The Express.
London, England, 1849-05-21 00:00:00

Vitt ammo.

OUTGOING MAILS.
The mails, vie Mane Mes, to the Mediterranean, Emit, Aden.
Mks, India, SongAseg, iss., Ittil hem& up co the ereelog of the
of My.
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ergs up oaths seseitg et the nth May.
The wile gre Viso, Opor* Lisbon, Madeira. Cadiz, and Gibraltar,
ea Mt mode up ea the 'sonar el tie Mk of May.
CM Meet Lolls YleMs. Indolles Iterreuer, 'JAMBS, Nessalt,
=6New Odom. end Muds% sea excluding those for
111. Joen.de.laisereges, llsw Grenada, 0111. and Pors,
helm& Sr on lbs rosin( M the Vol June.
The wile lee Kadin, the Braid* and Buenos Ayres, willies made
apes the evening et the etk elf Awe.

Hall WATRZ AT LONDON =not.
Tau Dav —Nan** .43 WA pm: 0, ADivrivaa mt. lAN 1.
TADARow—IIaiIiDAD AIL PM I; aiDliaso• " MS'," 1*

LONDON, MONDAY, MAY 21.

ENGLAND and its monarchy have the deepest
reasons for self congratulation in the fact, that during
the but year and a half, when so many portions of
Europe have been in flames, nothing of the nature of
political crime has been committed in these realms
without being at the same time so marked by fatuity
and folly, as to excite more wonder and contempt
than either alarm or indignation. The vertigo that
has affected so many people of the continent has
here never shown any symptoms in the sane.
We trust that the crime of Saturday evening will
form no exception to this rule, and that, to the infamy
of even pointing a deadly weapon at a person every
ay so sacred, en domestic as in political life as diet
of her MAJESTY, will not be found auperadded the
heinousness of a really murderous motive.
' It is impossible, indeed, to e motive the existence
' of such a motive, or even to strike out a clue to it.
What aim could bo attained, what vindictiveness
gratified, by woneding a sovereign whose name has
never been identified with the inveteracy or extremes
of party, and whose inclinations, as far as these could
be constitutionally shown, have always been to
liberalism and humanity. It is much to be
regretted that the prudence or the state wisdom
of her Mterave's advisers have hitherto stood in the
way of her repeated wish to visit Ireland, where her
welcome, we are confident, would he even more
enthusiastic than that which she has met with in the
less agitated regions of England and Scotland.
We say this, because the accident, or the fact, of
the man HAMILTON'S being an Irishman may be
made the theme of animadversion, and conclusions
may be drawn from it of the international hate or
savage vindictiveness of the Celt. Hitherto English
fools alone have made themselves conspicuous by
mimicking the acts of foreign regicides. The Irishman
HAMILTON has probably his own idicsyncracy ; and
the Irish elements which have contributed to his crime,
will probably be found more those of poverty and
vanity, than any thing more peculiarly malignant
or Celtic.
Fortunately there is no rece't event which could
afford political colour or excitement to a crime of
this kind. Never was the ocuntry more tranquil or
the parliamentary session more doll. Proviecial
towns are even without their normal and com-
mon agitation. Retrenchment, or direct taxa-
tion. or the punishment of death, or the
navigation laws, may be good topics for ora-
tory, but would require singular ingenuity or
perverseness to lash into treason. Even the last of
the Irish trials has died away. Mr. GAVAN DUFFY
enjoys the society of his London acquaintance. Nor
can the state be accused of severity towards his less
fortunate Irish comrades.
If there be nothing in the events of the day, in
judicial proceedings, in the debates of parliament, in
the language of the press, to furnish food or fuel for a
regicide imagination, there are the leas means fur the
lovers of reaction to extract from HAMILTON'S crime
any political poison, for the sake of flinging it upon
liberal parties, or upon the champions of economy
and reform. Treasonable and revolutionary attempts
are, after all, far more hurtful to liberals than to cour-
tiers atd conservatives. And the regicide, who misses
a king, has been known to slay an administration.
Fortunately the outrage of HAMILTON leads to none
of these consequences, and his committal for the lesser
offence shows that the law and police authorities have
found nothing politically serious in his crime.

