The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-21 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 21, 1867.

manner, in a police court. It happens that the
Times published comments simultaneously with
the Parliamentary report ; but that the mere
publication of the speeches was considered by the
plaintiff to constitute of itself a sufficient cause
of hostile action may be inferred from the
fact that he took legal proceedings against
newspapers which had published the same re-
ports without comment. We will not here insist
upon the unfairness of thus attacking a newspaper
for faithfully performing a service which has now
become essential to the working of our representa-
tive institutions. But let the circumstances under
which this action was brougnt be noted. This
was not the case of a private person who had
suffered by the gratuitous introduction of his name
into a Parliamentary debate. Mr. RIGBY WesoN
bad himself instigated the discussion which took a
turn so unfavourable to him. He thought to drag
with dishonour from the bench a gentleman who
had just received from his party that promotion
which is the recognised reward of long service ;
he failed, and instead of seeing his old opponent
degraded, he himself lay prostrate in the mire. Is
such a man in a position to complain of the publi-
cation of the discussion he had provoked for his
own purposes, or ought he to wreak his anger on
the newspaper which, had he been more fortunate,
would, with equal fidelity, have reported his suc-
cess ? The public will judge of this conduct, and,
unless we are mistaken, will see in the course
which Mr. RIUBY WASON has taken nothing but
the suggestion of a boundless and all-absorbing
egotism. Whatever might have been the result
of this action, only one opinion could exist
in impartial minds as to its fairness. It
is satisfactory, however, to know that not only
has a verdict been given for the defendant, but
the Loan CHIEF JUSTICE has pronounced a
judicial opinion on the privilege attaching to re-
ports of parliamentary proceedings, which may be
expected to effectually discourage similar actions
for the future.

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.

(THIS DAY.)

The Times wonders that Mr. Gladstone should
be ever brooding over the past ; and says that what his
worst foe would most wish for him would be that he
should ever keep open the wound that now frets his
soul and saps his vital energy. Moreover there are two
side, to the history of the Reform Bill. If he likes the
measure why pull it to pieces, and propose an insidious
attack on its electoral manipulations? If he does not
like it, why claim the credit of it ?
The portion of Mr. Gladstone's speech to which special
attention ia drawn by the Daily News is that wherein he
recommends that we should proceed at once to remove
those grievances in Ireland which are confirmed and pal-
pable, and inquire with anxious care into thorn which
are more obscure or complicated. We have to enforce
justice, but we have also to do justice. We have not only
to repress crime, but to remove the causes which provoke
crime. The feeling which would defer this inquiry be-
, cause of the horrible events of the moment, is one which,
however it may be worked by the organs of an interested
party, the nation will disclaim.
The Herald accuses Mr. Gladstone of giving an explana-
tion of the late Fenian outrages which is nothing less than
blasphemous, and the Standard says that the speech at
Ormakirk is marked by a bitterness of spirit,awant of can-
dour and courtesy, a disposition to pervert facts and mis-
represent opinions, such as are happily not usual even in
party controversy.
The Star nays the reforms sketched out by the liberal
leader are simply those which have been more or lees ac-
cepted for some years as necessary by all competent to
judge.
Most of our contemporaries 'peak in congratulatory
terms of the important legal decision incidentally evoked
by the action of Mr. Rigby Wason against the Times. Mr.
Wason, it is pointed out, by eliciting from the Lord Chief
Justice the ruling that the publication of parliamentary
proceedings is privileged, has been the unintentional in-
strument of vindicating the liberty of the press in one
of its important aspects.
The Post comments upon the extraordinary facts which
have come to light at the Clerkenwell inquest, establishing
beyond a doubt that on Thursday week the authorities at
Sootland-yard were in possession of information that an
attempt on the lions° of Detention was to be made, and,
not only that, but they knew exactly what sort of attempt
it was to be. The precautions that were taken were ridi-
culously inadequate, and in times like these such a futile
and feeble administration of the police is not to be en-
dured. If the present commissioner is incapable of con-
ceiving and carrying out adequate measures, one should
be found who does not labour under the same incapability.
To the Star it is manifest that the primary duty of
efficiently guarding against an attack of which the fullest
warning had been given devolved upon the Chief Com.
missioner, and that this duty was not performed.

the Court.
OSBORNE, Dre. 20.
. The Qum drove off{ yesterday afternoon, ac-
companied by Princess Louise and Princess Beatrice, and
attended by the Equerry-in•\Vaiting upon horseback ; and
her Majesty walked in the grounds this morning with their
royal highnesses.
Prince Leopold also walked out.
The Queen held a council at Osborne at one o'clock to-
day, at which were present the Duke of Marlborough, the
Duke of Buckingham, Lord Robert Montagu, mid Lord
Claud Hamilton.

