The Express.
London, England, 1848-05-23 00:00:00

true, in ,ny appointments of inspectors and superintendents
of factories; but these, it should be remembered, had been
rendered necessary by the interference which parliament,
no doubt with the most benevolent intentions, had com-
menced bstwe to employer and employed. The increliso in
the Privy Council expenses had been crested by the addition*
steps which parliament had introduced and government bud
taken with regard to the education et the people. 1-10Wevar,
he had the satisfaction of informing the noble earl and the
house that all these subjects were under the consideration of
• committee of the other house of parliament, which was
examining into every item with a most anxious desire for
economy and retrenchment. (Hoer. bear.)
The Duke of RICHMOND said that one most western'
source of expense was the number of returns moved for by
members of the Rouse of Commons, with • view of obtaining
popularity with their constitus ate end the pcog of eachublic Lis
thought tt would be • good plan to have the
laid on the
return stated on the back, previous to its being
table.
Atter a few words from Lord IllaVtgOltl,
The Earl of lIAEDWICKE raid that the expenditure on
great public works, which took money from
not the richsubj to
ect giro
of
it to the poor in the wages of Isbour,
was the
complaint. What the public complained of was the salaries
of high officers of state, and the charge for commons
which was taking money out of the pockets of the poor to
give it to the rich.
and the ho
The returns were ordered; use adjourned at a
quarter past Seven o'clock.
-------

