The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-04-17
LETTER FROM LONDON.

passed the second reading or the EccleSiastlcal
Titles bill, by vote of 43s to IS. On last Fri
day evening, w. J. Fox made mastery speech
against it, and in favor of religious liberty, and
Tuesday night, Mr.. Gladstone, d'Israel, &c,
made able speeches On several nights the
House has sat till almost daylight, and the desire
to speak upon the bill has been almost universal.
alluded in my last letter to the petition Of the
Hon. Craven Berkeley to the House of Commons,
in reference to his step-daughter, Miss Augusta
Talbot The world of England has been taken
by surprise, by her petitioning the Lord Chan
cellor herself for liberty, and that she may come
up at once to town and enter society. She denies
that she is a "postulant, !" though her Catholic
Bishop in letter, only a few days ago, to the
Times, distinctly stated that she sras postulant
AS the editor of that journal remarks either the
Bishop or Miss Augusta Talbot is guilty of a gross
lieu
The case has excited great agitation in all circles
Miss Talbot is of high rank, rich heiress, per-
sonally very beautiful and circumstances prove
rs.sS~s's. >,S.Ss, sS4. chs has beessS ~ zshly
dealt with Though her parents were Protes-
tants, yet she was put under the guardianship Of
Catholic friend, and he, with her Catholic rela-
tons, put her in Convent school, where she was
kept away from all her Protestant friends Her
father.in-law, her sister, her own uncle were all
shut away from her After years of Convent
tuition, she was brought into society while ago,
and created a great sensation. Her Catholic
guardians attempted to force her into marriage
with Catholic gentleman, but she had the cour-
age to refuse Seeing no hope of her relenting
they then determined that she should take the
veil, and her immense property should fall to the
Church of Rome, but, through the determined in
tervertion of her fsther-in-law, and the decision
Of the Chancery Court, she will Immediately
leave the Convent and enter society, which she
wishes to do. The utter confusion, disgrace, and
chagrin of the prime actors in the affair cannot
be imagined. They are DR.. Doyle, the Bishop Of
Clifton, and the Earl and Countess Of Shrews-
bury In reading the facts in this strange affair
one is reminded of the Jesuitical characters in
Eugene Sues Wandering Jew" but we need not
20 SO far as Catholicism to find wickedness or
crime. The priestcraft Of the Established Church
in England is far worse at present to bear than
that of the Catholic Church, for law and Consti-
tuition are on its side, and enable it to enforce its
unrighteous demands. Nevertheless, all good
men must denounce this attempt on the part Of
high persons to cheat young woman out of socie-
ty and fortune, and it cannot fail to enforce its
own argument against priestcraft wherever it be
found.
The Americans present in London who are ex.
hibitors, or in any way interested in the Exhibi-
ton, had meeting on Wednesday evening, at the
Chapter Coffee House, ST. Paups.
The meeting, though advertised was intended
as private but bevy of reporters from the differ
ent papers presented themselves, and the ques-
tion was raised as to whether they should be
allowed to take notes. 1t was finally agreed that,
if they would submit their notes to the revision of
the meeting, they might 90 on but the reporters
would not submit to such a regulation The per-
sons gathered were universally agreed in finding
fault with the conduct Of the Exhibition Com
mittee and the British Government, and tolera-
bly, strong resolutions were passed to that eff
feet
II is feared that the Palace will prove a complete
failure in one respect During the late rains, it
has been found impossible to keep out the wet,
which from thousand crevices has worked its way
into the interior Of the building. OF course
good thunder-shower, next summer, would half
ruin the goods on exhibition, but hundreds of
workmen are engaged in trying to fill all such
crevces and perhaps the whole roof will be COW
cred with cloth impervious to wet 1t is feared
by many that it will be utterly impossible to open
the Exhibition by the first of May, so much work
remains to be done.
Among the articles from America, is an ar-ex-
hustled coffin in which human body would exist
for ages without decay In 1t there is boquet
Of flowers as fresh as when first made in
America.
From Persia, among other things, there is
1.-THE beauty's dress on leaving the BATH which
has delightful Moorish redolence.
There are already four immense organs entered,
and il is suggested that some grand Musical Per-
formances take place during the Exhibition.
Last evening, in the House Of Commons, Lord
John Russell obtained leave to introduce bill
for the better administration of justice in the
Court of Chancery. In the House Of Lords,
Lord Lyndhurst made long speech in reference
to the revolutionary projects Of Mazzini, General
Klapka, Ledru Rollin, and others. He wanted
the passage of some act which would oblige these
terrible revolutionists TO desis from their plots or
eject them from the country. He said that he had
in his possession Of Mazzini's stock created
for revolutionary purposes He affected to talk of
Mazzini as poor wretch whom the world knew lit
tie Of except ss an insurrectonist. Probably when
| Lord Lyndhurst shall have gone into oblivion,
| the name of the noble Maxim will be repeated
| by millions with delight Earl Grey said that
| the Government was examining the subject atten-
lively, but he could hold out hope that any
special act, like that Of ls4s, would be passed.
To be sure not-the people Of England would
| not allow such gross oppression.
| A great Reform Meeting was held on Wednes-
day evening in the Metropolis which was crowd
ed to sufocation.
Tomorrow evening public meeting of the
Americans in London takes place, in reference to
| the Exhibition, at the Free Masons Tavern
During the past week, two public executions
took place at Chelmsford-one of the persons was
a noted female poisoner the other the murderer
| Of his sweetheart. Thousands Of wretched peo-
pie gathered to see the horrible sight, and went
away impressed with the idea that hangings in
public are exceedingly interesting and necessa-
ry ceremonies.
On Wednesday, clipper ship got into Liver
pool, from Portsmouth, in America, being only
little over thirteen days on her passage This is
the quickest passage ever made by sail vessel
between the two countries When England can
build vessel which will make q better passage,
il will be time for her to question our superiority
in such matters. The shipping merchants are
astouished.
In France, since the disruption Of ties between
the Orleanist and Legitimist parties, the latter
has shown itself more willing to allow the prolon-
cation Of the Presidential powers, and Louis
Napoleon Is trying to form Cabinet out Of his
own party and that Of the Legitimists. There
can be no doubt that, at present, the Red Repub-
licans are gaining rapidly. In the South Of
France the Indications are unmistskeable, thas
the Socialists are well organised and very power
ful. The friends Of Gen. Csvaignac are ALREADY
in the field with him as q candidate for the Pres'-
dency. He is, under the circumstanoss, sns
only man who can save the country from rsvou-
tion, being a moderate, though decided reP1o"'
| can