The Express.
London, England, 1846-12-15 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMW

functionaries; and to aim less at a tbeoretinally
perfivt system of national education than at
the best that the existing state of public
opinion renders attainable. In their instructions to
the government inspectors of schools, the Lords of
the Council declare that one object of inspection is
" the encouragement of local efforts for the improve-
ment and extension of elementary education." Having
wisely resolved to awaken local enthusiasm by ex-
tending confidence to local functionaries, they must
make up their minds to allow their instruments to
work to a considerable extent in their own way.

THE Spectator presses its charge of "cant" upon
the times, and discovers theparalysing effects of words
when substituting themselves for deeds, in sanitory
measures. We do not deny the existence of a moni-
tory cant. There is a sanitory cause, and every cause
has its cant and canters. But the reality of the thing
is a greater fact, and one more worthy of notice than
the cant about it. It is true our ancestors did not
"cant" about sewerage and drainage, the connexion
of moral and physical degradation, and annual
slaughters from preventible causes great as Water-
loo. But neither did they care for any of these
things. We see more ground for hope than despair,
more evidence of the power of truth than of cant, in
the efforts of the Health of Towns Association. In so
far as it may be referred to influences of the day,
visible in other directions, and different but kindred
activities, the real efficiency and disinterestedness of
its members are infinitely more remarkable than the
hollowness of its political supporters, or the extrava-
gance of its literary condottieri. The Spectator
reviews the history of the subject gloomily enough ;
but too truly in the main. We are still talking about
the matter in which we should be doing. But
land is in sight. Government are pledged to action ;
and we have to thank out-of-doors' activity,
benevolence, and knowledge, for it. Perhaps
even the canters have helped instead of hinder-
ing. They at least bring the subject forward
to public attention. They are forced to learn
the facts of this case, if only to fill their begging-box.
Ignorance more than hard-heartedness is at the
bottom of English apathy. But it is an ignorance
which lies cheek-by-yowl in a well-contented sleep by
the side of self-interest. Not till ignorance has
changed places with knowledge, shall we know how
strong self-interest really is. At
.present the fight is
in the future. With the session will come the
real tug of war. But the reason of the thing is
plain at least. When ministers brave the petty
but multitudinous assaults of private selfistmess,
which, like mosquito-bites, singly contemptible, are
in their collective effect annoying and even danger-
ous in certain states of the body politic, we may
surely infer that the dullest reasons, of all who pre-
tend to exercise the faculty, are reached. A minister
is often a foolometer. Like ERSKINE, he watches the
most stolid of the jury. When his mind is made up,
government announces its intention to act.
The enactment of a great sanitory measure will
be as much due to the Health of Towns Association,
Dr. Sournwoop SMITH and Mr. EDWIN CHADWICK,
as corn-lawrepeal to the League, COBDEN and BRIGHT.
Except the greater rationality consequent on the ab-
sence of some popular themes for the demagogue or
lecturer, the former cause has been as completely en-
forced by agitation as the latter. In both the intelli-
gence of the country has charged itself with the
instruction and controlling of the Executive. Both
agitations, in their distinctions not less than their
resemblances, are full of instruction. The League
was one of the most perfect examples of centralisation
ever brought to work in a popular cause. The Health
of Towns Association is only weaker, as it has less
wealth of ad captanda on topics to distribute. It
appeals to men's regard for their own and others
health, a sorry stimulant compared with the pro-
spect of lower prices and fuller bellies which the
League lecturer was enabled to evoke. But in
both cases we have a central body doing, what
is, in effect, the work of government, gathering
and condensing the materials of sound legisla-
tion. The dealing of the Health of Towns Asso-
ciation with Lord LINCOLN'S Bill is an anomaly
in a well-governed country. It is the governed setting
right the governor. The case is very different from
that of a department accepting instruction and infor-
mation to guide in framing a legislative enactment.
Here the bill was completed on the information
already collected and furnished mainly by the
members of the association. It was only
due to circumstances that it did not become law
last session. But there it stands—not the less a
sample of our laws that it has not received the final
sanction.
The association proceed to examine the measure,
the first fruits of their toils, with accurate and honest
criticism. They find it full of defects, negative and
positive; a measure, good in intention and in part of
its details, but involving errors and ignorance enough
to vitiate even what is good in it. The association
draw up a report on the bill, pointing out its defects
and suggesting remedies, which will no doubt be of
material :service to the present government in their
contemplated measure. But for the association and
an accident, we might have been visited with another
utterly imperfect measure on an all-important subject.
The conscience of the executive would have satisfied
itself without a real discharge of its duty. The swarm
of private interests would have been frightened and
fought with, without effectual good resulting from the
struggle, which is required to justify such a declara-
tion
of war. Old evils would have perpetuated them-
selves, and new ones been called into existence by an
enactment professing to cut out the one and prevent
the other.
Analogous effects of hasty legislation are of common
occurrence in reference to other subjects. There is
only one way to prevent them. Incorporate the heads
and hearts of your leagues and your associations with
the government. Let your COBDENS and your SMITHS
lend their energies as members of a department, in-
stead of leaders of an organised association. In a country
situated as this is, government must work with the ut.-
telligence of the community, or not at aIL There is no
loophole for corruption in England, like the narrow
French electoral franchise ; there is no shelter here,
such as the gagging laws there, open to ministerial
jobbery. With a free press, and a reading public
larger than the electoral body, the possibility of go-
vernmental thraldom of opinion, or abuse of influence,
is so remote, that it may safely be disregarded, ih
favour of even weaker reasons than public instruction
and public health.
But the departmental strength of the executive
must be increased before the central principle can be
usefully applied. All central action should be strictly
supervisional and directive. The execution and modi-
fication of all actual operations should be left
to local activity. Did any member of the New-
castle free-trade committee ever complain. that
his energies were dulled, or his efforts rendered ntiga=
tory by the interference of this League council, or of
Mr. COBDEN ? There is no more reason. why a local
board of education, or a local board of Wealth, should
be hampered by the advice and directiosof the proper
government board. It was the vital interest which all
felt in the matter at stab which kept the
_council of
the Leap* in harmonious vitality thrmo its vast
ramification of local committees. Once suppose a
government as much in earnest about education or
sanitory regulations at the League council about t,
free-tradle, and we should find as little difficulty in 1
establishing and carrying on a gateau of harmonious
central; and local action in these matters, as was i
found in the mote material business of the men, of
Manaheater.

