The Express.
London, England, 1849-06-07 00:00:00

OUTGOING MAILS.

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11:1011 VAT= AT LONDON! 11111/00i
Two DA. —iiisnigg.l4 ma. pm I; kftimbria. 11 Ws. gra S.
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LONDON, 17171i8DdY, JUNE 7.

IT ie curious to remark the different effects which
the disappearance of political alarm and agitation
sines last year ,bas had upon the two parties which
abetted and resisted the motion for parliamentary
reform. Moderate and reasoning mare oar reformers,
neve itheless the popular convulsion of last year gave
to their voices a tone of serious warning, before
which men under the responsibilities of office
cusiled. Mr. Hones annual motion was thus met
Inset year seriously and respectfully. The Home
Secretary had ameethint more then flippancy and so-
'
Oiim to answer. The Prime Minister, instead of the
Itone of ill-tempered defiance which be indulged in on
Tuesday last, 'condescended to unfold to tU hones
several plans for extending the suffrage, by which he
eatisfying the demands of the middle clans,
an developing the political influence of the working
population.
This year ministerial concessions to reform have
shrunk to a few vaporous and unme:niZseexpres-
eons : whilst the line of resistance is ly that
of the old Ivry school, which wont Lord JOHN
RUMELL and his friends previous to 1830. All the
old arguments of the constitution working admirably,
of the great aptitude end readiness shown by parlia-
ment for economy and remedy of abysm, of the right
and fitness of the aristocracy to govern, and of the
right of the people befog merely to expect good go-
vernment, without troubling themselves about the
system a * machinery of that government:—this
is the line to which the whirl have fallen back. It
is the tone 'of CANNING without his talent, his
sophism without his, wit, his insolence without his
lijitftere be one line of conerrvatire resistance
which more than'enother provokes attack, and is our-
tairi to be inmate; it 'is that shallow entrant:dm:eat
of expediency which main office moo apt to throw
ap before these in temporary haste. If resistance is,
in this age to be made to popu'ar encroach-
meat and popular demands, it is by establishing
the institnions of the country on a principle
of justice. If we are to have a representa-
tive system, at a time "when Europe and'

Atberrica are busied with representative systems, and
when every idea and right connected with it are
weghed and discussed by every individual that
reflects and Wks, we must found that system on
something rational and just. Be it upon property,
be it upon numbed, be it, upon a combination of both,
the plan is intelligible. But to tell Englishmen, in
the middleof the nineteenth century, that they should
be contented with a system which gives the prepon-
derating electoral, and by exylsequenos par-
liamentary, lathe's,* to a certain number of i
and counties, while the remaining boroughs
returning the minority of the legislature are flee times
greater and wealthier titan those which are allowed to
prevail over them—to set rep inch a system as this,
and to defend it as expedient, is not only an insult to
common sense and fairness, but a direct and perma-
nent and inevitable excitement to revolution.

