The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-06 00:00:00

THE GOVERNMENT REFORM BILL

DEPUTATION TO THE CHANCELLOR OF THE

EXOREQUKR.-(Tillf) DAY.)

This afternoon, ie reply to a deputation from
the Manchester Constitutional Association and other
conservative associations,
The CHANCELLoR of the EXCHEQUER said the contest
was in fact only beginning. There had been a great deal of
skirmishing and a great deal of movement on the
part of their opponents. As to the amendment introduced
last night, though there might be some doubts as to its
precise meaning, there could be no doubt that it
was an attempt on the part of a large party
to defeat the effort which was being made to settle
the question of reform on rational principles. The depu-
tation might rest assured that the cardinal points of
the bill would be retained, and the government felt
sure that if it should become necessary for them to
appeal to the country they would not appeal in vain.
Under no circumstances would the government concede
the vital point of the rate-paying clause and an adequate
residence.

Cite Court.

WINDSOR CASTLE, APRIL 3.

The Queen drove out yesterday afternoon in a
carriage and four, accompanied by Princess Christian, and
attended by Lady Churchill.
Her Majesty went out this morning, accompanied by
Princess Louise.

Prince and Princess Christian drove out ; Prince
Leopold, attended by Mr. Sshl, went out walking, and
Princess Beatrice rode in the Home-park.

A Committee of the Lords of her Majesty's Most Hon.
Privy Council sat yesterday, at the Privy Councibaioe,
Whitehall, on the subject of the cattle plague. The lords
present were the Lord President the Duke of Richmond,
the Duke of Buckingham, Lord Robert Montagu, the
Right Hon. Spencer Walpole, the Right Hon. H. L. Corry,
and the Right Hon. Stephen Cave. Mr. Harrison and
Dr. Alexander Williams attended the committee.

Cienmr COU NCI L.—Summonses have been issued
fora Cabinet Council to-day at the First Lord of the Tree•
Bury's official residence in Downing-street.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, as
Fieldaarshal Commanding-in-Chief, held a levee yestcr.
day at the Hone Guards, at which upwards of 120 officers
attended.

Prince de Tech has communicated to the High-
land Society of London his desire to join that society.

The Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
honoured the Earl and Countess Stanhope by her company
at dinner yesterday evening, at their residence in Gros-
venor-place Houses. There were present to meet her
royal highness the Austrian Ambassador and the Countess
Apponyi, the Duke of Cleveland, the Marquis and Mar-
chioness of Salisbury, the Marquis of Bath, Viscount
Newport, Lord and Lady Cecilia Bingham, Hon. Percy
and Mrs. Wyndham, the Right Hon. Robert Lowe ; and
Lady Caroline Cust and Baron Lithe, in attendance on her
royal highness. The countess afterwards received a swell
and select party.
The celebrated annual Tichborne dole was dis-
tributed at Tichborne, in Hants, a few days since. The
dole consisted of 250 gallons of bread. It was distributed
in the name of Sir Henry Alfred Joseph Doughty Tich-
borne, the infant son of the late Sir Alfred Tichborne.
This dole was oi:ginated by the Tichborne family in
Henry the Second's time.

WINDSOR, FRIDAY NIGHT.—This evening a
telegram was despatched shortly after seven o'clock from
Windsor Castle to Dr. Farr, in London, requesting that
gentleman to attend her Royal Highnc is Princes.
Christian of Schleswig-Holstein. Arrangements were
made at Paddington for Dr. Farr to proceed to Windsor
by the 8.10 or a subsequent train. The doctor caught the
espreva, and aniv Mg at Windsor at 8.50, at once pro-
ceeded to the Castle.

THE " ROYAL PREFERENCE BOOK."—We have
recently been reading one of the most charming little
volumes that have ever come into our hands. It is no less
than the royal " Preference Book," the pages of which are
filled up by their Royal Highnesses the l'rince and Princess
of Wales, and the Princess Mary of Cambridge. This in-
teresting record, which is an original and authentic com-
position, is an account of the likings and dislikings of these
who, next to our gracious Queen herself, command, beyond
all others, the affectionate homage and respect of all loyal
Englishmen and Englishwomen. And, as taste is an index
to character, a book of this kind gives us a greater insight
into the disposition of the writers than as private indivi-
duals we could possibly obtain in any other way. Our
readers are perhaps aware of the general arrangement of the
work. In answer to the first question, "Who is your favour-
ite queen r the Prince and Princess Mary treat the question
historically, and unite in admiring Mary Queen of Scots.
The Princess of Wales, on the other hand, selects a more
modern instance, and dutifully gives the preference to her
own royal mother. Upon the subject of kings there has
been a great difference of opinion. The Prince has writ-
ten " Leopold, King of the Belgians." The Princess is in
favour of the warlike Cmur de Lion ; while the Princess
Mary, with womanly pity for the unfortunate, gives the
palm for Charles L Nelson, Marlborough, and Welling-
ton are the favourite heroes ; Shakespeare the favourite
poet of the Princess, and Byron that of the Prince and
Princess Mary. Raphael, Ruben', and Sir Joshua Rey-
nolds are selected from the list of artists. As an author
the Prince prefers Macaulay to all others; the ladies are
unanimous in favour of Charles Dickens. The virtues of
honesty and charity receive hearty sympathy, as might
well be supposed, at the hands of those to whom they
have long been familar. The Prince's favourite colour
is tae Gimere mixture known as " I Zingari ;'
the two princesses manifest • national partiality
to "True Blue." When we come to the subject
of the "inner man," we find the Prince—with unques-
tionable taste—recording his admiration of Truffe.. ass
Perigord, an opinion with which we respectfully and
most heartily agree. The Princess, however, scorns
"foreign kickahaws," and confesses " a weakness " for
Yorkshire pudding. The Princess Mary is equally in
favour of French tart. Among flowers, the Prince and
Princess Mary are again of the same mind. They select
the rose, and the Princess of Wales gives her vote to
the modest little forget-me-not. The Princess Mary
prefers her own name to all others ; the Princess of
Wales her bushand'e second name, Edward ; the l'rince
himself selects Louise. His royal highness has
answered the next question, " What is your
favourite occupation ?" in a most moral and praise.
worthy spirit, " Improving my mind." The ladies
are not so severe in their taste. " Playing on the
piano" is the answer of the Princeu : and " Itculing
aloud" that of the Princes Mary. Hunting, riding, and
driving ponies form the chief amusements of the royal trio
in their " hours of idleness."' Then we come to the mot-
toes. These are very appropriately and gracefully selected
from the armorial bearings of the selectors ; " Ich dice,"
by the Prince ; " Honi soit qui mad y pence," by the
Princess ; and " Dieu et mon Droit," by the Princess
Mary. The Prince hates " cowardice and avarice ;" the
Princess, " slander ;" and the Princess Mary—bleu her
kind heart—has no particular dislikes. We hope and
trust the Prince will not go yet awhile to his " favourite
locality"—the Sandwich Isles ! And long may the Prin-
cess remain in the land of her choice—" Great Britain."
And nowhere, we think, is the Princess Marymore admired
and beloved than "at home." Ambition has its charms,
but the moderate ambition of the Prince and Princess
CM lead them to no harm : "To attain fame without
seeking it ;" " Non-interference in other people's busi-
ness." The Princess Mary sensibly adds, "Not for being
fiat ;" and so, with the signatures of the royal writers,
these interesting memoranda are brought to a close.—
The Day.