The Express.
London, England, 1864-08-25 00:00:00

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PILINCIRS L.

THI R BORN TO GOOD LUCK. Mr. D. Murray.
And THE ST OF LONDON. Hewn. J. W. Ray, David
11Aaer. D. Hurray, I. Nelson. H. Format., and H. Mellon
Mra H. Marston, Mims Barnett and Gwynn..

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LONDON, THURSDAY, AUGUST 25.

Jr is commonly said that all great men do at
some time or other sow their wild oats. However
turbulent their youth may have been, or however
long its heyday supported by a vigorous consti-
tution may have lasted, they do in the end listen
to the sobering voice of reason, accept the results
of experience, and, as wiser if not sadder men, ad-
dress themselves in a becoming spirit to the serious
business of life. This period seems at length to
have arrived even to the venerable strip-
ing who presides at the head of our na-
tional affairs, whose exhaustless and incor-
rigible juvenility has hitherto so largely
resisted the mellowing touch of years. Lord
PALMERSTON, being resolved apparently to forswear
the diplomatic and political follies of his youth,
seizes the opportunity of a visit to his old consti-
tuents to appear for the first time in his new
character. Nothing, accordingly, could well be more
mild and pacific, more serious and edifying, than
his speech at the Tiverton Atheneum. He had
not visited that pretty pocket borough for some
years, and when he at length re-appeared it was in
many important respects as an altered man. Very
possibly the simple-minded natives may not at
once have perceived the full extent of the change.
The old manner was still there, the old happy
instinct of compliment and common-place ; it was
only the animating spirit, the old bellicose
and defiant temper, that had altogether
disappeared. Whatever may have been the
cause, whether the repeated diplomatic fail-
ures and parliamentary reverses of the past
session had chastened that high and exulting
spirit, or whether his recent experiences at Brad-
ford had convinced the noble lord that the old
sounding Ciris lioniunus sum style, which used
to tickle the ears of the groundlings, would
no longer be relished even in the depths of the
province; as heretofore—whatever may have been
the cause--the change itself is sufficiently strik-
ing. Lord PALMERSTON appears at his own " an-
cient" borough of Tiverton as the Apostle of
Universal Peace. The brim of his hat must have
been perceptibly broader, and there was evidently
a peculiar unction in his greeting, as he patted
the rustic urchins on the head and compli-
mented the roey-ebeetted maidens gathered
in front of the Three Tuns Hotel.
At the Corporation banquet in the evening, every
sentence showed that he had exchanged the
political thunder of the miles gloriosus for the
mitis sapicntia Lalf, and was qualifying himself to
edit • new international treatise Dc Amicititi.
In recording this surprising change we can only
express a fervent hope that the Pararma's con-
version may be sincere and enduring, and that the
deep pacific impressions under which he evidently
spoke on Tuesday evening may not be as the
morning cloud and early dew, which vanish away.
In harmony with his new character Lord Per,
wErunnic began with • serious subject, the state
and prospects of the Church. A previous speaker
having referred in terms of approval to his eccle-
siastical appointments, the noble lord not only
assumed to himself the full measure of praise, but
went on to enlarge very considerably upon the im-
portance and responsibility of his religious functions
as Bishop-maker. While allowing that such digni-
taries as Bishops and Archbishops filled important
offices, he intimated clearly enough that there was
another post of far higher moment to the welfare of
the Church—that which he himself had the honour
to fill. As patron of the chief preferments within the
Establishment, he modestly allowed that he was
the Arch Fismen who wielded the ecclesiastical
destinies, and decided to a great extent the reli-
gious character both of the nation and the Church.
On a good choice of bishops depends, in the first
place, the moral and religious training of the
country ; and, secondly, the preservation of har-
mony within the Church, as well as of a good un-
derstanding between the Establishment and
other religious denominations. The latter point
Lord PALMERSTON emphasizes, congratulating
himself as a composer of theological differences,
and the healer of practical fends within the
Church. There will, he conferee, indeed always
be differences of opinion on some points, but in
relation to these we are told, " what can
"be done, and what ought to be done,
" is, that those who hold high office,
" and those who are at the bead of the Established
" Church, should by their bearing towards those who
" differ from them in religions opinions, mitigate
" those acerbities which are perhaps inherent in
" the diversities of opinion on so important a
" matter both here and hereafter." From which
tremendous ellipsis it appears that in Lord
PALMERSTON'S opinion the religious differences
which divide good men on this side of
the grave will be perpetuated in a future
state. Perhaps, however, we ought not to
attach to theme words the meaning they don't quite
express, and that the Flamm; being rather new
to the subject, instead of wishing to propound
any doctrinal novelties, merely fell into a little rhe-
torical confusion. If he continues in his new career,
however, he will soon get over these initial diffi-
culties, and after a diligent course of reading in