The grand, the convincing argument in favour of
equal electoral districts, consists in the plain self-
speaking justice of the demand—the injustice and
infamy of the refusal. And what are the answers?
Lord JOHN RUSSELL says, indeed, that equal electo-
ral districts would return a parliament of two great
parties, the town party and the agricultural party;
and that all the small and gifted politicians, who ply
their calling between these great interests would be
excluded from parliament. This is the old argument
for the rotten boroughs, .This is the pretence, super-
annuated by at least a century, which would make the
political welfare and graadeurofthe country depend on
the brilliant talents of its adventurer clam— a clam, after
all, that has contpletely loot' influence both in cabinet
and parlianaent,where interests and masses now engage
in combat, and where the old single combat of wit
and repartee is well nigh exploded. If the country
be reslly divided into these two great intetests, place
them fairly in each other's presence ; let them try
each other's weight, wisdom, and right. For our
part, we do not believe in any such division of
interests. On the contrary, we deem the interests
of the middle and industrious clue in commerce, and
in agriculture the same. And we believe that if
there does exist a dangerous and unnatural di-
vision between firmer and manufacturer, it is the
system of elective monopoly and dependence that
creates it.
Lord JoaN RUSSELL declsred in the debate that
the power of the aristocracy of England was
founded on a rock—that respect for it was
deeply engrafted in the breasts of English-
men, and especially of the lower orders • and that
in giving place exclusively to men connected with the
aristocracy, he was but acting up to the sentiments of
the British people. There is a great deal of truth in
this. But if so, why refuse the ballot P Why object
to extend the franchise? Where is the danger?
Why secure by monopoly and unjust law an in-
fluence which even universal suffrage would bestow ?
Why bolster up by statute and privilege an Order which
has a firmer support in the predilections of the people ?
Mr. BRIGHT, with a truth that must come home to
every one, accused the House of Commons of not
beings Commons house, but of being merely the repre-
eentation of an antiquated and respected, but still of
a narrow interest. lie instanced as proof the cabi-
nets that spring from the House of Commons and that
govern the country. What was the answer ? It was
that the government was indeed constituted of mem-
bers of the aristocracy, but that the grandfathers or
great-grandfathers of this aristocracy had risen from
the non-noble chums. Pray where is the consolation or
advantage of this? The English aristocracy form a
dominant class, of which the interests, prejudice., and
ideas all turn in a narrow circle. This eau absorbs
into it from time to time a certain portion of the low-
born, to whose eons it communicates its tone, its edu-
cation, and its prejudices. As the sons of the English
in Ireland were Hibernia Hiberniores, so the sons of
the mushroom nobility are more exclusively ultra-
tory than the scions of the old stock. We prefer
the RUSSELLS and the WENTWORTHB, to the ABIN-
GEES and the ASHBURTON& What consolation is it
to find the faehionable prestige of hereditary dulness
absorbing the native talent and independence of men
fre sh from touching mother earth ? What we should
like to see, and what the nation would profit by,
would be that the same man who had intellect and
talent to rise in the world should himself give to the
public and the state the benefit of his talent and
experience. We want to see him in the senate,
and not his university-cradled intellect, and be-
numbed grandson. We want to see the country go-
verned by its talent, and directed by its large and
growing interesta,instead of having power monopolised
by title and by twaddle, and that monopoly, with the
pretence at government founded cn ir, defended by
such pnerilities as Sir Gunton ORLY bad the face to
utter, and such little fretful points of cavil as
Lord Joan RUSSELL dribbled out by way of ar-
gument.
Let any moderate liberal, any man who really and
conscientiously is a whig, not from family or party
connexion, but from principle, let him read the
plain, honest, and able speeches f Mr. Loma KING
P and Mr. PAGE Woon, and say if he does not approve
of them and sympathise with them far more than
with th • disguised toryiern of Sir GEORGE GREY, or
the verbose and disingenuous shuffling of the PRIME
MINISTER.

We will not characterise Mr. Bmoirr's speech, re-
ma•kable u it is. It is too well worth while every one's
reading it, *adjudging it for himself. And when who-
eversball read and form 'jut! patent thereon is moreover
told, that it was this epecchwhioh drew down from the
PRIME MINISTER a rebuke, with the polite invitation
for inch speakers to stick to cotton mills, for that
they were too narrow-minded to treat of large and
imperial questiens :—this temperate reform speech of
a member for Manchester, and the intemperate and
vulgar rejoinder to it by the Minister, will, we think,
prove more strongly than any series of arguments
can do, the necessity of patting an end to the mono-
poly of ministerial power and electoral influence by
lords, as well as to the arrogant impertinence by
which they defend it.

