The Express.
London, England, 1847-06-10 00:00:00

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

As nearly six years have elapsed since the last
general election, it may not perhaps be altogether stain-
terming to our readers to be reminded of the course
that was then adopted with respect to the dissolution of
the old and the meeting of the new parliament. Her
Majesty in person prorogued the then parliament on the
72nd of June, 1841. The dissolution by proclamation took
place on the following day, the new parliament being sum-
moned to meet, and met secordingly, on the 19th of
August, a period of 63 days thus intervening between the
two events. The legislature having then assembled, the
sittings continued for a period of seven weeks—viz., from
August 19 to October 7, when the session, by successive
• Ijournments, was carried over until the month of Februaarryy
of the following year. Supposing this precedent to be fol-
lowed on the present occasion, and that parliament be ad-
journed on the Bth, and dissolved on the 9th of July, as an-
ticipated (though such anticipations as to the close of sessions
have generally proved illusory by a period of protraction of
about ten days), then, allowing, as in the former instance,
88 days for the elections and the interval necessary for, and
consequent upon, the calling of a new parliament, the second
session of the 11th Vict sin will commence on the 7th of
September. On the previous occasion, the new parliament
commenced its sittings on the 19th of August, which were
protracted until the 7th of October, principally from the
feet of Lord Melbourne's government having been outvoted on
the address in both houses, in reference to the paragraph
in the speech from the throne, calling upon parliament to
consider the laws regulating the trade in corn, with the view
of determining whether they did not aggravate the natural
fluctuations of supply, embarrass trade, derange the cur-
rency, diminish the comforts and increase the privations of
the people, votes, which necessarily led to the delays and
adjournments consequent upon the formation of a new
administration. Circumstances, however, have changed
since then Sir R. Peel has changed ; the corn-laws are
all but defunct ; and it may, therefore, be presumed that
the forthcoming initiatory session, if it commences on or
about the 7th of September, will terminate in a month or
five weeks from that period, should no untoward circum-
stances, foreign or domestic, intervene.

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE 10, 1847.

to be attained. The fors, also, of the bath is peruliar, sad
when the plated' taken onto( it al.d off the model, it ex-
hibits a burnished polish, or a dead appearance,
to the preparation used. The metals tLni produeedaier2Z
to be of • much better description than metal; which have
not undergone such proems, as it is more flexible, and is
i.mpable of withstanding the action of heat without destroy-
ing the form or the copper, and the surface will not tarnish
when exposed to the air. Portions of any pattern ten also
be silvered by a similar process, and the general expense is
about one third of that of engraving or chasing, while the
boldest or most minute patterns ma be equally well pro-
duced. The paper announced to be read at the meeting of
Tuesday, June 16, was On the law which governs the dis-
charge of elastic fluids under pressure, through short tubes
and orifices," by Mr. W. Fronde, M.I.C.C.

PROPERTY AND INCOME TAX.—Since we drew
public attention to this subject, on the 15th of May last, we
understand the Besiaghall-street comx.issionera have had a
most searching inquiry and investigation into the system of
surcharges, and have inflicted most summary justice en one
of their officials; but, it all we hear is true, their vengeance
has fallen upon a minor offender when compared with as
officer connected with the stamps and taxes, who has been
in receipt of no less a sum than 6001., arising from the pound-
age allowed by government out of the City income-tax . We
wait the e.ecision of the board before we make further com-
ment, but it is quite impossible this tan can be renewed until
parliament his inquired into the whole proceedingsconnected
with what has been taking place during the last three months
in Basinghall•strett.—

New POLICE REGULATION.—In order to prevent
accidents, the commissioners of police desire coachmen and
equestrians to take notice, that hones' heads most be turned
towards Hyde•pult while passing the Wellington statue.
—Punch.

CARRIAGE BETWEEN EDINBURGH AND LONDON.—
air : I address this to you, in the hope that it may catch the
eve of some intelligent capitalist in the carrying trade.
When hard pushed with periodicals, steam-boat conveyance
is rather tardy, and, as the railway is within some six-
teen hours of London, I tried a parcel by the latter convey-
ance; but dispatched on Friday, it was not delivered in
London till Wednesday. All the explanation I could get
from the London carrier, who is well known, was that it had
been detained at some of the intermediate lines; and as I
could obtain no assurance from the carrying establishment
that celerity could be depended on, I must give up the rail-
way. But surely thorough parcel traffic is practicable
well as thorough parienger tratfic.—AN EDINDuROR Boon-
e BLL ft.