Previous to the council, Sir Francis Head, Bart., was
introduced to her Majesty's presence, and sworn in a mem-
ber of her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, and
took his seat at the board accordingly.
The Duke of Marlborough and the Duke of Buckingham
had audiences of her Majesty.

Mr. Edmund Harrison was clerk of the council.

After the council Arthur Edward Kennedy, Esq., C. 8.,
Governor of theiVest African settlements, was introduced
to her Majesty's presence by Lord Claud Hamilton, and
received the honour of knighthood.

Prince and Princess Christian and Princess Henrietta of
Schleswig-Holstein left New Lodge on Thlusday, on a
visit to Lord and Lady Cowley, at Draycott Park.

The Privy Councillors who yesterday attended the
Queen's Council, at Osborne, made the pa/sage between
Gosport and the Isle of Wight on board her Majesty's
ship Fire Queen, Staff Commander F. W. PauL

His Royal Highness Prince Arthur loft tho
Ranger's house, Greenwich-park, yesterday afternoon, en
route for Osborne, to spend the Christmas holidays with
the Queen and other members of the royal family.

Their Royal Highnesses Prince Christian,
Princess Mary of Teak, and the Prince of Teak, and suite,
honoured the Grand German Fair, Portland Bazaar,
Langham-place, Regent-street, with a visit yesterday, and
made extensive purchases.

Prince and Princess Christian, and Princess
Henrietta of Schleswig-Holstein, left New Lodge on
Thursday, on a visit to Lord and Lady Cowley, at Dray-
oott Park.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Dos =shire
have been surrounded by a select party at Hillsborough
Castle. Among the company were—The Earl of Bectire
and the Ladies Taylour, Lord and Lady Alice HenUs, Lord
Charles Bertsford, &o. The noble marchioneu's ball last
week was attended by the elite of the county.
Viscount and Viscountess Castlerosse have left
town for Italy to pass the winter.
Viscountess Palmerston, with Viscountess
Jocelyn and Viscount Jocelyn, has left her residence in
Park-lane for Broadlinds, Hants. The Eight Hon. W. F.
Cowper will join the family circle in a day or two.

The Right Hon. Sir Robert and Lady Emily
Peel are entertaining a select party of friends at Drayton
Manor, near Tamwortb.

Sir Henry Storks will enter upon his duties as
Comptroller-General, at the Wsr-offlce, on the lit of
January. The salary will be the same as that of the per-
manent Under-Secretary of State, viz., 2,000(. a year.
The death of the Earl of Carnwath is announced.
It occurred on Saturday last at Bannerol; de Rivers,
Pyrenees.

Lady Rumbold, wife of Sir Arthur C. Rumbold,
Governor of the Virgin Islands, died on the 27th ult. at
Tortola.

Mr. Charles Buxton, M.P., Mr. George Godwin,
F.R.S., and Mr. Alderman Lusk, M.P., have beoome vice-
presidents of the Public Museums and Free Libraries
Association.

Mr. Henry Cole, C. 8., has consented to preside
on January 6 at a soirée to Mr. Hodgson Pratt, Vice-Pre-
sident of the Paris Excursion Committee, by artizans who
visited the Universal Exposition under the commiteee's
auspices.

Lord Cairns was elected yesterday Chancellor of
the University of Dublin. He received 35 votes, one vote
only being recorded for the Earl of Roue,

*The Council of the Society of Arta have called a
conference of persons interested in the subject of techni-
cal education, on Thursday, January 23, to meet in the
Advlphi. Earl Granville ►nd Earl Russell have proiLised
to attend the meeting. The subject for consideration is,
bow best to promote the industrial and scientific educa-
tion of the various classes of the community.
The Gardeners' Chronicle is informed that M. T.
Bass, Esq., has consented to take the chair at the next
anniversary dinner of the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent
Institution ; and that Sir Robert Peel has intimated his
intention of supporting Mr. Bus on that occasion.
Mr. G. G. Scott will deliver his lectures on archi-
tecture at the Royal Academy on Thursday evenings,
Jan. T 3 and 30, and Feb. 6, 1868, at 8 p.m.
Mr. G. F. Watts has been elected full member of
the Royal Academy.

