The Express.
London, England, 1859-03-14 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY Emma, MARCII 14, 1869.-

" and meantime be me yea ranee to tale" My pee
~ cant on account."

Nevertheless, we venture to say age; that ilia
in this manifesto of the Member for Coventry Are
recognise unmistakeable symptoms of desperation
among the advocates of anti-Reform. The old diplo-
matic tact and skill is wanting at every turn. The
ambiances are too transparent and can beguile
nobody. It was Mr. Daurinomo, we think, that
ones taunted certain politicians professing extreme
views with being "reedy to vote for all
im-
possible motions." Who would have thought
that so grave and experienced a personage
as the gentleman above alluded to would
have been betrayed into subjecting himself to
such an imputation? Household Suffrage being, he
thinks, unattainable, be is strongly in its favour ; bat
a N. or a 6J. franchise, to which nearly all the leading
men in the House of Commons, sad many in the
House of Lords, are actually committed, might be
carried, so he is vehemently opposed to that. Could
be bays persuaded the chiefs of the Liberal Opposi-
tion to follow hie advice, and to vote for the do-
nothing Bill of the Government, with, as be says,
the amire-pestsee of finding some pretext for fling-
ing it out on the third reading, he would have been
happy, and we should not have had a word about
Household Suffrage in the paulo post future tense.

