The Express.
London, England, 1866-01-13 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 13, 1866.

prestige of the State is given to any one set of
opinions, however plausible. Even the broadest
Church must profess some definite belief, while
those things of which it expressly affirms nothing
it must by its very silence constitute open ques-
tions ; and in this way articles of belief which may
be fundamental will have that character implicitly
denied them. Against the constitution of a
religious society on that basis, no one considering
the matter from a political point of view could
have anything to urge. But supposing that such
a church were not presented to us as a religious
society, but as a State establishment, and we were
told that it was the very embodiment and organi-
zation of freedom ; that to refuse to belong to it
was not only to be guilty of a breach of the
national unity, but treason to liberal prin-
ciples, what then I Why, we should merely say
that some well-meaning friends of liberty had
been betrayed by an excessive love of organization
into illiberalism ; that for us Lord WESTBURY was
as objectionable a Pope as the Bishop of OXFORD
or of ROME ; and that against the exaggeration of
the tendencies of the present day, which them-
selves are a re-action from excesses in a contrary
direction, there is, in the words of the Duke of
ARGYLL, but one safeguard, " the independence
"of individual action and the independence of
" individual Churches."

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.

(THIS DAY.)
--•__

NIDDLI CLASS =OVATION IN TH3 CITY.

The Times details the various proceedings and
recommendations of the anbroommittee who reported to
the meeting held at the Mansion•house yesterday, in
furtherance of Mr. Rogers's scheme for middle.clims educa-
tion in the City, observing that their decision to throw
themselves on private liberality without at all abandoning
the hope of obtaining future subsidies from parochial
charities, was a wise one, and that the reality of the want
being once admitted, and the determination to supply it
having been shown in so emphatic a manner, the experi-
ment cannot ultimately fail. The Times does not doubt
that 100,0004, or any other sum thot may be requ°•ed to
insure complete sumer, will be forthcoming within a month.
The Daily News sec evidence in the character of yester-
day's niceties of the importance attached by the leading
men of the city of London to this the latest educational
movement, sod to their sense of the disadvantage of a
deficieet supply of well-educated clerks. The want being
■3 urgent delay was no longer possible; and Mar the
money mina be obtained from the funds in the hands of
the charity trustees, it must be obtained from other sources.
Ample powers have now been given to the committee to
carry the design into practical effc ct. It is supposed that
50,0001. will be aufflaient to establish at least one central
school in the neighbourhood of Finsbury. Other schools
of a similar character will to erobliohed in other parts
of the City and the suburbs. At these schools will be
found " the children of clerks employed in the numerous
establishments in London, and the children of tradesmen
and others." The fees charged are not to exceed 41. a year
lor 11. a garter. It is to be hoped that when the act of
parliament is obtained for the purpose of incorporating this
Csutral London School, ample powers will be inserted for
the purpose of enabling charity truster to contribute
towards the establishment of similar institutions. The
Daily News meanwhile is glad to learn that the accumula-
tions in St. Dunstan'', amounting to some 3,0001. a year,
are likely to be so applied.
The Telegraph regards the movement as an attempt to
secure an educational centre and pattern for the lower
middle clam, which, by iostitutieg at cheap rates a style of
instruction commensurate, intellectually with the commercial
body that inaugurates it, shall drive the average of educe.
tion along in front of it, and bring the laggards up in the
rear. People will some day laugh as heartily at the miser-
able curriculum which has contented the clue of clerks and
shopkeepers, and gives them no idea of " pleasure " except
dissipation, as we do now at a kiog proud of mastering the
throe R's.

The Star doubts if there is any other city in Europe ;,1
which, upon pritAte application, thirty-three gentlemen
would have subecribed • thousand pounds each to any
object of this kind. Every provNion the committee t'• -
me le is a tensible one. Particularly is it to be commended
that no sectarian element whatever iv to be introduced.
It is distinctly toil down that no religions dis-
tinctions are to be made ; that nothing of
church or of chapel u such shall be known
within the walls of the new edifice. Thus one fer."e
source of disunion and of controversy is got rid of at the
very starting point. Schools are to be prov4ed for exscoy
the class which steeds most in need of them, and there
will be ample accommodation for prospective applicants.
It is only to be hoped that the provinces may follow the
example of London.

Southey was an exceedingly wicked person, and his wicked-
ness was precisely the feet which his previous history
tended to establish. The peculiar delusions enterte;ned by
him belonged solely to his depravity, which he had in,
dulged without control.
The minor miseries and petty disasters which follow a
fall of snow are sketched off by the Times, We are at
w►r with the elements, and as before, s;'l triumph only to
find new difficulties and fresh trials to exercise our skill and
industry. Things are in • sad ravel at present, and the
broken, tangled web of the electric wire only resembles
too closely the utter confusion in which ell the other
affairs of this huge metropolis happen to be. We are
as near chaos as a decent, habitable, and even comfortable
city can be; but we are extricating on-selvev, and light
and order are retuning. The wire, we are told, will soon
be at its duty again—a pledge of further cares and re-
coveries.

