The Express.
London, England, 1847-05-19 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY PAPER.

DRAINAGE OF LANDII.—This bill, which was read a
second time last evening, Is entitled " An Act to
facilitate the Drainage of Lands in England and Wales."
The commissioners appointed under the Inclosure Act (8 &
9 Vic., c. 118) are to carry it into effect, and all the powtrs
they already ponces are to be extended to the present Act.
(Clauses 1 and 2). Persons having land capable of being
drained, but which they are prevented from draining by rea-
son of the objection or disability of the owner of other lands
through which the drains or other works would have to pass,
may apply by memorial to the commissioners, showing the
means by which the requital drainage or improvement may
bsassiled Their memorial must be accompanied by a map
or pima ettbs land to be drained, showing the lands likely to
be sabOol by the proposed works, and also the existing rivers,
oraherossiess, ditches, and drains to be cleared, scoured, or
despunel, and the new cuts, embankments, drains, or
wegartonnes which are intended to be made. The '
megagehi shall also be accompanied with schedules,
=Wog •rt► the reputed proprietors, lessee*, and occupiers
s[ He to be drained, and of those it will be n•osrary
itsetwe with. Also estimates of the expense of the pro-
posed works and machinery, including the probable amount
of compensation for, or purchase of, property to be entered
on. Copies of such papers to be deposited not only with the
inclesure oommiationcra but at molt place er places, in or

near the pariah in which the Lads they relate to ere situated,
as the commissioners may appoint, that they may be open to
the public inspection during one month, and parties lutes
rested may take extracts, or copies on paying for them.
(C. 4). Notices that such memorial has been deposited are
to be published twice in one or more newspapers eireu.
lated in the county in which the works are to be executed,
A like notice shall be also served on each of the parries
whose lands are to be intersected. All persons affected by
the proposed works abaft transmit, in writing, any objections
they may entertain to Use proposed operations, to the nom.
insisioners, on a day to be named by the memorialist in his
published notice, which must be not sooner than aix weeks
after its publication or service. (C. 5). The commissioner,
may, if expedient, send down to the spot en amistant.e".
misaioner to examine witnesses at a convenient place of meet-
ing, and to bear objections i and at the conclusion of the in.
qutry he will report his opinion on the proposed drainage or
improvement (c. 7 and 8). Commissioners may require
security from the parties interested, for payment of the cone
efsuch inquiries (c. 6). Having considered all the evidence,
Oans, schedules, &c., the commissionersshall, when they
decide in favour of the works sought to be executed, authorise
their being carried into effect by an order under their sett
Such order, or some plan thereunto annexed, shall specify
the works to be carried into effect, and the persons suthorhed
to execute them ; and the latter may enter on other land, to
carry on the required operations, provided that they les,,
previously obtained the consent of the owners or oteupiere,
or shall have made to them such compensation for the
damage occasioued by the execution or maintenance
of such works as shall have been previously agreed
on (c. 8 & 9). They may also have power to purchase not
more than three acres of land for the erection of en.
