The Express.
London, England, 1868-02-13 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 15, 1868.

„..-------
T” QUEEN INSURANCE COMPANY.
Capital . TWO II ILLION4 Sterling,
Ofncee : Queen Insurances Buildings, Liverpool Queen M-
aumee Buildings, 00, Oraosehurch•etreet, London. BONUS
TZAR.
The *scarify offered to Queen policy-holders ts
Paid-ap Capital, zwirrs: Ylm Sesame Toad. C 77,538;
of
Annuity and Accumalated rands. 1.80,587 ; Unpaid portion of
Sabscribed thptal, £1,719.748. The rapid growth of the Cow-
pony's *whom Is remarkable.
1861. 1866. 1066.
71re Premiums • • £47,410 £101,060 040,577
New Life 801100.5 completed
in Sums awned .. .. KOZO !OLWA WHAT
At last valuation Milt a Bonus efaa'cleelareA to Partf
We Poilcy•holders averaging 46 per cent. of the Yrentine=
by the Mewed, and In some Instances rising as high se 74 Per
cent.
The next Bonne fall, to be declared le at Met DlA•Mber, and
all New Proposals completed before that date will be entitled to
a iir yar Benue. J. MONCRIF.FF WIISON,
J , ISO& Actuar_______--------and Gen Vend onager
_

of a noble race. The monuments of our
ancestors are our guides as well as our glory.
The principles of every real reform aro to
be found graven in our own history and laws.
To guard jealously the noble heritage of our
fathers, to extol, cultivate, and enlarge it, this,
too, is surely the vocation of the journalist, as
of every true Englishman. We shall hope to dwell
much among the complacencies of public life, to
mingle with political advocacy many a genial theme,
many a warm congratulation, many a hearty
triumph, and in this hope we this day offer to the
Public our courteous greeting.

THE USE OF THE QUEEN'S SPEECH AT
THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

---
- ---------------
BEST AND CHEAPEST LIGHT OP TDB AWL
-----
DISTZS LAMPS
k_cArerow-sism,
MAR ST. PAUL'S CATBBIAL
- ----

T------
RELOAR'S CUTTING, OCOUT FIBRE MA
warranted anideathed. List of prices tree lay post.
Imae. 67. Ludgate-111M

BRZAKYAST.-E PPS'S COCOA.

.lEBIG COMPANY'S EXTRACT of MEAT,
-LA the genulee article. None genuine without Baron Llebig's,
the inventor's, signature on every Jar. Great Improvement and
economy In cookery. 14s. per lb., Ti. 6d. per elb kper
ts. per 2ny. , equivrient to ld. half a pint of best beef tea Sold
retail by I'ORTNUSI and MASON, Piccadilly : wholesale by all
wholesale houses: and at the °Moe. 43, Mark-lane.

the er*lre %US*
ADVERTISEMENTS for for the BXPRESS received
after 12 o'clock cannot be inserted on the
same day.

SAYILLILK BT.
Tll9 EVENING, VIE BELOKKN-IIF.ARTED CLUB.—A WIFE
WELL WoN. Mesas. Mothern, 11nel:stone, Hoare, Kendl,
Braid, treathersey, &c. ; and Miss Roberteon.—Alter
vEZITAN Lana FEV.-VillidlON OF 111 F. BaIOAND.

PZINCISIMPS.
Tpri Enionici, THE OVri/ROON. Mr. and Mrs. Dion Bond-
man, Mr. J. 8. elute. Mr. Vining, &Mira Rimini! —Alter which
ARRA LI NA POGU F.. Mr. and Mn. D. Boueicault, Mr. Vining,
Messrs. Murray, Neville, & Shore , Bartlett and Mn. Addis.

Teri Evairo OLD SALT. Ilr. Dyer! end Was "MIT Home.
.—After which THE CALIPH OF HAMAD Messrs. Thorne
and Jann,, . Ale
mlatnes Ada Swanhorounli, Johuat.oue, Harland,
Holt, dc.—And COAL AND COKE.

TEM EMU: fa, UPSIDE DOWN.—DON QUIXOTE. Mrs. 8.
Lane, it Miww* Ellwin and Booth ; Pannwahnbda therm Deane,
bathLOU* Ne
to nlnuit. and VktiirelU: Mahe. ntaphLOan a Mae YAW
conclude with ILIE VEAIRIE FWER.nd

HIGH WATLII AT LONDON HMOS
Tim !At —Unruh's, M. sh. 50s.
toAlonao•—liongai. ea. 11.---Attanwo4 Oh. *Os.

- - ------- -
LONDON, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13.

TO OUR READERS.

