The Express.
London, England, 1864-03-03 00:00:00

TEE EXPRESS, TIMRSDAY EVENING, MARCH 3, 1864.

Greenwich Railway and the London and Brighton
Station at New-cross. The latter peoject get* rid
of the Outer Circle, and its high-level bridge at
Limehouse, which is condemned ; but it may be a
great question for engineers which is the more de-
sirable or the more practicable, to pass over the
Thames by a bridge at Limehouse 150 feet above
high-water mark, or to pass under the river by a
line of railway below the London Docks, and
through the Thames Tunnel, IN feet below high-
water mark. For practical purposes probably the
one scheme is as visionary as the other.
The public, however, will rejoice to find that the
Metropolitan Outer Circle scheme is rejected, and
that the Oxford-street and City Railway is not to be
allowed to be proceeded with. These projects were
both so calculated to interfere with existing in-
terests as to be highly obnoxious. There are
other projects which they will, perhaps, regret to
find disapproved. No reason is shown in the
report why the Charing-cross Northern Junction
line should not have been permitted to go before
a committee. The London Main Trunk Under-
ground was also a line calculated to effect useful
objects. Had these lines been allowed to go on
they would both probably have afforded advantages
to the public. As it is, the Committee have
thrown them over, for want, in all probability, of
sufficient explanations. It is to be regretted when
well-devised plans meet with such a fate as this.
The lines favoured by the Committee are open
to many and grave objections : amongst others,
especially, that they do not sufficiently unite exist-
ing stations. As we commenced, however, by
giving, we believe the Committee have acted to the
best of their judgment ; though the wisdom of that
judgment, in many points, will no doubt be subject
to question.

Ir is with keen regret we learn that the state
of his health and the advice of his physicians
have obliged Sir Roost en) HILL to resign the
Secretaryship of the General Post-office, and to
retire from the public service, if not in a critical or
dangerous condition, at all events a worn out and
exhausted man, still retaining, indeed, all the in-
clination and intellectual capacity to be useful,
but with a shattered nervous system—the conse-
quence of long and unsparing work, which has
established in his case also that discordance be-
tween mind and body under which too many of the
best servants of the public bleak down.
To compliment Sir ROWLAND Him. on his
retirement from a career of benefit to his country,
and, through England, to the world, is superfluous,
when every postman's ring, answered by finding
letters, journals, pamphlets, patterns, &c., in our
door-receiver, associates, and will keep associated,
his name with one of the constant comforts and
conveniences of life. We do but anticip►te the
public regret at losing a servant who united the
capacity of devising the largest plans of improvement
with the ability of carrying out their smallest
and nicest details, whose desire for, and study of
further amendment was continuous and incessant,
who allowed no personal mortification or dis-
appointment, no ungracious criticism or jealous
obstructiveness to impede his course, who regarded
difficulties only as something to be overcome, and
who bequeaths to his successors ample and well pre-
pared materials for acquiring distinction and doing
the country further service. Calm, self-reliant, in-
defatigable, resolved, Sir ROWLAND HILL went on,
until nature and strength would no longer respond
to his efforts. Six months ago the Govern-
ment suggested a period of repose, trusting again
to have the continued benefit of his exer-
tions ; but repose has not brought back
the wonted vigour, and Sir ROWLAND, feel-
ing that his time for work was over, has con-
scientiously accepted the warning, and, without
reference to pecuniary interest, has retired,
leaving a name identified with ever present fami-
liar benefits, and claims on the nation which it is
for the public, in its own interests, to enforce.
It is now twenty-seven years, nearly a gapers.
tion of man, since the great postal revolution
of which Sir ROWLAND HELL was the author, was
proclaimed by the public voice. In that term
the number of chargeable letters has risen from
76 millions to the almost fabulous figure of
more than GOO millions, and, after defraying all
the costa of a largely increased establishment, the
nett revenue of the Post-offioe now is considerably
larger than it was 30 years ago. In the same
period the annual amount of money trans-
mitted through the post has increased from
313,0001. to far 'upwards of 1.5,000,000/. Con-
traband conveyance of letters has ceased. Quick de-
livery of letters has been secured by the almost
universal resort to the use of the stamp. In-
creased security for passing valuable property
through the post has been gained by an inexpen-
sive registration. More rapid and more frwluena
eommunicatioos between the Metropolis and the
larger provincial towns, as also between one pro-
vincial town and another, a great extension of
free deliveries, increased facilities for the trans-
mission of foreign and colonial correspondence by
improved conventions with foreigncountries, by bet-
ter arrangements of the packet services, by sorting on
board cud other means, a more prompt despatch
of letters when posted, and amore prompt delivery
on arrival, the division of London and its suburbs
into postal districts, a vast extension of rural deli-
veries, the establishment of a book post, have all
followed in due order, the result of immense fore-
thought and care. Patronage and jobbing in Post-
office appointments have been displaced by the
introduction of the principle of promotion, which
is doing incalculable good. The condition of the
enajdoy,;s has been, in many respects, materially
improved, their labours, especially on Sundays,
reduced, their salaries increased. These are some
of the great and good works accomplished in the
Postal Department of the State by Sir ROWLAND
HILL ; they will well bear comparison with the
result of any other public servant's career, and for
them the nation, as it hopes to be well and faith-
fully served, has on his retirement to thank their
author, and to take care that its gratitude is not
recorded in mere words.

