The Express.
London, England, 1858-09-18 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER lg, 1858.

all-important point of free and ample egress be
neglected—if, as the bulk of the building increases,
its entrances and exits diminish, these Manic Halls
will be little better than gigantic man-traps in
ewes of sudden alum. The catastrophe of the
Surrey-gardens Music Hall will be repeated,:at in-
tervals, in every town throughout the land. It is
high time that something were dame to the purpose
in this matter. The public ought to be effectually
protected against • danger which is at once
so serious, so thoroughly understood, and so
easily remedied. We have had warnings
•sough on the subject. Only a few years
ago not six, but sixty, youths were crushed to death
ea the stairs and in the narrow passage of a Glas-
gow Theatre. Yet, untaught by that terrible lesson,
how many of our London managers have failed to
provide their hostess with any effectual remedy
against the recurrence of such a tragedy under
similar circumstances. The gallery and pit entrances
I to many of them are so small and narrow, and some
indeed so artificially narrowed, d,at any sudden
alarm would almost inevitably be followed by fatal
results. The state of some of our public halls is
hardly much better. Exeter Hall, for example, is
in this respect very much like the old-fashioned
mouse-traps. It is easy to get in, but next to im-
possible to get out again in a hurry. The
only wonder is that it has not been the
scene of some terrible tragedy before now.
The fault lies with the architects and proprietors of
public buildings, and whenever any accident hap-
pens they must be prepared to share the blame
together. To make good entrances and broad stair-
cuss is more expensive, no doubt, both in space and
materials ; but each a consideration as this will not
excuse those who neglect to secure, In the best
manner, what is so essential to the public welfare.
In entering public buildings the public ought to
be guaranteed from every known and obvious
source of danger. We have often urged this before,
but as past warnings have not proved effectual,
it becomes our duty to urge it again.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

THE PRUSSIAN REGENCY.

(PROW 0111 OWN

BERLIN, FRIDAY.

It is stated on high authority that the Bing has
consented to appoint the Prince of Prussia co-
Regent, with unlimited power, and that the latter
accepts the position.
The Chambers are to be officially informed of the
arrangement, so that it is probable the Prince has
agreed to accept the constitution.

ITALY.

SARDINIA.
(nom 001 OWN 17011.11/PONDIIT.)

TURIN, Barr. 14.

The Augsburg Gazette stated the day before yes-
terday that Sardinia had sold the harbour of Villa-
franca to Russia. Other journals have repeated this
statement. The Frankfort Pat-Gazette is induced
by it to believe in a league between Russia, France,
and Sardinia, with a view to ruin the navigation of
the Austrian Lloyd's in the Mediterranean. I would
observe, in passing, that the rain of the Austrian
Lloyd has already taken place, for the government is
obliged every year to keep that company on its
legs by increasing its subsidy several mil-
lions. As for the port of Villafrancs,
the Morning Chronicle does not believe it is exactly
sold to the Russians, bat merely let to them for
twenty years. It nevertheless regards the fact as a
very serious one. lamin a position to give you the
most exact intelligence respecting it, and you may
place as much confidence in my statements as if they
were official. Before we possessed Genoa, Villa-
franca was the only military port of Sardinia; it
has large magazines, a good dockyard, good bar-
racks, and other establishments suitable for the
accommodation of ships of war. But when she
came into possession of Genoa, Sardinia thought
that two military ports and two arsenals were more
than her small navy stood in need of, so that Villa-
franca was abandoned. As the Rend= govern-
ment wee prevented by the treaty of Paris
from having military ports in the Black
Sea, it is without any maritime establishment
throughout the entire extent of the Mediterranean.
This is why Russia applied to Sardinia, and asked
to be allowed the use of the port of Villafranca. The
Sardinian government has refused to sell it, refused
to let it, refused any kind of engagement that might
seem to involve the leapt semblance of a claim upon
it, either temporary or in perpetuity. As a matter
of friendship alone, Sardinia permits Russia to have
a depot of coal, rigging, and equipment stores, in the
magazines and dockyard of Villafranca, for the repair
of any damage to her vessels of war. Sardinia did
not wish to refuse Russia what she did not refuse
ten years ago to the navy of the United BMtes of
America. In consequence of some differences be-
tween Spain and the United States, the latter power
was deprived of Port Mahon, that is, of those
very advantages which Russia is now asking
for, and when the Americans applied to Pied-
mont, they were granted the use of the
Varignano establishment in the Gulf of Spezia.
Now, when Sardinia resolved on removing her own
naval establishment from Genoa to Spezia, the

