The Express.
London, England, 1867-01-14 00:00:00

MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS.

The number of army, militia, and volunteers which Eng-
land possesses, would probably be acknowledged, the Daily
News says, by the most ardent alarmist to form a very
formidable garrison of a sen-girt fortress if it were all
comprised in the category of a regular and standing
army. The defect that makes military critics class the
militia and volunteers as inferior to the line, lies
in their offioers, who as a rule are imperfect even in
routine drill, and have no knowledge whatsoever of the
exigencies arising in active service. But though in matters
of parade, barrack, or regimental duties, the regular
officer is far beyond his brethren of the irregular branches,
in actual field knowledge he is very little their superior,
for the is not instructed in it. It is the one profession
in the world in which the pupil is not practised in
the work that is required of him. Unless in the
ran cams of voluntary study the officers who
lead our troops learn their trade for the first time when
in presence of the enemy. What the public must insist
on, therefore, is not increase of number., but increase of
skill and efficiency. It must require our army to be so
exercised in time of peace that in time of war it shall fmd
no novelty, but only an occasion of putting to use those
operations with which it has been made familiar.

Stating that there is good reason for believing that the
English government will refuse to comply with the requi-
sition addressed to them on the subject of the suspension
of the existing regulations for the examination of the
luggage of passengers arriving in this country from France
during the period of the Great Exhibition in Paris, the
Post contends that the government are bound to consider
not only the interests of the revenue but of those traders
who would be placed at a terrible disadvantage if every
difficulty in the way of smuggling was removed.
The Duke of Rutland complains that Mr. Bright has
said the country party only accepted free trade under the
pressure of Irish famine. The duke says " Not so—you
calumniate us. We would not have accepted it if we
could, even then." The Stnr really does not think the
country party have much reason to thank their defender.
In substance and statement he confirms Mr. Bright—in
inference he makes the country party even more obstinate
and blind than Mr. Bright cared to paint them. It seems
that a worse mishap can visit the country party than to
be attacked by a Bright—namely, to be defended by a
Rutland.

The Standard maintains that the conservative party
have always been the real friends of America, and censures
Lord Russell for having in the case of the Alabama put
England clearly in the wrong, and given wanton offence to
the United States. Whether accepted or not, the offer of
arbitration will prove that England is willing to repair
inadvertent wrong, and does not even assume to be judge
in her own cause of what wrong may have been done.

tire Court.

OSBORNE, JAW. 1?

The Queen drove to Newport yesterday after-
noon, accompanied by Prince and Princess Christian and
Princess Beatrice, and visited SL Thomas's Church.
Her Majesty was received by the Rev. G. Connor.
Colonel Ponsouby was in attendance.

Her Majesty walked in the grounds this morning,
accompanied by the Dowager Duchess of Athole and Miss
M'Gregor.
Princess Christian and Princess Louise walked in the
grounds this morning. Prince Leopold, Princess Iteatrioe,
and Prince Henry of Prussia went out also.

Prince Christian went out shooting, attended by
Colonel Ponsonby. Sir Thomas Biddulph and Captain
Von Schroetter had the honour of accompanying his Royal
Highness•

JAN. 13.
The Queen drove out yesterday afternoon, accom-
panied by Princess Christian.

Her Majesty, Prince and Princess Christian, Prince..
Louise, Prince Leopold, and Princes. Beatrice, attended
Divine Service at Whippingham Church this morning.
The Rev. G. Prather* officiated.
Mr. C. D. Engleheart had the honour of dining with
the Queen and the Royal Family yesterday.

The Prince of Wales, attended by Major Grey, lett
Marlborough House on Saturday afternoon for Sand-
ringham.

Despatches were received on Saturday at the Colonial
Office from the Governor of Heligoland. Despatahes were
sent to the Governors of Canada and the Bahamas.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer will, as leader of the
Roues of Commons, give • parliamentary dinner on
Monday, the 4th of February.

THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES.—Their
Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales are cx.
pected to leave Sandringham House at the close of this
month. The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh
spent part of last week with Mr. H. V illebois, whose seat
at Marham is situated within a few miles of Sandringham.
The Earl of Cork, Lord Colville, and other gentlemen were
also guests of Mr. Villebois, on whose estate a considerable
quantity of game was shot. On Friday and Saturday the
Prince of Wales was in town, on various business mine-
meats ; his Royal Highness appears to have regained his
usual health.

The Right Hon. Sir J. Pskington, Bart., M.P.,
and Lady Pakington received Viscount and Viscountess
Cranborne, the Hight Hon. Spencer H. Walpole, Lord
H. Lennox, Mr. and Mn. Murray, Mr. Seymour Fits.
gerald, &c., at dinner on Saturday evening, at his official
residence at the Admiralty.

The Duke of Rutland has returned to Belvoir
from visiting the Berl and Countess of Cardigan at Deena
Park.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Kildare are
expected in town next week from the Duke of Leinater's
seat in the oounty Kildare, on their way to visit the
Duchees-Dowager of Sutherland at Cliefden, near Maiden-
head.

The Earl and Countess Russell and Lady
Georgians Russell are among the arrivals of the English
nobility at Cannes. The noble earl and countess intend
to make s short stay in Paris on their way borne for the
meeting of parliament.

Mr. Goechen, M.P., presided on Saturday at
the distribution of prises to the successful exhibitors at
the International Working Men's Industrial Exhibition,
recently held at the Agricultural Hall. Mr. Goschen
made an admirable speech. After pointing out the special
interest of the particular exhibition, he spoke of these
exhibitions generally as one of the most prominent proofs
of the folly of those who talked of the incapacity of the
working men to exercise political powers. Mi. Beresford
Hope subsequently addressed the meeting, and argued for
the combination of the artistic with the usefuL

A gathering of the agriculturists of Leicester-
shire took place on Saturday, to celebrate the establish-
ment of a local chamber of agriculture for that county.
The chair was taken by the Duke of Rutland, who spoke
upon the political conduct of Mr. Bright as affecting agri-
culture. This new organisation, which includes men of all
political views, is intended to secure a representation in
the legislature of the wants and opinions of all the classes
more directly engaged in the cultivation of the soil. The
central chamber is located in London, sod branches are
formed, or are about to be formed in all the counties.

One of the oldest English residents in Naples,
Lady Straehan, Marchese Saha, whose history is con-
nected with that of the last century, died there on Satur-
day last, of pneumonia. Her hospitality and her charity
were considerable, and many were the English visitors who
enjoyed, and, in Naples, were ready enough to accept, her
hospitality. Besides other property of great value,. she
has left behind her precious objects of art, some of which
were presented by Louis SIP. to Madame blaintenon,
which will be brought to the hammer.