The Express.
London, England, 1867-05-07 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 7, 1867.

EXPRFSS FROM PARIS.

(flOll 0111 OWN COIIIIIIIPOIIDANT.I

PARIS, MONDAY EVENING.

The Patel. says that although, as already sur-
inised,l the first sitting of the conference to
assemble in London to-morrow will probably be
devoted entirely to formal business, there is every
likelihood that two meetings more will suffice to
settle the whole business. All questions of prin-
ciple and even of detail, except in minor particulars,
are said to be agreed upon beforehand, and, ac-
cording to the Pantie, the very day. on which
Prussia is to evacuate Luxemburg is already fixed.

Notwithstanding these sanguine expectations,
which, I am bound to say, are not only echoed by
most of the Paris papers, but prevail generally in
the public mind, there are misgivings in some
quarters. Three breakers ahead are especially
pointed out as dangerous-1. The plebiscite which
it is assumed France will demand for the people
of Luxemburg--2. The repugnance of England to
give a guarantee for the neutralisation of Luxem-
burg, which would amount to a calms belli with
France in a very probable contingency—and 3.
The continued armaments of France, which
naturally excite suspicion at Berlin. Even

if the influence of the mediating powers
should suffice to get over these and other diffi-
culties for the moment, fears aro entertained
that this maintenance of peace will not be ob-
tained on terms flattering to France, or on a basis
of solidity offering security for the future.
The Bourse by no means showed exuberant con-
fidence in the diplomatic work to be commenced to-
morrow in London. The Rente opened several
centimes lower than on Saturday, and gradually
dwindled downwards to the close, when it twits
quoted at 68fr. for cash and 67fr. 80c. for account,
with a fall of 60c. and 570. Mobilier fell 20fr. ;
Credit Foncr, 17fr. 50c. ; Comptoir d'Escompte,
15fr.; and the Northern Railway, 121 r. 50c. Italian
fell 70c., and was much depressed owing to the
rumour that the adjournment of M. Ferrara's
financial plans may possibly be the prelude to their
withdrawal. _

The bureaux of the Corps Legislatif to-day re-
fused two demands to make " interpellations"—
one relative to the construction of the fourth
section or risme of French railways, and the other
to the public works called for in the interest of
agriculture. When the right of inte rpellation was
given as a substitute for the address, it was alleged
by the government organs that the compensation
was more than sufficient because leave would never
be refused in any case where a considerable num-
ber of members really wished for a discussion. To
make the measure palatable leavo was given at the
beginning of the session for MM. Thiers and Jules
Fevre to have their thug so as to in-
augurate the new system with the credit
of the new broom which sweeps clean. But
it is abundantly evident that for ordinary
working purposes the bureaux, in all of which the
government has a majority, are simply obedient
humble servants who will do as they are bid.
Neither on political, financial, nor administrative
questions will the government as a general rule
allow independent deputies to take the initiative of
a debate.

- ----__.
Mdlle. Rosa Bonheur writes to the papers an in-
dignant contradiction of the news that she had
become insane.

---
THE HYDE-PARK DEMONSTRATION.

There was no obstruction to the Reform League
demonstration in Hyde-park yesterday, and con-
sequently the whole passed off without distur-
bance. During the morning and afternoon the in-

habitants of the suburbs of the metropolis were Bur.

prised by burnouse van loads of policemen proceed-
ing in the direction of the west end ; the neigh-
. .

