The Express.
London, England, 1866-07-20 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

THTS DAir 7b. 66m.
To-lionsow—Moroing, Ift. 90m Afternoon, 9h tna.

LONDON, FRIDAY, JULY 20.

Tax Roma SECRETARY'S answer last night to Mr.
P. A. TAYLOR and Mr. MILL respecting the prohi-
bition of the Reform meeting in Hyde-park by the
police, might be freely described as characteristic of
the inauguration of a Tory regime, had not Sir
Gsoaos Gast rushed in to the support of his suc-
cessor. Some people will think that the late Holm
MINISTER might have spared himself the trouble
of showing by how fine a shade a certain feeble
and timorous species of ancient Whig differs from
a certain feeble and timorous species of modern
Tory. It is quite impossible to suppose so kindly
and moderate a Tory statesman as MT. WALPOLE
capable of harbouring a thought inimical to the
public or personal liberties of any class
or order of his countrymen. It is
equally impossible to suspect so respectable and
moderate a Liberal statesman as Sir ()sows
GREY of regarding the exercise of those liber-
ties with a dangerous enthusiasm. Without
injustice to either of these most estimable
gentlemen, it may be supposed that both of
them are terribly anxious that the peace and com-
fort of good society should not be vexed by any-
thing so unpheePuit as a political demonstration in
the shape of a procession, two or three brass
bands, and a few speeches inaudible fifty yards off,
somewhere within the range of a " royal" park.

Both Sir GEORGE GREY and Mr. WALPOLZ have
arrived at years of discretion ; and there is a
species of discretion which is infinitely more dan-
gerous than youthful boldness. In deference,

no doubt, to the general political effeminacy
of society rather than to the irritating and
insulting spirit of reaction which taunts
the multitude with not moving, and when
they move arrests them, Mr. WsLsoLx and
Sir GEORGE GREY, unconscious disciples of that
exemplary Minister M. Guinn, cannot endure
that a portion of a "royal park" which is intended
exclusively for riding and walking and other
innocent recreations, should be occupied by a
crowd of people who prefer the open air for a
public meeting in July to a gas-lit hall.
So, protesting all the while—and, we are per-
suaded, protesting sincerely and conscientiously—
that it is only because the Reform meeting is to
be held in a royal park, and not because it is a
Reform meeting, that he prevents it, the Hong &L-
-ear:ratty deliberately incurs the very risk he is so
anxious to avoid, and by a proclamation
which will be admired in Paris, creates
an excitement which a public meeting in all
the puke at once could never have provoked.
We say it with regret, this is not only very silly
and mischievous, it is quite un-English, and in
charity we can only conjecture that the Tory and
Whig Secretaries of State have set their heads
together to supply what was wanting to the agita-
tion for Reform.

A rzturzer delirium seems to have seized
some of our London guardians of the poor.
Stung—but not with shame—by the exposure of
their infamous management of their Unions, and
hardened in impenitence by the appeals which
they have disregarded, they are now so insane as
openly to attack in character and interest the very
persons to whom the public acknowledges a debt
of gratitude for the pains they have taken in
bringing foul abuses to light. An evil is exposed,
and straightway indignant voices are heard ex-
claiming, "Who has had the presumption to find