The Express.
London, England, 1867-05-20 00:00:00

HAYMARKET.

TRIG sillnne, DE Wrens. Compton sod
Tanen, tc. ; Mrs. Iritswllilam, Ac.—A WILD GOOSIL Ileum
&them Iluclunone, Howe, slows, Gordon, Re. ; Mesdames
Barks, Chippendale, WH, laws, te.—And FAMILY JAILS.

.!.W.Cll,l‘

TUN EnvWin. ANTONY AipCIL:iOPATRA Antony, Mr. H.
Lnrdnr EaobvMu, Yr. C. Volum; Channian, M 1 Pao ; sat
filieopatra, Miu filyn.

LYCEr V.

THIS Emir Mr. Plies and Wu
Kate Ithhop. O JKWM MOTTO. lir. Pechter. Meters.
Binary. Widdicomb, Jordan. Price, hc. Massa Ilsworthy, 'len-
sed% Grattan, and Carlotta Locking.

UTW!D.

'Evrervo. WAITINGiORWIE UNDERGROUND.—THE
LITTLE SAVAGE. —PYGSIALION ; OR. THE STATUE FAIR
Mews Thorne, lames, etc. ; Mesdames Parsaborongh, Raynhouu,
Harlacid,Juhastoue,rt Holt.—And THE FRENCH YXIII.IIITION.

HOLBORN_

Tine ItYrimio, NY TURN la/T. Mr. Behoove: Weer
toot* and Lennot.—And FLYING SCUD. Marrs Neville, Bel-
abor% Blake, ToWire, otc. Meediunee T. Jeeepba, C. Ssondere,
Deed* Foote, Blades, Lasso; eapsood, ea,

BISTAN/fTA.

TEM T:vrirrao, THE 9TlA;lii6t:l7 Or IRELAND. Mrs. 8.
Lane—THE VOLITNTEERB. 11r. Bigwood and Idles R. Edwin.
—And THE OLU MAID LN Till WLEDING-RILIST. Mon 8.
Mlles &J. Covens,.

ITIOH NAT= AT LONDON DAMON.
TWIN DAY —Morning, SL fna Afternoon. 3h. fan.
110-NLOAAON-11 °ening, 3h. Wm..— „Afternoon, Mt 6641.

LONDON, MONDAY, MAY 20.

THE Report of the Royal Commission on Rail-
ways might be welcomed as a meet opportune
production if it dealt more particularly with the
questions that at present interest the railway world.
The worst fault of the report is that it is in no
small degree out of date. It deals with railways
as they existed a year or so ago, and necessarily
treats but incidentally upon those matters that
have prominently risen into public notice ; but,
as will be hereafter seen, the most important of
these points attracted attention even in the
earlier stages of railway enterprise.
The first thing that strikes the reader is the
incessant interference of Parliament in everything
connected with railways. The whole of the first
part of the Report—extending over 27 pages, with
the exception of a few lines—a great deal of the
second, and some of the third, are devoted to an
elaborate review of the legislation on this subject,
beginning from the year 1801. The Committee
state in the outset that " the railway system of
" this country had its origin in the enterprise of
" individuals," and that " their efforts were not
" fostered by the legislature= objects of national
" concern." In this manner due respect was
paid to precedent. The policy followed with
regard to canals for half a century before was
again repeated. But if Parliament did not choose
to =slat in developing railways they were deter-
mined to have at least some voice in the matter.
A series of Acta have consequently been passed
regulating rates, traffic, and nearly everything
else, amending previous regulations, enacting new
ones, and so on, until the number is interminable.
As a rule these restrictions have proved either in-
jurious or useless. Occasionally, some valuable
propositions have been made, but from some
fatality they seem to have been disregarded.
In 1866 an Act was passed to compel cer-
tain declarations before justices of the peace,
and so forth, according to which mortgage debts
are to be specified. It is desirable to know
what are the mortgage debts specified. Certainly
they are not debentures. According to some deci-
sions in the law courts--that of Lord CAIRNS in
particular—it practically appears that a railway
company cannot mortgage its property. The re-
pult is that debenture holders who fancied them-
selves mortgagees naturally feel nervous about the
security, since their position is entirely reversed,
and therefore want to get their money back as soon
as possible.

