The Express.
London, England, 1867-05-10 00:00:00

PAINLESS SYSTEM OF DENTISTRY.
Just published, price 3d., or post tree lons eternise.
Tc"AL ABOLITION of PAIN in DENTISTRY.
.117 Messrs GABRIEL, the old established DES-IMR,
54, LUDGATE RILL, CITY. _don.
66, BARLEY-STREET, W., f """
134. DUKE-STREET, LIVERPOOL

" Latest andit;sie;t—ii-u;4;ieaseistit. ieliiisurgery."—Herald.

EMERSON ON OLD Auc.—ln the year 1861
the Hon. Josiah Quincy, the venerable ex-president of
Harvard University, appealed for the last time at a
college anniversary at Cambridge, and made an address, a
kind of apology fur old age, which led Emerson to write
an essay. In it he enumerates four benefits of old age.
The first is that at every stage we lose a foe. " The pas-
sims have answered their purpose,: that slight, but dread
overweight, with which, in each instance, Nature secures
the execution of her aim, drops off. To keep man in the
planet, she impresses the terror of death. To perfect the
commissariat, she implants in each a little rapacity to get
the supply, and a little over.supply of his wants. To
insure the existence of the race, she reinforces the
sexual instinct at the risk of disorder, grief, and pain.
To secure strength, she plants cruel hunger and thirst,
which so easily overdo their office and invite disease.
But these temporary stays and shifts for the protection
of the young animal are shed as fast as they can be
replaced by nobler resources. We live in youth amidst
this rabble of passions, quite too tender, quite too hungy
and irritable. Later the interior of mind and he..rt
open and supply grander motives. We learn the fatal
compensations that wait on every act. Then—one mischief
at a time—this riotous time-destroying crew disappear.-'
A second advantage is that age has amassed a certain fund
of merit, so that • success more or less signifies nothing.
" When I chanced to meet the poet Wordsworth, then
sixty-three years old, he told me that he had just had a
fall and lost a tooth, and, when his companions were much
concerned for the mischance, he had replied that he was
glad it had not happened forty years before.' Well,
nature takes care that we shall not lose our organs forty
years too soon. A lawyer argued •• cause yesterday in the
Supreme Court, and I was struck with • certain air of
levity and defiance which vastly became him. Thirty
years ago it was a serious concern to him whether his
pleading was good or effective." A third felicity of old
age is that it has found expres,ion, whilst youth is yet
tormented by • feeling of untried powers and unrealised
pictures of a career. Every faculty new to each man
goads him and drives him out into doleful deserts until it
Suds proper vents. One by one he learns to coin his
wishes into facts, and at the end of fifty years his soul is
appeased by seeing some sort of correspondence between
his wish and his possession. This makes the value of age,
the satisfaction it slowly offers to every craving. He is
serene who does not feel himself pinched and wronged,
but whose condition, in particular and in general, allows
the utterance of his mind. —Frowe's Marenine for May.
THE Bruns AT Hot( E. --For Magdalen, her sweet
nature and her religious principle alike prompted her to
own herself fortunate, and to be thankful, and at all
events in the presence of others, and notably of her
husband, that cheerfulness which is " the best of all the
gifts" was never wanting. Society pronounced her to
be perfectly happy, her parents delighted to believe her
so, and Ernest knew no better than to ask himself why
she should not be, and to obtain no reply. Whether she
were happy or not, there were times of no rare recur.
renee when she was very thoughtful. If hers were a
heaven, it was not the heathen heaven of unextinguish-
able laughter, or rather she was the Psyche into whose
cup some single drop had fallen which brought the
cloud to her face where all other faces were smiling.
But such moments were her own, and even her husband
