The Express.
London, England, 1866-12-25 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

The experiment experiment of a full dress rehearsal on
Christmas-eve of the entertainments of Boxing-day was
eminently successful yesterday, and attracted an immense
crowd to the palace. Both railways ran extra trains all
the morning, and in addition there was a very consl
ideraPalace
ble
amount of omnibus and cab traffic. The Crysta
has, at different periods of its existence, and as some new
phase of its fitness has developed itself, been pronounced
to be the best place in the world for all sorts of entertain-
ments ; and this year it has proved to demonstration that
it is the most suitable of all places, except home, in
which to celebrate Christmas. It is so well-roofed in
that it defies the rain and the snow, when there is any,
and the temperature is kept so even and comfortable
inside that one might fancy himself enjoying a Mediterra-
nean winter without any fear of a terrible " mistral" rush-
ing down from the Norwood Alps to disturb his equani-
mity. Within, it is as green as if it were late sprinst gor
of
early summer, and looks, in fact, like a very fore
Christmas trees, with the great monarch of the woods
himself standing proudly at the top of the nave, covered
with flags and pennons and guidons, and etrennes of
glistening gold and silver, all of which his
majesty proposes to distribute generously amongst
his loyal and loving subjects before the end of the week.
A fancy fair runs down the centre of the grove, and the
wood nymphs who minister there are ready to dispose of
an incalculable variety of toys and other fancy articles on
the most reasonable tenns. lastly, and not least impor-
tant, the refreshment department has been put for the
week on the full war to the knife-and-fork establish-
ment. Sirloins of beef, mighty hams, innumerable pork
pies and immeasurable beer, have been laid in, and a new
tariff has been published which brings all these luxurious
comforts within the means of the poorest holiday visitor
to the palace.
The " bill" of yesterday's performances was rich in in-
finite variety. There wait first a stirring overture well
performed by Mr. Manna and his orchestra, followed by
the surprising contortions of Carl the Woodrous, Dippclo
the Marvellous, Byron the Graceful, and funny little
Jean, all of which human prodigies fully impressed the spec-
tators that they belonged to a new variety of the inverts
brata which had been secured for Christina' by the inde-
fatigable Mr. Rowley. Then there were the Canine
Comedians, one of which, who personated a young lady in
an expansive crinoline, elicited shouts of laughter. After
this came Mr. E. Marshall's sensational drama, which is
beyond criticism, and must be seen to be appreciated ; and
finally we had the new Christmas pantomime, the first
attempt of the kind at the Crystal Palace, and which was
so decided a success as to be entitled to a paragraph to
itself.
In Liege min maier ; or, Harlequin King Spider and
the Knight ,f the Nitro. Shidd, Mr. Nelson Lee has
attempted no violent innovation. Mindful of the signal
failure that some years since attended the attempt of a
club of our most distinguished wits and dramatic writers
to " improve " the pantomime and cheat the children of
their traditional sensations, Mr. Lee has been wisely con-
tent to walk in the old ways of the constitution, and he
has entirely succeeded in consequence. The dangerous
situation of Miss Muffit, when surrounded in her
cottage by the Spider King and his household troops:
excited the liveliest sympathy amongst the juveniles ;
and laughs of almost ferocious joy rang through the
building when this terrible king was discomfited in an
arduous broad-sword combat, by the gftllant Prince
Peerless, the knight of the silver shield. Simple Simon,
the knight's faithful squire, also became at once a popular
favourite ; but how could he be otherwise, seeing the zeal
with which he served his brilliant young master, and the
vigour with which be served out any one else, whether
spider or demon, who came in his way. King Spider lost
nothing of his innate ferocity in the hands of Mr. Randall;
nor was it to be wondered that he should fall in love with
Miss Muffit, seeing how gracefully that persecuted young
lady was represented by Miss Lizzie Marshall. The
Spider King carries Miss Muffit off to his retreat. Prince
Peerless carries her away again. There is a collision
between the rival interests in an enchanted forest, and
various other exciting situations, all of which terminate in
the gorgeous transformation scene to which we have
already made some allusion. The scene worked splen-
didly yesterday, and when a mass of unruly clouds, that
stuck fast half-way up, can be got under better command,
we have no doubt but that this scene will bear a compari-
son with any transformation scene in London. There was
some capital fun, and a jolly old-fashioned pantomimic
row—plenty of turnips, carrots, and discomfited policemen
in the harlequinade ; and the entertainment terminated,
amid shouts of applause, iu a second many-coloured blaze
~. of triumph. A word for the music. It was well selected,
and well played—both much better done than we have
known at very important theatres in town.
liar to

