The Express.
London, England, 1847-05-26 00:00:00

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The MIMS Mr
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Nnall=il4•7sairlitTayaalia..
Lard. aaad ("fajta'
The mile fir am na Van timma's ad e.
Zealand mill arcb ade np Se
es datemedminitha Mat May.
TM. Waft Inas isestrlfaiko, Hosanna. and
the Unmask. mill be made tom an thamalmgMlba and Jane.
The mail. kr grid& North Arm*" Passees, and the Unitrl
Mates, will be made up on the evesdprdlbe ard Jame.
The overland made for Gibraltar, MeNes,Onaillin, the lonian Handy.
1-pr, Aden, Ceylon, India, llonwr[omr,awd Odra, ere Sou Maintop,
1,4 he made up on the morning of tbe 3M Jana
The mails for the Brarila the River Piste, Monte Video, Pennon-
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evenleg of the lib June.
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Moat, Aden, Ceylon, Meng Kong, &a, will be made up on the
evening of the Ith Ante.

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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MAY 26.

LEL,S note of electioneering preparntion meets the
ear from Scotland than from any other part of the
United Kingdom. The truth is, that party in Scotland
being more exclusively based upon principle, and the
relative strength of parties there having been more
unequivocally. displayed at former elections than else-
where, there isles' ta mptatMn to engage in contests.

The former constituencies of Scotland were so
limited in number, and of the few voters so many
held merely fictitious qualifications, that the new con-
stituencies under the Reform Bill contain within
them scarcely any alloy of the old electors. Scotch
voters are no more immaculate than their southern
countrymen—no more suim Lir to selfish and sinister
biases; but the fraction of them who had enjoyed
any practical training in a school of political
corruption previously to the first election under
the Reform Bill, was so insignificant that it
=iv be disregarded in estimating the influences which
decided that struggle. It was a fair, stand-up fight,
that first election, between whig and tory principics.
The whig and tory leaders were obliged to throw
themselves upon untried constituencies. The pro-
verbial caution of Scotland afforded no chance for
radicals, except in the case of a couple of country
gentlemen of old family, of whose radicalism neither
whig nor tory stood much in awe. In some of the
exclusively agricultural or pastoral counties, old
yeomanry and volunteering associations—to say
nothing of awkward reminiscences of rent days—
gave the ascendancy to the tones. But in all the
burghs of Scotland, and in a majority of the counties,
the elections—as befitted a staid Presbyterian nation
—wect hollow in favour of whiggery—of Scotch
whiggery—a political faith, with a little more of
reason and a little less of heart in it than its English
sister ; not a little pedantic, but warranted to wear
well and of fast colours.

At the next two general elections, and at every
partial election that took place in the intervals be-
tween them, the tories attempted to regain the place
they had lost, but in vain. Some constituencies they
gained for a time, others to all appearances perma-
nently ; but they could not turn the scales in their
favour, nor even materially abate the total of the
hostile majority. Each party knows from experience
the other's strength too well to waste its time and
money on unavailing efforts.
According to present appearances there will not be
• dozen contested elections in Scotland. It must not,
however, be too hastily assumed that on account of this
quietude there is to be no change in the present relative
strength of parties, or in their future prospects.
Absolute repose is sometimes the surest agent of per-
manent change. Forexamplc the SOLICITOR-GENERAL,
the present able and excellent representative of the
stewartry of 'Kirkcudbright, having consented to
stand again, it is generally understood that he will be
returned without opposition. Had a new man stood,
there would have been a contest, and the tory party,
by making appearance, would have been kept
together though sure to be defeated. But by
allowing judgment to go against them by default, the
tories quit the field, and if the new parliament live out
its full span, against the next election there will be
no such party in the stewartry. On the other hand,
if, as seem, to be the general understanding, Lord
LINCOLN is to walk the course for Lanark-
shire under the HAMILTON auspices; and
if, as seems certain, Messrs. OSWALD and
CALDWELL be returned without opposition for
Ayrshire and Renfrewshire, this throws these
three great manufacturing and co-terminous counties
into the neutral tint of Peeliam, and arrests midway
the change in the politics of the ducal house of
HAMILTON, which seemed certain upon the death of
the present peer. The state and prospects of the con-
stituencies now named indicate the silent struggle
which is watchfully carried on in Scotland at this
moment. The leaders of the reform bill movement
are noiselessly extending and consolidating the sway
of the liberal party, and the conformers, who have
the sense to see that henceforth no set of men can rule
this country except upon liberal principles, are pre-
paring to renew the struggle for power in the new
field of liberalism.