•, - -
11 LATh ;ORD MURRAY.
Lord Murray, the lasfsf thetarkAle coterie
V
Scotch vers whose fel* has iiigth over all lie
world, w 4 the John Archibald Murray who wail so
beloved by Horner,and by a multitude of persons who
never saw him, for Horner's sake. At the time of
the renewal of the war, in 1803, we find him full of
military zeal, like the other young lawyers of the
day. Horner went to drill every day ; Mackintesb
wrote the glorious address of the merchants and
bankers of London ; Brougham put out " weekly
incitements to patriotism ;" and Murray helped him
with something called "the Beacon," now for-
gotten. They tried to stir up Campbell to pro-
duce some lyrics ; and Horner wrote to Mur-
ray to advise an appeal of the same sort to
Walter Scott, whose " border spirit of chivalry"
"heady marked him out for that service. Murray,
however, soon subsided into the function which
might be called that of his life,—that of furthering
whig elections and other interasta, in Scotland first,
and elsewhere when he could. In 1806 we find him
busy canvassing in favour of Lord Henry Petty's
Cambridge election, among the Cambridge graduates
who had formerly been at Edinburgh, or the students
who were there at that time. Electioneering was
a serious busier,' in days when a man like Horner
could say to his familiar friend, " Write to me often,
my dear Murray : one has no pleasure in dwelling
upon any public subjects while the liberties and
wealth of England are mouldering away, and the
institutions of Europe stiffening into barbarism:
bat the gratifications of private affection are
untouched by these revolutions; and though
they give a sadder oast to one's conversation, they
cannot impair our confidence and freedom." In up-
holding the whig interests in Edinburgh, Murray
was not only a diligent guardian of those interests,
bat distinguished, while young, as a light popular
orator, in days of fierce contention and all sorts of
discouragement to the liberal side. The chief aber-
ration of the Edinburgh whigs, their advocacy of
Bonaparte, was fully shared by Murray. In their
detestation of the reimposition of the Bourbons upon
the French, they fell back upon Napoleon, as the
only alternative, and exalted him to a degree which,
es is well known, damaged the influence of their
Review, and impaired public confidence in them as
champions of popular liberty. The readers of
Scott's Life are aware how the Quarterly Review
thence arose; and also how, when the question was
settled by time,—when Napoleon was dead, and
it was not foreseen that the Bourbons would be again
cast out, the irate feelings of the politicians of
Edinburgh gave way, and they met occasionally
like neighbours and friends, in forgetfulness for the
hour of the politics of their lives. There is a
in Scott's Diary, about a dinner at Marray'sm%
winter of 1827, which is interesting now when the
host himself is gone. " Went to dine with John
Murray, where met his brother (Henderland),
Jeffrey, Cockburn, Rutherford, and others of that
file. Very pleasant, capital good cheer, and excel-
lent wine : much laughter and fan. Ido not know
how it is, bat when I am oat with a party of my
Opposition friends, the day is often merrier thin
when with our owe est. Is it because they are
cleverer? Jeffrey and Harry Cockburn are, to be
sure, very retreat:Hasty men ; yet it is not owing to
that entirely. I believe both parties meet with a
feeling of something like novelty. We have not worn
out our jests in daily contact. There is also a dis-
position on such ocessiocs to be courteous, and of
scum to be pleased." Murray's seems and achieve-
ment of hospitality were always remarkable.
This capital dinner was given the year before
his marriage. In 1828 he married Miss Rigby, the
daughter of a Lancashire merchant (then living in
Cheshire), and the niece of Sir George Phillips, of
Manchester. His tea-table at St. Stephen's, when
be was Lord Advocate—that remarkable tea-table
presided over by Lady (then Mrs.) Murray—fs well
remembered by those who were weekly guests at it.
It was a long table, with an enormous and exe•-•-
sively rich Edinburgh cake in the centre—and such
a company round it. When Sydney Smith was in
town he was scam to be there; and the Jeffreys and
Dundases, and all the Scotch, with plenty of English
celebrities. The Lord Advocate's chambers were
under the same roof with the Hon* of Lords, and in
the iniervala of the debate, Lorda and Commons need to
come dropping in for tea, and that unique coke, sod
chat, till the summons to a division called them
away, rushing and scrambling like schoolboys at the
last stroke of the bell. Asa contrast, then was the
Murrays' country-house at Streicher, on Loch
Fyne. There, in the depth of Highland se-
clusion, the guests were expected to make
themselves perfectly at home, and he as free as the
winds. There were guides always at hand for
strangers : there was the late steamer at command,
to carry them up to Inverary. At breakfast, there
was every sort of fish yielded by the waters of the
region ; and at dinner, everything that could be got
from mountain or flood—red deer soup, salmon,
game pies, grouse, &e. The hospitality of the Mur-
rays was remarkable everywhere; and their desire
to see others happy deepened the concern of their
friends at the sorrow which clouded their house.
Their only child died early, and with him their
bright enjoyment of life went out.
Mr. Murray's first office was that of Clerk of the
Pipe—a sinecure in the Scotch Exchequer, given
him when the whine came in. The office is now
abolished. In 1834 he was made Lord Advocate,
and held the appointment for five years, without dis-
tinguishing himself, or being able to carry his
measures. He was evidently not qualified for poli-
tical life; and he was removed, as early as practica-
ble, to the Court of Session, where he held a judge-
ship till his death. As a mark of attention, on
account of prior service, he was made a baronet at
the same time as • judge, that his lady might be
titled also. They spent the remaining years of his
long life chiefly in Edinburgh, and at their country
seat; and there were few in the populous parts of
Scotland to whom the bland countenance and white
hair of the old judge were naknown.
We may seem to have devoted a disproportionate
space to our notice of a man who failed to distinguish
himself when his opportunity came, and whose
ability seemed really to be in a course of evapora-
tion from early manhood onward. But he was the
last of a remarkable set of men who have produced a
good deal of effect (though much less than they
might have done) on their century. The pan
of John Archibald, Lord Murray, covers more
than the one last departed. It hides the
final glimpse we had of the brilliant period
and hopeful oompany to which this last survmoe
bore his part, when that life opened before him
which disappointed him so strangely. The mighty
Edinburgh Whip who set up the Retina are now a
tradition • and it is natural to linger end gaze to the
lasts the pall is finally spread over what was so
fall of vitality and promise, and so ever present to
the successive political generations of a period of
sixty years.

LATEST IN'l ELLIUENQS.

PERSIA.

CONSTANTINOPLE, lisacu 13.'
Advice' have been received from Teheran to the
2nd of February.
Ferukh Khan has been appointed Keeper of the
Beal, Chief of the Shah's Household, and Grand
Marshal of the Palace.

Houma Ali, aide-de-camp to the Shah, has been
appointed Ambassador to the courts of London and
Paris.

BELGRADE.

MARCH 6.

The Austrian troops concentrated in the neigh-
bourhood of &mho, in order to observe Beryl., are
about to leave their present position. The force,
eoosiving of nearly 12,000 men, is ordered to march
towards Trieste; and the belief is that it will ulti-
mately be sent to Verona, where the reserves of the
army of Italy will be assembled.

