The Express. — London, England, 1847-01-06 00:00:00

nUAI)RILLE PAR 'l' I ES.—Tho ORGUE slogs MELODIUM LENT be quadrille and other rimming palsies, or which it IA remarkably adapted, or.. per upon it being equal to r small bond. Terms tote host at the rooms of the agent, J. Y. Myers, 03. Charlotte-street, eitzroy-aquare, whet. a erreiti Perfor mance by a talented tensician takes place daily, commencing at 3 and ending at 5. This performance include. overtures, fissitoslza, scusta, quadrilles, waltzes, polkas, fugue., and cheroot& Admission gear& ENGLISII MUSIC, EXETER - HALL The coomittm or the Mullah Testimonial Pond be le we to announce a deters of FOUR CONCERT?, illusuwire of the Ilbnory of ErneUgh Vnisol Muir. A New Ord.in tea! be erected by Ur. Itutwin exmcuily for these eanoerte ; an efficient Orchestra will also be pro- ,Wed fnr the sewers!, Third, and Fourth CAl:Kerte. The FIR3T CON CERT will be held on MOND %V EVENING, January 18. Principal Vocal Performers —Mir Rainforth, Mira Dolby, Mr. )dangers, ant Mr. Leffler. Tici.cts —Arcs, 28., for the series, b.; western gallery, Ss. t d., for the meriett, 10a, 6d.; renerved seats, bw the sef's.. 21s. r --- 1 7.z . 1if hat of Mr. Porter, pub li sher, ilk West strand, and of the SACREDHARMONIC SOCIETY, EXETER , - MALL—On FRIDAY EVENING, January 8, 1817, twilit* per formed HA NOEL'S ORATORIO, MtakilAll. Principal Focal Performers —Maclaine Caradoti Allan, Was M. B. flaws, Mr. Moiverr, and Mr. 11. Phillips. The Band an•l Chorus will consist of share 500 Rif. ...rig. Ticket., 3.. each; Reserved Seats, Is., may be obtained of the princakd Mask...ellen; of Mr. bowley. 53, Charing-croio ; of Mr. Rios. 102, Strand, opporite ; or of Mr. Mitchell, 30, Charing.aor. irißmAs BREWER, lion. See. CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY.. ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.— pll(wF.4.4ott SCIMENBEINM GUN-OD/TON, and other Fhploggias Compounds, with brilliant EXIIIIKMEIAS, lectured on be Dr. Ryan, daily, at half-ling three o'clock, and on the Evenings of Mondays, Vicilnesdses, and Fridays. The principle of the various E.LECTRO-MAGNci'ne TELEGRAPHS exploited (hills by Professor BsiehhoMaer, incite:int; the patent of Mews. Cook and Wheatstone, which is in taw on ;he Railways. and the more recent patent of Meww. Mott and Gamble. The carious Model. explained. Macrniied specimens of DISEASED POTATOES exhibited by the OXY-IlYs MOUES MICROSCOPE, with the Destructive Insect, supposed by A. Emee. Eq F.R.S., to be the come of the disease. A beautiful series of NEW DISSOLVING VIEWS. The DIVING-BELL sad DIVER, with Experiments. The PHTSIOSCOPE, New CHILD MATItOPE, &e.—Admission, Is.; Schools, half-price. ST. JAMES'S ASSEMBLY ROOMS (late CROCKFORD'S).—The SECOND SUBSCRIPTION BALL of the present series will take pia. as &MIT TO-MORROW (Thursday), and commence at Nine o'ckwk. itubAcrintion for • Gentleman. Is. ; for a Lady red Gentleman. ;a Gel. ; family tickets mar also be had any of the following Libraries and Musicaellow :—Mr. Allenift, 13, New Hood.etreet ; Mr. Chappell. SO, New Bondadreet; Mews. Cramer and Beale, Regent-street ; Mr. Purdy, It. Paul's Church yard; Ventura, 53, Strand; Mr. Bute., 6, Ludgate-bill; Mr. Prewar, awapsole ; Mr. Tamer, Poultry; Ile. Eber's Library, Bond-street; Dlr. 011 icier. Bond-street ; Messrs. Leader and Cook, 0 , , Ikmdwtreet also at Mr. Clarke's odlce, .13, St. lames'awreet, adjoining the estab lishment. These moms may be ware] on any other eseninca except Mondays and Thursdays, by arldrradag a line to the teriamrer. GRAND HARMONIC HALL.- GRAPES TAVERN, Southwark (fridge-food, Borough, licensed pursuant to Act of Parlinment. Froprietnr, Mr. R. PREECE—OPEN EVERY NIGHT.—IMiIENsE ,\TIKALTION.—Most extraordinary and un equalled Company of Voc-dists and Damen. the whole combined forming an evencniiii entertainment of a most pleasing description. First appearance of American Wow, whose novel performance has been nightly hatted with shouts of applause. Real Life in America introducing the Songs and Dances ne given by the Biggers on the plantation grounds, accompanied by the Banjo, Canoe FYddk. Tambo, tc. /W. That excellent roinic singer, Mr. W. Wank, will introduce, each eTertillK, a variety of Comic Effusions, Droll inventions, Eketclics of Eccentric Chanteters, and new Conde Sow, written by himself. Mr. Charles Montan, the only English improvisatore, to engaged at this establishment, and wilt appear this evCllilW—Moon open at Seven, the Concert to commence at half-past. Managing Director, Mr. W. Wads, whose iliment aced for thin evening, inn. S. 1847. CROSBY -HALL.—The ETHIOPIAN SERE NAD'Ata, Pell, Harrington, White, Stanwood, awl German (from the St. Jamei's Theatre), will repeat their INIMITABLE ENTERTAINMENT, at the :More Hall, THIS EVENING, and FRIDAY NEXT; also MONDAY, WEDNEaDAT, and FRIDAY, is the ensuing week. Doors open at half-past 7, and the perform ance commences at a o'clock peel-var.—Tickets may be had at the Library of the Institution ; end at the doors on the evening of per- THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.— Triumphant sneer% of the new grand fairy extravagans t of TILE INVISIBLE PRLNCE, es. The Island of Tranquil Delights, the greatest hit ever mode (vide the Dui pre a)• — ln order to give as much varitSy as posssie, the intsrestlng and rateeseaful new drums of TILE ROUND OF WRONG will only be performed TO-NIGIIT and etti DAY. snl three times a week. tilE INVISIBLY. PRINCE EVERY EVENING. 1. T. ARCHER, Box-bookkeeper. pregg• MAILS._ manufacture. And Great Britain, while wrestling with this double difficulty, 1123 pauperised Ireland to maintain. The surplus of revenue, after providing for the charges of the consolidated fund, and for the payments of supply services in the quarter ended sth January, 1847, is 1,365,455 L but, when the Irish accounts are called in, this will soon be absorbed. We write in no spirit of despondency. The hale and vigorous constitution of Great Britain has tri umphed over yet ruder shocks than those which await it in the year 1817. But it would be bad policy to shut our eyes to the difficulties before us. They will severely test the statesmans"ip of our rulers, and will at the same time entitle them to lenient judgment from the equitable. WE have already alluded to the enormous expenses entailed upon the promoters and opposers of private bills by the present system of legislation. An attempt was made by Mr. Hume's committee of last session to arrest this growing evil, and obtain an impartial inquiry as to the merits of the proposed measures, before they were submitted to parliament. But the act embodying the recommendations of this com mittee was passed in too great haste, at a period of the session when important measures rarely meet with lengthened consideration ; and hence we find the act deficient in provi-ions the absence of which will probably be found materially to cramp its operation, and restrict the good which might have been anticipated from its due execution. When the railway mania was at its heig,lit, go vernment experienced the same difficulties which it now does with regard to improvement bills, and, in exactly the same manner, endeavoured to check the indiscriminate demand for legislation by a preliminary inquiry and report of the Board of Trade. The fate of that report is well known; private interests were too powerful .for a body not possessing any legislative authority or statutory powers, and the contests went on in committee as if no preliminary inquiries or report on the schemes had ever been made. This is the rock