The Express.
London, England, 1867-05-28 00:00:00

[EITAIdiMD, 1L ADDMOIAL.]

The three musical committees are now busy in
organising the July festivals, and M. Georges
Hainl is superintending the arrangements for the
execution of the Hymn of Peace and tae cantata.
There are 600 musicians and 400 singers under his
direction. The musical compositions are pouring
in to the General Commissioner's office. No menu-

script music will be received after the sth of June.
It is said that the committee wishes to include a
great number of foreign members, in order that its
final decision should be accepted as an impartial
one. After the manner in which honours have
been distributed among the painters of all nations
some solid guarantee of impartiality is most desi-
rable. To begin with, French musicians know
nothing of English music.

People are beginning now to appreciate the ad-
vantages of the weekly tickets of admission to the
Exhibition. On Monday 535 were taken, and on
Tuesday, 397. The great railway companies that
are organising excursion trains have, with the per.
mission of the Imperial Commission, promised a
four days' ticket of admission to the excursionists
who come by their lines. I will not give you
the extravagant figures which are printed as
the Sunday Exhibition returns. The crowd was
great—very great last Sunday. It was impossible
to circulate comfortably about the refreshment
circle. There was fighting for places in omnibuses
without. The railway trains were packed. The
I restaurateurs were eaten out. The Exhibition is a
illarge place. I bear the proportions of the park in
mind ; and yet, when I am asked to believe that
six hundred thousand francs were paid at the gates,
I decline. Our neighbours are great at figures ; and
occasionally, I believe in the most innocent way in
I the world, throw a little lively imagination into
their arithmetic. The easy operation of adding a
nought where there are already two or three, creates
a wonderful effect, when compared with the little
trouble. Fervid fancy describes the man who pos-
-1 seises one thousand pounds, as a man " with thou-
sands." Arithmetic as it is set forth in Cocker
chafes the imaginative mind ; and our neighbours
declare that they are the poetic nation of the earth
—privileged dwellers in clouds—at home in fairy-
land—a people to whom the sublime is as familiar
as beef and pudding are to the Englishman. In a
line meant to be sounding, to stir the blood and
brighten the eye, poets speak of armed hosts, not of
poor little isolated pion-pious; of tens and hundreds
of thousands of slain ; of a people, not of a pariah,
going to an exhibition!

Another concession has entered an appearance,
and on the French refreshment line. By 3f. Bond's
great restaurant a pretty sweetmeat stall has been
opened. It addresses itself to the gourmands
of all nations—and especially to gourmands in
knickerbockers. Over the stall the world is in-
formed that " every customer may eat as many
sweets as he likes, for four sous ! " A few &Lys
since, an English lad read the announcement :
drew out his twopence—and addressed the pre-
siding lady. "Here's my four sows—only you
must lend me a chair !" The offer was declined.

The precious stones in the Exhibition, and their
treatment by English and foreign jewellers, is a
tempting subject. We find them here as highly
valued as in the far off days of old. They shone
on Aaron's breastplate, and they are now the dis-
tinctive adornments of the great of the earth.
Learned treatises have been written on them ; and
men have not ceased, since the days of Davy, their
search for the secret pmcess by which nature fashions
the most brilliant and coveted of them. In this
exhibition there is a rich and rare show of jewels.
The collective exhibition of the union of jewellers
of Paris ; the jewellery of the Lemoines, the Bar-
nerds, the Fontanas—in short, the dazzle and
glow of the French jewellery stall/ and their extent,
lead crowds of visitors to them who may pass by
the smaller show of England. The jewellers of
Paris have a fame that spreads over the civilized
world ; whereas English jewellers are little known,
save to the richest foreigners, out of England. The
imitation jewels of our neighbours, moreover, are
unrivalled. Paris diamonds—as those sold by M.
Bon, in the Rue de la Paix—are worn in quantities
by personages whom people will credit easily with
the glory of possessing stores of real stones.
This perfect paste is to be found mounted in the
most careful and artistic manner. The collections
of precious stones which are in the present Exhibi-
tion exceed in intrinsic value and artistic treatment
the worth of any ever brought under one roof—if
we except the koh-i-noor from the jewellery of the
Exhibition of 1851. This famous diamond was not,
however, it will be recollected, greatly admired by
connoisseurs. It had been badly cut and contained
flaws, and, in short, looked like a piece of glass,
save when the sun's rays were upon it. The Moun-
tain of Light was a disappointment—being deficient
in light; but its appearance in the Exhibition af-
forded the learned in diamond-cutting an op-
portunity of examining its cleavages, of
measuring it, and of suggesting how the light
was to be got out of the mountain. Some
held that it was only a bit of the original
diamond from Golconda. Professor Tennant
opined that in its original form it was "a rhombic
dodecahedron," and that it and the great Russian
diamond were one crystal. Then, Messrs. Garrard
took Runjeet Sing's main ornament in hand, and
got light into it, but reduced its weight one-third.
These discussions and doings are among the impor-
tant uses of exhibitions. They are proceeding
here in the Champ de Mars as they proceeded in
Hyde-park, when Mr. Hope's blue diamond was an
object of intense interest, not only to the ladies
who could just say that it was " a love," and think
how it would become them, but to men of science
am& men of taste. Eminent jewellers are daily at
the French, Russian, and Austrian stalls. The
Russian courts include a choice and rare collection
of precious stones. A curiosity is a potted rose,
upon which a diamond butterfly has alighted. H.
Podielrad, of Prague, is remarked for the high
finish and richness of his collection, which boasts
the biggest opal in the world. Christian (of Nu-
remberg) has a striking, not to say excentric, spe-
cimen of jeweller's work : the design is a jay, hold-
ing in its beak a well-balanced and delicate brooch
of opals and diamonds.

