The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-13 00:00:00

THE CONFERENCE AGAIN.

Who, exclaims the Times, upon hearing the re-
sults of the late French debates on the Roman question,
could ever have thought that the Emperor's government
would go back to its scheme of a European conference on
the subject? The Emperor Napoleon has overstepped at
one bound all that constitutes the groundwork of modern
society, and weds himself to the priestly government for
better for worse. A reconciliation between the Pope and
Italy, as no one should know so well as himself, is only
to be abtoined on one condition—that of leaving the
parties to settle the difference between themselves.
Whether her friendship be worth having or not, it is clear
that France must make her peace with Italy as she best
can. No European mediation can do good in the matter.
Were it even in our power to act, we could not blind our-
selves to the fact that we were at first invited to the con-
ference on false pretences. and are now solicited to attend
it on not even the shadow of • pretence. We were first
waked to deliberate upon no intelligible basis ; we are now
expected to discuss • point already settled. Should the
invitation be renewed, we trust Lord Stanley can say
"Never" as positively as M. Rouber, and stand on his
"Non Possumus" as firmly as Cardinal A.ntonelli.

Assuming Pan-Anglicanism to be more than en epis-
copal dream, the Daily News takes account of it, and indi-
cates its leading ideas and objects. With regard to the civil
power, the Pan-Anglican scheme is to leave to" spiritual"
persons of the highest order of the hierarchy, gathered
from all parts of the earth, the task of defining the doc-
trine of the whole Anglican communion. With these means
they seek to effect union with churches notoriously and
obstinattlyoorrupt—removing the name of protestant from
their public acts and saying nothing which the head of the
Roman church in this country has not been able to accept.
Information more direct is supplied just at this conjunc-
ture by the Bishop of Brechin, a member of the
Lambeth conference, in an elaborate and learned work
on the Thirty-nine Articles. These articles, the bishop
says, must be read with the gloss of " antecedent grace and
preconceived notion." What conclusions the bishop ar-
rives at from these premise. the Daily News proceeds to
show. In one place he entirely puts aside the doctrine that
the Holy Scriptures are the only authority in matters of
faith, and the right of private judgment. Perhaps, how-
ever, the bishop's ingenuity is more strikingly displayed in
his remarks upon the article, which condemns the
errors of the church of Rome. This the bishop disposes
of with the assertion that the article refers to individuals
in the church of Rome, and not to the church Waif. How
false is this interpretation, Nays the Daily News, the
articles themselves show, several of them being directed
against errors which every Romish priest is bound to accept
and swear to as parts of the catholic faith, without which
no one can be saved. The fact that Pan-Anglicanism
gives persons in the position of Bishop Forbes
• new status renders this episcopal explanation of the
Thirty-nine Articles deserving of notice, though it will not
recommend probably the extension of the bishops' autho-
rity to the English public as the best means of arresting
the spread of doctrinal error in the church.

The Time: rung over the various opinions expressed at
the conference on the Irish church last Tuesday, and adds:
Can these gentlemen be really of opinion they are assisting
this government, or any other government likely to take
its place, in the settlement of this question ? They have
only succeeded in exhibiting to the British public some of
its very great difficulties, and in so doing have simply been
playing into the hands of the establishment. If the object
was to absorb or overpower all other utterances with one
terrific blast of ultra-voluntaryism, it has not been gained.
The " fugle" which was to put the whole thinking popula-
tion of these islands into one mighty column has not been
heard beyond the walls of the City Terminus Hotel, and
even there only in combination with other discordant
sounds.