Lord and Lady Chelmsford entertained at dinner
last evening, at the family residence in Eatoa.square, the
Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury, Lord and Lady Col-
chester, Lady Louisa Monaisffe and Miss Moncrieffe, Sir
Heigh and Lady Cairns, Het. Captain Stanley, Sir George
Rees, General and Lady Altos Peel and Min Peel, Hat.
Edward Stanhope, Mr. Kansway, Ac.
. _

~
Lord and Lady Cranworth entertained at dinner
at their residence in Upper Brook-street, last evening, his
Excellency the Prussian Ambassador sad the Counties
Berrwtorff, the Lord Chancellor, the E►rl of Harrowby,
Lady Freakland Lewis, Sir David Danciaa, General and
Mr. Charles Ellie., Mr. Austin Brace, M.P., sod Mrs.
Bruce, Mr. and Mrs. Dawkins, Mies Stoplord, and Mon.
Miss Eardley.

PICTURES rants HAMPTON COURT FOR HOLYNOOD,
—Her Majesty has approved of twelve pictures coooeeted
with Scottish history, now is Hampton Court Palace,
being removed to Holyrood, where they will be placed its
such of the public apartments as may be judged most ad-
vantageous for their exhibition. —.Scotsman.
CITY or LONDON COLLSOR.—Tbis evening the
Rev. H. Whittington. 11. A.. priaeipsi of the caw. will
deliver a lecture on " Personal Remisiewnose of a Visit to
Rome," illustrated by diagrams end dissolving views. Mr.
Alderman Mechi will take the chair at 8 p.m. precisely.
The formation of the Netley Abbey and Netley
Hospital Railway has commenced.

gig Court.
WINDSOR CASTLE, lass 2.
The Queen, accompanied by the Prinoees Helena,
welled in the grows& this sonde&
Prises Helene, attended by lady Cordial Barrington
end lisutenaet•Colooel Cavendish, returned from London
today.
Prime= Augustus of Saxe Coburg, with Mame M-
tn& nod Princes. Amid* visited the Queen, and remised
to luncheon.

Lady Churchill has sumeeded the Viscounts= Jocelyn u
lady-in.waiting.
Mr. Cleave, the Mayor at Windsor, and Mr. Derrick,
town clerk, had the honour of en interview to present en
eddres• to her Majaity from the town of Windsor, to con-
gratulate her Majesty on the birth of the infant Prince.

The PTiDOO Oi Wales held a levee on behalf of bees Majesty
at PA. James's Palace yesterday afternoon. His Royal Highness
left Marlborough-home as five =uteri to 2, mooned by a
detachment of the god Life Guards, and attended by Lord
Alfred Hervey, the Hon. R. H. Meade, and Lieutenant-
Colonel Koppel. The Prince of Wales, attended by
Lientenant-(blood Koppel, took a ride in the aftsmoors.

The Princess of WalS;, attended by the Countess de Grey,
drove out in the afternoon.

