The Express.
London, England, 1867-08-03 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, AUGUST 3, 1867.

ammunition supplied at Shoeburyness is deducted
from the amount allowed to the corps during the
year, so that to send a detachment to Shoebury-
nem involves the deprivation of practice by the
rest of the corps. It would not be easy to find an
instance of more absurd or detrimental economy.
It is not wonderful that under such discourage-
ment, the meeting at Shoeburyness is diminishing
in attraction to Volunteer Artillerymen. It is
too much to expect that men will undergo very
hard work and very considerable discomfort for the
chance of winning one out of a few comparatively
shabby prizes, and at the cost of paying for the
privilege of sleeping under a tent, and diminish-
ing the already scanty amount of practice allowed
to their comrades during the year. But the im-
portance of the matter would justify a little more
liberality on the part of the authorities. A few
hundreds a year would be granted readily by the
House of Commons, and it would make all the
difference to the funds of the Association. Re-
lieved from the charge for tents, they would be
able to afford more prizes, and to employ paid
markers, so as to expedite the business of the meet-
ing, and allow it to be concluded in a shorter time.
But Government ought, from a regard to the service
which the Artillery Volunteers are expected to per-
form, to be more liberal in certain other departments.
It is to require bricks to be made without straw if
they expect good shooting without allowing a fair
number of gratis rounds for practice during the
year. And since the Coast Volunteers would, if
called on for duty, have to use other than the
antiquated smooth-bores, it is preposterous to
supply them with nothing but smooth-bores for
practice. Instead of keeping guns in store for the
possible exigencies of war, it would be far better
to utilize them by distributing them among the
volunteer corps for present use. They could be
reclaimed in a couple of days, if war at any time
found us so unprepared as to make such a step
necessary. At present, in consequence of the
want of any opportunity for learning the drill of
rifled guns, half the time of the men after their
arrival at Shoeburyness is taken up in learning the
operations necessary to enable them to compete
for the QUEEN'S Prize. These are but questions
of common sense. The artillerymen have special
disadvantages to contend with, and they are there-
fore entitled to special assistance. There is no
danger of such exceptional aid being drawn into a
precedent for other cases in which the like diffi-
culties do not occur. But, above all, common
sense demands that we should have efficiency, and
that 119 rad•tape economy should forbid the only
means by which efficiency can be possibly secured.

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.
(THIS DAY.)

Though the Reform Bill has passed through
committee in the Lords, the Times cannot disguise its ap-
prehension that we have only reached the beginning of the
end. The reintroduction of voting papers is • fatal
mistake. To bribery and intimidation it would supply
many facilities. What would be a lodger voting by a voting
paper ! He would be nominis umbra, and nothing more.
Both this and the rise in the qualification of the lodger
franchise should be rejected by the Commons. It is im-
possible that the artisans of London can acquiesce in their
exclusion. It is impossible that the House of Commons
can approve the destruction of all real liberty in the choice
of representatives.
The Daily News sap that, under the pretence of protect-
ing the physically timid, the use of voting papers is de-
signed to work upon the moral cowardice of the humbler
and dependent classes. Bribery, on this system, would be
as easy as intimidation, and voting papers would become a
species of paper currency, readily convertible into cash.
To this and others of the Lords' amendments the Commons
are bound to refuse their assent.

No justification can, in the opinion of the Poet, be
erect for the etterept tii r.O Lorw 4o
dictate to the House of Commons the manner in which
members of the letter shall henceforth be elected. It is
impossible to suppose that the Lower House will in a
matter so directly concerning itself reverse its decision at
the bidding of the House of Peers.
No fad could be plainer, says the Tdegraph, than the
determination of the House of Commons to have nothing
to do with voting papers. They are proved by the expe-
rience of the Poor law Board, and by the evidence given
before parliamentary committees, to be the incentive and
encouragement of bribery, and to render intimidation an
exact science. The decision of the peers last night is in
itself so grave, so deliberately in contempt of the House
of Commons, so plainly tainted with the wish to keep the
residuum as manageable as possible, that the only thing
to say is, that it must be reversed.
The Standard, on the other hand, cannot doubt that the
House of Comm Ons will accept the voting paper clause,
and it heartily congratuletes the country on the judgment
of the peers.
The Star strongly condemns the contrivance of voting
papers, which it urges would degrade the suffrage and
subject it to the worst acts of the most sinister enemies of
truly popular representation.
The Times again asks the government whether it cannot
give other matters the place of the long discussion which
the Parks' Regulation Bill will provoke, and leave that
effort of legislation at least to another session.

