The Express. — London, England, 1848-04-25 00:00:00

--------------------- profession of the party signing' . M o re than once during the Re form Bill and Anti-Corn Law agitations we have known this precaution adopted in procuring signatures to petitions, and always with the best effect. It affords a guarantee that the signe r tures are tsmd fide. It inspires confidence in that very numerous class who are always most firm in their good resolutions, when they fled themselvaes intten a congenial crowd, and it comm ands respectful tion in parliament. We observe in several of the metropolitan parishes (in St. Giles's and St. George 9, Bloomsbury, for example) petitions in the course of signature by parties who en rolled. themselves as special constables on the late occasion, for household suffrage, vote by ballot, triennial parliaments, and enclosure of the crown lande, with a view tole ase or sell them as farms, averaging from 150 to 200 acres. These petitions have judiciously been set on foot without noise or parade ; have been left for signature with sensible and respectable householders all who sign them challenge inquiry into the validity of the signatures, by appending their professions and places of resi dence to their names. A no th e r thing in which the leading spirits being among t h e Birmingham reformers are worthy of imitated is, the zeal and assiduity with which they are publishing reasoned expositions of their prin ciples. It is only . by candid and frequent discussions that a uniformity of canumerous population of • reasoning men. The problem row to be solved by the people of England, is the propounding of a scheme of constitutional reform, acceptable to a sufficient majority of the population to render the call for it irresistible on the part of government and the legislature. Such a plan is not to be devised or recommended by unargumentative cries for this or that measure of reform, but by hard-headed reasoning —by showing why the reform is required, and what are the reasons for believing scat it will . produce the effects attributed to it. Is there any one institution of the day which can remain uninfluenced by the democratic principle ? DE TOCQUEVILLE, in the preface to his boo on " Democracy in America," states, that his wor r k " w igious as wr i t ten under the impression of a sort of el terror, produced in the soul of the author by the con templation of that irresistible revolution marching on wards for so many ages across so many obstacles, and 1 advancing even now in the midst of the ruins it has made." If a survey of the histo cf the past had p ro duced this impression, events ry which have hap pened since that time can have done nothing to weake it. The experience of the last few weeks alone must have i nves ted the pro gress of democracy with the attributes of irresistibility and certainty which belong to a divine law. Precisely in the very places where the dikes and dams intended to keep out Vie threatening element were the most cunningly devised, and the most strongly built, has the overwhelming force of the torrent displayed Waif in its greatest power. Into almost every instttution is the popular element forc ing its way. In one alone do we find a determined opposition. The officers of the church maintain in its most extreme form the old principle of absolute irre sponsibility. There would be some chance of their u l t i m ate voluntary recognition of the ne w powe if the supporters of the old despottisthis is m were not the found incase. one sec ti o n only of the church ; bu High and low church authorities unite in this, the assertion of an unquestionable absolutism. One bishop refuses to ordain a candidate unlees he can give a satisfactory account of his conversion : another objects to the word " conversion" when applied to a baptized christian, and will listen to no one who does not answer, according to a prescribed form, a number of searching questions on the doctrine of baptismal regeneration ; a third abandons the matter of doctrine altogether, but applies a geographical test of orthodoxy. he will have no divinity that comes from the other side of the Irish channel. But how ever these prelates may differ amongst thelves as to the nature of the test to be applied to mse didates can for orders, there is not one of them who has any mi who s givings as to his right to impose such a test, or would dream of denying the claim of a brother pre late to exercise &similar right. The theory of church government thus exhibited has for its leading article, that the highest authorities of the establishment are left to their own discretion, and are in the possession of a pure despotism. The Queen's rove trelire has thus the force of the Sultan's firman ; it elevates a man from the position of a slave to that of an autocrat. But while the QUEEN has the advan tage over the Sultan, in thus being able to confer the right to exercise a power, in comparison of which her own is a mere nothing, she is inferior to her bro ther-potentate in that she cannot undo or even oorreet her work. A simple priest elevated to the high posi tion of a powerful prelate is immovable; once there he is always there ; whereas the removal of a trouble some Pacha by degradation or the bow-string, is one of the ordinary operations of the Sublime Porte. This anomalous fact of the complete despotism exercised in a most important institution in a coun try which has yielded more than any other to the certain but slow pressure of democracy, is remarka ble. In the freest country in the world, the QUEEN, or rather the QUEEN'S ministry, has the power to elect to twenty-seven offices as they fall vacant, the tenants of which, after their election, are post tively free from all control in the exercise of their authority. Even public opinion, which is, with re spect to all other departments of the state, of such avail in checking the arbitrary use of despotic power, is scarcely of any efficacy here. It a few cases of oppression come to light, it must still be remembered that they bear an infinitesimally small proportion to those which are concealed. The consequences to a clergyman of incurring the censure of • bishop ar tied so u tterly without a remedy that oppression is subm to in silence. The SHORES, and the ( a ' is and the TUORPS are the exceptions. Amongst these twenty - se ven d.gnitaries there may be ty-secen standards of orthodoxy. Each of the twenty-seven prelates who share amongst them the government of the Euglish church may adopt a different test of eligibility in the selection of those to whom he delegates subordinate authority. Each may require a different exposition of doctrine from his clergy, and each may insist upon his own fi , reitihe of doctrine and form of worship being the pattern by which the laity in his diocese shall be guided. There may be thus, at one time, twenty-seven infallibilities in the English church. Dangerous as protestants have always consi dered the dogma of Papal infallibility, the danger likely to arise from the introduction of' twenty. eeven popes is infinitely greater. If the church of England is to mean anything beyond the corps of its chief offi cers, and the regul ations by which vast the