The Express.
London, England, 1851-03-12 00:00:00

purpose of being translated into the learned and
ailfuse dialect of what is called the constitution.
Should it escape that danger, however, the repre-
eentatives of the nation will have in appropntde
monnityllabbrs to say " aye" or " no" to this briefest
of bills. We are not so sanguine as to hope that the
speeches prefatory to these decisive ejaculations will
be equally concise or to the purpose. We can ima-
gine the %al LA). and :armucsii of the pretexts which
the farmers* friends will assign for not choosing to
trust a greater number of them with the right of
voting than thee think they can manage
and control at feture elections. South Notts
has thoroughly alarmed them. Their monopoly of
produce was taken from them in 1816; and now
their monopoly of power is in danger. In every
county there is known to exist a malcontent mino-
rity of 501. tenants at will, and freeholders who have
long desired to emancipate themselves from the inso-
lent thraldom of oligarchical compact and clique ;
but who from their want of numerical strength
have been compelled to accept the nomination system.
Add to these in each shire a thousand or two, many
of whom are likely to belong to the smaller
towns nut returning members to parliament
and we should SlMAdily MCC a change of
tone and temptr iu the mode of conduct-
ing county elections. Personal qualities would
no longer be thought mere " incidental advantages."
The second and third class of the gentry would by
derma look to the representation as a legitimate
object of public ambition ; and learn to render them-
selves acceptable politically to the community amidst
whom they live. The best man of county business,
and the man who habitually showed that he under-
stood and sympithised in the farmer's condition,
would be "called on to stand" where now nobody
ever dreams of such a thing. Here such a man might
get in; there he might fail. But in both cases the public
interest would he served The bore possibility of such
a contest or its instructive remembrance would soon
work a change in the thoughts and ideas of the
haute nob!. sm.. Airs of patronage would be laid
aside for a worthier style of political bearing ; con-
deseension would give place to conference, and the
voice of command to the accents of counsel.
But, above all, the extension of the elective fran-
chise to all holders of rated tenements, whether lands
or houses, of the yearly value of 101., would create
a public spirit in whole communities and through-
out extensive districts where it now has no
existence. The only question on which the
owners of counties have fur the last ten
years allowed the occupiers to go through
the unmeaning form of giving an estate vote has
been protection. To keep it up, the occupiers of the
soil were drawn out on parade in 111.11; and to get it
bark, they were marshalled in like manner at the
general election of I 17. So, likewise, if there were
a dissolution to-morrow, the same exhibition would
be attempted throughout the agricultural districts.
All other questions, all real questions, all questions
in which the industrious millions who live by agri-
culture are practically concerned—these are pooh-
as vu gar and ignorant notions by those who
re hitherto kept the county representation as an
heirkwan of the few great families. If any wilful or
hartl-headeil elector ventures to put interrogatories
about taxation, rent, tithe, or pour-rates, he is met
with a civil rebuff fur his pains, or a well-bred stare.
But the power to enforce a reply is wanting. The
spirit that animates the town populations is not to
be found. A choice between blue and yellow is to be
made, perhaps, but not by the freeholders and 50/.
tenants at will. They are too few to dare so to assert
their independence. The county members arc no-
minees of the aristocracy, not representatives of the
people.
Such is the state of things which the House of
Commons, not three weeks ago, declared by a majo-
rity of two to one. its earnest desire to amend. The
proem! which Mr. LOCKI: KING pmposes to try for
that purpose is simple enough. He asks that the
principle of the town franchise should be applied to
counties; and that every man occupying or pay-
ing rent fur a house or fur land worth UM per
annum should be entitled to give a vote for mem-
bers of purliament. Can any one show any just
cause or impediment why this should not lie dune?
Will anybody pretend that the possession of the
same amount of property in a suburban parish
implies a less degree of worth or intelligence than
in the cloudy regions of a manufacturing town ?
Hoes the clearer atmosphere incapacitate the rural
ten-pounder ? Or does his civic brother inhale
political discrimioution and judgment from imperket
sewers ? And if nut, how can the oppommts of so
moderate and reasonable a proposition as this jus-
tify themselves in refusing to give it a remind
reading ?

