The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-05 00:00:00

lIRTTAIRITA.

EVCNINCI, FAUST 7 4R, AirtRAL`ISRITCS lIANDLE.
Mrs. Lane and Montanus Jacobi, Idwla, and Ninth —Conchal-
tag with THE DUSTMAN'S TREASUME; OH, Wilk: AND
TILE BOFFINS.

NIGH WATIR AT LONDON BRIDGE.
TEN DST —Morning, .21. 170 Afternoon. RI. 34m.
To-Monww—Morning, f.h. Sta..--Afternoon, 313. Wan.

LONDON, FRIDAY, APRIL 5.

NOTHING could be more charming than the
seductive ease and grape with which the Cruis-
e/4.ton of the EXCHEQUER began last evening
by disarming his "right honourable predecessor."
With ungrudging generosity, he congratulated
the Committee and Mr. Gteneroet on the " saga-
" city of the calculations " which had not only
stood the test of a financial crisis of extreme seve-
rity and a bad harvest, but had resulted in a
surplus of nearly two millions and a half, and a
surplus almost entirely derived from Customs and
Excise, or, in other words, from the " consuming
" power " of the country. Mr. GLADSTONE'S
moderate estimates of income had been sig-
nally exceeded, notwithstanding the cala-
mitous trials they had encountered. The
wholesome sources of national prosperity
neither artificial nor natural disasters had
been able to dry up. If the surplus on the
year had suffered diminution it was from
the increased expenditure, for which, though Mr.
DISRAELI did not dwell upon this point, his pre-
decessor was in no degree responsible. On the
other hand, the present CHANCELLOR of the
EXCHEQUER'S financial year opens with a happy
release from that naval and military " Deadweight
" Annuity" of 585,000/. due to the Bank of England,
which our readers will be agreeably surprised to hear
has been pressing upon them for the last forty-
three years, and which falls off the public back to-
day, so that only the last moiety of that burden-
-284,0001.—wi1l be charged to the account of the
present financial year. Of the five millions of the
public debt which Mr. GLADSTONE proposed last
year to convert into a terminable annuity payable
eighteen years hence, only the half due to the
Post-office Savings Banks portion was dealt with,
the monetary panic of last summer having com-
pelled the old Savings Banks to suspend the con-
version of their moiety of that amount. So that
the interest on the national debt now payable is
twenty-six millions, which Mr. Malian' is by
no means disposed to consider " a mere flea-
" bite," or as he expresses it in more
parliamentary language, " an incision by a
" troublesome, but not unpopular insect." In-
deed, he protests that when he made use of that
" familiar " expression on the hustings of his
county, it was only in reply to some rustic
financier who had urged that the amount of the
national debt was such as to make it impossible
for the country to defend its honour. We
have not forgotten how Mr. .Mitt's eloquent
appeal to the House to consider while they could
their duty to posterity, and Mr. GLADSTONE'S
earnest approval and ratification of that appeal,
were derided by our Conservative contem-
poraries a year ago. Mr. MILL was de-
scribed as a dreamer of dreams ; and Mr. GLAD-
STONE as a financial visionary. But it is due to
the responsible leaders of the Conservative party
in Parliament to own that they were
more cautious in their objections to the policy of
reducing the national debt in prosperous times in-
stead of leaving it to " fructify " in the pockets
of the fundholders. Mr. GLADSTONE proposed a
scheme for converting 24 millions of the public
debt by a double process of conversion
and reconversion ; extending its operation till
the year 1905. Mr. DISRAELI and others
about him objected to the complicated cha-
racter and far-extending sphere of the project.
But he did not commit himself to resistance
to the principle of dealing with the National Debt
by some more limited scheme of conver-
sion. And he now declares that, had the state
of the money market permitted, the present
Government would have loyally adhered
to the plan of their predecessors. His own pro-
posal differs from Mr. GLarerroNe's in method
rather than in scope. It does not attempt so much,
but it is identical in principle. He proposes to
cancel twenty-four millions of public debt within
eighteen years by conversion of eighteen millions
into an annuity of 1,332,000/., terminable in
July, 1885, and the conversion of the remaining
six millions into an annuity of 440,000/., ter-
minable in April, 1885. Deducting the interest
now payable on the twenty-four millions, and the
" dead weight" annuity to the Bank of England
now expiring, the whole operation may be accent.
plished at a charge of less than half a million a
year. For the present financial year it will reduce
the estimated surplus to 456,000/. Of this
amount it is proposed to reserve 246,0001., and
to devote the remaining 210,0001. to a reduction of
the duty on marine insurance policies to a uniform
rate of threepence per cent., except for rime
policies extending over six months, for which
the duty would be fixed at sixpence, but which,
ER Mr. DISRAELI justly observes, are in these days
of rapid intercommunication out of date, and not

