The Express.
London, England, 1860-09-28 00:00:00

•
forgotten, and the alliance was .6oe
The defeat, humiliation, artee of
by the Crimean war were re

which the

that meddling missionary foreign policy
isto Ilktraleit pursued with such blind and fatal
Obstinacy.
Is the young EMPEROR about to enter on the
tie diagerous path I It seems but too probable.
TM agents and instruments of his father's policy
we still at his aide, and they have evidently
persuaded their pliant master to adopt the fatal
" mission "of his race. Indeed they may claim
the evil credit of having remained faithful to it
even in adversity. They have indirectly conspired
against the cause of political freedom while unable
openly to attack it. When the Emperor
of the FRENCH, in defiance of public opinion,
treaty engagements, and national rights, seized on
Savoy and Nice, Russia, when appealed to, sup-
ported him in his evil course, affirming that as •
monarch he had a perfect right to do as he would
in the matter. The violent and lawless acts of
Lotus NAPOLEON were approved of because they
savoured of despotism. But his most just and
righteous acts are censured if they at
all favour the cause of freedom. Now
when the French EMPEROR pursues • policy
which favours the development of the national
cause in Italy—when he is apparently disposed to
let the Italians work out their political salvation
in their own way—Russia steps in and dares
openly to rebuke the alliance with the King of
SARDINIA. This is the grossest insult that
ovoid possibly be offered to a great
power like France. What right or business
has Russia to interfere with the alliances which
France or any other European Power may choose
to make f Is the Crimean war already so totally
forgotten, and its humiliations so utterly effaced,
that Russia can with any decency assume the airs
of on European dictator I Surely the prospect
of • reconciliation with • bankrupt power like
Austria cannot have tempted her to such a total
forgetfulness both of her own position and that
of other European Powers. Does Russia seriously
mean to challenge France, and back Austria in
invading Italy 1 If not, what is the meaning of
Prince GORTIICRAILOIF'I4 insolent message 1 If she
really desires to form • new Holy
Alliance, she should have chosen • more
appropriate moment. Where are the materials
for such • combination? What is the state of
Russia herself at this moment 1 Her exchequer is
exhausted, the revenue of the country deeply
mortgaged, the whole administrative machinery of
the Government disorganised by corruption, the
nobles offended by the mongrel domestic policy
of the &demist, and the people profoundly
discontented at the disappointment of their hopes.
Austria, the other member of the proposed alliance,
is in all respects in • far worse position. These
are scarcely promising materials for a crusade
against constitutional government and national
progress in Europe.

DRAMA.

OLYMPIC.

The little comedy entitled Secret Service am
revived yesterday evening at this theatre. The chancier
of Michael Perrin, the simple provincial cure, who, deprived
of his benefice by • decree of the republican government of
France, seeks employment from Fondle, Minister of Police,
a quondam pupil of his, soil by mistake is turned into a spy
without any conscientiousness of his aloe on has own part,
was essayed by Mr. Addison. Those who remember
ohmmeter which floulft immortalised on the Parisian suit
lures recreated on the English stage could hardly have
mongnieed the charming little ilium, which used alter-
nately to excite their laughter and their softer sym-
pathies. Although neat in its construction and
ingenious in its idea, it depends so entirely
for development on the manner in which the princi-
pal part is played, that mane that is entrusted to tie hand
of a master, the incidents fail in point and ameney, and
the whole thing falls eat. It is, in short, just one of those
dramas which are as near nothing as possible, unless a great
deals made of them in the working out. It iain hardly be
said that this was the rase on the present occasion. It is •
pity when performers of merit in their peculiar line are induced
to undertake personstiona which are quite out of their way.
The result can only be dissatisfaction to the audience and
disappointment to themselves, and that through no fault of
their own, hut from an error of judgmeot somewhere. There
cam hardly he such pressure on the resources of this theatre
as to render necesaary the production of • pieoo for the re-
presentation of which there is no adequate staff. It is
simply a mistake.

The Duke of Marlborough and Lord ♦. Churchill
have left Blenheim Palace, sou Woodstock, for Wiltshire.
The Lhiche.s and Lady A. Churchill have gone on a visit
to the Earl and Countess Vane, at their seat in Wales.

The Etrl and Countess Spencer are entertaining
• select party at Althorpe Howse, near Northampton.
♦mong the gums are the Marquis of Easter and Lady
Mary Cecil, the Earl of Easton, the Earl of Pomfret, Lord
Charles Fitzroy, Lady Sarah Spencer, Hoe. George Fits.
mlliam, Lord Albert Cecil, Major-General Seymour and
Mime Seymour, Colonel Kessnaly, Qiptaiu Mildmay, Cap-
tain sual Mrs. Boyle, fu.

The Counters of Hopetoun gave birth to • non
and ha at Hopetoun House, Linhthgowshire, on Tuesday
last Her ladyship sad the infant are doing well,
Lady Southampton is, we regret to learn, suffer-
mg from severe illness at Whittlebury Park, Northsasptos•
shire. Her ladyship has been seized with pandysis, sad
has lost the tams of one stile.

Lord NA Lady Clarence Paget have left the Ad
sgralty, Whitehall, for a tour ou the Continent.

Loral and Lady Hutiuga gave a 'splendid enter-
adamant ou Tueeder lam to the Fakeaham &ad Hots Volun-
teer Rifle Carpi at their film old seat, Mello. Constable,
Norfolk.

The Re:ones* Blaye has been entertaining during
Na past week the Earl and Comities of Harrington and
lady Geraldine Stanhope, the Candela of Beauchamp, the
Earl of Denbigh and the Wise Fending, Lady Emily
and Mir Meaketh, Viscount Petersham, Mr. Talbot Searle,
Mr. TurvUla, Herr Gila; Le., at her seat, Stanford Hall,
near Rugby.

Admiral Sir George Mtivuly ham left the Queen's
Hotel, Upper Norwund. fit W.Y.

Yesterday Mies Canaille Paget, fourth daughter
of Mr. Charier Paget, one of the representatives of Notting.
ham, wee married to Mr. W. Mellor, the other member
fur that borough. The wedding took place at hudlington,
Notts, where the residence of the bride's father is masted;
sad the health of the happy couple woe proposed at the
breakfast by Mr. heron

A ciorrespotideut of the Mos ming Punt suggests
the formation of a volunteer navy. He says A french
invasion of Eagland, by means of open attack, is impel-
nide on ata:ount of the imperionty of the English over
the French navy. limb Mynahs could only be the
fortuitous result of a roup-de. NOM - an operation also.
lutely impracticable if the coasts be well watched. Eng.
land has defenders enough ; her geographical position
suedes her to resist a force five times as largess her owe.
One LuDdred thousand FAiglishinen usefully employed
would weenie:idly opposes enemy'. fume of 600,000. The
problem to he solved, then, is to provide an effective watch
for the meats. To attain this end it is Deconitry to enro-
-1 plate the patnotic system by establishing a volunteer trey,
firmest excliiiively by our colliers, fishermen, and maw*
men guilefully, who are daily ouoveriant with the obleasis
nod the coast. of the l'oitod Kingdom. Them naval voles.
teen, in owe of war, would supply the news of notifies,
! which should on no neonnt be employed oa any other ser-
vie than that of watrhini the c0m1.."
At the roiiivreizioric on Wednesday evening, in
the l'orporetion tllaegow nays tie Nett% Dri-
b.", Now. ontoethately after laird Brosigharn Ind partakes
a a cup of tee, a Kentleyonu Al,pped up to the purveyorand
offend him belt a •overeagn fur the cup, which sea at ones
accepted is" ould it will he tont as ea heirloom in the
family d the pon•listeer. Tl.te is Int a alight indication ei
the
ive mancounner which Lord Brougham is respected in his
iotttry