THE TAILORS' STRlKX.—Yesterday morning the
area of the strike became enlarged by the withdrawal of
the men employed in the shops of those masters known as
military tailors. About 500 men are employed in this
branch, and one and all gave notice yesterday morning
that they intended to take no more work after finishing
the jobs in hand. The cause of this strike is the same as
that in the other branches of the trade—the refusal by
the masters of the time-log. The men are nearly all
members of the Tailors' Union, and will be supported
from the funds. At a special meeting of the central
committee held yesterday morning to consider the state-
ments made by the muter at their meeting on Satur-
day last, it was resolved that an aggregate meeting of
the trade, in and out-door workers, unionists and non-
unionists, should be held at the Alhambra Palace, Leine-
ter-square, to-morrow morning, " for the purpose of
testing the trade as to the truth of the statements made;
by the masters as to the feeling amongst the men gene-
rally, to the effect that they were opposed to the strike in
the first instance, and were forced into it by the leaden of
thefunion."
IMPORTANT FISHERY DECISION. —On Saturday
the Salmon Fishery Commission, sitting at Carlisle, pro-
nounced judgment in respect of a large number of claims
to use poke nets, stream nets, and other fixed engines in
the Solway. The commissioners declared all such engines
to be illegal. The decision is of a most sweeping nature,
inasmuch as it deprives whole villages of the means by
which their inhabitants have for generations earned a live-
lihood, and in consideration of the fact the commissioners
deferred the execution of their orders for removal till the
present season shall have closed. The shore of the Solway
for miles is covered with these engines.
_ .

8017TH KENSINGTON MENEIIII.—ViSiLOTS doting
the week ending Kay 25: On Monday, Tuesday,
and Saturday, free, from 10 a.m. to 10 al,.
13,333 ; on Wednesday, •Thursday, and Friday (
sion 6d.), from 10 a.m. till 6 p.m., 1,968 ; national por-
trait exhibition, by pa 2,366 ; total, 17,878. Avenge
of oonisponding week in former years, 11,4611. Total
from the opening of the Museum, 6,728458.

[TWOPENCE

THE LIJXEMBURG TREATY.

The following has been published by the Cologne
Gazette as the correct text of the treaty for the neu-
tralisation of Luxemburg, recently concluded at
London :