will infallibly play the putt of Prrelorians, give
themselves some prince, some flag, some name,
under which they may reach gl ry and ad-
vancement. And thus out of the ranks
of the army wilk issue anarchy, or tyranny, or civil
war. We feel confident that if at this moment there
were no armies in Germany, that country would
settle down in a state of secant,' and freedom. The
middle classes would of themselves suffice to satisfy
the wants of the lower classes, or repress extravagant
demands. Whereas at present there are but com-
bats and death struggles between soldiers and mob,
whilst the middle, and rational, and enlightened class
is unlistened to and set aside. aivernments
take

the advantage of victory over the mob to reduce
the middle clue to their old nullity, until at last
either the army is carried off by some selfish and
ambitious chief to war, or kept up in idleness, and
then it fraternises with the very rabble which it has
been dearly paid to repress. Large standing armies
of two and three, nay of one hundred thousand men,
we pronounce to be in the present state of civilisation
incompatible with any form of government, be it
despotism or freedom, monarchy or republic. No
nation can be free till it casts away there monstrous
weapons of offence. Nor can Europe be tranquil, till
the military system be universally and with common
accord put down.

WE have examiced the provisions of the new in-
cumbered Estates Bill with anxiety and care. We
do not say that we ire without hope that they may be
so amended in committee as to sapply the ground-
plan of &future edifice of good. But we must freely
own that we regard them, u they at present stand,
with feelings not unmingled with misgiving and dis-
appointment.
It will be recollected that this is the third time
of asking. Twice have the banns been published be-
fore between capital and land. Twice have long and
eloquent interrogatories been with sonorous voice
heard to demand if any knew just cause or impedi-
ment why these two should not be joined together
in lawful and prolific nnimi. On neither occasion did
anyone come forward to object or gainsay ; yet, some-
how or other, in neither instance did the unobjection-
able alliance take place. And now, for the third time,
the attempt is made to accomplish what on all sides
is so much desired. It is pity that the attempt again
should fail; which it is, we apprehend, most likely to
do, if some different method be not taken than that
which bag hitherto been disclosed.
If ever there was a subject of legislation which re-
quired precision of aim and plan, it is surely this of
selling Irrevocably and summarily the landed pro-
perty of a country wherein, to a great extent, no
other property of a fixed or substantial nature can be
said to exist. To unsettle this sole-established thing
to no good purpose, or to a doubtful and dilatory
purpose, would be confessedly mere mischief. Be-
tween disturbing property that need not be disturbed,
and transferring property that, without some per-
emptory intervention, cannot be rescued from sterility
and ruin, there is just the same difference that there
is between cutting off the leg of a healthy man,
who is able to use it, and amputating the
gangrened limb of the sufferer, whose life
cannot be otherwise saved. Toe rime knife
will do the one as speedily and as effectually as the
other. When, therefore, one is asked, what think
ycu of this new instrument of abscission ?—the first
and most natural question one is led to ask is—what is
it for ?