In an article upon the wince which we consume in Eng
land, the Daily Noes says that, speaking generally, the
consumption of French wines with us is very limited, end
the French growers and merchante are beginning to con-
template with apprehension the madden influx of Hungarian
and Greek wines, which have the singular merit of tasting
lice natural products, and of combining with the light.
clean flavour of Bordeaux, something of the mordant and
generous heat of Burgundy, and a certain bracing tonic
virtue into the bargain. There can be no doubt that the
new Austrian Treaty will stimulate the vine owners in
Southern Germany, in Hungary, in Italy, and in
Greece, to greater production and to improved proomeas.
The effect of the clause in the Austrian treaty assimilating
the duty on wine in wood to that on wine in bottle will
be to simplify and facilitate the supply of clean pure wines
to the misoollaneons public who have no allerage. Very

acceptable "claret," light, odoriferous, smart, not skral,
in flavour, should, under the clause in the Austrian treaty,
become plentiful in the English market at very moderate
prices. And es the French vintages of 1865 have scarcely
been surpassed for twenty yaws, the present is a most
auspicious moment for the men of Bordeaux and Burgundy
t, male a new start for the invasion of England.
The Herald endeavoure to tell a connected story from
the fragmentary despot:hoe which arrive from Spain. It
considers the present posture of affairs disheartening to the
friends of O'Donnell, and would not be much surprised to
hear, in the course of a few days, that his reign is over,
and that General Prim rules in Madrid in hie stead.

The Tekgraph considers the theory that vaccination is an
effectusl preventive of the oattle plague preposterous.
The people should combine to foster a national insurance
system, and to stamp out the dimmed. Two or three hun-
dred thousand pounds would still do much towards exter-
minatingtheplsgue, whereasmany hundred thousands would
be requisite for the purpose a few weeks hence. Is it not
possible to obtain a central committee in London to take
the matter in hand ? If the British method of dealing with
the malady has been one of hesitation and ill-lock, why not
attempt the Continental plan for getting lid of m contagious
• disorder'

Ebc Court.

OSBORNE. JAN. 12.
Her Majesty drove out yesterday afternoon.
M. Van de Weyer and the Earl of Clarendon arrived
from London, and had the honour of dining with the Queen
and royal family.
The Count de Lannoy, on a special mission from hie
Majesty the King of the Belgians, accompanied by Count
Cornet and Count Ferdinand de Lannoy. arrived this
morning.

M. Van de Weyer was presented to her Majesty at an
audience by the Earl of Clarendon, to deliver a letter re-
accrediting him u Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary from the King of the Belgians.
The Count de Lannoy was presented to her Majesty to
announce the accession of King Leopold IL, and to deliver
up the Field Marshal's B►ton and the Insignia of the
Order of the Garter and the Grand Cross of the Bath of
the late King of the Belgians.
Count Cornet, and Count Ferdinand do Lannoy, had the
honour of being presented to her Majesty.
Lord Clarendon had an audience of the Queen.
M. Van de Weyer, Count de Lannoy, Count Cornet, and
Count Ferdinand de Lannoy, remain at Osborne.
Lord Clarendon ham returned to London.

A Cabinet Council will be held to-day.

THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES.—HOLK-
HAM, FRIDAY.—The weather somewhat improved to-day,
although it is still of a very wintry character. Yesterday
was so rough and inclement that the Prince and party had
to &banded the idea of shooting in the park. In the after-
noon, however, the Prince, with his usual indomitable
devotion to field sports, shot over the Holkham marshes.
His Royal Highness war accompanied by the Earl of
Dunmore, Earl Sposoer, Viscount Hamilton, Viscount
Powerecourt, and the other noblemen and gentlemen stay-
ing at the ball. Refreshment was served at the head deer
keeper's cottage. The Duke and Duchess of Roxburgh.
left Holkham yesterday, and the Prince and Primus will
also take leave of their hospitable host and hostas. to-
morrow. To-day the Prince and party are to shoot over
what is known as Hibbert's beat. Oa leaving Holkham the
Prince and Princess return of course to Sandriogham•house,
although their stay in Norfolk I. drawing to a close.

His Excellency the Marquis d'Azeglio left the
Italian Legation yesterday for Turin, on acocrent of the
dangerous illness of his undo, the Chevalier Massimo
d'Aseglio, the statesman. Count Maffei will have the di-
rection of the Italian Legation, as charge d'Affaires, during
the absence of his excellency.
The Earl and Countess of Listowel are not ex-
pected to return from their tour in Italy till the spring.
The Earl and Countess of Mount-Edgcumbe are
pawing the winter at Cannes, and are not expected to
return home till April.

The Countess Cowper has passed several favour-
able nights, and is ooasiitered somewhat better.

It is Lady Gertrude Coke, third daughter of the
Earl and Countess of Leicester, who is engaged to be mar-
ried to the Earl of Dunmore.

The Right lion. Sir John Pakingtou, Bart.,
M.P., and Lady Pahington are expected to arrive at their
residence in Eaton.equare early in the ensuing month from
Westwood Park, Worcestershire, for the season.

Mr. U. Fenwick, M.P. for Sunderland, has ac-
cepted the office of Lord of the Admiralt►, vacant by the
appointment of Mr. Childers as Financial Secretary of the
Treasury.

THE SFASION.—Mr. Gladstone, as leader of the
House of Commons, has issued his circular 0 the members
who sit on the ministerial side of the house. He informs
them that the house wil' meet on the lit of February for
the {choice of a Speaker, and on the 6th for the despatch
of business, and hopes it will be " consisont with their
convenience" to attend.