The Express.
London, England, 1866-11-02 00:00:00

MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS.

The Daily News adverts to the obstacles in the way al
the prover of popular education which are created by
the attitude of the clergy towards the conscience clause,
which recognises the right of the parent to determine in
what religion the child shall be instructed. The time
within which the clergy will have the option of accepting a
clause of this kind is drawing to a close. A reformed par
liament would make short work of a conscience clause
debate, and would be very likely to ask why the education
of the people should be in the bands of the clergy.
The trial of Risk Allah is commented upon by the
Herald, Star, and Telegraph. The jury, the Herald says,
did, under the circumstances, exactly what our English
jury would have done, and relegated the death of the
unfortunate Readly to the category of insoluble problems.
The Telegraph says a less clever man then Risk Allah
might have been equally innocent, and yet have failed to
establish his innocence. It is glad that he has escaped,
because to any one with the heart of a man it must be
relief to know that so foul a murder existed only in the
fancy of the police. The Star also thinks that with a
less skilful counsel to aid him, the days of the ex-colonel
might have been numbered. Far less ominous facts
than those which suggested this inquiry and trial have
brought many an unlucky wretch to the gallows.
The select committee of the House of Commons on the
local government of the metropolis have published a blue
book of evidence, containing some seven thousand questions
and answers, and the Daily News taxes them with intro-
ducing unnecessary details and crotchets. The committee
ought to remember that their business is to procure and
lay before parliament a clear statement of the existing sys-
tem of taxation and government, with such recom-
mendations for its improvement as may occur to them,
but by no means to descend into criticism of theories re-
specting the subjects which such improved govern-
ment will have to consider. The object to be
sought is to make the post of member of the
civic government one of large authority and distinct
responsibility, and to do this we must abolish petty divi-
sions, however venerable for antiquity, establish large
areas of jurisdiction, and call on the whole metropolis to
elect their representatives directly, and not by the process
of filtration through the trivial and insignificant local
boards.

The Times notes as among the signs of the day that at a
farmers' club a conservative 31.1'. like Lord George Man-
ners, with his brother, the Duke of Rutland, presiding,
threw out a suggestion to meet the inadequate supply of
labour by applying to agriculture the co-operative system.
Let anybody look back forty years ago, or only twenty
years ago, and ask whether anybody but a socialist,
or a French communist, or one of Mr. Robert Owen's
disciples, would have ventured in those days to
dream of such a thought. Lord George suggests,
while discussing the want of labourers, that the farmers
should divide with them all profits after 10 per cent.
Our army, our Australian colonies, with attractions made
known in letters arriving by every post and in every country
newspaper, are bidding against the farmer for labourers,
and it is impossible that the latter class can remain con-
tent with the low wages their fathers had to do with.
It is difficult to see how the co-operative system can be
applied in anything like strictness, for, though the
labourer would always be ready to divide a profit in any
proportion the employer might choose to accord, he would
be utterly unable to share a loss, and his part in the
arrangement could only be, " Heads, I win ; tails, you lose."
This can hardly be what Lord George intends. He only
wishes, at a certain sacrifice, to give the labourer an
additional spur to exertion and motive to fidelity. There
is no such stimulus as hope ; it may get more work even
out of the agricultural labourer.

Witt Cuurt.

BM.IOIIAL, Orr. 31.

The Queen, accompanied by Princess Louise
and attended by the lieu. Emily Cathcart, went in the
morning to the boys parish school, and afterwards called
at the Manse to inquire after the Rev. Mr. Anderson, who
is confined to the house by serious illness.
. .

The Queen drove out in the afternoon, accompanied by
Princess Beatrice, and attended by the Hsu. Emily Cath-
cart.

Prince Leopold drove to Balloter.
The Duke of Buckingham had the honour of dining
with the Queen and the Royal Family.
Mr. Hill, of Edinburgh, had the honour of exhibiting to
her Majesty, Mr. Noel Paton's picture, "Mon Janus

A Cabinet Council was hell yesterday at the
official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury,
in Downing-street. The ministers present were the
Earl of Derby, the Lord Chancellor, the Earl of
Malmesbury, the Right Hon. Spencer H. Walpole,
Lord Stanley, the Earl of Carnarvon, General
Peel, Viscount Cranbonie, the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, Sir John Pakington, Sir S. Northeote,
Lord John Manners, the Right Hon. Gathorne
Hardy, and Lord Naas.

The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yester-
day at Whitehall. The lords present were Lord Westbury,
Sir E. V. Williams, Sir J. Colrile, and Sir Lawrence Peel.
Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office from the Governors of Canada and Heligoland. De-
spatches were sent to the Governors of the West India
Islandk, British Columbia, Vancouver's Island, Canada,
Bermuda, and the Australian Colonies.

HER MA.TESTI"S JOURNEY FROM

SCOTLAND TO WINDSOR,

WINDSOR, FrI:DAY MOr.NING.

Her Majesty the Queen, accompanied by their
Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Christian of Se.hles-
vrig-Holstein, Princesses Louise and Beatrice, and Prince
Leopold, attended by the Du,thess of ltoxburghe, the
Hon. E. Cathcart, Culonel and Mrs. Ponsonby, the Duke
of Buckingham, General Grey, Dr. Jenner, and Messrs.
S. hl and Legge, left Balmoral Castle after luncheon yes-
terday afternoon, and arrived at Windsor at 5.3.5 this
morning. . .

