The Express.
London, England, 1867-05-08 00:00:00

THE HYDE-PARK MEETING.

TO Till 101701 OF nil KIPRE-18.

Slit,—Between the wild estimates of numbers,
and the opposing evidence of character, of those present
at the Hyde-park meeting, perhaps the observation of one
who has no connexion with either side, and who ob-
served with some care for himself, may be of interest.
I doubt if the numbers exceeded 100,000 ; I should say
certainly they were not over 150,000. Round the nine
" platforms," from No. 2 to 10, the numbers varied from
a few hundreds to 4,000 or s,ooo—therefore I take 30,000
as the full total. Round Mr. Reales I think the outside
figure might reach 50,000, but I own I think, calculating
as well as I could from the apparent area occupied, and
the density of the crowd, there were probably not above
half that number. Perhaps between the platform and
the Marble-arch, there might be as many more " un-
attached." In so large and level a space, and with so
loose a crowd, any accurate estimate is impossible—but
even 100,000 men is an immense army. Andcertainly it is
the fact that many more were grouped round Mr. Reales
than his voice could possibly reach.

I should judge that quite nine-tenths were genuine
working men, fresh from their employments, but tho-
roughly respectable. The bulk of the remaining tenth was
idlers, gentlemen, and roughs, with • few women and
children, and even here and there • lady. The crowds
round the speakers were very enthusiastic in cheering, and
even those of the working classes who could not hear
showed by their remarks that they were there for the pur-
pose of enhancing the demonstration, and were thoroughly
in earnest.
The few police were treated with the greatest good fel-
lowship. It would have been well had there been a few
more, for on the site of the "betting ring" were placed •
dozen roulette tables, all doing a roaring trade in coppers.
—I am, &c., A COUNTY MAGISTRATE.

THE CONFERENCE OV LONDON.—The plenipo-
tentiaries of the several Powers engaged in the Con-
ference on the Luxemburg question assembled yesterday
afternoon (Tuesday) at the official residence of
the Premier in Downing-street, the proceedings being
conducted in the same room in which the con-
ference on the affairs of Denmark was held in
1844. Lord Stanley is president of the Conference, of
which the principal members are—His Excellency the
Count Apponyi, the Austrian Ambassador ; his Excellency
the Russian Ambassador, Baron Brunnow ; his
Excellency the Count Bernstorff, the Prussian
Ambassador ; his Excellency Prince de Is Tour
d'Aurergoe, the French Ambassador ; his Excellency M.
Van de Weyer. the Belgian Minister ; and his Excellency
Baron Bentinck, the Netherlands Minister. The Hon.
Julian Fame, of the British Embassy in Paris, officiates as
protocolist. Mr. P. H. Wodebouse Currie also assists at
the Conference. It is understood that the meeting to-day
was to effect preliminary arrangements, and that the next
mewing will not take place until Saturday next. The
members composing the Conference, in order to obtain
secrecy for the proceedings, it is said, have arranged chat
nothing shall be made public until their conclusions have
been ratiged by the several Powers.
SOUTHAMPTON, MAY 7.—The North German I
Lloyd steamer Hansa sailed to-day for New York, with 92
cabin, full complement steerage passengers, and a general
cargo, including French jewellery to the value of 130,000
franca.