The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-09 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION.

The following is an extract from the oxamina-
tion of the Bey. A. 1). Wagner's evidence before the
Ritual Commission :

Archbishop of Canterbury—You @peke of confession ; I
think you acknowledge you practise confession !—Yes ; I
am always at the church for three days a week during
certain hours for the purpose of hearing confessions, or of
giving spiritual advice, as the case may be.
Have you a confessional?—No, I hear them is the
vestry.
Do you require them to confess periodically—l do not
require anybody to *mile's. It is quite voluntary on the
part of everyone.
Do you exhort them to confess ?—I have spoken of it as
a great spiritual blessing, and advised people to confess.
Mr. J. Abel Smith—Are penances imposed!- Whenever
a person makes a confession, of course there is always some
penance enjoined; it may be saying a prayer. It usually
would be saying some one or two prayers. It would be
one's duty to impose some penance or other.
Mr. Beresfordliope—Do you impose any penance involv-
ing corporal pain?—lt is not, perhaps, a question one ought
to speak about. I have never myself, certainly, imposed
any such penance, but I cannot say as to others.
Earl of Hartnwby—What form of absolution do you use
—The one in the N natation of the Siok.

ifr:i.ii;lirniic-I;Oi.xiiaWaysWeer. a surplice when
you receive confession !—Always, and a stole.