upon which we apprehend the wreck of the Private Bills Act. Inspectors are to be sent down to the localities specified in the bills, for the purdose of examining in situ its merits or de merits. But the act does not provide that their report shall be final, nor can it have more than a moral force upon the future progress of the bill. The inspectors stand in the position of a grand jury, to examine and report whether there is a proper case to go before the great parliamentary jury of the nation, and yet, unlike a grand jury, they have no power to ignore a bill. They constitute therefore simply a commission of inquiry, not of execution. Those who are conversant with private bill legisla tion will not for a moment suppose that an unfavour able report by these commissioners of inquiry could at all arrest the progress of the bill, unless, indeed, government adopted the reports of its own officers, which, in the case of the Board of Trade, they did not do. One curious feature of this act is that it does not in any way interfere with or become a part of Standing Orders. Hence the grave expense of pass ing these must be incurred long before the report of the visiting inspectors is made, and however unfavourable that may be, the promoters of the bill, after having incurred the preliminary expense, would not feel disposed to lose all chance of realis'ng the money already expended in its promotion, and therefore would hazard a second battle in committee. We state this advisedly, be cause, in this point of view, the expenses will be in creased, instead of being diminished, by the operation of the Private Bills Aet. The visiting inspectors are to hold their court in the locality specified in the bill, and are there to hear arguments for and against the mea sure. The opponents to the bill will naturally muster a strong opposition, in order to discover the tactics of its promoters, and thus enable them to prepare their opposing ease when it comes before parliament. Here the act also fails in its provisions ; for, although the inspectors have power to summon the promoters at the bill to give evidence, tney have no such power with its opponents. The tactics of the former are there fore laid open, whilst those of the latter are concealed, and every one knows how injurious such an exposure becomes in the hands of opposing barristers. Legal men must therefore be employed to watch the interests of the two parties, and thus two expensive struggles may arise instead of one. These are grave features in the act under discussion, and render its favourable execu tion difficult. Its success depends mainly upon the in terpretation put upon the act by the department of government entrusted with its administration. It is understood that the inspectors to be sent down to each district consist of a barrister and engineer, who are to act in concert, and under defined instructions. The act, with all its deficiencies, will still be found emi nently useful in eliciting truth, if carried into opera tion with a knowledge of the evils we have indicated. Truth may be elicited without men h arned in the law being arrayed in battle one against the other. The arena for the final straggle most still be the com mittee-room of the House of Commons, and, therefore, it is highly essential that there should not be two distinct conflicts with their attendant expenditure. The object of the act is to save expense, and it must not be allowed to increase it. We think that many of the apprehended evils might be avoided, if the visit ing commissioners were allowed to receive written evidence on particular points, instead of mere oral testimony. By these means, much necessary infor mation could be obtained, without giving the oppo nents an unfair advantage over the promoters of the measure ; for it must be distinctly borne in mind that the latter, only, are before this preliminary court of inquiry, while the rounds of opposition cannot be fairly sifted and weighed. We augur well of the operation of this act, as far as its defective state per mits, from the circumstance that those persons most interested in its administration are satisfied with the spirit in which it is being carried into execution. But this should not deter us from pointing out its defects, in the hope that they may be remedied in the approaching session of parliament. Before the act can be extensively useful, the department of Woods, upon the report of their visiting inspectors, must have some final power in the matter, or we shall find it in the position of the Board of Trade when reporting on railways. It cannot be doubted that a court constituted of an impartial barrister and engineer, is one better adapted to understand the merits of an improvement bill, than a committee of the house, the members of which are apt to be in fluenced by local prejudices and interests, and are ignorant of the scientific principles upon which the bill is founded. Power, therefore, should be given to ignore bills when there is no prinid facie case for legislation, and only allow those to come up to par liament which are likely to be for the public good, backed by the surveys and examinations of competent and impartial commissioners. This is no new power, as it has already been carried into operation in former times. The practice commenced as early as the reign of HENRY 111., and continued in full force till the sixth year of the reign of HENRY VI. Very considerable expense in obtaining private bills is incurred during their passage through stand ing orders. At this early period of the session, wit nesses are summoned from the country, and are again recalled when the bill passes into committee. The large expense incident to this passage through stand ing orders, might easily be saved by allowing the proofs of compliance to be given on the spot before the commissioners of inquiry, and, in this single point, such a commission would cause great economy of public money, as in every case the costs of private bills are indirectly charged on the public. The ob jects contemplated by Mr. HUME'S committee in the preparation of this act were large and comprehen sive, and we trust that the approaching session of parliament will not pass without rendering it more effective than it is at present.: The malls for Tign, Oporto, Ligon, Madeira, Cadiz, and Gibraltar, will be nude up on the morning of the 7th January. The overland cloned mails, rin Marseilles, to the Mediterranean, Egypt, Aden, Candon, India, lion Kong, Sm., will be made up on the evening of the 7th January. The West t excluding thaw for Mexico, and the ilavaniuh, will be mule op on the morning of the 17th January. Tb, overland Our Gibraltar, Malta, Greece, the lonian Island., Ervin, Aden, Ceylon, India, llong-Kong, and China, rio Southampton, will be mode up on the evening of the morning of the 20th January. The mail. for New South Wale', Van Diconen'a Land, and New Zealand will he made up on the evening of the Slat January. The mails for Britt ill North America, BeTISIYIIII, and the United States, will be made up on the evening of the 3rd February. The mail. for the Bruits, the River Plate, Monte Video, Ferment hum, Bahia, Madeira. and Buenos Ayres, will be dispatched on the evening of the .Ith lehrua. 