The Express.
London, England, 1866-12-18 00:00:00

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.

THE Di-RE OF EDINSUROIL—NoRwrcti, Mow-
DAV EVENINCI.—His Royal Highness the Duke of Edin-
burgh arrived here this afternoon, en route for Gunton-
park, where he will pass the remainder of the week with
Lord and Lady Suffield. His Royal Highness was expected
to have been accompanied by the Pi ince and Princess of
Wales, but as the latter distinguished personages stand in
need of a abort period of repose, they remelt' at Sandring-
ham-house for the present, although it is understood that
the Pi ince of Wales will pay a short visit to Mr. Villebois
in the course of the cue rent week. The Duke of Edin-
burgh travelled by the ordinary train leaving Lynn at
noon, but on reaching East Dereham he came on to
Norwich in a special train, which was under the manage-
ment of Mr. Stevenson, district superintendent at
Nora:ch. He arrived at the Norwich (Thorpe) station at 10
p.m., having made the run from East Dereham, a dist ince
of twenty-four miles, in thirty minutes. Lord Suffield
was on the platform to receive his distinguished guest,
who was attended by his equerry, Lieutenant Haig, and
accompanied by the Hon. Mr. and Mrs. Coke. Lord
Suffield had a dashing four-in-hand in readiness for the
royal visitor, who took his place on the box seat of the
drag by the side of Lord Suffield, who drove himself. The
distance between Noiwich and Gunton-park being about
24 mi'es, the Duke and his host would, after partaking
of refreshment at Norwich, wive there between 5 and 6
o'clock this afternoon. To-morrow the Prince will com-
mence shooting on Lord Suffield's estate, which is heavily
stocked with game. Among the distinguished circle in-
vited to meet the Duke of Edinburgh at Gunton are Lord
and Lady Alfred Paget, the Marquis of Bowmont, Vis-
count Newry, Colonel and Lady Emily Kingecote, Lord
and Lady Rendlesham, &c. Lord and Lady Suffield will
give a ball during the stay of their royal visitor, who, ac-
cording to present arrangements, will return to Sandring-
ham-house on Saturday.
THE QUEEN AND THE WINDSOR INFIRMARY.
Her Majesty the Queen, who, in company with the Princess
Louise, recently visited the Windsor Infirmary, caused the
following gratifying letter to be forwarded to Mr. G.
Cortland, the secretary :—" Windsor Castle, December 11,
1866.—Dear sir,—l am commanded by the Queen to ex-
press the gratification which her Majesty derived from the
visit which she paid yesterday to the Windsor Roy-1
Infirmary. Her Majesty particularly remarked the clean,
wholesome state of the wards and the general good ventila-
tion of the house ; but what made most impression was
the contented looks and tone of even those who were suf-
fering moat from the accidents and complaints which
brought them into the hospital. This can only have been
caused by the care and attention of the three gentlemen
who devote so much of their time gratuitously as visiting
surgeons, to the house surgeon's skill, and to the matron's
constant kindness and devotion to her business.
It was also explained to the Queen that the successful
working of details is effected mainly by an active weekly
board, who sacrifice much of their time to the good object,
aided by a painstaking secretary, and her Majesty was glad
to learn that the establishment of this local infirmary has
in no respect diminished the usefulness of the old dis-
pensary, which bad so long alleviated the sufferings of the
poorer classes in their own homes in and around Windsor.
I will thank you to communicate the ooatenta of this letter
to the committee, as well as to those who have been
named as hating attracted the approbation of her Marty.
—I am, dear sir, your truly, FRANCIS H. SEYMOUR." On
the following day six brace of very fine pheasants were sent
to the institution, with a letter seating it to be her Ma-
jest 'a wish that all the inmates (whose eases would allow)
might be permitted to partake of them. It is a pleasur-
able fact that with one eion all the patients were
allowed by the 'arrows to beesasted with the moil we,
which they heartily enjoyed. Major-General Seymour
LIMED-SIFT EXAMINATION OF GIRL& attended at the institution during the day by request of
Commenting in congratulatory terms upon the Cam- her Majesty to ascertai an
n how my of the patios& had
bridge University local examinations which have coin. been permitted to partake of the game.

(THIS DAY.)

AMERICAN AFFAIRS.
Candour must compel us, says the Times, to
acknowledge that themanner in which the American nation
is bearing its load of taxation, and the promise which it
gives that its stupendous debt ~,a1 be paid before the
generation passes away which saw it created, surprises us
not only in itself, but because it runs counter to what
we anticipated, considering the quarter in which
it is discovered. The conduct of ever? State in
the Union, with the single exception of MUM'
chusetts, had cast a slur of suspicion upon
the honesty of the collective nation, but this sus-
picion the Federation has hitherto put to shame. The
Times, however, goes on to express a doubt that this wll
I mat, conjecturing that when the fundamental questions of
reconstruction are once settled Congress will address
itself itself to a revision of the tariff and give some relief
from the oppressive nature of the existing system of
taxation.
It is obvious to the Daily News that Mr. Johnson is
one of those men in whom reflection and time work no
change. In the Old World such men provoke revolutions,
and nearly all the political wrecks of modern history are
due to their mismanagement and obstinacy. Fortunately
for the American republic, Mr. Johnson's power for mis-
chief is far more limited than bis power for good. Not
only is he wanting in that instinct of statesmanship
which accepts measures which are possible when those
which are most desirable are impracticable, but he is not
sufficiently a patriot to sacrifice his own opinion in the
interests of his country. The leading men of the repub-
lican majority evidently regard Mr. Johnson's reiteration
of his old positions as a sign of fatuous obstinacy, but, if
so, it will lead the more certainly to resolute and
sweeping measures. Congress will not allow him
much opportunity o! exercising his obstructive power ;
and if it makes a moderate use of its great victory, and is
content to reduce Mr. Johnson to powerlessness, without
in any way giving him the dignity of martyrdom, it will
be u successful in legislation as it has been in azitation,
and will carry a wise and healing policy to complete este-
' blishruent.
The Herald, alluding to the passages in the message
relating to Irish discontent, expresses a wish for his sake,
and for thatof thepeople of America over whom be is placed,
who in default of him may have a less humane and less en-
lightened ruler, that Mr. Johnson could see his way as
well through his troubles as we can through ours.
To the Telegraph Mr. Johnson's position has the
immense merit of being perfectly intelligible, of being
recommended by sound patriotism, of harmonising with
the opinions of the wisest fathers of the republic, and of
being calculated to promote, easily and at once, the mate-
rial well-being of the commonwealth in all its sect:loos, and
the Telegraph yet trusts to see the nation enlisted on his
side.
Treating of the part of the message which bears on the
Alabama case, the Star observes that Lord Stanley has
but one course to follow, and that is to make the best
arrangement possible for a settlement of the question. It
will get worse the longer it is delayed, and the humiliation
will be even more bitter if we permit the present opportu-
nity to escape, when we may settle it with some show of
hoe will.