The Express.
London, England, 1864-12-03 00:00:00

TO 2KI EDITOR OF TO WWI.

Sri,—l am a registered proprietor of 20,0001.
Great Western stock. I believe the statement in " Fair
Play's" letter in the City article of the Daily News to be mr-
rect—that the Great Western directors rimer contemplated
any guarantee of dividend to the Metropolitan shareholders.
It would be insanity on their part to entertain the idea till
the prospects of the Metropolitan are more assured than at
present. No man living can tell what the ultimate cost of
that line will be. From what I see of the heavy commas-
tioti awarded by juries on recent trials to holden of pro-
perty on the Finsbury extension, I doubt very much if it
can es* completed without largely exceeding the estimates.
The moat serious consideration, however, for any company
contemplating a guareetee of dividend to the Metropolitan
is the enormous contingent liability for damage to trade sod
property along the whole length of the line. Several
actioos for this cause have meetly bees gained against the
company with heavy damages, and many similar claims, I
em informed, have been privately sawed. The nooses of
the grit claimant, will of course scrounge new de-
mand. of the same kind. Moreover, a fresh vista of
unlimited ermine is opened op by the 14 in the Queen's
Bench, reported in to.day's papers, of " Piper v. The Ham.
mersmith and City Railway," from which it snows Slough
the point of law hes not beau definitively estaW) that any
Intramural railway is liable to be east to damages for the
vibration caused in every home Dear which it passes. Now,
IA II CAM in point, a friend of miss, residing in a street lead-
ieg from the New road, is quitting hie boon, owing to the
iesufferable vibration Cetl4oll by the Metropolitan Railway.
Of course he, his landlord, and the ground landlord, an all
damnified, and should it be decided that the company is
liable for such injury, as appalling perspective of unlimited
claims for compensation is spread out before the unhappy
shareholders. The ease above referred to deserves the
serious consideration of every one interested in the Metro-
pakten or any similar line, and till theextest of the liabili-
ties Musket-lined is smartened, I for one shall vote against
any guarantee whatever being give by the Great Western
to the Metropolitan, or any other urban or suburban railway.
am, he., GREAT WESTERN.
Nov. 25.

FORZION-01PTICS, Dec. 2.—The Queen has been
pleased to approve of M. Philip Douglas Aluandst se vices
anneal at Bristol for hie Royal Highness this Grand Duke of
°ldeating*
A warrant of her Majesty in Council appears in
but night's Gazette, reviving the provisions with a view to
the more regular wad efficient administration of justice sad
the bettor mahatemino• of order among all classes of her
Majesty's subjects and of persons envying bee Bajeuty's
protection resident in or mortis; to the dominione of the
Sublime Ottoman Portia

A SENSATION.—" I was & BSAITOOthIMiII for
some years before I settled in Boston," said Lauriston,
poking the fire. " Yea, sod have not abandoned the ill
nuisners you learned there," replied Mrs. Leonetti°, rather
savagely. " What do you think, Mr. Frump," appealing
to me. " Would you believe it! He will islet upon
keeping a great ugly Portugal grape-jar in oar bedroom,
sad refuses—positively refuses—to let me know what it
captains." " You had better not inquire farther, Julia,"
said Lauriston sadly ; eddies, " But let us change
the conversation. Another glass of grog!" Mrs. Lauriston
mixed the liquor sulkily I thought, and then pared it to
her husband with this curt remark, "We shall see some
day." The rest of the evening weed pleassatly semgh.
I had been to New York, and no my return to Boots' I re-
solved to call on my friends, the Lasristoss. The bead of
the house I found, was absent on business at Philadelphia,
and Mrs. Lauristoo bad her mother staving with her
dories her husband's absence. I was invited to remain,
and did so. As the hour approached for retiring
to bed, I was struck with the agitated manner of both the
ladies, bat as it uses nothing to me what ailed them, I
should have parted without observation bad not Mrs. Lau-
riston said :—" Mr. Frump, the night has come when Ma and
myself are resolved to be satisfied as to the contents of
that odious grape-jar. Dare you assist in the solution of
the mystery T " Why, Laurence perhaps might ob•
ject," I replied ; "and as he eowinded his own uncle—"
" Enough. sir," said Mrs Isuristoe, contemptuously. " We
as do without you. flood night, Mr. Frump, your gruel I
shall be sent to your chamber." I retired to rest not quite
satisfied with myself ; but between a sneer and a cowhiding
who oould hesitate! I had just taken my gruel, and
applied the oleaginous part of the candle to my nasal organ,
having a severe eold in the head, when a loud scream, and
then another, made me hurry on my dressing-gown, and
rush to the room whence the cries had proceeded. The
maid•servant had already preceded me. Oh, what a sight
met my astonished gue ! Mrs. Lauriston's mother,
weighing much beyond the finest example of her class, was
lying on the flat of her back like a turtle, vainly endeavour.
lag to resume the mrpsodiculae. Mrs. Lauriston was
sobbing violently—pointing at intervals to the Portugal
grape yar, from which the covering bad been removed.
Impelled by aa irresistible cariosity to learn the wont, I
seized the malls from the grasp of the maid, and rushed to
the jar. And there, by the feeble light of that kitchen dip,
I read a scroll at the top, written in • bold round hand,
which I recognised as Lanriston's. It was as follows :
" Sacred to the memory of my wife, Jame Tsunami,. who
died M the Bash. and is here preserved in Beeswax." My
eyes swam barfly bead—my hair stood upright—l subsided
on to Mrs. Latiridoies Mamma—and remember ack mots!
—Prom Peach's Pocket Beek for 1865.

TELEGRAPHLU INTELLIGENCE.

r

(1111T1C11.3 TZLIGILLIIK. )
THE AUSTRIAN REICHSRATH.
VIENNA, D. 2.
In today's sitting of the Lower Ilow.e of 'the
Reiolumth the debate on the address to the throne
was resumed.

Count Mensdorff-Pouilly said that the principal
policy of Austria was to avoid a great and appa-
rently inevitable war. It was her task to direct
her effort+ towards the eolutioe of the German
question in thorough earnestness, and iu a manner
which should be both compatible with her rights,
and also if possible with the preservation of her
connection with Russia, so necessary to the in-
terests of Germany and peace. The programme of
the cabinet was tranquillity and conciliation, but
firmness. No one could demand that Austria
should adopt the initiative in bringing about a
better understanding with Italy, by whom the mere
existence of Austria was regard, d as au aggression.
Austria was willing to preserve peace, but, at the
ism gm, was determined so resist her enemies,
and she reckoned on the entire support both of the
house and of the population.

The Minister of War stated that Austria would
willingly disarm, but the step must be initiated by
other powers.
Dr. Bruns asked what course the Government
intended to pursue in the settlement of the succes-
sion question in the duchies.
Herr Kuranda declared himself opposed to the
Prussian alliance.
Dr. Muhlfeld said that he considered it to be
the mission of Austria to strengthen the German
Diet, whereas, on the contrary, that body had been
weakened by her.

Count Meesdorff said that the present poeition
of the negotiations did not admit of inure precise
inform►tion being given. Austria had not taken
part in the Danish war from mere love of military
glory.

The paragraph of the address relating to foreign
policy was then adopted es originally drawn up.

VENETIA.

VENICE, Dic. 2.

The Governor of Venetia has issued a circular to
the clergy and municipal bodies, informing them
that from the investigations which have recently
been made the supposition is confirmed that the
late criminal attempt in Friuli was of foreign insti-
gation. He recommends them to warn the popu-
lation against similar attempts, and firmly to
repress all revolutionary tendencies.