Tun sham battle, as we anticipated, has begun.
The halites must do 9r pretend to do something to
to keep their position, if position it can be called in
which they dare not hoist any distinct flag of their
own, but are compelled by its necessities alternately to
fire (blank cartridge) over the heads of real friends
whom they want to bully, and hated kinsmen whom
they fear to beard.
What to do, during the pert interminable weeks of
the session ? That is the question. APything pal-
-1 tire, direct, or real, would obviously be a blander. It
would commit them; and these are they who cannot
afford to commit themselves at present to any new or
distinctive principle. The value of a casting weight is
that it may be thrown in at any moment into either
scale. Once added to the ponderous quantities al-
ready heaped in one or other, and its individuality is
lost, its importance is forgotten. To melt into whig-
gery, or stiffen once more into frigid toryism, is
equally oat of the question. The temperature of all
that lyet remains of that diminished element once
Cal conservatism is essentially of the chilly-tepid
degree. Neither hot nor cold, neither right nor
wrong, neither articulate in the utterance of what
they believe to be sound, nor mote when by a safe
irresponsible cheer they can flatter in public those pre-
udioen which in private they own are vain. What to
do? Nothing, if possible; but then, if possible, with
seeming earnestness. What to say ? Next to nothing
were clearly best, could it be given with adequate
emphasis. Herein, however, lies the difficulty. To
be personally impressive without being politically in-
telligible; it in not an easy matter.
In a fit of desperation, however, Mr. CiLaDrrcare
has resolved to try—that is, he has put upon the mo-
tion paper of the Home of Commons a notice, or what
purports to be a notice, which, under ordinary
circumstances, and without such explanations,
en doubtless be will be prepared to give
should the occasion arise when it may appear con-
venient that he should do se—would lad persons
generally to !ippon that he intended to move some-
thing expressive .1 an opinion
of .some Bert or other
on the events which have recently taken place in
Canada. For ourselves we moat candidly confess
that we wholly acquit the right honomabbi gentle-
man of harboaringany common-place intention of the
kind. We aever believed that Mr. GLADSTONE was
capable of Arming a common sense conception of any
ordinary commence in political life, or of expressing
such an idea. is common-place phraseology. When
it would have very materially tarred his party
and himself to be able to say plainly,
what he meant, he either did not mean
what was plain, or he did not know how
to say it. Ho*, then, should it be expected thsit
he should do so in hie present inexplicable position—
when the whole object of his party, or fraction of a.
party, seems to resemble the aim of those athletes of

' the circus who balance themselves on a slack mei
and try to look suite at their ease, while it
perilously from rude to side P mule
Those who are so inoonsiderate as to antici
frornMr.GLanwrores's intended (perhaps un-inten4
motion on the Canadian affairs any explicit declare,.
tion of opinion on the conduct of Lord Etoin of
Lord GREY will assuredly be disappointed. Thet
Mr. 01.AI:wrong may have bad, for a short time,
decided *pinion on the Indemnity Bill, and Unit be
has still a very decided repugnance to any one but
himself filling the office of colonial minister, we do
not by any means question. But, as a antaphyekal
his
proposition, we tske it to be certain that, whiten,
damage or positiveness there was in Mr. Gun.
erona's mind, say six weeks ago, on the matter re.
ferred to, it has all by this time disappeared; and
that, at the prurient moment, hieconvictions, or, as
would phrase it, " them dispoeitions in hie
mind to view in a particular light matters
which undoubtedly admit of grave and manifold
degrees of censure and approval, and many of which
involve considerations of the deepest inter and he.
penance," &c. Whatever persuasions he might hale
originally had, have long since been clouded by ens
of those impenetrable logical fogs which continually
overspread minds so constituted.
But even were it otherwise, it must be palpable be
all who choose to see what is passing before their ere.
that Mr. Gz.Anerozex's friorismumot desire, methia.
design, any hostile movement on the Canadian gees.
time To worry Lord Gm and disparage Lord ague
is of course an object of natural ambition and araleee.
merit to them. And for this purpose no chtaper pie
could be devised than a vague, &Mem, unmeardeg
proposal to take into consideration the general state
of things in the colony. The authors of inch ape*
sition need say nothing verbally malic.ous. They
may affect candour and even assume the tone of ia.
penal impartiality. But then the chances arettur
the real sportsmen will appear in the field as seas se
the game is shown them. That is the shrewd obi
gallant calculation. There are protectioniate ISOM
eager and at band to follow keenly whet., is
way is led, and to hunt down, if they he
suffered to do so, the freedom of a province, mule
fame of an individual. This the Peelitee know; sad
this they count upon ; though they shrink from aim
sibly heading the chase, or depriving themselves of
the right, at the last moment, of generously aster.
posing, and magnanimously repudiating any viadie.
tire, or above all, any party feeling in the matter.
After what occurred with resptct to Mr. Gun-
rroives memorable amendments on the Navigstioa
Bill, which he brought forward because he did
not intend to move them—it is possible that
the protectionists may not be ready at the
whistle of the unpopular huntsman to awe.
ter in force on the appointed day, leaving it
wholly to his whim and pleasure whether thee
may not after all be baulked of the mischief they had
set their hearts upon. But on the other h aad the
protectionists are very much out of humour just now
with their recent failure. Their attempted escalade
of office ended in so complete a fall, and tee wounds
and bruises they received have left them still so sore,
that it is bard to my what means of vengeance they
may be induced to take upon the whigs. Nor would
the india ement be 'ermined by a sly suspicion that is
supporting the perfidious Peelites with vigour, they
might help to thwart or mar the ulterior views of
those gentlemen.

