The Express.
London, England, 1867-11-25 00:00:00

Slabal an Military.

Wootwwn, Nov. 24.—1 n consequence of the
Fenian rumours which have been prevalent in this locality
the most active measures of a precautionary nature have been
taken by the authorities. All the police have been prac-
tising cutlass drill, and those engaged at the public esta-
blishments are to wear 'their cutlasses when on duty,
having strict injunctions never to patrol out of sight
of each other. The workmen employed at the dockyard
have commenced leaving off work at four o'clock, and will
continue to do so until the end of the year.
ADMIRALTY. Noy. 23. —APPOINTMENT:I. —Cap-
lain Sir Malcolm MacGregor, Bart., to the Danae, oommis-
mooed, Captain Cecil W. Buckley's appointment having
been cancelled ; Sub-Lieutenant Lionel de Saumares, to
the Myrmidon ; Navigating Lieutenant Edward C. Ball,
additional, to the Tralgar, for service in the moat guard;
Navel Cadet nominated, Edward J. H. Synge ; Surgeons
John F. Mitchell, to the Dense ; Janus A. Skase, to the
Asia, iu of an assistant-surgeon ; John H. Houston,
••&Ming assistant," to the Dame ; and Fint.class
Asais-
tcnt Engineer Edward Barrett, additional, to the Irre-
sistible.

The annual report of the progress of musketry
instruction in the army, prepared by Lieut.-General C.
Hay inspector general of musketry, for the information of
his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding-in-
Chief, has been sent to the different military stations and
garrisons by the Adjutant-General at headquarters.

BEITIsH RECRUITS TOR THE POPE.—To Scot-
land belongs the honour of sending from the United King-
dom the first body of men as volunteers for the army of his
Holiness during the present war against the Sea of Peter.
Fifty Highlanders, commanded by Major Gordon (formerly
major in one of our Highland regiments), passed through
London on Monday last, and are by this time near the
Holy City. A finer set of young fellows it has rarely been
our lot to see. Forty-seveu of the number were upwards
of six feet high ; the youngest of them appeared to be
about 20, the oldest not more than 28. They are all
catholic*, and of various ranks in life, but mostly the acne
of farmers in the western Hilt anhi. They are accom-
panied by their leader, who will take service under his
Holiness, and by • priest from their own country. The
whole affair has been quietly but exceedingly well
managed, and we hope the example thus set will soon be
followed by English as well as Irish catholic,.— If
itswistu. er.
ENOL:•4I CONVERTS TO Ro3ol.—We learn with
no small pleasure that during the past week several eon-
Into of note have been formally received into the catholic
aunt. One of them is a well-known curate of a still better
known ritualistic incumbent of the Anglican establishment'
in the west of England. Another is the lady Superior of
MI Anglican sisterhood in the same neighbourhood. A'
third is an Oxford undergraduate, who was preparing for'
orders in the English church. AU these are, or rather ,
were, of the ultra-ritualistic school, and the very strongest
measures have been resorted in more than one instance to
prevent the parties carrying out their intentions. Being
strong we are merciful, but we could unfold a tale most dis-
creditable to two, if not three, ritualistic clergymen in
connexion with ithese conversions. It is curious to see
bow angry men get when their hearers follow out the logic
of their teaching.— Week/ g iteniger.

DEATH OF A CENTENARIAN.-31r.W. Plank, the
oldest member of the Salters' Company, died on Wednes-
day last, at his residence, at Harrow, after a few days'
Dines' of inflammation f the lungs. He attained his
hundredth birthday twelve days before his death. He had
bean an inhabitant of Harrow, occupying the same house,
Ifty-six years. He (was the son of James and Hannah
Plank, of Wandsworth, Surrey, where he was born, Nov.
7th 1767. For a year (viz., in 1780) he was a schoolfellow
of the late Lord Lyndhurst. They were at the school of
Mr. W. Franks, of Clapham. Mr. Plank left in 1781,
leaving young Copley still at the school. Mr. Plank was
originally intended for commercial pursuits, and was
bound apprentice at Salters' Hall on the' od March, 1782,1
to his elder brother, a calico printer, and a member of the
Setters' Company. He was admitted to the freedom and I
Seery of the company and the City on the 20th October, I
1799. He had the use of all his faculties except that of
sight, up to the time of his death.— City Prem.
THE DEFAULTING LIVERPOOL SOLICITOR.—A
point of some interest has been raised with respect to the ,
affairs of Mr. Stockley, the Liverpool solicitor who
absconded recently, being a defaulter to the extent of
40.0001. and upwards. It appears there is standing to his
credit at the North and South Wales Bank, Liverpool, the
111101 of ::,ood/. After the adjudication of the bankruptcy
this amount was claimed on behalf of the creditors by Mr.
Turner, the official assignee, while on the other hand the
bank manager was served with notices on the part of a Mr.
Trougbton, mid the bankrupt's own firm, that the money
must not be paid to any one without their consent, as they
had claims upon it, 9001. being trust money. The matter
was brought before the Liverpool commissioner on Friday,
and he expressed his opinion that the official assignee
ought to deposit the amount in the Bank of England, but
said he would give a final decision on Monday (to-day).
The first meeting of creditors has been tired for December
6th. It is stated that Mr. Stockley's liabilities considerably
exceed 4thinsd/.; that one of the creditors, a widow of 81, bad
1,400/. (all her means) in his hands ; that another widow
(cousin of the lunkrupt) entrusted hire with 1,008. ; a
third with 1,300/. ; a Liverpool tradesman with 2,000/. ;
end be had moneys of three reparste trusts to the extent
of 4,5001., 3,0001., and 9,0001. respectively.

CRUELTY TO Agiataur.—For some time past
very flagrant instances of cru.lty to horses have been wit•
awed upon the difficult end trying road leading from
Poole in liontetehire to the rapidly increasing watering-
place, Bournemouth. In consequence of the great com-
plaints which have been made as to thin inhuman treat-
ment, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Anindds have, in • praiseworthy wanner, determined to
take the moat effectual steps for remed)ing the evil. At
the Poole petty seraions, on Thursday, before the mayor
(14r. J. Wood) and • full bench, a considerable number
of persons were sunnuoned for cruelly ill-treating hoNes.
Mr. Abrams., instructed by the Z'tociety for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals, attended td prosecute. In moot
eases there were convictions and tine..

THE no/ RATING SYSTEM.—The new evetem of
personal payment of poor rate meets with very great oppo-
sition at Norwich, w►ere it is, in fact, the topic of the day.
A meeting was held on the subject at Norwich on Friday
evening, and a vigorous agit.,tion is being commenced in
the town splint the inequalities of the poor-rate system
generally.