The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-03 00:00:00

:DEN'S VALUA'

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, APRIL 3, 1867..

as a liberator—by giving them the autonomy
which they desire, and making them feel that
their rights are bound up with the permanence
and prosperity of the Ottoman Empire.
Before we can usefully examine this singular
proposal, it is necessary to clear np one important
point. What is Bulgaria, or where is the Bulga-
rian nation ? Europeans have been accustomed to
designate by that name the country which extends
from the Balkan to the Danube. But these Me-
morialists speak of it as extending from Constan-
tinople as far as Thessaly, and to the frontiers of
Albania and Servia, thus including Roumelia, the
must Turkish part of Europe. This part of their
claim will not bear examination. In Bulgaria
Turks are numerous, but in Roumelia, if nowhere
else in European Turkey, they are in a decided
majority, as compared with other races. If the
Bulgarians are entitled to form an autonomous
Government like the Berrien. or Wallachians, it
can only be in respect of the country north of
the range of the Menus. Time was when the
name of the Bulgarians was terrible in Europe.
The warriors who nourished their children on
mare's milk, and sustained their own valour upon
a diet of horseflesh—whose first question to the
missionaries who converted them was, " May we
" fight?" —who carried their siandard to the gates
of Constantinople, and took an Emperor prisoner,
were formidable foes. But for hundreds of years
the name of their nationality, if it is entitled to
that name, has not been heard of. The'r
brave leaders, instead of making terms
with the conquering Ottomans, resisted
to the last, and their country, instead of
preserving its own institutions and government, be-
came completely subject to the Turks, and was
incorporated with their territory. Moldavia,
Wallachia, and Berrie, by timely concession, se-
cured the means of preserving a national lifowhich,
having continued for centuries under conditions
of limitation, is once more being developed with
vigour ; but there appears no reason for believing
that Bulgaria contains in its own territory the
element. of a distinct national existence.

THE scandalous usages of agricultural labour
in Lincolnahire and some neighbouring Eastern
Counties, to which we called attention the other
day, were discussed last night in the House of
Commons in a freer and more impartial spirit than
they would have been a few sessions ago. When
Mr. Dater, founding his argument upon the
frightful development of the gang system, moved
that the employment of women and children in
agriculture should be regulated, as far as might
be, by the principles of the Factory Acts, there
was no parade of that false economy which would
abandon the young and tender to slavery, and ruin
the social morals of a whole class in the name
of freedom ; while, on the other hand, there was
surprisingly little of the old Conservative prejudice.
When we hear of little children of six years of
age, who ought to be at play or at school, being
pulled out of their beds at half-past five in the
morning, and kept working till seven or eight at
night, it is time for human nature to claim its
rights, and to declare that if these poor little ones
must work, it shall at all events not be in a
public gang. We might be sure beforehand that
children so brought up cannot grow into strong,
intelligent, and manly labourers, and in fact we
find that the system degrades and bru-
talises all concerned. Mr. FAWCETT asked last
night how it was that this system could
establish itself in the country without attracting
more notice ; how it was that it had not been
heard of before in the House ? This question is
very pertinent at a time when Parliament is con-
sidering a Reform Bill. The lesson the member
for Brighton draws from it is that those who are not
directly represented are too often little regarded ;
and that, we suspect, will also be the conviction
of most who read this debate. The cause of the
evil was correctly traced lest night to the neglect
of landlords to build cottages, and this again
to the iniquitous law of settlement. Mr. NEWDE-
GATE referred to the unhealthiness of the fen
counties as the reason why cottages had not been
built. But where a farmer can live and bring up
a family, labourers can live in properly built
cottages. If there is any ground for stating that,
the number of male adults in Lincolnshire is too
small for the amount of work to be done, the
remedy is easy ; there are plenty in Dorsetshire
starving on 9s. a week who would be glad to move
to the Eastern Counties for 12s. or 14s. If the
restrictions called for by justice and humanity
were laid upon the gang system, it would soon be
found that labour was forthcoming. Undoubtedly
legislation on the subject should be conducted
with caution. The principles of the Factory Acts
must be adjusted to the peculiar conditions of
rural life and agricultural labour ; but this may
be done if the work is only taken in hand with
earnestness and sincerity.

