The Express. — London, England, 1860-08-28 00:00:00

ALL ?Ls . s MERCHANTS' PROFITS. Tbe PIS= IPOCCIONO, ostisisod, IP& per Th. moss manTimas nod Co. Si, Ltodas.britise, City. PARISIAN PAM HANGING& st the asitr.—it a. cs,►ma, is rod 111. =MD &rent dim So li. ithiessi's Moan. p.m FIRST CLAM and LONDON PRI= MEDALS. ZataW4 sad I.IIOODIOI. isi lEWILLIMIS. Mimatiajaff, Msatalls-strest. Covasimprdeu. WM.. Lidos. EA nib elms al • la Ihe evasive MA ea womb", at le' BENSON'S WATCHES, Nebollse et mellwalm.' —Marskis TM. waidre. 4_l• ilegibuss; saw 64 10 bra fad Diales% Illedombri ha= isoitoNvo el ono enulios mule am media W sem so somft of 14•44411.-41=1 11. Saikgskaai. is 1411•1111.111& HAlmositms—NEW YODEL.— mum was. W Sk. lll.Sliest-61ml Q WERT YIIMIGATION.—PIESSE and Da MINS SIBIU ad DftOLR.—LI,Lt It, blow oat the *OK MEMO hydrant flower .81 rim Into the Mr. Maimab Ow a usuldra daily its' la • boa, qtatorad at et• IlassW Nall.)—Parlarory /slalom y Nor B. md- at net ••Tha id oat Urea tram mar to year,"—ahaktpeare. MITT with the Maktowes for September. prke Nimmewee..4 ALL lie YEAR ROUND, comma IbS imarka et Wilkie Dolling s (Story. Tits WOMAN 1. M HIM . The amenasaamaaa el a Nom aortal Tale by Charles Lever, A D•rs 11138 101IANCt The Thkleadaisaraay of • 751 rscomaaciAL TRAVIIILidt, by Charlet Mkt= • Ahr4 H VITO DOWN : • Alan la Tao Pat* by Chart.. Nam% 5.4. Ia additive, ritteea MOOG Ma tyke at Imandiad and Publt•Med alio W wai l = peke Pt. aad k Balt yeasty v at ta, Straw!. WC.: and by Chemeses sad la 4 Ilk gibe express. alMlN bi a di zarrAm t na . tondos was. VlS d ibo lablb 1% 101114111•4111111 e. by Two MARKET. TO lIVEEVER THE OV R ERLAND ROUTE. Moans Chime daha Rea War, sad C. Mathews; Yea C. Matkaws. Aast PAVI. PLY. Mama C. Mathews. Chippecalabs, togors, and Villas Mn C. Mathews awl Mrs. Poynter. nuscwors. TEM OWEN, MACBETH. Mew', James R. Au demos, Shore E. MaPim% heir. and Bartteman : Mlaa Eltworthy, Miss 1.401111t4, And Mlaa P. lowa—AAA THE ?HEAT MORT. BLE A. Hants . M HAMA —Commence at 7. BRITANNIA. TRW Iteinnw4 A urn FOR A LIFE: or, The Burden of Guilt. —Wawa. aa4 Raytheon; hlre. W. Crawford. —TUN SPOIL= ILD. Muter Roselle : Diu Downing.— And Till BEGOAKII PIITTION Mrn C. Yareold. EON WATTR AT LONDON BRIDGE. MN DST —Minim Ott. Aftersona, Oh. Eta. To-nouvw—iiiniks OIL 54,11 . •• • • Aft•raa"" 111 16. Lorrpoir, TUERDAY, AUGUST 28. A arrive of this Session of Parliament, which this day comes to a close, is a task which an English journalist would gladly decline, if he only might. For the fact is that the country has been insulted with false promises, neglected in regard to its most important business, and left in a worse position, in regard to its essential liberties at the end of the Session than it held before. The Ministers and the Houses will gain nothing by throwing the blame of the loss of this ses sion on each other. If it is usually irksome and humiliating to show how much less has been done than was proposed, it is a grave penance, indeed, to have to show that, so far from mending their own ways and our prospects, our rulers, in the Cabinet and in Parliament, have at once failed in doing the work of the nation, and suc ceeded in restricting some of the liberties which they are appointed to protect and expand. The Quanree Speech presented an array of good mea sures which it was not unreasonable to suppose would be law by this time ; and the ONANCLLLOS of the Exenentiza emphatically answered us that the session of 1860 would be memorable for its richness in blessings. Yet now we find ourselves without the blessings specially promised, with our war* still to be done, and with the uneasy certainty that every reactionary mind in the National Council is bent on making use of our difficulties to steal away our liberties. The Quaas opened the Session on the 24th of January with a speech which showed the gravity of affairs abroad, and invited Parliament to do great things at home. Our defences were to be put into a satisfactory condition ; the long-pro mised Reform Bill was to give a truer and fuller representation to the people ; we were to have an improved Law of Bankruptcy and Transfer of Land, a Consolidation of the Statutes, and an ad vantageous fusion of Law and Equity. The first notices afforded promise of more measures of importance--such as the Home Secarraar's Bill for the Reform of the Corporation of London, the LORD CHANCELLOR'S Bills to give the same criminal law to England and Ireland, and to confer some equitable jurisdiction on our courts of common law, and Lord BROUGHAM'S for facilitating the transfer of Land, and Bills under the care of individual members on Church Rates' Abo lition, right of appeal in Criminal Cases, liberal management of Endowed Schools, and many more. This looked like work. With the expectation of these measures the minds of un suspicious people were amused during the interval of waiting for Mr. Otarevrovx's budget ; while the forces of the Opposition were directed to discredit the Commercial Treaty with France before that sub ject was regularly opened. There was perhaps more outcry on that than on all other topics together, and more hope of displacing the Ministry on that ground than any other at all likely to occur. Mr. Gtaterroxs's illness, postponing his financial state ment from the 6th to the 10th of February, gave opportunity for the excitement to reach the highest point. The immediate effect of