The Express.
London, England, 1867-02-26 00:00:00

the Court.

WINDSOR CASTLE, FEL 2S.
The Queen and Princesa Louise walked and rode
on ponies in the grounds this morning.
Princess Christian wcut out walking, attended by the
Duchess of Roxhurgbe.
Princess Beatrice rode in the Home-park, and Prince
Leopold took a carriage drive.
Prince Christian, attended by Lieutenant-Oolonel
Gordon, wont to London this morning.
Lieutenant-Colonel G. Gordon arrived at the Castle
yesterday.
Sir James Clark has left the Castle.

The Prince of Wales rode on horseback yesterday morn-
ing, attended by Major Teesdale.
His Royal Highness was present at the debate in the
House of Common* in the evening.
The Queen will hold a Council this (Tuesday) afternoon,
at Windsor Castle, at a quarter before 3 o'clock.
Mr. Lennon Hunt had an interview with Lord Stanley
at the Foreign-office yesterday.
A Committee of the Lords of her Majesty's Most Honour-
able Privy Council sat yesterday, at Whitehall, on the
subject of the cattle plague. The Lord. present were—
The Lord President and the Right Hon. E. Hammond.
Mr. Helps attended the committee.
Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-office
from the Governors of the North American Provinces,
British Columbia, Gibraltar, and Malta.

- - - -
THE PRINCESS OF WALES.-(THIS DAY.)

In consequence of the rheumatic affection having
become localised in one joint, Mr. Paget was yesterday
requested to see the Princess of Wales.

The following bulletin has been issued this morning :
" MARLBOROUGH HOUSE, Pam 26, 11 Lig.

" The poeml condition of her Royal Highness the
Princess of Wales continues to improve daily. The local
pain has diminished during the last two or three days.
" The infant princess is well.
" Another bulletin will be issued in the afternoon on
Thursday, the flith inst.
" ARTHUR FARCE, M.D. W. JRITNER, M.D.
" JAMES PAGET. E. H. Stsvicuatc, M.D."

We are authorised to state that the lists for al
the corn tato be held by the Queen at Buckingham
Palace this season have now been completed.
The Countess of Shaftesbury has issued invita-
tions for an evening par ty on Friday next, in Grosvenor
square.

The Countess of Dudley had a dancing party
last night at Dudley HOW!, Park-lane, at which • select
and distinguished company met.

The Earl of Westmorland and the Hon. Mr. and
Mrs: Hamilton have left the St. George's HoteL

Vice-Admiral the Hon. Sir- Henry Keppel,
K.C.8., proceeded yesterday to Windsor Castle on • visit
to her Majesty "to take leave," and leaves to-day for
Paris with his stair, on his way to China, to assume his
important command.

Mrs. W. E. Gladstone has issued cards for re-
ceptions for to-morrow night and on the 13th of March, at
tho family residence on Carlton-house-terrace.

Lord Henry Cholmondely has sold his beautiful
seat at Holly-hill, in Hants, for 20,0001. His lordship has
been a most serious loser by the cattle plague, through his
having generously home a large share of the losses of his
tenantry from that malady.

On entering Westminster Hall yesterday after-
noon Lord Russell was greeted with repeated cheers, with
waving of h►ts. Mr. Villiers, the late President of the
Poor-law Board, and Lord Clarendon entered together, and
they had nearly reached the door before they were recog-
nised and cheered. Mr. Lowe, accompanied by a friend.
was followed down the Yard into Westminster Hall He
had scarcely pared through the doorway when some
voluntary usher shouted out, in a tone loud enough to be
heard a considerable distance, " Mr. Lowe." Thom next
the door cheered him, then some hissed, and some few
yelled. Shortly a carriage passed through the yard toward
the carriage entrance, followed not only by those at the
top, but by a large number from the hall, and loud cheers
and waving of hats were given in greeting of Mr. Glad-
stone, whose carriage disappeared within the archway be-
fore he had time to return any acknowledgment.
A letter from Paris says :—" The forward state
of everything in the vegetable kingdom is most remark-
able this year. Everywhere under the influence of a really
spring temperature plants are springing up, fruit and
other trees are putting forth their buds, and the ineadows
already wear a verdant aspect. In the gardens of Paris
and the environs peaches and apricots are in flower ; the
weeping willows and other trees which adorn the vicinity
of the Pont Neuf and the banks of the Seine adjacent to
the capital are very forward, and lilacs, if the present
mild weather continues, will shortly be in full bloom.
Owing to this singularly advanced state of vegetation the
famous chestnut tree in the gardens of the Tuileries,
which is expected to bloom about the 20th of March, is
nearly a month in advance, and every day attracts the ob-
servation of many who are curious in such matters to the
well-known spot occupied by this famous tree. Even the
chestnut trees which have been transplanted to the park
of the Universal Exhibition exhibit the same degree of
precocity as that to which I have just referred."

