The Express.
London, England, 1863-02-06 00:00:00

W/AIR AT LONDON BEIDGL_

Thu DATllosiiiii„iti:lllL....Allemma S'. S&L
10-soasoll—Maialits. 90.....An1a0aL Vs_ MA.

LONDON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY G.

THE daily papers once more put on their old
aspect this morning, and, by their crowded
columns, seem to tell of important political busi-
ness in Parliament, an impression which a closer
examination of the speeches may not confirm.
No doubt the Government is holding valuable mea-
sures of legislation in reserve, and the Opposition ap-
pears to have thought that for a first night a recon-
naissance might suffice. The presence of the Ham
APPARENT in the House of Lords, and his admission
to the roll of Peers of the realm, gave especial inte-
rest tothe proceedings in that Chamber ; but the
political speeches were, on the whole, somewhat
formal and languid. The serious parts of Earl
DERBY'S speech, and in particular his references
to the American strife and Lancashire distress,
were in his beet style, and his playful criticism of
Earl Rl:reuses foreign policy was as harmless as it
is amusing. Lord DERBY strongly supports the
Government in its policy of neutrality in relation
to the American war, and is decidedly against the
recognition of the South, for which some of his
followers have been clamouring.
In the House of Commons the long straggling
debate on the Address wandered into a lumber
of topics not included in the Speech from the
Throne, touching in its course on almost every
quarter and corner of the globe, but with-
out eliciting on either aide of the House any
important expression of opinion, or any de-
tails of special novelty or interest. The mover of
the Address followed as usual the paragraphs of the
Royal Addrese'relating to foreign affairs, in a speech
that would have been harmless enough, and even
creditable, had not the speaker gone out of his
way to make an attack on the Federal Govern-
ment. The Seconder of the Address, confining
himself more to home topics, paid a well-
deserved tribute to Lancashire, and gave some in-
teresting facts with regard to the rate and area of
relief, and the prospect of returning work in these
districts. The member for Manchester, however,
not satisfied with passing an idle panegyric on the
virtues the industrial classes of the North have
exhibited in the season of their severe distress,
took the opportunity of impreeeing on the House
the political moral of this noble conduct—the new
and irresistible claim it gives these classes to poli-
tical consideration at the hands of the Legislature.
Comparatively little was said from the Ministerial
benches, but that little was strongly in favour of
sincere and thorough-going retrenchment. The
speeches from the Opposition benches were ram-
bling, tedious, and to a great extent irrelevant,
Interest. Lord ROBERT MONTAGU and Mr. POPE-
HINNESBY went into minute discussions of ques-
tions not in any sense before the house. Mr.
HENNPABY'a reference to Poland was, indeed,
seasonable enough, but his long dissertation about
the POPE and the action of the Papal Government
ten years ago was altogether idle and out of
place.

On the first paragraph of the Address, relating
to the marriage of the Prince of Wu's, there
could, of course, be but one feeling in the House
—that of sincere congratulation at an event which
promises to increase the domestic happiness, and
perpetuate the domestic virtues which have secured
for the QUEEN and the Royal Family the respect
and affection of all claims in the realm. After
the brief bat cordial words of sympathy and con-
gratulation had been spoken, the Leader of the
Opposition addressed himself as usual to the con-
genial tank of criticising the ministerial programme,
and exposing the weak points in the policy of
the Government. If we may judge by the re-
sult, the task must, however, this year have been
less easy than usual, for the execution can hardly
be considered in any sense or in any direction
a success. The difficulties of a telling
Opposition attack lie on the surface,
and they were exemplified in the speeches
made from the Tory benches in both Houses last
night. The Opposition leaders cannot attack the
domestic policy of the Government, because,
much as the present Ministry has in this respect dia- '
appointed the just expectations of the nation,
a Tory Ministry would in the nature of things'
disappoint them still more. The Tory leaders are 1,
thus obliged to direct their attack mainly against
the foreign policy of the Government, and this is
precisely the point where they are least vulnerable.
Mr. DisaszLi's speech last night was accordingly
an admirable illustration of the determined pursuit
of opposition under difficulties. With regard to
America, like Lord DZILBY, he heartily supported
the course adopted by the Government, spoke of
the policy of non-intervention, not only as
wise and dignified, but as the only policy this
elluntryoluld consistently pursue. Indeed, Mr. Dm-
=arm's only quarrel with the Government on
• this head is on the score of their not
evincing more unanimity and enthusiasm in sup-
port of this policy. Where then was the attack to be
made? After reviewing the wide horizon of our
foreign relations, and hovering for a moment over
one or two tempting spots—such as Rome,
China, and Denmark—the Leader of the Oppo-
aition finally swooped to the south-east and settled
on the Saptinsular Republic. The criticism of our