The Express.
London, England, 1866-10-11 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 11, 1866.

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(18011 0171 OW

PARIS, Wararzsaty Ryazan.

The date of the Emperor's return from Biarritz
is just as much a subject of doubt and controversy
m was for many weeks the time of his departure
from Paris for that watering place. Lest week,
this 10th of October was fixed as the day for his ,
arrival at St. Cloud. It has since been said that
the scarcely expected fine weather had induced him
t) prolong his stay, and that would be a very
natural explanatior. This evening's Petrie says
that according to present arrangements he will be
at St. Cloud on Saturday ce Sunday next, and
adds that his health is " perfect" The Beim-
ment sari their Majesties are not expected
at St. Cloud " before" the 15th, and on
the 20th they will inaugurate the hunting
season at Compiligne. The .Prease, manifestly
alluding to the curious rumour that the
Marquis de Lavalette had quitted Paris for
Biarritz to bring the Emperor back, says
Chet the Minister of the Interior was going
a few days since, and had suspended his
departure is oonaeguswee of • eounterraead, but
dot the day Tadao yorieeday he was telegraphed

for. Whether he has actually left Paris is not
yet positively stated, but the Prase draws the
inference from his having been 'ant for, not that
he is to escort the Emperor back, but that the
imperial sojourn st Biarritz will be prolonged.
Venice will possess a free press in a few days.
One of the first journals to be started there will be
called the Daniele Manin.

For the first time for forty-seven years there will
be no public meeting of the French Academy to
award the Monthyon prize for literature and

" virtue." The reason for this derogation from
usage is that M. Villemain, the perpetual secre-
tary, is out of health. The prizes will be distri-
buted privately. The report on the prize for
virtue, which has been drawn up by M. Dufaure,
the eminent advocate, one of the moat junior
academicians, will be sent to the papers instead of
being read in public sitting.
Letters from Berlin, on roee-ooloured paper,
have been received in Paris, announcing that the
marriage between Mdlle. Marie Taglioni and his
Highness the Prince Joseph do Windischgratz was
celebrated on Sept. 24.
A despatch from Havre brings the news that the
Floride was got afloat this morning, that she does
not appear to have suffered any serious damage,
and may probably sail for New York within a few
days. It was at first hoped that when she sunk all
on board were saved, but it is now said that three
stokers are missing.
The Bourse was extremely heavy. The closing
prices were not quite the lowest of the day, but
they show a fall of 20c. in Rente both for cash and
account ; 45c. in Italian ; 13fr. 75c. in Mobilier ;
and 10fr. in Credit Fowler. No news was in
circulation to account for the fall except vague
rumours about the Emperor's health.

THE ANNEXATION OF FRANKFORT TO
PRUSSIA.

(nom ous owl COLUSPONDINT.)

FRANKFORT, Oct. 9.

