The Express.
London, England, 1860-09-25 00:00:00

(Stamped, id. Additional.)

oeust!itutional

strophe to be warded off. The coursed re-
gimen is in jeopardy, the contiuuance of free, that y parlia-
mentary. government, is at stake. The questioleball
we any longer Injury the bleirogs of • mixed sad
coustitutioo, or shall we sink into the deplorable
of being governed by en absolute monarch sad • rob,
aappreaving all disourion whether in riemblisa. _of
• mock legislature, or among the people, and and only
rigorously forbidding all objection to the acts of power, all
observation on those who wield it, but compelling both
slaves who speak sad the slaves who write to labour in
=Fries, of the extern and wording to the pattern set
before them, till from the scum of the German baths
red the shrift of the French provinces, there is compounded
• darer miky bearable these over whom it is spread, to
an the rest of mankind being unspeakably offensive and
•Bech • fate could never befall this country
but Bergh despotism in form is hapoesible here, let
us never fot how large a portion of its substance
might be ielf led on us by • not very slow or
padual proem. If the obstruction to all burner cannot
be any Boger endured, if anything wallet be lea intolerable
than a continuance of the evils, never let the recollection
fade from our memories of how much has been suffered by
older °ousters to prevent • reeneence of evil times- The
successive &sprain in France, whether of the multitude
or oligarchy, or of • single tyrant, have all been rendered
parable, and been even quietly borne, rather than encounter
the worse calamity of the reign of tenor. Let us not be
too sure that • regimen differing in little but the
name from absolute government might not be gra-
dually introduced among us under shelter of the.
cry Anthieg is better thee the session of 1860."
. fern that sissies we hire derived little heed,
eita great mule el social science, we have at least received
the lesser adveatege of salutary
w.
; and of these two
are of considenible practical importance. In the first plane,
the necessity of a minister of justice bee become manifest;
what Were was deemed highly evedient is now plainly.
shown to be requisite. It can hardly be doubted that any
one of the late failures, of which all men now complain,
would have- been prevented bad we possessed the ineetr
nimble advantage of a department responsible for tarrying the
measuresjudicroualy selected, and with careand skill prepared.
No one can deny that, to take the most remarkable in-
stants, the Bankruptcy Bill, dismembered of the pros-Woes
which were little more than enactments, but formed • huge,
an appalling mass—relieved from the dares most ob-
jected to, and entrusted to those who had to other work
and were answerable for its prang through the Commons—
would have reached the Lords in time to be considered and
adopted—if, indeed, it had not, as most probably would
have been the ors, been lint brought into the
Lords at a period when they had little to
do and the Commons were overwhelmed, or
acted as if they felt overwhelmed, with work.
The like would have happened with every one of the other
bills, as well these which failed as those which pared in
debate, or with an amount of discussion barely decent. allut
farther illustration wee given of such • department's im-
portance in conducting the important duty of deciding in
the exercise of the high and delicate prerogative of mercy.
Does any one now affect to doubt that this should be emoted
he • lawyer! The whole subject of • Department of Jus-
tice has long been in the hands of our able, learned,
and excellent colleague, the late Chancellor of
Ireland, who, indeed, obtained the sanction of the
COMMON to • resolution which he moved ; and we
may truly affirm that no reflecting person now entertains
any doubt upon the question except as to whether the un-
divided responsibility of a dingle minister should not be
preferred to the advantage derived from the concurreeoe
of severl, and from the greater weight thus possessed, as
well as the fuller investigation of difficult questions. The
other warning offered by the late session relates to the
consolidation of the law. Bills carefully prepared by suc-
cessive committee* of the Lords, with the sad of the
ablest daughtemen, and after the fullest dieetweloes
attended by experienced criminal lawyers, and after »porta
of commissioners upon all the details—bills which embodied
• earolidatioo of tie law upon the moat important heads
of crime, were sent down to the Commons ; and it was
found impossible to proceed a single step in the considera-
tion of them. But utterly hopeless es any such attempt
must have proved in the peat erosion, and with the weight
under which it laboured, there was prorated to the minds
of all reflecting persons, in a stronger light than ever, the
absolute necessity of performing this important
work in one way, and the utter impossibility
of ever socotuplishing it in any other—lamely, the Com-
mons agreeing to repose confidence in those who bad pre-
pared the digest, *specie/1y the Lords, who had examined,
considered, and approved tt ; thus adopting the woodier-
floe as wowed, and not discussing it in detail. The de-
bate of some hundred clauses of • code in • house of some
hundred members, comprising lawyers in either kind
barrister and attorney—recorders of burghs and corsair
tree, justices giving ear to the town clerks, chairmen of
amiass and other magistrates, countrygentlemen instructed
bytheir solicitors, bankers and merchants withsons at the bar,
di letante law reformers—presents to the mind such a picture
endless preload and rejection, cavil and comment, that
the bare aspect is enough to lettuce slumbers in the least
somnolent, or confuse and turn round the steadiest head.
All men are now agreed that the only question is, shall
there be • consolidation or not, panel of and preliminary toe
renpletecode or diger of the law ; in other words shall the
r 'eminent of this country perform itshigh and imperative
arty of bringing the people under its rule acquainted with
thelaws to protect their rights ; but also the laws
to which it requires their obedience, euforting that obr
thence by the severest penalties. If the affirmative Drawee
is giveo, there can be only one manner of working to trains
the code. Whoever desires to have it discussed in detail,
that is the clauses merely stating what the existing law is,
without proposing any change—whoever Mara upon dis-
cussing thefdiction adopted in framing these clauses (for
that is al)—has a shorter and simpler mode of declaring his
opinion, or rather of declaring what he means ; his real
meaning is that there shall be no consolidation, no digest,
no code. It ia to be expected that the department of jurir
prudes., will examine these two great subjects, a depart-
ures of justice and the consolidation of the law, with the
care which their paramount importance so manifestly pre-
scribes

