The Express.
London, England, 1858-02-11 00:00:00

auLDIARs AND THEIR

At yesterday's meeting of the Centrtl Ass...mut-
ton for the Condition of the Wives and Families
of Boldime gee
The Dukeof CA 31BRIDO It said As presiding on the present
interesting. occasion, it becomes my duty shortly to open the
meeting by explaining the circnmstanoes under which the
association now contemplated has been formed, and gene-
rally to refer to the paper placed before you, and
which no doubt will be referred to more parti-
cularly by the various gentlemen who sit around me,
and who will have to present resolutions to your notice at a
later period of the day. lam the more anxious to offer to
you mine observations, for though I appear here certainly in
quite an unofficial and private capacity, still as I have the
honour of filling • high post at this moment very much eon-
named with this subject, it is right and proper that I should
state my own individual views se to the propriety of
such an association as is now contemplated. It flnitasta
known that this is not the first attempt of this sort which
has been made—that during the Crimean war • central asso-
ciation was formed for the relief of the orphans and widows
of the sailors and soldiers serving at the seat of war, and
who were obliged to leave their families behind them. The
good derived from that association is not to be told. The
advantages derived from it were such that I believe
• vast deal of misery wait, if not altogether pre-
vented, greatly alleviated. (heat, hear.) I believe
that it was successful, and that its operations
were most ably conducted by many of the gentlemen who
sit around me, and by none more assisted than by the maw
tary, who site by my side, Major Powys. (Cheers.) The
moms which attended the operations of that essociation has
emboldened its promoters to come before you on a similar
though a somewhat different occasion. It might have been
thought that an association of this kind having been once
before formed, it was unnecessary to begin with another, or
rather that that association might ham been extended instead
of forming a new one. Bat the circumstances under which
that association was formed were peculiar. It was formed
for the purpose of alleviating the sufferings occasioned by the
Crimean war. Therefore it was not in the power of the pro-
moters of this association to extend the former one. They
-

