The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-29 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVZNING, APRIL 29, 18,

dividual enters into engagementi with others which
it may hereafter be found unprelteble to caw
out, the attempt to repudiate thrill is nothing
more nor less than sheer dishoneity. The only
thing to be done is first to ascertain that the pled,ge
has really been given, and, if so, to fulfil it /Fall
hazards.

It is especially desirable to hear both sides of
the question. There are three lines that form the
subject of controversy, but the Surrey and Sussex
project, from its larger expenditure, is the one
chiefly in dispute. Regarding the liability of the
Brighton on account of this railway, the late Chair-
man of that company confines himself to general
terms. He remarks, for example, on the advisa-
bility of getting rid of a nominally independent
concern, of efficiently controlling the expenditure,
and at the same time of keeping faith with inde-
pendent parties, who, without the concurrence or
assistance, and against the wishes of the (Brighton)
directors, promoted this particular undertaking.
The foregoing observations are also used with re-
ference to the other two lines. Taking the Surrey
and Sussex alone, what have the Committee of
Shareholders to say upon the subject

With respect to the Surrey and Sussex Railway, the
committee have ascertained from the directors that the
Company consists only of Brighton directors and their
nominees (clerks in the office, Re.), who are entered on the
register without having paid anything for their shares and
without having any individual interest in the railway,
except to serve the Brighton Company. Further, that the
subscribed capital of the Surrey and Sussex Company,
other than the 500,000/, subscribed by the Brighton Com-
pany, was " literally nothing," and that the Brighton
directors are also the directors of the Surrey and Sussex
Company, with the exception of Sir Frederick Arthur and
Mr. Coles Child, who are, however, the auditors of the
Surrey and Sussex Company. The directors also informed
the committee that they had, as Surrey and Sussex direc-
tors, entered into the contract with the contractors of the
Surrey and Sussex Railway, who considered that the direc-
tors were personally liable to them under such contract.

These are startling statements, the more so since
it would seem impossible to disprove them, unless
the company's books have been deliberately and
intentionally falsified. It is almost inconceivable
that the Committee of Investigation should have
made statements which, if wrong, would be not
mistakes, but positive untruths. Mr. NORTHALL
LAURIE would appear to be the proper person to
afford an explanation regarding a circumstance

which he omitted to mention in the letter to the
Brighton shareholders which he sent out two or
three weeks ago.

truth when we are told that a company has a clear half-
million or so remaining out of its earnings. There may
be liptilitiss" in prospect portending ruin to the surplus
a few yearikater ; and unless such obligations are explained
at present and averted for the futons there will be no
oonfldeasi:placed in:railway absolute, nor any CiIIUICE of
recovery given to ndlway property.
The Standard comments on the clan, observing that it
is one in which bare recital is the most emphatic con-
demnation.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

THE PROPOSED CONGREIK

The Jena nyti des Debats says :
The deepen.' of this day announoe ea very probable
the mekep at London of a conference of the powers who
signed the treaty of 1839, in which Freoce and Preside
would take part. According to one despatch Prusela
would make no previous engagement respecting the eva-
cuation and neutralisation of Luxemburg and the dis-
mantling of the fortress. On these point' she would only yield
on the condition of a guarantee of the European powers
Prussia therefore does not lend herself with a good grace
to an arrangement, which, however, is the desire of all
Europe ; for never would there be a more deplorable or •
more unpopular war than one on account of Luxemburg.
The right of Prussia to occupy the Duchy is not tenable
from any point of view. There are not two opinions on
this point amongst sensible persons. This being so, what
can Prussia gain, after a successful war in which she
has been fortunate beyond all expectation, by
plunging into new adventures at the risk of wearying for-
tune and compromising the results she has obtained? Is
not M. de Bismarck just now like a gambler who in the
intoxication of gain does not know where to stop
and stakes anew not only the unexpected winnings
of tha preceding game but the whole of his
fortune on the cast of the dice! But situa-
tions are stronger than men, and this consideration must
re-assure men's minds. The cry of reprobation which is
raised against this war with which Eurepe is threatened
will find an echo in the consciences of all.
The working men of France and Prussia ex-
change pacific addresses. The Queen of England
has written • most pressing letter to the King of Prussia,
in which she eloquently pleads the cause of Peace. If,
on the other hand, we regard the moderation of France,
we ask how is it possible that the Loudon conference will
not result in a pacific arrangement which will satisfy the
wishes of the peoples who are threatened with a war
which their sentiments and interests equally condemn ?
The Siecle says :