TIM Express appears to-day with new features
and arrangements, which it is hoped will increase
its usefulness and find favour with the public.
From this day forward, the independent dis-
cussion of all matters of political and social con-
cern will be included in our plan, and provided
for in special and original articles. Tho many
readers who have expressed a wish that this news-
paper should speak its own language on public
affairs, who thought that a journal which has
enjoyed a large measure of support for one-and-
twenty years ought to be nut a mere echo, but a
voice, will learn with satisfaction that we shall no'
longer sit rem ore c/a 11.94, while the fascinating drama
of contemporary history is unfolding its wealth of
character and circumstance fur the instruction of
all who have eyes to see.
But our reduction in price further intimates that
we desire and hope to address tens of thousands of
new readers, and to theme some profession of our
principles and objects is reasonably due. We'
enlarge the scope and field of our labours at a I
time when the gravest issues are presented to I
the legislator and the statesman. The present
momentary suspense of political action deceives
no one accustomed to reflect. Never before
were national inatitutiona and national repu-
tations put to so severe a test. Tradition I
and sentiment daily lose more of their hold I
on mankind, and in the bestowal of our
confidence, admiration, and sympathy we seem
to have adopted the trying rule of " pay-
" ment for results." One effect of the great
constitutional change accomplished last year will
no doubt be to increase this tendency, and we'
must be prepared to see the redress of admitted I
evils demanded with a sterner voice in the new
l'arliament than in the old. We believe that
that the best security against rash and dangerous
innovation will be found in gradual and cautious
but certain and uninterrupted progress in the path
of practical improvement, and in that belief the
.E.rpn ss will once for all take its place under the
flag of the great Liberal Party to which England
owes the reforms of the last five-and-thirty years.
The great measure of last session removes oat
of the way a question which for half a generation
embarrassed and embittered political life, and pre-
vented the consideration of subjects which
urgently call for remedial legislation. We can-
not profess to be satisfied with a state of the Poor
Law under which, every week, a man or woman
dies in London of starvation, while the private
charity stimulated by such occurrences is pauper-
ising our people by hundreds. We are unable to
accept as adequate to the purposes of a National
System of Education arrangements, which leave
whole populations to grow up in semi-barbarism.
The crimes of a few Irishmen acting under a
foreign influence, and the resentment they so
justly provoke, cannot blind us to the injustice
of maintaining in Ireland the church of the
minority as a State establishment, while the ma-
jority of the people are burdened with the sup-
port of their clergy. Holding fast the great
principles of Civil and Religious Liberty, we de-
sire to see every civil distinction founded by law
on difference of conscientious opinion speedily
obliterated. Protestants by education and un-
alterable conviction, we believe with the
greatest divines of the Church of England
that Religion is most honoured when the ,
duties and rights of the individual conscience are
respected and exalted. On this ground we desire
that the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge
and all collegiate endowments should be open
to all persons without religious tests. Accept-
ing the Reform Bill of last session as
a satisfactory extension of the suffrage,
we demand a Redistribution of Seats in I
harmony with the actual state of our towns
in respect of population, wealth, and intelligence.
We shall advocate economy in all our public 00101111/2
to be secured, not by paring down the salaries of
clerks already underpaid, but by a reorganisation
of departments with a view to increased efficiency.
We shall hope to be able to pursue these ob-
jects and contribute to their attainment without
passion or rancour, for men of sincerity and convic-
tion know how to respect the sincere convictions
of others. But honourable as is the occupation
of the soldier, we trust we shall often find some
occupation more agreeable than fighting. If there
is much in Old England that needs reform, how
infinitely much more is there to be proud of !
:We are ailed No t 4.) live lad not oi to be worthy