Mr. GLADOTONE'B great speech on the Budget will remain the moat pro minent incident of the session. An effective opposition seemed to be swept away. The Com mercial Treaty was seen to afford splendid promise of peace and plenty ; we should get rid of some bad taxes, and of the fear of deficit, by simply paying more income tax, continuing to pay tea and sugar duties for a time, and becoming subject to a few others of light weight or very restricted operation. If some far-sighted persona thought of China in the midst of the general ex hilaration, Mr. GLADSToNE had no fears in that direction, otherwise (he told us in July) he would have proposed a different Budget. As it turned out, he had to ask Parliauueitt for 3,800,0001. in July, and another 1,000,0001. on Exchequer Bills in August. The first nhstruction nn the part of the Opposi tion was • foolish act of their leader in raising a debate on which should bo discussed first, the Budget or the Treaty. Their signal defeat oo this questioo, and immediately afterwards on Mr. Du Csss's resolution of disapproval of the Budget, was supposed to make Mr. Otriscroea's course easy for the eessinu. This supposition was confirmed by the success of Mr. BY No's motiou for an address to the Crown in approbation of the Treaty, on the 9th of March, and by the withdrawal of amend malts which might hare more or I, fa endaslrred the measure. The Lords agreed to a similar eddrtio on the 13th of March by a majority of 30.1 duty, on The great difficulty wee. top French Government about the duty on i injurious to our par& *gem • . man: fluctuations of feeling and opinion%the repeal our Excise on NOR was tilled for iiiidliiillffiy, with lessening majorities. How the Lords reversed the decision will never be forgotten, nor th 1 aidni. with which the Commons returned to . abject of the Paper Duty in August. The Hones voted the reduction of the Wine Duties and the increase of the Income Tax; and the abolition of the duties on cheese and butter, and many other articles, before the prices of food had risen to the highest. The licensing of the sale of wine in re freshment houses was vehemently opposed by a powerful interest; but no influence could avail to destroy a much-needed and highly-valued provi sion ; and the Wine Licenses Bill for England received the Royal Assent on the 14th of June. Thus have arrangements been made for an enlarged and enlarging trade with France, at a time when that commerce may produce the hap piest effects. Many delays have occurred ; and ear commissioners have not returned home yet; nor are they expected at present. But there are easy explanations of the delay ; and we may rea sonably hope that after much controversy, and even confusion, this great measure of the present Government will form a new period in our com mercial history, and prevent the sessia of 1860 from being altogether barren of those popular blessings in which Mr. Gxsowrows promised that it should be fruitful. It was well for the scheme and its authors that no ono foresaw what demands would arise in a few weeks, calling upon us for both new taxes and some form of loan, or our commerce with France might have continued to be the example of folly that it was, as between two industrious nations living within sight of each other. Next in interest to the Budget and the Treaty in the department of Finance were the topics of the Armyand Navy—the War-office and the Admiralty. On the 13th of February, Lord Czrzranns Pinar brought forward the Naval Estimates in a speech full of his customary frank avowals, which, as usual, have been of no practical avail, so far as Admiralty Reform is concerned. The enormous supplies he asked for were granted ; but there is no evidence that the Admiralty is improving, or that we have our money's worth in effective and well-manned Nothing has been done this session towards that thorough reform of the Admiralty which must precede a satisfactory condition of the Navy. We all mid the same thing of the Army last year, and in consequence a commission was appointed to inquire into our military organization. The Report of that Commission was presented late in the session, when it was found that no one of the main points of maladministration was touched upon at all. There is nothing in the action of the Commission to prevent our suf fering from the same disasters to-morrow, in case of a new war, that destroyed the first army wo sent to the Crimea. The work of reform in our mili tary administration remains not only to be done, but to be designed. The estimates were brought forward by the Samarrane for Wan on the 17th of February with &frankness worthyof Lord Cr./Arises PAGET. They were the largest estimates offered since the Russian war, being nearly two millions in excess of those of last year. In the course of the debate, on the 6th of March, on Sir Da LACY Evian's motion on the gradual abolition of the purchase system in the army, the Swarrrinr for WAX announced that Government was ready to abolish purchase in the ease of all commissions alwive the rank of major— • new indication that the service must soon be opened to qualifications more professional than wealth. Throughout the session the subject of our military defence was incessantly recurring, till, towards the close, the Fortifications Report was presented, and special supplies for new protective works were called for, on the 23rd of July, in a speech of Lord