The Express.
London, England, 1851-02-25 00:00:00

THE MINISTERIAL CRISIS.

The Morning Ifrrahl Says :
We could understand a crialition between the Graham
party and the Grey Reef ion of the cabinet, excluding Lord
John Itussell and Lord Palmerston ; but what is proposed
—that which alone, it own., the Queen has sanctioned—is
the continuance of Lord John Russell an Premier. It is
impossible to conceive a coalition founded upon a more
odious oblivion of all past pledgee than that which is sug-
gested. To have Earl Grey and Lord Palmerston in one
cabinet is bad enough; hut how, with the recollection of
the debate on foreien policy of last July, can Sir James
Graham and Lord Palmerston meet at the same
council board ? With what fare can the notoriously
Puseyite Mr. Sidney Herbu•rt look upon the Premier, who
denounced his crosses and genuflexions as superstitious
mummeries? It is not merely personal differences that
will embarrass this heterogeneous collection. What are
they to do with the papal aggression? Will Lord John
Resell eat his protestant words, or Sir James Graham and
Mr. Herbert gulp down their popish predilections ? Nom-
riensaly those who are still by courtesy termed l'eclites are
opposed to any legislation on the subject. Sir J. Graham was
as ready to form an alliance with the Greys as he is now to
set under Lord John Russell. If the new cabinet could be
formed, would they agree to support Lord John Russell's
bill—or would Lord John Russell agree to abandon it?
Lord Clarendon, it will be seen, arrived in town yesterday,
and has been busily er.gagell with Sir James Graham. Is
he to be brought into the cabinet to sit at the table with the
men against whom he has been notoriously intriguing ? Is he,
let us ask, to introduce into ministerial life any of
those Dublin associates whom he has honoured with u
confidence so munificently rewarded ; or is he, after
coming over here on the special invitation of, we presume,
Sir James Graham, to be sent bash like one of old " to his
own phice ?" And let us suppose these difficulties all over
come—the conflicting claims arranged, the snarling.; of
Grey to be silenced, and the growlings of Graham to be
suppressed—Lord John Russell to com promise upon religious
matters by going to St. Barnabas with Sidney Herbert in
the morning, and with Fox Maulc to Dr. Cumming's in the
evening—how does all this alter the ministerial position ?
It surely mud have occurred to the acute mind of Lord
John Russell that with all the shifting of ministers the
eabinet will not have gained a single vote. If Mr.
Disraeli's motion were repeated to-morrow, there would
be certainly no greater majority in their favour than
Id. We question whether even the favour that will attend
that most eminently popular individual, Sir James Graham,
will really bring to the Patin of administration one single
vote. It is votes iu the house, not ministers in the cabinet,
that Lord John Russell wants. In fact the Premier's dif-
ficulty may be said to consist as much in too many ministers
as in too few votes. It is an indifferent way of mending
this to multiply the one without increasing the other. New
commissions to officers form but a poor expedient. when the
army wants sadly to be recruited in rank and file. These
are, no doubt, the difficulties that have struck the mind of
the Premier.

