The Express.
London, England, 1852-07-02 00:00:00

TO (70R1tESPON1)ENTS,

A ,ecand Edition e 1 " The riprera," containing 'he same eve-Divet
" lingette," la publiehed every Tueigly and Friday sight, in uwe
An poet
iveitiveseentathiended eir " The Eggreip," Lennon Evening raper,
11%.4 he it the tedire, ld, tio.ourieiaercet, Sy Teri, ie`aiirdi on Or
de) ad publieedion.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tins D*T—Moralait. 41i. Ma. AftelooDa, Hi. 3Pm.
loatoasow—Montag, St.. la .A6ernoca. U. Diu.

LONDON, FRIDAY, JULY 2.

Tux Ministerial speech, which her MAJESTY was
yesterday graciously pleased to repeat on tho pro-
rogation of Parliament, has no harm and little
of anything else in it. For a coup tromai of
the literary member of the Cabinet, it is not amiss.
His colleagues exercised their right of critical ex-
cision, and. consequently, it contains none of those
indecorous attempts to represent her Nl.i.m.sry as
canvassing for her Ministers, which were so offen-
sively prominent in the addresses to the electors of
Bucks.
Like all royal speeches, that which was spoken
yesterday consists of three sections. The first, after
Melly intimating that parliament, for "considera-
tions of public policy , has been released from
'its labours at an unusually early period,
treats exclusively of foreign relations. It is
worthy of Lord MADIEsKURY. Parliament is
congratulated on the amicable dispositions of
the principal European states—by what un-
worthy truckling purchased is but too well known.
The great affairs which have more especially engaged
the attention of the mighty mind of the FOREIGN
SECRETARY are then enumerated—and they arc
worthy of him; the settlement of poor little Schles-
wig-Holstein ; the termination of the discussion be-
tween the Sublime Porte and the l'acha of Egypt ;
the successful attack upon Rangoon ; and the treaties
concluded with the mighty chiefs of Western Africa.
The extradition convention with France is judi-
ciously passed over in silence ; but the Militia Bill is
eulogised with an emphasis worthy of the minister
whose mind can attach importance to such trifles as
we have enumerated, and neglect our relations to
really important states—such as the great North
American republic.
The second section is, as usual, more especially
addressed to the gentlemen of the house of Com-
mons. It tells them in stereotyped phrase that her
MAJESTY is gratified for the liberal supplies they
have voted, and will use them with strict economy.
It also intimates that steps have been taken to miti-
gate the temporary disturbance of society in Austra-
lia consequent on the discovery of the gold fields.
This is news indeed; it is the first time that the
public has been told that any steps have been taken
for that purpose, and excites curiosity to know what
they are.
The concluding section is principally occupied in
congratulations on the passing of the law reform
measures, the Metropolis Water Administration and
the Extramural Interments Rills, and tho act confer-
ring a constitution on New Zealand. Not a word is
said of the mutilated bill fur facilitating tho convic-
tion and punishment of corrupt constituencies. That
was too sore a subject for the coneoctors of the
speech. A paragraph invoking divine direction for
the electors in their choice of representatives closes
the document.
And so the drop scene has fallen on the parlia-
mentary drama—and ministers " go to the country ",
uon....what principles or policy nobody can tell.
hout the four mortal months that have elapsed
since &eir accession to office, they have kept this
secret with a success that—as in the case of another
great mystical association—suggests a suspicion that
they have no secret they could let out. The grounds
upon which ministers claim the confidence and sup-
port of the nation can only be guessed at.
Gentlemen electors are called upon to return sup-
porters of the ministry which undertook to support
Mr. MATHER'S claim for redress, but acted ae the
agent of the offending power in beating down his
demands and seeking to throw discredit on his
statements ; the Protectionist ministers who profess
a &ire to uphold free-trade ; the Protestant minis-
ters who refuse to assert the rights of the Protestant
missionaries harshly and illegally driven from Hun-
gary ; the Colonial-reform ministers who screen the
jugglers who have deprived the Cape colonists of
the reality of a constitution while enacting the form
of one ; the law-reform ministers who sought to burke
or mutilate the Copyholds Enfranchisement Bill
after pledging themselves to support it. Not one
principle or opinion has been professed by minis-
ters to which some of their acts have not
given the lie ; not ono action have they performed
which has not carried on its forehead marks of
duplicity, reluctance, or dishonour. In a brief
career of four months they have evinced more inca-
pacity and dishonesty—have "eaten more dirt," as
the Orientals say—have sounded the bass string of
a lower degradation—than any preceding English
ministry ever contrived to do even in as many years.
The fate of these detected pretenders is now in the
hands of the electors of England, with whom it lies
to determine whether, and for how long, the powers
of the country are to be paralysed by such a politics-
night-mare.

