The Express.
London, England, 1866-11-24 00:00:00

'E

with professions of the intention of theaoverd-
ment to deal frankly with the question before it ;
all the information that the delegates desired to
tender would be gratefully received ; every point
should have the most respectful and attentive con-
sideration ; the Government had no prejudices,
had come to no foregone conclusion, and
! only pledged itself tg _ justice to all
parties. The Commissioners received these emu-
; rances with every demonstration of satisfaction,
and forthwith prepared themselves for their work.
It was not, however, a very encouraging fact, that
the Government section of the Commission con-
; sisted of individuals pledged to maintain the pre-
! sent order of things. On the other hand, of the
j twenty-two delegates from Cuba, and the six from
Porto Rico, only six are of the same view as the
I Government, the remainder being all firm Aboli-

in too mintrieses only know bow to warty the two.
All ranks of t!e service ought to be thrown dipsvito pro.
motion by merit, and the system of purchase lished.

THE WEEKLY PRESS.

The Saturday Review, dealing with Mr. Bright at
Manchester, refers to the hon. member in its usual terms
of severity, calling him in turn the demagogue and the
mischievous agitator. It adds, however, that the argu-
ments for reform have not lost their force because Mr.
Bright has diffused discontent. The extension of the
franchise is expedient, not so much because it will improve
legislation or government, as for the purpose of interesting
a larger section of the people in the domestic and national
policy. Democratic institutions are favourable to patriot-
ism, though not to liberty ; and it may be possible to create
a constituency not too numerous to cherish freedom, and
yet large enough to insure general support to the decisions
of parliament. If the present ministers can devise such a
plan, the more moderate liberals will not be curious to
inquire too closely into their motives, or into the former
policy of their party.
The commission on the neutrality laws and the offer to
confer with the American government as to a future
neutrality code appear to the Saturday Ikciew to be steps
dictated by prudence. Fenianisin is perhaps one of the
gravest dangers that England has ever had to face,
and if it were possible to devise any means for fettering the
action of the United States before the Fenian left Ameri-
can ground the gain would be very great, and it is possible
that a discussion of the laws by which neutrals ought to
be guided might have a salutary effect.
Considering the two courses open to the government as
to the projected demonstration on Monday week—namely,
one to allow the procession to take place and the other to
forbid it—the Saturday Review thinks that perhaps on the
whole it may not be unadvisable to allow this procession
to have its way as a concession. If, however, encouraged
by the success of their first effort, or undismayed by its
failure, the working classes still insisted on annoying the
metropolis by similar displays, then there would clearly
be made out a case for a line of action demanding qualities
of an entirely different nature from the amiable urbanity
and sentimental tenderness of the present Home
Secretary.
The Spectator reoommends the leaders of the movement
who really wish for order on Monday week to organise a
police of their own, get a thousand or so of their strongest
men sworn in as special constables, and, if necessary, give
the dangerous classes, whose presence infests these meet.
ings, one good lesson.
The Spectator believes it is correct in stating that a re-
quisition very powerfully signed by fellows of University
College, London, of all faiths and the highest standing. as
well as by many of the most influential proprietors, will be
sent in next week to the Council of University College,
asking for a special meeting to consider the recent grave
error of the council in refusing the best qualified candidate
for a chair on the ground of denominational repute, and
to lsy down clearly the principles of the future. Tho
truth is that the advocates of the council were obliged to
postpone the positive duty of choosing a first-rate teacher
to the vague and ill-defined advantage of choosing an un-
objectionable name, and that is so weak a position that
intelligent men are very naturally ashamed of it.
The case of the tones, the Examiner says, has become
desperate : they must move off or move on. Lord Derby's
administration has scrambled into office solely and wholly
to the cry of anti-reform. Anti-reform has brought them
thus far; but there it will leave them stranded if they do not
obliterate the recollection and stifle the sound. Nothing
short of the adoption and advocacy of all they declared six
months ago to be dangerous and disreputable can prolong
their chance of official existence, or give them an excuse for
going to the Queen, when they are beaten in the Com-
mons, and asking for a new parliament. They cannot ex-
pet that all the simple-minded country gentlemen whom
they hounded on last session against the over-cautious
Whigs will be brought to shout next February for the en-
frAnchisement of working men, and the disfranchisement
of nomination boroughs. Nevertheless, there is no help
for it. They must run this risk and incur the just re-
proach of having proved themselves blind leaders of the
blind, to say the least of it.