Americans were told that they could no longer
occupy Varignano. Just in the same way Sardinia
may to-morrow forbid Russia the privilege of using
Villafranca which she allows today. Perhaps you
will say, horrover, this act shows a singular partiality
for the court of St. Petersburg. Ido not wish to
contradict you. Sardinia is small, but she never-
theless feels herself called on by Providence to foster
the Italian cause. This drawe down upon her
the deep and increasing hatred of Austria,
who is still keeping under arms from four
to five hundred thousand men. It is therefore a
paramount necessity foe Sardinia to seek friends
wherever she can find them, and she thinks she his
found them chiefly among those who, like herself,
are the enemies of Austria.

Concerning political matters I have nothing
important to communicate, unless it be that at our
frontier on the side of Modena we have a constant
source of complaints and disturbances. In the prin-
cipality of Musa and Carrara, although the state of
siege has been removed, the oppression of the polio.
and the alienation of the people continue to be so in-
veterate that refugees flock almost every day to the
Piedmontese territory. With the good come the
bad, the wicked with the honest, all pursued alike—
the greater part of them so utterly destitute that
our government has great difficelty in making pro-
vision for them. This grievance has lasted for some
years, and the Sardinian government displays the
greatest forbearance and moderation, but some
months ago it found it expedient not merely to send
a note on the subject to the Marquis Forni, the
Foreign Minister of that Duchy, but to accompany
the act in question with a circular to the diplomatic
corps, setting forth the annoyance to which Pied-
mont was daily subjected through the wretched ad-
ministration of Modena, driving to desperation, as it
did, the inhabitants of Mama and Carrara. I am very
sorry to inform you that the above circular found no
favour whatever in the eyes of your diplomatists.
Lord Normanby, your representative at the courts of
Tuscany, Parma, and Modena, made a counter state-
ment, in which the facts were altogether disfigured,
but by which he endeavoured to prove that if
Mama and Carrara were disturbed the provocations
came from Piedmont. If I am correctly informed,
some other statements of his lordship, sent home to
your ministers after he had paid a few visits and
made inquiries in the two duchies, were of the same
tenor. From this incident you may '
edge how little
your diplomacy, in what regards Italy, feels disposed
to put itself in harmony with the public opinion I
of England, and how it endeavours every day to
lessen the faith that Piedmont is inclined to place in
your great and generate nation. The fact remains,
that in this affair of Musa and Carrara Austria has
been most circumspect and prudent. Desirous of
avoiding a dangerous conflict, she has advised (and
this means commanded) the Duke of Modena to
hasten the trials, and, after shooting a few persons,
to name the siege. The Duke has obeyed ; but what
good has it done ? The 'oviduct of his police is as
violent as that of the soldiery was, and so it will all
go on for a long time to come.
Leavieg this theme, let tut touch upon something
the. As we have been speaking of Austria, I will
mead= a circumstance that will enable you to see
in their true light the reforms and concessions made
by the Viennese government in Lombardy. Last
year the Archduke Maximilian, in consignee°. of
the diaelen caused by the inundations, granted a
subsidy of 40 thousand lire to the province of Lodi
and Pavia. Well, the largess in gaud= has been
eaneelled by the superior government at Vienna, and
the essmunes are mow ordered to repay the bounty.
It is my humble ;minion and belief that, If the Arch-
duke had imprisoned a good round number of
liberals, his order would not then have been counter.
mended. Be that sa it may, we can by this revooa-
don estimate at their proper value the powers con-
ceded to the august Governor. He cannot be very
much aided by the advice he receives occasionally
from the King of the Belgians, his father-in-law,
who now a second time has returned to see his
daughter ou the Lego di Como, where hie Majesty is
the guest of Duke Melzi. A.