bourhooda of the vestry-halls were edified by the
preparations made for the swearing in of special
constables ; and the young ladies in the vicinity of
the chief barracks were blessed with the march
past their windowsof several fresh troopsfrom Wir-
lior and elsewhere. Serious as must have been the
prospect which daybreak presented to these gallant
patriots, sunset brought them the mortifying re-
flection that their occupation was gone. The spe-
cial constables particularly deserve the sympathies
of an appreciative public. Extensive prepara-
tions were made for the enthusiastic crowds of
middle-class patriots who were expected to besiege
the vestry-halls and police courts in order to be
duly enrolled as protectors of the public peace.
At Clerkenwell, however, not a solitary person ap-
peared at the opening of the court, and only about
a dozen attended afterwards. At the Thames police-
court, although the worthy magistrate entered
up* the 'duties of his office at the early hour of
era o'clock, no would-be constables claimed his
attention. At Wandsworth the chief incident
appeared to have been the application of a brick-
layer's labourer to be admitted as one of the
"specials," but as his leading idea of the duties
of the office was that there was a shilling to be
received and a supper to be eaten, his offer was for
the time declined with thanks. It is said, however,
that hundreds of special constables were actually
sworn, but it is certain that the number fell far
short of what the public had been led to expect.
The impression of many of these volunteers was
that they were to be led in a body to Hyde-park
to immortalize themselves by an open attack upon
the members of the Reform League ; but when
they found that the extent of their duties
would be the preservation of their own shops
and thoroughfares while the constable "on the
beat" was drafted off to duty in the park,
and that instead of a varnished truncheon with a
small crown at the end, they were to be armed
with a short length from a broomstick, their
patriotism fell to zero.
The chief thing that would attract the attention
of anyone entering Hyde-park yesterday afternoon
would be the absence of the ordinary policemen.
Many persons went there at an early hour to see
the large detachments of military of which the
morning papers had spoken, but no troops were
visible. The park looked very quiet and very
beautiful in its fresh spring dress. Towards four
and five the visitors increased, and then they kept
on increasing. Enterprising costermungers, all the
way from the east end, on hawking cares intent,
essayed to enter the gates, but in most instance'
they were refused admittance, and sent back be-
wailing their hard fate. A few, however, effected
an entrance, and almost before they had com-
menced business a question was being asked
respecting them in the House of Commons.
The itinerant vendor of fluid and compound abo-
minations found no difficulty in displaying his
tray of wares to the thirsty and hungry ; and the
ballad singer, much to his own surprise, was not
ejected when he struck up a new song in honour of
the Reform League. At 5 o'clock the park looked
gay with its thousands of men and women, and its
wealth of sunshine. On the whole the assemblage
was the meet respectable in appearance and manner
that we have seen at any of the reform demonstra-
tions. -The usual occupants of the Ladies' Mile
forsook their accustomed haunts, and ventured
into the more open drives, where they had a fine
opportunity of eyeglassing the British public, and
awing the common people with their grandeur.
Young gentlemen of the type superfine strolled
about at a safe distance watching the habits and
customs of working folks. Working folks amused
themselves by returning the compliment. There were
to be seen upon the grass in various portions of
the park considerable numbers of the evil-eyed,
prison-cropped community termed " roughs." They
were looking out for a harvest which never came.
Various games were indulged in by the light-
hearted. Several men, apparently politicians
unattached, beguiled the time in making
speeches on their own account, generally upon
matters quite foreign to the Reform Bill. One
painfully modest-looking individual offered for sale
a pamphlet, entitled "My Vote, and why I want
it, by a member of the National Reform League."
At the end of the book the following notice was
considered necessary :—" Friends who may not
fully comprehend the principles contained in this
little tract are requested to question the author
in writing, enclosing a few stamps for reply."
The groups of young men lying on the sward
here and there were so frank in the
expression of their opinions, that the passer-
by could not avoid having the benefit
of them. Now the subject of debate would
be the tailors' strike, now the political situation,
and one man we heard repeating to his companions
the curse recently uttered by a Fenian prisoner
upon his informer. Occasionally groups might be
seen listening to music, vocal or instrumental.
The appearance in the distance of an unusually
large concourse at tint set people talking and
thinking of police and soldiers, but the continued
absence of either, and the immunity which all
enjoyed, at length inspired entire confidence.
Shortly after six o'clock the first body of known
reformers appeared, walking in twos and threes,
but without any distinguishing mark. They were
at once recognised, faintly cheered, and largely
followed to the trees in the centre, where they halted.
Gradually the miscellaneous groups broke up, and
moved off towards the trees to swell the audience. No
hindrance was offered now or on any subsequent occa-
aion tothe leaguers takinguptheirpoaitions. Shortly
before half-past six Mr. Beale', The O'Donoghue
I and Colonel Dickson passed into the park, and
were immediately surrounded by a dense crowd
who escorted them over the turf. They
were loudly cheered. Shortly after this the
" platforms ' were occupied, the platform
being simply the park seats. The League had
never intended to erect an actual platform
in the grounds. There were ten of these
speaking places, each distinguished by a number,
and the name of the speaker was in some instances
written upon his hat. Number one platform
was in the centre, and was occupied by the presi-
dent, The O'Donoghue,&e. This was the great cen-
tre of attraction, and here the crowd numbered
some thousands. Very little speaking could be
heard beyond a few yards of the speaker ; in fact
onlysuflicient of his voice to lead one to lament the
fearful strain upon it which the circumstance
necessitated. The principal feature of this part
of the proceedings was the hearty and unanimous
cheering that echoed from one to the other
section. The speeches were of the usual kind, and
can be literally more easily imagined than described.
The turret and foundation-stone of course was hos-
tile criticism of the Reform Bill and its authors.
The government were denounced in unsparing
terms, and although the speakers had been ex-
pressly requested to abstain from any exultant re-
ferences to " the conduct and position of the govern-
ment with regard to the Hyde-park question," the
sound of triumph was heard more than once when
the speakers had warmed to their work. The
audiences were indulgent and good humoured, and
although sometimes they evinced more curiosity
than decided interest, they did not in any in-
stance attempt to interrupt the proceedings.
The audiences varied much in size, one
of the sections being so little patronised
that the appointed leaders had to move

