The Express.
London, England, 1867-08-09 00:00:00

gitt exprtos.

TO CORRESPONDINTS.
olvertimentente Intended for "The repreek" London Meeting
must be at the Mice, 10, Bouverie-street, by Two
Dyer
on the day of publication.

DRORY LANK.
TM !Immo, THAT RASCAL JACK. Mous. Rouse and
Neville : Mesdames Alleyne and Thompson—To conclude with
THE ORKAT CITY. Ileum Cowper, M.lntyna Villiers, Irving,
Reuse, 11. Itlgnold,* Warner: Mesdames Robertson dc Le Tbiere.
_ _

HAYMARKET.
THIS EVICINO. THE LOVE CHAN'. Maim Chippendale,
Hone. Rogers. Kendal, Clarke, Weatherby,A:e., Mesdames
Redawiek, Chippendale. Burke, dc.—TO PARIS AND BACK
I.s.—And THE RIFLE, AND HOW TO USE IT.

icy mummer&
ToEvnia THE DAY Anita THE WIDTH:C.—THE
MAX. 0 AMIE., James Harebell, Mr. Herman Vain ;O mesas.
E. Price. Forrester, Gresham, Maclean, and Ellerton : Misses E.
Stuart, Nelly Moore, dc.—And THE CLOCKMAXF.ICS VAT.

Tins Leaman, REVERS E& M ITILAND.essrs. Emery, Parselle, Rob-
10d, and dsanboenagb : Mesdames Ada Swaaborough and John-
'loam—And THE LATEST EDITION Ole YEA DIA VOLO.
Messrs. Thorne & James; Mesdames Holt, Newton, do.

BRITARELIL
Tins SCARLET DICK ; OR, THE ROAD AND rrs
RIDERS.—The lltainplon Skaters; Mr. C. Woodman: LIWo
Lerette Jessie Nees: and My. J. Plumptoe.—And JACK Cr
LANTERN. Mr. Reynolds end Mir 8. Mlles.

HIGH WAY= AT wirDox DEIDOL
rs is DAT —Morning, Sh. 47m....—Atternoon, Oh. 24m.C0-Koazow—morniaa. 9h. Atint___Afternoon, Ma. nftn.

LONDON, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9.

A LARGER gathering of members than has been
seen in the House of Commons in any August for
many years back assembled yesterday evening to
take into consideration the amendments introduced
by the Peers into the Representation of the People
Bill. Mr. DISRAELI, who occupied a position
which was difficult to even his tact, and would
have been impossible to the self-respect of most
men, introduced the topic in a speech abounding in
bis most select and impressive epithets, freely distri-
buted, and enunciated in his moat sonorous style.
Nothing could be better than the Bill, except the
Lords' method of dealing with it. It is " compre-
" bemire." A few months ago Mr.Danazu would
have called it discriminating. But its transfor-
mation has forced him to revise his terms of praise.
The Lords have been "prudent, dignified, and
" conciliatory," and also "cordial and confiding;"
they have abstained from "eloquent invective,"
and we may add from eloquence of any order, and
have been superior to " the stately, not to say
" sullen reserve," which in previous times they
exhibited under the parallel circumstance of
having to do what they very much dis-
liked. These high moral virtues have been
accompanied by what Mr. DISRAELI rather
parsimoniously calls "adequate intelligence."
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER called
upon the House of Commons to rise to the height
of this great ethical example, to enter into a noble
competition in self-abnegation with hereditary ex-
cellence ; to be in its turn dignified, prudent, con-
ciliatory, cordial, and confiding. In other words,
Mr. Domani asked the House to accept the Lords'
amendments, since the Lords had not challenged
any of the principles on which the Bill was founded,
but had only endeavoured surreptitiously to limit
and control them. He pointed to their magnani-
mous behaviour with respect to the lodger fran-
chise ; how they had voted black to be white on
one Tuesday, and then had voted it black again
on the next Tuesday, and all out of deference W
the House of Commons. Conduct so accommo-
dating ought, in Mr. DISRAELI'S view, to be recipro-
cated ; and though he thinks the direct repre-
sentation of minorities to be vicious in prin-
ciple, though Lord DERBY has pronounced it
to be unconstitutional and mischievous, though
40.4 muse d Counlepl had condemned it by an
overwhelming majority in a Ala gOUte, he ex-
pressed his willingness and that of his colleagues
to eat their own words, and hoped, with good rea-
son, as it turned out, that the House would do the
same, in compliment to the Lords, and in recipro-
cation of a similar feat on their part. This was
capital comedy ; JOSEPH and CHARLES SURFACE
were never more happily blended ; but we may
be permitted to doubt whether the character of
Parliament and the reputation of English states-
men gain by such exhibitions. In a few sarcastic
words, in which cold performed the effect of fire,
Mr. GLADSTONE protested against Mr. DISRAELI'S
challenge of admiration for the conduct of the
Peers with respect to the Bill, and especially with
regard to the lodger clause, and entreated that on
this subject members who could not praise might
be allowed the privilege of silence.
Mr. Banana's appeal did not at first seem
to have produced much effect. On the
motion of Mr. W. E. FORSTER, very effectively
supported by Mr. HIBBERT, an amendment
introduced by the Lords, requiring payment
of the borough rate as well as of the poor
rate proper as a qualification for the franchise,
and thus almost covertly imposing an onerous
condition on the now voters below 101. rental
which is not required from the old voters above
it, was disagreed to without a division. This
amendment, which would have had a largely dis-
franchising effect, is a sample of the way in which
the Lords have endeavoured secretly to withdraw
a part of the boon which they nominally conceded.
Lord Carrens's amendment extending the lodger
franchise to the occupiers of meta of chambers and
rooms not separately rated, which was avowedly
introduced for the purpose of giving votes for the
city of Oxford and the borough of Cambridge to
students within College walla, deservedly met with
the same fate. The case of students occupying
lodgings is2not affected by this decision ; but the
argument against converting into local politicians
young gentlemen who are called " educated," but
who are rather in course of education, and who are
sent to to the Universities, not to assist in govern-
ing the country, but to discipline themselves in
humane letters or the severe sciences, is so obvious,
that the decision of the House of Commons, when
the question is again brought before it, can
scarcely be doubted. The impropriety of engag-
ing young minds prematurely in theological contro-
versy is always insisted upon when University
and College tests are threatened. The
objection is at least as strong against inviting
them to premature political partisanship. On the
motion of Mr. COLVILE, the fifth clause of the
Bill, reducing the copyhold and leasehold qualifi-
cation in counties from 101. to IV., which the
Lords had struck out, was restored, after a divi-
sion, by a majority of 47 in a House of 423 mem-
bers. Then came the great subject of recent con-
troversy, the question of the limited vote in three-
cornered constituencies. Mr. lam ur moved that
the Lords' amendment be disagreed to ; and he
did so in a speech than which he has delivered
few in the House of Commons more impressive by
simple yet weighty, grave yet animated, oratory.
He showed that the scheme of limited voting, as