The Express.
London, England, 1867-08-08 00:00:00

Eft, el:Pre/41i*

TO 00111t6PONDENTS.
•dtaettaementa Intended for " The Repress," London Evening
Paper, meat he at the Oleo', 10, Bouverle-atreet, by Two
nisiock on the day of publication.

DRURY LANE.
Tlll9 EtStem, THAT RASCAL JACK. Meson. Rowe and
Neville : Mesdames Allem end Thompson—To conclude with
THZ GREAT CITY. Ileum Cowper, M'lntyre. Villiers, Irving,
Zoo" L. RignohLt Werner ; Mesdames Robertson & La There.

HAYMARKET.
Tate Evanum THE LOVE CHASE. Mews. Chippendale.
Howe. R.gers. Kendal, Clarke, Weatherby, de.; Mesdames
Redorirk, Chippendale, Bute, Re.—TO PARIS AND BACK
Melt Es.—And TUB KIM, AND HOW TO USE IT.

PIIHNCIEWIL
TRH Evelyn.", THE DAY AYEEE THE WEDDING.—THE
MAN tY AIRLIE. James Harebell, Mr. Herman Vssia ; Ileum
K Price. Forrester, Gresham, Marken, and Ellertoo ; Misses E.
Nell Moore. i.e.—And THE CLUCILMAKU3 HAT.

Tim EVENTIIO, REVERSES. Mew. Emery, Patella, Rob-
taro, and s.asteavagE : Mesdames Ada Swarbornagb sad John-
nie** —And TIIE LATEST EDITION Or YEA DIAVOLO.
Mews. Thorpe t Jams; Meadows* Molt, Newton, Ac.

ERITANNIAL
TIM MIMS, SCARLET DICE; OR. THE ROAD AND ITS
RIDERS.—The Champion Skaters; Mr. C. Woodman; Little
I.evittr. Jessie Nene; and Mr. J. Humpton.—And JACE 0'
LANTERN. Mr. Reynolds and Miss S. Mites.

HIGH WAIL! AT LONDON BILIDOC.
11/18 DAT —Mori:deg, 711. 455.... —Afternoon, 811. Ms.
to-Kozsow—Mornbag. bli. 47w.._..Aftseuook oh. Zuo.

LONDON, THURSDAY, AUGUST 8.

