The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-06 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 6, 1867.

GREECE.

(FR6II OCR SPECIAL CORREAPONDENT.)
SYRA, ILuten 23.

It is not consistent with most Englishmen's no-
id the sunny Archipelago that there should
IK. a gale of wind howling need Syr►, and a
dr:. /ling rain falling in the streets of the little
1..“11 ; but the gale does howl round the rocky
c,est, and shake the doors and rattle the windows
id the Syriotes. One steamer is a day behind her
time, and has not yet been sighted. Another
packet-Istat has put back through stress of weather,
and for the moment our communications with the
w. rid at large are interrupted. No matter—we
are not upon a desolate island of unworked marble
quarries, sir of interesting ruins. Syra is the
busiest sea-port imaginable—a place of only forty
vears' growth, which has shot up with
Aim rican rapidity. If Englishmen have too
lin4lit an idea of the climate hereabouts, they have
,•o the other hand too little faith in the progress
of the Greek people. Thriving, bustling Syra. is
no more consistent with ninny preconceived notions
than is the gale of wind and its accompaniment of
drizzling rain. Steno writers have made much of
is brigandage for which commercial Greeks are as
little respiiiisible as were Glasgow burgesses for the
deeds of Rob Roy and Isis clansmen. Other writers
have objected to garlic, or objected to fleas, and
have accordingly declared commercial Greece a
failure. Now, I venture to think that no nation
.f ancient or cadent times has ever started into
life with such vigour and intelligence as has Greece
since she was freed from Turkish rule. When the
war came to :in end it left the country poor and
wasted. Those very p.llikars who had fought so
bravely against the Turks formed a dangerous
class to be contained within a small com-
munity. Towns and villages had been de-
stroyed, trade was paralysed, schools were almost
unknown, and the language was choked with bar-
barisms. Yet in spite of all such drawbacks, and
many more which I have not space to enumerate,
the Greek nation has steadily advanced. Every
year has seen the civilised part gain ground from
the picturesque but unwashed conservatives. Every
year has seen some forward step. The language
has been reformed and foreign words rigidly ex-
cluded. Schools, colleges, and public buildings of
all sorts, have been built in Athens and other prin-
cipal towns, whilst trade has been wonderfully deve-
loped. There has, in fact, arisen a new country
from the devastated Greece of forty years ago. I
will admit the garlic to be true, and the fleas to be
only too true, but it is not true that the little king-
dom has proved a failure.

Turning to a matter which is less in dispute, let
me speak of the Cretan exiles. They suffer for
their patriotism, and well deserve to be helped
from far and near. It is enough that Christian
nations, with costly fleets at command, should let
a small blockade-runner do the work of saving
women and children from the Turks ; the balance
of power does not require that these poor exiles
should starve. Happily, however, it is not to
public, but to private charity that they must look
in their distress, and private charity knows nothing
about the balance of power. The women and chil-
dren are cared for without regard to the moral effect
of such conduct in encouraging their fathers and
brothers who remain in Crete. Money is
sent from abroad for the exiles, and collected for
them amongst the sympathising Greeks.
Up to this time, though there has been
much suffering through the breaking up of families
and loss of relations, there have been means of
relief at the disposal of the committees for all who
could be brought across the sea to a place of safety.
Various colonies have been formed, some on the
mainland, some on the islands, and there are now
refugees from Crete scattered half over Greece.
They hope to return home before very long ; they
are confident in the success of the cause ; and it is
touching to hear their cries of joy when there is
good news from home.
I visited a house in the outskirts of Athens
which contained many refugee families. There
were Cretans, young and old, crowding the
house to excess. A few aged men and a
few lads of fifteen or sixteen were to be
seen on entering, but the majority of
those present were women and children. They
had been told that there was news from Crete,
and they pressed round my companion with eager
questioning. Another trip of the Arkadi and more
Christians brought away 1 This was very good !
"It is the blessed cross," said a white-bearded man
solemnly. "Ah yes, God blesses his people," said
another man who had been wounded and was now
almost recovered. The women were still more
enthusiastic, tears stood in their eyes, and many
of them prayed aloud for Crete. When my com-
panion asked of the wounded man about his health
he answered that he should soon be well enough to
go back and fight the Turks. " That he will,"
said one of the women, " for he is getting strong
again." You in England can better tell how the
Cretan question drifts diplomatically along, and
how it becomes tangled with other ques-
tions, than can we who are nearer the spot.
To us there is Crete lee ' g forth as the
centre of action, and we speculate upon changes
with a view to blockade-running, or upon
upon changes of ministry in other countries with a
view to possible intervention. One thing is cer-
tain—namely, that if the present struggle should
continue much longer no diplomacy in East or
West will suffice to avert a general conflagration of
European Turkey. King George and his govern-
ment will not be able to hold back the Greeks very
much longer. Wise or foolish, right or wrong,
these people will rush on their fate, and win all or
lose all, at the point of the sword. Perhaps, " the
Powers" have already intervened—perhaps they
will do so before this letter can reach you. Truly
they had better waste time no further if they wish
for peace.

