The Express.
London, England, 1847-12-29 00:00:00

Eire eprtgo.

MAILS
malls for Naw South Wale*. Pas Dimbees Lead, end New
Zeelead will be made up as the ~slag of 661114 December.
TM malls tor WM* Net& Ammlea, sea Me Usebst
Magas .4 bearN.
sumimi etas SIN DOSllinit.
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brislies then kr listilva. Mom% same serme,
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Itiemetres, will be rata :any* um
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w Is sole se milts mieslorst this Jemmy.
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•=l22ollries ssul Illesese Lyrae, will msuch ap . atr
Tbe mit ke Vise, User% lAMB, Measles, OWL, ma 011inatu
will bombs" OS Ms magef Ng of the 7th January.
TM ~Sri elmbil ai Memealea, as Itedlterresees
kW*, aMs. M= Asa& am, will be seas up as Us
swans et Ms Tit

perusal of reports in-doors, jumped up, in the fear of
being buried, from the effects of reports out-of-doors.
The only explanation that could be got at was, that
" somebody was blowing up something on the river."
The two reports, which had convulsed the stability of
the building, and the peace of mind of its occupants, are
preliminary, it is said,;to a grand explosion to come
off this week. Since this information was given, it
is noticed that departures for the country have been
unusually numerous from " the disturbed districts " of
, the Temple, or, in other words, the courts adjoining the
river. " Who is doing what ?" is the question. Is it
the society for the reformation of the law, recklessly
clearing away some obstinate obstruction in the path
of justice, or only the conservators of the Thames,
conserving that useful thoroughfare at the expense of
the buildings on its banks ? In either case, the in-
mates of the Temple have a right to an explanation,
or, at least, to notice when the next blow up is to take
place. We write feelingly, as having ourselves been
severely shaken by last week's preliminary explo-
I alone.
What the County Courts' Act is expected to
be for the superior courts, this submarine practice on
the Thames may prove to the unlucky members of
the bar. Hitherto, the great enemy of the Temple has
been fire. Hardly one of its smoky and venerable
edifices but has been burnt down, some time or other,
since the Great Fire. But now, fire allies himself
with water, nail he hoped to 101 l legal vigilance into
security by such an apparently harmless union.
We beg to call upon the authorities, in the name of
a whole row full of fellow-alarmista, either to prevent
a repetition of this blowing-up process, or, at least,
to give due notice to all the inhabitants of the Temple.
If there be mud-banks or rocks in the channel of the
Thames that moat be got rid of, better the slow and
humble agency of dredger and diving-bell than the
speedy but shatterisg operation of gunpowder. En-
glish law abhors violent changes; they are held by it
to be essentially destructive. The fall of the Temple,
consequent on the violent removal of impediments to
the Thames navigation, would be a case in point
Ito stop the mouths of all radical law re-
formers in all time to come. There is "no
precedent " for such a proceeding. The mud-bank,
if mud-bank it be, has been there for centuries. The
bargee know it, and can steer clear of it. It is not
thus the law deals with an obstruction in its proce-
dure. When the nuisance becomes intolerable, the
channel is enlarged on either side, perhape. But no
irreverent hand is ever laid on the shoal itself. Really,
the very serious commotion caused even by the preli-
minary explosion of the Thames improvers, would
seem to go far lin justification of that cautious style,
of proceeding which, as lawyers mete it out to others,
should certainly be meted out to them.

TO COT'S.% TONDINTIL
•.• Admillamals 10.11•1 Pr • To. 8p..:
64. Ur •Oes, IR ar..woMaN Two VeYKrW WiM

HIGH WATER AT LONDON 11iDOR
Two mts. I ARneago. V =Kw' T.
T.lleasow-11.1.44,1 I mks. ram Afteroom A Ain poW

