The Express.
London, England, 1851-02-28 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28.

IT is to-day our duty to announce the melancholy
fact that l'rotection be no more! Although it was
generally understood to have been for some time in a
very precarious state, the fatal event can hardly be
mid to have been expected to occur so soon. To
thou indeed who had opportunities of observing
closely the symptoms of its moribund condition, the
danger of excitement or exertion such as it has lately
undergone seemed to be imminent and obvious. But
by the unfeeling crowd who suddenly beheld it try
to take up its bed and walk, the fevered frenzy that
lent imminentary strength to the effort was unheeded, as
the rapidity of the inevitable collapse was unforeseen.
None but those who for the last three days and
nights have sat by the bed of death can appre-
ciate the sufferings orpourtruy the grief amid which
an old and respectable party expires.
We forbear to dwell upon the chronic nature of
the dim,' etre against which a naturally strong consti-
tution has for years bravely contended. Such a
diugme:s Islongs rather to history than the fugitive
0011111111 M of obituary. But whether congenital or
acuired, all considerate persona felt that nothing
could be more perilous than exposure; and that the
utmost care ought to have been taken to pre-
berry a uniform state of tranquillity, and total
abstinrme from thoughts connected with husi-
-1111",1. or ac tins. Advice to this effect 11.3!I in-
deed often and eaniestiv tendered ; but strange
to say. the unhappv invalid was always eager
to embark in arduous speculation*, and anxious
to undertake duties and responicibilitics that would
task the ability of the strongest. For a length of
time these fascinating pursuits were relinrywsbed,
rave only in dreams and in discourse; and so long
the body calmed rather to increase in size than
otherwise; and though not of the healthiest sort per-
haps, it was at least calculated tudispi l anticipations
of proximate decay. But all the simile, a mournful
anspim ion haunted the minds of many, that there was
a lurking tendency developing itself of the most clan-
gorous kind. We allude to the affection popularly
tenni II "a softening of the brain."
Ile this, host ter, as it may, it is now no longer
doubtful that, from the ill-fated moment when Pre-
testiest' began to move actively anal bustle about, the
change hygienic ft arfully perceptible. Over its wine
or at Willi .'s, or even in a sham battle in parlia-
ment, nothing could be name brilliant or amusing.
If not always conclusive its talk sas at least conse-
cutive; if not persuasive, it was frequently pleasant;
and though moment's* a little impertinent, it was
never inmsglierent ur imbecile. Fran the luckless
hour that it essii)ett h, play a real part, and meddle
with tough work, its untrained faculties: palpably
gave sat. On Saturday last it mistmok the run-
deas usian of the Qt F.F.N for confidence in
its wisdom, sisal fut ths ith ussunoil the air and
attitude of ismer. Resulted to sanity by a gentle
intimation that all this was very foolish. it was a
little later kindled into such a gviroxysin of anger as
utterly to forget itself, ids plate, and all that it
should have ronerabered. rho Monday night it was
Ivry low, and s crud to soffit- 11101 e ham it chose to
utter. Net ertlieleas it is possible that, had no far-
t/Kr inrulo nt crecurred soon after, the shock its
MINI'S had certainly sustained might Inlet` been
gat over, anal Protection, in its former inactive and
motionless state, might still be 'mongst the things
that are." _ _ _

lathe futts bad otherwise ordained. Early
on Tuesday morning her IlamsYY, who was of
course wholly unaaare of its true weakness
and unfitness fur the discharge of any public
duty, and V. VlAlUbly to show how far
above all personal partialitits royalty in a con-
stitutional government ought to prove itself to
Is., -her M Est-y was graciously ph Lined to say
that if Protection thought it could (10 anything
useful to the state, full permission was given it to
try. With definite consideration the QUEEN is said
to have added. that us yenta's, no serious thoughts of
the matter had ever entered Protection's head be-
fore, thri day, would be allowed for due delibera-
tion on tho subject. Unfortunate Protection ! Its
foolish vanity was inflamed by the distioetion thus
fatally conferred upon it. orgetting it, helpless-
ness and weakness, its utter want of practice aind train-
Mg. and above all, the rtnistunee of three fiinnhlable
rivals, whose open hostilit it must from the outset
pare to encounter. -off-it went to court capering
and jesting, and bid all the world look and six what
u crack minister it would make.
A few Mims settled to east thrp gloom over the
scene of pro, ipitatv exultation. A sharp and trying
Mitigate to keep its wits togrthets—fint in milky,
and thin in appearanee—was fullownl by Nlllll7llll4he
symptoms of the mint painful description. Mortifi-
cation super-toad. Then reason became obscured.
With a certain instinct of courage a wonderful (limn
was made to keep up." as it iscalled.to the last. But
during the greater part of yesterday it was manifest to
all who hail 11WilIN of observation, that the end was
nigh ut hand. Whatetcr skill could do to save,
or art to Mitigate. was done. Protection had the
best ads able. prompt. and skilful men. The re-
f eetion cannot hod the grief of a ninnenius circle of
friends deeply interested in the &masts', but it may
serve to satisfy all own that the event maw in the
natural way. sWe belitne we may add that in the
unanimous opinion of the gifted and distinguished
persints to whom we allude, it was char a more pro-
tracted existence would have only been a prolonga-
tion of misery; and that, wider the circumstances. it
is rather a relief that the object of their care and
wlicitlde Las biro removed.
Of the afflicting incidents connected with such
catastroph, s not the least pitiful are those illustrative
of the loyal Live and Leith that obstinately refuses to
admit the possibility of the fact to wilier' it cannot
be reconciled. We doubt not that many an hunt :-t
and declaim' friend of Protection will fur a time not
only 111‘111 to be incredulous, but will actually be so
as to the truth we have been compelled to chronicle
this day. Fond illusion! It may be suffered to hide
sway unprreeptibly ; it were awry unfeeling rude-
ness to speak upon the matter any further. Peace
to its ashes; Mr. lltsneett will no doubt speak its
funeral oration; and the court newsman will, of
course. duly announee that by the recent and some-
what unexpected death of Protection many of the
first families to the kingdom have been plunged into
the deepest affliction.

WHEN the shop -hay. in the old story. escentled
demurely into his master's chamber for family
prayers. after having. at the command of that
worthy, put sand in the sugar, horsetuans in the
coffee, chalk in the milk. uud dust in the pepper. he
assent, we fear, in a condition to he very correct in
his applications of scripture. In like manner, it can
"merely be expected that his Grace of ExErt:n. after
imprisoning Snotty. worming Goan in, excommuni-
cating the Arehbishop. and badgering half the cu-
rates on his diocese. will he quite up to the mark in
his references to the Old, and New Testament.
In fact, his lordship's law is generally more
correct than his gine!, both literally and me-
taphorically. We were, however. scarcely pre-
pared to hie:, even front the Bishop of gxtrxu.
unit a limping scriptural argument as is ascribed to
his lordship in the report of the debate on Tuesday
night. On the question whether marriage within
prohibited degrees was forbidden in the New Testa-
ment the Bishop answered in the affirmative. in op-
position to the I,arl of ST. GERMANS. " Holding that
the prohibition of marriage with a brother's widow
was laid down by the ALMIGHTY in the 18th
chapter of Leviticus, he (the right rev. prelate:,
also held that it WWI repeated iu the New Testa-
ment. There was, for Instance, the case in which
35)011 the Wirrect proclaimed to the tyrant HEROD
that he was living in incestuous intercourse with
the widow of his cleansed brother." Did

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