Yesterday the formal act of incorporation of this
town into the Prussian monarchy,waa proclaimed in
the Ramer, and in the very room—the " Kaisersaal"
—where the election and the coronation banquet
of the German Emperors used to take place. The
grim and stately figures in the niches containing the
portraits of the Emperors from the first to the last
and, strangely enough, the last filled the only
remaining niche—formed a striking contrast to the
scene they were about to witness. Princes of the
various ducal families had filled the imperial
throne, but none of the Bnuidenburgs ; and now
that one of,this race had got the mastery of all of them,
the proud imperial house had been expelled from
Gernian councils, and this city, so long
the centre of German affairs, is reduced
to the level of a provincial town. The
zrembens of the late Senate, the chief officers
of the town, the clergy, &c., had been summoned
to attend. President Patow read the royal patent,
and Commissioner Maday the royal proclamation.
The most salient passage is that in which we are
told that the youth of this town will in due time,
in unison with their German brethren, defend the
common fatherland. It is argued from this that
some years will elapse before the youths of Frank-
I fort will be compelled to military service. A royal
decree ordains that the court at Berlin shall hence-
forth be our court of appeal, instead of that of
Lubeck,hithertooommon tothe four freetovrns. The
ceremony was over in half an hour, and when Herr
Von Patow called on the audience to join, for the
first time, in the cry of " Long live the King," only
the Prussian officers responded to the call. On
the place before the Ramer all the windows re-
maimed shut, and only a small crowd had collected.
As soon as some hisses were heard the military
band began to play, and there was no display even
of the curiosity which is usual whenever some-
thing out of the common happens in a large town.
It would be unjust to deny that the Prussian,' do
all they can to sooth the feelings of the citizens,
and these are well aware that even moral resistance
would be hopeless. Still the lo.sa of liberty will
be deeply lamented so long as the sacrifice is made
to the Prussian monarchy and not to the unity of
Germany. That such unity may eventually be
consummated, even under Prussian authority, is
the wish even of those who moat resent the violent
proceedings of the last few months. There
was not in any other town of the continent so deep
a feeling of confidence ; it went rather too far.
The wealthy citizens fancied that they were out of
the reach of political events, that money com-
manded everything, and that whoever had the
means had also the ways, just as Goethe said :
" If I can buy six horses, is their power not miner
This confidence in their power has not been borne
out, and they feel now the more disappointed, as
here especially the feudal party and the burghers
came into collision. The conduct of Von Falken-
stein, hlanteuffel, and others, can only be explained
by their desire to make their momentary superior
power felt by the monetary aristocracy, and the
present generation is not likely to forget the van-
dalism of the Prussian officers during the first
month of the occupation.
The same ceremony of annexation was per-
formed yesterday at Wiesbaden, though there was
no enthusiasm ; the feeling for the late duke was
never very warm, and the Wiesbadeners will soon
bury him in oblivion, if it is true, as re-
ported from Berlin, that no interference will take
place with their gambling tables until the contract
expires in 1881.

ITALY.

(11011 ♦ COIIii•PONDIM)
VENICE, Oar. 5.

The treaty of peace having been signed, prepara-
tions for the withdrawal of the Austrians, for the
assumption of national rights by the Venetians, and
the entry of the troops of the Sing of Italy, actively
commenced. For some days previously to its con-
elusion the Austria= had practically allowed the
civil government to fall more and more into the
hands of the municipality. It appears to be com-
posed of sensible, well-meaning citizens, but iasome-
what embarrassedinitsproceedings by want of funds.
Four days ago it covered the walls with a judicious
appeal to the " Cittadini," telling them how their
past conduct had won for them the applause of
Europe, and exhorting them to pass through the
approaching events without disorder or tumult.
The day before yesterday it issued notices to the
citizens of the appointment of a national guard,
and delivered to them the muskets which had
arrived from the Italian authorities. It has also,
it is stated, made some police arrangements in
which it will secure the active co-operation of prin-
cipal men in the city. The goveramsatof Italy los=
its part addressedaspirited, by some critics thought,
in the position of Venice, a somewhat too spirited
telegraphic congratulation on its restoration to
Italy, freedom, and happiness. Ten thousand
Italianshave oocupiedidestre, to descend the Lagoon
and railway as soon as Venice is ready to receive
them. Their entry is, however, dependent on the
Austrian evacuation, not only of Venice, but of
Venetia. For a small part only of the Emperor's
troops will return to his German States by the
Brenner Pass ; the greater will be conveyed by
railway rid Venice and Trieste. The sooner they
leave and get away the better ; for of
course popular effervescence is on the in-
creme, and in the presence of an interregnum
there is always some risk of disorder. The garrison
of Venice are just as lively as their fellows else-
where. Last night they amused themselves by
giving the Cardinal Patriarch, who, though an
Italian, bas hitherto been more Austrian than the
Austrians, a charivari, by firing off for an hour or
two, at intervals, bombs outside his palace. As
each bomb was fired there passed across the Piazza
de S. Marc a crowd to the spot whence the sound
came, and then in a short time the popular tide re-
turned in the opposite direction, following an urchin
bold enough to display the Garibaldini colours.