or y are guided ; if it is—as it oug ht to be — clergy and laity, animated by a spiritual principle where are we to find evidence of this in the disjointed mechanism which claims the name ? Is the church of England io the diocese of Exeter the same as in the diocese of Chester? Is it not a notorious fact that the avowal of a certain set of doetrims, or interpreta tions of doctrines, which is necessary to enable a loan to obtain o rdination in one diocese will form a valid ground cf exclusion from or dination in an other? Can any one at all acquainted with the subject deny . that the self-same exercis and answers to examination questions which have enabled a candidate to o btain ordination front the Bishop of PETEREOROUGH wou ld ensure his rejection by the Bishop of LONDON? And yetof neitherany of these 1 prelates is eubject to the operationlaw which can curb him in the exercise of his auth looking on nsi ly on of to t h e m aintenance of its power, and the exte its own principles, it exercises with • jealous and arbitrary care its prerogative of choosing the bishops of the church? Great, undoubtedly, is the anomaly of • lay authority . electing and appointing the offis of a spiritual institution; but the government may surely plead as an excuse for the arbitrary exercise of • their right, the fact that th ere is no guarantee but the well.known dispoi.tion of the bishop elect, for his not introducing a system ot teaching adverse to the very principles by which the government of the country is guided. Admitting, for instance, that the nse f of t h e church was express ed a g ainst the appoint se ment o Dr. HAMPDEN, and that the anomaly ot lay nomina tion to an episcopal appointment was thereby made more than ever apoarent, might not Lord ham have fairly asked the objectors "Wh y am Ito be the only person ceps wed for not listening to what is called the voice of the church Why is a min;ster to be w arned of a democratic D element in the church, Ilk the existence of which iS now affirmed 'or the first time, in order to form an engine of opposition against him? In what particular diocese does the true voice of the church speak ? on What knowledge e ill enable ma to discover a harmy amongst this multitudinous .---.—,—.-.....----•••••••""..--...-••-,----- o f sounds? Does a b isho p ever listen to the v s:ca . l i led voice of the church? Nay, is this voice ever raised? It is undoubtedly true that Dr. liAlIPMEtea opinions are very different from those of Dr. Pnwex, or Dr. BLONTILLD, or Dr. SUMNER, but is this differ ence greater in degree or in kind than that of the three l as t-named divines amongst themselves ? • We really do not know what answer Gould be made to a plea of this kind. Had the church the slightest tinge of democracy i n her const i tut i o n, there would have been some reason in the argument against the indecency of neglecting to listen to its repre sentations. If there were any recognised means of getting a true exposition of the feeling of the church, we do not think that any ministers would act so un justly or so foolishly as theyespiee the voice; in the absence of such means y surely cannot be judged very guilty in neglecting to listen to that which the bishops themselves treat with supreme contempt. In every matter which interferes ed with their own to trea prit - vileges, the bishops when publicly appeal the rot populi as vox et praterea ttihil ; how then can they expect to be allowed to employ it to d serve their own turn, when that is to be accomplishe elevating it to the rank of the vox Del? IT will be remembered that we pointed out a few months since some probable effects of the stoppage of railway works, which were not taken into account have by t h os e who, with the notes and Examiner, bad a forcible restraint put upon them by the le gislature. We expressed at the same times an time oould ofpinion t hat the actual pressure of the w itself be likely, without any aid from the state, to bring down the expenditure on melt works, to a point quite as low as would be found at all conveni ent to the country. It may now be seen how far oar views have been j us tified by the events of the last two or three months, an d by the preeent con dition of the classes formerly employed iII railway works, or deriving more indirectly some benefit from their activity. A check has been given by the nece ss ities of the times quite as severe, we aft p r ehend, as the loudest advocates of a stoppage could have ventured, bad they been empowered the , to applyconse . And the country is feeling pretty sensibly quences of a state of things which has cast thousands of able-bodied and williog labourers ltd of employ in every quarte ; has deprived the retai ealers of the custom their expenditure supplies, while throwing upon them the charge of maintaining these men as paupers ;nod has paralysed many other branches of industry on a larger scale, to which tamp rogress of railway works gave a healthy ex aliment. This condition of affairs has naturally enoughhnow cited a good deal of anxiet y amongst those witness its effects in various parts of the kingdom—and the feeling is beginning to prevail as strongly in the community of men of business at large as within the railway interest itself. The former have been made aware. in various ways, of the consequences which we foresaw must arise from any extensive stop page of an expenditure, all of which wa ne in ens way or another, employed in supporting the popula tion and giving life to the industry of these islands; and in several quarters the desire has been shown to see this source of well-being re-opened where the distress of the times has already cloeed it, or kept flow ing where this now threatens to arrest it. This, it is I now pretty evident, while matters remain as they amoters, re, cannot be accomplished by the railway pro if left to their own unaided exertions. There to fear, is no l o nger the least reason to hope from them, or according to the different views entertained of their en terprises, any continua nce of the activity or tithe of e outlay of former years. They are trying in all dir to curtail, in place of extending, their liabilitiing es. A dread of calls is , n aturall y enough, the prevail of em otion just now; and the paramount object nearly all concerned is to avoid whatever may in crease the frequency of demands, which those who are not in a condition to meet cannot now evade rui bn y selling their property, except on terms utterly ous. It is clear that if anything can be done to in crew* the activity of railway works, with a view the advantage of the labourers and trades to country, that were never more in want of such an --.oement, is not from the companies that this Accounts from Presbarg of April 15, say that the Archduke Stephen left suddenly . at midnight on the 13tk for Vienna , whence fie will immediately prooecom ed to Bruns, where serious disturba disturbances h ave m enced. The Hungarian ministers left in us.a steamer for Pesth , unde r a salute of gn The Hungarian M inister of War, L. co Ides saros, who is stationed at Verona aslonel of Hussars, will probably be permitted to remain there in consequence of the exigencies of circum stances, and