The Express.
London, England, 1849-01-01 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, JANUARY 1, 184 .

bat them, is bat rmovariag from dui state of inonsibility •
inwidilithe wee head. it we. weertaised that sics had etly
mashed a di& aoataeles. The hied physiaiaa moreover
resarkadi that ore agened her eyes sow and then, toast
doneicada• "bow mead, as if to eve what was pawing
around her. flopposieg she was sa impostor, he left her.
The nut morelag than was a groat esminoties la this
bum "(the Drama re &. Medea, when are resulted young
Win who ham neisoondectel tbamealvas. The sisters die
severed thee ea. of chair boardoo—Ydlla. Ilemeniere P.—
hod asaped, despite the many ohatados whisk bad boon pet
ia the way of sued as mbarpdos. She bed bola pined
Ma hart *Akar, ia orsorpume of a strati passim she bed
aimd *a a yov_rg ass, et whoa bar puma die.
sugssieL bad indeed pas so dr as to abandon km
dinft to nide with her loves. After some time bee retreat
was dissommi. and bar father, pad Irritated, immediately
'bead bar In the convent of Bt. hi. This seclusion we.
so little sober taste, that she determined to seeps hom it at
Ohs earliest opportunity. Her cell window looked upon the
IRue I'l7l-. It was a narrow one, and was strongly soared
W igew bars ; bat nothing daunted, she broke off a portion'
of bat free bed, and using it m a lever, wrenched off one of
the hen of tho window, squeezed herself through the aper-
ture, and dropped Leto the street, where she was found in a
state of insensibility by the benevolent doctor. She was
eventually restored to her father, who, softened by lee ad.
venture, mad to avoid more serious scandals, e.oaseated to
her marriage with her lover.
THE ROYAL GENERAL PENSION FUND SOCIETY.
—Sir,—Yoe were go:d enough to insert in your valuable
Journal of 16th Nov. a letter I addressed to you upon the
subject of the Royal General Pension Society of Chapel-
place, Cavendish-square, and 1 regret to have to state that
notwithstanding your publication of that letter the poor an-
nuitants still continue no! only unpaid, but without any in-
timation whatever •s to whether or not the pensions due for
the past six months are to be paid, or as to the continuance
or otherwise of the society. Asia months have now elapsed
since any payments have been made to the annuitants, it is
to be hoped the committee will be prepared to give a satis-
factory account as to the " why and wherefore." It may
be as well to observe that a secretary is maintained out of the ,
funds in a large house, so that although the poor pensioners
have been left in distress sad suspense the " officials " are
provided for. Be so kindse once agela to lend your power•
ful aid in the hope of drawing the attention of the executive,
who ought long ere this to have given satisfactory explana-
tion u to the mews of the delay ,• and until they do it it is to
be hoped the philanthropic will withhold any tanker sub-
scriptions. I could add some harrowing cases of sorrow and
deprivation 'akin from " the hope deterred " which some
of the poor creatures have endured, but I trust 1 have said
safficionc wa•errea.

A BURGLARY was committed yesterdsy morning sit
the hoes. of lir. Josephs, a jeweller sad watchmaker, near
Zion Chapel, Waterloo-road. The Gutuly were aroused by
some neighbours, who sew the shop loot *pen, end it was
found thAt the whole of the stock lhal been stolen.