THE COURT.
WINDDOR, WEDNESDAY.—Mer Majesty had la
eveaing party yesterday at the Castle. The followiaglat
the honour of receiving invitations : The Marquess sad
Marchimess of Ely. the Earl Granville, Viscount Cast*
bury, Lady Rachel Rouen, Lord and Lady Newport, lad
M
Hinton, Dir. and Lady Sophia Des Voeuz, Colonel and Cu
Misses eyriek, Mr. and Mrs. John Stanley, Mr H. Bung,
the Dean of Windsor and Lady Charlotte Neville One.
' ville, and the Misses Neville, Mr. and Mn. Ralob
Mr. G. Bentinek, Hon. Mr. Lawley, Hon. Mr. Frank Law.
ley, Mr. Seymour Neville, Mr. Edward Neville, the But
and Counter Talbot, and Lady Victoria Talbot, Lord John
Manners, Lord and Lady Notre s, General and Lady isa.
belle Wemyse, Miss Wemyse, air. Birch, Colonel Ferguson,
and Captain Williams. The Queen's private band attended
in the Castle during the evening.
This morning his Royal Highness Prince Henry of des
Netherlands took leave of her Majesty and Prince Albert,
and returned to town. els Royal Highness was attended
Iv hie Excellency ComeSchimmelpeaninek, Vine-Admiral
Lucas, Lieut.-Col. Bigot, and Lieut. Van Rupard. The
prince and him suite quitted the Castle at twelve o'clock, in
one of the Queen's carriages and four, and proceeded to the
Slough station of the Great Western Railway. His Dame
Highness Prince Edward of Sue Weimar, the Dueller of
Norfolk, and Lady Mary Fitaslan Howard, the Duke of
Rutland, the Marchioness of Beeadalbane, the Mends sad
Marehioness of Worcester, and Col. Wylde also tektite Cute
this forenoon.

His Royal Highness Priam Leopold Couat of Symms
arrived at the Castle, attended by the Chevalier de Colon,
at a quarter•put five o'clock this afternoon, on a visit to ha
Majesty._ His Royal Highness travelled from town by the
Greet Western Railway.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duke sad Poetess of Can.
bridge and the Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Dacha
of Mecklenburg &milts afterwards arrived at the Cud.
from town on a visit to the Queen. In waiting on the Dike
and Duchess of Cambridge were Baron Enembeck and Lay
Augusta Cadogan.
His Royal Highness Prince George arrived this ahem,*
on a visit to her Majesty.
His Excellency General Prince Castelcieala (the Neapoli-
tan Minister), the Duke and Duchess of Bucchuch, the Kw-
chionsu of Abercorn, the Countess Fortescue, the Earl td
emotes& Spawn:, the Earl of Beseborough, and Lord Oessys
Lennox (Lord in Waiting to Prince Albert), also arrived
this afternoon at the Castle.