deserving of encouragement. Such are the out-
lines of this simple and unassuming financial state-
ment; and the question that must strike every one
who reads it is, how could Mr. GLADSTONE oppose
it 1 If Mr. DISRAELI is the father of a lodger
franchise, surely Mr. GLADSTONE is at least as
nearly related to a scheme for paying off twenty-
four millions of the National Debt. The reduction
of the duty on Marine Insurances may more pro-
perly be affiliated upon Mr. DISRAELI. Often
recommended before, and never opposed on prin-
ciple,
it was reserved until other burdens more
nearly affecting the comfort of the poorer classes of
the community had been removed or alleviated. No
doubt, as more than one critic insisted last night,
Mr. DISRAELI'S assumption that the remission of
taxes to the extent of eleven millions during the
last eleven years had left no tax remaining that
injuriously affects the national welfare, except
the Malt-tax, is somewhat excessive. There is
the Fire Insurance duty, of which Mr. HUBBARD,
who was a prominent advocate of the reduction of
the Marine Insurance duty last year, now recom-
mends the abolition before the National Debt is
touched ; and when Mr. DisitszLi congratulates
the Committee on the product of the tea, coffee,
sugar, tobacco, and spirit duties, we may be per-
mitted to regret that he does not reserve his congra-
tulations for the two last items of increase upon
which it is some consolation to find that the largest
possible duty compatible with the consuming
power of the people can be exacted with an in-
crease of profit to the revenue. But it is per-
haps for his manner of dealing with the Malt tax
that Mr. DISRAELI deserves the greatest credit.
It was supposed that Mr. GLADSTONE had
administered a quietus to the agitators against that
impost by recommending them to agitate for
retrenchment of national expenditure. Mr.
DISRAELI has done more and better than this.
The leader of the anti-malt-tax agitators, it is true,
now dwells in a more exalted sphere ; another of
them is a Junior Lord of the AdmiralLy ; but how
sensible and submissive is the gallant member for
West Sussex, and how plaintive the bleating of the
member for East Norfolk ! Mr. DISRAELI cheer-
fully admits that the malt duty is injurious to the
barley growers ; but then he also admits that in
spite of an utter failure of the barley harvest last
autumn, the Excise receipts show 000,0001. increase.
lle pleads that the malt tax—a trifle of five mil-
lions revenue—is " a large question ;" all the larger
perhaps for a Government which has added two
millions to the expenditure. On the whole, the
Budget passed through the fire of criticisms very
favourably last evening. Mr. LAING'S objections
to muddling away money in paying our debts, and
his theory of fructification, are better understood
in Paris by the Imperial Government, and by
the Municipal Commission over which Baron
HAUSSMANN presides, than by dull-witted Eng-
lishmen. Sir Groitos BOWYER'S objections to
dealing with the national debt are objections to
any financial policy that looks beyond the present
hour. That a Tory Government should have en-
tered upon a financial policy which implies and
involves the necessity of financial retrenchment is
a result worth all, and more than all, the praises
Mr. DISRAELI'S meet ardent followers are likely
to give it. _

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 5, 1867.

