The Express.
London, England, 1866-01-06 00:00:00

PREMISS AFFAIRS.

The Times makes use of various fasts in the report of
the Secretary of the United States Navy to show that our
Admiralty Gan derive much variable information from the
American Navy Department generally. It may well be
doubted whether the whole significance of the revolution
introduced by steam into naval tactics has yet been appre.
dated by our older admirals and naval authorities. It has
been said, with much truth, that between the ancient
triremes and modern war steamers there is a closer analogs
than between the latter and such rnen.of-war as composed
' Nelson's fleet. The Russian war added little to our ac-
quaintance with this new power of offence and defence,
and, having since enjoyed the blessings of peace, we must
be content to borrow lessons from our leas fortunate
neighbours.
Taking the question of the extradition treaty, as the
Moniteur states it, as one of mere jurisprudence, the Daily
News, nevertheless, does not see how we can supply the
deficiency of which the French government complains.
The procedure is just that which we observe towards the
United States of America, with whom we have an extra•
dition treaty, and that which the United States practice
when we make chinas upon them.
The Daily News observes that the protection of Congress
is secured to the negroes now that they stand as free men
under the law, the constitution expressly stipulating that
Congress in admitting states into the Union shall take care
that each state has a republican constitution, and therefore
must not exclude men from the suffrage on account of
colour alone. the formidable problem is how to combine
due protection of the negroes with respect for state rights.
The whole training of the gentry, the poor whites, and the
negroes in the slave States to a fitness for republican life
has to be begun—an enterprise the most arduous that was
ever gi►en into the hands of a ruler and parliarrent of any
nation.

The Post fears that the resignation by Mr. Brown of his

seat in the Canadian cabinet, to be followed, it is said, by
the withdrawal of the other liberal members, must have '
a prejudicial effect upon the interest. of Canada,
and probably of British North America. Under a coalition
administration every interest in the ',melon, would seem to
have advanced. It is Of the utmost importance at the pre.
sent time, when such grave questions as the renewal of
reciprocity with the United States, the extension of foreign
trade, and the consolidation of all British North America
under one powerful central government, are awaiting their
solution, that the energies and ,xperience of all the public
men of Canada should be devoted towards the accomplish.
ment of these objects.
The Herald hopes that the common opinion of all Europe
will protest against so grave an interference with private
right as the exclusion from French territory of the chatty,
credulous, anecdotal, and varied Indepesdasce Beige. This
act of ostracism is thoroughly unintelligible, except upon the
supposition, which the Herald would rather not adopt, that
the influence of s rival print prevailed.

EARL RUSSELL AND REFORM. —Yesterday Mr.
C. J. Bunting, of the Norwich Political Union, received the
following letter from Earl Russell, in response to resolu-
tions expressing a hope that the forthcoming measure of
reform would place the franchise within the reach of every
industrious and intelligent working man :—"Downing-
street, Jan. 4.—Sir,—l am directed by Lord Buisell to
acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date,
forwarding a copy of resolutions agreed to at a meeting of
the Norwich Political Union ; and I am to inform you that
be will be happy to give them all doe consideration.—l am,
sir, your obedient servant, GEORGE RUSSELL.—Mr. C. J.
Bunting, Norwich Political Union."

CHAPEL ROYAL, WHITEHALL.—Her Majesty has
been graciously pleased to approve the appointment made
by the Bishop of London, as Doan of Her Sispisty's Chapels
Royal. of the Rev. W. F. Erskine Knollye, ILA., of Merton
College, Oxford ions of his lordship's chaplains), late in-
cumbent of Aldborongh-batch and Barkinpide, in the
diocese of Loodoo, to be one of the two permanent
Preachers and raaders, or chtplains, at Whitehall. Yr.
Knollye is, we believe, a brother of G.osral Koolln, Con-
troller of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales's House-
hold, and is erriscted to enter upon Lis duties at Whitehall
to morrow morning.

LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS FOIL THE
ENSUING WETE.—Monday. Geographical at Bj, "Second
Journey into W. Equatorial Afrira," H. Du Chaillu ; Syro-
Egyptian. at ij, •• Pharaohs of the 134..10," M. Bo Dori.
Tuesday, Engineers, at 8, Address of the President; Pbo-
togrqshie, at 8 ; Ethnological, at 8, "Physical Forms of
the Loopy" Mr. Csmo4•11; " Ethnology of Indo-Chinese
Nations." Colonel Phayra ; "Characteristics of South
&leveed° Races," Miss Irky ; Zoological, at Si. "American
Caprioralgidle," Hr. Slater ; " Breecliog of Birds in
Sasiety's Aviary," Mr. Bartlett. Wcda"srivy. Literature.
at 4;; Yolgostepical, at 8, "Owns Illuminator," Pro-
fessor Smith ; *Dlamioation with High Powers;" Oeolo.
Mate 8; "Origin and Structure of the so-called Eozoon
tine," Professor Kin and Dr. Rowney; "Presence
of &norm in Older Rocks of Bavaria," Dr. Carpenter;
"Origin of Lake Basins of New Zealand," Mr. Locke
Travers; Archasological Association, at Bi. Thursday,
Antiquaries. at Bi, Site of Partin Lemanis," Mr. Elk* ;
Royal, at 83. Friday, Astronomical, at S.—Athenaeum.
-- • ^ • • • -

- . -
THE WORKING MEN'S COLLEGE.—Last night the
Christmas conversation, of this college, which is situate in
Great Ormond street. was held, and was attendei by a
large number of the members and their friends. Tea was
serval in the library, and the social meeting itself took
place in the lecture-room. Mr. John Raskin. who has the
direction of the art-classes at this institution, had
kindly contributed some drawings and photographs,
besides which • variety of interesting books were
exhibited on the table*. It is graining to state that
the college continues to progress avast satisfactorily, sod
would be still more prosperous if the council could
give their classes better accommodation. The drawing,
history, sad French classes, which are exceedingly well
attended, are greatly inconvenienced, and it is hoped that
the friends of the college will assist the owned in t►is
matter. The cnnvereezioos was enlivened by the college
choir singing some glees and songs, Mr. Litchfield presiding
at the pianoforte.

SOOT CH- Cotorry.—The Frederiekeburgh Herald
states that a Scotch gentlemes, Mr. Black. has takes on
lease for tee years a fine estate in Caroline county, Vir-
ginia, and iatends to return to Scotland and bring over a
colony of emigrants, including the sena of large farmers,
who will have something wherewith to purchase and im-
prove.