were 'empanel to ftem a new one for the object which ere
are met to Mums. It might also be thought by many that
the fact of levieg saoh an association at all was objediona-
bison the gum/ that it would mama(' improvident mar-
Mgr %Maw. 111 thought it would have that effect, that
certainly would be a reason which would deter me from ap-
rheon the pram* occasion as president of this meeting.
im's) This my be a painful subject to allude to,
m thei=dhave personally gained in the army,
Is hii is else by the opinion of many distin-
guished rallitasy men who sit round me, I most say that •
is.. umfteemmie thing could not happen for the service than
to enconmere the marriage of soldiers in her Majesty's army.
(Hoer, hear.) And for this reason, that the soldier, taken
individully wee a man well to do in his clue of life,
but with a well and family he was a struggling man, and
placed in a very unfortunate position • and I em sure,
whether they are military men er civilians who think upon
the em4e..t, all must come to the conclusion that it would
be • letne for the soldier himself to encourage
merrit.r r sissy. (Hear, hear.) But this association
it not heed le eessureps aschge in the army, bat to meet
• Mil at • iiimist when it is most necessary
that it Nisei be ereb—ladeis period of war, clue above
all se Ore it is =est aloe sod dueled
that the wives
M dearth of ~lien, who me hit ie a most melancholy
ffiseehoslel be awed kw by erp•btia and the country.
.) Clenleilly therein nothing more painful than
17;4 when regimate are emberked for foreign service, the
matey of the families whom therer, leave behind them ;of
elm, if not all, certainly a proportion do not
hew whore to lay their heeds. Hear, hear.) It is to
MO wed em eniorgeney that this association has
bees ingral ; sal it is, I am happy to say,
Weeded est ally to meet this bet
to be tads a pethenent baited= in e country.
(Hesr, beer.) The epee view spin. is not to encourage
sloth med idleness, le be selbeflismiliel to Walt that they
had nothingto do, the Ilny seed not take care of them-
selves, that they need ad leek to their thaduct, or to the
mode in which they might pia as here livelihood ; but
its abject will be to ememmige the berd-warking, end to aid
these who were Ins milks to gain a livelihood for them-
selves in finding mgdeptusit. (Hear, hear.) It will be
• eljeot of the ersiskiea also to send the children at
Wises le naked saw*
_• to one of the moat unkno-
wns hems asseeted with the departure of troops on
hems sinks the that their children had not the advantage
slabs afitheysthools—a great disadvantage indeed. The ma-
series* is est the children are thrown either upce another
prini,eho sends theca to school at considerable exionsetoher,
sr re, the sot able to go to school at all. To meal so
germs • etheity, it is proposed that this association should
snit the wee of in obtaining entrance into the
lease sad other schools. By this edocation they will be
pled Is ma • position that they will in after life be able to
pis is beset livelihood for themselves. Ido not know
that I aid thy my name on the present ocouion, further
than tore that, es flea es I am able to lege of the objects of
this assededion, as far se I em able to judge of the ben4M
likely to be derived from it, I am persuaded that any Guidance
which can be afforded to it will not injure the service with
which I have the honour to be connected, but will, on the
contrary, alleviate the painful feelings of many brave and
gallant men who are fighting the battles of their country.
,
end nobly they are fighting those battles, se you all
know. (Chum.) It will be a great satisfaction to those
brave men to know that the public and the country
are not blind to their interests and welfare, but that, on the
eostrery, they are ready and willing to render their families
every assistance, and to acknowledge the services which they
• reetheng to their country. (Hear.) It might be said
by some that it is the previa*e of the government to under-
take this duty, and that they should not leave it to the
Lielmity of the ;Mk. (Hem.) But Ide net OM
ts eroold be desirable to leave this duty to be ledielithe
by the government. (Hear, hear.) I think if it win
hit to the government it would have the affect of
rimores, which,
te es I observed befora,
reilitr eg a most s nfortons oirtherimace for the
army. (Hen) I think, therefore, we duped eseseles
ourselves in this good work as individukse thst we
should not look to the government as the um= of dkpless
ing this charity in the ordinary °ours* et tede4 endielik
thej.are homed It provide in their geethessed seseely.
Mr T. WILLIAMS Ousel the ethos mea
who.W7. wives eel diadem way Madill to hoe their
country, and left their Mies set deka bird In met
terrible distress, s sere of they required the
lm
should be deal. itherdingly a meeting was Wilar 411:11
wich, end theme islet proceeds of benevolent, were col-
lame end diepethe be that mass of softens. The eseillent
feeling thus whaled at Woolwich moos weed In seer
places ; and st a meting at Charlton, whit& wee presibd
over by Lord Shaftesbury, it was resolved that ea
should be made to the public, and that a astral
should be formed ; and when he remembered the ail
uit were, which he first beheld at Weidelft‘ led Aps
looked around Mtn, be mast say that ass seller he UR
proud and gratified. (Cheers.) It had been said that the
formation of such • society as that would incrust the
number of marriages in the army. It wee his dna
caried= that it would produce no such effect. The
proceedings of that day would be made known far and wide,
and he was sure that many young persons who contem
what was in many cues • mod inconsiderate act would re-
flect that, if they married, the woman would become an ob-
ject of charity. He really thought that the result of Mier
tion would be, not an increase, but actually a decrease, el
matrimony in the army. He mike on this point as a di-
ther. While the soldier remained single be was placed above
his original sphere in life, but the moment be married the
acme changed. Six per cent. of the troops were allowed to
vsairty. Of course ahem would marry ; but then, what
was their position ? In the cm of the six per cent. who I
were allowed to marry, the women were assisted in this
manner. Every soldier had stopped from his pay one Penny
• day he weak*, end that being divided smog the
sin per eat of warm, assisted theta in their deem* No-
Puy ;
_Theses the wawa who were married without en-
sue be seating but the py sad the rations of dm sear
Is dope upon. Let the. Oaliddir for a moment the Min
dew soldier being divided between three or four pewees.
Every military man In that room knew that it wee impanels
kw the soldier to do his duty properly when he had to Am
his pittance with • wife end three or four children.
hear.) He had seen soldiers so situated who positively email
not get through their work ; and every officer who bed me-
mended • regiment on a long and dult marsh Weida SOF
tify that the first men who fell out ma the married Men who
was placed in that unfortunate position. He wee so Weer
abed by such • state of things that he was unable
to do his duty. They had not come there, however,
to consider any dogma or to set forth any principles. The
facta ware patent and stared them in the face. Ha knew
that in many places where local committees bad been formed—
for example, at Plymouth and Dover—the local funds some
exhausted , and It was now necessary, therefore, to maim an
appeal to the country. In the mum of former wsrs the elm
and children of our soldiers had for the meet part Oallnl-
paniad their husbands ; in this instance they ell remeimi
behind, and he trusted that the appeal made on their behalf
to the philanthmpy end Christian charity of the country
would not be made in vain. (Cheere.)

