The Express.
London, England, 1863-12-19 00:00:00

BRITANNIA.

TIMP Smyrna. THE J. Taylor and Mme.
Pleon.—Aftcr which Tom King, the Champion of England. with
his second, Boa Tyler, will appear on the stage —THE GREAT
GHOST OTECL—Concluding with THE BOTTLE.

HIGH WAVI& AT IMMO/ =IDOL
TUI DAY Minima • ea— .Asionma. 9h. 17m.
TO-1110110W *Mkt& *. ifteavass. 10h. 28k.

LONDON, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19.

Amoria political men an opinion is becoming pre-
valent that we are within six months of a General
Election. For members of Parliament who do not
belong to that illustrious House where eminent Re-
formers can rest and be thankful, the practical
question arises—What shall we say to the electors ?
The party that has least reason to occupy itself
with this inquiry is that of the Conservatives.
Their leaders will be able to say that in the dis-
solved Parliament they honourably fulfilled all their
pledges up to the moment when they were driven
from power by a factious combination of office-
seekers ; that out of office they have borne them-
selves with dignity and moderation, and that they
have known how to increase their influence so far
that for some time past they have been able to im-
pose a Conservative policy upon a Ministry which
calls itself LiberaL The Conservatives will thus go to
the country with titles to the respect of those whose
confidence they will not think of asking. But how
are the great majority of Lord Psmuntsrox's fol-
lowers to secure re-election, when the party u •
whole is justly reproached with aims abandoned,
promises broken, and principles repudiated t This
is the great difficulty which is weighing on so-called
Liberal members having constituents who dare pre-
sume to independence.
Thoughts of this kind were present amongst the
gentlemen of the Liberal party who lately dined
together at the Queen's Hotel at Leeds. There was
a great deal of energetic stirring and blowing to
get s little flicker of flame out of the dying em-
bers of liberalism on this occasion, but we doubt
whether on the whole the result was satisfactory
to those engaged. The assembly represented very
fairly the variety of opinion and feeling included
in the Liberal party. Lord Houctirox was there,
with his mild epicurean discontent and dilettante
earnestness, impatient to "ascend to still further
"heights in the great march of progress;"
Sir JOHN RAMSDEN, possibly to wonder whether
he was wise in proclaiming so soon that

" the great bubble of Democracy had burst ;"
Mr. EDWARD BAINES, to compliment the
Liberals who had helped to shelve his little Reform
Bill ; and Sir F. CROSSLEY, to denounce, with
a bitterness almost personal in tone, the two
most eminent reformers of the day. Great pains
were taken to show that Liberals are not Conser-
vatives, nor Couservatives Liberals, and the belief
that " real liberalism is defunct, or at least ea
" dormant as if it were not of any practical use,"
was recognised by Mr. H. S. Tuomrsos, the chair-
man, as needing his unqualified and official con-
tradiction. Certainly Mr. THOMPSON did all that
could be done by words to remove that very
general conviction, although doubtless no ono felt
more keenly than lie of how little value are verbal
professions when theylack theconfirmation of deeds.
The great question uppermost in all minds—How
shall the seats in the Riding be made safe at the
next election f —led to the expression of a variety
of opinions, but no speaker was able to mention a
political programme with which the Liberal can-
didates might venture before the constituencies
and offer it in the name of the party.
The question of Parliamentary Reform was re-
vived at Leeds, as it is always revived when votes
are likely to be wanted, but we are glad to observe
that a certain feeling of delicacy, let us hope of
honourable shame, restrained the speakers from
abundant loud-mouthed professions such as we
should have been sure to hear four years ago on that
subject. Of course there were gentlemen pre-
sent, like Mr. Lasrsram and Mr. BAINES, whose
consistency and fidelity gave them a right to
speak boldly on the question of Reform, and no-
thing could be more friskily liberal than the convic-
tions expressed by Lord F. CAVENDISH. But on
the whole it appeared to be acknowledged that
the extension of the suffrage to any considerable
number of the working classes was a measure
which the Liberal party as at present constituted
could not honestly promiso ; the differences of
opinion among its members being too great. This
appears to bo the simple fact ; and it is
always best to know the facts even when they are
the least flattering to self-love. As more than
one speaker at Leeds remarked, the political power
of the country is now in the hands of the Middle
Classes, to whom it was transferred by the Reform
Bill. Only the Middle Classes can confer the fran-
chise upon those classes below them who at pre-
sent are not entitled to vote. " Practical politicians"
ask—Why should they do so Are they to be ex-
pected to confess that under a wider distribution
of political power the country, and especially the
classes at present unenfranchised, would be better
governed ? If they could believe that any better
l•rinciple of government were possible, that better

