The Express.
London, England, 1864-08-27 00:00:00

IrgRRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, AUGUST 27, 1864.

M. DE PERSIGNY makes a, • •
speech at a private banquet, to
Council-General of the Loire, and that the spas*
is given to the world through tbs'Broeitenr. It
should be known that these Councils-General are
not political bodies, and are not permitted to talk
politics. Indeed, they are far more usefully em-
ployed in attending to tke public business of their
several departments, somewhat after the manner of
our county magistrates. In the last speech from the
throne the EMPEROR announced that the powers
of the Council-General would be enlarged in so-
cordance with the principle of decentralization ;
and M. ROrlirE has lately confirmed this promise
to the members of the Council over which he pre-
sides. Somehow or other the Ministers of the
EMPEROR manage to evade the wholesome restraint
upon the discussions of the Councils-General when-
ever they find it convenient to tell politics on their
own account ; but the Duc DE PERSIONY, by way
of setting an example of legality, asked his Council
to dinner, and expounded the Imperial Constitution
according to his latest theory, over the wine. His
theory in a few words is, that it is the existence
of a territorial aristocracy that enables liberty and
authority to co-exist in England ; but to co-exist
in the exclusive possession of • select and privi-
leged class ; and that in France, where there is
no territorial aristocracy, but only an immense
administrative hierarchy and the people, the liberty
which is possible in England would be chaos. In
France liberty is represented by universal suf-
frage ; authority by a power responsible to the
people as • father of a family to his children,
and thus liberty and authority are at once inde-
pendent of each other and complete in themselves.
As to the liberty of the press, the pre-
sent regime is in its nature transitory
and susceptible of ameliorations ; when the
moral condition of the country is improved by the
gradual disappearanxt of the survivors of old
parties and of • series of revolutions ; on the arri-
val of a " young, vigorous, and independent gene-
" ration born and bred under the Second
Empire, " the liberty of the Press" may be o:
real benefit. It cannot but afford some comfort
to Liberal France to find M. DE PERSIONY paying
this sort of involuntary homage to prin-
ciples of which he denies the application.
When it is remembered that M. DE PERSION;
instead of disarming hostile parties by granting
all, and more than all, they demand, and proving
the strength and sincerity of the national will.
almost destroyed the few independent journals
that remained, and organised universal suffrage in
such a manner that every candidate not absolutely
devoted to the Government was treated as a
public enemy, we shall arrive at a tolerably correct
estimate of M. DE PEZEIGNY'S idea of liberty in
France. It is noticeable by the bye that the me-
taphor is changed ; instead of the crowning of the
edifice, liberty is now a foundation to be laid. And
31. DE PEILBIONY. we fear, will have deluded only
his guests of the Council-General into the belief
that, when week after week, some news-
paper is suspended, and when the leaders of
the French bar appear as misdemeanants in a police
court on the charge of forming au unauthorized'
electoral committee in a private drawing-room,
liberty is likely to be founded in France. There
is one mode, however, of founding liberty in
France which we would humbly recommend to the
notice of so profound a student of English institu-
tions as the Duc DE PERSIGNT. In our old-fashioned
and feudal country, as he knows, there exist cer-
tain hereditary offices of State. The Second Empire
has revived the passion for titles in France. Why
should not M. Di PERSIGNY be appointed the
" Hereditary Grand Freeman" of the Empire,
to represent in his own proper person and in the
persons of his heirs from generation to generation,
that liberty which the Emperor NAPOLEON 111.
founded and the first Duo DE FLERIONY toasted.

