The Express.
London, England, 1852-04-07 00:00:00

THE "COUNT-OUT."

Tho following is a list of the members who were
at their posts last night when the house was counted out :
Barron, Sir H. W. Mullinp, J. It.
Barrow, W. 11. Pinney, W. •
Bell, J. Seoble, G. T.
Bernal, R. Spooner, n.
Brotherton, J. Strickland, Sir 0.
Deedes, W. Tennent, ft. F.
Dunne, Col. Thesiger, Sir F.
Hamilton Thompson, Col.
Henley, J. W. Villiers, C.
}Lindley, C. Walmsley, Sir J.
Hobbouso, T. B. Walpole, J. H.
Hume, J. Williams, W.
'oldie, Sir W. Willoughby, Sir H.
Milligan, it. Wilson, IN.

THE BALLOT.

The following figures chow the progress of the
ballot question in the 'louse of Commons during the pre-
sent parliament : _ _

voted In favour

1849—ditto who did not lot. in 1848

1860-• ditto who did not vote in 1848 or 1849 33
1861—ditto who did not vote in 1848, 1849, or 1350 12
1862—ditto who did not vote in 1818, 1849, 1860, or
__

1851

Total number of members who, during the present par -
liament, have voted in favour of the ballot

110 ME COUNTIES AND METROPOLITAN FREEHOLD
LAND Soclavv.—Last evening a meeting of the members
and promoters of this society took place at Andertun's
lintel, Fleet-street; Mr. 11. B. Thornton in the chair.
Resolutions were passed in furtherance of the movement,
and an address wu delivered by Mr. Beal, pointing out the
objects and principles of this and similar societies. Ile ob-
served that these institutions were not based upon any
scheme for the personal aggrandisement of a few individu-
als; but their object was to confer an important benefit
1 upon the working classes, which they could not derive
from any other source. When Mr. James Taylor, of Bir-
mingham, started this movement, a meeting was held at
which only three persons were present ; but the result was
so far successful, that the proceedings were reported in the
newspapers, and another meeting Was held shortly after-
ersrels, when 3.5 persons attended. From that time thou
societies had coutinued to increase, and they were now to
be found in every town throughout England- and Scotland,
I
and
in many parts of Ireland. The number of societies in
England alone was 170, and the number of members en-
rolled was 200,000, whilst the amount of subscriptions in•
vested was 3110,0001. per annum. There could be no doubt
that these inttitutions olLireil a better menus of investment
than was afforded by savings banks or the " benefit syn.
tem " and the public were becoming gradually alive to
theft importance and usefulness.

*he eratreM

TO CORRESPONDINTB.
Moral Wks of "The Kama," esetsfalatt the ewe evieloere
w noasteep pabilahra every Toesimp sad /Way plekt. la Wee
• tverlowestateeded fur "The Egotist.. Leedom Itembe paper,
one be at the Moe, 10. Botworteotriet, by Two Wok& r • the
lay of palliate/a.

RION WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tote DAT —Milldam 71. !Os .Afterimay H. 11E6
Umennsow—liorasag. 3313 Afteruse. 4► On.

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7.

Tint parliamentary campaign before Easter has
terminated with the signal humiliation of minis-
ters on the only two recent subjects that ad-
mitted of controversy. The truly original idea of
Mr. Secretary WALPOLE that wo ought to have
marching constituencies that might be moved about
according as tho government of the day deemed fit,
was suddenly abandoned by its author on Monday
night, with some faint expressions of apology, and
amidst the scornful cheers of the opposition. But
Monday night was still more unlucky for the new
administration. Tho Home SECRETARY had given
formal notice of his intention to move certain amend-
ments in the Bribery at Elections Bill, the
effect—shall wo say the intention—of which
admitted of little doubt. By the bill as it
stood, unfettered discretion was left to the com-
mission appointed to sift allegations of corruption in
any particular place, to hear whatever evidence and
to investigate whatever allegations they thought ne-
cessary, without any limitation as to circumstance or
time. It is obvious that where habits of corruption
have become inveterate, it must often be essential to
their full exposure and complete eradication, that
they should be probed to the bottom; and it is noto-
rious that in nearly all the cases hitherto investi-
gated, the root of the evil has been found to lie
more or less remote and obscure. The managers
of the tory party naturally feared tho conse-
quences that might ensue, if the precedent set in
the instance of St. Albans were to be generally
followed; and as the bill for preventing corrupt
practices at elections, as originally repared and
brought in by Lord JOHN RUSSELL, was a literal
application of the measure which had proved effec-
tual in that conspicuous MO, poor Mr. WALPOLE
was bullied into propounding a string of amendments
which, if adopted, would have limited the inquiry to
bribery perpetrated "at the latest preceding elec-
tion." The result of this change would manifestly
have been that, wherever by accident or fraud a
contest next time did not take, or wherever the
specific proof of malpractices in 1852 might not bo
forthcoming—though Harwich or Sudbury were the
scene of scandal—all scrutiny would be baffled,
and infamy would remain unpunished—nay, unques-
tioned.