the amendments of the Lords were accepted, it
is quite certain that an siltation would begin for the re-
iteration of the figures originally fixed on by the Com-
mons, and that this agitation would os sueceesfuL There
is no going back from a measure of enfranchisement which
the House of Commons has deliber►tely accepted, and the
ministry will scarcely like to lose the credit of having
carried in its entirety a scheme which, so far as its enfran-
chising clauses go, is perfectly satisfactory. The principle
use of the clause as to minorities is to record in a feeble way
the general detestation of the bill which the Lords enter-
tain. It may also invest it with an additional charm that
it happens to be especially annoying to Mr. Bright. The
Lords cannot avoid aooepting the very measure of enfran-
chisement which Mr. Bright has been recommending for
years, but they can weight him with a conservative col-
league. It is at best • poor piece of fun, but it suits the
peers, and we must take men as we find them.
If it could be shown that the necessary consequence of
political meetings in the perks would be faction-fights, •
strong case, the Chronicle thinks, would be made out for
intervention on the part of the legislature, and such inter-
vention would be warmly supported by public opinion.
At present the presumption is in the other direction, and
until it is reversed we ought to bo content with giving the
police the fullest power of co-operating with the orderly
and industrious classes against their common enemy—the
roughs. Timid legislation cannot do away with the neces-
sity for occasional demonstrations, or repress all expression
of opinion by assembled numbers ; and even if such a mea-
sure as is now before parliament could be enforced without
danger to the public peace, the result would be that the
processions, shut out from the parks, their natural meet-
ing.place, would be forced to congregate in and obstruct
the streets, to the much greater annoyance and detriment
of the general public.

'ARY DIVISION.

HOUSE OF LORDS, Aucusr 2.
REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE BILL.
After clause 27. Moved to insert the following clause :
Any voter for a county or borough may, in compliance
with the provisions hereinafter contained, give his vote
by a voting paper instead of personally.—)The Marquis
of Salisbury.) On question? Contents, 114 ; Not-Con-
tents,

CONTENTS.
LT,. CR A SCELLOR EARLS. EMMERT!. LORDS.
Chelmsford Glnsborough Btrathallao Veverskuusi
DL KIM Graham Templetmen Foxford
Bneldnghnni & Grey Donors. Gage
Chaudos lisrrnsrby Carlisle Hartlsmere
Cambridge Hillsborough Gloucester and Haiherton
Cleveland Leven sad Mel- Ililatol Heytesinny
Marlborough vine LORD& Londeslv,rough
Wellington. Lovelace Aveland Lord and liol-
msitquisgu. Malmabury ISsgot land
Abercora Mansfield Bolton Lyttelton
Bristol Morton Brancepetb bloat Nagle
Exeter Mount Edg- Cairns Northwlck
Salisbury 'teller' cumbe Charlemont Overstep,
Westminster. Nelson Chaworth
Penrhyn

—iTas. ic;;ria aitinitou— ---
Raglan
Abergavenny Romney 3elleC Clarina Redondal.
Amherst Selkirk Clements Rivers
Bathurst Shrewsbury Clinton Balloon
Bradford Stanhope Gloomily Sherborne
Brooke and tradbroke Colonaay Slichester
Warwick Tankervilia Colville of Cul- Sondes
Cadogan Verulant MP Southampton
Cameroon Wicklow Congleton Stewart of Oar-
Cheaterneld VISCOUNT& Crofton lies
Dartmouth De Wed Delamere [Brat/maim
Derby Eveesley Denman Templemure
Devon Exmouth De Rog Vernon
Doncaster Hardinge De Saumarez Walsingham
Ititingham Hawarden Dlgby Wentworth
Eldon Melville Dunsandie and Wharncliffe
Ellenborotigh Ridmouth Claneonal Wrottesley
Iltzwllliarn Btradford de Egerton Wyniurd.
Yortescue Redcllffe

NOTCONTENTS.
MARQUISES. MARLS. LORD& LORDS.
Alicabury Morley Belper Monson
Camden Portsmouth Boyle Mostyn
EARLS. Russell Cesium Ponsonby
Abingdon Spencer Clermont Rnmllly
Albemarle xisooeNra. Caanworth Km e and Selo
Camerdown Bolingbroke andPoley tteller) &Awn
Dc Prey St. John Orenerd Stanley of
Granville Halifax Houghton Alderley
Kimberley Minster Kenry Stratheden
eteller; Sydney. WO Taunton
Minto

THE SYSTEM OF RETIREMENT FROM THE
ARMY.