Their Royal Highnesses, attended by the Countess de
Grey and Lieutenant-Colonel Koppel, bosoured the Hay.
market Theatre with their prewar* in the evening.

A deputation had an interview with Lord Palmerston,
yesterday, at Quabridmhorine, upon the subject of the
growth of flax in lielnnd.

THE LEVEE.

By command of the Queen, a levee wa■ held
yesterday, in St. James's Palace, by the Prince of Wales,
on behalf of her Majesty. Presentations to his Royal High-
nab at this Court are considered, by the Queen's pleasure,
as equivalent to presentations to her Majesty. The Prince of
Wales, attended by his gentlemen-in-walting, arrived from
Marlborough-house about 2 o'clock, and was received by the
Great Officers of State of the Queen's Household. The
Duke of Cambridge (attended by his equerry), Prince
Edward of Saxe Weimar, and Prince Gustav of Bale
Weimar, were present at the levee.
Her Majesty's Guard of the Honourable Corp of Gentle.
manat-Arms was on duty in the state saloons, under the
commend of the Lieutenant, Captain Philip., the sub-officer
on duty with the corps. The Yeomen of the Guard on
duty were under the command of Lietttensat-Colonel
Sutton, the adjutaat of the corps.
The Prince of Wales entered the Throne-room, moors-
panted by the Duke of Cambridge, their Serene Highnesses
Prince Edward and Prince Gustav of Saxe Weimar, and
the officers of State. The Pages of Honour in waiting were
Mr. H. J. Loftus end Mr. Paget.
The Foreign Ambasradon and Ministers were introduced,
when the following presentations to the Prince of Wales on
the pert of the Queen took place in the Diplomatic circle.
By the Austrian Amboassdor, Count Alexander Apponyi,
eldest son of his Excellency and attach,, to the Imperial
Embassy.

By the Russian Ambassador, M. Saboaxoff, Container
d'Ambaimade. L. Prime Michel Gortsobakoff, r Premise
Sseretairs d'Ambassade. Le Baron de Framiericksa, snood
Sscretaire d'Ambesmade. Le Oapitairie de Cavalseis Karat-
sirnky.

By the French Ambassador, M. Le Vicomte de Courral,
AttacbC I FAmbamade ; B. Le Comte de Montmsrin,
Attac.b i FAmbasmade.

By the Earl Romell. Secretary of State for Foreign
Affaires; Baron Blome, Chargé d'Affaires of Hanover ; M.
Charelaus Tricami, Plenipotentiary from Greece.
The diplomatic circle MS. attended by the Turkiah,
Austrian, Russian, Prussian, and French Ambassadors ;
the Bavarian, Italian, Netherlands, Portuguese, Saxon,
Danish, United States, Peruvian, Persian, and Spanish
Ministers ; and the Swedish and Norwegian SeoreMry of
Legation.

The Belgian Envoy was unable to pay hie respects to the
Prince of Wales from being under the obligation to go to
Dover to receive his Majesty the King of the Belgians ; sad
the Envoy from Sweden and Norway was unable to wait
upon his Royal Highness from indisposition.
The general circle was well attended, and included most
of her Majesty's minister'.

Among the preeentatiose to the Prince of Wes, out
behalf of the Queen, were the following :
DeputyArrtrtant-Suppeerriintendent of Stores W. H. Chambers,
by the Right Hon. the Meteley of State for War.
Mr. Sherd( Cave, by the Right lion. Sir George Grey.
Mr. Herbert R. Church, *riffle Manager Madras Railway Com-
pany, by Lord Harris.
by Kint _ _

11: J. Cra;fard, Y.P. for Ayr Burghs, by Captain Sir William
Norte, Bore R.N.
Yr. William Cont., Remembrancer of the City of London,
by the Right lion. the Lord Mayor.
The Solicitor-Genera, Sir Robert P Collier, by the Lord Chan.
°Woe.