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.
(THIS DAY.)

The definite line of policy which, when the Liberal party
returns to power, it must endeavour to fulfil, relates first
to the disposition of our fleet in the timo of peace ; to the
abandonment of the practice of wasting squadrons of men-
of-war and frigates on a variety of foreign stations. The
second aim is to proceed more cautiously and yet more
effectually in the process of reorganisation. It is so pal-
pable that the naval power of all nations is now to be mea-
sured by their force in iron-clads, that it is idle to com-
pute any other. In this respect we stand already in a pre-
eminence which removes from us all occasion for dread.
What we need is that the few ships we take in
hand should be finished with all possible speed,
so that we may get the benefit of them before
they are superseded by later models. The present
admiralty is greatly in fault in this respect, and
is leaving us, too, with a want of practical informa-
tion respecting what any of our vessels can be depended
on to do, which is very awkward. Mr. Seely's speech con-
tains many instances of admiralty extravagance, and it is
plain that a !louse of Commons that is less disposed to take
and make things pleasant will be able to cut down our
navy estimates to • figure very considerably under their
present amount, while adding to the real efficiency of our
fleet, and the essential security of our shores.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(RNOTER'I3 TELEGRAMS.)

FRANCE AND THE LUXEMBURG DUCHIES.
PARIS, Amur. 3.

The Constibifionnd of this morning, in an article
signed by its chief editor, M. Paulin Limayrac,
relative to Herr von Betmigsen's interpellation in
the North German Parliament upon the Luxem-
burg question, acknowledges the moderation of
Count von Bismarck's reply. The writer says,
" France has no desire to threaten the interests of
Germany, or to bring her honour into question.
France has no warlike tendency, but solely a deep
sense of what is just and equitable. Now it would
be neither just nor equitable that Prussia, after
having achieved her great conquests without
obstacle, should jealously watch the smallest
acquisition that might be desired by her neigh-
bours, not in the interest of ambition, but of
security."
Count Waleivski has been nominated to the
dignity of senator. M. Villemain is dead.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(THIS DAY.)
The SPEAK= took the chair at a quarter past 12.
BISROPWEARMOL'TH RAILWAY BILL.
This bill was read a mooed time.
DARTFORD GAS BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
JOINT STOCK COMPANIES (VOTING PAPERS)
RILL.

In committee on this bill, on clause 1,
Sir F. GOLDSMID mid he should like to know whether
the voting papers might not be need without stamps.
Mr. Serjeant GASELEE objected that these voting
papers being entrusted to any one might be produced with-
out a moment's notice, and thus decide for example, by
surprise, the important question of the election of a di.
rector.

Mr. D. GRIFFITH (the promoter of the bill) said rail-
way proprietors were now so numerous that it was Impos-
sible for all toattend, and added that there wee a large pro-
portion of females. His object was to afford all an oppor-
tunity of expressing their opinion. The proxies in the
bands of the directors had hitherto enabled them to con-
trol the meetings. Another advantage which they had
was the knowledge of who were their opponents. It must
be distressing to an honest director to know that at pre-
sent the voting was not free and independent. He did not
propose to take away the present mode of proceeding, but
to provide for the evil of inadequate representation.
After some further discussion the clause was negatived
without a division, and the CHATIMAX reported progress.

SPIRITUAL DESTITUTION BILLS.
Mr. AYRTON moved the second reading of this bill.
'Left sitting.]

THE MARQUIS OF WEST.VEATH AND THE

RITUALISTS.

