The Express.
London, England, 1847-04-09 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING', APRIL 9, 1847.

agricultural production, will induce hint gradually to con-
form his own earlier views to those of the sounder and more
liberal policy which her Majesty's present ministers are so
honestly and efficiently carrying out. In such ease we shall not
despair of Lnrd Worcester's conversion by his hon. colleague's
example; and we should hell the El:tab/011 of two gentlemen
who possess eo much of the respect of their party, not with the
selfish gratulatisn of, party triumph, but with the respect and
consideration due to those who can bring themselves to make
great sacrifices of past political gradations to eonscientious
conviction', when they once have formed these, though their
tendency Inc in very different directions. The western divi-
sion is represented by Mr. Blagden Hale, • " staunch Con-
servative," and by Mr. Grantley Berkeley, who calls himself
" a Whig." From his close connexion with so intelligent a
constitueney as the Gloucestershire farmers and graziers,
whom he represents, we have every hope that, ere long, wo
shall see Mr. Hale contributing his aid to the diffusion of
those principles of unfettered commercial policy aed of poli-
tical liberelity, to the salutary influences of which it is not
possible that any gentleman of knowledge and intelligence
can much longer close his eyes. 'I to the gradual ope-
ration of such convictions—convictions that we be-
lieve to be inevitable—we confidently look for each a
fusion of parties as shall effectually extinguish the
last energies of a destructive monopoly, andadvence the oh-
jecte of that only legitimate combination which acts consist-
ently and continuously for the true benefit of the masses. We
can only hope that Mr. Grantley Berkeley's whig preposet s-
sem', which ho somewhat ostentatiously obtrudes on his
county admirer", may not induce him at any time to under-
take the ail rocaey of these principles. If we may judge by
the result which has attended his attempt. at vindicating the
Game-lawn, the result of such efforts would be the exact con-
verse of the conclusion that his premises would attempt to
es ablish. No person, being in his senses, can read Mr.
Cratatley Berkeley's "Plea for the Genie-laws" without ad-
mitting that it has the accidental merit of making a very
good case against them. The same negative praise, that is,
the praise of producing a certain amount of good unintention-
ally, is due to Mr. Berkeley for Loring the public with the
squabbles between himself and his brother. Nothing
can he in worse taste, or more supremely absurd, than
the grove delusion under which thin gentleman writes,
that such expositions are • something " due to the public."
The public dee; not care one rush abort all the worthless
private history or politico-private interests connected with
Berkeley Castle, its owner, or its owner's connexions of
any kind. But Mr. Grantley Berkeley has written enough
to provincial as well u London editete, to show that Glee
cestershire electors would indeed he very silly people if,
after suck controversies, they could be induced to uphold
such • family influence at the expense of one drachm of
consistency or principle. It would be very questionable
whether the Berkeley influence had not been too long para-
mount in one division of their county, had it been recom-
mended even by high pretensions of mural conduct, of intel-
lectual endowment, or of political consideration oat the part
of those who wielded it.
The journals of the House of Commons comprise an entry
in relation to this county which is probably the earliest on
record, to show that, as Oldfield expresses it, " it is so far
unnecessary to be a candid/to, in order to be a member,
that a person may be chosen and returned, without either
his knowledge or consent." For cur parts, we think
that this is tee affirmation of a great constitutional principle.
Ia periods of public peril and exigency it ought not to be
in the option of an individual selected by the unsolicited
carefree of his compatriots, to refuse the honourable distinc-
tion of representing them, when they have once conferred it
—unless, indeed, on some very special grounds of personal
exemption. April 9, 1694, the committee and the house
determined, " That Sir Thomas Bateourt, having a majo-
rity of votes on the poll, WIN duly elected, and returned,
although he had declared at the election that he desired not
to he chosen." In April, 1640, the committee of privileges,
touching the election of Sir Robert Tracey, reported that
they found " many misdemeanours in the said election, and
were, therefore, of opinion that Sir Humphrey Trecey, sheriff
of the county of Gloucester, should be sent fur ass delin-
quent, by the serjeant-atarms"—which order was rescinded
an Isle. George's undertaking fur the appearance of Sir
Humphrey. There are other entries in 1662, 1695, and
1702, touching petitions from Sir John Guise, Bart., against
the several returns of Sir Baynham Throekmorton, Mr.
Howard, Mr. Stevens, and Mr. Howe ; but there is nothing
peculiar in these election petition cases. In Jo, e, 1776,
" the Hon. George Berkeley, and a number of freeholders,
petitioned minima the return of W. B. Chester, Esq., and
the partiality shown by the high sheriff of the county,
See.' Out of this case arose the first material imprave-
ments in the registration of land-tax assessments.
The merits of the petition were tried in 1777. It appeared
to the committee that the owners of many estates paid no
lend tax directly Smell estates carried nut of larger, had
been parchased free fron land tax, i.e., the owner of the
principal estate paid the tax for the whole after the dismem-
berment, and wits rated for it. In the course of a few years
it often became difficult for the owner of the parcel to prove
that hie land was assessed or paid for. The next entry in
this case is an amusing example of parliamentary infallibi-
lity. A difficulty arises by reason of divers electors having
one and the same name. The committee solve it, net by any
resolution to proceed with the examination of that individual
who can speak to the moat important matters under come-
demeion, or give the beet evidence to such facts as
hear most stringently on the questions referred to
them ; but by • " heads or tails" species of divi-
nation. There were three voters of the name of
" John Ballenger," of the same place Resolved—" That
as several John Ballenger* appear on the poll, the evidence
shall be confined to the John Beilonger who pobed on the
first day." The committee, after a three mouths' sitting,
declereil the sitting member duly elected ; finding, at the
same time, no cause to impeach the conduct of the high
sheriff.
The existing family paramountship influencing the elec-
tions for this county, is that of the Duke of Beaufort in
the easteni division, and that of the Earl Fitzhardinge (suc-
ceeding to the ancient influence of the earldom of Berkeley)
in the western division. It ie meet probable, however, this
paramountship cannot long =rain itself against the multi-
plied and important relations with the county at large of
other great houses, such as the De Clifford* Sherbornes,
Norfolk', Bathurets, Iterientales, Dudes, &c., the well-known
families of Codrineton, Hale, Hope, Charteris, Astleys,
pingeotte, (lithe, Cockerel!, Bench, Boevy, Bethell, Codling-
ton, Paul, Ricketts, and Sand's, and many others, besides ,
thee° baronets. A' the election in 1811, the registered electors
for the eastern division of this county, were 7,930; for the
western, 7,743. together, 15,673. On the last registration
(1846, see Peel. Paper, Sea. 1847, No. 284) they were, re-
spectively, for eastern division, 7,803; western division,7,6ol,
together, 1.5,404. This ia, though reduced, still a fair con.
stituency in point of numerical strength. We strongly ex
put to see them, in future, manfully supporting the anise of
enlightened progress and • liberal policy, domestic and
foreign. X.