--iifor.General Vincent Eyre, CE, by Lieutenant. General
Sir George Pollock, G.C.R.,
Mr. Thomas Francis Wade, CB., Secretary to her Majesty's
Legation. Pekin, by Earl Roman.
Captain Speke, her Majesty's Indian army, by Sir Roderick L.
Murchison, Y.C.B.
Rev. W. Sparrow Simpson. MA., chaplain to the Right Hon.
the Lord Mayor. by the Lord Major.
Major-General Lard Frederick Poole', CB., by the Field-
marshal Commanding-f.
Slr Bounden Palmer. byin-Chie the Lord Chancellor.
M. N. Mama, Sheriff of London, by Sir George Grey,
The Marquis of Normonby, by the Duke of Newcastle.
Sir /reacts Outrun, Ran., by the Duke of Arroll.
G eorg
Thee
Gre lard Mayor of Dublin, Mansion-house, Dahlia, by Sir
y.
The May,. et Liverpool Charter Moiler, by Sir Geoeye Grey.
The Right Hon. Richard Welch Horton, Lord Mayor of York.
by Mr George Orey.
The Right Host the Lord Mayor, by Viscount Palmentoa.
Lord Hatherton, by Lord Loraine.
Karl of Klatore, Kt.e^”...._
1... aciasquas 01 1111100.11 e. by trig Lan of Bemborough,
Rev. Canon Heaviside, by the Lord ChaneelMr.
Dr. Arthur Farm, by the Lord Chamberlain.
General Sir William Gomm, by the Duke of Cambridge.

ARRIVAL OP THE NINO OP THE BELGIANS.

At 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon his Majesty the
King of the Belgians arrived at the Admiralty Pier, Dover,
from Oetend, attended by Count de Meerkerke ands limited
snit,. A thick fog prevailed daring the passage.
His Majesty was received by a guard of honour of the
78th Highlanders, and war met by M. Van de Weyer (the
Belgian Minister), Lord Cremorne, and Oelooel Ponsonby,
who had previously arrived from London, sad who scum.
ponied the King to the Lord Warden Hotel, where it had
been arranged th►t the royal traveller should pass the
nigh:

Thls morning the Ring left Dover at half.part 10 by •
special trait on the Sooth-Eaftern Railw►y, sod arrived at
Waterloo at 12.40. The journey to Windsor waa mamma
by the South-Wasters Railway without cluusge of carriage,
and Windsor was reached at 1.21.

A rongnifieent suite of apartments have lately been fitted
up in the York Tower for the reception of the King and
his snits.

Titans' Borax. HaYmaaarr.—The Prince and
Princess of Wales, attended by Lady de Grey and Colonel
Koppel, honoured this theatre with their presence yester-
day evening.

Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of ("Am-
bridge, the Prisons Nary, and the Grand Duellers of
Yeeklesbarg-Stralitz bononrad the Earl Granville by their
preemies at dinner on Tuesday seeing. A numerous and
distinguished Mega were invited to meet their royal high.
Meese.

The Countess Dowager of Westmoreland was
honoured by the company of their Royal Htghoeseee the
Duchess of Cambridge, the Greed Duchene of Madden-
burg-Strelitz, and the Princess Mary at dinner last evening
at her ladyabip'e hones io Portman-equans. A select circle
was invited to meet their royal highnensea.
- . _

-- ---
The Earl and Countess Russell received at dinner
last wising, at Choir residence is Chesham-pions, Viacetiot
sod Vinamtetses Bury, Lord Richard Grosvenor, Mr. sod
Lady Georgics Romilly, the Right Hoe. Thomas Manor
Chime, M.P., and Mr.. Gibsoo, the Right Hoo. C. Y. Vil-
liers, M.P., Mr. Atthor Russell, M.P., Mr. and Mrs. Th..
Eying, Mr. Morriss., Mr. Montego Villiers, Mr. George
Elliott, Miss Peel, Mise Lister, Re.
_ _

• -
Countess Frances Waldegrave and Mr. Chichester
Foramens entertained at diaper last envois', at their
manatee is Colton-gardens, the Earl and Camases of
Shaftesbury, the Earl and Coustgas of Cork, the Earl and
Countess of Ai lie, Visoountess Palmerston, the Right Hoc.
Sir Charles Wood, M.P., and Lady Mary Wood, the Atter-
ney-Onagnl and Lady Laura Palmer, the Right Hoe. Ed-
ward Cardwell, M.P., arid Mrs. Cardwell, Hos. Arthur
Kinaeka, M.P., Sir Jobs and Lady Johastooe, Mr. William
Harcourt, Mr. Urquhart, ke. Later in the evening her
ladyakip had as seamnally.