The following curious notice stands on the order-
book of the House of Lords for Tuesday next :—" The
Marquis of Westmeath—To present a petition, and call the
attention of the house to it, complaining of ritualistic
practices in the church of England, and stating that in the
event of a royal commission being appointed to inquire
into ritualistic innovations there could be no confidence in
the proceedings of such a commission if right rev. prelates
were appointed thereto who were themselves compromised
by the introduction of usages and practices, which were
rejected at the Reformation ; the petitioners mentioning
the cases of the Lord Bishop of the Diocese of Oxford,
who conducted a novel, unauthorised, and superstitious
service for the ' Dedication of a Bell ' in Bampton church,
the Lord Bishop of Salisbury who used a similar unautho-
rised and superstitious ceremonial for a bell in Sherborne
church, the Lord Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol who
inaugurated by a special service • new order of church
ministers other than those authorised in the Prayer Book,
and the Lord Bishop of Chichester who, in addition to
novel proceedings in a private chapel, attended a epeeist
service in Chichester Cathedral in connexion with ' the
presentation of a pastoral staff' having profane Popish
emblems engraved thereon, and also held a highly ob-
jectionable minim for the consecration of a lady warden
of a tractarian sisterhood ; and praying the house to adopt
an address to her Majesty on the subject."

Sir Robert Collier will on Friday call the atten-
tion of the house to the case of John Toomer, and to move
for copies of all memorials presented to the lioum-othce
in his behalf, and of the answers thereto.

On the 30th, Mr. Trevelyan proposes to call the
attention of the House of Commons to the system of put,
chasing commission, in the Army ; and to move that that
system tends greatly to diminish the efficiency of our
military force.

Mr. Taylor, after Eaater, will aak the Secretary
of State for the Home Depas tment a question in respect
to the appointment of Mr. Chureliwani to the commission
of the peace for the borough of Dover.

In committee on Representation of the People
Bill, Mr. Darby Griffith, on the motion for withdrawing
clause 7, the dual voting clause, will mo►e, " That a well
considered measure of plural voting, in some form or
other, is only a just and necessary safeguard and counter-
poise to any scheme for the extension of the electoral
franchise which may be founded on the principle of house.
hold suffrage."

Major Jervis, tomorrow, will ask the Vice-Pre-
sident of the Committee of Council for Education, whether
it is the intention of her Majesty's government to intro.
duce a bill to regulate the importation of foreign cattle into
this country.

Mr. Childers, on Friday, will ask the Secretary
of State for the Home Department bow soon the transpor•
tation of convicts to Western Australia will cease ; and
whether the supply of convicts for public works in con-
nexion with dockyard extensions in this country has been
represented to the Home-otfice as inadequate.

Mr. Bruce, on Friday, brings forward a bill to
provide for the education of the poorer classes in England
and Wales.

Mr. Oliphant will ask the Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs, to-morrow, what arrangements have been
made with the government of Japan relative to the Euro-
pean garrison at Yokohama ; at what strength it is pro-
posed that such garrison should be maintained: whether
it is intended to be permanent ; and whether there would
be any objection to laying the correspondence upon the
subject upon the table of the house.

Faust e Margherita will be performed at Covent
Garden, on Thursday night, when Mdlle. Pauline Lucca,
Signor Mario, and M. Petit, the new singer from the
Thilittre Lyrique, are to make their first appearance.
It is understood that the Bank of Scotland is
about to open a London agency in Broad-street.
Of the call of 401. per share on the shares of
Barnars Banking Company, which became payable on
Monday at Liverpool, it is believed the total received up
to last evening will approach shoot 200,0001. Supposing
all the shares constituting the nominal capital of the com-
pany to have been allotted, and the allottees to have been
all solvent, the amount produced by the call would have
been 1,600,0001., the total number of shares being 40,000.
The contributories at present settled on the list are about
400 in number, and represent between 20,000 and 30,000
shares, but there are many from whom nothing whatever
is likely to be recovered.
As evidence of the late inflation of the circula-
tion of the country, arising from fictitious credit and the
m►nufacture of financial paper, the following remarkable
calculation has just been prepared. It appears that the
decrease in the sale of inland bill stamps by one firm in
comparison with the average of the two previous years is
►t the rate of 15,000/. per annum. Taking each shilling as
representing 100/., the withdrawal from the bill circula-
tion, as shown by this one firm alone, is 30,000,000/. for
the year, and looking at this house as doing a 1-30th part
of the trade in stamps, which is somewhat near the troth,
the falling off in the bill circulation would appear to be
at the rate of 900,030,000/. for the year, representing a
loss to the revenue of 450,000/. What proportion this
bears to the returns of the London bankers can at present
(observes the Time.) be only a matter of conjecture, but
by the system of statistics of the clearing-house about to
be introduced by Sir John Lubbock it will be ascertained.