Wrests of self-defence, on the other by
the pomilility, to say the least, of the sudden and
unknown disappearance of the missing person being
attributable to sudden death by violence. No
said ent in London, no visitor to London, can pre-
tend to be indifferent to the possibility of such •
grime being committed in the heart of this capital,
and remaining undiscovered. There is no
reason why the natural uneasiness of society,
as it is expressed by public organs of infor-
mation, should intrude upon the sacred
privacy of family trouble, or inflict
needless and wanton pain by the ingenuity of
impertinent suggestions or inquiries. Any mystery
that might be supposed by morbid imaginations to
underlie the fact of his disappearance, other than
that of the mystery of an undiscovered murder,
would be matter of investigation by the police,
if not at the instance or suggestion of the
family, at all events only with their permis-
sion. There are mysteries in the life and con-
duct of the most exemplary human beings,
to which the clue is only given by such researches
as death warrants and demands. There are
mysteries in human life and conduct which
no executor or administrator will ever pierce,
no secret desk or drawer, no record, no token
will betray to any human eye. To say this is
perhaps to say nothing applicable to the present
case. If a man who has disappeared from his
home, his family, his friends, his duties, without
warning, without any assignable motive, without
explanation, is to be treated as, to all intents and
purposes, a dead man, it belongs to the discretion
of his nearest relatives to extend or to restrict the
investigations of the police according to their own
suspicions, or impressions, or means and opportu-
nities of judgment. The one clear duty of the
police, acting in a public capacity as guardians of
the public safety, is to treat such a disappearance
as a sudden and violent death at the hands of some
person or persons unknown. Our faith in the in-
telligence or the efficiency of the police, beyond
the merest ordinary routine of duty, is, we con-
fess, not strengthened by all that we know of the
constitution, the selection, the pay, the habits
of the force, and by all that we have
observed of their doings and goings by
day or by night. Among them, no doubt,
as among all such bodies of men, there may be
found all varieties and degrees of conscientious-
ness and stupidity, and perhaps of sagacity.
Physically they are almost, without exception,
a splendid force ; morally they are, we dare say,
above the average of their fellows. For rough
work and for stolid regularity of movement in •
fixed groove, they are for the most part excellently
chosen. Amidst the temptations and trials to
which their honesty, morality, temper, and self-
respect are incessantly exposed, they have
need of more than ordinary force of character ;
and this is more than can be looked for in the
class and condition from which they are taken.
Nor is their present semi-military discipline and
drill calculated to disclose any latent force of
character or acuteness of intelligence. A
selected order of men, better educated, and
therefore, better paid, and accustomed to
personal responsibility and initiative, would
do more for the preservation of the public
safety in this vast capital than hundreds of those
superior detectives in plain clothes whose charac-
ter is all that can be desired, whose courage
is beyond praise, but whose capacity seldom rises
above the sharpest animal instinct. Certainly it
would be highly creditable to the civilisation of
this monstrous capital if it could dispense with the
services of an order of men more easily found and
trained in States where political and personal
liberty are alike wanting, where power is suspi-
cious of society, andorder is repression. But wehave
not yet arrived at that golden age when such a city
as London can dispense with a detective police, and
we know that neither families nor private persons
shrink from employing the services of a very
doubtful profession of "private inquirers," who
make it their business to lend to private malice or
scandal the shrewdness or unscrupulousness which
might be better employed for the public safety.
The only question, therefore, is how to obtain the '
aid of keen brains in the pursuit, as well as of stout
arms in the arrest of crime in this horrible human
jungle. Murder in so vast a city may be
easy enough : but the attempt to make away
with the dead body, or to conceal it, has again
and again been the first step towards discovery.
Nor can murder that pretends to elude de-
tection be committed by one man's hands. It is
too probable that the reward of £5OO offered for
information leading to the discovery of the miss-
ing man, or of the means by which he met his death,
might fail in its object unless a free pardon were
also promised to accomplices not actually engaged
in the perpetration of the crime.

" &row and hail : pains in the cheek and jaw ,
" much atmospheric disturbance "—such is a
weather prophet's wonted forecast for February.
We should be unwilling to take and transfer it ab-
solutely to public life and present as a prophecy of
the coming political weather. To assert that •
February will be stormy is according to expe-
rience ; while tranquillity, on the contrary,
usually reigns during the opening of a session.
Yet for such an augury there is some reason.
The Parliament of 1868 begins without a
" QUEEN'S Speech ;" and the absence of the
Speech will, we believe, provoke speedy distur-
bance in the course of public business.
Theoretically, the cause of her summons which
the QUEEN declared to Parliament in last November,
applies to the session of this year. In reality it does
not. The scheme of public business planned by
Government in November dues not fulfil the'
requirements of the present time. No one could
dance this afternoon to a waltz tune heard
last night. Although the SOVEREIGN three
months ago prescribed for Parliament one
course, events may tend—perhaps they do
tend—to prescribe another. The use of a
" royal speech " will thus, probably, receive
illustration by the coming weeks ; for a use
does belong even to those vague sentences
that are put into the SOVEREIGN'S mouth.
They case the labour of parliament by chalking
out the route Legislation may adopt. Those
formal paragraphs proclaim what Government
will attempt. What ought to be attempted by
Government is established by the debate that
follows. Thus restless anticipations are allayed,
disappointment is prevented, and by the royal
speech, and by the discussion it provokes, the main
features of the session receive a clear definition.
" Winter" sessions deprive Parliament of this
advantage. The working session practically begins
without such a declaration of the cause of
summonsaswillserveas a parliamentary programme.
For not only may the government scheme of
work formed in November prove inoperative in
February, but discussion on proposals that must
lie dormant during winter is idle, almost ha-
possible.
Now, though the " Speech" is often said to tell
nothing to anybody, yet the debate on the Speech
must tell the Ministry a good deal. That debate
must exhibit the more conspicuous currents of
public thought ; it may also reveal those slight
fluctuations in that current which are the fore-
runners of a counter change of tide below.
That the ablest tacticians need such a clue to
popular will, was proved by the events of
February ten years ago. In 1857, as in 1867,
occurred a winter session. Parliament reassem-
bled for the year's work, as it dues to-day, on
February 4, 1858. That evening Lord PAL-
mcarrox announced the coming " Conspiracy to
" Murder Bill," and he was cheered. Four days
later be carried the Bill over its first reading ; the
cheers were louder. Then came the Bill's second read-
ing, and Lord PALMERSTON was greeted with cheers
still louder; but they were cheers at his defeat.
Where he was strongest, there he proved weakest.
Never did statesman, certainly never did Lord
PALMF.RSTON, meet a more signal overthrow. The
band that statesman so lightly, yet so sentiently
laid on England's pulse, had quite misreckoned the
boat of English emotion. Had he been able to
guess at the fate of the "Conspiracy Bill," by vague
mention of such an idea from the Throne ; had
that proposal thus undergone the customaryamotmt
of debate, he might have escaped his fall. But
the ORSINI attempt was in January, long after
the opening of the Session 1858 ; Lord PaLexu-
STON had no opportunity of foreshadowing his pro-
posal to Parliament and the nation. The spider-
like instinct of the Minister was, for once, at fault ;
he lacked that test of the impulses that thrilled
over the fibres of his net. And he was blown
out of office by • single night's debate.
European society has not been shaken during
the last few weeks, as it was shaken by ORSINI in
January, 1858. The Ministerial catastrophe that
then ensued will hardly again recur. Not less,
however, do Ministers need a general discus-
sion of their scheme of action to guide them safely
through the session, or at least to save the course
of public business from untoward interruption.
A movement based on the present requirements
of the Empire may arise, for which the government
has prepared no place in the session's work.
Government is even prepared to resist the move-
ment, should it arise. Ireland is the pivot of
this movement. Strong desires may spring up
that an effort should at once be made to tranquillise
that country. A leader of English thought,
powerful out of Parliament, has a professed
a strong desire that way ; and the temper of
the country is favourable, but it tends to disturb
the course of this session, for the scheme of
parliamentary business, drawn up in November,
excludes all remedial legislation for Ireland ; and
there is to-night no QuEsN's Speech to afford an
opportunity for the exhibition of feeling on the
subject.
So if this movement gains strength, interrup-
tions to the Government plan for the year's work
may soon occur. The wish to drag in Ireland;
to stop public business if Ireland be not heard—
will more and more assert itself, and may assert
itself by interruption, by waste of time, by much
irritation ; and this interruption and irritation
will be aggravated by the want of the Address
from the Throne, because Parliament will have
had no means to modify the leading features of the
Session.