EXPRESS FROM rAltlb.

(viols oux owx

PARIS, FRIDAY EVENING.
The/emu:sten of the Debata of yesterday is an
illustration of the disguises which French journal-
ists are obliged to assume when they wish to speak
unpleasant truths. A provincial subscriber named
Jean Louis Girand is supposed to send to the Editor
a copy of a letter enumerating certain roux or
motions, which he desired to have appended to those
wade by the Council General of hie department.
The original is, of course, supposed to have been ad-
dressed to the Council General in question. It begins
with an allusion to what the assembly in question
has done or tried to do for the department :

If, during next year, those gentlemen in Paris coattails
to seed se adulteented mann whioh fosters nothing but
weeds—tf our wine merchants fail in future to mark upon
the staves of their cants, in the largost possible letters, the
exact number of litres which our honks ought to oriatals—
if header matches still set firs to our hay-rieks—if oar roads
are belly mended—end if sport men sell pay a dotage tax
on dogs, of which they have forgotten to make a return—it
won't be your fault. Gentlemen, for my part, I return you
my thanks ; because I like to manure my land well—to
drink all the wine I pay for—to sleep o'nights without being
afraid of having my bents burned—not to be spilled out of
my market out—and not to be fined if I chugs to forget to
return my little terrier, Toby, to the assessor. All these
motions maks me easy—the more so, gentlemen, that their
sole object is the material welfare of onrdeparunent, whence I
hater that its moral condition must be perfect. And es I
see the motions of your colleagues throughout France are,
with soma half dozen exception., all the same, I have the
satisfaction of reflecting that it le the physical health alone
of our dear country which requires some little attention, end
that its moral health leaves nothing to slab for. This, I
must admit, occasioned me no Ins joy than surprise, so I
frankly tell you I had heard it was was slightly indisposed.
end we Gifted, area patriotic family.
He then enumerates a few of the social evils of
the day—especially the habit of extravagance, the
Hoarser, and its wild speculations. The state, he
says, should regulate its affairs on the principle of •
family. He reads us a wholesome lesson by de-
scribing his management of his own family, but he
fears the state does not yet follow his prudent
example.
The state has a surplur, se we often hear of an now of
receipt over expenditure. Is that surplus laid by ? Not
yet, as it appears. The surplua walks off without bidding us
good bye—end once gone— bonjour! But the state pro.
anises us that it will soon begin to lay by money. Well, let
us have faith, and patience, and not be too particular.
He next comes to the question of education :