THOSE who are fond of seeking for facts on
which to found disheartening generalizations, might
°sail, find them, to all appearance, in the cheap
dreri of the day. Of course we are not alluding
to the dress of the ladies. That has attained a
degree of luxury which makes matrimony one of the
!Argent financial undertakings in the market. We
are speaking only of the humble dress of the male
sex, which seems almost to have reached the verge
of workhouse cheapness. While the ladies are
flaunting in costumes which are denounced from
the pulpits of unfashionable churches, the men
have descended, step by step, through every degree
of cheapness, until they have altogether
deserted the old-fashioned five-guinea coat for
suite which look passing well at half the money.
They cannot be strictly said to have clothed
themselves in sackcloth and ashes, but they cer-
tainly go as near the penitential style, in some of
their tourist garments, as decency will allow. The
daysof "guid braid claith"—as ROBERT Fzaouasow,
the poetical progenitor of Brawn, puts it—are as
much things of the past, as the days of hair-
powder, patches, and satin breeches. Materials
which at one time would have been considered
only fit for hearth-rugs now form the favourite
walking-dress in the moat refined cities.
Such a radical change in the foundations of
dress was sure, sooner or later, to affect the minor
articles of clothing, and we can hardly, there'ore,
feel surprised at the rise and popularity of paper
collars. There is nothing like a shrinking modesty
about these articles, and those who sell them.
Paper collars are boldly exposed in the shop-
windows, in every variety of shape and colour, side
by side with false cuffs, sometimes made of
the same material, and waistcoats which
are all front and no back. To those who remem-
ber the decent reserve which was always main-
tained, both by buyer and seller, about an old
piece of harmless deception, popularly known as a
" dickey," there must be something almost reck-
lessly brazen in tbis new mode of dealing. The
" dickey," or false shirt-front, was • thing gene-
rally purchased in the dusk of evening, with a
variety o' excuses made by the purchaser about
a pressing appointment. The shopLeeper, on the
other hand, was usually ready with a few assuring
remarks about the convenience of the garment as
a makeshift, and the impossibility of always being
prepared for everything. The purchase and sale
were generally conducted in a private part of the
shop, with as mach ceremony as often accompanies
a transfer of contraband articles.

Paper collars, pacer cuffs, " Agsthon vests,"
butterfly neck-ties, constructed to show every atom
of their surface, and neither to go round the neck,
nor to dip down the chest, though all as deceptive
as the old " d;ckey," are evidently not ashamed of
their character. The way in which they are
bought and worn doubtless gives them this confi-
dence. Their slinking predecessor was the make-
shift of the few, while they are the favourite
adornment of the many. We have seen • noble
duke in a paper collar, and a barrister of some
position putting on a pair of cuffs in • railway
carriage, on his way to Brighton to dine ; but
these were probably exceptions. The great con-
sumption of these articles evidently rests with
" Young England," and Young England seems
rather proud than otharwise of its taste in
clothing.

! The inflames of small articles of dress on the
ortheir wearers is • subject which la s
haver repaired its proper share of attestion. The
fag-end of a newspaper article is hardly the place
in which to discuss it as it ought
to be discussed. We should like to take a
young man of fair average moral qualities
and test him with purple and fine paper, and then
with purple and fine linen. It would be curious
to see how far his self-respect would be increased
when he knew he bad nothing upon him which
professed to be what it was not, and bow far that
self-respect would be lowered when he felt that
his adornment was more showy than solid. There
may be natures so wanting in sensibility, or so
philosophical, that they feel no more pride when
their cravats go all round their neck, instead of
merely sticking on their chesta, and no more self-
satisfaction when their white shirt-cuffs really re-
present a white shirt, instead of false gauntlets to a
dingy woollen covering. With people so disposed
we, of course, can have little sympathy, because,
while multitudes of men are compelled to herd
together, the art and morals of dressing are worthy
of a little study. If old Hower, prayed in very
dissolute times, se he tells us he did, when put-
ting on a clean shirt, we may rest assured that
there is something more in a clean shirt than
meets the eye. We have known people to be
singularly affected by some ornament or new
article of clothing, worn under the dress ; and we
have seen a man's appearance of respectability
surprisingly increased by dressing him in a pair of
drab gaiters. These are facts which ought not to
be despised by any inquirer into the springs of
human action. A man may dress himself in a variety
of make-believe articles without any moral degra-
dation, or his nature may become subdued to what
he appears in. It all depends upon whether he uses
these articles as convenierces or deceptions ; and
the frank, open way in which they are bought and
sold would seem to point to the first course rather
than to the second. As long as all these coati-
vances are constructed more for utility than dis-
play there is perhaps some guarantee that cheap
dress good and wholesome thing—will be used
more than it is abused.

trbt Coun.

WINDSOR CASTLE, ACM: MT 26.

The Queen, accompanied by the Princess Louis
of Rana drove in the grounds this morning. Prince's
Helms sad Prince. Louise also accompanied her Majesty.
Prises Louie of Hesse and Prince Mime of Oldenburg
took a carriage drive.
Priam Leopold and Princess Beatrice took a carriage
skim.
The Craod Duchess Marie of Birds visited the Queen
and Prime. Louis of Hems to-day.
Prince Bernet of Oldenburg arrived at the Castle yester-
day evening, and left it to-day.
Viscount Torrington and Captain Sir W. Hosts arrived
at the Castle last evening, as Lord and Groom-in-Waiting.

Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-office
from the Governors of the Cape of Good Hope, Natal, and
St. Helens. Despatches were sent to the Governors of
Malta, the Mauritius, Ceylon, Hong Kong, Daman, the
Australian Colonies, and Gibraltar.

THE PRINCE ♦ND PRINCEM OF WARM AT ABER-
GELDER CASTLIL—Oo Monday the Prince and Princess of
Wales, with the ladies and gentlemen of the suite, bad a
picnic on Lochnagar. Although the day was rough and
wed, the party enjoyed themselves very mach. On Tuesday
the Prince and party went to the Glen of Gelder, where the
Prince was Encomia' in bringing down three beautiful
step, one of which weighed 15 stones 71bs. clean. On
Wednesday evening a grand ball was given at the castle to
the tenantry of Abergeldie and BirkbalL—Dundee Adver-
tiser.

Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess
Louis of Hems, with their infant daughter, will leave
Windsor Castle this afternoon, after • protracted visit to
her Majesty, on their way to Germaay. Their royal high-
nesses and retinue go by railway to the place of embarka-
tion, either Woolwich or Grevemod. The Vittoria and
Albert royal yacht, ccannauded by tisphain his Serene High.
nem the Prins of Leiniagen, will convey their royal high-
seems and suite to Antwerp. It ie expected that the
Darner of Sue-Coburg will meth Windsor this morning
from the Continent, and will take leave of the prince's
before her departure.

Her Imperial Highnees the Grand Duchess Marie
d ROWS honoured the Baron end &room Brunnow with
her company at dinner at Chasham House on Thursday
kat A salon party was invited to meet her imperial
higher,.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge
kites& to leave Oambridg• Cottage, Hew, towards the dose
of the miming week, to pass a few weeks at flearboroagh.
The Doke of Somerset will leave his official resi-
des*, at the Admiralty to-day, to ahead the Privy Conseil
to be held by her Majesty at Wisdom Castle this aftei-
ems. The Duchess of Swimsuit sad Lady °madonna.
St. Year as to-day to %tetrad* Park, Busks, when the
duke will meet them after the mime

His Excellency the Turkish 'Ambassador will
leave the Tarlush Embaloy is a taw days for Scotland.
Madams Mazur= and datgliten, aid Mr. E. Mamas Ism
this morning for Paris, on their way to Baden-Bass.

His Excellency the Hon. C. F. Adams, envoy
extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United
States of America, who is et present= a tour through
North Weiss, arrived at the Parade Hotel. Ethyl, on the
24th inst.

The Countess de Grey will, we understand, ae-
eorepaey her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales as lady
in wailing during the forthcoming visit to the royal family
of Denmark at Copenhagen.

Viscount Palmerston returuedlEto Cambridge
House yesterday afternoon freer visiting his coestitesets at
71rertoe.

Lord Clarence Paget, M.P., has left the Admi-
ralty to join bar ladyship at their seat iaWako. Rear-Admiral
the Hoc Jamas R. Dramaced, C.&, is oat of tows, 'Balm
Yr. Midas, M.P.

We (Army and Nary Gazette) regret to say that
we have received intalligeaoe of the eeriona illness of Vino
Admiral Hoary F. °royale, C. 8., ou reserved halt-pay, in
reoeipt of a mei-vice pumices.

The Right Hon. T. Milner Gibeon, }LP., has
arrived off Cowes from the coast of Spain.
In the course of the autumn will be published
Mr. Silas " Diary of his Rasideaos in the United States."
L'lllustration give.; currency to a rumour that
M. de Lamartine is engaged on a play destined for the
Theatre Fflustais.

Goldsmith's Green-arbour-court (says the
Adienceam) will soon belong only to nesinory. and pilgrims
will look in vain for the old ° Breaknock stops" by which
the court wee gained oa the woo side✓ and which marked a
portion of the steep face of Old London Wall.

•--
.
The Otth have been reprinted and issued in a
painted cover, to form an "Oelbuce," with index ands plate
of the " Owls in Cluncil.• When parliament reltmernhles
" the Owls will revisit the glimpses of the moon." They
say, " We thee most also Mara to town, and again appear,
to wars, Instruct, sod /nide."

