The Express. — 1864-10-19 (London, England)

ECTILVANT. —Lord Wodehouse, the new Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, has appointed Mr. Edmond Wodehouse, son of the Governor of the Cape Colony, his private secretary.  The difficulty of obtaining good seamen for the feet is now severely felt at Woolwich. It is stated that upwards of 1,000 continuous service men who entered at the commencement of the Ruasian war from the merchant navy have refused to meow their engagements, and that many whose term of ten years has nearly expired have requested their discharge on being paid off. The grievance complained of appears to be the new regulations issued by the First Lord, and denominated " the Somerset discipline." The stoppages of grog and pay, and the retention, after the tern of punishment, of defaulter's names on the black list are much objected to. A notification has been posted at Woolwich for some weeks past requiring men for the 107gun ship Victoria, but with small 'nooses. The fiaphip Fisgard, formerly crowded to inconvenience, has now but few men berthed there.  On Sunday the Emperor and Empreea of the French invited to the imperial table at Pll Cloud the laureate of Rome who lately gained the grand prime for painting, sculpture, architecture, and musical composition. Among the other gusts were Marshal Valliant, Minister of the Bsaux•Arte ; Count de Niewerkerke, superintendent of the Baena-Arts ; Count Baciocchi, superintendents. coral of theatres ; M. Auher, director of the Conservatoire, An. The Emperor and Empress gave the most gracious encouragement to the young artiste, and dories  the evening her Majesty presented to each of them a photograph of the Emperor, herself, and the Prince Imperial, signing each card with her name. M. Sing was also informed that his cantata, which had gained the grand prise for mmical composition, was shortly to he performed at the Grand Opera.  A correepoudeut of the Times writes:—"The oxKing of Ode (now on the Continent) told • friend of mine that the rope-trick ruled to be performed in this faabion. The performer was tied neck and test and put into a sack, the month of which was carefully secured. He waethen thrown into deep water, from which he emerged swimming, free from both ropes and sack. Now, let this experiment be tried publicly in the Serpentine with the Brothers Davenport, and let Lord Bury, Captain Inglefield, or any other enlightened amateur be tied up along with them to see fair play. If they succeed, they will add greatly to the number of their converts. Of course the Humane Society can be at head to give them a fair chance of resuscitation if they fail. A similar ordeal we' once applied to witches; why not to coojurors  Meyerigeer's impatiently expected and long desired oper•L'Afriosine is now under rehearsal at the Trench Opera. The following is an analysis of the plot :—Vaaeo de Gams, returning from his first voyage to Africa with a cargo of pogrom, is shipwrecked. Two alone of the nevus were rued—Nelaaco, an African traitor, and Celika, ax. Queen of !Wapner, a long time before King Radium and his widow. Vasco is condeaned by a naval courtmartial for having lost his ship, and the sentence is Gormanideated to him in an octuor of bus voices, which is the most remarkable air in the first act. In the second act Vasco is in prison with the Queen of Madagascar and Nelueo. The latter wishes to kill him daring bin sleep, but the Queen, who loves Vasco, utters a cry and eaves him. In the third act Vasco has obtained permission to return to Africa to moues his discoveries. Celika is with him, bet he is again shipwrecked, and thrown on the coast of Madagascar. Here is • change of scenery. Celika fa mistress here in place of being • slave She will force Vasco to love her or she will put him to death. At the end, however, she abandoes bar plans, and it is she will die. To carry her resolution into effect she goes to deep under the %pas tree while singing an adieu to Vasco. The plot is romantic and the scenery is splendid, but the public are uneasy lest the actors should not prove themselves equal to the parte allotted to them.  Mr. Robert Henry Williams, the London manager of the Mercantile sad &cheap Bank, who has committed suicide by poison at his residers), is New Cavendishstreet, was formerly in the Union Bank of Leedom, and was tidy 27 years of age.  turling the course of business, paralysing all branches of bxlnetry, and which threatens to shake to its foundation die public peace and Order ; and seeing, moreover, the necessity of adopting some speedy and effiessious measure which the code of laws, as it now stands, does not afford, to put an end to the evils, which it is much to be feared will accrue from such a disastrous occurrence—l, in conformity with the unanimous opinion of the Council of State, decree, " lat. That during six days, to be computed from the 9th inst., the becoming due of all bills, promissory notes, and ether commercial securities payable in this city and province, be held suspended and prorogued, and also that all protests, recourses in guarantee, and prescriptions of above referred to securities, be also suspended and prorogued for same space.  " ' 2ndly. Article 808 of the Commercial Code shall apply as to granting time, to non•matriculated forms (of merchants and tradesmen), the which, as well as conditions granted, can be effected amicably, being adjusted by a number representing two-thirds of the body of their creditors.  " ' 3rdly. The suspension of banks and of banking eetablishmenta during the term which Article 1 treats of shall be legislated for by decree of government"'  The law for regulating the winding-up of banks and banking-houses which have failed, was promulgated on the 20th inst., and gives the administration of the same to two of the chief creditors, assisted by an auditor appointed by government, and is generally most favourable to the establishments in question. The first step taken after making out a balanoe-sheet, is, by every available means, to effect the payment of the small creditors, if not the whole amount of their claim, then the utmost the estate of the bankrupt will permit.  ‘.. -