Ow
said T0...--.-----. )
-------
(oub Wsemis mar ande l& pewee le epee any TOM
rle es semi his met and prevent ths demeidial nub
dom that eterall
,88.= Mime • saddeteraditi esimmitile•
y rithe wait so may -eneePulhol fm•is
Kcal mid Whe weld
moue ewe elme
_ter eweddsreals%
_lea apnea la lila in
wWi mmadep,, IMO be serweile4. me. dee oe=weelswiettere
!enemas/boded ihent te Ow *WV li
wean Mak Yak WO mid =4 le 05110,
aWm
is wllleheteleg MY 1111111. he • Kleppil)
MAW
would glee mu
Omr' pe sod pawn buiTivesiey . eft
mem me Willien%e wesdlemswa beilemes and obtain Om enemestien
of hie heaths,. iliiiieshir ke Ileved sad Lord Oausom te miens
be him (Kelly); It was Unman=
Ei.....1q wuniregrarldeg Oh the metes of mid
, wadi liel, 0: eembelle the ereseemalloil4;l2d Kailly
Eriressanedp visa Onset hembe him th:=Weld IsKet
•iirbi iii .= vie timVastst=mtty : ILI
wilier • Wit doll Yeantattheatraissei• "ha *
sago
iamions".r.eletagrAsmes; however lie as the
, at so asolallmaa4 an• rather doulothi eel re-
' mete. eatheedlimiaim that pert et the ocompast ter a
teonayilll.l6olllll. WWII SIMS mai dolt& further sum of five
brand sporie drabs gwa It EN dada burr. and that Osp-
, Cosmillisllgthedd mat the mine wermies et sem &Hoak in Bela
arm
dblwasessjit Os lima at Ommema, ma faelty esselode
MA fesillett Ow Ina meet. alma NNW is reader.
Hots; Wain Oeggst Wird et Mira witheig his
(Omelet) • Wig him is Ina tri=ithat
haul
alma vela • Meer *dm firseher it ;
Us* altar mile latlyZweresa a irritant ast the
time by Oajrallaidan Weir Ilea la=apalk,
together
the:mind flee hundred panne to I=62llVernaaaa; but as alms
letter of withdrawal tieing immisit to dm It Xmas that
Kelly was not the authorised wit SO to day vlimasesa
hurried back to Kelly intei=re of the imedefferses whseiClM
refunded the money; that memb4 wals# tut the =Med
of chutes Townley, and leold. AWNS 0.1110 en• kw Wm *WES
and illegal, and • rem tafrsetton der prlvegess of the home; and
praying that a detest committee of Me here be appointed to inquire
loathe matter.
The hon. member observed that as th• petition involved the
character of a member of that house. sad Asada grave charges
against the examiner of recogeis•noes, whe was one of its
officers, it was absolutely necessary that some inquiry should
take place, es the right of electors had been violated by a
comoromiee between the parties. If the allegations in the
petition were true, the house ought to allow them to be sub-
stantiated: if false, he would give his best endeavours to
bring to justice the vile calumniator of the character of gen-
tlemen filling such high stations.
Mr. BL ACK BURN Id seconded the motion.
Col. CONGLLY paid that, believing the statements in the
petition to be true, he would support the motion.
Sir. It. INGLIS said he had been requested by Kr.
Townley, the member for Sligo, to state that he had amused
him (Sir It. Inglis), on the honour of a gentleman, that be
bad had neither hand nor part in the matter compleissi of
in the petition. He also desired him to say that h• Ali ust
shrink from investigation. (Hear, hear.) But
that declaration was honourable to him, he (Sir 111411;
hoped the house would not consent to the motion until the
committee already sitting on the subject had made its r.
port. He objected altogether to the appointment of a second
tribunal having concurrent jurisdiction with one already ap-
pointed.
Mr. BANKES regretted his hon. friend did not conclude
his remarks by moving that this petition be referred to the
committee now sitting upon the Sligo election—a course with
which he was sure the hon. mover would be content, if it
could be adopted.
Sir It. INGLIS aid he meant that the petition should be
referred to the committee of privileges, and not to the election
committee; but even objected to that until the election com-
mittee had reported.
Mr. V. SMITH thought the petition might be referred to
the election committee, if such a comae was allowable. But'
seeing that the petition did not state that any compromise I
had teen effected, and that in fact the whole thing had of
in the most extraordinary manner, namely, by the retorts et
the money—(a laugh)—tie objected to a special committee
to consider it.
Sir O. GREY observed that after the allegations made in
the petition, it was desirable, for the h.'nour of the party ac
ceased and the dignity of the house, that those allegations
should he investigated. But he agreed in the opinion that
pending the election committee's proceedings it would be un-
wise to enter upon that inquiry. He would suggest there-
fore
that the hon. and gallint member holdd withdraw the
motion now, and bring it forward again e the election
committee made their report.
After a few words from Mr. F. IltaNCti in defence of Mr.
Kelly, the motion woo by leave withdrawn on the under-
stending suggested by the Secretary of State.
PUBLIC HEALTH BILL.
The holm having gone into committee on this bill—on
clause 57,
Lord MORPETH said he pro sad to amend this clause
po
by describing a lodging-house as a common lodging-house,
and requiring it to be registered by the local authorities.
After a conversation the clause so amended was agreed to.
On clause 5-1, which provides that no cellars or under.
around rooms be let as dwellings except under certain con-
ditior s, being put,
Lord DUNCAN observed that the clause provided that
t ie local surveyor should have power to order a window of a
certain size to be opened in those cellars used as dwelliegs.
He wished to know whether a window so opened would be
exempted front the window tax. Ile thought it but just there
should be such en exemption provided.
Sir It. H ANGLIS expressed his entire concurrence in
the suagestion of the noble lord.
Lord MONPETH said he was not prepared at once to
answer the question. Ile must first consu:t his right hon.
friend the Chancellor of thy Exchequer on the subject, and
mutt therefore ask his noble friend to postpone it fur the

present.
An Heim. MEll5l.li swig sted that some time ought to be
allowed to the present occupants of these cellars to provide
themselves with other dwellings after the bill came iuto
operitiom
Lord MORPETII said he would add a proviso at the end
of te eaust to give 12 month.' tie from the passing of the
act h
before the provisions in relation to cellars came into

operation.
Mr. T. EGERTON remarkil that in Liverpool some
years ago the cellars hal h,•en t.,ken possession of by the
',sorer classes against the will of the owners. Now, it
would be hard to fix the owners with penalties for the occu-
pation of the cellars under such circumstances.
Dr. BO WRING said that he VI informed that in Bolton
it would be impossible in a single year to provide the im•
mense mass of cellar occupants with new domiciles. He
thought two years' time ought to be allowed for that

