The Express.
London, England, 1867-10-10 00:00:00

LYCEUM.

Tito Ft- TUE OP THE ',ILL.—TOE
LADY OF LYONS. Mr. Ventage, Moon. Jordan. Emery,
Calharm. Mellon. Daltn, Stuart, and Vranms ; Miners Ids-
worth) and Carlotta Loclerat. ilia Marston.

lEMAND.
Tats ETEELEO, OCR DOMMTICS. Mann. Panel's, Thorne,
and Jame*: MealaniesJohnatone and Weatherby.—After which
WILLIAM TILL WITH A V ENHEANCIL News Jams and
Thurae ; Miss Ada ilwanborough, dw.—And DEA, AS A YUaT.

HOLBORN.
Tni4 EVZSING,I DANDELION'S DODOKS.—And FOR LOVE.
Mesere 11. J. Montague, Price, Ganlen, Westland, and
Met.lantet Stephens, Henrade, Jenny Wilfuture, and C.
Saunders.—To conclude with A.N.B. Mr. J. W. Kay.

esrrnxxn.

Tars Ev[Krim. BREAK BUT Na BRID. Mrs. S. laae.—
The American Minstrels and Japanese Tummy; MM. Centel.
lier and isni, akn. nog Gymnasts.—With LION LIMB,
KING OF lIIE SOl-111 SEA ISLANDS.

HIGH WATILL AT LONDON BRIDOL
MN DAT —Morning. Oh. 0m.........Aftern000 noon.
ta-MOAAAN—IIornInA. Oh. 2.5m..--Altornoot. OR. 415•1.

LONDON, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10.

THE return of the Emperor of the FRENCH to
Paris will, it may be hoped, bring to a close the
period of uncertainty and alarm which has been
protracted by his silence, and which possibly
reflects his indecision. A judicious word will dis-
pel the apprehension of war and the perplexity
and fear which are only leas evils than war itself.
It is easy, we know, for observers to be statesmen,
and to pacify Europe, on paper, by the in-
auguration, on the same material, of a wise
and magnanimous policy. Nothing is more simple
than for us in England to renounce ambition for
the French people, to abandon in their name
jealousy of Italy or irritation at the aggrandise-
ment of Prussia, and to lay aside, on behalf of
the French peasantry and priesthood, all concern
for the temporal power of the POPE ; but those
who have these feelings, and who have them
strongly, find it hard to purge their
minds from every trace of them, and
rise to the calm heights of pure reason and cosmo-
politan philanthropy. Nevertheless, the EmPritoa,
if ho has that sagacity which is attributed to him,
and which has unquestionably been displayed at
many critical conjunctures of his reilim, must
know that the domestic difficulties of a policy of
acquiescence and non-interposition are less than
those in which an aggressive policy
would involve him. The united forces of
Italy and Prussia, backed by the moral support of
Europe, which would see in their alliance only the
determination of two great nations to complete
their unity, and live their life unhindered by
external constraint, would be far more difficult to
cope with than the discontent of French peasants
and priests, or the patriotic sensitiveness of
soldiers and literary men. The Extrzaoit's difficul-
ties are relative to Mil pretensions rather than to
anything in the nature of things. He has
affected to be the dictator of Europe, the arbiter
of the fates of nations, the builder up and the puller
down of States, diminishing this and aggrandizing
that at his pleasure ; and he has failed. He has
met with, not one discomfiture, but many. He
has pursued the igatis fatalm of French influence,
and it has led him into marsh and bog. Will he
persist in the wild-goose chase, or have the wis-
dom to renounce it? This is what Europe waits
to learn. The French nation is sensitive to
the ridicule of unsupported pretensions and the
mortification of baffled efforts. Abandon the pre-
tension and renounce the effort, and the humilia-
ting contrast with the actual performance
ceases. With a deficient harvest staring
France in the face, with commercial embar-
rassments slackening trade, and with the pro-
spect of a winter full of trial in the great towns of
the Empire, it is difficult to believe that its ruler
can court war, in circumstances which, regarded
from the military point of view alone, are full
of doubt and danger. A policy of pure renun-
ciation can seldom, indeed, be urged with success
upon any nation ; and least of all upon that which
is governed by NAPOLEON 111. But ambition
may be turned into a new channel, aspiration
may be directed to new objects. Liberty at
home may be made to take the place hither-
to occupied by the phantasm of ascen-
dency abroad. For influence and glory,
peace and prosperity may be substituted.
The history of France is full of these changing
moods of mind. The signs are not few that one
of these periodical revolutions of sentiment is
near. It is for the EMPEROR, if his better genius
have not deserted him, to precipitate and profit by
it. The crowning of the edifice yet remains to be
accomplished. To English apprehensions it might
seem that the political structure must have its
basis laid in liberty, if the nation is
to be truly free ; but if our neigh-
bours are content to accept freedom as
the ornamental addition, the graceful comple-
tion of the building, and not its deep founda-
tion, it is not our business to quarrel with
their taste. The measures which await the
consideration of the French Chambers at
their meeting in November, the Army Organi-
zation Bill and the Budget, will afford the EMPE-
ROR the opportunity of giving practical confirma-
tion to the pacific words which Europe hopes to
hear at a much earlier day. That the opportunity
may not be lost is the desire of all reasonable and
right-minded men in and out of France.

THE MEETING or PARLIAMENT. It is now
stated tb&t parliament will be summoned to meet on the
19th of November.

THY. QUZEN ry Tilt HIGHLANDS.—(hr the even-
ing of Saturday last (writes the Braemar correspondent of
the Seotsemte) her Majesty and party drove from Balmoral,
on the north ,ade of as river Dee, rid Invercauld House.
At a short distance beyond the royal visitors enjoyed a
picnic, and shortly after returned, rid Invercauld, to the
Highland palace. The evening was fine and dry, but ex-
tremely cold and chilly, with the mountains around
shrouded in snow almost to their bases.

ETON COLLEGE.—The school dispositions this
Michaelmas are as follows:—Captain of the school: T.
Prothere, K.S. Captain of the Oppidane--W. F. Tritton.
Captain of the eleven—C. Thornton. Captain of the
boate—T. K. M'Clintock Binsbum. Old chorus in the
eleven—C. J. Thornton, H. M. Walter, W. C. Higgins,
C. J. Ottaway, W. F. Tristan, M. Homer, W. H. -Hay,
P. Curry, and G. Harris. Old chorus in the eight—T.
K. M'Clintock Banbury, W. C. Calvert. and J. K Hoes.
Football— Keepers of the field : J. R. Sturgise and W.
C. Calvert. Keepers of the wall—J. D. Goldie and M.
Homer.