Pauszasrox's, which at least gratified the country by its open expression of what so many were thinking. The debate was adjourned, and the opposite sides of the question were presented with great vigour and clearness, till, on the 2nd of August, the ministerial resolu tion was brought to the vote, and carried by a majority of nearly seven to one. In the opinion of sensible men, the beet security for our defence would be to render the navy what it ought to be, and to develop the militia as to numbers and effi ciency. • After providing, as we have now done, for the defence of our dockyards and arsenals to wards the sea, we had better spend the rest of our money in keeping the command of the sea, and making the citizens effective for the custody of our own soil. Towards this last object the Government has induced Parliament to contribute by providing for the obtaining of shooting grounds for the Volunteers. But after taking unheard of sums for the military service, the Government has abandoned to the country the responsibility of de fending the island. We have no Militia to speak of, but our Volunteers aro increasing in number, and efficiency. The protracted discussion of the question of the Indian Army comes under notice in connexion with military matters at home ; for, if we are to keep 80,000 men in India, and if many thousands will be perpetually at sea, going out or coming home, such a drain on our forces must largely affect the estimates of the War-office, and alter the entire arrangements of our military strength at home. The rash and headstrong conduct of the 86(131711Y for INDIA, supported by an unreason ing obstinacy not usual with Lord PaLitstutrox, has been one of the greatest of the many calami ties of the session. In abolishing the local army of India, against the advice of qualified judges, in the Council of India and everywhere else, Government has too early justified the apprehen sions of which we heard so much two years ago, of the unfitness of parliamentary government to decide the destinies of India. Through • long course of years the nation may too probably rue the action and speech of the House of Commons about India in July, 1860. I r The great question of tho time—that in which the success of all good measures is involved—was brought forward on the Ist of March. The tr►ns actions of former years about Parliamentary Re form had forbidden much hope of a large and sound measure, which should give us an improved House of Commons for a long course of years ; but a smaller and more superficial measure would be accepted as a benefit as far as it went. But the treatment of the Government Bill was the method by which the House chose to show its need of Reform. The natural conse quence has yet to manifest itself. The natural consefinence of such intellectual incompetence and such moral perversion as the House has exhibited this session, whenever the subject of the represen tative function came up, is first a change of the per‘ ,, ,intl of that Parliament, in order to change afterwards the conditions under which members enter it. The arrogance, the ignorance, the levity, the trickery, the mingled audacity and enwardice displayed in tho debates on the Reform Bill constitute an instruction both to constituen cies and legislators which will sot be lost. The op )ortunity of instituting a small reform, and has broken through all engagements to get rid of it. When we have a House which is not Lord DIARY'S, nor committed to false pretences, we shall obtain a measure which it will be worth having waited for ; but the deterioration of the character of the Legislature, from its conduct about the Reform Bill of 1860, is a political mis fortune not to be repaired, even by a measure for reforming it. The Bill , brought forward by Lord J. ROTHELL on the Ist of March, was discussed in an unpro- gressive way, amidst repeated adjournments, and occasional attempts to count out, till the debate was carried over the Easter holidays, the second reading being fixed for the 3rd of May. Lord JOHN RUMELL then put off the Committee to the 4th of June, on which day he withdrew the Scotch and Irish Bills. This afforded a new ground of dis pute about the English one ; the debate was ad journed to the 7th ; and on that occasion Lord PALXZESTON and Mr. BLIGHT administered severe rebukes to the obstructive& The adjournment that night was the last. Ou the 1 Ith the Bill was withdrawn. An attempt was made afterwards to assume that it never could have been expected that the Commercial Treaty and the Reform Bill should pass in one session, on account of the mag nitude of each ; but it is certain that the promise in the Queries Speech, and the acceptance of it by the people, were sincere ; and that the time wasted in obstruction would have sufficed to carry the mea sure through the House of Commons if its mem bers had entertained ordinary scruples as to the sacredness of engagements, Law Reform has been scarcely more prosperous than political The Law and Equity Bill in it. present shape extends somewhat the equitable ju risdiction of the common law courts, and by an other Bill the Tobermory scandal is abated. But the Bankruptcy Bill, the most needed and con fidently promised of the whole aeries of law reforms, is at the head of the long list of mis carriages. The aristocratic objection to abolish ing the distinction between commercial and other debtors destroyed the Bill which the