This, at least, is certain. If " the instant
time be the fittest time " to attempt aught for
Ireland, and if this chance be thrown away
because the Liberal party fear to risk collision
with Government, because they prefer to shirk
all the responsibility of reform, not only will
this lost opportunity be a lamentable evil, but
it will also bring a curse upon the political life of
England.

THE POST-OFFICE REVENUE AND

VALENTINE'S-DAY,

compliment to his mistress cost him ten "than:
" That's the highest we have in stock at present,
" sir," he will probably be told, " but we maks
" them up to any price, and can show you
" patterns, and have one ready by poet nine this
" afternoon." The highest Valentin warehouse
in London reminds one a little just now of the
best bon-bon shops in Paris prior to Le jaw de r Att.
At the latter you may buy boxes of sweetmeats at
hundreds of pounds each. Dolls filled with sugar-
plums stand in thewindows ladenwithrealdiamonds
and costing thousands of francs. The great desi-
deratum seems to be to make the shell carrying a
few sugar-plums prodigally expensive. Some-
thing like this appears in the silent revolution
which has taken place in English Valentines. But
with a delicate compliment to the practical genius
of the nation, the adjuncts which make up the
oast of the sentimental gift here, are all
useful in a greater or less degree. There is
no bespangling of dolls with jewels out
of mere waste. The gift conveyed throh ug
the medium of the Valentine is a thing
apart from the flowers and allegories surrounding
' it, and is intended to be used when they are faded
and forgotten. The customer anxious to be merely
wasteful cannot spend more than a couple of
guineas on his fancy, and for this will obtain a
fairly executed little painting on white silk or
satin, or a stuffed humming-bird or two with love-
notes in their mouths, or a basket of artificial
flowers, or what is called a " rich Watteau paint-
ing." One of the prettiest of this class costa
but one guinea, and consists of a real humming-
bird on full wing towards the opening of the
letter, flying through a bower of artificial roses
with his message of love. From this class
you step at once into extravagance which
is literally unlimited. A ring, the value of course
dependent upon the donor's generosity and length
of purse, nestles among flowers speaking in their
own language the sender's sentiments. Jewelled
smelling bottles, fans pearl-handled, bejewelled,
and with expensively painted sides, glove-sachets
embroidered and ornamented, brooches, bracelets,
studs, pins, and ear-rings are all cunningly intro-
duced beneath a full blown heart or a true lover's
knot, so as to give a distinctly valuable meaning
to an expression of good-will. The musical
Valentines are among the greatest triumphs
of ingenuity, and are comparatively cheap,
ranging from one guinea to five. There
are boxes which are wound up before posting, and
begin to play directly their lid is lifted. " Come
" where thy love lies dreaming" ; or " Sweet
" Spirit, hear my prayer," will greet many a
maiden or—leap-year being considered—many a
swain, to-morrow morning, on opening the bulky
packet the postman has brought in. The State
functionary, if of a philosophic turn, might easily
moralise on the strange conjunction of depressed
commerce and increased letter registration. But
though dividends fall, trade be stagnant, and
speculation paralysed by fright, love and folly are
perennially fresh and bold, and continue to make
the world go round.

