The Express.
London, England, 1862-12-08 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EfOING, DECEMBAIt 8, 1862.

proofs of bad government. The world is too
busy, says one of the many earnest writer on
this subject, the newspapers are too universal
in their aspirations, and our statesmen are thinking
far too much of Europe, Asia, Africa, and Ame-
rica, to devote more than a passing glance to these
most awful deaths, unless they are brought before
them in a blunt, material shape. The dead man is
hurried away in the parish coffin, the usual curt
line is scribbled in the registrar's book, the para-
graph in the newspaper corner is read and for-
gotten, and the whole thing is buried in eternal
night. This is not enough, and for the sake of
those strugglers who are left we require more. Per-
centages, averages, and all the hocus-pocus of sta-
tistics, are only mists,' fogs, curtains, and sleeping-
draughts, except to the official mind ; and we, the
public, require something more gross and more
palpable.

Without going too far back into the history of
misery and want, it would not be a pleasant
chronicle to read, even if the London deaths from
starvation were only recorded for the last five or
siz years. One death a week, at least, would rise
up to claim its place on this dreary tablet, and
three hundred names, with the shortest
statement of how their owners suffered and died,
would make some terrible " sensation " columns
for a daily newspaper. Unless the whole scheme
of Providence is a superstitious dream, and men
are like worms, who may die unheeded, some ac-
count will have to be given of these famished
castaways. They did their duty by respecting their
neighbours' wealth, and by stretching out no dis-
honest hand to seize the plenty within their reach,
but Society cruelly neglected its duty when it al-
lowed them to starve. If we have no settled
humanity—no certain sense of what is right—let
us at least do what we can to maintain our national
pride. With all the calls which this winter will
bring upon our means and charity—calls which can
be easily met by a little timely retrenchment—let
us not forget the London poor, who are moat
,p9werful in their weakness. Some of them, who
are amongst the least reputable, may disgrace us
by their lives ; but the most wretched and deserv-
ing—probably the moat numerous body—have far
more power to disgrace us by their deaths.

rendering any movement ci the Federal army im- 1
radicalle.
The New York press generally criticises the ofd-'
Mal correspondence on the subject of the proposed
mediation in an unfavourable tone towards Eng-
land and France, to both of whom interested mo- '
fives are attributed. The policy of Russia is
favourably criticised.
The New York Times thinks that the threat of
Jefferson Davis to execute the first ten Federal
officers captured in Missouri will be carried out,
and will form the most frightful incident of the
present war, demanding instant serious considera-
tion of the people.

To-day being Thanksgiving-day, contributions
are received in church for the Lancashire opera-
tives.

The City of Washington has arrived out.
NEW YORK, Nov. 28, Evaivao.
The bombardment of Fredericksburg is post-
poned.

President Lincoln left Washington on the 27th,
and had an important interview with General Burn-
side at Belle Plain.

New Orleans correspondents of Northern jour-
mils assert that the specie which the Federal govern-
ment ordered General Butler to restore to the
French consul was afterwards sent to an agent at
Havannah of the Confederates, for the purchase of
food and clothing.
Numbers of political prisoners have been uncon-
ditionally released from Fort Warren. Pierre Sould
has been discharged from Fort Lafayette.
The legislature of Georgia has voted 500,000 dole.
for obstructions to be placed in all the navigable
streams iu Georgia,
The New York journals urge the government to
offer mediation between France and Mexico.

President Lincoln's Message will probably be
transmitted to Congress on the first day of the
session.

The Jura and Africa have arrived out.
CONYKRCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

NEW YORK, Nov. 28, Evonso.
Money easy. Gold 29 per cent. prem. Exchange
on London, bankers' bills, 143. Stocks heavy.
Cotton steady. Flour dull. Corn and wheat
steady.

QUEENSTOWN, Dic. 8.

The Royal Mail steamship Europa, from Boston
on the 26th, and Halifax on the 28th, arrived here
at 3.50 a.m. She brings 88 passengers and 445,621
dole, in specie ; she landed 103 sacks of mails and
6 passengers, and proceeded at 4.15 a.m. All well.
The Europa has experienced severe easterly weather.

MEXICO.
NEW YORK, Nov. 25, Evrrova,
(per Europa.)

Mexican news received here states that the French
will not advance from Orizaba before the first week
in December.

Official correspondence between the Mexican
government and the foreign ministers shows
that the ministers have unanimously urged the
government to rescind the resolution expelling M.
Jecker and other foreigners. The Prussian minister
has threatened to hold the government responsible
for the losses caused to Frenchmen by their expul-
sion, but the government has firmly adhered to its
determination.

THE MINISTERIAL CRISIS IN ITALY.
TURIN, Dec. 7, Evimuo.
The Italia of this evening publishes the follow-
ing list as compoeing the new ministry :
President of the Council (with-
out portfolio)
Minister of the Interior
Minister of Justice

Minister of Public Works Signor Menabrea.
Minister of Marine

Minister of Commerce Signor Andinot.

Signor Petitti declined to accept the poet assigned
to him. The reply of Signor Della Rovers is still
awaited. It is asserted that Signor Pasolini refused
the office of Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The Official Gazelle of to-morrow is expected to
contain definitive particulars.

FRANCE.

PARIS, Dic. 8.

The Moniteur of to-day says :—" The Emperor.
hearing of the illness of M. Horace Vernet, has
sent to that eminent artist an autograph letter and
the decorations of a grand officer of the Legion of
Honour."

SWITZERLAND.

GENEVA, D. 7.

The people of Geneva have rejected the proposed
new conatitution by a majority of 459 on 12,000
votes recorded. The radical party has thus gained
the day.