House was strongly disposed to pass. The Coroners Bill was thrown out in July ; and the Savings Bank and Friendly Societies Bill met with strange treat ment. It was reduced to two clauses, only one being essential; and this remnant was used by the reactionary Lords, in August, as the occasion of a last insult to the Commons, when the House was too thin to be mischievous. By an in dignant effort of the Government this step was reversed, the Bill brought to a second reading, and the ignorance of its chief opponent, Lord MONTEAGLE, exposed. The Bill itself is, however, no success. The Reform of the London Corporation is still postponed ; the Criminal Law Bills (Statutes' Consolidation) were withdrawn in a group ; Mr. ADDLILLEY'S Education Bill was thrown out on the 17th of July ; the Landed Rotates Title Bill was withdrawn. The agitation in the erd...;.- 0 .; , --1 world against the abolition of Church-rates naturally told on the divisions on Sir .7. TweLewity's annual Bill ; and the majority which threw it out in the Lords on the 19th of June was large in proportion. The true indica tion from these circumstances is that when Church-rates are abolished, as they must inevitably be, they will carry more with them than would have been otherwise asked. There was some gain meantime. The Act which provides for Public Improvements by local rating is • gain ; so is the amendment of the method of admitting Jews to a seat in the House ; so is the Act for protecting Women and Children in Bleaching and Dyeing Works ; so is the Act on the Adulteration of Food and Drink ; so are the Irish Landlord and Tenant Bill, and the Land Im provement Bill ; and that for the suppression of Party Emblems, as the Orangemen persist in rendering such legislation necessary. The Scotch Annuity Tax Bill is more questionable. The Poor law Board is continued for three years instead of the five proposed by Government. The Galway Packet Subsidy is granted amidst universal dissatis faction, and merely for the sake of good faith. The National System of Education in Ireland has been effectually vindicated and supported ; and in Eng land the annual grant has been increased, with the understanding, however, that there will be a thorough overhauling of the system when the Commissioners' Reports are in the hands of the public. The question of the respective claims of Ragged, Industrial, and ordinary Schools will then be brought to some kind of settlement. The group of India Bills has been one of the gravest features of the mission. Our readers do not need to be reminded of the unworthy devices brought to bear on the small but increasing num ber who, in the Commons, struggled to the last to obtain time for a better comprehension of Sir C. WOOD'S measure for garrisoning India with British troops, to the exclusion of a local army. There will be too much reason hereafter to remem ber Lord STANLEY'S speech of the 21st of June, and the warnings of the brave and experienced men who saved India for us ; and the discreditableness of the methods of the ifinister on the one hand and of the ignorance of Parliament on the other, by which the majority was obtained, will be recorded as an ominous introduction of so serious a change in the administration of India. The Transfer of Stock Bill is an outrage on the rights of the India Company which could not have passed if its cha recto,. had been fully understood. The session of 1860 certainly affords no comfort as to the compe tency of a parliamentary government of India. The loan of 3,000,0001. proposed on the 13th of August is supposed not to be necessarily wanted ; and the amount of the reasons why, opened the details of Indian finance more fully to the House than often happens. We may hope that one effect will be to convince Parliament that England vir tually guarantees Indian liabilities, however loud may bo the outcry against that formal engagement which would save much expense, and put affairs on an honest footing. Our foreign policy has been necessarily the most engrossing interest of the session. Many hours, and not a few nights, have been spent in dis cussion or debate on the state of Europe, and the position and duties of England as the Fatherland of freedom. The decrepitude of the small remnant of an absolutist party has been represented by Lord NORMANWf ; and the vigour of the great body of the nation has spoken by the mouth of AI FOREIGN SECRETARY, and also of AS PRIME Hummel. On the whole, we have had reason to be well satisfied with the tone of the Ministry in regard to the liberties of Italy, and the rights of Switnerland, the Porto, Germany, and Belgium. By this and the French Commercial Treaty only has the Ministry Leen kept in office through a session so disastrous to their measures and so di.