The -Association of the Lyons Weavers has just
received au official order for the supply of silk for the
Emperor sod &sprees to the amount of 140,0001 r.

LATEST INTELLIG Mit&
t PIE POPE'S ALLOCUTIO/Ss
The folloiring is the allocution which the Poi
addressed to the consistory on the 22nd inst.
Venerable Brethren,—The love of Christ urging upon
us the duty of inquiring why so many dioceses had been
left vacant in Italy, we sent an autograph letter in the
month of March, 1565, to the Most Serene King of Italy,
asking him to send to us some person with whom
we could treat on such a serious subject. When be
acceded to our wishes, negotiations were renewed, but,
through no fault of outs certainly, they came to no result.
They did not fulfil our desire, although, moved by an
ardent solicitude for the salvation of souls, to which the
Holy See has always given priority in all things, wc con-
descended to invite these negotiations. The matter was re-
cently taken up at the desire of those who are masters of
affairs in Italy. But it is impossible for us, venerable
brethren, to treat of this subject without expressing pro-
found sorrow and bitter grief. The holy prelate■ whom
we are about to send to the vacant sees will not only find
the ecclesiastical treasuries ruined but they will absolutely
find themselves in want of their crdinary means of sup-
port ; and what is still worse they will find the stones of
the sanctuary scattered, the asylums of religious perfec-
tion deserted, the inmates of the cloisters reduced to
utter destitution, and the holy virgins expelled from the
religious edifices where with the help of God they had re-
tired to live and die on the kisses of the heavenly Spouse.
It is sad and painful to send bishops tench sees especially
ins crisis of public affairs like the present. But what is
to be done ? Give up the project for these reasons ?
No. These labourers will return to the vine
planted by God and watered with the blood of
his Son relying on the Almighty's aid ; they will
proceed to their work confident in the protection of the
mother of God, who can powerfully assist them. It is
she, indeed, the true seat of wisdom, who with her in-
spiration aiding the efforts of the pastors, will bring to
them, in her quality of refuge of sinners, great numbers
of wandering souls. Comforter of the afflicted she will
assuage though them the sufferings of the wretched ; pro-
tectress of Christians she will bring back to the pastors the
respect and filial affection of the people, and thus in the
docility and love of the flock they will find relief from
the weight of their onerous functions as well as consola-
tion in the contest they will have to sustain against the
enemies of God and the powers of darkness, who are
endeavouring to seize the whole field of the Gospel
in order to make it a desolate abode. There-
fore amongst the new bishops we shall provisionally name
some who belong to Italy, having confidence that in
future oonsistories we will have an opportunity of pre,
coniaing others and others still, if the judgments of men,
who live according to the exigencies of the time, will
harmonise with ours especially in what concerns the elec-
tion of individuals. It would not be opportune to say
more in the present state of things; but the future,
unless the justice of the Almighty brings about a
change, is but too clearly indicated by the past
series of most distressing events. Still we must have con-
fidence in God, who, in concert with the immaculate virgin
and the holy apostles, has, in so striking a manner, pro-
tected us beneath the shadow of his wings ; and who, in
the end (such at least is oar hope), will change our sorrow
into joy. Let us endeavour, venerable brethren, to hasten
and to ripen this result, so desired in our prayers, by the
concord of our souls and the exercise of every Christian
virtue.