The Express.
London, England, 1867-06-27 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE 27, 1867.

passing along the footboards at every point, 1
but that it was attended with danger
to the guard. But why should not the
simple arrjuigementa often suggested for obviating I
that danger be adopted ? Instead of requiring I
the guard to hold on by his hands, and swing I
himself from carriage to carriage, at the risk of
falling off or of being dashed against some bridge
or passing train, why should he not be furnished
with an outside handrail, whichwouldmake falling
oil' an impossibility, and confine his movements
within the distance of safety ? In such an
arrangement there is no practical difficulty, for it
only renders safe what is already sometimes done
subject to peril. There is little expense, for the
carriages need no alteration. There is no facility
provided for intrusion, for the carriages may
remain constructed as at present. But there
would be the comfort of knowing that help was
always at hand, and was within reach by a touch
on a cord, or a handkerchief waved from a window.
Above all, there would be the greatest of all se-
curities, in the knowledge that at any moment a
guard might chance to pass on his rounds. This
is what the public wants, and railway directors had
best recognise the fact, for it is certain they will
never be free from reproach while they refuse to
provide for it.

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.
(TillS DAY.)

The Standard is in favour of the despatch of an expedi-
tionary army, eight or ten thousand strong, to Abyssinia,
although it does not lose sight of the possibility that on
the first news of the landing of a British army on the
coast, Theodore, in a fit of revengeful phrsusy, may order
the instant execution of his captives. Nevertheless, we
shall virtually abandon our position of mistress of the
East—nay, more, we shall relinquish our position among
the nations of Europe, if we suffer this crying wrong to go
unredressed.

The Tdegraph, discussing the same question, says let
the government make up its mind to demand the release
of Major Cameron and his companions under pain of war,
and it will find the English people ready to support the
mission. Before, however, the ministry can be expected
to undertake such a responsibility, the House of Commons
and the public must be prepared to back it unflinchingly,
and with the fullest recognition of the vastness of the sa-
crifice which the struggle may demand.

Eli, Court.

WINDSOR CASTLE, irme

Her Majesty and the Queen of Prussia drove
out yesterday afternoon. Countess Blucher bad the honour
of accompanying their Majesties.
Princess Beatrice drove out in an open carriage. Prince
Leopold also drove out, attended by Mr. Legg.
Prince and Princess Louis of Ilene, attended by Baroness
Schenck, Captain von Westerweller, and Dr. Becker, and
Princess Louise, attended by Lady Caroline Barrington
and Lord Alfred Paget, went to London last evening, to be
present at the State nail at Buckingham Palace.
The Queen, accompanied by Prince Leopold and Princess
Beatrice, drove in the grounds this morning.
Princess Louise arrived at the Castle this morning from
London, attended by Lady Caroline Barrington and
Colonel Cavendish, Groom in Waiting.
Her Majesty held a council this afternoon at three
o'clock, at which were present the Duke of Marlborough,
the Duke of Buckingham, the Earl of Devon, and the
Right Hon. If. T. Lowry Corry.
Previous to the council the Earl of Devon bad an
audience of the Queen, and delivered up to her,lLajesty
the meals of his office as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lan.
caster.

After the council Colonel John Wilson Patten was in-
troduced, and sworn in Chancellor of the Duchy and
County Paditine of Lancaster.
Mr. Gooch, secretary to the duchy council, administered
the oaths.

The Duke of Marlborough, the Duke of Buckingham,
and the Right Hon. H. T. Lowry Corry, bad audiences of
the Queen.
Mr. Helm; was Clerk of the Council.
Viscount Strathallan and Colonel Cavendish, the Lord
and Groom in Waiting, were in attendance.

The Prince of Wales presided yesterday morning at a
half•yearly meeting of the Governors of the Wellington
College, at the New Palace, Westminster.
In the afternoon his Royal Highness, accompanied by
Prince Louis of Hesse and Prince Edward of Sax Weimar,
and attended by Lieut.-Colonel Keppel, drove to the
Crystal Palace, and was present at the concert in aid of
the restoration funs' for the portion of the Palace recently
destroyed.
In the evening the Prince of Wales dined with the Duke
and Duchess of Marlborough, at their residence, St.
James's-square.

