The Express.
London, England, 1855-08-08 00:00:00

LONDffic VEDYggDAI

ON Monday Lord lons RUSSELL announced that
he would next day " make some observations in re-
ference to the present state of Italy, and the (impe-
-1 lion of the Papal States by foreign troops." 'Yester-
day Lord lons kept his word by expatiating at
gre►t length on the Vienna Conferences, the we, in
Aria, the war in the Baltic, the war in the Crimea.
Italy was almost forgotten ; but luckily it °slurred,
to Lord JOHN, just before bitting down, that to omit
entirely the subject be had undertaken to lecture
upon might look rather absurd, and in consequence a
few words about Italy were added by way of post-
script to his magma et verbosa epistola.

Lord Joss's remarks were listened to wit► that
chilling listlessness with which everything that falls
from that ghost of a suicide statesman is now re-
sited. Lord PALMERSTON, out of sheer politeness
to an ex-colleague, endeavoured to say a few woe*
that might Dave the appearance of admitting than
was something worthy of attention in what Lord
JOHN had said. Mr. WILKINSON conclusions& Is
protest against the doctrines of the Hon. Member ter
London. Aud here the matter would have rested,
but that Mr. HENLEY, unkindly, though truly,
blurted out that "he could not see why or
wherefore this discussion was brought forward
at the present time." The whole House nodded
assent to Mr. HENLEY, acd the business of the day
proceeded without any further• notica being taken of
Lord Joss or his speech.
It is impossible to read Lord Joules oration with-
out charitably wishing that some kind friend or
relative would turn the key upon him, in order that
our POLONIUS may "play the fool nowhere but in his
owe house." He dwelt with emphasis on the slow
progress the Allies are making in the Crimea, on the
no-results from the presence of our magaificent fleet
In the Baltic, and on the disgraceful check which the
Allied arms have experienced in A-ia. But instead
of pointing out that this state of aff tiro is owing to
no inherent strength of Russia, but to the dilatory and
planless manner in which the war is waged by the
Allies, Lord JOHN inferred from it that Russia is an
overmatch fur France and England, with Turkey and
Sardinia to boot. He complacently assumed—as if it
were the most agreeable intelligence in the world—
that the strength and resources of France and Eug•
land are exhausted, while those of Russia are
only, for the first time, being brought into full play.
He counted up our war expenditure for the year,'
insinuated that it was greater than any year's expen-
diture of the Peninsular war, and followed this up by
an exaggerated statement of the troops which the
CZAR is marching southward to reinforce his armica
in the Crimea. On the strength of these assumptions,
Lord JOHN urged upon Ministers the necessity of con•
eluding peace as soon as they can and upon any terms.
Redid not call in question the justice and expediency
of the war; he did not attempt to cosealthat wecannot
back out of it without the loss of every rug of repu-
tation ; but he asserted or implied that Fiance and
England have undertaken a task beyond their
powers, and that they have nothing for it
but humbly to sue to the CZAR to grant them peace.
To reconcile his auditors to these pusillanimous coun-
sels Lord JOHN affirmed that the Turkish Ambassa-
dor at Vienna had concurred entirely in his views of
the terms upon which peace might be concluded, and'
bad evinced the utmost indifference to the further
prosecution of the war. This, par parenthesis, may
show that Turkey was as ill-represented at Vienna
as England; but it does not prove that the Ottoman
Government are satisfied at the prospect of being
thrown overboard in the way Lord JouN recom-
mends. With singular inconsistency Lord JOHN,
after his long and laboured attempt to per-
meate the House of Commons that there
Is to safety for England except in im
mediately concluding peace on any terms, fired op
when he was accused of doing so by Mr. WILKINSON,
sad protested that though he was in favour of ac-
cepting Count BuoL's proposals when he returned
from Vienna, he is not so now. In the course of his
speech, Lord J. RUSSELL expressed a wish that Lord
PALMERSTON would publish the despatch in which he
stated his reasons for thinking that Count Bunes
proposal should be closed with. It is devoutly to
'be desired that the Paulin would take him at his
word.

