The Express.
London, England, 1862-03-10 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT IMMO% ILIDON.

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To-aisasoir —Morning, /IL Ma-- Afteissas. NIL faa

LONDON, MONDAY, MARCH 10.

Aiewto the Governments of the Continent,
France, Prussia, and Italy are those to which the
world has lately been accustomed to look more
than to any other for action affecting the inter-
national relations and the public life of Europe.
And it is precisely these three which are just now
rendered conspicuous by unmistakeable symptoms
of internal weakness, and a corresponding unsteadi-
ness of aim. It seemed at first that the French Go-
vernment might easily recover the consideration
which it lost by the publication of the Emrzeos's
letter to M. Forte; but its subsequent conduct has
been marked by the opposite errors of rashness and
irresolution. The London loan, the Psueaodota-
tion, the appointment of M. ELNIIIT RINAPI, and
the representations made to the Pore, have proved
so many occasions for the world to exclaim—This
man began to build and was not able to finish.
The weakness apparent at Turin was not weakness
of character ; it grew out of the circum-
stances of the Government. We may have
any number of explanations of the re-
cent Ministerial crisis, if we care to read
them : it was a lady's resentment, it was Tuscan
pride, it was intrigue, it was sheer weariness of
the virtue of Avikrinza. But although it may veil
well have been any or all of these, none of them,
nor all together, would have prevailed against
a Minister able to satisfy the first demand of the
country. Baron RICASOLI has fallen because he
found himself unable to carry on the work ho was
appointed to perform—the completion of Italian
nationality. A successor notoriously weaker has
been called to the same tea, and, in the peculiar
circumstances of Italy, the paradox may hold
good.

The latest Ministry to succumb is that of
Prussia : Count lic•xsroarr and his colleagues
have resigned. rin Friday last the Chamber adopted,
againat the wishes of the Government, a resolu-
tion calling for a more precise specification in the
budget of the use to be made of the money
voted by Parliament. The acceptance of the
8106111 by the Ministers would have tended
to assimilate the Prussian system to that
of England, and given the Chamber • greater
hold than it now has upon the general policy
of the Government. There seems no reason
why it should not have been so accepted, none
except that instinctive reluctance to part with
power which survives in all political bodies the
reasons which once justified ita possession. It is
only a week, however, since the Prussian Ministry
intimated to a Committee of the Chamber of
Deputies which had recommended the recognition
of the Kingdom of Italy, that the Govern-
ment could not recogn;se the right of the
Chamber to exercise an influence on its European
policy ; and the discussion of M. Hausx's
motion incited the MINISTER of FINANCE to
declare that it was an encroachment on the func-
tions of the Executive Government It passed,
however, by • majority of 171 against 143 votes,
and on the follow"ig day, Saturday last, the
Ministers after requesting the President of the
Chamber to suspend its sittings for a few days,
placed their otlices at the disposal of the Kixo.
Prussia is thus undergoing not only a ministerial
but a constitutional crisis, one which under any cir-
cumstances would be grave, but which the declared
views of the Sovereign invest with peculiar
gravity. The Kixo, it is well known, was
much touched with the manifestations of
loyal attachment which greeted him at
Berlin and Konigsberg, so soon after his
deliverance from the hand of an assassin.
But as his MAJEwrr was unable to conceive that
a people might be loyal and devoted, and at the
same time desire a re-distribution of political
power conformable to liberal ideas, ho was pro-
foundly troubled by the return of a Parliament, the
immense majority of which wee bent on bringing
the course of the Government more into harmony
with tho wants of the nation. In the Kuco's
eyes the election of a Liberal Parliament was •
falsification of all the professions of loyalty he
had heard, and he did not conceal his astonish-
ment and perplexity. Such, then, is the origin
of a most interesting conjuncture, which the next
few ,lays, it may be hoped, will further enlighten.