MR. GATUORNE HARDY is seldom seen to such
advantage as when conciliating the vestry-class.
His blond platitudes and even flow of words keep
steadily down to a parochial level, and his speeches
are never marred by originality or daring. Yester-
day, in replying to an angry deputation of London
vestrymen who were severally "satisfied with the
" present law;' were "strongly opposed increas-
" ing rates and to Mr. Mrs.'s proposals for
" Municipal Reform ;" and were also of opi-
nion that the " present acts were ample,"
the Home SECRETARY became positively unc-
tuous in his admissions. " The deputation had
" admitted by ' cheers '—which was an English-
" man's mode of expressing himself"—that "some
" slight amendments were required in the govern-
" ment of the metropolis," and therefore he would
urge upon his colleagues the non-adoption of
Mr. MILL'S proposals. "Local institutions," Mr.
HARDY declared, " best consulted their own
" interests when they carried out that which was
" committed to them ;" and with this profound con-
clusion, the deputation departed, much gratified
at the favourable reception accorded them.
All this would be amusing enough if it ended
here. How far a few parochial authorities are
gratified and flattered by a Secretary of State is
of no great consequence to Londoners generally.
But unhappily the comfort and well-being of the
metropolis are at stake. Our streets, our
rates, our drainage, our health, and the
condition of our poor rest upon the fiat
of such gentlemen as Mr. HARDY bandied
compliments with yesterday. Mr. MILL's pro-
posals are probably capable of improvement, but
" decided hostility" to them implies a serene
satisfaction with things as they are, and a deter-
mined opposition to municipal reform. London,
therefore, if our Ho3lE SILCRETARY'S opinions are
to prevail, is to remain tied and bound in the
hands of its present masters. We all know how
" legislation to force vestries to perform their
" duty" ends ; and the interview of yesterday
will give keen satisfaction to the mighty tribe of
jobbing contractors and parochial office-seekers to
whom the present system is naturally dear.

IT was estimated last year that a clear revenue
of 11,421/. went into the coffers of the Past-office
for the carriage of Valentines alone. Three
hundred thousand more of these sentimental

superstitions were posted in 1867 than 1866 from
London to town and country alone, and to-day
and to-morrow are expected to show a still larger
increase over last year both in numbers and
receipts. Five years ago a registered Valentine
would have been an absurdity, save as a hoax.
It promises now to become as common to register
Valentines as money-letters, and with good reason.
Formerly, an elaborate white satin pancake, with
a lace frill, and a centrepiece of hearts and darts,
bordering some inanimate pink and white effigies
at a pariah church, was the highest effort of art
to be bought for money, as appropriate to the 14th
February. The enterprising foreigner who has
made the British public familiar with sweet scents
in a variety of strange places found a great field
open to him, and promptly came, and saw, and
conquered. Twenty pounds was in 1863 con-
sidered a fair week's receipt for Valentines at a
first-rate West-end shop. Five hundred pounds
taken over the counter is now held to be a fair
but not extraordinary business in the seven days

Ir we are rightly informed, the forthcoming
Opera Season will see some important changes
in our operatic managements. Her Majesty's
Theatre will not be rebuilt. Mr. MArtzsoN will
forfeit his deposit at Drury-lane Theatre, and, in
place of competing with Covent-garden at Mr.
CEATERSTON'S house, will accept the management
of Covent-garden under a joint-stock company
(limited), Mr. Ova having consented to retire.
Mr. At:recall:us ILissis, who is now in Russia, at
the Imperial Theatre, acting as stage manager, will
probably remain there, and London will have
" only one grand Opera-house, viz., Covent-garden
" Theatre." This is the latest rumour in well-
informed theatrical circles, and we give it for what
it is worth. Drury-lane will console itself with a
new drama by Mr. ANDREW HALLIDAY, which has
been some time in preparation.

