The Express.
London, England, 1868-05-23 00:00:00

BROWN BROTHERS.—PATENT CHAIRS
and COUCHES, Barrack laniterze. Duke, Perts&P
tiros, BA., at PRICES CONSIDERABLY SEDUCED.
IU. PICCADILLY. Catalogue free.

rpm: DERBY WEEK.—Visitors to Epsom
A. and the Reno Show should Inspect the PATENT
SADDLERY. Jockeys, Crthetrapa, leg Fters, Re., at
BLACKWELL'S, WC Oxfordedreet, close to theca
Marble Arch.

NOTICN.—FOUL PLAY.—The New Novel by
CHAIN ILBADI sad MON HOUCICIATIS is pub-
lished complete ia S vols. $ day.

FOUL PLAY.
Bradbury. Baur, and 00., 11, Bourerie street, R.C.

INTELLIGENCE FROM ABROAD.

(saosuc•e
THE CUSTOMS PARLIAMENT.
BERLIN, 'Lir 22, EvaNnto.

At tho termination of to-day's sitting of the
Customs Parliament, Count Bismarck announced
that the session would be closed at four o'clock to-
morrow afternoon.

The King will give a grand dinner to-morrow, to
which the members of the Customs Parliament are
invited ; and at nine o'clock in the ercning a special
free train for the members of the psrliatnent will
leave for Kiel, to enable them to inspect the Prus-
sian men-of-war stationed at that port.
A dinner will be given on Sunday next by the
Crown Prince, in honour of the birthday of Queen
Victoria.

Herr von Roon, the minister of war, is expected
beet in Berlin to-morruwi from his journey in Italy
on leave of absence.

TH DANK OF FRANCE.

PARIS, MAT 2L
The return of the Bank Of France fur the week
ending to-day, shows the following changes compared with
that of but week : -Increase : Clash in hand, 1$,000,000t.;
private accounts, 14,500,0:10f. Decrease : Bills din,
counted, 24,000,000 f. ; notes 13,000y1.10f. ; advances,
260,000 f. ; treasury belanes, 200,000 f.

146. , -444
in MANTIC a Xi Main'')

NEW YORK, Mar V..
The Chicago Republican Convention bas abmi-
noted Mr. Schuyler Colfax, Speaker of the Renee
of ltepresentasives, for the Vice-Presidency.
The national steamship Pennsylvania arrived out to-day.
Closing prises--Gold, 139. i ; starling exchiti.ge on Lon-
don, 114 • 5-20 United States Bonds, 18$1, /104 ; ditto,
1885, 108 i ; 10.40 Bonds, 11r. ; 14k ; kale, 69 ;
Cotton, m d. Wand, 31 ; Petroleum, standard white, 30;
Fleur, extra. state, 9 do's. 50?. ; Corn, old mixed, 1 dot. 10e.

- -
TELEGRAPHIC CONMITNIC4 TION WITH INDIA.

An influential deputation of members of parlia-
ment, merchants and mannfactutmt electricians and rail-
way directory, waited upot the Setwittary for India yester-
day, to impress upon hi:n the paramount necessity of
improving our telegraphic communication with the East.
Mr. Crawford, M.P. weafthe chief rNkeeman • and with
him there were Lord W. Hay, Sir C. Bright, LP., Slr 8.
Canning, Mr. T. B. Potter, 81.P.' Rir J. Anderson, Mr.
Graves, M.P.,Mr. Jacob Bright, M.P., Mr. Baxley,
M.P. Mr. ram-Ewing, M.P., Mr. Edwards.
Captain Osborn, C. 8., Mr. Horafell, M.P., and
Mr. Cheatham, M.P. From the statements made
it appears that last November a memorial was
addressed to the Secretary of State for India
by leading commercial men in London, representing that in
1866 a parliamentary committee bad declared our tele-
graphic communication with the East to be imperfectly
organised, badly worked, and liable at any time to inter-
ruption from political or other muses entirely beyond the
control of the British government. Since then the imper-
fections had grown, and general dissatisfaction increased.
It was now submitted that three years worsing had proved
the Persian Gulf cable to be altogether inadequate to the
requirement. of the age, and that although the govern-
ment of India had made great effort. to improve it, the
delays, uncertainty, inaccuracy, and irregularity in the
order of the transmission of messages were as great as when
the lino was opened. The daticulty was easy of solution.
A submarine communication from one of the south-western
ports cl Ragland to Gibraltar' and thence by Malta to
Alexandria, with a cable down the Red Sea and across the
Indian Ocean to Bombay, would, with the line through
Egypt now under British management, complete an inde-
pendent British system from England to India, under one
uniform management and oestrol, and open to no foreign
interruption or interference, except in the short and un-
avoidable diatom°. between Alexandria and Suez. The de-
putation submitted that, important though the commer-
cial interest. involved undoubtedly were, they were only
secondary to the great national stake which we have in
the East, and henoe they urged that this matter should be
treated as an important imperial question. They asked
Ant, that the goverament woaldeensider the propriety of
itself constructing and working tho suggested line ; or, if
that were for cry good reason, declined, that it would at
all events ex ress a nilliogness to assist in sonic fitting
methodessxrskwd private enterpiim hi worrying eat the
undertaking.
_ . . .