gine-houses or other machinery (c. 10). Copies of all
orders authorising works to he deposited among the county
records, and with the church or chapel wardens of the pariah
' in which the lands to be drained, or the greater pan of them,
are situated. Persons requiring access to such documents
may consult them on payment of 2s. 6d. for inspection
' (e. 12). Where banks are not maintained or chanties
cleansed, from want of cooperation among, or neglect of pro.
prietore, the parties whose lands are injured by such neglect
may, on obtaining the warrant of two justices, alter due no-
tice, repair the same, and recover the expenses from the
negligent parties by warrant of distress or otherwise (e. 13,
14, and 15). The rights of commissioners of sewers or of
local drainage acts not to be affected by this act, and perms
who are interested in lands authorised to be drained uncles
any local act may have the same drained under this act; bat
CO person so acting can c;nstruct any works on the eee.eesee
without the consent of the lords of the Admiralty (17 and 18),
This bill contains 20 clauses.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—RAILWAY BILLS.
Disown cc question of suspending the 'Wowing standing order ;
" That all railway bills in the present session be referred to the
Railway Oammissionerr, (or thrir report to this Hour upon the
following points previously to a decision on the preamble of say
bill by the committee thereon."—Ayes, 70; nom, 102.
AYES.
Erse kummwo:thna,'Zrii.H*PeLygir, J. it
Qt.
BBaadlle~~ J. Duncombe,lln.A.liouldsworth, T. Newport, 'V t.
H. J. Dancombe,fin.o.llodeon, G. Northland, Via
Beggs, W. East, Sir J. B. Hughes, W. B. Palmer, R..
Balfour, J. Y. Entwine, W. Ingtetre, Via. Pechell, Opt,
Brakes, Emott, B. Layard,
A. Scott, Hoc. R
VI.. Feilden, Sir W. Lockhart, A. E. Shaw, Itillealt
Bier
ZhArtan9 Ferrand, W. B. Lockhart, W. /Monett, A.
Benett,..T. Forbes, W. Lytton, tin. Gen. liomcreet,
Bennet, P. Forbes, W. Mezkenrie, T. Spoiler. R.
Bent/oak, 14.0. Puller, A. E. Meckenrie,W.P. Tollemaebe, J.
Berkeley, Hon.C. Gladraone, Capt. Marten, G. Trevor, IlinG.L
Blackburne, J. Goring, C. blesterman, J. WadelingtoklLA.
Blackstone, W.S.Gan, E. Molesworth SerWWall, C. B.
Boyd, J. HAS, Sir B. Morrie, D. Tcuaaa
Back, LW. Hamilton, Id. C. Mundy, E. N. Pituoy, lie, H
Carendisk,Hn.G.Hodgeon, H. Muds, G. F. Cripps, W.
NOES.
Antrobm, E. Ebrington, Via. Kemble, H. Rich, H.
Arkwright, G. Egerton, W. T. Labouchere, H. Remelt Lord!.
Beim, W. Ellice,Rt.Hon.e. Langston, J. H. Itinsellitelt
Barclay, D. Esteourt, T.O. B. leMerchant,SirDßutierfard, A.
Baring, F. T. &wall, IL Lemon, Sir C. &rope, O. P.
Barnard, E. G. Ewan, W. Lincoln, Earl of Shriburae,Earlot
Bellew, B. M. Gaskell, J. M. Lindsay, CcL &wpm:* T.
Bowrint.pr. Gibson, T. IL Loch, J. !Remick', W. L
Brotherton. J. Graham, Sir J. MaclinnonWA.Ttioniely, T.
Browne, Hn. W. Greece, T. 111..itland, T. Trotter, J.
Burrougtiest.H.N.Grey. bir G. Mangles, R. D. Troubridgeget.
Omer, W. H. P. Hamilton, W. J. Martin, C. W. 'Purnell, H.
Christig W. D. Hamner, Sir J. Mode, Hon. F. Turner, K
Oay, gir W. Hrunie, A. Milton, Via. Walker, R.
Oarlt, Mir G. Hatton, Capt. V. Mttcaife. IL Watwn, W. H.
Coltireske,SirT. Hawes, B. Morgan, 0. Wean, J. T.
Ogle% J. Ileatheote,BirW. Magri, E. M. L. Winnington, hr
(1)061. liir C. H. Herbert,lttlln.B. O'Connell, M.J. T. E.
Deminn,lln.T.V. Widgeon, F. Ord, W. Wood, Sir C.
Deed% W. Howard, P. H. Oswald, A. Wand, Col. T.
Dmisen, W. J. Hume, J. Paget, Col. Wrightsoo,W.B.
De., J. E. Jimmy, T. Palmerston, Via. Young, J.
C.T. Hatt, W. Parker, J.
11. IrgSa, Sir R. H. Patten, J. W.

