The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-21 00:00:00

EXPRESS, SATURDAY b. EVENING, APRIL .411, 1866.

circumstances which have made tiarkenwell
notorious. These are by no means confined
to the treatment of the casual poor. The
workhouse has been repeatedly condemned as
unfit for the purposes assigned to it. The
orders of the Poor-law Board as to the number it
may be made to hold are constantly ignored ;
and the Lancet commission discovered that but
429 cubic feet of air are allowed to each sick bed.
What this means will be best understood by the
reader imagining a box eight feet square. Such
a box would give him roughly 500 cubic feet ; and
it is nearly one-fifth less space than this which is
allowed each sick pauper for respiration• The
guardians have frequently discussed the propriety
of building a new workhouse ; advice has been
taken, and estimates prepared ; but the only prao-
tical result has been to refer the matter to a com-
mittee, to wail over the cost of the proposed change;
and finally, as we now find, to close the workhouse
to everyone whose reports are likely to come before
the public instead of being docketted at Whitehall.
We were present when a letter from Mr. Hart was
read to this board, in which he announced the
aims of the Sick Poor Association, and courteously
hoped that as Clerkenwell would be a gainer by
the proposed general hospital rate, the committee
might count upon the co-operation of its guar-
dians ; and we then heard the efforts which have
been since so warmly commended by Mr. Villiers
denounced as " nothin' but an attempt of a pack
of medical men to getupabuse againstworkhouses."
The tone and manner of the guardians who pro-
posed " the letter should be received," and the un-
concealed hostility shown to the objects of the as-
sociation, assume additional significance now that
these wonderfully obtuse dignitaries have adopted
decisive measures for preventingtheir shortcomings
being dragged to light.
Of the independent investigations instituted on
behalf of this journal, we shall only say that the
Houseless Poor Act was openly defied when those
investigations commenced, and that it was only
after we had exposed the fact of a poor woman
being told through the closed doors of Clerkenwell
workhouse that it " served her right to have to
spend a November night in the streets, because she
ought to have applied earlier" (it was then 10.15
p.m.) that the guardians even promised to obey the
law, "If we take in thirty we consider we do our
share" was the answer insolently returned to all
remonstrances until thirteen months after the
Houseless Poor Act came into operation; and it was
only after exposure in these columns that the order to
admit destitute wanderers was theoretically enforced.
Then came opposition in another and more wicked
form. Applicants were admitted, but the wretched
uncertified cellars and lofts were neither abo-
lished nor enlarged. It is unnecessary to repeat
the filthy details so frequently given. With un-
speakable loathing and disgust, and not without
some personal risk, we have, time after time, pene-
trated through pestilential stenches at Clerkenwell,
to see naked men and boys huddled together in
twos and threes in the same narrow bunks. Again
and again have we implored the attention of the
public and the legislature to the disgusting horrors
revealed. Twice has the truth of our statements
been vouched for in the House of Commons by the
Poor-law Board ; and the reward of our exertions
is an assurance that better wards are provided,
coupled with a refusal to permit their independent
inspection. Is it wonderful if, in the face of these
facts, those interested in the poor should tremble
for the abuses which will go smouldering on,
unsuspected and unfelt save by the sufferers I
But for independent investigations and im-
partial testimony the Houseless Poor Act would
have been burked long ago by the unscrupulous
and interested efforts of its opponents. Public
opinion alone abolished the evils of the Lambeth
labour-shed, compelled Bermondsey to withdraw its
defiance of the Poor-law Board, and has now pene-
trated the obtuseness of Clerkenwell. The guar-
dians of the last-named parish revenge themselves
by closing doors and windows to what they can no
longer ignore ; and it would be useful to
know whether any further exercise of offi-
cial authority will be necessary in consequence.
Both Mr. Kinnaird and Lord Burghley did good
service in calling the attention of the House of
Commons to the misdeeds of the Clerkenwell
guardians, and the impunity they seemed to enjoy.
Now that free investigation is denied, perhaps
one of these gentlemen will ascertain what gua-
rantee the public have that paupers are not being
systematically killed off in this union by inade-
quate accommodation and foul air, and how the
Poor-law Board knows that its orders and regula-
tions are not as consistently violated as when we
first convicted Clerkenwell of i idecency, cruelty,
and neglect.

fist Court.

OSBORNE, APRIL 20.

