The Express.
London, England, 1846-11-21 00:00:00

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" constantly increasing application of the centralisingt
principle. Of the advantages_ of this, differen
rently. There are
schools of politicians think diffe
Mese who would refer the stagnant corruetio n
.of
: ihr. ia, the imbecility of public opinion in runaa,
7 and the backwardness of France in litany points of
social civilisation, entirely to the predominant action
' of the central power, and that deadnese of the ex-
' tremities which follows the concentration of all vital
energies at the heart of the body politic. Opposing
theorists, while attributing the evils of these coon-
' -tries to different causes, find in centralise-
;• tion the source and support of all that is good
;in their respective institutions. The former deprecate
• ' such measures as the new poor-law ; the latter Age in
it a model which might be advantaronsly 00MI m
every other branch of legislation. ' 'he truth ' no
doubt, between the two extreme opinions. Centrali-
sation may sometimes paralyse local action ; but it
may, in other cases, only guide its activity,
wand
shape
its efforts in accordance with a larger and r pur-
Its operation will be most deadening in those
countries Which are destitute of the counteracting
agencies of a representative government, a free prese,
'• • a powerful public opinion, and long-staninflding and
elaborate municipal institutions. Its lest uences,
it may be hoped, will be most active in a country
which, like Great Britain, possesses all these quick-
' ening elements of political life.
Centralisation is invoked in aid both of sanatory
and educational improvements. In both these branches,
however, its most intelligent advocates would wish it
to exercise rather an inspectorial and normal office
than a functional and executive power. It should,
rather say how things may best be done, and see that
they are done, than attempt to do them. The con-
summation should be left to local efforts, which may
find full employment in applying general regulations
to the circumstances of pecuhar places, usages, and
employments.
In all local legislation there are certain general
objects which must be kept in view ; certain powers
which should be conferred in all cases. To fix these in
general public acts with which local acts may be in-1
corporated is one useful function of government.
The Parliament of 1845 furnishes us with valu-
able precedents for this purpose, in its railways' com-
panies', and lands' consolidation acts. We anticipate
an extension of the principle on which these acts
were framed in the ensuing session. The recom-
mendations of Mr. Horse's Select Committee on
Private Bills will, probably, be acted on more or
less completely. Their report has a value, compared
with its bulk, which few blue-books can claim. So
far as we have seen, the press has not yet called
attention to it.
The bills to which the Committee were directed to
• apply special attention, were those for the erec-
tion of new water-works, and for draining, paving,
and town improvements. In connexion with these,
they considered the recommendations of the Health
of Towns Commissioners, with whose general views
they declare their entire concurrence. But while
engaged in considering the matters specially referred
to them, the Committee
Had fink Maim forcibly drawn to the fact, that moot of the de-
fects la Se prement mode of private ledieledon are Da menace to
thme dr en of 'lift he_t we general la irk speilation to the whole
spars art theMeWed eineldWaig the dittele of ems er more
Ina domes forporifolff NM as alba% to
as
Morrill t
en
or the
Wart, found it economy to acrid their inquiry to the whole system
Ifi=t; legialetan, yak atepret to which they would submit the
oteenegicas mil recommendations to the home. They
would in the let usenet, that under the present system, the
expenses of the asset necessary or desirable private bill are
grievously and heavy, while the great mass of these so-
celled private lift ( ain those which are their nature per-
ataaz,
weal, such es dingle estate bills) material', affect public
baireste, and are, allisegli look essentially public bills. That with
moat to these loal INK the thief imperfection of the present
system of legidetion Mrs tan the fact that no provision
is made fur forwiAiNg the easmittees which sit upon them
with oomplete and wssarceawadbroodoo, either with regard to the
lord evils requ reasdke, or with regard to the bearing which the
peoviaonis propo la drat lasyhave upon thegenend law of the cyan-
toy. As the public are sot represented before the committee by any from -
paint m duly suseestaselas, the committee, when the bill is us-
, mead, are wholly ingoonknt for Information on the interested re-
Ponnttations of the premiere - and where it is opposed, they have,
at ealiaon, only tlitameeentatiore of parties not in the least more
rataSok Min am the promoters; inasmuch, as the ca-
pons at madam we min to deter all parties from venturing to
tonleatote it, exempt these whose interests are directly affecsed by the
onset, and wan ere dee premed of considerable means. The con-
=le that, odor the present system, the interests of the public
who have maim the Maas of obtaining detailed informs-
Inn el to thpeposi=l aseenra, oar the means of defraying the ex-
iness_s of o smoftes greatly prejudiced by local acts. That
lards this, there ors moreover often introduced into local bills pro-
vides' of the mootoklactionable nature, some varying or interfering
vla the general statute or common law of the country; some,though
Cedirry in their nature, yet of a perplexing and needier& diversity in
tarn ; and finally, some so contradictory and mutually discordant as
to render their enforcement impossible, and to make the law doubtful
and embarrassing even to these who are professionally versed in it.