Tile new Italian Ministry had not been fully!
constituted when a Paris journal, whose relations
to the French Government it would perhaps be
difficult to fix, undertook to announce its policy.
Thu f'sdri. said that Signor Rarazzi would frown
upon the agitation of the Boman question, resist ,
the influence of the popular societies by which it
had been carried on, and rely upon France. We
forbore to remark at the time upon the wanton
disregard of the respect due to an independent and!
friendly Government shown in this announcement, :
because it was nothing more than the short and
sharp admonition of 13aron Iticsatiu which ap-
peared a few weeks ago in the Metiitetir'
slightly transfigured. It was a duty of the!
friends of Italy to wait for the explanations which
the Minister would be sure to make, and in the
meantime to believe that, when made, they would
correspond to the occasion. But after the expla-
nation of his policy which Signor RATAZZI made
in the Chambers of Turin last Friday, we must
acknowledge that the Pafrir had rightly divined.
When the Italians, disappointed and deceived,
ref/died to popular manifestations as pacific
and orderly as they were imposing, the
/41..,.;0-or severely condemned them in a note of
three lines, declaring that "the news from Italy
" shows in • convincing manner that the Kiwi's
" Government must take measures to restore legal

" order in a country so steady excited to ebulli-
" tion." It was a remark which would have
been unmannerly even if it had been just. It
appears, however, to have supplied the inspira-
tion of Signor RATAZZIN speech. In the only
passage of that address which the world will in-
quire for, that relating to the Roman question, the
Minister, after making the rather superfluous state-
ment that he did not wish to compromise the
peace of the world, thereupon said, " We would
" secure the friendship of other nations by the
" wisdom of our conduct, and by provoking
"no one, either by deeds, speeches, or de-
" nionsfrations." Certainly there are more
ways than one of arriving at an end, and we
can only hope that Signor RATAZZI has taken
good hostages of success. But a Minister who,
with such a task before him, when called to ex-
plain the difference between his own policy and
that of his predecessor, can only condemn the
harmless signs by which the political life of his
country is manifested, ought to feel very sure
of his ends. It may be that Signor RATAZZI is a
chosen vessel, and that language which sounds only
too much like that of subserviency, is intended to
prepare the Italians for the free and unmerited
grace of an illustrious patron, in the gift of Rome.
We know what is lost when the leaders of na-
tional parliaments can speak thus : what is gained
only the event can show.

TZADE generally throughout the kingdom pre-
sents no indications of revival; but neither does
it appear that the stagnation has increased. The
number of operatives unemployed in the cotton
trade seems to be much the same as for some time
past, but it is obvious that the longer they con-
tinue out of work the more pressing must their
necessities become, as their little savings and pos-
sessions get exhausted. At the moment, the atten-
tion of the houses interested in cotton and in the
products of cotton is absorbed by two causes of
anxiety. One is the absence of response in the
Indian markets to the stimulating advices sent out
from this country on the dissipation of the
apprehension of war with America. Were
prices to rise in India, our spinners and manufac-
turers would of course be the better able to go on
working for those markets even at the present ex-
orbitant price of cotton ; but the dulness in India,
caused by the magnitude of the stocks and by
the effect of the present range of prices in check-
ing the consumption of goods amongst the natives,
re-acts with great force here. The second cause
that is tending to dislocate the cotton trade at the
moment is the Federal successes. Were it pos-
sible for the American war to come to a speedy
end, the very sandy basis upon which rest the
prices both of the raw material and the manufae.l
tared fabric would immediately become appa-
rent. The first effect of the Federal victories is,
therefore, to cause buyers of goods and yarns,
both for home use and for exportation, to pause.
At Liverpool, however, the price of cotton has
fallen, and as every rise in the price theta up
mills, a fall must perhaps be regarded as an advan-
tage. The benefit would be of a more tangible
character did it come in the shape of an increased
supply of the article. The total stock of cotton at
Liverpool is now computed at only 430,000 bales,
against 881,000 last year. Moreover, at this
date last year there was a large quantity on the
water from America, and a still larger quantity in
the American porta awaiting shipment, whereas
now that source of supply is entirely stopped. As
regards East India cotton, the quantity now at sea
is not much larger than it was at this time last
year, being about 178,000 bales, against 150,000
in 1861. Our spinners and manufacturers are
thus being gradually overtaken by a dearth of the
article.

trbe Court.

WDIDSOR CASTLE, Yams 8.

The Queen, with Princess Alire and Prince
Alfred, drove out this morning ; Colonel the Hon. A. N.
Hood attended on horseback.

The Crown Princess of Prussia (Princess Royal) and
Princess Helena also drove out.
The Countess of Caledon has succeeded Viscountess
Jocelyn u Lady in Waiting to her Majesty.

