The Express.
London, England, 1866-08-31 00:00:00

the Court.

BALMORAL, Ammer 29.
The Queen drove out yesterday morning acoom-
panied by Primer Louise.

In the afternoon her Majesty, accompanied by Princess
Louise and Princess Beatrice, and attended by Lady
Churchill, went to her Majesty's Shell in Glen Gelder.
WINDSOR CASTLE, Auourr W.
_ _ .

The Prince and Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein
received this afternoon the Mayor and Town-clerk of
Windsor, who had the honour of presenting an address of
congratulation from the corporation to their royal
highnesses upon their marriage.

Madame Muaurna and family will shortly leave
town for St. Leonard*. Madame Munroe has been suffer-
ing from a severe rheumatic attack, but is now consider-
ably better.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Clanricarde left
their residence in Stratton-street on Wednesday to visit
Mr. Beaumont, M.P., and Lady Margaret Beaumont, at
Allenhead, Northumberland.

The Marquis Conyngham, at the close of his
visit to Lord and Lady Londesborongb, at Grimrton Park,
went to visit Captain and Lady Cecilia Brinckman at their
temporary residence in Nairnshire.
The Earl and Countess of Durham have left
Lambton Castle for Scotland, for the shooting mason.

The Earl and Countess of Beasborough have ar-
rived at their seat in Ireland from Buxton.
The mortal remains of the late Earl of Craven
are to be brought to Coombe Abbey, near Coventry, to-
day from Scarborough. The funeral, which is to take
place to-morrow, will be attended by the nearest members
of the family and the tenantry.

Viscountess Hohnestlale has left Pencarrow,
Lady liolesworth's seat in Cornwall, for Viscount Holmes-
dale's shooting lodge in Scotland.

Lord John Manners left town yesterday for
&num, Dunksid.

The Hon. Charles R. Carington has joined the
Prince of Wales at dhergeldie Castle.

The Right Bon. Sir John Pakington, the First
Lord of the Admiralty, together with the other Lords
Commissioners (excepting Admiral Sir C. Decree and Rear-
Admiral Sir John D. Hay) and Lord Henry Gordon
Lennox, M.P., left town yesterday morning for Devonport,
on an official tour of inspection.

Deputations of various kinds still wait upon the
Marquis of Abercorn to present addresses of congratula-
tions, and receive the vice-regal assurance that the in-
terests of Ireland shall not be neglected under the new

(Morning Herald) are able to state that the
Chief Commissioner of Works has decided upon the plans
for the new buildings of the London University at the back
of Burlington House. Mr. Pennethorne, architect to the
Board of Works, having furnished two designs, one in a
classic style, the other in what is called Relics Gothic,
Lord John Manners has chosen the latter, snd in the
course of to-day or to-morrow Messrs. Jackson and Shaw,
who hold the contract for the works up to the street level,
will commence the excavations._