LONDON, W EDNESDAY, DEC. 29.1
MUCH virtuous indignation has been spent on I
the crime of Mr. WOTHERSPOON, accused of
having paid one thousand pounds in order to procure
his son a cadetship in our Indian army. And his con-
duct, no doubt, does constitute a crime, compelled,
too, as he was, to cover it by unblushing falsehood.
We cannot, however, but think that the true way of
repressing such crimes is by prevention, rather than
by moral or other condemnation after the fact. Too
many of the crimes for which the lower classes of
Englishmen are converted into gaol-birds and convicts,
are crimes made by the law, traps set for the unwary,
temptations overpowering to the poor. The game
laws, and in some instances the revenue laws, are of
this kind, creating artificial value where value is not,
and thus tempting poor devils to risk life and liberty
in picking it tip.
The law also sets up prohibitions and monopolies,
and by thus offering temptations to break through
them, tempts the middle or wealthier classes to perjury,
subornation, and crime. What are the quantity of
oaths required of placemen and functionaries but
traps of this kind ? And what is the prize of an Indian
cadetship, disposed of in the way it is, but also a
strong temptatipn to obtain it in the way which a
court of justice so recently condemned. The question
is one intimately connected with that other great
question of "national defence," at present occupying
the attention of the public.
The British army is officered by connexion and
purchase. Both are requisite. No matter what
military propensities or qualifies a boy may show,
the career of arms, in her Majesty's service, is denied
to him, if his parents have not both money and con-
nexions. Even if they have the utmost wealth and
respectability, both are useless without the grand
requisite of connexion, or, in fact, affiliation to the great
body of the influential and official. We need not say,
what hosts of respectable English youths this excludes
from military service. Nor need we add, that it
excludes all the colonial subjects of her Majesty.
But it will be said, there is the East India Com-

puny. Its military appointments are not made by
purchase. They are made by connexion. But
will any one say, that connexion is one bit
better or eater ground for the choice of a
cadet than money ? Is the son or the friend's
son of the East India director likely to make an atom
a better officer than the son of Mr. WOTHERSPOON,
the attorney, who having risen in life by his industry,
and who not chancing to have connexions at the India-
house, seeks to supply that want by money? Not
in the least- AS far as the public servioe or the
India service I. concerned, it is surely just the seine.
If the India Board chose cadets from their 'fitness

or from competition, then indeed an appointment by
purchase would be gross treason against individual
right and against the public interest But that money
should intrude to interfere with the rights of con-
nexion, can excite nobody's wrath or regret.
Nothing can be fairer or wiser than that a person
or a company should nominate its own servants. But
the East India Company has ceased to be a trading
body, as India has (wand to be the territory of a
factory. It is a colony won by the blood, the talents,
the military skill, the commercial enterprise, and the
political energies, of Englishmen. Every civil and
military functionary in India owes responsibility
and duties to his country, not to the pecuniary inte-
rests of any company. To say, therefore, that the
East India Company should name its officers and
judges, as it might its clerks, is monstrous.
Bee the anomalies it produces, the contradictions
and absurdities even in its moral and criminal nods.
Abundant wealth can procure any one a preponderant
share of East India stock. Whether elected a direc-
tor or not, such an investment of money procures,
directly or indirectly, a large amount of patronage.
So that the system is, that the pawnor of hundred' of
thousands shall always be able to purchase the power
or patronage of appointing a dozen of cadets : this
shall be honourable and legal in him; but if
the possesser of a few paltry thousands or hundreds
dares to do the same thing on a smaller scale and
purchase one cadetship—off with him to gaol, be is a
suborner, a criminal, a traitor. The wholesale pur-
chase of Indian patronage is licit ; it is only the retail
trade in such things which is punished and pro-
scribed.
The whole system of military appointments, and of
officering the regiments of the line and of the Indian
service, is absurd and unfair. It in general gives to the
army men utterly inapt to • military career, and closes
the door irrevocably in the face of- those, who from
temperament and character are the most fitted for the
profession. The officering of the two services ought
to be one and the same system, both in the hands of
government, and managed by government not for
purposes of patronage, or on the stupid system of
connexion, bat conducted upon some principle of com-
petition, and in connexion with a rational system of
military and general education.
We are aware that the administration of the
army is undergoing great improvement, and
that the elevation in the soldier's position will
probably be such, that the youths of the edu-
cated classes need no longer shrink from, what is the
habit in France, joining the ranks, in order to rise to
the honours of the epaulette. This will for ever pre-
clude the revolting idea that military rank and pre-
eminence is to be purchased. But if we are to pro-
hibit the employment of money in 060 stage or kind
of mill y appointment or pranotion, we art pro-
hibit itar in a 4 since no law am ardor one rode of
morality for Leadenhall-strest and another for
the Horse Guards. In denying the daises of awn
wealth we must also destroy the monopoly of con-
nexion, which is but another name for wealth, or for
the rendering of the public interests always sub-
servient to private ones.
The Reform Bill destroyed the rotten borough sys-
tem of parliamentary and political monopoly, but it
left standing a host of rotten boroughs in every de-
partment of the public service. Indeed, the great
anomaly and mistake of our time is, that in destroy-
ing the great abuses, which ate like a cancer into the
legislative power, and neutralised its popularity and
usefulness, we have left all the great abuses of adminis-
trative power still standing, and still powerful enough
to defy justice and reform.