7. TO CORRESPONDENTS. • Adrcrtiennenn intmtdect for The Erpress, London evening paper, most be at the Office by Two o'clock on the day of public-aim HIGH WATER AT LONDON-BRIDGE. Tnis DAT. —Mortung, S 1 min. poet 4; Afternoon, 9 min. part 5. To-lloanow —Morning, 29 min. post 5; Afternoon, 43 min. port 5. LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JAN. 6. THE abstract of the revenue accounts for the year 1. and quarter ending yesterday evening will be found in another part of this day's publication. They show en increase of 13,0321. in the income of the year 1846 upon that of 1845 ; and an increase of 19,8731. in the income of the last quarter of 1846 upon that of the corresponding quarter of 1845. The dif ference is so trifling that the aggregate incomes of the two years may be said to be equal in amount. On looking to the detail 4, however, a material difference in their composition is perceptible. On the ordinary revenue the increase for the year is 1,248,957/., the counterbalancing decrease only 220,7001. And this decrease is entirely on the stamps, the branch of revenue which was augmented to such an unnatural and unhealthy extent by the wild railway speculations of 1845. The other items of revenue on which the decrease is sufficiently large to bring down the increase on the ordinary revenue to the trifling sum of 13,0321., are—the China money, imprests, and repayment of advances. Of the 1,235,9231. decrease under the heads of revenue named, nearly 1,103,0001. come under stamps, China money, and repayments. "rine ordinary revenue, therefore—the revenue which indicates by its amount the healthy or unhealthy economical condition of the country- . —is sound and improving. The increase for the year on the Customs is 203,6.591. Of this increase part, no doubt, is attri butable to the large importations of grain. But we learn from a sure source that the sugar duties have largely contributed to it, that the increase on that item alone is advancing at the rate of a million and a halt' per annum. The returns from timber duties have also experienced a marked improvement, and, what is worthy of note, chiefly on the Canadian timbers, notwithstanding the total ruin of that colony's timber-trade, under the new tariff, so solemnly predicted by protectionist sages. Of the returns from duties on tea, coffee, and cocoa, we cannot speak with such certainty ; but the commercial returns of the statistical department of the Board of Trade show that, up to the 3th of November, the quantities of these articles entered for home consumption were as decid edly in advance of those so entered in 1845 as the home consumption entries of 1845 were of those of 1814. The year's increase in the Excise is 344,1381.; on the Post-office 8.5,0001. The increase in the returns from excise and cus toms duties, inconsiderable though it may appear, is remarkable in the face of the large and recent reductions of rates, and entire exemptions of many articles from any duty under those heads of income. Our more liberal system of commercial policy —our extensive reductions of duties in expectation that increasing trade will more than compensate for diminished rates—has been tested by a difficult and embarrassing season. We have pushed out into the sea of free-trade in the midst of a squall. The deficiency of the harvest throughout the country —the miserable condition of Ireland—the pres sure felt in the cotton manufacturing districts (before the commencement of the present panic), by the steady rise in the price of cotton, unaccompanied by any corresponding rise in the price of goods, and in other manufacturing districts from the surcease of orders from America, till the new tariff should come into operation—might have severely tried the longest established financial system. All these disturbing influences have burst upon ours at the moment that it first came into operation, and it has borne the runt of them bravely. This is encouragement for the year that is openiv upon us, and, in truth, with present prospects, such en couragement is needed. In Jane last the price of Indian corn ranged from 255. to 30s. for 4801bs. • in December it had risen to 728. In June the imperial quarter of wheat averaged 535. Bd.; in December it was 60s. Are quote tho six weeks' average of prices which re 1/4/ates duty ; for the present price of wheat per guar loin Hull and Liverpool is 725. Combined with this normous rise in the price of food, is a certain defi ciency in the supply of the raw material for our staple WE must again draw the attention of our readers to the pressing necessity that exists for the immediate removal of the prohibition in the use of sugar and molasses in breweries. The price of barley is at present full 30Iper cent, or 10s. a quarter more than the average price of the preceding five y ears ; this enor mous increase, of course, indicates a 'deficient supply ; a deficiency to the extent of one-third in the supply of malting barley involves a loss to the revenue of one million and a quarter sterling; and, worse still, it must materially restrict the consumption of beer. Ahead , we are informed, the publicans have in , by a penny a quart, the price of that nem,- sary of life to the working classes. Nor can they be blamed : for to them generally circulars similar to the following were issued on the let of January ; Brewery, —street, Jan. 1. Sir,—ln consequenee of the recent advance in the value of malt it is necessary to increase the price of ale and porter, which will from this date, be u under :—Table beer, 245. per barrel ; table ale, 325. ditto; porter, 406. ditto. And an THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 6, 1847. addition of 6.. per barrel to the several prices heretofore charged, fur all other descriptions of ale and porter.—We have the honour to be, your obliged and humble servants, Nor will this increase of price, bad as it is, be the worst of the matter ; deterioration of quality will in evitably follow it ; the working classes will be afflicted either with a less nutritious, or with a positively un wholesome beverage ; in the one case there will be deficient strength to perform inadequately paid labour; in the other, there will be disease propagated, hospitals filled, families suffering, and poor's rates augmented. Here, then, we have loss to the state, loss to the brewer, loss to the publican, loss to the working man, loss to the country, and gain to none. This is surely a state of things that will compel the legislature to look about for a remedy. Nor need parliament look long : the remedy is at hand—it obstructs the way—it may be leapt over, it cannot be avoided. The remedy consists in allowing the importer of sugar and molasses to do what he pleases with his commodity on condition that lie pays per cent. duty for this not very unreasonable pri vilege. At present he contributes the 60 per cent, and is denied the right of applying his property, so ' taxed, to a manufacture in which the demand would be enormous if freedom of trade were conceded to him. All that he asks is that a duty equivalent to the taxon malt should be levied on sugar and molasses when applied to the like purposes. To grant him this would aug ment the revenue, bring down the price of malt, lower the retail cost and improve the quality of beer, in short, would reverse the existing state of things. The law allows the landed interest to grow beet-root 'for the manufacture of sugar on similar terms ; why, then, should it deny the like opportunities to the sugar interest? All that the law requires is that sugar made from beet-root shall pay the same duty as Colonial sugar. All that the sugar trade ask is that the wort made from sugar shall be subject to a duty equal to the duty charged on malt. Can any thing be more reasonable? Hitherto, the only objection urged against the re moval of the prohibition has been, the fear that the revenue will suffer, whereas it