laws could be made, or the present system be
better administered, they would themselves at once
adopt the improvement without waiting for organic
change. Not believing this, they hesitate to
confer on others a power which may be used
dangerously. This appears to be the present feeling
of the majority of the Middle Classes. It was
hi-swiss the feeling of the classes from whom
they themselves received a transfer of
political power thirty years ago. The Nobility,
Clergy, and Gentry, who then governed England,
were thoroughly convinced that theirs was the
best po•aible rule under which a community could
live. They parted with power most unwillingly,
and in the full conviction that the admission of the
classes below them to political rights would prove fatal
to the freedom and greatness of their country. But
the process by which they were compelled to share
their power with those below them is not one
which can be repeated. The unenfranchised
classes of 1863 cannot wrest power from the pri-
vileged minority who possess it, as was done
in 1832. It follows, therefore, that if the
Middle Classes have succeeded, not only to the
position, but to the jealous spirit of their betters,
no extension of the suffrage is possible.
If the question of an extension of the suffrage
were really before the country we should feel dis-
posed to address some serious considerations to the
Middle Classes on the impolicy and danger of
building up a wall of separation between them-
selves and the great body of the nation, ever
increasing in intelligence and strength. All that
is now said against an extension of the
suffrage to the working-classes was as well said
against '

the Reform Bill of 1832. The CROKEES
and Wirrlizer.u.s of that day argued that "to
" set abstract speculation above experience ; to
" pull down what works well in order to set up
" something in its place which may not work at
" all; to create an agency of any kind, whether
" political or commercial, not with a view to the
" efficient discharge of the task it undertakes, but
"to indulge a sentiment, or to reward good con-
" duct, or to gratify expectations previously raised,
"or to satisfy a vague yearning for equality in
" persons really unequal, has never been the foible
"of the English people." Such was exactly the
view taken, and such the language held by the
governing classes of that day. If the Middle
Classes of to-day think that promises should not be
fulfilled, and that the loyalty and patience of the
people ought not to be recognised as constituting a
title to a share of political power, we can only regret
that our age should have nourished a spirit so exclu-
sive and oligarchical, and remind them that most of
the revolutions and wars of these days have been
made because government& have been too slow to
indulge "a sentiment." The question, however, is
not before the country—it is only before aparty, and
a party deceased. We are only at present concerned
to protest against a repetition of the hypocrisy and
fraud perpetrated in 1859. We do not know how
far it is true, as some subordinate members of the
Government have been permitted to suggest, that
Lord PsomitsvoN is about to prop up his failing
administration by appealing once more to those
whom he has betrayed. We will only say that
we do not believe that any such course will serve
his purpose, but that it will be the duty of all
honest men, and especially of honest Liberals, to
prevent the enemas of any such mere hustings
device.

be Court.

WINDSOR CASTLE. Drc. Is.

The Queen, accompanied by the Prireens Helena, Prin-
cess Louise, Prince Leopold, Princess Beatrice, and the
Prisons Holleolohe, left Windsor Castle at a quarter past
eleven o'clock this morning, for Osborne.
The suite consisted of the Dowager Countess of Mount
Edgcumbe, the Hoo. Mrs. Bruce. tbe Hos. Cording Carom-
dish, Lord Alfred Paget, Lionk-General the Hon. C. Grey,
Colonel the Hon. Sir C. B. Phipps, Dr. Holzman°, and Mr.
Buff.