(STAMPED, ld.

off to a new position. By far the greater number
of the people in the park avoided the platforms,
and promenaded on the grass and under the trees,
or joined in whatever amusements were being
promoted. All this made up a very striking scene,
such as has not been seen in Hyde-park for many
years, and will probably not be seen for many years
again. Dozens of men, seemingly of high respec-
tability, as well as the roughs, were heard uttering
one feeling in common—a feeling of disappoint-
ment, if nothing stronger, that after all, they had
come out to see a peaceful gathering instead of the
riot and tumult they had expected and would have
preferred. The arrangements as to the speaking
were materially the same as mentioned in yester-
day's paper. kaich section before dispersing gave
hearty cheers for the Queen, John Bright, and Mr.
Gladstone, one of them adding three laughs for
the special constables, of whose conduct some ex-
tremely contemptuous opinions were expressed.
The chief attraction at one of the groups was the
harangue of a woman in a sailor's hat. She
vigorously asserted woman's rights, and, in-
deed, so far as could be gathered, the rights of
everybody to everything. The resolution pro-
posed and carried without opposition by the ten
sections was the following :
That this meeting, whilst still adhering to registered
and residential manhood suffrage, protected by the ballot
as the only really sufficient measure of reform
in the representation of the people, hail with
satisfaction the withdrawal last Thursday evening
of Lord Grosvenor's proposed aaarathassit, and the major
rity of 81 on the same evening against the two yaws' resi-
dence clauses in the government bill, and earnestly call
upon the Houma of Commons to make that bill a more full
and honest measure for the extension of the franchise by
expunging from it the ratepaying clauses, equalising the
borough and county franchise on the principle of house-
hold suffrage, and introducing a provision for giving a
vote to lodgers, or else to reject that bill altogether.
While the government was meeting its sup-
porters in Downing-street yesterday, and hearing
what the Premier had to say upon the course of the
government respecting the demonstration, other
and humbler meetings were being held elsewhere
with a similar object. The executive council met
at the League-rooms to make their final arrange.
ments. Mr. Beales was there, also the O'Donoghue,
M.P., Mr. Hughes, M.P., Mr. Taylor, M.P., and
Mr. Whalley, M.P. The decision of the law
officers of the crown that had appeared in one
of the papers was the subject of long discussion,
and its reservation for so long a period was
severely condemned. The resolution given above
was also determined upon. The Clerkenwell re-
formers, too, held a meeting to debate the vexed
question of banners and music. The council of
the League, wishing to make the demonstration as
inoffensive as possible, had clearly determined to
have no flags, no bands, and no " fancy dresses" of
any kind, and to conclude the proceed,
ings within half an hour. The prohibition
of banners and music had offended the
Clerkenwell branch, who sent a deputation
of one man to the League in the morning to confer
with the council upon the subject. No concession
resulting, the Clerkenwell members held a second
meeting in the afternoon, and determined to act
in defiance of the League council. Accordingly,
after the speaking had been in progress some time,
a band was heard in the direction of the Marble
Arch, and a procession was seen approaching,
headed by a blood-red banner, from the
stall of which dangled the cap of liberty. TI
procession marched through the park to their posith
to the strains of the Marseillaise Hymn. Mr.
Bealea and his friends set the excellent example of
breaking up by about a quarter-past seven, and the
president, with the O'Donoghue and Colonel
Dickson, were escorted out of the park by a crowd
so dense that their safety was at one time very
much a matter of doubt. The broad shoulders of
the O'Donoghue and the tall stature of the t=ist
colonel gave them an advantagewbich Mr.
did not possess, and nothing but almost superhuman
exertions prevented that gentleman from being
forcibly separated from his colleagues. The re-
maining
nine sections were slow to follow their
leaders, and with that love of prolonged speech which
has renders so many of their meetings tiresome,
kept on talking until dusk. This was what the coun-
cil had anxiously wished to avoid, knowing that
when daylight had gone there could be no guarantee
for order with such a miscellaneous crowd. For-
tunately, however, the park was cleared without any
disturbance or accident. The members of the
Reform League carried out their determination to
keep and preserve order ; the government carried
out what it is presumed was its determination, not
I
to interfere; and the sum total was that the Hyde-
' ' park demonstration of the 6th of May was a gigan-
tic out-door holiday for large numbers of the
working classes.
The numbers present in the park have been
variously estimated at from 50,000 to 150,000, and
probably the last mentioned figure would be nearer
the truth. In the absence of official information,
and the assumed or real ignorance of the police
officials, it is impossible to do more than repeat
rumour regarding the arrangements made by the
authorities. There were at any rate numerous
bodies of troops and police kept carefully out
of sight in Hyde-park Barracks, in the
chief cavalry barracks, and in some of the
livery stables near the Park. A statement made
as to artillery preparations and military works
within the park must be accepted as part and par-
cel of the many absurd things spoken of in con-
nexion with the demonstration. Had there been
a disturbance it is pretty certain it would have
been promptly dealt with, but, as has been stated
before, no occasion arose for testing the efficiency
of the " reserves." The only approach to
a disturbance we saw was when a couple of
policemen arrested a pickpocket and politely
showed a too enterprising costermonger the
nearest way into Piccadilly. A few boys, upon
witnessing those ceremonies, considered themselves
outraged, and performed a little harmless yelling,
which died speedily of its own accord. We also
heard of a few noisy incidents caused by the
absence of the police in some of the low neigh-
bourhoods.
Several deputations from the provinces took part
in the demonstration.

