The Express.
London, England, 1866-05-30 00:00:00

111

11,

~::i ]:I

H

(

,
•

r'~~

il,l
,
1:
I
i .
1

BEIMN, J. W. by SPECIAL APPOINTMENT
to M.I.H. the Prince of WALES.

BENSON, J. W., 25, OLD BOND-STREET,
having reconstructed these magnificent premises, invites
an inspection of artistic works.

BENSON'S, J. W., STEAM FACTORY for
CLOCKS and WATCHES, 60 and 00, LUDGATZ-RILL.

BENSON, J. W., 99, WESTBOURNE-GROVE.

BENSON, J. W., 164, TOTTENHAM-COURT-
ROAD.

BENSON , J. W., MAKER of the GOLD
cAsurr presented by the City of London to H.R.H. the
Prinoe of Wales.

BENSON, J. W., MAKER of the CASKET pre-
seated by the Cagy 0 London to H.R.11. Prince Alfred.
BENSON, J. W., PRIZE MEDAL, LONDON,
clue III

BENSON, J. W., PRIZE MEDAL, Dublin,
Class 10.

BENSON, J. W., HONOURABLE MENTION,
London. Liao 16.

BENSON, J. W., WATCH and CLOCK
PAMPHLET, pout tree for two stamps.

BENSON, J. W., MAKER of the CHRONO-
GRAPH by which_ the DEBBY Is TINED.
BENSON, J. W., MAKER of the GREAT
CLOCK of the EXHIBITION, MI
for the CARRIAGE. Five Guineas.

'LATE FLOWER AND FRUIT
STA N Da

iittees have ,)
and the excitement of success and of paying for it
is over, and the quart d'heure de Rabelais is suc-
ceeded by painful meditations on the vanity of
serving one's country, we shall invariably find
bribery at elections a favourite subject of debate
in Parliament. Did any one suppose that this
" vice or crime " (as it was variously described
in the House of Commons on Monday) was no new
thing 't Listen to these eloquent preachers and you
will be convinced that bribery at elections was
only invented last summer, and only discovered
last February. No doubt there have been cases
known of boroughs disfranchised or otherwise
severely dealt with, and of commissions for
inquiry into the condition of boroughs
detected by Parliamentary committees. No
doubt there have been abortive attempts to
make constitutencies pure by Act of Parliament,
that is, by legislators in spite of themselves. But
the pest stamped out at Sudbury or St. Alban%
has broken out with greater virulence than ever
somewhere—say, on the eastern coast. And as
to the Parliamentary Committees, they have given
a certain number of barristers a vested interest
in a system that brings enormous fees, and have
fostered the corruption they pretended to
check, by making it pleasant to the advocates
on both sides, who enjoy the awful bon-
homie of a tribunal ignorant of the first
rules of evidence, and some of whom
it may be are only waiting for their own turn to
come as culprits. Then as to the Royal Commissions
of inquiry into particular boroughs—four of such
commissions are about to enter on their diverting
labours—the country, we dare say, can afford to
come to the relief of that hungriest and most irre-
pressible of beings, the barrister of seven (ur perhaps
of fourteen) years' standing, who has shown some
skill in making acquaintances, and that is all the
advantage that can fairly be expected in snatching
them from the monotony of chambers, and send-
ing them down to sharpen their wits and terrify
the natives of some unfortunate little borough,
which, as Lord GREY put it last night, has had
the misfortune to be found out. Committees
have sat, commissions have been lamed, boroughs
have been disfranchised, and bribery at elections
goes on, and grows with the growth of the national
wealth, or rather with the growth of a new class of
capitalists, who have just enough public spirit and
patriotic ambition in their natures to desire to
tack M.P. to their names, and get into " society"
by that passport, as they get into Parliament by
their purses.

