The Express.
London, England, 1858-07-30 00:00:00

tude ? The Treaty of Paris has removed the Ras-
sians about a stone's throw from the waters that are
connected with the Danube. A Rusks. army eol.-
lected in Bessarabia could occupy the Turkish town
of Tonitchs, south of the Danube, in twenty-four
hours, scarcely touching in its passage the soil of
Moldo-Wallachia. The Russians, even were Western
Europe engaged in war, might not venture this, bad
they reason to know that the Moldo-Wallachians
were hostile, and that they thus would have a hostile
population in their flank. But England, Austria,
and Turkey have labourtd successfully since the war
to reconcile the Ronmans to the Russians. What
Power is there to be relied on for the
defence of the Danube ? The Turks ? When
Russia last invaded the Principalities, what was the
language, what the conduct of Turkey? The Porte
declared, that it did not consider the occupation of
the Principalities by Russia a anus belli. The Porte
would do so again. If it cannot defend the Hers.-
gov ine against a handful of Montenegrins, how is it to
defend the Principalities against Russia? The Western
Powers, now reduced to England alone, will then
have to defend Moldo-Wallachia with its armies,
and that, too, after having rendered the name of
England and Englishmen abhorred in the Princi-
palities. Such a policy is one of fatuous and reek •
leas ignorance, not one of justice, generosity, or
common sense.

popular morals, and the rights of the class whence
they themselves have generally come, the Bishops
would have felt it their duty to be at their post,
and to have marked with their reprobation,
proposals they could not by any possibility
approve. But the spiritual benches last night
were empty. There RIB neither party excitement
nor ecclesiastical rivalry to draw their sacerdotal
Lordships to the scene they ordinarily grace. It was
a mere question of public morals that wan at stake ;
so their Right Reverend Lordships were nowhere.
Let the people remember these things and ponder
them in their hearts. The day of Reform reckoning
cannot be much longer deferred. When it comes,
let us hope that they will be wiser than they were
last time.

frbt Court.

OSBORNE, A= 29.

- - - --- ---
The Hereditary Grand Hake and Grand Duchess
of Mecklenburg &relit: and Prince Adolphus arrived at
three o'clock yesterday from London, attended by Lady
Caroline Cast and Bans During.
The Queen and Prince Consort drays out with the Grand
Duke and Duchess in the afternoon.

The Duke of Montrose had an interview with the Earl of
Derby yesterday at his official residence in Downing-street.
Meetings of the Cambridge University Commissioners
were held at 6, Adelphi-terrace, on Tuesday, the 27th, and
Wednesday, the 28th inst. The Commissioners precut
wen : The Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Chester, the
Right Hon. M. I'. Bahia, M.P., the Very Rev, the Dean
of Ely, and the Rev. Dr. Vaughan.
Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-tdioe
front the Governor of Malts.

