The Express.
London, England, 1868-12-15 00:00:00

THE SICK POOR ASSOCIATION.

EVKRTON3 will be glad to learn that the Work-
house Infirmaries Association is meditating a
resumption of its useful labours. The in-
teresting letter we publish this evening from
Mr. Elwyn HART shows too, that though its
meetings have not been so numerous as formerly,
its representative* have not been idle, and that
fresh efforts are on the point of being made on
behalf of the hapless and the weak.
We are unaffectedly glad to hear it.
The energy displayed and the exertions made by
We admirable society have been great, and we are
satisfied that if the same machinery is set in
motion as before substantial improvementa
in the administration of the Poor - law
are sure to follow. No man knows bet-
ter than Mr. HART how much remains to be
done, and none, we may be sure, will work more
cordially in the direction of reform. The official
rendering of the public demand for efficient in-
spection, as shown in the appointment of two
inexperienced relatives of the Earl of DEVON
and Mr. Ferraro, will, we trust, be made
matter fur parliamentary inquiry ; and the
Workhouhe Infirmary Association would do
good service if it turned its attention in
the first instance to departmental reform, and
at the same time let a little daylight into that
mystery of mysteries, the Poor-law Board. The
honorary secretaries to the Association, Mr.
ERNEST HART, Dr. ANSTIE, Dr. Cana, and Dr.
ROOMS might tell us for example what their im-
pression is of the administration of the depart-
ment. Statements and oounter-statements of
the most sweeping character are being made,
and as the Sick Poor Assodaiion and its

eupporters in the press were the people who

papers readiness, . prepared
upon his pension, if Mr. Vu.ususs had returned
to his old post,—it may be that • little
out-speaking on the past would enable the public
to form a just opinion as to the manner in
w bleb it has been served. It seems agreed on
all sides that there have boon grave official
eborteoruings, and it would be useful to hear from
the ',mks tors of the Workhouse Inquiry Associa-
tion, upon whom, in their opinion, the onus rests.

Cite Csurt.

Dem tt.
. death of
socespiiii
ip
Pratersillit
the direc-

The Queen returned to the Castle shortly before 12
o'clock, and parsed the day in complete ret:nonsat.
Mee the Queen's rebus to the Cad* the Mausoleum
wee, by her Majesty's command, opened for ell the sea.
ben of the household, including the servants, resident'
within the Castle, and most of her Majesty's Madwoman'
Windsor to visit it.

The Dean of Westminster and Lady Augusta Stanley
have arrived at the Castle.

Prince awl Primer Tick left Prozmors-hou%e
ycv-
tciday.

MR. BRIGHT .1T COURT.

The Newcastle Chronicle, referring to Mr. Bright's
reception by the Queen on the occasion of his acceptance
of office, rays : —" We understand on Mr. Gladst4me men-
tinning to ber Majesty that be intended, with her premis-
elm, to offer a seat in the Cabinet to the hon. member for
Birmingham, the Queen was pleased to say it would *Hord
ber the greatest satisfaction if Mr. Bright should con-
sent to serve the Crown—that she had read his speeches

with great pleasure, and that she was under the
greatest obligation to him for the many kind words he
had spoken of her, especially for a speech he made about
two years ago in a gnat Emoting is Bt. Jam Us-hell. It
will be remembered that Mr. Ayrtoa, at the meeting
referred to, had cast some reproach epos her Majesty for
living me long I. retirement, sad seglectrag what he termed
' her duties to sosiety.' Mr. Bright warmly viadiealed
her Majesty, and mid the Clasen, wise had the hulas tea-
deesses to muter* in her bread a noble sorrow, wee set a
woman to he eremitism r regard or elferitios tor her people.
When Mr. Bright went to Windsor to take the oaths of
ogles her Majesty showed her delicate cionaidereana for
thereat ominous is a very masted way. She seat Mr.
Helps, the Usk tot be Privy Gamed, bums Mr. Bright
if it was more agreeable to his teenage to omit the care-
ruby of kneeling or biasing hands he was quits at liberty
to do so. Mr. Bright smiled himself of this easnidenste
pa. and was very kindly and cardielly resolved by
her Majesty, wisotoobemeasioa fathomed marked manner
to express bre gratification at meeting him. It wan after-
wards intimated to Mr. Bright that her royal highness the
Primus Boyal of Prank had expressed a dente that Mr.
Bright should be presented to her. This was done, and
the Princess heartily amend Mr. Bright that she greatly
desired to be acquainted with him—that she her-
self and all the members of the royal family were greatly
indebted to him for the way in which he had spoken of
their mother. She herself, she said, had read all
hie speeches, and she was very pleased to see him.
Mr. Bright replied in very graceful terms, and said if
her royal highness would permit him he would tell her
whet the late Mr. Buchanan the American minister when
last in London, said of her to Urn, that wherever her
royal higlinei.s went she shed sunshine over all her path.'
Mr. Bright was very much struck with the graceful.
animated manners and genial greeting he bad the honour
to receive from her royal highness, and the young ladle+ of
the court tell with curious interest of the meeting between
her ri lel highness and the great (locker courtier. Mr.
Bright Las already become as famous in royal circles as
his great predecessor, William Penn."