To many these cowardly, base, inconsequential
arguments of Lord JOHN appear no more than the
mere inaunderings of dotage. This is a mistake—they
are the utterance of a low, short-sighted, run-
ning. Lord JOHN broke with his own party when
he abruptly retired from the ABERDEEN Cabinet; he
lost his last hold on the independent Liberals by his
conduct at Vienna ; and he is now assiduously spin-
ning the spider-web threads that he flatters himself
are to connect him with a new party. His yester-
day's speech is a programme issued for the approba-
tion of the "nefarious combination." It is an indi-
rect appeal to the Aberdeenites, Peace-at-any-price
men, and Disrselites who voted in the minority on
the Turkish loan. It is meant quietly to say to
them—" Gentlemen, these are my views ; entertaining
them, shall Ido for your leader r It will not do:
England could tolerate a Government so com-
posed and so led. Mr. Lima's speech, in which he
laid down the law that the policy of England should
be dictated by a coterie of Mammoth stock and
share jobbers collected from all the countries of
Europe, inspired such unmitigated disgust, that his
associates did not dare to continue the debate. They
interrupted it, attempting to make a diversion by a
personal attack upon Sir WILLIAM MOLESWORTH.
Mr. COBDEN returned to the question of Sir WIL-
LIAM'S speech at Leeds, which be did not venture to
grapple with at the time the Right Hon. Baronet
convicted him of gross misrepresentation, and en-
deavoured to better his miserable case by alleged
quotations from confidential conversations, which
will make any man shy of unreserved friendly dis-
course with Mr. COBDEN in future. Sir JAMES GRA-
HAM argued that there wss no "nefarious combina-
tion," on the ground that, though there was a pre-
vious concert between his and the Peace-at-any-price
faction, they ware oot °Wain, when Mr. RICARDO made
his motion on the Turkish loan, how the Disraelites
would vote. As if there were no such things as extem-
pore combinations. The drift of the " nefarious oom-

bination" is palpably to seize the rein of power in
order that they may sacrifice the homer end interests
of England, and the interests of Europe, at the shrine
of a sordid conspiracy of speculators in the turn-
isp of the share and stock markets ; and the mani-
festo promulgated yesterday by Lord loin, Russzu.
is an appeal to these worthies to receive him as a
collage%

bouti
;the c

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ituvocal

ter-rrtterms that it might bs expedient to incorporate Tut..
can; and the States of the Church into the Sardinian_
• arm In throvring out this suggestion, Lyra
Jowls was doing the work of Austria as subserviently

as when he returned in breathless haste to London to
urge upon the Cabinet the acceptance of Count
BooL's peace proposals. Sardinia, on account of the
constitutional policy of its government, is at present
an eyesore and perpetual source of apprehension to
Austria. But were the Sardinian Government to
stoop to hold Tuscany and the States of the
Church by the gracious consent of Austria, not by
the cell of the people, it would be degraded into au
accomplice and dependent of the allied Despotism,.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL recommends that Sardinia may
be put in possession of Central Italy, in order that
King BoHBA may no longer be disturbed by the
neighbourhood of French troops, and that the appre-
hensions of Austria about its Veneto-Lombard posses-
sions may be set at rest.
Most earnestly do we pray that the soil of Italy
may speedily be cleared of all alien soldiers, of what.

ever nation. But we are not such ninnies as to wish
for the removal of the French from Rome in
o•der that Austria may be left the preponde-
rant and unchecked military power in the Peninsula.
For centuries has the fair soil of Italy been nothing
more than a battle-field for .the rival ambitions of
France and Germany; it is time that this should
cease, and that Italy should be left to the Italians.
But the admission of Italy into the brotherhood of
European nations must be the work of the Italians
themselves, not the elusory and deceptive boon of
foreign despots. In spite of the chronic brigandage
and low childish superstition that impoverish end
depress Italy, the educated class in that country are
second to none in intelligence and moral worth.
They are quite capable of governing themselves;
and one or the moat cheering glimpses of • better
future, that break through the dull enervating
mists that at present rest upon European politics,
is the prospect of an opportunity that may ere
long be afforded the Italians of emancipating
themselves. But no such opportunity can ever pre-
sent itself if a disgraceful peace is patched up that
' will leave—among other enormities—the Austrian
Emperor lord paramount of Italy. With regard
to the war itself, there are none who more heartily
' despise mere military glory than ourselves, 0- s o
more cherish peace when combined with solicit:el and
social liberty and freedom of thought and speech. But
' when these inestimable blessings are threatened, we
' do believe that it is honourable for a nation to display
courage, self-sacrifios, endurance, and warlike skill in
asserting them. And therefore do we, in common
with the great English people, repudiate the des-
' tardly counsels of the " befarions combination" of
railway jobbers and Oxford Jesuits, even though they
should chance to meet on what BURKE called " the
low, dull Bedford level."