Of the contested elections already announced, only
three can by any possibility damage the liberal cause.
In Roes-shire, Mr. klArnEsos'a success would be a
triumph; bat the county cannot well be worse repre-
sented than at present. It would require a micro-
meter to decide whether Mr. Burr or Sir A. L. Her
is the more eligible candidate. However the game
may go in the ultimo Thute of Orkney and Zetland,
we are sore of a staunch liberal. But it is not a very
graceful act in Lord JOHN lieu to desert the battle-
field of Berwickshire, where he stood a fair chance of
ousting Mr. F. Scorr —discarded from Roxburgh-
shire for his Staaleyite propensities by the Duke of
Brect.r.nen—in order to oppose Mr. DUNLOP, an
accomplished liberal and excellent man of busi-
ness, in Greenock. Fife, too, affords some reason
for anxiety. The gallant member who canvassed
and carried the county, by his own confession,
" to spite the country gentlemen," seems determined
to retain the seat, though he discharges none of its
duties, to spite those whom he is accustomed to call
" the ten-poanders." The natural desire of the
country to be really represented in parliament, has
compelled the liberals to bring forward Mr. Featice.
It is not impossible that a tory or a trimmer may
slip in between the new and the old liberal, but the
risk must be ran, if Fife is to have any voice in the
next parliament, and if defeated, the liberals will at
least have some amusement from the peculiar and
racy speeches of the gallant captain, to allay the pain
of discomfiture. Glasgow seems not disinclined to
repeat the mistake of its first election under the Re-
form Bill, when wrong-headed self-will caused a type
of the new conformist party to be sent to parliament
as member for Glasgow before there was any
party for him to co-operate with. The three
candidates as yet in the field are all sufficiently sound
in their general politics. The contest has been forced
on by an opinion, that the local business of the con-
stituency was inadequately attended to. For Glasgow
to have no voice of its own, worthy of commanding
the attention of the legislature, is monstrous. So
great a city demands one local, one cosmopolitan
member, one representing its exclusive interests, and
one holding rank amongst the commercial authorities
of the age. The last we understand to have been
satisfactorily found in Mr. M'GREGOR. lithe liberal
cause sustain any damage is so important and influ-
ential a constituency through these intestine dimen-
sional, deep will be the responsibility of those who,
when an unobjectionable liberal candidate was already
in the field, brought forward another, simply because
the first was not of their nomination.

LORD ABIpIUIRTON'3 is a well-timed and able
pamphlet, pointing out, without clamour or party
spirit, the true causes of the present commercial dis-
tress, and the remedies to which we should look. His
lordship does not, with most of those foremost in
handling this question, throw all the blame of the dis-
tress upon one great cause, and throw all the force of
remedy into one great panacea. He admits the
dearth ge the principal cause of disturbance, and shows
how this has been aggravated by former provisions
of the legislature, isolsilded, but unfitted, to meet all
contingencies. He reco:nmends, in consequence, the
repeal of the law of 1844, bur by no means insists
that this alone, or that any other :may mode of