An extraordinary scene was witnessed by seve-
ral thousand persons at Wigan on Monday afternoon
A dispute has arisen between the London end
North Western and the Lancashire and Yorkshire
Railway Companies as to the right to • footpath
leading to the station of the former company.
The Lancashire Company several times placed
obstructions upon the path which were always removed,
and in this removal and the attempt to prevent it a con-
test arose, on Monday, between the men of the respec-
tive companies, and lasted several hours. While the
battle was still going on, a crane which was being em-
ployed fell, and nearly killed one of the men who were
working it.
THE MINISTERIAL REFORM BILL.—An enthu-
siastic meeting in favour of reform was held last night in
the Music-hall at Chester. Every portion of the great
hall was crowded. The resolutions condemned the go-
vernment bill, disapproval being expressed of the
personal rating and of the redistribution schemes. The
necessity of • lodger franchise was strongly urged.
Amongst the speakers was Mr. W. H. Gladstone, M.P.,
who was warmly received. A resolution was paroled asking
the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P. to oppose the
bill, and the members for the city undertook to present
the resolution.
TRAGIC FATE OF A GERMAN PATRIOT. —Under
the presidency of Karl Blind • committee has been formed
in this country in aid of the German patriot, Theodor
Moegling, who, after having been severely wounded in one
of the revolutionary battles in Baden, was kept four long
years in solitary confinement at Bruchmd. In conse-
quenceumt,teurt,..rly
utoporgyliethadhthelbenoTaowhlediadr.,
opmanthimatteeis
afparsaidmliulydredhaor
of the after effects of his prison sufferings, Moes.
king's reason has latterly given way ; his little estate in
vaitoed,bec°uw:itChh:
contains a number of names of the literary, professional,
and commercial oomminercEialgl
England.

WATERFORD ELECTION mutant.
(MIS DAV.)

The committee met again this morning at eleven
o'clock, Mr. ADAIR in the chair.
Mr. Kennedy was re-called and further examined—At
the polling booth I saw a hand laid on a voter. ite
was asked who he was going to vote for, and he replied
for Talbot. Mr. Barry shook him by the haed,
and said " For De la goer." The voter was thee
hustled out. There were troops near the Court-house.
I saw the mob break through tile line and follow htr,
Talbot's voters. Some of them haul to run back. I hi-ant
Dr. Halley, in the course of one of his speeches, mean.*
the name of Dr. O'Brien. He said he hoped the people
would do what they did • month ago in the county et
nary when they returned Captaiin Wning hit:.
.wit.
Sir Robert Joshua Paul—l reside at Bsllyghan, about
' seven miles from Waterford. On the Sunday before the
polling day, and when returning from church I paa-ede
chapel and saw a number of persons coming out. I ae
two placards, but did not go near them. I passed the
chapel the next day, and pulled up to read the placard%
One of them was the green one. There was a pl.eakt
summoning the meeting for the Sunday.
Cross-examined-1 never saw • meeting of that kin.' at
a chapel before. I don't know that Mr. De Is Poet vas
described in the Waterford Standard as a Fenian. I .;i4
not see an article on that subject. I was a partisan of*,
Talbot, and subscribed 100/. towards the expense., of the
petition. I believe Sir Edward Kennedy said that Mr. be
Li I'oer was a Fenian. To my knowledge he did not take
any very activepart in the election. I did not see anv article
in the Standard describing the entry of Mr. De la Net as
being accompanied by prostitutes and priests. I peon
heard of any proposition for arresting Mr. de la Poer as
Fenian.