the prime minister, L. Bathyany, mean while takes charge of the War department. A violent opposition is, however, made at Pesth against the em ployment of the Hungartan military beyond the Hungarian frontiers, and the Pesth Committee of Security has requested the ministry to recall the Hun garian military from Italy and Gallicia. At a large popular assembly at Peeth, deputies f rom Poland and I ta ly were received with enthusiasm, and torchlight I l processions were afterwards given in the town. About 1400 Poles living in Pe sth have return d home with i l 'considerable succours, for the purpose of taking part in the reconquest of Poland. Th e e xcitement against the employment of the I Hungarian military in Italy, has reached a great height at Pesth. There was a re p ort on the night of the 10th, that a portion of the garrison of Pesth would leave secretly, in consequence of which the National Guards assembled in their different quarters in order to oppose their departure with their weapons in their hands. The immediate and timely appear ance of the minister who . promised to make in stant inquiries respecting the origin of the report, succeeded in allaying the excitem ent in some degree. On thel 12th, one of the National Guards circulated Italian proclamations among the Italian soldiers of the garri son. An officer who observed this had them arrested,l and the doors of the barracks closed, but immense crowds immediately assembled, and threatened to storm the barracks ; not only was the national guard net at liberty, but the officer who had arrested him was called upon to answer for his conduct. The Pesti Ilirlass very impressively demands thel giving up of the Lombardo-Venetian kingdom, and the concentration of the Austrian troops on the Russian frontiers. A letter from Cracow, of April 16, says : this morning the deputation returned from Viwh icenna. Great joy was caused by the intelligence h it brouqht that the Emperor is not disinclined to permit the reorganisation of Gallicia, undercircum stances which are not unfavourable to the Poles. Our national guard is already completely organised. We num b er about 6,00 0 armed burghers, among whom are 1,600 Jews. Our commander is Count Mosinski, a very popular and liberal man. Ile is assisted by three aides-de-camp, one of whom is a Jew. We have an immense stock of weapons, although it is not a fortnight since we had the prospect of being m able to arm the national guard. Several companies of Austrian military have left, and Polish, or rather Gallician, military have arrived. The emigrants from France and Belgium who have no families in Posen meet with a ready welcomedu here, even if they are parties of the grand hy, and as the chief part of them are capital soldiers, they are of great service to our national guard. The best understanding prevails here among the Poles and the Germane, although Baron Von Krieg is still the imperial commissioner here. BADEN.—Our Cologne correspondent writes on the 23rd —We have not any very circumstantial ac counts here of the movements of the German republi cans in the south of Germany, According to the Cartartthe Gazette, Hecker's partisans were at Schopf heim on the evening of the 19th. The inhabitants of Lor rach, where the insurgents were expected to arrive, fol lowed the example of Freiburg, and resolved to declare neither for nor against the republicans. At a public meeting of the citizens a proposition to declare aga inst the expedition was not supported, but it coins una nimously resolved in the united political mittees that it was not advisable to introduce any changes in the state by force of arms. A notification to that effect was made to Hecker by a dep from the clubs. The B a den advanced troops utation were posted on the 19th above Bingen, where they could reconn oitre the entire line of roa d from Schopfheim. It was doubted whether Hecker would arrive at Lorrach on the evening of the 19th. Several persons have been arrested at Donaueschingen on the charge of high treason ; amongst others, the burgomaster, Herr Hans. A battalion of Nassau infantry arrived at Mannheim on the 20th. Forty-eight persons im plicated in the recent riots in that town have been HANOVER.—We have dates front the capital to April 20. By the energetic exertions of the minister peace and order have been restored at Hil desheim. In the afternoon of the 19th, 27 of the ringleaders arrived at Hanover by the railway, under a military escort, and a committee of investigation had already been appointed. General von Rehberg, who had the command at Hildesheim, had tendered his resignation. He bad received orders immedi ately to resort to arms if the imposed conditions were not complied with, and although the command was stringent the veteran general fell into an unlooked for dilemma, which caused him to delay the carrying out of his orders. The delay gov tilernmehe nt p l en ip o tentiary requested him to l should return with a deputation from Hanover which should effect the release of Weinhageo, from which step the return o f peace was confidently looked for. The general gave his word of honour, but the government plenipotentiary did not return, aid the ' general, who was bound by his word not to resort to severe measures, sent an officer to Hanover by an extra train for the purpose of receiving orders. 'flue answer was his dismissal. The general, who was greatly beloved , was universally pitied. The city and government had been placed in • great dilemma by the inconsiderate assertions of M. Siemens, the dety, to the committee of Frankfort, that Hanover p pu ossessed enough weap ons to arm all the volunteers. We are now (says a letter from Rano- ver of the 20th) actually swarming with volunteers,l whose reiterated cry is arms, arms! Where the pro- mised stock lies concealed no one knows exc pt M. Siemens. The available weapons in the royal arsenal I, are barely sufficient for the national burghers guards, and the country districts have been called upon by a proclamation to arm themselves as well as they can. The day atter to-morrow a company of pioneers, under Capt. Danmert, will leave this for Rendsburg. Major Wissell , of t he artiller y , is charged to throw up fortifications at the mouth of the hlce and the Weser, and will start for those places forthwith. FRAN KFORT. —The Diet ha s been occupied with the acquii.ition of some war-steamers. Bavaria and linden support the project, but other states hesitate to allot an illimited cr edit for such a purpose. hesitat e had arriv.d from Bremen with propo sals and offers on this point. ,st, to DENMARK AND THE DUCHIES. The intelligence from Hamburg is to the 22nd, and news had been received there from Copenhagen to the 19th, stating that an embargo had been laid on all Prussian vessels. The intelligence was furnishehad d by the Hamburg Assu rance Company, which received the following notifications from their agent at Copenhagen : April 19.