Tux practical lesson, of most immediate and urgent
importance, taught by the Stockport Riots, is the
need of reform in local police arrangements through-
out the country. Stockport is a startling example of
the scandalous neglect which in this respect seems
almost every where prevalent. Stockport has up-
wards of 60,000 inhabitants. The Irish population
of the borough amounts to not less than 14,000, and
consists mainly of poor and needy immigrants, who
have brought with them the keen and turbulent party
spirit of their class in their own country. There is
also a numerous population of English, equally un-
cultivated, less excitable perhaps, but, if possible, more
resolute, vigorous, and relentless when roused. Amid
this rude mass of conflicting ingredients, drunken
brawls are habitual on Saturday nights and Sundays,
yet for the preservation of the peace, and for the re-
pression of the professional crime-class which skulks
and seeks concealment in the crowd, the only provi-
sion made in Stockport consists of a chief constable,
with ten constables under him, and at most some
half-doyen assistants. Such a force is palpably in-
adequate to meet even the average calls for police
interference in such a community, and of course
VICTORIA, It. utterly useless in any of those sudden outbursts of
Whereas, we have in our council thought fit to declare violence which may there be expected to recur at in-
our pleasure for summoning and holding • parliament of tervals. Stockport is in this respect but the type of
our United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, on a great number of our towns and boroughs.
Friday, the twentieth day of August next ensuing the date Now, in a country like England, centralisation of
would
hereof ; order, therefore, to the electing and summoning the lice administration is out of the question. It
the sixteen peers of Scotland, who are to sit in the House would not be tolerated by Englishmen, and, even
of Peers in the said parliament, we do, by the advice of our could it be tolerated, would be of little value. What
Privy Council, issue forth this our royal proclamation, is wanted is general legislation, to ensure the organ-
strictly charging and commanding all the Peers of Stet- illation in every district of an adequate local police
land to assemble and meet at Rolyrood-hoagie, in I force—promoted by the efforts of the local public.
Edinburgh, on Thursday, the fifteenth day of July To get this it is necessary to impress the community,
instant, between the home of twelve and two in and local leaders of public opinion, with a due sense
Use afternoon, to nominate and choose the sixteen peers, to of the importance of having a sufficient local police
shard vote in the Howie of Peers in the said matting Par- kept on foot. In the rural districts there to no
Bement, by open election and plurality of voices of the adequate local machinery for establishing and main-
Pere that shall be then present, and of the proxies of ouch Mining a sufficient police: Then, again, our magic.
as shall be absent (such proxies being peer*, end producing y terial system is defective. We may see from
a iss n (tate in writing, duly signed before witnesses, and I Stockport what many borough magistrates are.
bath the constituent and proxy being qualified according to Every Saturday night has its drunken brawls, which
law), and the Lord Clerk Register, or such two of the appear to be tolerated as a constitutional privilege—
principal clerks of the session as shall be appointed by him a warranted amusement of the brawlers. Wo
to officiate in his name, are hereby respectively required to are told that when it was reported at tho Stock-
attend such meeting, and to administer the oaths required port police office, on Monday evening, that a num-
by law to be taken there by the said peers, and to take their of English and Irish were fighting in the
votes; and immediately after such election made and duly street, it was regarded as .‘ a mere drunken row,"
ezaaimid,to certify the sums of the gate= pests ve elided, and that I coasaderablo tune elapsed bergs° any stops