And so with this third edition of an Iteumbered
Estates Bill, we are driven to demand, what sort of
estates is it intended to sell? For any thing that we'
can find within the four corners of the proposed bill,
nobody can surmise or tell. A commission with un-
limited authority and doubtfully indicated duration is
to be constituted. When constituted they are to
make rules and ordinances for their own guidance
and government. Under and by virtue of these
paulo.post-future regulations they are to inquire
(Where ? We are not to into the condition of
estates (under what circumstances we are left to
imagine), and to proceed to the sale thereof (in what
manner nobody can venture to surmise). All Is
vague, latitudinarian, and obscure. For aught that
appears in the bill, any creditor on any man's estate
m.y set the blind powers of this übiquitous and om-
nipotent commission in motion to inquire whether
part cr the whole of the property ought not to be
Or all the political events and symptoms which put op to auction. Atter many and tedious
seize and distract attention at the present momont,the inquiries, the said commission may determine that
most serious certainly are the socialist and ultra-de- no adequate case for its interposition has been made
mooratic tendencies of the great mass of the French out, or it may otherwise resolve. Meantime only
army. The votes of the soldiers for members to the conceive the state of suspicion, disturbance, and pa-
Assembly speak for themselves ; they are, for the nic in'o which the owners and tenants and creditors
most part, identical with the votes of those whom of various parts of an irritable and distrustful com-
the soldiers overcame upon the barricadr 5. triunity may be thrown, and the length of time it will
Although socislism was known to remain for- take to persuade them that the grand rolling-stone is
midable, and to be gradually makirg converts not coming to pass over each portion of them. And
even amongst the peasant claw, it was not sue- this needless and mischievous fear is likely to be
pected that the military held opinions contrary to the created, all becauso the framers of the present bill
prevalence of the wealthy and educated classes. But will not deign to be a little more specific and distinct
the electoral urn has revealed to the soldiers them- in denoting what parts of the kingdom the commis-
selves, as well as to the mass of their brethren not in lion is intended for, and in what condition of things
uniform, a terrible identity of social principle and po- landed property must be in order to enable either
litical feeling. owner or creditor to invoke its intervention.
The remedy of severe repression for popular dii- We are of those who wish to see the action of the
order has in fact proved more dangerous than the measure vigorous and prompt. We have ever con-
disease itself. Instead of conciliation being held tended that Connaught can only be rescued from de-
forth, and reason applied to the passionate illusions solation by tne transference' without Chancery's
of the ultra democratic theorists, military coercion, delay, of those properties in its five counties which are
and the policy akin to it, was unsparingly applied. at present, not under water, but under law. We
Fly thousand soldiers; have been permanently, know that they are quite numerous enough
though uncomfortably, encamped in Peru, and have to occupy the best attention of any three gen-
thus been exposed to admixture and converse with tlemen who may be appointed commissioners of sales
the arthian class. The soldier is ill paid, ill fed. during the next three years. And therefore it is
His service is in general a compulsory one. He that we should be desirous of seeing the powers of
has now no hero, no rallying point, no glory, those functionaries distinctly and distinctively pointed
no privileges, to give creed or interests different from to the doing of what needs pre-eminently to be done
the mass. The French soldier is a peasant, and the We see no virtue in a rambling commission, with
difference and rivalry between countrymen and towns- universal jurisdiction, and " the general good " for
men at first kept up antagonism between the troops a motto on their official seal. We have a very
sad the town labourers. But they are, after all, of limited idea of the practical meaning of" the general
the same stock ; both bred in the great independence good," as some people love to talk of it. Definite and
of French rural and peasant life, and both subjected, particular good suite our sceptical comprehension
the one to the severe discipline of the barrack ; the much better, and brings to us far more of the vivid
other to the as severe and uncertain livelihood of notion of sincerity and earnestness.
the workshop. They. fought at first, but it If this commision could rescue two counties, sup-
has been to fraternise later. Nowhere *as pose we say Mayo and Clare, from their pre-
the antagonism so great aa at Lyons. Yet even from sent horrible state, by selecting out of each the worst
thence Marshal Btsoeetuo has been obliged to with- properties; and partitioning them judiciously amongst
draw his regiments, such was the prevalence and solvent buyers, within the space of the next two or
force of socialist infection. Sergeant-Major Boweicsr, three years, we should think it the best deed that had
at the head of the Paris poll, shows what is the been done in Ireland for many a day. Depend upon
current of opinion in the lower classes of the capital. it to execute such a work there would be no idle time
Dark as this picture is, we might still throw for the commissioners. It is a tougher job than our
deeper shades into it, if, in command of serialist dilettanti statesmen and Treasury lawyers imagine.
and republican soldiers, we were to depict legitimist Let them, in heaven's name, try at least thus much to
officers and commanders, and if we were to begin with; and whet they have accomplished and per-
scrutinise the incoherence of all the conservative fected their task satisfactorily, it will be easy enough to
elements of French society, which are certain at the follow the precedent they will have created, and to
first sound of civil strife, to separate, and conglomerate apply to parliament for farther powers. But to set up
each around the standard of a different prince. It for wholesale settlers and uu-settlers of landed pro-
was hoped, that Louts NAPOLEON might rally all to party in Ireland, to take a patent for law and equity
himaelr. Bat the experience of the last week must practice in general,"to set no limits or conditions to the
teach that prince the necessity of not merely con- unusual and arbitrary powers demanded by the bill, is
dating what the French call les societS, and govern- as short sighted as it is unnecessary. In two-thirds
lag to their taste, but of appealing to some of those of the kingdom such a commission has no business to
popular feelings, which vibrate throughout the great meddle at all ; and in the remaining third, it is essen-
tial that the class of properties with which it is to
universality of the humble ranks.
We shall refrain from drawing conclusions as to deal shall be unmistakeably defined. We do not
any immediate results of the French elections. The allude to the acreage or the rental of properties as
curtain has dropped upon a scene of reaction, and the descriptive of their class. We allude to the condition
next act must open, we opine, with fresh scenery, and degree of indebtedness in which they are found.
actors, and decorations. Ve must wait for their To leave this matter at sea is simply to lay faggots
appearance to judge them. But is the mein time for a fire which the first striking or peremptory deg-
let us draw our moral, not only from what sion of the commissioners will kindle into flame.
is passing in France, bat elsewhere. This We must further own that we look with great
moral is neither more nor less than the aversion on the needless and inconsi-tent union of
impossibility, every day becoming more apparent, two opposite functions in the proposed commission.
of maintaining_ those large and overgrown armies As an Irish contemporary has ably and clearly put it,
which burden European states. At first indeed the "We want a Commission of Saks, not a Court of
exclusive worshippers of order may cargratulate Claims." To get the incumbered estates mid as
themselves on the support which a government de- feet as possible is the one and only aim
rives from three hundred thousand bayonets. It will the legislature should have in view. But
be asked, where would France, where would how is this to be done by men whose anxious care is
Austria, where would Prussia be without from the very outset to be divided between this great
them ? We ask in return, are these countries and arduous task, and the wholly different and opp
saved ? And has not the exclusive reliance site business of sitting as an improvised court of equity
of the rulers of these countries upon their armies to distribute the funds raised by the sales among the
placed them in &rect and irremediable antagonism innumerable parties who will set up conflicting claims
with the people? The chiefs of those dominant armies to varyil; shares thereat? This latter duty is em-
may for a time represent as wet as guide their phatically that which a cautious court of established
spirit. But large armies, so uuivireally and fee- forms is most capable of discharging. At all events we
quently recruited, cannot but peiteke of the popular are no', it is to be hoped, going to establish an extra
sentiment; and in building dictation and repression court of chancery in Irelind under the specious
upon the bayonets of conscripts, governments have, name of a temporary commission. Besides the Court
in fact, been building their palaces on the sans. of Chancery, there is, marcover, the Equity Exchequer.
Wuilet the balk of the army thus wavers and ebbs Beth are preside' over by learned persons of great
and flows in its opinion like the tide, there experience and ability. There is a silly and vulgar
will be a large portion of what may be called profes- tone of superiority affscted by certain practitioners in
oriental soldiers, those who have adopted the sword as this country towards the Irish beech. But we be-
th rir choice, their profusion and their fortune. These twee it to b 3 unjust, and we are sure it is unwise, to

