The Express.
London, England, 1856-03-24 00:00:00

the expreolo.

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NIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
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LONDON, MONDAY, MARCH 24.

THAT oar present Ministers will reader a service
most acceptable to the general public of England by
lending their aid to remove all obstacles which im-
pede free trade between France and England is beyond
a doubt. This very day a grand demonstration in
favour of free trade with France takes place at Hanley,
in the Staffordshire Potteries. This is the sixth public
meeting on the subject which has been held in that
district within a very short time; and the men
of the Potteries have only been giving public voice
to what is the theme of conversation is every commer-
cial circle throng hoot the UnitedKiegdom. Correspond-
ing sentiments are beginning to pervade France. The
labours of the Minds of free trade in Bordeaux are
widely and honourably known. In Havre, too,
strenuous efforts have been made during the lest two
years to obtain the abolition, or at least the diminu-
tion, of the protective and restrictive duties which
still deform the tariff of France. Marseilles and
Nantes have not been behind the other two
great seaports of France in their intelligent
efforts to promote the extension of free-trade
principlea and practice. But a mon remarkable
movement than any of these--seeing what
an important element in the national industry the
agriculture of France is—may be witnessed in the
exertions of the agriculturists to obtain a remission of
the duties on foreign iron imported into Frame.
Dear-bought experience has taught the friends of
agricultural improvement in that country that one of
the heaviest and most discouraging burdens under
which the cultivator of the soil labours is the heavy
price be has to pay for agricultural implements,
owing to the high price of iron. This conviction has
gone far to make free-traders of all the
farmers. The progress of rational conviction
on this point has been accelerated by the
growing interest which the agriculturist. of
France now take in the improvement of their stock.
The old prejudice which made the farmers of France
clamour against the importation of foreign cattle,
in the vain hope to keep up the price of butcher.'
meat, is giving way to the knowledge that with a view
to the improvement of their own breed of cattle, free
importation from other countries is indispensable.
In a mere economical point of view, the disposi-
tion of the French and English Governments and
people to increase the facilities for commercial inter-
course is of great importance. Bat the tendency of
such increased facilities to bind the two nations toge-
ther by the cords of amity and common interest
is a consideration of infinitely greater ma
neut. We have already French shareholders in
English joint-stock compels,. and English share-
holders in French railways; more beaks than an,
with benches in Paris and London, are already far
advanced towards a commencement of operation.;
English capitalists, resident and non-resident, an
deeply engaged in many mining and manufacturing
enterprises in Francs ; a Scotch and French inter-
national cattle show is about to be opened in Paris;
fee some few ye►rs back we have had an interesting
and prosperous exhibition of the paintings of French
artists in London. It is to this community of pursuits
and interests that we are to look for a perpetuation
of friendly relations and a common action in European
affairs on the part of Fran and England. Paris
and London, the two great generating centres of
European opinion, have eontributed much to the
advancement of humanity oven while they were ant-
mated by a spirit of rivalry and antagonism bow
much nine powerful will be their influence when
they operate in independent but amicable combine-
tics ! It is to contribute to this fusion of the ends
and aims of the two great capitals of European
civilisation that we now invite Lord CLAIIINDON.
Hs earned an hcsoorable distinction by hiss/seta in
this cane ea Mr. VILLIIII : it is sow in his power
to earn far higher honours by following up those
efforts in more mature years and under apeman title.

&UM MONDAY and as &MK piens—so bril-
neat novelties—so unrolled attractions—no start-
ling effects! What dingo has come over the world
theatrical? Are the old pieces still drawing so mach
that novelty I. not required, or so little that it eau%
be afforded ? Or are the manners, like the rest of
an all waitieg for the result of tha Coalmines, sad
holding beck till the Slut of March restores Parlia-
ment to %digester sod Posse to the World i ' Of
esejestares like these," as Sawn Ammon, we be-
lieve, remarked on a similar occasion, " where esa be
the sad, or who Gan fathom the depths of the mass-
serial mindr

Itonensfiag an attempts at penetrating a mystery
which we freely concede to be quite beyond us, may
we be hegira if we vesture to address a word or
two it remark—we serapelowiy error from that In-
vidious expression, advice—to the ruling powers of
oar principal theatres ? We desks to be animator
as sparing with all modrety—not at all (shrilly or
segisterially, bat as renal member of that ismer
ens pairs who assesisnany truest theatres, Is
this sapseity it is of none oar fortune to Brea,
from thee to time, to them sentimental rarer
of risers on the drift of the British drama
in which the British playgoer Is is ter of periodi-
cally indulging. Mappers, to perm jest sough
istermaties to be aware that a Wainer topie of die-
sores ha been a favourite is. with Sheeler in qrs.
ties err also. British playa and playgoers were, we
have sew paid much heed to the mart °Misery
ports of amplification resorted to ea sash esaseises
by the homier of the pit. There is, however, re
oirenmetsnee very rarely Wilted en by the enter
referred to, which has, fro own, always 'busk
u r probably pours, men hillsonse than say
other epos the fortunes of theatrical eater.
prier, The eireametare is this. Fer some genera-
tier the luxury and comfort of thellinglieh house bar
boss inerendag till they have grown proverbial; there
has bees so aorrerpoadiag isprovorosnt I. the
English theatre. With an rename of luxury bes
era range of been I we din& not metly when
oar grandfather sapped, bat at ea bressvenient,
though erre, hoer, which is errewhero about mid-
way between than Maser and than sapper. Asa
general rule, there has been no correspering reap
in the been of oar theatres.
Now we refer it doss spur to as, with all de-
fenses to the superior managerial wisdom, that there
is is all this a certain want of arum= mar
We Sr. aware that thorn is no world—not
oven the world of Westminster Hall—in
which tradition and period hold such
undieputed sway as in the green•uom. Still eves ia
these verierable preeinots,we would venters to whimper