—1 hasten to inform you that, agreeably to • commun i ca tion from the ministry, all Prussian be detained in the harbour ; and that the royal ships have been ordered to bring up all Prussian Teases as prizes. The neutrality of Hamburg and Lubeck will be respected only in as far as they de not take any hostile measures against Denmark. The Julia, which arrived at Hull yesterday from Copenhagen, which it left on the 20th, reports th at , the Danes were stopping all Prussian ships in the \ \ Sound, but that those a Hanover were allowed to pane. Several Prussian vesse ls have been already captured, and thirty provision ships in the harbour of iCopenhagen had been seized and detained by the Danish government. Late on the evening of the 21st, the last train from Rendsbarg brought the information to Hamburg of another engagement having taken • place between a rtion of the alliedpo army and the van g uard of the \Danish army. The Germaus engaged were princi pally volunteers, and their opponents were two regi ments of Danish cuirassiers, one of dragoons, and a small battery. The result of the battle was said to be favourable to the Germans; but they expe lrimmed a very severe loss, for ten or twelve waggon loads of wounded were brought into Hendsburg in the course of the afternoon. '1 he scene of the engage ment was a large wood in the neighbourhood of the village of Altenhof, which lies only a few miles from Hendsburg. i General Wrangel, the new offcommander-in-chie the of 1 the Prussian tzoops, end it is reported also federal army, passed through Altona on the 20th, Op. companied by one of the Prussian princes. Troops marched through Hamburg and Altona fee Holstein, and there could not be less than 30,000 Men assembled there, consisting of the 10th corps of th e diet; this, however, included 10,000 Prussians, who form no part of the army of the diet, but sent by the King's free will to co-operate ; sad this would account for the measures taken by Denmark to seize at sea her vessel!. The Danes will not enter Holstein, bat strongly entrench themselves round Flensburg ea down to Tondern, and wait quietly to be attacked. A letter from Rendsburg, of April 20, says:—The elections for the National Assembly are proceeding with great order and quietness, notwithstanding the commotions of wa of the he names of the most re. spected members d iet are at the top of the list of candidates. These are Gulick, Claussen, Nickels, Eemarch, P. Lnders, and we have also heard the names of Hansen, Hamekens, Klenze, and Professors Ravit and Caristiansen. The island of Fehmarn, which so courageously withstood the piracy of Danish men-of-war, has been furnished with a protection of military. At &kern. fiorde, the Danish fortifications have been strengthened and the works are going on with great alacrity. The bridge is broken down and beset with cannons; every day's delay is a sacrifice of life ; inasmuch as it affords the Danes time and opportunity . to strengthen their position. Yesterday the peace inspected the entire position of our army. Prussian troops continue to arrive as well as volunteer corps. We hear from Kiel, under date April 20, the re. port of the blowing np of Friedricheort is so far eor. rect, that in consequence of a careless approach to a galvanic battery, which communicated with a train of gunpowder, about 100 lbs. of gunpowder exploded. Much damage was done, but happily no Lfe was loot. A small division of Danish cavalry (about 23 ;nen) arrived at Husum on the 19th, and requested to see the officer. On being told that he had quitud the place, they inquired whether the inhabitants required a garrison. This was refused, and as the Danes were about to retire the people fired at them, sad one mat was wounded. Barricades were instantly commenced to prevent any further aggressions on the pert of the Danish troops ; during the presence of the Danes the tocsin was sounded. The Prussian troops in and near Rendsburg had received orders to be in readiness to much forward on the 21st. CONSTANIINOPLE , APRIL 7. The alarming news of revolutions and massacres, of kings dethroned,and empires tumbling to ruin,bronght here from Europe by every courier, has at length begun to trouble the repose of the dreamy and quiet-loving Turks. Considerable and moat unusual agitation is observable amongst the people, Mussulman as well u rayah. The politics of Ea ope, until now unthought of and uncared for, have become the subject of conver sation in every coffee-house and bath throughout the capital. Nothing is so contagious es popular move ments ; nothing so calculated to rouse the spirit even of the most indolent and lethargic of people, as the thought that, united, they possess a power ter than that they had been taught to mightiest and most terrible. The Turkish govern ment has observed these symptoms, and deemed it prudent to take meas ures to prevent their spreading, Orders have been given to the editors of the Turkish papers of the capital not to insert the news of revolt and revolution constantly arriving from Europe ; and the mollabs are turning the public mind into another channel, by , telling their Socks that Frankietan is accursed, and that the hand of God is heavy upon the Giaours. The news from the princi palities is more venous. The inhabitants of Wallachia, Moldavia, and beryla are nearer to the scene of revo lution,and have already felt the shock in the moral elec d tricity which is spread in g far and wide, giving life an vigour, but at times also causing ruin and desolation. As tor, the Hosporlars, Austria can no longer aid them, and Russian support has become problematic. In the weakness of thiir terror the Hospodars have appealed to the Porte. Orders have been given to form a large Turkish camp at Nissa, in Servia, a position almost upon the boundaries between that province and Wallachia, and a numerous division of troops is also rapidly concentrating in the southeastern part of Bulgaria, within a short distance of Galatz. It is doubtful whether these military demonstrations are prudent. The inhabitants of the principalities are to t a lly different from those of the other puts of Ottoman empire. They have of late years made immense advances in civilisation and refinement; they are in constant communication with the neigh bouring European states, whose manners and ideas they have been g radually assuming. With the exception of Servia, the government of their princes is a dwarfed edition of the despotism which exists in Russia, and whilst they naturally dislike the rule un der which they live , they preserve in full s. vigour their hatred for their old oppressors, the Turketween, therefore, the police restrictions and theirprinees on the one hand, and the threatening attitude of aTa t rkishme dis force u p o n the other, it is na tural to suppose tha sa play of discontent will bo the result. It is to he feared also that the comparatively friendly attach ment of the Servians to the Porte will undergo astrous change, in consequence of the presence of s Turkish army within their territory. Couriers are constant motion between the Porte and the principal' ties, and anxiety is daily increasing lest they become the scene of some popular outbreak. • Pera during the last few days resembles a town in a state of siege. Parties of troops protect the streets night and day. Anyone appearing out at nightfall without a lantern is taken by the patrol before a coal, and if his answers do not please that functionary he is sent to prison. It is at the request of some of the foreign ambassadors that these police measures have been adopted by the Porte. Great numbers of Italians, Frenchmen, and Germans,are in the habitel meeting nightly at a coffeehouse in the main street of Peru for some object connect ed with the revolut re sentatives ionary moveme nts in Europe. Some of the rep of the foreign powers had been already insulted, and others threatened by the persona who composed thew meetings, and hence the cause of these police measures which give such an alarming appearance ta Pere. A feud has broken out between the Maltese Ind lonians, and in the encounters which they have had during the last two or three days several lives have been lost on either side. ibe Court. The Princess Sophia is indisposed at her resid ents at Kensington. Mr. Pownall and Mr. Wilke had an interview sill Sir George Grey y.