The Express.
London, England, 1862-06-03 00:00:00

health, or who had been temporarily deprived of
employment by reduction. But theme objects were
so completely lost sight of, that in 1854 it
had become usual for an officer to retire on halt-
pay whenever he found it inconvenient to go with
his regiment. The result was, that about that
year a regulation was made by which "no officer
" could be put on half-pay except by medical car-
" tificate, unless he had served 21 years." At
least, so said Mr. SIDWIT HERBERT in 1857 ; and
in 1861 a new regulation was made by which no
officer was allowed to be put upon half-pay until
after a service of 25 years as a commissioned
officer on full pay. Now is it true or is it not
true that Colonel Arson CAWLEY/MR BEICTIRCK
has been placed on half-pay t The fact is not to be
denied, for is it not written in the Gazette f Bat
he has not served the requisite time. Why is
it then that be has been allowed this excep-
tional privilege ? Age, wounds, or ill health
are the only titles to half-pay, but Colonel
BINTINCH has suffered from none of these misfor-
tunes. He has been disabled from serving by
nothing except by want of judgment, want of
temper, and want of intelligence. His years
have only increased his original defects of cha-
racter ; and as for wounds, ho has inflicted
more on the character of his brother officers
lend on the service than he has ever received in
ithe defence of his country. He has no doubt
spent a certain sum of money on his commission,
and he improbably anxious not to lose the advantage
which the position of Lieutenant-Colonel entails.
In the absence of other virtues, let us do justice
to that of economy, even though it be at the ex-
pense of the public service. It is an amiable
weakness in a Royal Duke to take an interest in
the pecuniary concerns of one of his officers who
has a Dukedom in prospect. But the public natu-
rally desires to know upon what principle even a
Royal Duke is to be permitted to set aside the
regulations which have been solemnly promulgated
by the War-office, and by which Mr. SIDRZY
HIRBERT declared that the Secretary of War was
bound. If the half-pay list is to be used
as a sort of trap-door down which officers
convicted of incompetence are to be with-
drawn from the public gaze and maintained
at the public expense—then let this whole system
be explained in the House of Commons. If the
advocates of retrenchment are serious, let them
ask the WAR SECRETARY why it is that Colonel
BErrrnrca has been permitted to retire on half-
pay 4 Other officers have been refused this privi-
lege, and there are other ways of getting rid of in-
competent officers. Why was not the same option
placed before Colonel Beirrnem as was placed
before Captain ROBLE:MN f Captain ROBRILTION
had made himself obnoxious. His retirement was
declared necessary for the good of the service. And
what was done in his case 1: He was offered the
alternative of selling his commission or of standing
a court-martial. He stood the court-martial, and
was acquitted. But his acquittal places Colonel
BErerrscx, his commanding officer, very much in
the position in which Captain ROSIRTRON had
stood. If the Duke of Cinnamon., Sir Gitoniaa
Baowir, and all the officers of the Staff of the
British Army thought that Captain Rosawrsorr
ought either to sell out or stand a court-martial, it
is impossible to understand why the same neces-
sity ought not to be imposed upon Colonel BEN-
TINCE. At all events, it is clear that this officer
is the last man who ought to be allowed to claim
the privilege of half-pay.
If the present House of Commons still enter-
tained any sense of responsibility to those who
elected it—if there were any genuine desire to

THE EXPENHITUER DEBATE TO-RIGHT.

It is tuederetdiod that the oroendmente of Lord
Robed Monahre, Mr. Hunan, and Mr. Darby OHS& are
to be wittrirawn, low* before the boon the Mead
motels of tie member ter Halifax, the amendment wining
from the government, end the amendment. of Mr. Walpole
and Sir F. Smith, of the opposition.

Sir Frederic Smith proposes, as an arcendment to the
second paragraph of Viscount Palmerston's amendment to
Mr. Stendeld's motion, to leave out the words after
" observes," and to insert the words " that although some
reductions have been made in the national expenditure,
reductions may be carried much further without detriment
to the public service, and that the present oonditbn of the
finances of the country renders this proceeding urgently
neccesary."

A meeting of 188 members of the conservative party took
place at half-past 2 o'clock yesterday afternoos, at the
Duke of Marlborough's hones in St. James's-egusre. The
assembly included the members of both breathes of the legis-
lature—the Esal of Derby, the Earl of Oarnervou, the
Bight Hon. B. Disraeli, the Right Hon. Sir W. H. Jolliffe,
Sir John Pakicgtoo, the Right Hon. C. B. Addirley, Sir
Hugh Cairns, Sir Stafford Northoote, Colonel lkylor,
The Earl of Derby was first to address his political friends,
and roads a long speech as to his own views on political
affairs, more particularly on the finances of the country
during the last two years. His lordship was loudly
applauded at the conclusion of his speech, which appeared
to give the utmost Illtistaction to his supporters in both
Houses of Parliament. It is said that while the expendi-
ture on the army and navy was accepted as a neceesity be-
yond present control, "the fortunate heir of a great name
and a great fortune," as the Tina describes him, delivered
it se his opinion that all her Majesty's civil servants were
overpaid, from the ambassador at Paris to the vice-consul at
Ningpo. The amendment of which Mr. Walpole subse-
quently gave notice in the House of Commons was read to
the meeting, and approved of amidst loud cheering.