Prince Alfred rode out on horseback in the afternoon,
attended by Colonel the Hon. A. Hanhoge.

SUNDAY.

The Princess Alice, Prince Alfrcd, and Princess Helena,
the Ladies and Gentlemen in Waiting, and the domestic
household, attended Divine Service this morning at the
private chapeL
The Hon. and Vic,/ Rev. the Dean of Windsor offi-
ciated.

A Cabinet Council was held on Saturday at the
official residence of the First Lord of the Tcrasury
in Downing-street. The ministers present were
Viscount Palmerston, the Lori' Chancellor, Earl
Granville, the Duke of Argyll, Sir George Grey,
Earl Russell, Sir G. Cornewall Lewis, Sur Charles
Wood, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Duke
of Somerset, the Right Hon. T:10111aS Milner
Gibson, the Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, Lord
Stanley of Alderley, and the Right Hon. C. P.
Villiers.

The following clergymen of the eastern districts of Load=
bad an interview on Saturday with the Chancellor of ties
Exchequer, at his official residence in Downiog.street, on
the subject of the Finsbury Prebend : -The Rev. E. R.
Jones, Rector of Limehouse and Rural Dean, and Rev.
G. T. Driffield, rector of Ilow ; Rev. A. G. How, vicar of
Bromley ; Rev. G. H. W. Gill, incumbent of Christ Church.
Watney-street ; Rev. F. Simms Lea, incumbent of Trinity
Church, Stepney ; Rev. Morton, curate of Christ Church ;
and Rev. W. Macrorie, rector of 'Wapping.
A deputation from the ratepayers of St. Margaret and
St. John, Westminster, consisting of Hr. R. Baxter, and
Ir. J. M. Clabon, had an interview with the Right Hon.
C. P. Villiers on Saturday, at the office of the Poor-law
Beard, Whitehall.
Dr:vetches were sent on Saturday from the Colonial-
ofßce to the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian Islands,
and to the Governors of the Falkland Islands and Canada.

The Marquis and Marchiones4 of Abercorn and
Lady Georgi,,,, Hasilto• will leave Chesterfield House in •
few days for B►acket Hall, Herts.

The Earl of Veralam has left Thomas's Hotel,
Berkeley-oquare, for Bowneanonth.

Lord and Lady Raglan have left town for the
Earl Ilesuchamp's seat, Hadrestield Court, Woresater.
Baron and Baroness Lionel de Rothschild and
Miss de Rothschild have left Kingston House, for Frank-
fort.

The Speaker gave hi. fourth parliamentary full-
dreu dieser ow liatarday evening to the following members
of that Lower House :—Lord George Gordon Lennox, Lord
Henry Scott, Hon. Agar Ellis, Hon. F. G. Tollemache, Sir
William Codrington, Colonel Bartlelot, Colonel Vendslour,
The °Volum Don, Mr. Somerset Beaumont, Mr. E. Ball,
Mr. flescroft, Mr. T. T. 11.:rnaril, Mr. Briscoe, Mr. H. A.
Brow, Mr. Cobbohl, Mr. Farren, Mr. Fenwiek, Mr. A.
Finlay, Mr. Whigs Goshen, Mr. Derby Griffith, Mr. &asp-
toe Gordon, Mr. Pope Henoeeey, Mr. Edward Holland,
Mr. Hopwood, Mr. Hereby, Mr. W. J. Legh, Mr. W. Mar-
shall, Mr. Wykeham Martin, Mr. Martin T. Smith, Mr.
John Walter, Mr. W. W. E. Wynne, Mr. Barrow, Captain
Starkpool. Mr. Bleocowe, Mr. T. M. Weguelin, Mr. W. E.
Forster, Mr. J. T. Norris, Mr. Alfred Denison, an,l Rev. H.
Drury. The following were unavoidably prevented from
being present :—Mr. Brockleburat, Mr. Butler. Mr. Gard,
Hoe. J. L. Cole, Mr, Greenall, Mr. Lindsay, Mr. P. Mao-
Maw, Mr. Peacockc, Colonel Smyth, Sir W. Gallway, and
Mt. Braes.

The annual ball of the Civil Service Rifle Volun-
teen is axed to take place as the Mb of May at willies
ROMA.