The Express.
London, England, 1866-11-29 00:00:00

MIRCELLINEOI'S TOPICS.

The Daily NOVA finds it almost surprising that in the
present agitation for parliamentary reform so little stress
should have been laid upon the corruption of the system
upon which elections are at present conducted. The re-
medy for the evil, if resolutely applied, might so far affect
the constitution of the House of Commons, that we can
hardly look for much earnestness in discovering and ap.
plying it. The motive power of such an effort must come
from a pervading sentiment in society which will
no longer be contest with partial treatment, hut
will insist on a decisive and effectual remedy.
Apart from measures aiming di, ectly at the suppression of
bribery our methods of conducting election.; are capah'e of
great improvement. Paid canvassers and the treating of
electors ought to be entirely abolished, and the temptation
to bribery would be greatly lessened if on the day of polling
neither the names of the voters nor the number who have
voted should be known till the final declaration of tLe
poll.
A correspondent of the Timm who signs himself "flip-
pophulax" writes in an alarmist str rin to the effect that
if the fleet did not keep eff an enemy we have no army
which could do so ; that a hostile force might reach Lon-
don in a day or two, and that all would then be over with
England, her reputation and her glory. He wants armies
to throw upon the continent, as in the days of Marl.
borough—vast hosts of men available for successive expe-
ditions, and, in a word, military establishments on a conti-
nental scale. This demand, too, be prefers with great
urgency, assuring us that the alternative is " our money
or our life," and that we must either fight or pay. The
Tian disputes all the conclusions of its correspondent
except the general proposition that all our forces, and
especially our army for home service, should be better
organised than they are.
Discussing the future of Hampstead-heath, the Tele-
graph says the residents at Hampstead cannot make
much progress without the aid of the Metropolitan Board
of Works. That board is the local authority in the pre-
sent ease, and the presumption is that any scheme
authorised by the Inclosure Commissioners would charge
it with the duty of protecting the heath ; and the fund

- - - 'required for the purpose would apparently be derived
The following is an extract from a letter which from the rate leviable to defray the expenses of the
has reached Dr. Beke :-" Sues, Nov. 16. The Victoria board in executing the Metropolis Management Act.
has just arrived from Aden, touching at Massowah and The potentates who constitute the supreme local govern-
Djiddab. She brings no news from Abyssinia that is moot of the capital will not burden the metropolitan
satisfactory, further than that poor Captan Cameron is rates for objet's not imperatively demanded by the
better in health than he bad been ; but still matters le ingailwiLttinaThevere R°lled'fpr°-
aVie voice
taunt -et,
appear to be in a lamentable condition as regards Me cap-province
than the
Board of Works.'e would be found to be more
tines, and it is difficult to foresee (at least, from what one one to protect the public rights in Hampstead-heath.
can gather) when their release will take place. By the
last socounta from Markle. (about six weeks frees this CETATAL PALACE. Ora SHILLING DAT.—
date) the captives, Captain Cameron, Mr. Bantam, and the WEI/NE:MAT, Nov. 24.-Admissions on payment, 620 ;
rest, were still in chains there." ditto by season tickets, 1,285. Total visitors, 1,901.