The Express.
London, England, 1862-05-13 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY Evki4oo, MAY 13, 1862.

because the Mississippi was in the hands of the
enemy, and because that river is absolutely essential
to the security and the very existence of the North.
It might perhaps have taken some time for Com-
modore FOOTS to make his way down the river ;
but now that the gunboats are able to ascend, I
not only the Mississippi itself, but all its
tributaries, both Louisiana and Mississippi State
must fall into the hands of the Federalists.
Troops and supplies of every description may now
be sent up in any quantities, and may be landed at
any point on the river bank. Even if HAm.scx
should fail in his attack on BR, URZOARD in his
entrenched camp at Corinth, the Federalists will be
able to renew the attack from the South and
West ; whereas if HALLSCK should succeed in his
attack, the absolute destruction of Bsstuuto&an's
army seems almost inevitable.
General LovELL acted with perfect prudence in
refusing to be cut off by the troops under BUTLZP,
and compelled to surrender with New Orleans.
He has no doubt gone to join General BEAUREGARD
at Corinth. But the position of that officer has
become perilous in the extreme. He has, in fact,
no base of operations left—no magazine from
which he can draw either men or supplies. To-
ward the west of the Mississippi must soon
be in the hands of his enemy, nor can he
hope any longer to draw his supplies as hitherto
from the great depOt of New Orleans. To the
north there is no hope for him. From the south he
can only expect the aid of Lovett ; while to the east
lies the great army of HALuscic, which is even now
close upon him. Moreover, General Mrrcumx is
I now in possession of 200 miles of the Memphis and
Charleston Railway, so that his own possible re-
treat will be by a south-easterly march, which must
necessarily expose his flank to the attack of the pur-
suing enemy, and must be the final abandonment
of the whole line of the Mississippi. Indeed,
unless General BEAURBOARD possesses an enor-
mous supply of men and supplies within the en-
trenched camp at Corinth, it is difficult to under-
stand how he can sustain the onslaught which
will certainly be made upon him by General HAL-
Lac& after he has concentrated all the troops
which are within his reach. So far, therefore, as
the campaign in the West is concerned, the ap-
proaching battle of Corinth must settle the
business.

In the East the doom of the Confederates de-
pends upon the army of the Potomac. Richmond
is the goal. From the north the corps of Bums
and M •Dowiti.Lare slowly advancing. Balms has
entered Hairisonburg ; Iff'DowsLi. is still at Fre-
dericksburg. Though the distance from Richmond
is only 60 miles, these officers evidently dread the
conscquences of allowing the Confederates to at-
tack them separately with overwhelming forces.
On the south-east 311`Ci.r.u.ks is still before York-
town. The object which the three generals have is
the same, but the manner in which they will effect
their purpose is still matter of conjecture. The
probability is that III'CLELLAN is still waiting for
the snivel of some powerful iron-clad boats to
assist him on his flanks in the York and in the
James Rivera.

Arras. three nights for sleep and three morn-
ings for cool reflection, the journalists of the Con-
servative Opposition persist in writing as if Mr.
Disarms had unfolded on Thursday a great
scheme of policy which the public is now called
upon to accept or reject. We are told that "he
" has propounded a policy which will save the
" country," one which " will give us security at
" home, peace abroad, reduced taxation, and dhni-
it

Wished diet/els." Would that it were true that a
party so strong in Parliament as that which Mr.
DISRAELI leads had adopted and announced such
a programme ! But the right hon. and ingenious
gentleman has done nothing of the kind, as our
contemporaries may easily ascertain by the simple
process of once more reading his speech. We
venture to say that nobody reading that speech
with an unprejudiced mind would receive from it
the impression that the Opposition leader had the
least intention to commithiniself to the definite sta:e-
ment of a practical court() of policy. We are far from
saying that he may not some day "declare a true
" policy of retrenchment and economy," or that in
doing so he would not be entitled to the support
of disinterested politicians of all classes ; but we
do say that he has not hitherto done so, and cer-
tainly that he failed to do so on Thursday night.
This is so well understood out of doors, that the
mind of the country, supposed by some writers to
be intent on weighing Mr. Dusaszu's imaginary
prospects, is otherwise occupied, unconscious of
any party question to be decided.
So far from advancing the era of retrenchment
and economy, Mr. DISRAELI has taken the surest
way to discredit those aims by gratuitously ema-
ciating them with an ignoble policy which the in-
stincts of the nation peremptorily reject. As steady
opponents of the system of excessive warlike ex-
penditure which has grown up under Lord PAL-
iczasrocr, we heartily regret his speech. For
purposes which we do not pretend to un-
derstand, he has given the pal Lisa= of
extravagant expenditure an advantage they would
not have dared to claim. Nobody on the Govern-
ment side of the House had pretended to assert
that our enormous armaments were kept up in
order that Naples might share the greatness and
freedom of Italy, and that the Romans might be
delivered from the Cardinals and the Sbirri.
We all had quite other ways of accounting
for the reign of profuseness. If Lord Pauntasforr
really takes that personal interest which is im-
puted to him in the furtherance of "bloated
" armaments," he must feel much indebted to any
one who will undertake to persuade Parliament
that, as " expenditure depends on policy," we are
paying as much as 28,000,0001. a year for the
army and navy because we pursue a policy which
is at once generous and English. We protest
against all such excuses for extravagance : whether
made from the Treasury beeches in the form of
apology, or implied in a clumsy Opposition attack,
they are shallow and unreal.
We have encouraged no struggling peoples to
look to us for material aid. Neither Romans nor
Neapolitans look to us for the exercise of other
than moral force, of which indeed they know well
the value. For power of this kind Mr. Diseazu
shows a contempt which ill becomes a statesman
of these days, when he asserts that it is synony-
mous with garrisons doubled and trebled, and
squadrons turned into fleets. The moral autho-
rity which we possess in Europe we enjoy, not as
being always ready to back our opinion by armed
intervention, but as a nation too strong to be
silenced, too happy to be envious of our neigh-
bours, and in the most favourable position, there-
fore, to form a disinterested opinion. We might this
very summer fall back upon that peace establish-
ment which Mr. Durum for a moment only held
up to view, a well-organized Militia, our Volun-
teers, and a Channel fleet, without impairing our
influence in the questions which now press for •
solution. We want a party to announce that pro-
gramme, but in default of one we shall gain
nothing by lending our ear to vague declamation,
purposely delayed until ships and men, soldiers
and marines are voted.

