The Express.
London, England, 1866-02-24 00:00:00

THE WEEKLY PRESS.

The nearer we get to the day when the Reform
Bill is to be announced, the more (dearly it appears
to the Saturday Review that substantially the go-
vernment reform measure must include a more
or less extensive redistribution of seats as well
as a large reduction of the property qualification.
The objection to the fancy franchises iv not they are ri-
diculous, but that, as a matter of fact, they do not millet
the support of any considerable body of people. This is the
ease with Mr. Bare's plan and with Mr. Clay's. The latter
hoe. member calculates that even ambitions and intelligent
working men would ord justly have to give up all their leisure
for three months in order to pass the elimination, and it is
not to be conceived that the working-man would like that
mode of getting the franchise. That he cannot afford to
live in a better house is so familiar a part of a maw's daily
experience that at no particular moment ie the sense of the
fact of the driven into him with a atioging force. But it
would be very mortifying for a good zealous workman to
stay away from b;1 beer, and learn to spell word,
of four syllables all night for months, and then
be plucked just before an elect;oo, while be saw a good-for-
sable( pleasure-seeking counter-jumper, whose father hap-
pened to be able to pay for his schooling, go though the
examination in a canter, and vote, perlyips, minuet Mr
Clay. It is not surprising that few members oared to
speak on Mr. Clay's motion, which it would be impossible to
dieeres to any purpose until the proposal of the goveroment
is made known. If the franchise is to be fixed ate 61. rental,
so many persons may very probably be qualified who do no
snow, and never stay a night away from thee public, that
the pains-taking, self-d riving man might think it 'tinnily
worth hie while to arrive by a re, yet :op and thorny path
at the 'miliaria' which an his neighbours climbed so easily.
We shall not have to wait long tow, for Mr. Gladstone
says that the prom'sed at,tiatics ere very tearly ready,
although obviously, except as an amentent f. r secreting or
rejecting particular figurer in a property quanficatioo, and
as bearing in a more indirect way on the question of re-
distribution of seats, statistics can do very little to help
parliament.

Discuming the merits and demerits of music-halls, the
Spectator describes the real danger that threatens them as
arising from the &depletion of women. To suit the class
who now attend the cha.aeter of the performers is lowered,
end from the same cause the wives and daughters of
decent mechanics end tradesmen are kept away. The
only possible palliative' ear contempor ry could suggest
for this blot upon our music-halls era twofold. Whenever
the whole theatrical licenstng system is done away with, a
consummation which cannot loug be deferred, the musio-
halls will be able to give theatrical entertainment(
and will in consequence &Watt eudiences of a higher elms
than that which at present form the staple of their public ;
and secondly, the meusgers of these places might weed
away the noxious element in their audiences without much
difficulty. Our theatres have long ceased to be the stalk-
iog grounds of vice, though entrance to them is perfectly
open to every man or woman who can pay for his or her
tickets at any respectable theatre in the metropolis. Any
woman would be removed from the hones who was ob-
viously soliciting the attention of men ; and there is no
reason why a similar system should not be introduced into
our music-halle. In the lung ruo, the patronage of the re-
spectable classes always pays hotter than that of the dis-
reputable members of the community, and mower or Lim
music-hells will have to choose between the public of
theatres and the pubte of 0111.1101. At present they occupy
a neutral and an untenable position between the theatre
and the night-house.
The Economist expects the reduction from 8 to 7 per
ant. veil have a favourable effect upon the foreign ex-
changes, and that the Oriental demrod for silver, es yet
at least, will not revive, sed if this c`iould be so, a further
diminution in the value of money, may, even neat week,
at all event, very soon, wiU take place. There are, however,
two most important facts which will prevent the veins of
money falling to at all a low point. First, there ie a great
deal of foredo money in London lsveated in bills at mode-
rate dates, end sure to be withdrawn and taken home if the
value of money should be reduced very much. Secoodly,
there ere many *themes, if we may my so, lying in wait
for the market, and vs 'y to apt:og forth the moment it
shows the least weakness. Thts suspended demand must
have its natural effect, and prevent aey great reduction is
the value of the e-.pitel it la so curious to consume and
absorb.

The Press protests easiest the language used by the
Saturday Review towards Mr. Disraeli. No man has ever
been so cruelly treated by his opponents or exposed to so
much of vulgar, me►o, and cowardly abuse. The game of
the liberal party has been all along to instil suspicion of
Mr. Disraeli into the bre•.ts of hie followers—a pitiful
polio'', and one which has not met with much suocem. It
has, in fact, been overdose, snit the coneervatives are in
their turn somewhat erapiaious of the solicitude of their
oppoeente for their +ilia». They »member, with justice,
that it le to Mr. Disraeli that they owe their reoonetrectior,
almost their ex;sterice, as a potty. Aid they are proud
of • leader such ►s no other party can owe.
We are told he is in a/Pm, en ►llegation which is false
fa feet and falser still la spirit. Next, some my he le an
adventurer. Bat an adventurer of such prescience sad
ability would surely at least have oboe» the whining side.
The latest chasge against Mr. Disraeli is that be is getting
stupid. This, the Pram says, comes well from the &tar-
&ph for whose benefit, were it worth oar while, a peat
part of the abusive article might Fe paraphrased "with •
direct application" which would be more beneficial than
palatable. Mr. Disraeli is commanded to " oome oat."
Probably he will ere long "Dome out," to the dimemfiture
of his opponents. And the revolt will be that he may
come in," and, having done so, may stop these—which Is
more than the Saturday bargains for.

CAnnrier Counorr..—There will be a Cabinet
Council this afternoon.
NATIONAL PORTRAIT Itanzarrion.—We are re-
quested to date that Os ipso+ which Imo ben delimit is
the Exhibition of National Perirdie is completely Elleg
and that no farther offers of portr.iti MO be esterianei
until salt yeas, when them will bo a emplenceatery ex-
hibition of pet:site bslonging to the perlol bemoan.