The Express.
London, England, 1863-12-21 00:00:00

THE ,EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 21, 1863.

sense of honour as falsely to Amine an -bibeioent
woman. It is impossible, thereftes, to piece the
slightest reliance upon the letten of A ma whose
conduct is so utterly inconsistent with tip accepted
code of honour.

It is true that Mrs. MALLET has been triumph-
antly acquitted of the gross charges which have
been made against her. It is true that the jury
almost rose in insurrection against Mrs. Far-
GERALD'S counsel, and insisted upon refusing to
hoar him or even the summing up of the judge.
But the position of Mr. MALLET and his wife was
unutterably painfuL It Mrs. MALLET had been
a man she would have had some one to represent
her. According to the present practice of the
court the co-respondent, provided he is a
man, is entitled to be represented. But if
the co-respondent be a lady even though
living with her husband and the mother of six or
seven children—she can no longer pleadher cause.

In this case, at least, men forget their chivalry, or
rather their sense of justice, and women in the Di-
vorce Court are denied the very privilege allowed to
every prisoner at the Old Bailey. Upon what prin-
ciple can it be contended that the reputation of
any woman—married or single—is to be at the

I mercy of a feminine rival or of an unprincipled in-
triguer? The interest of the husband, spinet whom the
I divorce is sought, may be the very opposite of that
of the woman who is involved in the scandal, and
yet these diametrically opposite interests are com-
mitted to the same counseL What mattered it in
this case to Major Fruorssan whether the do-
mestic happiness of Mr. Maxim was ruined for
ever? What mattered it to Captain MALLET
whether Major FITZGERALD had treated his wife in
• manner which amounted to cruelty? The object
of the one was to prevent his wife succeeding
in her suit for divorce ; the object of the
other was to answer the foul charges which
had been made against himself and his wife.
Captain FITZGERALD, ID his abject cowardice and
remorse, had denounced some woman or other in
his letters as "a creature," " a cursed fiend from
" the lowest depth of hell," and a " fearful hor-
" rible 'demon," and this description was so vague
that in the excited state of Mrs. Frrzornsi.D's
imagination it was applied to Mrs. Msm.nr. Is
it possible to conceive any thing more monstrous
than that the counsel who represented the infatuated
Irishman should be the only counsel who could
represent the lady who was supposed to be re-
ferred to by such epithets?
And yet such is the law. A change is impera-
tively required. If the co-respondent happens to
be a man, he is entitled to be represented by some
one who can plead his case. If the co-respondent
is a woman the same rule ought to prevail.
The moral reputation of a man is of some value—
the moral reputation of a woman is of a much
higher value. It seems possible that a jealous
woman may assail the character of an honourable
married woman, and that an extravagant Irishman
may write rhapsodies which compromise a lady's
reputation. The present law which denies a woman
the right of appearing by counsel is founded upon
the principle that no man would sacrifice the repu-
tation of a woman unless under the most pressing
necessity. In the case of Major Frunze...Li) this
principle has been ignored, and henceforth women,
both married and single—for their own sake, and
for the sake of their husbands—ought to have the
power of protecting themselves.

OE Court.

OSBORNE Dec. 19.

The Queen, Princess Helens, Priccesa 1.61111145,
Primo Leopold, PAINIMIS Beatrice, and Pnoceas Holieslobe,
arrived at Osborne from Windsor yesterday &Nemo* at
3 o'clock.

Dec. 20.

Priam Alfred wad his Grand Da& Highness Prince
'William of Hesse, attended by Major Ong and Captain
von &Dam, arrived si Osborne yesterday.
Loed Stanley of didsrley also arrived, and had an audience
of her liajorty.

Dbrias asr;ic• was performed at Osborne this morning by
tb. Bsv. G. Nadia*.

Her Maisetr, Prises Alfred, Prisons Helene, Princes,
Loniee, Prise* Leopold, sal Priseeirdliani of Hew, wets
present

Visioned and Viscountess Palleurstas left town on Satur-
day far Broadlands, Hants.
Despatches were received as Saturday at the OolesiaL
odic* from the Governors of the Australian oolosaies. Hong
Kam Ceylon, Latium, the Lord High Commissioner of the
lonian Islands, sad from the Governors of Gibraltar and
Malts. Despatches were seat to the Governors at the Mau-
ritius, Canada, and the Bahamas.

THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OP WALES.

His Royal Ifighates the Prince of Wales, at-
tested by Lieutenant-Colonel Koppel, west to Bushey Park
by the Booth-Western Railway, yid Ratchet and Twicken-
ham, on Saturday, and shot among the preserves, which ars
well stocked with pheasants, hum, and ether gum
Yesterday mantas prayers were read at Frogmen
Rouse by the Very Rev. the Dean of Windsor. Their
Ro►al Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales and
their attendsate ww present. In the afternoon, at bait-
peat 4 o'clock, their royal highnesses attended divine monks
at the Chapel Royal of St. Gomm. The prime and princess
occupied seats in the stalls of the choir. The chapel was
Ailed by a lidgs oongregatkia.
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince sad Prisms of Wales
ars expected to leave Froginore to-ssorrow for Oabcwno,
whine they will sinned their Christmas, on a visit to the
Queen.

TH E Mils ierrnr.-Binoe tbs Cabinet Council held
in the :Waled the week a masher d the aikidos haws
taken their departure from town, and are not erposted to
return to London until after the Christiana nem Lord
Pelmenton left Osashridge-hessi, Piccadilly, yesterday, is
OWE psay with Lady Pahl:mks. for his seat, Brcedleads
Hants. The Duke of Newcombe, who As preset at the
lest council, ham Awe proceeded to Bright... The Lard
Cbsecellor ransios in town. Sir Georg* Grey, who was
Asset from the Cabinet meeting, is Aeries se his seat, Pal-
Won, Northomberiand.—Observer.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, his
Royal Highness the Duo de Chartres, and a *sleet party,
bed a day's alsootisg in Bushey Park, near Hampton, ea
Batarday. The Priam of Wales also joined the party.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Catn-
bridge wad the Prises= Mary will pau the Chriansu at
Ciambrktge Cottage, Kew. After Christmas their royal
highnesses a:11 go ors a tour of visits.
The Earl and Countess of Clarendon have re-
tuned to The Oren, Watford, from visiting Mr. Russell,
M.P., sad lady Elizabeth Russell. at Woburn Abbey.
His Excellency the Earl of Carlieleand suite have
hiss Maytag en a visit to Moore Abbey, Monasterevan, the
seat of the Marquis of Drogheda, and will raters to the vier
regal lodge to-day.

The eldest eon of the newly-appointed judge
(Serjeent (thee), who bee been parening hie Mediae at the
Romeo catholic institutioe, St. Cleseent'a, Oxford, under
the inetraction of the 1t... F. Cambia:oA. will, it iv
rumoured, in the early pert of the fcrthoensing year,
eater se Christ Char* in that Usiversity.
The munificent bequest of the late Mr. Drummond
--MOO= iinj to 20,000f.—t0 founds mimed at Dublin for,
the ednostion of Andres the orphan daughten of
/041/111, has been meanly established for lb. object in.
headed by the testator. Not only ban the emeaust
of the bequest bees paid into the Court el °hammy
by the executors, but a 'charm for the fain» seamsge.
meat of the charity ban been approved by the Mader is
Mammy, printed, sod eirculated. The school will be ma-
seged, as nearly as possible, on the plan ef the Royal
Men des Military School for soldiers' soar,

lAIUST INTELLIGENCE.

(NOTZWII ELLIKMAIIIL)
LATEST AMERICAN NEWS.

PRESIDENT DAVIS'S MESSAGE
(Per City of Now York.)
NEW YORK, Dar. 11, Emus°.
President Davis's Message to Coogresa is said to
be desponding in tone. He declares that European
nations have assumed a positively unfriendly
character towards the South, and that England has
shown a marked partiality to the Federal.%
Gold, 601. Stocks steady.

THE OUTWARD CALCUTTA AND CHINA
MAILS.
MARSEILLE% Die. 21.

The Meassgerieslee steamer Moerie, with
the above mails, left this port on the 19th inst.
She takes out 63 passengers, 484 packages, and
specie value 100,8991. for India and China ; also
63 passengers, 996 packages, and specie value
102,4201. for Alexandria.