LORD ST. LEOPARDS.—We have great satisfac.
Lion in stating that the announcement of the death of
Lord St. Leonard' was incorrect. The manner in which we
were led into a participation in circulating the statement
will be understood on a perusal of the following letter which
we have received from a member of his lordship's family :
" Stspeley House, Nantwich, 22nd Dec. is66.—l led you
into a mistake that I fell into about Lord St. Leonardo'
death. On arriving here just now, I found that it was his
eldest son, Henry sitgden, who was dead. The telegram
misled both my wife and myself as it was from Miss
Sug,den (no direction) :—' Papa died to-night.' We never
thought of but one Miss Sugden."—Dublin Evening Mail.
TAUNTON AGRICULTURAL A.SSOCIATION. —The
annual meeting and dinner of the members of the above
association took place on Saturday, under the presidency
of Mr. E. A. Sandford. At the dinner the chairman was
supported by Sir Alex. Hood, Bart, M.P., and Mr. W.
Gore Langton, M.P. After the loyal and constitutional
toasts, the chairman proposed " The Blembeis of the
Western Division of the County of Somerset." Sir
Alexander Hood, in responding, expressed the satisfaction
he felt that, although they bad not that day the usual at-
traction of a cattle show in Taunton, Somerset had distin-
guished itself at the Smithfield Club Cattle Show, and that
Mr. Farthing, a tenant of his father-in-law, had brought home
with hint five prizes. The present government were taking
every precaution against the disease being re-imported. and
the agriculturistsof England mustbe contented to bear those
restrictions which were so necessary at the present moment
to eradicate the disease. He rejoiced to see that the
events of the present moment were bringing men of mode-
rate opinioss together, and he hoped that junction would
continue to be formed. Sir Alexander next alluded to
the overthrow of Austria by Prussia, which had led to a
united Italy and a united Germany, and which, in its re-
sult, more nearly balanced power, which afforded an
additional security to the peace of Europe. It would not
do, however, for England not to take a lesson hom what
bad occurred. She should be prepared, in case of sudden
attack, to hold her own, without trusting to the friendly
interference of other nations. Besides looking to the
military and naval forces of the country, there was one
thing of paramount importance, viz., that they should be a
united, contented, and loyal people. He trusted that the
question which had excited so much interest in some parts
of England would be treated in the next session of parlia-
ment in a large, wide, and liberal spirit, such as would be
consistent with the best interests of the country. He aid
not himself think that the present parliament would last
long, perhaps not after next autumn. In conclusion, Sir
Alexander intimated that at the next election it was not
his intention to ask for a renewal of that confidence now
reposed in him, by his constituency, an announcement that
was quite unexpected, and created some surprise. Mr.
Langton, M.P., also briefly responded.

