The Express.
London, England, 1862-06-24 00:00:00

RAILWAY AND PUBLIC COMPANIES IN
PARLIAMENT.

Yesterday, in the Duke of Richmond's com-
mittee, further evidence was adduced is favour of the pro-
wlers of the Beet Gieneseiershirs Railway. The MIL of
the Boosted sad Emma, Comics sod Li sad Trent
and hachcbse Railways, were passed Is Lord
committee. The mess of tbe Cerrestry Railways, is Lord
Btsaley's sosmektee, sad of the Extuaioss limes into lio
in Kr. Pallar's committee, Pare still uacooclud4 audit will
be to ask salver of the standing ceder of the
Home of Lied.. iatrodamd by Lord Redesda* which de-
clare that no osa be read • second time aim a given
date, la order that they may be proceeded with.
num= ENIUSENICIT.—This committee met for the
last time yesterday, Hon. Mr. Cowper is tbs chair, wbeo
clams* were propord by Sir J. V. Shale , to the *feet
that sompwinialon should be gives to the w along
the lie of water froetew to be affected or taken by the
intended embankment ; bat the committee ssgaYvad the
0"Itioo, the Loads Clauses Consolidation Act Dot coo -
plotbig soy son% kited of sorappmedso. The eanumittee
bare agreed to dame or behalf of the mown to Um effect
that soy part at the foreshore to Iss filled up is frost of
Somerset-hones sod the Board of Control shall be deemed

teTormpart of their estalibelements ; Wet us Wieling&
shall be erected thereon without the 'COMM Oi the Own-
mission/es of Woods cod Works ; end the& se regards the
rights el the Duchy of Lester, the amen* of valuation
fee any Lads taken beineging to it than be paid to the re•
oeiverchip of the duchy before any works aro commenced
in the Savoy, or epee the lands of the crown. All t►e had
reclaimed not intended for street& or roads along Cecil,
Barney, cod Arundel streets is to he devoted to the 'cr.
pone of ornamental pounds, and for public use cod re-
iseation.

Tan EXPLO44ION AT BISAILMONAIL-411331111G11•11,
Mammy EVENING. -The continued march moon the loins
hes resulted m the discovery of mother body, making nine
deaths in all, including the two eons of the propmetor. The
number of mass admitted as in-patients at the hospital is
fourteen, and there are about the same number of ent-
reat& Thermos of the explosion still remains a mystery.
however, from the evidence of the warvivors,
thatitrwon powder was kept in an iron safe in the
cellar of the penalises, and shortly before the occurrence one
of the *r. Walken went to the woman who had charge of
the miiug and filling department for the key of the Meet,
and then M and his brother and the foreman went down
the maw, and shortly afterwards the explenion took place.
FATAL. AVYBAY AT BIZILILWHLIAD.--On Sunday
emaing, while a Number of men were drinking at the Grapes
Inn, kept by Mrs. Jones, in Bridge-street, Birkenhead, •
quanel took phase het wean a stranger and • stememaam named
Wee, and both moo went out into the street in order, as it
is supposed, to settle their dispute by • fight. When out-
side, Nine wee knocked down by the strange man, and was
so severely kinked about the bead, and otherwise injured,
that nine An was picked up life was found to be extinct.
The murderer effected his wane before the fatal result of
the *arise whieb he bad carob would be annotakaid. The
Nek•ablaA pug* yel erday auertlia•dat • am at the
dodo on ateriebte, and be will be hoesight beim tho noes.
tasks naday.
Dv BMW?, delicious heslth-rustoring Revaloats
laid ism My time Ili Nat las=eartotediaz
amen
wry linellenti=il.. and sum laths
=, wodhalbsierliwOblieNV
ellPagle Wes;
datehoonii nonommoosa bin= innallsgtl~=
eilerrhe, tom" noises WWI lead Nit 44114 iname-
Eißres.gitliZttrin:Pralreelo:Moo=
M iteiVaa 3-:1Fea.51111:I
I*eint jekneeelliegli -
smr
rmorths= ZZireakeeeddb. eNstmerhil
romepeMlM
N0:1,4144; .Irldwieweigireeeilkek‘ whigusug ad&
Nierimembillte
wedelefe wise etamPeMesernteiviv
Dmitri, and 00.. n,
d "*.
10
racee e it1"411. M.N.*
IV, ; ; and 1.24, 4casst:
etrand. Losiotto.a4A innton.)