The Queen, accompanied by Princess Louise,
walked in the grounds yesterday morning, and her 3lajesty
drove in the afternoon, accompanied by Princess Lei-
ningen. . .

Princess Helena rode in the grounds.
Princess Louise and Princess Beatrice drove out.
Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein rode, attended
by Colonel Du Plat.
The Marquis of Harlington left Osborne yesterday
morning.

We understand that her Majesty has been gra-
ciously pleased to place Bushey Park (formerly the residence
of Queen Adelaide) at the disposal of his Royal Highness
the Duke de Nemours and family.

Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cam-
bridge and Princess Mary dined with their Royal High•
ceases the Duke and Duchess d'Aumale at oemns House,
Twickenham, last night. _ . .

Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess
de Joinville and family intend to reside at Lansdowne
House, Richmond, for the future, the Prince having taken
that residence for a term of years.

The Earl of Radnor continues in remarkable
health, though his age is now 87. The venerable peer
still takes an interest in public matters. He is surrounded
by a family circle at Coleabill, Berks.
ScrinaN DEATH OF SIR FREDERICK ROE, BART.
—Yesterday afternoon, at the usual weekly meeting of the
committee of which he was member at St. George's Hos-
pital, Sir Frederick Roe, Bart., late chief magistrate at
Bow-street Police Court, died suddenly. Information has
been conveyed to Mr. C. St. Clare Bedford, but whether
an inquest will he held is not yet decided.
LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS FOR THE
Essrma WEEK. —Monday—Antiqnsries, at 2 ; Geogra.
phical, at Bi, " Peking," Mr. Lockhart ; " Travels in the
Peninsula of Sinai," Rev. F. W. Holland. Tuesday—
Royal Institution, at 3, " Science and Superstition," Rev.
C. Kingsley ; Zoological, at 84, " Note on genbales ()reel-
condo (Sw.)," Mr. Sclater ; "-Revision of Genus Hypna,"
Mr. Butler ; Ethnological, at R, " British Superstitions
relative to Hare, &c.," Mr. Thrupp ; " Intercourse of
Romans with Ireland," Mr. Wright; Engineers, at 8,
" Rolling Stock," Mr.Roebassen ; " Flow of Water, Wood.
burneDistrict,lreland," Mr. Manning. Wednesday—Litera-
ture, at 4, Anniversary ; Geological, at 8, " New Srwies of
Aeanthodes from Langton," Sir Philip de M. Egerton ;
" Gravels and Drift of the Fenland," Mr. Seeley ; " Time
between Formation of Upper and Lower Valley-gravels,"
Mr. Tyler ; Society of Arts, at 8, " Perils of Mining," Mr.
Hogg ; • Transformation of Organic Acids and Animal
Substance;" (Cantor Lecture), Dr. (`race Calvert ; Arehieo-
logical Association, at Bi. Thursday—Royal Institution,
at 3, Science and Superstition," Rev. C. Kingsley;
Royal, at Friday—Royal Institution, at 8, " West-
minater Abbey," Dean of Westminster. Saturday—Royal
Institution, at 3, " National Portraits," Mr. Scharf ;
Botanic, 31.—Atmucust.

OUR OONTEMPORARIAS.
(THIS DAY.) -11

LAST NIGHT'S DISATIL
The Times still gives all the virtues to those
who oppose the Franchise Bill, and discovers no shreds of
sound argument in the speeches of the hon. members who
defend it. Last night the line et defence adopted by the
Bolioitor-General for Scotland—who is referred to by our
contemporary as " a Mr. Young"—was without a parallel
in its simplicity. Mr. Gower simply pleads for mere
trust in the good qualities of everybody without in the
least taking into aooount the effect of the bill
as a whole, and Mr. Coleridge raised points which were
not before the house. Sir S. Northoote, on the other
hand, in opposing the bill, was exact in his definitions
sad correct in his views. Mr. Gregory spoke in a similar
way to the point, and Mr. Horsman's representations were
accurate and timely. The amendment of Lord Grosvenor,
in the opinion of the Times, remains unassailed and is un-
assailable. Nothing is now possible to the government
but to retrace the path they have unadvisedly taken, to
free themselves from the fatal influences to which they
have yielded, to proclaim an intelligible and complete pro-
gramme of the future, and to appeal for support, not on an
ambiguous reputation, but on definite principles. Let
them do this, and there will be none more glad to welcome
their repentance than the liberals, who are now reluctantly
forced to remember that their first duty is to their country,
and not to their party ; let them persist in the ill-advised
course they have adopted, and the result must be fatal to
themselves, and may be productive of incalculable injury
to the country.

