The Express.
London, England, 1866-05-28 00:00:00

DISGRACEFUL SHARE TRANSACTIONS.

(From the Tina, City Article.)

A resolution is to be proposed in the Liverpool
share-market that all transactions in bank, are to be for
cash. Should it be adopted, a similar measure will pro-
bablp be tried in London. It may be doubted, however,
whether auy special restrictions are advisable. A great
outcry is made against the parties who sell shares with the
view of profiting by the present panic, but it is just as fair
for a lean to sell as to buy upon speculation. A good
suggestion has been made that tie- Mends of the
various companies attacked should combine to take
all the shares that are offered by the mere
speculators and force them to deliver them at the ap-
pointed day. The sellers would then be foiled by an
adroit turning of their own methods against themselves,
and instead of hearing idle denunciations of their policy,
they would simply find to their cost that their policy is
fairly open to all, and la capable of being practised in one
way as well as another. If the promoters, directors,
and sharehollers of the various companies, after having
for two or three years past exhibited a sanguine
faith which no remonstrances could check, have
not now the sense or courage to defend their
property, it is in vain for them to protest against
the consequences. The only cases where speculators
can be charged with moral delinquency is where they
resort, either individually or by conspiracy, to the fabn-
cation of rumours or statements to serve their ends. But
here, a4ain, the parties interested have shown lamentable
imbecility.: The law affords every protection that can
possibly bo grunted against such practices, and there is
uo branch of crime with which, in this commercial
country, the courts are disposed to deal more rigorously.
Vet, although the practices of this class of offenders
have been during the past two or three weeks
recklessly open, not a single step has been taken
to bring them to punishment. Circulars have been
sent to all parts of the country with the words
" Withdraw your deposits from bank," the name of ,
the bank inserted being that of any special establishment
to be attacked on a particular day. Papers with a similar
inscription have been freely scattered in the streeta and
public places, letters with forged signatures have been
addressed to brokers ordering them to sell 500 shares of
such and such a company, and every other device has been
used that could be suggested by tho ingenuity of the finan-
cial scum of a great city. The employment of a few deism-
tives and the offer of large rewards could hardly have failed
to work a cure, yet, instead of the exhibition of even
that limited amount of vigour, we have nothing but a
resort to will expletives about the wickedness of such pro-
ceedings. At the same time, while people are expressing
indignation at the wretched practices in question, it would
be well for them to look to higher quarters. Is it not noto-
rious that during the most critical hours of the panic lead-
ing brokers were found to recommend to every client they
met to sell the shares of such and such a bank or company,
accompanying the recommendation with an assurance that
they were • sure to go down," " that an attack was to be
made upon them," Sic.? And is there an instance known
of any one of the parties thus addressed having had the
moral courage to expose those who for a paltry commission
of 'l. or 10/. were thus willing to become active agents
toward the ruin of families ?

