The Express.
London, England, 1866-05-16 00:00:00

THE PEERS AND THEIR RUND.tT TRADING BILL.

The House of Lords, says the Times, is doing its best to
bring us into trouble. Under the guidance of Lord
Chelmsfonl it last evening passed through committee a
Sunday Trading Bill, which seems likely to rival in op-
pressiveness, and consequent futility, the public-house
measure of 1855. We have been accustomed to believe
that in London the Sabbath is very decently
kept. In nine streets out of ten almost every
place of business is shut up, but in some
parts there is a class of goods which have at
all times been sold on the Sunday—the poor have only
time on the morning of that day for the purpose. The
long existence of the system is a proof that it is required
by the needs of our population. In such a matter the
wisest policy is to leave things alone, and not to attempt
to guard people from their own covetousness, or the
competition of their neighbours by paternal legis-
lation. If any change is to take place it ought
to be rather in the direction of moderating the old
statute, and not in the form of extraordinary and
subtle distinctions and the imposition of heavier fines. If
Lord Chelmsford's bill is to become law, aldermen and
police magistrates must prepare their faculties for the
decision of some very knotty points. Lord Teyuham, who
seems to have studied the measure, and who was not contra.
dicted last night by Lord Chelmsford, tells us that,
though fruit and pastry will be lawful, shrimps and water-
creases will be forbidden. The greengrocer will be
able to supply his customers with potatoes, but must refuse
them wood or coal with which to cook them. People may
sell meat or bread, but not an ounce of tea or sugar. The
pastrycook may vend his tarts, but if he venture to offer
for sale an ice or a piece of barley sugar the police may
come down upon him, and he may have to pay his
20a But the most absurd and oppressive part of
the bill relates to the sale of newspapers and the
numerous serial publications which furnish so large
a part of the public reading. In passing along the streets
of any English town one of the most remarkable
objects is the number of shops in which periodical pub-
lications, political or literati or theological, are sold, often
in company with the most heterogeneous wares. On
Sunday the windows are fuller than usual, and the
sale is largest, because the day is a day of leisure
but by Lord Chelmsford's bill no such publication is to
be sold at any place in the United Kingdom after 10
o'clock on Sunday morning. As a great favour, Lord
Chelmsford consented to leave out the words "or
delivery of," so that a newspaper or periodical bought
before 10 o'clock may be delivered after that hour ; hut in
other respects the bill, after passing through committee,
stands as it did before. Such is legislation in the Peers.
We are not surprised to find that even among Lord Chelms-
ford's friends there were some who could not avoid express-
ing a doubt as to the wisdom of• his measure. When it
comes before the House of Commons this dissent will be
more strongly expressed, and we hope and believe that so
mischievous and oppressive a clause will never receive the
sanction of the legislature.

Eke Court.

WINDSOR CASTLE, MAT 15.

The Queen and Princess Helena, attended by
Lady Churchill, the Hon. Flora Macdonald, the Hon. Mary
Lamellea, and the Equerries in Waiting, arrived at the
Castle at 25 minutes past 6 o'clock last evening from Buck-
ingham Palace.
The Queen walked and drove in the grounds this morn.
jug, attended by Lady Churchill.

- Princess Louise and Princess Beatrice drove out in the
Home Park, and Princess Helena, attended by the Hon.
Mary Lascelles, also took a carriage drive.
The Earl of Clarendon had an audience of the Queen.

The Prince and Princess of Wales rode out on horseback
yesterday afternoon.
A deputation, consisting of Mr. Graves, M.P., Mr.
Norwood, M.P., Mr. Cowen, M.P., and the Right Hon.
T. E. Headlam, M.P., had an interview with Earl Russell,
at the official residence in Downing-street, yesterday,
on the subject of the jurisdiction of the Courts of Ad-
miralty.
A deputation from the northern counties of Scotland
had an interview with the Lord Advocate, at his residence
in Spring-gardens, on Monday, to urge the expediency of
substituting the River Spey for the Caledonian Canal, as
the boundary of the north-western district of Scotland, as
regards cattle and sheep, and to permit sheep to be moved
freely over Scotland.

CABorrr Comrat.—There will be a cabinet
oouncil to-day at Earl Russell's official residence in
Downing-street The councils appointed for one o'clock.

Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cam-
bridge and the Princess Mary arrived at their residence in
the Ambassador's Court of St. James's Palace, on Monday
last, from Cambridge Cottage, Kew, to pass a few days in
London.

THE VISIT OF PRINCE ALTRED TO EDINBURGH.
We understand that the Senatus Academicus of Edinburgh
University, at its meeting yesterday, unanimously resolved
to confer the degree of LID. on his Royal Highness Prince
Alfred, on the occasion of his opening the Industrial
Museum on Saturday next.—Socialism,.