augmenting the currency, can restore at once those
facilities of-credit which have been interrupted.
At the same time, his lordship does not go the
length of those who assert that capital cannot be
created, when there is lack of it, by extending cur-
rency and credit. The capital which exist in the
manufacturing establishments of this country has
been used to command and employ for the working
of those establishments a certain amount of credit, and
of currency ;armed upon that credit and representing
it. The corn trade has of necessity absorbed this
capital, and taken away the currency. Instead of the
Bank, or the banks of the country, acting, as they
naturally would, as a perennial fount, able and ready
to supply the legitimate wants of credit, when those
wants by natural mums become multiplied, the
bill of 1844 dries up the source, and forbids the supply
under the plea of keeping up the solvency of the Bank.
The manufacturing interest of the country stands in
need of low prices and active credit, as the true and
advantageous way of paying for corn import by
profitable manufacturing export. That interest does
not demand the creation of new capital, but the
wonted credit which its vested capital has ever and
rightly enjoyed. To stop such a demand with the
Out that we cannot create capital, is as Irrational, u it
is insulting.
This fright of the Bank, with ten millions in her coffers,
of violating this parliamentary restraint, has driven her into
proceedings which have dv predated to a very greet extent
every description of property; fond only, for evident reasons,
excepted. It would not bo easy to estimate this depreciation,
extending over all merchandise, stock', railroad shares, &c ;
it probably would not be overstated at from 10 to 20 per
cent. ; but what is worse, it has paralysed tLis property in
the hands of the possessors, rendered it unavailable towards
meeting their engagements, and thus produced, in many
cases, pecuniary sacrifices much beyor.d the mere deprecia-
tion of the Take of the property itself. I: has further
occasioned the suspension of the execution of orders from
our customers in every quarter, thus t:istreating manu-
facturers, and impoliag those very operations which would
have corrected the tendency to an uufaveurable balance of
trade, and given safety to the circulation of the Bank.
It is needless to follow up farther all the fatal consequi nee
to capital branching from this mistaken anxiety about cur-
rency : the latter is after all but the shadow of the farmer—
the small ehaoge be which the transactions are liquidated,
though undoubtedly in some respects the regulator of its
value: but I have no hesitation in thinking that, if these
enormous fluctuations in the value of property, and these
occasional disturbances of manufacturing n.dustry, are inse-
parable Dom the circulation of bank-notes, we pay too dear
for this accommodation, great and useful as it is ; and that
it would be more safe to have no banks of iuuc, and use only
these of depot, Ike the great trading city of Harnburgh.
The bill of 1844 is, however, fast deciining in
public opinion, and losing daily its best and most
staunch supporters. Amongst those whn have just
abandoned it, we may cite the Morning Chronicle, at
first so determined a stickler for the PEEL theory of
currency legislation. None gave more uncompro-
mising support to the act and to its leading provisions
than that journal. It upheld the necessity of restrict-
ing currency and credit at the same time, under the
plea of preventing a drain of gold. It applauded
the restrictions placed upon the country bankers, in
I order to give the Bank of England uncontrolled
mastery over the circulation, and was strong in favour
of that division of the Bank of England into the issue
and the bankin_ gdepartment recommended by Colonel
TORRENS and Mr. JONES LOYD. The Chronicle noel
' very wisely gives up every one of these principles.
It declares the amount of Bank notes in cir-
culation to bo fraught with none of those
consequences attributed to it by the supporters
of the bill of 1844. It denounces as strongly as
Lord Asnetravos the inutility and disadvantage of
the separation of the Bank into two departments.
The Chronick has only to recant its approval of the
restriction put upon country banks, in order to have
accomplished one of those evolutions from cast to
west of opinion, for which the Times alone was sup-
to possess sufficient hardihood. Mr. Jonas
Loin and Colonel TORRE:XS were once the currency
heroes of the Chronicle ; the latter was pro-
nounced by it as having victoriously cruaned
and refuted all the objections and cavils of
Mr. Tooxe against the bill of 1844. Now,
however, the Chronicle generously admits that Mr.
Tooxz was perfectly right in his masterly pamphlet,
as well as in his prognostications, and avows Sir R.
PEEL and his doctrine completely in the wrong.
Some time back the argument of the writer of the
Chronicle was, that the outcry against the bill of
1844 was unfounded, for that it really did not limit
the circulation ; that those wko proposed to repeal that
law did so merely because they confounded capital
and currency; and that it would be much better to
give up " troubling our heads" about Sir R. PEEL'S
Bank Act.
By this time, viz., a fortnight later, it has become
evident even to the writer of the Chronicle, that the bill
of 1844 has somewhat to do with the existing distress.
He is forced to admit with all the world the grievous
pressers which it has been on credit, and for avowed
ends, in which it has altogether failed. Without
much affecting the note circulation, the banking
or deposit department has been run upon
and menaced with as much peril as if the act of 1844
had never been in existence. Mr. TOOKE is declared
a true prophet by the old opponents of his views, and
the entire school of currency writers have not a friend
or stronghold left, except in that body so generally
behindhand al these matters—viz., the House of
Commons.