We take leave, however, to warn Lard Pimmire
wow not to be misled by his resent may triumph.
Everybody is praising the Pumala's reply to Mr.
Disarm' • everybody says it is admirable,
astounding, conclusive, and so on, and of course
everybody is right. But when the ready wit and
genial humour have been heartily enjoyed, then
cornea a dark shadow of taxation across the mind.
Memory, experience, prospect—all are full of it.
The burden cannot be much longer borne ; it
threatens to become a source of public danger.
The Pitmans would do well to look to it in time.
No Minister was ever in a more favourable situa-
tion for diminishing our warlike expenditure. But
no Minister, we venture to say, will prove strong
enough to maintain it at anything like its present
rate.

LATEST INTELLIGEXOE.

ITALY.

Mgr. Lanai, capitular vicar of Bologna, and the
curds of Ban Procolo and San Celeatino, have just
appeared before the court of assizes at Bologna,
accused of complicity in the armed reaction in the
Southern Italian provinces. Mgr. Canzi was con-
demned to three years' imprisonment and 2,500 fr.
fine, and the curd of San Procolo to one year's
imprisonment and I,ooofr. fine. The curd of San
Celeatino was acquitted.
A government despatch just received from Spezzia
announces the arrest of the perpetrators of the
audacious robbery committed on the Ist instant, at
the bank of Messrs. Parodi. The prisoners are
five in number, and had embarked on board a
sailing ship in the Gulf. Upon them were found
various effects valued at more than 300,000 fr. The
men were furnished with arms of different kinds.

(ftstrzat's manate.)
ELECTORAL HESSE.
FRANKFORT, MAY 13.

Reports are in circulation of the intended
mobilisation of the 4th and 7th Prussian corps
d'armde.

It is strongly believed that Austria and Prussia
will occupy Electoral Hesse, in case the mis-
sion of General von Willisen should remain without
result.

It is probable that an extraordinary sitting of
the Federal Diet will take place.

RUSSIAN POLAND.
THORN, MAY 13.
It is said that Governor-General Krsystowski
has tendered his resignation.
Some directors of public schools who had offered
resistance to the government have been dismissed.
Several officers of the garrison of Warsaw have
been arrested on account of prohibited prints hav-
ing been found in their possession.

COCHIN CHINA.

PAWS, MAT 13.

The Moniteur of this morning publishes Admiral
Bonazd's report, dated Saigon, March 28, confirm-
ing the taking of Vinhlong, after an energetic resis-
tance on the part of ita defenders.
Sixty-eight cannons and an immense quantity of
rice were captured.
The French losses are very small, and the gun-
boats sustained no serious damage.

•

although it would not in any case be prosecuted as
"false news," and may possibly
,not, be true, is
good, at least, as a satire upon the system of
match-making in France. A rich young merchant
having met a young lady at an evening party,
who pleased him, asked her hand from her
father, without saying a word to her. The
papa, having satisfied himself that the proposed
son-in•law was eligible, gave his consent, and in-
formed his daughter that he had found a husband
for her, that she must order the wedding dress im-
mediately, and that she would be married in a
week. " Very well, papa ; but who am I to he
married to i" "Oh ! a friend of mine ;he is gone
into the country on business ; but you will see
him on Sunday." " And the wedding is to be on
Monday, papa " It's all right ; don't make
yourself uneasy." On Monday last, May 5, the
wedding party appeared before the mayor of one
of the arrondissements of Paris, to celebrate the

civil marriage, which is alone the essential legal
contract in France. On the mayor putting to the
bride the usual question—" Do you consent to take
this man to be your wedded husband ?' the girl
answered, " Why, to tell you the truth, M. Mayor,
you are the first person who ever asked me that
question." " Well, but what do you say r " Well, if
I had been asked before, I should doubtless have
said ' perhaps ; but, under present circumstances,
my answer is, ' no."' The mayor at once left his
chair, and the matter stands over for further con-
sideration.

General Turr has arrived in Paris from London,
and is about to leave immediately for Italy.