We are very far, however, from dismissing
the debates of last evening as idle talk. They
come to no result, but they instruct the public
mind, if they do not increase the public faith in
the wisdom and sincerity of legislators, who in
one breath declare that something must be done,
and that nothing is worth doing, and that what
is not worth doing shall be done, in order to
convince the country of their determina-
tion to put an end to a system that
can neither be prevented nor checked. The
speeches of Lord GREY in one house, and of Mr.
B. 01411ORNE in the other, have the merit of
escaping from the customary hypocrisies, though
we cannot affect to concur with Lord GREY
in believing that a " general inquiry " will

do more to correct the evil than half a dozen
special inquiries. Lord GREY does service to truth
by insisting that the rich briber is the
guilty party, who has always gone scot
free, and—admirable joke !—has sometimes
sat es judge on tho very corruption out
of which he sprang from obscurity to
parliamentary honours. Mr. B. OSBORNE, well
aware that Sir R. WALPOLE, with whom cor-
ruption was a religion, is now regarded with
equal veneration bythe chiefs of both parties, perti-
nently asks whether corruption is confined
to needy electors in boroughs ; whether, in
fact, the system, under whatever name

it may be made to " smell sweet," begins and
ends with the electors? This is a pregnant question,
and we can hardly think that the ATTORNEY-
GENERAL'S guarded expostulations and respect for
the decencies of the parliamentary confessional
will salvo it over. It is very well to
say, as was said last night, that only a
" general sentiment" against bribery at elections
can put it down. But who's to begin ? Tory
members parade the purity of their constituents,

for large counties are in fact not easily bribed,

and where a word from the landlord is
enough, five-pound notes are scarcely wanted.
But it is worth remarking that the Tories, who
were so clamorous in demanding on Monday that
clauses for the extirpation of bribery should be
inserted in the Reform Bill, were utterly unable
last evening to suggest any remedy for the " vice,
" or crime," and contented themselves, through
Lord DERBY, with requesting Lord Rusexxx to
postpone for ten days a motion for inquiry into
corrupt practices at Lancaster.

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.
(THIS DAY.)

PARLIAMENTARY DISCESSIONS.-THE REFORM BILL AND
THE PREVENTION OF RELBERT.

The Times now pours ridicule upon the Redistri-
bution Bill. It is characterised by an adroitness verging
on shiftiness and ingenuity approaching to downright im-
posture. It stands not upon its integrity, but on the
want of it. It proclaims that it is cheating us all round
with concealments, disguises, illusions, meagre consola-
tions, and dexterous manipulations. Accordingly it is
paid in its own coin, and it stands some chance of being
outwitted. The arrangements, miscalled groups, are
so undigested and so indigestible that they cannot
possibly form the parts of a bill which proposes to be a
new constitution, and to supply by its natural and happy
character the place of ancient growth and strong prescrip-
tion. They are really no more groups than the capricious
arrangements a child may make with its toys on the
nursery floor, to sweep away and forget as soon as made.
Founding new institutions, and those institutions the
very basis of this great empire, must be a work of time and
labour ; and the requisite time and labour have not yet
been given to it.
Commenting upon the discussion last night in the House
of Lords upon bribery, the Times says it is inclined to
despair of tracking all the devious paths of corruption by
any legal process, even if the ordinary facilities of detec-
tion were here available. Unfortunately, this is not the
ease. Still there is ample room for the investigation re.
commended by Lord Grey, nor would it be impossible to
indicate the direction which it might profitably take. The
secret of discouraging bribery until the stigma of infamy
can be attached to it is to entrust the power of adjudica-
tion upon alleged cases of corruption to some other tri-
bunal than a parliamentary committee.
The Post assumes as a point beyond all doubt that in
the opinion of the House of Commons, there is no time
this session to pass a satisfactory reform bill, and adds
the opinion that its withdrawal with a promise to recon-
sider its provisions and introduce it in the best possible
form next year, though it might alienate some support
which would seem to have been injudiciously relied upon,
would lay the foundation of a reconciliation between the
house and the government.

practices bill.
What would be proved, the Telegraph says, if Captain
Hayter's amendment were carried, would be not merely
that the existing House of Commons is opposed to any and
all reform—we know that already—but that it is not wise
enough to perceive there is no alternative whatever be-
tween the present very moderate measure and one far more
sweeping. If tories had sincerity enough to understand
that virtue in others, they would see that every obstacle
they interpose raises still higher the rising flood of popular
opinion which backs ministers.
. . . .

