The Express.
London, England, 1867-03-09 00:00:00

HOLBORN.

TOl3 LPYZNINO, MY Tisliii NEXT. Mr. Belmont: Mimes
Foote and Lennox —And PLYING %lUD. Messrs. Neville, Bel-
more, Blake, Slesdnmes Y. Josephs, C. &waders,
Deeds Foote. ridden, Lennox, Raymond, Mc.

BRII*ANNTA.

TIM TfliC LAST LINK OF LOVE.—After which
the Opening the endiuo with the Grand Trims.
formation Mrs. Lane .1/4. Miss Jacobs.—To conclude with
31AKY ISLANE.

HIGH WATER AT LONDOZIT BRIDGE.

TIM DAY :40rn m_.___
Afternoon, 4h. Ittla.
TO-YOliaoer—Morunig, 4h. I:.m Afternoon. 4h. Z. 445.

LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 9.

THE amendment to DIT. HARDY'S measure pro-
posed by Lord GRoSVENoR last night was nega-
tived without a division, the House of Commons
deciding that the presence of a medical officer at
the meetings of local boards is inexpedient. Some
honourable members saw danger to our repre-
sentative system in the proposition ; others pro-
tested that as guardians are all-sufficient for all
purposes, it would be worse than useless to
hamper them with the counsels of one of their
own officers. The object aimed at by the Work-
house Infirmary Association, at whose instance
Lord GROSVENOR spoke, was simply to ensure the
presence of a competent adviser when sanitary
matters are discussed at parochial boards.
It was not proposed that the medical
officer so sitting should have a vote, so
that no very alarming innovation was sug-
gcsted. Just as the clerks to the different
boards aid their deliberations by legal advice
when needed, um, it was thought the doctor might
offer hints with advantage when infirmary disci-
pline or medical treatment was under consideration.
Mr. Hatter, speaking " in the interests of the doc-
" tors themselves," thought differently, and the
amendment was not pressed. " The interests of
" the sick paupers,"which are after all more to the
purpose, might not have been greatly promoted by
the suggested change; but a certain moral check
would have been provided, and the amendment,
if carried, would have been so far good. But real
reform in the management 14 our sick poor lies
much deeper than this, and the gentlemen who
defended the purity of the boards of guardians
with so much warmth last night, seemed to forget
that honesty of purpose is not identical with
skilled knowledge, and that an election by rate-
payers does not confer special gifts or training
upon the elated. The somewhat blatant self-
assertion of the members directly or indirectly
representing metropolitan vestries was conse-
quently beside the purpose. We may concede
every virtue claimed for the guardians, and
do full justice to the indignation expressed by such
speakers as Colonel How: and Mr. CHAMBERS at
the slender appreciation shown by the public for
services gratuitously rendered ; and yet doubt the
capacity of existing local bodies for the duties
imposed upon them. Last night's debate was
mainly useful in showing the spirit in which even
so mild an instalment of Poor-law reform as Mr.
HARDY proposes is regarded by the parochial
mind. The old bugbears of centralization and
dictation were aired as zealously as ever ; while
the infallibility and humanity of ghardian manage-
ment were as warmly vaunted as if no horrifying
disclosures had been made. lint the House lis-
tened to these tirades with outspoken impatience,
and if its demeanour last night may be taken as an
indication of its views, inclines to a far wider ex-
tension of the principles of hospital administration
for hospital cases, and ileinite responsibility and
effectual centrel in workhouse and parochial ma-
nagement, than Mr. lIARDY seems disposed to
accord.

IT has for some time past been understood in
political circles that Mr. BRAND, who has for seven
years ably discharged the important and delicate
duties of parliamentary- secretary• to the Treasury,
will nut, on the return of the liberal party to
power, again accept office. Various rumours have
been in circulation as to Mr. BRAND .S
successor ;
but we have reason to believe that that which has
hitherto been matter for speculation is now defi-
nitively fixed, and that Mr. GEORGE GRZNFELL
Chvx, M.P. for Shaftesbury, will succeed Mr.
Became, who, however, will (it is understood) con-
tinue his good services to his party as "whip"
during the remainder of the present session.

CABINET COE NC I L —There will be a cabinet
council this Aftern(Nal at three o'clock at the First
Lord of the Treasury's official residence in Down-
ing-street.
WHITEHALL, 3faucti (l.—The Queen has been
pleased to er.mt the office of Solicitor-General for Scotland
to John Millar, ml, orate. in the room of Edwani
Str:d Le. rn Ctorelon, Kai., appointed her Illaje6ty's Advo-
cate for Svotlaud.— L'a