At our first meeting, in 1857, the subject of judicial
statistics was brought under consideration in the able and
useful papers read by Mr. L. Levi ; and, in consequenoe
the discussion which took place, very considerable improve-
reside were introduced into that department of the Trea-
sury, so that at our last congress hopes were eutertained of
such complete end regular 113 'inflation being afforded as the
annual report of the -Minister of Justice prevents in France.
A most important step has since been made in that dime-
lion. The meeting of the International Statistical Con-
gress has been held under the presidency of the Prince Con-
sort, whose opening address, marked by the sound seem,
the accurate information, and the general ability which
distinguieli all his royal highness's exertions, ts in the
hands of all our members. Having been requested
to superintend the judicial department, and having
afterwards, in his royal highneas's absence, pre-
sided at the general meeting, it was a great
satisfaction to find the unanimous adoption of the plan
which it beams my duty to report, embodying the
resolution in full detail upon the whole subject; and there
was a strong recommendation unanimously passed, urging
the government to appoint a permanent Statistical Com-
inimion. The report has been presented to the House of
Linde (where, indeed, I had amoral years before brought
forward the revolutions which formed its groundwork this
year), and it is now among the printed papers of the
session. There were naturally present at this international
Congress eminent men from various parte of the Continent,
and in announcing the assembly of the present meeting,
took the liberty of inviting those tlistinguishal foreigners,
with whose presence, I trust, we are now honiotred.
Among others was ane gentleman of great respect-
ability and talents, Dr. Delaney, who had attended dif.
faint departments, and, iu his able address, had communi-
cated useful information and suggestions. When inviting
him to this congress I informed him that he would have
the satisfaction of visiting the country which test de-
clared a slave free the instant he touches British ground.
Dr. D.'s forefathers were African slaves ; he is himself
• native of Canada. It is truly painful to reflect that al-
though his family have been free for generations, his origin
being traced to one whom the crimes of white men and
Christians bed enslaved, he would be, in the land of trans-
atlantic liberty, incapable of enjoying any civil right's what-
ever, and would be treated in all respects as an alien, the
iniquity of the fathers being inexorably visited, not upon
their children, bu. upon the children of their victims, to
allpnerations—childrim whom only offence being the suf.
fairings el their parents, whose wrongs they inherit with
their hue. g
I " Connected with statistics is a subject which oocu-
pied our sanitary department last year, the defects in
1 our public records of aukness and mortality, and
the valuable papers of Mr. Bellamy gory rise to
much discussion. The council appointed a com-
mittee to investigate the question, and resolutions were
agreed to, me which a communication was opened with
the government. There can be no doubt that the present'
system will receive netsuke/ and improvement. 17a
-
fortunately, as much cannot be said respecting the report of
another committee named by the council on the defects of
the espouse' 18b1, and their valuable suggestions for its im-
-1 prersansat in Intl. Them were kindly received by the
gem:mee4 and attention to than was promised ; but the
act, as passed, does not provide for any material improve-
ment. On one matter there really can be DO doubt ; the
esters' for the three kingdoms ought on every account to
be made ~,farm. It is to be hoped that the nooses of
the Natioesl Comma may lead to • still more important
intonational masabblap on the assimilation of commercial
On tics great snippet Mr. L Lairs' lectures de.
Peered both hors and in Edinburgh, as wall as in London
and Birmingham, esneala th. most valuable Information
and suggeettesia It We Ism damned 'advisable to take eo
taro and dill:Pelt • saddest piecemeal t • beginning Is made
with statistics, and the esessil. as will afterwards be
stated, has broached that of uniform average*.
"The subject hardly tobasiupamad in taltrairtance, the em-
' *meat of educated wows, was discussed at the last con.