MR. GEORGE FREDERICK YOUNG has discovered a
mare's nest. He announces, with a ponderous at-
tempt at heroic indignation, that the statistical de-
partment of the Board of Trade are guilty of "a
deliberate violation of truth"—of using " poisoned
weapons," and what not. The charge is published in
a letter addressed to Mr. LABOUCHERE, in which Mr.
YorNo exculpates that gentleman from all com-
plicity in such naughty doings—one of those volun-
teer testimonies to a man's character which are im-
pertinent, in virtue of the insinuation couched in them ,
that they are needed.
Mr. YOUNG has discovered, in a parliamentary
paper, a table compiled under the auspices of the
Board of Trade, professing to distinguish the amount 1
of British tonnage "employed in the trade with
British possessions, and which is protected by the
navigation laws, from the tonnage employed in the
trade with foreign nations, and which is unprotected
from competition with foreign ships." Mr. Yours°,
with subtle critical acumen, observes that "the ton-
nage employed in every one of the trades enumerated
in the columns described u ' unprotected trade,' is
actually protected in a high degree." Without squab-
bling as to the height of the degree, it may be ad-
mitted that they are all protected more or less. To
relieve Mr. YOUNG'S mind, therefore, it may be ad-
visable so to modify the designation of the table in
the next edition, as to show that the increase of
tonnage has been _greatest in the least protected
trades, there being unluckily none that are quite free
from the incubus of protection.
Mr. YOUNG goes on to observe, that "in some
cases" the " unprotectecTErade" is " actually protected
to a high degree, and in some cases to an extent
amounting to exclusion as absolute as that of the
colonial trade." He instances China as an example.
By all means let China be transferred to the pro-
tected column. The British tonnaga employed in the
trade to China has increased from 28,270 tons in
1824, to 53,593 in IRO,. a rate of increase rather
lower than we find in the tonnage employed to Africa
and the Cape of Good Hope. By carrying China to
the unprotected or partially protected column, the
average increase shown by that column has 'been
lowered instead of heightened. We cannot see why
Mr. YOUNG should fancy such a misplacement should
have originated in a desire to exaggerate.
Mr. YOUNG specifies no other trade which is,
Ide facto, protected by "an exclusion as absolute as
the colonial." We will be candid enough to supply
his omission. There are two, the trade with the
Cape Verde islands, in which the tonnage has in-
, creased from 0 to 168 tons ; and with the South Sea
islands from oto 531. We must, however, beg leave
to suggest, that the addition made to the average rate
of increase in the tonnage of the partially protected
'trades, by these items, will scarcely compensate the
reduction effected by including China under the same
ategory:
But Mr. 'lmmo has a still graver charge against
the compilers of this luckless table :—" The inward
entries from France, which in 1842 were 82,6.50,
will be perceived to have increased in 1846 to
the enormous amount of 556,821 tons.
By a return laid before parliament in the present
session, on the motion of Lord G. BENTINCK, it ap-
pears that the steam-vessels entered inward from
France in 1846 were 47 in number; their tonnage
7,101 ; and that they were manned by 698 men.
These are all included in the " Statement ;" while—
can it be believed ?—they are absolutely made to
figure as 228,189 tons of the 556,821 tons of British
shipping declared to be engaged in the trade with
France."
At all events this mode of preparing the return is
I not new—has not been adopted with a view to mis-
lrepresentation in the present instance. In all returns;
of tonnage entered inwards, every vessel making more
than cue voyage in the year is made to count for a distinct
vessel every time that it is entered. The annual ag- I
gregate of tonnage shows, not the number of vessels,
but the number of tons of shipping for which the in-
ward-bound goods and passenger traffic of the year
found employment. Of course vessels from Australia
and China can only be entered once every year, while
vessels from the West Indies or Nova Scotia are en-
tered twice or even three times, and vessels
from France and the Channel Islands (coasting
trades) still more frequently. This mode of
reckoning is as likely to tell against as for the
rats of Increase in the partially protected trades.
Russia, the navigation to which is closed for
half the year by ice, is exposed to have the number
of Teasels employed in its trade underrated, the ton-
nage having doubled between 1824 and 1845 ; while
the West Indies, accessible all the year round, may,
like partially-protected France, or the entirely pro-
tected Channel Islands, have their number of vessels
over-estimated, the tonnage having decreased by one-
fourth in the same time. In the case of the West
Indies, too, and the Channel Islands, be it ob-
served, steamers making more frequeat voyages,
and carrying little else besides passengers, come into
play to swell the amount of tonnage, just as in the
aae of France.