The Austrians bore the scene with entire equani-
mity ; the patrol was slightly increased ; but there
was no attempt to suppress the popular manifesta-
tion ; the Austrian officers sat as usual taking their
coffee or ices at Quadri's, or promenaded, with their
wives, in the Piazza ; the crowd took no notice of
them, nor they of the crowd ; the cries were limited
to " vivas," and in this absence from interference
lay the safety of the scene. Nevertheless, so long
as the Austrians are here, an accidental spark of an
innocent kind may produce a dangerous explosion ;
so the sooner the Austrians quit, the safer Venice will
become. There is no reason, however, to suspect that
they have any sinister intentions, or would like to
provoke disorders before leaving. They are mortified
apd humiliated, no doubt ; but they preserve their
dignity and self-respect, and do not in any way
insult the Venetians.

In conversation with Venetian merchants, mon
of experience and age, they anticipate a great
revival of trade, consequent on the cessation of
Austrian domination. Already, they say, consi-
derable orders have been received for Venetian
specialities—so much so as to affect slightly
the exchange; and in timber, oil, wheat,
Indian corn, and other agricultural produce,
Venice has, they assure me, the materials for largely
augmenting its exports, and as they are increased
its imports will of course also increase. The Vene-
tians are not at present a very enterprising body,
nor have they capital to be enterprising. But
as at Florence, ao in all probability will it be at
Venice ; the Piedmontese and Lombards, who have
both money and enterprise, will flock in, and
give an impetus to wholesale as well as retail
commerce. The Greeks, too, will hardly lose the
opportunity to profit by the opening ; and I would
venture to remind English mercantile spirits that
as "it is the early birds that pick up the worms,''
so great fortunes are generally made by the first
adventurers in a rising port. French modistes will
too find, I am told, plenty to do here ; but,
judging from the number of coiffeurs, not French
hairdressers, I should say. One want I can testify
there is—an English medical man ; for I had
occasion to resort, for a troublesome ailment, to an
Italian Inedicin—his diagnosis was negligent in
the extreme ; his remedies were oil ; he first pro-
posed opium, which, being politely declined, he
suggested calomel ; and that being peremptorily
rejected, he fell beck on bismuth, lemonade, and
an ice in the Piazza de S. Marc," the last of
which was duly taken at the Cafe Florence, the
prescription costing me a napoleon. The weather
continues glorious.

Cabal stmt /Minim!).

PORTSMOUTH. Ocr. 10.

The Duke of Cambridge arrived at Gosport this
afternoon, and officially inspected the troops on Haslar
Common. He afterwards crossed over to Portsmouth, and
became the guest of Sir G. Buller, the lieutenant and
governor of the garrison.
The Secretary of State for War, General Peel, accom-
panied by the Inspector General of Fortifications, Sir John
Burgoyne, has been occupied during the last two days in
inspecting the various military works designed for the
defence of Portsmouth and the approaches thereto.
Major-General Sir John Gordon, K.C.8., bas left Ports-
mouth, where he held the appointment of commandant of
Royal Engineers, and has succeeded Major-General Wal-
pole in the command at Chatham. Sir John has been suc-
ceeded at Portsmouth by Colonel Mould, R.E.

ADMIRALTY, OCT. 10. —APPOINTMENTS. —CHlD-
wanders : It. Bradshaw, to the Star, commissioned; E. W.
Brooker, to the Sylvia, commissioned (surveying vessel).

THE BIRMINGHAM BANNING COMPANY. —The
cue of the Birmingham Banking Company came on yester-
day before Mr. Hall, the chief clerk, attached to the
court of Vice-Chancellor Stuart, in reference to an applica-
tion for inspection and supervision on the part of share-
holders, and the cue of Overend, Gurney and Company
(Limited) was cited in support of the application. Mr.
Preston, on the part of a body of shareholders, made the
application for a supervision. There were assets in the
matter to about two millions, and the shareholders wished
to be represented. Mr. Burton, on the part of the official
liquidators, thought there was no necessity for the present
application. The cue would come before the Muter of
the Rolls on the 29th inst. The Chief Clerk was of opinion
that the matter did not press. There was no allegation
that the liquidators were dealing in a reckless manner with
the assets. He referred the matter to the court of the
Master of the Rolls.
CaTwrAr. PAzacs. Own SHILLING DAY.—
, WEDNYADAT, OCT. 10.—Admissions on payment, WO;
I ditto by mica tickets, 1419. Total Tilton, 3,5L9,

THE SOCIAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION.