It has long been a subject of complaint that the
action of Parliament with reference to railway
matters is eminently unsatisfactory. The Com-
mission acknowledge this over and over again. A
whole catalogue is given of both erroneous and
conflicting decisions on material points. There is,
in fact, an entire want of uniformity in practice,
involving at times the exercise or permission of a
distinct breach of faith. The remedy proposed is
one that is hardly better than the existing evil.
It is intended to refer all new bills, "after having
" passed through the Committee of the House in
" which they have been first introduced," to the
consideration of the Board of Trade for further
report. This would merely complicate the business
and cause delay, although, on the other hand, it
would ensure that each new measure would have
the advantage of being examined by a permanent,
and not as the Commission observe with regard to
railway committees, a continually varying tribunal.
Nine-tenths, however, of these questions could be
settled by a very simple regulation. Let it be a
fixed rule that no preferential shares be allowed,
nor debentures, but that whatever capital may be
required should be raised solely by the issue of
ordinary stock at par. If the project were pro-
fitable there would, of course, be no difficulty in
getting any subscription that might be wanted.
If unprofitable, it would be got rid of at
once. Contractors' lines live and feed upon
preferential and debenture capital, and upon that
only. This rule would of course apply to the
purchase of already established independent lines.
If the shareholders wished to dispose of their pro-
perty, an equitable arrangement might be readily
made by which they should receive neither a first
charge nor preference shwas, but simply a propor-
tionate payment in ordinary deck.

Of the remaining parts of the Report the greater
portion is devoted to a consideration of Irish rail-
ways, on which Mr. MONSELL has prepared a sepa-
rate report of his own, and the remainder contains
the conclusions of the Commission upon various
matters of detail, accompanied by comparisons
with the working of foreign countries, which are
too technical for general interest. One passage,

however, is worth reproducing. Speaking of the
double gauge it is said :
We are of opinion that the continued existence of the
double gauge is a national evil. We think it worthy of
consideration whether it may not he desirable to require
the broad gauge to be put an end to ; and, as the evil has
arisen to some extent from the proceedings of Parliament,
whether a loan of public money should not be granted
for that purpose.
Here is a distinct intimation that Parliament
having interfered in one sense to do harm, it
should interfere on the other hand to do good.
The same argument will apply with even greater
force to the debenture question. Where the Le-
gislature has done so much already to little ad-
vantage, it is surely not unreasonable to expect
it to do something to further the general good.
It is only necessary to recall the Brat paragraph in
the Report of the Royal Commission. The work
of constructing railways has been performed
by individuals, who at every step have been
thwarted and controlled by the capricious
legislation of Parliament. This is admitted.
At the last moment Parliament declines to
give the slightest aid. On the contrary,
eminent lawyers raise a series of technical objec-
tions, admirable perhaps in a private suit at West-
minster-hall, but entirely out of place in dealing
with a great public interest. National faith
ought to be preserved even at the coat of over-
ruling legal prejudices.

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, MAY 20, 1867.

Cht Court.

OSBORNE, MAT 18.

The Queen, accompanied by Princess Louise,
drove out yesterday, attended by the Hon. Emily
Cathcart.

Colonel Ponsonby was also in attendance on horseback.
Prince Leopold. ►ttended by Mr. Legg, went out for a
cruise in the Elfin.
The Hon. Mrs. Gordon has left Osborne.
WINDSOR CASTLE, MAY Ilk

The Queen, with Princess Louise, Princess Be►trice,
and Prince Leopold left Osborne at 20 minutes past 3
o'clock this afternoon, and arrived at Windsor Castle at 7.
In attendance were the Countess of Caledon, the Hon.
Emily Cathcart, Major•Ceneral Sir T. M. Biddulph, Colonel
H. Ponsonby, Mr. Legg, and Mr. Bahl.
Countess Blucher has also arrived at the Castle from
Osborne.

The Hon. Lucy Kerr hu arrived at the Castle u maid
of honour. Viaoonnt Hawarden and the Hon. Mortimer
Saukville West have also arrived, as lord and groom in
waiting.