THE decision of Sir JANIS WILDS pronouncing
against the validity of the will of Mrs. ANN
THWAYTES, th ,,h its soundness will scarcely be
disputed, reveals a story of domestic life more in-
teresting and amusing than many a sensation
novel. Mrs. THWAYTES had been a widow from
the year 1834, and since that time her affairs
were managed by Mr. SAMUEL SMITH, who lived
in the house with her, while his brother, Dr.
SMITH, a medical man, came to see her every fort-
night, and, besides, received her dividends and
paid them into her bankers'. These two gentle-
men Mrs. THWAYTES made her residuary legatees,
and as the property disposed of amounted to
400,0001., the importance of the case in a mere
pecuniary point of view is very considerable.
We do not propose at present to enter into any
discussion as to the principles of the which
apply to such cases. The simple question was,
whether Mrs. TawaYTES was of " sound and dis-
" posing mind, memory, and understanding " at
the time she made her will. There is no country
in the world, said the Judge, in which the law per-
mits a larger exercise of volition in the disposal of
property after death than in England ; but it re-
quires, as a condition, that this volition should be
that of a mind of natural capacity, not unduly
impaired by age, enfeebled by illness, or tailded
by nambid influence. The question, in fact, came
to this, whether Mrs. Tuwarrits' mind was tainted
by morbid influence ; and the test which Sir
JAMES WILDE applied in order to determine this
was to compare the sayings and doings of Mrs.
THWAYTES with those of persons notoriously sane
and notoriously insane, and by this means to
arrive at an opinion as to her sanity or insanity.
So far as the ideas of Mrs. THWAYTES were con-
cerned, they were no doubt sufficiently eccentric
and extravagant. According to this lady, she had
constant and direct communication with Coo ; she
was the Holy Ghost, Dr. Sarrrir was the Father,
and with some other person they constituted the
Trinity. Through her agency came epidemic
diseases such as cholera and influenza. GOD said,
" Turn on the screw," and the cholera came
" Turn it again," and it ceased. After hearing a
sermon on the Holy Ghost at Canterbury, on
nearly the only occasion she ever went to church,
she said, " The man little thought who I was."
And, again, " People wonder why I do not go to
" church. They do not know that I am immortal;
s` that I am equal with GOD." Nor were her
extravagances confined to mere ideas. She
believed, indeed, that the final judgment of
man would take place in her drawing-room,
and that she would sit there in judgment on her
fellow-creatures with the CaLtroa. But, acting
upon this notion, her drawing-room in Hyde-park-
gardens was furnished at the expense of 15,0001.,
for no other occasion than the Day of Judgment,
nor was it ever brought into use, but was carefully
kept for that great event. Indeed, a foreman of
Messrs. GILLOW received an annuity of 501. for
looking after this room. Besides this, a tiara of
diamonds was bought, which was never worn, but
kept in reserve for the same " august occasion."
It is remarkable, however, that although Mrs.
THWAYTES was steeped to the lips in re-
ligious delusions, she was by no means
an enthusiast. She preached no faith ;
she held forth to the world no doctrines ; she
sought no converts. On the contrary, she never
went to church ; she had no intercourse with
ministers of religion ; and was almost wholly
without religious literature. Indeed, she is de-
scribed as extremely ignorant on religious subjects,
though her character was that of a shrewd calculating
woman. So far from being a headstrong enthusiast,
she never broached her peculiar notions except
in confidential talk, and if any one attempted to
dispute with her, she simply dropped the subject.
She led a most regular life ; took regularly an
early dinner ; an equally regular drive ;
her afternoon sleep ; her game at whist in
the evening; and then went early to bed. There
have, no doubt, bean religious enthusimts who
have proved themselves eminently capable of man-
aging their sublunary affairs, but Mrs. THWAYTEB
was no religious enthusiast. Yet if this lady was so
extravagant in her views as to the next world, how
did she conduct herself in matters which concern
the present ? Here was a woman who, during 32
years, was in possession of an enormous property.
How did she manage that property ? For it m a;
be admitted that, if during so long a time she
conducted herself with propriety and prudence,
discharged all her ordinary duties, and exhibited
neither excess nor extravagance, she could
scarcely have been afflicted with mental disease.
This question opens perhaps the most mysterious
difficulty in the case. When Mr. TewerrEs died
in 1834, be left his wife a fortune of half a
million. Now, it was distinctly proved to the
Court that a sum not exceeding 3,0001. must have
covered all her annual expenses. A certain amount
of her income is accounted for by the 2,0001. a
year she gave to Dr. SMITH, and the 400/. a year
to his brother, and by other known items. But,
as Sir JAMES WILDE asked, "What became of the
" rest? On what objects was it bestowed?"
No explanation on this point was furnished.
It was established beyond doubt that at her
death Mrs. THWAYTES did not leave a six-
pence more than she had received thirty-two years
before from her husband. The only persons who
could throw any light on this interesting subject
were Dr. SMITH and his brother. But the in-

formation «hich they vouchsafed, and 'the books
which they produced, were not so explicit ishalght
have been desired. On the other hand, the ab-
sence of such evidence, and the impossibility of
accounting for the fact that the capital had not
increased, furnish conclusive proof that Mrs.
TawsrrEs was either ludicrously extravagant or
had been judiciously and periodically drained
of her fortune by some means which
remain as yet undiscovered. The diffi-
culty of ascertaining the real history of
Mrs. Tnwsvres was greatly aggravated by other
circumstances. The only persons to whom she
revealed herself were those of her own house-
hold. These persons were not numerous, but,
singularly enough, almost every one of them was
entered in the will as legatee for large sums—
some for 5,000/., some for 15,0001.—50 that it
became their interest to tell no more than was ab-
solutely required of them. " A recollection to
"be exerted in destruction of its own into-
" rests must be vigorous indeed if it go the
" full length of the truth." No doubt the effect
of these dispositions in the will was to close the
mouths of those who could throw most light on
the character of Mrs. THWATTES ; but it has not
availed. The will has been pronounced invalid,
and the relative, of the crazy old lady will now
enjoy the property of which no attempt should
ever have been made to deprive them.