and his measures obstructed by the Ani4-jesitical
his intentiips are mote ok: lees defeated,
as well as by the marked oppo.sition of the
m
elikeatni
cabinet
che
ut o
f the Tuileries i r
s,
to every measure which has
for its object Italian reform.
Especially, says Le Sierle, since the coolness en 'easlessed
between England and France by the Spanish mania,
tes, the
Piedmentesc liberals complain
fortbiterly of the change its,.ll•
Guisot, and of his servile zeal Austrian interests. ",s_'
have it from good authority that this zeal has lately met with
sa indiscreet and violent an interpreter in the person of & nir
ambassador at Turin, that a shameful scene took play
there, and a challenge was the coaster ence. This
ministry of ours has now got so entangled in the resultsmath of
its errors, so blinded, so deadened to all sense of shame,
that it everywhere makes war on the best friends of France.
Deprived, by our desertion, of a strong and; open support
in his influence on the destinies of Italy, the government of
Carlo Alberto, like intersh of Pius IX., has at lea 4 the wisdom
to o:cupy itself with iaLimprosements. We are as-
sured that, among other reforms, it has decided to re-
establish the publicity of judicial proceedings. Such mea-
sures, by extending his moral influence `
reformovr the pl of
Italy, by secomling and encouraging the sof the
Sovereign Pontiff, will conciliate the sympathies of France
far the Piedmontese government. A moral alliance will be
contracted with France in spite of her ministers, who are
now more retrograde than thoseros of Berlin, Roe,
eople or Turin.
Bad ministers will, however, p away, but them pwill
remain, and the alliance of liberal France will be one day
more useful than that of a cabinet or a system.
It was reported on the•Bourse on Friday, that on
the occasion of delivering up the French prisoners,
for whom a ransom of 30,001) francs had been paid, a
letter was delivered to the olficer charged to receive
the prisoners, addressed directly to Louis-Philippe by
Abd-el-Kader, in which overtures for peace were
made. It is known that the Emir has long wished to
openw negotiation with France, considering that
itwould ldne raise him in the consideration of the Arabs,
and afford him some temporary repose, of which he
stands in need.
A letter from Frankfort stated that Prince Metter-
nich died at Vienna on the 3rd instant. Despatches,
however, of that date, received at the Austrian em-
bassy in Paris, contain no such intelligence. A
Frankfort paper of the 6th says that the Prince had
been very ill, but was getting better.
The Bcy of Tunis continues to visit, with his suite,
the public establishment., of Paris. He has succes-
sively inspected the Polytechnic school, Museum of
Artillery, &c.
Our Paris correspondent sends the following
P.S. M. Guizot has officially announced to Lord
Normanby that the French government has given
orders for the recall of the French consul-general at
the Mauritius M. De Jouy, in compliance with the
demand of Lord Palmerston.
M. Guizot gave a grand soiree at the Hotel Des
Affaires Etrangcres, on Friday, evening, at which the
Bey of Tunis and all tbe ambassadors were present.

An extraordinary express has reached Paris, from
Madrid, with advices to the .7th inst. The elec-
tions had proceeded more favourably the Pro-
gressistas and Liberal party, who had obtained
a majority in the formation of the bureaux for the
four first sections. In the fifth, the ministry had
a majority ; and in the sixth, the votes were thus
divided—Ministerial, 116 ; Progressistas, 11l ; Puri-
tans, 18. It is in this college that M. Mon will have
to contest with MM. Cortina and Salamanca : and it
is supposed, that in case of his failure he will imme-
diately resign. The elections were not to have ter-
minated till the 12th. All doubt, however, appeared
to be removed that after their conclusion there would
be a change of ministry.