Her Majesty and the whole of the royal family were
apparently in excellent health. The arrival at Windsor
was conducted in a private and unostentatious manner, the
attendance of a guard of honour being dispensed with.
The royal cortege consisted of about six carriages, and
in those her Majesty and the royal family drove
to the Castle, which was reached nt a quarter
to 9 o'clock, in time for breakfast. Her Majesty,
it is expected, will reside at the Castle till after the anni
?enmity of the late Prince Consort's death. It is not yet
certain whether the Queen will spend the Chriatsoas at
Windsor, or go to Osborne for that purpose.
Prince and Princess Christi.,n will for the present reside
at Windsor Castle till Frogmore House is ready for their
reception.

CA m YET CorNen.--Summonses have been issued
fors Cabinet Council this afternoon, at the First Lord of
the Treasury's official residence in Downing-street.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Hastings have
left the St. George's Hotel.
Viscountess Palmerston, accompanied by the
Hon. Miss Jocelyn, the Right Hon. William F. and Mrs.
Cowper, and Viscount and Viscountess Sudley, left town
yesterday for Brockett Hall, Herts.
Viscountess Jocelyn left town yesterday for
Windsor Castle, in order to be in waiting on the Queen.

Lord and Lady Wriothesley Russell arrived in
town yesterday from Chenies, Bucks, and tomorrow leave
for Folkestone, on their way to the *oath of France to pass
the winter.

Lady Alice Henniker gave birth to a eon on
Tuesday.

" LORD " GLADSTONE IN RONE.—A correspon-
dent of the Diritto, writing from Rome on the 28th ult.,
says :—" The Pope has recei►ed Lord Gladstone at a pri-
vate audience. Ido not think that important affairs were
discussed or talked of, for the audience lasted a very little
time. The honourable lord has also been received by
Cardinal AntoneUi."

The Prince and Princess de Joinville have
arrived in Brumels from Germany. The King and Queen
of the Belgians immediately paid them a visit.

REM A
Barometric pressure io unstei
north. bit In the west It is agni
still chiefly south.westerly, but
mingled with light easterly wind
continue high.

,RKB.

tatty It has Increased In the
do ,liminh.hlng 'fhe wind, are
on the northern coasts are Inter-
ds. The southern tetuperaturts

THE PATRIOTIC FUND.—There have been in
round numbers 9,000 widows and orphans placed on the
books, and there are in receipt of relief at this time :;,400
widows and 3,000 children, of whom 1,000 are maintained

and educated in boarding institutions. The total amount
of subscriptions to December, IS4 % was 1,460,2011. The
annual expenditure is 84,000/.—Nov. 1, 1806.
We read in Gutifpuoti. :—" The Emperor and
Empress came to Paris from Saint Cloud the day before
yesterday. After alighting for a few minutes at the
Tuileries, their Majesties proceeded in an open carriage
with outriders,accompanied with their snito, totheAvenue
Dauinesnil to visit the new riff-ourriire, or working-man's
improved lodginghouse. Their Majesties were received by
the architect and builder, and remained nearly an hour in
visiting the establishment. On leaving they were greeted
with loud cries of ' rive l'Empereur !' Vive Pluipem-

:rico !' by the inhabitants of the neighbourhood, all be•

longing to the working-claasen, and who had spontaneously
assembled in front of the building."
FEIGNED ILLNESS IN TILE NAVY.—A court-martial

was held on board the Royal Adelaide on Monday and
Tuesday, for the trial of John Mackenzie, second captain of
the foretop and seaman gunner on board her Majesty's ship
Bristol, 31, for having on several occasions feigned to be
suffering from rheumatism and pretended to be unable to
perform his duty. Capt. Seymour, the proaec u tor, stated that
while on the coast of Africa, a great many of the crew being
ill at the time, the prisoner complained of pain in his limbs
night anti day. He visited the sick daily, and there was
a marked contrast between Lim and others who were
suffering from the same disease. He seemed to have lost
no flesh nor any of his ruddy colour, while the others
were shockingly emaciated, and when he was alone his
countenance was calm, but on his caching the eye of any-
one he would immediately contort his features as
if in great agony. He again saw him in the
hospital at Ascencion, when he told him be had
a suspicion of his not being ill. He then answered
him in an impertinent manner, and, the surgeon being
near at the time, said he believed him to be feigning illness,
and he should record him in Lis medical report as such.
Several other witnesses were called for the prosecution,
and after having heard their evidence the prisoner put in
his defence, which stated that lie had been in her
Majesty's service for sixteen years, had a Sebastopol medal
and two clasps, and went on to say that he dill not feign
illness, but was really ill ; that be, having described
the symptoms to the doctor, was treated for the rheu-
matism ; that the only evidence against him was that of the
master-at-arms, who had a grudge against him, through
his having quarrelled a ith him. The court having heard
the evidence in support of the said charge, as well as the
defence, was of opinion that the prisoner did feign to he
suffering from rheumatism, and falsely pretended to be
unable to perform his duty. The court, in consequence,
adjudged him to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour
in her Majesty's Naval Prison at Lewes for the space of 12
calendar months.