Her Majesty the Queen, with their Royal High-
nesses the Crown Prince and Princess of Prussia. Prin-
ceton+ Louise and Beatrice, and Prince Leopold, attended
by the suite, will, it is understood, leave Windsor Castle
eithtr to-morrow or the next day for Osborne, whore the
(loan intends spending Christmas. Her Majesty, at the
close of last week, drove from Windsor Castle to Clare-
niont-house, near Esher, the residence of the late ex-Queen
of the French. Claremont-house is now being prepared
for the use of her Majesty Queen Victoria, who, it is un-
derstood, intends occasionally to make excursions to that
abode of royalty, and reside there for a few days.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge,
Commander-in-Chief, leaves town this morning, accom-
panied by a numerous staff, for the half-yearly examina-
tion at Sandhunt College.
Hie Serene Highness Prince Tuck awl her
Royal Highness Prince,* Teek left Frogmore Rouse
The Duke of Richmond has left town for Good-
wood Park, Sussex.
The Duchess of Atholo has arrived at Brown's
Hotel.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury's
party at Hatfield House, Herta, which aseembled on Fri.
day, separated yesterday. Among the guests were—The
Bishop of Oxford, the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, N.P.
and Mrs. Gladstone, and Mr. W. H. Gladstone, M.P., the
Bight Hon. Edward Cardwell, 31. P., and Mrs. Cardwell,
Sir Henry Lytton Daiwa, M.P., Sir John and Lady Se.
bright, Sir Bounden and Lady Lima Palmer, Colonel and
Lady Roes Cherille and Miss Greville, the Right Hon. the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Colonial Gascoyne, Mr. But-
ler-Johnstone, M.P., Mr. Balfour, fir.
The Marquis of Bute, Lord Bloomfield, and
Lady Bloomfield have left the St. Georges Hotel.
The Earl and Countess Granville entertained a
select tarty at dinner last evening, at their residence in
Bruton-street, Berkeley-square.
The Earl and Countess Stanhope have left their
residence in Grosvenor-place Houses for Cheeening, near
Sevenoake, sent

The Earl and Countess Spencer entertained a
esteet party at dinner yesterday evening at Spencer
House, St. Jenne' s.

The Countess of Mount Edgeoumbe is, we kern,
in extremely precarious health at Cannes.

Tile Countess of Derby arrived at her; residence
in St. Junes's-square, yesterday, :front Knowsley. The
Earl of Derby has greatly regained his strength after his
late revere attack of gout.
Viscount and Viscountess Halifax left their
residence in Delgrave-square, ea Saturday, for Itickleton,
Yorkshire.