- creditable to their eaten:unship. The nation has • peteerve ! its honour A urd PAIMICUSTON'S . place for thi purbbse of con open • consiigent libeal policy in affairs. . exposures made in both Parliament of the transactions in regard -.0 annexation of Savoy and Nice to France, and to the aggressions on the rights of Switzer land, and to the attempts on the sympathies of the German Princes, have strongly influenced European opinion and action. The most striking incidents have been Lord J. RUSSELL'S avowal, on the 28th of March, of our distrust of the French alliance after the bad faith shown in the Savoy transaction ; the declarations of the Government in support of the SULTAN'S rights in Syria ; and above all , perhaps, Lord Pauntagrox's speech in proposing the fortifications. Whatever passing doubts have been expressed as to the completeness of our policy of non-intervention, in the difficult caae of Naples, in its relation to Piedmont, on the whole we have reason to be thankful that the national sentiment and sympathy on behalf of the liberty and indepen dence of nations have been expressed by Govern ment with so much vigour and consistency. This is perhaps the moat satisfactory aspect of the ses sion. It will live when the disasters of the time are repaired, if not forgotten. The great calamity of our political year has no doubt been the unconstitutional action of one of the three estates of the realm, and the mode in which the offence haa been treated. For some time part we have not been without warning of the tendency of the Peers to enlarge their pro ' vine in the Government, and encroach on either band. In forbidding the creation of life-peerages three years since, they trenched on the preroga tive of the Crown ; and this year they have struck a blow at the rights of the Commons which must be repented of and repaired hereafter at great risk to all parties. Lord Mozerzzotz, with the zeal of a parvenu peer, has twice this session led an aggres sion on the Commons ; and Lord DERBY has so far forgotten the true interests of his order as to pro pose a third. After the QUEEN'S Speech had an nounced the scheme for the financial service of the year, and the Commons had, in their proper func tion, provided for that service, and sent their Ines• sure up to the Lords to complete its formation into law, the Lords threw out the proposed repeal of the Paper Duty, on the plea that the money would be wanted. Then followed the Committee of the Commons appointed to search for preoe dente ; their Report, barren in precedents, though relating some facts which might be mistaken for such, and which were cited as relevant ; and the strong speeches of Mr. Gireerwrz, who was na turally awake to the importance of the occasion ; and the fruitless indignation of many members who found themselves baffled in every attempt to act; and the ignorant insensibility of other members, who were not in Parliament for the sake of liberty, or the honour of their body ; and then the Reso- lutions—the pitiful Resolutions which the his torian will blush to record—and the speech of the Parma MINISTER in support of them. We have be fore spoken of that manifesto of the Commons (as it is naturally taken to be) as a national calamity ; and in reviewing the session our sense of its unseat , thine.. is in no degree lessened. We can only de clare that it is not a manifesto of the Commons, nor even of the unworthy majority of the present incongruous House. It is simply a device of a poco curante Minister to avoid an inconvenient conflict on the Privilege question by means of the levity and helplessness of a disorganised House of Commons. lie put forth all his in genuity and all his superficial powers to carry his Ministry over the crisis ; and he probably believes lie succeeded. His Resolutions were paired, in consequence of the withdrawal of a series of amendments with a precipitation which nobody could understand. The most liberal sec tion of the Common.swon no credit on that occasion. They let the proper opportunity pass ; and when Lord FERUOT, on the 17th of July, and Mr. BRIGHT, on the 10th of August, would have brought forward the subject in a hopeless and therefore humiliating way, they were told that the affair was settled by the passing of the Resolutions. Lord DERRY took advantage of the accumulation of work in the Commons at the close of the session to propose a portentous change in our parliamentary procedure, by which it should be allowable for the Lords to take up unfinished Bills at the stage in which they were left at the close of the preceding session—a method by which D.° Peers might choose their own time for the business, evading the observation of the other House and the public, and gaining many an advantage by that unconstitutional license. In this, and Lord Mozerszota's sharp practice on the Savings Banks Bill, the people of England have a plain warning to look after their House and its privileges ; and the Lords to restrain their reac tionary members from imperilling their position in our political structure by an insolence and ra pacity of power unsuited to the age in which we live. The °fort to get rid of Mr. Granerome was renewed when the Customs Duties on Paper stood for consideration, and it failed ; the insulted Cake ein.roa of the EXCHEQUER held firmly to his pur pose, and on the 6th of August the House took off the last penny of protective duty that remained in oar system. One incident of the session which comes under no classification with others, deserves notice and' remembrance for a significance of its own. The Government were induced, nothing loth, to pro vide, in their Census Bill, for every person's " roll " gious profession" being ascertained by direct per sonal inquiry. Lord Snarrnieuar was not taken into council here, certainly. He seized an early opportunity of publicly declaring his sense of such an infringement of religious liberty. The Ministers were taken by surprise with an agitation, political and religious, which it was impossible to make light of. They could understand the discontent caused among their supporters by Lord PALMER irrox's alliance for the occasion with the members of a deputation led by Mr. Thalia.