The Express.
London, England, 1864-03-28 00:00:00

HIGH WATS& AT LONDON BRIDOIL

rigs DAY 0.0YAT617.53e;::: ii‘s;;;;T. sh. 10112
2.0410iD0W Morning. .51%. Aftersocia. 49. a.

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LONDON, MONDAY, MARCH 28.

EA.TEK DIONDAY, long kept by large classes of
the people as a general holiday, is now become, as
the grand Volunteer Field-day, one of our most
important national anniversaries. Every year as
the day comes round, from fifteen to twenty thou-
sand riflemen are moving at dawn from all points
of the compass to some distant scene of action, to
be marshalled at noon along the slopes and crests
of some happily-selected battle-field, and engaged
during the remaining hours of the day in the rapid
manrolvres and harassing struggles that constitute
the severest and most decisive test of a soldier's
discipline and endurance. It need hardly be said
thatour Rifle Volunteers have now repeatedly passed
through this ordeal, not only with credit, but in a
manner so praiseworthy as to have extorted in-
voluntary eulogiums from some of the most distin-
guished and experienced officers of the regular
army. For three years past the Brighton Downs
have exhibited, in actual evolution and on a scale
proportioned to its importance, the finest volunteer
force this country has ever produced, if not the
only one possessing the primary requisites of
permanence and efficiency which are essential to
the idea of a truly national army. We still have,
indeed, the Yeomanly ; and although it is possible
that in some desperate emergency they might
display against the foe that plunging martial
prowess and singular valour that now excite the
wonder and admiration of rustic youth, still the
honest friends of these Bwoiian cavaliers would
probably hesitate to pronounce them • really
efficient aria of the service. The Militia is in
time of war really efficient for the purposes of
home defence, but it is only occasionally called
out, and cannot properly be considered in the
light of a volunteer force at all. Our wide-
spread army of Riflemen are, however, in the
strictest and highest sense Volunteers, and they
have now amply vindicated their claim to the
characteristics of permanence ami efficiency, which
it was at first feared such • force could hardly
ever acquire. In the early days of the move-
ment there were the most serious doubts as to its
stability and duration. The excitement of no-
velty, it was justly felt, would be sure to secure
its temporary success, but the important question
was whether a popular force of this kind would
survive the national enthusiasm that produced it,
and quietly consolidate itself on the practical but
rather prosaic basis of regular discipline and un-
obtrusive drill. The general feeling was, natu-
rally enough perhaps, that it would not, and
acting on this belief many influential friends of the
movement laboured diligently at first to keep
it up by all kinds of aiLificial stimulants, such as
balls, rustic fkes, and brilliant holiday parades for
the presentation of regimental colours worked by
the fairest hands, and silver bugles accompanied
by the softest speeches. These well-meant, and
on the whole well-directed, efforts were no doubt
extremely useful for the time. But the movement
very soon became comparatively independent of
such extraneous helps. Within the first two or
three years of its existence there were signs of
native vigour and growing strength which dissi-
pated the fears of its early ft;ends, and gave good
ground to believe that the force, possessing with',
itself the main elements of its own stability and
progress, would follow its own law of develop-
ment, and become every year more firmly estab-
lished on a national and therefore on an enduring
basis.

These brighter anticipations have been com-
pletely realized in the more recent history of the
movement. While the numbers have been well
kept up, the quality of the force has improved
every year. It has steadily gained in solidity of
character, completeness of discipline, in power of
endurance, and all the elements of soldierlike effi-
ciency. The important fact is that this result has
been produced, not by pressure from without, but
mainly, if not exclusively, by growth and develop-
ment from within. After the first feeling of
novelty had worn off, the Volunteers settled to
their work with the quiet energy and determination
of Englishmen who are in earnest and resolved
not only to succeed, but to excel. By the time the
public excitement and enthusiasm on the subject
of volunteering had subsided, they had not only
gained a clear conviction of its solid usefulness and
national value, but had learnt to take a pride and
interest in their work for its own sake. Hardly a
stronger or more striking illustration of this could
be found than is supplied by the anniversary of
to-day. The setting apart of Easter .Monday as a
field.day, to he wholly occupied with laborious and
exhausting exercises, is the work of the Volunteers
themselves. The chosen pastimes of the Volun-
teers are iield-days, sham tights, reviews, night
attacks, local inspections, and experiments in
camp life. Under these circumstances it is cer-
tainly not surprising that this noble national force
should have rapidly risen to a high pitch of dis-
cipline and general efficiency. And so long as
the force retains this thoroughly practical and
earnest character—so long as it voluntarily chooses
such recreation as that afforded by the sham tight
of an Easter Monday, the country will never want
competent defenders.