tionists.
If any of the colonial delegates were deluded
by the honied words of Senor CsNovas DEL CAS-
TILLO into the belief that the Government really
intended to act up to its protestations, the printed
" interrogatory" of 26 questions, under the separate
heads of " negro slaves, free negroes, Asiatic
" population, and immigration," which the Minis-
ter placed in their hands, must at once have
snatched the veil from their eyes. The effect pro-
duced upon them may be judged of by the result.
The Porto Rican delegates, with one exception,
entered an energetic protest against the course of
the Government, declaring it to be flagrantly in-
consistent with the terms of the Royal decree.
They stated that the tendency of those questions
was to perpetuate slavery indefinitely, and as such
an intention was not only opposed to the views of
their constituents, but antagonistic to the pro-
sperity of the ialand, they declined to answer any
of the queries. They also demanded, on behalf
and in the name of their constituents, the imme-
diate abolition of slavery, with or without com-
pensation to the slave-owners, and with or without
any regulations respecting the introduction of
immigrant labour. They declared that the social
reform involved in their demand was of primary
importance, and that while they reserved the right
of pressing for those administrative changes which
,Ithe circumstances of the colony rendered im-
' perative, they should insist to the end upon
the abolition of slavery as an indispensable pre-
liminary.
This noble protest proved contagious. The
Cuban delegates, at first surprised, presently an-
nounced their adhesion to it, and in principle to
the demand for abolition ; but whilst they con-
sidered immediate emancipation might safely be
conceded to Porto Rico, the circumstances and
the condition of Cuba were so different, that they
preferred preparing a plan of emancipation more
suitable to their island, which they should submit
as soon as the discussions on Cuba were opened.
Thus stood the question on the 13th of the present
month.
The action of the Government has now to be
seen. It can no longer dally with the question of
emancipation. The abolitionist party in Spain
has sprung into existence in a most marvellous
manner. Two years ago it had no existence.
The " Progressistas " are unanimously in fa-
vour of emancipation, and until NARVAEZ
stilled the press upwards of eighty newspapers '
advocated it. The Spanish Anti-Slavery Society,
of which Don SALUSTIANO OLOZAnA is President,
inaugurated only on the Ist of April last year,
' has held three numerously attended public meet-
ings on the question, and numbers amongst its
supporters the most eloquent orators in Spain, and
some of the most distinguished members of the
Cortes. The reign of terror has alone checked its
progress, but sustained as it is and strengthened
by the attitude which the colonial delegates have
assumed, it would seem impossible that anything
short of extinction by the iron hand can prevent
the solution of the important question which it has
been instrumental in raising.
Thus do great principles make their way.

LIEUTENANT BRAND'S PROMOTION.

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.

(THIS DAY.)

'RESg,`• SATURDAY E'VENING, NOVEMBER, 24, 1866.

Vie Court.

WINDSOR CASTLE, Nov. 23.

The Queen, with Princess Beatrice, attended by
the Duchess of Roxburgh°, walked and drove yesterday
afternoon.
Her Majesty, with the Princess Louise, and attended by
the Countess of Oaledon, walked and drove this morning.
Prince Leopold went out walking, attended by Mr.
Legg, and Prinoess Beatrice rode in the Home-park.
The Duke and Duchess of Roxburgh() bad the honour
of dining with the Queen and the Royal family yesterday.