Ps= auk mew. ow

.1

MANCHESTER, WIDEBDAT.
The business of the several departments wag
brought to a close last night. In two or three of
them the meetings were good and the discussions
active. In section C ofthe Jurisprudence Depart•

meat a paper by Mr. Pope Hennessy "On the
Treatment of Political Prisoners," caused an Irish
debate. Mr. Hennessy complained that the Irish
Feniane now undergoing imprisonment were treated
not as political prisoners but as felons. He gave
several instances of such treatment, and said that
as they were imprisoned for an attempt to change
the form of the Irish government, and not for any
social crime, they had a right to the gentle and
more oonsicleratetreatment which modern society has
always claimed for political offenders. Mr. Hen-
neasy's complaint, backed as it was by a fiery
speech or two, was felt to be well-founded. But
its investigation being impossible in the Social
Science meeting, its discussion was unprofitable.
It would be quite in place in a parliamentary
speech, and we owed its delivery in Manchester to
Mr. Hennessy's reluctant exclusion from the
House of Commons.

The Health Department was crowded yesterday
to hear Miss Garrett, L.S.A., read an admirable
paper "On Volunteer Hospital Nursing." In
another department another lady, Madame Bar-
bara Bodichon, contributed a paper "On the Ex-
tension of the Suffrage to Women." Of opuses the
claim for female suffrage was only made on behalf
of women who have the headship of their own house-
holds and the control of their property—spinsters
and widows living in their own houses and paying
rates and taxes in their own name. One or two
facts worth notice were mentioned in the paper ;
for instance, attention was called to the almost en-
tire monopoly of educational endowments by boys'
schools, and to the tendency in the administration
of charities to postpone the claims of women to
those of men. It was also stated that landlords
are unwilling to let their farms to women, because
of the loss of political power which resulted from
so doing, and that they even turn out the widows
of deceased tenants. On one estate in Suf-
folk seven widows had been ejected for this reason.
An able letter from Miss Edwards gave several in-
stances of this injustice, and Madame Bodichon
based upon them a claim for the suffrage for such
women. In the discussion which followed Dr.
Marie Walker, who has been one of the phenomena
of this meeting, spoke in favour of female suffrage.
This lady has created a good deal of sensation by
appearing in a military dress, such as she wore
when acting as a female surgeon in the army of
the United States during the civil war. It con-
sists of as near an approach to the male costume
as it is possible for a woman to wear. Without the
least suspicion of vulgarity or indecency, it is
nevertheless not a kind of dress which the women
either of England or the United States will ever
adopt. It is hardly possible to conceive that the
gentle face of the wearer can be that of one who
has earned a mark of distinction by painful labour
amongst the saddest scenes of war, or who can en-
dure the yet more painful curiosity of the crowds
who have surrounded and questioned her here. But
those who are laughed at as " strong-minded
women " have taken a part in these meetings very
honourable to their sex. Dr. Walker is not a good
speaker, but she is evidently very earnest and phi-
lanthropic ; but Madame Bodichon's paper was
well reasoned and moderate ; and as a speaker said
with that clumsy patronage which belongs to men
in speaking of the intellectual efforts of women, it
would have done credit to any man. There was an
expression of sympathy with Madame Bodichon's
protLsal which was far from inconsiderable.
A brilliant paper on the cognate subject of fe-
male employment was read in the afternoon by Dr.
W. B. Hodgson. It was an eloquent appeal against
the false judgment of society in confining " re-
spectable" occupation for women to one over-
crowded and under-paid employment—that of
teaching. No debate ensued on it, but the recep-
tion it met with showed that the opinion of the
meeting was strongly favourable to a wide and
liberal extension of the sphere of female labour.
This has been the general tone of discussion on
such subjects, and now that the Congress is over,
those who are working earnestly for better educa-
tion, larger liberty, and wider spheres of labour
for women, have much reason to be satisfied with
the progress public opinion has evidently made.
Among the valuable, but neglected, papers
which have been presented to the meeting was one
on " Indian Famines : their causes and remedies,"
by Major-General Sir Arthur Cotton, which was
read to a select audience of a dozen by his brother,
Major-General Frederick Cotton. The paper con-
tained some startling statements, but the autho-
rities on Indian affairs who formed the audience
seemed fully to accept them. Every ten years
some part of India is visited by a famine ; and at
the present time one of unusual severity is afflicting
Bengal. In one district, 2,500 persons are dying of
want ; and in the streets of Basalore 900 dead
bodies were picked up on one morning of the past
summer. These famines are caused, not by the
entire absence of rain, but by its unequal distribu-
tion. During the present famine, in the very
centre of the district which has been scourged by
it, not only was there an unfailing river, but there
fell sixty inches of rain, twice as much as the
average in England ; but " it. fell in such un-
timely quantities and with such long intervals
that the crops withered between the falls." There
is never any real want of water in India, but it
comes unequally, and there must be skill
and foresight exercised to render its dis-
tribution regular and effective. Of course this
can only be done by a vast system of storage
and distribution. The country is blessed with a
glorious sunshine, and even the poorest soil when
well watered becomes abundantly productive under
such a sky. But this irrigation is not carried out.
In many places the great irrigation works of an-
cient dynasties have gone to decay, and the present
government neglects to restore them. It is the old
story of aristocratic apathy. The Indian govern-
ment has ample means for war and conquest, but
none for the great works of peace. These
mere domestic improvements make no impres-
sion in England, and not even a famine
which has already carried off a population
as large as that of Birmingham can arouse public
interest in Indian questions. The seat of the
Indian government is in London—and London is
too distant from India for that immediate interest
to be felt in the people which ought to characterise
all governments. Mr. Baxley, M.P., said in my
hearing, that a year ago an eminent member of the
government told him that he foresaw the present