turns out the revenue must suffer because of the prohibition. But, this ob jection removed, another equally illusory is started. fhe introduction of sugar into breweries will, it is said, inconveniently raise the price of sugar at home. The answer is obvious: any great rise in the value of sugar, so caused, would indicate a still more deficient supply of malt than that the country is now suffer ing from, and prove the necessity of the removal of the prohibition, and would, when it reached a certain point, suspend the use of sugar in breweries. But the probability is, that the introduction of sugar into breweries would lead to its being mixed with malt, and, from their combined use, the consumption of both malt and sugar would be largely increased, to I the benefit of all—to the greater advantage of none than of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. WERE the principle once practically recognised that, in order to obtain employment in Public Offices, the candidate should be required to produce some evidence of his fitness for the service, it would seem to be no very difficult task for those practically con versant with it, to devise regulations for the accom plishment of this object in their several departments. The suggestions of observers who do not belong to that particular world, must necessarily be of a more general nature. Those which have occurred to us are offered with considerable diffidence; rather as outlines which more direct experience must complete, than as positive instructions to those who may seek to reform the existing system. The main purpose on this occasion, is to awaken the public attention to the ex pediency of a better system : the devising of express remedies must, in a great measure, be left to a more advanced stage, and a nearer study of the business. In the meanwhile, as a first step in this direction, we would propose the establishment, in all main de partments of public service, of a system of training for young candidates; and of an examination, as well of these, both on their admission and when they claim to be put on actual duty, as of other applicants who may be offered as being already capable of the places they aspire to. These conditions, if insisted upon, might be made in a great measure compatible with the existing mode of nominating to office. Here it may be observed, that plausible objections may be raised against the entire abolition of patron age. The number of desirable State employments in England, as we have already remarked, is not large enough to justify the pursuit of place as one of the ordinary ways to a maintenance. The chance, amongst a number of competitors, would be too small to encourage those who had other openings in life offered to them. It may, therefore, be doubted whether, unless offices were greatly multiplied (which Heaven forbid!), the change from patronage to open election, from all who might be willing to contend for the few prizes amidst a number of blanks, would with certainty bring forward an improved de scription of applicants. They would in a great measure be such as, having no other prospect, could lose nothing by waiting on the chances of what must be a mere lottery. Perhaps, as things now stand, our present method, properly modified may produce on the whole a better choice of men, from those to whom patronage offers a kind of certainty in life, than we could obtain were places thrown open to general competition. Something better than private nomination, indeed, might be had, by granting the privilege of recommendation to inspectors of public schools, had we such in sufficient number, and of truly popular character. The youths thus selected might then proceed with confidence, at an early age, to prepare themselves further for public service ; and we should in that case have the advantage of a free choice, without the risk that would now deter our most hopeful youth from offering themselves to it. But such an improvement could only be founded on a previous one in our school system, which, alas! is yet to be made. Thus it is that a defective plan of Education meets us as at every step of propos amendments. On the public schools we now have, no reliance could be placed in this way to give us a substitute for patronage. Supposing the latter con tinued, therefore, it would be modified by the plan we are now sketching, in the following respects. Firstly, by ruling that no patronage - should secure the admission to nominees who could not abide the test of a suitable examination on entrance. Secondly, by the addition of this circumstance, that, in order to go through it successfully, all persons who had hopes of obtaining office by patronage would have to address themselves, while waiting for it, to the acquisition of such special knowledge as the examiners must insist on their possessing before they can be admitted to it. This might be the first step towards introducing a stricter system hereafter, under which the service should be gradually more and more ex tensively recruited from the ranks of those who have been entered as probationary candidates; who will', have been regularly trained in official duties, and recommended to promotion by the examining body;— until, at length, the usage of directly nomi nating to higher places, men who had not previously served in lower ones, should in a great measure have been replaced by the progressive system, of advancement from the lower ranks; and the pa tronage (supposing it maintained on its present basis) would be chiefly exercised in the nomination of can didates for the earliest stage of probation only. This we see practised with regard to cadetships in the East India Company. - • •• • • The arrangements for the probationary classes, and for the subjects to which the examination in each department should extend, must be the care of special inquirers, instructed to lay down suitable regulations according to the nature of each office. It does not appear that in any case either process would present insurmountable difficulties. In many public offices, the gradations from the junior to the superior clerk ships, already offer something not unlike the scheme which would be necessary in the foundation of a class of supernumeraries working on trial. These, while preparing themselves for the day of examina tion, would be employed in the office, without sala ries ; having first proved, under a preliminary inquiry, such general acquirements as all candidates should be bound to bring with them. The period of working trial, would be fixed according to circumstances ; but should in every case be long enough to afford some proof of the general capacity and steady conduct of the applicant. An examination once well passed, he would be eligible for such vacancies as might next fall out. Failure in the trial would entail on him, according to its circumstances, either absolute exclu sion or the relegation to a further term of proof. As to the examination, especially in the more im portant departments, it might be optional to the can didate to present himself for a certhicate of a higher or lower grade. None should be granted below a certain standard, comprising such points as may ensure an ade quate degree of competence and education in all whom the State employs. But those who have qualified them selves for a higher scale, by careful studies in a direction which it should be the duty of the heads of each de partment to indicate, should be enabled to prove their superior pretensions, by claiming a more enlarged trial ; and having gone through it well, should be cer tified as