W. Pattistia, J. mu:Lad N.
Dwell. 0. James, Biz W. C. Peel. eitr R. Birult, E.
Dumb% Sir D. Jen* Sir J. Philips, G. R.

Why iLP rortgo.

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will de Inge es the meastsgetthe SSW May.
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Ohs malls bre British North Anagram, &mods, and thsUsind
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Us vas& Par the Brazils, the River Plate, Monte Video, resso.
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TO CORRESPONDENTS.
••• Advertidessenta lateodrd for Me tisywear, Leedom ewe* pi ,
moat be at the Ofice by Two o'er.* on the day of pubdeatios.

HIGH WATILA AT 1.0241,024-BILIDEIL
Tar Dia—illorninp, 2 WA. per 3; Mtwara. 24 Ws. prt 1.
To-2140am —Kangas, 45 min. past 5 ; Attersoce, 8 sun. prt

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MAY 19.

be the House of Lords, yesterday, the occasion of
Lori BROUGHAM'S presenting a petition in favour of
the Health of Towns Bill led to some observations
with respect to the corporation of the City of London
by the noble and learned lord and Lord CA.MPBELL,
which occasioned great laughter in the house.—Ths
motion for the recommittal of the Army Service Bill
led to a debate on the principle of the measure, after
which the house went into committee, when
the Earl of LtCAN moved, as an amend-
ment to the first clause, that the period
of service be extended to twelve years in the infantry,
and fourteen in the cavalry, artillery, and enemas,
Viscount COMBERMERE seconding the motion' which
was opposed by Earl GREY and the Duke of WEL..
LINOTON, and supported by Lord STANLEY.—On
division the original clause was carried by a majority
of eight, the numbers being 38 to 30.—Amendments
having been proposed by the Earl of ELLENBOROUOK
relative to soldiers whose periods of service would
expire in India and the colonies, and agreed to, the
remaining clauses were gone through without fmthrs
discussion. The third reading of the Poor Relief
(Ireland) Bill was then proceeded with, variouselsami
being proposed which were negatived or withdrawn,
after which the bill was read a third time and pawed.
In the House of Commons, on the question of de
consideration of the report on the Birmingham sad
Oxford Junction, and Birmingham, Wolverhampton,
and Dudley Railways Amalgamation Bill, Sir F.
.THRSIGER moved that the bill be referred back to tbs
same committee, with the view of considsinngg reit.*
petitions against the bill ; when, after some
the motion was negatived by a majority of 139; the
numbers being 62 to 214. The report was tbm
agreed to.—Mr. Hume asked whether the govemmed
had made any arrangements for filling upthe vanerel
which had ocearred by the death of the Dna
Lieutenant of Ireland.—Lord JOBB RuSSELL sad
perhaps the house would permit him, in answering
the question, to express the grief which both
bs
Majesty's ministers and the Sovereign. felt at the
melancholy loss of a nobleman, whose intimate know-
ledge of Ireland, whose clear judgment, villas we
cilistory qualities, were so well adapted to forma the
animosities that had long been the bane of that
country, and to point the way to future improvemest.
As the present condition of Ireland did not admit d
any change of authority in the governing poirea
that country, ministers had come unanimously to the
opinion that it was desirable, and had so adving
her Majesty, immediately to fill up the office of Lord
Lieutenant, which had thus unhappily become neat
The noble lord, also, in answer to Mr. FEN%
stated that it was not the intention of the gorer*RßA
*1
to bring ins bill for the purpose of preventing*
use of flora in cotton factories.—Mr. T. Dmiconsies
motion for certain returns relative to the convicting
of members of trades unions, at Sheilleldr
by Mr. Overend, the magistrate, led to mem
discussion, which was at length agreed
On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the Xl'
CHEQUER, a select committee was appointed to ma'
eider whether it is expedient that any mean
should be adopted for suspending further ?tweedier
in all or any of the railroad bills in the prette.ot
ere
Mon, and for enabling the parties, under certsui caw
ditions, to proceed with the same in a future swim
of parliament ; and also, whether it is advisable that
an further provisions should be made in the Maud*
of the house, relative to bills for the commie.
tion of railways.—The adjourned debate on the Poor-
law Administration Bill was then proceeded
standing still further adjourned at the close
Thursday next.—On the report of supply on the ""

for the eclesuistscal commission, Mr. WILLIAMS, en
aground that ho thought the expense ought to be
eared oat of the revenues of the church, called
gr a division, when the vote was agreed to by •
apjority of 68, the numbers being 78 to 8.