Grantees Blucher left the Castle for Osborne on a visit to
her Majesty.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer left Loudon yesterday,
for Bayard.° Castle, Cheater.

Despatches were seat yesterday from the Colonial-office
to the Governor of Malta, aed to the Lord High Commis-
sioner of the lonian Islands

DEPARTURE OF TEE COURT FROM WINDEOII..
A mho, height sunny morning having succeeded the boister-
ose weather of the previous day, the Queen, with the royal
family and Prince.. lioheolohe, and attended by Lord
Alfred Paget, the Hon. General Grey, Sir Charles Phipps,
and °them of the royal mite, took her departure from the
Castle yesterday foreseen for Osborne, at 11.15, and pro-
needed
from Windsor by the Great Western Railway to
Buingstoke, under the charge of Mr. Kelly, Mr. Sanders,
and Mr. Grerson. From Basingstoke to Gosport on the
South Western line, the royal train was under the charge
of the officials of that line. The guard of honour was dis-
pensed with, and although the Queen bad not left off her
widow's weeds, it was generally remarked by those ad-
mitted on the platform that she was looking cheerful sod
in excellent health. The royal journey to Basingstoke was
performed in one hoer, and from Basiogstoke to Gosport in
an hour and a half. The Prince and Prince, of Wales came
from Frogmore Lodge to the Windsor railway station,
where they took leave of her Majesty and the royal family.

Prince Alfred paid a visit to the Lord Provost
of FAinburrh oo Thursday af Mineola. Hi• Greed Ducal
Highness Prince William also honoured the Lord Provost
with • farewell visit previous to leaving Edinburgh.
Oaptain Von &men accompanied the Princes.

Their Royal Highnesses Prince Alfred and
Prince William of Hesse .ere to leave Edinburgh yesterday
for Windsor Cattle, in order to join the royal family at
Osborne for Christmas.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge
arrived at Gloucester House yesterday from visiting the
Marquis and Marchioness of Bath at Long!este, Wilts.
The Duke and Duchess of Montrose will leave
Bekrave-square early next week, on a visit to the Earl of
Powis, at Powia Carle. The noble duke sod duchess will
have England about the middle of next month ou a tour la
Brig-
His Excellency the Turkish Ambassador and his
sea, M. Paul Marra, arrived at Paris yesterday from
Naples and Rouse, basin left Cretentioople exactly
three weeks since. His excellency and son are expected to
arrive been to-day.
The Earl of Shaftesbury has arrived in Groove-
Dor-squire, from St. Giles, Donetshire, for a few days.
I The Countess Dowager of Tankerville enter
! rimed at dinner last evening, at her residence in Hertford-
. street, his Excellency the Ambassador of France, his
Excellency the Prussian Ambassador sod the Counter
I Bemistorff. his Excellency the Italian Minister, the Mar-
quis and Melchior= Wore, Viscountess Palmerton, Sir
Hoary Bulwer, Mr. Charles Orville, Mims Gorges, Ac.
• The Right Hon. Thomas M. Gibson, M.P., left
town yesterday for his seat in Suffolk, to pass the Christmas
holidays.
It is reported that his Grace the Duke of
Neweestle has resigned, or is about to resign, ou account of
ill health.
We (Herald) understand that a subscription has
been set es foot amongst Colonel Crawley's brother °Mors
to defray the expenses to which he has been put by the
. .. . ... ... ... . . .. . .

court-martial, and that the Earl of Cardigan has headed the

list with the sum of 1001. _ _
The meetings of Scientific Societies for the
cumin week, sr.-Nowday, Asiatic, 3. Temlay, Ethao-

logical, 8, "Domestication of Alaimola," Xi. Galion ;
"British God Hogan, sad Religion of Northumbrias Celts,"
Rev. G. R. Hall. Satunlay, Royal lortitatiou 3, "Mee-
, trinity at Rest and Electricity in Motion " animas Lee-
, torso), Prof. Tyndall.
A philharmonic ball is about to be erected in
soutneelptos.