The Express.
London, England, 1866-11-20 00:00:00

THE THREATENED FENIAN INVASION.

The Irish government are, it is said, about imme-
diately to give additional strength to the military detach-
ments stationed in Sligo and other western Irish towns.
The Freeman's Journal says:—" Within the:past few days
notice has been given at all the metropolitan police
stations intimating that the constable or constables who
may capture James Stephens, in the event of his returning
to Ireland, will be entitled to a reward of 1,0001. This
intimation would go to show that the government dues
not wholly disbelieve that the Head Centre will have the
temerity to return to Ireland, as he announced that he
wi11.,.

" A ministerial crisis," says the Progris of
Lyons, " has just taken place at Madrid, but, fortunately,
or, the contrary, if preferred, it lasted only five hours,
and terming/14d by the maintenance of the atatu quo.
The cause of this incident wax so singular as to be
worth mentioning. The Queen, it appears, was anxious
to confer the dignity of Commander of the Order of
Charles 111. on a tenor singer at one of the theatres, but
Marshal Narvaes, probably not appreciating the value of
the services which this nomination was to reward, refused
in the most formal manner to sign the decree, and offered
his resignation. The Queen, after a stout resistance
ended by giving way, and the subject of the dispute is not
at present to receive the honour intended for him."
A St. Petersburg letter says :—" Without count-
ing the three grand balls which are already announced
officially at Bt. Petersburg, and which will be given, the
first by the ambassador of England, the second by
the representative of France, and the third by the
Russian nobility, others are spoken of by the Grand Duke
Constantine and the Grand Duchess Helena. On Thursday
last the Emperor gave the first grand ball of the season at
the Winter Palace, at which about three thousand persons
were present."
NEW PLCHAOL—The Liberti, speaking of
ladies' dresses for the coming season, says : " Another
fashion, of an eccentric character, is appearing.
It consists of trimmings, made of feathers. For-
merly a plume or marabout was worn in the bonnet,
now the whole person is covered with them, just
like the savages of the New World. Sportsmen cannot
supply them in sufficient quantity. Feathers of the pea-
cock, partridge, pintedo, pheasant, isy, blackbird, and
pigeon, are all seized on with eagerness., and even the ducks
of the poultry-yards are plucked to satisfy the caprice
of our fashionable ladies. What a fancy I It reminds
one of the distich of Catullus :
Quid levies plaint? Pelvic Quid pitivere? Teaks.
Quid Ventot Muller. Quid Dialers? !
(What is lighter than a feather!—Dusk Than Dust!—
The wind. Than the wind!—Woman. Than woman ?
Nothing !)"
SOUTH ArsmtAttA.—We (Wallaroo Times) have
seen a specimen of bitumen, recently brought from Kan-
garoo Island, where it is found, we are informed, in large
quantities. It is black, moderately bard, displays a glossy
surface when broken, and burns slowly. The existence of
such a substance on the island should seem to warrant the
expectation that a valuable discovery would result front a
systematic search for the origin of the bitumen.