IRELAND.
DUBLIN, APRIL 12. 1
While the Relief Commissioners strain every nerve
to give the most rapid effect to the Temporary Relief
Act, they find themselves thwarted by some of the'
local " justices and gentlemen," who refuse to act.
The commissioners have issued a memorandum to the

effect that the inspectors have reported " numerous "
cases of neglect of ditty by the local gentlemen, thus
seeking to throw the responsibility on the commission-
ers. The latter retort and fix the weight on the "gentle-
men." If the commissioners be impeded by refusals,
they, or rather the Lord-Lieutenant, have a power
under the act—where "special circumstances" war-
rant the deviation—to complete the imperfectly con-
structed committee from such materials as may seem
advisable. On account of a six months' rate, which,
with the Treasury advances, cannot be very heavy,
these landlords cover themselves with unpopularity,
and incur the imputation of carelessness for human
life. For each persons a stringent poor-law was not
unnecessary. A late statement in the Evening Mail
relative to the taxation on the North and South
Dublin Unions, has wofullv alarmed the landlords.
Twenty-five per cent, in addition to all other rates
and charges, made them quite nervous; and yet very
little reflection would have dissipated the fact and
the figures. To this facility of swallowing unfounded
statements, may be attributed their " ignorant im-
patience" of a rate under the act which would not be
likely to exceed Is. or le. 6d. in the pound.
The quantity of provisions flowing into all the
Irish ports is astonishing. Tralce is a comparatively
humble port, though with a fast-increasing trade ; and
inthis remote corner,within one week from the 28th of
March there arrived 3,070 brie., 1,020 cwt., 1,940
sacks and 77 tons of flour and Indian meal, with
large supplies of rice and biscuit. Kerry ought to be
well supplied, for large quantities of these stocks will
Snd their way into the interior and along the coast.
Still the government fulfils its promise of relieving
the districts where markets are too distant or inacces-
sible. The Bulldog, a first-class steamer, arrived in
Dingle on the 30th tilt, with 100 tons of meal for the
relief committee ; and, on the same day, a company of
marines in the Blazer, with a further supply of
biscuit.

The new guardians of the Castlebar Union are said to
contemplate declining to strike a rate, on the ground
that it would not, and could not, be generally col-
lected. A similar regulation upon the part of the old
body, recently dissolved, compelled the poor-law
commissioners to dissolve the board by special order,
and to give directions to the master to admit the
paupers on his own responsibility. In refusinut
mi ssion to the poor, for the workhouse wase
the guardians had the sanction of the Earl of Lucas,
the then chairman, and it is somewhat significant of,
the temper of the new board, that 0207 have also
elected that nobleman to the chairmanship.
M. Soyer's model kitchen has not proved very
popular, being attacked by the Freeman and Packet
at either end of the political pole. Me purposes re-
turning to his duties in Pall-Mall in a few days, after
having trained the cooking, distributing, and inspect-
ing staff which is to diffuse the blessings of his
sydem from Cape Clear to Connemara.

HRALTR or Mn. O'CoxNe.t..L.—fhe Pilot of this evening
antains a communication from Mr. John O'Connell, en-

closing the following extract of a letter from his brother
respecting the elder Mr. O'Connell's health. Its tendency
Seems by no means favourable :
La ensure, DIVARTRIMTT no LA Rinse. MAICII —We arrived
here o.day, at half-past three, p.m., haring made a short joarney
from Near,- our Loire. We are rnomeding cc ea'y at yrs, as my
father tads the motion of the carriage fatigues him, and mires twin
in his Seek. lie is today, thank God, very well, ate a pretty good
dinner, ant we hare hopes he will seep well. Althonah he is ones
very low indeed, we have rennet to thins that the journey &gm ■
with him, and that he may derive great benefit from bra visit to
Rams.