It will la• within the recollection of those of
reddens, who have attended to the course pursued by
the Express on the subject of etelesiasticul
anises and their reformation, that, in the last session
of parliament. an act was pumas' to impose cure of
souls on the future deans and canons, and minor
eapitular clergy. of Munchester, and to reduce very
considerably their stipends; and that in the prohn-ass,
through parliament of another act to amend the
constitution of the ecclesiasticsl commission, a clause
was inserted prohibiting deans, to be thereafter ap-
pointed, from holding benefices not situated in their
detanal cities or towns, and even them, where
such benefices exceeded the value of iql. a
year. The object of both these statutable provisions
was clearly to abate to some extent ecclesiastical
sinecures. and to compel cathedral clergy to render
real services to the church for the very cotunderuble
incomes it bestowed on them.
The Manchester Maury Act did not go so far as
to assign vote of souls to the existing dean, canons,
and chaplains of the old parish or collegiate church:
and therein it was eleurly defective. But its spirit
joshed those ecelesiustical sinecurists to assume
voluntarily those duties which the statute, out
of that tender regard for existing interests, did
not require for them. Neither dean nor canons
have, however, made any effort to share in
the postural art ices of the enormous parish of a hish
they are the chief, and only well paid, ministers.
Dean Bowtss is still in receipt of 2,0001. a year,
and Canons Waal', SEW KANT, PARKINSON, and CLIF-
TON, of probably upwards of 1,0001. a year each
from the property of the church in Manchester,
without any cure of souls • and the minor canons, in I
the enjoyment of some 700/. or 8001. a year, follow
the bad example of their superiors; all being in
what Mr. SIDNEY 111,KISKRT (MCC called a state of
"sulky independence." having a dislike, quite ec-
clod:Wit-al, to their diocesan, Bishop Lee, who
regards hard work as the equivalent for good pay.
In all this there is nothing legally to complain of,
"The law allows it, and the court awards it ! ' They
have a right to be idle church dignitaries if they
choose; and some of them do choose to be so. Others,
however, who repudiate the cure of souls in Manches-
ter, assume it willingly enough elsewhere. There,
for example, is Canon PausiNsost : first, he is in-
cumbent of the parish of St. Bees. in Cumberland.
with some paltry 1001. a year ; and then he is Pre-
sident of the ('ollege of St. Bees, a peat that is sap-
wood in Manchester to rewind him for his
exertions away from his canonry with Mg
low than 2,1000/. a year. Th;n, there is
Canon Currtet ; he has a living in Oxfordshire •
Somerton by name, that adds 2do!. a year to the;
canonry worth 1.000/. a year, and which is scrvcdby
a relative. And. lastly, there is Minor Canon RE-
MINGTON, who, though pocketing some 7001. a year
out of the church in Manchester. has not been heard
of in that city 14 many a year. he concentrating all
his faculties on the perpetnai curacy of Cortina, in
Cheshire, though it only pays a bare 1001. a year.
All thew were, however, sinecure+ and pluralities
existing prior to the act of lust session. That statute,
it was supposed, would effectually prevent any other
of the callous from ussuming,after its enactutent,that
cure of souls elsewhere which they rejected at home.
This expectation has, however, been disappointed.
For a week or two ago, the church laity of Man-
chester were surprised by a report that the Senior
Canon, Mr. Wit tv, had limn appointed to a distant
nt lite. Fora while they were incredulous. But
at last an official announcement, " that the Rev. C.
D. WRAY, f..rnicrly of Brasenose College, Oxford,
('anon of Manchester. has beat instituted to the rec-
tory 4.f South Buret. it, Norfolk," has dispelled their
incredulity, and shown them that what v shrank
from believing is literally the case. So thit out of
the eight siscalled cathedral dignitaries, but
in reality the eight parochial clergy, four
are now pluralists, in addition to being sine-
emists ; sad the other four are sinecurists only.
Whose state is the more gracious, is a bit of casuistry

