The Express.
London, England, 1847-01-06 00:00:00

lower grade. None should be granted below a certain
standard, comprising such points as may ensure an ade-
quate degree of competence and education in all whom
the State employs. But those who have qualified them-
selves for a higher scale, by careful studies in a direction
which it should be the duty of the heads of each de-
partment to indicate, should be enabled to prove their
superior pretensions, by claiming a more enlarged
trial ; and having gone through it well, should be cer-
tified as eligible for a superior class of places, at once.
By such means, ambition would be excited; a motion
given to industry; and a means found for distinguish-
ing and employing the best man. For none of which
objects, our present system seems to contain any dis-
tinct provision at all.
These are mere hints ; and more, in the present
state of this question, it would be presumptuous to
offer. Let it once be determined to handle it in good
earnest; let the necessity of amendment, and the
desire for something better, be felt ; and the means of
revising the plan will not long be wanting. At
present, the whole subject of Official Employments
and Appointments lies in a confused chaotic state,
and it would be a task well worthy of the highest
statesmanship to reduce its elements to some-
thing like order. The ground might be broken
by the appointment of a Parliamentary Com-
mittee, or of a well-chosen Commission, to report on
the working of our extant system (if system we
may call it); to inquire into the regulations which are
in force in other countries ; and to attempt to lay the
foundation of some plan, for our own, that may at
least promise a less precarious supply. of competence,
capacity, and diligence, than our existing method of
trusting to the mere chances of patronage, can be
expected to afford. It is not very creditable to
England, that, on a subject of such importance, we
have not yet arrived even at the point of admitting
the necessity of some improvement. This step, at
least, we trust our remarks may contribute to hasten;
and so lead to inquiry, the result of which, if honestly
made, can hardly fail to be improving.

The court journals represent the manner of Lord
Normanby towards her Majesty and her Royal
Highness the Duchess de Montpensier at the presen-
tation of the address as full of enTressement, and in
the highest degree polished. The opposition organs
admit the politeness, but for the empressement substi-
tute " coldness pushed to an extreme." Both pictures
err in the strength of the colouring. Lord Normanby,
in fact, behaved on the occasion as a polished gentle-
man and the representative of a great nation ought to
behave in a mere court ceremony, and neither more
nor less.
The reception which was to have taken place at the
Tuileries on Sunday evening was changed to the
evening of Tuesday, the cause alleged being the indis-
position of the Queen. An impression, however, pre-
vailed that the fatigue of Friday rendered it advisable
that the King should have repose.
The King of the Belgians was expected in Paris on
Monday evening, by a special train. Our correspond-
ent informs us that he would prolong his sojourn at
Paris until the opening of the Chambers.
The Daily News was received in Paris on Monday
morning with the triumphant Trieste express of the
Indian news. Considerable disappointment was, of
course, felt by the partisans of the Marseilles route,
who allege that Mr. Waghorn had the start of the
Marseilles steamer from Alexandria by a considerable
time, and that this was the cause of the present re-
sult.. Be this as it may, however, the journalists of
Paris are struck with the great fact that the Daily
News in its "isolation" has beaten the " quadruple "
alliance. _ . .

------
The Epoque professes to give the true version of
what took place relative to the address of the diplo-
matic body presented to the king upon New Year's-