Such was the drift and tenor of the alterations
which on Monday last the SECRETARY for the
HOME DEPARTMENT proposed to make in the bill.
Tho house, wearied with a long and languid discus-
sion on colonial affairs in general, and the Kaffir war
in particular, was in no humour to listen to length-
ened quibbling as to the possible and conceivable
consequences that might flow from the clauses as
they were first limed, and as it was proposed to
modify them. A sentiment of shame pervaded "the
moribund assembly," as the euphuistic Lord JOHN
MANNERS termed it on another occasion. Some-
thing, it was felt, ought in decency to be done,
before the dissolution, to curb the riot of venality
and corruption at the ensuing election; and it
was felt that too many sham attempts had
heretofore been made, to render it safe or prudent
to enact another legislative mockery of the like de-
scription. So strongly was this feeling displayed,
and such was the impatience shown at the mere
enunciation of the ministerial amendments, that the
ATTORNEY-GENERAL almost at the outset was put
forward to suggest another and somewhat less bare-
faced limitation of the right to judicial inquiry :
thus endeavouring to break the force of the oppo-
sition grounded on broad principle, and trying to
save the government from defeat by. offering to throw
Mr. WALPOLE overboard. Twice in the same
evening would be considered as rather too much,
among any other set of men than the un-
scrupulous cabal who now occupy the scats
without pretending to discharge the highest
duties of ministerial guides in legislation. But the
Ishassatteehief who, w whout friends or connexions, has
eased himself at the head of the tories in opposition,
is not likely to be very delicate with his followers
now that they unexpectedly find themselves within
tho walls. They aro one and all of them too con-
sciousthat—to use the apt phrase of Mr. ROEBUCK—
.. it was ho who made them what they. are." To
their continued existence as a party ho the one
great indispensable ; whilst to him as a chief the best
of them is utterly un-essential. We were much in-
clined to look upon the grave and circumspect HOME
SECRETARY as about the best of Mr. DISRAELI'S lieute-
nants; but we begin, in common with all the world, to
fitncy that we mistake a solemn look for practical
good sense, and an elaborate diction for fine discri-
mination and learned wisdom. Any man may fall
into mistakes, however, in the heat and haste of new
positions ;—of that wo take small account. Our
misgivings. as regards Mr. WALPOLE are of a more
serious kind. We should be sorry for his own
sake, for the sake of his historic name, and for the
sake of the great principle of constitutional govern-
ment, that he should be found willing to hold the
dice of principal Secretary of State on other
or lower terms than his predecessors have
done. Had a man like Mr. BERESFORD made
the rash and indefensible proposition for giv-
ing votes to the militia, nobody would have
marvelled at his being ordered; summarily to walk
down to the house next day in a white sheet, and do
official penance for his folly. But to see the QUEEN'S
First Secretary of State made penitent-general for
the sins of the Cabinet, and willing to take upon
himself the humiliating punishments which they
ought to have shared, is quite another matter. The
idle talc about the proposal having originated in a
joke of the PREMIER'S Is believed by nobody of
11011110011 sense or ordinary means of information. 'lint
it is believed very generally and confidently that the
project had been agreed to by the Cabinet, and that,
when the outcry rendered it expedient that it should
be withdrawn, the lot fell upon Jonah, and he Ina
found ready to become the sacrifice.
Even this, for once, we could understand—explain-
ing all at the expense of the HOME SECRETARY'S
judgment. But what aro we to think, when a few
'hours alter we find a subordinate officer of the go-
vernment coolly getting up and snubbing Mr. WAL-
POLE to his face, for having put upon the notice
paper an amendment of the Bribery Bill, which it
had become difficult to defend, and dangerous to
divide upon? It is creditable to Mr. WALPOLE,
that he refused to submit to be dragooned by Sir
FEEDERICK THESIGER. To have publicly aban-
doned his own proposition, and adopted the wholly
different one of the ATTORNEY-GENERAL, would have

rendered his position altogether untenable. There
was nothing for it, therefore, but to fight it out,
with the certainty of being beaten ; and to this issue
matters quickly came. In a house not numbering a
third of the entire representation, the government
were defeated by a majority of eighteen. The re-
maining clauses of the bill then went through com-
mittee, and we presume that no reasonable doubt can
be entertained that it will receive the force cud sanc-
tion of law soon after the re-assembling of parliament.
We suppose we shall hear no more atter this of
the insolent taunt of those who hold office only on
sufferance, that the majority of the House of
Commons is not against them. It was but the other
day that in the plenitude of hardihood and vain
glory, the new CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
challenged the Opposition to try their strength
against his adherents. Well—it has been done as he
wished; and taking the section of the house that
voted upon Monday night as a fair specimen of the
two thirds who were absent, Lord DERRY'm adminis-
tration are in a minority of more than fifty in the
present parliament.

