The Express.
London, England, 1847-03-18 00:00:00

argument, save a theoretic one, against it's probable t
McCall We shall therefore say little ma the subject
of the passing of the ten hour clause. It is a fail
accompis as much as the extinction of Cracow.
Nor perhaps should we quarrel with one of the
manifest results of the Reform Bill, in the influence
acquired by the lower and operative classes. We
cannot deny, that they are somewhat entitled to point
out the particular mode of their relief. And their
demand of leisure and learning for wives, children,
and selves, is, for a democratic desire, certainly not
arrogant ; it is fairly meant, and we have now bat to
kope that the experiment may succeed both for them
and their masters. It cannot succeed or fail for one,
without seriously affecting the other.
The hazards braved do not appear to us less serious
than at first. The diminution of the value of ma-
' chinery by an artificial limit on its efficiency ; the
diversion of capital from factory investments through
the feeling of insecurity ; the advantages ceded to rival
nations where no curtailment is threatened in
the number of working hours; lastly, the fear that
the bill can only attain the end proposed at the
cost of a sacrifice of wages to be made by those
whom it should protect, were all enumerated in the
debate. The result has been, in spite of the protest
of every member connected with manufactures, a deci-
sion that these hazards are to be encountered. Yet we
are more apprehensive about the precedent thus esta-
blished thi.i about the immediate effects of the bill
itself. One result may immediately be foreseen, which
is an universal adoption of all recent improvements
in machinery ; and the, with the spur given to in-
vention, will probably in a short time bring in)
our machine power nearly to its present effi-
ciency. But when this is done is there to
be more interference ? Are we to look forward
to a regulation of time and mode of working in every
trade successively? Is hand labour to be brought in,
and measured out, entered, and certified under penal-
ties to be levied before justices, like the hosiery enact-
ments of Sir H. HALFORD'S bill P Is agricultural
labour to be exempt from curtailing enactments? Or
is this to be declared a final measure ?

We miss the opinions of legal authorities on the
right of one portion of the community to prescribe
restrictions to the legal and laudable exertions of
another portion. This part of the subject will, of
course, not go unchallenged in the upper house, where
four chancellors, of various political opinions, sit in
judgment. For our own part, we do not see how the
bill is to produce the effect expected of it, without a
supplementary regulation of wages. From wages,
the step to rents and profits is short and easy, and
the temptation is strong.
We have given away the facilities afforded by
paper currency to trade ; we are now about to give
up an element of manufacturing power in a manner
calculated to produce a similar effect. Let us hope
that at least the appeals in favour of this measure were
freely made by those who risk most by its being carried,
as there can be little doubt that the silence of those
operatives who may chance to see the tendency of the
bill has been construed into consent

