The Express.
London, England, 1859-12-22 00:00:00

• No. 1, January, 1860. 13solth, Elder, end Co.

MUPPS.—The prinzipal parsonage you may very
likely think to be no hear than a muff. But is many a
respectable man of oar acquaintance much better? and do
muffe know that they are what they are, or, knowing k, are
they unhappy P Do girl, decline to marry one If he is
rich? Do w• refuse to dice with one P 1 iMiened to use at
church last ffusday, with all the women cryiog and Babb*, ;
sad, oh dear me I how finely he preached I Don't we give
him great credit for wisdom and eloquence in the Hors at
Commas? Don't we give Lim important ounstaade in the
erne Can you, or can you not, point eat an wile has
hew made a peer P Doers% year wile cell one is the =nasal
any at the children We ill r Dia% we riot Ms tier poem.
at 01111 Des& P—DiewAtil ffiggigne.

Lord PAIMIRSTON addressed the labourers.
At a later period of the der the mambas' of the assoelation
dined together at the While HOllO Inn. Lord PALMRIABTOR
presided, and was supported by the Ron. Ralph moues,
M.P., the Rev. C. A. Moore, vicar of Romeo'', Mr. Eyre,
Mr. Anderson, the mayor of Rooney, Mr. Lord's, the
Ben. G. Mum, T. H. Tregett, W. Bachelor, S.a
no usual loyal touts having been given,
The CHAIRMAN said—We have already drunk the Mink'
ten of pews; but peace cannot be reckoned upon for ever.
swift Is passible that it may be succeeded in all reentries by'
war. Therefore I now propose to you the health and succoest
of *cue establishments which defend us in war and enables"
to regain the bleseinge of prce. (Chewy.) I propose be
you The Army and Navy,' sad lam proud to say that
I believe there never was a moment—a moment of pesos at
Iseet—in which both of those senior were in a condition of
gentler eel:decry than they are at the present time. (Load
cheese.) lam sure that the country is deeply convinced that
the best method of preserving peace is to show that you see
oe of defending yourselves in the event of being attacked.
c) I trust that there Is no likelihood in the present state
of affairs that our army and navy will have to perform with
the same distinction three duties which rheir predecessors
have already performed. The spirit which the country has re-
cently shown by the immense extent of volunteer orgeeden-
Boa, has produced gnat effect not only in this °Pantry but
all over Europe. (Loud cheers.) It has tended to Inspire
that respect which all nations feel for a country which, with-
out any aggreeeive intentions, shows that it Is determined to
hold its own and to defend itself against all COMM (Cheers.)
Again I my, that I trust there is nothing in the present sews
of things that betoken' the likelihood of any mouton for that
menial spirit to be displayed otherwise than by showing that
we are ready to defend oar shores ; but it must be a peat
satisfaction to all of us to know that the army and navy ere
in a state of complete efficiency according to the numbers to
whisk in a time of peace they can be carried, and that there
are means in the country by which—if unfortunately unfore-
seen events should render it neonnry that we should lacrease
oar ernalunints—those armaments might be rapidly increased
to whatever the exigencies of the moment might require. I
best?give you the " Army and Navy." (Loud chews.)
IT= briefly responded.
The CHAIRMAN next gave the health of the member/ for
the county, which was responded to by the Ron. Ralph
Duties, M.P., who onfined his remarks to subjects affecting
eety the employers of labour.
The Cann itax then proposed, " Prosperity to the Romaey
Association for the Encouragement of Labourers."
Mr. Rionorssoe proposed "The health of the chairman,"
and alluded to the efforts the noble lord had already roads to
Layton the condition of his tenantry and labourers.
I wad PALIIIIINION, in responding, said nothing could be
more gredfyieg to a man than to bear suck expressions of
goodwill on the part of those among whom be byes who
must know him sufficiently to form an estimate of his cha-
racter. _ _