Tun struggle between reason and feeling, the
and the sentimentalists, between political
goooray and humanity, has been carried on amongst
on with varying fortune. One time logic carries the
ear, at another eloquence prevails over ratiocination.
political economy gets possession of a certain goes-
tson• , moulds and shapes it to its desires: sentimen-
talism is lucky enough to get hold of another, quite
cknitse, and kin, twisting and ordering it in a directly
contrary fashion. One of these antagonistic prin-
ciples has seized the poor-houses, another dominate,
over the factories. How the same government and
the same legislature can reconcile both, is difficult to
imagine. But they seek to do so, and even prefer, if
possible, combining and dovetailing the two, so that
bey are sometimes found to unite, even in the same
law and the same person.
Some years back the political economists had de-
cidedly the upper hand; their influence was irre-
sistible; it dictated every law, decided every measure,
and scou:ed even the smallest proposals of the
humanitarian with disdain. From the question of
the poor to that of the currency their word passed
undisputed, and it has spoken dictatorially to all
teassee—to the labourer, the trader, and the lord. All
have successively bowed under the yoke and felt the
rattan of the political economist.
But it was impossible to attempt everything, with-
out doing something wrong. And very huge doubts
have arisen, and do arise, that these abstract laws,
which so imperiously dominate, ought not to be
allowed so absolutely. to pass unquestioned. The ten-
dency of future sessions of parliament will, we fear,
be rather to reverse the decisions of certain political
economists, than to endue them with the sanctity of the
old ones of the Medea and Persians. In the currency
question the political economists have gone wrong;
is the poor-law too far. In other questions, such as
taxation, criminal law, the caring for the food and
condition of the lower classes, the humanitarian notions
hare taken the start of the economical, and begin de-
cidedly to prevail.
It is singular how, amidst these currents and
counter-currents, political chiefs have lost their course,
and been whisked into each other's places. Thus the
whigs were the parents and guardians of political
economy. PEEL, if anything, IS a humanity-man.
His bowels of sympathy for the lower classes, he tells
you, have disgusted him with the superannuated aris-
tocratic ideas of his party. He is for the masses, and
the whip for the classes. So at least it is pretended.
Yet we find Lord JOHN RUSSELL go with the
stream of humanity in the Factory Bill, eon-
Vary to every principle of political economy:
whilst Sir ROBERT Peer, sacrifices his love of the
people to his respect for the manufacturer—the claims
of labour to the rights of capital.
Questions in which both principles are deeply
involved occupied both houses of parliament on Mon-
day and last night. The law for shortening the hours of
labour in factories was voted almost with acclamation
by the lords. Lord ELLESMERE introduced the subject
in a beautiful, we might say a classical speech. He
pointed out the necessity of the great object, to
restore the wife and daughter of the operative
to their home, to comfort, to education. We
desire this with the partizans of the Factory Bill,
but deem the Factory Bill as not the proper
means to attain that aim. This aim is simply the
moral and physical elevation of the condition of
the operative. It is attempted to effect this by re-
stricting labour, lowering wages, and superseding all
moral effort on the part of the operative himself for
the attainment of this end. It is a commencement of',
Chinese legislation, of which the tendency is to con-
vert the Englishman into the Chinaman. Lord CLA-
RENDON pointed out with a warning voice its inevi-
table effects upon trade. It in fact stops the works
and blocks up the mouth of the mine which ARK-
WRIGHT opened. Sentiment, however, triumphed
over calculation. And the bishops were na-
turally unanimous in desiring to thin and dis-
perse a manufacturing population, which they failed
to reform, and despaired to ameliorate; their philan-
thropy, therefore, prompts them to extermination.
For the bill is nothing other than the first step in the
process of exterminating the factory operative. The
turn of the agriculturist must now come. The Duke
of RICHMOND declared that if it were proved that
toe half of the agriculturists died from excess of
labour, he would vote for instant remedy. It might
easily be proved that more than ore-half starve on
aunt wages. We must, therefore, have a law of
tisieimum of wages : it would be quite as warrantable
and as wise as the factory law.
The new law for the administration of the Poor-
law can scarcely be said to affect the great
question in dispute. The sister measure for Ireland
has, however, so decidedly flung political economy
overboard, that the sentimentalists may rest satis-
fied with having already gained this session a signal
advantage. Even Mr. FERRAN D might have been satis-
fied with the deposition of the poor-law commissioners.
Fortunately for the personal objects of his hatred, his
eloquence was on Monday directed against the 43rd of
ELIZABETH, a file sufficiently hard even for the
teeth of the member for Knaresborough. Whilst Mr.
FERRAN D chewed and mumbled this file, Mr. Lewis
and Sir JAM ES GRAHAM escaped. Seldom has the
House of Commons displayed more apathy. Its
numbers were so scant, and its zeal so low, that poor
Mr. FERRAN D was totally unable to lash himself even
into his every day fury. And had not Mr. ROEBUCK
given the spirit of his venom to the debate, it would
have died off into passive slumber. The dreary dis-
cussion is to be renewed to-morrow.