The Paris journals of Tuesday, with the letters of
our correspondent, have arrived.
Various visits were in between the
Tuileries and the hotel of the owager Queen of
Spain in the rue de Courcelles. Her husband, the
Duke of Rianzares, was received by the king and
princes at the Tuileries on Monday. As might easily
have been expected, a multitude of rumours and on-ditr
are in circulation in Paris respecting her majesty and
her family relations. No doubt is entertained that a
coolness and estrangement have arisen between the
Duchess of Rianzares and Queen Isabella ; the latter
has, in fact, rebelled against the maternal authority, and
repelled the officious interference attempted to be exer-
cised by the Queen Dowager, in the affairs of the state.
It is also said that the young queen's eyes have bees
opened to the real circumstances which preceded the
marriage into which she has been drawn. The fol-
lowing extract from La Petrie will afford a specimen
of the talk of Paris on this subject at torment :
When Maria Christina bade farewell to the young queen,
the latter showed so much indifference that nature could
not stand it ; the ex-regent shed bitter tears ; and as she
entered her carriage, she saw her daughter retire towards
her apartments, unwilling to be present at the scene of de-
parture. All that she could give utterance to, with a voice
choking with emotion, was " lingrate !" For some time
past the young queen has thrown off all constraint, and
wishes to eanjonytrfect liberty. She refused to listen to her
sou m mother's , and treated the daughters of M. Munoz
with the greatest coldness. But it is not the authority of
her mother abate that Queen Isabella has thrown off • she
treats ::nil Ferdinand as if he war not her husband. When
he retires to rest at the palace, the queen goes out
to bells with her favourite ladies of honour, and,
after • night of pleasure and dancing, retiree to her
own apartments. A divorce de facto exists between
them, and the mutual antiLthizir they felt for each
other before the intrigue of the soon manifested it.
self, notwithstanding all the efforts of . &neon and Maria
Christina; and it daily increases. The king's conscience re-
. yswahr for having married his cousin, and on his knees
macifix he daily invokes the pardcm et his de.
parted somber. This state of mind of the king was kept up
by a pines who was under the surveillance of the pollee,
sad who has been sent away from Madrid. The palate has
haseme the scene of hatred and of discord, and the most un-
asemlyworda are uttered in the royal apertmenta. Theonly sen.
Henan Isabella and Ferdinand have in common is • violent
maw 'plait Maria Cbristiaa, who brought about the mar-
lbw sad as • pease et the antipathy they nourish towards
ireemasmed that try are disposed to enter into
wham with Isedend.
Omni Oresern, who is now in Paris, is giving the
serrnmeat much embarrassment by his obstinate
rabid to return to his post at Madrid. He insists on
the hillipirnat of the promise given to him to renal
him Om Spain as soon as the marriages should have
been moomplishecl.
The diplomatic changes which are reported to be in
contemplation are, the recall, at kis own desire, of M.
de St. Aulaire from London, and the removal of the
Duke of Montebello from Naples to the Cabinet of St.
James's, M. Erasion taking
.the place of the latter.
The police made a domiciliary visit on Sunday at
the hotel of the Baron de Pignol, the object of which
was said to be, according to L' Union ifonarchi fur, the
discovery of the source of the pecuniary aid whichhe
was charged to distribute to the poor. It was &mind
to know by what persons these contributioas were
made. This proceeding seemed to have been attended
with no important alms t.
Grain riots have again broken out in the depart-
ments.
Letters from Pisa of the 7th instant bring the in-
telligence that a political movement took place in that
city on the occasion of the arrival of the Archduke
Ferdinand d'Eete, nephew of the Emperor of Austria,
who had been civil and military governor of Oahe'
daring the massacre* of last sear. In the coma ef
the day crowds assembled in front of the ss
where he was staying, for the purpose
.of
their disapprobation whenever he might
public. The authorities called out the
and dispersed these assemblages. At Waded, a
loud report was heard, which spread alarm through
the town. It appeared that a petard had been depo-
sited in the cellars of the palace, which had been diii-
ohar by • train. The explosion shook the build-
ing, Merilmg the windows, and those of the adjacent
houses. A great agitation prevailed in the town.
Placards were every day posted in the streets con-
taining offensive invective against the Austrians. The
police were actively employed, and mortal arrests had
taken place.
The Grand Duke had decided to hareems the
troops of the line.
A letter from Algiers, of the 6th, mentions that one
of the largest tribes of Morocco bad made an attack
upon the dens of Abd-el-Kader near Seers, in which
the Emir lost about fifty men. This is mentioned as
one of the most important events which has occurred
since the occupation of Africa by the French arms.
The funeral of M. Martin du Nord is to be
solemnised with great pomp this morning. M.
Martin du Nord having died when actually
a cabinet minister, it has been resolved that the
funeral earnest, which will be considerable, shall be
defrayed by the state. This has excited lively ani-
madversions on the part of the press. The deceased
minister has left a fortune which is estimated at above
70,0004 He was a provincial barrister, and on his
arrival in Paris sixteen yeses ego, be was in pos-
hasseden. taabou ginoB •013,0001.,ted by fortunate the resaunderatesich commercial
The letters and journals hum Madrid of the 11th
have been received.
for. It
-
called fsorPeeacnhinoqfniryM. Segasti
into the mode e
in inamichwhichwillethe.
had
tune left by Ferdinand VII. to his daughters
been disposed of. The documents moved for were
the wills of Charles IV. and Ferdinand VII., an the
deeds appointing the suoceseion of the latter es e!o-
-reigns lk inventory taken immediately atter WI