Lavrreas are in the habit of being " blown asp "
metaphorically by the press, but they may be allowed ,
to protest against an attempt to blow them up
literally by powder. A new gunpowder plot is
currently reported by the "studious Templars '' to be
just now in preparation against them and their tene-
ments. We can testify very feelingly that " the re-
port," at all events, is not without foundation, what-
ever the buildings may be which are threatened.
Respectable and studious barristers who " eschew
delights and love laborious days," even at Christ-
mas time, sedentary conveyancers, chamber-bound
under press of papers, and painful pleader detained
from the festivities of the season by the unseasonable
benevolence of clients, were twice last week put in
bodily fear by the subaqueous proceedings of some
explosive experimenters on the Thames in front
of the Temple gardens. Two distinct reports,
on two distinct days, set the whole build
lag front frail Paper-buildings on the east, to showy
liareourt-buildings on the west, and the shaky line
of Crown-offios-row on the south, rocking es with
two distinct shocks of an earthquake. It is no exagge-
ration to say that the buildings "reeled," from base-
ment to attic, under thins alarming concussions. Re-
monstieness poured in to the 'Preunry--affrighted
sleeks were mettlieg up and down stairs:ease—learned
opinions were suspended—and counsel, buried in the

But in reality the question is one of tonnage not of
'vessels. The greater amount of goods and passengers
there are to be conveyed between any two countries,
the more employment there will be for shipping. The
table of which Mr. YOUNG oomplains shows that the
comparatively unprotected portion of the shipping
interest engaged in the trade with France can now
find employment in every year for 556,821 tons in
carrying goods sad passengers, whereas they could
only find employasat every year for 82,660 twenty
years ago ; whitsthe entirely protected portion of the
lateral trading to Jeesey and Guernsey
Ihhattly increased their tonnage during the earns
period from 98,214 to 125,881. Tbs Inds Ultras
Great Bntain and the Channel Wands is as NNW
tially a coasting trade as between Great Mien and
France. Every vessel will have its fall amount of
tonnage entered repeatedly to swell the total of the
year in the one case exactly as in the other. And
= find the Channel Islands' lausgehni hot even
the same time 111111 ISM list of the
Toren& titthe
meltiplied almost esvemlbld. •
•

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 29, 1847.