In the name of the Meet Holy and Indivisible Trinity.—
His Majesty the King of the Netherlands, Grand Duke of
Luxemburg, taking into consideration the change produced
in the situation of the Grand Dueby owing to the dissolu-
tion of the ties which attached it to the former Germanic
Confederation, has invited their Majesties the Emperor of
the French, the Emperor of Austria, the Queen of England,
the King of the Heiman., the King of Prussia, and the Em-
peror of All the Rumens, to aasemble their representatives
in conference at London in order to come to an under-
standing with the plenipotentiaries of his Majesty the
King Grand Duke as to the new arrangements to be con.
eluded in the general interest of peat. And their said
Majesties, after having this invitation, have
resolved by common accord to reared to the desire his
Majesty the King of Italy haa manifested to take part in
• deliberation destined to offer a new pledge of security for
the maintenance of the general repose. In consequence
their Majesties, in concert with his Majesty the King of
Italy, desiring to conclude • treaty for this purpose, have
say—
The as their plenipotentiaries, that is to my—
na mama and titles of all the plenipotentiaries signed
w follow.]
Who, after having exchanged their full powers, and
found them in good and perfect form, have agreed upon
the following articles :
1. Hie Majesty the Ring al the Nalherhiede, Goma
Nnir ef Ltexamharg, meintainstbeeimerstichretbish the
mid Grand Duakytothe HOSII4I OenetioNmeaa by virtue
of the treaties that have pissed thee state nadr the
sovereignty of his Majesty the E,ing gmeol Duke, ids de-
scendanta and successon. The rights whichthe emestee
of the house of Nassau pauses to the surceetion of the
Grand Duchy by virtue of the same treaties, are main-
tained. The high contracting parties accept present
declaration, an take note thereof.
2. The Greed Duchy within the limits determined by
the deed missed to the treaty of April 19,11139, under the
guarantee of the courts of Austria, France, Great Britain,
Prussia, and Russia, shall henceforth constitute • perpe-
tually neutral state. It shall be bound to observe this came
neutiality towards all other states. The high contracting
to respect the principle of neutrality stipu-
Litletymnepresent article. This principle is and re-
mains placed under the sanction of the collective guarantee
of the signatary powers to this present treaty, with the
exception of Belgian, which is itself a neutral state.
3. The Grand Duchy of Luxemburg being nentralieed
in the terms of the preceding article, the maintenance or
establishment of stems plants upon it, territory becomes
needless and without object. It is in consequence agreed
by comma accord that the town of Luxemburg, con-
sidered in past time from • military point of view as a
federal fortress, shall cease to be a fortified town. His
f the Grand Duke reserves to himself the right of
maintaining in that town the number of troops necessary
to watch over it for the preservation of good order.
4. Conformably with eth stipulations contained in Arts.
2 and 3, his Majesty the King of Prussia declares that his
troopsal:i at present garriaoning the fortress of Luxemburg
receive orders to proceed to the evacuation of that
place imatedietely after the exchange of the ratifications of
this present treaty. A commencement will simultaneously
be made by removing the artillery, munitions, and all
objects forming part of the.apportenances of the said strong
place. During this operation there shall only remain the
number of troops necessary to watch over the safety of the
war material, and to effect its removal, which shall be
completed with the least possible delay.
5. His Majesty the King Grand Duke, by virtue of the
rights of sovereignty he exercises over the town and fortress
of Luxemburg, engages upon his part to take the necessary
measures for converting the said strong place into an opee
town by means of such demolition as his Majesty shall
judge sufficient to fulfil the intentions of the high 00■•
fretting powers expressed in Art. 3 of this present treaty.
The works required for this purpose will commence imme-
diately after the withdrawal of the garrison. They shall
be carried out with all the circumspection the interests of
the inhabitants of the town demand. His Majesty the
King Grand Duke further premises that the fortification
of the town of Luxemburg shall not in future be re-esta-
blished, and that no military establishment shall either be
maintained or mated at that place.
6. The tignitary powers to this present treaty recognise
that the dissolution of the Germanic Confederation having
equally brought about the dissolution of the ties that
united the Duchy of Limburg collectively with the Grand
Duchy of Luxemburg to the said confederation, it results
therefrom that the relations mentioned in Arta. 3,4, ands
of the treaty of April 19th, 1839, between the Grand
Duchy and certain territories appertaining to the Duchy
of Limburg have ceased to exist, the said territories con-
tinuing to form an integral part of the kingdom of the
Netherlands.

_
7. This present treaty shall be ratified, and its ratifica-
tions shall be exchanged at London within the period of
four weeks, or earlier if possible.
In faith of which the respective plenipotentiaries have
signed the treaty, and appended to it the seal of their
arms.
Done ►t London, this 11th May, 1867.

(SiSINNB-BTANLEY, APPONTI, LA TOUR D'Arvzscsr,
D'Ausuo, Berruics, VAN Ds WsTait, TONNACO,
BRAVAIS, BiRNSTOR7P, BRUNNOW.

It is well understood that Art. 3 does not affect the
rights of other neutral powers to reserve, and in ease of
need to repair, their strong places and other mesas of de-
fense.

The same signatures follow.

THE MEDITERRANEAN.

(►aon on OWN

) FliT. )

MALTA, MAT 22.

During the last few days no movement has taken
place in this port amongst her Majesty's ships of war, and
the only vowels now here are the iron-clad frigates Prince
Consort, 35, Royal Oak, 35, and Ocean, 24 ; Psyche, 2,
despatch vessel ; and the Wizard, 1, gunboat. The
Ocean will probably take her departure from Malta on
Saturday next for Gibraltar, on her way to China to join
the squadron on that station. The other vessels are
awaiting the return of Viol-Admiral Lord Clarence
Paget from Gibraltar, in his new flag-ship, the Caledonia,
in order to put to sea on their usual summer cruise. They
will first proceed to Toulon, for the purpose of affording
the crews an opportunity of visiting the Paris Exhibition.
Her Majesty's screw steam transport Tamar is expected
in Malta about the beginning of next month, to embark
the 29th Foot for conveyance to North America.
A merchant steamer arrived this morning from Tunis
bringing the intelligence that the cholera has broken out
in that regency. The steamer was placed in quarantine,
and a government notice was issued this afternoon esta-
blishing a quarantine of 21 days on all arrivals from the
regency of Tunis.