the latter the less satisfactory is the complaint it assumes.
The 2'issea stall indulges • hope, which becomes fainter
every day, that a tardy compliance with our demands in
both these cases may yet avert a rupture with Spain. On
the other hand, we cannot disguise from ourselves that
General Calonge's language and conduct betray a studied
intention to affront this country. Had the Spanish govern-
ment so acted towards the United States, Cuba would
probably have been occupied before this by American
troops ; had they so acted towards France, the French
tricolour would probably be waving over Barcelona. The
English people are, happily, slow to anger, and know,
moreover, how little the Spanish people are responsible
for the acts of the revolutionary party which may happen
to be in power at Madrid. Our patience, however, is well-
nigh exhausted. Negotiation has reached its final stage,
and nothing seems to remain but an tatimatom, to be en-
forced, if necessary, by effective reprisals.
The Spanish government, says the Daily New, appears
to be losing, together with respect for the liberties of its
own subjects, all sense of what is duo to its neighbours.
As far as the Spanish people are concerned, it has acertain
shadowy justification. There is a grain of truth in the
harsh old saying, that in the long run every community
gets as good a government as it deserves ; and the passive
complicity of the Spanish people with the ignominious
despotism that now weighs upon them partially condones
the conduct of their oppressors. But the Spanish govern-
ment enjoys no immunity in respect of its international
duties; no foreign power has given it a license to disregard
the common obligations of public law. And yet it is
acting as if it were in the enjoyment of some special and
peculiar dispensation in this respect. Its treatment of
the crew of the Tornado violates the most elementary
principles of international duty, and is to this moment
unatoned for. In a master so important we can afford to
give the Spanish government all the time necesaauy to
enable it to make up its mind. Rut should the reply be
unsatisfactory, there will be no room for more correspon-
dence, and we must be prepared to act as the honour and
interests of the country will then require.

MEETING OF THE LIBERAL PARTY.
(THIS DAY.)

This afternoon, at half-past 2 o'clock, another
meeting of liberal members of the House of Commons
was held at Mr. Gladstone'. residence, Carlton Howie-ter-
race, to consider the course which the liberal party should
take with respect to going into committee on the govern-
ment Reform Bill. A numerous meeting an hour previ-
ously had been held at the Reform Club respecting some
proposed alteration in the mode of electing members, and
a large proportion of those present at the subsequent meet-
ing went direct from Pall-null to the right hon. gentle-
man's house.

Among those present were :—Mr. M. Gibson, Mr. Hors-
man, Mr. Childers, Mr. C. Villiers, Mr. Brand,
Mr. Layard, Mr. J. S. Mill, Mr. Maguire, Mr.
It. W. Crawford, Mr. Clive, Mr. Jasper More, Mr. W.
Cowper, Mr. Headlam, Mr. Lascelles, Mr. Samuda, Mr.
Stanfield, Mr. Craufurd, Mr. Akroyd, Mr. Fawcett,
Mr. Kinnaird, Sir F. Goldamid, Alderman Salomons,
Mr. J. A. Smith, Sir C. Bright, Mr. Lefevre, Mr. Bag-
'haw, Mr. The, Sir C. O'Loghlen, Mr. T. B. Potter,
Dr. Brady, the Marquis of Hartington, Col. French, Mr.
W. Gladstone, Mr. Hadfield, Mr. Baines, Mr. Laing,
Mr. Duna', Mr. W. K Forster, Mr. C. Forster,
Mr. W. Ewart, Mr. Ayrton, Mr. Wickham, Sir B. Col-
lier, Mr. Alderman Lawrence, Mr. Bl'Laren, Mr.
Gregory, Sir G. Grey, Mr. Denman, Mr. Locke King, Sir
F. Crossley, Mr. Milbank, Mr. Adair, Mr. Bright, Mr. B.
Osborne, Mr. White, Mr. Grenfell , Mr. Layard, Sir R. Palmer,
Mr. Hutt, Mr. Cardwell, Mr. Fortescue, Mr. Locke, Mr.
Leeman, Mr. Baxter, Mr. Dunlop, Mr. Beaumont, Mr.
Norman, Mr. J. Wyld, Mr. Ingham, The O'Donoghue,
Colonel Packe, Mr. Grant Duff, Mr. Whitbread, Lord
Amberley, Mr. Monsell, Mr. Eykyn,

the Court.

