The Express.
London, England, 1866-02-17 00:00:00

THE WEEKLY PRESS.

The Saturday Revi:lo observes that the prepara-
tions of the Fenian% though they are unexpectedly con-
siderable, bear no prapoitiom to the demands of even the
rimiest insorrection. The pieces could only be formidable
to • force ;amyl led w;th Grams, and even the rifles and
earl:id/es which have bees seized would be useless in the
bands of a rabble. The Fenian, would probably fail to attain
their objcet even if the government and the army stood aloof
from the struggle ; for the loyal population would outnumber
the enemy, and in the no.t 1 they =oral be as well armed
an.' more efilc'ently organiscl. WO, however, of the me t
urgent rem ins for preventing armed rebellion is founded
on the occessity of hincheing the Orangemen from taking a
part in the struggle. Although the Roman ciathorc clergy
and the respectable lab are opposed 13 the plot, the pro-
testant§ consider themselves especially marked oat for the
vengeance of the rebels. if they were furor Ito unite for
self-de'euce, they wield probably confound their habitual
antagonists •ith the members of the conspiracy, and •
feul might be r - al which would be more pernicious
than lb. treason of the Fenian,.
The Pets contends that the sudden dere: nination of the
' cabinet mu t be either the result of emirs or of negligence.
If the farm-r, it is but one of the many slight but not un-
important signs of the wesinee of the govertuneot ; and
if the latter, it w:11 be • matter of inquiry why so obvious
a step as the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act was left
for so estee sitting, and not considered, es its importance
demanded, with the regular badness of the session.
The Army mad Nary Oramite has great satisfaction in
being able I. annonoce that the approschieg reductions is
the army will be effected without anything like the hard-
ship to indiviluals which was at first anticipatsd when it
became known that the strength of each battalion upon
home service was to be diminished by two oompsoies. For
indium% no close will be plami upon half-pay ; all those
who from being supernumerary would fell into this unfor-
tunate position will be retained on the establishment until
they become absorbed in • moaner which oar contemporary
proceeds to isdiosts.
The Economist fears that the goveenment bill, is its
prompt shape, will diminish the motive to discover • cure,
and diminish the motive to spare the life of sound cattle,
where there is so excessive ground far apprehension.
Mr. Enst's foolish amendment provides that no cattle
shall be moved on any railway before the 25th
March ; after that time, am be sees that it will be necessary
to move them far pesters, he does not propose to
interdict it. Now, between the passing of this set
and the 25th Month, from four b five weeks at
moat can elapse, • period almost all of which will be
needful to organise the new supply of the great
towns by • deed meat trade. The arrangement he proposes
is, therefore, to take effect before the new dead mrtt
trade for the supply of great cities can possibly be
organised, lied to come to have effect directly it has been
effectually organised. Was there ever a regulation adopted
in more senseless panic' The complex and expensive ma•
chinery for enabling the great cities to do without living
I
cattle will not be completed before it becomes use:ass and
the old arritegement is restored.

Omni= Com/cm—Late last evening summonses
wee issued fora Cabinet Cosecil on Wednesday next, M
the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury. is
Downing-street.

The House of Lords will not receive any petition
fora private bill after March 22, unites null private bill
shall have been approved by the Coen of Ottanosty ; nor
say petitioe for a private bill approved by the Court of
Chancery after May 8. The house will sot receive say
report from the judges upon petitions presented so them
for private bills after the latter day.