A prospectus has been issued of the Bengal
Science Association to promote the development of social
science in that presidency. The Hon. W. Beton-Karr is
to be president.
LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS FOR THE
EN,roo: WEEK—Monday—Society of Arts, at 8,
" Music and Musical Instruments, Mr. Mullah (Cantor
lecture); Architects, at 8 ; Geographical, at "Site of
Kumla& and Ancient Canals in Mesopotamia," by Lieu-
tenant Bewaher ; " Sources of the Lycus and other Rivers
in Kurdistan," Mr. Taylor ; " Description of Diarbekr,"
Mr. Garden. Tuesday—Royal Institution, at 3, " Botany,"
lice. G. lienalow • Ethnological, at 8, " Ancient European
Mines," Dr. Clarke; " Classification of Races of Man ac-
cording to Form of Mr. Crawford ; " Visit to
liibalan Village of Sano Bay," Dr. 911lingsrood ; Engineers,
at "Memoir on the River Tyne ; " The Suez Canal,"
Cololel Denison. Wednesday—Society of Arts, at 8.
Thunslay-- Royal Institution, at 3, ' Antiquity of Man,"
Mr. Peir•elly ; Syro-4,7ptian, at 7,Annivemary ; " Botany
in Palestine," Dr. Lowne ; Royal, at 8j ; Antiquaries, at

OPENING or THE WALTHAIIIITOW PUBLIC HALL.
—On Thursday evening. great interest was excited in this
Perish, containing nearly 10,000 inhabitants, by the open-
ing of a public hall, which for internal arrangements is
one of the most chaste, well-ventilated, and commodious
1" lie rooms in the vicinity of the metropolis. The com-
mittee invited Miss Glyn to give a reading from Shakes-
}Pare. and although the charge for admission was fixed at
.4. and 2s. tid. the hall was well tilled, and all present ap-
peared delighted not only with Miss Glyn's reading, but
also at having now a public building open for all useful
cud interesting u!..;ects, a want that has long been felt in
this neighbourhood.

PARLIA.VENTARY BUSINESS JOR THE WEEK.

The following notices of motions end orders of
the day stead in the order beak of the House of Com-
mons for the ensuing week :
MoNDAT, APRIL 8.
ORD6RB OF THE DAT.
Representation of the People Bill—committee; National
Debt Acts—report thereupon ; Fortifications (Provision for
Exrculeu) Mil—adjourned debate on second reading ;
Marine Mutiny Bill—committee ; Admiralty Jurisdiction
1:ill second reading ; Public Health (Scotland) Bill—
second reading; Supply—committee; Ways and Means--
committee;Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act (I 8.51) Amend-
ment Bill—third reading ; Limerick Harbour—oomunttee
thereupon ; Shipping Local Dues Bill—consideration
of Lonls amendments ; Public Libraries (Scotland) Acts
Amendment Bill committee ; Chester Courts Bill—
third reading ; Policies of Insurance Bill—as amended,
to be considered ; Great Northern Railway Bill—oam-
, mittee thereupon.