INGENIOUS ROBBERY BY A PRETENDED CLERGY-
ItaN.—On Wednesday evening lest, between 5 and 6 o'clock,
a person, having all the appearance of a clergyman, entered
the shop of Mesas. Lambert and Rawlings, jewellers, in
Coventry-street, and stated that he wished to make scene
wedding j resents at the Bishop of Winchester's, 19, St.
Jannothesquare. He required some ladies' watches, chains,
and bracelets. Articles of this kind were shown hiss, and
he selected several of considerable value. He also gave an
order for a dinner service of plate, and said he should call on
Monday and pay for it by cheque. He said his name was
tiao Rey. John Coulson. Having made all his 'eh:Mi.:ins,
and desired the dinner service to be laid by for him, he said
" Will you have the kindnirs to send a shopman with me to
the Bisnep of Winchester's with the ornaments for the
ladies ?" His request was acceded to, and a shopman putting
the artieies into a bag accompanied him in a cab to No. 19,
St. James's-square. He got out and knocked at the door
with easy assurance, and when it was opened he asked
the servant " Has the Rev. Mr. Flint arrived ?" [A
cl.rgyenaa of that name residing at Morden, Surrey, is in
the habit of visiting the B shop of tVinchrster at his man-
sion, St. James'esemsre.] the servant said he had
not. " Oh, don't mind," said the false eergyman ;
"Is Mr. Sumner (the Bishop's son) in ?" The servant an-
swered in the affirmative, hot added that Mr. Sumner was
at dinner. " Never mind; do not disturb him. 1 will take
wine with him by and by. I want in the meantime to write
a note to him." Ile was then shown into the waiting-room,
the shopman tutoring with him. He immediately com-
menced writiag a note, but suddenly stopping and itemising
the shopman, be said, " ity the by, I want some signet-rings ;
I forgot to order them. Go hick, and bring me some Moms
of that sort." The shopman, completely off his guard, went,
leaving the bag and its coals contents. The outer lfni•bed
the note to Mr. Sumner, which he left with directions to the
servant to deliver it, and then quietly walked away. He
did not hike the hag, bat abstracted its contente. In the
me-n time the shopman came back, saying to the a nun,
" I have brought these rings for the gentleman " " Why,
the gentleman is gone," said the servant. " Where is my
bag ?" exclaimed the shopman. " Here it is," said the
servant, bringing it to him. It was empty! Informa-
tion of the robbery was, without delay, communicated
to the police, and a detective sergeant took the afLir in
hand. He waited en Mr. Sumner in St. James's.tquare,
who said he knew no such person as the Rev. John
Coulson. The delinquent was telegraphed to all the Londas
railway stations, and notice• were cant to all the pawnbre-
ken and police stations of the several au tropoliten district.
However the sharper was too quick in his movements, for
he had already pawned the three bracelets and three of the
watchgutoris fur 701. at the shop of Mr. Vaughan, pawn-
broker, 39, Strand. The seven watches he aid not pawn.
Oo Friday morning the Messrs. lambert and Rawlings re.
calved a letter from him dated Bath, and bearing the post
meek of that city. In it he expressed his deep contrition for
what he had done—declared that he was the unfortunate
dupe of more designing parties than himself—entreated the
Messrs. Lambert and Rawlings to preserve the greatest se-
cresy, asseverating that if they did they should be paid in
full when the writer came back to England. He wrote that
of his own knowledge he knew nothing of any of the persons
in St. James's-square, but that he had derived information
respecting them trom certain parties living in the parishes of
St. Luke and Be. Geerge'e in the Bast. Mr. Lambert,
though convinced that the letter was • roue, proceeded to
Bath, but of courts without hitting off any traces of the che .
roller d'indouirte. As yet he is lying In some undiscovered
locality—very likely in the heart of London. A reward
of 501. is offered for Lis apprehension.

THE GOLD DISCOVERIES IN CALIFORNIA.
We have been favoured with the following extract
from • private letter, dated New York, Dec. 12, 1848:
" There is sufficient information in this city to warrant the
conjecture that, by the lit of March, we shall receive three
millions, and after that time at least one million a month.
You will understand that the surface only of the pound in
the valley of Sseramento has been explored; it is possible,
therefore, that large mines of mineral wealth may be found
in the mountains. This would be to be deplored, as it would
turn the whole country of California to the mines instead of
pursuing the peaceful occupation of agriculture and com-
merce. The effect of all this gold coming into our market
will be to turn the exchanges in oar favour, and we should
keep them so, unless the Americans, not profiting by the
experience of '35 and '36, should again import more goods
than they can pay tor. If this turn out to be the El Dorado,
what effect is it going to have on the monetary affairs of
England ? That is the qcntion which every one now asks
his neighbour."
It would appear from various facie that have some to our
knowledge that the goki.finding mania has extended itself to
this aide of the Atlantic, and emigrants are eagerly looking
towards the land of promise. Front one such correspondent
we have received the following pithy query :—" Mr. Editor,
—Please to give your readers an idea of the cheapest and
hest way to California.—A CoNliTarr Rea an."
In reply to this inquiry we believe we may state that the
speediest way of getting to California from this country is by
the West India mail steamers, which are in monthly com-
moo ication with Chattel, on the Isthmus of Darien, thence
across to Panama. The United States have established a
line of while between Panama and San Fraseirco, the
fns of which is advertised to start from the former place this
day (Jan. 1). It is reckoned that this voyap along the
Foci& meet of the Americas will occupy 60 days. From the
United States there are four routes That from New
Orleans to Panama, as above. 2nd. That taken by the
emigrant column to Oreiroe, namely, teem 81. loss* in
Missouri, along the Platte Rim " bottom," across the south
pass of the Rocky Mountains, and over the Salt Plain that
it between the western aide of this peat range sad the
Colorado river, is California Alta. Ms journey is under-
taken in caravans of forty or
_My mom, and occupies
about four months. 3rd. Fran Leudelawa to Mexico, through
Texas ; but that is a road reamed very mode, as it is used
chiefly by hone oepere—halt.heed Mezieans—and slave
dealers. 4th. Along the seaward of the entire continent of
America—north and oath, east and west—that is from New
York to Cape Horn, and from Cape Horn to the Bay of San
Francisco. a voyage of 16,000 miles, and which it would take
Ave months to perform.