CRYSTAL PaLaca.—With a view to reduce the
capital Si this mammy, it appose the directors are now pre-
pared to receive applications for the surrender of shame
eaumge for tickets of admission. For each original
share arrendered • ticket will be given authorising 60 ad-
missions to the building end ground, on all ordinary (is.)
days. The ticket is not to remain in force longer than three
pen from its date. For each preferonce share surrendered,
two similar tickets of admission. It is Intended to charge a
fee of 2s. 6d. on each share surrendered. to cover registration
sad capons of issue of tickets. The directors have ponied
a resolution authorising amain by them ticketa to the
palace and ground& on Sunday altersoca.
CONRECRATION.—The new church of Saint Cress,
linutsford, in the county of Cheeks, erected at the aide
expense of the lets Peter Lep, Bag., of Nor
hall, Boothe-
hall, on ha lekaging to him, we otaweerwed by the
Bishop of Master en Tseadav, the 17th inst. A commodi-
ous knee and prides were provided by Mr. Legit,
sad re= duly eenveyed to the Moitimisetioal Commie-
BLOWN Ow the use of the Incumbent of the church for the
time bag. Jan Neologies Leib, Eq., the nephew and
Dslrat k+. in wb. the patronage it vested by the death
of his awl% k shoot to farther endow the *web with
earn of 3,0001., 10 be invested Its the Malik et Übe utdoisr.
The chunk rateine silting* far 432 Si Welt 101
will be let for the beat of the minister, end the remeisier
are either eppeprigall for the use of the tenants of the Nor-
Vary Beethiedwilleate, or entirely free.

EXPRESS FROM PARIti.

(mom out *Aux

PARIS, WEDNESDAY BYINING.

I believe it to be certain that Marshal Valliant,
the Minister at War, has resigned. The cause of
his resignation I understand to be this :—When the
Emperor signified his pleasure that the country
should be divided into five great military districts,
each to be commanded by a Marshal of France,
Marshal Valliant either did not, or would not, sup-
pose that the new arrangement was to exempt the
generals of division from corresponding directly
with him as Minister of War. He accordingly gave
orders which have not been approved of. The im-
perial intention is that every general of division in
each of the five districts shall be immediately re-
sponsible to the marshal commanding alone. Hence
a difference, which having been decided in favour of
the marshals, the Minister at War resigns. lam in-
formed that his successor is General Niel, the
engineer who greatly distinguished himself before
Sebastopol. lam happy to be able to say (and I hope
the gentlemen of the French censorship—who have
lately been seizing the Daily News and Express every
day—will deign to take note of this testimony as
evidence that I do not blindly and systematically
find fault with whatever the French government
does) that an officer of higher character or capacity
than General Niel does not exist in the French
army.
_ .

It is, I think, finally settled that Count Walewaki
is to resign the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and go
to London as ambassador, Count de Persigny re-
turning to Paris, in order to take his seat in the
new Privy Council. In this case the new Minister
for Foreign Affairs will be M. Dronyn de Lhuys,
who has lately dined three times with the Emperor.
He, as is well known, is one of the most honourable
and independent men that the Emperor ever had in
his service.

M. de Rayneval has just died in Paris. It will,
therefore, be necessary to appoint a new ambaamador
to St. Petersburg.
The Bourse opened with some degree of firmness,
owing to the large majority in favour of the pre-
sentation of Lord Palmerston's bill for increasing
the punishment of the crime of conspiring to commit
murder in a foreign country. The alight upward

movement was, however, shortlived. The Route,
after touching 89fr. 60c. for account, closed at
89fr. 60c., with a rise of only fic. ; and for cash the
price was the same as yesterday. Mobilier rose
2fr. 50c. In railways there was scarcely any change,
and there wu very little business doing.
A provincial government journal, complaining of
exaggerated reports about recent political arrests
at Lille, says that the real number of these arrests
was only eight, that the persons arrested met
together clandestinely for Masonic and " perhaps "
political purposes, and that four of them have
already been set at liberty.
A journal called the Anti 1.. has been suppressed
in Martinique, by a formal decree signed by the
Governor, General Count de Fitte de Soucy.
A despatch from Africa, of February 7, states
that the celebrated chief Gouma, who had fled from
Tunis to take refuge on French territory, has been
interne at Algiers by the French government. I
am sasured that the Bey of Tunis sake for his
expulsion.
Madame de Clermont-Tounerre, the lady who set
fire to her crinoline the other day in the Rue du
Bac, died after three days' suffering.
M. Chilly, the celebrated actor, has been ap-
pointed director of the Theatre of the Ambigu
Comicial", in the place of the late M. Desnoyers.

SPAIN.

MADRID, FEL 9.
The railway from Madrid to Alicante is opened
for public circulation.
The secretary of the civil governor is dismissed.