WINDSOR CASTLE, APRIL 4.

The Queen, accompanied by Princess Christian,
drove out yesterday afternoon in a carriage and four.
The Hon. Lady Biddulph was in attendance.
Princess Louise and Prince Christian went out riding,
attended by Lady Churchill and Lieut.-Colonel G. Gordon.
Princess Beatrice and Prince Henry of Prussia took a
drive.

Her Majesty, accompanied by Princess Louise, walked
and drove this morning.
Prince and Princess Christian walked in the grounds.
Princess Beatrice, Prince Leopold, and Prince Henry of
Prussia also went out walking.

The Count and Countess de Bernstorff left the Castle
yesterday.

Lieut.-Colonel G. and Mrs. Gordon had the honour of
dining with the Queen and the royal family yesterday.

Colonel W. F. Cavendish has rucceeded Lieutenant.
General Sir Henry Bentmck as Groom in Waiting.

A deputation from the l•uited Kingdom Alliance, in-
troduced by Mr. Thomas Barley, M.P., Mr. J. A. Blake,
M.P., Mr. J. Candlish, M.P., Mr. J. Cheetham, M.P., Mr.
B. Whitworth, M.P., and consisting of the Rev. Dawson
Burns (London), Mr. T. H. Barker (Manchester), Mr. B.
Cadbury (Birmingham), Mr. J. Cadbury (Banbury), Mr.
James Hole (Leeds), Mr. E. Jones (Hanley), Councillor
Lewis (Edinburgh), Mr. E. Pearson (Manchester), Mr. J.
Riley (Barnes), Mr. Alfred Smedley (Belper), Mr. E.
Vivian, J. P. (Torquay), Mr. E. Whitwell (Kendal), Mr.
Thomas Watson (Rochdale), and many others, had an in-
terview with the Right Hon. Spencer H. Walpole at the
Home-office yesterday, on the subject of the liquor tr.iffic.
A deputation consisting of Sir John Johnstone, M.P.,
Mr. Adair, M.P., Mr. Paull, M.P., Mr. F. W. Russell,
M.P., Mr. Clay, M.P., Mr. Benyon, M.P., Mr. Watkin,
M.P., Mr. Parke, M.P., Mr. Marshall, M.P., Mr. Leeman,
M.P., Mr. Goodson, M.P., Mr. Kinnaird, M.P., Mr. Bee-
croft, M.P., Mr. Beck, Mr. Burke, Mr. Gray, Mr. Rich-
ards, Mr. Watson, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Martelli, had an
interview with the Duke of Richmond and Sir Stafford
Northcote, at the office of the Board of Trade, yesterday,
on the subject of the Metropolitan Gas BilL
A deputation from the select vestry of Liverpool, intro-
duced by Mr. Montan, M.P.,and consisting of Mr. Satchel', '
Mr. Beirstow, and Mr. Hagger (vestry clerk), had an
interview with the Right Hon. Gathorne Hardy. at the
office of the Poor-law Board, Whitehall, yesterday. 1

HER MAJESTY AND THE LEEDS MECHAM& INSTI-
TuTE.—Mr. G. S. Beecroft, M.P., has received the follow-
ing letter in answer to a request for the patronage of her
Majesty to be given to a large bazaar and fancy fair, to be
held for the benefit of the Leeds Mechanics' Institute and
Literary Society :—" Windsor Castle, March 30, 1867.
Sir,—l have the honour to acknowledge your letter of
the 27th inst., enclosing copies of the correspondence
relative to her Majesty's patronage of the bazaar in aid
of the funds of the Leeds Mechanics' Institution in 1859,
and asking that it may be again extended to a similar
undertaking. The rule on which her Majesty generally
acts with regard to granting her patronage to bazaars for
charitable or social institutions, G to decline it unless the
institution itself is supported by her Majesty, and parti-
cularly when the object in view is entirely a local one, as
it is not easy to select among the numerous applications in
favour of local institutions one in preference to others
without invidiousness. Her Majesty, however, bearing Li
mind the patronage she accorded to the bazaar in 1859, and
being informed that the Leeds Mechanics' Institution has
receivedauch support as to render the construction of a new
and bandsomebuilding necessary for the inereasingutility of

