The Express.
London, England, 1868-06-10 00:00:00

THE RELEASED CAPTIVES.

THE public may expect to hear a great deal
about Abyssinia during the next few week& The
late captives are expected at Southampton in
about ten days from now, and a hearty reception
may becotinted on from that impulsive and catholic-
minded port. No one will be disposed to withold
pity and sympathy from victims who have suf-
fered so bitterly, and who have lived on with the
DAIIoCLES' sword of a savage barbarian dangling
over their heeds. None will allow en aug-
mented income-tax, a great national anxiety, in-
curred on their behalf, to interfere with the warm
and hearty congratulations due to oompatriots
who have escaped scatheless from deadly peril.
There is, however, a mean to all things; and
it should not be forgotten that the generic
sufferings of the captives in Abyssinia are
not identified with any noble or lofty cause.
MissiGnaries are, it is true, included in their ranks,
but the main body is not associated with religious
or other enterprise. There will be considerable
curiosity to sec the men on whose behalf England
engaged in a national war, and whose vicissitudes
and dangers have been pored over with interest
by the civilised world." But it is the cause, not the
peril, which makes the hero, and it is not necessary
to allow kind-heartedness to master common
sense, to proclaim men patriots or martyrs who
have simply been unlucky. Let us give a gene-
rous and hearty welcome by all means, but
let us set our faces against undue political or
social capital being made out of the escape. But
whatever may be the form in which the liberated
prisoners will be received, it is certain that we
rhaq be all taught and tutored until the Abyssinian
interior will be more familiar to most of us than
places nearer home, say Sutlterlandehire or the
county of Kerry. Mr. CLEMENT MARKHAM' s
resent disquisition to the Geographical Society was
merely the herald of a coming storm of informa-
tion. From platform and pulpit, from lecture-
hell and d' •r-table ; ire the newspapers, in
perapblets, in public correepondence and in books
will the details of life in Abyssinia be spread.
The publishers and the editors of popular
periodicals, are tamely on the qui rire, and Consul
CAMERON and others may be shortly expected to
netke a literary bow before the public. A miserable
story hem had a brilliant close, and the natural
eppetite for full particulars will, we may be sure,
be dexterously titillated and isppeassed.

TIIE season at Mont Blanc has begun very early
this year. and the Swisa papers already begin to
reword attempted ascents of the mountain. A
few days ago two gentlemen, M. Ahrnosait PicrEr
HO M. Ai Exis ',oilman started to main• their
halt at the Glands Millets. The tient day wale,
magniticomt. and the second pri well at 2
in the morning. At 14 they reached the summit
of the Corridor. where they were assailed
by a di-it ing storm of hail. Hen. they had
the prrib lee to beat a retreat. although within
un hour or two of the object of their ambition.
The guides all agreed that it would le. exceedingly
dilowrony to go nay further.

The 11018441 k :It Taunton who are on strik.• have
kmied the fonownix :satires., : —•• Fel!uvr-workinsii, you
sae enin•tly requegted not to x•ek employment in
thi. town, MP We are with our einployerA for an
Arpnee of waxe..“

A choral festival will he held at Lyudlturst
in the Ntw forest on the 18th iuttnatt.

The seventh fcstivul of paruchiel choirs in don-
neetion with the I.lintettoury eein Choral Union took
place yeieeriby in the Cathedral. The aloha in vision
mustered etroinz 0111 this oression. there being upwards of
terse hundred picked voiced.
NATIONAL CUOILAL IROCIETT.-- The usual weekly
meetings of this society hem termisteted for the season,
and will bo resumed in the autumn.