A meeting of the Governors of Wellington College was
held in the Fine Arts Commission room, at the Palace of
Westminster, yesterday.
A deputation introduced by Mr. C. Turner, M.P.,
Mr. R. N. Phillips, M.P., Mr. G. C. Legh, M.P., and
Lieutenant-Colonel Gray, M.P., and consisting of repre-
sentatives from certain turnpike trusts situated
wholly or in part in the counties of Lancaster,
Chester, and York, had an interview with the Right Hon.
Gathorne Hardy at the Home-office, yesterday, in refe-
rence to the Turnpike Trusts Bill now before parliament.
Despatches were sent yesterday from the Colonial-office
to the governors of Malta, Gibraltar, Ceylon, Hong
Kong, Labuan, the Straits Settlements, the Australian
Colonies, the Mauritius, the Cape of Good Hope, and
NataL

We are authorised to state that her Majesty's
state ball, announced for Wednesday, the 3rd of
July, has been postponed till Friday, the nth of
July.

HER MAJESTY'S DRAWING Room.--(Tais DAY.)
—By command of the Queen, a drawing-room was held to-
day at St. James's by her Royal Highness Princess Alice
of Great Britain and Ireland on behalf of her Majesty.

The Prince of Wales, attended by Colonel
Keppel, honoured the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough
with his company at dinner last evening, at the family
mansion in St. James's•square. The following company
were present :—The Marquis of Aberoorn, the Duchess of
San Arpino, the Earl and Countess Vane, the Karl and
Countess of Derby, the Earl and Countess of Listowel,
the Marquis of Blandford, Lord and Lady Rendlesham,
Hon. Charles Carington, Hon. Oliver Montagu, &c. In
the evening the Duchess of Marlborough had a small
dance.

Prince Arthur of England was present on Mon-
day evening, in the imperial box, at the Opera Comique,
to see the performance of Miyaon.

The Duke of Cambridge, attended by Colonel
Tyrwhitt, dined with Sir Anthony and Lady Rothschild
last evening, at their residence in Grosvenor-place Houses.
There were present the French Ambassador, the Duke of
Wellington, the Meequis and Marchioness of Westminster,
the Earl and Countess of Wilton, Viscount and Viscoun-
tess Royston, Viscount and Viscountess Chelsea, Lady
Susan Vane Tempest, Mr. and Mrs. Holford, &c.

The Duchess of Cambridge and the Grand
Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz dined with Maria Mar-
chioness of Ailesbury last evening at her residence in
Hertford-street, Mayfair. There were present the Austrian
Ambassador and the Countess Apponyi, the Marquis of
Ailesbury, the Earl of Sefton, the Earl of Bective, the Earl
and Countess of Besaborough, Viscount and Viscountess
Sydney, Lord and Lady Rokeby, Lord l'roby, Lord and
Lady Charles Bruce, the Right Hon. Sir Alexander
Cockburn (the Lord Chief Justice of England), Hon. Mr.
Calthorpe,
The Comte and Comtosse de Paria dined with
the Belgian Minister and Madame Van de Weyer List
evening. The party consisted of the Earl and Countess
Stanhope and Lady Mary Stanhope, the Earl and Countess
of Cork, the Right Hon. Chichester Fortescue and Frances
Couuteu Waldegrave, the Earl of Clarendon and Lady
Emily Villiers, Lord and Lady Lyveden, Prince Alphonse
de Chimay, M. and Madame Laugel, Meddle. d'Heime, M.
I Bonney de Casteau ; and Madlle. Boerio, in waiting upon
li her Royal Highness the Comteue de Paris.

Yesterday forenoon the Princess Mary Adelaide
of Tack was eburched in the private chapel at Kensington
Palace. The Rev. Ryan Nepean, canon of Westminster,
performed the ser►ice. Her Royal Highness the Grand
Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelits accompanied her sister
to the chapel. The princess took a carriage drive in the
afternoon.