_ . . .
RAILWAY AND OTHER BILLS BEFORE PARLIAMENT,
—Yesterday, in the House of Lord', Mr. Palgrave. one
of the examiners of standing order proof., held a
court in Room B, and tranaacted the following business:
The further standing orders were declared to have been
complied with in the eases of the Lancashire and York-
shire Railway Bill, the Barnoldswick Railway Bill, the
Great Eastern Railway (Steamboats) Bill, the Great
Eastern Railway Bill, the Edinburgh Improvement Bill,
the Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Gateshead Gas Bill, the
Sheffield Water (Amendment) Bill, the Sheffield Water
(New Works) Bill, the Waterford and Wexford Railway
and Roesler, Harbour Bill, the Greenock Harbour Bill,
the Mold Gas and Water Bill, the Norwich and Spalding
Railway Bill, the Norwich Local Board of Health Bill,
and the Tendring Hundred Railway Bill. With regard
to the subjoined bills, the examiner declared that no fur-
ther standing orders were applicable :—The Dundee Gas
Bill, the Ayr Water Bill, the Aylesbury Market Bill, the
Launceston Roads Bill, the Pool Bombs Bill, the Salford
Borough Bill, the Gateshead Improvement Bill, the Man.
cheater Corporation Water, &c., Bill, and the Woolton
Gas Bill. The consideration o the London and North
Western and Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Com-
panies Bill was further postponed until Monday, the 20th
instant.
SOUTH KENSINGTON MUSEUIII.—Visitor during
the week ending May 4 : —On Monday, Tuesday,
and Saturday, free, front 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.,
9.7ffit ; on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (*anti.
siou lid.), from 10 a.m. till 6 p.m., 2,181 ; national por-
trait exhibition, by payment, 2,119 ; total, 14,0.88.1 Average
of oorrespouilingweek m former years, 12,084. Total
from the opening of the Museum, 6,680,817.
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