- NOTICES OF MOTIONS.
Viscount Enfiebl—To ask the President of the Poor-
law Board whether his attention has been officially called
to the great and exceptional distress now existing in the
Poplar Union ; and whether any communication or memo-
rial had been received by him from the guardians of the
poor of Quit union or by the members of the Board of
Works for the Poplar district ; and, if so, whether he
would have any objection to lay such papers upon the
table of the house, together with any replies that may
have been sent by him to such memorials or commu-
nications.

Mr. o;horne—To oak the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs, if any official communication has been received by
telegram or despatch from her Majesty's minister at
Madrid, relative to the seizure of the vessel Queen Vic-
toria by the Spanish authorities ; and, if the Spanish go-
vernment has complied with the terms demanded by the
Foreign Secretary in his letter to Sir J. Crampton of
March :10, 11ai7.
TUESDAY, APRIL 9.
ORDERS or THE DAY.

Offices and Oaths Bill—committee ; Transubstantiation,
kc., Declaration Abolition Bill—committee ;
Law Bill—third reading.
Norio= or Hanoi&

Sir M. Peto--London Chatham, and Dover Railway
Company—Select committee to inquire into the means
adopted by the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway
(olupeny for raising the share capital and exercising their
borrowing powers under the various acts of parlia-
ment authorising the construction of the main line and
its extensions aud branches.

Mr. Whatman—London, Chatham, and Dover Railway
Company As an amendment to Sir Morton Peto's motion
for a select committee on the London, Chatham, and
Dover Railway Company, to add, at end, " and also into
the mew adopted by three of the members, for Hun-
tingdon, Bristol, and Dover, for raising money for the
Grand Trunk Railway of Canada and the London, Chat-
ham, and Dover Railway."
Colonel French—Representation of the People (Ireland)
—Rill top mend the representation of the people of Ireland.
Sir L Palk—Totnes Elections—To call the attention of
the house to the report of the commissioners on bribery
and corruption at the elections for the borough of Totnes ;
to the direct interference of the Duke of Somerset in the
political affairs of Totnes, which was supposed to have
ceased with the year 1863 ; to the ejectment of Somerset
tenants after the election in that year ; and to the acts
of bribery, corrupt practices, and intimidation habitually
practised by Mr. lilichaehnore, steward to the duke, and
detailed in that report.
Lord Elcho—Carne Laws (Scotland)—Bill to amend the
lawn relating to game in Scotland.
Mr. Serjeant Armstrong—Mixed Marriages (Ireland)—
To call attention to the law affecting mixed marriages in
Ireland, and to ask leave to bring in a bill on the subject.
General Dunne—Army (Transport)—Address for copy
of report of and evidence given before the committee ap-
pointed to consider the subject of military transport.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10.
ORDERH OP THE DAT.
Mines, kc., Assessment Bill—second reading; Tests
Abolition (Oxford) Bill—committee; Associations of
Workmen Bill—second reading; Promissory Notes (Ire-
land) Bill second reading; Sea Coast Fisheries
(Ireland) Bill—committee; Military at Elections (Ireland)
Bill—second reading; Sale of Land by Auction Bill—
committee; Land Contracts (Ireland) Bill—committce.

Notions oi, MmloNs.
_..

Lord G. Cavendish—On the second reading of Mines,
&c. Assessment Bill. to move that it be referred to a select
committee.

Mr. Fawcett—On reading the order of the day for going
into committee on the Testa Abolition (Oxford) Bill, to
move that it be an instruction to the committee that they
have power to extend the provisions of the bill to the
university of Cambridge.
air H. W. Barron—On motion for going into committee
on Bea Coast Fisheries (Ireland) Bill, to move that it be
oommitted to a select committee.