Tax Government have yielded to the opinion of
Parliament and the Public, so far as to desist
from the construction of the forts at Spithead until
investigation and experiment have supplied more
solid foundations for a decision upon those works
as parts of our system of national defence. This is
a resolution upon which both Ministers and the
country are to be congratulated—the country
because the postponement is the consequence of
a stricter examination of its interests by
Parliament, and Ministers because they
are saved from a blind expenditure which was
likely to result in a moat undesirable monument
of their administration. The decision is made to
appear a more signal concession to public opinion by
the circumstance that it was arrived at only at the
eleventh hour. It strongly illustrates the value of
public discussion, and at the same time shows
what good service a few men in Parliament
can render if they will only be at the pains
to master a subject in its principles and details,
and appeal on all suitable occasions, with patience
and temper, to the reason of the House. Every-
body knows that the duty of exhibiting the rea-
sons which have led to this change in the action
of the Government has been discharged by
a small body of members in the House,
and out of doors by a minority of the public
journals. The progress they have made is due solely
to the persistence they have shown in dis-
playing the strength of their case. When the
scheme of which the Spithead forts form a part
was brought before Parliament, it was carried

almost by acclamation. There was something in
its magnitude which seemed to correspond to the
sense of a great danger that had not been
provided against, and the plan gave a certain sa-
tisfaction by its very bulk. Doubts as to its
fitness were heard with impatience, general as
the feeling was that "something " must be done.
The Government proposed its scheme with that un-

doubtingconfidenCe which the indolent mass of every
assembly finds so agreeable in its leaders. It was
able to quote in support of it the Report of
the Defence Commissioners, a body of officers on
whose "impartiality, integrity, and judgment,"
as Sir Gsonos Lewis stated last night, it placed
the fullest reliance. "But," as the Szmurrssx
for Wss added with pathos, " however great the
" authority of those who advised the Government
" might be, and however much the Government
" might repose confidence in them, there were
" always sure to start up two or three parsons of
" undoubted scientific attainments who alleged
" that the plans were not only bad, but the very
" world that could be adopted." This is obvi-
ously inconvenient. When a set of men have
taken pains to work out a scheme, they naturally
hope that all people of discernment will at once
come forward and declare that nothing could be
wiser and better. But it would be a great mis-
fortune for the country if questions not only in-
volving the expenditure of many millions, but
vitally connected with the national safety, were to
_ _

Doves, Jura 23. —Her Serene Highness the
Printer Bahealobe with bee sou and suite, arrived here by
her Majesty's packet Vivid, Captain Allan, yesterday even-
Mg, and on landing proceeded to Birmingham's, Lord
Warden Hotel, where her Serene Highness slept. A special
train oonveyed the Princess to Hastings this morning at
10.15, en route forPoriasiouth. Mr. B. Way, the superin-
tendent of the Maros, moompaaisd the 'special rain.
It is staid that after the marriage of the
Prisms= Alice with Prime Louis of Hesse, the royal
bride and bridegroom will retire to St. Clare, the red-
dente of Colossi and Lady Catherine Vernon HILIVOUTt,
at Spring Vale, sear Hyde, for a few days.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cam-
beidee and the Princess Mary honoured Maria Marchioneen
of Ailesbary with their company at dinner last evening.
Among the company were the Duke and Duchess of Croy,
the Earl of Sandwich, the Duke and Duchess of Welling.
ton, the Dike and Duchess of Manchester, the Earl and
Countess of Wiwi* the Duke of Newcastle, the Marquis
of Bath, Viscount sad Viscounts Palmerston, the Coun-
tess Cowley, Lord Royston, Lord Forester, Hon. Mrs. Levi.
son, and Dr. Quin. Lady Geraldine Somerset and Captain
Cast were in arendmos on their royal highness's.
Dowager Lady Truro entertained a select party
at dimmer last evening at her residence in Eeton-square.
Later in the evening her ladyship had an assembly.
Lady Churston bad au assembly last evening at
her residence in Brook-street, Grosvenor-square, which
was numerously attended.
Mrs. Washington Hibbert's second ball is fixed
to take plaoe on Monday, the 14th July.
_ _ _ _ . . .