LoNnoa LIBRARY.—The annual general meeting
of the members of this institution was held on Saturday,
at the library, St. James's-square, Earl Stanhope in the
chair. The report stated that the number of members
added to the library daring the year which terminated on
the 30th of April was ninety-four, and the losses by deaths
and withdrawals were fifty-two. There were now on the
register 900 members, including all classes. A comparison
of the addith,ns and losses during the year show the fin:m-
ei:a gain to have been 3611. ; the losses amounting to 1241.,
and the additions representing 485/. The increase in the
number of members (ninety-four) is larger by twenty-four
than the increase reported last year (seventy), while the
losses by withdrawal or otherwise are considerably less than
those reported in previous years for some time past.
The sale of the new catalogue in the first year
of its publication has been considerable, but not sufficient
to reimburse the society for the expenses incurred. Nearly
2001. in excess of the receipts by its sale hare been paid this
year in clearing off all charges for the catalogue : yet, not-
withstanding this special call upon their funds, and an
outlay in the purchase of books considerably above
that of last year, the balanoe at the bankers
is within a few pounds of that which commenced
the financial year. The number of volumes added to the
library during the year by purchase and gifta amounts to
1,502 volumes and 120 pamphlets. The number of
volumes sent out from the library for circulation
during the year amounts to 29,725. The adoption
of the report was moved by the noble chairman,
who referred with pleasure to the increase in the
number of members, which was attributable in some de-
gree to the fact that they had advertised and made known
the value of the library to the world at large. The mo-
tion, which was seconded by Mr. J. Hewitt, was carried
unanimously. The Rev. E. IL Patcourt and the Rev. L.
Davies were then placed on the committee of management,
in the place of Mr. T. Hare and Mr. A. Hayward, who
retired, and Sir. Carlyle, Sir E. B. Head, Sir J. R. Milli-
more and Mr. Reeve were re-elected. Mr. Neill and Mr.
Stokes were reappointed auditors, and the thanks of the
meeting were given to them for their services daring the
past year. The proceedings, which only occupied a few
minutes, were concluded with a vote of thanks to Earl
Stanhope, which was moved by Lord Houghton and
seconded by Mr. Rodger.
THE GovEarrxErrr AND IstutH Ron.wvra.—lt
was affirmed in Dublin, on Saturday, that Mr. Gladstone
had sanctioned a loan to the Irish railway companies
having bonds arriving at maturity during the monetary
panic.—Oleerrer.

THE QUEEN AT CLIETDEN.

CLIEFDZN, SUNDAY.

Yesterday afternoon, at half-peat 3 o'clock, her -
Majesty, with their Royal Highnesses Princesses Helena,
Louise, and Beatrice, and Prince Leopold, attended by
General Grey, Lord Charles Fitzroy, the Duchess of
Atbole, the Hon. Mir Macdonald, Miss Bowater, ire., left
Windsor Castle for Cliefden House, the seat of the
Dowager-Duchess of Sutherland, near Maidenhead.
Her Majesty occupied an open carriage drawn by four
greys and prooeded by outriders, the rest of the royal party
and suite following in the rear. The route from the Castle
was by way of Thames-street,Windsor-bridge, High-street,
Rion, the College, Salt-hill, the Bath-road, and Taplow, to
Cliefden, which was reached at half-past 4 o'clock, after
• pleasant drive through this lovely rural district, the road
from Taplow being a gradual ascent to the duchess's resi-
dence. In the streets of Windsor and Eton, and at
various points along the route, considerable bustle was
created, groups of the village people also gathering by the
roadside in order to see the Queen and royalfamily pass by.
Opposite the Feathers Inn, which facts the entrance gates
of Chidden, quite a crowd had collected, and not a few
carriages, the occupants of which, as well as the humble
pedestrians, were temporarily made happy by an excellent
view of the Queen, who graciously and pleasantly returned
their loyal salutations. Palming through the lodge gates,
the royal cortege swept into the Leurel-drive ,which, running
slug the brow of the hill, leads to the north front of the
' mansion, the courtyard being fenced by an iron ornamental
railing and gates. Through these her Majesty's carriage
proceeded to the courtyard, the Queen and royal family
L slighting at the grand entrance.

Her Majesty and the royal fancily otzupy the main build-
ing. The magnificent dravring-roam, library (stored with
choice volumes), dining-room, and boudoir are en suae, and
on a level with the top of the south terrace. The apart-
ments are furnished in the highest style of art, and
adorned by a costly collection of sculpture and painting..

CELEBRATIOZVOF HER MAJESTY'S BIRTHDAY.

A grand illumination of the dubs, and a number of other
buildings at the West-end, including the establishments
of the royal tradesmen, took place on Saturday evening.
State banquets to celebrate the event were given by Earl
Russell, First Lord of the Treasury; the Earl of Clarendon,
the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs ; the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, Sir George Grey, the Home Secretary;
Earl de Grey and Ripon, Secretary of State for India ; the
Duke of Somerset, First Lord of the Admiralty ; the Right
Hon. Edward Cardwell, Secretary of St..to fur the Colo-
nies ; the Marquis of Hartington, Secretary of State for
War ; Viscount Sydney, G.C.8., Lord Chamberlain of Her
Majesty's Household ; the Marquis of Ailesbury, Master
of the Horse ; her Majesty's Honourable Corl•s of Gentle-
men-at-Arms ; the Earl of Bcssborongh, Lord Steward of
her Majesty's Household ; the Attorney-General, Sir
Roundell Palmer, M.P., &o.