THURSDAY, APRIL 11.
ORDERS OF THE DAT.
Land Tax Commissioners' Names Bill—committee;
Murder Law Amendment Bill—second reading ; Capital
Punishments within Prisons Bill—second reading; Petit
Juries (Ireland) Bill—committee ; Metropolis Gas Bill—
second reading; Common Law Courts (Ireland) Bill—
second reading ' • Bridges (Ireland) Bill—committee ;
Burials (Ireland) Bill—second reading ; Court of Chancery
(Ireland) Bill—committee; Charitable Donations and
Bequests (Ireland) Bill— committee.
NOTICES or NOTIONS.
Sir 0. Bowyer—On second reading of Murder Law
Amendment Bill, to move that it be read a second time
upon this day six months.

gMr. EwariLTo move, on the second reading of the
Murder Law Amendment Bill, to leave out all the words
after "that," for the purpose of inserting these wonis ;
" it is inexpedient any longer to maintain the punishment
of death for murder."

FRIDAY, APRIL 12.
ORDERS OF THR DAT.
Masters and Workmen Bill—second reading ; Public
Schools Bill—second reading.
NOTICES or MOTIONS.
On the motion for adjournment,
Mr. Baillie Cochrane—To call the attention of the house
to the correspondence respecting the seizure of the Tor-
nado by the Spanish frigate Gerona, and the correspon-
dence respecting the seizure of the Queen Victoria by the
Spanish cruiser Toro. _ _

Mr.
Neste—On second reading of Public Schools Bill, to
move that it be read a second time upon this day six
months.

The following members composed the minority of
40 who voted last night for Mr. Lowe', motion to the effect
that the house dissents from so much of the minute of the
Committee of Council of Education as provides for an in.
crew* of the grants now made to primary schools:—
Mr. W. P. Adam, Capt. M. Arehdall, Messrs. A. S. Ayr-
ton, R. Baines, T. Barnes, W. E. Baxter, H. F. Berkeley,
J. I. Briscoe, F. H. Calthorpe, J. Candlish, C. R. Caring-
ton, T. Chambers, J. Cheethani, C. R. Colvile, J. Cowen.
B. H. Crauford, Sir F. Crossley, Messrs. L. L. Dillwyu,
C. Edwards, R. Eykyn, H. W. Foley, Serj. S. Gasslee,
Messrs. T. F. Grove, G. Hadfield, J. D. Harris, Lord
Henley, Messrs. I. Holden, E. Enatchboll-Hugessen, S.
Laing, J. Lamont, Lord 0. G. Lennox, Mr. J. L. O'Beirne,
Bir P. O'Brien, Sir C. M. o"Loghlen, Sir R. Peel, Messrs.
A. W. Peel, T. B. Potter, Baron M. de Rothschild, Mown.
G. M. Sandford, and J. Wh.te. Tellers—Messrs. Lowe
and Gilpin.

Next Saturday (April 13) the President of the
Royal Society, General Sabine, will bold his second eon-
versazione for this season at Burlington House.

The Satarday Review says :—" It may possibly
occur to Mr. Eyre and his admirers that there are advantages
in the adherence to legal forms which prevails in England.
If it had been possible to seize Mr. Eyre in Shropshire, and
to convey him to London, he would probably at this mo-
ment have been held to bail to appear at the Central Cri-
minal Court. Market Drayton is fortunately a safer place
than Kingston ; nor indeed is Bow street as formidable a
forum as Morant Bay. It is hard upon Colonel Nelson and
Mr. Brand that they should suffer from the accident of
residing in London, while their principal laughs at the
Jamaica committee in the security of his retreat."

Mr. Nockolds read a paper, at the last meeting
of the Central Fanners' Club, on the need of a Government
Board of Agriculture. Reasoning from the precedent of
our own p►st experience, when such a board was presided
over by Sir J. Sinclair, and served by Arthur Young as
secretary, and from the practice of other countries—
France, Prussia, Russia, &c., where governmental depart-
ments are especially charged with the supervision of mat-
ters relating to agriculture, he argued for the importance
of some central authority here to which our Farmers' Club.
and Chambers of Agriculture might address themselves
with a better prospect than now exists of their being
fairly appreciated and understood.

