The Express.
London, England, 1866-07-02 00:00:00

THE WAR.

The Times sums up the general results of the separate
and desultory engagements which took place in the latter
part of last week in Bohemia, coming to the conclusion
that if it were Marshal Benedek's intention to oppose the
Prussian column. as they advanced singly through the
mountain passes, or to prevent their junction on the plain,
he has failed, and has now only one way of restoring the
fortunes of the Austrian empire, and that is to crush the
enemy, if he can, by one decisive blow. The battle be-
tween the whole forme of the two great powers ought to be
imminent, and King William and Count Bismarck, who
were yesterday at Reichenberg, have probably timed their
movements so as to have an opportunity of witnessing
the great contest which is for ever to settle the question of
Prussian or Austrian supremacy over Germany. The
armies will be nearly matched ; the oombatants belong in
a great measure to the same race ; their temper, their
discipline, their proficiency in all the recent improve-
ments of the art of war are nearly equal. The artil-
lery is said to be perfect on both sides, and any
advantage accruing to the Prussians by the pecu-
liarity of their arms is probably counterbalanced by
the excellence of the Hungarian and Bohemian horse.
The Times finds it difficult to foresee what the next
move of the Italians can be, anti says the defeat of Cas-
tors& seems to have crippled the movements of the volun.
teem, and condemned Garibaldi himself to inactivity.
The Daily News remarks that the difficulty in which the
attentive reader ia placed by the contradictions between
the Austrian and Prussian account, is one that was not
felt either during the American war or in the Italian
war of 1859. After a battle between Federal, and Con-
federates it was always possible to make out
who had gained the day, although our information
came exclusively from New York. We expect to find the
victorious and the defeated generals variously using the
art of "putting things," but we expect them to represent
the same facts, and not to report the retreat of an oppo-
nent when the only thing doubtful is whether the forces
of the general reporting can venture to bivouac on the
ground. Pains spent in discussing the bearings of facts
which are themselves so doubtful would be thrown away.
All we can do is to wait and see which aide is compelled to
give ground.

THE INTENDED REFORM DEMONSTRATION
THIS EVENING.

Copies of the following circular are being exten-
sively distributed throughout London to-day :
" The Reform League invite the men of London to meet
in Trafalgar-square, to-night, Monday, July 2, to up-
hold Gladstone and Liberty' and Vindicate the Right of
Public Meeting.' Chairman, Mr. Edmond Wales, M.A.,
President of the Reform League. The men of Holton
will meet in Ho:ton-market, ►t 7 o'clock ; and the men of
Clerkenwell at half-past 7, on Clerkenwell-green, and walk
in a body to the meeting, preceded by a military bend."

OPEN-AIR REFORM MEETING IN BIRMINGHAM.

On Wednesday next an open-air meeting, under
the auspices of the Birmingham Reform League, will be
held in Birmingham, when a large number of the trades
unionists are expected to be present. The meeting will be
addressed by a number of local speakers in support of the
principles of reform. It is expected that the place of
assembly will be Congreve-street.

ITALIAN VIEW OP A TORY MINISTRY.

The Na-ione of Florence says :

There is a movement abroad in Europe which is un-
favourable to the conservative spirit, and the cabinet of
St. James would be unwise if it sustained principles
against which the unanimous feeling of all civilised nations
revolts. It is not credible that Lord Derby will put for-
ward principles which are outgrown and used up, and
make a political programme out of them. The best proof
of this is that the office of foreign affairs is to be entrusted
to Lord Stanley, who, though the eldest son of Lord
Derby, instead of obstinately adhering to the anti-pro-
gressive traditions of old toryistn, has always studied and
followed the advance of public opinion, has often dis-
pleased the conservative party by his speeches, votes, and
measures, and who, by his excellent views on Canada and
church rates, ban procured for himself the name of a
•' social reformer."

The Etvile dot Nun, is to be repeated on Friday
at Covent Garden, the other operas announced being
Faust e Marghersta (to•night—last time); Don Giovanni
(to-morrow night); the Africaine (Thursday) ; and
Luereia Borgia (Saturday).

Robert le Diable (first time) is announced for
Thursday, at her Majesty's Theatre, when a new singer,
Mdlle. Celestine Lavini, will make her debut in the cha-
racter of Alice, the Princess being assigned to Mdlle. de
Murska, Bertram to Herr Rokitansty, and Robert to
Signor Team Selections from Li/tore/4 Der Freiockatz,
and La Sonnaw.beta are to be given at the last morning
performance, on Friday, and on Saturday Seniirantide is to
be performed for the first time this season, with Mdlls.
Titiens as Semiramide, and Madame Trebelli Bettini as
Arsace.

The fortifications at Hurst, at the mouth of the
Solent, are still progressing. It has been estimated that
they will cost twenty millions sterling. They are of
enormous magnitude and strength. The lea wall, •
quarter of a mile long, is being built of gigantic blocks of
granite ten or • dozen tons weight each. The fortifica-
tions will be armed with about thirty Armstrong 300
pounders, each gun costing between 3,0001. and 4,0001.
Many are of opinion that a few of our old ships of war iron
plated and moored at the mouth of the Solent would be as
effectual as the Hurst fortifications. The fortifications on
the opposite side of the Solent, which cost about two
milhons 'of money, are pronounced to be useless. They
are built of brick, which would be knocked to pieces by
heavy gene, so that artillery men could not live in a fort
built of such materials.

The long-pending Banda and Kirwee prize money
case came to an end on Saturday. The judgment delivered
by Dr. Lnshington was printed, and fills 79 pages of a blue
book. The point at issue was, bow far troops employed
in military operations are entitled to share in cases when
not actually present at the spot where the capture was
made. The judgment disallows all claims where there
was no legal "co-operation." The amount of booty in-
volved is 450,000 f., besides interest for several years.
Rev. A. P. Peabody, D. D. , Professor at Hamad
College, has sailed for Europe to attend the meeting of
archaeologists at Antwerp, and to make the tour on the
Continent. He will also visit the Holy Land, intending
to be absent about eight months.