It is a weary business to write a history of failures
and omissions. It is so much more pleasant to praise
than to blame. A man who has spent the day in
noticing instances of virtue rather than thoali of
folly—who looks, as the phrase goes, at the bright
side of human nature—sits down to dinner with e
much better appetite, and is altogether a mach mor.
genial and agreeable person than your &outfaced
melancholy cynic, who interprets every action, and
construes every motive, so as to paint bis fellow-
creatures in the most odious colours; and yet,
with the beet possible intentions, we cannot always
be scattering praise all round. Even against
our will we are compelled to be severe. Thero are
some men of whom we would rather cut off our right
hand than say a word of ill. IQ many respects they
are so good, so amiable, so clever, so worthy of all
commendation, that it seems like an act of foul ingra-
titude to asperse them in the slightest degree. It is
in .ome such spirit es this that we are about to offer
a few observations on the amount of business accom-
plished since last November by the House of Com-
m/MIL Now, we are free to confess that, in theory at
all events, we are proud of that institution.
It dates from the very earliest epochs of
modern history. It is associated with the
most eminent men whom this country has known. It
has fought the battles of English freedom against the
haughtiest and most despotic Monarch of a haughty
and despotic race. It has done much, in later times,
to carry out the great principles of civil and religious
liberty. It hes accomplished many social reforms,
and saved us, on more occasions than one, from the
worst excuses of a revolution. The votes of a few
English gentlemen have frequently effected changes
which, in other countries, were the work of armed
men. Of such an institution Englishmen may well be
proud. But what hes it done for us during the last
nine months? What child has it brought to the
birth? What public good has it conferred? What,
io short, of the simplest and most obvious kind, has
it accomplished? We blush to write it, but the chief
business of the House of Commons has of late time
been talk. We have had abundance of debate, die-
cusaion, and conversation. There has been little
enough of oratory—of that kind, at least, which our
fathers listened to in the days of Fox, and PITT, and

CAttratto—but of bluster, of angry denunciation, of
war of words, we have bad more than enough. Ouly
at the very close of the session has this once renowned
House addressed itself to bona fide work.
We need not go very far for a proof of the charges
we are bringing against the assembly of the English
Commons. The latest instance is the withdrawal of
the Bill for the improvement of the University of
Cambridge. We will not be too severe in our cen-
aurae upon this act of omission. Many things have
been left undone of much more vital °consequence.
But our complaint is, that here wee a measure of
national interest, which need not have occupied more
than a very few sittings of the House of Commons,
but is now postponed until another session. Last
year a great deal of time was spent in the
discussion of a Bill for the Reform of the University
of Oxford. Every clause was well weighed; there
was scarcely a sentence in the whole Bill which did
not elicit some remark from the small body of en-
thusiastic statesmen who took part in debate. extend-
ing over several mouths. There was no time last
year to touch upon the subject of Reform at Cam-
bridge, but it was faithfully promised, or at least
folly understood, that the thing should be done at an
early period of this session. Let us see how this
promise has been kept. In the first place, a Bill for
the Reform of the University of Cambridge was intro-
duced, of a kind to excite universal and deserved
dissatisfaction among the persons most interested io
the matter—the resident graduates of the University.
It was discovered that, in one very important re•
spent, the Bill was less liberal, less adapted to the
emergencies of the ems, than that which was peened
Jut year in the wee of Oxford. Cambridge was
absolutely asking for reform. All Government kid

former errors, sod so they had the folly to tell the
world
_that Cambridp., was - able to use,