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per and a society was soon after formed for premoting it
Lad Easter it became connected with this menciation ; and
the laudable exertions of Miss Bessie Parkes, whose illte-
Y;Mur abr had d
other fellly ISlde to
its
formation,
slswdoil.
have
already been attended with marked emcees. Several japers
upon various views of the subject will be read at tins meet-
It may now only further be Asked that the meeting
held in last June, prorded over by Lord Shaftesbury, was
very nameroualy attended. The great object of finding em-
ployment suitable to educated women was fully considered ;
and our semetary, Mr. Hastings, took .prominent and use-
ful part in the discussion. Among other occupations,
low-
engrostng book-keeping, and printing may be mentioned
as well fitted for educated females. The printing press,
conducted under Miss Faithful's superintendence, bas been
eminently succeasful, and since the meeting in June, has
received the high sanction of the ueen's approval, signified
in • letter by her Majesty's commands. It is very
gist yin( to find that the expeience of this press has re-
moved most, if not all, the objections which were at first
raised against the plan. It is fit to add that the enermy,
perseverance, and discretion of Miss Faithful have mainly
contributed to this happy result.
" The subject of trades' societies and strikes en-
attrition at the last meeting, on the
dueordon of the preliminary report of • special
committee appointed by the council, and of very
able and Interesting pipers presented by Messn. Watts,
Plummer, Rees, and. others. The committee has now
concluded its labours, end the final report, with a large
volume of papers, contributed by different members,
has bus printed, .and will be. published here. A very
tatematist Maemaiati may bi evaded epee the whole
subject ; and this country is peculiarly suited to the calm
and dispassionate consideration of it, because happily little
of the mischief which has befallen England, from the dif-
ferences between workmen and masters, has afflicted Scot-
-111-