M6NTING or CONSERVATIYIS COUNTY MEMBERS.
—A meeting of the conservative county members was held
to-day (Monday), at the residence of Colonel North, in
Arlington-street, at which about 70 gentlemen were pre-
sent, besides the expressed adhesion of • considerable
number more who were prevented from attending. After
the views of many members had been heard, and the in-
fluence of the various amendments on the table as affect-
ing the county franchise had been discussed, it was unani-
mously resolved that the government be requested not to
persevere in the 15!. rating proposed by the bill, but that
the proposition of Sir Edward Daring, namely, • 121.
rating, be adhered to ; and that the government be also
requested on no consideration whatever to allow the 10!.
rating, as proposed by Mr. Locke Zing.
THE BISHOP or LoNDON'S FUND. —Yesterday
morning there wean large assemblage of the clergy and
laity of the diocese of London at St. James's Church, Pic-
cadilly, in connexion with the Bishop of London's Fund.
The bishop delivered an address, founded on the 3rd
chapter of St. Luke's Gospel.,
_verse 62. He said the fund
had gone on for three and a half years, not without some
failures, but slowly and steadily, but it was their duty
now to look at the work which lay before them. He spoke
of the destitute state of many parishes of the metropolis,
and said that having begun, it would be • cowardly thing
to stand still. He believed it would be all in Inn to ex-
press sympathy with the bodily wants of the max, to pro-
vide improved dwellings for them, or to make efforts for
secular education, unless they afforded them helps for
holiness. The holy communion was then administered
he offertory being devoted to the fund.
Yesterday morning the Venerable John Sinclair,
M.A., Archdeacon of Middlesex, held a visitation of that
part of the diocese of London which is within his juridic-
tion, at the parish church of St. Paul, Covent-garden.
After the elope of the ordinary business, prayers were read
(a very large number of the clergy being preaeot), and the
arelidemion proceeded to the delivery of his charge, in the
course of which • strong denunciation of the pretensions
and teaching of the papacy occurs.
Quarmrrown, 11isr 27.—The Cunard (extra)
steamship Tarifa arrived hero at 1.30 p.m. to-day. She
brings 152 paineogen and 55,000 dole. in specie. Sbe
landed 1.11 passengers, despatches, 5.c., and proceeded for
Liverpool at 1.45 p.m. All well.

MAP" BROTlLER&—Triablishoil A.D.1810.

CRESTSof BILVERPLATE for thsOOLONISTS.

OUTLZRY and SILVER PLLTh fa
11711111115111111 G.

MAPPER BROTHERS, LONDON-BRIDGE.

MAPPIN BROTHERS, 222, REGENT-
STREIT.

BEr SON'S WATCHES and CLOCKS.
By special Appointment to
H.R.H. THE PRINCE OP WALES.
Prize Medsl, London, Class 33: Dublin, Class 10.
WATCH ES—Chronometers, Reylens, Repeaters,ChroongraPhs•He.
CLOCKS— For Dining mid Drawing Roorns,(Wriages.Churebak dc.
JEWELLERY—Specialities in Monograms, Crystals, Diamonds,
and Fine Gold.
PLATE, and WORKS of ART In Bronze, by Leading Artists.
PRICYS and Descriptions, see Mastratod Pamphlet, post free.
Watches and Clocks sent to all parts of the world.
J. W. BENSON, yd, OLD BOND-STRIMET.
Steam Factory and City Show Rooms,
es and do, LUDOAT&HULL
Parts Exhibition. 1507, English Section, Clam EL

BROWN and POLSONI CORN YLOIJR
for CHILDREN'S DIET.
To obtain ertra profit by the rale other kinds we omens=
°Herod Instead of BROWN and POLSON'S.
"John Brown; "John Poison; Is signed by the swims on
Sksh packet

SOCIETY of ARTS. —ln consequence of the
DEATH of Sir THOMAS PHILLIPS, Chairman of the
Council, the MEETING announced for WEDNESDAY EVEN-
ING, the 29th inst., will NOT TAKE PLACE—Sy order,
P. LE NEVE POSTER, Secretary.
Society's Home, Adciphi, W.O , May 27, 1867