NAPLES.

ItftELSEILLES, 84rcanAT.

According to &deices received here from Naples to
the 9th instant, the King and royal family had dis-
embarked at Castellamare, and were about to start
for Caserta in an invalid carriage.
Extraordinaty activity prevailed in the arsenals.
A levy of 18,000 men had been ordered for the
end of May. Altogether during the year ending at
the present time 343,000 men had been enlisted.
There have been fresh earthquakes in the Abrausi,
and several new craters have recently opened in
Moaot Vesuvius.

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(non ova own 001111111PONDINT.)
PARIS, SUNDAY EDDYING.
There is very little news to-day, but the situation
sontioues to be considered as very alarming. It is
quite certain that the position of several of the
ministers who could not get on with Prince Napo-
leon is seriously threatened. The assertion that the
recent pacific article in the Moniteur was " neither
written by the Emperor nor published with his good
will," is repeated in va• ions forms by the unavowed
organs of the Tuileries. Hints are also given that
the Emperor is not so well served u he ought to be,
and that certain functionaries are wanting in
zeal, lively faith, and elevated views. I can hardly
think that the week can expire before the Moniteur
will announce some important changes.

A biography of the prefects ie announced, in
which those suspected of lukewarmness are very se-
verely treated.
It would seem that the Bourse rumour of Sardinia
having called upon France for reinforcement, to the
extent of 75,000 men was net so absurd as had been
supposed in some quarters. It is stated on authority
which can scarcely be doubted that Count Cavour in
• meant interview with the French smbusador
at Turin, the Prince de la Tour d'Auvergne,
plainly told the latter that the time had come to
all upon (rnettre ex demeure) the French 'govern-
ment to perform its promises, and furnish aid pur-
suant to the " defensive" alliance, the military
attitude of Austria on the frontier appearing to the
Sardinian government so aggressive as to be tanta-
mount to a declaration of war. M. de la Tour
d'Anvergne is said to have entreated Count Cavour
to defer his formal request fora little while in order
to give time for consideration to the goverment of
the Tuileries.

Measures of extraordinary severity were taken
yesterday and to-day to prevent the bolding of any
"little Bourse" on the Boulevard. I bear that an
aide-de-camp of Marshal Canrobert was arrested
for not moving on the instant he was spoken to by •
eergent-deorille.
The important line of railway from Marseilles to
T,ulon will be opened to the public on May 1.
Trains already run between the two ports on
military service.
It is rumoured from Rome that the Pope is about
to send Cardinal Viale Preala to Vienna, and
Cardinal di Pietro to Paris, to propose arrange-
ments as to the mode of evacuating the Roman
States.

It is reported that M. Guerinit, the ex-war writer
in the P , has obtained permission to set up a
newspaper of his own, and that he- is only waiting
for funds. Several writers in the Presto have re-
signed in consequence of the return of M. Neffrzer
to the staff of that journal.
The committee on the budget has proposed several
important amendments, the examination of which
by the Council of State will necessarily take up a
great deal of time. It is given out that
the committee will insist upon their amend-
ments with more pertinacity than they did
last year. An immense number of protests
have been made by proprietors interested against
die scheme, for extending the barriers of Paris to
the fortifications. So violent is the opposition,
that the government thinks of capitulating upon
several points relating to compensation. The bill
will probably not be ready to be laid before the
Corps Legislative for some time, and a prolongation
of the melon is already spoken of.

The Nord mentions a rumour that the Count de
Paris is about to accept a commission in the Prussian
army.
PARIS. SATURDAY EVENING.
This evening's Pattie contains the following para-
graph at the head of its leading column :
The uncertainty, which prevailed as to Lord
Cowley.' mission is in the way of being cleared up.
It appears to be beyond doubt that it has produced
no positive result."
Although Lord Cowley's mission, being one
which in English is termed " confidential," and in
French " oftiesse," was not one of a nature to lead
to a result which could be yet declared officially,
the conspicuous place given to the above paragraph
shows the impression here.
The Boone his been comparatively calm to-day.
There were no fresh rumours. The Rente left off at
yesterday's price, 68.15 for cash and 68.15 (with a
nee of be.) for account. Mobilier rose 1.25. Two
or three of the railways were from 2.60 to 5 higher,
and the other lines were without change.
It appears to be certain that the Conference rela-
tive to the Principalities will assemble next week.
The new Prussian ambassador, Count Pourtales, is
expected to-morrow. Lord Cowley will be here on
Monday, and then all the plenipotentiaries necessary
to form the meeting will be in Paria. It is thought
that existing difficulties will be easily solved. Some
think that the Italian question will be mewioned. I
doubt it. At all events there is no chanee of its
befog discussed in the Conference to any good
purpose.