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.
(THIS DAY.)

A iLS..

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, AUGUST 8, 1867.

PARLIAbitiTARY

•
HOUBB-OF COMMONS, Atone? T.
UNIFORMITY ACT AMENDMENT BILL.
Order for third reading read ; motion made and question
proposed, "That the bill be now read the third time."
Amendment proposed to leave out the word " now,"
and at the end of the question to add the words " upon
this day three months."—(Mr. Bentinck.) question
put, " That the word ' now' stand part of the question."
The house divided—Ayes, 34 ; noes, 41.

Adair, H. E.
Edwards, H. Mill, J. &
Adam, W. P. Fawcett, H. Mitchell, A.
Ayrton, A. S. Dude, Salt. Neste, C.
Baines, Z Glyn, G. G. Norwood, C. M.
Barley, T. Goidamid, Sir F. o•Loghkei, Sir C.
Buller, Sir A. Goschen, G. J. Potter, Z.
Butler, C. S. Gray, Sir J. Smith, J. A.
Cluidlish, J. HedSeld, G. Stacpoole, W.
Cardwell, E. Hay, Lord J. Taylor, P. A.
Chambers, T. Jackson, W.
Cowen, J. Knatchbull . Huge& PM.LIBS.
Dixon, G. sec, K. Bouverle, E. P.
Dodson, J. G. Labouchere, H. White, J.

NOES.
Adderley, C. B. Hardy, G. Northoote, Sir S.
Barrow, W. H. Meathcote, Sir W. Parker, Major W.
Beach, Shill. Henley, J. W. Powell, F. &
Brett, W. B. Ileeketh, Sir T. G. Read, C. 8.
Bridges, Sir B. Howes. E. Schreiber, C.
Bruce, Sir H. Hunt, O. W. Sclater.Booth, G.
Chatterton. H. L Yentas, Sir J. Selwyn, 8l C.J.
corrance. Y. S. Kendall, N. Stopford, S. O.
Cot. W. T. Knox, Col. S. Stuart, Lent.-Coll
Cubitt, G. n, W. G. Walpole, 8. 11.
(Amadei., R. lAiLa=y, Col. C. Whitmore, H.
Egerton, A. 7. Lowther, J.
Goldney, 0, Montgomery, Sir G. TILLIRS.
Gorit, J E. Newdegste, C. N. Bentlock, C.
Greene, E. Noel, G. J. Bereeford•liope,A. J

FARM AMENTARY DEPOSITS OF RAILWAY&

REPORT OF A BELE(Y COMMITTEE.