"It is to be hoped that within either the sanitary or the
general department the subject may be allowed to fall.
Of the great frequency of fatal accidents lately to be de-
plored, those on railways really urgently demand attention,
and their causes cannot be fully investigated without
the suggestion of some preventive. It is remark-
able that the evil is confined to Great Britain.
In France the greater discipline, and more careful
administration, even more than the lesser speed and
the want of excursion trains, is probably the rea-
son that grave accident, there are all but unknown. The
other class of injury to persons, often fatal, is that of care-
less or foolhardy and adventurous travellers being severely
hurt, often losing their lives, in attempts to climb or de-
scend dangerous passes, in neglect or in defiance of their
guide's advice. The misery thus inflicted on families--
the public injury thus oomaioned—should be impressed
upon men's minds, and the guilt. incurred by their care-
lessness or obstinacy. A life thus thrown away is by
self-slaughter, not self-murder • and the crime bean the
same relationoto suicide that manslaughter does to murder.
" It may be recollected that at Bradford a very important
discussion arose in a branch meeting, over which I hail the
honour to preside, upon the question of direct or indirect
taxation, and I presented a report describing the diversity of
opinion which prevailed on the general subject, but stating
the conclusion at which we had, with great unanimity, ar-
rived in favour of repealing the numerous duties so op-
pressive to trade and so unproductive to revenue. In
consequence of the Bradford discussion' a special committee
was appointed by the council, and will report at this con-
gress ; but its report will be confined to a statement of the
• • opinions held embodied in two short papers—one
by Mr. ewroarch, the well-known statist, the other by
our secretary, Mr. Hastings. The committee expressly de-
eased propounding any opinion of their own, thinking that
the question esquires more careful investigation and more
dispimionate discussion than it has hitherto received. Our
association, standing aloof from political parties and class
interests, and viewing the subject as a problem of science to
be solved without prejudioe or passion, is the fittest Owe for
such a discussion.

" Social science is not confined to our country, and it is
• duty, as well as • gratification, to observe its progress in
other nations. The number is south of European states in
which a popular government affords the security of measures
being proposed by the rulerrs calculated to benefit the people
as well as themselves. But the diffusion of knowledge has
nude so manifest the tendency of an enlightened policy
to promote the interests of the commuuitv, and thus
in the result to serve the government also, that the
attention of absolute sovereigns has been drawn, if not
driven, to such courses as must increase the wealth of their
sub** and consequently their own resources, and might
also promote the comforts of the people, for which they pro-
bably cared little, unless as tendieg to preserve order and
quiet without the controul of force. Such sovereigns, too,
have facilities for making and moulding laws, and effecting
changes in the institutious, as well am the policy of the
State—facilities which nude the French sect, the CEcono-
mists, prefer what they termed • legal despotism to • popu-
lar form of government, and made even Bentham regard
such • system with envy, when pressed by the difficulty
of carrying forward his plane for the improvement of our
jurisprudence. It is unnecessary to dwell on the grossness
of the delusion arising from such one-sided views of the
subject ; but we may admit that some compensation is thus
afforded by despotism for its great and various evils.
"Mightily must the cultivators of social science rejoice in
such noble conduct of the absolute sovereigns to whom the
fortunes of so vast a portion of the world are entrusted, and
full well they know that their cause mainly rests upon
the preservation of pesos abroad and the maintenance
of order at home. Well may they apply to social science
the Roman orator's words, spoken of his own fart—' Paris
comesutians et jam woe constitutes republics alumni.'
Truly she is the offspring of peace, and by • greater than
the Roman charity, gratefully give* her pions support to her
parent. Let us not fear danger to thisfirst of blowing, from
any quarter, by the pursuit of warlike glory, guilty, mid as
senseless as guilty, among any of our neighbours. An emi-
nent political economist at our last congress declared that
he only dreaded the arts of the fiend, the enemy of man-
kind, tempting his countrymen with a laurel, instead of the
Ziiiz:th which he deceived our first parent'. But it is
to observe the same individual now announcing his
entire confidence in the pacific tendency el that enlightened
policy to which he has so greatly contributed. lu his hopes
we mmtaltogether share ; in the greater part of his confidence
also But it is no mark of mistrust in others that we trust our-
selves more ; and we must all heartily rejoice in the spirit of
determination to be well prepared which the country univer-
sally shows. Let as also rejoice in the training to which it has
given rise. Ass mere sanitary measure this association has
a right to own it and highly to estimate its value. But on
far more lofty grounds we are bound to exult in it, for it is
the pledge of peace. Here, above all other places, such feel-
Isp are natural and appropriate. We are in the land sane-
tiled by the struggle. of religion, and renowned for support-
big her sister, Freedom, in the worst of times. Here the
martyrs of the mom swore to the Ooveusat ' by the name
of the lord their Oricir—here, in the next age, the rebels
against civil and religious liberty encountered the stoute.t
reelManee—here, in yet later times, was begun the arming
of the people for defence of the realm. I. it wonderful that
attachment to religious and attachment to civil rights should
kindle the same fire of patriotism, and in the same losoner
Those treasure which men prize the most dearly are nearest
their hearts, and them with heart and band they will defend."

