The Express.
London, England, 1863-09-25 00:00:00

eke Orpreoo.

TO COIL/JaPO/MMRS.

,dvergaesaenta Intended ter *. taSaeal,
Paper, mut be a* teeQS* 10, Begaverf•eteesl„ by Two
e'lr ea tee day of pablkalka.

RAYILIItiCET.

Zwm Erwrla, FOWN6loarlicrt. Yr. oatspt mp. 7
CHARLES Tllg TWELFTH. Messrs. A. Wlgsa end
Mires Anima mad L Kisier.—THE BENGAL TIGLL Mn. A.
Wlgas.—Oup.4.ilig with Till GALICLAN TITY

ti.INCMIT&

Tars r vcrrso. THE LADY of LYONS. Oasis Xersette,
Mr. Walter Montgomery; besaassat, Mr. L X IMmr ; Mamas.
Mr. rlttlantes. Haagen. lbw Lam aiortas. AM NOT A ball
JUDGY—i,mmemos at 7.

11111TAylr_IA.

LADY AIIDLEY'S !Ma ter. THE MAT
GHOST =. Dendannes Cranford and Yornoid.—Mr.
Parker. Mum Plies, sad Ms W. Isarkal—aad OWN
LANAI AND 151.11J1 wAULIB.

nue Wh2llll AT WM,
ruallsa .418,12.4 rt. Ilia.....Atarsallatrik
.aissehog. ..AlMassas. 1t lki.

LONDON, 'FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25.

QUESTIONS were sure to arise under the Public
Works Act as to the.use to be made of it—ques-
tions involving grave difficulties, and disclosing
wide divergencies of opinion. It is desirable to
keep up with this part of Lancashire experience,
for the sake of doing one's duty at once to the
distressed operatives and to the public, which has
assumed, as far as the Act goes, the charge of re-
Merin the distress.
The applications for loans have been many, and
on a large scale. Their general character has
been just what was anticipated by some of the
best friends of Lancashire from the time when
Mr. RAWLINSON was selected for oar guide and
counsellor in the planning and conduct of the
business. Of all advisers Mr. ItAll/TANION is
patens the best we could have in the department
in which he has gained his own experience and
done such excellent social service—that of the
sanitary improvement of towns ; and the works of
which be knew most, afid the uses of massy with
which be was most familiar, were likely to pre-
ponderate greatly over others which may be of at
least equal importanoe. Judging by the reports
end occasional discussions of Lancashire affairs,
this has been strikingly the case. We are told,
as the weeks pass on, that the works proposed to
be undertaken under the Act are chiefly sewerage,
paving of streets, and the formation of public
squares or recreation grounds in the towns.
These are excellent objects, and the slovenly and
sordid towns of Lancashire will no doubt date
their improved appearance and healthfulness
from this year of distress. But there are
other works of at least as much importance, of
which all mention seems to be dropped. Mr.
VILLIERS, when proposing his measure, cer-
tainly supposed that the rural districts were to
profit by it, as well as the towns. He told us that
in the two counties of Lancashire and Cheshire
there was work for 100,000 able.bodisd men in
the mere primary processes of an Improved agri-
culture—in draining wet land, in laying out fields
to more advantage, in constructing and removing
femme, in levelling, trenching, pleating, and se on.
There seemed, then, every reason to expect that,
while good though unproductive works were going
forward in the towns, improving the health sad the
convenience of the inhabitants, and the aspect of
their streets, squares, and cemeteries, there would
also be a vigorous prosecution in the villages and
the open country of works no leas sanitary and
decorous in their character, and more profit-
able in a pecuniary sense. But it does
not appear that such is likely to be the
case. The 850,000 acres of wet Lod
which were reported so long ago as needing
only drainage to render them fertile seem likely
to need it still. Steep hillsides remain barren for
want of the trenching and terracing which would
be en actual acquisition of so meth surface for
tillage. Blighting winds are still to sweep over
exposed tracts, which need only the shelter of
such plantations as able-bodied °pirating have
been a hundred times proved capable of creating.
The public moat sorely desire to know whether
agricultural improvements are to have their turn
with those of the towns; and if not, why not.
They were certainly contemplated at the outset;
they have been universally admitted to be of as
importanoe wholly inestimable ; and thus, there
must be disappointment somewhere—either to the
proprietors of the lands needing treatment, or to
the protectors of the poor people needing relief.
These parties illustrate the two views of the
profitable and the hennas. Why
spend all the money outright on objects, however
good, which will yield back WOG of it, when
there are other uses which are quite as beneficial
foe health and convenience, while moreover re-
produciog the money with knows f It would be
a great softening of the calamity of the cotton
famine if it should be found hereafter to hare