The Express.
London, England, 1867-11-08 00:00:00

NISCILLANCOUS TOPICS.

The Times thinks nothing could be more to the purpose
than Lord Derby's reply to the memorial of " The Imperial
Grand Council of the Loyal Orange Order," praying for a
repeal of the Party Processions Act. If the Irish Roman
catholic' continue these barbarous processions, why Can-
not the protestant' of Ireland look on such orgies pre-
cisely as they would on • war-dance performed by half.
naked 'swages, tattoed and decorated with the scalps and
teeth of their vanquished foes! Why can't they feel a
certain satisfaction in beholding people whom they believe
to be utterly in the wrong condemn themselves by excesses
of this outrageous and ridiculous character? Will they
really pretend to say that Popery has acquired a single
convert by this grotesque mode of conversion?
The tribute lately paid in Paris to the memory of Daniel
Manin leads the Daily Neers to review the relations of
France to Rome since the republic of 1848. The arrests at
the cemetery show how the consequence of an expedition
against the liberty of the Romans has its rebound and
counterpart in Paris. A Frenchman in the year 1867 may
be arrested without warrant, kept in prison without trial,
and, after • long solitary detention, discharged without
remedy or redress, except such as he may hope to obtain
by permission of the Council of State to prosecute. Per-
sonal liberty under the Second Empire is where it was in
England on the eve of the great rebellion.
The labours of the special commission at Manchester are
treated of by several of our contemporaries. The Post
thinks it not improbable that a commutation of the capital
sentence will take place in the case of Maguire. With regard
to the rest it would be prem►ture to anticipate the course
which will be taken by the government, but the public may
rest assured that if the authorities can see a way of tem-
pering justice with mercy they will do so.
With every allowance to the confusion and excitement
incident to the outrage, the Telegraph thinks it clear that
some of the witnesses have spoken positively and recklessly
where they ought to have used the language of doubt and
caution. The second verdict will be gladly accepted by
the public ; since it proves that the Manchester jurymen
are not biassed by indiscriminate prejudice, or blinded by
• passionate desire for vengeance. Equally satisfactory
will be the discharge of several prisoners and the with-
drawal of the indictments for murder against the rest.
Maguire's conviction the Telegraph now thinks to be
erroneous.

The Star insists that the doubts which vitiate the evi-
dence for the prosecution to such an extent that in the
ease of all the latter prisoners no felony charge ain be
urged against them, should weigh ►lso in the instance of
those first tried, with the exception of Allen. It would be
a cruel want of logic to hang one set of won on evidence
which was barely thought sufficient to support a charge of
riot against another set of men.

The Earl of Carnarvon presided last night at the
annual meeting of the Leeds Church Institn,e, and in his
address reviewed the present position of the church of
England, commenting upon the dangers both from within
and without which beset it, and advocating a policy of
moderation both to those within and to those without her
communion. Mr. Thompson, M.P., was also present.
Unfortunately, however, the bon. gentleman had only
spoken a few minutes whenhe was compelled to leave the
ball on account of indisposition.

The Town Council of Sunderland has, by a majo-
rity of 27 against 25, refuse.' to pay the cost of the revol-
yen and ammunition recently sent down by tbe government
upon certain representations from the mayor, for the use
of the local police force. Among those who spoke against
payment was Mr. Candlish, M.P.—an alderman of the
borough—who affirmed thet there was not a trace of Fenian-
ism in the town. He denounced the arming of the police
as an unconstitutional proceeding, and declared that " he
felt towarla the scheme such an intensity of abborrenoe
that be could hardly give expression to his sentiments on
the subject."

It is understood that Mr. Brett, M.P., will sue-
succeed the late Mr. James aa Attorney-General for the
County Palatine o' Lancaater.

Mr. Acheson lienderson has been appointed to
the crows preeeentorehip for Antrim, vacant by the death
of Mr.Sbegee.

The Railway Commissioners were on Wednesday
cmocared is the inopeetion of the Wicklow line in the
neighbourhood of Shanganagh.