THE BALLOT.

The bill brought int 3 the House of Commons by
Yr. H. Berkeley and Lord Fermoy, to cause the votes of
parliamentary electors to be takes by way of ballot, contains
seventeen clauses and the following schedule :
" Form of Voting Paper to be used at Elections.
"[County, city, or borough] of
" Election of [here insert number] members.
"Candidates.
"[Hen insert names of candidates alphabetically.]
" Directions.

"The voter is to strike out the name or names of the
candidate or candidates for whom he does not intend to
vote by drawing a line through the same. He must be
careful not to leave not struck out the names of more
candidates than are capable of being returned, namely
[here insert number] members, otherwise his vote will be
of no effect. If he cannot read he may require the re-
turning officer or deputy returning officer to strike out
for him such =me or names as he may direct. The
ballot paper so marked by or for the voter is to be
dropped by bim into the ballot box, folded so as to exhibit
only the stamp on the back. The voter is not to take his
ballot paper out of the ballot room or polling booth, nor to
exhibit his paper after the names are erased to any person,
otherwise his vote will be of no affect. If this paper bears
the name of any voter, or any mark, impremion, or device
designed to distinguish it from other papers, it will be in-
valid, and not counted as a vote."

economise—the War Minister would be taken to
task for permitting so scandalous a waste of the pub-
lic funds. But apathy is the order of the day,
and Parliament contents itself with debating
abstract resolutions instead of passing a vote of
censure upon a War Minister who permits a
Royal Duke and his familiar friends to squander
the public money on his own favourites, aad to
shelter incompetent officers at the public cost.

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, JUNE 3,

• LATBEIt INTELLIGENCE.

%WM% ITLZGRAD
AMERICA.

ADVANCE OF THE FEDERAL ARMY.

NSW YORK, MAT 23, Swaim

(Per Jura via Quebec and Londonderry.)
A portion of General M'Clellan's army have
crossed the Chickahominy at Bottoms Bridge.
The second division crossed the Chickahominy at
New Bridge, seven miles further up, and within
eight miles of Richmond.

The Federal advance is reported to be five miles
from Richmond, to which point the Confederates
have fallen back, makine but slight efforts to check
the Federal&

It is rumoured that General Beauregard has
arrived at Richmond, and that General Bragg
commands at Corinth.

The New York Times is of opinion that the Con-
federates will evacuate Richmond without fighting.
All accounts received, however, represent that
the Confederates will offer a vigorous resistance at
Richmond.

It is rumoured, but not confirmed, that the Con-
federates have fallen back from Fort Wright to
Fort Randolph.
The Confederates are pressing vigorously on
General Banks' column, and have attempted to
burn the bridge lately erected by the Fedoras
across the Shenandoah.

A collision has occurred at Washington between
the military and civil authorities on the fugitive

slave question.
The. Memphis papers state that the Federal fleet
has arrived at Vicksburg, in the Mississippi, with-
out meeting any resistance, and that it has left
Vicksburg for Memphis.
The Federal War Department has issued a call
to several States for a fresh levy of volunteers. It
is asserted that this new levy will amount to 50,000
men.

Semi-official Washington despatches state that
M. Mercier visited Richmond unofficially without
instructions from the French government, and that
Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Seward entirely approved his
going.

K Mercier, on hie return, communicated the
impressions he had received to President Lincoln
and Mr. Seward.
The New York Journal of Commerce thinks there
is no reason to believe that the war will be ended
this summer, unless there be a revolution in the
Southern States.

Letters from New Orleans represent the people
generally in a state of sullen submission.
The Federal fleet has captured the British steamer
Circassian near Key West.

The United Stated, District Court has ordered
the restitution of the British steamer Delman, the
seizure being declared illegal.
The City of Baltimore, Borussia, and Anglo-
Saxon have arrived out.

NEW YORK, MAY 24, EVEMPO.
(By Telegraph from Farther Point.)

The mayor and city councilmen of Norfolk have
refused to take the oath of allegiance to the Fede-
ral government. A generally rebellious spirit
having shown itself in the town, General Wool has
declared martial law, and announced that Norfolk
would be cut off from trade and commerce unless
the people returned to their allegiance.
General Banks officially reports that the Confede-
ates have driven the Federal Colonel Bentley's
command from Port Royal, with considerable loss
of Federal" in killed, wounded, and prisoners. The
Confederates now probably occupy Port Royal.

CIAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW YORK, BUT A Evincnta.

(Pe: Jura, vii Loodoliderry.)

Money abundant. Gold 3} premium.
Exchange very firm. Bankers' bills, 114.
Stocks dull. New York Central, 88. Illinois,
61. Erie, 37g.
Cotton advancing. Sales, 2,000 bales. Middling
Upland, 28 to 284.
Flour firmer, moderate demand. Wheat ad-
vancing. Corn, good inquiry. Provisions quiet.
Coffee very firm. Sugar, good demand. Molasses
quiet. •