The register of eleetore was then put in, and the case et
the petitioners was closed.
Mr. O'Malley, Q.C., intimated that it was not his in.
tention to call any witnesses on behalf of the sitting
member.
Mr. Harris, Q.C., having expressed his surprise at the
course adopted by his learned friend, proceeded to stua
up the evidence. He would first addrem himself to the by
of the case as applicable to election petitions, and then to
the evidence by which he proposed to bring the case withia
the strictest rules of parliamentary law. He was pr.epered
to satisfy the committee that • system of intimidation
existed such as to deter men of ordinary courage from pro.
cording to the poll. He was prepared to go still further,
and to show that that intimidation was nos confined
to a single instance of violence, but that there existed at
organised system extending to nine different parts of the
county of Waterford. And he submitted farther that that
organised and general system of violence throughout the
country was the result of the course adopted by the
friends and agents of Mr. De la Peer. The
organisation was commenced on the 15th November,
at a meeting of the bishops and clergy hell
at Dungarvan, at which resolutions were passed, adopting
Mr. be la Poer as their candidate. This was followed up by
the green placard, in which the pitch cap and triangle
were referred to in connexion with the Bereaford family,
and which placard was extensively circulated throughout
the whole county. The learned gentleman then proceeded
to analyse the evidence, contending that nine different
outrages had been proved to have occurred during the
election.

[Left speaking.]

GREAT LUXEMBURG RAILWAY.-(TRIS DAY.) II i

This day the ordinary general meeting ,)f share-
holders was held at the London Tavern ; Mr. F. &urr in
the chair.

The report having been taken as read,
The CHAIRMAN, in moving its adoption, said that it placed
distinctly before the shareholders the position of the rail.
w.iy. In explanation of the circumstance that the divi-
dend is not so good on this occasion as on the last, the
chairman referred to the disturbance to commerce pro-
duced by the !eta war, the cattle murrain, the reduction
of tariff in the government lines, and as a consequence,
on the Luxemburg line, and the increased cost of labour
The strike amongst the cabmen of Charleroi also added
to their difficulties. Those combined causes sufficed to
explain the reduction of dividend from 14s. to 12s.
With a return of tranquillity the profits would in.
crease. They all knew that there was a Lux-
emburg question pending, but whatever the result
their line must be camera of vast quantities of coal en
one side and of iron on the other. They gave instructions
that all but necessary expenditure should be stopped in
view of possible political complications. The direCtors
could only be made responsible for events that were under
their control.

Mr. Raxti, the managing director, in reply to questioes
put by shareholders, said that they were still feeling the
effects of the causes referred to in the report; and it was
beyond doubt that the state of politico on the continent
was such that the industry of Belgium was suffer.
ing great prostration therefrom. But when the cause
of uneasiness was removed the traffic on the lino
would, he believed, be greater than ever. The prospects
of the Great Luxemburg Railway were as good to-day se
they ever were. They only lowered their traffic rate to
the point which was absolutely necessary for preventing it
from going to other quarters. Every effort was made to
diminish expenditurein every possible way. The present
system of controlling the passengers' tickets in Belgium
was very bad, and the government would Le compelled to
alter it soon.

•--- ---
The report, ►fter some further discussion, was adopted.

THE TRADts Thum Cosottinanx.—A meeting
of the Trades Unions Commissioners was held yesterday,
at 1, Park-prospect, Westminster. Present :—Sir William
Erie, chairman ; the Earl of Lichfield, Lord Eleho, M.P.„
Sir Edmund W. Head, Bart. K.C.11., Sir Daniel Gooch,
Bart., M.P., Mr. Herman Montvale, C. 8., Mr. James
Booth, C. 8., Mr. J. A. Roebuck, 44. C., M.P., Mr. Thomas
Hinges, M.l'., Mr. Frederic Hamm), and Mr. William
Matthews. Mr. J. H. Patteson, secretary to the commis.
Mon, was also present.