This morning was issued the report of the select
committee appointed to inquire into the system of retire-
ment from the three non-purchase corps of Royal Artil-
lery, Royal Engineers, and Royal Marines. The following
are the recommendations of the committee:

"That the present system of retirement on annuities of
6001. or 4001. a year, or on permanent half-pay after 25
years' service, and the practice of purchasing commissions
by Mean* of the Arms• Il.ttarve Fund: be dit.rottintteti,
That at the age of 60 every colonel of Artillery
or Engineers be placed on the reserved list, and
while on that list be considered ineligible for ordi-
nary regimental duties, but eligible for staff or special
employments, if selected by the military authorities.
That an officer so removed should receive the pay of
a majorgeneral, and retain his right of succession to the
major-generals' establishment and to the command of a
battalion. That every colonel, on removal to the reserved
list, should have the option of retiring from the army on
6001. a year, with a step in honorary rank. That every
officer, after completing 22 yetis' service, should have the
absolute right to retire, with a step of honorary rank, and
with an annuity according to the following scale, irrespec-
tive of pensions for wounds or distinguished service :

:Cumber of probable Probable value
Years' Annuity. of
Berrie*. Ain Annuity.
22 £250 42 £3,270
1"=1: to
25 25 325 46 4,080
28 400 46 4,780
30 450 60 6,050
increasing by Ll 5
annually to
38 565 85 5,400
40 wo so 5,610

Th►t provision be made by parliament to enable an
officer to compound (through the agency of the National
Debt Office) his annuity for its " present value," regard
being bad to his age and the state of his health, and the
computation of value being made at 5 per cent. interest.
(The fourth column in the above table shows the values of
the proposed annuities on the assumption that the life is
good, and that the officer obtained his commission at 20
years of age.) That no commutation of pension be allowed
except on the retirement of the officer. That no officer
be retired on half-pay except wounds or ill-health, and
that officers rendered unfit for service by ill-health, be
allowed to continue on the half-pay list, what-
ever their length of eervloe may have been,
power being retained to bring them back to their
former place in the corps when pronounced fit for duty.
Your committee would refer to the evidence given by his
Royal Iligbneu the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief,
with respect to officers placed on temporary half-pay.
That it should be in the discretion of the military autbori
ties to employ or not any officer who shall have acquired
the right to retire on a pension. That retirement from
the Marines should be governed by similar regulations,
the maximum annuity being (1001., except in the case of an
existing colonel commandant, whose annuity may be 700/.
• year. It will be necessary, in future arrangement. with
the government of India, to provide for tho due propor-
tion of tho coat of the retirement, of Artillery and Engi-
neer offioers being defrayed from Indian revenues."

It is expected that the Reform Bill will be re-
turned to the Lower House on Thursday next. The Lords'
amendments will then have been printed, and the Monday
following may open the discussion in the Commons.
The select committee of the Common. on the
Ecclesiastical Titles Act held its last meeting yesterday,
with closed doors, in order to consider the report. Mr.
M'Evoy, the chairman, proposed • report advising the
repeal of the act, and Mr. Walpole proposed another in
the opposite genie ; the original motion being carried by
the casting vote of the chairman. The report was then
taken is detail, with a division on each paragraph ; and
finally it was affirmed as a whole. On each division the
conservatives all voted on one side, the liberals on the
other, and in every instance it was the casting vote of the
chairman which carried the point. Mr. Chatterton, the
Irish Attorney-General, was absent. If he had been pre-
sent, of course, Mr. Walpole, who was now so steadily
defeated, would have been as uniformly victorious.
The Army and Nary Gazette states that some of
the most eminent shipbuilding firma have during the
week sent in tenders for the construction of an armour-
clad Monitor for Melbourne. She is to he 2,107 tons
burthen, twin screws, and, as she is intended solely for
coast defence, she should not have any masts, and should
be very low in the water. Among those called upon are
the Thames Shipbuilding Company, the MillwallCompany,
the London Engineering Cowpony. the Liverpool Ship-
buildiag Company, Mows. Laird Brothers, lac.

Etc Erfurt.

4

08BORlill. Auouer 2.

The Queen walked in the grounds this morning,
accompanied by the Princess Louise and the Princess of
Leiningen.
Prince Leopold and Princess Beatrice also walked out.
The Hon. Emily Cathcart has succeeded the Hon.
Harriet Phipps, as Maid of Honour in Waiting.

The Hon. Mortimer Saarille West has arrived as
Groom in Waiting.

