The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-16 00:00:00

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THE CRETAN INSURRECTION.

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RODAXINO, SOUTH COAST OF
CRETE, MARCH 30.

I shall be able to send you but a few lines by
this occasion, and will speak of the spirit which I
find to animate the insurgents. They will never sub-
mit to the Sultan, and, now that wanner weather
has set in, they can retreat, if necessary, to the
higher mountains, and defy all assailants. But it
does not seem likely that they will be thus driven
back. Every attempt of the Turks to advance
beyond the open country of the northern shore has
been repulsed with loss, and the skirmish of yester-
day was an example of what happens when the
Turks move forward. There came a strong detach-
ment from Rethymo, and it approached the Chris-
tian forces with such swiftness as to surprise and
kill a few Christians in an outlying village.
Then the mountaineers flew to arms, the Turks
were checked by a constantly augmenting body of
determined marksmen, and when a retreat began
the Christians followed up their foes with a galling
fire. Some wounded men have just been brought
here from the front. Poor fellows ! It is a hard
case to fight without surgeons, yet they beer twir-
-1
sufferings firmly, and seem very grateful for any
small attention which unpractised hands can render.
If we had only a dozen of our young English sur-
geons, whose patients have yet to be found, they
might do good service. No one can fail to be struck
by the grim coolness of these people, young and
old. From the white-bearded chiefs to the merest
boys with guns upon their shoulders, there is no
flurry at the thought of a skirmish. It is the
natural condition of life in Crete, just now, to be
fighting, and the mountaineers lounge away to
meet the Turks as though they were going on a pic-
nic. You might search through her Majesty's house-
hold brigade, and not find more strapping, well-built
men than are many of these Cretans. I was in-
troduced this morning to a party of Sphakiotes,
any one of whom might have served as a model
for Roderick Dhu himself, though theycarried long
brass-barrelled rifles in place of the Highlanders'
broadsword. Since running the blockade I have
seen men enough of this same stamp to make it
doubtful whether the Sultan could conquer back
this island in a year, even if Europe would let
him try. Do not waste your sympathy on old
world heroes, but give it to the heroes of to-day.
They are not responsible for railways and tele-
graphs, and however unromantic our age may
be, they deserve to find that Western chivalry is
not quite dead. If for nothing but to save the wo-
men and children, you should watch Crete closely.
Think of a balance of shame and honour, as well
as of a balance of power.

--
ENGLAND'S POSITION IN EUROPE.

Thy Artnir National says :

The English, who ate perhaps at this moment the only
people of calm judgment mall Europe, &retaking tbetaselve•
if the possession of Luxemburg would compensate for the
misfortunes which must inevitably result from • war
between France and Germany. There is no need to say
wh►t is their answer. The Times does not think that the
possession of Luxemburg is es ential to either of the
powers who seem to wish to dispute it with arms in their
hands.. Frame, misesom et Laregalrargonsuld appear to
it however • menace to Belgium, and, up to • certain
point, to England, though this does not in the least mean
that she thinks of departing from her neutrality. We give
the opinion of the English for what it is worth ; the
discredit into which that opinion has for some time
fallen is well known ; the great politicians have come to
take no more account of it than of that of • third, or even
fourth rate power, if there are any. " It is not surprising,"
say they, " th►t • power which systematically stands aloof
from all the greet European questions should not under-
stand the importance of the Luxemburg question ; in that
isolation England will end by losing the little prestige she
has left—Finis Britannic." To which the English might
reply—" If to systematically stand aloof from all the great
European questions is to give rise to none, evidently your
reproach is well founded ; if to be one of the richest, the
most intelligent, and, shove all, one of the freest nations
in the world, is not sufficient to give pres-
tige, we certainly have none; however, we do
very well without any. Happy the nations whose
governments have no need of prestige. To attain the
vague object which you trick out with that name, England
would need an army of four or five hundred thous►nd men
without counting her navy ; after that, no more budgets
with • surplus, or even in equilibrium, but an increase of
burdens which the government could not impose upon the
nation without producing one of those questions of
which you speak, and which are only European in this
sense, that they threaten the great interesta of civilization
in Europe. We are without prestige, if you will ; but we
are rich, free, happy, and, if attacked, it would soon be
seen that we have some troops and vessels left capable of
defending, although without prestige, our native land and
our domestic hearths. As for you, fight and ruin your-
selves, since you call that prestige." The great politicians
will shrug their shoulders. We consider this British
reasoning not without sound sense.

