been firm, she has borne her flag aloft ; she
has maintained her place. But why have we sun,
in unmistakeable manifestations, the Saxon people
rally themselves with unanimity and resolution around
the government ? Because the people knew that
Saxony had to perform a Garman Federal duty, and
to defend a good cause ; because they knew that
their king wished it to be so, that king of whom
all know that he has learnt what is just, and that
he demands nothing which is not just. And they have
not lost courage because they could place confidence in a
king who does not form his resolutions in momenta of
pension, but leaves them to ripen in the religious medi.
Cations of his conscience, and who, moreover,
withdraws not before the dangers which the accomplish.
aunt of duty may involve. I must not and cannot
believe that there are subjects, servants of such a
muter, who have received his resolutions with doubts or
even murmurs, for, in reality, they would have sinned
against him and against themselves. No, thank God, tha
is not the feeling which the people have manifested ; on
the contrary, they have proved that Saxony is always
old Suony—the people faithful, enlightened, knowing
how to comprehend their prince, that prince who sincerely
desires the welfare of his people and of Germany, who
for the honour of both, has the courage when it is neceenu7,
to stake his crown, while be only thinks of preserving for
his subjects the blessings of peace, and of securing all possi-
ble prosperity.

The Krell: Z. dung of Berlin, in commenting upon
this, says :—" We know that it is not necessary to
weigh in the balances speeches delivered after din-
ner. Moreover, we are far from reproaching M.
de Beust for having uttered the words in question ;
nevertheless, a production of this kind is posi-
tively blameable when comic enthusiasm is
mixed with legal chicaneries, and when there is a
boast of being the defender of Federal right at the
moment when the official organ of the Confedera-
tion has just rejected purely and simply the pre-
tensions of M. de Beust, and placed him under the
singular necessity of standing aside as a benefactor
who is not understood. We do not doubt that up
to a certain point this minister may have rendered
great service to his King by saying that the crown
would serve for a stake in the game commenced.
It is well known, however, that Saxony has already
played its crown once, and that it then lost half of
it. She might easily lose the rest if she recom-
menced.,'

(RECUR'S TELEGRAMS.)
INDIA AND CHINA MAILS.
SUEZ. Dec. 16.
The Nemesis (from Calcutta Nov. 23) arrived
here at 4 a.m. to-day.
She passed the Jeddo (from Bombay Nov. 29) in
the Red Sea with two boilers disabled.

The Nemesis has brought the Jeddo's mail. TLe
latter vessel's passengers are expected to-morrow.

MALTA, Dac. 15.
The Massilia (from Southampton Dec. 4) arrived
here, and left for Alexandria yesterday.
The Syria (from Marseilles Dec. 12) arrived here
and left for Alexandria to-day. She experienced
boisterous weather.

LISBON, Dic. 16.

The Delhi, with the heavy portion of the Calcutta,
China, and Australian mails, put in here yesterday
short of coals, having experienced very heavy
weather off Cape St. Vincent. She will leave to-
morrow evening, and may be expected about the
21st instant. All well on board.

CHINA AND JAPAN.
sIiANGHAE, Nov. 9.
(By telegraph from Suez.)
The China news is unsatisfactory.
The presence of rebels in the vicinity of Amoy
has stopped trade.
The Anglo and Franco Chinese forces are to be
disbanded.
The advises from Japan are favourable.
Sir Rutherford Akock has been recalled.
This event has caused great regret among the
English community.

WEATHER REPORT.-THIS DAY.)

SATURDAY. DFURRIICR 17, 8

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C. N.C. to N. N.W., WWIIill N. N. '. to E N.C..
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in places. tonally. unsettled.
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E. 74 P. to NN. E.. LIMB. N. to E. and S E
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ABRAHAM'S CALL—It has been truthfully said
that the voice of the people was never more unmistakably
the voice of God than in the recent election. It was in
this f►ith that a clergyman of Middletown, Coon., at a
recent torchlight display, exhit•ited • transparency over
his door, with • quotation prom Genesis xxii., In The
angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of Heaven a
second time."—Neir York Standard.
" PARKER" OR " DARKER."—TIIO British sympa-
thisers with the South baying completed their address corn-
chided to send it over to America by the heeds of • duly
accredited agent, qualified to act as their representative;
and for this mission who does the reader suppose they se-
lected! No less a personage than Joseph Barker, who not
long ago figured extensively in this country as an aboli-
tionist and an avowed champion of infidelity! He lived
several years in Ohio, and afterwards for • short time in the
territory of Nebraska. Finally he returned to England,
where he made • parade of renouncing his infidelity and once
more resumed the profession of a Christian minister. Almost
simultaneously with his reappearance in the pulpit, he came
out a doming champion of the cause of the ■laveholding
rebels of the South, and travelled through England as
their agent, everywhere libelling the abolitionists of both
that country and this, and filling the ears of the people with
the graeset misrepresentations an to the origin and purpose
of the rebellion ! It must be confessed that he is • fit agent
to do the work of the slave-mongers of America and their
sympathisers in Great Britain. 3lr. Barker, it teems, for rea-
sons beet known to himself, had made his appearance in Ame-
rica thin time under an assumed name. Hs doubtless hoped
by this characteristic trick to escape the unpleasant notoriety
which he knew must follow his identification as Joseph
Barker, the apostate ebolitioiliet. We learn that, on the
steamer which brought him hare, he wee known by the
name of Joseph Parker, and wader that alias be presented ,
himself to the Secretary of State, who, whether he was
felon:tied of the trick or not, very properly met hire off ,
with a &fain his ear.—,New York Arai-Slavery &sadism'.