The Express.
London, England, 1867-02-13 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 13, 1867.

tration. They have no heart for it : the only
positive conviction they entertain is that,
whatever their incapacity as Reformers, they
ought not to be turned out of office. That, how-
ever, is a secondary matter. It is very well to
say that the interests of Reform demand a deter-
mination to abstain from party triumphs : that is
to be ascertained by events. Somebody must con-
duct the question through its successive stages,
and if that office can be performed for Reform
without decided intellectual convictions and strong
moral authority the question is much more
manageable than has hitherto been supposed. If
the Tories are willing to permit Mr. GLADSTONE
to lead the House and shape a Reform Bill sitting
on the Opposition benches, while retaining
office as a bribe for their acquiescence, let them
say so. But they have lost their opi,ortunity of
controlling the question, which is already out of
their hands.

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.

(THIS DAY.)

appear this morning in all the newspapers of the American
Union. Wu it wise to give so valuable a testimony to the
importance of Fenian operations in the United Kingdom?
Our conservative government appears to shine no more in
administration than in constructing measures of parlia-
mentary reform.
The Herald draws a frightful picture of what the Fenians
might have done had they been "successful in their first
attempt." The insurrection, which could effect nothing
except by a surprise, was quelled before it bad broken
out. There is one incident connected with this remarkable
episode so gratifying that the Herald cannot pass it over
in silence. Earl Uroavenor, who sits for Chester, felt at
once that his proper place was among his constituents
and neighbours, even at a time of such absorbing interest
as the night of Mr. Disraeli's reform speech, and his lord-
ship accordingly hurried down at once to Chester. The
reform mob of that city (continues the Herald) hissed him
a few weeks back ; let us hope they will have the grace to
cheer I now.

The Stiff turns the subject into ridicule, attributing the
collection of people at Chester solely to a prize fight. It
has no doubt Mr. Walpole slept well last night—first, be-
cause he would be sleepy ; and, secondly, because he is
hardly the man whom the sense of the ridiculous would
keep awake. And it hopes that when he "rises
from h's bed "he will be consoled by the reflection that
even when badgered in the House of lbnunons, and when
the exposure of this colossal hoax was imminent, he re-
fused with exquisite prudence to reveal what was the real
amount of military force by which the stronghold, which
is so inexplicably supposed to have excited rebel cupidity,
is ordinarily guarded.

the euurt.

OSBORNE, Frs. 12.

The Queen drove out yesterday afternoon with
Prince Louise, and her Majesty and her royal highness
walked awl rode on ponies this morning.
Prince and Princess Christian walked in the grounds
this looming.
Princess Leopold and Princess Beatrice also went out.
The Duchesi of Rozburghe has succeeded Lady Water-
Park as Lady in Waiting.

The Prince of Wales, attended by Major Teesdale,
hunted with his harriers, near Windsor, yestenlay.
The Princess of Wales took a carriage drive, attended
by the Marchioness of Carmarthen.

Their royal highnesses, accompanied by the Duke of
Edinburgh, went to the Strand Theatre in the evening.
A committee of the Lords of her Majesty's Most Honour-
able Privy Council sat yesterday at Whitehall on the
subject of the Cattle Plague. The Lords present were the
Lord President and the Right Hon. Stephen Cave. Mr.
Harrison and Dr. Alexander Williams attended the
Committee.

The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yester-
day. Present—Sir E. V. Williams, Sir R. Kinder%ley,
Sir J. Colvile, and Sir Laurence Peel. _ .

Despatches were received yestenlay at the Colonial-
office from the Governors of Tasmania, South Australia,
Victoria, Natal, Malta, Hong Kong, and Ceylon.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)
THE FRENCH IN MEXICO.
PARIS, Fez. 13.

Official intelligence received here from Mexico
to the 13th •January announces that the concentra-
tion of the French troops was being carried out
with the greatest order. The troops were to be
echeloned on the 23rd January between Mexico
and the sea. Their movements met with no ob-
stacle.

THE GERMAN PARLIAMENT.
HANOVER, FEB. 13.

Herr von Miinchausen, candidate of the demo-
cratic party, has been elected member of the
North German parliament, by a majority of about
4,000 votes over those obtained by Herr Rudolf
von Benningsen, president of the National-Verein.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
(THIS DAY.)