eligible for a superior class of places, at once. By such means, ambition would be excited; a motion given to industry; and a means found for distinguish ing and employing the best man. For none of which objects, our present system seems to contain any dis tinct provision at all. These are mere hints ; and more, in the present state of this question, it would be presumptuous to offer. Let it once be determined to handle it in good earnest; let the necessity of amendment, and the desire for something better, be felt ; and the means of revising the plan will not long be wanting. At present, the whole subject of Official Employments and Appointments lies in a confused chaotic state, and it would be a task well worthy of the highest statesmanship to reduce its elements to some thing like order. The ground might be broken by the appointment of a Parliamentary Com mittee, or of a well-chosen Commission, to report on the working of our extant system (if system we may call it); to inquire into the regulations which are in force in other countries ; and to attempt to lay the foundation of some plan, for our own, that may at least promise a less precarious supply . of competence, capacity, and diligence, than our existing method of trusting to the mere chances of patronage, can be expected to afford. It is not very creditable to England, that, on a subject of such importance, we have not yet arrived even at the point of admitting the necessity of some improvement. This step, at least, we trust our remarks may contribute to hasten; and so lead to inquiry, the result of which, if honestly made, can hardly fail to be improving. The court journals represent the manner of Lord Normanby towards her Majesty and her Royal Highness the Duchess de Montpensier at the presen tation of the address as full of enTressement, and in the highest degree polished. The opposition organs admit the politeness, but for the empressement substi tute " coldness pushed to an extreme." Both pictures err in the strength of the colouring. Lord Normanby, in fact, behaved on the occasion as a polished gentle man and the representative of a great nation ought to behave in a mere court ceremony, and neither more nor less. The reception which was to have taken place at the Tuileries on Sunday evening was changed to the evening of Tuesday, the cause alleged being the indis position of the Queen. An impression, however, pre vailed that the fatigue of Friday rendered it advisable that the King should have repose. The King of the Belgians was expected in Paris on Monday evening, by a special train. Our correspond ent informs us that he would prolong his sojourn at Paris until the opening of the Chambers. The Daily News was received in Paris on Monday morning with the triumphant Trieste express of the Indian news. Considerable disappointment was, of course, felt by the partisans of the Marseilles route, who allege that Mr. Waghorn had the start of the Marseilles steamer from Alexandria by a considerable time, and that this was the cause of the present re sult.. Be this as it may, however, the journalists of Paris are struck with the great fact that the Daily News in its "isolation" has beaten the " quadruple " alliance. _ . . ------ The Epoque professes to give the true version of what took place relative to the address of the diplo matic body presented to the king upon New Year's- day. It is known that the diplomatic body gave to the nuncio the right of addressing the king in the name of all the am bamadors. Whatever the Constitutionnel may say to the contrary, if anything important has taken place during the year, the person who is to deliver the speech always commu nicces to his colleagues at least the passage that has refer ence to it. This year the marriage of the Duke de Mont pensier, respecting which it was natural to felicitate the king, became a subject of difficulty for the address of the diplomatic corps, on account of the protest of the British cabinet and the instructions given to Lord Normanby. On the one hand, the ambassadors of the cabinets which had favoured and accepted the marriage were naturally desirous of complimenting the royal family upon it; on the other hand, it was necessary that the compliment, being paid in the name of England also, should be drawn up in terms which would permit Lord Normanby to subscribe to it. On this account therefore, the nuncio had submitted them to the British am bassador, who alone could appreciate them with reference to his official position. We must here do justice to the noble lord by saying that he neglects no effort to bring the two governments to a friendly understanding. Ile therefore desired that the phrases on the marriage might be in such terms that he could adhere to them without violating his instructions ; and the visit which he afterwards paid to the king was the most eloquent comment that could be made upon them. It is impossible, in our opinion, to appreciate too highly in the noble lord so prudent a conduct, each step of which has its value for the puce and liberty of Europe. Thus the speech of the diplomatic corps contains a felicita tion to the king on the marriage. of the youngest of his chil dren; everybody finds this in it, and the king has replied to it. The speaker indeed has turned it in such a way as to induce the British ambassador to accept it, but this fact, far from making us regret the delicacy of the terms of the nuncio, is, on the contrary, a reason for thanking him for doing so." The Courier Franrais says : Since the Debate shows itself so satisfied with the speech of the apostolic nuncio, the double renunciation is, in fact, decided on. What has given so much offence to the powers, particularly England, in the marriage, is the political importance which has been attributed to it. It was therefore necessary to remove all cause of offence to the powers, and the following is the manner in which it is said the thing is to be effected. A European congress was, it is known, earnestly solicited by the cabinet of the Tuileries. Austria refused to submit the incorporation of Cracow to this congress, and why ? It was the question put forward by the cabinet of the Tuileties ; and the following, according to the German journals, is the solution:—lf a new European congress were to be assem bled, Spain must naturally form part of it. But Queen Isabella has not been recognised by the powers, and it is this which renders the congress impossible. What is to be done? Obtain from the powers the recognition of the Queen of Spain. But how? In renewing the renunciation of the Duke of Orleans to the throne of Spain by that of the Duke de Montpensier, and in accepting the bases of the peace of Utrecht. This plan is very simple, and England will content herself with it. The interdiction which weighs on the Queen of Spain would no longer remain as an objection for the powers, and the much-desired congress would become possi ble. This congress, is in fact, the "prevailing idea of the government ; it would stand in history as the first great European act of the new dynasty. Besides, all the diffi culties resulting from the Spanish marriages and the incor poration of Cracow, would be thus removed. By the double renunciation, the mouth of England would be closed; by a congress, that measure would bejustitied to the country ; and to those who should ask what has been done about Poland, the reply would be mots congreesons. The Reforme says: We copied, ,yesterday, the official document of the Mo ositeur, indicating that the price of wheat had risen in all the markets of France