THE news from the Cape of Good (lope
indeed, of a melancholy character. Not only is
the Kaffir war--so fatal to our troops and so
costly to our treasury—still progressing, brut we have
now an additional source of pain in the loss by ship-
wreck of a large body of our gallant countrymen, on
their way to the Cape, where they hoped to
shorten the war. It is yet to be explained whether
the loss of the Birkenhead is to be attributed to those
accidents always attending passago by sea, or whether

it has arisen indirectly from some of those defi-
ciencies or neglects with which the Admiralty has
of late been chargeable. The " breaking down of
more than ono steamship, and the inefficiency for
I service of others, in followed by the total loss ,of a
vessel full of troops, and a frightful sacrifice of life.
The agonies thus caused in innumerable families in
this country will be greatly increased, and the
public sorrow be changed into a complete torrent
of indignation, if it should be discovered
that official negligence or incapacity in England
are even remotely implicated in the tragedy of the I
Birkenhead. In the House of Commons last night
Mr. ADDERLEY drew attention to the subject. lie
expressed a wish to know "whether any information
had been received by the Admiralty relating to the
Birkenhead steamer, respecting which such disastrous
news had arrived; and whether they could in-
form the house as to the number of souls on board
that steamer when she left England; also whether
they could communicate to the house the latest in-
telligence which had been received respecting the
Hydra and the Megtera." Mr. fittEroati said in
reply, that "at half-past 10 yesterday morning
ho received, not by official communication,
but by telegraph in the ordinary way, in-
formation of this distressing event. lie
immediately telegraphed to Sir JOHN OMMANNEY at
Plymouth, desiring him to communicate the eircum-
stanoes of the vessel. No answer having been ru.
ceived from Sir JOHN up to half-pust two, a letter
was despatched asking him to state the reason of this
delay, and till an answer came it would be prema-
ture in him (Mr. STAFFORD) to give any account. lie
waited at the Admiralty until the last moment (half-
past four o'clock), and no official communication had
then been received. The number of souls on board
fho Birkenhead was, he believed, upwards of six
hundred. With regard to the other two vessels to
which Mr. ADDERLEY alluded, he would observe that
the Hydra sailed from l)evunport on the 10th of '
February, was heard of at Madeira on the 12th, and
at Sierra Leone on the 2nd of March; and that the
Megtcm sailed from Madeira on the 29th of Janu-
ary, having been in some degree delayed there, and
was seen at sea and communicated with by the Bos-
phorus in latitude 28 deg. 13 min. North, and longi-
tude 18 deg.lB min. \Vest This was all the informa-
tion ho possessed."
Thus far, then, the authorities have nothing to
Bay likely to allay the public anxiety. As fur as
Admiralty information goes, our worst impressions
are confirmed. The Birkenhead is lost; Sir JOHN
OMMANNEY—an officer of ill-repute in the Amazon
affair—is asked fur particulars by his official
superior, but is not ready with any reply. The
Hydra and the Megtera, both sailing on the same
track and on the same errand as the unhappy llir-
keuhead, are only known to be behind time.
Altogether the aspect of this affair is gloom itself.

as a; those to w
this hora
conductnded
may have smuts
land to cultivate upon certain conditions. Another
t favourreward foray geed
lbe extended
decree appoints a large number of officers of the
national guard of Paris; and a fourth declaru, Valetv
defines to be a customs' bonding depot for geode,
M. Duel" the Minister of Marine, has addi..sed o
circular to the maritime prefects, directing them for
the future to apply less to the central office ui Paris
for instructions, and to act more on their rmn re.
sponsibiity. In that way, the circular says, I'l6,
authority would become more positive, and thei.• use
fulness more decided, since tho persons in the I ieer
employments of their jurisdiction would cease to
regard them, as was seen at present, as mere inter-
mediate agents, but would consider them to poop,
the full confidence of the government.
The Minister of Marine has sent a notificatioe to
the different ports that the governor of Malta has
ordered that all sailing vessels of commerce, 0 ithopt
distinction, which may enter that port, either for
commercial operations or for simple uncliornAeogs
to pay a tonnage duty, and that steamers .11, to
make a fixed payment. The money thus 11'6, is to
be employed in the construction and keeping up (di
lighthouse.
It is understood that the Prussian govert,:-ent is
negotiating with a view to obtain a reduction .0 the
French tariff upon imports of German wool, lied
other raw materials.

It is stated in a government organ that .I,hnirs,l
Itomain 1/etifosse, commanding the French iteet in
the Levant, is expected at Constantinople. lli, fleet
is before Smyrna, and it is confidently said that he is
the bearer of important communications, and c.en
an energetic tutilwitum, relating to the affairs of
Jerusalem.

At the Bourse the Five per Cants. fell 25e., el,bicg
at 101.33; the 'Threes fell 35c., and closed at ;1.65.
Bank of France shares rose foe. Railways inlpi.aed,
Rouen rose 14.75; Orleans and Lyons, l' Ad;
Strasbourg, 3.75; Northern, and Tours and Nutt;
2.50 each.