THE BOMBAY MAIL.
MARSEILLES, Die. 21.
The Euxine, with the above mail, reached Mar-
seilles at 9 a.m. this day.
The mail leaves for London by the IL3O a.m.
train.

DENMARK.
THE PRUSSIAN SUMMONS TO QUIT
HOLSTEIN.

The Prussian liLmito‘r publishes the following
document, which Las been forwarded to M. Hall,
President of the Council of Ministers at Copen-
hagen :
The undersigned, Prr-ident of the Council of Ministers
of Prussia and Mio'rer of Foreign Affairs, M. de Bismark.
Schtenhausen, has the honour to inform his Excellency the
President of the Council of Ministers of Denmark and
Minister of Foreign Affairs, M. de Hall, that the august
Federal Diet, in pursuance of its ri —ilution of the let of
October last, adopted on the 7th inst. the followiog resolu-
tion :-1. To address immediately to the governments of
Austria, of Prussia, of Saxony, and of Hanover, the io•ita-
lion foreshadowed in No. 4 of the resolution of the Ist of
October, to put into immediate execution the measures
decided upon. 2. To acquaint the said governments
of this decision through their representatives, and
to instruct them to make the necessary communications
to the Royal Danish government, as well as to execute them
measures, conformably to the military arrangemeota which
have been since screed upon. Consequently the administra-
tion of the duchies of Holstein and of Lauenburg is about
to be taken ie hand by the civil commissioners of the
Germanic Confederation, who will be accompanied by
the necessary federal troops. To this communication the
undersigned must at the same time join the invitation
withdraw from the German Federal territory all the royal
Danish troops which are in the Duchies of Holstein and
Lauenburg, and to express an expectation that that may be
done within the seven days which follow the receipt of the
first communication. The undersigned avails himself of this
opportunity W express to your Excellency the assurance of
his distinguished consideration. Berlin, 12 Dec., 1863.
(Signed) Da &MOAK.

AMERICA.

(slum's

THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
PROCLAMATION OF AN AMNESTY BY
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

QUEENSTOWN, Dec. W.
The Royal Mail steam-ship Arabia, from Boston
on the 9th, and Halifax on the 11th inst., arrived
here at 2 a.m. to-day. She brings 68 passengers
and 30,955 dole. in specie. She landed 57 sacks of
mails and six passengers, and proceeded for Liver-
pool at 2.30 a.m. ; all well.

NEW YORK, Dec. 8, Arras 001.

General Foster reports from Tazewell, Tennessee,
on the 7th :—" General Longstreet is in full retreat
up the valley. Cavalry will pursue him. Yes-
terday my cavalry attacked that of the enemy in
one of the passes of the Clinch Mountain, and was
pursuing them vigorously. Couriers from Knox-
ville arrived here last night. The road is clear, a
man having arrived here yesterday."
Unofficial reports state :

General Longstreet commenced his siege opera-
tions against Knoxville upon the 18th ult., and
raised the siege upon the 4th inst., retreating
towards Bristol, via Harrietown Railway to
Richmond, and south from Bristol along the north
and south banks of Holston river. Foster's
cavalry is pursuing on the south, and Sherman's on
the north bank. General Longstreet has 36 hours'
start. Sherman's advance has reached Knoxville.

The Federals are preparing for the winter de-
fence of Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain.
Boats are running to Kingston, and a railroad is
being completed to Bridgeport.
The Confederates captured 15 Federal forage
waggons 12 miles from Chattanooga.
General Bragg has been relieved from his com-
mand at his own request. He was serenaded upon
the 2ud at Dalton, where he made a farewell
address. No successor has yet been appointed.
General Hardee commands temporarily. Bishop
Polk has been ordered to command the department
of the Southern Mississippi.
General Forrest is encamped 15 miles from Holly
Springs with 10,000 men.
Western Tennessee, Western Kentucky, and
Northern Mississippi, as far as Tallahatchie, have
been formed into one Confederate department.
Great preparations are being made to defend it.
6,000 Confederates are reported to be advancing
on Maysville, Kentucky.
The Confederate General Macpherson has issued
a conscription order in Tennessee similar to that
issued by General Hurlbut.
General Lee has made no attempt to cross the
Rapidan in force, but Stuart's and Mosby's cavalry
keep up their raids north of the Rappahannock.
It is supposed Meade will go into winter quarters
some distance north of the Rappahannock.
The Confederates have captured Thomas Francis
Meagher.