THE PRESS AND FINANCIAL REFORM.
We give the following extracts in continuation of
those which appeared on Saturday, to give some idea of the
rex ption given to the national budget by the liberal provin-
cial press :
YOBILIriIIitIMAN.—If we are to estimate the value of Mr.
Cobden's manifesto, and the practicability of its suggestions,
by the extraordinary rage in which it has put the writers for
the tory press, we should say that it wee one of the most im-
portant political documents produced in these modern time.
The Standard, Post, Morning Herald, Tines, and their
minor fry, seem perfectly delirious on the subject. Old pre-
judices are revived, old cries furbished up, and nothing snort
of " ruin," " confiscation," and " destruction to the state,"
is predicted as, the result of listening to the economical
views of the hon. member for the West Riding. From
the vehemence of tory indignation, one would have
supposed that Mr. Cobden had thrown upon the
world something new—some financial theory unknown to
pout ial economist', which embraced revolatioeary principle,
and covertly sought to extinguish our institutionin church
and state: Instead of this, however, Mr. Cobden's views have
not even Om merit of originality. In one shape or another
they have been before the world for a quarter of a century.
In the writings of Mr. M'Colloeh, in the pamphlets of Mr.
IL'Oregor, and in the essays of Mr. Jeremy Bentham, the
same principles and the same suggestions in the abstract are
to be found. We candidly ecallme, whoa we read Mr. Cob-
den's letter, we thought that, notwithstanding his admirable
reasoning and more admirable suggestions, his proposed
financial reform was, after ell, but an extremely moderate
instalment of that fiical reduction which all climes in this
country are beginning to demand.
Nourx Devoe; JOVIINAL—There are very few, be they
free-trAthrs or protectionists, who have not made up their
minds to the desirabl,ncu—indeed, to the necessity—of

a asarallag ramisita of our Goal system, sot ouly with a
view et armadas that taudoary to advance which oursa-
timid szpsuditare has for many yams gradually betrayed,
but of Wadies acme very material roduatkur is its
arsolat.

Dlll3lllllllll Comm.—This letter, whisk begins with
Proposing a rear:tier in the nations! expesaftsas of tea sat-
ires, it a at first very easy to set aside with
the Uri reply,' Don't you wish yes may get it ?" but u
that preposed dmire would be seithee MOM me lees than
a eirsna to the exposititure et Ur Duke d Welliagtes and
Sr Robot Peal in 1836, ttwinis7iLlea bleu all the air of
impearisatillity, which the el the sera at first U-
miak with ; sad it &admire If so direetly to the weak
side el the country, that we anticipate freak a meek greater
iallsence, within the walls of perilaireat, than toad have
winded say statements of the essetiallem unattended by
suit a war my, as--" Return to the ospesalter le sad (ad-
mires of 1836! Let the our whisk sing the tallexible
Duke and the Lersuseive Baronet, esattrilill,,
BILIOTITON MOWIIIIII. soon
meet. We shell see if, in the commencement etas susion,
E
the Chancellor of the xchequer will make terother motion
to increase tomtits. If ke do, we do net Mink the present
ministry will ham a very strong hold 46 dim We do not
expect he will. Sir Charles Wood will not test the patience
of the marry again in that way. Bat is he y rowed to in-
troduce a better system of taxation ? Will he lend his sup-
port in parliament to any well digested plan of iloanci.il
reform which Richard Cobden or others may produce ? Sir
C. Wood takes matters, we know, very easily and comforta-
bly ; but these are not times for Moisten to treat national
affairs as bagatelles, and if he so treats them, the nation
will not