There is, in truth, nothing decrptive nothing
unfair in the statement about which Mr.i Youxo
makes such an outcry. There is no attempt made
to wooed the large increase in the tonnage of
the Australian colonies (from 4,073 tons to 39,129),
or the decrease in the tonnage from Sweden and
Norway (in the one case from 17,074 to 12,623 ;
in the other, from 11,419 to 3,313). The statement
is a fair and courageous statement both of what ap-
pears to tell in favour of unrestricted competition in
the carrying trade ander what appears to tell against it.
And this Mr. YOUNG, from his practical experience of
trade, must know right well, though the partisan
scribblers, from whom he has taken his complaint at
second-hand, have a presumption of ignorance in
their favour.
The Standardof last night, enraptured beyond mea-
sure with Mr. Yonsio's letter, laments that a man of
his " experience and talents is not still in parlia-
ment." We might join in the regret, were we dis-
posed to take unfair advantages in controversy; fur
such a stickler upon petty untenable cavils would do
much to prepossess any assembly of gentlemen against
his side of the question. But even tnough inclined to
catch at such an unhandsome advantage, we should
deprecate his presence there as adding to the number,
already great enough in all conscience, of members
disposed to waste time by raising irrelevant dis-
cussions.

The Paris journals of Monday, with our usual
datches, have arrived. There is no news of gen-
eral interest. It will be remembered that in the
early part of
.last week we announced that the con-
servative majority had imposed on M. Guizot the
necessity of abandoning altogetker his project of in-
terference with Swiss affairs. It is now affirmed that
a courier had then been expedited to meet MM.
Colloredo and Radowita, the plenipotentiaries of Aus-
tria and Prussia, who were known to be en route for
Paris, to stop them ; but the courier did not meet
them, or if he did it was at a point too near the capi-
tal to allow them to retrace their steps consistently
with their dignity, and accordingly the pleni-
potentiaries of the still-born congress have arrived
very mat aoropos in Paris, to learn from the Pre-
sident of the Council, ririi roc,, that the cabinet has
had reason to change its opinion on the projected
diplomatic measure.
The Union Monarehique says that the royal speech
will contain a paragraph reprobating in strong terms
the reform banquets. It is now stated that the aspi-
rations of the monarchy of the barricades to obtain an
ambassador extraordinary and minister plenipoten-
tiary from the Emperor Nicholas, instead of a mere
chargé d'affaires ad interim, is hitherto, are disap-
pointed. The Emperor of all the Russian will sot,
it seems, yield to the instances of M. Guizut in this
matter. . .

The new postal convention between England and
France appeared with a royal ordinance for its exe-
cution in the Moniteur on Monday. The arrange-
ments are said to have bsen in some respects objected
to by Lord Clamicarde, who wished to have the
evening mail depart and arrive earlier, and to be
carried with more expedition. M. l)ejean, however,
insisted on the holm now pealed. _

The King transacted business on Sunday with the
Council of Ministers. His Majesty's hoarseness has
nearly disappeared. He passes part of each day with
Mme. Adelaide, who has a slight attack of influenza.
Lord Nermanby and Lord Brougham were received
on Saturday evening by the King and royal family.
The Bank of France came to a decision on Monday
that on and after Jan. 6 it would lower its rate of dis-
count to 4 per cent.
The Nourellige, of Marseilles, affirms that the eva-
cuation of Ferrara is again postponed. " Although,"
says that journal, " it has been generally asserted
that the evacuation of Ferrara by the Austrians was
on the point of being made, if not already accom-
plished, letters have been this dn7 received fromßome
stating that the negotiations which had been for some
time carried on between the pontifical government
and that of Vienna on this subject have been sud-
denly broken off, an event which may be attributed
to the high displeasure felt by the Austrian cabinet
at the return to Ferrara of the energetic Cardinal
Ciacchi."