IN the French Corps Legialatif, a day or two
ago, during a debate on the Press Bill, M.
PiLLITAN having observed, that " in politics the
" prison does not dishonour, but often iminor-
" tables the victim," one of the " seven wise men,'
M. Guarani Di CAARADNAC, interrupted him. We
quote from the Monitaw :
M. Gamma Di Ossisaisso—Thst is an error. A die.
pace can never beams en honour, and it is always an
inominy to attack the interests Oi the flake sad public
order. (Noire.)
ht Pirsarts—The obeerredon of M. Gautier 4.
Oarecnao roaches much higher than myself, for there ore
forma political prisoners who now reign. (Intorreption.)
The Pasuniurr—l admit the idea that the prison dots
not always diagram, hat I do net allow that a «adman.
tics pronounced by *Nat tea be an hamar. (Hoar, beer. )
Ilisarax—Tbea I.• obliged to refer you to his
tory.
The

preceding and including to-morrow. Mr. SAMVIL
SLICK used to ask permission to leave one of his
clocks in charge of a farmer's wife, and having
once created a want left the rest to " soft sawder"
and " human natur." Mr. Bractsiene Disasxm
boasts of educating his party until they swallow
eagerly whatever he chooses to provide. The
great Valentine purveyors combine both principles.
They have spent five years in creating a new and
expensive want, and in educating their patrons up
to purchasing point. Their teaching has been
patient, unremitting and progressive. Year
by year, valentines have increased in coat-
line's and taste. One of the first novelties con-
tained real flowers artificially scented, and grouped
to convey tender nothings to the receiver. Then
came one by one trifling presents, all symbolical of
the day, and all forming part of the Valentine.
These presents have grown more and more expen-
sive, until the ardent but incautious lover asking
gel ;he bout Taisintim ii the shop, will find his

far seyseV, I oust resell you to the
question. (Heir, bear.)
Perhaps M. 011118AONAO will See that he would do
better to observe on this delicate subject the silence
IQ With noomalsoded by Prmaosas.

OPINIONS OF OUR CONTEM-
PORARIES.-(THIS DAY.)

The Them reviews the " Parliententar: Notices " mow '
standing on the order-book for the next four weeks. with
the intention of showing that the old legislature hoe • good
deal d work to dispose of before it dies. In • mama i
article oar contemporary treats at length of the proposed
legislation on election petitions and the prevention of
bribery, expressing • want of confidence in the methods
hitherto proposed. Increase of punishment defeats
itself ; and the bake is a specific recommended
neither by reason nor by experience. If, how-
ever, the principle of the Parliamentary Elec-
tio•e Bill, which is to withdraw them from the
ocusidastion of committees, and remit them to •

common law judge, be adopted, a great advance will be
made. If it be true, es reported, that the judges depre-
cate the new functions proposed for them, their hesitation
to accept them may not unreasonably be imputed to a fear
that their investigations may be too thorough far the
public digestion. In any case, the substitution of a local
examination carried on 'molding to judicial precedent,

Eike eaurt.

OSBORNE, FEB. 10

on lepl principles, and under the responsibility of a eingln
person trained in legal practice, would of itself be a change
worthy of soosptanoe.
-

The Queen drove out yesterday afternoonact 7:m.
ponied by Primer Louise, and attended by the Duchess
of Aiholo.

Count Bernstorff, Lord Stanley, and Baron ?darn, at.
rived at Osborne on a visit to the Queen.

Lord Stanley had an matinee of her Majesty, mad ore,
minted Count Bernrtorff, an ambassador from the North
German Confederation.
Colonel Mande ham left Osborne.
The Queen went out this morning, accompanied by
Princess Beataioe.
Count Bernetorff and Lord Stanley left Osborne.

The Princess of Wales drove out yesterday, attended
by the Countess of Norton.
_ _

The Countess of Morton ha succeeded the Iron. gin.
W. Grey as Lady-in-Waiting to the Princess of Wales,
Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonel•
office from the Governors of the Straits Settlements, Vie-
ea* South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, 'West
Australia, and Malta. Despatches were sent to the Co.
Ivernor-General of Canada and to the Governor (god)
i Bahama.

The Daily News remarks that the character of the corn-
ing session is determined by the circumstances amid which
parliament meets. As the great principleSof parliamentary
reform were fought for and obtained during the seaaion of
1867, it is probable that the subsidiary party questions in
relation to the same subject will, by common consent, be
held over until the meeting of the reformed parliament•
But there will be plenty of work for the present
or future parliaments to do, in settling the relative
claims of England, Scotland, and Inland, on the basis of
the new constituencies, and in dealing with a variety of
• " • '

Deputations from the following parishes and districts
had en interview with the Right Hon. Gathorne Rudy,
at the Home-office, yesterday, to state objections to the
bills lately introduced into parliament by Mr. Mill, Kr.,
for the government of the metropolis by municipal corp.o.
rations :—St. Marylebone, St. Pancras, St. George, RAW,.
ver-square, St. Martin•in•the•Fields, Westminster, Km.
sington, St. George the Martyr, Southwark, St. Mary
Newington, Greenwich, Lewisham, and Wandsworth.

other questions, social, political, and commercial, which
await settlement. The leader of the Opposition will, probe-
bly, find an occasion to define for himself and his coadjutors
the policy which they are prepared to advocate on the great
questions of the future ; but the business of the present
session will be to sweep away the remnants of old and
virtually settled controversies ; and on the ground thus
cleared to define the position and attitude of the contending
forces of progress and conservatism in regard to the
problems of the future.
The Telegraph says the liberal party must compel the
Government to give the most explicit statement of their
views and plans, sad the country will also expect the
responsible statesmen on the liberal side to put out a
programme, in the preparation of which they will not
forget that the next Parliament will furnish them with
stronger machinery for the execution of liberal measures
than any English statesmen have hitherto possessed.
The Star expects to see the tones abandon the Irish
church rather than consent to en honest redistribution of
seats or accept the ballot. They will throw all the pro-
testant clergy of Ireland one by one to the wolves, rather
than yield their cherished power over small boroughs.
The times, however, are not propitious for the saving of
either.