purpose.
Mr. SLANEY apposed any further extension of time
beyond one year, an it would protract the evils of the occu-
peion of places min: for the reception of human beings.
The Earl of LINCOLN thought that in many towns great
hardships would be inflicted on the poorer classes if the pro-
visions of this clause were brought too speedily into opera.
lion. Ile els was of opinion that some discretion in this respect
ought to be vested in the local hoards. It would be well to
follow in this hit! a provision contained in the Metropolitan
Buildings Act, to the effect that six months antecedent to
the bill being brought into operation it should be the duty
of the local sum yor to give notice no; only to the owners
but to the occupiers of cellar property of the day from which
the act would take effect.
Lord MORPETH was obliged for the suggestion, and, be-
fore the report, would look at the Metropolitan Buildings
Act, end give the matter every consideration.
Sir 0. STRICKLAND concurred in the opinion ex-
pressed that two years instead of one year ought to be
given to provide new domiciles for the present cellar oc-
cupants.
Mr. NEWDEGATE objected to the matter being left in
the hands of any authori,y, as in such a cue the bill might
be made the instrument o. wholesale clearances. The time
ought to besvictly defined by the bill.
Lord MOItPETII said that the discretion vested in the
Liverpool authorities by their local act had worked without
any inconvenience.
After a desultory conversation, in which Mr. Henley,
Lord Morpeth, Sir R. H. Inglis, Mr. Bouverie„ and Mr.
Slaney took part,
Lord DUNCAN again adverted to his former suggestion
as to the exemption from the window tax of all windows
ordered by the local surveyor to be opened in underground
tenements. The noble lord remarked that in the report of the
sanitary commissioners it was over and over again stated that
the reason why underground dwellings were without proper
windows was to be traced distinctly to the operation of the
window tax. Under such circumstances, it would ant be
nreuonable to make the exemption he claimed on sanitary

