The Express.
London, England, 1866-07-26 00:00:00

THI BOIW( CATHOLIC PRISON/IR%.

The Times believes that the Roman catholic' have fair
reason to complain of the practical operation of the pro-
vision of the Prison Ministers Act relative to the appoint-
ment of ministers of dissenting denominations as visiting
chaplains. The act was obviously intended to require the
appointment of dissenting chaplains wherever the number
of dissenting prisoners appeared sufficiently large to need
such special services, and it was only left to the justices to
decide when these circumstances arose. Instead of this,
it appears to be admitted that they have practically taken
on themselves to decide as to the good policy of applying
the principles of the act, so that the extent of religious
tolerance among the justices, instead of the circumstances
of the prison, has determined the treatment of the
dissenting prisoners. Re4trictions also are imposed as
to the mode and time of the visits of the priests' visits,
which render the nominal operation of the act
almost futile. Nevertheless, the Times agrees with Sir G.
Grey and Mr. Walpole that further legislative measures
had better not be attempted until the act has had a little
longer trial. At the same time, if the government object
to further legislation, they are bound to exert all the in-
fluence in their power to see that the act is duly carried
out. For this purpose, as Mr. Walpole reminds us, it is
always possible to draw the attention of the Home Secre-
tary to any case of hardship, and his remonstrances would
probably receive due attention from the justices.

the Court.

OSBORNE, Juts 25.

The Queen drove out in a carriage and four yes-
terday with Princess Louise and Prince Leopold, and her
Majesty walked in the grounds this morning with Princess
Louise and Printers Beatrice.
The Hon. Ludy Biddulph had the honour of dining with
the Queen and the Royal family yesterday.
Lady Waterpark left Osborne yesterday.

The Governor and the Deputy-Governor of the Bank of
England had an interview with the Right Hon. the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, at his official residence in Down-
ing-street, on Tuesday,
A deputation from the vestry of St. Marylebone, consisting
Mr. Ward, Mr. Nichols'', Mr. Bayne, and Mr. Chinnock,
had an interview with Lord J. Manners, at the office of
her Majesty's Works, be., yesterday, upon the subject of
the mounds in the Regent's-park. The deputation was in-
troduced by Mr. H. Lewis, M.P., and Mr. Chambers. M.P.,
and accompanied by Mr. Greenwell (vestry clerk), and Dr.
Whitmore (medical officer of health.)
A deputation of ratepayers in the Billericay union, con-
sisting of Captain Ruddle, Mr. John Rdgley, Mr. Robert
Pigott, Mr. Benjamin Baker, Mr. Taylor, and Mr. John
May, had an interview with the Right Hon. Gathorne
Hardy, at the office of the Poor-law Board, Whitehall, yes-
terday.

The Prince and Princess Christian of Schleswig-
Holstein (Princess Helena), with their suite are staying at
the Hotel des Brogues, Geneva, for some days.
The Right Honourable the Speaker gave his ses-
sional dinner to the principal clerks and officers of
the House of Commons last evening—namely :—Sir
Denis Le Merchant, Bart., Lord Charles Russell, Sir T.
ErSkine May, Mr. Henry Ley, Mr. Rickards, Captain
Gosaet, Mr. S. Smith, Mr. Frere, Mr. Howard, Mr. W.
Roes, Mr. Files, Mr. Hodgkin, Mr. Pole, Mr. Rowland,
Mr. Collins, Mr. Postlethwaite, Mr. H. B. Mayne, Mr,
Marriott, Mr. James Bull, Lient.-CoL Forester, Rev.
Dr. Merivale (chaplain), Mr. Alfred Denison (private
secretary).
The Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P., and
Mrs. Gladstone, and a select party dined with the Dowager
Duchess of Sutherland yesterday evening at her ladyship's
residence at Chiswick.
The Duke and Duchess of Somerset have left
town for Barka& Park, Bucks.
The Duke and Duchess of Manchester will enter-
tain a party at Kbnbolton Castle during the races at
Huntingdon.
The Committee of the House of Lords have
passed the bill for a new and independent line of railway
to Brighton.