PARIS, DEC. 12.
It was reported that M. Thiers had been called
several times to the Tuileries by the King. Such is
not the case. M. Thiers only paid a single visit to
the King since his return, and that as a mere act of
politeness. A man who for a long time, and at different
periods, has filled the office of minister, must of neces-
sity preserve relations with the reigning prince; and
it would show a want of knowledge of the world were
he to break off such relations, even at a time when
he is discontented. M. Thiers is generally con-
sidered to know what is exactly proper in such
matters, and to act accordingly. Those who
are acquainted with the King's habits, know very
well that Louis Philippe never conspires; against his
minister before the day on which a ministerial
crisis is declared. When M. Guizot shall have given
in his resignation; an act, by the way, which he will
never perform with perfect good will ; the King will
request the presence of the chiefs of the Opposition,
in order to consult with them as to what combinations
will be possible. But, until then, he will keep a
prudent reserve. This is, I believe, what he has done
with respect to M. Mole as well as M. Thiers. At the
present moment, and in spite of the bad effects of M.
Guizot's timid protest, Louis Philippe affects to consider
him all-powerful. As for M. Guizot himself, he pre-
serves, before his rivals, in retaining his usual high
airs. If his friends arc to be believed, all the
images of discontent conjured up by the opposition
press, will be dispelled with ease. M. Gmzot, who
obtained, we will not say by what means, a majority
in the electoral colleges, flatters himself that he can
bring this majority to vote everything he pleases ;
but this majority may perhaps become ashamed
of its pliability; and no assembly can, for any
time, resist the pressure of public opinion. The
struggle for commercial liberty in France has lost
none of its vivacity. The protectionist party is
besieging the residences of the ministers, for the pur-
pose of forcing them to maintain the prohibitive
system. That party makes use, or rather abuse, of
all the influence given to it by the French electoral
system, and presses forward claims of relationship,
which exist between several ministers and the great
iron-masters. A short time ago, the Northern Rail-
way Company being in want of 25,000 tons of rails,
required in June, 1847, and being unable to obtain
them in France, demanded an authorisation to import
them from England, at a reduced duty of 60 francs
per ton (the duty is 200 francs), but the Minister of
Commerce, instead of answering directly, communi-
cated the letter to the committee named by the
iron-masters. These gentlemen have sent, in
answer, a memorial to the minister, who is
but their tool ; and, not content with this,
they eeek to combine and furnish the com-
pany with the rails they. want, charging, if they
succeed, an exorbitant pnee for them, as they can
only manufacture with feeeign pig iron. It may be
asked why the other railway companies do not imitate
the Northern Company,. and support the project for
reducing the import duties on foreign iron? The
answer to • simple one. The iron-masters have. been
,==igh to become membessof the councils of -
which form the staff of these
emapsniee. The enemy has penetrated within
the feetalice. . They now make use of their
position, by, preventing the companies from
taking those steps. which ought to be taken in
the interest' of the shareholders. 'Dee associ-
ation; twined for- the extension of freetrade has ,
already published two numbers of its wiekly paper..
You will have received the Libre Behange, and yes
wi'd perform a useful act ir., publishing a translatirs
of extracts from it, for they would be very servioniale
thilie cause. The association will hold a public meet-
lag as --tha 22nd instant. Conferences bare
taken place, every week at the. rooms of the
association, where the various inibietrial operations
tof .the capital are bisught under notice. It was
i moped that the mansfarturers a Mulhansse, who 1
I have iszealintorest in the progress of free trade, since
1 they obtain their Wu& from. England, wield have
made a, demonstraMon in its favour; but they have
been led away by interested persons, and she declare-
don 00;lottlhaneets ;which is ;sheet to be published. is 1
a masterpiece of egotism and folly. On the ether
hand. the manufacturers and mereha*ts of Khanna
haw, alter a solemn discussion, declared that at pro-
hibitions :must be abolished, and that the present
*riffs are fetal alike to industry and eeekaleree. •
This demonstration from a rich • and populous '
eity, which not only produces champagne, but
has also large woollen manufactories, bee made
a protound sensation. The partisans of the pro-
hibitive system are in crinternation, and the
adhesion of Rheims will give great weight to the ery
for reform which' has bra already_ heard in Parris,
Lyons, Bordeaux, Marseilles and Rana. This im-
portant manifhetstion is in a great degree due to the
courageous steps flat taken by M. Leon Faucher,
the present deputy of Rheims. 'But the merit of the
act is no less attributable to the manufacturers of
Rheims, who• sustained and directed the straggle.
Their names will be inscribed amongst those who
have dewrved well of their country and of the whole
human race. O.