knew not of them. Still, they came, and in her quiet
room her glass often reflected a face grave almost to
sadness. We have known that she was habituated to
self-communion, self-examination. This habit bad been
natural to her, but it bad been confirmed by her adopting
a portion of the religious practices which she had learned,
much approving them, from her young catholic friends
in Wales. The custom is inculcated by a certain part of
protestant society, but is not much in favour with the
majority. It is not necessary to say whether it be
advantageous or not, our sole business is with its in-
fluence upon our Magdalen, and her history in the
after-time. Perhaps it is wisest, certainly it is worldly-
wisest, to let by-gones be by-gones, and to accept the
present without much scrutiny, and to take no thought
for the morrow. Vet the greatest of philosophers has en-
joined upon us the faith that in a perfect recollection of
our yesterday, and a certainty of the wisdom of our to-day,
is the only safeguard egainst our to-morrow, and is one
with the aid of which we are justified in defying the future.
There was no choice for Magdalen Dormer ; the habit was
hers, and she could not lay it down if she would. She
thought much and often of the past and of the future.—
" Sooner or Later," N.. 7. By Shirley Brooks.
Nzw theLzaws NINE YEARS Ano.—We were in
New Orleans in 185 a, and the state of society was not more
pleasant to contemplate than the natural scenery ; the
moral atmosphere was as offensive as the swamp miasma.
Every day we heard of murders and assassinations in the
streets, and crime ruled in society. The fear of vengeance
horn criminals very often prevented the injured from
seeking the protection of the law—in fact, the state of the
city was almost lawless. The aspect of the streets was
quiet enough, perhaps, with the exception of a few
drunken Irish and Germans, whom I saw sometimes ab-
solutely rolling on the pavement
.; but it was impossible to
speak to any person without hearing of recent crime, and
the daily papers were crammed with revolting recoris. I
detested New Orleans ; I detested the great Hotel St.
Chwles, with its $OO people sitting down to table to-
gether ; and I detested the conversation I heard there at
dinner, and in the immense drawing-room crowded with
fine ladies. Fine gives nu idea how fine these planters'
ladies were ; indeed, much more extravagantly dressed
than crowned heads in old countries, and wine wore more
jewels in the early morning than a • would wear
in any evening in England. Everything I maw in New
Orleans disgusted me. I could not visit the slave auction
or slave depots without suffering with horror for days
after ; and I could not look at the daily paper, with its
little black running negroes heading innumerable adver-
tisements of runaways, without feeling sick with sym-
pathy for the sufferings of these human beings so indi-
cated. In fact, I never lost the feeling of the presence of
slavery. It met nee everywhere ; its influence was felt
everywhere in the bookshops, by the glaring absence of
certain books ; in the pulpit, by the doctrines doctored
to please the congregation ; in the cars, by the division of
white and black ; in the schools, fromthe absence of every
child supposed to have • tinge of black blood ; in the even-
ing, by the gun to send all coloured people home—every-
where, at every time, the presence of slavery was heav
upon use. The conventions at that time, in almost all
groups of people, were directly or iudirectly about
slavery and the infamy of the North ; this infamy all con-
nected with the peculiar institution. One evening we
went to the only scientific society in the city—a poor,
struggling, ill-supported association—and the interest of
the lecture I beard there turned, too, on slavery. It went
to prove that the Egyptians had negro slaves, and that
these African races from all time had been .errant, and
always ought to be, and always would be.—Macmillan'.
Magazine for May.

TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE.

(arms% Tatoluxe.)
THE LUXEMBURG QUESTION.

SRl:Slink% MAT 9.

At the second sitting of the London conference
upon the Luxemburg question, which took place
to-day, England accepted the principle of 4 Euro-
pean guarantee for the neutralization of the duchy.
Peace, therefore, appears to be assured. The
period for the evacuation and dismantling of the
fortress, which all parties desire should take place
speedily, will, it is thought, be fixed at the next
sitting of the conference.

THE HAGUE, MAT 9.

The guarantee of the great powers for the
neutralization of Luxemburg has been agreed to
by all the parties interested. The treaty will be
signed to-morrow or Saturday.

PARIS, BUY 9.

The Eteoulard of this evening says The con-
clusions come to in the sitting of the Confermice to-
day may be decisive of three points. The neutra-
lisation, evacuation, and future position of Luxem-
burg. There will still remain a great number of
comparatively secondary, but nevertheless impor-
tant questions, which will necessitate were more
meetings of the plenipotentiaries."

PRUSSIA.
BERLIN, MAY Er MING.

An official announcement has just appeared
stating that the cattle plague has recently broken
out at Unterateinach, in Bavaria, upon the railway
line from Bohemia to Lichtenfels, upon the Maine,
and recently in the neighbourhood of Hildburg-
hausen, upon the Werra line. The go% ernment,
therefore, totally prohibits the transport and entry
of cattle from Austria. The North German Gazette
of this evening again publishes the details of very
considerable armaments in France.

THE PRUSSIAN CHAMBERS.
BERLIN, MAY 9, Evexixe.

In to-day's sitting of the Chamber of Deputies a
very animated debate took place upon a petition,
bearing upwards of 100 signatures, brought in by
Herr Assinann, which declared the removal of
Judge Oberg from his former post to Ratibon to
be at variance with the laws and the constitution.
In the course of the debate Count zur Lippe,
Minister of Justice, maintained the legality of the
removal, which he said had been made to appease
discontent in Hanover. Judge Oberg being a
Prussian subject, the government considered it
had a perfect right to remove him from Hanover
to one of the older provinces of the king-
dom. Deputy Laaker said the appointment
was in contradiction to the Prussian laws. Count
Lippe adhered to his statement, and said that if
the house refused to co-operate with the govern-
ment, the government was compelled to fulfil both
its own and the Chamber's functions. Deputies
Schulze, Dolitzch, Simon, and Kosch energetically
protested against the observation of the Minister of
Justice. The bill proposed by Herr Lasker for
the abolition of the limits to interest on mortgage
loans was unanimously agreed to. The house also
adopted without debate the government bill
authorising the government not to submit until
the extraordinary session the report in explanation
of the extraordinary money demands of the .d
ministration occasioned by last year's war.

THE KING OF THE GREEKS.
BERLIN, MAT 9. Evorm.

A banquet was given to-day at the Royal Palace
in honour of the King of the Greeks. His Majesty
has been presented by King William with the
Order of the Black Eagle.

ITALIAN FINANCE.
FLORENCE, MAY ft, Evnerso.

In to-day's sitting of the Chamber of Deputies
Signor Ferrara made his financial statement. He
announced
that the deficit at the financial period
beginning in January, 1869, would be 580,000,000.
He proposed that the 000,000,000 :ire which are to
be derived from the ecclesiastical property should
be obtained in the form of an extraordi-
nary tax imposed thereon. A portion of
this tax would be levied immediately by ap-
propriating for the wants of the State the
Rentes which are deposited with the government
in the Department of Public Worship. A further
instalment of 430,000,000 will become payable in
four years. The proceeds from certain ecclesi-
astical property already in the possession of the
government will be exclusively employed for the
payment of religious pensions and expenditure for
public worship. The 600,000,000 lire which are
to be levied from the ecclesiastical property will
not be diminished by the cost of any financial ope-
ration with the exception of a commission of 3 per
cent., which will be payable upon 430,000,000
lire. From the total amount there will
be paid off 250,000,000 for the reimbursement of
the liabilities of the State to the National Bank.
The result of this reimbursement will be that the
forced currency of the bank notes will promptly
cease. This announcement was received by great
cheers from the house and the galleries, after which
the Minister proceeded with the details of the
financial statement.

THE BANK OF FRANCE.
PARIS, HAY 9.

The return of the Bank of France for the week
ending to-day shows the following changes as com-
pared with that of last week :

INCREASE.

Cull in hand . . . . fr. 10,125,000
Advances
Private accounts . .
DXCREASZ

LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH COAST

RAILWAY.