The offloe of Secretary to the Admiralty has
Dew accepted by Ms. Baxter, M.P. for the Montrose
burgh&

The health of the Countess of Hohenthal, sister
of the Lai of Downark, audios sot► 1111411111081111 that hat
tootkoss ego Priass of Holstein Gliaambarg of Loaisioad
sod Potato Wilbws have ham teat for to Drawlers.
The Duke of Brunswick has returned to Paris
fres Brunk

The Florence journals state that the Prime de
Loaelatwatoom who lo about to be nettled to that city,
hands from that aueurat to nem* the tide sod same of
his grandfather, Prises de Besabartssia

'Pte lassies of the Darmstadt Chamber of Depu-
ties km been rendered 11111116rhable by • proposition which
will attract attention on both sides of the Nebo. M.
Meta one of the members, has saloaitted a resolution,
demanding the entrance of the whole of Southern Ger-
many into the Confederatkm of the North. Should this
be rejected be will take • vote on the application of the
principle to the Grand Duchy of Hew.

The Italian Parliament has just voted a eum of
eleven editions for works to be executed in the port of
Venice.

Id. Lequien, the sculptor, has received a com-
mission from the Minister of the Fins Arts to execute the
marble bust of the late Count Walewski for the museum
of Versailles.

A marble bust of the lute Dr. Trousseau has just
been erected in the amphitheatre of the Parie School of
Medicine. It is placed on a porphyry pedestal, in the
front of which is a gilded wreath, end below the words
Subscription-1867."
kliiilio. 'Patti suede her re-appearanoe ou Satur-
day night at the Italians, and mai m the Barbistv with
immense applause.
Thu Cologne Gazette announces that its number
of the 26th October, which had been seised by the &Mho.
rifles, has jest been retamed to the editor with noti-
fication that it had been taken pommel= of through an
error]

The German journals announce that M. Von
der Boydt, Preadaa Malodor at Maw* is rather
oedema, ill.

FOREIGN NEWS.

'AY.)
ts, (mewl atovssrli Lamm)
AIN AND TIIE MIKE OF MONTPENSIER.
MADRID, Duo. 14.
dentsal Duke lett Mit ev'euning for Cadiz, where
he will embark the day after to-morrow for Ha-
Tomah. The Corrapondetuia says that no orders
of the government ware communicated to the
Duke of Montpensier to return to Lisbon. When
he arrived at Cordova he there learned that
neither reactionists nor Carlists were concerned in
the revolt at CliClii, and that it was only an out-
break of the extreme fraction of the liberal
party. The Duke of Montpensier might possibly
have been misinformed as to the character
of the outbreak, but be had no intention to take
any part against the revolution.
After having arrived at the conviction that no
more blood would bo shed he left for Lisbon. In
order to mislead public opinion, a rumour had
been spread at Cadiz and other points of Anda-
lusia that the Government intended to impose the
candidature of the Duke de Montpensier by means
of a coup cr Etat.
This rumour is a calumny both against the Go-
vernment and the Duke of Montpensier. The Duke
will only accept the crown in case the Consti-
tuent Cortes, chosen by the free voice of all
liberal parties of tho nation, should offer him the
throne.

ROUMANIA..
BUCHAREST, Dsc. 14.

The Minister of the Interior has issued a circular
to the Prefects forbidding all subscriptions fur the
purchase of arms for Greece, and laying stress
upon the neoemity of upholding the principle of
strict neutrality.

AURICA.

WARKENOTON, Din. 14.

The House of Representatives passed t3-day by
164 votes against 8 a resolution declaring all forms
of repudiation of the national indebtedness odious
to the American people, whose representatives
will not offer to the notional creditors a less
amount than the government has contracted to
pal•

aims made Poor-law reform a possibility, --.--
it venni incumbent on them to speak out. We 1- I I. 0 CUBIT* Di
.
**Ahem publicly what hindrance or co-operation To-day .qv . on • ivenary of the d
the stop of the workh.. ,• . ~t - -on ~.. .tbil Queen. aaotapi
"chain roxiivea. and . . le.i."Aou./..., , loyal bad*, Ithut 1 Mausoleum at IPI
perz;ter
thimr..., plampoor-reaw, thesoard, t to
evesiord• is newke Ze) t • , whore her
their 0 ' . eat Ifso Den of l iehullor sOusled sue Teed FM
or their enY ? It 'it be Woe. IS is geetteus of sestausemisied for the noasioa.
currently rumoured, that this gentleman ilia his ' Tholthoir of St. °gorge's Chapel sang, under tl
papers in readiness, and was prepared to tetiro tics of Dr._Elvey.____
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