The Express.
London, England, 1867-01-17 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Gold, 136. Sterling Exchange on London, 1094 ;
5-20 United States Bonds, 107 i ; Illinois, 121 ;
Erie, 641. Cotton : Middling upland, 35.

NUMEROUS DEATHS ON BOARD THE LA
PLAT A.

COURT-MARTIAL AT JAMAICA.

DISTURBANCES AT HONDURAS.
(aT ILICTRIC TILLEGRLPH.)
(PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
SOUTHAMPTON, THCBADAT.
The La Plata has arrived with the West India
mails. She left St. Thomas on the 31st of Deoem.
ber. She has brought 34 passengers ; and specie
to the value of nearly 1,300,000 dollars.
About 60 persons have been ill on board from
yellow fever, 23 of whom have died, and two are
now dying on board. Among those who died are
Mr. Gilmore, 4th officer; Mr. Young, surgeon;
and Mr. Hiron, purser.
The court-martial in Jamaica to try Staff
Assistant-Surgeon Morris for murder during the
rebellion, after sitting eight days, was adjourned
an account of the illness of the prisoner.
A disturbance has taken place at Honduras.
Troops have been sent there from Jamaica in con-
sequence.

Mr. Gladstone has, in his capacity of opposition
leader, addressed the following circular to his friends and
presumed supporters :—" Florence, Jan. 10, 1007. Sir,—
The meeting of parliament has been fixed for the sth of
February, and, as it is highly probable that business of
groat public importance will come under its consideration
at the opening of the session, I take the liberty of ex-
pressing my hope that it may be consistent with your
convenience to be in your place on that day.-1 have
the honour to be your very faithful servant, W. E. GLAD-
STONE."

Writing to decline an invitation to address a
reform meeting at Worcester, Mr. Bright says :—'• I have
had to decline very many invitations from most of the
large towns of the kingdom, and I cannot now make any
other engagement before the opening of parliament. Ido
not expect to be in Birmingham before the beginning of
the session."

The following resolution, to be brought before
the Liverpool Cotton Brokers' Association at their weekly
meeting to-morrow, relative to an alteration of the terms
of cotton paymente, is stated by the Manchester Guardian
to be likely to meet with the approval of spinners :
" That it be a recommendation to the various auociations

with whom we have been in communication on the subject
of payments of cotton that on and after the lit day of
March next the terms of payment shall be—' Payments in
cash within ten days, less per cent. discount, and that
lutenist at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum be charged or
allowed when the payment is made before or after the due
date of invoice.• "

The death is announced of Mr. George Baxter,
the inventor and patentee of oil-colour picture printing.
The deceased gentleman was sixty-two years of age.
Some time ago he met with an accident, which proved
the remote cause of the attack of apoplexy from which he
died.

The South Eastern Railway Company have an-
nounced special facilities they propose to afford to visitors
to the French Exhibition. These include an additional
night service between London and Paris, at reduced fares,
and a plan for the direct transmission of large and small
consignments of goods to the Exhibition by passenger
train at specific through rates, including all charges for
shipping, landing, entries, customs' formalities, and de.
livery at the building.

The Times having condemned the order of ro-
wan' proposed by the French Exhibition Commissioners

as a recognition of the philanthropic endeavours of firma
and associations, Mr. F. R. Sandford, who has had a share
in the preparation of the questions, writes in very defe-
rential tone to our contemporary, and ventures "to ex.
press a hope that the International Jury may even yet
have an opportunity of being made acquainted with the
marvellous organization of the great establishment which
you direct, which, when tested by some of the results
that I have mentioned, would seem not the least likely of
the various competitors I have heard of to carry off this
' Grand Prie de Paris.'

