The Express.
London, England, 1866-11-15 00:00:00

PRUSSIA.

BERLIN, Nov. 14. !
The Prussian government have determined that
whether the ex-King of Hanover absolve the
officers formerly belonging to the Hanoverian army
from their oath of allegiance or not, these officers
shall be permitted to enter the military service of
Prussia if detizons of eo doing. It is, however,
semi-officially declared that the Prussian govern-
ment will at all times respeet the eonseientions and
religious scruples of the inhabitants of all the
lowly aeqUirecliiitatea.

We have received numerous aeconnts from oorrerpow
dents in the provinces, describing their experiences of the
phenomena ; and the Dublin and Scotch papers also con-
tain brief refereseesto thus.
A correspondent, writing from Dover yesterday, say, :
" We had • magnificentiltiplay of this-phenomena last night
--orMilwowerreetkyethis sawing, The 13th hadbeennonsn-
ally wet and stormy, the wind blowing strong from the
south-west , but on the wind shifting in the evening to
the north and west, we bad a clear, bright, and met
favourable atmosphere. About ten o'clock many single
&amities were seen darting from the horizon to the east-
ward, then continued without much variation, as far as re-
gards number, until a little after midnight, when they
increased in size, brilliancy, and velocity until the maxi-
mum was reached—about one. The sight then was
exceedingly beautiful, hundreds of blazing meteors
darting at the same moment from a point in
the heavens, which bad now risen to about 25
degrees above the horizon near to the constellation Leo,
which was the great centre from whence they started in
all directions. The most beautiful were those which rose
upward, passing the zenith, and falling out of sight
the hills to the back of the town, leaving long tracks
of white light, some of which remained for several
seconds. The most singular and extraordinary part
of the grand sight eras when several of the meteors ran
parallel to each other, as it racing, and the colours varying
from blue to purple. Towards two they became less fro-
quaint, and heavy clouds coming from the north obscured
the sky ; they occasionally were seen through gaps in the
clouds, and the sky again clearing about five o'clock,
several very brilliant ones were seen. It lightened
sharply the whole of the night from the northward."
At Leicester there was a considerable fall of rain with
lightning flashes, and the night was occasionally stormy,
the wind blowing from the north. Shortly before mid-
night the sky cleared, and the display of meteors was seen
to groat advantage. From one to two o'clock the firma-
ment was continuously streaked with these luminous ex-
plosions. The meteors proceeded from the north-east, and
at times the emisaioas appeared as from a fountain never
failing in its supply of stars. When thrown up into the
firmament they dropped to the north and to the south,
others flying across the sky, leaving a bright blue train
behind, until lost in the western horizon. As the morn-
ing advanced rain again fell, preventing further observa-
tions.
A Nottingham correspondent writes that a shower of
meteors was observed in that locality in varying degrees
of brilliancy from midnight until sunrise on Wednesday
morning. On the previous morning only a few meteors
were seen, at long intervals, careering through the sky.
Twenty representatives in parliament of as many On Tuesday night the atmosphere was comparatively clear
popular constituencies in Lower Canada—A. A. up to 11 o'clock, when it became overcast, with one or two
Dorion M. P.P. for Hochelaga, late Attorney- heavy showers. Before midnight, however y meteors
General for Lower Canada •L. H. Holton, M.P.P. were seen through the breaks of the clot ut half-
for Chateauguay, tate Minister of Finaftoe ;J. p put 12 o'clock the sky bad become cleM he stars
T hibaudeau , M. P. P. for Quebec Centre, late shone in unwonted splendour, with a sharp bracing wind.
I'resident of the Council ; L. S. Huntington, Flashes of lightning were* seen at intervals, and thunder
M. P. P. for Shefford, late Solicitor-General for was heard. Az the morning advanced meteors were seen in
Lower Canada ; M. Laframboise, M.P.P. for increased numbers flying past, at a seemingly slight eleva-
Begot, late Commissioner of Public Werke ; F. I tion ; generally from the north-east towards the west and
Bourassa, M.Y. P. fur St. John's ;J. B. E. Dorion, south. some were very brilliant and rocket like. Every
M. P. P. for Drummoud and Arthabaaka l now and then clouds intervened, and shut out the flying
L. B. Caron, M.Y.Y. for L'lslet ; L La- stars from view ; but, generally speaking, the atmosphere
breche V iger, M. P. P. fur Terrebonne ; 'la& was clear, and an excellent opportunity was afforded for '
O'Halloran Q.C., M.P.P.for Missisquoi • A.
, , viewing the strange and unwonted spectacle.
Dufresne, M. P. P. for Iberville ; Moe Fortier,
M. P. P. fur lan:make ;J. B. Pouliot, M.P.P. for Our Liverpool correspondent writes, that although the I,
night was cloudy and a furious storm raging the meteoric
Temiscouata ; A. H. Paquet, M.P.P. for Berthier ;
phenomena were watched for with great eagerness in most
F. Geotfrion M.Y.Y. for Vercheres ; Jos. Per-
places. There was a brief display, just sufficient to whet
rault, M.Y.Y.' for Richelieu ; A. Gagnon, M.P.P.
the appetite of the observers, about eleven o'clock, but
for Charlevoix ; Sixte Coupal, M. P.l'. for Napier-
from twelve to one and half-past the manifestations were
vile ; Chas. Lajoie, M.Y.Y. for St. Maurice ; and
. frequent, and on a scale of much magnificence. Some
M. Houle, M.P. P. for Maskinong6—have addressed
of the meteors illuminated the whole sky with a glare I
to the Earl of Carnarvon a remonstrance against
like that of the aurora borealis in its grandest phases, as I
the proposed Confederation of the British North
has . seen at least in our latitude. The neighbourhood of the
American Provinces before an opportunity
. Great Bear appeared to be the starting point of the
been given for the further development and more
, meteoric showers, and thence they performed circuit in a
authentic expression of opinion on the part
. south-westerly direction, until they were lost to view in
of the people. They urge that the inhabitants of
Lower Canada, so far from having consented to consequence of the heavy clouds which constantly ob-1
the sweeping changes in their institutions, and in ' scored that portion of the sky. Some of the meteors were'