= ; but, to the last moment, it was a complete puzzle to them what the friends of religious liberty could mean by their resistance to the inquisitorial provision. They had to yield, of course, as the spirit of re ligious liberty is always awake among us. They sur rendered the point, in a way as ungracious as pos sible ; but there are results more important than the immediate question. It is now proved, to the conviction of all enlightened men, that our rulers are not adequate to questions of the higher kind of freedom. They do not understand its prin ciples, nor appreciate the history of religious liberty in England ; and the nation must, there fore, take entire charge of its own in terests in this direction, and remember, in regard to Church-rates and other ecclesiaa tical questions, that it can trust nothing to any government, whether called liberal or other, but assert and guard its rights of conscience as its forefathers did. Thu levity of one Minister and the petulance of another will be remembered as a warning to keep ecclesiastical legislation within its bounds. After the great rally for the debate on the paper duty on the 6th of August, the Houses thinned front day to day. Mr. GrAnsvone's additional million for the bad season was voted by a handful of mem e The fact drew attention to the crying: of our legislation, that the attend ance of the Lords is habitually so small that their function is practically committed to some half dozen peers—new law lords for the most part, who thus hold an unconstitutional power over the acts and decisions of the Commons. Enough has been said about this to secure its being at tended to hereafter ; and thus some good may rise out of the long protraction of the session. Of that protraction, and of the complaint it has occasioned, everybody is weary. We are not going over that ground now. The great thing to be remembered, when a practical reform is sought as far as the House of Commons is concerned, is that there is something to be considered even before the effective transaction of business—and that is liberty of debate. Threats against the minority are not of good promise in the discussion of the evil ; and the more an obstructive minority is threatened, the more it will talk. Ministers must be more masters of their work and their means ; parties must be organised for action, which will save them the necessity of much talk which is now unavoidable ; there must ere long be some distribution of business which will save the whole body from being occupied with every detail of all affairs. Something will be done in these ways, probably. But the shortest and straightest way to effective legislation is through an extension of the franchise which shall create a House of Commons occupied with something better than mutual jealousies or hypocrisies, and reactionary fears and projects. The present House is too full of itself and its petty projects to be a good agent of the nation. After all, while the upper surface of this year's legislation is strewn with wrecks, we have brought away some good loads of produce out of the troubled waters. The Commercial Treaty is enough, of itself, to redeem the session from the charge of barrenness ; and a great deal of neces sary and useful business is always achieved, as a matter of course. The support given to the non intervention policy is of the highest importance. As for the rest, those members of either House who have gone home talking of reaction in the nation at large can hardly be sincere, unless they are purblind. The progressive party in the 1 country are badly off for leaders, and therefore for organization. They are also occupied to a certain extent with the interest of continental affairs, and with the new work of preparation for defence. But these circumstances do not affect the permanent convictions and claims of the worthy citizens of a free country. They intend, as decidedly as ever, to enlarge their liberties by improving their repro sentation in Parliament. While nothing can avert the fulfilment of this ancient and steady, and truly national purpose, the process may easily be hastened and rendered harsh by influences natural or political. A bad harvest affect ing trade, manufactures, and the currency, may greatly stren h then political claims ; and nothing is so likely to precipitate political change as a mistaken notion in the region of Government that the people have ceased to desire reform. Both kinds of influence seem likely to operate throughout the coming months ; and those who desire and those who dread demands for political im provement will be wise to prepare for such de mands. A people like ours, practically the freest in the world, and aware of their privilege and their dignity, are not likely either to go back or stand still. A temporary baffling of their progress may be useful in the way of admonition. It may mislead weak heads, but cannot alarm sound hearts. The way of progress is never really closed, and the perfecting of freedom is an aim never surrendered in a free country. This truth is practically the programme of future sessions of the British Parliament. EXPRESS FROM PARIS. (nom OCR owit connroann) PARIS. MON7)A2 Ennn. The telegraph records new triumphs of Garibaldi, and although the latest news comes from Piedmont, it