WILLS AND Bstwasrs.—The will of the Most
Exoetient Count de Ferreira, Joaquin Ferrier'. doe Santos,
late of the city of Oporto, where he died in March, 1666,
was proved in London under 50,0001. personalty in g-
land. The executors appointed are his nephew, Antonio
Ferreira dos Santos, Jose Guipar da Grace, and Msnoel
Gualberto Soares. The will is translated from the Portu-
guese. It was his excellency's desire that, on his Quitting
this life, his body should be clothed 111 a Knight of the
Orderof Christ, read • general three days' mass be observed.*
He has made large bequests to charitable institution' and
hospitals. He leaves a complete suit of clothes to each
inmate in the infirmary of the Santa Casa de Miserioordia
of Oporto, there being not less than twenty patients under
the homoeopathic system. He leaves a sum to build 120
houses for preparatory schools for both sexes, with masters'
residences. Bequests are made to the Consultorio Homoeopa-
thic° Portuense, on condition of opening the same to poor
people on Sundays and holidays. He bequeaths eighty
dowries of 500 milreis each as marriage portions for eighty
honest and virtuous girls ; and alms to thirty honest
widows of 100 milreis each ; likewise alms of fifty milrets
each to the head' of 50 families who have insufficient means
to support themselves by labour. Bequests are made to
the members of his family, to each of nis godchildren, to
friends, and also to each of his servants ; and he appoint"
as universal heir his nephew, Antonio Ferrara doe Santos.
—The will of Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher Hamp-
den Nicholson (Grenadier Guards), of Grosvenor-
street, Hanover-square, was proved in the London
Court, under 33,0001. personalty ; the executors being
his brother, Gilbert Nicholson, k.sq., and his nephew, Wil-
liam Newcome Nicholson, Esq. The wills dated Jan. 15,
1863, with four codicils, and the gallant colonel died Feb.
21, 1866. He has devised his landed estates at Newnith,
Curraghtown, and Howrath, in Meath, Ireland, to his
nephew and executor, William N. Nicholson, subject to
the annuities uuder the will ; also leaves him all his books,
in whatever language they may be, and appoint' him
residuary legatee. There are liberal annuities ; also
numerous legacies to his nephews, nieces, and other
relatives and friends, and likewise to his servants ;
all legacies to be paid free of duty. There are also
many specific bequests of valuable articles and relic*.
His silver-gilt dagger from Grenada and his Damas-
cus sword mounted in silver-gilt be has bequeathed to his
brother, Gilbert Nicholson.—The will of Kenyon Stevens
Parker, Q.C., formerly of Lincoln's-inn, and late of 49,
Lancaster-gate, Hyde-park, was administered to in the
Loudon Court by his eon, Kenyon Charles Shireoliffe
Parker, Esq., one of the residuary legatees, by reason of
the executors therein appointed having predeceased the
testator. The will was executed in 1843, and he died
June 2, 1866, aged 76. The personalty was sworn under
8,000/. He had directed that, in the event of his surviving
his wife, the whole of his property should be divided
equally amongst their children.-11/ustrated London New.
TIM EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA'S BIRTHDAY. —The
Tagesbericla of Vienna publishes the following :—" The
Emperor Francis Joseph, on the day of his fête, appeared
exceedingly downcast; in the afternoon he summoned all
the councillors of the crown, and, with tears in his eyes,
addressed them in the following terms This is my
flee day. Such occasions remind • man, even the
highest placed, that he has made another "tap
towards the tomb, and that he ought in future
to do his best, accosting to his knowledge and
his conscience. If my people have desires which are
not yet realised, I will stretch out my hand to aid them :
I do not wish my paternal intentions to be doubted.
Speak frankly, gentlemen. What is the opinion which
predominates among the populations?' The ministers re-
mained silent, with the exception of one, who replied
' Sire, to speak frankly, public opinion is in despair.' The
same mined-et afterwards explained to his Majesty the
wishes and fears which had taken root in the mind of the
public. The Emperor dismissed his council with these
words :—' All that state of things must change, and soon
the people shall fête my birthday "
A suit of some interest to the operatic world was
beard yesterday before the civil tribunal of the Seine. M.
Belval, bus singer at the Grand Opera, applied to be
released from accepting the part of the Grand In-
quisitor, which M. Perrin, the director, had attributed
to him in M. Verdi's new opera of Don Carlos, on
the ground that it is only a secondary one. The
company of the Grand Opera includes two first
bass singers, the plaintiff and M. Obin, each of
whom receive the same salary and are engaged on
exactly the same conditions ; the new opera of M. Verdi
also contains two bass parts, Philippe 11. and the Grand I
Inquisitor. The composer, before commencing the opera,
was informed by IL Perrin of tbe names of the artists who
would interpret his work, and consequently wrote the
music of Philippe IL for M. Obis, whose voice is what is
called in professional language • basic chantank, sad that
of the Inquisitor for bL Belval, who is • have profoiuk.
The latter on receiving his part and finding it to be not
so long as that of his colleague, who he considered
had been recently too much favoured, refused to
accept it, sa not being in accordance with his engagement.
H. Perrin argued that the part, although short, was
nevertheless that of a first bass ; it °outward some im-
portant situations ; and to cenide it to a second-rate artist
would be to the detriment of the opera. A number of
contrary precedents were cited on each side, and the court,
before giving judgment, charged M. Ambroise Thomas, of
the Institute, to examine ea expert the scorn of the opera
to determine whether the part of the Grand Inquisitor
constituted that of a first bias or not.