The Star remarks that the division list of Monday
night furnishes us with some personal and political lessons
which certain liberal constituencies will do well to take to
heart. It shows more clearly than ever that the only sub-
stantial opposition to reform comes from a small band of
gentlemen who have obtained their seats in the house on
the faith of their professions of liberalism. Let the country
fix its eyes upon these men. They are just now the grand
support of toryiwn.

7
peace. Blindness or obstinacy alone can make
war necessary." This is one of those evident truths
which may be classed amongst axioms. That the
congress means peace if it does not mean war, is
one of those discoveries which La France is in the
habit of making. But after all this does not very
much enlighten us. We prefer the information
contained in the Vienna journals. The Vienna
Gazette, for example, assures us that Austria will
only accept the conference on the basis of her terri-
torial integrity, and, on the other hand, we know
that Italy expects nothing short of the cession of
Venetia. Here are opposing pretensions which
the programme of the conference, with the habitual
reserve of diplomatic language, calls " the Italian
difference." Some Vienna journals are of opinion
that the conference will fall back on the treaty of
Zurich, which has never been executed, and that
an Italian confederation, with the Pope at its head,
will be formed. To us it seems very difficult to
admit the possibility of such a solution, which
would be entirely at the expense of Italy, and
which would procure for Austria, by an unex-
pected turn of fortune, a considerable amelioration
in her position in Italy. We have thought it right,
however, to note these hopes, not to say dreams,
of the Austrian press.

AND PORTUGUESE BANK.
(THIS DAY.)

third ordinary general meeting was
ices in St. Helen's-place ; Mr. JOHN
chair.
'a the report of the directors :
exed statement of the liabilities and as-
and of the profit and loss account of '
th February last, the shareholders will ,
mpared.with the preceding year there
has been a considerable Increase in the business of the
bank, and also of the profits derived therefrom. The
gross profits of the year amounted to 86,455/. Bs. 10d.,
from which have been deducted rebate of interest on bills
discounted not due, and all charges at the head-ofilce,
branch at Rio de Janeiro, and local agency at Oporto,
leaving 54,8411. 16s. 6d. as the actual gains of the year
1865 • from this, however, there remain still to be
deducted 19,7161. 14s. balance at the debit of profit and
loss account on the 28th February, 1865, and an additional
sum of 12,0001. which the directors are compelled to pro-
vide for the settlement of the losses arising from the bank
failures at Rio de Janeiro in September, 1864, leaving at
the credit of profit and loss account the net sum of 23,1 1.
Z. 2d. It would have been agreeable to the directors
on the present occasion, to have recommended to the share-
holders the payment of a dividend, but in view of fluctu-
ations of the currency in Rio de Janeiro, the board do not
consider it in the interest of the bank to apply to the pay-
ment of a dividend any portion of the net profit for the
past year, but recommend to the shareholders that the
above balance of 73,125/. 2s. 2d. be carried to a reserve
fund. The formation of such a fund the directors deem
essential, and calculated to secure to the shareholders
hereafter regularity in payment of dividends. The results
of the two years' working of the local agency at
Oporto have convinced the directors that it is a barren
field for banking, having given scarcely any return, not-
withstanding the excellent and safe management of the
local directors. The board have therefore taken steps to
discontinue the agency. The business of the bank at Rio
de Janeiro has been carefully and zealously watched over
by the local directors. To strengthen their hands and aid
them in carrying out beneficial changes in the system of
banking, the directors thought it advisable to appoint their
late manager in London, Mr. John Gallop, a member of the
local board in Rio de Janeiro, and he arrived there
and took his seat at the board in March last.
From the increase, both of the extent of business and
amount of profit during the past year, the directors augur
favourably of the future of this bank. The eyes of the
mercantile community of Rio de Janeiro are gradually
opening to the danger of the system of banking which has
prevailed there, and with an able directory of great local
knowledge and experience, the board think that on these
grounds the shareholders have good reason for looking
forward to profitable mutts. The directors who, in ac-
cordance with the provisions of the articles of association,
go out of office on this occasion, are Willem Bevan, Esq.,
and George T. Brooking, EMI., both of whom being eligible
offer themselves for re-election. The duty will devolve
on the meeting to elect auditors to serve for the next
twelve months."
The CHAIRMAN, in moving its adoption, congratulated
the proprietors upon an increase in the gross profits of
of 58,500/. as compared with the previous financial year.
It was also satisfactory to report that the business at Rio
was in the most favourable and promising condition, and
the assets those of the best character, and equal to meet
every emergency. The arrangements for conducting the
business there were likewise of a character calculated to
inspire every confidence for the future, and he hoped ere
long they would be able to pay a dividend.
Mr. Burr considered it very hard that they should have
been kept so loni without a dividend. They had now a
surplus of 23,12 a/., and he proLiosed that of this 12,5001.
should be appropriated to a a per cent. dividend, which
would then leave over 10,000?. to be carried to the reserve.