The Princess of Wales, with Prince Albert Victor and
Prince George, and attended by the Hon. Mrs. Stonor and
General Knollys, left Marlborough•house yesterday after-
noon for Sandringham.
A Committee of the Lords of her Majesty's Moat
Honourable Privy Council sat on Friday evening at
Whitehall on matters relating to quarantine. The lords
present were the Lord President, Sir Stafford Northoote,
Bart., and the Right Hon. H. Corry ; Mr. Helps and Mr.
Harrison attended the committee.
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yes-
terday. The lords present were Lord Westbury, Sir E.
V. Williams, Sir J. Colvile, and Sir Laurence Peel.
Despatches were sent yesterday from the Colonial-office
to the Governors of the settlements on the West Coast of
Africa.

THE QUEEN'S VISIT TO WOLVERHAMPTON.—Her
Majesty's acceptance of the invitation to Wolverhampton
was conveyed in the following letter to the Mayor:—
" Whitehall, Nov. 22, 1866. Sir,—l have had the honour
to lay before the Queen a letter which you addressed to
me, expressing the hope of the inhabitants of Wolver-
hampton that her Majesty would be graciously pleased to
inaugurate the statue of the Prince Consort which has
been erected in that town; and I have received the Queen"
commands to convey to you the satisfaction it gives her
Majesty to find herself able to comply with that request.
Her Majesty proposes to fix Friday, the 30th, for the cere-
mony, and to arrive at Wolverhampton between one or
quarter past one.—l am, air, your obedient servant, S. H.

LA'

WALromi."
CABINET COUNCIL. —Summonses have been issued
for a cabinet council on Monday next at the First Lord of
the Treasury's official residence in Downing-street. The
council is summoned for half-past 2 o'clock.
The Princess of Wales, with Prince Albert
Victor and Prince George, and attended by the Hon. Mrs.
Stonor and General Knollys, left Marlborough House yes-
terday afternoon for Sandringham.
Her Royal Highness the Princess Mary Ade-
laide and his Highness the Prince de Teck arrived on
Thursday evening at the Duchess of Cambridge's residence
in St. James's Palace, from Vienna. The prince and
princess and the Duchess of Cambridge dined with the
Duke of Cambridge in the evening at Gloucester House.
The princess's birthday is on the 27th inst., when the
anniversary will be celebrated with the customary rejoic-
ings at Kew.
The Duke of Sutherland has arrived in Paris
from Italy on his way home.
The following company have been staying at the
Regent Hotel, Leamington, during the races at Warwick :
—The Duke of Hamilton, the Marquis of Hastings, the
Marquis of Queensberry, the Earl of Westmorland, Lord
Bateman, Mr. A. Rushout, Mr. George Payne, Mr. R. Ten
Broeck, Mr. and Mrs. R. Herbert, Mr. and Mrs. F. Gran-
ville, Mr. B. Burton, Mr. 11. Coventry, Mr. C. H. Carew,
Mr. Stirling, Mr. F. Wombwell, Colonel Ouseley Higgins,
Captain Barclay, Captain Towneley, Colonel Knox, Mr. H.

Crawshaw, Mr. Bevill, &c.
We have to announce the death of the Countess
of Dunraven, which took place on Thursday, after a pro-
tracted illness from dropsy. The countess was monied in
1836, and leaves a family.
The term of office of Mr. H. L. Holland as Go-
vernor of the Bank of England expires in March next. Mr.
Thomas Newman Hunt, the present Deputy-Governor'
will then become Governor, and Mr. H. W. Crawford, one
of the members for London, will be the new Deputy-Go-

vernor.
It is stated that Colonel St. George Ord, C. 13.,
has been appointed Governor of the new Colonial Go-
vernment of the Straits Settlements, and Mr. Robert

