The Express.
London, England, 1866-12-07 00:00:00

MS TOPICS.

The Daily News comments upon the incorporation of
Tashkend, by which Russia has established herself in the
very heart of Turkestan. Additional importance is given by
this fresh extension of Russian power to a gigantic scheme
which its government has entertained of uniting Central
Asia with Europe by means of a railway, and the material
interests of Russia are so intimately involved in the execu-
tion of the project that it would not be surprising if it were
comverted into an accomplished fact. The days when
English statesmen looked with ill-disguised alarm on every
fresh step in the career of Russia in the East are all but
passed sway. We can now see that she has enough to
employ her utmost energies in the absorption of purely
Asiatic races, without tempting the passage of the Rims.
lays in the endeavour to deprive England of iher place in
India. We have nothing to lose by the gradual, even if
imperfect, civilisation of Central Asia which must follow
upon its absorption by Russia.
The Herald, after considering various speculations rela-
tive to the future of the Pope, winds up by saying that it
is for his Holiness to determine in what relation he will
stand to Italy. It is for him to resolve whether he will
abdicate his temporal throne and seek an asylum else-
where, or whether, retaining all the show, the pomp, the
independence, without the cares of royalty, he will accept
Victor Emmanuel as his secular vicar, keep his state at
the Vatican, his rule over the Roman priesthood, ex-
changing his insolvency and his precarious income from lot-
teries for a princely dotation guaranteed by the Roman

catholic powers.
The Post appears to attach some importance to a public-
house disturbance at Hartlepool, in which some Irish
labourers were concerned, and says Fenians are capable of
conceiving and trying to execute the most horrible plans
for the accomplishment of their ends. To be forewarned
is to be forearmed. Are the Irish now dwelling in our
great towns, generally speaking, in favour of Fenianism ?
If so, is there any considerable number of them armed with
pikes, firearms, or other weapons of war? The British go-
vernment and the public would do well to obtain correct
information about these matters.

int Court.

WINDSOR CASTLE, Dec. 6.

The Queen walked and drove yesterday afternoon,
and drove out this morning, accompanied by Princess
Louise.
Princess Beatrice walked in the grounds, and Prince
Leopold, attended by Mr. Legg, also walked out.
The Duke of Cambridge, attended by Lieutenant-
Colonel H. Clifton, arrived at the Castle yesterday on a
visit to her Majesty.
The Earl of Malmeabury also arrived at the Castle, and
had the honour of dining with the Queen and the royal
family.
The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Christian went out
shooting to-day, attended by Lieutenant-Colonel Clifton
and Major-General F. H. Seymour. Lord Begot had the
honour of accompanying their royal highnesses.

A Committee of the Lords of her Majesty's Most Ho-
nourable Privy Council sat at Whitehall, on Wednesday,
on the subject of the cattle plague. The lords present
were the Lord President and the Right Hon. Sir
Stafford Northeote. Mr. Harrison and Dr. Alexander
Williams attended the committee.
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yes-
terday. The lords present were— Sir W. Erle, Lord
Justice Cairns, Sir E. V. Williams, Sir K. T. Kinderaley,
Sir J. Colvile, and Sir Lawrence Peel.
Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-office
from the Governors of Canada, British Honduras, Malta,
and Littman.
The Earl of Derby left town yesterday for Knowsley.

