The Express.
London, England, 1868-01-25 00:00:00

OUR OONTEMPOItABIKB.

(THIS DAY.)

Referring to the action of the American House
of Representatives relative to the Fenian prisoners in
Canada, the Times observes that it cannot be the desire of
the government of the Crown, whether in England or in
Canada, to detain prisoners a moment longer than the ob-
ject of their detention warrants, but it is impossible to
talk of mercy when new offences of the same character are
planned by the associates of the former offenders. In an-
other article the Times depicts in the most unfavourable
colours the financial state of Italy. The scheme of the
finance minister, Count Cambray-Digny, is declared to fall
lamentably short of the mark. The only hope of remedy
is in the very extremity of the evil.
The Daily News comments on the unsatisfactory con-
dition of the metropolitan police, and observes that we
want • chief commissioner who is not always running to
the Homenffiee to know what he shall do and leave un-
done. Such a commissioner Mr. Hardy must be prepared
to give London, after his statement at Bristol.
The grievances of the Custom-house clerks and the,
Hungarian Loan, which is announced this morning, are
among the other topics treated of by the Daily News.
The Post asserts that Russia has been at last induced to
postpone for • time the active advancement of her tra-
ditional policy in the East. This result is mainly due to
the firmnani end good sense of Lord Stanley.
The Telegraph discusses the retirement of Sir 3. Bolt,
and the hint mode of tilling the vacancy. To promote the
Solicitor-general, Sir C. Selwyn, would, it thinks, be
ridiculous. Both Sir R. reel and Earl Russell put aside'
political considerations when there was a necessity for
securing first-rate ability, and were Sir R. Peel now alive
the vacant judgeship would unquestionably be offered to
some eminent equity lawyer—Vice-Chancellor Wood or
Sir Roundell rainier, for instance—irrespectively of poli-
tical considerations. There is much reason to fear that
the present government will not exhibit a similar desire to
-rilinate political to public interests.

THE lamented death of Mr. CHARLES Kase
marks the close of an era in the history of the
British theatre. He was not, perhaps, the last of
our legitimate actors. To say nothing of a greater
name in retirement, there are still veterans
strutting and fretting their hour upon the stage,
who rant in Macbeth and perspire in Othello
according to the received traditions. But he was
the last of the scholar-actors who still pursued
their profession, and brought to it the breeding of
gentlemen and the education and tastes which are
taken for granted in the practitioners of the other
acts. GARRICK, who was the pupil of JOHNSON,
and tho friend on equal terms of Buttes, and
Goiosuivii, and Sir JOSHUA REYNOLDS, and who
retained, even after her conversion, the affection
and esteem of HANNAH MORE, had true succes-
sors in theKr-MOLES, in Yoexti, and in MACREADY,
happily the survivor of his younger contemporary.
These men brought the best classical train-
ing of tho continental and English schools,
of Douay, of Eton, and Rugby, to the
vocation into which choice, accident, or
necessity had impelled them, and, under the moral
conditions of their time, pursued it with the
respect which artists owe to their art, and gentle-
men owe to their character. During the director-
ship of Mr. MAIBEADY, Covent Garden and Drury
kuie might be entered with the feelings with
which a visit is paid to the Louvre or the Royal
Academy. The " Masque of Comes," which lie I
brought upon the stage, happily typified the spirit
of his own management. He strove to banish
the impure spirit of revelry from its chosen
haunts. In this respect, and in the feeling fur
history and for poetry, which marked his revivals,
he had a worthy successor in the late Mr. CHARLES
CAN. Antiquarian research might occasionally,
perhaps, be pushed beyond the limits of artistic
fitness in the celebrated Shakespearian re-produc-
tions at the Princess's. It is impossible to pin
down to geographical or chronological accuracy,
the author who puts into Heertot's mouth a re-
ference to A RISTOTLE,SIXI who makes a ship touch
on the deserts of Bohemia. But the error was on
the right side, and was more tolerable than MAC-
BETH in the bag wig and breeches, and CONSTANCE
in the hoops and furbelows, of the eighteenth cen-
tury. The closeness with which SHAKESPEARE fol-
lows in his historical plays the chronicles of the
times that he pourtrayed, is the beat justification
of a similar attention to antiquarian accuracy on
the part of the producer of his plays. The
artistic conscientiousness which was dis-
played in these revivals was not more re-
markable than the moral conscientiousness which
earned for the Princess's under Mr. Krva's
management the title, which he used to quote,
with justifiable complacency, of the " Parsons'
" Theatre." The fortunes expended, not once
only, by Mr. KEAN and his predecessor in the
efforts to restore the British drama and the stage
to their reputation, afford the best proof of their
disinterested enthusiasm, and of their failure. The
Titanic placards which now appeal, in letters of a
yard long, to the public indifference ; the trum-
pery wood-cuts which would disgrace a penny
peepshow, and are as truthful as the pictures
which adorn a travelling caravan at a country
fair, and the " sensation " headings of the play-
bills, are so many low-water marks by which the
decline of the theatre may be measured. Who
can imagine a painter or sculptor, LANDSREIL
or Gismos, for example, descending to such
expedients? No one could practise them to
whom the drama was more than a trade. After
all, the condition of the theatre, as the moat
popular of all arts, reflects the state of society.
If it does not hold up a mirror to human nature
it holds up a mirror to the age in which it
flourishes. If " hoofs profane the boards which
" GARRICK'S genius graced ;" if a generation
which fails to produce masterpieces of literature
is fertile in burlesques of the masterpieces of
earlier times; if thestageexhibits atendencyto Para-
disiacal nakedness without Paradisiacal innocence
the fault is not with it alone. These things are but
indications of a laxity of morals which the com-
mercial transactions and the political maineuvres I
of the time more explicitly declare. The art
which was practised by SHAKESPEARE and by
MOLIERZ, which enriched literature by their
genius, and which furnished to Attirrw the wealth
nobly spent in the foundations of the Dulwich
College and Gallery, is not necessarily the hand-
maid of frivolity or dissipation. Its divorce from
the severer forms of religion and morality singn-