The Hon. R. Du'rros gave "The health of Lady Pal-
merston," which was cordially responded to.
Lord PALMERSTON then proposed 69 Isar toast. H.
said—l rise to do homage to that which may properly be said
to be one of the wonders of modern civilisation—l mean
"The Prem." (Cheers.) If any man compares now a news-
paper published in the last century with one of those won-
derful sheets we read every day, the contrast is the most
striking that the mind of man can imagine. The quantity
of infennadon, the talent of dissertation, the amount of
sews of every kind, which we now find in almost every
newspaper we meet with, u really one of the most striking
proofs of the progress which the human intellect has
1 reads in the days in which we lire. It may really
be put in competition with the steam-engine and the electric
telegraph ; but there is one part of the functions of the
pewit which, beyond all others, Ina improved of late years.
I have heard that towards the end of the last century there
was a man of the name of Woodfall who used to publish de-
bates; and how did he do it P It is laid that he used to go to
the gallery of the House of Commons, listen attentively with
his face in his hands to what passed, go home, drink two
pots of porter, go to bed, get up next morning, and from hie
dreams and recollenium make out what he called a report of
a debate. (Laughter.) Now-a•daye, so marvellous is the
ability, so wonderful the rapidity with which reporters take
down what men say that if 'speakers are not very careful,
the reporters take down what they had mach better not bans
said. (Laughter.) I remember a very worthy M.P.—en
Irish M.P.—Mr. Richard Keene, who once complained that
the reporters In the gallery had not done full justice to a
'pooch he had made the night before. The reply be received
bad perhaps more of sharpens than civility in It, for it
wee—. Mr. Kase, we made the best speech we could for
you, but if you are not satisfied with our endeavours, the
next time we will report what you do say—(loud laughter)
—end whatever you may think of it, we suspect your friends
will hardly relish the itfliction. (Laughter.) Now, it is
quite marvellous to see the accuracy with which debates is
the House of Commons are reported. When the speeches
are such as are calculated to attract attention, they are re-
ported word for word as they are uttered, end how It is pos-
sible for the human hand to follow with such rapidity and
such exactness lamat a loss to oonoeive. I once, as many
others have done, began to learn shorthand ; but I confess
that I found out too ditiouldee, which turned out to be
quite insurmountable. The one was to write it—(laughter)
—and the net and greatest to read it when it was written.
(Loud laughter.) I beg sow to propos, that institution to
which the progress of civilisation and all the intermits of the
country are so deeply indebted—" The Press." (Cheers.)
The proceedings then terminated.

REPRESENTATION OF READING.—At a meeting of
the Conservative Association, held on Saturday last, the fol-
lowing resolution was unanimously agreed to :—" That Kr.
Beeson be again requested to contest the borough, and that
in the event of Die cAulenting to do so this meeting do endea-
vour to return him free otexpense." In isonsequenta of the
above resolution Mr. Ronson was waited upon, and the fol-
lowing was his reply :—" The feeling evinced by our triends
at Reading seems really en zealous, hearty, and einem, that
to fail you in your need appears to me almost tantamount to a
betrayal of trust. I have talked the matter over with my
moat experienced friends, who agree with too that so flatter-
ing an offer as the one you convey could not have been made
bat by men who will also be prepared to make small coning-
' aims is matters of etiquette, and who will therefore be
generous enough to remember my recent canvass, and week
for me while lam unavoidably absent. If then on your re-
turn to Reading wiu find it still the unanimous wish that I
should fight the battle I will strive by almost living on the
railway to be in two places at once, and will come and ad-
dress you all any day you name.—Yours most truly,—
Ruins A. BENSON." Mr. Benson intends addressing hie
supporters at the Town hall on Thursday evening. A
strong contest is anticipated, as Mr. Benson's supporters are