Yesterday afternoon, as her Royal Highness the
Princess Louise, scoompenied by Lady Caroline Barring-
ton and Colonel Cavendish, was being driven in one of the
Queen's carriages along Pall-moll, one of the horses got his
leg over the pole of the carriage, and in its struggles in-
jured the other horse, and brought it down also, falling on
the carriage pole, and breaking it off sharp, so that the
coachman lost all control over his horses. The Princess
Louise and Lady Caroline Barrington alighted, and were
conducted by Colonel Cavendish to Marlborough House.
After some delay the horses were extricated from the har-
ness, and got up and taken to the royal mews.

Last night Lady Otho Fitzgerald gave her first
useinely this season at her residenoe on Carlton-house-
terrace. Previously to her ladyship's reception the noble
lord and lady were honoured by the company of the Prince
of Teck at dinner, when there were present the Duchess of
Montrose, the Marquis and Marchioness Camden, the Earl
and Countess of Dartrey, Lord and Lady Egerton of Tat-
ton, Lord Stanley of Alderley, Lady de L'lsle, Count
Maffei, Sir Hedworth Williamson, M.P., Mr. Butler-
Johnstone, M.P.. Mr. Napier, Mr. Petre,
THE NEW CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF
LANCAmTTE,—MmuIiky next has been fixed for the re-elec-
tion of Colonel Wilson Patten, !be new Chancellor of the
Duchy of Lancaster. The proceedings will take place in
the Shire-hall, Lancaster. Colonel Patten ham been one
of the members of North Lancashire between 30 and 40
years. There is no talk of any opposition, and his re-
elation may be put down as certain.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(Bienca's TJLEGRAM3.)
FRANCE.

PARIS, JUNE 27.
The monetary commission met yesterday. Their
next sitting will be held to-morrow.

PRUSSIA.

BERLIN, JUNE 27.

On the anniversary of the battle of Koniggratz
the new army corps will be presented with their
colours.

THE NORTH SCHLESWIG QUESTION.

COPENHAGEN, Jure 27.

The Dagblad of to-day, in its French review, asys
that the guarantees demanded by Prussia fur the
German inhabitants of North Schheig form only
a subordinate part of the question. The ne-
gotiations in reality turn upon the recovery
of Alsen and Duppel. The writer points out that
the Danish government could not possibly with-
draw behind the national lines so plainly marked
by the elections to the North German parliament.
The Schleswig Danes," says the Dagblad," would
prefer the common lot of slavery until the great
day of liberation should dawn."

ITALY.

FLORENCE, Jut 27.

In consequence of the suppression of the chief
military commands, General Cialdini has, it is
said, tendered his resignation. The Chamber has
approved the budget of the Ministry of War, with
a reduction of six millions of lire.

ALLOCUTION O# THE POPE.

ROME, JUNE 26.

The Pope in a public consistory held to-day,
which was attended by 400 bishops, pronounced an
allocution, in which ho praised the zeal of the
bishops in coming to Rome, and their attachment
to the Holy See. Nothing, he said, was more
beautiful than that example of the union of the
church to celebrate the canonisation of martyrs and
the centenary of St. Peter. When the enemies of
the catholic church see this union they could com-
prehend her immense power and the error of those
who declared her to be antiquated. The union of
the bishops and the vicar of Christ would always
tend more and more to strengthen the
church. His holiness confirmed the condemna-
tion of errors already condemned by the allocution
of 29th October, 1865, and expressed the ilehire to
convoke as soon as a fitting occasion should offer
an wcuntenical council to repair the evils which
oppressed the church, and to point out the nec.ii-
sary remedies. The Pope concluded by recom-
mending prayers to God and the Immaculate
Virgin, and by giving the bishops his apostolic
benediction.

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(IEOI 01311 Olpr COMIIMPOIDIMIT.)
PARIS, WEDNZSDAT EVENING.