THE WEEKLY PRESS.

The Examiner represents Lord Stanley as re-
turning the reply, " I say nothing," to every question that N
can interest the public mind. Garibaldi may threaten
Rome, and Napoleon may threaten Italy; but Lord Yesterday evening, at the weekly meeting of
Stanley can only say, " I say nothing." R
- alaia may the members of the Royal Institution, Professor Tyndall
incite the Danubian. to conspire against the Turk ; the delivered his second lecture "On Faraday as a Die-
French may incite the Egyptians to invade Abyuinia coverer." The Professor concluded by giving an affecting
under cover of our expedition ; and the Turks may con- account of Faraday during his illness, and read two letters
tinue to butcher children, ravish women' and burn down which he had written, in one of which dated in the
villages in Crete, while every Christian flag save that of autumn of 1865, he alluded to his loss of memory, and of
England affords the fugitives shelter and safe passage not being able to recollect at the end of one line what be
WON the ~V;ean ; but all Lord Stanley can do is to look had written in the line before. The lecture was not ended
on, and when asked what England has to say to these until 20 minutes after the usual time, and at it. oonclu-
things, to repeat his catchword—" I say nothing." How an pram°, Tyndall seemed mush affected.
thi democratic Reform Bill came to be passed, after his The chair of Moral Philosophy in the University
lordship had indignantly declared in parliament that it
of Edinburgh, vacant by the decease of Prof. MacDougall,
was a calumny to insinuate the possibility of his being an I
is to be filled up by the curators about the middle of June,
accomplice in such a design, be has but the tame dull an-
thereby allowing the successful candidate sufficient time
MU to give. What sort of education bill Mr. Disraeli to
prepare his lectures previous to the commencement of
contemplates he may be pardoned for not expounding, for
the session in November next. Applications for the chair
possibly he may not know, will be received by the curators, who are the following
The Bristol banquet is the subject of • paper in the
gentlemen :—The Right Hon. W. Chamber, Lord Provost
Saturday Review. There is nothing now left, it observes, of Edinburgh ; the Right Hon. J. Inglis, D.O L., Lord
foe liberals to say. Not • single word was uttered at the I Judas Genera . the Right Hon. sir W. G. Cram Bare. ;
Bristol banquet which might not have been uttered if it Sir David Brewster . Bailie Russell ; Bailie Fyfe ; A.
bad been a liberal gathering. Conservatism is so Black, Seq.
utterly wiped out that its very language is lost.
The Athenanun understands that the authorities
Lard Stanley repeated the old argument which we have so .
of the National Gallery, lamenting the probable cessation
often heard from the lipe of Mr. Bright, that the Reform ,
Bill was justified by the numerous anxieties and embarrass- ; of the most valuable annual exhibition of pictures by the
meats which En
has encon e, as it not he old masters and deceased British artists at the British
E land to ute
wise that, in a moment of trouble, s of the ima-
m., who think they I Institution, are in treaty with the. proprietor .
have a fair claim to a share in the government of the ' named gallery for the further hiring of their premises in
country should be kept aloa from it. Mr. Ga thorns ! Pall-mall, in order to the carrying on of the gatherings of
Hardy entreated his conservative friends not to stand pictures on loan from the best furnished English private
apart from politics after the new Reform Bill cornea into ; "4ft-tie"'
operation, but to go in love and coofidence among the I The Council of the Zoological Society have
working classes, and strive and labour with them elected W. Jesse, Esq., as their zoologist to •accompany the
for the general' good of the country. This is I Abyssinian expedition, which appointment has been
not only in the key, but in the very spirit, of Mr. approved by the government. Mr. Jesse will join the
Gladstone ; and it is only natural that Mr. Gladstone ,head-quarters of Sir Robert Napier.