ennui:Derwin.
CONVERSION OP REGENT'S CANAL INTO A RAlL-
w•v.—These is no one project now before the public egad
enterprise snit promise of usefulness to that of Mr. Bell,
for the conversion of that serpentine ditch, called the
Regent's Canal, into a railway. That mare of
stagnant water, embracing all the north and eastern
suburbs, may be looked to too definitely when
we ask why London, andespecially its ensure districts,
should have its social blackened by registers
of large per °enrages of deaths from preventible
canna. The Registrar tells us we carry more to
tbe grave than Is consistent with the laws of
I nature, that the youthful part of our population—those born
in the steuesphere charged with seeds of pestilence—are car-
ried off In proportions that ought to agues slam, though
people bear It so supinely. Is it to be wondered at that
mephitic vapours should Boat over London day and night,
and settle like poison on tbs:huirs of the youthful sad the
delicate, end not without hurt effect the vital tissues of the
most reheat, when we hove a ten mile length of stagnant
water tormented with just enough of tortoise traffic to keep it
gently stirred for the diffusion. but not for the destruction lot
its unwholesome gases? The Grand Junction may be hurt-
ful in degree to the inhabitants of Paddington, but that
loess itself in the country, where the atmosphere has more
power to contend for a healthy balance• mad besides, it le not
proposed to make a railway of it. Aa to the commercial
prompt eta of this project of Mr. Bell, we should antici-
pate for If a more enduring and inerwaitig seeress than
for any line of route that could be devised in or about the
boundaries of the greet metrepo!ls. It is time we got coal
Gorr the Themes Raven to the populous place. that line the
course of the canal at a quicker speed than • m,le an hour;
time that so great a via afforded facilities for passenger
tresidt, instead of being a IlOCeanian of eel de Aare, the
slowest road in the universe, and the mnstprolific in iropeding
toll-ben. It has served its purpose, ham been a grand agent
in helping to belt the great tows with dependent villages
that lie weltered slope the line of destructive malaria. It is
dine its foul waters were drained away, its locks abolished,
sad the slope on which ware: will not lie without being
dammed up, opened to the iron born which goes bravely
uphill with its ponderous draught of men and manhandle'.
(sty Prem.
ChrerreL PALACE.—ONE SHILLING DAT.
WIDNILIPAY. Dec. Z.—Adm....lenges yerneet, 303 ; ditto
by swats tinker, 362; coral visitors, fib.
[Advertisement.]—Partin shoat to make presents
re atonal recommender toohit the vhowdoorns et Moen Patinas
and Gone. c 414 and IS, Oxford-erect, who have on Inonactes stock of
reallr useful *Akin no moderate pri} especially rola pied for prawn-
ow" of sad Ironiese meek teak reticules. ea
tleaset=dtvelise hooks, InkOan,l% Joirich heatol,lovls, and
beestiful sea hen In Mori. PAO., mach and tor-
=Mk diem* moaned unlace. Bilden, Prayer.bs. sad Mime
girding; la Wel. ea madam variety ot article. te suiterr/ Mae onn
eaglet.

Et, expreM•

TO 001

Avaritostsbett• Weeded ler "The Express " Gawks
Swans, Paper, mart ass tbs Oise. 10, Bouviri•-10.0,
In 'On o'Ct MI Um Li pullimadoe.

COVSIFT 0411110111.
Tn Kr.vme. VICTOR'S& VOW Owl,
O. Lys Widow*: allnurnUttalli 0111r.lial
ram. -Awl LA RCS& MN. eAda. sed him;
W.A....46a5/ llama raga—Ommamillf.

.1110 WIMPS. 'a tgillnair. SlMllyinllo C.
Clipporla*Lmr... rad • 11/•.
=ADift. Willies. mil lid Ile WW•L—Alai • • 110.
lm Chrto Mattry,

LTCMM.
O. 31.11041, Ihrme.jll 011110 Of VIII
c_. —Aria 'am mid wok 11120112711410,
111A111.. THU LITTLIC P • r
Y..•. J. ilanaa, IL /1••14 isd 11111 Imes&

zaz WM= ATMKS BIUDIML
ge*-18srea.
01

!LONDON. nruseadr. DEC. 22.

