The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-26 00:00:00

)rs TOPICS.

The language which some of the less cautious supporters
of the army scheme in the French Chamber employ with
regard to Prussia, almost leads the Star to the conjecture
that the partisans of the French government were already
preparing occupation for the great army they are determined
to have. The Telegraph, tat), thinks France will have no
ground for surprise should due notice be taken of the
warning implied in the reasons put forth to support the
scheme under debate. It may, therefore, be fairly as-
sumed that the motive for the large augmentation con-
templated is not purely or in any great degree bounded by
the law of self-preservation.
The evidence and verdict in tho case of the Ferndale
colliery explosion loads the Timm to remark that the fault
of the present system appears to lie in a variety of slight
defects at its several points. The men have their safety-
lamps, but they find the means of neutralising the safe-
guard; the owners ventilate the mine, but not always
effectually, and there is no register of the air draught
from day to day, as there might be ; the firemen aro on
the look-out for firedamp, but there is no record of their
reports ; and the outside, or independent inspection, which
should keep all this machinery in order, is not sufficient
for the purpose. The sources of danger are well known,
and the requisite preventives are all presumed to be in
action, but there is no security for the constant efficiency
of the whole organization.
The Daily News feels it would bo an unpardonable
heresy to suggest that the best Read Masters of Eton
might possibly be discovered beyond the sacred circles of
Eton and of King's. Fortunately or unfortunately the
Provost and Fellows are little disposed to stray beyond
their own precincts in search of a finished scholar and a
judicious and vigorous administrator. l'iliateve: may
be their choice, it is sure to fall upon a perfect gentleman,
and probably on a finished scholar. The plant " gentle-
man" is indigenous at Eton ; nor is the scholar abso-
lutely an exotic in the playing fields. But will the Pro-
ved and Fellows be persuaded that • perfect gentleman
and *finished scholar may, without some other, and per-
haps more modern, qualification, prove inadequate to the
successful administration of a great public school in these
trying times?

A letter from Philadelphia says :—" The United
Senate has had a debate upon the Abyssinian war. It is
believed that various adventurous spirits in the United
States are contemplating the fitting out of privateers under
letters of marque, which they expect to get from Abyssinia.
A few days ago Senator Chandler, of Michigan, well known
for his hatred of England, offered a resolution that both
England and Abyssinia should be granted the same belli-
gerent rights in the ports of the United States, and yester-
day he called it up, and in advocating it s►id it only differed
from the British proclamation of neutrality in the American
civil war in the substitution of names. Re believed Abys-
sinian rummagers were on their way here to procure ships
of war, and he wanted the Abyssinian flag fully recognised.
Senator Anthony, of Rhode Island, strongly objected, and
•o did Reverdy Johnson, who thought it would provoke
war with Great Britain, which would be a great calamity.
Peace between the two nations was necessary, and the
Alabama claims controversy be thought could be settled
without espousing the Abyssinian quarrL Chandler se-
cured but one ally, Nye of Nevada, and the subject was
dropped without taking a vote."

A new Sclavonic Congress has been summoned
to meet at St. Petersburg, January 17. This time it is to
be an assembly of doctors and natural philosophers, the
programme inolnding every nation and creed.

- - _
A pamphlet commending a more lenient course
towards Poland has appeared at St. Petersburg, and is
ascribed to M. Valueff, the Minister of the Interior.
FATAL CARRIAGE ACCIDENT.—The death of the
third son of the Dean of Maritzburg, a little boy of 7 years
old, through the upsetting of a waggon in which he was,
has excited a deep feeling of sympathy throughout the
city, u might be seen from the large oonomuse of people of
all classes at the funeral on Sunday, the 13th of October.
The body was borne from the deanery by six of the cathe-
dral choristers in their robes. The coffin was enclosed in
white silk, end on thepall, which was also white, was worked
a cross in crimson velvet, in which wan laid a cross worked
of white roses. The Rev. Mr. Robinson officiated. Dean
Green and the family were followed from the cathedral to
the burial-ground by a large number of gentlemen, among
whom wo were pleased to observe the Bishop Colenso and
Canon Gray, with several more of the Dean's theological
opponents. The burial-ground was densely crowded, the
great part of the assembly oonsisting of ladies and children,
many of whom bore bouquet, of flowers, which they laid
upon the coffin. Others who could not approach near
enough to the grave handed their flowers over the heads
of the crowd. On the following Sunday the bishop
preached a touching sermon on the Saviour's welcome of
children, "Of such is the kingdom of Heaven."—lV ceut
Witseat