should feel and should express, se he not long did in Lou- ; The London Student is to start from a committee
cashire, his surprise at this being the sort of talk offered I of professors and teachers in London, with an able staff of
by the very person whom Oxford chose to substitute for writers, 01101011 at our public schools, ha., throughout the
him. We may confidently assert that, if Mr. Hardy had kingdom.
said anything of the sort before the last general election, I No day has yet been definitely appointed for the
he would never have been returned by Oxford. But he obsequies of the late Mr. Kean, bat it is understood that
say. so now, and no one reproaches him, for he only Says the funeral will certainly not take place earlier than next
what everyone else says. On every single topic of public Wednesday, while there is some likelihood of its being de-
interest—on education, on the Irish church, on Ireland !erred until the Friday following. The place of sepulture
generally—the talk of the conservative leaders at Bristol will be the family vault at Keydell, near Herndean, in
was either that of their old opponents, or of men prepared . Nempshira,
to go forward, if they only knew how, and willing sad i LITERARY AND ficistrriric MEETINGS TOR THE
to longing be educated. ENSCING WERE.—Monday : Futoms=od, 7,AnniversaiT;
The Spectator thinks Lord Stanley's ability was chiefly Geographical, Bi, " Liv.ingstone Expedition," Mr.
meat of Commutation, or
shown in the very conservative teak of explaining how to 1,72144.21:1.i17; chieArrhaere:.‘ Tuesday : Ersgineers ~ 8.
let ill alone. His apology for the conservative policy of " Freshwater Floods of River," Colonel VConnell.
last year on reform was, however, as good as such an Wednesday : Soetety art Arta, 8, "aimate, he. of Natal,"
apology could be in the nature of things, and infinitely: Dr. Mann. Thursday: Royal Institution, 3, ' Faraday's
more effective for is purpose than Mr. Dieraeli's at Etta- , Disoonities
S ."
, _llilee.r. t°3:OSITDRISI, ;Royalrdemy: 8,
burgh. Our oontempomry is profoundly convinced that :: tem
ueorge's Chapel. Windsor, by Sir P. H by 6 Edw.
them is so hope discernible for Ireland in the best toy' wi..,, ffee. G. p. Townsend. prio,,y : Royal /natio,. otrurffAMPTON, JAR. 2S.
statesman of the present day—and very little immediate tion, 8., "Public School Edusatio?_ "Rev. F. W. Farrar. The Peninsular sod Oriental company's steamer
hope for any other want that asks urgent attention. Lord Saturday: Royal Institution, 3, ' N -Metallic Elensents,"
Stanley is evidently disposed, like Lord Rummell • few years Professor Itee"ft, —.Atteftefte•
ago, to " rest and be thankful," with this difference only, ISr. or PAUL 'e CarEZDIAL.—The special Sunday ; :irthanza'ff pamongessairTying °I,
lelar7-4,..-ilsin.,..i., hal: arrianralber,3oo
awing the winter and spring seasons,i I of auk Tape
that he has assented to a measure which will terminate his =tervidis ete '
are as overfloingly attested now as in Packages =gel ncluding 681. bales
rest MOO enough; while ea fee Pawl" thankfulnessat the On y night Usk the Very Bev. Dr. 50,0001. In the Bay of Biscay the Nyasa* asps.
present moment, it certainly takes • mind disposed to be , Dean of Exeter was as preaeher, and te-asstrow rimed o hard rdo sod a boon bane sea. On
chiefly for calamity, to produce it. evening this Bev. M. Faison, M.A., {nom-
Ilsent of Vit. Bride's, Liverloool, will deliver the eveielsg the 23rd ahe spoke the dimmer Ceylon.
discourse. Nest month the Maar ci Lenders la. ap- GIBEALTAB, JAL ID.
The benches of King's Inns Society, Dublin, en palsied, as preethers. Feb. 2, Rev. Dr. 1144. es
tertained the Lord-Liestsaant at dinner on Thrusday Mut 'lf l'altambaat cellePed lies; resallt;eththfgeb* 1 Rev.
.sa 1 people theirciosigura Tangi.boor‘i% odandofTstmathoseglitermstill‘infe:
..,.._ Dr. Telford, the
evening. Nearly all the bashers wen present. Ana weed 3B..A.B.Meneffid mum.. Geoid, lucid, wi
gaseing arrimay thew& winaly ai food. Two.
Lord•ldeufesamt was greatly sheered. The only resolves mom, Mlddlasax
at
, sad simplain to the Mae el
" The Health of the QUAIL" 1 Landes ; sad Fah. 13, bin Grote the Archbishop et T. nth& 31 Pero ea thebrink at dirolillial Inn -
imk