The select committee appointed to join with the
'elect committee appointed by the House of Lords to con-
sider the act 9 and 10 Viet., c. 20, and the standing orders
of both homes In relation to parliamentai! deposits, and
the completion of railways within a prescribed time, end
to report what alterations it is expedient to make therein
for the present and for the ensuing session, have made
further progress in the matters to them referred, and have
agreed to the following second report :
" The committee recommend that the following stand-
ing orders should be adopted by both houses :
" In every railway bill, whereby the construction of any
new line of railway is authorised, or the time for complet-
ing any line already authorised is extended, promoted by
an existing railway company which is possessed of a rail.
way already opened for public traffic, and which has, dur-
ing the year last past, paid dividends on its ordinary share
capital, and which does not propose to raise under the bill
a capital greater than its existing authorised capital, there
shall be inserted a clause to the following effect, viz. :
" (A.) If the company fail within the period limited by
this act to complete the railway authorised to be made by
this act, the company shall be liable to a penalty of fifty
pounds a day for every day after the expiration of the
period so ,limited until the said railway is completed and
opened for public traffic, or until the sum received in
respect of such penalty shall amount to five per cent. on
the estimated cost of the works ; and the said penalty may
be applied for by any landowner or other person to be com-
pensated in accordance with the provisions of the next fol-
lowing section of this act, and in the same manner as the
penalty provided in the 3rd section of the act 17 and
18 Vic., c. 31, known as "The Railway and Canal Traffic
Act, 1854," and every sum oft money recovered by way
of such penalty as aforesaid shall be paid under the
warrant or order of such court or judge as is specified in
the said 3rd section of the act 17 and 18 Viet. c. 31, to
an account opened or to be opened in the name and with
the privity of the Accountant-General of the Court of
Chancery in England (the Queen's Remembrancer of the
Court of Exchequer in Scotland, or the Accountant-
General of the Court of Chancery in Ireland—according as
the railway is situate in England, Scotland, or Ire-
land), in the bank named in such order, and shall not be
paid thereout except as hereinafter provided ; but no
penalty shall accrue in respect of any time during which
it shall appear, by a certificate to be obtained from the
the Board of Trade, that the company was prevented
from completing or opening such line by unforeseen acci-
dent or circumstances -beyond their control ; provided that
the want of sufficient funds shall not be held to be a cir-
cumstance beyond their control.
"In every railway bill whereby the construction of any
new line is authorised, or the time for completing any line
already authorised is extended ; if such bill be promoted
by an existing railway company which is not possessed of
, a railway already opened for public
traffic, or w -
chi h has not
I tithing the year last past paid dividends on its ordinary
share capital ; or by en existing railway company when
I the capital to be raised under the bill is greeter than the
I existing authorised capital of the company, or by persons
I not already incorporated, there shall be inserted a clause
.to the following effect, :
" (R.) Whereas, pursuant to the standing order' of both
houses of parliament, and to an act of the 9th and 111th
years of her present Majesty, c. 20, a sum of £
being 5 per cent, upon the amount of the estimate in re-
spect oft he railway authorised by this act, has bees de-
posited with the Court of Chanel in England (or with
the Court of Exchequer in Scotian er the Court of Chan-
cery in Ireland, as the case may be , (or Exchequer bills,
stocks, or funds to the amount of £ , have
been deposited or transferred pursuant to the said
act, as the case may be), in respect of the application
to parliament for this ace : be it enacted that, notwith-
standing anything contained in the said recited act, the
said sum of £ (or the said Exchequer bills, or other
funds as the case may be) so deposited (or transferred) as
aforesaid, in respect of the application for this act, shall
not be paid or transferred to or on the application of the
person or persons or the majority of the persons named in
the warrant or order issued in pursuance of the said set,
or the survivors or survivor of them, unless the said corn-
pant shall, previously to the expiration of the period
limited by this act for completion of the railway hereby
authorised to be made, either open the said railway for
the public conveyance of passengers, or prove to the satis-
faction of the Lords of the Committee of her Majesty's
Privy Council for Trade and Foreign Plantations
that the said company have paid up one-half of
the amount of the capital by this act authorised to be
raised by means of shares, and have expended for the pur-
poses of this act a sum equal in amount to such one-half
of the said capital ; and if the said period shall expire be-
fore the said company shall either have opened the said
railway for the public conveyance of passengers, or have
gi +en such proof as aforesaid to the satisfaction of the
Lords of the said committee, the said sum of money (Ex-
chequer bills, stocks, or funds) depoeited (or transferred)
as aforesaid, shall be applied in the manner hereinafter
specified • and the certificate of the Lords of the said com-
mittee that such proof has been given to their satisfac-
tion as aforesaid, shall be sufficient evidence of the fact so
certified ; and it shall not be necessary to produce any
certificate of this act having passed, anthing in the said
recited act to the contrary notwithstanding.
" In every railway bill whereby the construction of any
new line of railway is authorised, or the time for com-
pleting any line already authorised is extended, the follow-
ing clauses shall be inserted, in the order in which they are
here placed, immediately after that one of the two last
preceding clauses which shall have been inserted in the
bill • viz.:
"t.) The said sum of money (Exchequer bills, stocks, or
fun ) deposited (or transferred), as aforesaid (or, every
sum of money so recovered by way of penalty, as afore-
said) shall be applicable, and, after due notice in the
London Gazette (or Edinburgh or Dublin Gazette, as the
case may require), shall be applied towards compensating
any landowners or other persona whose property may
have been interfered with, or otherwise rendered lees
valuable, by the commencement, construction, or abandon-
ment of the said railway, or any portion thereof, or who
may have been subjected to injury or loss in consequence
of the compulsory powers of taking property conferred
upon the company by this act and for which injury or
loss no compensation or inadequate compensation shall
have been paid, and shall be distributed in satisfaction
of such compensation as aforesaid, in such manner and
in such proportions as to the Court of Chancery in
England (or Court of Exchequer in Scotland, or Court of
Chancery in Ireland, as the case may be) may seem fit :
and if no such compensation shall be payable, or if a por-
tion of the said sum of money (Exchequer bills, stocks, or
funds) (or of the sum or sums of money so recovered by
way of penalty as aforesaid) shall have been found suffi-
cient to satisfy all just claims in respect of such compen-
sation, then the said sum of money (Exchequer bills,
stock', or funds) (or the said sum or sums of money re-
covered by way of penalty) or such portion thereof asmay
not be required as aforesaid, shall be paid (or transferred)
to or on the application of the person or persons, or the
majority of the persons named in such warrant or
'order as aforesaid, or the survivor or survivors of
them (or the company from whom such penalty was
recovered) : Provided that until the said sum of money
(Exchequer bills, stocks, or funds) shall have been repaid
to the depositors, or shall have become otherwise applicable
as hereinbefore mentioned, any interest or dividends
accruing thereon shall from time to time, and as often as
the same shall become payable, be paid to or on the appli-
cation of the person or persons or the majority of the
persons named in such warrant or order as aforesaid, or
the survivors or survivor of them.