The widow of the late Dr. Woo Heston has pre-
sented to the Art-Library of the South Kensington Museum
a valuable aeries of drawings of Greek and Roman mosaics,
to be found in Spain, France, Pompeii, Prussia, Haiku-
mums, Switzerland, Rome, and Italy generally, Constan-
tine, Carthage, and also in various counties of England,
which had been executed for Dr. Woollaaton,

From New Year's Day Mr. E. S. Dallas will
saininie the duties of editor of Once a Week.

Haydon's picture, "The Raising of Lazarus," so
long and so well known on the staircase at the Pantheon,
Oxford-street, has been obtained for the National Gallery,
British School.

It is said that " Mignon " will be given at the
Royal Italian Opera during the coming season.
We (Army and Navy Gazette) regret to learn that
within the last few hours a telegram has been received,
announcing the death of Colonel Clark Kennedy, C. 8.,
the Commandant of the Military Train. AS is well known,
he had been sent to Egypt to superintend the despatch of
the mules for the Abyuinian expedition, and had nearly
completed his tuk last week, when he was seized with
dysentery, dying on Wednesday night at Cairo.

" The Abyssinian expedition is reported," says
the Army and Gazette, " to have swallowed up the usual
amount of the surplus of the navy estimates, and it is be.
lioved that there will be little or nothing to return into
the Exchequer at the close of the financial year, especially
when we find that the Channel squadron has returned
home with a formidable list of defects, so that any sums
which have been saved from the demand made upon us by
our friend Theodore will be required to be disbursed upon
Admiral Warden's ships."

A Cannes journal the other day mentioned ge
" an interesting detail" the somewhat startling intelli-
gence that Lord Brougham's manual income amounts to
6.54,0061. sterling. This statement drew from his lordship
a letter, in which he says :—" I have to request yon to
inform me from whom you learned so great an absurdity,
and, without doubt, you will insert in your next number
an explanation of a mistake which has provoked general
laughter, and which procured for me on my return here a
reception which I did not merit."
TR! ROYAL BARON OF BEEF.—Yesterday,
Messrs. Copeland and Sons, of Thames-street, Windsor,
exhibited the royal baron of beef intended for her
Majesty's Christmas table. The royal baron was cut front
a splendid Devon ox, bred and fed b 7 the Queen at the
Norfolk farm, Windsor-park, under the supervision of
Mr. Brebner. The animal was shown at the Smithfield
Club Cattle Show, where it was known as No. 7 of Class 2
(Devon oxen). Her Majesty the („lueen went to the Nor-
folk Farm and selected this animal for the toyal baron
before it was sent to the show. Last night the royal baron
was meet to Windsor Castle, where it will be roasted to-
day (Saturday) before the great kitchen fire. On Monday
it will be sent to Osborne, where, with the boar's head and
game pie, it will grace her Majesty's sideboard on Christ.
massday.
MUNIFICENT GIFT OF LORD SOMERS. —The Castle
grounds, so beautiful in themselves, so full of historic in-
terest, and so desirable from their position, are, by a noble
liberality, to become the property of the town of Reigate.
To the Reigate people these grounds are of the utmost
value. An open space of more than five acres overlying
a large part of the town, and almost surrounded by
houses, even this preserved would be of incal-
culable value, but this will be greatly increased by a
judicious and careful cultivation and arrangement. This
generous gift we have no doubt will be properly and prac-
tically appreciated by the people of Reigate. Anything
that can be done to make the gardens as beautiful as pos-
sible must be done. The nature of the gift seems to
make this • necess►ry consequence, and Reigate people
will have confidence that not less than this will be done
when they know that Mr. W. Wilson Saunders is chair-
man of • committee which has been formed to make Lord
Somers' gift as valuable as poesible to the town and neigh-
' bourhoo—Surrey Standard.

MISADVENTURE OP A .NEWSPAPER
CORRESPONDENT.

Mr. Benny, a newspaper correspondent, who was
'rounded at the battle of Montana, and brought to Rome
with the Garibaldian prisoners, bad his right arm ampu-
tated on the 15th at the Hospital of St. Onofrio.
Mr. Benny, although a British subject, is a na-
tive of St. Petersburg. He wee coming on towards
Rome from Monte Rotondo in a carriage on the
morning of battle; when near Mentana he was stopped
by some Garibaldians, who requested the use of his vehicle
to carry from the field one of their wounded officers.
Mr. Benny could not refuse, of course, so be was left
in the middle of the road, while the Garibaldians

