The Express.
London, England, 1866-05-17 00:00:00

MISCELLANEOVS ToPTCS.

The Timesobserves, as its best contribution to the debate
on Tuesday on Irish national education, that it is our
bounden duty to revert in Ireland to the indispensable
necessity of sound elementary instruction, and the Cabe
is eminently one ,or that principle of examination, and
payment by results, which Mr. Lowe forced, not a day too
soon, on the reluctant schools of this part of the king.
dom. England has had to swallow this bitter pill, and
now confesses herself the better for it ; and we cannot
help thinking it the right course for Ireland. The mover
and seconder on Tuesday stem to wish to leave the in-
struction given in the national schools more entirely at
tho mercy of the masters and managers ; to leave
the excluded minority the resource of another
school, if they can find means or assistance, to
widen the gulf between the communions, awl
to discourage the use entrained masters and mistresses.
But competent authorities pronounce much of the elemen-
tary instruction given to poor children by the inmates of
religious establishments lamentably inferior. Volunteers
and private zeal should be fostered ; but volunteers must
at least submit to be tested, and the only test we know of
is that of actual results, ascertained by examination.
Commenting upon a reply which the Bishop of
Worcester has just made to an address resist:cling
cert sin ritualistic innovations in his diocese, the
Daily News remarks that his lordship's language leaves
an impression of helplessness even more complete than
that which followed the recent utterances of the most
reverend Primate on the same subject. Observing, in con-
tradiction to the bishop, that it is precisely because the
ritualistic clergy find so much to sanction their principles
' in the abiding sources of church authority that bishops
like Dr. Philpott have so much difficulty in dealing with
them—the Daily News adds that when the bishop makes
his appeal on theground of Christian expediency, he is
mach inure likely to early sympathy with him. There is a
profound connexion between religious doctrine and these
liturgical ceremonies, and the fact shows how vain is the
notion which has of late found favour with a certain small
bat cultivated section of chur:hinen, that in a country
like this, where opinions are so diverse and so strongly
held, worship may of itself fonts the bond of a national
church when doctrine has come to be disregarded, or even
rejected.
The Telegraph confidently states that Prussia and Italy
have accepted the invitation to a conference which has
been tendered by England, France, and Russia ; and it
thinks it can hardly be doubted that Austria will follow
the example thus weightily sustained.

Cite Court.

WINDSOR CASTLE, IrAy 16.

The Queen drove in the grounds yesterday after-
noon, and went out walking this morning, acamapanied
by Princess Helena.
Mince Alfred arrived at the Castle yesterday, and went
to London this morning, attended by the Hon. Eiot
Yorke.

The Dowager Countess of Dunmore and the Earl and
Countess of I)uninore arrived at the Castle, and had the
honour of dining with the Queen and the Royal Family.
The Princess Helena hae honoured Mr. Thornycroft
with fittings for her bust during the hum week.

The Prince of Wales, accompanied by Prince Alfred,
Prince Teck, and the Earl of Dunmore, and attended by
Major Teesdale, went to Epsom yesterday.
The Princess of Wales took a carriage drive, attended
by the Hon. Mrs. A. Hardinge.
Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office from the Governors of the Cape of Good Hope and
St. Helena. Debpatchea were sent to the Governors of the
Wert India Islands, British Columbia, Vancouver's Island,
Bermuda, and British Honduras.

Srare BALL.—The Lord Chamberlain has issued
invitations for a full-dress ball, at Buckingham PaLice, on
Tuesday, the sth of June.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, accom-
panied by Viscount Sydney (the Lord Chamberlain), paid
his first visit to the Travellers (of which club his royal
highness has lately become a member) on Saturday after-
noon after the levee.

The Prince of Orange has arrived in Brussels
from Paris.

The Count de Flandre has arrived in Brussels
from his Italian tour.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Westminster
and Lady Theodora Grosvenor have arrived at Grosvenor
House for the season.

Mrs. Gathorne Hardy has issued cards for
esaemblies on the 29th inst., and on Friday, June 1, at her
residence in Grosvenor-crescent.

Miss Coutts has issued cards foi a concert on
the lat of the ensuing month to meet their Royal High-
nesses the Grand Duke and Duchess of Mecklenburg-
Strelitz and the Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess
Mary.

It is reported that Lord Wodehouse will shortly
be raised to the rank of an earl.