The Express.
London, England, 1868-09-04 00:00:00

FREE TRADE IN DRINK.

THAT partial alteration of the licensing eyetem
under which the distribution of wine, beer, and
spirits is no longer oonftned to the licensed
victuallers, properly so called, but is divided
amongst grocers and oilmen in country and
suburban districts, has created a vast change in
the aspect of a trade which has generally been
associated with teetotal interests. The "cup
" which cheers but not inebriates " is now mated
with drinks that have hitherto been almost the
sole stock-in-trade of the glittering gin
palace. In thoroughfare markets, like Totten-
hem-court-road, the tea and rs >tree often
show a very retiring disposition, and the "fine
" old Tom," and equally fine old " Jamaica pine-
" apple Rum," are pushed forward, or push them-
selves forward, in rather offensive prominence. It
is something new to see a grocer's shop placarded
with staring bills asking the public to try " Cream
"of the Valley," or " Mountain Dew," or the
heavier concoctions of the great brewers. The
retaliation of the licensed victuallers has been very
mild and meek, and there is hardly a public-house
that we have noticed within the metropolitan
limits that has the courage to sell tea as lilt were not
ashamed of it. The mystic name of " Congou," has
been put up in the windows over the brandy-bottles,
and the term " full-flavoured" has been ap-
plied to it, but nothing like the energy of the
grocers has been shown in pushing business in a
strange liquid. All this activity and competition
doubtless gives the public a cheap article in the
shape of drink, and it is satisfactory to and that,
though the distributors are changed and increased,
the consumption of home and foreign spirits has
diminished, compared with the corresponding
period of last year, to the extent of more than
three-quarters of a million of gallons. The
placards at the grocers' shops, in low neighbour-
hoods, look very dreadful under the glare of the
gas lamps, but they represent less drunkenness
than the old glare of the Gin Palace.

lier Royal Highness the Grand Duchess of
Hecklenburg-Strelits has left her apartments at St. James's
Palace for Cambridge Cottage, Kew, on a visit to her
Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge.

The Duchess (Dowager) of Grafton arrived in
town on Wednesday from Buxton.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Exeter are
prolonging their stay at Ryde, Isle of Wight.
The Earl of Mayo is staying with the Hon.
Percy Wyndham, 11.1"., and Mrs. Wyndham at Cocker-
month Castle.

We have to record the death of Lady Katherine
Elizabeth Fleming, oldest daughter of Thomas Cochrane,
10th Earl of Dundonald, who died on the 25th ult. at
Florence. Her ladyship was born Dec. 9, 1821, and mar-
ried, Feb. 27, 1840, Mr. John Willis Fleming, of Stoneham
Park, near Southampton, and Hinted, Isle of Wight.
On Tuesday the rejoicing, in honour of the
Marquis of Graham having attained his majority were
brought to a close by a grand ball given by his Grace the
Duke of Montrose to the tenants on the estate and a num-
ber of others who had been invited to take part in the
happy gathering. The ball took place in one of the offices
of the old mansion-house at Buchanan. About 3.50 were
present, and among these were his Grace the Duke of
Montrose and the Duchess of Montrose, the Marquis of
Graham, Lady Alma, Lady Emily Foley, Colonel Murray
of rolmaiae and Touchadam and Lady Agnes Murray,
Lord Ronald Graham, Colonel Findlay of Boturioh,
The ball-room was decorated with evergreens and floral
devices. Dancing commenced about 8 o'clock, and con-
tinued with great animation till 4 o'clock in the morning.
Titz PROPOSED REVIVAL OF TILE IRISH CONVO-
ernox.—A circular having been issued by the Arch-
deacons of Armagh and Dublin to the archdeacons of the
other dioceses in Ireland, inviting them to 00-operate in
soliciting the bishops to pray that writs should issue con-
vening the convocation of the church of Ireland, Arch-
deacon Martin, of Kihnore, has published a reply to the
invitation, in which he comments on the use of the wools
" Church of Ireland," instead of "the Irish branch of the
United Church of England and Ireland," and expresses
the opinion that the revival of convocation in helium' ut
the present crisis could not email., the Irish clergy in the
slightest degree "to meet the hostility with which they
are now assailed." This can only be done, he says, by
helping to increase the number of members of parliament
favourable to the maintenance of the Irish church, a work
in which he den not ace that the revlral of convocation
would assist.