THE BUILDING TRADE.—The joiners and quarry-
men in Barnsley and neighbourhood have struck work
for an advance of wages and a reduction in the hours of
labour. For a considerable time the question of wages
and hours of labour has been under discussion, and some
few months ago the committees of both trades laid before
the masters their grievances, and ultimately notices were
delivered by the men to the effect that on and after the
Ist of April the joiners would require Is. per week ad-
vance and a reduction of one hour per day—viz., from tin
to nine hours—while the quarrymen required an advance
of 2s. per week. The masters held several meetings to
consider the demands of their workmen, and with regard
to the joiners' they agreed to give the extra Is. per week
hut declined to concede any reduction in the hours of
labour ; with regard to the quarrymen, it was agreed to
advance their wages Is. per week. The latter class of
workmen held a meeting on Monday evening at the Griffin
Inn, when it was resolved not to commence work spin
until their demands had bean oomplied with. The wages
of the joiners at present vary from 225. to 275. her week,
and those of the quarrymen from 21s. to 245.
Nsw Doc le.—Early in February we gave an
Account of the extensive docks which are now in coarse of
construction, and rapidly approaching completion, at Mills
wall. These extensive works, which. with the quays end
warehouses in the vicinity, will occupy something like ISO
acres, lie south of the Wert India Docks, and have berm
built so SA to make it easy at any time for the promoters of
the company by which the undertaking has been projected
to form a junction with the West India system. Themes*
southern portion of the basins of the latter is separated by
a very small interval from the most northern point of the
new works, and even that is now being gradually dimi.
Dished. Excavations have been commeneol under the
direction of Mr. Hawkshaw, the engineer, to form a new
basin on the south of the West India hocks. This:L.l,lWe,
to the almost uninterrupted succession of water basins cow
existing in the Isle of Dogs will occupy 24 acres, and his
been projected principally for the reception of East India
products, such as jute, seed, saltpetre. and cotton. It will
At the same time afford equal facilities for ships outwird
bound to ship their cargoes, and will form a most important
link in the chain of communication by water, which will,
in a very few years, make the Isle of Logs for ships what
Clapham Junction is for railway trains. When all the
projected plans are carried out it will be practicable for a
vessel to go from the most southern point of the 31il1s,d1
Docks to the most northern point of the West India, And
to use something like half a dozen means of ingress and
egress to and from the river.—Tinges.
THE HEALTH OF LoNDON.—It appears from the
return issued by authority of the Registrar-Gemmel
that in the week that ended on Saturday, March 30.
the births registered in London anal twelve other
large towns of the United Kingdom were 5,401 ; the
deaths registered, 3,451. The lannual rate of mortality
WS/ 29 per 1,000 persons living. In London the ths of
1,254 boys and 1,235 girls, in all 2,48 N children. were
registered in the week. In the corresponding 'GOO
of ten years, 1857-66, the average number. corrected for
increase of population, is 2,206. The deaths registend is
London during the week were 1,601. It was the thirteenth
week of the year ; and the average number of deaths for
the week is, with a correction for increase of I'oPuh"i'l4
1,59 d. The deaths in thepresent return slightly exceed the
estimated number. The number of deaths decreased from
1,731 registered In the week which ended March W
1,691 last week. In the same period the deaths from
otic diseases fell from 289 to 270 : the deaths from
disease of the respiratory organs from 434 to 3a7
the deaths f rem diseases of the brain and nervous system
from 200 to 180. Thirty-seven deaths occurred from
small-
ppoos;, 21 from measles, 18 from scarlatina, 67 from who*"
tag-cough, 42 from typhus, and 12 from diarrhow. Two
deaths from horse or carriage accidents were registered.
AMIDENT AND 1,088 OF Five Lives IN A
CORNISH MINIL—The Cornish Telegraph of yesterday re'
ports a shocking accident which occurred on Monday in
the North Levant Mine, St. Just. While some stoping wag
going on in the direction of an adjoining unused mine (the
Ohl Maitland) water broke through, and speedily gained"'
force that several workings became filled, and five poor
fellows were either drowned or crushed to death by the
debris. The damage done to the mine itself is bait trifling.
and • portion of it only will be excluded from operatives.
and that, it is believed, but for a few lays only.