calamity, yet nothing had been done or could be
done to prevent it, or even to prepare for it. The
tone of the discussion was not hopefuL I gathered
from it that the Indian government will neither
do these needed works itself nor allow private
companies to do them. It seemed to be generally
believed that a splendid return would be made by
investments in schemes of Indian irrigation, but
that the government was too apathetic to secure
the profit itself, and too sensible of the prospective
yield to allow ;others to possess themselves of it.
Would not the most practical course for the Indies
reformats be to inform the English public on these
questions ? It is simply ignorance of Indian affairs,
and not carelesanessof the welfare of the vast popu-
lation there, which gave Sir Arthur Cotton's paper
only anandienoe of a dozen on Saturday last.
In the concluding meeting, which has taken
place to-day, it has been announced that Mr.
Dudley Field's suggestion as to an international
code has been acted on. The council have ap-
pointed a committee to prepare, in conjunction
with others, the outlines of a code, and to present
it to the next meeting for further action upon it.
They also state that Mr. Field has communicated
to them his conviction that if the question of
international copyright is brought before the
people and Congress of the United States, it will
not be difficult to procure the enactment of a
copyright law in that country, or the conclusion
of a treaty in which our copyright relations may be
placed on a foundation of mutual jostle..
The report of the council did not contain many
practical suggestions as the result of the week's
talk and discussion. But it is hardly the function of
a society like this to do more than to elicit
truth and form public opinion by discussion. It is
impossible to have attended this very successful
meeting without feeling that the mere bringing
together of different classes of men and women
with different views, on the basis of a common wish
to improve our social condition, must have
good results. Progress of all kinds is slow.
" Continuity," and not convulsion, charac-
terises all permanent social advancement. This
sasociation, at least, contributes to this slow ad-
vance by bringing many minds and many opinions
together, and allowing a fair field for each and all.
The practical results are seen in other places than
the report—in the newspapers, in the tone of
public opinion, and even in parliament. The ob-
ject of this association is to sow the seed which
other bands will reap ; and it performs that
function all the better because it leaves the other.
The meeting of next year will take place in
Belfast, in the month of September.

Drama.