Advices from Charleston are to the 4th inst.

A slow fire is being kept up on Fort Sumter.
The firing upon Charleston has ceased, but the
Federals are remounting more guns bearing upon
the city.
Southern papers assert that Gilmore's Greek fire
is easily extinguished. General Beauregard visited
Fort Sumter on the 2nd inst.

The Confederates in strong organised bodies are
impeding the navigation upon the Mississippi.
President Lincoln has issued a proclamation that,
in consequence of receiving reliable information
that the insurgents were retreating from Tennessee
under circumstances rendering it probable that the
Federals cannot hereafter be dislodged from there,
and esteeming this to be of high national conse-
quence, he recommends the people to return public
thanks.

General Butler has issued a proclamation saying:
The recruitment of coloured troops having become
• purpose of the government, and as the best use
during the war for able-bodied coloured men, both
for themselves and their country, is to be soldiers,
government officers must not employ negroes to
work at higher wages than soldiers' pay. Every
possible provision will be made for uegroes.
Congress met yesterday. The democrats were
divided upon the choice of a candidate for Speaker,
and Colfax, a republican, was elected Speaker of
the house. This secures to the republicans an
opponent of standing committees.
Notice has been given of a bill to suspend the
Canadian reciprocity treaty.
The Russian officers are being feted in Wash-
ington.

NEW YORK, Die. 8, Evunia.
General Longstreet has retreated from Knox-
ville towards Virginia.
General Hardee is falling back from Dalton with
Bragg's troops.
Breckenridge is not dead.
Congress met yesterday, and the President's
message will appear to-morrow. Mr. Lincoln is
reported better.
The Sazonia and Kedar have arrived out.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW YORK, Dio. 8, Evisma.

Money tight. Gold, 491 per cent premium.
Exchange on London, bankers' bills, 164. Exchange
on Paris, 3.424. Stocks steady. New York Cen-
trals, 1331 ; Illinois, 118 ; Erie, 106/ ; Six per
Cent. United States Bonds, 1071. Cotton steady.
(By Telegraph to Halifax.)
NEW TOM, Dec. 9, Anima:

Accompanying President Lincoln's message is a
proclamation suggesting the following terms for the
reconstruction of the Union :

An amnesty will be granted to persons in rebel-
lious States who take the oath of allegiance to the
United States, and an oath to support all the acts
named by the Federal Congress, and all proclama-
tions issued by Mr. Lincoln since the rebellion,
including the emancipation proclamation.
This latter oath, the President observes in his
message, is subject to the modifying and abro-
gating power of legislation and supreme judicial
decision. If one-tenth of the legalised voters of any
rebellious State take the oaths above cited, and
form a republican state, government, such govern-
ment will be recognised and receive constitu-
tional protection from the Federal government.

Persons who have held office under the Confede-
rate government; those who held rank in the army
above the rank of colonel, or in the navy above the
rank of lieutenant ; those formerly holding judicial
positions, or who resigned the Federal service and
joined the rebellion ; and those who have treated
coloured soldiers otherwise than as prisoners of
war, are exempted from the amnesty.
The proclamation does not refer to the States
which throughout the rebellion have maintained the
loyal government.
Mr. ligroin says that the mode proposed in the
proclamation is the best the executive can suggest,
but it must not be understood that no other podia-
sible mode would be acceptable.
The message declares that foreign relations are
frigidly, but beyond the accompanying proclama-
tion, contains nothing important.

NEW YORK, DEC. 10, Young°.

President Lincoln's proclamation aceompanying
the message grants not only an amnesty, but a full
pardon and restoration of the rights of property,
except slams property, to thcee taking the oaths
described in the proclamation.

NEW YORX, Du. 11, Nomura.