The Star congratulates the Liberation Society on having
procured from an assembly unusually comprehensive in
its constitution declarations on the subject of the Irish
church which will be found hereafter to embody the policy
of " Thorough," which is to he that of the liberal party.
It trusts the country at large will thoroughly appreciate
and retain in mind Mr. Kiall's remark in closing the con-
ference, that the man who raises at this juncture the ques-
tion how the property of the church is to be made use of
is either a staunch friend of the Establishment or • very
lukewarm advocate of its abolition,

The Telegraph is not quits mire that the Liberation
Society is the beet corps to lead the vain in the coming at-
tack upon the high church. Simple abolition would com-
pel us to withdraw the 40,0001, a year from the Presbyterian
clergy, but to this endowment the Telegraph believes the
loyalty of the presbyterians is in a great measure due and
parliament will not fail to ask whether it is wise to cut
asunder the tie. This, however, would be one of the
consequences if we adopted the principles of the Liberation

Society. _
The Herald does not profess to regret Dr. Newman's ab-
sence from Oxford. His character, his name, his real
learning, hie English spirit and views, might have made
him a dangerous missionary. Dr. Manning may entice or
bewilder women ; Dr. Newman world be capable of con-
vincing intelligent and thoughtful men. And, therefore,
it may be well for Oxford that Dr. Newman should not go
there as the head of a Roman catholic mission. But that
Rome and Dr. Manning should refuse to send bim there,
is indeed a marvellous evidence either of petty jealousy or
of stupid blindness, or of both combined.

)t8 TOPICS.

The Daily News denounoes the contract which the
government has entered into with the Canard Company to
carry the mails to the United States. The heavily-sub-
sidised Cunard boats, which are visited by no penalty for
exceeding their time, have been beaten by the Inman's
boats, which only receive the sea postage, and are liable to
penalties for exceeding their time. By this arrangement
the government does its beet to deprive Oaf country of the
advantages it has a right to expect from the healthful com-
petition of the companies.
In the matter of students' lodgings at Oxford, the
Times places more reliance on personal influence than on
merely material and formal protection. A score or two
men in lodging-hours, occasionally visited by a tutor who
really cares for them, may bo safely backed against the
same number left very much to themselves within college
walls. But granting that walls are good for something,
and that the superintendence will be liable to shortcoming
and failure outside the college as well as inside, our con-
temporary submits that the want is great, the pressure
likely to increase, and that the universities themselves
witness against themselves as to their present insufficiency,
not to any inefficiency.
The Post supports the recommendation of the select
committee on fire protection that inquiries be made into
the care of fires. In the case of a wreck at sea the Board
of Trade orders an investigation as a matter of course, not
with the object of implicating any person, but in order to
discover the cause of the disaster, whatever it may have
been, for the warning and guidance of other navigators.
The greatest benefit has confessedly arisen from these in-
vestigations, and there is every reason why the power of
making them should be extended to eases of fire ashore.
The Standend appears to have been left in the dark as to
the intention of prohibiting the Fenian processions, for it
states this morning that the Irish government acted very
judiciously in making no attempt to prevent the proces-
sions of the last two Sundays. It thinks, however, they
should be prohibited in Belfast, Liverpool, and Glasgow,
where counter demonstrations are to be apprehended. The
processions at Cork, Limerick, and Dublin, were compara-
tively barmier, not because the mass of the population in
those town, is Fenian, or would do anything to promote
the objects of the conspiracy, but because it sympathises
with every person who breaks the law and suffers for so
doing.

Cite Court.

WINDSOR CASTLE, Dzo. 12.

The Queen drove out yesterday afternoon,
accompanied by Princess Louise, and her Majesty drove
out this morning, accompanied by Princess Louise and
Princess Beatrice, and attended by the Hon. Flora Mac.
donald.
Prince and Princess Christian and Princess Henrietta
of Schleswig Holstein dined with sbe Queen yesterday.
The Hon. Mrs. Bruce has left the Castle.
Sir James Clark has arrived at the Castle.

Prince and Princess Christian and Princess Henrietta
of Schleswig Holstein visited the Duke of Nemoun at
Bushey-park on Wednesday.
Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office from the Governors of Malta, Gibraltar, and the
Governor-General of Canada. Despatches were sent to the
Governor-General of Canada.

