The Express.
London, England, 1863-02-09 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 9, 1868.

FRANCK

(now OWE OWN

PARIS, SATURDAY Evinrato.

The leading paragraph in 'BeElites Correspond-
ence speaks of a great scandal as being the town
talk to-day. Two well-known members of Feria
society are arrested on a charge of having won a
large sum of money at the house of a celebrated
Italian lady of the demimonde by means of frau-
dulent cards. I have heard the names of the par-
ties implicated, but think it beet not to mention
them for fear of any mistake. In order, however,
to prevent suspicion from falling in a wrong
quarter, it may be as well to say that they are
not political personages or fholders ofJecker bonds.
They are both foreigners.
The Nation, an unwilling witness to the progress
of the Polish insurrection, says that communica-
tions with Warsaw are interrupted in every direc-
tion, and that the Russian post-oflice refuses to
carry any money or valuables, because the insur-
gents attack the mails.
The France, whose ears are sometimes very long,
hears from London that the Confederate govern-
ment has effected a loan of two millions sterling
with certain European bankers, whose names it
does not at present know.
• •Ifee Homes closes for the week with a good deal
of firmness. The Rente, which has not varied
considerably for many months, now stands at
70.20 for cash, and 70.40 for account. There is a
smart movement in. some of the railway shares.
Orleans rose 15f., and Eastern 10f.

THE QUEEN'S GOVERNMENT AND THE

POPE.

Tea despatches which exhibit the action of
the QuEntr's Government in the affairs of Rome
during the recess have now been published, and
our readers have an opportunity of comparing
their tenor with the impressions they received
front the papers relating to the same business
which we translated from the Moniteur three
weeks ago. We venture to think they will re-
mark a great difference, and we fully expect
that they will see in the new documents con-'
vincing evidence that the English Government
has displayed judgment and prudence as well as
benevolent regard for Italy in these transactions.
We confess to have been surprised by the
facility with which some of our Liheral contem-
poraries accepted the French account of the origin
of the offer of the British Government to convey
the Porn from Rome to Malta or elsewhere, a
narrative utterly wanting in historical accuracy.
Earl RUSSELL, after reciting the French account
of what passed between the POPE and Mr.'
Ono RUSSELL last summer, says : " That
" which happened was as follows :—Mr. RUSSELL,
"on the 25th of July, 1862, received unexpect-
" edly from, the Vatican a written intimation
" that the Pops would receive him at twelve
"o'clock on the next day. Mr. RussELL, se-
" oordingly, went to the Vatican on the 26th of
"jtily, and in the course of a conversation of
"some length the POPE expressed a wish to know
" whether, if any circumstances should at any
" time lead him to desire to take refuge in
" England, he would be well and hospitably
" received there. To this question Mr. Roseau.
" oould of course give only a general answer.
" From this statement it will be seen that, instead
"of Mr. RUSSELL asking an audience of the
" Porz, and at that audience making to the POPE
" an offer of an asylum at Malta, it was the POPE
" who sent for Mr. RussELL, and it was the
" POPE who started the idea that he might, ender
" certain circumstances, wish to reside in British
" territory." Nothing can be clearer than this
statement, which summarily disposes of the re-
flections which have been made on the ridiculous
supposition that the Quzas's Government had
pressed the offer of an asylum upon a prince
sitting secure on his throne.

The suggestions for the consideration of the
POPE contained in Earl RUSSELL'S letter to Mr.
Ono Russiru., dated Oct. 25, were made in con-
sequence of the conversation of July. Certainly
the language of the letter is frank. Earl RUSSELL
says explicity that "ber MAJESTY'S Government
" are of opinion that Rome should be the capital
" of Italy." But the whole despatch is conceived
in a spirit of goodwill to the POP. : reasons are
assigned for the advice offered, and the Pore
is not counselled to do anything inconsistent with
his sacred character. Its reception by Cardinal
ANTONELLI was of a very different kind from that
which the public have been led to believe. The
CARDINAL knows that England strongly disapproves
of the temporal power, but he knows that our
opposition to it is honourable and public-spirited,
founded on our views of what is demanded for the
welfare of Italy, and without mixture of personal
animosities or political rancour. Having heard
Mr. Roseau read the despatch, be stated, with
the calmnees that was to be expected of a
statesman, why the counsel tendered could
not be accepted ; he, however, did justice
to the motives which had led our Govern-
ment to act u it had done, characterised its
offer as generous, and asked Mr. Rossini. to thank
Earl Roseau for it in the sincerest terms. The
CARDINAL, instead of saying in a theatrical manner,
as M. La TOUR D'ADVERONE relates, that he had
no use to make of a copy of Earl Roseau's note,
asked for one, that he might lay it before the Poss.
The inquiries of Mr. RUSSELL late in December,
which have been represented as the unwar-
rantable intrusion of a most unpleasant sub-
ject upon the quiet of an old gentleman's Christmas
holidays, had reference to this same despatch,
and were made, not of the Pose., but of Car-
dinal ANTONELLI. Ten days later Mr. Roseau.
paid a complimentary visit to the POP; who took
the opportunity of stating to him " that he had
" been gratified by the offers of hospitality made
"to him by her MAJESTY'S Government," with
other expressions of courtesy and goodwill. Such
is the simple history of these transactions. We
only regret that Earl R imam. did not obviate mis•
representations by publishing the despatch is the
recess, as has been done on some former occasions.