that it would require the ingenuity of PASCAL'S old
friends—the Spanish Jesuits—to decide.
For 40 years has Mr. Canon WRAY been a mem-
ber,
with nothing more serious to do than occasional
attendance at divine service, and an occasional ser-
mon, of the cathedral church of Manchester. For all
that long period it has given him a very handsome
income and a house to live in, which he has
let out as a warehouse for nearly 300/. a year.
And only last year by his influence, one
,of the cathedral livings—St. Andrew's, Ancoats,
was bestowed on his son, a young man. And now,
when the legislature has put it in his way to be of
service to Manchester by assuming a parish and the
ewe of its souls, he accepts a living, worth, it is
said, NOW. a year, in Norfolk, and sheds the city that
for 40 years has dealt so handsomely by him, and
only last year with his also. This is not kind
as courteous, or grateful, of Mr. Canon Wear. It is,
we dare say, lawful. But it is not doing unto others
as lie would they should do unto him. There may
bean ecclesiastical fitness shout it ;hut it is not pretty
conduct. There is more df Lord GUILDFORD than of
BERNARD GILPIN in it.
The working clergy of the city of Manchester are
a body worse provided for than the clergy in the
• most remote and thinly-peopled parts of the diocese.
I Yet the gross value of the cathedral property is
' 34,000/. a year ; and the net revenues of the ,
cathedral clergy are not, in all probability, far off
10,0001., viz., 0,000/. a year for the dean and senior
canons, and between 3,0001. and 4,000/. for the
minor canons. And, in addition, there is a bishop I
with 4,5001. a year, and an allowance of 3001. a year
in lieu of " a palum." Bishop LEE is, however, an
active, intelligent, and earnest man ; desirous to
improve the condition of the working clergy, hut
somewhat intolerant of ecclesiastical sinecurists, even
in his own cathedral, zealous in his episcopal func-
tions,
but deficient, perhaps, in that sunriter in nunlo
which so greatly increases the value of the farther in
re. But the consequence of his juxtaposition to his
dean and canons is, that their position is uncomfort-
able, and that Canon Wieiv, as we have seen, runs
away from Manchester and its bishop on the first
opportunity, regardless of the scandal his flight to
South Ituncton brings on the church.

FRANCE.

PARIS, TV/UMW!' EVENINO.

The event of the day is an article in the Debats,
which must be interpreted as a semi-official reply of
the Orleans family to the pressing overtures lately
made them by the legitimists to effect a junction of
interests, or, as the phrase goes, a fusion. I have
already indicates! to you the intrigues set on foot
since ate manifesto of the Duke of Bordeaux, from
Venice, to harness the Orleanist interest to the state
coach of the Count of Chambord. The mingled im-
portunity and arrogance of the partisans of the elder
brunch has at last drawn down a decided repulse
from the exiles of Claremont. Berryer, notwith-
stauding his tact and moderation as fur as negotia-
tion is concerned, gave great offence to the Orleans
party by his parliamentarymanreuvre for the defeat of
M. Creton s motion. But the presumption andtemerity
of the tone in which the ultra-legitimists called for
an act of submission for the younger branch was far
more revolting to the representatives of the claims
of the monarchy of July. The article of the Debats
sets this fusion question, of which I have all along
pointed out the impracticability, finally at rest.
The origin of the dispute between M. Thicrs and
Changarmer is connected with this question, for the
ex-commander-in-chief is now aware that 'fliers
compromised him with the legitimists by hooking
him in to vote for Creton's motion. _ _ .