--- ---
PRESTON CRIONICLE —Mr. Cohden's letter will be of
peat value ;if it does Lot influence the government, or pens '
;rate the power of the Horse Guards, it will " tell" with the
people. It will be discussed with the pamphlets and
speeches of the Liverpool economists, it will afford material
for thought amongst the constituencies of England, and help
to create a public opinion that shall demand in irresistible
tones for retrenchment in high places.
Enema Witavattx Tutee.—To the great body of the
nation, the idea of a ten niiilions' of annual reduction of
taxation, is a pleasurable thing to contemplate. Mr. Cobden
has spread his proposed items of relief over to many classes,
that he has' dexterously combined a large ferns in favour of
his proketia the very eel of launching it.
BERWICK ADTRITISZR.—The extreme tories WE already
eonsumeA with urnsr and rage; the moderate tories are
critical, bat afraid to be contemptuous ; and the liberals of all
shades are more or les favourable. There can be no ;pea-
tioa that Mr. Cobden has again hit the right nail, and that,
however objectionable his proposal may be in' some :of its
details, it expresses the universal and deep determination of
the country to have economical governmet.L

PRESTON GULIDIAN.—" Wilt you Tote for Mr. Rouse's
motion 1" has been ens question put to aspirants for iegie.
lative honours, and " Will you vote for Mr. Cobden's ,
budget must n^w become another, the answer te which
must be exp:icit. Electors in future cannot de with vague
promises (such as even conservatives make), to support
economy " wherever practicable or expedient," for in two
casts out of three it turns out that members when sleeted
can never discover any retrenchment that is practical or ex-
pedient. Mr. Cobden's budget will prevent uncertainty and
equivocation on this head, and in this respect wul be useful
to the electoral body.
Bums Ariveaviesa.—Mr. Cobden is right: eleven
millions of tnei national outlay can easily be cut off. The
press and the people think he is right—the army and the
aristocracy think he is wrong. The army dies not want its
horns clipped ; and the aristocracy has no intention of being
so vulgar as to pay probate duty. Nevertheless, Mr. Coiden
has get toe right end of the rope, and the right people to
pull it. Sooner or later the saving will be made. It is in
good hands. Polities bare nothing to do with it ; it is a
puree movement entirely ; therefore, great is the purse, and
it must prevail.
Ays AnYUKTISER.—The financial reform movement took
its cue and its mode of action from the late Anti•oorn Law
League. Like its powerful prototype, it had begun its
labours by addressing the reason and judgment of the multi-
tude by means of printed arguments, prcofe, and appeals,
scattered in profusion gratuitously wh intelligence
enough existed to let such addresses be understood. Deal
tog with the subject of state economy—less a party question
than hoe trade—La early prngre.s promised to be smoother
than that of the League. It had indeed almost at once
arrived at the important stage of becoming " a great tact,"
without any drawback, for unanimity exists as to the pro-
priety of economy, and no schiim had been provoked by de-
tailed proposals, when, like a spark among powder, out
comes Richard Cobden's budge', startling the most ruthless
revenue pruner by its suddenness, ..nd creating great noise
and bustle among men and things likely to be disturbed, if
not annihilated, by such sweeping &tinges.
BATH JOULNAL.-11bothing more could be ple&ded in
favour oldies/ reductions than the necessity of relieving the
people of some portion of their heavy bonbon of taxation, it
ought to have weight with the government sufficient to in-
duce them to effect ouch reductions to the fullest intent prat-
heeds. We have come to such a slate now that further in-
crease of revenue is impossible. This was demonstrated at
the commencement of the last sessi,ns. There is no means,
therefore, of obtaining an avail .ble surplus of revenue but by
reduction of expenditure. Never was the expenditure of a
country completely exhaustive of its resources without great
distress among the people—commercial calamity, increase of
pauperism and beggary, and general discontent—a state of
things that his no remedy but economy and retrenchment.

OUR REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM.