The Express.
London, England, 1867-03-28 00:00:00

4 VISIT TO PRESIDENT GEPPRARD.

The Marquis of Lorne, in a volume just pub-
lished, called "A Trip to the Tropics," gives the follow.
ing account of en interview which he had with President
Geifrard, of Hayti, who, according to a telegram which
we published yesterday, has fled before popular insurree.
tion :—" After we had waited some time Geffrard came in.
He was dressed in black, with white necktie, and began to
talk immediately. His manners are charming, quite those
of a polished French gentleman, and he is evidently more
accustomed to speak than to be spoken to. He is of about
middle height, his figure rather spare, but well knit. The
white wool is brushed back from a high but not broad
forehead. His eyes are very black, and quick in their ex-
pression, and the mouth and jaw seem Ito show deciake
and firmness. He has white blood, but is so dark that no
one unitise practised in the ?swims shades by which the
distinction of race are marked would say so. He and his
government are quite looked upon as representing the
coloured, not the black class. He has been elected Preei•
dent for life, but I doubt if he will be in his present posi-
tion many more years, unless aided by foreign power,
They say here that Seward offered to send him a gunboat
for protection. If so, it is in contradiction to the pokey of
Captain Walker, the commander of the Federal man.of.nae
the De Mots. This officer, it is almost known, hadentered into
eorrespondencewith Salnave, who had held out hopes that,
in case of assistance being given him, he would do his best
to give the Americans a large island off the north coast of
Hayti. We told the President we had come from deceit!,
and were going to leave by this day's steamer. ' Messieurs,'
said he, 'I am afraid you have had a rough journey, and
over bad roads.' We could, of course, not deny that the
roads were bad, but praised the scenery and the polite.
ness of the people. He said, Yes, they are a polite and
good people. Great crimes are unknown ; one never bear,
of a murder. A man may travel alone with large sums
of money, and be perfectly secure. Arms are carried, act
for defence or to hurt others, but because it is the custom
of the people. It originated in the number of wan in
which they were engaged. Larceny and small offences are
the only crimes.' We told him of the town school we
had seen, and asked if the education system was carried
on under government alone. ' Yes, messieurs ; nearly all
the school. are under government. There only • few that
are partiewher.' Eley talked of the exertions of the Pro
sident to farther education. 'Oh yes !' the President
said,' but we are quite ashamed of the poverty of our insti-
tenons, when they are seen by foreigners. Remember
that we had everything to do ; that this is • new state
which we had to build from the ground.' After much in
the •me strain, he said he wished we would come in
another twenty years to see the progress they would make
in that time. We spoke of the imperfection of schools
even in England. Yes ; you are not NO far advanced as
they arc in Switzerland. We have now 15,000 children
in our schools, lint most of them are in the towns, where
are chiefly the coloured men. We have schools also
in the country, but there the children are so scattered,
and there is such a distance to be travelled, that it makes
teaching very difficult. In this arrondissement of Port-
aa-Prince we have one-tenth of the whole population of
the Republic' (this is put down at H,OOO, which gives
%0,000 as the total population). Referring to the
soldiers, he said there was no sickness to speak of among
them, and that, as there were no large barracks, they
always lived in the neighbourhood or in the town. We
asked him about the laws against the settling of
strangers, which made him speak a good deal on
that subject. Yea,' he said, we do not allow
strangers to hold landed properties. Our laws
are against it. They are not the class of people we
want as immigrants. Rut several of your countrymen do
occupy land ; there is Mr. William Lloyd, for instance,
but others bold the title. Strangers are allowed to be
feratitrs, not proprietors. This is the difference, and the
unwillingness to have foreigners is owing to political
reasons. If they were allowed to have lar.tl as they liked,
their influence might soon be dominant, and their presence
might excite stern feelings of enmity, leading to war,
that Imu so anxious to avoid. You have the same laws
in England against foreigners possessing land. I got the
chambers to strike out the word white in their laws and
substitute for it the word stranger. The animosity be-
tween the white and the black is much decreased here, and
our people will receive and satisfy your demands with
even greater alacrity than they will ours. This is espe-
cially the case with Englishmen, whose country was the
first to acknowledge the equality of the human race, and
to recognise that the colour of the skin alone should not
cause such a separation. I wish for fusion, not only of
blood, huh of sentiment.' We spoke of the abolition of
slavery in America, and asked him about Seward. He
said the secretary had come to the palace to visit him, and
seemed to suffer much still from his wound, in conse-
quence of which it was difficult to hear him speak. 'lt
was the Case with me ; my tongue is too large for my jaw.
When I was young I used to stamp my feet with rage at
the difficulty I experienced in expressing myself.' After
staying for about half an hour he rose to take leave ; bat
when out of the door we were recalled with the exclama-
tion, ' Ab, messieurs, quelle iinpoliteste !` and, on re-
entering, he gave us some sherry, apologising that the
wine was not of the best, and again saying he hoped we
would return twenty years Bence—a long invitation, which
we accepted. I wonder if the old Pre.ident or we shall
be alive at that time ! He is se likely to be in England
as we in Hayti. We left the island on board of
one of the fine Glasgow transatlantic boats, which was
taking out troops to Jamaica. We foiind the officers
engaged in attempting to catch three large shark.
that were swimming about under the stern ; one was
hooked, but got off almost immediately. The officers
wont land, not expecting to find anything to their taste
in a negro republic. Haw—where have you been!
Devilish long ride.' What's to be seen' Nothings
I'm sure, in such a d—d hole. Fancy a black republic!
Haw—haw ! I would'nt land for anything. I always
feel inclined to knock a nigger down when be's impudent;
and what they must be when they're free, like that, I
don't know,' were some of the sensible remarks addressed
to us. We remembered the courtesy and refinement of
President Getfrard's conversation, and we made our
own reflections. I forgot to say that eleffrard re.
marked, aa if convinced of its truth, that the com-
merce of the Haytians anti the quantity of goods ex-
ported were enormous for the size of the country and
the number of people. This was almost the only sub-
ject on which he spoke with satisfaction of anything in
the land be governs. It is a magnificent country, and
torniuu future-"
one
cannot
pttrhelp wishing
it
a happier
and
a more
Wu.

Mr. Corry will move the navy estimates in °um.
mittee of supply on Monday.
The workmen have begun to excavate the site ef
the new buildings for the Royal Academy in Burlington-
gardens, and before the summer of next year ends every-
thing, it is thought, will be in readiness for the migration
of the academy from Trafalgaraquare to its new abode.
No lees than three architects are engaged. Maws. Banks
and Harry have charge of the buildings intended for the
learned societies ; Mr. Sydney Suiirke is the architect of
the Academy, and to him is due the improvement of the
aspect of Burlington House by the addition of a storey 10
it. Mr. Pennethorue is the architect for the London
University.
A new church is about to be built at St. Dents,
a populous suburb of Southampton, which has been built
up very recently. The church is to be erected near the
ruins of the ancient priory of St. Denys, on the banks of
the lichen river, and is to coat about 7,000/. St. Deny'
is the station for the branch railway to Netley Abbey.
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL.—The annul
dinner in connection with the North London or University
College Hospital was held last evening at Willis's Rooms,
the treasurer, Sir F. H. Ooldsnilil, q.v., M.P., in the
chair. The hospital is situated in a part of the metropdha
I inhabited by a dense and increasing population, including
a very large number of the labouring aml indigent clsoca
During the past year upwards of 1,560 in.putients nee
admitted, nursed, and cured ; 10,400 received medial and
surgical treatment as outpatienta ; nearly 12,550 were
attended to as casualties ; relief was administered in up-
wards of 1,200 ophthalmic cases, and in 500 cases of diseased
of the skin ; 740 women in childbirth were attended at
their own habitations; and during the prevalence of
cholera 101 cases were taken into the hospital, and $,0•.3
persons suffering from diarrhiea received advice and me+.
eines. The yearly cost of maintaining the hospital in
its present state is 7,5001., whilst its certain income from
all sources does not exceed 4,400/. ; so that a de.
ficieney of upwards of 3,0001. has to be provided for.
Owing to various sources of additional outlay, the debt at
the end of the financial year in October lost was no lea
than 9,600/. The hon. chairman, and other gentlemen
who addressed the company, earnestly pleaded for sub-
scriptions to remove this debt, and to enable the manse-ell
of the institution to enlarge their operations. Subetnr
Rona in the room were announced to the amount of 1,101.
During the evening some excellent vocal music was gi!'n
by Messrs. J. L. Hatton, Chaplin Henry, Moutem Swap
FisMing, Donald King, and a few chorister boys.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

(TILTS DAY.)

COURT OF BA.NKRUPTCY.
(itefere Mr. Commicsioner
IN RE T. n.RTI'Nr.
krapt wax a wine and spirit merchant, of Mark-
The accounts, prepared by Mears.
p • • • 'how nn aggregate liability. of 34.2.35 t.;
,••., property held as security, 10,8171.
1:a_;• ,tati.4l that the assignees had wade full
circnal.tances un.ler which security hail
to certain creditors, anti the bankrupt's ex•
quite satisfactory. No oppuaition, there-
s.i 1,IN•rvol.

la dds, th, official assignee, stated that 3,7004
+n ralised. and a further sum would be got in.
I• 11. Linklater. for the bankrupt, stated that letters
• a u addressed to all the creditors, and none of them
to oppose.
I lon,•iir granted the order.
IN tie P. e. NFT.S4I7i.
rikrllpt was dowrille.l as a shipowner and shipping
.see broker, of Rotolph.lane and old Kent-road,
ut.r ttading as " Thu United Steam Towing Com-
,. This was the sitting for examination and discharge.
nee has not been filed ; but the preliminary
ant- ,Low ittiso.turol debts of 8,017 f. It appeared
• -,tit was pending in the Admiralty Court with
ro the bankrupt's interest in a vessel called the
ii,d an adjournment was ordered.

THE POLICE COURTS.

(THIS DAY.)

ICOW-STHEET.
ntsrrreu EVII.ENCE.
.11,qtkitt, a porter at the Cower-street station
►letmpolitw Railway, appeared to a numinous
~in, him with ansaultingMani Showcross, of the
!ylehone-road, builder.
I\lr. Ahnthams appeared for the complainant, and Mr.
Lew is for the defence.

that on the night of the 15th inst.
~ at to the I:nwer.ittreet station to take a train, and on
. long the platform he heard a deg howling, and saw the
.1 f. tt.l.tnt. kicking it in a very cruel manner. Witness re.
.n.tr.iteil with , and Kahl he might not to do it. De.
..hook his hand in witness's face in a threatening
T. after some further parley struck him aviolent
..a 11l tile eye. _ _

em.s•exaniine.l by Mr. L. Lewis—l am not the pro-
in. tor of a " penny gait." I had two friends with me--
, a lady. she was not drunk. She did not strike the
Wawa. We were all sober. I did not cndl the defend-
: a "in uel beast." I did not say I was a shareholder
the company and une of his masters. I said I was c0n-
....1 with the company. I bold n lease under
7,111. may have said I WWI a leaseholder. I did
-tiny the company's servants were the scum of the earth.
We not been at the penny gall. We had been at
1:1-don 11.11.

—Annie Thomas, who described herself as the wife of a
' the mica " corroborattaL They had come from the Ruston
11.11 tegetlier. It was cot a " penny gaff." The prices of
nee 241. ansl:l4l. Witness was in the habit of
:a•llig hy the l'oders;round Railway, and complainant took
rltom the Hall to the station every night. She had
5... a psi ded fr.'s' her husband about seven month's and
sae 10.11, a singer at the Huston Hall, but the complainant
notliiug to do with that.
of Lever...treet, St. Luke's, upholsterer,
.01 Franci. Gore, 2.. gt S„corroborated.

Mr. 1.. Lewis set np, in defence, that the whole party
sere drunk, and improperly interfered with the ranter,
ch. was only doing his fluty by turning a stray dog off the
;I atoll, which he did without unnecessary violence. That
mower,,-5 was very abusive, called defendant " a cruel
I.t:' h./1.1 he was a shareholder, and would show that
Was defendant's master, and that all the railway ser-
i ads were the scum of the earth. He also struck defen-
4:,ut. who merely acted in self-defence. Mrs. Thomas also
ktmck defendant.

Seeend witnesses gave evidence to this effect. bnt the
magistrate summed up favourably to the complainant,
ioi s.ts about to itapo4c a tine on defendant, when Mr. L.
Loris requested that the case might be sent for the &t-
-uition of a jury.
Defendant was accordingly committed for trial.
CLERKENWELL.
RIOT .tNI FIGHTING ON THE MIIiI.ANI) RAILWAT WORKS AT
BOMENS-TOWN.
" "

Hums( y, aged 17, Williams Merchant, aged 20,
ilbirrix, aged 17,_larme Roefrtt, aged 34, John
aged 15, and •filAir Woohlry, aged 19, were
tilarged with being drunk and fighting in the St. Pancras-
wcul ; and, further, with asaanltang the police at the same
tune and place.

According to the evidence of police-onnstable William
Sutton, Y, he was on duty in the St. Pancrarroal,
where he saw Hussey and Woolsey fighting, and
there waa such a mob assembled that the traffic
vas for a considerable period auspendeiL The police
interfered, and then a regular metre ensued.
Hussey said he would stab the police, and twice
attempted to kick witness. Milner, 184 Y, took
bold of Morris, and was then bit a violent blow
between the eyes by him. Rowlett endeavoured to rescue
Morns, and at that time brickbats anti stones were
being thrown at the police from every direction. Philpot,
1?2. Y took Harvey into custody, and on the way to the
police-station Harvey kicked him on the leg and bit his
hand. Stroud, 207 Y, with Police-sergeant Hocking, 3
Y. assisted by others, took Husey to the police-station,
and Hussey kicked hiss sevanl times and bit him.
All the defendants were the worse for liquor,
and Woolsey was very much bruised and knocked shout
by the man with whom he was fighting.
The defendant Howlett said that what he dill was to
endeavour to prevent the light ; and the others said that
they had no defence to make.
The magistrate tined Hussey 20e., or in default 14 days
imprisonment ; Merchant fin., or three days •, Morris 203.,
or 14 days ; Harvey 20e., or 14 days ; and the other two
he discharged.
The money was paid.
MARLBOROUGH.STREET.
TIIIIF-VTILTING A WITNESS IN COURT.
Dux Wilaws, alias Ikaussont, was charged before Mr.
Knox with hein; drunk and behaving in a disorderly man-
ner, and also with assaulting Henry Chive,., of No. 15,
Air-street, Piccadilly.
Police-constable Weeks, 330 A, proved seeing the pri-
soner, who was drunk, behaving in a very disorderly man-
ner in Brewer-street and he then took her into custody.
He understood the prisoner was a married woman and
separated from her husband who allowed her 11. per week.
Mr. Knox supposed it was because of the prisoner's
drunken habits that her husband had separated from her.
The prisoner said it was for nothing of the kind.
Remy Chivers stated that he saw the prisoner, who was
drank, throwing the playbill boards outside of the shop of
a tobacconist into the street, and on going to the tobacco-
nist's assistance the prisoner tried to throw a bottle of
brandy at him, but not succeeding in doing so, she seized
his hand and bit it pretty sharply.
The prisoner said that she knocked over the boards by
accident, and the witness was impertinent to her.
Mr. Knox said the prisoner was a drunken, violent
woman. He should order her to pay 20e, or 14 days.
As the prisoner was leaving the dock, she said (address-
ing
the witness Uhivers), ' You sweep, when I come out,
see if I don't give you something."
Mr. Knox ordered the prisoner to be brought back, and
told her that she would also have to enter into bail to keep
the peace for three months.

A meeting of mining engineers was held in Nor-
mutton yesterday for the purpose of consulting as to the
steps to be taken in reopening the Oaks Pit, and recover-
ing the bodies of those killed by the successive explosions
in December last. It was decided that the safest and most
effectual plan would be to sink • new abaft. The work
will occupy about two years.
THE THREATENED STRIKE ON THE NORTH-
EASTEIL'i RAlLWAT.—Yesterday it was stated that the 970
men of the North-Eastern, who sent in their notices last
Saturday, had resolved to follow the example of the
trighton men, and cease work at 8 a.m. on the 30th of
April. All concessions made by men or the directors are
tow deemed off, and the men intend to go for the whole
of their demands, pure and simple, presented in the first
raernori-d. Letters have been received from the delegates
of the Stockton and Darlington, intimating the intention
of the men of that section to stand by those of the North-
Ev,tern proper, and to give their fortnight's notice to end
Lt the same time. The Midland men are also preparing to
act in concert with the North-Eastern. It is, however,
requisite to state that the whole of the men employed are
MA in the union, and some of the older hands—men with
families dependent on their earnings, refuse to join the
HOVrelent.

THE ROYAL AORICTLTURAL MErmin.—Prepara-
tions for thin meeting are now in active progress. The
Great Eastern Company have about 50 men at work, laying
down additional sidings and providing other accosamoda-
al°o- A large portion of the fence which separated the
railway from the show ground has been removed, and rails
have beet laid on each side of the main line from • point
near the junction with the Sudbury line to the three-arch
Intended to provide standing room for the large
number of extra carriages and trucks that will necessarily
be employed in conducting the traffic during the week of
the show. For the goods traffic two other lines will be
laid, for which the necessary excavations are now going
on. and • loading dock is to be provided on the ground
adjoining the railway, so that cattle, implements,
MY be delivered upon the show-field. Near the centre
the ground, and along the line of the former footpath
leading to the railway, the erection of a line of buildings
hal already been commenced. These buildings comprise
the offices of the directors, the council, and the stewards ;
alai the veterinary office, and accommodation for the men
having charge of stock, who are required to sleep upon the
groninh—Bury and ZforrieA Past.