encourage soak sentiments. Lneal trilranals are
essential to I:berty and peace ; and they who insidi.
°wily seek to undermine their sanction, or to usurp
their authority, on tke plea of superior wisdom, are
the worst enemies of popular tranquillity and imps.
rialrunion.

FRANCE.

PARIS, SArtriDAT.
The revolution of February, when accomplished by
the Parisians, ecaroely more astonished those Baas
Parisians than the elections of the metropolitan de.
partment. Ten socialists, Gen. Cavaignac, and the
chiefs of his minist-y have been returned, Barrot
himself being the only one of the present cabinet that
is so fortunate. The following i . s the list of the can,
didates in the order of the majority of votes: Lucien
Murat, Ledru-Rollin, Boichot, Lagrange, Bedews,
Lamoricidre, Dufaure, Moreau, Victor Hugo, Paaiv
Pat (Felix), Vavint Lsmennais, Bixio, 0. Barns,
Theodore Bac, Petipm, Cavaignac, Rattier, Wolow.
ski, Coquerel, Leroux, Considerant, (lemon, Roger
(Nord), Perdiquier, Lasteyrie, Rapatel. Marshal
Begeaud was next on the list, with 107,821 votes.
Then came Marie, Boissel, Demay, Proudhoc, Leon,
Faucher, &c. The number ef electors laser bed was
378,043. The numbers who voted were 275,612.
96,903 did not vote. Soldiers' and sailors' votes were
13,900.

tut evening the result of 677 elections was known
at the Mioistere of the Interior. Of these 460 were
moderate, 149 democrats or socialists, and 78 doubt.

The elections in the departments of the Rhone, the
Loire, ledre, Drome, and Ain, are quite in favour of
thi red republicans, whereupon a panic seizes capital.
hits. At Lyons the Five per Cents. fell to 83f., rails
fell 60f, and mining shares 300 f., and the Rink fixed
the maximum of its payments in specie at 5,000 f.
M. Thies, who is in a decided minority in Perla,
has been elected at Rouen, as well u General Chan-
gamier. It does not yet appear where M. Mold has
been chosen.