The annual fete in aid of the Scotch charities of
the metropolis took place last evening at Willies Rooms.
The following ladies pampas's usembled at as early
hour:—The Dunham of Ito:burghs, the Dowager Marchio-
ness of Lothian, Sheila:chime, otAboreorn, the Marchioness
of Ely, lady Cecilia Ilinghars, Lady Bosse Grant-Settle,
Lady Elizabeth Drummood, the Dowager Countess of
Morton, the Countess of Fife, the Countess of Effiegham,
Lady Arabella liusnermaa, Lady Ann Mackenzie, Lady

Elis.abeth Arthur, Lady Geoeliana Balfour, Lady Vero
Cameron, Lady Jane Dundee, Lady SeHerm Lady Colville,
Lady Panmare, Lady Aveland, Lady Gladstone, Hon.
Mn. Bailie Cochrane, Lady Gordon-Cumming, Lady Ma-
theson, Mrs. Farquharson of lawmanld, Mrs. Matheson,
kn. The company, numbering over TOO guests, included the
principal members of the Scotch, and many of the English,
arietocracy.
The Deanery of Bangor has been conferred upon
the Rev. J. V. Vincent, ILA., Rector of Lluivair-Vechan.
He hu been for several years proctor in convocation for the
clergy of the diocese.
At 10 o'clock last night Prince Napoleon, accom-
panied by Coast Flahault and two other gentlemen, entered
the gallery of the Howe of Commons in which foreign
ministers usually elt when they attend its discussions.
The prince remained until 1 o'clock, and during his stay
Mr. Disraeli, Mr. Cobden, and Lord H. Lennox went up to
the pllery and convened with him.
Lord St. Vincent has become the owner of the
Derby favourite, Lord Clifden, and the two-year old filly,
•' Lady Stafford." The price of the former was 5,0001., with
contingeecies, and the horse has arrivrd at his new quarters,
Gedmershem-park, Kent, in charge of his lordship'■
" special commintioner," after undergoing an examination
by Mr. Mayor. " lady Stafford," whose price was 2,0001.,

was delivered at Ascot on Monday.
The royal assent having now been given to the
tall providing for the repeal of the hop duties, it has been
determined to celebrate the successful efforts of the Central
Hop Duty Repeal Asemiation, by • public dinner in the
International Exhibition (English refreshment department),
on Thursday. Mr. Beresford Hope takes the chair, and the
list of stewards tubules, besides some of the leading noble-
men and gentlemen of Kent, not a few of the tenant
farmers, who have worked hardest towards obtaining the
repeal.
The Viceroy of Egypt has proposed to the
Emperor of Austria to let the Empress Elisabeth Mae the
next winter at Cairo. Her Majesty, who is now at Ks.
sengm, is somewhat better, but still extremely weak and
suffering.
A duel ban just been prevented, by the mediation
of friends, from taking place at Madrid, between M. Rios
Roam and M. Rivera IL Riven, has already fought two
duels. The first was with the sword, when he wounded M.
SixtoCamara in the hes/bind the second with pistol. against
MajorHenerel Caballero de Rada, when he received • ball
in the aide. IL Rice Roses fought with M. Gonzales
Bravo, and sect • ball through his body, and in another
affair with N. Ramey be was himself slightly wounded in
the head, so that the two adversaries are not novices on
the flak/.