during the month of December. It was hoped, dining the last ten days, that the price of corn would either decrease or remain stationary, as is generally the case after a continued rise. The news received from the depart ments, for two or three days, preclude such a hope. The markets were everywhere badly supplied, the quanti ties of wheat exposed for sale being barely sufficient for local consumption ; and in many places the millers wanted grain, and the bakers could not procure flour. As to trade, it was entirely at an end. In a great number of localities the small farmers have nothing in their barns, and will find is extremely difficult to live until the next crop. Should the cold continue intense the embarassments will necessarily augment. Not only is the navigation interrupted by the ice on the canals, and the internal circulation impeded, but the arrivals from foreign countries have considerably decreased, in consequence of the ice and the inclemency of the season. Marseilles and Cette, it, the south; Havre and Dunkirk, in the north—that is, the principal harbours of importation— have seen scarcity succeed to abundance. At Marseilles a deficiency has already manifested itself, and the price of wheat had increased, and now exceeded what it was previous to the fall. At Havre the price of wheat and flour was also aug menting. The barrel of American flour, which sold for 40fr. eight days ago, now fetches 42fr. In the districts adjoining Paris a rise took place on Saturdy in moat of the markets, and the supply was extremely scanty. At Rouen, Montivil. fiers, Proving, Melva, Charleville, and Lille, wheat increased in value one franc per hectolitre ; and at Nogent-le-Roy, Or leans .Clermont, Chateaudun, Coulommiers Lagny, Pont St. Maxence, Etampes, Rambouillet, and Beauvais. the rite was from 33 to 66 centimes per hectolitre. This augmenta tion, which is nearly general, will certainly affect the Paris market, where the prices were very firm during the last week. Bread is already very dear. In 109 it had not reached the present price, 47c. per kilogramme, the highest having been 45c. It was apprehended that it would undergo another augmentation in the month of January. The Madrid Gazette of the 29th gives the pro- gramme of the ceremonial of the opening of the Cortes, at which all the members of the royal family, including the Queen-mother, were to have been pre sent. Her Majesty, accompanied by the King, was to leave the palace at one o'clock, and proceed in state to the Chamber of Deputies, preceded by the other members of the royal family and chiefs of the household. The Queen's speech was settled in a cabinet council, held on the 28th, at Madrid. It was also said that a resolution was come to, to establish two new minis tries, to comprise colonial affairs, public instruction, and public works. It was resolved that the minis terial candidate for the presidency of the senate should be the Marquis de Viluma. The choice was not expected, according to the Ileraldo, to be popular. El Ticmpo says that a project of marriage was enter tained between the daughters of the Infant Don Francisco de Paulo, sisters of the King Consort, with some German princes. It seems, however, that some religious scruples obstructed this arrangement. The marriage of the Infant Don Enrique with one of the daughters of Queen Christina by the Duke of Rianzares was spoken of. El Tiempo says that the partisans of absolutism were working with all their might to raise an insur rection in the Basque provinces in favour of Count Montemolino. The garrisons of those provinces were reinforced. Private letters say, that notwithstanding the re ports of ministerial changes, the present cabinet was determined to hold its course, and, if the opposi tion should obstruct it, systematically to dissolve the Chamber. The ministerial candidate for the presi dency of the Chamber of Deputies was to be M. Castro y Orozco. The Deputies held a preparatory meeting on the 29th, at which deputations were named to receive her Majesty at the Chamber, and to fulfil provisionally the functions of secretaries. The Bourse continued to be weak. OPENING OF THE SPANISH CORTES. (From the Times.) The following is the Speech of the Queen of Spain on opening the Cortes : Gentlemen, Senators, and Deputies.,— " Nothing causes me more lively satisfaction than to find myself again in the midst of you, and again to give myself over to the hope that your loyalty . and your every effort will be consecrated to cement the union of the throne with the institutions of the country, and to continue the work of the prosperity of Spain. " I have contracted a marriage with my august cousin, Don Francisco d'Assis Maria de Bourbon, agreeably to my intention announced to the preceding Cortes. I trust that Heaven will bless this union, and that you, also, gentlemen, will unite your prayers with mine to Almighty Clod. The marriage of my beloved sister has also taken place in the way which has been already explained to the Cortes. " In our relations with foreign powers no change has taken place worthy of notice. " Domestic tranquillity, that first need of nations, is strengthening itself, in spite of attempts which have been made to disturb it. I am confident that all legitimate opi nions, uniting themselves on the vast and free field of our institutions, will leave without support the factions hostile to the public peace, and will contribute to consolidate the constitutional government, and to efface all traces of the troubles which have so long agitated the nation. " In order to attain that important end, I have granted to persons implicated in those troubles as large an amnesty as the welfare of the state permits. It is the welfare of the state which I shall consult at some future time, as to the question of extending this amnesty to those who, for weighty reasons, have been hitherto excluded from it. " It is a great satisfaction to me to be able to announce to you that, thanks to the pence and the reforms to which former Cortes have given their support, the national pros perity is making notable advances; myefforts will before all things tend to extend and augment those advances, and I reckon on your co-operation and assistance in this matter. " The different branches of the administration of the state have experienced great ameliera'ions ; these are owing to the regularity introduced in the payment of expenses in the various offices, to the preservation of the public peace, and to the harmony and order which the laws recently established have introduced into the working of the administration. "In the organisation of the army some reform., impera tively demanded by the public good, have been carried out. These reforms have brought about a considerable economy in the expenditure, and it is great subject of satisfaction to me that their intreductionhasnotiefringed upon vested rightsmor caused any prejudice to the classes who compose this inte resting portion of the nation. In the matter of discipline and soldierly behaviour the condition of the troops both by sea and land could not be more satisfactoy, and the fidelity of all ranks is a sure guarantee that the sacred trust re posed to their care will be protected from all dangers. My solicitude, and that of my government, has not been less with respect to the Navy. For the first time since many years the expenses of all establishments have been covered; considerable works and repairs have been completed in our arsenals; an impulse has been given to naval construction, as well in the yards of the state as in those of private