The votes of the army far Paris were as follows:
Number of votes, 13,900. For Murat, 3,686 ; Ledru.
Rollin, 6,953; Lagrange, 6,159; lioichot, 6,020;
Bedeau, 3,476; Lamoriciere, 4,343 ; Dafaure, 3,058;
Moreau, 2,520; Passy, 1,977; Victor Hugo, 3,219;
F. Pyat, 6,023; Vavin, 2,427; Lamennsts, 5,542;
Bixio, 1,404; Barrot, 2,855; Bac, 5,263 ; Cavaignac,
4,667; Wolowski, 2,335 ; Rattier, 5,111 ; Coquerel,
2,398; ConsidSrant, 5,194; Pierre Leroux, 4,644;
Peupin, 2,116; Garnon, 1,976; Roger, 2,152; De
Lasteyrie, 2,480 ; Perdiguier, 4,886 ; Rapatel, 2,515.
It will bo seen by this list that more than half the
soldiers belonging to the department of the Seine
voted for the socialists.

The exclamations of all the journals on Saturday
evince the greatest exultation on the part of the ultra-
liberals, the greatest depression on the part of the
moderates. The latter seem not to know what to
make of it. They thoaght the stream of opinion was
all for reaction, and behold it is the coetrary. They
deemed Cavaignac and his party of moderate repub-
licanism deal, and behold it still floats on the outface.

The sitting of the National Assembly yesterday
was given up to the passing, it cannot be called die•
cussiun, of the budget of receipts and expenditure.
The tax upon drinks was abolished. This tax pro-
duces annually 107,000,000, and that, taken with the
salt and letter taxer, will leave a deficit in the trea-
sury of 130,000,000, which it would seem difficult to
fill up.
In the assembly to-day the debate on the budget of
receipts and expenditure was resumed and then ad-
journed. A debate then arose upon the project of
law tending to the suspension during three months,
of the 67th aricle of the law, of the 22nd of May,
1831, on the National Guard. This save rise to a
. .

discussion on Gen. Changarnier's double command.
An attempt wu made to adjourn the debate, but after
a vote it was determined to go on. The President of
the Council then got up and said he thought discus-
sion impossible on so warm a subject at the present
time. Why should they enter on a debate when the
judgment was known beforehand? The hon. minis-
ter was left saying that it was of the utmost neces-
sity for the public safety that a public force should be
concentrated in Paris.

The fall at the Bourse on Friday owing to the elec-
tion lists was on the Five-per-C.n's. 2f. 150., on the
Threes, of 2f. At the Bourse the depression caused
by the elections and the vote of yesterday continued,
and another heavy MI took place. The Five-per-
Ceuta. fell 3f. 60e.—lower indeed at one time, and
Three-per-Cents. 2r. 65c. It 7was rumoured at the
Bourse that several members of General Cavaignac's
cabinet had gone to offer the president their support.
The Bank returns for the past week show that
the metallic reserve has increased upwards of 21
millions in Paris, but has decreased ra'her more than
that amount in the branch banke. The discount ac

commodation has fallen off nearly 3 millions in Paris,
and upwards of 2 in the branch bark•, the total
amount in the former being 45,293,312 ft., and in
the latter 77,675,705 ft. The protested bills have
diminished about 350,000 fr. in all, the amount
for Paris being now 6,269,291 fr., and in the
branch banks, 3,789,029 fr. The amount of overdue
bills has increased from 96,138 ft. to 286,9271 r. The
lean of 10 millions to the city of Paris, which last
week was set down at five millions paid by the Bank,
is now at only one million. Oa the side of the liabi-
lities, the amount of notes in circulation has declined
about 31 millions in Paris, and increased about
500,000 f. in the branch banks. The account current
of the Treasury hue decreased about 21 millions, the
amount now standing at 32,425,562 f. The accounts
current of the public have decreased nearly 4].i
millions in Paris, and about 600,000 f. in the country;
the .meant of the former being now 89,277,493 f., and
of the latter, 30,150,096 f. The whole amount of the
metallic rea rye is at present about 3381 millions to
about 4081 millions of notes in circulation.