PCBLIC INCOME. AND ENCENDITCRE.—Yesterdny
a return to the House of Commons, was printed of
the net income and expenditure of the United King-
dom fur the last nine years. it appears that in five
years out of the nine the income exceeded the ex-
penditure. In 1842 the excess of expenditure over in-
como was 2,139,9841. ; and in 1813, 2,421,776/. In 1844 the
excess of income over expenditure was 2,005,427/. • in 184.5,
6,342,4361. ;in 1846, 2,380,8001. ; in 1847, 2,765,.1911. In
1848 the excess of expenditure was 3,092;2(151.; and in
1849, 280,3771. The excess of income over expenditure in
the year tidal the sth of April last, amounted to
2,538,6011.
ATTEMPTED EOC.tPE 0? A NCS.—A public meeting
was held on Thursday evening, at the Assembly Rooms,
Lower-pavitinent, Nottingham, pursuant to • requisition
by the body of Freemasons of the borough. Dr. Clarke,
chairman, stated that • female, confined in a nunnery ad.
joining the Homan catholic church of St. Barnabas, Derby-
! road, Nottingham, • few days since, endeavoured to effect her
escape, but was observed by • person who retails milk in that
part of the town, and she was again immured within the con-
vent. Brother Tomlinson proposed that • summons should
be applied for from the borough magistrates, calling upon
Dr. Mulligan, on any other priest, to appear before the
heath, and show cause why females should be incarcerated
within the convent after they had expressed • wish to be
liberated. Seconded by a gentleman named Jones, and
carried nem. con. It was stated during the discussion that
between 30 and 40 females are now in that convent, 8 or 10
only being Sisters of Mercy or noviciates, on probation for
two years ens they take the black veil. It was finally
moved by the chairman that the meeting should stand ad-
journed to Saturday evening, and that, in the meantime,
a petition should be prepared fur general signature, calling
upon her most gracious Majesty's ministers to add a clause
in tho bill about to be brought before the House of Com-
mons against the recent papal assumption of power to abo-
Leh all nunneries and monasteries now existing in the
United Kingdom of Great Britain. Seconded by Brother
Wynn. sad carried unanimously. Tho meeting then W-
I journed.
Tug RIOT Al ORE VT YARMOUTIL—The Milos
held • meeting on Saturday night. It was of very short
duration, and it was determined to persevere in having •
public demonstration or procession on Tuesday next. In
consequence of this the troops have had orders to remain is
the town, as the authorities are determined to prevent it. It
is reported that one man has died from injarim received in
the riot, and that another had his finger cut off by a sol-
dier, whilst attempting to seise thu bndle of his hors*
DRAM BT TILE RAND OP A WlFE.—Yesterday
Mr. Baker held an inquest at the Princess Royal, Paul-
street. Finsbury, on the body of Wm. Dear, • pplasterer,
aged n. It appeared• that on the night of Saturday week
last deceased was sitting at supper with his wife, who was
holding an infant of tire months in her lap. The child
cried when deceased slapped its head. The mother seised
the first object that came tv hand, which happened to be •
fork, and either threw or thrust it at him, penetrating the
back of his hand. The wound swelled, an abscess
Iformed, and fever supervened, of which the man died. The
jury returned • verdict of " Manslaughter against the
vas," who was thereupon committed.

THE BUDGET.
OPPOSITION TO THE BUDGET.
PARISH OF ST. LUKE.

Last evening a general meeting of the rate payers
and inhabitant., of this populous parish took place, at the
British and Foreign School-room, Cowper-street, City-road,
" To consider and determine on the propriety of petitioning
the legislature against the proposal of the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, to substitute an unjust, odious, and unn
house tax, in lieu of the window duties, and to tartnin
other steps thereon as may he deemed advisable ; also, to
consider and determine on the propriety of opposing a re-
newel of the income tax." There was a numerous attend-
ance.
Mr. J. TARPLEE, churchwarden, having been unatti
mously called to the chair, stated that 16 membersof parlia-
ment had been invited ; from 11 of them letters had been
received regretting their inability to attend on account of
the important business in the house. Those letters were
from Mr. Mowatt, Mr. T. Duncombe, Lord Duncan, Lord
D. Stuart, Mr. C. Lusliington, Sir De Lacy Evans, Mr.
Wakley, Sr B. Hall, Sr James Duke, Mr. W. Williams,
and Mr. B. Osborne. _ _ . . . .

Mr. PHILLIPS regretted that the minister bad not lis-
tened to the voice of the people and proposed an unqualified
repeal of the window tax. His proposition was in effect—
. I will give you a shilling, but you must give me nine-
pence back." (Cheers and laughter.) He moved a resolu-
tion declaratory of surprise and indignation at the proposal
of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and calling fur a total
repeal of the window duties.
Mr. HORNE seconded the resolution.