The Countess of Dunn arrived at the Castle to-day, audios
succeeded the Visoounteu Canning as the Lady in Wait*
to the Queen. The Viscountess and Viscount Canning left
the Castle this morning.
The Queen and Prince Albert walked this morning at
their usual early hour in the Home Park.
The Royal Family took their accustomed pony and walk-
ing exercise to-day.
Her Majesty had a dinner party this evening in the Culls.

A Cabinet Council was held yesterday afternoon, at
the Fortign•office, Downing•street, which was attended by
Lord John Russell, Sir George Grey, Earl Grey, the Chou
ceder of the Exchequer, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Sir
Frauds Baring, Mr. Labouchere, the Earl of Carlisle, the
Berl of Minto, and Lord CampbelL The ministers wear
bled at three o'clock, and remained in deliberation till
quarter to flee o'clock.

FINANCIAL AND
[AMENTARY REFORM.

MEETING OF THE EASTERN WARDS OF
THE CITY OF LONDON. .
_ .

Yesterda evening a numerously attended meeting
of the inhabitants of the wards of Aldgste, Billingsgate
Langboarne, Lime-street, Portsokses, and Tower, was -held
at the Sussex Hall, Leadenhall- street, for the purpose of for-
warding the objects of the Metropolitan Parliamentary and
Financial Reform Association. W. J. HALL, Bsq ,to the
chair.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings of the
meeting, said it was quite manifest from the Moats width
took place the night before in the House of Comesole, that
no reform mks to be expected from that quarter and it,
therefore. behoved the people themselves to sissEs all
small differences of opinion in one united and constitutional
effort te obtain the nett of electiog representatives who
were cognisant of their grievances, and were prepared to re-
dress them. (Hear, hear.) A number of gentleman who
had closely watched the working of the Reform Bill had
come to the oenclusion that it was inoperative, and that a
further measure of reform was necessary, the attainment of
which however they deemed practicable only by a,attiou d
ell denote/Radom of reformers. When the Rohm Bill be-
muse the law of the land a belief that patronage and sump-
tAon had received their death-blow was extessively en-
tertained, but they now knew that they were both m
rife es ever. (Hear, hear.) They were told, indeed,
by the Duke of Richmond and his clam, that
they should have " protection " again ; bat ho mold
answer for the people of this country that they would never
krmit any retrograde movement on the question. (Beer.)
hey were also told that the manufacturing merest benefited
largely by the expenditure of the agricultural elemserand be
would, therefore, tell them how an agrieulteral labourer,
with a wife and flee children, spent his go. a ~„k gni
rent amounted to le. 3d., five gallons of bread, ign. 63., and
the remainder of the expenditure was for very small quanti-
ties of bacon, butter, sugarede, soap, blue, starch, cotton,
thread, worsted, cheese, salt. New, the am which he
paid to the anuntfactmer out of the 9e. amounted just
te lid., aryl* the whole of the balance went to the
agrieulturist. (Hear, hear.) Having alluded to the
obstructive tendencies manifested by the bench of bishops,
he concluded brexpressing a hello that thffilme was not
distant when episcopal pout esi services could be dispensed
with. (Hear, lear-.) • ,
Mr. T. ATKINSON addressed the mestiag in explanation
of the *me and principles of the CentsalMetropoultan As-
lodation, and atrooglyttrged the necersi7 of a union between
the working and =des classes, in order to carry out these
objects, •
Mr. DODDS moved :—" That the present imormowi re-
venue of tits eoantry is rand without a due regard to the
tyre greet clams on whose it is principally levied,- and that
the vital interests and well being of the state demand the
adoption by government of a searching system of economy
and retire. cianseut."
Mr. CASTLES sesonded the resolution, sad showed that
whale the necessaries of life in this country were most nor