The Express.
London, England, 1862-03-27 00:00:00

SOCIETY OP ARTS.

At the meeting of this society last evening, the
Right Hon. C. B. ADDIMIXT, M.P., in the chair,
The paper read was "On oar Colonies, their Commerce,
sad their Oust," by Mr. Henry Aabworth. The author
passed under review the wide-spread extent of oar colonial
dependencies, the enormous armed force required for their
defence, the civil, judicial, ecclesiastical, and other establish.
ments, and the extraordinary amount of expenditure in-
volved in the upholding of our withority in them. All or
most of this impinge was considered to be necessary, and
was annually granted by parliament for the ostensible put-
, pose of fostering and protectingour commerce. Mr. Ashworth
I said his object was to endeavour to ascertain whether this
' system might not be so amended as to ensures more economical
and better system of government, and that without detri-
ment to the interests of the mother country, or in any way
impairing the resources of the colonies, or disturbing the
loyalty and attachment of the inhabitants to the British
crown. He argued that the advantages which might rea-
sonably be expected to result from our colonies to Oust
Britain were the extarica of the manufactures and the
trade of the mother country by the demand foe
home products in the colonies; the onisequent
impulse given to industry at home ; and the opportunities
to industrious labourers to emigrate to countries where
land Is cheap and wages higher; and that if a colony did not
accomplish these objects, but became a source of expense to
the mother country, or if the colonists should, by regula-
tions and restrictions, choose to embarraas the trade
between the mother country and them then in
such cases the parental design bad been fru.
trated, and the relations on which the settlement
had been based no longer existed in healthy action.
He pointed out bow, by protection duties, and otherwise,
this injurious result was, in his opinion, brought about.
He gene in great detail the statistics showing the
coat of the colonies to this country, and his object was
to prove that we did not receive an adequate return
for this outlay. In former times we had a monopoly of
the colonial trade, and were supposed to derive some sort of
exclusive advantage, which, in effect, amounted on the part
of the colonies to a position of disadvantage and taxation
of them ; but since then colonial affairs had became so far
changed that the colonists were now taxing the mother
country. They were now entirely independent in the conduct
of their foreign trade, and their commerce with this country
would not be diminished if they were themselves celled
upon to defend tLeir own territories, and to provide for
the religious and other wants of their people. Mr. Ash-
worth was of opinion that the present system had bad its
day, and the result bad been a mortifying disclosure of M-
enaces'.

A discussion ensued in which Sir Daniel Cooper, Messrs.
M. H. Rank, M.P., Herman Merle*le, A. F. Ridgway. P.
Gramm. J. Crawford, W. Hawes, H. Ashworth. sad others
took part.

Tit PARTHENON Cum.—The leasehold property
knows as the Parthenon Club. Regentwtreet, oomprising
the north wing and greater portion of the pile of huddle's
of which the Gallery of Illustration forms the south wing,
was yesterday offered for sale by auction, pursuant to an
order of the Court of Chancery, by Means. 1/nrebrother sad
On., at Gangway's Cafes-house. The property is held for
the mike, wanting one day, of • Crown lease for an un-
invited term of 56 years, at a grouod rent of 100/. per
wan. The bidding, commenced at 10,0001., and reached
to 16,9001., when the auctioneer declared the property to be
withdrawn. _ _

THII RETRGRENTATION or MALLOW.—The name
of Mr. Serjeant Sullivan ia, we are informed. eery generally
spoken of in connexion with the next election for Mallow.
From the popularity of the learned gentleman, and the jut
ride his fellow•towmmen feel in his career, Owe is nisi
reason for attaching credence to the communication which
has reached ne.—Cork Herald.