There is no more glaring abuse than our whole
system of private-bill legislation.. The mischiefs
quietly hinted at in the preceding paragraphs might
be swelled out in a monstrous and appalling detail.
We apprehend, however, that the recent flood of
railway applications and oppositions has made a
lameportion of the public familiar with the worst
ofeee bad effects of a system which, framed for
less extensive interests, and less complicated affairs,
has remained essentially unaltered, in a vain attempt
to cope with accumulations and arrears by all sorts
of patchwork expedients.
the resolutions of the committee relate-Ist, to
those cases in which the necessity of applying to
parliament may be superseded by public general acts,
to be adopted and carried out under the sanction of a
responsible department; and 2nd, to those cases in
which the sanction of parliament will still be
necessary. As to the first class, they recom-
mend that public general acts be passed on
the several subjects of sewage and waterworks,
paving and lighting, police and watching, markets,
and every other class of private bill not personal. The
Board or Department under which each class of
works respectively comes, is to be specified in the
general act, with the conditions on whieb, and the
parties on whom, the powers of the act may be con-
ferred. A memorial, for authority to put such powers
in force, must be addressed to the proper Department,
stating the objects of the promoters, the public uti-1
Iffy, local situation, and expense of the work, with
the means of repayment The fullest information is
to be given on all these points to all parties concerned ;
plans, estimates, &c., are to be lodged with some local
functionary, and duplicates of them with the Depart-
mayo wch suggestions, objections, or amendments
be forwarded within a given time. The Depart-
ment shall thereupon send down ono or more
qualified inspectors (at the expense of the promoters)
to inquire, on the spot, and in open court, whether
the provisions of the general act have been complied
with ; to examine into the merits of the case, and
report thereon to the Department, which shall deter- I
mine, on this report, whether authority shall be given
for the exercise of powers under the act.
All applications for private bills must be made in
the same way. Inspectors, after evidence taken on
the spot, are to report to the Committee on Standing
Orders and the Committee on the BilL Parliament
then takes up the matter.
This 'plan would diminish the great expenses now
incurred for the attendance of agents and witnesses in
London, and will strike at the colossal gains of the Par-
liamentary Agent much as the Small Debts Act at
those of the low writ-issuing attorney. It would
also furnish that trustworthy local information
which cannot be procured under the present system.
The Committee further recommend the appointment
of a taxing master for parliamentary costs.
All these recommendations are worthy of attention.

Tae King of the FRENCH and M. GUIZOT have
obtained the credit of showing wonderful sagacity in
choosing the time for precipitating the MONTPENSIER
marriage, and thus making a prospective grasp at the
Spanish crown, in a moment when a change of
ministry in England, as well as the occupation of the
country with the immense measures of free
ng trade,
left us little leisure or possibility for preventithe
united act of treachery and robbery.
The Eastern powers of Europe have not failed to
profit by the example of rapacity, treachery, and
cunning, set them with so much art and so much
success. If some weeks back formed an opportune
moment for the annexation of Spain, the present is
too opportune a time for the absorption of Cracow.
The French King has cheated England, and alienated
her. The two great constitutional countries cannot
join for the moment even in a protest, much less in a
more serious remonstrance. Quick—let the oppor-
tunity be seized, and let the independence and
liberties of Cracow be declared at anwed end
u,p by and the
the
last relic of Polish nationality swallo
Holy Alliance.
No sooner said than done, no sooner thought than
achieved. Austill has committed the folly, as well as
crime of sacrificing Cracow. We say,folly ; for it will be
counted to her. Russia has not given rip to a rival
eagle one of the old capitals of Poland, without the
aetermination to find an equivalent elsen here. This
• • Danube. And how