ground“.
Afters few words from Lord R. GROSVENOR, which did

hereafter. The terms upon which the Peet
and Russets parties are to be consolidated are
yet uncertain; and this uncertainty will prevent all
who have hopes from either party from voting with
the independent reformers. But as soon as the fusion is
consolidated--seeing that lees than one half of the office
expectant& can be gratified—one half at least of the
waiters upon providence will be left free to remember
they have a conscience, and to act in conformity to its
dictates. As soon as a mat liege for better for worse
between the conservative liberals and the liberal con-
servatives takes the place of their present irregular
liaison, a number of gallant knights will be released
from the Amulet's bower in which they at present
lie unmanned, and the reforming ranks in parliament
will be materially strengthened as to number. It will
not be advisable to shut the door in the facts of these
returning prodigals, though it will be necessary to in-
sist on their passing through a probationary state, and
giving proofs of the reality of their repentance.
The vote of this night will not therefore be decisive as
to the amount of parliamentary support the new reform
movement is ultimately to receive. But it may be
decisive as to whether this or that professing reformer
shall or shall not be relegated to the shades of private
life at the next election. In politics, as in religion,
there is room for accepted repentance while life lasts ;
but it is equally dangerous in both to sin premedi-
tatedly? in the hope that time to repent will be
granted. The professing reformer who this night
votes against the cause of the people declares himself
opposed to them, and has no right to look for any
other treatment than that of an opponent at their
hands.
Whoever votes against Mr. Humes motion to-
night votes against the people. The people are not
really represented in the House of Commons as at
present constituted, and such a measure of reform as
Mr. Hume proposes et the least is wanted to make
their voice properly heard in their owe home. We li
use the word people in its proper and catholic sense,
as including the whole community in contradistinc-
tion
to the privileged orders. Baron ROTHSCHILD
and the honest industrious mechanic are equally con-
stituent members of the body of the people.
The House of Commons ought to represent the
opinions and sentiments of this mighty aggregate,
and it represents only the sentiments and interests of
a privileged class. The aristocracy of England
em-
braces a wider circle than the peers and their families.
Wherever there is wealth and cultivated intellect
there is power ; and the peers of England, in order to
maintain their ascendancy, are compelled to ally
themselves with a section of the wealth and
intellr-
geoce of the country. The peers of England associate
on terms of equality with the great landowners, the
distinguished leaders of the learned professions, and the
great capitalists ; admit these parties to a share in the
government of the country, and from time to time re-
ceive some of them intn the coronetted order. The influ-
ential and lucrative offices under government, the bulk
of commissions in the army, the best appointments in
the church, the best chances of succeeding to the
high offices of the law, are mocopolisen by members
of this oligarchical league, or by those who swear
fealty to it. l'ublic office is not bestowed on account
of the fitness of theism who receive it, or with a view
to an efficient performance of its duties, but in order
to make a provision for members of or dependents on
the aristocracy; to save heads of families the ex-
pense of portioning cadets, or to strengthen a party
by purchasing the services of venal talent.
The consequence is that the dutes of government
to the public are inefficientlydischarged. The conveni-
ence of ministers and subordinate officer+ of government
is deemed a sufficient apology for ministerial neglect
or incompetence. Protection for the interests of the
dominant caste is deemed a sufficient reason for with-
holding the most indispensable reforms. This could
not be if' the election of members of the House of
Commons were really vested in the people—if these
members held the same opinions, and bad the same in-
terests as the great body of the people. If the House
of Commons really represented the people, the corn
law, passed for the sole purpose of keeping up the
landowners' rents, could not have been so long
maintained. lf the House of Commons really repre-
sented the people, ministers would nut have ventured
to persist in a system of excessive and un-
fairly apportioned taxation, simply and solely
because to revise and reform that system would give
them too much trouble, and might alienate some of
their aristocratic supporters. The House of Commons,
holding the strings of the public purse, has the power
to command justice for the people : that it does not do
this is cheing to its representing, not the governed
people, hut the governing class. With a numerical
majority of the members of the House of Commons
elected by a minority of the electors—by a very incon-
siderable minority of the people—and with Ws majo-
rity swelled by the county members, that house is, of
necessity, a representation of the oligarchical class.
This is the incurable vice of its constitution,
so long as it is elected in the manner it
at present is. The isolated cases of cor-
ruption and oppression in counties and small
boroughs, about which such a pother is made from
time to time, see mere symptoms of the disease, not
the disease itself. Nibbling punishments and expo-
sures of such anuses cannot restore the legislature to a
sound and healthy state: larger and more searching
measures are required to that end.
The measure of reform which Mr. HOME proposes
consists of four provisions : the extension of the right
of suffrage to all householders, the substitution of equal
electoral districts for the present absurd distribution
of representation, secret voting, and the limitation of
parliaments to at moot three years.
This comprehensive scheme affords a fair promise
of a House of Commons representing not one or two
favoured classes, but the general body of the people.
The redistribution of the electoral districts is neces-
sary to ensure the House of Commons being a fair
representation even of the present electoral body. The
numerous small constituencies make it a representa-
tion, not of the electoral body, but of a minority of
that body. This minority possesses more political
power than the rest of the electors. It is in fact a
minor aristocracy, and of necessity either the ally or
the tool of the great one. Secret voting (we use this
term in preference to vote by ballot, that being
merely the means to the end) is indispensable
in a society where wealth and the power attendant
on it is, and must continue to be, so unequally dis-
tributed as in that of England. Secret voting
does not emancipate a man from that legitimate
influence, the result of a conviction that this
or that person is wiser than himself, or has his
true interests at heart; but it emancipates him
from that illegitimate influence, the result of
conviction that his more wealthy and powerful neigh-
bour will use the power he possesses to his disadvan-
tage,lif he thwart his wishes. Parliaments of shorter
duration are necessary to keep representatives in PARIS, MONDLT, 101 ism.
mind of the source whence they derive their power, All parties are anxious to wash themselves clean
and the tenure upon which that power ought to be of the infamjeobfamdtlngfo otTleactahoriusiogbler ye,
No. a
possessed. The abolition of the property qualification of arms
threw the responsibility of the affair from the
in members of parliament is necessary, in order to Rue detoßivoli. The last documents published
give electors a due latitude of choice.
shoulders of M. Arago on those of M. Ledra
The propriety of adopting these provisions admits
Rollin. The latter threw it on those of his
of being argued without reference to the fears enter-
chief secretary, M. Elias ltegnault. That in-
tained by many of the extension of political power to
dividual addresses to the journals to-day the
claws upon .vhich thu constitution has not yet con-
following epistle, in which he leaves the matter to
ferred it. This fear, however, is not unlikely to be
explained by M. Caussidiere, ex-minister of police.
awakened by the provision for extending the be
be It will recollected that, in one of the communion
suffrage. But alarmists will do well to remember that
the possession of a vote is not necessary to impart .
tions which have become public, this band of ruffians
political power :it only enables the voter to exercise the Prefecture in the Rue de Mivoli was qualified as a saceursale of
in a constitutional manner power which he may
Stu,—In speaking of arms and ammunition found in the
possess without it. Every individual in the coin- hotel occupied by Sobrier, you say " the demand for these
munity who has property and intelligence we. ems
from: he Minister of the Interior. It is dated
possesses isolitical power. Every class in the the 14th April, d signed by the chief of the cabinet." This
community which possesses sufficient intelli-
Ministercx.WTarhel,;,tocr of tteethl4th:Anirmacakneuedorce.the
geuce to act in combinat ion, and which can, tridgealOT the Prefecture muskets
If a party of these arras
by clubbing its means, scrape some surplus have been seat to Sobrier, the Ministe, of the Interior was
money together, is politically powerful. The present wholly a stranger to this appropriation ofLlkB
R them.
EON/VLT.
franchise excludes from participation in the elections E
individuals and classes who possess these elevients of La Presse publishes, this morning, a long series of
power. It. has always been found that the exclusion private letters, addressed by the Prince de Joinville
of powerful individuals or classes from the exercise to a former aide-de-camp, the latter having given W-
et' their power by constitutional means, has rendered mission for their publication. They are dated from
them disaffected and turbulent. It has been often Claremont, between the 26th March and the Ilth
found that irregular energies when turned into legi- May, and are now produced very obviously for the
notate channels have contributed materially to pro- purpose of directing the attention of the French people
mote the public good. It is indispensable to the to the prince in relation to their government
maintenance of public order and to the development arrangements.
of the nation's capabilities that the recognised poll- A new troop of municipal cavalry is organised,
tieal power of the electoral body shall without loos of ruder the title of Garde Mobile a Cheval.
time be made co-extensive with the classes possessing The nomination of M. Elias Regnault, chief
political power. Whether household suffrage will do secretary of the Prefecture of Police, establishes the
this can only be satisfactorily known from expert- influence of M. Ledru Rollin over that &ptrima
ment, but nothing short of it can. of the public service. M. Elias Regnaul was
We regard the provisions to which we have been chief secretary of M. Ledru Rollin as Minister of
adverting as parts of one system, each requisite to Interior.
give full play and effect to the Other. That this is The number of persons under arrest up to Saterdsr
also Mr. Humes opinion, is evident from his rejection morning was 390. Ten of the leaders of the