THE PROPOSED V OLC NTEER BA LL. —The volunteer
ball, which bad been advertised for the 11th inst. at the
Agricultural-hall, at Islington, is fixed to take place on
Wednesday, the 25th inst. This has arisen from the filing
of an injunction on the part of the Agricultural-ball Com-
pany against the Messrs. J. Defries and Sons, as lessees, to
prevent such ball taking place. The Agricultural-hall at
Islington was leased for the purpose of giving • grand re-
ception ball and concert to the Belgians who recently
visited this country, and also for • subsequent series
of concerts and balls, the ball company to be paid, in
addition to a sum down, by • per centage or royalty
upon all tickets sold or moneys taken. In accord-
mice with the programme, the Messrs. Defries, who
fitted up and decorated the ball, and who carried
out the Belgian ball and first concert under contract
with the Belgian Reception Committee, under arrange-
ment with a special volunteer committee announced a
national volunteer ball to take place at the Agricultural-
hall, under the patronage of Prince Teck, the Secretary
of State for War, and • number of military and volunteer
authorities. The Agricultural-hall Company, however,
have no license for dancing, and have given notice of their
intention to make an application to the next October am
*dons for • dancing as well as music license. This being
the came, they applied for an injunction to restrain the
Messrs. Defries from holding this volunteer ball, on
the alleged pound that the hall not possessing a dancing
license, the interest; of the company would be prejudiced
in such application for a dancing license, were they to
permit this iball to take place without such license. The
reply to this was that, if there was any illegality in the
matter, the company had already infringed the law by per-
mitting the Belgian ball to take place without a dancing
license. The application for the injunction having taken
place during vacation, was appointed by Vice-Chancellor
Malin. to be heard at the Angel Inn, Godalming, Surrey,
on Thursday last. The Agricultural Hall Company were
represented by Mr. Napier Higgins, and the defendants by
Mr. Swanston. Mr. Higgins remarked that the Hall Com-
pany did not stand upon their strict rights in refusing to
permit the Belgian Ball, because they considered it a
national affair, and that it was patronised by all the prin-
cipal authorities, which was not the case with respect to
theproposed volunteer ball. He even went so far as to assert
that the lists of patrons published were fictitious, and if
they were not they were persons of no importance. Mr.
Swanston, to rebut and show the incorrectness of this state-
ment, handed in the letters of the patrons placing their
names on the lists, including those of Prince Tech the
Secretary and Under-Secretary of State for War ; Colonel
Erskine, Inspector-General of Volunteers ; the hand-
writing of some of which the Vice-Chancellor personally
raised. In reply to the allegation that the permitting
this would prejudice the chance of the hall company in
obtaining a dancing license at the quarter sessions, the
counsel for the defendants banded to the Vice-Chancellor
letters signed by Mr. H. Povniall, Sir W. H. Bodkin,
assistant-judge, and nearly 50 other county magistrates,
expressing their approval of the volunteer ball being
held. The Vice Chancellor, upon this evidence,
expressed his opinion that this volunteer ball was as
much a national affair as the Belgian ball, and, being
under the same management, ought to take place. He,
therefore, not only declined to grant the injunction, but
desired that his opinion should be expressed to Sir It.
MainclirwrwEtt MOVEMENTS.—On Saturday after-
noon the let Surrey Artillery Volunteer Corps, under the
command of Colonel Durnford,. was officially inspected on
Tooting-common. The inspecting officer expressed his full
satisfaction with all he had witnessed, and said he should
have the pleasure of reporting in favourable terms to the
War-office, at the same time desiring the commanding
officer so to report the brigade. The St. George's Rifles on
Saturday competed for the battalion prizes at Wormholt
Scrubbs. There were four series, and the usual "un-
known prizea," and the shooting lasted the whole day.
The prizes are contributed by the wealthy inhabitants of
the district represented by the corps. It was officially
notified to the Finsbury corps on Saturday that the
Queen has been pleased to approve of Captain Williams,
an officer who has seen urnse abroad in the army, being
the future lieutenant-colonel of the corps. Colonel Wil-
liams was captain of the English Twenty when rifle-shoot-
ing was young, and be takes the command of the corps
with the warm approval of every member. He will he
officially inducted into the command of next Saturday
evening, when the corps %gin musters after the holidays.
OPENING OP THE MIDLAND EXTENSION RAIL-
WAY.—The Midland Extension Railway, from Bedford to
London, which has been in course of construction for the
last three years, will be opened for goods traffic today. It
is expected that an immense amount of merchandise will
at once pass over it, and the company have accordingly
made every arrangement for the vast business they will
have to deal with. Yesterday a small special train left the
St. Pancras goods depot at a little after twelve o'clock,
and proceeded to Bedford, for the purpose of practically
familiarising the working officials of the new line with the
duties they will have to perform, more especially in con-
nection with the signals. The engine, a very powerful
one, was driveniby hlr. Jackson, locomotive manager at
the St. Pancras station, and in the train there were Mr.
E. M. Needham, the traffic manager ; Mr. Burn, locomotive
manager; Mr. Rams, locomotive superintendent; Mr.
Boylan, goods manager of the London district ; Mr. Har-
rison, of Derby ; Mr. Ralph Firbank, representing Mews.
Firbank and Co., contractors for a portion of the works;
Mr. Frederic Campion. the resident engineer ; and a
number of guards and engine drivers. The train
proceeded at a rapid rate past the stations in
course of construction at Camden-town, Kentizh-
Town, and Haverstoek-hill, and through the tun-
nel, upwards of a mile in length, which runs
under Hampstead. At the Finehley-road the open country
is reached, and from that point the line traverses one of
the most picturesque districts out of London. There are
stations at Child's-hill, Hendon, Mill-hill, Entree, Alden-
ham, St. Albans, Harpenden, Luton, Leegrave, Harling-
ton, and Amptbill, and at all of these the train was
stoPped, and the signals carefully examined. Some parts
of the permanent way have only been finished during the
last week, but the travelling throughout was remarkably
smooth, and the line was declared by those who passed
over it to be of admirable construction, end quite
ready for the vast amount of traffic which it is
about to receive. As already announced, the passenger
traffic cannot yet be accommodated, but from the rapid
Ormaking at all the stations and at the terminus,
s-cress, it is thought that the complete opening of
the extension line will take place early next year. It will
open up • country but little known to Londoners, and
between the metropolis and Bedford there will be but two
tunnels, an advantage which season ticket holders will not
fail to appreciate. The train reached Bedford at about
half-past four in the afternoon, and after a abort stay
returned to town, arriving at St. Pancras at about
seven o'clock. Some part of the ground was run over atthe
rate of about forty miles an hour.
THE LATE FATAL VOYAGE ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.
—A Wexford correspondent, writing on Friday, says:—
"The adventurous little craft John T. Ford, from Bel-
timers to Paris, rid Havre, the story of whose disastrous
voyage has already appeared, came ashore at Tactirashane,
on the southern coast of this county, this morning. The
papers, which were enveloped in • tin case, remain tin-
injured. The vessel, notwithstanding the great knocking
about to which she has evidently been subjected, still
retains one mast standing, and her hull holds firmly to-
gether. This tiny craft, as already mentioned, is
only 2j tons burden. Her measurement is 2415
feet in length, 7.40 in breadth, and 215 in
depth. She was rigged as a schooner, and has a
sharp stern and figure-head. The following note, written
in ink on a piece of ruled paper, was picked up this morn-
ing by Richard M'Bride, west of the Forlorn Point, about
ten miles westward of where the vessel came ashore :
Friday, Friday, 23rd August..—Andrew Armstrong was taken off
the wreck of the John T. Ford, and has gone to Bombay
in the Aerolite.—R. E. ALLEYNE. Old Head, Mamie,
N.N.W. 39 miles.' The letter floated ashore in • bottle.
The tin ease which contained the ship's papers enclosed
also several letters from officers on board H.M.S. Royal
Alfred, lying at Halifax, and some photographs. They are
thoroughly wet, but are, notwithstanding, in excellent
preservation."
FIRE AT BIRNINGHA M. —On Saturday morning,
between five and six o'clock, a fire was discovered on the
premieesof Mesas. Tarpleeand Gardner, timber-merchants,
Bukerville-place. It was nearly three hours before it was
got completely under. The amount of property destroyed
has been estimated at 3,090/.
CANDIDATE POE A MEDAL.—On Saturday, a lady
wad standing on one of the breakwaters at Margate when
she suddenly fell into the sea. She sank twice before any
assistance could be rendered, when Mr. James Toole, son
of Mr. Frank Toole, the toutmuter, jumped in and gal-
lantly rescued her as ahe was sinking, and conveyed her
on shore.

The 2nd battalion 60th Rifles embark this day
at Portsmouth on board the steam transport Crocodile for
Calcutta. Several other officers proceed in the same ship
to joie their respective corps.