The eseiling• drama of the war has for a.time
been shifted 'hem the valley of the Mississippi aad
Cumberland to the mouth of the James River, and
the results have been both varied and izepoftant
On Saturday noon the officers at Fortress Monroe
saw something moving towards Newport News,
which bed the appearance of a sunken homes with
its roofjusi above the surface, and a long chimney
sending forth its smoke. As it came nemewthe
rebel flag was seen floating in the breme, and sobit
the truth flashed on their minds. It was the long
looked for Merrimac. She was on her trial trip,
and now we are able to glean some results (rein her
encounters. As long as it was a contest between
sailing wooden vessels on the one band, and iron
steamers on the other, the battle was man decided.
One firm strong blow from the iron beak stove e
hole in the side of the Cumberland, while the Con-
rem saes stamekler onions. These two Federal
ships were 90 years old, and therefore moo no
match for the iron-clad steam frigate. The
next day a new combatant entered the
list. The Mofiitor, known as the Ericsson
battery, to which mention was made in a
farmer letter, arrived at Fortress Moores on the
previous evening ; on the morning following she
steamed towards Newport News, and was attached
by the Merrimac and the two rebel gunboats. The
icemen met now on more equ4terms—it was steam
and iron engaged in a trial of strength. The con-
test continued for fine .bons without cessation.
The two grappled in the strife. The Monitor
threw round balls of 183 pounds and conical balls
of 350 pounds. She compelled her foes to retire,
and uninjured maintained the superiority. We
have not as yet full and macerate details of this
naval battle, but enough is known to establish a
few points. It proved the strength and power of
iron to resist ordinary cannon bells. The broad-
side of the Cumberland was as harmless as a pop-
gun. In the presence of the Merrimac ordinedy
wooden sailing vessels were useless. Whether a
steam frigate like the Minnesota would be able by
rapid manceuvring to grapple with and board the
Merrimac remains to be proved, but this
trial established the superiority of the Monitor.
She is one of several iron steam vessels built under
an act of Congress, authorizing proposals. This
was the battery designed by an accomplished and
skilful engineer, Mr. Ericsson. By the terms of
the contract the Monitor was to be tried before
acceptance. Her timely arrival and essential ser-
vice have settled the question. The government will
not be long in deciding. Mr. Ericsson has always
expressed the strongest confidence in the success of
his design, and his name is now repeated by twenty
millions of people with heartfelt praise and thanks-
giving. . .

This, however, is but the beginning of naval war-
fare under iron roofs. The wooden Federal vessels
were taken by surprise. Probably the reports that
the Merrimac would not float bad misled them.
Be that as it may, the officers did not seem to be
folly prepared for such a foe. U the Monitor had
not arrived the rebel iron frigate would have
proved very formidable, and might have swept the
Chesapeake Bay. Both vessels were apparently
well handled, and the Merrimac yielded in the trial
of strength to the superiority of the Ericsson bat-
tery. After a five hours' contest the latter was un-
harmed. What is to prevent her from confronting
I the guns of Norfolk ? Soon events will answer.
Leaving now these stirring scenes, let us pass to
Washington and New York, and glance at the
armee there acted. If these are less exciting,
they are not less important, and are more lasting
in their results.

PORTUGAL

(nom oui owl

LISBON, Maim 19.
As you have learned by the telegraph, a royal
decree has prorogued both Chambers of the Cortes
until the 22nd April next. This proceeding appears
to be only preliminary to a dissolution of the
Chamber of Deputies, and an appeal to the country
by the ministers, who are decidedly in a minority.
The King, it is believed, will consent to this extreme
measure to prevent the possibility of Count Timmer
returning to power. Senbor Josef Estevao, the
first orator of Portugal, appears to have succeeded
,the Marquis de Lould as leader of the chief
political club, and the influence of his voice in the
house will now go far with the members. It is
rumoured that, in event of a change of ministry—
and either a modification or a total change appears
inevitable—the portfolio of Finance will be given to
Jost; Eugenio d'Almeida, a wealthy and capable
man, and one likely to benefit that branch of the
executive. The future, however, must bring a so-
lution to the many rumours which are afloat.
It is a pity that Portuguese htatesmen can-
not be practical ani. do something for their
country, instead of wasting tropes and metaphors
upon subjects of no importances—reminding us of
what Dr. Johnson said about Sheridan the elder,
burning a farthing candle at Dover to throw light
into Calais. Why do they not talk about the
tariff, law reform, public works, taxation ; in
fact, about the way in which everything is lost
through mal-administration 1
The screw steamer Vasco da Game has been char-
tered by government to convey to London the
articles intended for the Great Exhibition. She is
now ready for sea.