IN rummaging through the country papers in
search of electioneering news, we have lit un the
following extraordinary paragraph in the B
erwick.
Adcertiaer

Rumours of • requisition being in course of signature
among the freemen of the borough inviting a third candidate
to present himself, have been current during the put week,
and we are told that so many as Mauna have been attached
to it. We have been unable to obtain a sight of the requisi-
tion, but we have been informed that its tenor is merely
pledging the nibseribers to support a third candidate without
reference to politics or person; and no qualification is stated
as being required.
A stranger to " Berwick i' the far north " might
be puzzled to understand such a requisition ; but they
who know the past electioneering history of the
borough can, we fear, have little doubt what it means.
The paragraph ought surely to have been headed—
" Wanted a Third Candidate! Freemen to Let!"
The former practices of this borough, when the suf-
frage was confined to freemen, disclose the object of
the present announcement : it smacks of the days of
MYLNE, of BERESFORD, and of GLADSTONE ; of times
when the redoubtable Mr. CLEMENT PATTISON had
always a contest cut and dry for an election, come
when it might ; when he had always a " third man"
prepared to slip from hie leash; when votes were
votes, and contests were contests. But, alas! for
CLEM." and his congenial clients, this advertisement
of sale also indicates a scarcity of the article they once
had in each abundance. They may still have votes to
sell ; but who'll buy them ? That appears to be now
the lifficulty—hoe opus, hic labs.. eat. However, they
appear rewired not to lose a chance ; they arc in the
market : if money is to be had, they are determined
to have it. Berwick or Bridport ? Which is the
cheaper ? A great question this for the curious in
borough prices.
The last election for Berwick was an exceptional
one : the more respectable of the constituency found that
in Mr. Marrnaw Foluitert they had got a candidate
worthy of representing them, and he was returned in
spite of old habits. The present is a desperate attempt
to revert to them. But it will fail : for if Mr. CLE-
MENT ParrisoN be not lawyer enough to know of
Lord Jonx Russr.tes act, passed in the present par-
liament, he will find "third men" everywhere very
much in dread of that wholesome statute. It has
rendered it next to impassible for any man to retain a
seat obtained by corrupt means ; and the chances are,
that if the present attempts be persisted in, it will end
in the disfranchisement of the requisitionists, as well

as is the defeat of their candidate. But the 'attempt
will fail for another and a better reason : for although
Mr. PArrisow may be blind to the change, there has
been a great change in public opinion since he dab-
bled in—and lost his client—the last Berwick election :
there is not only increasing danger attaching to the
old system, but there is an increasing sense of its dis-
grace and men now-adays are not to be seduced
Tito tie loss of both their money and their reputation
Isdnlge the venality of needy and corrupt freemen.
if Berwick be dissatisfied with the conduct of both
es slither of its present members, let the grounds of,
tisistisfaction be openly expressed ; and other candi-
dates Invited to come forward on definite principles,
or for expressed objects. But this groping in the
dark for a candidate without any declared object, and
merely for the sake of a contest, is a system which
the respectable and really independent part of the
constituency sad the kcal press, regardless of all dif-
ference of political opinions, ought to discountenance.
We think our respectable contemporary, the licricirk
Advertiser, could sot do a greater local service than
to denounce and put down a system entailing so
mach scandal on the borough, and which cannot be

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESD.

persistedn, but at the
to
of the franchise. Let
Sudbury be a warning to Berwick.
A better representative than Mr. FORSTER it is
impossible for Berwick to select. No man iu the pre-
sent parliament has voted more frequently or cor-
rectly ; and no member that ever sat for the borough
ever gave such attention to its local affairs. Of Mr.
RICILARD HoDGSoN we cannot say much ; but this we
must say, that it will be far better for the public ser-
vice that he should be returned without a contest than
got rid of by the means desired by the requisitionists.

The suspension of business in Paris consequent on
thefeetivalofPentec 3et, and the non-appearance of moat
of tho French journals on Monday, leave us without in-
telligence of any general interest from Paris. The
snbject of conversation in all circles, to the exclusion
even of domestic and foreign politics, was the death
of O'Connell, an event which has produced a lively
sensation throughout Europe.