THE REPRESENTATION or Horrrriar.—lt was re-
in Boohoo on Thursday that Mr. John Treviiian
renediin, attorney of Swansea, would come forward as •
candidate at Honiton. This gentleman offered himself to
the conacevative party previous to the last election, and
was accepted by them, though not brought to the poll.
With Mr. Jenkin the "sinews of was " are abundant, the
fight therefore will be severe. On Friday George Moffatt,
Req., fosmarly M.P. for Ashburton and Dartmeeth, who
was also an intimate personal friend of the demand mem-
' her, Mr. Locke, arrived in the borough, and at one pro-
leaded to whims and mamas the ehotora—Weeters More.
sap Nose
LIFEBOAT FOR SWEET Bun,--An influential
meeting was held on the 21st lust., in the Council House at
Chireseter, at which the Lord Bishop of the diocese pre-
sided, for the purpose of aiding the Royal National Life-
boat Institution to establish • lifeboat at &deep' Bill ; Dr.
M'Carogher (the mayor), General Oldfield, Captmins Pll.
kington and Jolliffe, 8.N., the Rev. Messrs. O. Braithwaite,
C. A. Swaiuson, H. Smith, W. Burnett, and J. Johnson,
H. W. Freeland, Fag., M.P., Captain Baikal, G. Henley,
W. L. Wood, H. Radium, Fps., and others, were present.
His lordship, in addressing the meeting, drew attention to
the frequent wrecks which took place in the viei.it of the
Bill on the coast of Brockleameere bay, and particularly
alluded to the loss of a vessel with the whole her crew
during the past spring. This part of the meet, his lordship
mid, hed become noted of late for its numerous wrecks, and
it bessmaineumbentnpon those living in the neighbourhood
to give the object of the meeting their most earnest support.
Ward, ILN., inspector of lifeboats to the National
LYeboat Institution, next addressed the meeting and gave a
sketch of its mode of operations on the coast. Sonic bene-
volent members of the Society of Friends had presented
lliW. towards establishing • !Behest at Sassy. 2tlo/. more
would be required for the establishment of the boat, and
which the institution hoped to raise in the neighbourhood.
The annual niaiuteneao• of the bust would be about 301.
Captain Pilkingtoo, 8.N., believed the movement mould be
liberally suppeeted to Chiehester. He had letters from the
Duke of Norfolk, the Rev. Barre Phipps, hector of Saber,
and other gentlemen, promising their support. lie should
stove the first resolution, "That • lifeboat was necessary at
Briery, and pledging the meeting to assist the institution
to tarry out the desired object." General Okitieldsooormied
the resolution, which was carried uns:izeja. Mr. Frye-
-1=0:.., moved, and Mr. Beaty the **coed
"That a branch iostitutsos be formed," which
wee also led unenimously ;as was also • resolution fee
'the Ibemation et • salmi committee. Voles of thanks to
the right rev. the chairman for bin kind and urbane conduct
in the chair, and to the mayor for the use of the rooms,
brought the proceedings to • close.

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