The lords present at yesterday's sitting of the Judicial
Committee of the Privy Council were the Master of
the Rolls, Sir James W. Colvile, Sir R. V. Wil"ama,
Sir R. T. Kinder,ley, and Sir Lawrence Peel.
A deputation, consisting of Mr. James Roberts and Mr.
James Hartley (Burnley Union), Mr. James Butterworth,
Mr. James Schofield, and Mr. John Holgate (Rochdale
Union), Mr. Thomas Owen and Mr. H. J. Hugger (Liver-
pool select vestry), Mr. James Grant (Lanouter Union),
and Mr. Robert Houghton and Mr. Thomas Kirkpatrick
(Leigh Union), had an interview with the Earl of Devon,
at the office of the Poor-law Board, yesterday.

Prince and Princess Christian and Princess Hen.
riette of Schleswig-Holstein visited the Duke of Nemours,
at Bushey Perk, on Wednesday.

The Duke of Richmond left town yesterday for
Goodwood Park, Sulam

The Marquis and Marchioness of Ailesbury,
Mafia Marchioness of Ailesbury, and a select party, are
visiting Mr. and Lady Augusta Sturt, at Critchill, Win.
borne.

The Earl and Countess Spencer left Spencer
House, St. James's, yesterday, for Althorp Park.
The Earl and Countess of Fife have arrived at
Cannes, south of France, where her ladyship Ims been
ordered for her health. The countess is aocompanied by
Lady Agnes Duff.

Lord Willoughby de Ereaby entertained at Grime-
thorpe last week for cover shooting Lord Aveland, Colonel
the Hon. Hugh Annesloy, Captain Digby Boycott, Captain
Baakerville, Mr. Heathoote, &c.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Camden and
Lord and Lady de Roe have arrived at the Hotel Bristol
from 1•012d011, on their way to the South of France.
The mortal remains of the late Colonel the Hon.
Henry C. Lowther, ?LP., were removed from Barley-
thorpo Hall, Rutlandehire, to Lowther Castle, in the early
part of the week. The funeral will take place to-day.

_ .
The Lord' Lieutenant of Ireland has approved
of the appointrcent of Mr. C. C. Vasey, to be a deputy-
lieutenant for the county of Dablin, in the room of the
Right lion. Lord Cloneurry, resigned.

The Professorship of Divinity in Gresham Col-
lege, which became vacant a few weeks mince by the death
of the Rev. H. J. Parker, M.A., has been conferred on the
Rev. John William Burgon, M.A., fellow of Oriel College,
and vicar of St. Mary's, Oxford.

A Paris letter of Wednesday says :—" Last
night the new minister for home affairs gave hie jest oH.
chd reception. It would have been, no doubt, attended
by all official Paris, but the weather was decidedly in oppo-
sition. A sort of sleet was falling all night, and freezing
as it fell, and the effect was that nobody dared have their
bones out. Dozens of cabs were left in the streets and
the horses led home ; there were no private carriages out
at all, and pedestrians fell like ninepins before a good
player. It was not pleasant, but I must say it was laugh-
able. Two politicians, for instance, were traversing the
court-yard of the Hotel of Home Affairs, and were in deep
consultation—suddenly they both fell to the ground as I if
struck by apoplexy. A dapper little deputy was running
away under cover of a joke which be lad just fired off,
down he went, and off came his hat and wig. It was an
impossible night. To-day it has taken to thawing, and is
as nasty as can be, only not so cold."

The committee of the Paris Skating Club have
notified to their patronesses that a uniform costume would
have an admirable effect on the surface of the lake. The
following costume hat been proposed :—The dress, paletOt,
and knickerbockers are to be of dark velvet trimmed with
sable, the toque to match. Chinchilla fur, if the costume
be of black velvet, grebe if it be of crimson velvet, and
sable if of Metternich green, whatever that shade may be.
Madame Rattszzi, wife of the ex-Minister of Italy, better
known in Paris as Princess de Solm, is to appear as Queen
of the Ice in a Polish costume of black velvet, lined with
violet satin and trimmed with chinchilla, which costume
that spirituelle lady purchased for 2,000 fr. at the Univer-
sal Exhibition.

Mr. George Grove continues to appeal for sub-
scriptions towards the exploration of Jerusalem and the
" recovery of the holy city."

The reports of the artisans selected by the
Council of the Society of Arta to visit the Paris Exhibition
are now in the prem, sad will be published in s few days.