MAT 19.
The Prince and Princess Chriatian dined with the
Queen yesterday.
The Queen, the Prises and Princess Christian, Princess
Louise, Princess Beatrice, and Prince Leopold, and the
Ladies and Gentlemen in Waiting, attended Divine
service this morning in the private chapel.
The Hon. and Rev. F. E. C. Byng, chaplain at Hampton
Court Palace, preached the sermon.
The Earl of Derby arrived at the Castle today, and had
an audience of the Queen.

A Cabinet Council was held on Saturday, st the
ofScial residence of the First Lord of the Trea-
sury, in Downing-street. The Ministers pre-
sent were the Earl of Derby, the Lord Chancellor,
the Duke of Marlborough, the Earl of Malmesbury,
the Right Hon. Gathorne Hardy, Lord Stanley,
the Duko of Buckingham, Sir John Pakington, Sir
S. Northcote, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the
Right Hon. H. T. L. Corry, the Duke of Rich-
mond, Lord J. Manners, Lord Naas, and the
Right Hon. Spencer H. Walpole.
A Committee of the Lords of her Majesty's Most HOD.
Privy Council sat on Saturday, at the Privy Council-ofSce,
Whitehall, on the subject of the cattle plague. The lords
present were Lord Robert Montagu and the Right Hon.
Stephen Cave. Mr. Harrison and Dr. Alexander Williams
attended the committee.

A deputation waited on the Earl of Derby, at the official
residence of the First Lord of the Treasury, in Downing-
street, on Saturday, on the subject of increased endow-
ments to the University of Edinburgh. The deputation.
which was in►roduced by the Duke of Bucclench, con-
sisted of the Earl of Dalhousie, the Earl of Airlift, the
Earl of Stair, the Earl of Dalkeith, M.P., Lord Amberley,
M.P., Lord Eleho, M.P., Lord Colonsay, Lord Henry
Scott, M.P., the Hon. Arthur Kianaird, M.P., Dr. Cop•
land, F.R.S., Dr. Tweedie, F.R.S., Dr. Sibeon, F.R.S.,
Mr. D. R. Macgregor, Professor Bennett, Professor Fraser,
Professor Macpherson, and many others.
A deputation from the Metropolitan Board of Works,
consisting of Sir John Thwaites (chairman of the broad),
Mr. Robert Freeman (deputy chairman of the works and
committee), Mr. W. Newton (deputy chairman of the gas
committee), Mr. Westerton, Mr. W. W. Smith, and Mr.
Jno. Pollard (clerk of the board) bad an interview with
the Duke of Richmond, at the °floe of the Board of
Trade on Saturday.
Despatches were received on Saturday at the Colonial-
office from the North American provinces. Despatches
were sent to the governors of Malta, Gibraltar, Ceylon,
Bong• Kong, Labuan, the Straits Settlements, the Aus-
tralian colonies, the Mauritius, and the Governor-General
of Canada.

The Earl and Countess of Derby entertained
a distinguiahed party at dinner on Saturday evening, at
their mansion, in St. James's-square. There were present
the Turkish Ambusador and Madame and Mae. Musurus,
the Austrian Ambassador and Countess Appouyi, the Duke
and Duchess of Richmond and Lady Caroline C. Lennox,
the Earl and Countess of Westmorland, the Earl and
Countess of Wilton, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and
Mrs. Disraeli, Viscount Barrington, Viscount Newport,
Lord Courtenay, Colonel the Hon. P. W. Talbot, and
Mr. Leslie. After dinner the Countess had a brilliant
assembly, which Ins very numerously attended.

The Duke of Cambridge, attended by Colonel the
Hon. James Macdonald, honoured the Earl and Countess
of Clarendon with his presence at dinner on Saturday
evening, at their residence in Grosvenor-crescent. Prince
and Princess Edward of Saxe Weimar and a select party
were present to meet the illustrious duke.