of the insidious proposal to divide his motion, and plit
each of the four provisions of which it consists sepa.
Tritely to the vote. If, however, there be one point
to which we attribute more urgent importance am:,
the rest, it is the equalisation of the electoral die.
tricts. That is necessary to give reality even to the
present nominal suffrage. So long as the small
boroughs are retained neither property nor popule.
tion can be fairly represented. The metropolis re.
turns 16 members to parliament ; seven boroughs—
Honiton, Bridgnorth, Harwich, Thetford, Stafford,
Richmond, and Totness—with only 3,766 voters among
them, return as many. In the one case there is a re•
presentative for every 5,191 voters; in the other, for
every 235. Again, half the property in Engler;
rated for the poor is in 9 counties, which have 161
representatives ; the other half is in 31 counties, with
310 representatives. Yet again, Lancashire, with
35,486 voters, has 4 representatives; Yorkshire, with
55,486, has 6; and Middlesex, with 13,781, bas 2:
while Rutland, with 1,887; Huntingdon, with 3,074;
and Westmoreland, with 4,078, have 2 each. Viewed
either with regard to property or numbers, the distil.
bution of representation is most unequal ; and wherever
a small number have a voice equally or more potential
, in the legislature than a great number, an oligarchy
; is created—the worst of all oligarchies, an unappa.
• rent, needy, and venal one.
This is the general outline of the case which is this
evening to be submitted for the decision of the }{ease
of Commons, and by their voter upon which the cha-
racters of members, as friends or as open or concealed
adversaries of the rights and interests of the British
people, are to be ascertained. Honourable members
may rest assured that the people are in earnest The
desire now existing for a further reform of the Hotels
of Commons, is ienitely more spoof:neon+, more
widely diffused, and more warmfy cherished, thin
was the desire for repeal of the corn laws at the time
, the League oommenced its operations.