At this stage of the proceedings, Mr. Waklcy, M.P., and
Sir James Duke, M.P., appeared on the platform, and were
loudly greeted.
Mr. IIORNE proceeded to contend that all useless offices
ought to be abolished, and that men of real ability should
be selected to till offices of responsibility, and not youths
fresh from college, who had no idea of business.
Mr. PALLISER supported the resolution. He expressed
his belief that the fate of the government had been precipi-
tated more by the voice of the people expressed out of doors
than by the hostile vote of the house on the county franchise
question. The existing surplus had not arisen from any
reduction, but from 'itemised productiveness of the taxes ;
hence, in giving any portion of it up, the Chancellor of the
Exchequer was only restoring what he had plundered the
people of. (Hear.) Let the unproductive crown lands—the
Dunhy of Cornwall—be sold to pay the debt as far as they
would. go. Let them also sell the church property, which
was public property. (Cheers.) Taxation would then
dwindle away like a Scotch mist before the rising sun.
Sir JAMES DUKE, M.P., said he had great pleasure in
attending this meeting, which he was enabled to do by the
early adjournment of the house. He joined most cordially
in giving his support to the repeal of the window tax with-
out any substitute. He should oppose any government that
male such a proposal. (Cheers.)
Mr. N IC HOLAY, of Marylebone, regretted that ministers
had given them so much trouble, but he hoped they would
get rid of Wood, at all events. lie cared not who was in
power so long as the people were united in speaking their
sentiments. (Cheers.)
Mr. WAKLEY, M.P., was loudly cheered on rising. He
said he had bean always zealous if not able in the service of
his constituents. For the last two years he had not been
able to attend regularly, and he was much flattered by the
forbearance that had been extended towards him. He found
lie had given displeasure to two parties; to one, because
he had been ill; to another, because he had got well again.
(Cheers and laughter.) Of the latter he would only say, he
hoped he should never have less of their hostility. (Hear,
hear.) They were now assembled for ever to get rid of the
infernal window tax, to protest against the imposition of a
house tax, and to consider whether the incomo tax, in its
odious and detestable form, should be continued. (Hear,
hear.) These were trifling evils in comparison with the
monster evil, the source of these grievances—the defective
and mock representation of the people in parliament.
(Cheers.) The votes of himself and his colleague, repre-
senting perhaps 300,000 individuals, might be neutralised by
those of the representatives of a borough with 200 or 300
electors. (Hear, hear.) This ought not longer to be tole-
rated. So long as he had health and strength he would
strain every nerve to place the people in their proper posi-
tion. (Cheers.)
The resolution was then put and unanimously agreed to.
Mr. DALE moved that a petition to the House of Com-
mons should be adopted, and that Mr. Wilkie. ,v M.P.,
should be requested to present it, and Mr. Duncumbe, M.P.,
to support it. (The petition prayed fur the total sad uncon-
ditional repeal of the window tax.) lie knew two houses
at the west-end, of the rent of 901. and 105/.' which paid no
window duty, but which would be taxed 101. by the house
tax. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. CHRISTIE seconded the resolution.

Mr. WAKLEY, in reference to the request that Mr.
DUI1C01111)C should support the prayer of the petition, stated
that his hon. colleague was at present suffering from severe
indisposition, and had been so ever since he had attended a
public meeting. a fortnight ago. Ile felt pain in thinking
that any man in Finsbur)• could east a reproach upon him;
no honest reformer would do this. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. SIIILLIBEEIt moved a resolution declaring that
while the needful revenue for the exigencies of the state
should be fairly levied, it was the duty of the meeting to
use every means to defeat the attempted renewal of the in-
come tax, which, from its partial, unequal, and unjust
mode of assessment, ought to be forthwith abolished, by
reason of its having been adopted fur a temporary emer-
gency.
Mr. BRISCOE seconded the resolution.

Mr. I'ALLISEIt said he had been surcharged every year
—first 100/., and afterwards 150/., although business was no
better—the only reason alleged being that he had enlarged
his counting-house, though in fact he bud done nothing of
the kind. Ile suggested the formation of a society to expose
the proceedings of the income tax commissioners.
Mr. NORNIAN, while admitting that the income tax re-
quired alteration, counselled the working classes not to aid
in its removal, or they would be saddled with indirect taxes
to make up the deficiency. (Cheers.) Instead of clamour-
ing against the income tax, let them strive to increase the
franchise, which Mr. Waklcy had told them was the one
thing needful. Working-men had not the income tax to
pay; they ought to sympathise with those who suffered
from its inequalities: but he prayed for blessings on the
bead of Sir Robert Peel for having laid the foundation of
a system of direct taxation. (Cheers.) Ile moved an
amendment declaring that the inequalities of the income
tax were a less evil than indirect taxation, and expressing a
hope that direct taxation would become the main source of
the revenue.
Mr. POMEROY seconded the amendment.

Mr. GLADDING said the object was to obtain a modifi-
cation, not a repeal, of the income tax; and regretted the
attempt to introduce discord.
The amendment was in reality no amendment.
After a conversation, the amendment was put, and, on a
show of hands being taken, there were 90 in its favour and
113 against it. The original motion was then put and
agreed W.
Mr. STARLING moved the adoption of a petition.
praying for the repeal of the income tax, and declaring
that no ministry was entitled to the confidence of the people
who did nut undertake to enlarge the elective franchise so
as to secure a full and complete representation of the people
in the Commons house of parliament. (Cheers.)
Some other resolutions were agreed to, and the proceed-
ings closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman.

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 25, 1851.

THE GREAT EXHIBITION.