Although it may be premature to reckon absolutely on
the preservation of peace, it does not seem probable that
the Prussian government would have consented to the
assembly of • European conference and admitted the
principle of neutralisation unless they were sincerely re-
solved to come to a pacific settlement of the Luxemburg
question. We may, therefore, reasonably hope that the
imminent peril which threatened progress and humanity
will be avoided.

(Rgunnes nutatums.)
THE CANDIAN INSURRECTION.
ATHENS, APRIL 2.5.

Advices received here from Candice announce
that Omer Pacha had left Canea with a large force,
including artillery, and was marching upon Spha-
khia. Another Turkish general had set out for
Kisaamos by sea for the same destination, in order
to surround the insurgents.

AMERICA.

QUEENSTOWN, Apan. 29.

The Cunard extra steamship Tripoli, from New
York, arrived here at 12.10 a.m. to-day with 34
passengers, including 9 cabin. She landed 5 pas-
sengers, and proceeded for Liverpool at 12.30 a.m.
All well.

)N, Aram 29.

The North German Lloyd's steamer Hermann,
Captain Wenke, from New York, has arrived with
189 passengers for this port, Havre, and Bremen ;
27 sacks of mails for London, and 119,422 dols.,
also for London.
The Hermann left New York on the 18th inst.
On the 26th in lat. 48.34, long. 20.1, passed the
North German Lloyd's steamer Union, bound for
New York, and on the 27th in tat. 49.30, long.
14.20, spoke the English barque Economist from
Milford Haven, bound west.
NEW YORK, APRIL 18, MORNING.

General Sheridan is reported to intend ordering several
participants in the New Orleans riots to be tried by mili-
tary commission.

A national scientific expedition to explore Rumba's-
America is being organised at Washington.
Advice. received here from Ver► Crux to the 17th inst.
state the city is still closely besieged. According to impe-
rial account, Miramon, after defeating Esoobedo, marched
upon Guadalajara. Esoobedo was besieged in San Luis by
Mejia.

Republican accounts Mate that Porfirio Dias had cap-
tured Puebla. The Emperor Maximilian attempted to
break the siege of Queretaro, but was defeated, anti the
town is still besieged. Juarez had ordered that the Em-
peror, if captured, should be treated ac a prisoner of war,
with the consideration due to unsuccessful valour. An
American steamer has arrived at Tampico equipped as a
republican man-of-war.

- .
will be no cajderence at all. Prussia will certainly
not withdraw from lAxemburg until after the de-
cision of the eonference.

The salons of the British embassy were thrown
open last evening for the first time this year.
Owing to the Iting stay of Lord and Lady Cowley
in England, her ladyship's receptions, of which
this was the Cost of a series, are given later than
usual. The rooms were greatly thronged, not-
withstanding the counter attraction of a grand
ball at Madame Rouher's. Among the oom-
pany were the Duke of Cleveland, the Earl
and Countess of Dudley, Viscount Sydney,
Lord Royston, Lord and Lady Dangan, tho
Duchess of Manchester, Mr. Chadwick, Mr. and
Miss Brookfield, Marshal Canrobert, General
Fleury, the Marquis and Marquise de Cadorre,
the Duke de Persigny, M. Drouyn de Lhuys, the
Marquis and Marquise de Galliffet, the Pope's
Nuncio, the Turkish Ambassador, the Italian Am-
bassador, Chevalier Nigra, General Dix and Miss
Dix, Colonel Hoffmann, First Attache of the
American Legation, and Mrs. Hoffmann, and a
very large gathering of the Corps Diplomatique.