may be accepted as reliable, since the " official " despatches from Naples give it clearly to be under stood that Reggio was untenable, and that the royal troops had been defeated. The only question raised to-night in the Pays and Patric is as to the precise nature of the defeat suffered—whether two Neapolitan brigades went over to General Cosenz or ran away into the mountains. Nothing is more remarkable than the resignation with which the French government journals now record Garibaldi's progress. The Pays, which not long ago took its stand upon the peace of Villafranca as a settlement admitting of no controversy, now expresses no con fidence whatever in the cause of the King of Naples. It admits to-night that the population in the Cala brias sympathise with Garibaldi, and thereby it goes farther than its fellow the Patrie, which affects to know that the "attitude of the people is not yet decided." It is announced by the government journals that the Bey of Tani; eager to testify his admiration for Napoleon M., means to go to see him at Algiers. They state at the same time that the Bey, like Abd-el-fader, owes to his relations with France the faculty of appreciating the benefits of civiliaa tion. The Sultan has sent the Grand Cross of Medjidi‘ to Abd-el-Hader. The Bourse, after opening with a slight degree of firmness, became very dull. The amount of business done was so small au to offer no field for speculation. The Bente fell 16c. for cash, and 10e. for account, closing at 68fr. 10c. and 68fr. 15c. Mobilier fell Sc, The closing list of railway shares does not show a single variation from Saturday. M. Proudhon has just published in Belgium a scheme for the pacification of Europe, in which it is said he advocates an adhesion to the treaties of 1815, with the single exception of the independence of Italy. The new law against bearing unwarranted titles was lately enforced in a very striking manner at the Angers assizes. On the jury being called over, one of the names read was that of Count de-Caix-de- Saint-Aymour. The advocate•general immediately rose and moved the court that the word "Count" should be struck out of the record. M. de Csix, be said, had been lately authorised by government to add to his patronymic the name of Saint- Aymour on account of his descent from a family of that name, but he was at the same time warned that he must give up the title of Count,to which he bad no manner of right. The stern decree asked for was at once granted, and this gentleman, who really ap pears to be entitled to cumulate two aristocratic particles (de), must renounce the title by which he has hitherto been known in his neighbourhood. What is more galling still, his wife can no longer call herself a countess. The .21f , mileur eamonnees the death of M. Leeou turier who for some years past hail regularly contributed to that journal a very cies: and interesting description of the chief astronomical phenomena of the mouth. LATEST INTELLIGEN C E. SICILY AND NAPLES. NAPLES, AUGUST 25 (VIA MAEsziut. The insurrection at Potenza has not been °ppm.", and the dictatorship of Garibaldi has betu claimed there. Several Neapolitan journals have publishoi appeal to the population to rise in insurreethni. The Minister of War and General Bosco have left Naples for the theatre of war with six battalions as reinforcements, having lesnesi, through.the telegraph, that the defence of Reggi., lukewarmly conducted by the generals in cominawl. Fifty Sardinian Bersaglieri having disembark.3l at Naples from Sardinian war-steamers, a desperate combat ensued between them and the royal gnarl, The Bersaglieri finally re-embarked. ROME, AUGUST 25 (vi& Mnrseille+). The Papsl government has sent reinforcemoiti to the garrison of Benevento. These reinfor ce . monte crossed the Neapolitan territory without arms, according to existing treaties. They were insulted, driven out of Benevelit.), and were finally obliged to return. The Governor of Benevento has taken increa.ol military measures of precaution at the fortress.. General Lamoricihre has sent a military c,lnrn to watch the Tuscan frontier. OFFICIAL DESPATCH. - MESSINA, AVGI'ST " The two Neapolitan brigades, Melendez and Briganti, have surrendered at discretion. " We are masters of their arms, artillery, Imr , t4, and mattriet of war, and of the Fort of Pizzo." The above confirms the telegram from i Palernia, published this morning. The Opinion Nationale, which is in direct com munication with many of Garibaldi's officers, cou• tains the following intelligence : Although it is unfortunately not true, as reported, that Garibaldi ia already in person before Naples, the reliable news which we really have is sufficiently brilliant to console the friends of Italy for a abort adjourumfint of their hopes. A letter from Naples of August 22, which now lies before us, states that &silicate, Capitanata, Cilento, Campobasso, and Avellino, Oboes some of them not twenty le.igues from Naples, are in open insurrection. Corm:, when ho landed, lost no time, for the two Neapolitan brigades corn. mended by Generals Meleadez and Briganti have surrens dared to him at discretion, and the Garibaldians ►re now in possession of all their munitions of war and the fort of Pizzo. Six Neapolitan companies of the Reggio garrison went over to the insurrection, besides four others of the 6th Regiment, which, according to a eon. respondence in the Debate, were sent to