Sir John Johnstone, Bart., M.P., and Lady
Johnstone entertained Viscount and Viscountess Nevin,
the Bishop of Oxford, Lord and Lady Carew, Mr. and Mrs.
Johnstone, Mr. and Mrs. Thomson and Miss Thomson, Mr.
and Mrs. Weldon, Mr. and Mrs. Jones Loyd, Ac., at dinner
on Saturday evening at their residence in Be'grave-square.
Mr. W. W. Fitswilham Dick, M.P., entertained
the Marquis of Waterford, Lord and Lady John Mennen
and Miss Mahan, Lord Bateman, Hcn. John and Lady
Alice Henniker, Sir Henry and Lady Edwards and Miss
Edwards, Sir Thomas and Lady Gladstone, Mr. John Hod-
dleston, M.P., Mr. and Mrs. Schenley and Miss Schenley,
Mr. Banbury Lennox, &c., at dinner on Saturday evening,
at his residence in Curzon-street, Mayfair.
TIM BRAND TESTIMONIAL —The handsome
testimon;al intended for presentation to the Right Hon.
Henry Brand, M.P., in recognition of his services its
" Whipper-in" to the Liberal party, will be presented on
the 19th of the ensuing month, at a grand banquet at
Willie's room., when the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone,
M.P., will preside.

A CPRIOUs Cusrom. —The old-fashioned custom
of " beating the bounds" was observed a day or two ago in
the parish of Waddesdon, in Bucks, in • manner which
will, we understand, result in legal proceedings. A party,
as usual, perambulated the boundary of the stop-
ping at all the important points of junction. parish,
At tnew
places they caught some unlucky individual, and if the
boundary line was marked by • wall or a tree the aforesaid
individual was " bumped" against it thrice. If there was
nothing of the kind then his head was placed in a hole
cut in the turf, sundry slaps being at the same time ad-
ministered to another part of his pence ; but him wounds
were mollified by the application of certain horns of ale
from a bottle carried for these and other persons. On the
occasion referred to the party so far forgot themselves as
to endeavour to remove a clergyman from his carriage, and
to practise this horseplay upon him. The parties excuse
themselves by the belief that on such occasions they are
empowered to operate upon whomsoever they please, and
that, to use their own expression, "no law will touch
them." We believe, however, if legal proceedings are
taken, they will be disabused of this belief.—Times.
LUNACY INQUIRY.—Mr. Samuel Warren, Q.C.,
and • jury concluded an inquiry at Gateshead, on Friday,
as to the state of mind of Mr. Charles Murdue, a gentle.
man, who took a somewhat prominent part in public affairs
in Newcastle some time ago, and who has recently been an
inmate of • private asylum at Dunston. A few yearssinoe
Mr. Murdue lost • lawsuit, and in consequence, it was
alleged by his son, • medical man, he took to drink and
became subject to hallucinations. He had been confined
in an asylum upon the certificate of two medical gentlemen,
and he had escaped and had bean reconfined. There was
a considerable conflict of evidence, one set of medical gen-
tlemen mimetic' that Mr. Murdue was, and another set
that he was not, insane. The jury examined the alleged'
lunatic themselves and after deliberation a majority of
12 determined that he was of sound mind and capable of
managing his own affairs, an announcement which was
hailed with great cheering outside the court.
Tun CIVIL Sanotee SPORTS.— Members of the
Civil Service, their relatives, and friends have every rea-
son to be proud of the assemblage at Beaufort House on
li Saturday, the second and concluding day of the Civil
Service sports. There must have been nearly I,soopersons
present; there were carriages and equestrians in scores,
and the whole scene reminded one of Goodwood or Ascot in
the pre-railway days. Everything went off excellently, and
it is impossible to conceive better .port than was afforded
by some of the trials, no•ably by the three-mile walking
race, which was contested is the gamest manner, and
created extraordinary excitement. It was won by Mr.
Williams, of the Ecclesiastical Commission-office, who was
handicapped at forty-five yards, and who walked splendidly,
completing his three miles under twenty-four minutes,
and beating Mr. Beaufort, of the Audit-office, who had
made tremendous pace throughout, by six yards. The
high jumping was very good. The prize was won by Mr.
F. Smith, of the War-office, at sft. 4in. ; Mr. Guy
Tyne, of the same office, who is looked upon as
the Civil Service champion in general, doing the same
height, but losing by being handicap red for an inch. It
will be pleasant when we need be no longer beholden to
our friends the South Middlesex for the use of their
ground. Perhaps the playing fields of the Civil Service
College (when the college is erected and the fieldsacquired),
might be rendered available. Apropos of which, there is a
meeting of vice-presidents of the college to be held in the
Geological Ifueemn, Jermyn.street, on Wednesday, the
29th inst., with Earl Russell in the chair.—S4ar.