The Secretary of the Treasury has imposed an
increase of duty on distilled spirits to 00 cents per
gallon ; on tobacco to 20 oenta. per lb. on leaf, and
from sto 12 cents. on manufactured ; and of 10
cents. per gallon on petroleum.
Money tight.
NEW YORK, D. 10, Arsalloow.
_ _ .

President Lincoln's Message says that the British
government, as was further expected, has exercised
its authority to prevent the departure of new hos-
tile expeditions from British ports. The French
Emperor, by similar proceedings, promply vindi-
cated the neutrality which he proclaimed at the
beginning of the contest. Blockade questions have
been discussed and accommodated in • spirit of
frankness, justice, and national goodwill. Our
prize courts, by the impartiality of their adjudica-
tion, have commanded the respect and confidence
of maritime powers. An important question,
involving the maritme jurisdiction of Spain in the
waters surrounding Cuba, has been debated without
reaching agreement, and it is proposed to refer the
question to the arbitration of • friendly power.
The rights of aliens in America are partially de-
fined by treaties with some governments. In no
instance, however, is it stipulated that, in the event
of civil war, foreigners residing within the lines of
the insurgents are to be exempted from the rule
which classes them as belligerents, in whose behalf
their government cannot expect any privileges or
immunities distinct from that character. Such
claims, however, have been put forward in behalf
of foreigners residing here the greater part of their
lives.

The Message states that the receipts during the
year from all sources, including loans and the
balance in the treasury at the commencement of
the year, were 900,000,000 dole. The disbursements
during the year were 896,000,000 dols. The receipts
from the customs were 69,000,000 dole., and from

the internal revenue 37,000,000 dole. The
amount received from loans was 776,000,000 dole.
The disbursements in the War Department
amounted to 590,000,000 dole., and for the Navy
Department to 63,060,000 dole.
Over 1,000 vessels have been captured since the
blockade was instituted. The naval force consists
of 588 vessels, 75 of which are irouclada.
100,000 freed slaves are in the Federal service,
half of them bearing arms.

Mr. Lincoln declares that whilst he remains in
bin present position he shall not attempt td retract
or modify the emancipation proclamation, nor
return to slavery any person who is freed by that
proclamation, or by any acts of Congress.
The Message further says—" In the midst of
other cares we must not lose sight of the fact that
war power is our main reliance, and that to that
power alone we can look for a time to give confi-
dence to the people in contented regions that the
insurgent power will not again overrun them. Until
that, confidence is re-established little can be done
anywhere for what is called re-construction.'
Hence our chief care must be directed to the army."
President Lincoln's proclamation contains the
following additional provision' for State govern-
ments, formed in accordance with the terms of the
proclamation :
State governments may make any provision in
relation to negroes which shall recognise
and declare their permanent freedom, pro-
vide fur their education, and which may
yet be consistent as a temporary arrangement with
their present condition as a laborious, landless,
houseless class. State governments may retain the
name of the State, and the same boundary, consti-
tution, and general code of laws as existed before
the rebellion, subject to the modification made
necessary by the conditions of the proclamation.

NEW YORK, Die. 10, Evionac.

The report of the Secretary of the Treasury says :
"It will be necessary to raise by loans
460,000,000 doh. to cover tba expenses till July,
1864. It will be necessary toprovide 546,000,000(dols.
for the expenses from July. 1864, to July, 1865.
The State debt in July, 1865, is estimated at 2,200
million dollars. The Secretary proposes to increase
the deposits for temporary loans and the certificates
of indebtedness, but will issue no more Treasury
notes."

The steamer Chesapeake from New York to
Portland, was captured by 16 Confederates, who
left New York in the steamer as passengers. They
landed the captair. and crew at St. John's, but they
killed the second engineer. A large number of
steamers has left New York in pursuit.
Congress has unanimously passod a vote of thanks
and voted a medal to General Grant.
It is rumoured that General Pleasanton has super-
seded General Meade, Generals Sedgwick and War-
ren having both refused the appointment.
The New York Tribune and Times applaud Presi-
dent Lincoln's message.
The New York World thinks the message to be
good as an electioneering document, but considers
his plan for a re-construction to be absurd.

Thu Ne in York Herald believes the Preeident's
plan for are-construction will be a failure.
News from Charleston to the 7th inst. reports
matters quiet.