If azireilian. Not only k the vidi of this prince to Paris
indefinitely adjourned, Ind the ansagement which was to
she him the theme el Ikon is saki to be compromised,
owing to the general dale of Europe.

stioording to one rumour, the archduke not only
requires a French army to guard him, but desires
to have the command of it—a proposition which is
not to be thought of.
The Pays attributes King Leopold's journey to
London to grave political motives, the alleged
"family affairs" being only a pretext.
M. Athanase Coquerel, jun., the most popular
protestant preacher in Paris, and a man of exemp-
lary private character, has been interdicted by the
presbytery of the reformed church. The exact
grounds of this measure are not publicly stated,
but the impression is that M. Coquerel
—like Luther, Zwingle, and Calvin —inter-

7 .
prets the Gospel with more freedom than
those who claim authority over him allow. K
Coquerel preached a farewell sermon to an over-
flowing congregation at the Oratoire on Sunday
last, and his concluding words exhorted his hearers
to hold fast by " Christian freedom." Several
journals express a hope that the government will
authorise him to open a chapel on his own ac-
count, but this will hardly be done. The French
law tolerates and indeed protects certain " recog-
nised" sects, but out of that pale there is no free-
dom. If M. Coquerel were to go to England he
would become a popular preacher at once, for he
speaks English as well as French.
The Bourse was heavy at the close.
The Daily News is seized.

PROTESTANTISM IN PARIS.

The removal of M. Coquerel, junior, the pro-
testant clergyman of the French church at Paris, has
excited (says Golirrtain) painful emotion sot salt' amosa
persons of his own persuasion, but among liberal minds of
every belief. The Sleek has the subjoined observatioas on
the subject •
" 3i. CorPierel, junior, is one of the firmest and most
moderate representatives of liberal protestantism. For that
reason it is that the Paris Consistory has dismissed him
from his functions of assistant pastor, which he had filled
for the last fourteen years with uncontested devotedness.
The intolersat act of the consittory not ugly touches
but also reaches M. Martin Pescboud, who is thus
deprived of the right possessed by all his colleagues of
presenting the person who should replace him in the
functions which age or Ulnas may prevent him from
fulfilling. This act will be also felt by the numerous pro-
testants whom the pastor now driven from his pulpit in-
structed privately, and who confided to him the religious
education of their children, and loved to see him preside at
their baptismal, and burial ceremonies. Those
members of the church ve signed a protest against the use
which the consatory has thought fit to make of ite power ;
we join is that protest in the name of all those parsons who
think that the church, founded on the free examination of
the scriptures, has, at the present moment, something better
to do than to follow the Roman catholic church in the
retrograde path in which it is daily receding farther and
farther."

The Prase and the Temps use language just u decided
is character. The Prase says :—" M. Coquerel is now a
first-rate preacher who rivals is skquence the ccatampo.
ransom 'fficistrations of the catholic pulpit, and he shares
with his father. the dismember of the Coostitueot Assembly,
the sympathised the protestant community in Paris. When
he preaches at Pentemoat or at the Ontario the building is
too small to contain all that flock to hear him ; the very
steps of the pulpit are filled, the aisles crowded, and the
doors are besieged. When Y. Coquerel, jun., preached •
charity sermon, end when he dismissed his auditory
with those simple words, ' Remember, ma leaving
the church, to do good to your poor brethren,' the
boxes at the doors were never wide .south or deep enough;
gold, silver wrapped up is bank boas, and articles of jew.
*Ray had loos filled them. The Sunday in the year of
distress when he preached for the benefit of the poor cloaca
weavers of Romo, he so excited the charitable feelings of
his congregation, that the collection amounted to no less
than 15,000 fr. Animated with praiseworthy emulatiou,
Mgr. Dupeolosip preached a second sermon in the cathedral
at Orleans in order to realise so handsome • sum. The pri-
vate life of the reverend geollaman, in ontinual coated
with his numerous flock, is • model of virtue awl dignity.
Why, therefore, the the Protharat Clossistory interdicted
the pulpit to so worthy and eloquent • man r