Keate Governor of Natal.
General Gilbert, tho oldest officer in tho late
Indian army, was buried last week in Boldre churchyard,
Hants. He was B.i years of age.
In consequence of the death of Mr. Yardley, Mr.
D'Eyncourt will be moved from Clerkenwell to Maryle-
bone Police-court, and Mr. Cooke from Worship-street to
Clerkenwell. Mr. Robert M. Newton, Recorder of ('am-
bridge, has been appointed police magistrate, and will sit
at Worship-street.
A letter from Milan says :—" Apropos of diplo-
matists and ministers— Earl Russell is in this city, and
has been visiting with much interest most of the public
monuments and institutions, not forgetting the renowned
Theatre of La Scala, ui.usually attractive just now by the
production of the Afrienine. His lordship is the object of
much respect and esteem on the part of those Milanese
who have the good fortune to enjoy his society, among
whom may be mentione I the veteran Manzoni, founder of
the modern Italian school of romance writing, to whom
Earl Russell paid a visit yesterday."
The artesian wells of Grenelle and Passy now
emit volumes of steam ; the temperature of the waters,
which rise from a depth of 2,300 feet, reaching $5 degrees
Fahrenheit, while that of the atmosphere at the surface
by night is only l 5 or 36.
Mr. Moens, whose romantic sojourn with the
Italian brigands excited so much attention last year, has
purchased an estate at Rehire, near Lymington, in Hamp-
shire.

The population of Canada last year was 2,881,862.
There are 2,14 S miles of railroad in Canada, which cost
121,543,109 dollars, and the raceipts last year were
10,910,07 S dollars. The length of telegraph wires is 5,47,7
miles. There are 21 hospitals, 6 savings banks, and 10
building societies in Canada.
WAR-OFFICE, Nov. 22. —The Queen has ap-
pointed Captain Augustus Chetham Strode, Royal Navy,
to be captain of the port for the city and garrison of
Gibraltar.—Gazette.
DC('HY OP CORNWALL-OFFICE, BUCKINGHAM-
GATE, S.W., Nov. 22.—The names of the gentlemen who
have been nominated to serve the office of sheriff of the
county of Cornwall:—Thomas Simon Bolitho, of Penal.
verne, But. ; Sir John Salusbury Trelawny, of Trelawny,
part. ; John Whitehead Pearl, of I'enquite, Esq.—
; Gm-effe.

A CRINOLINE TRAGEDY.—A surgeon, writin6
from Sloane-street, communicates the particulars of a
tragical case which occurred on Wednesday, at noun, near
his own house in that street. " I had just," he says,
" alighted at my own door at 12 this morning, when I
heard two or three piercing cnes in the street, and on
running round the corner I saw a young woman standing
on a doorstep so entirely covered with flames that only
her uplifted hands and her feet were visible. With the
aid of a rug and a great coat instantly given by a
passer-by, we got the poor young creature down on the
pavement, and in the course of a few minutes every
spark of fire was crushed out. We then doubled up a
blanket, and with the tender help of one or two eta ong
fellows I took her as on a stretcher to a cab close at band.
The cabman refused to take the poor girl, and no remon-
strance of mine or of others would induce him to open his
door. As no time was to be lost (and no policeman natu.
rally was at hand), I immediately cleared out my own
brougham, and, gently laying the miserable half-charred
girl on the knee of the man who helped me to extinguish
the flames, I mounted the coach-box and drove to
St. George's Hospital. There I immediately obtained
admission for her, and we softly placed her in bed,
scorched and blistered from head to foot. She was—
need I say it ?—in horrible agony, but conscious, and gave
her own simple account of the event perfectly clearly. Her
half-burnt rags of clothing were carefully cut away ; and,
covered with cotton wool, dressed and swathed after the
kindest and skilfullest method, she lay an awful wreck of
what half-an-hour previously had been a handsome, well-
grown young woman. This was the work of a few
terrible minutes at mid-day, and I have this evening
just been to see the poor young thing die." The writer
further states that the girl's dress took fire behind, at an
unguarded bedroom fireplace ; hence it attained some
force without her knowledge. Mad with fright on its dis-
covery, she ran to the stairs, up which there is in every
house • constant ascending current which drove
the fire higher. Thence she rushed down, still
driving the flames upwards, until, reaching the
street door, ahe came into the open street, and then, in-
stantly fanned by the free sir, she was ablaze from heed
to foot. Only resolute priming out was of any avail,
and he was obliged to get several to assist him in squeez-
ing out the firs which clung to what was left of her
clothes. What was left ! A blackened help of rage, and
the nnburnt wires of her crinoline—this was literally aIL
She might have escaped scot-free had she possessed the
courage only to sit down on the flame on the first instant
of its discovery.