A treaty has been concluded between the United
States and great Britain for the settlement of the claims of
the Hudson's Bay and Puget Sound Agricultural Companies
under the treats. of let''. The ratifications of this treaty
were exchanged at Washington on the 3rd inst.

bt Court.

WINDSOR CIABTLI, Mason 21ff.
Her Majesty drove in the grounds this morning,
aoompanied by the Prime's Helen►
The Queen, the Prime and Prisons el Wales, and the
royal family bays honoured Mr. George Thomas with
sittings for his picture of the Prises of Wales's marriage,
whichgie is now painting at Windior Castle.
MARCH T.
Count de lanudio, and the Right Hon. E. and Mrs. Card-
well arrived at the Castle yesterday.
The royal dinner party consisted of the King of the
Belgians, the Prince and Princess of Wale', and the Princes,
Helena, the Countess of Gaineborough, Lady in Waiting
to the Queen ; the Lady Caroline Barrington, the Hoe.
Mrs. Bruce, the Hon. Lucy Kerr, the Hon. Caroline
Cavendish, the Portuguese Minister, the Right Hon. E. and
Mrs. Cardwell, Mrs. Ferguson, Dr. Holnpann, Mr. Sabi,
General Count de Moerkerke, and Dr. Koipl, in attendance
on the Kiog of the Belgians ; Lord Talbot de Melaka',
Colonel Hon. A. Liddell, Lord Charles Fitzroy, Colonel H.
Ponsnoby, Lieutenant-Colonel Koppel, Major Elphinstone,
Mr. Buff, and the Mester of the Household.
The Queen. the King of the Belgians, the Prince and
Princess of Wales, the Princess Helena, Princess Louise,
Prince Arthur, and Princess Beatrice, the Ladies and
Gentlemen in Waiting, and the domestic household, at-
tended divine service this morning in the private ch►pel.
The Hon. and Very Reverend the Deem of Windsor
officiated, and administered the Sacrament of the Holy Com-
munion.

The Countess of Gainaboungh haa succeeded the Comte=
of Caledon u Lady in Waiting.

The Ch smeller of the Exchequer and Mrs. Gladstone re
turned to town on Saterday from a visit to Sir Walter sad
Lady Mary Farquhar, at Poleeden.park, near Dorking, and
proceeded on a visit to the Bon. Mrs. J. Talbot, at Falcon.
burst, Edenbridge.

THE DUKE or NEwes...rn.e. —The health of the
Doke of Newcastle is daily improving. His grace was
yesterday able to leave his chamber.

The Duke of.Rntland and his medical attendant,
Dr. Kingsley, who had been staying in Constantinople for
some weeks, sailed lately for Athens. The duke is greatly
improved in health.

The Duchess of Hamilton, Lady Mary Hamilton,
and Lord Charles Hamilton lett Hamilton House, Arling-
thnatreet, Piccadilly, on Saturday, for Paris. Lord Charism
goes from Paris to Dusseldorf. The Duke of Hamilton
preceded the duchess and family in their arrival in the
French eapitaL

The Duke of Rissalda has arrived at Claridge's
note:, from Paris.

The Marquis of Salisbury arrived in town on
Saturday from visiting his estate. in Lancashire. The
marchioness, who is staying at Hatfield House, Herta, comes
to town to-morrow, on her way to vial the Earl and
Countess Delawarr, at BurAhnrst Park, Samar.
The Earl and Countess of Wilton have been
entertaining the Marquis of Clanricarde, Earl Granville, the
Earl and Lady Constance Grosvenor, the Marquis of
Hastings, Colonel the Hon. Henry Forester, Mr. Boothby,
aid Mr. and Lady Agnes Des Vwitz, at Egerton Lodge,
Maltonfifdowbray. The circle at present staying there will
separate today.

Lord :anti La.ly Willoughby de Eresby are re-
ceiving a select circle at Grunstherpe Park, Lincolnshire.

Lcrd Stanley, M.P., leaves town to-day for
Knowsley Park, Lancashire. for the holidays.

Viscount Bangor has arrived at Claridge's Hotel,
from Brighton.
Mr. and Lady Jane Levett have arrived at their
new house in Cromwell-road, from Wishner Park, Stafford-
shire.

Colonel, Madame, and Madlle. Le Sage have ar-
rived at the Brunswick Hotel, derroyn-strest, from Paris.
Berea d'Altoz has also arrived at the same establishment.

Lieutenant-Colonel and Mrs. Astley have arrived
at Farragoes's Hoist, from Warm Hall, near Brigs, Lin-
ooloaldra.

Mrs. Hope has arrived at Farranee's Hotel from
Demdme, amr Darldag.

Mr. and Madam; Cazalet have left Claridge's
Hotel for Soothed.
We understand that the interment of the mot
remains of the late Lord Ashburton will nag oleos on

_ - - -
Thursday next.
The Archduke Maximilian and the Archduchess
Charlotte, in passing through Prague, took leave of the
Emperor Ferdinand, and received on the 20th, at Vienna, a
visit from all the member, of the imperial family. The
official reception of the high functionaries of the empire and
of the diplomatic body took place on the following day.
Their imperial bighorns have already received the title of
Majesty.

G AR IBALDA'S RECEPTION ATI MALTA.

(mow ova owns conzsponnar.)
MALTA, limica 24.

General Garibaldi arrived here with his suite
on the 23rd by the Peninsular and Oriental Company's
steamer Valetta, from Manselles. This vessel lay ekes off
his residence at Caprera, and In a very short time the
general sod his mite were on board. He is visiting Eng-
land for change of air, and proceeds on by the Peninsular
and Oriental Company's steamer Ripon to Southampton,
and tikes up his abode with Mr. Charles Seely,
M.P., after which he visits Colonel Chambers, who
is now travelling with him. The genusl landed
very early in the morning, and took sip his quarters at the
Imperial Hotel. There was a taint attempt by some of
the Mateo' to get un s bad feeling against him by hissing
and calling him a Freemason, but this was completely
overwhelmed by a burst of cheers, in which the Maltese
vied with the Eoglish ; and the general has since expressed
himself much gratified by the hearty welcome he received.
The street and front of the hotel were so crowded
that there was no passing, and the doors of the
hotel had te be closed. The police made admirable
arrangements. Only a few at a time were admitted, but all
were enabled to see him, for he held one long levee from 9
a.m. to 7 p.m., when be was so fagged that Colonel Cham-
bers insisted on his retiring. He mat on a sofa, his leg
propped cep one chair, lathes sitting and chatting close to
him as he received and shook bands with a coestant Stlo3lll.
sion of visitors of all clues., among whom were many ladies.
Some of the sergeaste of the English regiments —tall, fine.
looking fellows—shook hands with the hero, and from their
happy countensaces appeared extremely gratified at the
hamar.

ROYAL BVIIYOLLNCE.—The case of Julia Clarke,
wife of a labouring man of Deddington, Oxon, who en the
151 A instant became the mother of three fine boys, has been
brought before the notice of the Queen, and we have much
pleasure in stating that her Majesty has been graciously
pleased to forward a donation of 3/., which the poor woman 1
has received with much gratitude.
1 1
MEMORIAL TO LORD COMBERMEAR.—An influen-
tial movement has been set on foot for the purpose of
erecting a memorial to the honour of Field•Maishal Via-
count Combermere, G.C.8., G.C.H., to commemorate his
long and most distinguished services as a soldier. It is pro-
i posed to erect the memorial in Cheshire, in which county
Combermere Abbey is situate. Lord Combermere has
reached the patriarchal age of 84. The noble lord holds the
I office of Constable of the Tower of Loudon, and Custom
I Rotidorum of the Tower Hamlets, to which he was ap-
pointed on the death of the late Duke of Wellington, on the
nomination of the Earl of Derby, then Prime Minister.
THE SPEtIAL SERVO 'ER AT ST. Paut's.—The series
of epeeist services under the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral
was brought to a close last night, when the sermon was
preached by the Rev. R. Mims% M. A., of Exeter College,
Oxford, Rector of Great Marlow'. The services have been
a great mMeell., many thousandsof persons having attended
them, but there are no foods out of which to pry the ex-
penses, and they will not be resumed until next year, Many
, persons whose advice is worthy of respect have suggested
' that an offertory oollectiou should be made each Sunday
' evening to defray the current expenses. No doubt ',very
considerable sum would be raised by such mesas.
TliE AR,HRISHOI. OF YORE.—The Archbishop of
York has been paving a visit to his native town, White-
haven, Cumberland, during the put week. This being the
first time his grace has been there since hi elevation to the
archiepiscopal beoeb, the inhabitants turned out to do hint
honour. The volunteers were drawn up as a guard of
honour when he went to church, and the clergy and church-
wardens presented to his grace an address of congratulation
in the course of the week. The archbishop, in replying to
the address, expressed his appreciation of the goodwill
evinced by the ye**, which he mid was no caninton support
to a person in his position. The °Mos and duties of &bishop
in these times were not free from difficulties, and looking at
the future, be could not see that those difficulties were likely
l to be diminished.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

THE CALCUTTA. AND CHINAMAILS.
By the arrival of the Calcutta and China Malls
we have advices from Calcutta to Feb. 22 ; Madras,
Feb. 28 ; Colombo, March 1 ; Singapore, Feb. 18 ;
Hong-Kong, Feb. 16 ; Shanghai, Feb. 8 ; and
Japan, Feb. 6.