The Express.
London, England, 1860-08-02 00:00:00

DUMAS ON HIS TRAVELS.

ALEZ42IDi

Ina letter from Catania of the 19th ult. we read:

—"The greatest bristle which the place has witnessed was
ogled forth by the snivel of Alexander Dumas in his yacht,
bearing his dogs, and his birds, and his monkeys, and him-
self and his the-admiral (the woman who aecompsnies him
on his cruise, dressed in an admiral's uniform), his photo-
graphers, his secretaries and amanuensis; his servants,
dressed some like Cittassians, others like Greeks, others
like Spaniards, others again like Indians. What a precious
row, to be sure, they did all contrive to make ! When
Alexander the Greatest is himself on board he does nothing
but 101 l on deck in his shirt sleeves, and without
any bat, playing with his dogs or chatting with the sailors
of the other vessels, or with the she-admiral. Warns he
lands, the gallant she-admiral, Emile, always accompanies
him, and they are constantly driving about in an open
carriage, bowing and gossipping and laughing with all whom
they meet. Its hail fellow well met' with the veriest
stranger, and flvo minutes acquaintance ripens with such
marvellous rapidity into the closest friendship, that the final
farewell is taken at the end of the fifth minute, amidst the
heartiest shaking of hands and kissing and hugging. The
entrance of the other Alexander into Babylon was doubtless
•a very grand affair, yet I doubt if it caused as great a sen-
sation as did the arrival of the modern Alexander into this
town of Catania. It rivalled the display of the renowned
Dr. Dulcamara. I went to inspect the yacht, and I can
assure you that for elegance—nay, for luxury—for the
numbers of curious things that it contained, it was a
little floating museum. In the cabin there is arranged
a collection of the arms of every nation in the known
world, cud indeed many weapons from parts of the
world which arc hardly known at all. Then there is no
end of the gold and silver ornaments and curi-
osities. There is a little library of the most beau-
tifully-bound books. It is, in short, Monte Christi's
vessel, with all its comforts and elegancies realised ; only
it is not freighted with the real treasures. Dumas told
me that the expense of keeping it up was 40 franca a Jay—
a moderate enough sum surely, for such an object. He
has now left this for Palermo. When the intelligesesoune
that Bosco had left Messina with the 5,(;.10 Neapolitan
troops, Dumas hastened to Colonel Ebor, and offered to
tiauspor. in his yacht, as far as Taroinina, a body of troops,
and thus have cut off Boloo's communications with Mes-
sina. The plan teemed sensible enough, but several reasons
iialin.ed Colonel Ebor not to adopt it : first, because it could
not be carried out without a larger force than it was in his
power to detach; and secondly, because he had received no
instructions from Garibaldi. On the day that the column
entered Catania, Dumas had,ths Italian colours flying mut-
t high from his vessel, but none of the other ships here fol-
lowed the example. The municipality, being desirous to
give a dinner to all the military authorities and to many of
the Gariladdian officers, along with all the notables, Dumas
likewise was invited, and, strange to may, they also invited
the she-admiral. The invitation for the dinner was at wiz
precisely, but he did not make his appearance until near
I seven, and effected what be desired by making himself more
prominent and conspicuous by keeping everybody waiting
l fur him. The she-admiral was perfectly magnificent, being
dressed in a lilac velvet uniform, with, Heaven preserve us!
such buttons, and such lace, and such epaulettes."

EXPENDITURE FOR MISCELLANEOUS
SERVICES.

A select committee was appointed in March last
to inquire into the expenditure for miscellaneous services,
and to report to the house whether any reduction could
be effected. Their report, which was agreed to on
the 25th tilt., was issued this morning, and is as follows :
Your committee commenced the inquiry by oonsidering the
mode of framing the estimates, the time of the session
when they are presented to parliament, and the votes in
Class No. I. They are of opinion, that the estimates for
the Civil Service ought to be laid before parliament at the
same mind am the Army and Navy Estimates. That
nearly all the votes now brought under No. VII., entitled
Miscellaneous, Special, and Temporary Objects, ought
to be placed in the different classee to which
they respectively and properly belong. Should
there be any special estimates which cannot be
brought under the first six classes, such special estimates
ought to be presented at the same time as the first six
That in case of any votes being required during the sitting
of parliament for any unforete et, and urgent service, a sup-
plementary estimate ought to be presented, accompanied.
by notes, explanatory of the reaeons why the said sums
were not included in the original estimates, and referring
them to their respective classes ; and also that such of the
expenses included iu civil contingencies as are of a con-
stantly recurring nature, should be provided for by esti-
mates in their appropriate cksses. That parliament ought
to be informed, iu the estimates of each year, of the un-
expended balance of each vote of the past year which had
been sanctioned by parliament, and the balance remaining
in the exchequer to the credit of each vote up to the 31st
of December of the current financial year. That in the case
of all new works under Class 1. the construction of which
is to be extended over more than one year, the estimates
in every case should be prepared in the same fonn as that
for new works iu the Navy Estimates. That the present
system of audit is imperfect, inasmuch as only a portion
Of the expenditure is brought before the board of audit ;
but the subject having been very fully considered by the
committee on public monies, your committee confine them-
selves to referring to their report, and expressing an opinion
that some steps should be taken to introduce a core uniform
and efficient system of *edit. That the ends arising from con-
stant changes in the office of Chief Commissioner of Works
having been prominently brought before your committee,
they are of opinion that the appointment of a permanent
commissioner would seem the only means of removing them.
Your committee consider that upon the appointment of a
permanent commissioner, the duties of the existing politi-
cal office of first comiaissiouer in parliament might be dis-
charged by some other minister of the crown in the House
of Commons. That if a permanent commissioner were ap-
pointed, all public works not already under the department
of public works, except those for naval and military
defence, ought to be placed under that department. Your
committee have been unable to continue their inquiries in
the matters committed to them further iu the present
seseien of parliament ; they strongly recommend to the
house the appointment of a committee in the next session
of parliament to resume the iuquiry.