former of these points. The latterseems pretty apparent I
already. It is desirable, perhaps, that the facts which
an official inquiry has brought to light, should be
ratified under the seal of a royal board. But we ap-
prehend thew functionaries will do little beyond con-
firming what is already before the public. They will
find it a more difficult task, even with the assistance
of the courts, to determine what the law is. In re-
ference to marriages with a wife's sister, in which the
prohibition is most felt, the question is by ne mesas
a simple one. While as to the effect upon titles
and legitimacies of marriages which have been
solemnised abroad to escape English restraints, we do
not envy the commiirioners their task if they are to
resolve by anticipation the host of legal questions
latent in the confused mass of English marriage law.
Before 1833, marriages within the prohibited
degrees were not void, but voidable. We ought,
perhaps, to explain this distinction for the sake of
our non-professional readers. If the ecclesiastical
courts chose to institutes snit during the lifetime of
parties to such a marriage, the common law gave
effect to their decision. The marriage was null and
void, and the fruits of it, of course, illegitimate. But
if no suit was commenced in the ecclesiastical courts,
these marriages were good at common law, and no
ecclesiastical process, issued after death of the parents,
could affect the status of the issue of such marriages.
In 1833, an act was passed declaring all such mar-
riages valid, if solemnized before the passing of the
act ; and invalid from and after that date. The oaten-
, Bible object of the act was to remove the doubt exis-
ing under the old state of the law, by which the
I validity of such marriages was left unsettled during
the life•time of the parties. Its real and immediate
motive was at the time said to be the confirming of a
certain nobleman's union, then recently contracted
within the prohibited degrees. Under this statute a
point has lately been raised, which had been consi-
dered settled since the time of Ceattem 11.
A man was indicted at Liverpool for bigamy; his first
wife, living when he married the second, so as to con-
stitute the offence, was the sister of a previous wife.
His counsel proved the facts, and contended fur an ac-
quittal, ontbe ground that this was no marriage, having
beencontraeted !since 1833; and such marriage being by
the statute of that year declared absolutely void.
Advantage was taken of this opportunity to
raise the question whether such marriages were
really voidable by the law of England before
1833 ; in other words, if marriage with a wife's
sister is within the prohibited degrees. Mr.
CAMPBELL FOSTER, who appeared as counsel for
the prosecution in this case, held, in an elaborate
argument, carried to a length quite unusual at
nisi pries, that these marriages were not voidable
before 1833. A verdict of acquittal was taken, and
the point was reserved to be decided in error before
the judges assemblid in Exchequer Chamber.
A newspaper is not the place to argue legal ques-
tions, involving the discussion of making statutes.
We will content ourselves with referring those
who are anxious to ace all that can be urged in
favor of the validity of such marriages fn
opposition to the leading decision on the subject by
Chief Justice VAUGHAN in Hill r. Good, tried in the
reign of CHARLES 11.), to Mr. FOSTER'S pamphlet,
in which this view of the matter is set forth with
completeness and closeness of argument We do
not wish to inflict on non-legal readers the
discussion which any adequate consideration of
the question would render necessary. But we
certainly anticipate, despite Mr. Foterea's in-
genious exposition of the strong points in his
view of the case, that the decision of the judges
will be against him. The case will turn upon
two points, neither of which Mr. FOSTER has consi-
dered as carefully as their importance in the argu-
ment deserves. The question rests mainly, in the first
place, upon the fall effect of a repeal of part of the
statute 28 Hen. 8, c. 7, by the statute 1 and
2 Philip and Mary. Mr. FOSTER contends
that the second of these, in repealing so
much of the first "as concerned a prohibition to
marry within the degrees" therein expressed,repealed
also the declaratory part of the statute which sets
forth these degrees. Those who take the other side,
hold that the repeal extended only to the exempting
marriages within these degrees from the effect of the
papal dispenssaion, leaving the degrees themselves
untouched. Certainly, it MARY'S respect for her
mother's memory would have inclined her to
the more sweeping abrogation contended for by Mr.
FOSTER, her bigoted adherence to the Bomish faith
must have stood in the way of her tampering with its
table of prohibitions, which included the m wriage
with a wife's sister. In the second place., Mr. Fos-
TER relies on the 32nd Henry VIII., which confined
forbidden marriages within the limits of the
Levitical degrees. But he does not sufficiently
notice the distinction drawn by Chief Justice
VAUGHAN between "the Levitical prohibitions,"
and the "Levitical degrees," the former implying
merely the relationships actually mentioned in Le-
viticus; the latter, all marriages within the same
degrees as those therein prohibited. Thus, marriages
with the brother's or sister's daughter, though not
mentioned among the Levitical prohibitions, are
clearly within the Levitical degrees.
While, however, we indicate these, which appear
to us weak points in Mr. Forras's argument, we
go all his lengths in desiring an alteration
of the law as at present understood, which we think
fulfils all the conditions a law should fulfil to prove
its own impolicy. It is not observed ; society winks
at its infraction; the reasons on which it is based are
insufficient. We trust sincerely that Mr. WORTLEY'S
commission will bring the matter to a different issue
from that which followed his father's motion in 1841,
and Lord ELLESMERE'S in 1842, and that we shall
no longer see in the statute book a law which bold
men break at pleasure, and which weak men suffer
from obeying, without that satisfaction which accom-
panies the recognition of sanctions ratified by the
decrees of conscience, or the rules of public and social
expediency, well understood, and reasonably proved.