There was a grand debate in the Senate yester-
day on a petition of certain " clericals" of St.
Etienne, oomplaining that in the " popular library"
of that town, under the patronage of the municipal
council, there were to be found the works of Vol-
taire, Rousseau, Michelet, Ronan, George Sand,
Proudhon, Pelletan, and many other standard
productions of French literature. Senator Suin
made a report some days ago, strongly recommend-
ing that the petition should be referred tl govern-
ment for the purpose of taking action upon it. The
report was received with boisterous approbation
by the majority of the Senate which thought it mon-
strous that the common people should have
facilities for reading any books but those which
their betters might think good for them. On the
adjourned debate yesterday, M. Sainte Beuve,
one of the youngest senators, who was appointed
by the Emperor on account of his great merit as a
critic and essayist, made a speech against the
report.
Baron Dupin, cheered on by admiring auditors,
made a speech quite worthy of a member of the
Inquisition, and taking it for granted throughout
that the Senate was an infallible authority to de-
cide what literature the people might read.
M. lsaroche, who spoke from the government '
bench, threw cold water upon Baron Dupin's and
M. Suites virtuous indignation. He thought the
report greatly " exaggerated," but he did
not oppose the reference of the petition
to government, upon the understanding that
it would be only used as an indication of
opinion with reference to a decree some time in
preparation regulating the management of those
new institutions, " popular libraries," which are
quite distinct from the old communal libraries.
The government will probably endeavour not to
offend consciences in districts where the clericals
are strong, but will certainly not adopt any such
sweeping interdiction as the Senate would like
to see.

The Bourse closed weak, with scarcely any
change.

STATUE OP AR. COBDEN IN SALFORD.

Yesterday afternoon Mr. Noble's statue of
Cobden was formally unveiled in the Peel-park, Salford.
This is one of the three parks thrown open to the people
as recreation grounds by the munificent subscriptions
which were raised more than 20 years ago. The park
already contained four other statues by the same sculptor,
-one of the queen, which her Majesty has visited and
greatly admired ; one of the Prince Consort ; one of the
late Mr. Brotherton, member for the borough; and one
of the statesman after whom the park is named. It was
the first statue of Sir It. Peel that was raised in this coun-
try. Salford has had every eacouragement to persevere in
employing Mr. Noble, for the marble statues of the Queen and
Prince have withstood unstained the sooty atmosphere of
the place, and his latest work is so admirable a likeness of
Mr. Cobden as to have provoked comparisons with the
Manchester statue, to the prejudice of the latter - the
more favourable first impression being largely due' no
doubt, to the superior brightnem of marble to bronze. The
statue has been seen and highly commended by Mrs. Cob-
den, and by many of Mr. Cobden's most distinguished
associates. The figure is colossal, and of the best Cam-
panella marble, so called from its sounding like a
bell when struck. It is of remarkably hard and durable
quality, and of a pleasing light grey colour. Mr. Cobden
is represented in the ordinary drew of an English gentle-
man, and in an attitude of quiet dignity, one hand holding
some papers, while the other, his left, slightly supports the
head, which is bent downwards as if in deep thought. The
pedestal is of the finest Aberdeen granite, from the quarry
of Messrs. M'l)onnell and Field, 12 feet high, and of a grey
colour several degrees darker than the statue. On the four
sides of the plinth are inscribed these four mottoes, em-
bodying Mr. Cobden's own leading principles asa states-
man :-" Repeal of the Corn Laws, " English and
French Treaty of Commerce," " Education and Free
Trade." '• Peace and Non-intervention." On the abaft of
the pedestal there is the all-sufficient word, "Cobden."
The ceremonial -uncovering of the statue-had been
repeatedly postponed through some difficulty in
arranging a day upon which it might be con-
veniently conducted by one of Mr. Cobden's oldest
coadjutors in the anti-corn-law struggle, Mr.
Villiers, M.P., who was prominent as a parliamentary
advocate of free trade before Mr. Cobden entered public
life. As Mr. Villiers yesterday said, addressing the nume-
rous audience of ladies and gentlemen who were present,
it is 30 years since he emne from afar to visit Manchester
for the purpose solely of making Mr. Cobden's acquaint-
ance, having been prompted to do so by the perusal of one
of his earlier literary productions. When he observed the
wisdom and enlightenment that appeared in that early
work he became most anxious to be acquainted
and take counsel with the author upon the sub-
ject of repealing those unrighteous laws which tam-
pered with the food of the people. Mr. Cobden at
that time was reluctant to believe that the reformed
parliament, as it was then called, would not repeal the
corn laws, whereas the probability was that had the corn
laws not existed that parliament would have enacted
them, so greatly strengthened were the interests which
favoured them, by the Reform Act, much to the
disappointment of its framers. Mr. Villiers entered
into a comprehensive view of Mr. Cobden's career and
character, especially vindicating him from the charge of
being either an agitator or a visionary. The late hour at
which the proceedings took place precludes a more extended
report.
• -

