The Express.
London, England, 1866-07-19 00:00:00

SPAIN.

MADRID, JULY 18.

The official Gazette continnea to publish s large
number of resignations and nominations to civil
and military posts.

AMERICA.

The following letter was received by the Tam-
many Society of Democrats, in answer to an in-
vitation to be present at their celebration of the
4th of July :
Executive Itanilm, Weahington, July 2.

Gentlemen,—l thank you for the cordial invitation of
the time-honored Society of Tammany to participate with
them in the celebration of the approaching anniversary of
our national independence. The national tone and patriotic
spiritof the invitation meetmyhearty approval. They are in-
dicationsof a growing public sentiment, which, now thatthe
bitter strife of civil war bas ceased, requires a renewal of
the pursuit' of peace, a return to the constitution of our
fathers, rigid adherence to its principles, increased revs.
rence for its sacred obligations ; s restored, invigorated,
and permanent union ; and a fraternity of feeling that shall
make us, sea people, one and indissoluble. There can be for
the patriot no higher duty, no nobler work, than the
obliteration of the passions and prejudices which, resulting
from our late sanguinary conflict, have retarded recon-
ciliation, and prevented that complete restoration of all
the States to their constitutional relation. with the Federal
government which is essential to the peace, unity, strength,
and prosperity of the nation.
Regretting that my public duties will not permit me to
be present at your celebration, I am, very respectfully
yours, ANDES' JOHNSON.

NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION.-( THIS DAY.)

This morning the common appeared all but
deserted, and there were few beyond those engaged in the
contests to be seen about. The business is rapidly
drawing to a close, and the only two items
of any importance in this day's programme are
the Rifle Oaks, in which nearly every county in
England is represented, and which will continue all day ;
and the great international competition for the iv/session
of the Elcho Challenge Shield. As the Irish are now ad-
mitted to compete with the selected best eight of
England and Scotland, there is a greater amount
of interest attached to this eontest. Since the
institution of the prize by Lord Elcho, with one
exception, it has been won every year by England, and
this year there is a strong determination amongst Scotch-
men, to use evely effort again to secure the prize, so that
the two great honours of the meeting—the Queen's Prize
and the Elcho Shield—may go to Scotland together. The
following are the names of those by whom the respective
countries are represented :
Moho Challenge Shield.—England : Baker, Evans,
Fletcher, Wells, Miller, Pell, Captain Bland, nd Non-
worthy. Ireland: J. Rigby, Barlow, Cash, W. Rigby,
Leech, M'Coyd, Rogers, and Martin. Scotland : Ed-
ward Rom, J. W. Malcolm, the Master of Lovat, R. J. Dor.
(lon, Captain Mitchell, R. Maxwell, J. Dunlop, and J.
Wilkin. _ _ .

The ranges for this rise are 800, 900, and 1,000 yards,
with 15 shots ►t each distance, and when this report left,
Scotland was slightly in advance of the rest.
Some excellent practice with the Spencer repeater rifle
has been going on this morning. This extraordinary
weapon takes seven charges at once, and all that has to be
done is to move • lever, by which the case of the
old cartridge is dropped to the ground and the same
motion acting upon • spiral spring in the stock raises
another cartridge to its place. No capping is required and
consequently almost a continuous stream of bullets can be
' discharged. Should ever these rides be placed in the
bands of an army the slaughter must necessarily be great
indred.

.....
The other items in this day's programme consists of the
running deer, pool and sighting, and they were all well
patronised this morning.

COURT OP COMMON COUNCIL.-(THIS DAY.

THE DEAD MEAT MARKET IN SMITHFIELD.
At a Court of Common Council holden this
morning, under the presidency of the Lord Mayor, Mr.
Horace Jones, the City architect, brought up a report de-
tailing the progress of the excavations, which was con-
sidered satisfactory. Mr. Lowman Taylor also brought
up a report upon the same subject, and he stated although
the works were not going on so satisfactorily as could be
wished, he was happy to inform the court that
the differences between the Great Western and the
Metropolitan Railway Companies had been adjusted, and
he bad no doubt that both oempanite were really anxious to
proceed as expeditiously as possible, and if there
was any delay it certainly would not be on the
part of the Metropolitan Railway. He had urged upon
the enfineers of both railways the necessity for proceeding
as quickly as possible, and he believed that by
November the works would be in such a state
as to enable a roadway to be formed over a portion of the
market that would assist the traffic that was diverted by
the alterations that were being made at the Holborn Valley
Improvement. Immediately after this he maid the
Improvement Committee would advertise for tenders to
perform the work connected with the erection of the
market.
The reports were received, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. Walpole to-morrow will bring forward a bill
for regulating the traffic in the metropolis, and for making
provision for the greater security of persons passing i
through the streets; and for other purlieus.
Major Walker will, to-morrow, ask the Secretary 1,
of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the
great decrease of the cattle plague in Scotland, and of the
very extensive interests concerned, it is the intention of her
Majesty's government so to modify the restrictions im-
posed upon the transit of sheep in Scotland as to permit
the holding of the annual sheep and lamb fairs during the
ensuing autumn.
On Monday Mr. Rearden will ask the Chief Se-
cretary for Ireland whether it is the intention of her Ma-
jesty's government to introduce a bill for advances out of
the Consolidated Fund for the purchase and rental of the
reclaimable portion of 4,000,000 statute acres of waste land
in Ireland, upon security of debentures of U. and up-
wards upon the lands so reclaimed, and let or sold in
farms of 30 acres each, with three cottages, and farm
buildings suited to the holdings, with a view to the em-
ployment of the labouring population, the diminution of
emigration and poor's rates, and to the profitable employ-
ment of the capital and time of tenant farmers in Ireland.
MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE.—On Monday night,
Patrick WDoneld, coachman to Mr. Muir, Hunter's-
quay, Argyleshire, went scum to Blairmore far the pur-
Nu of seeing his sweetheart, who is nurse in the house of
Mr. I. B. Wingate, a Glasgow manufacturer, residing at
Blairmore. He carried a bottle of whiskey with him, sod
he and his sweetheart and a party of her fellow-servants
set up all night joking and frolicking. Yesterday morning
(Tuesday) it was proposed that some of the company should
row WDonald back to Hunter's quay, a narrow arm of the
sea, separating the latter place from Blairmore. James
M'Muter, coachman to Mr. Wingate, and Mary Hender-
son, a domestic servant, entered with him into a punt, or
small boat. They started, but had not gone beyond 20
yard., when one of the coachmen who was rowing, un-
shipped his oar and while endeavouring to seize it, he fell
into the water? Wu two fellow-pusengers leaned to one
side in order to catch hold of him, when the boat upset,
and they also were thrown into the sea. M`Master was
able to reach the shore by swimming, and ran back to Mr.
Wingate's house for assistanee, which was so pump*
.rendered, that the woman was got out while in life. Shi,
' however, died soon afterwards. The body of M'Donalil
was not recovered till several bean had elapsed.