MR. STUART WORTLET'S motion fora commission
to inquire into the operation of the marriage-law, as
it relates to the prohibited degrees of affinity, and to
marriages solemnised abroad or in the British colo-
nies, involves a disputed legal question, which will
probably soon come on for argument before the
judges, ea well as a subject deeply interesting to
many members of society, in more ways than one.
The petitions presented by Mr. WORTLEY, show,
remarkably enough, the respectability of the
persons interested, somehow or other, in a
change of existing regulations as to wedlock.
These petitions are signed chiefly by clergymen,
solicitors, mayors, magiatrates, town-cowicillors, mer-
chants, and bankers, and others of the most influen-
tial section of the middle class. We have evidence
that the law, as it stands, is violated every day, and
by persons in the station of these petitioners. Three
months' investigation in some fourteen towns, giving
a fair average of the habits and pursuits of our
provinc population, viz., Manchester, Huddersfield,
r, York, Rotherham. Ipswich, Yarmouth, Nor-
wich, Southampton, Winchester, Portsmouth, Salis-
bury, Bristol and Bath, has brought to light no less than
1,848 cases in which the marriage law has been
broken by 5 mayors, 70 magistrates, men of title and
fortune, naval and military officers, barristers and
physicians, 30 clergymen and ministers of the gospel,
and 1,503 of the middle dames, including merchants,
manufacturers, professional men, and tradesmen. It
was found impossible to ascertain the cases among the
lower dames; but there is every probability that,
these were at least as numerous as among their
superiors in station.
Results like these certainly justify an inquiry into
the operation of the law. To us they appear to call
for something more decisive ; for nothing less, in fact,
than an alteration of the law. This case is not, as
Sir ROBERT INGLIS plausibly, but unfairly, put it, on
the level of common cases, in which those who break
the law would no doubt be acting very impudently
in demanding its abrogation becalm they have broken
it. We should certainly not listen to a
.petition from
Norfolk Island, however numerously signed, against
the etatutable penalties imposed on felons. That the
law is not observed is, generally, a better reason for
increasing than for relaxing. its stringency. But
the restriction most felt in the marriage law,
which forbids marriage with • deceased wife's
sister, is one neither recognised instinctively by
the conscience, nor recommended by overpowering
considerations of social convenience or morality. In
these respects it differs from other positive prohibitou
enactments. The offence is not " malum in se." To
justify its retention in the statute book as a malurn
proltilitum, requires, it appears is us, stronger argu-
ment& from policy or expediency than have ever been
advanced by the opponents of a change.
Mr. WORTLEY'S commission is to " inquire into the
state and operation of the law." It will have to de-
termine what the law is, as well as how it works.
The courts will probably throw some light on the

THE theory by which tke Times defends the con-
duct of our Foreign-office towards Greece, is, we
think, an exceedingly faulty one. It pleads, that
Lord PALMERSTON 9 peremptory demand of the
23,0001. was not for the sake of recovering the
money, justly due, but that it was a mode of cen-
suring the corruptions and abuses of the Greek
government, as carried on by General COLETTL Cor-
ruptions and abuses are very vague crimes—crimes
that have been attributed by one opposition or another
to every government that has ever wielded power.
If the existence of corruption and abuse in matters
of internal administration are to warrant our inter-

ference and oar peremptory demands of debt' with
the cannon's month, there is not a conntry in Europe,
that we may not bombard. How could Spain, or
Mexico, or say of the South American republics, or
Turkey, be safe from our guns, if corruption and
abuse in their domestic administration is to be a fit
and fair warrant for our menacing them? What a
rednt is her, for French, for Russian,
Aeastriin interference! The French may
stigmatise the Morocco cabinet as " corrupt ;" the
Russians may say there are "abuses" in the Turkish
government ; Austria may consider the liberalism of
the Pope as fraught with -both. The precedent is al-
together a bad one. And the Times, in its more
independent days, would not have condescended to
gloze such things over.
We have every wish to uphold REscuto PACHA'S
government and Turkish independence. Bat, foolish
as was the behaviour of Onto to M. Muutuaus, the
Greek King's offer, as reported in the Greek papers,
does not appear to us insolent or unreasonable. He
objected to receive M. MT:MMUS sgain at Athens,
and to entertain this objection the king has every
right.
But at the same time King Oren proposed to send
an ambessador to Constantinople, who should offer
excuses to the Sultan for what had happened. We
do not see why the Porte, however Sublime, might
not have accepted this reparation; nor why European
diplomacy should not have approved of it as suffi-
cient, instead of backing up and exaggerating the
sensitive pride of the Sultan, so as to produce an
interruption of trade and create prospects of quarrel
between the two countries.

We have received the Paris journals of Monday.
The bread-riots in the departments bad ceased, or
nearly so. The price to be paid for bread during the
next fortnight has been raised, but it is to be hoped
that the crisis is nearly at an end. The weather is
most favourable for vegetation which promises to be
most abundant, and, according to the latest accounts
from the provinces, the crops are in so fine a condition
as to give hopes of an unusually good harvest. M.
Odillon Barrot has laid a petition on the bureau of

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 19, 1847.