The following is a list of the popular pieces
played last year at the principal theatres of Perim,
and of the times the more favourite operas and dramas
were given :---Opers. L'Africaine, 45 ; Comedie-Francais,
Le Lion Attaoureux, 100; Opera-Comique, Le Voyage en
Chine, 83 ; Italians, II Troratore, 14, Bigoletto, 14 ; Odeon,
La Contagion, 64 ; Chlitelet, Cendrillon, 189; Theatre-
Lyrique, Martha, 77 ; Vaudeville, La Primate Benoit n,
248 ; Varieties, Barde-Blene, 132 ; Gymnast, Maniac Pa-
ranquet,lls Palais-Royal, La Consigne est de Bonder,
91 ; Porte-Saint-Martin, La Biche an Bois, 107 ; GaltE,
Jean-la-Poste, 127 ; Ambigu, Le Mangear de Fer, 86.
With the exception of the Grand Opera and Italiens, all
the theatres are reported to have made money, although
never before was so much spent on the get-up of pieces.
The Cork Examiner says a serious riot took
place on Monday night, in the Mary-street Theatre, Cork,
in which a large audience had assembled to witness a
dramatic performance to be given by a company of unpa-
ralleled ability,if the bills were to be believed. Theoompany
was not forthcoming, and the audience proceeded to tear
down the scenery, then to maltreat the manager, and when
ejected from the building by the police they wreaked their
rage upon the lamps, doors, and such externals as were
susceptible of demolition. The manager was removed by
the police for protection.

THE COURTS OF JUSTICE DESIO Ng. —lt has already
been officially announced that the exhibition of these designs
will open on Friday, Feb. 8. We are informed the delay in
exhibiting the drawings arises from the necessity of multi-
plying all the floor plans by photozinoography, their
intricacy, and the number of persona whose minute exami-
nation of them is necessary, being such as to compel this
Mune.

L&W INTELLIGENCE.
(THIS DAY.)

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.

Sittings at Nisi Prins in Middlesex.-(Before Mr. Justice
Bylea and a Common Jury.)
LACY V. THOLE.
_ .

--....—
The plaintiff in this case was • dramatic author, and
the defendant was the celebrated actor. The action was
to recover 12!. for six 40s. penalties in consequence of the
plaintiff's piece " Doing for the Best," having been per-
formed by Mr. Toole at the I'rince of Wales's Theatre,
LiverpooL
Mr. Brandt and Mr. Bown appeared for the plaintiff,
and Mr. Berjeant Tindal Atkinson and Mr. Lewis for the
defendant.

The plaintiff's case was that he had written the piece in
question, and in consideration of his landlord, Mr. Bryden,
releasing him from a claim for rent, he gave him
pennission to perform "Doing for the Best" at the
Cabinet Theatre, Euston-road. This place belonged
to Mr. Bryden, and was an amateur theatre,
The letter in which this permission was given was dated
the 12th December, 1864, and said, "Ia answer to your
letter of the 10th inst. I beg to say that I accept the offer
you therein make me, and agree to the conditions you pro-
posed for cancelling my debt to you, viz., to let you have
my drama of ' Doing for the Best • in discharge of IW. of
the sum due, and to furnish you with a little
piece in • couple of months in payment of the
balance." The plaintiff's case was that he never in-
tended to give Mr. Bryden the right to license other
persons to play the piece ; but on the other hand, Mr.
Bryden said he understood that he was to have the
absolute right to the piece. Another fact was that Mr.
Bryden had licensed the defendant's performance at
Liverpool.
Mr. Justice Byles held that the letter was en elide-
ment of the copyright in the drama ; and the jury, in
answer to his lordship, expressed the wile opinion.
Verdict for the defendant, with leave to the plaintiff to ,
move the full court.

COURT OF PROBATE AND DIVORCE.
(Before the Judge Ordinary.)

HAMPSON r. HAHPSON.
Mr. Pritchard appeared for the petitioner. She was the
widow of a beerhouse keeper in Manchester, and in 11464
she was induced to marry the respondent, whose object ap-
pealed to be merely to gain possession of her property.
Having done that be began to ill treat her, and he was com-
mitted for a month for assaulting her. On his discharge
he sold up everything and deserted his wife. He bad also
been living with another woman.
Decree nisi.