-st•rd ay, at the Rome ottice, and prensta an address from the Middlesex magistrates. The Marquis of Lansdowne left town yesterdanig his residence at Rich mond. at the Desoatehes were rece ived y esterday Wis e. office from the governors of the West India colonist. Hare The Earl of Hawood had an interview yeetwill w ith Sir George Grey. Dlr. Arthur Reins had alga as isw" view yesterday with the right hon. baronet. --- LARD MAYOR'S EASTER DlNNER.—Testet*/ I. Lord Mayer and Lady Mayoress gave the grand how &inter to a numerous and distinguished p irty. The eiblo were furnished with every delicacy 01 the stas.n. Asuart the campaily were the Marquis of the Spark Minisur, the Brazilian Minister and his lady, Baron Platt the Bishop of Chichester, the Dean of Durham, Boil Cathcart Justice ,' M.P., Mr. Rich, M.P., fwd , Mr. Coltman, the Deputy Chainass of the But India Company, Mr. Idastennan, M.F. Mr. Taf o.4 M.P., Sheriff Cubit', M.P., and Sherd Hill. After dieser the " loving cup " went round, and the usual. 101• 1 '''' " were then duly honoured s, Lord Maya, in P r' t "Her Majesty's Ministers," said he was conviseed tb," wu the anxious desire of the government to ro t " peaceful relations with all the countries of Bum Pr; The Marquis of Clanricarde said that ministers lad 110 , contend with difficulties of no ordinary cla, to meow; they relied on the support of all classes ot her Msjcstf ' " 24 jects. Irrespective of the differences of opinion which s always arise in a great country like this, be felt that th!, ft• Tanana had a right to look for the general suppolo' community at large, so long as they the their CO faithfully. Re proposed the health of the Lord year so ably fulfilled the duties of his high official dodos, Lord Mayor briefly acknowledge l the toast, and N i would always be him anxious endeavour to fulfil the demo his station satisfactorily. The Lord Mayor next ,_. " The Bishop of Chichester, with thanks to hit . l, l M. annual sermon in behalt of the hospiud."--Tli, D:,7' Chichester, in acknowledging the toast, esfoe ws ' "-- sense of the services rendered by the educational oh m_.,'ol this country. The right rev. prelate spoke at grm! . . but owing to the distance at which the reporters will. .2 from the speakers they were enable to of eau, nrii port of his speech.—Some furrier toasts tollorre4. proceedings then terminated. .„ lenniF.:::::eonotßAl ieTnhlteOLdOtortiNLolpLcoitalwTiAaßto; btf,itNierShlio,_Er4;EtirthltS....--Aoof Theot,mL.T.4, order to colonise tbe debateable land test the L turf; frontier, and in furtherance thereof a detachnent„l_44.7, 56 women, and week.hildren, leave the rite I °' during the ensuin AM,,,EXPREss , . T. 'ESDAY EViZT. lir siva*. ithy thelatanco . 0 11 0 26-121 . from a • (tauter th which they have been re garded with evident suspicion and displeasure, at all events prevails throughout the railway interest : and it cannot be said that any of the seta of the present government, whether in the measures for controlling, or in the treatment of proposals for en- 1 eouraging railways, have been calculated to produce , any other. It most be plainly added that, even in cur present calamities, the pressure of which seems to weigh on all but ministerial mindto deal with s, the go verning body seems mu ch more prone the difficulties of the time by imposing new burdens, or at least keeping up the old ones at their full strain, than by studying direct means of relief, or oven set ting manfully to work at the just and economical ordering ot the state receipts and expenses. Nor, unless the views at hthd-quarters are materially changed on the subject of advances to useful works, since the proposal to relieve distress in Ire land by such means was absolutely rejected, is it likely that similar plena, from Eng land or Scotland, will meet with a very favourable reception. That some change, how ever, would be desirable in the policy hitherto pursued on this subject may well be believed ; anared, as ,ve live in times when great and pressing events teaching the urgency of chan g e in many things, it may he that even Chancellors of Exchequer may be brought to discover the necessity ot trying what can be done, beyond the usual routine, to improve the condition of the labouring classes of this country. ITALY. im to be expected. Two methods have been suggested as means to an end that many, who formerly 'discouraged it, are now beginning to find desirable. The removal of the Dank Restriction Act is one that is talked of in reference, not to this subject only, but to the general prospects at home and abroad, from which a new export of gold is apprehended. Such a measure would probate give re lief to the railway interest by improving rail way values, and thereby be a spur to the p r ogress of unfinished works. B ut its operation would s b ys e tem, in likely to reach most slowly those parts of the which, far the object above-mentioned, it would be most for the benefit of the nation at large that an early revival should take place. The value of stocks must rise for some time before the disinclination to any new outlay is likely to be removed, and Amity also be doubted whe ther any effect of the relaxation in question might not, in the present state of this kingdom and of the ontinent,be too rapidly absorbed into other channels, to influence this particular one as promptly as the stagnation of labour and trade would seem to require. A more direct process, specially applicable to railway undertakings, has, we see, been suggested of late in more than one quarter. The Edinburgh town council, for instance, have unanimously agreed to peti tion government for an advance of money to the Sco- tish railway companies, expressly on the grounds of the importance to that part of the kingdom, of provid ing thereby a fund of employment for the d showing working n produce c l asse s. A calculation ha s bee how much good a m oderate amount of pecuniary aid, which it is proposed the state should give by an issue of Exchequer bills, on the condition of an equal amount being jointly raised by the companies, would effect in the district north of the Tweed. The sum named does not exceed 1,!;00,000/., to bear interest, and be repaid within a limited term of years; the application of the loan to be regulated by machinery, similar to that provided by Sir R. PEEL'S Drainage Ad of 1846, but simpler in its character, owing to the more uniform conditions of t he security. This advance, it is declared, would afford the means of employing 15,000 men for a period of eighteen mouths, besides the advantage of restoring contidencc to the desponding spirits of the proprietary. It itis added, that the loa n, as it is proposed to distribote , would be advanced on the security of some revenuel6 mil lions of capital, yielding an annual of 600,0001. 