The Express.
London, England, 1851-07-02 00:00:00

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111011 WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
T■is WT—Morning,ilts. luf. .Aficraxat. 4b. 23m.
To•uoaauw—Yornlaa, 41. Wm. .Afternaoa, U. Ilia.

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JULY 2.

Mr FILED drums are the appropriate music of fu-
nerals. When the battle is over and the survivors
arc drawn out in doleful array in order to bury their
dead, the stirring trumpet call is heard no more, and
the inciting tones that formerly preluded victory
are forgotten.
To such subdued harmonies were the retiring pro-
tectionists doomed to listen on Alonday evening last.
Preparatory to the breaking up of their camp at the
end of the campaign and their dispersion for the rest
of the year, they were ordered to appear on parade
for the but time, and compelled to listen to a financial
variation of the " Dead March in Saul,"compmed and
principally performed by Mr. DISRAELI. With the
exception of some striking passages, that sounded
very much as if they had been written for some
much more cheerful occasion and had been flung in
to relieve the monotony of the dirge, nothing could
be more dull or dreary than the long-protracted
strain. There was a smart bit about Mr. l'usEv, to
avenge the Philippic of the independent member for
Berkshire. Then there were oriental airs and
Russian melodies introduced rather inartistically,
which would havo been more suitable after a
I public dinner, when the toast of the Crystal
l'aLice was associated somehow or other with
the member for Buckinghamshire's name. And
finally, there were a few freaks of fancy intended to
amuse the listeners by caricaturing the exultant
tones of the enemy. For the rest, all was inexpres,
sive, and apparently devoid of purpose—sad, stupid,
and superfluous. So thought the hearers, for tiny
broke their ranks in considerable numbers, and
sulkily walked away, leaving their great and once-
respected conunandcr with but half his accustomed
force to follow his retreating banner front the field.
As was truly said by the CHANCELLOR of the
ExeitEurtat, the motion of Mr. DisnAtal and
his speech said not only different, but quite
opposite things. The resolutions contained a decla-
ration that, pending the inquiries of the Income Tax
Committee (that is, in other words, during the pre-
sent session), it would not be "consistent with a due
regard to the maintenance of the public credit, and
the exigencies of the public service, to make any ma-
terial sacrifice of public income." This, moved as an
amendment to the house Tax Bill, admits of no other
meaning than that which the public, through
organs of opinion, had put upon it. The remission
of the window duty, already realised by anticipation,
was understood to be placed in jeopardy; and the
constituents of even Mr. DISRAELI'S personal friends
had intimated their wishes and expectations in
terms so unmistakeable, as to render their defection

On the occasion inevitable. The abandonment of the
window-tax formed, in point of fact, us every one is
well aware, the only "material sacrifice of public
income" proposed by government during the present
session. If the motion, therefore, meant anything,
it meant that. By way of breaking the force of the
wave of unpopularity which was rising against him,
Mr. DlsittELl boldly assured the House of Commons
that against the desired remission ho had nothing
whatever to say; that he was himself strongly in
' favour of it ; and that it was wholly a misapprehen-
sion to suppose that he wanted to retain fiscal hin-
drances to the popular enjoyment of air and
light. What ho did mean, however, Ito abso-
lutely declined to say. lie feared for the pub-
lic credit, and for the budget of next year ex-
ceedingly. Should the income-tax be pronounced
incorrigible by the committee now sitting in judg-
ment on its sins, we should want all the existing
surplus and as much and a half beside to make both
ends meet in 1852. The surplus in hand and the
surplus hoped for would be both absorbed by the
deficit left by abolishing the tax on property and
income; and the tax on windows must consequently
• remain, unless some other impost yielding an equiva-
lent sum could be pointed out as more unexception-
able. But the latter alternative Mr. Disr,AELI did
not indicate, and the former he energetically dis-
claimed.

Mr. GLADSTONE, it mast be owned, was far morn
candid and courageous. In the event contemplated
by the resolutions of Mr. Disgutl, he hinted
plainly that, in his opinion, the want must be sup-
plied by resorting to new or newly modified forms
of direct taxation. Mr. GLADSTONE would place the
house-tax on a wider basis, so as to constitute an
available resource in case of need, for raising a con-
siderable revenue. lie would include houses of a
much more numerous class than those denoted in the
schedules of Sir CHARLES \Wiwi's present bill ; and
then, should the income-tax be abandoned, lie sug-
gested that the means and appliances would be ready
ut hand for the purpose of raising, in the shape
of an augmented house-tax, a large amount
of revenue. There can be little doubt, we think,
that this was not the expedient which the protec-
tionist chief had in reserve, if indeed he had any.
" A moderate fixed duty on corn" has already been
avowed as the grand panacea for the sorrows of land-
lordism ; and to this complexion tho whole debate
must come forthwith were his vague and unexplana-
tory propositions carried. Against any supposed
complicity in such a purpose Mr. GLADSTONE seems
to have been determined to guard himself. lie had
no objection to vote for the motion, but it must be
on his own terms ; and those terms may briefly be
stated thus—if you take off five millions of direct
taxation because the mode of levying it is oppressive
or unjust, you must be prepared to replace it by some
better form of tax on property, but not by the re-im-
position of any of the old burdens upon industry and
labour.
The division may be taken as conclusive of party
controversy for the session of 1851. Instead of 250
with which the member for Bucks opened the cam-
paign in February ►ast, he is only able to bring 129
into the field on the last day of June. His defeat
was, in truth, so evident and so utter, that he
tried to make merry with his fate, and ball•
castmOir fakiiotiul suls.L.io.4 sal their nfErinl
immortality. Without wishing anybody ill, we
are very little in the mood to wish to see the
whigs confirmed even in jest in the unfortunate be-
lief of their infrangibility. They are giddy and rash
enough under the salutary sense of danger, but in
proportion as they relapse into the pleasing dream
of being indispensable to the welfare of the state,
we should fear deeply for the state and them.

