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

THE PM'RESS, SATURDAY EVENING, MAY 4, 1867.

become law, the Bill will be peo &Nilo a restriction
upon the borough franchise as -it now exists, and
not an enlargement of it.
By words to be introduced into the third clause
of the Government me sure, the payment of rates
in excess of the composition is to be exacted from
all the compound householders who become eligible
for enfranchisement. We must condole with the
sanguine and confiding gentlemen who three weeks
ago persuaded themselves that the acceptance of
Mr. lIIIHIERT'S amendment, which extended the
exemptions of Sir WILLIAM Act to the
compounder below 101., would be the reward of
their votes against Mr. CLADSTO.RE and for Mr.
Disaseti on the 13th of last month. The provi-
sion which they wished to extend is to be repealed.
Mr. Bass's exulting demonstration, on the autho-
rity of the Law Timrs, that the Government Bill
required the payment of no more than the commuted
rate from the compound householder, is cruelly re-
feted in the moat effectual way. This, then, is the
issue of the TAYLIJR-DILLWYN negotiation. The
member for Swansea has always denied the ac-
curacy of the statement that Lord DEase was
mentioned to him by Colonel TAYLOR as favourable
to Mr. HIBBERT'S amendment. But ho has care-
fully avoided contradicting Mr. (tssoesx's state-
ment that his neolooramium of conversations with
the Patronage Secretary mentioned Mr. DISRAELI'S
name in this connexion. Colonel TAYLOR has
been equally cautious and reticent. There can be
no doubt that the name of the CHANCELLOR of the
' Excifxques was used, and successfully used, to
excite expectations, which have been disappointed,
and to purchase votes, for which the con-
sideration is now withheld. Mr. DILLWYN has
been duped, and has been the unconscious
instrument of deceiving a score of misguided
Reformers, who hoped to advance by intrigue a
cause which is strong only in the steadfast prin-
ciple of its promoters. Mr. DISRAELI has used
his Liberal allies and is laughing at them, as we
said he would do.

The lesson which they have learned at a severe
coat ought not to be thrown away upon them.
The Liberal party in the House of Commons is
strong enough, if it is united and straightforward,
to carry against the Government the amendment
which the Government rejects, and to extend to all
compound householders the privilege which Mr.
DIMILIELI proposes to take away oven from those
who have it already. To have been deceived once
is a venial error; to be duped a second time will be
contemptible, and will seem to be treacherous.
The seceding Liberals, we trust, will hasten to re-
trieve their reputation for good sense, firm prin-
ciple, and party loyalty.

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.
(THIS DAY.)

Our contemporaries this morning treat one and
all of last night's debate on the proposed reform de-
monstration in Hyde-park. The Times points to the all
but unanimous disapproval expressed of the course upon
which the League have entered, and begs the working
classes to compare this oounsel with that which they
receive from Mr. Reales and his friends. It even hopes
that by the time Monday afternoon comes, the opinions
which men of all classes have expressed on this new
demonstration will induce the popular leaders to desist
from carrying out their menacing design. On the
other hand, if this is not the case, the government
will need all their caution and prudence in dealing
with the meeting.—The Daily News condemns the affair
as a gratuitous disturbance of the ordinary course
of things on a fine spring evening, and censures the govern-
ment for not having adopted some clear and definite course
of action. If the League and the government were in a
conspiracy to bring about ► calamity, they could not more
effectually play into each other's hands. The government
will not give the public the advantage of knowing what
will be practically permitted, and what disallowed, in the
'auk ; and the League will not let the government have
the benefit of any moderation it may be disposed to display.
The Post, Herald, and Standard denounce the meeting in
general terms. The Herald says that the " sons of toil,"
as it salts such as may attend in a sneer, will not be
allowed to hold a meeting for political discussion, and if
they persist in the attempt, will have to suffer for the
consequences.

The 2'elegreph thinks Mr. Walpolri's vagueness offers a
certain amount of temptation to excitable men. It is not
enough to utter a solemn warning and leave it open to
doubt whether the responsible authority will enforce
his admonition. Such being the state of the case,
it adds its voice to that of Mr. Gladstone, and
ergo the reformers who may be in the park on
Monday evening to respect the authority of the crown
and conform to the intentions of the government. Could
not Mr. hales and Mr. Walpole lay their heads together
and devise a mode of bringing the contention before Lord
Chief Justice Cockburn ? As the Home Secretary is ready
to afford facilities, there cannot be much difficulty in the
matter. Mr. Bailee might, by agreement, commit an set
of trespass, and he might be indicted, solely for the pur-
pose of trying the issue. If that were done, the Telegraph
is sure that the people of London would cheerfully submit
to the decision of the Court of Queen's Bench.
The Slur argues that the government have practically
evacuated the legal position which they took up lest year,
and that the exclusion of the crowd from the park is now
clearly condemned. It declines to decide whether these
gentlemen intend to permit a free meeting or to set a
treacherous trap. But, in any case, they have reduced the
British Horne-office to a depth of degradation hitherto
inconceivable. Fortunately the conduct of the masses is
sure to retrieve the credit of the nation.

The Times continue• to defend the government in their
course on reform, though it expects that the proposal to
take away from the compound householders above 10/. the
advantage they have of paying • compounded rate will
meet with resistance. At all events the decision between
this and Mr. Mibbert'a alternative plan of giving the com-
pound householders below 101. the same comparative
relief from the incidence of rates now enjoyed by com-
pound householders above that limit, important as it may
be, ought not to be deemed essential to the progress of
the bill.

The Herald prefers to believe that the committee will be
consistent in its dealings with this point of equality, and
accept without difficulty the government amendment.

The Standard thinks the real opinion of the public will
be one if not of approval at least of utter indifference.

The Pod suspects the proposition will be rathertoo strong
even for the most faint-hearted reformers. It leaves no
possible doubt that what is intended is that if it can be
prevented by throwing obstacles in his way the compound
householder shall never attain to the enjoyment of the
franchise. The circumstance that in order to effect this
result it is necessary to withdraw privileges now enjoyed
will in all likelihood prove fatal to the attempt.
In the view of the Star Mr. Disraeli 5.1.1 s these words to
the clause of the bill in order to leave nodoubt that it is the
full value of the rate, and not the proportion of the com-
pounded value, which the householder must pay when be
claims to be put upon the roll of voters. The man who
lives ins house for which he pays rent and rates in one
sum to his landlord, must, if he claims a vote, pay to the
collector a larger sum than the landlord is called on to pay
for the same house. The flagrant imposture of this
course is so manifest that it is scarcely credible that man
can have the hardihood to propose it to the British par-
Bement.

of settlement. And Mr. Disraeli will be able to plead,
first, for forbearance from the house on the ground that it
should not waste its long labours ; then for concession
from his own colleagues on the same plea, if the house
should decide against them. Still, on this matter we trust
there may be no vacillation. The government have suffi-
ciently shown that their object is to serve the party pur-
poses of the conservatives by imposing disadvantages on
the very class of working men on whose behalf almost
alone reform has been so earnestly demanded.
In another column the Spectator condemns the Reform
League.. No one, will persuade the people that the
authority oil future laws is safe in reformers hands, 'who
do not evincelaincere respect for the authority of the
existing laws, even while they criticise their deficiencies.
According to the Examiner, the House of Commons is
doing exactly what the country desires and demands as to
reform. Lord Derby, Lord Stanley, and Mr. Disraeli,
who form the conservative government, could not have got
their party, as • party, to swallow household suffrage
without promising sundry bits of sugar and pleasant-
looking nuts as the bribe. But now that the dose is
gulped, and the sugar begins to melt, and the nuts to
prove blind, what can be said about it, save that " they
are so sorry, and that they hope big boys won't be so foolish
as to cry ?"
In the Luxemburg question the Examiner fears there is
too much reason for believing that, on the side of the two
principal parties to the controversy, there exists some
arrirre penaee. Prussia is determined on the further uni-
fication of Germany—a process which in itself must lead
to war. France, or rather the Emperor, will never, if he
can prevent it, allow the agglomeration of Germany unless
he obtains the German territory on the left bank of the
Rhine. Notwithstanding the semi-official denials on the
one side and the other, both France and Prussia are arm-
ing and preparing for war on an immense scale, and it
would be marvellous if two such powers continue long to
keep the pesos,
With regard to the Hyde-park meeting the Exclaimer
Rays the Reform League may be as wrong in law as it is
indiscreet in practice, but it is indisputable that the
people who may meet or endeavour to meet in Hyde-park
on Monday evening will do so not as law-breakers but as
persons fully persuaded that the law is on their ride and
it ought to be possible to set the doubts of such men at
rest without breaking their heads.
If the Reform Bill does pass, the Saturday Retitle ob-
serves that its passing will evidently be due to the modera-
tion and self-sacrifice of the conservative party and its
leaders. It is impossible that many issues adverse to the
views of the government should not be raised, and even
if the imams are not all decided according to the wishes
of the liberal party, so very large a majority as 81 shows
that, for the most part, their decision will not be one to
the taste of the government. If on Mr. Hibbert's amend-
ment, on the introduction of • lodger franchise, and on
the reduction of the county franchise, majorities equally
or nearly as large pronounce against the government, and
yet the government goes quietly on accepting the guidance
given it, it will do nothing more than it professed itself
at the beginning of the session willing to do ; hut, never-
theless, it will have discharged a difficult and irksome
duty in a very creditable way.
As for the issue next Monday, the Saturday Renew anti-
cipetes that the affair will end in something like a shabby
compromise. The roughs and rioters will not be abso-
lutely excluded from the park ; but they will not, we sup-
pose, be suffered to hold meetings or to make speeches.
Stones will possibly be thrown ; hats, perhaps heads, on
both sides will not improbably be damaged. There will be
plenty of bluster, but nothing, we trust, more serious.
The Leaguers will most of them sleep, we dare say, in •
whole skin ; Mr. Walpole will again rehearse Heraclitns,
and the British empire will survive the 6th of May.
Commenting upon the Fenian trials, the Caroni& re-
marks that the evidence of Corydon exhibits the conduct
of the government in a very unfavourable light. It seems
that he has been in their pay since September, and that at
any time on his information they could have seized many
of the leaders and prevented the outbreak. They are con-
sequently accused of conniving at the plot, and of having
re-established the Habeas Corpus Act in order to bring
the conspiracy to • head. It is hardly likely that sen-
tence of death will be carried out in the case of either pri-
soner. The policy of such • course would be something
more than questionable ; while after the reprieve of the
still more guilty Canadian raiders there would be scant
justice in a series of executions in Ireland—executions
from which the inference would certainly be drawn that
England can only show mercy when she has to conciliate •
powerful neighbour.

Eke etrurt.

OSBORNE, MAT 3.

The Queen, with Princess Louise, Prince Leo-
pold, and Princess Beatrice, attended by the ladies and
gentlemen in waiting, arrived at Osborne yesterday even-
ing at .1. quarter before 7 o'clock, having crossed over from
Gosport iu the royal yacht Alberta, Captain the Prince of
Leiningen.

The Queen, accompanied by Princess Louise, walked in
the grounds this morning.
Prince Leopold and Princess Beatrice also went out.

The Prince of Wales, attended by Major Teesdale, went
to Windsor yesterday, and visited the Prince and Princess
Christian at Windsor Castle.

A Cabinet Council was held yesterday at the
ofScial residence of the First Lord of the Trea-
sury, in Downing-street. The Ministers pre-
sent were the Earl of Derby, the Lord Chancellor,
the Duke of Marlborough, the Earl of Malmes-
bury, the Right Honourable Spencer H. Walpole,
Lord Stanley, the Duke of Buckingham, Sir John
Pakington, Sir S. Northcote, the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, the Right Hon. H. T. L. Corry, the
Duke of Richmond, Lord J. Manners, the Right
Hon. Gathorne Hardy, and Lord Naas.

A Committee of the Lords of her Majesty's Most Honour.
able Privy Council sat yesterday at the Privy Council-
office, Whitehall, on matters relating to the cattle plague.
The lords present were the Lord President and Lord Robert
Montagu. Mr. Harrison and Dr. Alexander IVilliams
attended the committee.

A deputation , introduced by Lientenant-Colonel Crighton
Stuart, M.P., and consisting of Mr. Chas. H. Page (Presi-
dent of the Chamber of Commerce of Cardiff), Mr. C. W.
David (Mayor of Cardiff), Mr. W. Alexander, and Mr.
E. C. Dowuirg (directors of the Cardiff Chamber of Com-
merce), and Mr. John Boyle, had an interview with the
Duke of Richmond and the Right Hon. Stephen Cave yes-
terday at the office of the Board of Trade, 'Whitehall.
A deputation from the Oxford Local Board, introduced
by the Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, and consisting of
Mr. Alderman Ward (Chairman), the Rev. the Dean of
Christ Church, Mr. Alderman Carr, and Mr. T. Hawkins
(Clerk); also a deputation from Slough, consisting of Mr.
W. G. Sissy (Chairman), Mr. H. F. Nash, and Mr. Ford,
bad an interview yesterday with Lord Belmore at the
Home-office, on the subject of sewage.
Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial.
office from the Governor-General of Canada. Despatches
were sent to the Governors of Gibraltar, Malta, Ceylon,
Hong Kong, Libuan, and the Straits Settlements.

We (.4 the-union) are sorry to hear from Nice that
Lord Brougham is very ill—we fear past hope.
A subpiena served upon Lord Naaa in London
requires his attendance at Dublin and the production of
Godfrey Massey's original statement, which the Crown
Solicitor swore was in his lordship's hands. It is said at
Dublin that Lord Stanley has brought this docunient under
the notice of the American government for it. information
respecting Fenianism.

Mr. J. Pope Hennessy, late M.P. for the King's
County, has been offered the Governorship of Labuan and
Consul-Generalship of Borneo. The salary of the joint
oaken is 1,100/. per annum.

Mr. Coats's Eli is to be the next oratorio given
by the Sacred Harmonic Society.

Mr. Martin F. Tupper has written a third aeries
of his Proverbial Philosophy, which will be published early
in May.

A drama founded on Mr. Charles Reado'a
Griffith Gaunt has been produced at Newcastle-upon-
Tyne, under the author's superintendence ; previously, it
may be presumed, to its being presented in the metropolis.
Mr. Bailey Denton's herd of short-horn cattle
is announced for sale on Thursday, the 16th of May, at
Chesfield Manor Farm, near Stevenage. It comprises a
number of well-bred animals, related to the herds of Sir
C. Knightley, Lord Spencer, Mr. Booth, and others.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

THE LUXEXBITRO QIInTION-

The Paris correspondent of the Indipendance
Beige says :

Notwithstanding the deoial given by the Prussian
journals to the meeting between Prince Gortscbakoff and
Count Bismarck, I can assure you that this interview
took place during the Easter holidays. The two states-
men met at Warsaw for certain, and Count Bismarck re-
turned with the conviction that Russia was sincerely
anxious for peace. The New Free Press of Vienna,
which first mentioned the news, was cor-
rectly informed. I can also infonn you that
a document of the Prussian Chancery, which was intended
exclusively for the cabinets of the South German States,
fell unfortunately into the hands of the French govern-
ment. There was an idea for a moment of publishing this
note, which has reference to the Possession of Luxem-
burg, in the Moniteur, and once published it
would have been impossible to come to any understanding.
Happily, and wisely, this temptation was resisted, and to
the Empress must be given the credit of having chiefly
contributed to the abandonment of the intended publica-
tion. It is known in Berlin that the French government
have got possession of the document, and this circumstance
has made Prussia more conciliatory.