individuals, so that the vessels of our fleet have been available for all the purposes of the state, as well as for the protection of our mercantile marine, the rapid increase of which gives rise to the fondest hopes. " The amount of the revenue is increasing, and there is ground for hope that it will be still more considerable when the projected alterations of the tairiff have been put in force; my government will notify these changes to you in a proper form. . Some alterations have at the same time been intro duced in the subject of taxes, and the chief defects which disfigure that system will disappear as soon as all the data, which are now being sought for with great care, have been collected, with a view to a just and equal apportionment of the contributions. "My government will present you with the budget of receipts and expenses for the year 1847. You will there see the ameliorations and economies which it has been possible to make. I regret that past troubles, and the very reforms themselves which must afterwards produce good results, do not permit of my making at present all the reductions which I desire. " It has been equally impossible for my government to arrive at an arrangement of the public debt in virtue of the authority given by me for that purpose. However, as I have a lively desire to satisfy the just demands of the state creditors, as well domestic as foreign, the measures which may appear most proper for arriving at this end will be pro pord to you at a fitting time. Agreeably to the law of the 9th of June, 1845, a loan of aKI millions of reels (50 millions of francs) has been con tracted, destined to making new roads ; the works have partly commenced on several lines, forming parts of the vast plan of internal communication which my Government ' proposes to carry out. • Besides the budget, other measures demanded by the ' public weal will be proposed to you. " A fixed and fitting endowment for religious peewees and the clergy is a positive and urgent need, as essential to the welfare of religion as it is for that of the state. My government will present you shortly with a law on this im portant matter. " Besides these, other laws will be proposed in the course ' of this session ; some with a view to protect the increase of wealth by curbing the abuses which accompany the first im pulse of its development, others with a view to introduce ameliorations in the different branches of the administration, ' and others, finally, with a view to regulate the arrangements in force relative to the press and to exceptional professions. " It is thus, Gentlemen, Senators and Deputies, with the aid of Providence, and while the efforts of all are directed with r courage and firmness in the pursuit of the same aim, that the ameliorations introduced in a political, economical, and administrative point of view will be consolidated, that fresh ' ones will he introduced, and that, after so much agitation, ' peace, order, and prosperity will be restored to this nation— ' blessings to which her great qualities and her many virtues give her so great a claim." PORTUGAL The letters of previous dates, alluded to by our Lis bon Correspondent in his communication published yesterday, arrived subsequently by the Rattler. From them we select the following additional intelli- gent*: LISBON, Mc. 28. According to trustworthy witnesses of the late affair at Torres \'edras, it would seem that the posi tion taken up by Bomfin was quite impregnable ; and that but for the treachery (to Meg) of the detachment placed in the redoubt of San Vincente, Saldanha's attack would have been repulsed, and his whole divi sion placed in the most imminent danger. Das Antes has retired to Santarem, followed (at a considerable distance) by Saldanha's cavalry, who harassed the stragglers. The remainder of the Marshal's army have rested, since the day of action, in order to recover their fatigue. The prisoners were brought to the capital in two bodies ; one of them passed by the residence of a friend of mine, who stated that they appeared to be in very good condition and spirits. Boman and the principal officers were escorted by a squadron of cavalry, and they were immediately conducted on board the Diana frigate, which lies under the guns of Belem Castle. Mousinho de Albuquerque (one of the best informed and ablest of the Septembriet party) has died from the effect of his wound. The Guerillas, under Condc de Mello and Jose Estevao, have retired in the direction of Coruche, whither Schwalbach has pursued them. This is stated in the Diaro of Dec. 26. The Diario of this day contains a list of the pri soners, which comprises, besides those I have already named, about 99 officers of all ranks. _ _ In the Spectro of Dec. 24 (the Septembrists' anony mously circulated paper) is contained a letter from Bomfin, dated at 10 o'clock on the morning of the action, the statements contained in which have since been so fully confirmed as to merit translation and insertion here: TORRES VEDRAS Dec. 22, 10 morn .— flees are 3,200 men of the best tro opsi of the line, the sth and 6th Csa dores, commanded by Marshal Celesiino ; the 2nd, 6th, and lith regiments of infantry, commanded by Brigadier Moo sinho d'Albuguerque ; 200 cavalry, of the regiment of Oporto, commanded by Colonel Formon ; 1,000 men of the national battalions of Aloobsa, commanded by Count de Villa Real ; and a battery of field pieces. 1 8aldanha's positions about half a league distant, at Re malhal e Amiel. He has under his command from 3,000 to 4,000 men, much foutished from haring only received during the last three days two half rations act bread. This state o/ things has calped much discontent to prevail; even the officer" scarcely conceal their disgust, and obey with diffi culty the orders of Saldanha. Count des Antes, with 1,000 men, six guns, and 300 cavalry, had marched at day-break, and is within two leagues of the enemy and three of my column. Brigadier Cesar should by this time have left Santarem with all his forces, and reached Viila Franca, where he WU to join the corps of cavalry of Col. Galamba, the regiment of Major Neutel coming from the Algarve', the battalion of Evora, commanded by Major Madariera Cerni, and other forces from the Alemtejo. My present posi tion is exceedingly strong, and might well hold out against 8,000 or 9,000 men for a fortnight or more if provisions were plentiful. You will see by this account that Saldanha will be obliged either today or to-morrow to retire to Cadaval or Bebral from want of provisions. (Signed) CONDE DE Bostrim. P.S. When the messenger left Torres Vedras tiring had begun. ARRIVAL OF THE IBERIA. The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's vessel Iberia arrived at Southampton yesterday morning, bringing the following dates:— Gibraltar, 27th ; Cadiz, 28th ; Lisbon, 31st of Dec. ; Oporto, Ist; and Vigo, 2nd of January. The most important &deices she brings are from Oporto, and consist chiefly of details of the defeat of M'Donnel by the Queen's General, Canal, at Braga, a summary of which we were enabled to give in a part of our yesterday's impression, received by the Rattler. The following translations from the Nacional of' Oporto furnish particulars of the engagement : The slaughter was very great, and the loss of Nl.Donnel said to be 200 killed. Coral moved, on ' the 19th, to Villa Nova de Punch ,no. Jl'Donnel wished to retire on the 20th, but Brigadier Victorino would not consent to do so, insisting that they should fight. M'Donnel, being thus forced, consented. He was occupied on the 20th in forming