The Express.
London, England, 1866-07-03 00:00:00

♦ TIGHT IN A VILLAGE.

Then the tumult of the fight increased. Darkness had
completely closed in, and the moon had not yet risen;
the Prussians pressed up to the barricade, the Austrians
stoutly stood their ground behind it, and, three paces dis.
tent, assailants and defenders poured their fire into each
other's breasts. Little could be seen, though the flashes
of the discharges cast a fitful light over the surg-
ing masses; bat in the pauses of the firing the
voices of the officers were heard encouraging their
men, and half-stifled shrieks or gurgling cries
told that the bullets were truly shwa This was
too severe to enclave. The Prussians, firing much
more quickly, and in the narrow street, where neither side
could show their whole strength, not feeling the inferi-
ority of numbers, succeeded in tearing away the barricade,
and slowly pressed their adversaries hack along the

It is estimated that in consequence of all the village street: Yet the Austrians fought bravely, and
combats and battles since the 26th of last month I their plans foe the defence of the houses bad bola ski!.

fully though hastily made ; from every window numb*
dashed out fire, and sent bulleta into the oak
ranks of the advancing Prussians, while ce „di
balcony behind a wooden barricade Jager' ereeeks4
to take their deadly aim ; but in the street th
soldiers, huddled together and encumbered with chum,
ramrods, were unable to load with ease, and could reten
so adequate fro to the! of the Prussians., while these, fet
the advantage of a better arm, poured their quick rages
into an almost defenceless crowd. As the Nettle a gas
street was pushed inch by inch towards the lairobe
Austrians, in every house which the foremost rads ef
the Pruuians peeved, were cut off from their reseek
and were sooner or later made prisoners, for the Immo
of the village do net join on to each other, but ate
tached by spaces of a few yards, and there is DO art
munication from one home to the other except by t h
open street. The whole of the Prussian force was now,

end, extending between the houses which the first ask
batants had passed by, cut off the escape of their gamma
and exchanged shots with the defenders. With AA*
and shouts, amid the crashing of broken windows, ism
heavy sounds of falling beams, and the perpetual „gut
of the fire-arms, the battle was heavily pressed down h
the narrow street, and about half-past 11 the was
came up clear and full to show the Austrian rum
most ranks turning viciously to bar the Promise
from the bridge. The moonlight reflected is 0

stream, told the assailants that they were near the AM
of their labour, and showed the Austrians that new et
never the enemy must be hurled back. Both sides three
out skirmishers along the river bank, and the moon gull
them light to direct their aim across the strew ;
while on the first plank of the bridge the &,
trians turned to bay, and the Prussians pausing sewed*
paces from them, the combatants gazed at sub other
for a few momenta. Then they began a threw ggiA
than ever. The discharges were more frequent, and ha the
narrower way the bullets told with more severe effect,
Herr von Drygalski, leading the fusilier battalion of the
31st, a lieutenant-colonel of only two days' standing, we i
down with two bullets in kis forehead, and a squill r
his side was shot in both legs ; many men fell, and '
grey horse of a Prussian field officer, with a ball is
heart, fell heavily against the wall, kicking um
the ranks, but he was soon quieted for ever, sit
at that moment wen regarded but little such weak
as could be inflicted by an iron-shod hoof, even in
agonies of death. The Austrians stood gallantly,
made an attempt to set fire to the bridge ; but the Mk
mnce of their armanent again told upon them hen;
it said that, galled by their hard fortune, they chirp
with the bayonet, but that the Prussians also took king
to the steel, and this charge caused no change in the fr
tune of the fight ; certain it is that the defenders
ultimately obliged to retire across the bridge.
'While this combat was proceeding slowlyalong
street, another fight was carried on upon the:
way almost with an equal progress, and with
almost similar result, the Austrians ultimaisly
drawing sullenly off to the main road to Muncie's.
gr.itz. The contest, says the correspondent,
resulted in a clear victory for the Prussians.
The next day the road to Podoll was crown
with hospital waggons and ambulance cars bring*
in the wounded ; every cottage in the way was oas.
vented into a temporary hospital, and the Ws
village of Swierzin was entirely filled with strict.
men.

AFTER MI BATTLE.
In the village the utmost disorder gave evidence of l
severity of the contest. Austrian knapsacks, shako,
clothes, and arms were scattered about in wild confusist
Dead horses lay in the ditches by the roadside. Wb
coats and cloaks, which had been thrown --
the hurry of the fight, lay scattered along
road ; the trees which had formed the