I the Chamber of Deputies, from Jerome Bonaparte,
ex-Bing of Westphalia, demanding the permission
to return and die in France. He denies, both for
himself and his sons, ever having taken n share in
the political dimensions of France, and demands to
return as a citizen, promising to fulfil all the duties
incumbent upon one.
The French colonial proprietors residing at Paris,
aroused by the late revelations made in the Chamber
of Deputies, have signed a protest, which is to be
presented to the chambers, indignantly declaiming
against the culpability thrown upon the colonists in
general by the exposure of isolated facts.
A letter from St. Petersburg of the sth announces
the arrival at that capital of M. Felix Vernes, *mix-
gourertaeur of the bank of France, accompanied by M.
Rodicr, one of the employjs of the same establishment.
Don Enrique, accompanied by his wife (the Countess
de Castellan), and travelling under the name of Duke
and Duchess of Seville, arrived at Marseilles on the
12th inst., they having been married on the let inst.,
at Rome.

On Monday the Chamber of Peers was occupied
with the discussion on the re-organisation of the
royal chapter of St. Denis. The chapter comes at ,
present under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of
Paris, and the proposed re-organisation consists in
appointing a high prelate to preside over it, who will'
be appointed by the King, and will be in nowise sub-
ordinate to the Archoishop.
In the Chamber of Deputies, before proceeding to
the order of the day, M. de Genoude said that he had
a recionnati6n to make, that in the sitting of Saturday
it was impossible to hear the report on a petition of
high importance, he meant that on political oaths.
He should have made some observations u•oon it. He
demanded that his reclamation should be inserted
in the Process-verbal. The president replied that a
rectification was here out of the question, the proces-
verbal having been adopted. The order of the day
was then the adjourned debate on the bill for a
grant of 500,000 f.

We have received the Madrid journals and our
private correspondence up to the 12th inst.
Rumours of a ministerial crisis were still current,
and were strengthened by the fact that on the even-
ing of the Ilth all the ministers left the capital for
Aranjuez. A modification of the cabinet with Gen.
Narvaez in the department of foreign affairs was
spoken of. A coalition of the Nloderadoe and Pro-
gressistas was also spoken of. But the departure of
the ministers for the royal residence at Aranjuez was
most probably occasioned by the late disturbances in
the provinces. At Seville the troops were called out
and a collision ensued, the soldiers were ailed by
stones and were compelled to fire in self defence.
Some of the rioters were shin. Great moderation is
ascribed to the troops. The rioters arrested are to be
I tried by martial law. The Ilerahlo has the following
account of the riota:

The riots at Seville were occasioned by a very slight come.
The Political Chief issued a bando fining the price of bread.
The bakers of Alcala de Guadaira, who supply a great part
of Seville, misunderstood the Heade, and ceased to bring in
bread. As 110.111 as this was knowu, some agitators took ad-
vantage of it, and urged the People to acts of violence, in
which the new Political Chief Jose Maria Campoa was
slightly wounded. The authorities acted with energy, and
soon restored order. When the mail left, the disturbance
was at an end, and the city was supplied with bread. Gen.
Pezoela, Capt.-Gen. of Andalusia, published on this occa-
sion the following band, :—Art 1. Brigadier Don Joie de
Herieta shall be acknowledged as Alcalde Corregidor ad ira-
terins of this city. Art. 2. From the day of the publication
of this present bando, the whole of the judici►l and poli-
tical authority shall be entirely concentrated in the mili-
tary authority exercised by me, until the state of efferve-
scence in which the city now is shill subside, and another
Bands shall announce the re-establishment of the other au.
thoratis in the exercise of their fudetions. Art. 3. All
assemblages of more than six persons shall be dispersed by
the armed force, and those who may refuse to obey the roam.
mons of the autherities shall be given up to the rigour of
the law. Art. 4. Every person who shall utter alarming
cries shall be brought before a court-martial. Art. 3. All
private houses and establishments shall be kept open under
pain of a fine to be imposed upon their owners or masters in
case of disobedience. Art. 6 An soon as the Angelus is
sounded, all the houses shall be illuminated. on this and
every following night, until further order. Art. 7. The
directors el the tobacco manufactories shall not allow their
workpeopl • to go out together, under any pretext, before the
accustomed hour.

The Gazette publishes a circular of the Minister
of War, recommending moderation and prudence to
the ceptaine-general of the provinces, at the same
time calling upan them to take energetic measures to
put down every attempt at disturbances.
A royal decree of the Bth deprives General Don'
Juan de Pezurla of his post of Captain-General of
Seville ; he is replaced by General Schelly. M. M.
Chico and Avirsneta have been recalled from their
banishment. It will be remembered that they were
irnpliated in the late scandal at the palace. On the
13th there was to 'ae a grand reception at AraejCiez
in honour of the King's birthday.
A rich inhabitant of Cuba, M. Guell 7 Renti, has
received orders to leave Madrid for Celia, where he
is to embark for the Havannab, it being presumed
that he had aspired to the hand of one of the
daughters of Don Francisco de Paulo. His papers
were seized, and, according to the Heraldo, have been
laid before the Queen.