Tne Court of Exchequer has been occupied during
• considerable portion of the last two days In the
trial of an action brought against Mr. TAUNTON, the
propnetor of the Malawi Erpreu newspaper, for
an alleged libel, arising out of a dispute between some
framework knitters in Leiceeteeshire and their
employer. The plaintiff, Mr. Hosea, • stocking
mausfacturer, of Earl Shiites, near Hinckley, em-
ploys between two and three hundred workpeople,
and lets out as many framer, which, according to
the custom of the trade, are used by the knitters at
their own homes, and for which • rent of one shil-
ling oa nano, and two shillings on brad frames
is paid. In March last a general rise of wages took
place in the district, in which Mr. HONER'S
workpeop's shared. Two months afterwards,
that gentleman " having found," as he stated
in the witness-box, "• that it did not answer," peso-
posed to the narrow framework knitters a plan of
payment which embraced an alteration of the made
of measurement, a reduction of the rent of the
frames, and • lowering of the rite of wages. Mr.
Hosts thought, as he states in evidence, that the
effect of these alterations would be to benefit the work-
people. But the knitters were of another opinion.
They declined to work at the reduced price, sod to the
number of 100, and afterwards of 200, returned the
frames they were using to their owner. At the same
time • handbill, subscribed By order of the Tiede,"
appeared in the neighbourhood, in which Mr. HOMER
was accused of acting harshly to the persons in kb
employ, and the people were encouraged in their
refusal to work. This handbill was republished
in the columns of the Midland Express, which
is the workman's newspaper of the district, and
was the first of the libels complained of. The
second, published on the 10th of September, was •
letter to the Editor of the Milikosei Express, written
by a framework knitter named JOHN See'rcnUm
it alleged that Mr. Hoyle was a track-muter, se •
person who, instead of paying his workpeople em-
tirely in wages, mikes them take • part of what 1e
dee to them in goods in which be dab. The strike
lasted for a period of fifteen weeks, at the end of
which Mr. Norte, after suffering sedans loss, was
compelled to return to the old system of payment.
Boma of his hands have returned to him, but not die
and all his machinery is not yet employed.
We do not collect with certainty either from the
speech of counsel, or from the evidence, on account
of what particular kind of injury Mr. Hoe=
sought compensation as damages in the action
he was advised to briog against the Midland Ezprest
for publishing the opinion of the men, that he bed
acted harshly, and that of lone SILETCHLIST, that
he was a truek-master. Mr. TALYOURD SALT/1,
his costiosel, in stating the case, said that his client
had filled the office of churchwarden, and was now •
guardian of the poor, so that nothing could mere
affect his character than a charge of behaving cruelly
to the poorer classes. In the absence of local know-
ledge, however, we most suppose that gentlemen are
made guardians and churchwardens at Earl Shilton
because they have the qualifications proper for than
offices, • reason why their titles to public confidence
should be open to dissuasion, rather than for sur-
rounding them with • conventional inviolability. In
• later stage of his address the learned ennui said
that his client sought for damages for the
injury done to him as a trader. But when
this alleged injury comes to be examined in the
evidence, it appears to consist solely in the refusal
of the men to work for the plaintiff in consequence
of the judgment, whether righter wrong, which they
had formed on his act,. Foe fifteen weeks he lost
the profit as the work of between one and two hun-
dred men, and, owing to the prejudice entertained
against him as a muter, he still suffers a certaia
degree of loom The letter of JOHN S►ricnts;,
not having been written uotil after the strike had
terminated, may be left out of the account in speak-
ing of injury to the plaintiff in his trade, and the
trial becomes a question, whether it is libellous is
workmen on strike townie their masters of tyranny
and oppression. If so, • great number of libels have
been pusdisbord in our columns and those of our con-
temporaries, who, within these few months, have
had to report the speeches of the builders.

Mr. HENRY JAMEA, who appeared for the pro-
prietors of the Midland Express, spoke elogeently
of the fretioas of the pres.; and the LORD CM,
tatot. in summing up. made some speculative
remarks on the mains topic, which he is in the
habit of rlsesting on occasioes like the present. W.
hese nothing to my on that ►object. Neither are we
about to enter oe t►e legal merits of the plaintiff's
cam. Tito social aspect of these proceedings appears
or ue infinitely more important than t►eir beerier
on the liberty a/ the prem. wh•eh by this tine, we
hope, e able to take cars of heel!. Harem bstwessi