•
train barricade were still on the side of the street,
held many a bullet. The cottages had been
sacked of their furniture, and their beams and roof-
had been torn down to form defences for the doors
windows ; while along the street and upon the bankst
the river lay objects which in the distance look We
bundles of untidy uniform, but which, on nearer apprzed6
are seen to be the bodies of slain soldiers. Sometime:
they lie in groups of twos or threes, twisted tootle!
as if they had gripped ono another in their mad
agony, and sometimes single figures lie on their
staring with livid countenance and half-closed hazy
straight up against the hot morning sun. The dark.
uniform with red facings of Prussia and the white
light-blue of Austria lie side by side, but the number§
the latter much preponderate, and on one put of the,
way three Prussian corpses opposite 19 Austrian ft
grisly trophy of the superiority of the needle-gun.
Throughout these interesting letters the corm
spondent stops repeatedly to note the deadly
( f the twine gun. At the fight at the lamb(
the Prussian riflemen had tired about three '

before the Austrians, armed only with muds
loading rifles, were able to reply. At the fight
the road crossed by the railway, alluded to above,
the needle-gun, we are told, " showed its advr•
tags over the old-fashioned weapons of the
trians, for the latter fell in the proportion of

the art of war which it is possible to conceive. The
whole of its apparatus is carried in two light
waggons; one contains the batteries and needles, and is
mad as • small room in which the telegraphist
works ; the second waggon carries the poles and wires, with
the implements for putting them up. The wires are coiled
round revolving dims, which are fitted in the waggon, so
that the wires can be passed as the waggon pea slang, or
the disc can be transferred to a stretcher carried between
two men, so that it may be laid off the road in places where
it is desirable to cut off corners. The detachment who
lay the lines are all instructed in repairing damage
done to the permanent wires. When it is remembered that
yesterday morning the Austrians were aloes up to the
frontier, and that at midday the Castle of Grafenstein,
fire miles from the nearest permanent station,was in direct
telegraphic communication with Berlin, some idea can be
formed of the advantages which this apparatus gives to an
army in the field.

THE HUSTON ELECTION COMMITTEE.
( THIS DAY.)

The select oommittee appointed by the House
of Commons to inquire into the petitions complaining of
an undue election and return for the borough of Heston
commenced their investigation this morning, the Right
Hon. R. Lowe in the chair. The other members of the
committee were Lord Edward Howard, Colonel Barttelot,
the Hon. G. Denman, and the Right Hon. Russell Gurney,
The counsel for the petitioners were Mr. W. H. Cooke,
Q.C., Mr. J. Clerk, and Mt. W. M. St. Aubyn • and for
the sitting member, Mr. Harding, Gifford, Q.C., and Mr.
Hoary Juan.
Theta were two petitions. The first was from Mr. WM.
Bohol Brett, the unsuccessful candidate at the last elec-
tion, who alleged that he was a candidate at the last abla-
tion, and that an equal number of votes—namely, 153
were recorded for himself and for Mr. Robert Campbell,
when the returning officer (the mayor) declared that,
although he had alreatly voted for Mr. Campbell, before
4 o'clock, and although it was then past 4 o'clock, he had
asreturning officer, a casting vote, and would give such
vote for Mr. Campbell, whereopon, at half-past 4 o'clock,
without entering the vote in the poll-book the returning-
officer, by word of mouth, gave a casting vote for Mr.
Campbell, and illegally, wilfully, improperly, and wrong-
fully declared Mr. Campbell duly elected, whereas both the
petitioner and Mr. L'Xinpbell ought to have been re-
turned, as equally entitled to represent the borough.
The petitioner claimed the seat The wooed peti-
tion was presented by two electors, who, in addition to
complaining of the casting vote of the returning officer,
alleged that bribery, treating, and corrupt prack, ces were
resorted to, and prayed that the return might be amended
by erasing the name of Mr. Campbell, and substituting that
of Mr. Brett.
_ _

Before the case was gone into Mr. Cooke stated that he
had been in communication with the counsel for the sitting
member, and had carefully gone through the lists tendered
on each aide with regard to the votes of persons who were
improperly qualified. Mr. Gifford now informed him that
he thought it unnecessary to put Mr. Brett to further ex-
pense, and would consent, on one vote being struck off Mr.
Campbell's poll to retire from any further contest in the
matter. . _ _

Giffard said that course might have been pursued
long ago if Mr. Brett's petition, which did not allege bri.
bery, had alone been proceeded with. The second petition,
however, alleged personal bribery against Mr. Campbell,
end Mr. Campbell could not consent to retire from the
ease with inch a charge hanging over him.
Mr. Cooke said it would be necessary to strike off two
votes as Mr. Campbell had an apparent majority of one
whereas there was in reality a double return.
Mr. Giffard said that was not quite the fact. All the
mayor said was, that if he had a casting vote he would
give it for Mr. Campbell, but he did not record a casting
vote, as would be seen by examining the poll book.
Mr. Naylor, chief clerk in the office of clerk of the
crown, was then called, and produced the welt and return
for the last election. Mr. Thomas Rogers, the mayor, was
returning officer, and the numbers were 153 each for Mr.
Campbell and Mr. Brett.
. . . .