Field-Marshal his Royal Highness the Du
Cambridge yesterday afternoon held a levee at t.
Horse Guards. It was very numerously attended, ro,ul)
2100 officers being in attendance.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has fixed Tile,-
[ day, the 25th inst., for receiving deputations from the
()Pantry associations in connectioc with the National Coe
sureties and Constitutional Union, together with clan
council of the union.
The Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, ac-
companied by the Misses Maxwell, have arrived at
en their way to Rome.
His Excellency the Spanish Minister and
Countess de Vietahennosa entertained at dinner Last
evening, at the Spanish Legation in Mansfield.strcet -The
Bight Hon. Lord Stanley, the Right lion. 'jrr dohn and
lady Pakington, his Excellency the United States
Minister and Mrs. and Miss Adams, his E.cellency the
Danish Minister (General Billow), his E•collency the
Belgian Minister and Baroness Da Jardin, his Excellency
the Swedish Minister and Baroness Hoch.child, and M.
Urrutia (Secretary of the Legation).
The Marquis of Waterford has been suffering
from very serious illness, but is now pronoweed out of
danger.
Mr. Leeman, M.P., last night addressed his c. [n-
stituents in the Festival Concert-room, York. At t[,o
conclusion of the hon. gentleman's speech, a resolution
passed expressing approval of his past conduct, and or.
abated confidence in him for the future.
The annual meeting of the Leeds Chamber [,l
Commerce was held yesterday, and, in accordance with the
custom which has been observed for many years for the
borough members to be present on these occasions, Mr.
Baines, M.P.. attended and addressed the meeting on
various topics of commercial importance. His colleag.o,
Mr. Beecroft, was unavoidably absent.
The Hampshire papers record the death of Mr.
John Coupland, at the age of 70. He was until recently
the proprietor of the Hampaitire Adm.( ism, the chief
conservative journal in the south of England, and winch
he established about 50 years since. Mr. Coupland was
originally a London printer.
There is now a prisoner in Taunton Gaol who
has just had a legacy left him of 16,0001.
The Vienna journals announce the marriav of
the Archduke Henry with Mdlle. Hoffmann, an actress.
The ceremony took place on the 4th at Botzen, and imme-
diately afterwards the newly-wedded pair left for Inn.
spruck and Italy. The bride is 26 years of age and tLa
Archduke is.
[ The Military Tribunal of Florence has just tried
Major the Marquis Federigo Csrandini on a charge of
[ embezzling 1,1531 r. from a sum confided to him by the
[ Ministry of War foe purchasing books for the garrison
[ library of Brescia, of which he was the director. Tian
&sensed was condemned to six months' imprisoomeut and
degradation from his grade and honours.
The Frenuknblaft of Vienna states that the
government had renounced the hope of arriving et a friendly
arrangement with the Holy See relative to the concordat.
In consequence, the Minister of Public Worship, 51..10
Hamer, will shortly present to the chamber a bill declaring
' purely and simply that "the treaty concluded in Is.-[:[ by the
Imperial government with the Holy See, and known under
the name of the Concordat, is abrogated, as being nu longer
compatible with the existing situation."
A meeting of the Neutrality Laws Commis-
sionen was held yesterday, at 2, Victoria-street, W.-t•
Enlister. Present : Right Hon. Sir William Erle,
George W. W. Bramwell, Sir Travers Tikes, Q.C., Mr.
W. Vernon Harcourt, Q.C. Mr. Thomas Baring, M.P.,
and Mr. W. E. Forster, M.P. Mr. C. S. A. Abbott,
tubed to the oompuision, and Mr. F. P. Owilow, the
woretary, were also present.
A speculator in Dublin, whose engaLtemenis
range over Christy Minstrel', panoramas, and other
amusing entertainments, has, it is derstood, entared
into a treaty with G. F. Train for two lectures. Train,
says rumour, is to receive 1001. ter each performanee.
Monday evening he delivered his third lecture in Tough].
Mr. Marcus Costello, one of the most prominent
members of the old Catholic Association, and a col'atholless'oilo
ll
of O'Connell in the agitation which followed
ROLAWSIpOIiOn,_ died on Sunday last, at hi. lodging", in
Upper Sackvilleetreet, Dublin. He held for a long time
the office of attorney-general at Gibraltar, ts which be was
appointed during the viceroyalty of the Earl of ilidgrave,
when Lord Morpetb, afterwards Lord Carlisle, toss chief
secretary for Ireland.
REPEFAIIIRATIOW OF Hisuirou.--The Solicitor-
General, after canvassing throughout Monday, returned