Sir STAFFORD NORTHMTF. in replying to the gentlemen
who had addressed him (Mr. Crawford, ).LP., Mr. Cassels,
Mr. Cheetham, ILP., and Lord W. Hay) said if there was
no telegraphic communication between England and India
he should agree that this was a matter of interest both to
the Indian government and the English pnblic, and
that stops ought undoubtedly to be taken, in which
the Indian government should bear its full share,
for the establishment of some such communication es
that suggested. But there were two distinct lines
in existence, although they were with- out 'efficient con-
sideration /Token of as one : the line through Ger.
many, Russia, and Persia took a very different direc-
tion to that ria Constantinople. Of course there might
be political circumstances that would affect both lines ;
but, as • rule, anything of the kind interfering with one
would leave the other free. The two kinds of complaints
made ought to be kept separate ; namely, the complaint
that the existing lines were not in efficient operation,
and the complaint that difficulties might arise
from political considerations that would destroy their
freedom. In the first an acknowledged difficulty had to
be grappled with, but no case bad been made out proving
that the construction of • new line was the proper re-
medy. Assuming the continuance of present peaceful
relations, was there anything to prevent the existing lines
being made. what he admitted they were not at present,
satisfactory media of communication ? The government
were aware of and regretted the inefficient working of
the lines, and were directing their attention to their im-
provement. Complications and mistakes were, no doubt,
likely to arise from the confusion in passing from one
jurisdiction to another, but it was hoped to meet that by
joining in the European convention. Indeed, be might
state that arrangements were being made, with every
hope of • successful issue, that would greatly
improve the telegraphic communication through
France or Italy to Constantinople. There was every
prospect of being able to overcome the diffinal-
, ties mentioned with regard to the Persian Gulf line. If
existing systems could be got to work as they had
worked before the wishes of the public would be met, and
all that was required both politically and eommercially
would be achieved. The proposed alternative via the Red
Sea would not by any means get rid of the difficulties that
had been urged. He himself was once anxious to have a
line from Falmouth to Gibraltar, but since then things
had changed, and the science of submarine telegraphy had
made such rapid progress that it was no longer a rash
undertaking for pnvate enterprise. He bad reason to know
that at present the imperial *reentry was not prepared to
take half of the expense of • thing of this kind, and there-
fore he felt bound to decline on the part of the Indian trea-
sury to take the whole expenses. He suggested that the
deputation should address themselves quite as much to the
First Lord of the Treasury as to the Indian secretary. Re-
cognising the right of the deputation to come to him to
complain of defects in existing liner, he assured them the
government were earnest in trying to remove them. But
as at present advised, they were not prepared to undertake
the laying down of • line ria the Red Sea. He should be
glad to see the line laid down, but be had beard no satis-
factory reason why the government should do it. Without
wishing to discourage the project, he thought it best, in
frankness, to say, that whilst ready to do everything in
their power to improve existing lines, they were not in-
clined to give either • guarantee, or make a Red Bea line.
Mr. Crawford, regretting the hon. baronet's decision,
thanked him for the interview, which then terminated.

A letter from Rome, dated May lb, in the Prerse,
says:—" It is the opinion of the French officers stationed in
the Poatifical states that the Italian emissaries, wham it is
impossible to keep out of Rome, are preparing a move-
ment, which, supported by an attack from without, will
threaten the Pope's sovereignty and compel France once
more to assume a hostile attitude towards Italy. Ido
not share this opinion, for I have reason to believe that
the revolutionary party is at this moment about to do
something in soother direction than Rome."

Taa FLow en SERMON.—According to custom,
the Rev. Dr. Whittemore will deliver a sermon on
" Flowers," on the evening of Whit-Tuesday ; but this
year he will preach at the Church of St. Catherine flee,
Leadenhallstreet, and not at Bt. James* Aldgate, as
hitherto. The musical portion of the service will be
undertaken by fifty members of the Si. Paul's special
evening service choir. As each member of the
tire usually carries at this service abouquet of florjer,ege
effect is meet pleasing, and the service is thus rendered
especially interesting.—Cirk
_Frei&
INDIA AND CHINA MAIL& —SCE; MAT 22.
The Cana', from Calcutta, and the Baroda, from Bombay,
arrived to-day at 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. respectively.
Nearalgin and rhenmatisin can be cared by
inure
Herrings flesh and Hair me. roe lbs. and
each. at all peatiomara and obeialata Pam u app Boa-
Me. Wolin* L. ilovadds lad lama, QM&
stunk W.And Wad Id, sly-c001,11.C. Advt.)