-14:is.LIIiheciLieleitered(i) is inserted in the bill,
the proviso at the end of the obtuse lettered (C) shall be
omitted.

" (D.) If the railway authorised by this act shall not be
completed within the period limited by this act (such
period not to exceed live yeah in the case of a new line,
and three years in the case of the extension of time for
completing any line), then, on the expiration of such
period, the powers by this act granted to the company for
making and completing the said railway, or otherwise in
relation thereto, shall oease to be exercised, except as to
so much thereof as shall then be completed.
" In any railway bill to which the preceding provisions
are not applicable, the committee on the bill shall make
such other provision as they shall deem necessary for en-
suring the completion of the line of railway."

The British Medical Association yesterday
elected Dr. Acland, of Oxford, president for the wining
year. Oxford was also appointed the place of meeting
for 1868.

St. Bartholomew's Hospital was founded in
1123, by Rayhere, minstrel of Henry I. Henry VIII.
refounded the hospital by myal charter in 1544. At that
time 100 beds were made up, and its medical staff con-
gated of a physician and three surgeons. In 1866 the hoe-
pital afforied relief to 5,070 in•patients, 19,188 out-patients,
and 100,000 casualties, and 1,200 women were attended
in their confinements in their own homes. Harvey, the
discoverer of the circul►tion of the blood, was appointed
physician to this hospital in 1609, and held the office 34
years.

The Dublin Exhibition Palace, which was esta-
blished under very encouraging auspices, has proved an
unfortunate speculation. A meeting of the shareholders,
at which Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness, M.P., presided, was
held on Monday, to consider the alternative of raising •
further sum of between 30,0001. or 40,0001. to pay off the
liabilities of the company, or having it wound up. A
strong feeling against miming the latter course was ex-
pressed, and • committee was appointed to confer with the
directors, and report to a meeting to be held in September
whether it is possible to retain the building.

the eaurt.