'with:owlabusing, the advantagi a of a thoroughly
free eonstftetion than Oxford. This proceeding was
of course very much to be blamed. But it was of the
less importance, as the Bill had not yet passed the
House of Commons. On that more popular assembly
the eyes of all Cambridge graduates were fas-
tened with eager hope. If the House of Lords had
not been ashamed to reverse a solemn decision—pro-
nounced a few short months ago—the Commons
would surely rise up in defence of the injured gra-
duates. lf, in the opinion of the Upper House, it
was proper that the governing body at (Jam-
bridge should be elected not by the majority of the
graauates, but by the persons who had done
all that in them lay to obstruct the course

of University Reform—there was still a Lower
House of Parliament, from whom justice might be
got. These hopes have been sadly disappointed.
Brsught down to the House of Commons at the fag
end of the session, just when everybody is leaving
London, and the weary British senator is preparing
t) pay a visit to his constituent, or to shoot grouse in
the Highlands, it has shared the fate of the hapless
innocents, who are sacrificed, year by year, to the
t etkative propensities of our legislators. And yet this
Bill was well worth a little attention. It
cinnot be a question of pure indifference
whether that ancient and wealthy school
of learning shall be suffered to go to wreck and
ruin. We do not, of course, mean to say that, even in
its present condition, Cambridge does not confer great
advantages upon the community. But the system
under wh ch it is managed was framed in times as
different as can be conceived from the times in which
we live. They were days in which dissent was held
by churchmen us a deadly sin—and the Church was
then in the plenitude of her pride and supremacy.
They were days in which no bishop in the land
would have ventured to propose the introduc-
tion of anything like a popular element
into the government of the University. And
the system—constituted in such times—ia still, to a

great extent, in existence. All that we ask is that
this state of things should be abolished. We ark
that Cambridge should be allowed the privilege of
free government, that every graduate should enjoy
the right of suffrage, and the whole institution ,be
converted into a literary republic. Whether the day
is gone by when the two great Universities are to
exercise an important influence is a different ques-
tion. But, at all events, let us give them a
chance. It would never do for Parliament to br
interfering every year in the internal affairs of the
University ; but surely time might have been found
to reverse the decision of the House of Lords, and,
once for all, to rid Cambridge of those bonds from
which Oxford has been already delivered.
It is ut&lcss now to say any more on the subject.
For this year the evil is beyond a remedy. A whole
twelvemonth longer the University will continue to
pursue its old course, to tread in its well-trodden
paths, and all because the gentlemen who are en-
trusted with the supreme direction of affairs in this
country will speed in empty talk the time which
should be spent in fruitful action. If we might be
allowed so much frc cdom of thought and expression
we should say that, in these days of " practical
talent," in this nation of shopkeepers, amid this bus-
tling crowd of men who pass their nights and days
in the pursuit of Mammon, to whom every moment
is worth so much in gold and silver, the statesman
who shall win most confidence and renown will
henceforth be the man of few words, and prompt,
decided action.

FRANCE.

(FROM OUR OUR OWN 00R1

PARIS, TUESDAY iTENINO.

We must now look to the London papers exclu-
sively for genuine news from the Crimea. All the
lettere from that quarter that arrived in Paris yester-
day were frightfully mutilated, the Grand Provo3t
having in many instances cut out three-fourtha of
their contents.

Letters from Vienna state that the new camp pre-
paring at Varna will be composed of five French
divisions, and eleven English regiments. It is not
yet known what troops the Allies will select for this
service. A letter from Varna, of July 20, in the
German Journal of Frankfort, says that up to that
date no French troops bad arrived in that town, but
they were fully expected in the early part
of August. The same letter adds that the embarka-
tion of 5,000 mea tor Anatolia was being pushed
forward vigorously. The Assembles Nationale ob•
serves that if it be true (and I believe, by the way, it
is true) that French troops are to be at Varna this
month, it does not thiuk it right to conclude, as
several correspondents have done, that the Allied
generals are preparing an expedition against B. lola-
rsbia. On this subject the Military Gazette of Vienna
gives as positive a fact from which it infers that the
*tussles eert ainly do not believein any such expedit ion.
Prince Gortchakoff has, it says, definitively given
orders to General Loders to remove his head-quarters
from Kischeneff to Odessa, and the staff has already
arrived at the latter place.
A new circular despatch has lately been sent by
the Cabinet of Vienna to all the representatives of
Austria at foreign courts, in reference to the federal
resolution of July 213.
The Constituttonnel accompanies the publication of

