The Express.
London, England, 1867-10-08 00:00:00

EARL RUSSELL ON IRISH POLICY.

The Northern Whig publishes the following coy-
respo?desos .
To THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL RIIRRELL.
"MT Lord,—A Lumber of gentlemen of Belfast and Ito
neighbourhood are desirous of offering to your lordship •
public banquet. They feel grateful for the many public
services your lordship has rendered during • long, most
oonsistent, and illustrious career; some of them remember
your lordship's last visit to Belfast, in 1833, and wish to
take part in • similar testimony of esteem. They know, as
your lordship has expressed in • recent letter, that there
are great Irish questions demanding the immediate atten-
tion of the legislature ; and they consider that an ex-
pression of your lordship's views in regard to them could
not but have • powerful effect in guiding public opinion.
The gentlemen who now address your lordship leave it to
lourself to suggest the manner most convenient to your
ordship in which • deputation could be received on the
subject. As chairman of the meeting at which the fore-
going was resolved on, I have the honour to subscribe my-
self your lordship's most obedient servant,
" Belfast, Oct. 3, 1867." " THOMLB M'CLVRE.

" TO THOMAR M'CLURL, ESQ.
" Sir,—lt is with great satisfaction, and, I hope, no un-
becoming pride, that I receive from you the information
that a number of gentlemen of Belfast and its neighbour.
hood are desirous of offering me a public banquet. After
Imo long a political career as mine has been it is a great
satisfaction to find that men whose character, station,
abilities, and public principles I deeply respect, are willing
now, as they and their predecessors were willing in 1833,
to give me a testimony of their esteem. But circumstances
connected with private engagements and with public duties
do not allow me so remain in Belfast any longer. The great
Irish questions demanding the immediate attention of the
legislature require to be further examined and discussed
before they Can assume a shape in which they can be adopted
by parliament. One of these questions—the great ques-
tion of education—is about to be sifted and reviewed by a
commission ' • and with regard to all of them, it is the
conviction of the moat enlightened men, both in Great
Britain and in Ireland, that they can only be effectually
dealt with by ministers acting under the authority and
posse sing the confidence of the crown. With regard to
the administration of the existing laws, I am satisfied that
those laws will he, as they hays been, firmly and impar-
tially administered by the present executive government.
I could have nothing further to say on this head. The
Lord Lieutenant has too recently received the marks of ap-
probation he so well deserves to allow me to doubt the
sentiments of Belfast upon this subject. I must request
you, as chairman of the meeting, to accept my thanks for
your communication, and you will allow me to add that I
hope you and your friends may witness every year the pro-
greasive prosperity of Belfast. —I have the honour to be
your faithful and obedient servant,
" Clandeboye. Oct. 4, 1867." " Rusari.r..

Admiral Farragut is expected in the Mersey
shortly, and it is said that a hearty reception will be given
there to the gallant officer.

It is stated that Baron von Beset will pay a
visit to this country towards the close of the month.

The Herald says of the new minister to the
United Stales:—" Mr. Thornton has quite recently received
the appointment of minister at Lisbon, but in consequence
of the sudden death of Sir Frederic Bruce, his destination
has been changed. Mr. Thornton's ability as a diplomatist
has been thoroughly well tested in the missions which he
has successively discharged in Uruguay, the ♦rgentine
Confederation, and Brazil. The services he has zeodered
extend ore, a long series of years, and in each post that be
has filled he has succeeded in gaining not only the entire
confidence of the Foreign-office, but the respect and
esteem of she different governments to which he has been
accredited."

M. Fould had five or six horses engaged in the
Paris races on Sunday, which were, of course, amok out ;
be had also a large training establishment at Chantilly, as
he lately bought the stables formerly occupied by the late
Duke de Moray, and also a large training establishment at
Ibos, near Tarbes, and a very extensive hero/ at Tarbes.
M. A. Foold was one of the most popular member, of the
French turf.

It has already been stated that the papers of M.
Ker►try respecting Mexican affairs which have appeared in
the Rerue Conternporasne are to be published in Germany,
with additions which it was not practical to give in the
French periodical. Some of the new document, are printed
in the hodt,pendasee of yesterday. One of them is a letter
from General Prim to his uncle in Mexico, in which the
Spanish commander speaks of " that humbug M. Bil-
!suit," an epigram for the status lately erected to that
statesman which is not likely to be made use of.
Another document consists of a letter to a member of the
English parliament by one of the confidential advisers of
Maximilian. Another is given by M. de Xeratry to show
that Maximilian was as much responsible as Bazaine for
the fatal decree condemning prisoners of war to death.

The Manchester branch of the Society for the
Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts held its annual
meeting in the Free Trade Hall, last night, under the pre-
sidency of the Mayor. The Bishops of New Zealand and
Ontario were present, and addressed the meeting, and other
clergymen and laymen took part in the proceedings,
The Birmingham papers report tho suicide of a
girl of 14 in that town, named Anna M►ria Payn, because
a butcher's boy about her own age would not accept her as
his " sweetheart."