The Express.
London, England, 1864-04-21 00:00:00

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LONDON, THURSDAY, APRIL 21.

IT is said that the Alexandra has been deli-
vered up by the Custom-house officers to her
owners. This need excite no surprise, for it is
clear that the law officers of the Crown had no
option in the matter. It is true that the judg-
ment of the House of Lords turned upon the
mere technical point, whether the Barons of the
Exchequer had power to make the rule granting
an appeal to the Exchequer Chamber and to the
House of Lords. But it was decided that the
Barons had no such power. The result is that the
verdict found by the jury in the Exchequer must
stand, and that no ground of forfeiture can be es-
tablished against the Alexandra in her present
condition. Under these circumstances it is dear
that the Crown has no right to detain the
ship, and the judgment of the House of Lords
makes it impossible for the ATTORNEY-GENERAL
to take any further steps for that purpose in her
present condition. In short, the judgment upon
the present information is final. But it must not
be supposed that the Alexandra is free from all
future proceedings. No doubt, if the vessel were
to put to sea at once it would be impossible to stop
her. But if anything more is done in the way of
equipping or arming her—if new rings are attached,
new masts fitted, or new portholes opened—she
will again become subject to seizure, and if the
case against her be proved, to forfeiture. A mo-
ment's consideration will establish this proposition.
It is possible that the House of Lords, after full
discussion on the merits, might have held that the
Alexandra in her present condition did not come
within the penal provisions of the Foreign Enlist-
ment Act, and she might have been released. But
such a decision would not have relieved her
owners from all future responsibility, or operated
as an authority to them to equip or arm her
with impunity. The practical conclusion is obvious.
Whilst Ministers are perfectly justified, nay
legally bound to release the Alexandra, they are
also bound to keep a strict watch over this vessel,
in order to prevent any repetition of the attempts
on the part of Messrs. LAIRD to violate the
Foreign Enlistment Act. It may, perhaps, be
thought that any such proceedings will savour of
harshness, and that since the Alexandra has once
escaped from the hands of the law officers no
further proceedings should be taken against her.
But it must be remembered that she has only
escaped by the mismanagement of the CHIE.F
BARON, aided by the lynx-eyed acuteness of Sir
HUGH CAIRNS and Messrs. KAR3LAKE and MEL-
LISH ; and that generosity is out of place if its
effect must be to let loose another Alabama.

efit Court.

WINDSOR CASTLE, Ana 20.

The Queen drove out yesterday afternoon,
attended by Lady Augusta Stanley and the Equerry in
Waiting.

Her Majesty drove in the grounh this morning, &mom-
ranied by Princess Helms, and attended by Lady Augusta
Stanley.

The Queen, Primus Helena, Princess Louise, Prince
Leopold, and Princess Beatrice left Windsor Cutle this
aftersoon, at a quarter before 4 o'clock, for Osborne.
The suite in attendance were Viscountess Jocelyn, the
Hon. Mrs. Bruce, the Hon. Emily Cathcart, Major-General
Seymour, Colonel the Hoe. Sir Charles Phipps, Colonel
Sir T. H. Biddulph, and Mr. Buff.

Despatches were received yesterday at the Colooial•ofliee
from the Governor of Heligoland.

His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Meek-
lebbarg-Strelite has arrived from Germany to join tho
Grand Duchess on a visit to her Royal Highness the
Duchess of Cambridge, at Cambridge Cottage, Kew.
The Earl and Countess of Derby entertained the
Esxl and Countess of Hardwicke and Lady Agneta Yorke,
the Earl of Corporeal, Lord sod Lady John Mealier*, Lord
and Lady Robert Cecil, Lord Rovenswortb, ViaCJllat Hood,
Sir Hugh and Lady Cairns, Hon. Seymour Egerton, Colonel
Hon. W. I'. Talbot, Colonel 11. &thorn, Hoo. F. A. Stan-
ley, and Mr. Wilbraham at dialer yesterday evening at
their mansion in St. Jantaiesquare.
The Bishop of London and Mrs. Tait had a
dinner party yesterday evening at London House, St.
Jameensquare. There were present the Bishop of Glou
caster, Viscount and Lady Mary Sandoo, Visconnt and Vie-
countess Enfield, Lott and Lady Inchiquin, the Right Hon.
Edward Cardwell. M.P., cud Mr.. Cardwell, the Right Hon.
W. F. Cowper, M.P., and Mri. Cowper, the Right Hon.
Sir David Daodaa, M.P.. the Right I lon. 'Thomas and Lady
Fremantle, Sir W►lter IL and Lady Mary Farquhar, and
Mien Campbell.

Lady Herbert of Lea. with the Earl of Pembroke
and Lady Mary Herbert. is expected to anive home from
Egypt and the I:sst in the count, of next month.

The Marquis ati.l 3farelliouesa of Clauricerde re-
ceived at dinner hist evening, et their reaideoce in Stratton-
street, Piccadilly, the E "lend Countess of Tenkerville, the
Earl and Countess of Wilton. the Earl St. Germans, the
Earl and Countess of Cork, Viscount Chelsea, Lord Naas.
Major-General end Lady Alice Peel, the Right Hon. Ben-
;attio Disraeli, M.P., and lira. D:sraeli, Mr. Soeyd, d:c.
The affair of the live under-secretaries has been
settled, Mr. Chichester Portescue, who tendered his own
resignation, has been induced to withdraw it, and he will
remain in the poet be fills at the Colonial office. The va-
cancy occasioned by Mr. Bruce's advance to the ViomPre-
Pidency of the Education Committee of the Privy Council
will be filled by Mr. Thomas George Rano& now in the
India- office ; and the future Under- Secretary for India
will be a peer, leaving only the usual complement of the
four under.secretaries in the Rouse of Commons..

IVe (Guardia/0 utplvrstand that the groat white
Polar bears at the Zoological Gardens have supplied Sir
Edwin I.xo&eer with a .object for hie picture for this year's
exhibitive of the Royal Academe. it is maid to be eoe of
the Upset pictures be hal ever misted.