HEAVY GALES AND SHIPPING DISASTEILS IN THE
ATLANTlC.—According to the reports of vessels which have
arrived at New York the weather on the Atlantic has been
most severe and disastrous. The Proteus, on the 22nd of
March, was sailing on the northern verge of the Gulf
stream when she encountered a boat containing apparently
a solitary man. Whilst the ship was standing in the
direction of the boat, with the view of picking up the cast-
away, a heavy sea broke over the frail craft,toesed the man
out, and also washed overboard two dead bodies which were
lying in the bottom of the boat. The poor sailor perished.
It is feared he was the only survivor from a cotton laden
vessel which had been wrecked and gone to pieces, for on
the same day the Preterit passed a large quantity of float-
ing cotton, which had apparently not been long in the
water. The pilot boat C. H. Marshall reports having
boarded, about 20 miles to the eastward of Montawk, the
ship Carotin Magnus, bound for San Francisco. The vessel
had lost some of her spars, had her bulwarks stove, her
decks swept, and was otherwise disabled. Mr. Ashley, the
third officer, brother to the captain, was washed overboard.
THE SPECIAL COMMISSION FOR CORK, LIMERICK,
AND TIPPERARY.—The commission has been issued for the
trial of the offenders in these respective counties. The
judges who are to preside are Chief Justice Monahan,
Judge Keogh, and Judge George. On Saturday afternoon a
woman was arrested at Cork for Fenianism. She is the
wife of a printer named John Buckley, who has been
absent since the rising. The documents found with her,
it is said, deeply involve her in the movement. Edward
' Kelly, taken at Kaclooney.srood in the fatal affray with
'the military flying column, lodged, after his arrival from
America, with the Buckley. at Sundays-well, near Cork.
THE ESCAPE Or KIRWAN.—CASE OF CONSTABLE
KELLY.—The circumstances leading to the transmission
of Constable Patrick Kelly from Richmond Bridewell to
Kilmainham gaol are as follows :—A head-constable of
police brought • witness to the bridewell with a view
of identifying a prisoner charged with attempting
to seduce soldiers from their allegiance. The gover-
nor gave orders that all the untried prisoners
should be paraded together, and the witness was
called upon to point out the man he gave information
about. He was unable to do so, but instead said that
Kelly hail attended Fenian meetings along with him. He
was interrogated as to whether he did not know that Kelly
was a police constable but he persistently denied that he
knew anything about him. t'pon the information given
by the witness, Kelly has been remanded on a charge of
complicity in the Fenian oonspintcy. This is the first
charge brought against • member of either the metropolitan
or constabulary police—Dublin Erenaig Mail.
METROPOLITAN FREE HOSPITAL, DEVONSHIEZ-
SQUARE, CRT.—The aggregate number of patients relieved
during the week ending April 13 was—Medical, 801 ; sur-
gical, 642 ; total, 1,510 ; of whisk 886 wen sty ewe.

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RECEI‘ r

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[TWOPENCE

inUOIC•
NATIONAL CHORAL SOCIETY.
Last night Mr. Martin gave Elijah u the first
of his two Pamion.week performances—the Marine being
promised for Thursday next. Mendelmohn's great
oratorio is now so familiar to our public and has been so
frequently criticised in detail, that there is little left to
be said on its repetition ; especially when, as last night,
there is no point of novelty connected with the perfor-
mance, which, however, deserves to be recorded as a
very good one in most of its essentials ; first among which
must be mentioned the admirable singing of Mr. Bentley.
This gentleman has long been especially identified
with thin oratorio, in which Mendelsaohn has
assigned so much important music to the solo baritone
that the effect of the whole work depends Imply on the
efficiency of the singer to whom these portions are
assigned. Mr. Bentley's powerful delivery of the decla-
matory recitatives, the elevated pathos with which he
invests the aire—" Lord God of Abraham," and " It is
enough, 0 Lord ;" the energy which he throws into the dra-
natio air, " Is not his word ;" and the dignity of style and
vocal finish of his entire performance are so well known as
to require no fresh critical recognition. It was in Elijah
that Mr. Leigh Wilson made so favourable an impression
on his first appearance two or three seasons since,
and his performance last night exhibited an int-
prevenient in style as compared with thee r A
siss. Thou en ethigethelWir Nine ferilipteethge
*Ma the mart importentinfing the '
"If with all your hearts," which Mr. Wilson gave with
much smoothness and expression. He has yet, however,
to esquire that declamatory style and significant phrasing
which alone can give due effect to recitative. Miss Lucy
Franklein is establishing her position as a valuable ora-
torio singer. Her voice is sympathetic in quality and
true in intonation, and she sings with earnest feeling.
The principal contralto airs, " Woe unto them,"
and " 0 rest in the Lord," were given by Miss
Franklein with much refinement and pathos.
The principal soprano was Madame Champion, and the
subordinate solo parts were assigned to Manes A. Smyth,
A. Sheridan, Messrs. R. Mason and R. Wilkinson. Mr.
Martin's chorus is in good training, efficient in execution,
bright in tone, and generally well in tune. The orchestra,
too--so essential a feature in Mendelssohn's elaborately in-
strumented work—was last night reinforced by many of
the principal performers of the Royal Italian Opera band.