We read in the Vienna Gazette : " Accounts
from Sebastopol state that only a few of the old inhabitints
hare returned ; the city appears almost deserted end com-
merce& an end. Formerly Sebastopol nantherel 45,000 tuba.
hunts ; now it contains scarcely a Birth of that number.
The wood huts built by the French serve so reeldences for
the pessane. The funeral monuments of the French and
English at fiebsetopol and Balakhva am =injured."
According to an account made up from official
document; the number of cigars and cigarettes eonsumed in
Frarge. is 1857 WM u follows :—H.venne and Manilla
tigers, 36,086.600; cigars made in Frame, 481,071,600;
cigaiertee, 6,478.000: total. 623,636,000.
The Peninsular and North African Steam Nitride.
tine Company's Amer, Warrior, Capt. H. Coot er anived
la the Rorer Themes, this morning, bringing mails from
Tenerlffe, 22nd February; Hounder, 26th February; Cadiz,
6th Nardi; Lies a, R She brings a large cargo, MGM-
let four pckeges of spec I.
ie.
Inuit TEAM-GOADS IN PARIS.—Tbe carriages
which run on the boo tram red to:fit. Cloud, 86vree, and
T. maim, wed olakL la.v. hilLerio oeurled Item 11. ealaluve
of the ewers la Rein., on the Place de Is Concorde, now
tales up yammerers in the Roe de Lume, in feint of
iho Colonnade. Is order that the prafecting part of the tire
of the wheils of three cordage-a may not injure the road of the
Quaff des Tuileries and du Louvre, over which they have to
pass, • mown has been bond to remove and replace It at the
station Milts Cows la Heine, when the carriages go on the
rails
LOCREND HOUSE. DONIAI.—On Frlday,tbe man-
sion of Loolarnd, sear Dauber, one of the seats of Sr; John
Warreader, was destroyed by fire. The fire wax discovered
at about 11 o'clock forenoon, and ethbottly originated in an
attic room, but inch was the viiibnon of the wind. that In a
117:1*holy Mort time the whole build erg was enveloped
, and the fire engines from Boob& only arrive l in
time to fled that all &Itch t i rave the building were wields.
The horse woo en e egat.t Elizabethan itiuct are, shoot thirty
years old, sad wee occupied at the time by Mr. Reome
Werreader, young. r, whom lady had a few dies previ.,usly
given birth to •ma end heir. The mother not intent were
removed on the first alarm to the coachmen's home, pre.
pent ay to being conveyed to Warn-Oder-park, Edinburgh.
By the exertions of the re:rants, firemen, sad where who
were attrected to the epot, the gee it, r met of the raluab'e
collection of psintiogs, the plate, Mrs. Warr nit es Jewels,
and several lupe end sOnatlld shows were saved ; but
Dearly the whole of the wetly furniture, an Immense
number of ornaments cad articles of =h, marble tables,
&c., were either consume! by the flames er Er dies by bring
throws out —often &aweigh the plot...glase windows, upon
the lam) below, where the rain, which came down in ta-
unts foe some hours, comee:ed the work of destruction In
the see &many of the articles which otherwise had escaped
duets In hes than two hours the mension-house was
reduced to a tot.] rate. Tbe lire is estimated at 20,0001. or
30,0001, wbloh 1a to a considerable extent covered by ht.
summit.
Psis ]toss.-Sir Jams Matheson is about to
snot extensile chemical works foe the manufacture of
parallam en., from pert moss—the coat of which will be
several thousand pounds—at Oansbost, near the town of
stalsoray. Espuiseate have been slowly made by two
geot/msna of high repu'ation, end with a 'stabile,' rash.
These works sill be a Wine, of empiliornt to &imp sum-
her at tier labouring einem—lmams; Courier. 1