OSBORNE, Aucnler 7.

This Queen, accompanied by Princess Louise,
Primer Beatrice, and the Princess of Leiningen, drove
out yesterday afternoon.
Prince Arthur and Prince Leopold walked out.
The Prince of Wake, attended by Captain Ellie, arrived
in the evening on a visit to her Majesty.

A committee of the Lord' of her Majesty's Most Honour-
able Privy Council sat yesterday at the Privy Council-
office, Whitehall, on the subject of the cattle plague. The
lords present were the Lord President, Lord Robert Mon-
tagu, and the Right Hon. Wilson Patten.
A deputation on the subject of Scotch education, con-
eisting of Dr. Knox, Mr. John Msotark, and Mr. Henry
Sinclair, had an interview with Lord Robert Montagu at
the Privy Council-office yesterday.
A deputation, consisting of Mr. Sandford (president of
the Pharmaceutical Society), Mr, Morson, Mr. More, and
Mr. Darby (London), Mr. Evans (Liverpool), and Mr.
Brady (Newcastle), had an interview with the Duke of
Richmond and the Right Hon. Stephen Cave, at the office
of the Board of Trade, yesterday, on the subject of the
Merchant Shipping Bill.
Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office from the Governor-General of Canada. Despatches
were sent to the Governor of the Mauritius.

The Marquis of Exeter (the captain of the Hon. Corps
of Gentlemen.at-Arms), the Earl of Tankerville (Lord
Steward of the Queen's Household), the Earl of Shrews-
bury and Talbot, and the Earl of Longford, dined with the
Hon. Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms at their mew, in St.
James's Palace, last evening.

THE QuEstets HIGHLAND VISIT.—The Orathie
correspondent of the Edinburgh Courant writes that it is
now definitely settled, according to present arrangements,
that her Majesty the Queen and court will arrive at
Balmoral Castle for the autumn sojourn on Saturday, the
24th August.
The EXPECTED VISIT OP THE PRINCE OF WALES
To InizairD.—We regret to learn that the expectation of
the public that his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales
would visit Ireland during the present month, and be pre-
sent at the Royal Agricultural Society's show, is not to be
fulfilled. An official communication, received in town
on Tuesday, states that it is not his royal highness's in-
tention to visit Ireland this summer.—Dub is Express.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, as
Held Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, held a levee yester-
d►y afternoon at the HMO Guards. The attendance was
rather numerous, upwards of 150 ofiken being present.
The Duke of Devonshire has left Devonshire
House, Piccadilly, for Holkar Hall, near Xibiethorpe.
The Earl of Clarendon has gone to Wiesbaden.
The counter and Lady Emily Villiers are at The Grove,
near Watford.

Viscount and Viscountess Sydney left town yes-
terday on a visit to Lord and Lady Ebury, at Moor Park,
Itickmansworth, Herta.

LETTER FROM THE EMPRESS CRA
ON TILE MEXICAN CLERGY.

The following letter from the Empress Charlotte,
dated January, ma, appears in a pamphlet just published
by M. Aymot, Paris, under the title of "The Relations of
the Court of Rome with the Mexican Government : "

" Your excellent letter, I repeat, has afforded me double
pleasure, for it is at once a proof of your souvenir and of
the friendship which does not cease to unite us. To speak
frankly, we have need of them just now, for the situation
is far from being bright. Ido not know if you are aware
that the Pope, who has a sprightly disposition, often says
of himself that he is a jettatort. It is certain, however,
that ever since hie envoy set foot on our land we have
only experienced bitter =unifications, and we are in ex-
pectation of others not lees numerous in future. Energy
and perseverance I believe we have ; but I ask myself, if