The ministry in Spain continues its efforts to put a
termination to the unbecoming separation which has
taken place between their Majesties the Queen and
her consort. As yet, however, these well meant
attempts have been unsuccessful. The cabinet bad
visited the King on the 19th in a body at the l'ardo,
where he amuses himself with field sports, and had
represented to his Majesty the impropriety of his
personal separation from the Queen. They entreated
him to go to Aranjusz, or to return to Madrid.
The King, however, declined, but private letters
say that he offered to join the Queen on certain con-
ditions, among which were mentioned the following :
—that there should be a change in the persona com-
posing the royal household, and that his own rights
and privileges should be definitively settled. The
cabinet on returning to Madrid held another meet-
ing, ut which, however, nothing could be decided
without further reference to her Majesty. MM.I
Pacheco and Salamanca departed accordingly once
, more for Aranjuez.
1 Notifications of the marriage of the Infante Don
Henri9ue with Maeille.de Castellan, were sent among
the aristocracy of Madrid.
M. de la Rive, charged with firing at the Queen, I
was still in confinement. The investigation of the
afftie was naively proceeding.
The Ero (k 1 Conu rcio of the 19th has the following:
The government of Louis Philippe has a positive interest
in making it appear that the Queen of Spain is not as happy
as she ought to be, and it is towards this end that all the
representatives of tlilt monarch here endeavour to keep the
royal pair as far apart as possible, so as to cause an irretriev-
able separation between them, and render probable the
urgency of extreme measures. But would even such an event
deprive the Queen of the sympathy of her people 1 No,
assuredly not ; and the nation, made aware that such a result
was the consequence of French intrienee, would rally round
Isabella, and give her fresh proofs of that attachment which
supported her against Don Carlos. The policy of the Milne r-
aidas is not the less interested in keeping up this disunion
than it is in maintaining the system of illegality and violence
which now weighs upon us. The more discontent is shown
by the country, the more ground will be gained in advance
towards a solution of so many venal intrigues. We must
not be deceived ! the idea which presided over the great
event, which has already caused us so many vexations, is
that of dominating over us de jure and de facto; and, to
attain this end with greater facility, Spain roust be weak-
ened, and rendered incapable of offering resistance. But
the Queen, notwithstanding her little experience, and all
the means resorted to to keep the sufferings of her people
concealed from her, has discoverLd the plots conceived against
her own rights and the independence of the Spanish people;
she is informed of the means employed by the Afrancesados
to carry cut their projects, and she intends defeating them;
hut are the present ministers men capable of rendering her
the necessary assistance towards this great result? We
ore of the opinion that her Majesty is persuaded of the
contrary. She nevertheless wishes to hear what they have
to say before entrusting to others the execution of her noble
project. Never did our young Queen stood so much in need,
as at the present moment, of the patriotic support of all true
Spaniards; and we believe that, with the exception of the
hirelings of France, she may reckon upon the support of the
whole nation.