Tur House of Lords has decided, by a majority of
two to one, in favour of the Increase of Illicit Ex-
penditure at Elections. That the payment by can-
didates of the charges said to be incurred by voters
in coming to the poll will greatly enhance the cost
of elections is not denied: and that such payment
is opposed to every constitutional principle admits of
se tiering controversy. This, then, is what our
aristocratic rulers have resolved upon—to make the
east of elections greater than it was before, and to
secure the outlay of as much of the money as
possible in the initiatory stages and hardly
veiled forms of corruption. The scanda-
lous project has all through been fought
not as a question of party, but of class. It has been
unmistakeably the aim of the more opulent orders of
moiety to shut out the political competition of men
of the professions, men of letters, and men of mode-
rate fortune. They found that the old law of pro-
perty qualification, as it wan called, had grown
altogether obsolete; so they made an empty show of
abandoning it. No man of mere talent, learning, or
worth could be effectually kept oat by its antiquated
provisions ; they were consequently repealed with a
loud flourish of trumpets, and the world was called
on to admire the progressive spirit in which
legislation wan moving, even in Tory hands.
No sooner, however, was that done than
a scheme for effectually keeping men of
small incomes out of Parliament was introduced.
The inoperative Property Qualification Act had only
applied to certain portions of the kingdom, and to
certain constituencies. The new plan of " Com-
moners' Exclusion" was so framed as to apply to all.
Under the transparent pretext of settling doubts as
to the legality of exceptional payments made on
account of infirm or aged voters, provisions were
devised by Mr. WALPOLI and his colleagues render-
ing it lawful, in all eases—with or without the pre-
tence of illness, distance, sge, or any other species
of necessity—to pay electors for coming to
the poll. And this flagitious scheme has
been triumphantly carried through both Cham-
bers of the Legislature, in open disregard of all
reason and remonstrance, by the votes of the
privileged classes, who, possessing an enormous
numerical ascendancy in Parliament, are determined
recklessly to try if they cannot render that ascen-
dancy more absolute and complete. A review of
the divisions which took place in the Lower House
daring the progress of the Bill places the matter
beyond all doubt, and shows the real animus of the
measure. The whale of the majority of thirty-three
by which the third reading, after a long and
eaimated contest, was finally carried in that
assembly, consists of the sons or other im-
mediate relatives of Peers, with one ex-
ception, that of an honourable baronet who has
within the last few days been called to the Upper
House. The predominant colour of the majority on
that occasion, as upon others where divisions were
taken against the vicious and exclusive clauses of
the Bill, was indeed Conservative; but on each and
all of them Whiggery of various shade, was largely
intermingled, and will be found to have materially
contributed to the general result. By the time it
reached the Upper House, the feeling against the
iniquitous and insulting measure had become so pre-
valent that hopes were entertained by some of
effectual opposition being offered to its further pro-
gems. We confess we did not share these anticipa-
ting, and we are not, therefore, disappointed. Lord
RBCRY made an honourable but unsuccessful attempt
last night to stem the current of venality and
political pauperisation. He showed that there
was not a shadow of pretence for doing mare than
passing a Continuance Bill for one year, whereby
the provisions of the Corrupt Practices Act as origi.
nay pared might, raleant quantum, be kept in force
steal the wlylo subject of the electoral system should
be considered our,: year. lie reiterated the argu-
ments that have been used again at indiscriminate
license to pay the so-called travelling charges of
voters, urging the indisputable truth that in election
kw wherever the Legislature uses the word "may,"
election agents are certain to read "must." He was
ably supported by the judicial logic and great expe-
rience of the Loan Cuter Inertce, who strongly de-
precated the indecent haste with which the Bill had
been driven through their Lordships' House, after the
session had virtually terminated and within a few
holies of itsformal clogs. Lent CA31)1313.1. treated ith
ridicule and contempt the impudent pretext that it
could tend in any way to settle doubts as to the real
state of the law. It could never have been intended
for any such purpose ; for he undertook t" say that
before three contested elections should have been
fought under the provisions of the Bill as it stood, a
variety of new and most difficult questions would
inevitably be raised, rendering the return of candidates
more insecure than ever, while the first steps would
have been taken towards habituating the whole of the
constituent body to the worst system of exaction.
Lord 0 RANTILLE sought to extricate himself from the
disreputable implication of favouring the demoralis-
ing policy of the measure, caused by the conduct of
his late Ministerial chief in the other House of
Parliament, and he declared that he was
authorised to state, on behalf of Lori
LYNDIWRST, that had he been able to be
present he should have given his vote un-
hesitatingly against the obnoxious clauses of
the Bill. But neither argument nor authority
availed aught. The majority of the Peers had made
up their minds upon. the question. It was a good
opportunity, they thought, to show their dislike and
disdain of everything democratic; and they could
not even be induced to listen with ordinary patience to
any discussion of the subject. Just a wore of Liberal

Peers could with difficulty be mastered to support
I those we have already named on division ; the
residoe of the Hoene Toting contemptuously for the
CA:eruption Bill without modification. It might
have been supposed that, upon a question affecting

MB EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 30, 1858.

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(mom ova owx ooxxxspormuct.)
PARIS, TILMIEDAY E'VENINO.

A Council of Ministers has been held at St.
Cloud to-day, in which it is supposed that the im-
perial voice will have decided various difficulties
which have been raised by the creation of the new
ministry of Algeria and the colonies. M. Magne,.
the Finance Minister, who has returned from his
vacation, and relieved M. Fould from the charge of
his portfolio, ad interim, was present, as were all
the ministers, including, of course, the Prince Na-
poleon, so that the council was a full one. Some
expectation is entertained in financial circles that
the negotiations with the railway companies will
have received a final sanction in this council ; but I
doubt the fact very much. The Western and
Southern Companies have asked for extensive
modifications of their contracts, on the
' ground that the Brittany and Pyrenean
lines, the estimates for which were made by
government engineers, will cost much more than
has been supposed. It is rumoured that an addi-
tional subvention is consented to in principle, but I
cannot think that the details can be settled before
the Emperor's departure for Cherbourg.
The Paris Conference, which was to have met to-
day, has postponed its sitting till to-morrow. The
postponement is attributed to an indisposition of
M. de Hatzfeld, the Prussian plenipotentiary.
In connexion with the Cherbourg fates, the Pre-
fect of the Manche and the Sub-prefect of Cherbourg
have been sent for to Paris, to receive orders from
the Minister of the Interior relative to a surveillance
of the Channel Islands, where there are a great
many French refugee..
Some Sardinian war vessels, which were about to
proceed to Cherbourg, have received counter orders
directing them to cruise in the neighbourhood of
Candia, in order to protect the Chriatians, who are
threatened with death by the Muesulmans. The
vessels in question are doubtless those which are
mentioned by the Toulon journals as having arrived
in that port, and the destination of which was not
known there.