We read in the Imperi,dlßerielo :—" It is un-
derstood that the Crown Prince of Prussia is so dissatisfied
with the account of the Second Army, attributed to Major
Von Verdy, as well as with the eulogy of the Berlin cor-
respondent of the TisV2, that he has prepared, or super-
vista, a narrative of the operations for the special enlight-
enment of the English public. The paper in question is
to appear in the forthcoming number of the Edinburgh,
and will be looked for with much interest."

The Archbish )p of Canterbury has announced to
the hiehops of the 'anthem province that the Premier has
signified her Majesty's intention of issuing a royal COMMiI-
Rion upon ritual observances in the church. The inquiry
will be limited to the interpretation of the Rubric relsting
to the ornaments of the minister and church during divine
service.—South ',nubs Pras.

THE POLICE COURTS.
(THIB DAY.)

Mr. Maude said he was afraid be could afford the
cant no redress, but Bickel, one of the warrant officers of
the court, would call upon his landlady, and see what
could be .lone in the matter.
The applicant thanked his worship and retired.
WANDSWORTH.
IMPORTANT lIIICI.ION UNDICR TUC COIN LAW.

Mr. Thomas Harrison, of the Waterman's Arms, Nine
Elms-lane, was summoned by Newman Norwood, for
unlawfully bending a half sovereign tendered to him, the
same being of due weight and lawful coin.
It appeared from the evidence that the complainant
tendered the half-sovereign for half a pint of beer. The
defendant put the piece in a " =amp" fastened to the her,
and bent it. After taking it into the parlour he placed it
in the cramp a second time and bent it. He also bent the
half-sovereign between his fingers, and told him it was a
bad one. Witness took the half-sovereign away and found
it was good, and of full weight.
The defendant said he put the half sovereign into the
cramp to straighten it. The half sovereign was not in the
same state as it is now.
The complainant explained that since the half sovereign
had been in his pocket it had broken in two pieces. He
denied that he bent the half sovereign.
The defendant said the half sovereign was given to
him to change and he did not like to take it as it would
not ring.
Mr. Hayman told him that if he did not like the half
sovereign he was not bound to give change, but if he did
take it, and do anything to the coin by which it was ren-
dered less namable, and bending it certainly did, the law
said he must give another. The question to decide was
as to who should take the trouble to go to the Mint and
obtain another half sovereign for the broken pieces.
It appeared to him that the defendant must take
the trouble as he tried the coin and bent it. It did not
matter whether be broke the half sovereign or bent it, as
the act of parliament used the word "bend."
The defendant— Then, I have to return him a good one
Mr. Dayman—Yea ; and pay him 2s. costa.
A mutual exchanging of pieces then took place, end
the parties left the court.

WEATHER REPORT.-(TA IS DAY. )

SAMIDAY, APRIL 8, 8 A.M.

B. T.I W.
--Naha W.N.W.
Aberdeen 133.75 48. N.W.
Leith 119.80 511 W.& W.
Ardroescus —10.31 591 W.N.W.
Grftncastle —19.30 52 W.N. W.
Valenti& 30.1949 W. N. W.
Cape Clear 30.23 501 N. W.
I.2rerl 30.01 so W.
Holy d lO.OO 501 W.B.W.
20.%621 W.
Brost 30.2860 N.W.
Lorient 110.70 WI W.
Rochefort 90.112 N.W.
Plymouth 30.1S 52 W.N.W.
Weymouth 20.19 50. N.W.
Portanouth 30.10 501 N. W.
Loudon 3008511 W.N.W.
Yarmouth 29.9148, W.N.W.
Scarborough 29.96::01 W.
Shields 29.801601 N.W.
Helder - I—,

W.N.W.
N.W.
N.W.
N.
N.W.
W.S.W.
W.B.W.
W.N.W.
N.N.W.
W.N.W.
W.
W.N.W.
KW.
LW.

W.
N. W.

,boo
11. 1 L
to
I
I 1
.0.02 2