The Queen's birthday was celebrated at Aldershot by
the firing of a royal salute &feu de joie., and a grant review
of the troops. At Chatham the customary review of the
troops at the garrison also took place. The whole of the
workmen employed at the Rona Arsenal and Dockyard at
Woolwich, were granted a holiday, and the establishments
were closed. The usual royal salutes were fired at twelve
o'clock, when the troops in garrison assembled for inspec-
tion, and to fire a feu de joie in honour of the occasion.

We hear that her Royal Highness the Princess
Mary will shortly occupy Clarence House, Bushey l'ark.
The Earl Cnurville left town nu Satin.,lay fur
Paris. The noble earl and countess will return houic early
in the week.

It is stated that a marriage is arrangol to take
place during the season between the Erl of Lrecknoek,
M.P., eldest son of the Marquis of trvaden, and the Lady
Clementine Augusta Churchill, youngest daughter of
the late and half-Aster to the present Duke of Marl-
borough.

-
Sir Ralph and Lady Howard will have the
honour of entertaining their Royal Highnesses the Duchess
of Cambridge and the Grand Duchess of Mecklenburgh
Strelitz at dinner on Wednesday, the 20th proximo.
The Earl and Countess of Cork have left town
for Ascot, where they have taken a house for the race
meeting. The noble earl and countess intend to enter-
tain a select party during the week.

- .
Lord and Lady Chelmsford will give a grand en-
tertainment to his Royal Highness the Duke of Cam-
bridge. A soled circle are incited to meet his royal high-
ness. _ _ _

The Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne re•
calved the following company at dinner on Saturday even-
ing at Lansdowne House, Berkeley-square :—The Countess
Apponyi, the Earl Grosvenor, M.P., the Earl Annealcy,
Maria Marchioness of Ailesbury, Lord Dunkellin, M.P.,
Sir Hy. and Lady Sophia des Vieux, Count l'ahlen, Mr.
Sneyd, &c.
On Saturday night Mrs. Gladstone had a full
dress assembly after the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the
Exchequer's grand dinner, in celebration of her Majesty's
birthday, at the family residence on Carlton-house-terrace.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer received the following
guests at dinner:—LordStanley, of Alderley, the Right Hon.
W. F. Cowper, M.l'., Hon. Charles A. Gore, the Right
Hon. J. K. Howard, the Right Hun. Sir Thomas I'm-
mantle, the Right lion. Thomas Milner Gibson, M.P.,
the Right Hon. Wm. Monsell, M.P., Sir William Dunbar,
Sir Alexander Spearman, Mr. W. P. Adam, M.P., Mr. H.
C. E. Childers, M.P., the Governor of the Bank of Eng-
land, Mr. Graham, M.P., Mr. Thompson Hankey, M.P.,
Mr. Garden, Mr. W. H. Gladstone, M.P., Mr. Stephenson,
Mr. F. Goulburn, Mr. G. C. J. Herne.., and Mr. J. Tilley.
Dinorah is to be repeated at Her Majesty's
Theatre to-morrow evening ; and on Wednesday, for the
first time this season, we are promised D•ri Gi,ranni, with
Mr. Santley as Don Giovanni, Madame 1i arrieni Vi'ippern
(her first appearance), as Zerlina ; Signor Gardoni, as
Don Ottavio ; Signor Scalene (his first appearance), as
Leporello ; and Mdlle. Tltiens, as Donna Anna. Mean-
while, the next performance of iphifvnia in Tauriv and
the promised revival of Mozart's It Serautio are anxiously
expected.
The operas announced for the current week at
Covent Garden are Faust e Margherita (this evening) ;
Lucia di LAZIMIR:II4OOr, with Mdlle. Patti as Lucia, and a
new tenor, Signor Nicolini, as Edgard.) (to-morrow) ; the
Africaine (Thursday) ; Don Giovanni (Frill.q) ; and
Lurraia Borgia, with Madame Maria Vilda as Lucrezia,
and a new contralto, Mdlle. Biancolini, as Maffeo Orsini
(Saturday).
It is understood that the reports on the competi-
tive gun-carriages that have lately been under trial on
board the iron frigate Bellerophon, forwarded to the Ad.
miralty by Captain A. C. Key, C.B. , and by the committee
presided over by Captain B. A. Powell, C. 8., are both in
favour of the iron carriage and slide sent for trial by Sir
William Armstrong, in preference to any other of the
carriages that have been on trial. The reports also recom-
mend that Sir William Armstrong shall supply all carriages
required for the present mounting of 12-ton guns on the
broadsides of any of her Majesty's ships.
THE ROYA.L VISIT TO ASCOT RACT.S. —As already
announced, their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess
of Wales are expected to leave town to-day for Titnesa
Park, the residence of Lord Annaly, near Sunningdale. A
distinguished party will, it is understood, be entertained
at the mansion during the week. The alterations and de-
corations at the royal stand and the grand stand have
now been completed, and, with fine weather, it is expected
that the meeting will be one of the most brilliant among
the aristocratic assemblages that have ever taken place on
the heath. On Thursday the ground for booths, &c., was
let at greatly advanced prices. The turf is in fine order,
All the principal villas in the vicinity of the course have
been let, the Earl of Cork, the noble Master of the Beek-
hounds, having taken a mansion in the immediate neigh-
bourhood of Ascot. Silwood Cottage, Sunninghill,bas been
taken by the Duke and Dachas' of Manchester, with
Mr. Chaplin and Captain Michell, while Lerd Stamfordand
party will take up their quarters at Beech Grove. Colonel
Woo
and party will sojourn at Fir Bank, and the villas
occupied by Lady Corbett, Lady Berkeley, and Sir J. B.
Lime have all been let to distinguished patrons of the
turf. Vale Lodge, Winkfield, will be tenanted by Mr. S.
Craufurd, and the vicarage at the same village, together
with Lily Hill, Bracknell, will be occupied by gentlemen
devoted to the turf.

WEATHER REPORT.-(THIS DAY.)

MONDAY, MAY !8, $ A.X.

z.
w. w ite?
Nairn I2S. B.W. 3 1 I N.W. rc I •
Aberdeen 2990 61 W.B.W. S 5 8. re
faith
Ardroman
Greencastle 20.77 W.S.W. 2 4 N. oc 1
Valentin-- HO. N.L. 1 2 N.N.E. be 1
Calm Clear • - -
20. 66 N. 1 3 N.N.W. Do 2
Holyhead
Penzance.. 29.87 Z. 0 4 N.Y.. .• • b •
Brest
Larissa 5O. .54 N.H. 2 4 W. a—
ItocheforL 19409 R. 2 W.S.W. re 0.04 2
Plymouth 19.87154 S. 1 4 8.8. W. bm 0.75 1
Weymouth
Portsmouth.. 78.841:: N.N.W. 2 4 W. rm 0.38 1
Loudon 30.86 W. 1 4 crb 0.33 -
Y .nrmoutk. 20.84168 N.N.E. 2 4 8.8. E. rb 931 1
Sadttoreugb. 20.801 N.W. 1 1 8. b 0.11
Shields 19.74152 N.W. 2 2 8.8. c_
Helder - -

PIOIAMIA
TUMIDLY. OM ItOMTICILI WZMIVIDAY.
Variable, moderate to GOMEL Chiefly between &W.
fresh, with showers and N.W , Trask wait
in plams, but tine some showers.
generally.
Aa above.
Blvallar to above.