The Express.
London, England, 1863-09-07 00:00:00

BRITANNIA.

Tnts LADY AUDLEY3 SECRET. TEE GREAT
GHOST gETIM. Mesdames Yarnold and Crauford.—Mr.
Parker. Mad
OP A Tame Nem anOr d MLIAM r. W. Randall—And ME AD YEN-
TYRES ICKET

HIGH WATICR AT WILX)K bItIDGE.
rine Dia —Kendal& 11. 57a .. .Attaaon 9h. 39m
r,-voikow— Manila& let !la . Allenosa lld 2.12.

LONDON, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7.

EN, early last month, it became known that
Sir JANIF.SHUDSON had left Turin, and was not about
to return, most people thought that his resignation
was sudden, and inquired for a sudden cause to
account for it. Nothing had happened to pre-
pare the public mind for the event; at Turin no
apprehension of it had been entertained.
Nevertheless, Sir Jaime's intention to resign was
not only slowly matured, but was confided
to his friends in the spring of this year. The
GU, stated a fortnight, since that "three or four
" months ago Sir Jamas expressed a wish to retire
" from the diplomatic service." Having strongly
criticised this statement at the time, it is due to our
contemporary to state frankly that the information
we have collected in the course of a patient inquiry
leads us to accept it as strictly correct. Sir
Jaime& intention to retire, having been formed so
long ago, was preserved a secret at his own par-
ticular request, founded on reasons of personal
convenience ; and his wishes were of course
respected. Of the reasons which led to the
resignation of Sir JAMES HUDSON nobody but
himself is entitled to give an account. Perhaps
the public, which acknowledges the conscientious
assiduity and the singular ability with which it
has been served throughout an official life-
time, will not feel inclined to exact
an account of the motives which led its
faithful Minister to choose this time for enter-
ing upon the enjoyment of that !repose to
which he is in every sense entitled. Sir
Jaya HUDSON has done much for Italy, next
SO CAVOUR perhaps more than any statesman of
his generation. It is natural to wish that he had
remained to finish the uncompleted work.
We wished so for CAVOUN and were not
gratified, and we are not to be gratified
in the case of our own countryman. Italy
has the best hopes and warmest wishes of us
all ; but her future is not so clear that any one
disposed to help her can fix the term within
which he may expect to complete his task.
But without presuming to diatiuguish among the
many conceivable causes for Sir James Hansoir's
retirement those which he would himself be likely
to assign, we have the satisfaction of knowing
what were not among the number. It is satisfac-
tory to know that Sir James's resignation was
entirely his own act, not necessitated, occasioned, or
elicited by any coarse of conduct on the part of his
official chief. Earl RUSSILL has ever been Sir
JAM gs'a staady friend and cordial supporter, and has
treated him with the most perfect confidence and
regard, consulting his wishes, and endeavouring to
promote his convenience. It has been suggested in
one quarter that Sir James would have remained
at Turin if his salary had been raised ; but this is
not a view of the matter in which that
Minister's well-informed friends could for a
moment acquiesce, much less one which they
could disseminate. A reference to the arrange-
ments spontaneously made by Earl Engem for
the comfort of the British Minister at Turin at the
date of the annexation of the Duchies to Pied-
mont, and again on the annexation of Naples, ,
would suffice to refute such a supposition. Should
circumstances at some future time justify or compel
a minuter exposition of the relations which have
exited between our late Minister at Turin and his
chief, it will abundantly appear that Earl Russell. has
uniformly given to Sir Jams Huweow that support
which the public will always require any statesman
who may hold the seals of the Foreign-office to ac-
cord to a diplomatist carrying out a policy on
which it has set its heart. Our friends at Turin,
who in the first paroxysm of bereavement ex-
pressed their anxiety through our columns, already
find their griefs calmed as they learn the extent
to which they have been the prey of misconcep-
tions and false forebodings. They will now learn
that the hand that has supported them so steadily
throughout many trials, was stretched out to give
—and not, as they supposed, to take away from
them—a faithful friend of Italy and her sons.

GIFT MON SHE LADIES or EDINBUILOII TO TAE
PRINCESS OF WALES. —Tbe casket designed es a wedding
gilt from the ladies of Edinburgh to her Royal Highness
the Princess cf Wales has just been completed. It u now
ready for presentation at the first favourable opportunity,
which will probably occur on the return of her royal high-
ness from the north. The casket is costly and elegant, sod
is a specimen of rare and curious workmanship. It is of
gold, richly inlaid with every variety of Scotch pebbles, so
arranged by the artificer u Co produce a striking and
reciternAl effect. The front of the casket is mounted in the
centre with • beautifully-modelled shield of Scotland deli-
cately enamelled in heraldic colours. A finely-traced arch
of bloodstone, supported by two pillars, each:lees •
panel in which is set a fine collection of the uational
pebbles in relief, end the corners of which are ornamented
with pearls from the river Tay. The centre of the arch
shows the crest and motto of the Prince of Wales,
the motto being executed in blue enamel on •
ribbon. Immediately above this, enclosed between two
rich gokl cords, is the following inscription traced in quaint
old lettere m—" Her Royal Bighorns the Prioress of Wales,
from the Indies of Edinburgh, 1863—Charles Lawson, Lord
Provost." Crowning the inscription is a border of blood-
stone showing a Runic scroll in relief, and bosses of Scottish
gems executed in cairogorm, amethyst, aquamarine,
and proof, surmounted by • pierced rail of Soot-
tiab thistles, The top of the casket aourriste of
four panels of Scottish pebbles cunningly traced is
mrnaki work, above which, on • brilliant white
Fairogorm of very large size, surrounded by thistles
in high relief, is a small jewelled crown with pearl arches,
surmounted by the Scottish lion. At each corner of the
casket is dexterously constructed pillared niches, unicorns
nejant wrought in dead gold support the shields of arms
pertaiaing to the Scotch titles of the Prince of Wale. Each
end and the front of the casket show a large spordmen of
cairegorm in a pierced setting surrounded with pebbles,
while the back displays in the centre of the panel the Edin-
burgh arms finely enamelled. Small triangular panels of
Campsie pebble with sold scrolls in relief decorate the
front. back, and sides of the casket, which is in addition
oroarneoted with Runic, Celtic, and Gothic segravieg.—
&arrows.

COUNTY OF LANCASHIRE RIFLE A£O4OCIATION.
LIVERPOOL, SATCIDAT. —The third annual contest of Rifle
Volunteers commenced at Altcar, near Liverpool, on Mon.
day last, and closed this afternoon. The weather hu been
somewhat unfavourable, hoth from wind and rain. The
All-comers' hiss brought together some crack shots, whose
names are well known in coonezinn with voluotecr move-
ments. Oaptais Heaton, of the 3rd Mattehester C. R.V.,
has carried off several prizes, and Mr. Edward Ross is the
wirier of the Association Cup zed other minor prizes.
Sergeant Rawlinson, Corporal Solliean, Emir. Sprott, Cor-
poral Nkomo, Cocoon' Storer, and Eosin Taylor also dis-
tinguished themeless ; and Captoin Kershaw, Bth LIL V.,
gained no lees than four prises. The general results of the
shooting show a marked improvement over the precious
contests', both in regard to accuracy and steedioess. The
prizes were delivered today by Colossi Bruise, Assistant
Inspector of Volunteers for the diatrict.