REFORM MEETINO IN TRAFALGAR-SQUARE.—The
Reform League held • meeting in Trafalgar-square last
evening, Mr. Joseph GeodeHa occupying the chair. The
attendance was unusually large, and the proceedings
throughout were of the most orderly character. The chair-
man mid that unions Mr. Disraeli stripped his bill of the
obnoxious clauses and inserted a lodger clause, the Reform
League would no looser waste their time in promoting de-
moustrations and procemions and displaying badges and
scarves. If the working dames did not get their rights
they would refuse to pay the taxes, in the imposition of
which they had no voice and the government might look for
such demonstrations as had never been seen or dreamed of.
Mr. Lucraft proposed the following reeolution, which was the
only one submitted to the meeting :—" That in the
opinion of this meeting the attempt of the government to
continue the exclusion of the working classes from • fair
representation in the House of Common by clogging their
bill for the representation of the people with the personal
payment of rates, a long term of residence, and the omis-
sion of the lodger clause, deserves our severest condemna-
tion, and we hereby declare that the above conditions,
and also the proposition for a St. line, must be resisted by
all reformers." Mr. Connolly, in seconding the resolution,
expressed his admiration of Mr. Disraeli'. talent in the
art of Dec , in which, he said he was not equalled
by the "Wizard of the North eotscitlurtaadims
th_!,,_olevoluoso., of e Lxilequer in send':
oar.. Bright, Lord Craaborne, Mr. Lowe, and Mr. Hoes-
Man into the same lobby, he (Mr. Connolly) denied his
capacity to hoodwink the working classes, who saw
clear, through his transparent dodges. Mr. Mantle sup-
ported the resolution, and impugned the sincerity of the
majority of the members of parliament, asserting that in
voting on one aide or the other they were solely influenced
by • desire to retain their seats. He feared the proceed-
ings of the Reform League had been too constitutional,
and he was not sure that if, instead of going to Downing-
, stied with • white flag, they had gone with a black one,
they would not have extorted justice from the teen of the
British parliament. The resolution was then put and
carried with acclamation, and the proceedings terminated.
THE ENFRANCHISEMENT or WOMEN.—The mem-
bers for Liverpool, in acknowledging the reception of pe-
titions for presentation to the House of Commons, express
themselves as follow, on the above question. Mr. T. B.
Holdall says :—" Madam,—l am this morning only in re-
ceipt of your favour of the 31st March. Before its receipt
I had fully considered the subject to which it refers, and,
without committing myself to the entire principle laid
down in the petition, which you ate good enough to enclose,
I am quite of opinion that the enfranchisement of women,
with the necessary qualification, ought to take plaoe.— I have
the honour to be, madam, yours most obediently, THOMAS
B. HoeutraLL. Of coulee Ido not include married women,
who may be supposed to be under the influence of their
hasbands.—Mrs. Butler." Mr. S. R. Graves says :
"Dear Madam,—ln reply to your esteemed favour of the
31st March, it would be contrary to the rules of the house
to support a petition on its presentation. The principle
involved in the petition is • very important as well as a
very interesting one, and I can assure you that if brought
before the house in any practical form, I will give it toy
most anxious and best consideration.--Believe me. dear
madam, yew' faithfully, S. R. Onsvan.—Min Butler."
SIR GEO. BOWYER AND HIS CONSTITUENTR.—A