THE PATENT RAILWAY BREAK.—We yesterday
inspected a model of Mr. Lee's Patent Railway Break. The
importance of such an invention is every day becoming
more evident, and Mr. Lee's plan seems well calculated
to secure the desired object—that of speedily arresting the
course of a train in eases of danger. It provides for two
classes of danger for unexpected concussion, a buffer pro-
jects from the carriage or engine, and any force coming in
contact with it lets down a drag or break upon the rail,
which immediately stops the carriage. Although, perhaps,
this contrivance would not at once stop the whole train, and
with a buffer to each carriage that might almcst be accom-
plished, it would prevent the occurrence of what is most to
be feared in CMs of concussioa ; that is, the dreadful effects
caused by the meeting of two opposite, the progrtssive and
the arresting, forces, by which the carriages in the centre of
a train are frequently heaved up or completely crushed. In
the other case, that of foreseen danger, the conductor of the
train can, by turning a handle, almost immediately arrest
its course. It was stated by the inventor that on the Croydon
railway a train of nineteen carriages, descending an incline
at a velocity of thirty-five mile, an hour, was, by breaks to
one carriage only, brought to a dead standi within fifty•fire
yards. Breaks to one carriage in nine are considered to be
the requisite average.
THE COEN SPECULATORS AND THE POTATO
PANIC —Bl.r,—lt is pretty evident that the corn epeculators are en.
cismouritig, for their own selfish to create a panic in the
public riond about the potato crop ; wane of the daily pagan seem
inclined, from what motives the editors know Mot, to aid the epees-
lathn to the utmost of their power. It is Important, therefore, that
the honest part of the mom should caution the public again.* an
alarm whirl. may tom out totally unfounded. Last year a circum-
stance came under my observation, whist; convinces me of the folly of
those who condemn a crap of potatoes because it may exhibit symp.
tome of the disease. Dorian last Avon, I paid a visit to • farmer in
Tangibles, who had a Geld of about is sores of potatoes, which, on
my scent, had begun to erldhit met umequivaml Arra of the dis-
temper ; and my blend made up his mind to mow off the tops to
plan which, just then, had been strongly recommended Id, the
Gardeners' Chronick but was afterwards, es acknowledged in the
same paper, found tabs for was than Bade n). Luckily, however,
my friend was premiered, by ether preseingamtatiaos, from adopting
that plan, and the potatoes wets loft to their fate, and when I left
him, early in September, the tops were as black as if they had been
burnt ; and my Mead had gime than up as a hopeless ease. When
however, he awns to take them op, at the season when, Is the usual
course, they would have bees rips, be found, Is his 'try great
satonlahment, that the takers were eel gOirted to any
Mort worth wroth:oda/. The map was ander as maws me, both
in the number and aim of the magma t but the quality was goad,
and on the whole my friend sooddsral that he had a good mop.
Now this Seib adjoined a high mad, and no doribt many a traveller
in passing sat it down in hie mtad, sad perhaps in his note-bcok, as
a map irretrievably lost Let as net, then, be me hasty Ia condemn.
hig this year% 'rep hew of tome partial appearstwee of the dis-
ease. At this early period the Muds may throw it of, sad recover
their rigour ,• and if not, the early appearanee of the dharder at
all events, • kind dispensation of Pio.Lknoe, as Mare is ample time
to sow intermediate crops of other root plants in every as la which
the disorder may appear virulent —A Cowman Zama.

SUICIDE ON THE SOUTH Wflantflit RAILWAY.—
Yesterday morning about seven o'clock a young woman and
a man, a stranger to her, were standing near to each other
on the bridge which crosses the Wandsworth-tad ever the
South Western Railway, near the " Plough," at Battersea.
The young woman opened a gate at the side of the oridge,
and as the express down train came in sight, she ran down
the hank and threw herself upon the down line of rails.
The line taking a curve concealed her from the view of the
driver until the train was almost upon her. The driver
called to her to get out of the way, but almost momen-
tarily what is termed the " guard" of the engine struck the
unfortunate creature and hurled her a distance of 13 yards.
She was thrown into a small water course by the side of the
line. The engine had struck her on the face, inflicting a gash
extending from the forehead to the neck. Her right sr=
was completely smashed, and the thumb and fore-finger of
the left hand were cut off. She was taken, still ►live, to the
Wandsworth Union, where she survived only 10 minutes
after her admission. There was nothing found upon deceasea
to lead to her identity. She is a remarkably fine grown
woman of about 30 years of age, has dark brown hair and
eyes, and very pleasing features. She was dressed ►ery
respectably. Her handkerchief was marked, "F. C. A.,"
and her linen " J. A." The body lies at the union, awaiting
the inquest.