MARRIAGE or SIGNOR RATTAZZI TO ram PRIMMER
DE SOLElL—Advice; from Turin announce the marriage of
M. Rolland, lately the head of the Italian Ministry. and
the Countesa de Solna, lIN Bonaparte-Wyse. After the
ceremony the ueoly.rnarried pair left for the Lake of Como.

The &antra says :—" The steward of the
Emperor Napoleon's pcsesselooe at Civita Nueva, in the
Marches, has in the name of the Emperor subscribed 5,0001.
towards the relief of the sufferers from bripnclage."
The temperature continues wonderfully mild in
Paris for the time of year. At three o'clock on Saturday
afternoon the thermometer marked 52 flog. Fahrenheit
Tax OUTWARD ANITLICAN Mau..—The royal mail
steamer Canada arrived at Querastowa at one p.m. yester-
day, embarked the mails, punengers, end telegrams, and
proceeded tor Rolliax and &seem at few pm. All well.

[Stamped, id Additional.]

DRAMA.

SURREY.

Once more we are called upon to record the pro-
duction of a drama founded on the " Heart of Mid-
Lothian." Mr. Shepherd, the active and enterprising
Homes of the Surrey Theatre, has been true to the traditions
of his house. While opposing Mr. Boneicault on the
Scotch ground which that geotlesnan has chosen he has
gone back to the Surrey attractions of fifty yean ago, and
amongst the mob of managers who are niw determined to
create an interest for Scotch dramas, he may claim to be
the second in the field.

Mr. Shepherd's dramatic versioe of Scott'. novel is not
the old venire ; it is not that other version which was played
by Mies Marriott at the Stmdard Theatre some little time
before the ticoteh mania set ; and it is not the version
produced by Mr. Boucicault a fortnight ago at the Theatre
Royal Westminster. Am none of these pieces, however,
are likely to do more than amuses certain portion of the
public for • certain season, it is not important to show how
and where they differ from each other, or from the novel
which has given them life.
The destruction of the Taibooth at the Surrey, to which
is added the mama= of Porten, by the mob, is one of the
most spirited scenes we have ever witnessed on the stage.
The doors of the gaol are burnt down ; the mob, with flariog
torches, Is a real, determined, picturesque mob, in which
sway man sad mesas moue amid soft miwhid ; and the
unhappy victim, Parteus,l almost tors to pieces, before he
Is hoisted at last on the dyestsr's pole. Every actor in this
were, however humble, deserves a word of praise ; and Mr.
Shepherd is entitled to even stronger praise for his =sage-
ment of the figures. The other great scene is a moonlight
glen and waterfall, where Jeannie Deans is waylaid by Meg
Murdockson and her gang, on bar road to London. Here
real water is introduced very artistically, and the tempo of
Jeannie sad Geor,lie Robertson is made sensatiowally im-
pensive.
Amongst the chief actors, those deserving of special notice
are not numerous, though the piece contains many cha-
racters. Mr. Frederic Robinson represented Coevals Ro-
bertson, as an outlawed gentleman, according to Scott's
idea, but his amumptios would bave gained by a little mare
melodramatic fords. Mr. Gourley, the Scottish comediaa,
played naturally—perhaps too naturally for an English
audience—sod his humour was as dry as the remainder bis-
cuit after a voyage. He worked bard at the tratlitiooal
'catch-phrase, " Eh, Jeannie, woman," and may succeed is
once more making it she that place in street slang which it
held for so many months in 1819.
The lady who fairly earned the honours of the evening
was Mies G. Pauneefort, who played Madge Wildfire. Thu
character is made much more of at the Surrey than at
Astley's, arid, with the exception of the singing, it was
sustained with great power and judgment. Miss Pawnsifort
has a face tall of tragic expression, and her acting in her
death scene wiz of • very high order. Jeannie Deans was
creditably and seriously played by Mrs. Eborne.
The house was wedged up with human beings from the
orchestra to the roof, end the sight of the gallery made us
regret that Dante bad sot seen it before he wrote his "In-
ferno." Mr. Shepherd, who played the little part of the
Duke of Argyll, came on more than once to return thanks
for the favour with which the piste was received.