correspondent of the Dublin Express rya.—" The • libe-
ral' constituency are furious on account of Sir George
Bowyer', vote on the Reform Bill. A public meeting is to
be held for the puepoas of passing a resolution calling on
him to resign. It is very generally believed that his seat
will be contested by Mr. P. Gollon, of Cookstown-house,
Ardee, in the conservative interest."
THE LIBRARIANSHIP OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
—lt is reported that this post, vacant by the death of Mr.
Vardon, will be given by the Spmker, who holds the
nomination, to his brother, Mr. Alfred Denison, who he.
for some time been his secretary. The salary is 1,0001. a
year, with a residence in the Pekoe.
TRADES UNIONS. —The act to facilitate the in-
quiry as to trades unions, as to the alleged outrage at
Shedield, and the complicity of trades unions, has been
Jost issued. The inquiry is to take place at Sheffield or
its immediate neighbourhood, and to be confined within a
period of ten years as to the misconduct, without the
written enaction of the Secretary of State.
REMOVAL OF RZLIOIOUS DISABILITI FS. —An
act has just been printed to open the professorships of
anatomy and chirurgery, chemistry, and botany. in the
Dublin University, irrespective of religious creed. The
profeasonhips are open to persons of all nations, and
anydifficulty on account of religion in removed.
ROMAN CATHOLICS AND THE PRoTESTANT CLEROY.

—A
correspondent of the Dublin Express writes:—" The
glebe lands of Killeevan, in the county Monaghan, were •
few days ago the scene of • pleasing mark of !expect
towards the Rev. John Flanagan, rector of the parish. A
number of his neighbours met ou the fields intended for
cultivation on Tuesday, and in a short time ploughed
them, and left them ready for introducing the seed. In
this work of goodwill towards Mr. Flanagan his Roman
catholic neighbours were fully as zealous as his protestant
parishioners. Indeed they are so on all such °tensions."
DISCOVERY OP A NEW COAL-FIELD IN CHESHIRE.
—The River Dee Company on Saturday morning last re-
ceived information to the effect that a seam of coal ten
feet thick had been struck upon their property in the
vicinity of queen's Ferry. Some time since a firm, which
had entered into preliminaries for the purchase of the
estate, forfeited • sum of money equal to ten per cent. of
the purchase. It is said that the company will he benefited
to the amount of one-half of its present value by this
unexpected discovery.
THAMES ANOLINO.—The river is daily getting
into good order for trout fishing. A tine trout of filb. was
taken at Chertsey, on Saturday last, by one of the mern-
hers of the Thames Angling Preservation Society ; another
member tried the H•lliford waters a few days wince, but
only got one touch, which entirely cleared his bait. In
the previous week be was more successful, having taken
two trout of 211 h., in splendid condition. at hloulsey,
which he believes were of the Thames breed. This same
gentleman, two seasons since, captured nine large trout
out of the preserved waters. J. Keen, of Chertsey, has
taken • trout of 2...1b., and one of the same weight was
taken by a gentleman at Sunbury. Tom Davis, of Moulsey,
has been very fbrtunate with his patrons, having caught
four trout in one week, the largest being iout 411 b. The
lovers of fish culture will be glad to learn that the young
fry at Hampton are in a healthy state, and a considerable
number have been turned into the rearing ponds at Sun-
HWest Surrey Times.
EALTH RESTORED BY Du BARRY'S FOOD TO THE

STOMACH, nerves, lungs, and UM', count dyspepsia iindagea.
lion„ constipation, chants.; acidity, headache, neuralgia, hys-
teria, palpitation, sleeplesomos, debility, wastatai, rough,
asthma, levers, consumption, low spirits, aoooo annual cures
which had resisted all medicines, including that of his Holiness
the Pope.—This, at 15. 11d. ; 11b., 2s. 9d. ; 12113., Sic. ; 241 b.. 405.
—ll. Barry and Co., 77, Reeentatreet, London ; also at Fortnum

and !lawn's. and at 61, Oraceeharehstrret Cheapalde ;
and 150, Oxford greet ; and all grocers and thenuats.--LAdver;
liseaset.]