The Express.
London, England, 1862-06-05 00:00:00

HARMONIUMS.-NEW MODEL
CB4IIII, BULL and WOOD. 101. PAVDI4I.4.

the Orprefo.

TO 001tROPONDISTS•
dvertismente intended for .• The Ztpreee" London Evening
Par, mutt be at the onion 10, Bouverlostreet, by Two
o ton the day of publication.

HAYMARKET.
Tins Eirmso, THE WIFE'S PORTRAIT.—OVI AMERICAN
COUSIN. mow. Bor.dorn, Suasion.: Mr& Young, Ilia Oliver.
—LA CONTRABANDISTA. Peres Ns= and Senor Morsgan.—
And MY MUSSAND'S GHOST.

riumearrok
THIS Eviornto, PLAYING WITH FIRL Messrs Bronghaso,
Ryder, Jordan. Wlddssomb; likses C. and It. Letlerce.—And
ANoIL OF MIDNIGHT. Hems, Ryder. Potter. Shore,
Jordan, Waddicumb, Meadows Mesdames Fielding, Llsworthy.

1.1911Fd.

Teo Min:PO. THE POOR NOBLEIAN. Mr. sod Mrs. A.
Vilksts.—FOßTY WINK& Mr. 0. V,stost sad Miss Herbert.—
And PRIIICZ AMABEL Messrs. Mat,liews, Belmore, A.bley ;
Mrs. K Matthews sad the Masse Nelsoa.—Couttesace u 7i.

BRITANNIA.
Tam Emma, 011 i LOT IN LITL Mesdames & Lane sal
Craufard.—Laiertelasasate by Wm Bmytbsen sad J. G. Ford*.
—and THZ OLD AID IN TEI WLNDLNO BU HL Illag
Claytaa.—Oaaasaes et

NIGH WATIII AT LORDOif BALM&
Tnm DAY —Morning. On. 600..... Afternoon. Th.
To-fIOAROw —Montan, Th Afternoon, Skt. 10m.

LONDON, THURSDAY, JUNE 5.

Witsw the first emotions of surprise and regret
which the general character and results of Tues-
day night's debate cannot but excite have passed
away, the mind of the country is certain to return
to the steadfast resolve that great retrenchment
shall be effected in public expenditure. There
has been on this occasion a false start, which
has for the moment deferred the commence-

ment of the race, and we may expect to find,

when it does actually begin, that some compe-

titon, at first ambitious to have their names
entered, will not reappear at the running. But
national confidence is a stake for which political
_ _

parties are sure to compete, and national confi-
dence is henceforth not to be won by any party
which does not show itself able to make head in just

and wise economy. It is quite true that for some
time past there has been comparatively little
expression of this feeling ; perhaps it is true that
the feeling itself, though it always existed, had
ebbed to a further point than usual. But, if so,
it is not the less manifest that the tide is at
length turned. Of profusion and prodigality the
country, long quiescent, is thoroughly tired. It
will pay 70,000,000/. a year no more, to be
squandered and played with as they have hitherto
been. The country does not care to go back upon
old scores. Indeed, it is half conscious that
its own apathy and over-confidence in cer-
tain fair-spoken favourites has had something
to do in bringing about the discreditable con
dition in which it now finds its financial affairs.
There has been much controversy of late as to
who is to blame ; but the very circumstance of
there being such a controversy is in itself highly
significant. A little while ago it was " Who's
" afraid ? " and the greatest alarmist was suc-
ceed uL But the question now is, In what
form or at what point can retrenchment
be best begun? It is impossible not to feel
that the practical hindrance to economic progress
lies in the existing House of Commons. It was I
called together amid the hey-day of political
reaction and lavish expenditure. Its first
act was to repudiate every pledge extorted
at the hustings in favour of Reform,
and its next, to abjure the long-established prao-
tice of watching and cutting down the Estimates.
Electoral irresponsibility and financial profusion
are naturally and logically connected. An outlay
of seven millions and a half on the civil service,
and twenty-four millions on the army and navy,
is far too pleasant a matter to have to do with to
be wantonly exposed to the observation and over-
hauling of extended constituencies, so the fewer
of them public spendthrifts have to deal with the
better. ‘Ve neither desire to exonerate the public
at large from all share of blame in reaction and
waste during the last three years, nor to
lighten the burden of responsibility which
rests on the present Admiuistration. But we
maintain that the present House of Commons is
in many respects the most culpable and least
excusable of all. No serious attempt was in any
one instance made in 1859-60-61 by any impor-
tant section to check the riot of lavish expen-
diture ; and even in the present session the
semblance of virtue in this respect was not assumed
until supplies on the old extravagant scale had
been granted and a substantially undiminished
amount of taxes had been imposed for the current
year. Better late, however, than never ; the cry
has at length been raised that it will not do to urge
a patient people too far. There is great distress in
many quarters, and slackness of trade in all. What
was scandalous but safe with expanding exports
and full employment, is not safe, and is likely to
be visited with a harder epithet than that of scan-
dalous, when whole branches of national industry
are paralysed, and the gross totals of manufactured
produce exported are growing monthly less and
less. Still it is plain that a great majority of the
House of Commons are blinded by class instincts
to the real nature of the position, and that they
will not easily be decoyed into vaunting even to
the pretence of economy. Not a single Conserva-
tive voted for Mr. STANSFELD'S motion, the excuse
being that they reserved themselves for one similar
in tendency which had been framed by their own
chiefs. But when the time came for proving their
sincerity, Mr. WALPOLE, with the assent of many
influential members of the party, withdrew
the resolution he bad undertaken to
move ; and when the excitable Mr.
WHITE`4IIPE proposed to take the sense of the
House on the direct negative to Lord Peuszas-
TON'S contemptuous evasion of the whole questior,
be was pooh-poohed by those around him, and
recommended by his sardonic leader to go home
and sleep off his fit of disappointment. The large
majority against the only proposal for reirench-
ment actually put to the vote on Tuesday night
was about equally composed of Derbyites and
Palmerstonians.

Among the celebrated persons on whom it is
proposed to bestow honorary degrees at the ensuing
Cambridge. Commencement is Meyerbeer, on whom
it is intended to confer the degree of Doctor of I
Music. This is a compliment to the art which will
be widely appreciated.
PRINCE ALFRED AND THE CRANNIL FLEET.—
GHLAT YARROUTH, JOIN 4.—The Revenge, 90, bowleg the
flag of Rear-Admiral Bart; the St. George, 90,
Prince Alfred on board ; the Tralvdgar,9o ; the Emmal4
151 ' - sod the Chanticleer, 17, left their anchorage in the
roadstead this morning about nine o'clock. It WS expected
that the ships would mil today, but it bad been anticipated
that they would remain a few bourn longer. The Porpoise
gunboat, under the command of Lieutenant Cresgb, still
remains in the roads, not haying followed the squadron
when they stood out through the St. Nicholas Gateway on
their way to the Channel. The Prince yesterday remained
perfectly quiet, and in consequence of the uncertainty at-
teoding the movements of the ships no further entertain-
manta of any kind were attempted. Several excursiooista
arrived to-day, but when they reached the beads the fleet
had left. The toweepeople would be glad to receive a visit
every year from a sinularsquadron, as their trading interests
are much advanced by the Manx of oaken, seamen, sod
riaitcts.