placed his effects for him in a cave by the side of
it. In this petition he was soon after discovered
by an advanced detachment of Papal troops, of the
Swiss rifle battalion, who levelled their arms at
him. He called out in French that he was not a combatant,
but a newspaper correspondent, holding out ►t the same
time both hands, one with a pencil and the other with •
piece of paper in it, but one of the soldiers took his hand
for a target and discharged his piece at it with unerring
aim. The officer in command came up to him di-
rectly after, and an explanation took place in Ger-
man, resulting in expressions of regret at the mistake
and a promise to send the wounded man to the Pontifical
ambulance, but before this could be effected the Geri-
baldians advanced again on the position, and the
Swiss retreated in all haste, leaving their victim in
the hands of the red shirts, who escorted him back
to Mentana, where he got attended to in a house
until the entry of the French on the following day.
Having explained his mishap to the victors his baggage
was sent for by them to the cave, where it was found and
brought to him, but minus SOOfr. and some valuables it
contained. From Mentana he was brought into Rome,
and placed in the St. Gnarl° Hospital, • locality which
has not proved very salubrious to the wounded prisoners,
especially in the ground floor ward, which is quite pesti-
ferous, and of which the poisonous miasma has turned
many of the open wounds to mortification.—Correspondent
of Putd.

WEATHER REPORT.-(THIS DAY.)

SATtRDAY, DICIIIIIIII 21, 8 LL

ea
B.
W.
Illit:
w.D. B.
1;161;
9.
Nana . -119.64 f , . 8.8.3. W.N.W. co 0.08: 1
Aberdeen. - V. 711 • 1 B.W. 8. rm 0.13' 3
Leah 126731 431 N.E. N.E. tr 0.101 -
Ardromon 19.601 491 E. E. r 0.29 1
Gmeneortlo .02149 W.N.W. W. ro 0.641 -
V 4101436 Ail 2, W. I W. ha 0.06. 3
Cape Claw 29.84 52! LW. W. fm 0.05 3
Rochel Pt- 5.841 50' W. W. oak —l3
Et011'1761444.7.4.741t 49,1 81.iNikY. filf. r 0.17 1
Z. ro 9.47! -
Poaramm -tie! 1 W.N.W. 8.8.3. na NW 3
Rreat LW. rtm.o.36' 6
LoMeni. . 30.001 461 8.3. 88.1. or 0.161 1
tochetori lxtosr 37i I.E. N. bo I—, 3
Plymouth W. 40 f 43 Z. N.W. rho 0.361, 1
Weymouth_ 36.911 60 W. N.E. of I 0.25 3
Portamouth 19.06( 2 8.8. W. 3. mr 10.01 S
London 10.971 . 8. 3. tar 6.061 -
Yarmouth- 30.62 f 8. N. o 4
Ikarboroush29.B3t : 8. B.W. ma 0.00 4
8111•168 ,39.83 t B.W. W. in 0.19 S

Barometer corrected and reduced to 112 deg. at sea level. The
letter. r riaiug„ I (falling), a (steady), indicate direution of
motion of the, within last 12 hours. Thermometer exposed
In shade. Extreme force, with Its dPectlon dr.ing last 24 hon.'.
Z.—ealm. Weather b.— bins sty; c. clouds (detached': f.—
fog ; h.—hall ; I.—lightning ; m.—misty (hazy) ; o.—overcall
(dull); r.—rain; s —snow ; t.—thunder. Rainfall, mow or
hall (melted), during last 24 hours. bea disturbance.

RE.II.,UIKB.
flints yesterday there bee been a decrease of pressure at nmirV
all stations, amounting to two-tenths of so Inch in the north. All
premises, except that at Rochefort, show a decrease since last
night. Temperatures have risen generally, and are highest in
the British Wes. Winds yesterday were light and variable;
this morning they are generally light, but fr from the south
on the south-east coast. Fog has occurred in several places.
Rain has been general, and snow has Mem in the east.

On Thursday and Saturday next week, Professor
Tyndall will deliver juvenile lectures at the Royal Insti-
tution on " Heat and Cold."

11 rapath hears that the Great Eastern Company
are likely to receive many thousands of pounds u salvage,
for the capture of a steamer that wee deserted betwixt
Harwich and Rotterdam in the into storm.

The Italian Chamber of Deputies, at one of ita
last sittings, voted 6,610,0001 r. for the conversion into
needle-guns of the present muskets.
Tho number of foreign letters sent from and
received in the United States during the last twelve-
months was 13,100,000, and the number of newspapers was
4,528,482. This number does not include newspapers sent
to and received from British North America.

Yesterday the Hon. Stephen Care, M.P., Vice-
President of the Board of Trade, presided at the distribu-
tion of prizes at ;the Liverpool Collegiate Institution, and
delivered an address on education.