trenches in the road Dos Plaines, at Cruz da l'edra, and at Conega, contrary to the will of the whole town. They were not completed when the fire commenced on Cruz da Pedro, the key of the position, valiant resistance being offered from within. Canal ordered an attack to be made on both sides at Plaines and Conega, and for a whole hour Canal's corps was en"aged at Cruz da Pedro; the right advanced to Conega, and the left towards Plames. Three times they advanced on the trenches of the latter, and three times were they repulsed. They rushed a last time to the charge, and succeeded in reaching the other side. Cazal then excited his men to force the whole entrenchment. They poured into the town on all sides, and, rushing through the streets, reached the square of Santa Anna. NPDonnel fled with 25 men, taking the road to Carvalho d'Este, and stopped to sleep at the foot of Povoa de Lanhoso, on the night of the 20th. On the 21st, he went in the direction of Senhora do Porto, as if he were going to Penafiel. The loss, on the part of Canal, was 100 killed and wounded. Of M'Donnel's men, whose bodies lay strewed in the streets, 312 were buried, including many unarmed people. At the last, no quarter was given to any one found in the streets. A series of plunder and excesses was then enacted by the troops, which lasted from the 20th till the 22nd. The news brought by the Iberia from Lisbon, being only a couple of days later than that printed above, is of little comparative moment. The following ex tracts from our correspondent's letter, ❑nder date 31st December, are however not without importance : Nothing (says the &metro of Dee. 28) has been learned from the chief prisoners respecting the late action at Torres Vedras, as they are denied all intercourse even with their relatives. Count Bomffn's wife, attempting to communicate with her husband, now on board the Diana frigate, wee refused all intercourse except by an open letter. On the 3Uth a Septembriat proclamation, couched in strong language, wu secretly issued, reminding the people that their cause did not depend on the issue of one battle, and concluding with a call " to arms." The Mario, Dee. 30, gives a document addressed to the police, which complains that, notwithstanding the decree forcing &reulation of the notes of Lisbon as current money of the realm, dealers continue to require payment in cash, and then proceeds to make such offenders aware of the penalties they incur. As an instance of the injustice of this decree our comes dent gives the following case: " I go on 'Change with 100 moid Tee in gold, and exchange them with a broker for 120 moidore notes. Thence Igo to the shop of a goldsmith and demand a correspondent amount of gold in chains (sold here by weight with a trifling allowance for workmanship), threatening the shopkeeper, if he refuse to sell his goods at 20 per cent. under their real value, with tho penalties pre pared fur him by the law." PARIS, J ax. 4. The general topic of conversation in Paris at the present moment is the approaching session. The deputies are flocking in, no less than 150 having been present at the reception on the let inst. All the chiefs, with the exception of M. Odilon Barret, who is daily expected, and M. de Lamartine, who always comes late, are on the ground. M. fliers, M. de Hemmed, M. Billaut, and M. Duvergier d'ilauranne, were present at the Tuileries. M. Guizot had put on his most lofty air, and M. I)uchatel his most caressing one. The former looked defiance at the opposition; the latter seemed rather to think of re taining, by those seductions of which he is a master, the support of a complaisant majority. I do not think the ministers are without anxiety as to the turn the debate on the address is likely to take. My reason for thinking so is the extraordinary tone of the King when answering the addresses of the Chamber of Peers and the Chamber of Deputies at the ceremony of the let of January. It is a long time since lie has been heard to praise liberty with such energy as on this occasion. The members who heard him thought themselves transported back again to the days which followed the revolution of 1830, when Louis Philippe, standing at the balcony of the Palais Royal, mingled his voice with that of the crowd below, and sang the Marsei ll aise. The King's sister, Madame Adelaide, whose revolutionary opinions are well known, was in the greatest joy ; and a deputy, who had come up close to the King, remarked that his speech would make some noise; to which Louis Philippe rejoined that "he hoped it would be heard beyond the frontier." In Paris the public attach little import ance to such demonstrations. When the ministers put a more liberal speech than usual into the mouth of the King, the supposition immediately is, either that the ministry is embarrassed, and wishes to put on a varnish of popularity, or that there is a threatened demand for money, such as a dowry, for example. Besides the difficulties caused by the rupture between the cabinet and England, there are others connected with internal dissensions. I have already spoken to you of the rivalry which exists between ht. Guizot and M. Duchatel. * The latter affects, amongst his friends, to be discontented. As the marriage of the Duke de Montpensier was concluded in his absence by M. Guizot, he does not conceal his dis approbation. His friends, taking the cue from him, cry out that a great imprudence has been committed, that a large policy has been sacrificed to a narrow one, and by that means that an excellent situation ham been spoiled. This dissension is known in the chamber, and cannot but disunite the majority. There are other difficulties, too, which stop the way. The Journal des Mbals has de clared, in the name of the ministry, that no reforms would be thought of this year, and that the postal reform, the heavy salt tax, and the reform of the customs, would be indefinitely adjourned. On the other hand, the consequences of the inundations have added fresh charges to the budget. A fresh loan has been talked of, and the floating debt mast of necessity be in creased. If the opposition proceeds well and does not limit itself to the internal question, it may be enabled to drive the ministry into a corner, and morally ruin it in the eyes of the country. The mi nistry evidently fears this, for it is delaying the battle as long as it can. It is stated that the debate on the address in the Chamber of Deputies will not take place till after that in the Chamber of Peers, and it seems that the debate will not commence there till the 18th; consequently, that in the Chamber of De puties would not take place till the 25th. A whole month will then pass before the elective chamber touches public affairs. The ministers intend to pre serve the greatest reserve in the Chamber of Peers as to English and French differences. This will be easy for them to do thanks to the assist ance of M. Broglie, whose pride is flattered by be coming once more the patron of the cabinet. But as the Chamber of Peers may demand an explanation from Ministers, they wish to wait for the explanation which Lord John Russell and Lord Palmerston are to give in the House of Commons, in order to form their language upon that held in London. As to the op position, whatever may be said on the subject, it has yet formed no decisive plan, and will not do so until it has acquainted itself with the contents of the diplo matic documents. Till then the opposition will allow the journals to make commentaries and ministers those bravados which are so little worthy of the dignity Government.