THE MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
(PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, THUBEDAY EvKruse.
I have reason to believe that the Marquis de
Moustier will shortly cease to be Minister of
Foreign Affairs. Some six weeks ago I mentioned
to you that two of the most influential members
of the Cabinet, MM. Rouher and Lavalette, were
not on good terms with hint. M. do Lavalette,
who acted as interim foreign minister, after M.
Drouyn do Lhuys' resignation, until the Marquis
-- - de Moustier's return from Constantinople, sent to
The Prince of Wales arrived at Paris yesterday the new foreign minister, immediately after he
morning from Darmstadt. His visit is strictly private,
took possession of his portfolio, a letter dated
and he intends leaving to-day. According to the arrange-
ments made, a special boat will convey his royal highness fromßiarritz,containing asketch of a circular which
from Calais to Dover, where he will lunch at the Lord he recommended him to issue on the Roman ques-
Warden Hotel, and afterwards leave for London by tion. The Marquis de Moustier was greatly nettled
the afternoon mail, arriving at Charing-cross station at at this assiunption by a colleague of a right to die-
-5.48 p.m. tate to him. "If," he said to a friend, "M. Rouher
Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar, the Marquis of
Lava-
Bath, the Earl of Malmesbury, the Earl of Sandwich, is to settle the German question, and M. de
lette the Roman, I do not see why 1 should be
and Mr. Bentinck have been on a visit to Colonel the . .
Hon. Richard and Lady Margaret Charlene, at their of F • Alf • I had better have re-
Minister Foreign airs.
country seat. mained at Constantinople." The bad understanding
Lord and Lady Elcho leave town to-morrow for between the new minister and his two colleagues
Broome Hall, on a visit to Sir Edward Kerrison, M.P., and has continued, and about ten days ago the long-
Lady Caroline Kerrison, during the visit of the Prince and smouldering fire produced an explosion. The oc-
Princess of Wales next week. casion was the meeting of a council of ministers at
The following are among the British arrivals in j Compiegne to consider whether the Empress should
Rome during November:—Earl and Countess of Claren- I oo to Rome. On this point there was no difference of
don, Lady E. Villiers, Earl of Northask and family, Mr. I
Wilkie Collins, Mr. E. S. Pigott, Sir S. B. Glynne, Right , o
pro pinion, for the ministers were unanimous against
Hon. MT. and Mrs. Cardwell, Commander J. F. Beckett,
theprojected pilgrimage. But in the course of a
R.N., Lady Holland and suite, Hon. Henry and :die. general conversation which took place on Roman
Walpole, Earl and Countess Russell and suite, Admiral affairs MM. Rouher and Lavalette expressed such
and Mrs. Eden, Mr. Odo Russell, Major and Mrs. Bell,
Mr. and Mrs. Dalberg Acton, Countess of Morton, Captain 1 strong differences of opinion with M. de Moustier
Em-
and Mrs. Herford, and Sir R. Keith Arbuthnot. The 1
ias to lead the latter to say, addressing the
Duke of Argyll was expected on the let from Terni. The peror, " Sire, lam afraid 1 do not understand
Earl of Clarendon left Rome on the 30th fez Florence. 1 have been two years and a
: your instructions.
A testimonial, consisting of a silver centre piece , half absent from Europe, and it is very possible
and a sum of 8001., was yesterday presented (says the that 1 may in consequence be disqualified for the
Mains/neer Guardian) to Mr..J. W. Dlaelure by the mem- ' office I now hold. I beg leave to go into the country
hers of the Central Executive Relief Committee, "in for a week to give your Majesty time to choose a
grateful acknowledgment of the zealous, able, and in- I successor." The desired leave of absence was at
defatigable services gratuitously rendered by him in :
• once granted, but when the Marquis de Moustier
the capacity of their honorary secretary during the ,
whole period of the cotton famine, 1862-1865." The pre- returned to Perin two days ago he found himself
sentation was made by Colonel Wilson Patten, M.P., who ' still Minister for Foreign Affairs. Nevertheless,
stated in the course of the proceedings that Sir Hugh information, which I consider reliable, leads me to
Cairns and two other counsel had given an opinion to the
think that he will be relieved from his post in tl•
effect that the committee had not the power to distribute 'i course of a very
few days—at furthest before
one farthing of their surplus funds except for the imme_
diets object for which the money was subscribed. The Dec. 11, when the last French soldier will have
learned gentlemen advised the committee to apply to the left Rome. The Marquis de Lavalette will proba-
Court of Chancery for authority to distribute the money. bly be his successor. The change will be a further
It is mentioned by "S. G. 0." that the note- ' blow to the partisans of the temporal power. The
lions work, "The Church and the World," was recom- Marquis de Moustier leant a great deal more to
mended to Convocation by the Bishops of Salisbury and the Pope than suits the present policy of the Em-
Oxford. "To one of them, we can now easily understand, peror. He was for finding an excuse to pro-
it was a work to be much valued ;but what are we to
lour, the occupation beyond the time fixed by
believe as to the other—the very bishop who was so pub- o
the convention.
licly thankful that this movement had no existence in his The Marquis de Lavalette
diocese r ! and M. Rouher hold that the convention must be
•
A gentleman arriving from Compiegne says there executed to the letter, and they have taken the
are no less than seven newspaper reporters of different lead in a proposal for an international arrangement,
nations at the court, and who join in the outdoor festivi- which would secure the Pope a revenue in ac-
ties. The third series of guests have arrived at the im - .
cordance with his dignity as head of the church,
penal palace. Amongst otber notabilities are the Prince
maintain his honorary rank as a sovereign prince,
and Princess Metternich. On Monday there was a hunt,
but at the same time relieve him from all the cares
and on Tuesday a shooting party in the forest. Amongst
other kinds of sport to come off is a wild boar hunt in the of temporal administration. To this arrangement
forest of Laigue. For another fortnight the little tawn of the Pope will probably not consent, and the
Compiegne will be enlivened with the presence of their , Marquis de Moustier was not willing to press
Majesties. lit upon him. I am very confident that the
"The Princess Mathilde," says the Patrie, . 3funiteur will by next week at furthest confirm
" accompanied by a senator and other persons of distinc- ' the important ministerial change which I now
tion, descended two days back by one of the flights of
anticipate, and that the change indicates a policy
steps in the Place de la Madeleine into the largo sewer,
which she went through as far as the point of egress at the which will leave the Pope no alternative but to re-
church of Notre Dame de Lorette. The princess after- concile himself with the King of Italy, or to take
wards drove to the Place du Chatelet, to inspect the sewer the Jesuits' advice and fly from Rome. The issue is
there which goes to Asnieres." I very close at hand.
Fox-hunting has recommenced in the Campagna, The Bourse was weak. Rente fell 10c. for cash
but as there are so few foreigners in Rome the field is and nic. for account, closing at 69fr. 63c. and
rather scanty. A few days ago the hounds met at the
69fr. 55c. Mobilier fell 3fr. 75c. ; Credit Foncier,
Maglianella, and after a capital run killed in the epee—
the Marquis Calabrini presenting the brush to the Prussian lfr. 25c. ; and Italian, 20c.
ambassadress. --
The King and Queen of Naples still occupy the . The message of the President of the United
Farnese Palace at Rome, where the Queen Dowager and States will most probably be brought to this country by
the Count of Trapani with their families have joined the the steamship Persia, which may be expected at Queens-
Bourboulo (head-quarters, and intend to regulate their town on the 14th inst.
movements by those of his Majesty, who does not still A fish of the whale tribe was seen from the back
quite believe that the French really mean to go. The of the Isle of Wight last week proceeding down the Eng-
junior branches of the family are in Switzerland. lish Channel.