their relations to the other provinces and to the . like balls of light, others expanded from a small nucleus
empire, contemplated by this scheme of Confede- to a large volume of light which darted across the heavens '
ration, have never had an opportunity of pro- i with the speed of thought, and was then lost in the ob-
nouncing a decision upon the question, and that, acurity of the west. Almost all the display was north of the
therefore, a proper regard for their rights, and milky way. Some of the meteors had all the appearance
every principle of sound statesmanship, would of skyrockets, shedding as they pursued their course trails i
seem to require the postponement of the final of .
Tfirehe " shower " commenced at Southampton at half-past
determination of the Imperial government. If .
the measure be a good one and the people 11 on Tuesday night, and did not entirely cease until
are really in favour of it, no injurious consequences 6 o'clock yesterday morning. The direction of the meteors
can flow from the delay of a year, during which was from east to west. The flight of some of them lasted
the public sentiment in regard to it can be tested five or six seconds ; some appeared as big as a cricket ball.
in the usual constitutional manner ; while if it be They were of a blueish colour; the smaller meteors
carried now without this precaution, and it should were of a yellowish red colour. A great number of the
subsequently be found to be unacceptable to the inhabitants witnessed the phenomena. At times the
majority of the people in any of the provinces—an meteors shooting athwart the sky, from their number,
event which the remonstrants believe is certain to rapidity, and brilliancy, formed a magnificent spectacle.
occur in Lower Canada—angry agitation for its re- , ----------------...
peal or for other constitutional changes would ine-'
vitably arise--inungurating an era of instability and THE OUTBREAK OF YELLOW FEVER OK BOkED
discontent, prejudicial in the last degree to every THE ATRATO.—Our Southampton correspondent, writing
interest in the provinces, and exceedingly irksome yesterday eningto. , says :—" Ndoctor's servant was taken ill,
o fresh cases have
to the statesmen of the empire. on board the Atrato. The
In support of their request the memorialists re- but it was not with fever. The whole of
have been the crew, among
fer at length to the origin and history of the Con- whom the yellow fever exclusively raged, put on
federation movement in Canada, and state the board the quarantine hulk Menelaus, at the lilotherbank,
present position of the question. Referring to the and the ship is being thoroughly disinfected. It is fully
delegations here or on their way to this country expected that the passengers will be landed here on Friday.
front British North America, they allege that the The Atrato is the only West India steamer that
ne. has Then
governments of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia sent to the Dlotherbauk, to perform qu
have sent delegates to England to urge forward a firsttime a West Italia packetarrived inSouthamptonWater
union, but on terms different from those agreed infected with yellow fever was in 1851. The disease raged
to by the Quebec conference. The Canadian in the West Indies then and for several years a
has alwafterward ys
s,
government is about to despatch delegates to and at last ceased for a similar period. It
England to obtain an act of union, embodying been characteristic of the yellow fever in the
the very terms agreed to by the Quebec conference. West India islands to make its appearance there
The members of the Canadian government are for about seven years, and then to vanish for something
bound by repeated and explicit pledges, given front like the same time. The disease has been nothing like
their places in parliament, to see that the provisions so bad on board the Atrato as it was on board some of the
of any act of union, assented to by them, shall be packets many years ago. Nearly thirty 'persons died on
in strict conformity with the Quebec resolutions. one occasion on board the Orinoco during a voyage from St.
The members of the governments of New Bruns- Thomas to Southampton. The stringent measures adopted
wick and Nova Scotia, on the other hand, are towards the Atrato were due to the dread of infectious
pledged to obtain essential modifications of the diseases awakened by the cholera last summer, and to the
Quebec scheme, before the union is consummated fact that a case, very mild however, broke out on
with their consent. if an act be passed adhering board the day before she reached Southampton.
strictly to the terms of the Quebec resolutions, All
,0
m the e. men
an VTeed, died on board
any
thoeneAwtztohashaetlbtahteisbelacvekr
there is danger that in Nova Scotia and New known' to recover. It generyallyyhappens that the greatest
Brunswick disappointment, arising out of violated sufferers on board the West India steamers are those
confidence, may speedily develop into exravated who are of intemperate or irregular habits. Yellow fever,
forms of discontent. On the other hand, if the act even more than cholera, diminishes in intensity with
does not adhere closely to the terms of the mailllvimerintedattteringemtur,. _ f
r.lctkesetlscavles ess rti.d less virulent
efnotr
Quebec resolutions, there is equal danger that Engfandy, and it is singular. that in no instance has a fresh
the people of Canada, smarting under a sense of case occurred after the engine fires have been extinguished
broken faith, will be from the very first dissatisfied on board a packet in Southampton Wat-r, by which the
with their new form of government. It is therepoo
-
~, 7imre,ratZoff the
l ship
is de
"auto reedsyShibuogalf:l
the
fore submitted that the conflicting
aims ---d iAlw"wraii throwsoe overtoard. "Tb: old metZsid of fund-
pledges of the several provincial governments, who gating mails,whenby opening
agree bags andpiereing the
agree only in desiring some kind of union, but lettere, has been done away with. The Atrato's mails were
differ widely with regard to the conditions of that transhipped to the bold of a small steamer. Dr. lleocroft,
union, show conclusively the extreme impolicy of the heath officer, went
liein tothethne
immediately hold az mixed some
dealing with the subject at all at the approaching
cebemi f. th *lilt' which batened clwn, and the
session of the imperial parliament. The present mails became for half an hour to a powerful diet,-
parliament et Canada expires next summer; that of foweeas, with & strong and inset offensive sisell."