FRANCE.—Psitts, MAY 17. On &MART the
committee charged to make the preliminary investigations in
the case of Glen. Despans-Cubiires sat till 6 o'clock, when it
adjourned till year eaday A further search isaaid t have been
made at the residence of M. Parmmatier. The resignation of
General Cubieres, as President of the Board of Directors of
the Paris and Strasbourg railway has been definitively ac-
cepted by that hody. The vacant place was offered to Gen.
Count de Sigur, but, on bin refusal, Gen. Monthion has been
, appointed.
The committee of the Chamber of Deputies charged
to examine the bill on Secondary Instruction has met almost
every day, and has already far advanced in its labours It
has just unanimously adopted two resolutions concerning
Articles 8 and 16 of the bill. Article 8 is as follows:
, " No one can direct a private establishment, or exercise.
any functions whatever in it, who belongs to an unauthorised
religious society. All facts contrary to this provi-ion will be
I referred to the Tribunal of First Instance, and the establish-
ment will be closed." The committee proposed to draw up
the article as follows, borrowed from the bill presented
by M Villeneuve in 1842: " Every Frenchman wishing to
open an establishment for instruction, &c., must depose a
written declaration signed by him, that he do.s not belong
to any aslociation or religious society not legally established
in France." On art. 16 of the bill, which is thus worded :
" Private masters can only make use of the books sanctioned
lir the Minister of Public Instruction; or, in eases of reli.
I gious instruction, by the bishop of the diocese, or by the
different cossistories, according to the religion to which the
pupils belong." the committee have decided that the word- '
ing shall be modified so as to express in a more ex• licit
manner that the minister may exclude books of infraction,
but not pre-cribs those that shall be used.
• Prince Louis Napoleon Achille Murat, son of
Joachim Murar, ex-king of Naples, and of Caroline Bona-
parte, sister of Napoleon, died in Florida, on the 15th of
April, at the age of 46, at his residence in Jefferson snooty.
Be left for America in 1821, where he became naturilised.
Born on a throne, it was his destiny to die as a simple
citisom in a foreign land ; and the resignation with which he
supported his misfortune does him more honenr as a man
than if he had followed the brilliant career to which he was
entitled by birth, and for which he possessed ell the bright
and requisite qualities.
The Mexican consul at Bordeaux has, like his
colleague at Havannah, notified to the merchants of that city,
that all commodities which shall enter the ports of the re-
public in possession of the forces of the United States, and
which shall have paid the customs duties according to the
American teriff on entrance, will be confiscated whenever
found in the interior.

PORTUGAL—The Journal des Debals publishes
news received overland from Oporto, to the 11th inst. ; that
is a day later than the dates received here. This journal
states that the Junta has positively refused to accept the pro-
posals of the government brought to Oporto by Col. Wylde,
and demands that the Queen should submit to their con-
ditions. The junta alio demands a reform of the constitu-
tional chute's, the immediate convocation of the Cortes, the
nomination of a Progremist ministry, to be chosen by the
Junta, the reorganization of the National Guard, and the son-
firmatim by Donna Maria of all the nominations in the
army and civil service, as well as all the loans made by the
Junta, since the beginning of the war. It also requires that
the army of the Queen be disbanded, and that the old and
new promotions granted by the Junta to the officers of the
old Miguelite army be confirmed. A vestal named the
Eapaculador, arrived yesterday at Liverpool, with a few
hours later news from St. Uhes. The captain says he heard
that Dia Antes troops were in full march on Lisboa. This,
however, is improbable.
SWI rz EMLAND.--Oftsi EVA , MAT 12.—The li-
beral cause in Switzerland is triumphant, the Canton of St.
Gall having returned liberal members, on the occasion of the
renewal of its grand council. The news of this victory
over the Jesuits, who are in great strength I. that parti-
cular c union, was received in all the radical manias with
tranaports ofjoy. The vote of St. Gall will give a majority
at the pilaff .1 Diet for the liberals.
A deplorable act took place on the frontier in
the district of the Preaches Montagnas. Some work-
men, occupied on the high road of Gonmois, had been in
the h stsit of obtaining proviions from France, where
they were cheaper than in Switzerland, and then smuggling
them iota Bvitaerland. The custom-house °Seen, who
had been on this look out, seised four of these workmen on
the 2ith alt. in the act of smuggling, and imprisoned them
at Gounsois—France. The greatest excitement was caused
by the announcement of this set, and A. Manuals,