The journals of Algiers, which have arrived .to the
21st inst., give the following report of the situation of
Abd-el-Hader. It must be received, however, with
reserve, reports of a like import having so frequently
proved ill-founded :
Abd-el-Kader being, with his deira, surrounded and de-
prived of resources, came ta • desperate resolution. Seeing
no other chance of salvation than is a bold attempt, he de-
cided on attacking the nearest camp of the enemy, which was
commanded by one of the sons of the emperor. He even,
it is said, told the Arabs under his orders that those who did
not feel that they had courage enough to attach themselves
to his destiny were free, and might make their submission
to the French. He fixed upon the night of the I Ith for the
attack upon the enemy's camp, and on that evening all hi.
infantry was sent off, and he followed at the head of his
cavalry. He had conceived an infernal plant., cause a panic
among the troops of Morocco, and pn fit by their terror.
lie had sent forward camels covered with pitch and tar
which were to be set on fire when near the camp. This
scheme had not, fortunately, all the success that was ex-
pected be its ferocious author. The sons of Mulsy Abder-
rahman had by means of clever apies been informed of all
the plaits of Abd-el.Kader, and had concerted together to
defeat them. On arriving at the camp, Abd-el-Hader found
it completely abandoned, and in his vanity imagined,
without doubt, that his enemies had not dared to receive
him. He ordered the camp to be pillaged, and waited
for the next day to continue his march; but what must
have been his terror on seeing, at break of day, ail the
heights' surrounding him covered with the troops of
Morocco! Thus hemmed in by superior forces he saw no
other chance of extrication than by forcing the line of
his enemies, and boldly rushed forward with his cavalry.
He succeeded, but the aff.ur cost him dear, far he
left on the ground about 250 of his bravest horsemen, among
whom were several chiefs. His intention was to fall back
upon his deiza, and return towards the tribes on whom he
thought he could still rely, but he soon perceived that the
direction which he took led him farther away instead of nearer
to it. He was then forced to return, and with great difficulty
reached, with his few remaining forces, the banks of the vt on-
lays. We are mewed that the deira sees pillaged and part of
it captured, and everything announces that hie personal
position is now completely desperate. What proves this
abundantly is, that his brother, Sidi-Mustapha, has applied
for the Amen to General Larnoricire, and requested him to
amigo him a residence where he can in future live tranquilly.
It a said that the general informed him he had only to
present himself et the camp. and that the generosity of
the French government would secure for him, either in
Algeria er in France, an honourable existence, and even faci-
litate, if he wished it, the visit which he proposed to pay to
Mecca. It appears that the ex-Emir had obtained tome
adherents in the camp of Morocco, but that this was known
to the Emperor. Thus when Bou-Hamedi, the envoy of
Ahd el-Hader, presented himself at Fee, the Emperor did
not scruple to make him a prisoner. Abdal.Hader, without
doubt, then thought that all his plans were discovered, and
this led to the bold step which has consummated his ruin.
His brother, Si-Raid, who had remained at the dein, has
also written to the French authorities to offer his submission.

The Madrid mails of the 21st have arrived. It is
admitted by the moderado party that there is a split
in the cabinet on the question of impeaching the for-
mer
ministries, and that this fact is the true origin of
the reports of the probable dissolution of the ministry.
On the 21st the senate was occupied with the law to
authorise the government to continue to levy the
taxes until the end of the month. On the same day
the Chamber of Deputies was engaged with the law
authorising the government to raise a loan. It was
understood that the budget was prepared, and would
be immediately submitted to the chamber.

The Swiss journals report that the monks of
Mount St. Bernard have resisted the decree, which
imposed on them a portion of the indemnity to be
paid by the canton for the expenses of the war.
These ecclesiastics have assumed a bold and con-
temptuous tone towards the authorities, avowing
their intention to seek the support of foreign powers,
and, especially, of the court of Turin. They declare
that no one mast venture to touch their property, that
no temporal power can interfere with the property of
monasteries, and, finally, that they will obey no
authority save that of the Pope. They further de-
clared to the federal commissioners, that in conse-
quence of the capitulation of Valais, they had sent a
quantity of valuables to Italy ; that they would not
give up the keys
.of what remained, and would not
communicate their registers to any one; and that
they regarded the commissioners of tie Valais (who
bad been for five days on Mount St. Bernard, with 12
soldiers and a locksmith) as private individuals,
without any legitimate authority over them. The
federal commissioners intended to make another
amicable attempt to exact the flue, and if they did
not succeed, they would matt probably resort to
coercive measures.

BOMB, Dail 18.
The vexed question of making service in the civic
guard compulsory on British artists and residents of
certain standing hers,• matter which we all thought
had been shelved, wee suddenly this morning revived
in a note, five pages long, from the Secretary of State