dalecritics of this kind continue, whether it will be possible
to overcome them. This is, in truth, the actual state of
things. The clergy, mortally offended by the letter of
December 27, is not to be easily overcome. All the old
abases combine to evade the orders of the Emperor re-
garding them. In this. perhaps, there is no fana-
ticism, but there is in it such steady and manceuvring
tenacity that I believe it impossible for the persons who
now compose the body of the clergy to adopt any other
system. The question is what is to be done with them.
When Napoleon I. obtained from the Pope the dismissal
of the emigrant bishops they were living abroad, and as
they were holy persons they were resigned. Those whom
we have here would readily leave their sees but not
their revenues. A salary from the state would not
be an equivalent, and their Ideal is to live in Europe
in the poseeesion of money whilst we are struggling here
to establish the position of the church. There is to be •
revi-
sion of the church property sold—a second apple of discord
11
—for in consequence of acknowledging the reformed laws ,
we have brought the conservatives upon us. Now we are
going to have upon our shoulders the liberals
and the allottees. As there can be but one
weight and one measure for all, those who
have been guilty of illegal operations must give up their
gains, and I am afraid that this work of reparation and of
justice will excite as much passion as the loss of their pro-
perty did in regard to the clergy. In the midst of all this
Oajaca is not yet taken, and this troubles the public mind.
If unhappily anything should go wroug there, the shell
would burst in several places. During the last month
we have been passing through • very sharp crisis.
If we pass through it successfully the future of the Mexican
Empire may be brilliant ; if not, I do not know what we
must expect from it. During the first air months every-
body considered the government perfect ; touch anything,
put your hand to any work, and you were cursed. It is
Nothing that will not have itself dethroned. Perhaps
you would believe with me that Nothing is a
manageable substance, because it is nothing; on
the contrary, you come against it at every step
in this country,l and it is of more solid
granite than almost ►ll the forces of the human mind.
The pyramids of Egypt would be less difficult to raise
than the Mexican Nothing to be overcome. However,
everything here would be of secondary importance were
it not for the main fact that the army is diminishing and
with it the material force of the government. lam ever
afraid that we are grasping the shadow for the
substance. No doubt the Corps Legislatif in France
will speak out, but that will he nothing more or less than
sounding speeches. Here, however,- it is facts which can
compromise the success of the work which France
has founded, and which is destined to bear
the name of Napoleon 111. to future generations.
It is very well to say, as is said in the English parliament,
' Mexico is really in such good order that it does not need
any help,' but for my part I prefer keeping to
realities. In order to civilise this country it is
necessary to be completely master of it, and in order
to get elbow-room it is necessary constantly to rea-
lise its strength in great battalions. This is an argument
which is not disputed. All strength which cannot be
reathied, such as prestige, skill, popularity, enthusiasm,
has only a conventional value ; these are resources which
rise and fell—troops are indispensable. Austrians and Bel-
gians are very good in times of calm, but let tempest come
and they are only red trousers. If I may tell you all
my thoughts, I believe it will be very difficult for us to
pass through all the first vital crises if the country be
not more occupied than it is. Everything is much
scattered ; and it seems to me that instead of recalling
anything, it is, perhaps, essential to augment. I fear
very much that the Marshal repents; of not having written
in the month of October what we asked him to write. He
has dreaded the discontent in France, and has, I believe,
exchanged a little unpleassatneu for a great one. This
is not my opinion only ; if it were, I could not venture to
give it with so much assurance ; it is that of —, and
also of —, who are both competent judges. They say
that they are not reassured, not so much on our account
as on account of the army ; for we can bear a check—
nobody would be surprised at th►t—but the French army
could not. We can, if need be, retire like Juarez into •
distant province ; we can go back to where we came from ;
but France must triumph, first, because she is France, and
next because her honour is engaged."

The annual show of the Yorkshire Agricultural
Society commenced yesterday, at Think, and though the
number of entries is not so great as last year, when the
show was held at York under special circumstances, the
present meeting seems likely to be in every respect a Deo.
cesaful one.