After oer report left yesterday,
Sir CHARLEI4 Jat.gmen, referring to the proceedings of
the half-yearly me .ting, said that in the accounts then
presented there was an item of 645,940 f., temporary loans,
and on the other side it :ippeared there were securities with
the hankers for 046,6121. The next time they met the
item of temporary loans disappeared from the accounts
altogether, and it still remained unexplained. Certain
rumours, very well fooodst, reached his ears that
a large sum was due to the company's bankers, and it
hod sppeared, from a statement made by the Union Bank,
that toe sum in question still stood at 1:01,00W., although
being entirely withdrawn from the account. He had been
informed that Mr. Laurie, the late chaininui of the com-
pany and the manager of the Union Bank, bad stated if
that item stood the bank should close its doors against
the company, and he had no hesitation in asserting that
all the directors except Mr. Stewart were answerable for
that transaction and for putting coercion on the auditor.
He also impugned the conduct of the board in relation to
the sale to Mr. Mackenzie of preference stock at 10 per
cent. discount, and asserted they had no right to dispeee
of that stock at less than per. Referring to the paragraph
in the directors' report, in which they stated that the sum
required to meet all the obligations of the com-
pany, including the completion of the subur-
ban lines, the temporary loans, the plant neces.
wiry for the additional lines and all outstanding
claims might be stated at 1,592,000 f., he complained that
the board bail not specified the nature of the loans and
claims, and gone into an explanation of details. In his
opinion the real point of the report was that relating to
the future. He believed if the working expenses, which
now stood at 574 per oeat., were cut down, and the fares
revised, they would be is a sound position in three years*
provided no money was spent in the meantime. It struck
him that the sum of 142,000 f., which was set down in the
report so the probable increase of revenue for the year
1867-8, was hosed upon fallacy, and with respect to the
item of 1:14i,000/., additional revenue to be anticipated from
the opening of new lines, he thought it should be struck
out altogether, inasmuch as it was giving credit twice over.
His object was to improve their property, and if they had
prudent directors and men who would have nothing to do
with contractors and persons who made fortunes by making
little lines, he believed they would succeed. It was not his
wish to throw out all the directors, as he thought they
' might very well retain some. As regarded the arrangement
with the South-Eastern he thought it should be looked
upon as a manoeuvre or a scheme involving very serious
consideration. six months ago the board would not coalesce
with the Siuth• Eastern, whereas during the past ten days
they had been running about and pressing the matter upon
' Mr. Watkin. He bad been informed that that gen-
tleman had not signed the agreement, and that
it hail been only signed by three directors of
the South Eastern Company, who did not act with
the sanction of the entire board of that company.
But there was another aspect to the question. He should
like to know the position and prospects of the South
Eastern Company--(cheers)—and also whether a period
of depression was the proper time for the directors of the
Brighton Company to go and solicit an amalgamation.
The speaker then concluded by recommending the resolu•
tion for the adoption of the meeting.
Mr. Lorca seconded the resolution.

Mr. MACKENZIZ and Mr. ELDDEN having spoken bried ,y
Mr. NORTHALL LAURIE, who was loudly called for, denied
that he had misled the shareholders. He had pursued a
policy of retrenchment. The statement respecting the
Union Bank was not founded on fact. Several gentlemen
then spoke in succession, and very soon the meeting
escaped from the control of the chairman, and broke up
into knots, each listening to some speaker. When order
was restored Mr. STEWART denied that thel agreement had
been pressed upon the Month-Eastern Company.
The CHAIRMAN moved that the committee consist of the
following :—Sir Charles Jackson, Lord Westbury, Mr.
Lopes, Mr. W. 0. Foster, Mr. W. Forsyth, Q.C.,
N Mr. athaniel Montedore, Mr. George Crosslield, Mr.
Charles Morgan, Mr. John Clough, Mr. John Marshall,
and Mr. P. M. Hone.
_

• The moving of this resolution by the chairman evidently
took the meeting by surprise, and the proceedings at once
became exceedingly clamorous.
Sir C. JACKSON protested against the conduct of the
chairman, and asked if it wan fair to introduce the resolu-
tion at the last moment.

The CHAIRMAN put the amendment, but the show of
bands proved it only received the support of a minority.
The CHAIRMAN, without having put the resolution. de-
clared he would open a poll on the amendment, to remain
open till 5 o'clock, and subsequently till the l.ith inst.
Sir CHARLES JACVSON asked if the mune taken by the
chairman was endorsed by the other directors, but that
gentleman did not reply to the question, and in a din of
confusion the proceedings terminated.