Mr. TOWNE seconded this.
The CHAIRMAN said that the report fully explained the
reasons why it was thought advisable to establish a con-
siderable reserve to meet fluctuations in the currency, and
enable them to pay good dividends in future.
Mr. SAMPSON thought the directors had exercised a wise
discretion in not paying a dividend at present.
Several other shareholders expressed approbation of the
policy of the board in establishing a sufficient nucleus of a
reserve before paying a dividend, and urging the with-
drawal of the amendment.

--7--
Mr. BIRT would, if the sense of the meeting was against
him, withdraw the amendment ; but he wished to know
what remuneration had been taken by the directors.
The CHAIRMAN—The minimum allowed by the articles
of association.
The motion adopting the report was then carried unani-
mously. Another resolution authorising the appropriation
of the sm,.lus to a reserve was next proposed and passed.
The directors retiring by rotation were re-elected. 120/.
was awarded to the auditors for their services during the
past year, and the auditors were reappointed ; and the
proceedings terminated with the usual compliments to the
chairman and directors.

2 THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 30, 1866.
• BRASILI AN .
JOHN BROGDEN'S VALUATION of GOLD. gloating eyes of the parliamentary Tartuffe ; The Hernia
ht dwells
representing
titheirvernment defeat on LATEST INTELLIGENCE.
and electoral corruption is the gauze that betrays Ponds a death blow to the
34 carats tine. Is 18carata..Z3 thi 9 carats.. 81 11 10
111 worth ..R.4 4 11i 17 carat... o s carats .. Issi a too lovely form upon which he longs, yet fears . 1 ted bill. The m ure is in the a•te of a feeble THE OONFERENCE.
per MUM 16 carats.. It 16 7i 7 carats .. 1 4 9 held at the office
52 wets. 416 16 carat.. 213 1 e carats .. 1 1 to lay a hand trembling with virtuous emotion. Ks
i 22 carats. (British 14 carats.. 2 9 6; 6 carats .. 0
standard 317 1 13 carat.. 2 6 0 4 carats .. 014
)I" This indignant virtue of ours •
null and now one bold and candid utterance by men The conference question, says the Dibats, of
Is Periodical. who know and are not afraid of their duty will rid par- to-day, naturally holds the first place in the columns The following tl
31 carats.. 3144 12 carats.. 2 Se earata .. 010 This rage for political purity in chronic. Soon liament and the nation of it. The new government, the of the French and foreign journals. La Prunes is "From the annezi
Iwith mill3hi.w 'name°
to
render it feebler I To-day the thin
10 carats .. 310 91 11 carats.. 118 11 2 carats .. 0 7 1
19 carats. 3 7 3 10 carats. 116 41 1 carats . 0 3 6
manuractin. ls. nonrisitastrck Cbventgardeq L°."(3l, W.O run thaeirgeconuerairse aneldectioil' committeeswh
irevtietiosnsebeihadevde Herald says, in another article, will take the earliest
opportunity, we may hope, of introducing • new corrupt convinced that diplomacy will succeed in solving the year ending 28th
every difficulty. " A congress," it says, " means observe that as comp
. h... sonsiclera
sets°wlallof thisinbthanek,chaat