LONDON JOINT STOCK BANK.—(TKLs p-----""ar.) ,
__.___
The half-yearly meeting of the shareholders ~,.,
held at noon, at the bank, Princes-street • Ih. 1r -...
in the chair.
The following report and balance-sheet was
The annexed accounts, which the directorsPrettliii
satisfaction of presenting to the shareholderw ~., ~,•
them thatthenet profit, realised bythebank dye tis—'4l. " •,:f
year ending the 30th June, amounts to 134 571/ 21. urto• " , ,
which the sum of 108,0001. is appropriated to the
of the urinal dividend, with • bonus of 111. 3d pr
being at the rate of 20 per oentum per annum ea las •
up capital, leaving an unappropriated, balestie at
2.. lid. to be carried forward to profit sad for .8, .
count, The guarantee fund, with, the sere nit— '
now amounts to 319,9911.9 - Bd. The dividend sae len,-;
free from income tax, will be payable on and aft nr&_--1
the 27th inst. —WI
" Liabilities and meets, Saturday, Jima 30, lfilx_s.
To capital paid-up, viz., 72,000 shares m ix ..„,:
1,080,0001.; to amount of ' the guarantee fund,' Bias'
1865, 315,2621. 10s. lid. •, to amount due by 44 t...6.'s
current ',exam* deposit receipt., circular notes,
°listens*, 18,764,5771. 19s. ;to amount COMM Mat '
and loss account, 230,3981. 19s. Bd.: total, 20.31"
9s. 7d. Cr.: By government stock, valued in nem=
with the resolution passed by the general Wafting of sf,;
holders, on Jan. 19, 1865, vim., 800,0001. Consols aid e„,
Three per Cents. at 90,1720,000& ; 345,8861.
chased to replace Exchequer Bill leg MI 301C4slit
le
together, 1,020,0001. ; by cosh, 1,191,7691. la. It ;
discounted, loans, and other securities, 18,129,0111. le.
by building, furniture, &a., at head office and in*
49,429/. Is. 4d.: total, 20,340,2391. 9s. 7d.
"Profit and Lose Aocount.—Dr. : To current
proportion of building expenses, directors' ,emusertha
bed debts, income tax, /to., 39,702/. 18s. ; to asimet ni
ried to profit and loss, new account, being rebate of Wes
on bills discounted nos yet due, 51,396/.; to six len*
interest on "The Guarantee Fund," at 31. per can.
t
annum, 4,728/. 18s. 9d.; to dividend account, fortis
mecealt ofprhafr .a.year'us dividend,pon at
,the rate of
a
capital upon 72,000 shares, 6,5001. ;to ditto for 1,„,
went of a bonne cd lls. 3d. per share, 40,5001.; to 11167-i
carried forward to profit and lose new
26,5711. 2.. 11d.: total, 230,398/. 191. Bti.--0r,,4
balanos brought down, 230,3031. 19e. Bd.:
230,3981. 19s. Bd."
"Guarantee Fund. —Dr. : Present amount, 319,991/.
total, 319,9911. 9s. Bd.—Cr.: Amount on the 31st
ber, 1865 315,2621. 10s. 11L ; by interest on ditto n
June, 1846, at 3/. per mint per annum, 4,7281. ln. IL
total, 319,9911. As. Bd."
The Onanthars, after declaring the dividend and
at the rate of 20 per cent. per annum, moved the
of the report. He said when the vicissitudes and
of the last six months were considered it must be
ing to the meeting that that bank had continued the
tenour of its way, avoiding losses and at the sum
not Minting the accommodation of it. c
During the trying months of May and Jose
bank was in a serf strong position, and sines
last meeting the number of accounts had beet
creased by 537. (Cheers.) The policy of that bank had
safety. The board had always oked to that first •
although they began to see a fair prospect before
ye
t while there was a war in Europe, and the result II
was uncertain, and the Bank rstewas 10 per
they would continue to exercise great caution. The
ing of the Chancery-lane branch had proved sa •
He then paid a compliment to the managers sad
editors for the widows' manner in which they had
formed their arduous duties.
After a short discussion the report was adopted.
Mr. John Knowles was chosen a director, in piste at
Lancaster, deceased, to whose memory the Charrem
a high eulogium.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman aLd the AR
d'-ectors terminated the proceedings.