The Rev. Isaac Rogers was next examined. He stated
that at the last election he voted for Mr. Campbell,
although previously to the election he had removed from
Helston to Hinckley.
The name was expunged from the poll book, and Mr.
Brett remained in a majority of one.
At the request of Mr. Gitfard Mr. Campbell was called.
He stated that he was a candidate at the last election. It
was not the fact that either he or any other person with
his knowledge or consent, bribed any voter or practised
treating or intimidation.
Mr. Denman complained that a charge of personal bri-
bery, which was only calculated to pain, worry and harraas
an honourable man, should have been so recklessly and
needlessly inserted in the petition. He thought it was
necessary that a check should bo put upon such a practice.
Mr. Cooke said the petition had been drawn up in the
usual form, as prescribed by the Corrupt Practices Preven.
tion Act.

The Chairman—Then it is high time that that form
should cease to be adopted.
Mr. Russell Gurney—You might have used the words,
" Mr. Campbell, by his agents."
Mr. Cooke—Perhaps the petition, in point of form, is
somewhat improperly worded.
Mr. Clerk said that during the twenty years he had
practised before election committees it had always been the
custom to follow the words of the act, " That Su-and-so, by
himself and hisagents hail been guiltyof bribery." Itmight be
a bail form, but it was the form usually adopted. In the
list of persons alleged to have been oribed there was no
charge of personal bribery against Mr. Campbell.
The Chairman slid there was another question to be
considered before the committee concluded their delibe-
rations, namely, how it arose that the number of votes for
each candidate being equal the returning officer declared
Mr. Campbell duly elected. As the case stood at present
the returning officer appeared to have been guilty of great
misconduct.

Mr. rooko said the matter was one for the committee
themselves to consider. He did not propose to interfere
in it.

The Chairman—We think we ought to hear what the
other side have to say.
Mr. Giff.,rd remarked that he was not counsel for the re-
turning officer, but he believed that that gentleman had
acted upon a theory that as the number of votes were
equal he had the right to give a casting vote.
Mr. Russell Gurney asked if the mayor was present.
It was explained that the mayor had been served with a
Speaker's warrant, but was subsequently informed by the
agents for the petitioners that if he would give the register
to the town clerk he need not attend personally.
The Chairman—lt is a very serious matter as it stands
at present, and the returning officer ought to be here to
purge his apparent contempt of the house by returning a
member when the votes were equal.
Mr. Giffartl said he was told that the mayor quoted a
passage from a work on election law, which stated that in
the case of a double return the returning-officer might de-
clare which candidate he chose duly elected.
The committee-room was then cleared.
On the re-admission of the public the chairman an-
nounced the resolutions agreed to. They found that Mr.
Campbell was not duly elected, and that Mr. Brett was
duly elected.

ARRIVAL OF PRINCE CHRISTIAN.—Prince Chris-
tian of Schleswig-Holstein, attended by Count lbentzall,
disembarked at Dover at ten minutes before 10 o'clock
yesterday morning, and was received by Major-General
Francis Seymour, C. 8., who had been commissioned by her
Majesty to meet him at Dover. Ilia royal highness arrived
on boanl her Majesty's ship Helicon, in which he had em-
barked at Hamburg. He landed under a salute from the
heights, and was received by Major Ellis, the commandant
of the garrison, and a guard of honour of the 44th Regi-
ment, with the band of the corps. Colonel Elwin, of the
Royal Artillery, and Captain Gaskell were also present.
After partaking of breakfast at the Lord Wanien Hotel,
the prince left Dover in a saloon carriage attached to the
12 o'clock train for London, and arrived at Buckingham
Palace at 3 o'clock. He afterwards paid visits to the
King and Queen of the Bekjians at Claridge's Hotel, to
the Duke of Cambridge at Gloucester House, and to the
Prince and Princess of Wales at Marlborough House.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge
honoured the Kai and Countess of Malmeabury with her
comp my at dinner hut evening at their residence in Strat-
font-plare.

Her Royal Highness the Princess Mary and his
Highness Prince de Teck have passed through Paris on
their way to Vienna.

Miss Ryo issonkling 100 working women to
Australia in August next. On the arrival of the girls in
Victoria they will be received into excellent barracks, and
kept there free of expense until situations are provided
for them.

The reopening of the Consolidated Bank took
place yesterday, and all the arrangements were regarded
with satisfaction both at the City office in Threadneedle-
street and the West-end branch.

- -
The arrival is announced by special telegram of
the screw steamer Kaikonra at Melbourne on the sth of
May, the passage from Plymouth having been accom-
plished in fifty-one days, the quickest ever made. The
Kaikoura was to leave Sydney on the 15th of Jane, and
Wellington (New Zealand) on the Tara, with the first
malls for this country, rid Panama.
ILLNESS OF THE BISHOP OF HEZEFORD.—The
Bishop of Hereford (Dr. Hampden) is so seriously ill that
be is unable to proceed with the confirmations be an-
nounced for the present month. The duty will accord-
ingly be taken by the Bishop of Worcester, who will be
waisted by the Bishop of Lichfield.