be considered as closed because seven or eight
gentlemen, sitting together in a room, had come
to a very positive opinion on them. The Defence
Commissioners have lately acknowledged that
there was an appearance of reason in the objections
made to their plans in Parliament and out of doors,
and the Government now &Iraq that there is so
much reality in them that they will for the present
proceed no further with the Spithead forte, but
wait for additional light. Seeing that very lately
Lord Pautassrox referred to the suspension of
the works on these very forts as a striking instance
of the damage done to 'the public service when
Parliament insists on knowing something about the
objects for which it votes money, we may consider
the announcement made last night as a proof
that the cause of efficient administration, which is
at the same time the cause of real economy, has
made a sensible advance.
But although the Spithead forts are removed
from discussion, the other parts of the plan of
1860 remain. The forts on Portsdown Hill
are to be carried to completion. Sir
Groicos Lawn—who tells us distinctly that
he declines to argue the question of their utility on The National Choral Society will repeat the
the only principles by which it can be determined, " Elijah" On Thursday at Exeter•ball. The chores of the
the principles of military science, and who, in the society, numbering 600 voices, will on this occasion frater-
absolute deference he shows to the Report of the with the Yorkshire aid 'Amiable° ch`whitwi' who are
Defence Commissioners supplies another illustra- sow is London for the Handel Fasilyal. and altogether a
tion of the influence of authority in matters of vme.rit itr,a3inda.PeErfeaorran pe
ore rformance be az"metsd. The
tAss,°:oliugteer:
opinion—defended the vote for these forte on the Swift, xi, bike/sill of Led. and Mr. Weiss—the'
ground that a great deal of money bad already chain under the direction of Yr. G. W. Nadia, founder of
been spent on them. It appears to be the maxim the society.
of the Treasury bench that the inoonvenienee of Limner) Vierrfaximes' SCHOOL—Vrear or TH Z
past mistakes is best averted by resolutely going CREME= ro TEI GREAT larsasanorfax Mumma.—
through with them. The forts on Portedown Hill (Tam Day.)—The governor and committee of the above
Institutioe arranged for the children to avail themselves
were projected as defences against an enemy ad-
vancing by land to reach the heights from which the day of
Harr
x the kind offer of Siroodltichard
). theße chairman (a
the
Drm ofat
to destroy Portsmouth. But the contingency thus the anniversary festival on the 2nd of July, to treat theta
provided against belongs to a state of things which with a visit to the Exhibition. They arrived about if
has already passed away. If we lose the command o'clock, sod wore look by the governor and several of the
of the Channel, then, with or without the forts committee, past Akers, and other friends of the institution.
at Spithead, the enemy may shell ports. Tins COLLERS BAWN. —The Vice-Chancellor
mouth without the risk of landing a force, having refused to interfere legally with the dispute be-
tween Meson. Webster and Boucicattlt, with which the
and if we keep it the forts will not be wanted
pi:bdloic is. aheads
bat : famil
win iar, each gentleman
The consideration pointed out two years ago by ofths üblhicas each has
Sir JOHN BURGOYNE remains in full forte. If chosen the Colleen Bear, as his likeliest') and
that
these forts are to be of any use, except to the This celebrated drama is, consequently, now being played
enemy, we must be prepared to assign 60 or 70 both at Drurylane and the adelphi ; at the former lir.
Betteicault sustains his original character of Kyles, a part
thousand men for their defence; but whenever we
which, at the A
viaeial solar ofdelphi, is now filled by Mr. Verner, a pre.
are seriously threatened with invasion we shall
at
find it mare prudent to keep that force in band, madame rt'
Celeste,
who m""Piar
ready to be sent wherever it may be wanted. The and who has returned to London after a proyleonge7aCeele;

A letter from Novogorod announces that one-
half of the town of Borowitch had been destroyed
by fire. A letter from Tchermgow, the chief town
of the province of that name, states that in the
night of the 12th a fire broke out there, by which
27 buildings, containing 133 shops, were burnt
down. A corps of volunteers, 50,000 strong, has
been organised at Bt. Petersburg for the purpose
of assisting the firemen, and preventing further
catastrophes.

The St. Petersburg Gazette publishes a letter from
Loral Napier, the English Ambassador at St. Peters-
burg, addressed to the English Consul-General,
under date of the 15th of June, with a view to
open a subscription among the English residents
for the benefit of the sufferers by the recent con-
flagration. A similar step has been taken by the
French Ambassador.