FRANCE—BonanoN.—A grandiloquent corre-
spondent of Galignani from the isle of Bourbm writes as
follows, under date 23rd February. The financial crisis had
become aggravated, ia consequence of the bad weather, '
which had continued thirty-five days without interruption,
had compromised the sugar canes, and completely destroyed
the plantations of rierieres. There was an absolute want
of specie ; the sums paid out by the treasury to the garrison
were immediately conveyed to India or the Archipelago
for the acquisition of rice and cattle. In conse-
quence of the rains—which had caused the rivers to overflow,
ruined cultivation, and interrupted all communications
for several days—the colony suffered most severely from
the want of provisions. 'Dais deplorable state of things
may be ascribed to many causes, but especially to the inter-
ruption of commercial relations with Madagascar. For.
rarely, the greater portioa of rice and cattle required by the
colony, were obtained from that island by means of ex.
changes, but at present they have to be procured from India,
where ey have to be paid for in money. The Colonial
Council, which had been prorogued on account of the
violence of its discussions, bad resumed its sittings. The
government had submitted to it several draughts of decrees
destined to ware the execution of the law of July, 1845,
but the party of resistance seemed disposed to reject them
absolutely. The question of delegation was espeded to
receive a solution is the course of the month of March, but
on that matter, as on all others, the Colonial Council was
divided, without there being any hope that the two parties
would accept any means of conciliation.
Another correspondent writes : The greatest anxiety
was felt at St. Dents, as to the fate of the French corvette
Berceau, of 32 guns. It was stated there that she had
foundered, and that all hands had perished. In December
last the frigate Belle Fouls and the Berceau were caught in
• hurricane on their way to Sainte Marie, Madagascar.
The Belle Poole h.id remelted Sainte Marie, having received
much injury; but the Beroeau never reappeared. A vessel
bad been sent to explore round Madagascar, but no tiel
could be obtained of the missing vessel. She had on bulia
crew of 250 men besides several passengers for Sainte Marie.
GREECE.—PAYRAB, MAY Io.—The king and
queen arrived here on the 7th, accompanied by the Prince
Royal of Bavaria. The opposition party, to the number of
3,500, went out to meet him, as also did the ministerial
part, in number about 800. A quarrel arose between the two
parties, and some flags were taken away from the ministerial
party. One of the oppositionists was stabbed by a police-
man, and a bloody affray would have ensued, bad not the
commandant of the trona arrested the offender, and
harangued the people. The king was met on his entry by
about 600 people, when • petition was presented to him,
praying for a reform in the administration of govern-
ment, and • el me adherence to the charter and the
constitution. Hie majesty received it, and promised
to give an answer the next morning, which he did
not. The next day the king received all the consular agents,
but it was easily perceived that all has smiles and attentions
were directed to the Anetaian consul and French vice-consul.
In the evening there was a ball at the residence of their ma-
jetties, a select one, yet a crowded affair. The next day
the Prince Royal of Bavaria left in the steamer for Mis-
soloaghi. Their majesties intend to return to Athens via
Romania. The bandits are as numerous as ever. Two
Englishmen, Maus. Church and Penrose, who were ten-
I vellang without guards, were stopped by an armed gang,
plundered of 305., and left bound together on the road. Our
worthy consul here wrote to Sir E. Lyons, at Athens, stating
the necessity for a British man-01-war being stationed at Pa-
tna, for the protection of British interests and property. Hie
Excellency wrote to Admiral Curtis, at Malta, and we are
hourly looking for the arrival of H.M. brig Mutine. The
interest of tie loan has not yet been paid, nor is it likely to
be until a coinage taken place on purpose.
CALIFORNIA.—In the Chia.; Mail of 4th March
there is a letter from Oahu (Sandwich Islands), containing
an account of the American operations in Upper California.
The writer states that he derived them from a letter written
to the American consul at Oahu by Captain Gillespie (the
officer who surrendered the Pueblo de Ice Angelo. to the
Californians), and from verbal communications by Major
Sword, a cavalry officer, who accompanied General Kearney
in hie overland expedition from Santa F 6, and who had been
despatched to Oshu in quest of provisions for the American
forces in California. Major Sword reported that the Ame-
ricans, both en shore and afloat, were much in want of pro-
visions, each man's ration of biscuit having been reduced to
four ounces, while the supply of fresh meat hal been ren-
dered very precarious. 1 accounts of the Californian
war correspond pretty exactly with those received through
the United States, except that the numbers of the Mexicans
and Californians with whom the Americans had to contend
'restated much lower. The following is the account given of the
country through which Gee. Kearney puled with h ragoons:
" Major Sword informs me that in August lest he set out
from Fort Leavensworth, which is situated on the right bank
of the Missouri, a little above the town of Independence, and
that he came the whole way from thence to San Diego with
a body of troops; that from their starting point an the Mis-
souri to Santa FS the distance is seven hundred miles, the
road level and good ; that from Santa Ff to San Diego the
distance is one thousand and fifty miles, the road at intervals
running over and among mountain ridges, and for three days
aeries the Sandy Basin or Wilderness which, extending in •
southerly direction from the north of San Francisco to the
head of the Gulf of California, forms the eastern wide desert
boundary of the whole length of that country. The major
assures me that the route be followed from the United States
to the Pacific Ocean is the best, and he believes the shortest
yet discovered, and that by establishing a succession of mili-
tary colonies or posts at the distance of from fift to one
hundred miles from each other, ther.difficultics and' dangers
of the journey would be rendered easy to surmount. The
occasional want of provisions and forage was the most serious
evil the party had to contend with."