The Express.
London, England, 1867-02-21 00:00:00

MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS.

The Tihus cannot look on the scheme of the confedera-
tion of the North American provinces as one which pro-
mises stability. Its provisions contain no trace of any
policy teaching the permanent relations between Great
Britain and her dependencies ; it points to a continual de-
pendence upon the mother country injurious to it and to
us. Yet we must acquiesce, and were Canada alone con-
cerned it might be questioned whether it were politic to
utter what can only be an idle protest. But we have
other colonies besides those in North America, with which
questions almost daily arise, and an opportunity should
not be lost of insisting upon the necessity of carrying on
our colonial administration in a spirit which looks in ad-
vance of what is immediately Lefore us.
It is very satisfactory to the Herald that at the dawn
of the session parliament has so decidedly rejected the
Annuity Tax Abolition Bill. The history of this agitation,
it says, is the history of all struggles against the Esta-
blished Church of England and Ireland, as well as of
Scotland. The moral of that history is also the same,
and it teaches us that with certain fanatical and
theoretical politicians no terms can be made, no compact
agreed upon, no compromise thought of, simply because
they demand nothing short of unconditional surrender
and absolute submission.

The TefeffrapA has an article upon yesterday's event in
the royal family. The following extract, which is taken
verbatim, will show the nature of the comments :—" Our
youngest princess entered the world yesterday morning at
half-past t o'clock, and the guns which fired at mid-day to
salute her distinguished arrival must have announced the
fact for the fad time to a great many of the lieges.
Prince or princess, we are quite sure that she is heartily
welcomed, as a fresh blossom on the fruitful rose of Eng-
land, and an accession to the illustrious house around
which cluster so many faithful hearts, so many hopeful
thoughts."

The Star thinks that the discussion yesterday on Mr.
Wlaren's bill is a presage of future success. Sir James
Ferguson, in the blundering way in which the opponents
of a measure sometimes do good service to the cause they
oppose, has intimated to the inhabitants how they may
be successful in getting the bill passed next year. The
petition signed by so many thousands and the request of
the corporation have not influenced him because he finds
that the tax has, on the whole, been well paid. The re-
quest of the corporation has been of no avail, the petition
of the inhabitants following upon • solemn protest by
4,000 electors is nothing ; but Sir James Ferguson seems
to intimate that if, iu place of 11,000 signatures to a peti-
tion the inhabitants were to send up next year 11,000 un-
paid notices for the rate, the tones would be glad to grant
relief to the city, and to do something for the promotion
of Christian charity.

The Paris Exposition is causing a great amount
of travel from America to Europe. It is said the Euro-
pean steamers to Mil from New York already have their
full oomplemeut of passengers engaged for the next three
months.

MEETING OF THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY.—OOIOHeI
Taylor has addressed the following circular to the sup-
porters of her Maiestr's government in the House of Com-
mons :—" lam desired by Lord Derby to request that
Dou will do him the favour of meeting him at No. 10,
wning-street, at two o'clock on Monday, the 2.lth of
February. T. EDWARD TAT TAIL-20th February."
MR. BRIGHT ON THE REFORM RESOLUTIONS.
The following letter has been received by the secretary to
the Birmingham branch of the Reform League from
Mr. Bright :—" Rochdale' Feb. 18. Dear Sir,—l thank
you for your note, and for the copy of the resolutions
larat the great meeting held on Tuesday last. I
e;ie that all you say about the government and reso-
lutions offered to the house is quite true, and I hope
that no attempt at legislation will be founded upon the
resolutions. The reform question cannot be dealt with
in a manner satisfactory to the people by the
avowed enemies of reform, and it will be better for us
to wait till we have • government honestly favourable
to reform before anything further is sought to be
done in the Rouse of Commons. I hope all classes
of reformers in the country will combine to bring about
such an expression of opinion as to induce the legislature
to deal honestly and generously with the question of
representation. In Birmingham, I believe the middle
class is ready to work heartily with the working class ;
and I hope • thorough union may take place with you,
and in all parts of the kingdom.—l am, very respectfully
yours, Joins BRIGHT. Mr. Roger Bateson, 12, Ann-street,
Birmingham."
WORCESTER AND THE REFORM RESOLUTIONS.
At a meeting of the Worcester Reform League held last
night, resolutions were unanimously adopted expressing
indignation against the government for proposing resolu-
tions which were only calculated to waste time and post-
pone a settlement of the reform question. The represen-
tatives of the city were requested to support a vote of
want of confidence in ministers.