the letters of the Duke de Levis and M. Chapot with
the ciogle observation, that the document against the
eontents of which they protest is entirely in the hand-
writing of General Elio, sod was seized among other
papers of his oil June 7. 1855.
M. le Comte d'Escars (who, it seems, adopts the
spelling ot Des Cara for his ancient name) now adds
his protest to those of the Duke of Levis and M.
Chapot against the inferences drawn by the Coast&
tutionnel from the use made of their names by Gene-
ral Elio. It is to be observed, however, that he ad-
' mita the fact that he did carry a letter from Count
de biontemolin to Prince Gortchakoff.
I am assured that further seizures of papers have
been made at the houses of certain Legitimate, which
very seriously implicate some leaders ot the party.
At the Bourse the Rente opened with firmness,
but with little butanes' doing. The attention of
speculators was chiefly directed to the Credit Mobi-
tier and the railways. The reduction of 1 per
cent. on Treasury Bonds, which I informed you
some days since had been decided upon, produced no
dint upon the market. A similar measure was takes
immediately after the subscriptions for the two former
loans of 250 millions and 500, and it was universally
anticipated that the same course would again be fol-
lowed. The delay in the apportionment of the loan,
at which some surprise has been expressed, is ex-
plained by the fact that the labour is much
than on the former occasions, when all the an=
tions above 500 fr. Rente were annulled. Daring
the last half hour to-day there was a considerable re-
action in railways .from the opening prices but still
most of the lines closed at an advance. Rouen rose
20fr. ; Northern, 17fr. 50c.; Orleans, sfr.; Western,
10fr. ; Lyons fell 10fr. The Rente, sympathising in
the reaction in railways, declined 10c., closing at
67fr. 40c. Bank of Francs rose 40fr.

French
supplementary sentences devoted by o • the wishes expressed in the
e the Shah was so accustomed to 4-4-001 b
Russians broken, Om he doubutl IV le X Oh. , ••••.,,-,46 • ian politica, may appear irrecun. t ,••er by the large majority of
which were mad, by our mermen-
dlieulth s • a•.orrhend rom cant • • ; hut, if narrow serntinis4 tubriN - dank's. The University had already
t I• • foe •• • perfect keeping he rekat slgHe mach, IP. only, waited to be released from
tr. some lit 'nee fr .
Is frontier. * of R 71c
A TO 0 BYO ,•• • . on ' • ha. • Lord JOHN 4 voidito bonds by omilm'eot voice of Parliament.
$ quite chimer: eed, h
• teemed tor Lip
ea shout andanarehicalcondit Naples, was 4atural e • eugp,phat the Lords should do their
lir ingot, most be I Moe, 10, •o'
Irrw all it. r. m the Ififti l" a 1,,
! or the op. • • • under which Venige fj#. to s•uppqirb•-friireasute so many degrees less
coca rd • he(Mr
refer an i • • • ba clog. Re adverted etclusivelkilk popular and useful than that which they sanctioned
loin the cues at imp ere
Tuscany, from which the Austrians have wirmt.!avt year. They were penitent, beyond measure, for
the Indian navy to Foch %tent HIGH WATER, AT LONDO IDLE. drawn, and the States of the Church where there are the_ein they had _commitual---Wichtb•-seal-et
the Fir.t Lord would next ye.r be
Iwo D.T-Morairt. I.lt, elm
Itia-tbuaas 1i0•"445-,two- --lre4toesowiturratc tts.-iter— troops. And he hinted in no equivocal re-converted heretics they basted to atone for