Tuesday to London. In a short address Mr. Brvtt ex.
plains that the onerous duties of his office mture ins
presence in London. As soon as possible he will returt.
sad personally call on the electors. Tee liberal party hoe
toy
not been inactive, and early on Monday a meeting
held to consider the position of the party. It was cene!
rally considered that the register showed a decided liberd
majority, yet for reasons superior to party ones it was de:
aided to seek an interview with Mr. Brett to sage's
a means of avoiding a contest. The meeting
who
I goesdtedi Mr. T. H. Edwards, conveyancer,
the officer of mayor last year ;
of Tniprison, another prominent member of M.
liberal party, to propose to Mr. Brett that in can,.
aideration of his now being returned unopporl,
surgeon, also an ex-mayor ; and Mr. R. G. Bova,
another election he should retire in favour of the liberal
candidate. Mr. Brett received the gentlemen most court,'
ously, but declined to accede to the suggeetion. dr",,l!:
meeting was held in the evening, and the party
that no honourable arrangement was possible, it. 7"
decided to (woes Mr. Brett. Falling back on the pledir_
given by Mi. IL Rogers in Juirlast, that gentletnal wit
again invited to become a andidate. A manifesto. WV
by a large number of the town electors,. has here Pi'
Ilia:tad., in which the liberal electors ere invited tog f:.1!
bser and unanimous supportto Mr. Young. It .er
Tag 81.1/LE MvernitY. —The Times believes it is , we rat emardinfil7
himself. Our sympathies are dill with him, and wee,'
justified in stating that the Pollee are now in posses ° only for the dissolution of the present parliament to gl,ll.
hdorstahloll which promises to =POI' poet of alas to the • public expression of our perfect confidence bin;
mystery of Mr. Spoke's abeam% "hough, of course," it !again returning him as our member." Both PO"
" this promise may be disappointed." Mr. J. Dor- , now working with deterniination,
and each appreciate,
sd
t's power.— Western Moretwg News. ~•
*non, owner of the house in Quenequare, writes :—leiren
I IiCILASI Or Till IRISH RAILWAYS BY UOlO.
-
"Me. Spice knew that his sinter was in Oksicestershire, DIZST.—On Monday, a meeting of merchants, traders, ra
sal art in London. He had no book or pared to re- other inhabitants of the city of Armagh wes
held in
the
delve or deliver at my house. The howler is not left in' Court-house, Armagh, Mr. William Bold
...i!eoe.
angle of only cas servant. The housekeeper, who bee oink, Pursuant to • horaernhal J,-esiguteeeiraimqw7ped
WWI in my employ for many years, was not out ot the to take into consideration •
Irish reierslt b/
. ,to government for the purchase of the
Wes s Mae* on the Bth Ot JaWlary, nor was she ARMS the committee iippoinud by the Irish peers and
'?gr
lard'
the=7 Part of the day. The Pro in the iron monies to confer with government on that ,
[dims halm eat et the gardsn into the park is kept can. , Mr. Gault made a lengthened statement in tree:Wei
dm* leaked dazing my Assume from town, sad elm the
uciereetingetthlgl::erearitTisedb7g:regemnetTetmenuwou agree
illimiglee a", 411 that gide et the hem.' The "bee ' with Mr. Gladstone that nothing would confer gtre
I smisesimm perfectly entiltfiod that aohhing °MUT" advents', on the country than the purchase rotes
Mem is the Iran ex garden. I have been several times' athe railways, the amalgamation in one syst.,_,„e.
la Imam al ass She 86 al January, always arriving eetabliehment of a low and uniform tarti! Tercecel7/-.
that Mr' Young mot on,it
parcel', are. thmailsout the entire ltd
66 my hems Wilma previous notice, and everything g=roinson, zsa. dunk-- -a- /mum% moved the
bee bees order bnod as it should be." resolution, viz. —" That we believe the interests of O.
The sale of dm valuable collection of ancient country would ( greatly °tad by the railway art::
sad mean Moo mac the progerly el Priam Paul Demi. , land being _p under government 001,1:
land supervision." wean Bond seconded tbe
BA has rodeos imeamonst *residing 310,000 fr. which pseud unanimously. Captain Crsig, J.P.,
Thaddeus Ste nenslum introduced a bill into cons- the next remind= :—" Resolved, That we hereby man
piss asisting esis essellesfregs, whit* and black, by all the government to bosoms
ywhams of the nulwsari
placed under one m
nabs WSW 21 year. again ave United States, at all eleo-
thmene t and gat s low that alaner uniform rate of c r",
VMS Oi hidden, N fisodPiesiden[o, and member, of Con- iimehll's," This mmhitiee, and cam in
flalh at the object, Wen adopted.