J. D. Hoover, Esq., Chairman, &0.,
National Hotel, Washington, D.C.
PROM !IMPART REWARD.
Department of State, Weshington, Jan. 8, 1868.
ToHon. Charles Mason, Chairman, Sze., Washington, D. C,
Sir,—l shall be unable to accept the kind invitation of
your committee to the Bth of January celebration this even-
I tog, without departing from the habit of self.denial which
I have found necessary to maintain, in the hope of recovering
constitutional health and vigour which have been somewhat
impaired. I would, however, cheerfully make sucha sacrifice
now. as I have oecasionally done heretofore, if it seemed
to be necessary Dow—as eertainly it was then—for the
vindication of the President of the United Slates and his
administration in their piney of seeking the earliest and
oompletest passible reiteration of the Unica. New advo-
cates and defenders of that policy have arisen in the North,
as well as in the South, in the East, and in the Wed, while
it has come to command the admiration and respect of
I all foreign nations ; sad those of our tellow"itimms who
have opposed, resisted, and hindered it by illegitimate
proceeds, have ceased to be samilants, and have been
brought to an attitude of self-defence or evasion. The
unerring instinct of a great and enlightened people bee
promptly discovered the exact political situation. It is,
thereto'', no longer neownsay far times who are engaged
in administering the executive department of the
government to show that chronic disintegration would
be as fatal as violent separation, or that prosperity, pesos
and harmony mu be obtained only by laying aside the
sword without delay, end by restoring to the subjugated
States an their constitutional rights. fasultito, and Iran-
i chises.—l am, my dear dr, with sh/C4RO respect, your
obedient servaat, Waxiest H. BZWAILD.

(UUTZLI TZLI4IAIIS.)
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