Among the gentlemen who assisted on the OCCIIAOII
were Mr. George Wilson, Mr. Cheatham, M.P. Mr. M.
Ross (president of the Chamber of Commerce), the Mayors
of Salford and Manchester, and Mr. Wright Turner, el-
mayor of Salford, who was chairman of the erection
committee.

Sir George Stucley to-morrow will ask the Vice-
Presideut of the Council whether it is not expedient that
enclosed markets, provided with lairs and slaughter.
houses, should be established at the ports where the
entry Of foreign cattle is permitted ; that markets should
be held there ; that buyers should buy u at other markets;
that cattlgshould not be removed alive, but killed or re-
tained alive in lairs ; and that importers not selling on one
market day might hold the cattle over to the next.

Mr. AClanil, on third reading of tho Church
Rates Abolition Bill, will move that the bill be re-com-
mitted, for the purpose of considering the following ad-
ditional clause :—" The restoration or rebuilding of any
church situated in • parish in which a landowner has land,
or the building of • new church in such pariah, shall be
deemed to be an improvement of land within ' The Im-
provement of Land Act, 1864,' and all the provisions of
the said •ct shall apply accordingly ; moreover, for the
purposes of the said act as amended by this section, an
archbishop, bishop, rector, or vicar, or other person holding
►ny ecclesiastical benefice, shall be deemed to be • land-
owner in respect of the lands held by him in respect of
his pee or benefice."

The select committee on the Oxford and Cam-
bridge Universities Education Bill immix's!, of the follow-
ing members :—Mr. Ewart, Viscount Cranborne, Mr.
Gladstone, Sir W. Heathoote, Mr. Lowe, Mr. Selwyn,
Mr. W. E. Forster, Mr. Liddell, Mr. C. Fortescue, Mr. B.
Hope, Mr. Fawcett, Mr. B. Cochrane, Mr. Neste, Mr.
Sclaterßooth, Mr. Goschen, Mr. Powell, Mr. Pollard-
Urquhart, Mr. W. Egerton, Mr. Acland, Sir M. H. Beach,
and Mr. Grant Duff.

A letter from Dublin says :—" The old Pagan
fire-worship still survives in Ireland, though nominally in
honour of St. John. On Sunday night bonfires were ob-
served throughout nearly every county in the province of
Leinster. In Kilkenny fires blazed on every hillside at In-
tervale of about a mile. There were very many in the
Queen's County, also in Kildare and Wexford. The effect
in the rich sunset appeared to travellers very grand. The
people assemble and dance round the fires, children jump
through the flames, and in former times live coals were
carried into the corn fields to prevent blight. Of course,
the people are not conscious that this midsummer celebra-
tion is a remnant of the worship of Baal. It is believed
by many that the round towers were intended for signal
fires in connexion with this worship."
NATIONAL REFORM UNION.—The National Re-
form Union have called a third meeting at St. James's
Hall, on Friday evening next, for the purpose of protesting
against the redistribution scheme of the government. end
to demand adequate representation for the metropolitan
and other large borough constituencies. Mr. Geom.
Wilson (of Manchester), the veteran chairman of the old
Anti-Corn•law League, will preside on the occasion. Mr.
Jacob Bright will also be preseataantether with Mr. John
Stuart Mill, M.P., and other gea