ITALY.

FLORENCE, Nov. 14, Wrimmo.
- -

A royal decree has been published granting an
amnesty to Venetian soldiers sentenced to impri-
sonment for desertions up to the 6th May last.
General Cialdini and Mr. Odo Russell have ar-
rived here.
The Count de Paris is expected at Florence to-
morrow, and General Fleury on the 18th inst.
UDINB, Nov. 14.

The King arrived here to-day, and was received
with immense enthusisain. The troops and National
Guard of the town and province of Udine defiled
before his Majesty amid continual cheering. These
is a general holiday.
The King will leave at 5 a.m. to-morrow.

THE NETHERLANDS.
THE HAGUE, Nov. 14.
The second balloting for members to the second
chamber took place to-day. Twenty members ,
were elected, 12 of whom were conservative, 8
liberals, and one uncertain. M. Thorbecke has
been doubly elected. It is difficult to determine
which party will predominate in the chamber, as
so many new members have been elected. Of old
members who have been re-elected 30 voted for
and 20 against the motion of M. Keuchenius,
censuring the appointment of M. Meyer.

AMERICA.
(sr ATLATITIO TILLIGRAPH.)
NEW YORK, Nov. 13.
The Federal authorities have arrested General

Ortega.
New York
The North German Lloyd's steamship
arrived out to-day.

CANADIAN CONFEDERATION.