The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-26 00:00:00

APR

to Court.

OSBO]
The Queen walked in the grounds yeste
morning, accompanied by Princess Helms, Pri
Louise, and Prince Christian of Soldeswig-Holstein ; and
again in the afternoon, accompanied by Winces, Louise.
Prince Arthur arrived in the afternoon from Greenwich-
park, attended by Major Slphinstone and the Rev. W. B.
Jolley.
The Hon. and Very Rev. the Dean of Windsor and
Mrs. Wellesley arrived at Osborne yesterday, and had the
honour of dining with the Queen and royal family.
To-day is the birthday of the Prinoess Louis of Hesse.
Lady Churchill has succeeded the Countess of Caledon
sa Lady in Waiting.
Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon left Osborne to-day.

A Cabinet Council was held yesterday, at the
private residence of the First Lord of the Treasury
in Chesham-place. The ministers present were
Earl Russell, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Granville,
the Duke of Argyll, Sir George Grey the Earl of
Clarendon, the Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, the
Marquis of Hartington, Earl de Grey, the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, the Duke of Somerset, the
Right Hon. T. Milner Gibson, Lord Stanley of
Alderley, and the Right Hon. .P. Villiers.

A committee of the Lords of her Majesty's Most Hon.
Privy Council sat yesterday in the Council Chamber,
Whitehall, on the subject of the Cattle Plague.
The State Apartments of Windsor Castle will be closed
on and after Saturday next, the 28th but., Until further
orders.

Lieutenant-General Knollys has informed Mr.
H. H. Sales, secretary to the Metropolitan Adult Educa-
tion Association, that the Prince of Wales has consented
to allow the annual gathering of Mechanics' Institutions,
Young Men's Societies, Working Men's Clubs, and Even-
ing Classes, at the Crystal Palace on June 18, to be under
his special patronage. His royal hishneas has also con-
tributed ten guineas towards the expenses of the athletic
sports.
Mrs. W. E. Gladstone had an assembly last night
at the Chancellor of the Exchequer's residence on Carl-
ton house-terrace. Among the visitors who assembled

were the Prince de is Tour d'Asivargne, the Spanish
Minister, the Marquis de Tainisier, the Duke of Argyll,
the Marquis of Clanricarde, the Earl and Countess
Granville, the Earl Cowper, the Countess de Grey, the
Earl mid Countess of Ducie ; Frances Countess Walde-
grave and the Right Hon. C. Fortescue, M.P. ; Viscount
Milton, Lord Edward Cavendish, M.P., and Lady Edward
Cavendish ; Lord William Hay, M.P. ; the Lord Mayor
and Lady Mayoress and Miss Barnet ; the Right Hon. C.
B. Adderley, M.P., and Miss Adderley ; the Right Hon. Sir
Thos. Fremantle and Miss Fremantle; the Right Hon. G.
J. Goschen, M.P., the Right Hon. T. M. Gibson, M.P.,
Sir John Gray, M.P., Sir Henry Rawlinson, M.P., Sir
Henry Hoare, M.P., Sir Percy Burrell, M.P., Sir Janie/
Matheson, Sir John Johnstone, M.P., Sir Thomas
Western, M.P., Mr. Layard, M.P., Mr. Stansfeld,
Mr. G. Shaw Lefevre, M.P., Captain Hon. Robert Grosve-
nor, 31. P., Hon. Charles Howard, M.P., the Lord-Advo-
cate, the Right Hon. Thomas and Mrs. Headlani, Mr.
Jardine, M.P., Mr. C. Forster, M.P., and Mrs. Forster,
Mr. Moffatt, M.P., Mr. Buxton, M.P., and Mrs. Buxton,
Mr. A. Peel, M.P., and Mrs. Peel, Mr. Alfred Rothschild,
Mr. W. Forster, M.P., Mr. Rebow, M.P., Mr. T. Hughes,
M.P., and Mrs. Hughes, Mr. Stone, M.P., and many others.
The Countess Apponyi will have an evening party
on Saturday next at the Austrian Embassy.

The Right Hon. Sir A. J. E. Cockburn, Lord
Chief Justice of England, has arrived at the Alexandra
Hotel, Hyde-park-corner.
The Duke and Duchess of Cleveland entertained
the following guests at dinner yesterday evening, at their
residence in St. James'saquare :—The Marchioness of
Salisbury, the Earl Somers, the Earl and Countess Stan-
hope and Lady Mary Stanhope, Viscount and Viscountess
Holmeadale, Viscount and Viscountess Doneraile, Vis-
count St. Asaph, Viscount and Viscountess Sudley, Lord
and lady Proby, Lord Dunkellin, Lord William Hay, the
Bishop of Oxford, Sir Ivor Guest, and Hon. Edward
Stanhope. Later in the evening the duchess had an even-
ing party.
Last night Lady Virginia Sandars gave a ball
at her residence in Eaton-square. The ball was given on
the occasion of the debut of Lady Madeline Taylour, niece
of Lady Virginia Sandars, and daughter of the Earl of
Bective.

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

MEETING.-(THIS DAY.)

The annual meeting of 'the members and friends
of this society was held this morning in Exeter Hall, 11
under the presidency of Mr. W. F.. BAXTER, M.P.
The Secretary read the report, which stated that
the receipts of the year had been 27,016/., and the ex-
penditure 30,1331. 12s. &.1. The society had lost several
valuable missionaries during the past year, and the
staff had been further weakened by the return of
two missionaries from China. Only two of the vacancies
had been filled up, nor would the committee consider
themselves justified in making the appointments until the
funds of the society were greatly augmented. The affairs
of Jamaica had naturally created much attention during
the past year. The conduct of Governor Eyre and the
island press in reference to the letter of Dr. Underhill,
had greatly damaged the missionary cause. The
conunittee had the fullest confidence in Dr. Un-
derhill and the purity of his motives in calling
upon the Secretary of State for the Colonies to institute an
inquiry into the condition of Jamaica. They indulged the
hope that in future prosperity and peace would be secured
to all classes in Jamaica. The committee had under con-
sideration what steps should be adopted to protect the
mission in Jamaica, and had already determined to estab-
lish a station at Morant Bay. The recent disturbances had
had a prejudicial effect upon the stations, and there had
been a diminution of 2,000 in the number of members with
only an addition of 300 bybaptisnis. The report alluded with
satisfaction to the recognition of the services of the baptist
missionaries in Jamaica by Sir Henry Storks. The Chair-
' man in a lengthened speech defended the cause of missions
against what he termed the fashionable incredulity of the
day. Formerly missions were ridiculed not only by frivolous
men, but by philosophers, politicians, and some leading
statesmen. The jeering was now in lower tone, but there
was still dislike and distrust, although all must admit that
in Africa, for instance, that which warriors, merchants,and
statesmen could not effect had been achieved by the
humble missionaries of Christianity. With regard to the
affairs of Jamaica he might mention that the
report of the Royal Commissioners would be in
the hands of the country in the course of a
few days. As a member of the imperial parliament
he would not prejudge that report, but this he would say
that if the civil and military authorities of Jamaica who
had been accused were found guilty, although he wanted
no more executions, for enough blood had been shed
already, the people of England would expect that her
Majesty's government would do its duty. (Cheers.) The
Rev. Mr. Robinson of the London Missionary Society ; the
Rev. W. Dale, of Birmingham, and other gentlemen
addressed the meeting and the report was adopted.