The Orleans family, it seems, have determines
upon quitting Claremont for the Continent during
the period of the Exhibition. The ex-Queen is to
go to Brussels, the Duke of Nemours will visit his
father-in. law, the Prince of Joinville will take a trip in
Portugal or Scotland, and tho Duke of Aumale is
bound for Naples.
It is reported that General d'Hautpoul is to be re-
called from Algeria, and succeed in his governorship
by General St. Arnaud.
The proceedings of the Chamber to-day were com-
pletely devoid of importance.
I understand that there is an attempt on foot, at-
tributed to a section of the club of the Rue des
Pyrainides, to get up a party in the Assembly far
adjourning the Chamber during the month of April,
in order to canvass the question of the revision of the
constitution in the; provinces, and to feel thoroughly
the pulse of public opinion with regard to that
measure. Lately the doctrine has been broached, in
a clever pamphlet, by M. Edouard Laboulayc, that
the artielewhich requires three-fourths of the votes of
the Assembly is utterly incompatible with the fun-
damental principles of the constitution, and must be
got rid of.
Although the reported difference between Thiers
and Changarnier, the now potent failure of the pro-
ject of fusion, and the multiplied schisms which pre-
vail in all parties of the Assembly, all appear to con-
stitute a favourable opportunity for the formation of
u definitive government, the project of bringing for-
ward the old combination of Fould, Itutther, and
Buroche, which seems to be entertained at the
Elysk,e is as distasteful and unpopular here as the
unaltered restoration of the whigs in England. These
three, according to report arc to resume their for-
mer places, while M. 13rouvn de Lhuys takes the
charge of foreign affairs, M;Dupetit Thouars that
of marine, and M. Fortoul another portfolio. MM.
Magna and Hendon retain their present places.
There is, however, probably nothing serious in this
and other lists in circulation. An attempt seems to
have been made to form a junction between Odilon
Barra and &troche, but the former will not tic his
hands by any pre-engagement. Ile insists on having
the formation of his own cabinet.
The dust stirred by the changes of prefects, is still
for from being luid. New facts come daily to light
in relation to this measure, which illustrate with
singular clearness how the currents of influences set.
Here, is seen at work the finger of Baraguay d'Hil-
hers; there, of Montakmbert. One department loses
its prefect because he is under the finger and thumb
of & powerful parliamentary leader, who is an invete-
rate enemy of the President ; another prefect is'
removed for rashly backing the municipal authorities
against the Jesuits. M. do Charnailles, late sub-
prefect
of Boulogne, now prefect of the Allier, is
nephew of M. de Dauremout, a near relation of
Baraguay d'llilliers, to whose puissant patronage
M. Witisae owed the elevation to his transitory post.
Thus the minister of the interior has used his brief
authority to pay an instalment of gratitude for his
promotion. I have before stated that M. Hessen was
transferred from the Haute-Garonne to the Nord, to
be out of the way of the influence of M. de Itemusat,
whose late rude assault upon the executive power
was the signal for internecine war between the
President and parliament ; while a Bonapartist, M.
Maupas, has been put into the prefecture of Toulouse,
who will not have the mine motives for dealing ten-
derly with that potent ally of M. Thieni, when he
comes to the pull again. -But M. Maupas himself
was removed from the Allier because he had run foul
of the Jesuits. In fact, the Bishop of Moulins, M.
de Dreux-Breze, has set up a Jesuit seminary, and
planted therein a primary school for the purpose of
training youths who are 'destined to compete in the
communes with the schoolmasters. The council-
general looked black on this scheme, and M. de
Maupas declared fur the council-general. But Mon-
talembert does not, in spite of all his professions of
'disinterestedness, give the Elyske the benefit of his
! eloquent advocacy fur nothing, and when Nlonseignor
j de Dreux-Brez;• brought his complaint to Paris, little
i difficulty was made about moving M. de Maupas from
Moulins to the capital of the Haute-Garonne, the
rather as thereby two birds were killed with one
stone. This whole business of the change of prefects
has been rather botched in the operation by the dis-
placed getting wind of their doom beforehand, so
that the ministry of the interior was daily
besieged by appeals ad miserieordiam, or menaced by
the intervention of powerful advocates. Promises
seem thus to have been wrung from poor M. Waisse
which he was quite unable to keep, and M. de Re-
niusat's friend, the Ordre, assails him fur removing
Beason after giving his word to keep him at the
head of the Haute-Garonne. On the other hand, it
seems that M. Bart, one of the shelved functionaries,
and an intimate friend of Achille Fould, has been
removed from the prefecture of the Tarn by some
blunder, and quite without the knowledge of the ex-
Minister of Finance. The omnipotence of M. Fould
at the Flys& is too well known for it to be supposed
that his friends can be intentionally disgraced; and
M. Bart, if not promoted to some higher office, is ex-