The Daily News mentions as a curious fact that the chief
opponents of the government measure who have been
drafted out of the liberal ranks are the jesters of parlia-
ment. If they are serious in their objection to the Fran-
chise Bill, it is the only thing they see serious in. The
terror which they strive to communicate they should at
least affect to share. Lest night the speech of the Solici-
tor-General for Scotland was, in an argumentative though
sot lin en oratorical sense, the speech of the
mining. Mr. Young assailed directly the position
taken up by Lord Stanley in seconding the amend-
ment of Lord Grosvenor ; and when he sat down no one
could say that the reasoning of the noble member for
King's Lynn was either unanswered or unanswerable.
Mr. Coleridge possesses accomplished art as a speaker, in
the charm of his voice and the sweetness of his accent, and
in his whole attitude and manner, as he addresses him-
self to the higher and gentler feelings of his audience.
There is art and study, and the familiar skill of habit in
that modest confidence awl restrained strength and sooth-
ing irony, that continence yet copiousness of picked and
chosen words, and that austere humility, which seems to
deprecate its own sense of power, to persuade rather
than convince, and to fly from the embrace of
admiring opponents. But there is something else,
an I more, than art in these refinements and
coquetries of • born orator of a very rare order.
Taey belong to temperament, and defy mimicry.
Kr. Monacan, whose speech, neither in matter nor mea.
sure, was equal to his former efforts, was not happily in-
spired in seeking to imitate him. He did good service,
however, in his declaration that not a single conspicuous
supporter of the amendment has ever been known to
speak or write a word in favour of a comprehensive mea-
sure of reform. The Daily News remarks that it is the evi-
dent belief of the supporters of the amendment that the
more the debate is protracted the less the government
majority will become, and of course they are prepared for
all the consequences of such • result to themselves and to
their cause.

The Herald, after reviewing the debate, comes to
much the same conclusions as the Tines. Every op-
ponent of the bill spoke to the point, and all its defenders
wandered from the question. It acknowledges, however,
that Mr. Gregory's speech was rather too long, and adds
that the curiosity and attention which the utterances of
all the Adullamites at first excited in the house, has
merged in the anxiety to hear the two right hon. gentle-
men who are credited with the honour of having led the
way there.
The Advertiser is professional in its remarks. Last night
it says, Mr. Hartman " hit here, there, and everywhere,
I and each successive blow must have made itself sensibly
I felt. Mr. Housman proved himself on this occasion a
political pugilist of no ordinary capabilities. He possesses
I both the pluck and the 'science ' necessary to punish an
I opponent, as both Mr. Bright and Mr. Gladstone are coin-
! potent to testify from their individual experience. On
Monday night the member for Birmingham will doubtless
display a courage and vigour worthy of his great celebrity
when adjusting pugilistic accounts with the member fur
Stroud and some others who have sadly mauled him in the
course of the debat s."
The Telegraph says that the tones are much mistaken
in imagining that the country bounds its view with the
division which is now impatiently expected. The country
is very much inclined to agree with Lord Elcho, that the
house is a Pahnerstonian house, and not fit to be trusted
with reform. It waits to judg3 finally by the division
lists, but in no sense whatever can it be disappointed ;
for if the majority be insufficient for the fur-
ther progress of the bill, the people will attend
to the next necessary step ; and those who talk of an
address to her Majesty from the House of,Commons,
begging her to oppose the will of the people, talk of
servants turning their master out of doors—talk the only
real revolutionary language which has yet been heard
during the discussion.
The Star warmly congratulates Mr. Gower on his speech,
and almost pities Mr. Gregory, who sacrificed his position
i as a liberal without even the poor satisfaction of conserva-
, tive applause. The Scotch Solicitor-General's speech
is one of the finest yet delivered in the debate,
and the ministry had the best of the arguments
Vvroughout the night. Mr. Coleridge's address was
equally remarkable for candour and for robustness, for
truth and for ingenuity, for delicacy of manipulation and
for breadth and depth of liberal spirit.

Apiehunon be the wholo,dedy of the Nottingham petiffiris.
liass question whstffilha pineiples of the K 44111160-
shtution justify the doings of the Nottingham lambs was
fittingly followed up by the inquiry whether the privileges
of parliament sanation the premature eonelosious of the
London sheriffs' officers.