day.
It is known that the diplomatic body gave to the nuncio
the right of addressing the king in the name of all the am-
bamadors. Whatever the Constitutionnel may say to the
contrary, if anything important has taken place during the
year, the person who is to deliver the speech always commu-
nicces to his colleagues at least the passage that has refer-
ence to it. This year the marriage of the Duke de Mont-
pensier, respecting which it was natural to felicitate the
king, became a subject of difficulty for the address of the
diplomatic corps, on account of the protest of the British
cabinet and the instructions given to Lord Normanby. On
the one hand, the ambassadors of the cabinets which had
favoured and accepted the marriage were naturally desirous
of complimenting the royal family upon it; on the other
hand, it was necessary that the compliment, being paid in the
name of England also, should be drawn up in terms which
would permit Lord Normanby to subscribe to it. On this account
therefore, the nuncio had submitted them to the British am-
bassador, who alone could appreciate them with reference to
his official position. We must here do justice to the noble
lord by saying that he neglects no effort to bring the two
governments to a friendly understanding. Ile therefore
desired that the phrases on the marriage might be in such
terms that he could adhere to them without violating his
instructions ; and the visit which he afterwards paid to the
king was the most eloquent comment that could be made
upon them. It is impossible, in our opinion, to appreciate
too highly in the noble lord so prudent a conduct, each step
of which has its value for the puce and liberty of Europe.
Thus the speech of the diplomatic corps contains a felicita-
tion to the king on the marriage. of the youngest of his chil-
dren; everybody finds this in it, and the king has replied
to it. The speaker indeed has turned it in such a way as to
induce the British ambassador to accept it, but this fact, far
from making us regret the delicacy of the terms of the
nuncio, is, on the contrary, a reason for thanking him for
doing so."
The Courier Franrais says :
Since the Debate shows itself so satisfied with the
speech of the apostolic nuncio, the double renunciation
is, in fact, decided on. What has given so much offence
to the powers, particularly England, in the marriage, is
the political importance which has been attributed to it.
It was therefore necessary to remove all cause of offence
to the powers, and the following is the manner in which
it is said the thing is to be effected. A European congress
was, it is known, earnestly solicited by the cabinet of
the Tuileries. Austria refused to submit the incorporation
of Cracow to this congress, and why ? It was the
question put forward by the cabinet of the Tuileties ; and
the following, according to the German journals, is the
solution:—lf a new European congress were to be assem-
bled, Spain must naturally form part of it. But Queen
Isabella has not been recognised by the powers, and it is
this which renders the congress impossible. What is to be
done? Obtain from the powers the recognition of the Queen
of Spain. But how? In renewing the renunciation of the
Duke of Orleans to the throne of Spain by that of the Duke
de Montpensier, and in accepting the bases of the peace of
Utrecht. This plan is very simple, and England will content
herself with it. The interdiction which weighs on the Queen
of Spain would no longer remain as an objection for the
powers, and the much-desired congress would become possi-
ble. This congress, is in fact, the "prevailing idea of the
government ; it would stand in history as the first great
European act of the new dynasty. Besides, all the diffi-
culties resulting from the Spanish marriages and the incor-
poration of Cracow, would be thus removed. By the double
renunciation, the mouth of England would be closed; by a
congress, that measure would bejustitied to the country ; and
to those who should ask what has been done about Poland,
the reply would be mots congreesons.

The Reforme says:
We copied, ,yesterday, the official document of the Mo-
ositeur, indicating that the price of wheat had risen in all the
markets of France during the month of December. It was
hoped, dining the last ten days, that the price of corn would
either decrease or remain stationary, as is generally the case
after a continued rise. The news received from the depart-
ments, for two or three days, preclude such a hope. The
markets were everywhere badly supplied, the quanti-
ties of wheat exposed for sale being barely sufficient for
local consumption ; and in many places the millers wanted
grain, and the bakers could not procure flour. As to trade,
it was entirely at an end. In a great number of localities
the small farmers have nothing in their barns, and will find
is extremely difficult to live until the next crop. Should
the cold continue intense the embarassments will necessarily
augment. Not only is the navigation interrupted by the ice
on the canals, and the internal circulation impeded, but the
arrivals from foreign countries have considerably decreased,
in consequence of the ice and the inclemency of the season.
Marseilles and Cette, it, the south; Havre and Dunkirk, in
the north—that is, the principal harbours of importation—
have seen scarcity succeed to abundance. At Marseilles a
deficiency has already manifested itself, and the price of wheat
had increased, and now exceeded what it was previous to the
fall. At Havre the price of wheat and flour was also aug-
menting. The barrel of American flour, which sold for 40fr.
eight days ago, now fetches 42fr. In the districts adjoining
Paris a rise took place on Saturdy in moat of the markets,
and the supply was extremely scanty. At Rouen, Montivil.
fiers, Proving, Melva, Charleville, and Lille, wheat increased
in value one franc per hectolitre ; and at Nogent-le-Roy, Or-
leans .Clermont, Chateaudun, Coulommiers Lagny, Pont St.
Maxence, Etampes, Rambouillet, and Beauvais. the rite
was from 33 to 66 centimes per hectolitre. This augmenta-
tion, which is nearly general, will certainly affect the Paris
market, where the prices were very firm during the last
week. Bread is already very dear. In 109 it had not
reached the present price, 47c. per kilogramme, the highest
having been 45c. It was apprehended that it would undergo
another augmentation in the month of January.

The Madrid Gazette of the 29th gives the pro-
gramme of the ceremonial of the opening of the
Cortes, at which all the members of the royal family,
including the Queen-mother, were to have been pre-
sent. Her Majesty, accompanied by the King, was
to leave the palace at one o'clock, and proceed in state
to the Chamber of Deputies, preceded by the other
members of the royal family and chiefs of the
household.