The little Bourse on the Boulevards more than
maintained the rise of yesterday. Business in the,
Rente was done at 68fr. 20e.

THE EMPEROR bfAXIMILIAN AND THE
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT.

President Johnson has replied to the resolution
of the Senate requesting him to communicate to that body
—if, in his opinion, not incompatible with the public into-
reste—a copy of any recent correspondence which may have
taken place on the subject of prisoners of war taken by
belligerents in the Mexican republic. The following are
the papers enclosed:
"THE AUSTRIAN AMBARRADOR TO MR. SEWARD.
"Washington, April 5, 1867.

- . -
" Mr. Secretary of State,—l have just received a tele-
graphic despatch from my court, on the subject of which
I should be happy to speak with you. May I ask you to
fix the hour when I can have the honour of seeing you to-
morrow f—l remain, Mr. Secretary, with the highest con-
sideration, your obedient servant, " WYDENBRUCC."
" Washington, April 6, 1867.
" Pro oteutoria—The Emperor of Austria, my gracious
sovereign, has been informed that his brother is sur
rounded in Queretaro by the liberals. The fate of the
prisoners after the battle of Zacatecas makes the Emperor
anxious for his brother's safety, should he fall into the
hands of the liberals. I receivedyesterday *telegram from my
court, instructing me to speak on the subject with Mr. Secre-
tary of State, and to see if you would not be disposed to
use your influence with Juarez to urge him to respect, in
finch an eventuality, the person of my Emperor's brother.
Of course such a friendly intervention would also benefit
the other eventual prisoners, particularly the foreigners.
We hesitate the less to make this application to you,
Mr. Secretary, not only because we have confidence in the
friendliness of the American government, but because
this government seems to have a right to demand from
Juarez to respect prisoners of war, as it is in great mea-
sure to the moral support of the American government that
the liberal party in Mexico owes its present successes.

WYDINBRUCK."
" NR. SEAWARD TO THE AUSTRIAN AMBAARADOR.
" Department of State, Washington, April 6.

" My Dear Count Wydenbruck—With the President's
approval I have this morning transmitted by telegraph a
despatch to Mr. Campbell, a copy of which I place in your
hands. I have also communicated to Mr. Romero, the
Mexican minister plenipotentiary here, the sentiments of
this government in regard to the exigency apprehended in
Mexico.—l am, my dear Count Wydenbruck, very faith.
fully yours, " We. H. SeWARD.
"To Count Wydenbruok, Washington, D.C."

- .
" MR. SEWARD'S DESPATCH TO MINISTER CAMPBELL.

" Department of State, Washington, April 6, 1867.
"To Mr. L. D. Campbell, United States Minister to
Mexico, St. Charlie Hotel, New Orleans, La.

" The capture of the Prince Maximilian in Queretaro
by the republican armies seems probable. The reported
severity practised on the prisoners taken et Zacatecu
excites apprehension that similar severity may be prac-
tised in the case of the Prince and his alien troops.
Such severities would be injurious to the national cause of
Mexico, and to the republican system throughout the
world. You will communicate to President Juarez
promptly, and by effectual means, the desire of this
government that in case of capture, the Prince and his
supporters may receive the humane treatment accorded by
civilised nations to prisoners of war. The expense of
making the communication to President Juarez will be
defrayed by this department.—l am, Ize.,

" Wm. H. SsmAzu."
" MINIMUM cemrsugs UPLY TO MR. BEWAIL).
" New Orleans, April 8, 18b7.

" Ron. W. H. Seward, Secretary of State;l started •
messenger for San Luis Potosi, with despatches this A.M.,to
Galveston by rail and steamer, thence to Tampico by fast
despatch steamer Blackbird. I have sent you full despatch
by mail. " Lzwis D. CAMPBILL."