1 Similar movements, we see, are in progress further south. We have recently been shown now the copy of a petit on to the Lords , of the in course of signature in Hull, founded on the view already described as spreading among men of business, and pointing in general terms to the species ot remedy mdre particularly asked for by the Edinburgh town council. It is to the following effect: From the bankers, ship-owners, merchants, gentlemen, tradesmen, and inhabitants of the borough and port et Kings ten-upon-Hull.—That great numbers of the labouring claws in por ts realms are now uuemployed, and that it is of great importmce to the peace and quiet of her hlajesty's domi. 1 ni.o.r employment should be round tor them as speedily as pos.ilile. That your memorialists know there are many 1 railway ernpanies, the completion of wh, re projects (incon tmtably necessary for the convenience of the public, and therefore certain to be fairly remunerative to the shans-1 holders), are either at a great loss delayed, or indefinitely postponed, by the entire withdrawal of confidence, both of shareholders and capitaliste, Er..m these undertakings. That these companies would willingly employ very large numbers of the above-mentioed unemployed persons, if they could readily, and at a fair rate of interest, obtain the lands ne cessary for the completion ot their works, thereby in great part removing the dieters and danger consequent on large masses ot the people willing to work, but unable to procure it, and at the same time restoring confidence iu one of t e most important and legitimate channels for the in vestment of capital. That your memorialists, therefore, most respectfully suggest that her Majesty's government dente some plan, either by authorising loans to railway oonuanies, through the exchequer loa othern commwise, f issi or one ass rs, with s anction of the rail wa y board, or isting such companies by an advance of money on the security of toe works, to be npaid by moderate instalments. 'That your memorialitts feel assured the objects they desire would be accomplished by assistance from.government of the kind sugre,ted, is eery trifling in anwunt. That as soon as it is known that the government is willing to gin' some assistance, confidence will be restored, and that which is l e un d on e, will be speedily effected by the payment art arrears from the shareholders, and the renewed wittiness's of csoitalists to invest their money in the shares or debate. tures of legitimate railway undertakings. The opinions and the desire conveyedin this memo rial, we believe, are entertainedd in meny other parts of the kingdom. If these are ot speedily embodied in similar memorials or in petitions to parliament, it will only be because of a general itupressior, pro duced by the peculiar attitude, that ministkrs, and especially the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, have taken on the eubject of railway work.. A feeling VENICE.—The Sardinian general, Della Marmots, charged with the organisation of the Venetian army, arrived in Venice on the 14th, and wee enthusiastically Welcomed. NAPLES.—Our owncorresPondent atNaples writes as follows, under the date of the 14th :—We are within four days of the day of the elections, and no note of preparation has as yet sounded. We might, indeed, judging from appearances, be six months I from such an event. No addresses have been issued by the candidates, and whether there are candidates one might doubt; certainly no names have been brought before the public, and it is to the uncertain „ perhaps" of a friend that I am indebted for the name of Tito Cacace, an eminent lawyer, and another, also a lawyer, as likely to come or be brought for ward at the ensuing election. Yesterday (the 13th), another battalion of national vo l u nteers left for Lombardy by . way of Legho rn al they were reviewed by the King in the arsenal, ho an m d lett by one of the w ar steamers. Many of those w I saw were evidently of the lowest classes; many or most were such as had no means of living in Naples, a nd who caught at this opp ortunit y of feeding gratis for a few weeks, of seeing there untry, add s ot being caressed and cherished as pe& e generoi yirn•aro. The government, however, reaps all the adv antage. unquiet, hungry mortals Ave been drawn off, and the ministry is more at liberty to carry out its plans. At night, too, the 2nd battalion of the 10th h left by way of the Abruzzi for Lombardy, or suc other lace as altered circumstances might render desirable. bo rne apology . is made in the o ffi cial Gazette for the tops not having left earlier, in consequence of some diffi culties at the Papal court ; and by the terms of per mission granted by the same court it is attributed tha not more than one battalion at a time can leave. Gen t Pepe has the supreme command of all the forces, both of the line and the volunteers. A council ot war was held on Wednesday, which was attended by Oen. Pepe, Marshal Labrano, Brigadiers Lire and Scala, and a plan of operations was laid down for chinte troops in actual or possible circumstances. The pa have all been purged of the weak and infirm, and raised from 100 to 100 in number. As proofs of ministerial activity, first let me mention that the Minister of Finance, acting upon the suggestion of Sig. Dupont, has written a circular to all the tendenti inviting all pr om is i ng their land tax by anticipation, and a drawback of five per cent. The intendenti are farther advised to send such remittances to the treas ury weekly. Hitherto, the plan seems to work well. I have seen many letters from contributors published in the journals, and in no ease was the 5 per cent. refused. It is highly probable that in this way government will be able to provide against present difficulties, which, after all, are only of a temporary nature, the finances and resources of the country being far from unfavourable. Another circular to the intend enti urges upon them the com pletion of public works, such as the erection of bridges and the formation of roads; they are farther called upon to send in a particular account of the quantity of grain in store in each province, with a view to take off the prohibition which was laid on the exportation of corn some two years since. At the same time the Minister of Agriculture and Com merce has instituted a commission, consisting of th s, e em i ne nt medical men Laura, Carbonaro, and with a other to re view the sanitary laws and regulations, view to facilitate communication with for states midst and the different ports of Italy. Thus, in the of agitation, wise measures are being adopted for the development of the resources of the country, and if the people will only have patience we may expect great material prosperity. There is one measure, indeed, of the Minister for the Interior, the policy of which may be considered as doubtful. I allude to the sending of " commis sioner '' organiszatori " into the provinces, with the double object of inquiring into and correcting all irregularities in the municipality, and of seeking information as to the character and condition of the people. The first object of the com mission will be likely to give offence to the intendenti. as implying a want of confidence in them whilst it may be not unreasonable to suppose that the second object, the seeking for information, would have be. 