The Express.
London, England, 1864-04-07 00:00:00

HIGH W AVIA AT CONDON BEEDOI.

IMO DA T M— orntq. Th. 119sa. .. . . Anareass. Th. Wm
To-MIAOW Morning. VA. len .....thersoos. 3h. Ttha.

LONDON, THURSDAY, APRIL 7.

THE conclusion at which the majority of the
Law Lords have arrived in the Alexandra case
will greatly disappoint public expectation. In
so great a diversity of judgments it is needless
to attempt to offer any opinion. But it is impos-
aible to help sympathising with the regret of the
Law Lards that it should have become necessary to
set aside a question of such vast national import-
ance as that involved in the Alexandra case for one
of such microscopic technicality. The mountain has
indeed brought forth a ridiculous mouse—when
we find the solemn and laborious contest of weeks
on a great question of International Law
ending, as the LORD CHANCELLOR said, in "some
" discordant opinions on the meaning of the word
" practice.' " It would be premature to offer any
opinion whether the Court of Exchequer, which
undoubtedly is primarily responsible for this
grievous miscarriage of justice, will be able to do
anything to remedy matters at this stage. But it
cannot be doubted that the law-officers of the Crown
would never have consented to abandon their
undoubted right of appeal by Bill of Exceptions
had there been the slightest doubt as to the com-
petency of the Exchequer to frame Rules granting
the new right of appeal in case a new trial was re-
fused. It is true that the right to the Bill of Ex-
ceptions was formally abandoned by the ArrosNer-
GE.VERAL before he was allowed to apply for anew
trial. But we must repeat that this was done
under the distinct belief that the Judges of the
Court of Exchequer understood the extent of their
jurisdiction, and were in fact giving the ArrosNEv-
GENERAL a better form of appeal than that which he
already possessed. Most certainly the CHIEF BARON
must admit that these new Rules were, in fact,
resorted to in order to extricate him from the in-
convenient position in which he found himself.
Therefore, both for his own sake and for the sake
of the public, it is of the utmost importance that
the law-officers of the Crown should be restored
to the position which they occupied when they
yielded to the suggestion of the Judges of the
Exchequer and abandoned their right of appeal.
How that can be done it is not for us to elucidate.

THE QUEEN has judged it necessary once more
to enter into direct explanation with her people
concerning her MAJESTY'S personal situation, and
the expectations of which she is the centre. We
are warranted in ascribing to her MAJrsrY the
statement on this topic which was published yes-
terday, if for no other reason, because its language
is assuredly such as no subject would presume to
employ. The Qutex, who has on so many occa-
sions shown how attentively she notes the mani-
festations of public opinion, remarks the preva-
lence of • belief that she is about to resume that
place in society which she occupied before her
great affliction ; that is, that she is about again
to hold lev4es and drawing-rooms in person, and
to appear as before at court balls and concerts.
This idea, it is remarked, is erroneous, and
"cannot be too explicitly contradicted." The
QUEEN kindly and rightly refers to the loyalty and
affection of her people, the wishes that have been
expressed for her MAJESTY'S more frequent appear-
ance in public, and graciously promises to do all she
can to gratify it. Whenever any " real object" is to
be attained by her appearing on public occasions,
"any national interest to be promoted, or anything
"to be encouraged which is for the good of the
" people," her MAJESTY will not shrink from
any personal sacrifice or exertion, however painful.
But from the mere pomp and ceremony of State
her MAJitsrv, we learn, is compelled to withdraw
herself. The Qrsits condescends to assign the
reasons of this resolution, and when we proceed
to their respectful consideration we confess to •
feeling of anxiety approaching to alarm. The
public will observe with no other feeling than
sympathetic regret the resignation to sorrow which
appeared so natural in the firstyears of her MAJESTY'S
affliction, but which it was hoped would be softened
and mitigated by time. The knowledge that public
appearances are and will be painful to the Qcxxe
would lead her people to acquiesce most readily in
any resolution her MAJrary might form. But
we do not think the nation was prepared for the
intelligence that her MAJvcre is " overwhelmed
" with work and anxiety," in the discharge of duties
which she cannot neglect without injury to the
public service, duties which "weigh unceasingly
" upon her," and the laborious and conscientious
discharge of which has "seriously impaired her
" health and strength." These words we may
be sure have not been willingly penned. They
have been extorted from her DIAJ esn, by the ex-
pression of wishes which, by the light now vouch-
safed, are seen to have been ignorant and incon-
siderate. But who among us could have suspected
that, while almost every class of the community is
enjoying the advantages of diminished hours of
labour, the Qutes was so borne down with toil
as to be compelled to restrict her intercourse
with her people t After the QUEEN'S explicit
statement, there is something more serious
in question than the holding of lev6es and draw-
ing-rooms, and appearances at balls and concerts.
Her DlAJzsrv's loyal people will auk whether it

can be really necessary in a constitutional
monarchy that the Soyßano' should be the mast.
distinguished drudge in the State. It would be
much to be regretted if the Quars's advisers,
responsible or irresponsible, have fostered an
exaggerated estimate of those duties which are so
heavily oppressing her blAscsry, but which some
of her MA2scry's predecessors have discharged
with comparative ease. The Quaxit is surrounded
with advisers whose duty it is to assume the respon-
sibility which might otherwise weigh upon her, so
that whatever may happen and whoever may be to
blame, " the QUEEN can do no wrong." We hope
the time is far distant when the name of the Sove-
reign shall be introduced into either the controver-
sial politics of the day or disputed points of ad-
ministration. But while 31:nisters assume the
responsibility of the public acts of the Govern-
ment, there surely can be no great difficulty in
relieving her /taJzsry of much of the mass of
routine business which is destroying the health
and happiness which are so precious in the eyes
of the public.

Cbt Court.