A deputation, introduced by Mr. C. S. Read, M.P.,
accompanied by Lord Eustace Cecil, M.P., Sir M. E.
Hicks Beach, Bart., M.P., Lieutenant-Colonel J. Bourne,
M.P., Sir Charles Russell, Bart., M.P., Mr. J. A. Blake,
M.P., Mr. Neville Grenville, M.P., Colonel Loyd Lindsay,
M.P., and Mr. J. F. Maguire, M.P., and consisting of
Messrs. George Dickson, George Eve, John Hoyland,
Henry Cook, Thomas Walton, jun., J►mes Page, William
Eve, Alfred Welch, Frederick Whitbread, Thomas
Burrell, and John Weller (Secretary of the Home Cattle
Defence Association), had an interview with Lord Robert
Montagu, at the Privy Council-office, Whitehall, yester.
day, on the subject of the existing restriction upon the
foreign trade in cattle.
Adeputation from the Educational Institute of Scotland,
the Burgh and Parochial Schoolmasters, the Free Church
Teachers' Association, and the Association of Certificated
Teachers in Scotland, accompanied by Mr. Robertson, of
Ledykik, M.P., had an interview with the Right Hon.
Gathorne Hardy, at the Home-office, yesterday.
A deputation, consisting of Mr. C. H. Stewart (Stewart,
Slandervrick and Co.), Mr. Walter Low (Temple and Co.),
and Mr. C. H. Harvey (Harvey and Devitt), had an inter-
view with the Right Hod. Stephen Cave, at the Office of
the Board of Trade, yesterday, in respect to the Merchant
Shipping Act, with reference to anti-scorbutic for foreign-
going ships.

His Royal Highness the Field Marshal Com-
manding-in-Chief will hold a levde at one o'clock
on Wednesday next, the 7th inst.

The Duke of Cambridge arrived at Gloucester
House, Park.lane, yesterday evening, from visiting the
Duke and Duchess of Richmond at Goodwood Park.

The Princess Mary Adelaide and the Princede
Teck will leave town in the ensuing week for Germany.
Mr. Warren, the IrishSolicitor-General, hasagreed
to come forward as a candidate for the representation of
the University of Dublin in the event of the promotion of
Mr. Chatterton to the newly-created office of Vice-Chan-
cellor of Ireland.

To-night is the last of the short but brilliant
season of French plays.

A Wesleyan missionary, the Rev. W. G. Camp-
bell, stationed at Athlone, ham been stoned at the village
of Gra:mud.

QUEEN CAROLINE AND ERR SON-IN-LAW.—In
the course of the reminiscences written for the Queen
by the late King of the Belgians, and printed in en
appendix to the "Early Life of the Prince Consort," the
King, in writing of the time when he was "Prince Leo.
pold," the period being just after the death of his first
wife, the Princess Charlotte, says :—"Queen Caroline's
arrival in June threw the whole country into confusion.
Prince Leopold's position became nnbearingly distressing
between the King and the Queen Caroline. A severe
Meese of his mother, the Dowager Ducheu of Cobourg,
would have given a colour to his leaving Eng-
land to keep out of the painful struggle which
was going on. It was much wished by the King,
who employed Lord Lauderdale in this sad affair ; but bow
abandon entirely the mother of Princess Charlotte, who,
though she knew her mother well, loved her veer much?
The Prince determined not to interfere till the evidence
sided the Queen should be closed, en that whatever he
might do could not influence the evidence. This decision
was evidently the most honest and the most impartial.
He waited till the evidence was closed, and then paid a
visit to his mother-in-law at Brandenburg House. She
received him kindly, looked very strange, and said
strange things. The country was in • state of incredible
excitement, and this visit was a great card for the
Queen. It had an effect on the Lords which it ought
not to have had, as it could not change the evidence ; but
it is certain that many lords changed, and ministers
came to the certainty that the proceedings could
not be carried further. They proposed that the measure
should be given up. The King, who had been, it must be
confessed, much maltreated during this sad trial, was
furious, and particularly against Prince Leopold. He
Dever forgave it, being very vindictive, though he occa-
sionally showed kinder sentiments, particularly during
lir. Canning's being minister. He, of mane, at first de.
dared be would never see the prince again. However,
{he Digt, of brk 82TIRLDRI en interview, The Kill could
not resist his curiosity, and gost Prince Leonid to sell him
bow Queen Caroline was dreamed and all sorts of details." Of
the circumstances of Princess Charlotte's death, the King

