The Press.
London, England, 1857-05-16 00:00:00

SPAIN AND MEXICO.

A telegraphic message from Maorid announces
that M. Lafragua, the Mexican Envoy, arrived there
on Wednesday. He had the next morning an
audience of the Minister fur Foreign Affairs. The
latest despatches received by M. Lafragua from
Mexico were or a satisfactory kind, and there is little
doubt that, as a favourable disposition exists on both
sides, zealously encouraged by the English and
French Ambassadors at Madrid, the affair will be
terminated amicably. In that case the greatest part
of the troops sent out to the Gulf will be kept at
Cuba to strengthen the garrisons of the island.

The Faedrelandct states that letters to be relied
on have been received from Stockholm, stating that
the King, being worn out with the responsibility of
ffairs, and, in addition, being weak in health, has
determired, on the recommendation of his medical
advisers, to withdrawlfrom State business, calling on
he Hereditary Prince to take the direction of affairs
rovisionally.

The Danish Government has replied to the
Prussian end Austrian Notes. It is disposed to
make concessions on the question of the Duchies,
but declines to submit the framing of their Constitu-
tion to the General Diet of Germany.

An abstract of the navy estimates to be moved on
Monday by Sir Charles Wood is published. The
total estimates are 9,074,0001., of which 3,300,000/.
was voted by the late Parliament, leaving 5,084,0001.
to be voted in the present session.

The Anniversary Dinner of the Bromptou Hos-
pital for Consumption is fixed for Wednesday next.
Lord Stanley, M.P., has kindly consented to take
the chair, and the anniversary will be held at Willis's-
rooms. We may take this opportunity to call the
attention of the public to this important fact—that
the whole of the wards are now thrown open, and the
expenditure necessarily increased to some 8,0001.
a year. A large institution like this, so excellent in
itself, so admirably well conducted, and depending
solely upon voluntary subscriptions for its support,
possesses peculiar claims to the patronage of the
benevolent.

A Rousyric STORY, for these matter-of-fact days
is told this week of two young ladies. Last week
a singular advertisement appeared in the Times,
offering 1001. reward for the discovery of two young
ladies who had suddenly left their homes on the
30th ult. Their dress and appearance were minutely
described, and from the tone of the advertisement it
was clear that a family fracas, or an affaire du cceur,
was at the bottom of the whole business. On Sun-
day last, while the whole town was talking over
the matter, in an obscure corner of the New road,
at Canterbury, a jackass, with a side-saddle on, was
observed by the police standing at the roadside.
On making search, two young ladies, with a 41b.
loaf and a Skye terrier, were discovered under the.
hedge, but with the hats only of two gentlemen.
The police soon compared notes, and the result
was the capture of the fair truants, who it appears
had been to, and returned from, the French coast
under the most mysterious circumstances. The
young ladies have since returned W Weir disconso-
late homes.

!THE PRESS.

LAST NIGHT'S DEBATE.

HOUSE OF LORDS.
ST. JAMESS PARK.

The Earl of MALMESBURY complained of the heavy
expenditure incurred upon the new works in St.
James's-park. The so-called improvements would,
he believed, cost ] 4,0001., and were in his opinion alto-
gether needless. He proceeded to animadvert upon
the tendencies to extravagance which had lately been
exhibited with regard to public works and buildings.
Earl GRANVILLE considered that the operations
now proceeding in St. James's-park would accom•
plish a much-needed improvement, and their cost,
he was assured, did not exceed 11,5001.
After some further conversation the subject
dropped.