(FROM 01:111 OWN comeoNDm.)
FAItIS, MONDAY Evmcc.
To an ordinary reader, the speeches exchanged
between the Emperor and General Dix on the
occasion of the presentation of his letters of cre-
dence by the new American plenipotentiary will
probably appear to consist of mere matter of course
compliments, banatites, befitting the occasion.l And
I think the ordinary reader will be right.
see in the speeches nothing angular, nothing
eailla at; nevertheless the Patric of this evening
thinks it decent and expedient to be satirical
upon General Dix. It says that his speech was
"overlaid with general considerations and those
elastic philosophical maxims with which American
politicians love to amplify their ideas." It goes
on to say that the note in the Maniteur, publishee.
immediately at the foot of the report of General
Dix's interview with the Emperor, and stating
that the French government had no imowledge of the
despatch sent by Mr. Seward to Mr. Bigelow by the
Atlantic cable, and dated Nov. 23, is a " significant
commentary upon the compliments exchanged on
the occasion of General Dix's reception." The
Patric renders a bad service to the government by
thus insinuating that the Emperor meant to snub
the United States government at the moment when
he assured its new representative of his desire to
maintain the most friendly relations. You are
already aware that the sole reason why the despatch
which the French government " knows nothing
about" was not presented is that Mr. Bigelow, know-
ing that he had obtained everything required in that
despatch, and more, took upon himself not to pre-
sent it, because under the circumstances it was un-
necessary. The Arcuir National pointedly observes
that while the Maniteur speaks
of the scores
of despatches, of which the one not presented forms
part, as " very incomplete," it neglects to supply
the public with a correct version. All this is very
puerile. The French government journals take the
unnecessary trouble of trying to keep a portion of the
truth from ignorant French readers. But every-
body acquainted with politics knows that the rea-
son why there is really no subject of difference
between France and the United States on the sub-
ject of Mexico is that France has been obliged to
give way altogether, and that the United States
has nothing more to ask for.
An accident occurred yesterday on the railway
from Dijon to Besangon, by which twelve persons
were killed and twenty wounded. Nu further par-
ticulars are yet known.

ITALY.

(PROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDSNT.)
FLORENCE, Dec. 21.
The Chamber of Deputies has not yet completed
the stupidly tedious work of electing its officers.
With the exception of the President, the selec-
tion of these—vice-presidents, (timothy, secre-
taries, and what not—is a matter of too little
moment to be of interest beyond the immediate
precincts of the Florentine political world. These
elections are merely little preliminary trials of
party strength, which might be tried to much
better purpose by a debate on any one of the. im-
portant subjects that are awaiang the legislation of
the Chamber. It is vain, however, to expect that
these little personal contests should not have a
greater degree of interest than could be wished for
such a body as the Italian Chamber ; and our
own House would not probably show itself in a
similar case above a similar reproach. But the
mode of election, the necessity of an absolute majo-
rity of the votes given, and failing this the recourse
to a subsequent balloting, together with the tedious
process of voting by the roll-call of the entire
Chamber, make this business of completing the
" personale " of the Parliament a terribly long and
time-consuming affair. It was quite a matter of
course that Signor Mari, the late president, and
the government candidate, should be easily elected.
The compact mass of Venetian votes, added to the
previous somewhat shaky government majority,
renders it by far the most powerful section of the
Chamber.
1 have reason to believe that the negotiations at
Rome are affording some important result ; but
what that may be I cannot pretend to tell you.
The arrival of despatches from Rome was
followed by an immediate assembling of the Minis-
ters, presided over by the King at a sitting
which lasted far into the night ; and on the fol-
lowing morning (yesterday) a courier started with
despatches for the Eternal City. The corre-
spondents of Tuscan papers at Rome declare that
the more Italy is prepared to concede the more
Antonelli increases his demands ; but I am inclined
to think that all this is mere guesswork. If it is
true that the Cardinal Secretary of State really
intends to make a difficulty of the incontcranfrato
of the episcopal property, he is indeed asking for'
the top brick of the chimney, which Italy cannot
give him. Perhaps fill the readers of the
News are not aware of the meaning of iiieu((e.(•(l
motto. These Latin tongues lend themselves to
such delicate euphuisms. This in-chambering
of the property of the bishops means simply II
the taking possession of it by the State—
(not, of course, without supplying the place
of the incomes so taken away by an
arrangement which will make the bishops sti-
pendiaries of the State). !And this is a measure
which, I think, no amount of eagerness on the part
of the Italian government to conciliate the Roman
court will induce it to give up.
rsthuilsZite h theeintent Italianof
It is rumoured that the object of General
disarm i s ;
to
an P
FigoevuerYmnifernrest teiontce h
to ere
France in giving such counsel is the expectation of
being able to avail herself of the forces of Italy in
an expected struggle with Prussia—Russia and
Prussia to be arrayed against Austria, France, and
Italy. lam not sufficiently a pessimist to believe
in such a catastrophe. That any counsel which
should seek to persuade Italy to keep on
foot for an hour longer than is unavoidable
the military force which is rapidly exhaust-
big her vital forces would be beyond all
else pernicious and fatal—that, in case so great a