awe :—" November saw the ruin of this balmy home,
and the destruction at one blow of every hope and happi-
ness of Prince Leopold. He has never recovered the feel.
ing of happiness which bad blessed his short married life."
A note by the Queen, stating that the Princess died in
childbed a few hour after the birth of a stillborn son,
adds—" Had she been skilfully treated, her life at least
would have been saved."
BRITISH ARCELEOLOOICAL ASSOCIATION.—Lo D-
Low, FmoAT.—The proceeding' of last niAht's meeting for
discussion and the reading of papers was e most interee,-
ing of the week. Mr. Gordon Wills read a communication
which he had just received from Mr. Jackman,of Leint-
wardine, respecting an important discovery, in an
archeological point of view, that had bean made in some
fields at Broadwood Hall, Creighton, near Leintwardine.
The Rev. W. Perton gave a highly interesting description
of a very ancient originally Saxon church at Stottesden,
near Cleobury Mortimer, which was illustrated by admir-
able drawings. Mr. Dillon Croker read a paper on
Milton's Masque of Come, which wupsrformed in Ludlow
Castle in 1634. Mr. Cocking read some interesting
remarks on the remains of the Austin Friary at Ludlow,
which was accidentally discovered when digging on the
site of the present cattle market in 1861. A few remark/
were offered by the chairman end Mr. Wills, who bad
visited the spot when the foundations were laid open. To-
day the excursion programme was a very lengthened one.
The excursionists set out in numerous carriages from Lud-
low as early as nine o'clock, and would not return before
seven or eight. The first object visited was Aston Church,
and some ancient tumuli not far off. Lemthall Starke,
Church was then passed, and the church described
by the Rev. W. Williams. The party next pro-
ceeded to Wigmore Castle, Abbey, and Grange. This retired
and out-of-the-world spot was once, no doubt, a place of
some importance. The castle was given to Mortimer, who
came from Normandy with the Conqueror. The Priory
was founded by one of his heirs about 1179. Only a small
portion of the ancient castle remains. Edward 111. was
entertained here on his journey into Wales. From Wig.
more to Downton Castle, the meat of Mr. A. Boughton
Knight, was the next stage. This is a modern residence,
built at the close of the last century. The scenery around
is very beautiful. Mr. Knight entertained the party to
luncheon, after which they were to visit other places on
their way back to Ludlow.
ST. J AMU'S PARK ON A MAY MORNING.—Two
unumbulators only were circling round the Ornamental
Water ; the blue-nosed babies scowled at one another as
they passed, and the red-wiisted propellers gave each other
• glance of eulkysympathy,aa fellow martyrs to mistresses'
insanely insolent oppression. A small percentage of the
usual sad and seedy occupants of the Park benches sat
upon them as usual in sombre silence—the only expression
in their lack-lustre, hopeless eyes intimating an intention,
apparently, of going on sitting there—poor shabby The-
seuses—for ever ; upon one, /pair of idiotic lovers hilted and
weed with chattering teeth ; but otherwise they were un-
tenanted, the sparse representatives of the general public
foolish enough to frequent the Park on such a day having,
for the most pert, nevertheless, sense enough left to keep
themselves warm by taking active exercise. The woman
in charge of the wire and wooden chairs, artfully arranged
to lure the inexperienced into a belief that they are pro-
vided by a paternal government for the gratuitous accom-
modation of its lieges, now lurked in corners, and now made
sig.:mg dashes like a hurgry spider, in faint hope that
some weary fly might fall, or had fallen, into her web.
Angrily she shook the courier's bag dangling at her side, which
returned no grateful clink of clashing coppers. A smoking
bricklayer's labourer, a solemn Guardsman, a tailor on
and three small children, hung over the Suspen-
sion-bridge, stolidly watching a wherry eccentrically pulled
by two little bare and bullet-headed Bluecoat boys, with
aPernite strokes, two tobbydehoys in two other boats
l ply fouling each other without the interchange of a
cayliteie, and a Cockney canoeman somewhat splashingly
playing his paddle and poetically fancying himself—as in-
deed, so far as climate was concerned. he might have done
wi•hout any great stretch of imagination—a Red Indian
afloat upon a Canadian lake. The other craft, which on
bright days skim the dimpled pond like dragon-flies, were
all clustered at the hiring-places, chafing their aides as if
to keep themselves warm, and giving one smother spiteful
pokes with their sharp converged noses. The black swans
sulked as if they wished themselves back in Australia.
The other water-fowl tucked up their toes, and bell a
" meeting of the unemployed" under the lee of the
boom that stretches across the pond. A sour-looking old
gentleman in muffetees and a comforter was the only one
upon the banks who made a show of crumbs, and he was a
deceiver. He beguiled the ducks chore by proffers of
biscuit, and then threw it over their beads to the sparrows,
who carried it off to the time in triumph, whilst the quack-
ing waddlers toiled after them in vain. A clammy grey
mist hun,g over the water, the flower beds, and the lawns ;
slumps of trees, only a few yards off, dipped their branches
in an upper lake of vapour which evened half their Mama.
4spasy for August.