'n more readily obtained through the medium of the chief magistrates of the provinces, the intendenti, who from their position and local information must be best acquainted with the affairs of their respective districts. There is, too, something odious le in a nd it the very title of such a comm ission to a free peo,, is to be feared that their investigations will give rise to a struggle of parties in every little municipality in the kingdom. Cavalier Ruffo, his Majesty's envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary at the Russian court, has resigned his office. The English embassy continues to be guarded, too, every night, though, for all that, one sees there is no apparent necessity for it. We may take it as an earnest of the desire of government to prevent any insult from being offered to our country, and such, I feel convinced, is the feeling of all the sober portion of society. It cannot be denied, however, that John Bull is not a favourite. Thus his recent mediation in I Sicily, without leading to any definite result, has aw akened a feeling of suspicion in Naples. I did not tell you of despatches which were brought here last Sunday for Ancona, for the admiral who left in the morning. The messenger set out directly in search of the fleet. What the nature of the despatches was had not transpired. It was stated, however, as a fact, that at 'frieete there were several steamers, all char tered by government, and rumours of course were I active. A party of Englishmen, six in number, were stopped at Peesturn by a dozen men, most of them armed. The party were relieved of six gold watches starling. and twelve pounds Government has sent down a party of national guard in search of the rob bers. By a decree of last night the exportation of gold and silver in specie or in bar is prohibited for the present. The commission for ointed the compilation of the ecclesiastica l code has been app by the 'Marchese Dragonetti. There is another circular in the G;orna/ from the Minister of Finance, to the Director General of Julicial Taxes, directing that it having been proved the great deficiency in the customs revenues arises from the want of zeal, negligence, and open favour shown in many cases by the employes; that those who,from physical rea sons are incapable of discharging the duties of their office be dismissed with a legal pension; that those who have not conducted them selves well shall be deprived of office. By a decree of the 13th a farther reduction is made in the portage of all journals of one sheet, front any part of Italy or from foreign parts. The reduction is one grain for t wo, so that one gram only (less than a halfpenny) is exacted for journals coming by sea. SICILY. —We have dates from Palermo to the sth inst. In the sitting of the Sicilian Chamber of Peers on the 29th ult., proxies wete voted valid as in the Eng- I fish hoase. In the Commons six new members were elected ;and it was moved by the minister of Foreign Affairs that a loan of half a million be raised, tor alleviating the necessities of the state, which were more heavily felt is Messina than elsewhere. The APRIL 25, 1848. ... ...ova that the parliament grant _ power to the of santive to collect the reve nues of the state, and satiety its obligations with the following modifications :-1. The land tax shall corn- , mance to be duo from April 18, 1848, according to the basis which existed before the rectification of the registers. -2. The tax on milk to beduced 090 holf.-3. That the payment be suspeof 19,702 ounces,enteredinchap.47 of the budget, for the interest of two loans made by the Treasury of Naples; and of I 213,798 ounces entered in the 86M0 budget for the r* c i v il list.—After some discussion the powers vee granted. It wasdecided to discuss the whole question of the system of finance ut next sitting. A commis sion was appointed to consider the law relating to organisation of municipal power. In the sitting of the 30th a message was received from the peers. in viting the Commons to join with them in a mixed commission for drawing tip a new code of laws. This was agreed to. On the 30th the ministers resigned —why is not stated. A commission had been formed for making a new system of finance. On theist of April the Palermitans took down the Austrian arms from the consulate , and set them pas a g mark. On the 4th the Chamber voted unanimously the restoration of Messina as a free port. GERMANY• PRUSSIA. —Our intelligence from Berlin is 22nd. Our correspondent, writing from Cologne on the 23rd, says'—" Notwithstanding all the rumours to the contrary, and the apprehensions that e re e in en t er tained, the day of t he 20th passed off quietly Berlin, with the exception of a considerable degree of excitement and the shoats and cries of a few isolated bodies of the lowest classes. I have often had occa sion to write in terms of praise of the tact, prudence, and moderation of the working classes of Berlin. Throe characteristics were fully displayed D int Thurs day last, for so soon as they found that the ended processio to the palace would be considered illegal, and would be likely to lead to the disturbance of public peace, and, consequently, afford a pretext to the retrograde party to continue their intrigues, the various trades resolved to take no Dart in the demon stration. 'fhecivic guard, great numbers of the members of which are mere operatives,mustered about 10,000 strong, and took possession a m t an early hour of the bridges leading to that p where the pa art of the city lace is situat ed , and strong detachments were posted around the arsenal, the bank, and other public esta blishments. Then ilitary did not appear, but they were all kept ready itheir barracks, to act at a moment's notice. Had not the working classes of Berlin, who almost exclusively defeated the military on the 18th and 19th ttlt., the good sense to disapprove of the pro posed demonstration, there would have been in all probability one of the most sanguine contests that ever took place in the streets of the Prussian capital. It must be stated , too , tha t the students in a body, as well a s several very popular men, protested against the in tended procession. The author of au inflammatory placard, calling on the working men to make the de monstration at all risks, was arrested on the 20th. On the previous evening a significan: royal ordon nance appeared, declaring that the civic guard were fully empowered, like the military, to make use of their weapons ia CS6O of attack, or when any riotous assemblage refused to disperse