Potence, and when they got to Auletta they cried " Vive Garibabli !" and re. fused to march any farther. The Minister at War of Naples then ordered some of the royal guard to Potent., and made arrangements to occupy Salerno with foreign troops. But the revolution was considered imminent in the latter town, as well as in Apulia, Bari, and many ether places. Medici and Bich" played the principal part in the taking of Reggio, which fell into their hands after .evert bores' fighting. General Vial, who commanded the place, and who, unfortunately for himself, has en old habit of beating a retreat—for he and Sauget were forced to evacuate Palermo in 1848—retired upon Palmi, and sent in his resignation to government, on account, as he said, of the treason of the navy. It is quite certain that whenever the king's navy is called upon to act the officers are all suddenly taken sick. The Prase publishes the following extract of a letter from M. Maximedu Camp, the poet, theanthor of " Chants Moderns," and of " Travels on the Nile," who is at this moment an officer on General Tnrr's staff. The date of the letter is Messina, August 20 : Briar, arrived in Calabria the day before yesterday with 4,500 men. Garibaldi, corning alone like Omar, joined him yesterday. Coleus most have left yesterday. Eber is going, and I myself shall doubtless be on the other side of the straits next week. General Turr commands the division of which Bisio and Eber are brigadiers. He will be the last start, and will take with him a thin! brigade - he will then assume the command of the army of the Cal ve brim, which is to march upon Naples. THE PAPAL STATES. i ROE Aucuar 24. A detachment of gendarmes which had been sent to Benevento was repulsed by the population. A political manifestation took place at Civita Vecchia, on the occasion of the obidquies of Alibrandi, chief of the revolutionary coremittee. Several arrests were made. Monseigneur Merode has refused to pe;mit the departure of the volanteors under Cathelineau, and the latter has left Rome. ROME, AOMIST 26. The Pope is said to have expressed to the Duke of Grammont his readiness to agree to the proposal of an Italian Confederation. AGITATION IN HUNGARY. VIENNA, IioNDAT Dir.Nruc. General Benedek has arrived here. The object of his journey is to request the Emperor; to re lieve him of his functions in Hungary, where his position has beoome unbearable on account of the continually increasing agitation in the country. General Benedek is said to consider the wishes of his countrymen as legitimate, and to refuse to carry out any coercive measures against the national tendencies of the Hungarians. VIENNA, AUGIlit 27. Although the ministers declared, in the last sit ting of the committee of 21 members of the Council of the Empire, that the government lime no objec tion to the Hungarian programme being discussed and submitted to the vote of the committee, it is nevertheless certain that the German party.is pre paring a counter programme to be also submitted for diecuaaion by the Council of the Empire assent bled in full sitting. M. von Tescbeu will present the report in the name of the minority of the committee,; while Count Clam Martinez ID the reporter of the majority. It is expected that the full sittings of the Council of the Empire will not be resumed before the Ist of September. As the struggle between the majority and the minority of the committee will decide the future destinies of the empire, the reporters have deManded a full week for drawing up reports of such great importance. EXPRESS, TUESDA fIZEN I NG, AUG US! k 4 any ailoot f in Bp .iii ph.ogpao• and otobvi rassaWf froo:tyao l o i toabd rifi joit, oid li m z u cie ch plas 3 o : o h v o tl me foo l v :ee p rv orimise ct ! its Lord Pow, lof 40tructin :qe to quality and , tine* an open and consiqftt liberal 1 7 b eirpatity the peop of of ~ i p. . and'ral produce Nuropean affairs. The exposures made rsed measure too large to lie put down by cla- Houses of Parliament of the transactions i the mou e , and too grave to be treated with to the annexation of Savoy and Nice to the impertinence. The House has had an op- and to the aggressions on the rights of A FRANCE. PARIS, TOISDAT. The lifonaeur contains the following telegram, dated Chambery, 27th instant, evening : " Their Majesties have arrived, and have been received with enthusiasm. The Mayor in the speech lie addressed to the Emperor recalled the ardour and the national feeling which carried the inhabitants of Savoy towards Frame. This evening a grand dinner took place. The town has been splendidly illuminated." PAR" Ammer 27. Count Mullinen, First Secretary of the Austrian Embassy, will act as chargoi-d'affaires during the absence of Prince Metternich, who is about to pro. ctxxl to his estate in Bohemia on six weeks' luave of absence. BELettim. The Incle‘petvlanro Beige flays : " Some German joarnals take advantage of our king's sojourn at Wiesbaden to give themselves up to all aorta of comments as to alleged interviewa between his Majesty and the German sovereigns, These journal@ wish to appear better informed than they really are. We, for our part, believe that our King's That to Wiedsulen, which hia Ma jesty is accustomed to pay every year, has no more tilts yo.tx than the preoediog years and at no respect whatev e r, the object assigned to it by the organ. of the German press, which makes itself the echo of such repent."