The Express.
London, England, 1847-12-10 00:00:00

parties on a subsequent attempt to try the same
question.
As Mr. Acura, in his capacity of chairman of the
committee of last session, declared that his mind was
made np to the entire abolition of settlement, we pre-
sume that in his new official capacity he will bring for-
ward some measure for carrying out 11111 view. If settle-
ment was abolished, of course the law of removal
would fall with it, and the whole country would share
is the absence of litigation, already enjoyed by some
parishes, which have disoovered that it is cheaper to
maintain paupers, than attorneys and barristers.
But, as we have often shown, there will
be great difficulty in carrying such a mea-
sure
through parliament, though its success
is by no means to be despaired of. If it is
defeated or delayed, the present law ought to be im-
proved by introducing a large power of amendment
into the practice relating to examination and grounds
of appml. if these documents can be relieved of
their calomel inaccuracies at the trial of the appeal, no
one will trouble himself to pick holes in them. A
statement that a pauper served at Dumbdrudge, sup
-
podia by evidence that he resided there, would be
considered intelligible by an opponent who knew
that he would gain nothing by pointing out that it
was unintelligible.

The Paris journals of Wednesday, and our usual
correspondence, have reached us.
The report of the early part of the debate in the
House of Commons on Monday evening, which
reached Paris by express on Wednesday, produced •
great sensation as well among the adherents and
satellites of M. Guizot as among every shade of the
opposition. We allude, of course, to the answers of
Lord Palmerston to Mr. Osborne, in which the former
declared that, tho civil war being terminated, " the
question of mediation in Switzerland is at an end."
This short sentence has dropped like a bomb-shell in
the Hotel des Affaires Etrangixes. How little it
was expected is indicated by the leading articles of
the Journal des Debate for some days back, and
especially that put forth on Wednesday, only a few
hours before the arrival of the report of the speech
of Lord Palmerston, on Monday evening:
It is the Live great powers (says that journal), France,
England, Austria, Prussia, and Russia, who employ this
firm langusge to Switzerland. This imposing unanimity
will have, we trust, a salutary influence over the approach-
ing determination of the Diet. Ac to us, it is impossible
not to behold with a sincere satisfaction the great powers of
Europe, and Enyland in particular, in accord with our go•
yernment in attempting a mediation for the purpose of at
last pacifying the Helvetic Confederation. It is to be re-
marked that if the tone of the note is firm, it is also amic-
able. No one wishes to wound the just susceptibilities of
this small and interesting republic, and France, in particular,
will always consider it important to live in good intelligence
with it.
So far from M. Guizot thinking, like Lord Palmer-
ston, that mediation "is at an end," he plumed
himself on the assurance that it was " just beginning."
The Opposition journals, meanwhile, are pitiless in
the ridicule which they direct against the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, who has thus brought himself and
the government into so false a position.
If Switzerland, says the Constitutionnel on Wednesday,
should not accept the offer made to it in the note transmitted
by H. Bois le Comte, what resolution will Id. Guizot pre-
tend to suggest to the five powers ? Wtll he draw up some
fresh piece of eloquence to address anew to Switzerland
counsels which will be again politely disregarded ? Does he
propose to enter with arms into Switzerland, to cause the
principle, that the Pact shall not be revised if the cantons
are not unanimous, to prevail for the future ? Are they
speeches or soldiers which he c :writs in the present state of
things to send to the twenty-two cantons ? The more one
examines the invention of M. Guizot, the more one finds it
an inexhaustible stock of alseurdity end ridicule. Decidedly
M. Guizot has just accomplished a chefirceuvre which will
immortalise his preeideucy, and cause laughter to the most
distant posterity.
Much curiosity was expressed in all circles on
Wednesday at the attitude which would be assumed
by the French minister, as a consequence of the
announcement of Lord Palmerston'a declaration ; and
the official journal of Thursday was looked for with
some solicitude.
La Presse, a conservative journal, thus t-eata the
policy of M. Ouizot, and his pretended fear of
radicalism :
It is pretended to be feared that the Swim radicalism
should spread into the neighbouring countries, and be dis-
posed to absorb France as it has absorbed the saves can.
tons of the minority. This, however, is evidently a phan-
tasmagoria, without any substance or reality. Beside., the
existence of some fears, more or less puerile, on this subject,
is no reason for assuming towards Switzerland the initia-
tive of a treatment so severely woundicg to her indepen-
dence. It is as much as to say that we had a right to kill
another man, because he may a ime day attempt to kill us.
Here again we cannot defend ourselves from an approxima-
tion. In 1839, Switserland was, as it is now, the focus of
radicalism. There was then the additional circumstance that
Prince Louis Napoleon was fomenting in the canton of
Thurgau a direct agereasion upon the French government.
It was only on account of this circtintance that the cabinet
of April 15 addressed a firm note to the president of the
Helvetic Confederation, which note we may say by the way
met with full success. At this same period, H. Guizot could
not find terms sufficiently harsh to characterise the policy of
the cabinet, which he said was alienating from us the good.
will of Switzerland, one of the oldest allies of France. He
did not then, no doubt, foresee that a day might come when
be himself would, without having any direct complaint,
send to this old ally of France, and in concert with Austria,
Prussia, and Russia (we will not add England), threatening
notes to preveat radicals from being radicals, and interdict
them from making any modification, in their internal in-
stitutions. As to the results of the mediation, which must
shortly brume an intervention, the Journal des Delude
forms for itself, in advance, a most advantageous idea. We,
alas! fear that this will become an appendix to the chapter
of its illusions on the vitality of the Sonderbund The fu-
tun will solve the question on this poict. But the um-
ranee with which the Dibats congratulates itself on the
=union which isestablished on the object of this me-
between all the powers, is of aufficiently ill &mar,.
the
To boast of this perfect union after everybody Ye read
categorical declaration of Lord Palmerston, h • trait of
primitive simplicity, which does not badly mord with
earthosiplomatic summonses, by which it is enteadsd te make
two nes, which are no longer in the field, lay down that
arms.
The reform banquet of the Pas de Calais took place
at Arras on Monday, under the presidency of M.
Odilon Barrot. It was attended also by MM. Marie
and Cremieux, deputies. A similar demonstration is
in preparation at Grenoble. That of Cambrai will
take place about the 20th December.
The journals of Wednesday contain a report of the
banquet of Amiens, which took place on Sunday, and
Was attended by 750 guests. M. Odilon Barrot pre-
sided.
The King and his family will remove from St.
Cloud to the Tnileries on Saturday.