GREAT CENTRAL GAS CONSUMERS' COMPANY.—
The shareholders in this undertaking assembled yesterday
evening in the City of London Tavern, for the purpose of
considering the provisions of a deed of amalgamation be-
tween the City Gas Company and the Great Central. Mr.
Dakin prodded. Mr. Alderman Wire read the directors'
report, front which it appeared that the bill of the Great
Central had passed both houses, and is to receive the royal
assent on Friday next. The terms of amalgamation were
in conformity with the pledges given to the consumers by
the Great Central. The value of the plant of each com-
pany is to be determined by two arbitrators chosen by the
companies, and their decision to be governed by an um-
pire of their own selection. Mr. Hiudwicke read the in-
denture of amalgamation, and both it and the report were
approved of. 1,0001. a year for the last two years, and the
t of the meeting, were unanimously voted to the direc-
tors, and a special vote of thanks to Mr. C. Pearson, for his
services on behalf of the company.
LONDON, BIRMINGHAM, AND Buckis RAILWAY.—
On Monday, before Master Kindersley, Mr. Harnett, the
former secretary, Captain Darrell, the chairman, were exa-
mined at considerable length relative to the liability of
Viscount Curzon, who was also examined, to be placed on
the list as a member of the provisional and acting
committee.
LAUNCH OF A STEAM-SHIP FOR THE PACTIA OF

SW Court.

Her Majesty and Prince Albert, accompanied by
his Majesty the King of the Belgians, the Prince of Wales,
the Princess Royal, Prince Alfred, and Princess Alice, and
the Due de Brabant, the Comte de Flandres, and the
Princess Charlotte of Belgium, left Osborne at half-put
nine o'clock yesterday morning. Her Majesty and Prince
Albert, and their illustrious guests, were attended by the
Viscountess Canning, Lady inWaiting, the Hon. Lucy Kerr,
Maid of Honour in Waiting, the Comtesse do Montanclos,
Lady in Waiting to the Princess Charlotte, Colonel do
Muerkerke, Count Albert de Brier, and by Lord Chs. Fitz-
roy and Colonel Bouverie, Equerries in Waiting, Lieut.-
Colonel the Hon. C. B. Phipps, Major-General Bowles,
Master of the Household, Sir Robert Carswell, Mr. Birch,
and Miss Ilildyard. Th 2 Royal party and suite em•
barked at Osborne pier on the Fairy royal
steam yacht, commanded by Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence,
crossed to Gosport, and travelled to town by a special train
on the South-Western Railway. On arriving at the Nine
Elms Station, the royal party and suite entered six of the
Queen's carriages, and escorted by a detachment of the Bth
Hussars, proceeded to Buckingham Palace, where the
arrived at ten minutes past 1 o'clock. Her Majesty and
Prince Albert, and His Majesty the King of the Belgians,
were received at the palace by the Countess of Gainsborough,
the Muter of the Horse, the Lord Steward, the Lord Cham-
berlain, the Vice Chamberlain, the Earl of Morley, Mr. R.
Ormsby Gore, and Lieut.-Colonel Francis Seymour.
The Duchess of Kent visited Her Majesty soon after her
arrival at Buckingham Palace.
Her Majesty and Prince Albert, aceompaniedby the King
of the Belgians, with the Due de Brabant and the Comte
de Flandres, honoured Her Majesty's Theatre with their
presence lass owning. The royal suite consisted of
Viscountess Canning, lion. Lucy Kerr, the Earl of Morley,
Lord Charles Fitzroy, Colonel Bouvecie and Colonel
Maerkerke. The Duchess of Kent, attended by Lady
Augusta Bruce and Lord James Murray, also honoured
Her Majesty's Theatre with their presence yesterday
evWelbichess of Gloucester visited the Duchess of Kent
yesterday. The Duke and Duchess Augustus of Saxe
Cobourg Gotha also visited the Duchess of Kent yesterday,
at her residence, Clarence-house, St. James's.

The Chairmen of the Juries of the Royal Commission for
the Exhibition of the Works of Industry of 6.11 Nations had
a meeting yesterday at the Exl.ibition.
Colonel W. L. Freestuit, M.P., had an interview with Sir
George Grey at the Iloutc•office. Captain George Evans,
R.N., had also an interview with the Right Hon. Baronet.
Sir Dc Lacy Evans, M.P., and Mr. Hutt, M.P., had an
interview with Earl Grey yesterday at the Colonial-office.
Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-office
from the Governor of Hong-Kong. Despatches were sent
off from the Colonial-office yesterday to the Governors of
the West India Islands.