IT is strange to see two each cities and such rests
of government, as Vienna and Milan, sending armies
to engage in strife for their respective pnweis and
pretensions, when in reality neither of these cities
possesses a government, or resources, or policy, es
vitality. The revolutions of Vienna and Milan have
lett the management of Austria and Lombardy in the
hands of their respective aristocracies, those aria*.
cracies, however, having no power either to command
the classes below them, to organise the resources, or
to wield the power of the sate entrusted to them.
The Lombard noblesse had a high reputation for
capacity as well as wealth. The people displayed
the most soldier-like energy in expelling the
Austrians. One should have thought that here were
materials for organising civil government and military
power. The Lombard noblesse, however, have not is
yet either formed an army or found a chief. The
King of PIEDMONT offered his services, and that of
his army, opportunely. The Milanese accepted the
offer rather grudgingly, but have made no
effort to act independent of their royal neighbour.
Meantime, the defeated Austrians under Itsnersiii
have rallied on the Adige, a second army under
NUGENT marches to reinforce them, and the Milanese

noblesse, threatened at once by Austrian reactiwz from
the east, and by republican discontent in their own
streets, have at last decided to abdicate their preten•
sions to republican independence, and to accept
CHARLES ALcERT as King both of Lombardy and
Piedmont.

This prince has certainly now before him the long
desired opportunity of winning the crown of North
Italy, nay of all Italy. The pr.ze is before him. To
win it will require skill, courage, boldness, and emc-
ees& Let him defeat the Austrians, both Lombardy
and Venice are his. Let him fail, and he is not sure
of Piedmont, except as the vassal of a French re-
public. He has all to lose, or all to gain. Never
did prince play for a greater stake. And if CHARLES
ALBERT have energy or talent in him, the moment is
calculated to call them forth.
We would not take upon ourselves to prophesy, bat
will merely observe, that the King has a very fair
chance, if he make full use of all his advantages. The
Austrians, shut up in the three or flew fortresses,
have evidently not recovered the confidence of fie
Austrian soldiers. The combat at Santa Lucia
has been exaggerated in importance. It was a daring
act, on the part of the Piedmontese, to advance so oesy
to Verona ; and this they never would have done but
with the hope of sympathy from the inhabitants. That
the Austrians, under cover of their guns, could do no
more than repel the Piedmontese in a very rash ad-
vance, is a proof rather of their weakness than of
their strength. The check has not prevented
CHARLES ALBERT from marching between Peschiera
and Verona, and capturing several positions on the
roads descending from the Tyrol.
N POLED,: at the head of the Piedmontese army
would never permit the junction of NUGENT and
RA DETSKI. It is impossible, however, to foresee what
may be the tact Ls of the King. His advantages are, that
the entire population are in his favour, and that the
Austrians are not sure of a single fort or town left in
their rear, unless strongly occupied. The army of
NUGENT is not considerable; yet it was the utmost
that the Provisional Government of Vienna could
, muster; and if that army be beaten, it is out of the
power of Austria, disorganised as it is, to replace it.
Nay, if the war be prolonged, and if CHARLES
ALBERT act on the Fabian principle of patient and
stubborn defence, he has a full and fair prospect of
being able to weary out an enemy, which wants re-
sources and finances, and which has no government
behind it to supply, support, or inspirit. By the last
accounts the new Austrian ministers have resigned.
The government of Milan may be no be ter and no
stronger than that of Vienna. But in the struggle
of two such weak antagonists, the one that assumes
the offensive has the disadvantage. The Italians are
at home in a country intersected by ricers, and amidst
a population which has shown the utmost obstinacy of
defence. All Italy has sent, or is sending, volunteers
and reinforcements to the army of liberation, whilst
the provinces of Austria are worse than lukewarm to
the efforts of reviving Italy. Hungary insists on
recalling its troops and the regiments composed of
them.
The only chance for NUGENT and Rsnrreet thus
seems to he in a speedy victory. Whether CHARLES
ALBERT is about to afford them this revenge, cannot
but soon be seen. The fate of Italy at this moment
hangs in the balance. And much as we respect Aus-
tria at home, our best wishes arc for the liberation of
Italy by the arms of Italians, and the limiting of the
efforts and the empire of the Germans to their own
side of the Alps.
a _ _

FRANCE.