- - -
The Educational Society of Lyons offers s gold
medal, worth 400 franca, for the beet away (i• whatever
language written) which shall effectively describe the "grave
imonvenienose" which result from a want of respect is
c►ildren end young people for their parents, and which
shall point to the man and suggest • eacoemenl remedy.
Captain Burton has latterly been spending three
mouths with the Bing of Dahomey, and the result al ►is
experience will be s►ortly made public I. • twe•volme
work to be published by 'Tinsley Brother,.

A good many householders at Belfast who received
alwesiesieg *otos. s &laying as is their hawse, as their
appeshassions have berm allayed by the action of the
megistrates. Others, with Urals experience before their
eyes, will sot be induced to disobey mob orders, and speak
aesieensly of the coming dark night& The repairing of
wieskel hoes has bele emsoweeed with cossiderabhi
Apar. The rebook, which were almost downed. ass Sow
nearly all Minded by the usmil number of J.:Jahn.

LATEST INTELLIOENCL
•
AMERICA.
(astrma's ver.saaAm.)
ARRIVAL OF THE CITY OF MANCHESTER.
REPORTED CAPTURE OF MOBILE.
QUEENSTOWN, Amur! 27.
The Inman steamer City of Manchester, from
New York on the 13th inst. , arrived here at 7.60
a.m. to-day. She brings 126,015 do's., and 1,120!.
in specie, and 68 passengers. She landed 12 pas-
sengers, 9 sacks of mails, and proceeded for Liver-
pool at 8 a.m. ; all well.
NEW YORK, Amer 13, Moasum.
Mr. Stanton announces that Confederate deserters
report the capture of Mobile.
The privateer steamer Tallahassee his burned
6 vessels 60 miles south-east of Sandy Hook.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW YORK, Auousr 13, MORNING.
Money easy. Gold, 2651. Exchange on London,
2744. Stocks steady. New York Central, 131.
Illinois, 1291. Erie, 112 j. Five-twenty United
States Bonds, 1091. Cotton quiet. Middling
upland, 173. Flour steady. Wheat, good demand
for export. Coro dull. Provisions advancing.
Coffee slightly firmer. Sugar very firm. Molasses
quiet. Petroleum, crude, 63 ; refined, 85.
QUEENSTOWN, Auoosr
The National Steam Navigation Company's
steamer Virginia, from New York on the 13th
inst., arrived here at 7.30 a.m. to-day. She landed
29 passengers and the latest telegrams, and proceeded
for Liverpool at 8 a.m. All well.

(Telegram of the Times' correspondent.)
NEW YORK, ACOUBT 13, 11 A.M.

Despatches from New Orleans to the 6th cor-
roborate the Confederate accounts of Admiral
Farragut's operation at Mobile. On the sth the
Federal land forces under Federal General Granger
had effected a lodgment on Dauphin Island.
The Confederate despatches from Atlanta re-
port that General Sherman assaulted the Confede-
rate left on the sth, gaining a temporary advan-
tage, but was ultimately repulsed.
General Early evacuated Winchester yesterday
morning, retiring towards Strasbourg.
There has been frequent skirmishing between
Early's and Sheridan's forces, but no engagement
of consequence. It is thought the Confederates will
make a stand at Strasbourg.
The investigation of the late Petersburg disaster
was commenced on the 9th. General Hancock pre-
sides.

The Confederate privateer steamer Tallahassee
has commenced operations off New York Harbour.
Within the past few days she has captured
upwards of nine vessels ; one of them, the pilot
boat James Finch, was taken on the 10th,
within 60 miles of Sandy Hook. The crews of
some of the vesrels have arrived in this city. Several
Federal war steamers are ordered in pursuit of
the privateer.
Secretary Stanton has declined to appoint a com-
mission to investigate the exoessive quotas assigned
to the cities of New York and Brooklyn, proposed
by Governor Seymour, on the ground that it would
operate to postpone the draught, and perhaps
fatally delay the strengthening of the armies in
the field.

some hundreds of leagues, passing through all
abodes of districts, and had only heard of one
mender, committed on the person of an of who
bad seduced an Arab's wife. However, this is not
the opinion here, and Marshal Itlllahon will
leave to assume his governor-generalship on the
20th of next month.