the undertalcing,commandslme to signify toyou bergrecious
intention of becoming patroness of the bazaar about to be
held.—l have the honour to be, sir, your obedient
humble servant, T.M. BIDDULPH.—Geo. B. Beecroft, Esq.,
M.P."

The Marquis and Marchioness Townshend
received at dinner last evening Lord Claud Hamilton,
Lady Augustus Fitzclarence and Miss Fitzelarenoe, Captain
and Lady Maria Fitzclarence, Hon. Lionel Ashley, Sir
Edmund end Hon. Lady Filmer, Mr. George Farquharson,
Mr. George Forbes, Ac.
The Earl and Lady Constance Grosvenor have
sustained a domestic bereavement by the death of their
youngest child, Lady Blanche, which took place yesterday
at Chiswick House, the residence of the Duchess (Dowager)
of Sutherland.

The Earl of Shaftesbury proposes to bring the
report of the commissioners relating to the agricultural
gangs under the notice of the House of Lords next Thurs-
day.

Next Monday the Earl of Shaftesbury proposes
to move an address to her Majesty for a return stating
separately the following particulars :-1. The estimated
adult male population. 2. The number of adult male
householders. 3. The estimated adult male population
who are not householders. 4. Reports from the overseer
of each parish stating, so far as can be 'ascertained, the
proportion of lodgers who pay for unfurnished rooms 4s. a
week or upwards, and the proportion who pay less than 4s.
a week. 5. Such reports also to state the lowest weekly
amount per lodger paid by any considerable number of
lodgers within such parish.

Mr. Henry Bailite, on going into committee on
the Representation of the People Bill, will move—" That,
in any reduction which may be made in the occupation
franchise in counties, care should be taken that one-half
the value of the qualification should be in land."

Mr. Harvey Lewis, on Monday, will ask the
Secretary of State for India whether be will lay upon the
table of the house the system of marking proposed to be
adopted by the Civil Service Commissioners at the Exa-
mination of candidates for the Civil Service of India at the
examination commencing on the 9th inst. ; and whether it
has been proposed by the commissioners to deduct a cer-
tain number of marks ; and, if so, what number of marks
on each subject before a candidate can be allowed to count
any marks to his credit.

The Speaker gave his eighth parliamentary full
dress dinner on the evening of Wednesday lost to the fol-
lowing noblemen and gentlemen :—Loral Edward Howard,
Lord Pelham, Lord Edwin Hill Trevor, Lord Claud J.
Hamilton, Hon. Major J. Henniker, Hon. George Den-
man, Sir John There'd. Sir George Colthurst, Sir Edmund
Cashmere, Sir He Winston Barron, Sir Joseph Bailey,
Colonel Keller, Colonel Stnaror Walker, Captain
Kearney, Mr. Arkwright, Mr. y, Mr. Armstrong,.
Mr. Bagge, Mr. Coleridge, Mr. all, Mr. Barry, Mr,
Edward', Mr. Bryan, Mr. Harvey, Mr. Howell Gwyn,
Mr. J. G. King, Mr. MoLagan, Mr. P. Wykeham Martin,
Mr. A. Mitchell, Kr. R. Jasper More, Mr. Dyes Niool,
Mr. E. L. Prue Mr. Stopford, Mr. Surtees, Mr. Cnbitt,
Mr. Sykes,Mr.Jervoirar Smith,and Mr. Alfred Denison, pri-
vate secretary. The right hon. gentleman afterwards held a
levee, which was largely attended.