A deputation from Poplar, consisting of Mr.
Green, Mr. Currie, Mr. Wigrain and Mr. Bullivant, had an
interview with t!.e Earl of Devon, at the office of the
Poor-law Board, yesterday.
LORD CRANBORNE AND THE GREAT EASTERN
RATIMAY.—The directors of the Great Eastern report
that Lord Cranborne has consented to accept • seat at
their new board. Is he to be chairman, or only a director?
In either case he would be the most valuable acquisition,
next perhaps to Mr. Lowe, that any railway could make ;
but he is not the man we should have thought
directors would have selected. He would be as
bad as an official director, sure to see every-
thing, sure to be savage when anything went
wrong, utterly contemptuous of jobs, and very much
inclined, if too much harassed, to tell the shareholders the
whole tenth all at once. Hs would not be an easy man to
snub either, if he began enlightening the public, and alto-
gether his nomination must be regarded as • proof of
decided virtue in the Eastern Counties. They will be ap.
pointing Lord Redesclale next, or declaring • dividend, or
opening the line from Bishop Stortford to Braintree. on
which the crass will grow soon, or doing some other of
their hundred duties.—Speetator.
WEST or ENULAND FAT STOCK EXHIBITION.—
A very successful exhibition of fat stock was held at Ply-
mouth on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, during
which time it was visited by about 7,000 persons. There
were 60 entries of cattle and sheep, and 240 entries of
pouLry, and the quality of the competition was generally
exceedingly good. There was also a respectable show of
pigs and a splendid display of roots. Mr. W. Smith, of
Higher Hoopern, Exeter, took a silver cup for the best
Devon ox, a silver cup for the best Devon steer, and a
silver cup for the best Devon cow. The society's expenses
are put down at AOOl., of which 340/. were given in prizes.
The receipts, including 4001. subscriptions, are reported to
be rather over 7001., leaving a deficiency of something over
1001. This is the first exhibition of the kind held for the
counties of Cornwall and Devon, and the results are con-
sidered very encouraging.
THE CHRISTMAS MEAT AND FOrLTRY MARKETS.
—Yesterday the meat salesmen and poulterers made their
great show of Christmas provision, and the markets were
completely choked with meat of ll descriptions. Very
large consignments of beef from Scotland and of very rich
quality have been made during the week, and the London
carcase butchers have made • liberal supply of beef to meet
the demands of retail butchers and many prize beans
were on sale. The improved condition of foreign cattle has
brought them into competition with home bred stock, and
• large number of carcases are exhibited for sale. Prize
sheep and " sensation hogs " also furnish the markets. In
no previous year was the Christmas show larger in the
aggregate or more excellent in quality, and if the prices
are to be regulated by the superabundance of the supply,
there is every reason to expect Christmas orders of this
staple commudity executed at reasonable charges. The
poultry show exceeds all precedent, the markets are
glutted with every species of the feathered tribe, and, in
addition to large supplies of geese from Yorkshire, and
turkeys from Norfolk, immense cargoes of geese and turkeys
from France and Ireland have been imported. Geese vary
in prices from 3s. lid. to 12s. each, and turkeys from Sc,
to 16a., and prize turkeys and extraordinarily fed birds at
20s. to 30s. each. Game and wild fowl lutists* very plentiful,
end, beyond the large supply of poultry exhibited, many
vans loaded with geese and turkeys arrived in London for
distribution at geese and poultry :dubs and lotteries. To-
day the sales commence. _ _

A
RUNAWAY TRAIN.—Late on Monday night,
much to the astonishment of the officials, • long and
heavily-freighted cattle train passed through Welshpool
station without anyone in charge, and proceeded down
the line at full speed. An engine was at once despatched
in pursuit, and, coming up with the runaway about a
mile beyond the station, succeeded in bringing it up with-
out any disaster. An explanation of the occurrence was
afforded at the Welshpool weekly petty sersiona, when
George Buchanan, the driver of the train in question, was
brought up in custody charged with being drunk. From
the evidence it appeared that shortly before reaching the
station Buchanan had disposed of his fireman by kicking
him off the engine, and, being thin; in sole charge of the
train, had amused himself and mfied the signalman by
running backwards and forwardssti between the distance
signal and the station for nearly an hour. The signalman
going up the line to inquire what was the matter arrived
in time to see Buchanan fall off the engine on to the six-
foot, where be lay while the engine. having the steam up,
proceeded on its way down the line. The magistrates
committed Buchanan to prison for two months, with hard
Isbour, but subsequently agreed to fine him 5/. instead.
There were several drovers in the train in charge of the
cattle.