The Emperor has caused it to be intimated that,
wishing to form an opinion for himself of the value
of Brittany horses, he will inspect an exhibition of
different breeds at Quimper, on August 13, and at
St. Brittle, on August 18.
The Emperor, daring his visit at Troyes, made
the following speech to the bishop :

Monseigneur, lam happy to see you agate. Your voice is
not new to ma. It is very near tan years since I was here, in
more difficult Umesthan the present. You thenhadapresenti-
mint of what I was about to do, or rather of what Providence
designed one day to effect by my hands. I am altogether
devoted to France! Pray to Clod that I may be permitted
to ensure her happiness. I mutt upon your gond prayers.

The Imperial Court has purely and simply con-
firmed the sentence of fins and imprisonment against
M. Proudhon. As he is familiar with the interior
of a French prison, having already passed three
years of his life in one, it is more than probable
that his stay in Brussels, where he now is, will be
indefinitely protracted.
A petition to the Emperor is in course of signature
at Metz, praying for a relaxation of the recently
established severe rules with respect to the visa of
passports. " The result of the new regulations," says
the petition, " is a marked diminution of the number
of foreign visitors to Metz; and if the present state
of things should continue, it is certain that those
industrial undertakings which grew up while inter-
national communication was frequent and easy will
be threatened with destruction."

A meeting of the French and Italian committees
for the subscription to a monument to Daniel Manin
has been held at Turin. The Italian committee
adopted the proposal of the French deputation,
namely—that the monument should represent in a
particular manner Manin's leading idea—the inde-
pendence and unity of Italy. The execution of the
work is confided to the eminent artist, Signor Vela,
under the direction of a committee composed of
MM. F. de Lastsyrie, Lanfrey, Ravin, Tommaseo,
Teccbio, and Mezzacapo, with power to add to
their number.

The state of the Bourse remains unchanged. The
Rents roee 6c. for cash, and fell 10c. for account,
closing at 68c. 15fr. and 680. Mobilier remains
stationary. Railways are firm, but without any
variation of more than lfr. or 2fr. in quotations.

BELGIUM

The discussion on the fortificatir ns of Antwerp
was continued in the Belgian Chamber on Wednes-
day.

3d. Ds Boc (Left) reproached the government with haying
proposed en Imperfect system.
M. VANDERDONCL (Right) refund hie vote for the
project. The object of fortifying Antwerp was, in
one of war, to save the opulent, the functionaries,
and to make nee of the army for their exclusive de-
fence, while the whole country would be given up
to the enemy, property pillaged, and the population nose-
s ore& Popular feeling never went wrong, and the project
wee nepognier. Should the country be attacked it would be
danded by the whole population ; such was the case in
1180. Bat to make use of the finance* of the state to eve
the great awl sacrifice the people was what be could not
meatus. He voted against the prject.
M. Roo tElt, Minister of the Interior, passed in review the
different phases through which the question of the fortifica-
tions of Motorp bad passed. He gave the results of the
labours, and the conclusions of the numerous special oom-
missions by the government, and by remises of
the chamber. He exphirod that If the goverment
had not included In its present project the works of
the greet einente, it was bemuse that system had been re-
jected in the committees, and Mill was opposed by the most
competent mitherties. To insert it now into the project
would be to start shish the whole Treace, of
which a speedy sedation was required; it would
give rise to debates which would lead to farther
delays. The minister than demonstrated that the constric-
tion of prints hones greatly weakened Berßrilleotiose. As
regarded private interests, the talebitente of the eity
as well as those of the faubourge wore not
nnani-
mons In favour of the general enlargement. He
had a petition signed by 300 citizens of one of
the hump against the general enlargement. As
regarded the safety of Belgian nationality, M. Bogie,
declared that, if the population of Antwerp, whose repre-
sentative he bed the honour to be lathe chamber, should show
itself hostile to the system of dame proposed by the
government, he should say to his coustituenta, '• Do
with me what you het, I shell not abandon the views with
which I connect the salvation of my country. I era the re-
presentative of Antwerp, but I am also the old repenentalive
of Belgian nationality, and the question befon ue is to shield
it against external dangers." (Then ereeßu wan with
great warmth, created a profound sommlienin the ceember.)
VERVOORT (Let) detteded the report of the Central
Hoodoo, of which he Is a member. He regretted that •
question purely of a patriotic nature should have bee. node
one of peouniwy inbred with the city of Antwerp, and
that the government should have brought forwards project
which bad sot been thoroughly studied. He voted for the
yea satiate.
Tie chamber the adjourned.

A letter from Rome, in the Ticinese Gazette, states
that a the 15th the Vice-Governor of Coma wee emend-
sated in that town, and that a man named Cirro Cirri, who
hot just been releaaed from prison, was attacked about the
dense dare on the publio square of Furli, sad very narrowly
escaped bag murdered.