after having been twice summoned to do so. The popular head of the police, Herr Minutoli, also ad dressed abrief but forcible exhortation to the working classes, to refrain from the procession. It is satisfac tory to find that a love of order and a sprit of obe dience to the laws pervade the overpowering majority of the Berlin operatives. The government has announced a series of bills for abolishing all feudal dues. The residents in the agri cu ltural districts are urged to make known their respective wishes and wants by means of petitions to the executive. About 100 persons have been arrested in Aix-la- Chapelle, on the charge of being implicated in the late fatal riots. The accounts from Prussian Poland continue to be most melancholy. According to the Deutsche Allots 'twine Zeitung, the Polish insurgenta are coined it as the grossest excesses. They have broken ap, ap- pears, into small bands, and they are now wanderingl about the country, levying black mail on the inha bitants. One of the four great division. of the Polish army had taken up its station at Wreschen, and it is stated that before it withdrew from that place it grossly ill treated the Germans and Jews. The greatest ani mosity towards the Poles prevails in Posen, and thou sands of operatives demand arms to march against them. Gen. Von Sleinacker, however, refused to Rlac this e we apons in their hands. The Cologne G as ette ot day adds, that the entire Duchy of Posen is in wsx has a state of the " wildest excitement." guerilla commenced, the object of which no one can tell. The Germans loudly blame the government for their con tinual concessions to the Poles, and for their approval of the measures taken by the royal commissioner, Gen. Von Willisen. The common council of Posen has demanded that that city be also considered a part of the German territory, which is to be annexed to the Germanic confederation. According to idd the Br ln es lau °uae, the Polish troops have dive their into small bodies, in or der to carry on war, on own account. It adds, that be week elapses, " organised bands of robbe r s" will appear on all points of the province, and hundreds of ' murders will be committed. It is now clear thatit would have been far more prudent on the part . of government to adopt Gen. Willisen's suggestion, to regularly organise a Polish army, than to disband and disperse those troops, according to the fatal sugges tion ot Gen. Colomb. At Breslau, on the night of thei 1 ith, an immense crowd of persons belonging to the 1 , destitute classes of society (Proletarion), attacked' numerous shops in the Ohlan-street. The civic guard, who were ail under arms, fired several times upon the rioters, many of whom returned the shots. It appears', that in some parts of the town the civic guard were defeated. The aid of the military was at last in voked by the armed citizens, but the rioters did not offer any further resistance. The Breslau corre spondent of the Cologne Gazette states, that one per son was killed and from 30 to 40 wounded, and adds that it is now clear that the 12,000 civic guards are not wrong enough to maintain order. According to the Aix-la-Chapelle Gazette, the mob wer e about to attack the prison, when they were pacified by the liberation of the three rioters who had been confined there. The rioters did not disperse before 11 P.m. It appears that an alarming insurrection has broken out in the town of Kosten, in the duchy of Posen. The garrison, according to accounts from Posen up to the 16th, was held in a state of siege by the popula tion. Troops had been forwarded from Posen. Prince Frederick Charles left Berlin on the 2h ers at proceed, by way of Ha mbur g , to the head-quart Itendsburg. The FrankfortPostonits Zeitung of the 21st says:— "We learn from a positive source that the energetic intervention of Prussia in the affairs of Schleswig- Holstein does not so much emanate from Messrs. Camphausen and lian.emann, as from the King and Baron d'Arnim. England has offered at Berlin her mediation in the affairs of Denmark, but the Prussian cabinet has declared that, as the war was to take place in virtue of the decree of the Germanic Diet, the proposals of mediation must be made there." AUSTRIA. —Our dates from Vienna are to the 19th. The Emperor has definitively accepted the re signation of Count Kolowrat, which took place some time since. The count had been engaged in the service of the state above 50 years. The meta. Empe acceded to the proposals of the Germanic Diet in re gard to the electious of deputies to the German par liament, which is to assemble in May. The Weiner Zeitung of the 19th has the following : The intelligence from Italy reaches to the 16th. Field Marshal Itadetzki has concentrated ali las troops has be tween the Mincio and the Etsch. An armistice with the been determined u p on and has been observed exception of a few slight skirmishes. The delays which are taking place may be ascribed to the declaration made by the Bri tish government to the court of Turin. q uarter, h we are mowed from an undoubted quarter, has not only expressed decided disapprobation at the irruption of King Charles Albert into Lombardy, but has also declared that if, whichequence of the late procedures of the King, are contrary to the treaty, Savoy sho uld be separated from the Sardinian states, or Genoa declare itself in dependent, he must ascribe these losses to himself alone, and be individually responsible for any other consequences which cannot yet be cal culated upon, and which may result from his breach of the treaty. paw...MURAL resatiag h e ld in .ssa that the e k Pao rw men agr j . eWaded to eagoi .i tte e from oppressing buns ~ so lay 6 D Dear! en . vis ih e r, Ile. .7 • ELECTIVE Oa of the eaten! siay with the thi oo drisable to I franchise has bee c lose is well kn bees I n it tahe ke n : ;e i• te• Yhhon i ry • c es ; a ' than one thu oil. not Piece the remain the in whin! but then he h, with the landlo i s known th at troublesome tel studied the quo by the landlon be feeler IC and the Pyle pied or ao 4 locked 00 he place of a retai could be no di on the votionp landlord apph the occ upier, este-book iot oPb e °ln o e t tshil nwir parish Nit ° li c e' ni their a :e a y iwtg _ l o: w hi e_ u r u e n fs o h • h i. l e r; s h in: .nz nf . s i t eo le 4 :in el i pu dr it d i o n ,toEnt i pcor uittge-netnihhihofraye:e:c:: jtaTt:ltE lery was eff Thome', act Edward Jo 3 seeded to a from certain Helve illicit the front of at the back, her appears band being tire. Mr. ' and request diately dins fastening a other office effected wit man was window, an An alarm h was kept able to ge perilous at officer, wh eventually was claw t as a last r of the n himself an Mr. Thon The man what had had, unpe complishf from thi B;rden. affair, th seldom h the offic4 . working • the usual was prep found a s but than premises away he of such 1 and mid money eonveye street. ROB a robbe and Lei artemp o'clock se u 27. server! seized mouth heed u munch diatel: mites, had r, the • they men i the k lawn : men river i tellu Boole . wow grati rata • aril mai tees brui Ad. and , if a disc ove bee ..., ____ bad bei return who o the hat • not Pie ie WC to •0 Y t I • I • 1 1