The advioes from Berne are to the 4th. The Diet
had not yet decided on the answer to be returned to
the note of M. Bois I. Comte. General Dufour, who
wu everywhere greeted with expressions of lively
approbation, had passed in review all the troops now
in—Berne. A serenade was given to the general in
the evening. The federal troops were everywhere
well received in the Valais.
The Council of State of Unterwald had summoned
the landrath. or cantonal council, for the 4th, with a
view to convoke the landsgenteinde, or general assem-
bly of the people, for the purpose of electing depu-
ties to the Diet, approving the dissolution of the Son-
derbund. and reconstituting the muitonal government.
A public meeting was held on the 2nd at Sion, the
chief- place of the Valais, at which a provisional
government was appointed and a series of resolutions
passed, of which the following is a summary : _
The dissolution of the brand Conn& ash Oewasa of
Btate.—The suppremion of the immunnise el the
The ineonspity between civil sad emiseleslisal
tioes.—The withdrawal from the abbeys OK Yerarise and
St. Bernard of the ri6c of collation to perocidal freashess—
The property et the &op sad of religious eseptestessw to be
placed under the superintendence of the state. sea fa eves of
need under its ecntroa.—The legislative provider el die
provisional government to be sanctioned by the ®tad Own-
cil.—The Grand Council to be named in the cease el the
month of December—The Grand Council to prattled Wm-
diately to the nomination of the Council of State.—An in-
quiry to be made as to the conduct of the convents, sad
those whose existence shall be found incompatible with
public tranquillity to be suppressed.—All the laws, demo,
and judgments in cases of peliticel offences, rendered siese
1844, to be null end veid.—The expenses of the was 110 be
borne by such religious corporations and other pewees se
voted for it, advised it, sr preached in its favenr.—The of
sembly recommended the Grand Council to grant notarnb-
satires to such citizens as have taken up arms is weir
the country, of the cause of liberty and progress.
struction to be under the superintendence and direetka
of
the state.—The expulsion of the Jesuits from the cantos.—
Tie divinon of the canton, if it be not oppmed by the to&
federation.

*Two Madrid mails, those of the 2nd and 3rd, were
due in Paris, on Wednesday, the former of which
only arrived. The journals are occupied chiefly with
the debate on the address.'
At a late hour on the 2nd a division took place, when
the address was adopted by a majority of 124 against
46. A royal decree effecting various administrative
reforms was published in the Goutte.
The band of the Camilla Bon wu completely