The education of the people Here le the trite luxury to
which a nation should treat itself. Intellectual luxury is
the counterpoise of material luxury. . . . Our schools
are our sheet anchor. . . . In our colleges 11 all is not
very well, matters are better managed than they used to
be . . . but the grand point now is oohed' for the
people. I can understand visitors regardiag with wonder a
capital ccotaining endless streete—hoeses all new or re-
painted—boulevards like high-roads—gardems like parka—
barracks pals:me—end town-halls like churches. But,
gentlemen, how much grander a thing to contemplate is •
people that can reed end think I No country in Europe has
such splendid cities es ours—but there are many in which
souls are better cared for. What are those little chief toms
of Swiss cantons when compared with Park, Lyons, or Bor-
deaux P Bat, mark this 1 In Switzerland everybody has
been to school, and every preset of the volley—every shop.
hard of the mountain—is able to read the Bible with facility I
In Frans, on the contrary, there are thousands of com-
munes without schoolmasters, and there are twelve Milker
of adults who cannot read! In our canton alone—which le
by no means one of the worst on that score—the people of
the county themeless will tell you that half the boys, and
two-thirds of the girls, don't kno a the alphabet. When I
think of It my gorge rises. Foreigners are Milling folks,
they praise aloud our national magnificence, while they
chuckle in their Meese at our ignorance; and our neigh-
bour John Bull, who can reed, and write, and cipher, laughs
at Jacques Bonhomme, who has paid for palaces, while he
can't eves reed the names of hie great men when be sees
them on the pedestals of their statues. Even those of our
people who have letting reeding, writing, and
Nithmetio—lo they know what a people ought
; know ? To be sure, their brains are stuffed
oh a little stock of ready-made Mae. But are they taught
to think, and direst rightly their ideas P Is any attempt
made to develops In thew those notions of duty, and right,
and justice, and devotion, the germ of which is In every
soul, but which, if uncultivated, languish and die ? I meant
reproach their teachers; I pity, not blame them. They cm
only teach what they know themselves. Poor then! what
respect do they inspire ? What influence have they ? They
hardly earn bread to eat. And you talk, guildsmen, al
ameliorating the tot of the labouring cleanse. Begin by
bringing them up In the Cbriatim sense of that word I
don't mesa by that, Mese their labour. I don't
mean Inman their wages. I would free no man from the
' law of work—for work Is a blessing to mankind. It costa
us effort and trouble, and It brings us vigour and satlefactioe.
It hardens us, because it wearies us; sad became It is pain-
ful It is salutary. Theirs is s poor philosophy who dream of
&Meats, labour. It then ceases to be work, sod become
pleesars—lt becomes a merry companion lassoed of a herd
master.

After quoting two noble passages from Channing
on the moral and intellectual elevation of the
people, he concludes with some practical recommen-
dations, tending to that end, addressed to the mem-
bers of the imaginary Council General.

The ConstituTionn;l of this day comes out with
an article on the subject of the Conseil' Generenz
defending the present order of things. It is far too
heavy to have been suggested by the foregoing
" letter," but was probably retouched jpropos of it:
witness the following passage :

. -
la certain journals, the proposes of the Councils Goma
have bent criticised in an ironical tone ; the most meander,
regime have bass chiefly dwelt upon The ob-
ject of all this is to elide is certain project' of reform, se a
bait to catch the cantonal representatives. The idea of this
project i■ to call the departmental assemblies together three
or four times a year, to lengthen the period of thatr messiaL,
to draw up beforehead a programme of their leboeis, and
finally to allow them a little political diecudon—
for politics, they say, can do no harm In the
heart of the ehefs-lina, and eighty-eix lltde parliaments
thus engaged in controlling the wet of the authorities, dr-
maselfsig administrative !deems, remodelling the lave, and
_ .

perhaps oleo is re, kin the constitution, could not bat be
metal to the government ; sad noted realise to the full the
principle of deceetralisation.

The remainder of this article, evidently written
to order, is devoted to demolishing any hope which
may linger in sanguine breasts that a shred of poli-
deal power will be given to the only popular insti-
tution left in the country.
Irreverent hands have attempted to raise the veil
of mystery which yet shrouds the fate of Algeria
under the new regime. More especially has the
" to be or not to be" turned upon the question of
free trade. The new Minister is known to be like
his Imperial cousin and master, a free-trader; and
many persons, affecting to be well informed, have
ventured to affirm that, under one form or another,
free-trade principles will prevail. This morning
the Univers comes out in force on the subject, de-
claring that there is no need to introduce " the new
element of confusion" into the colony. It says,
mysteriously, that between this and the year 1861,
the term assigned by the Emperor for the ,
reign of prohibition, there is time to reflect upon the I
matter. It hopes " something may turn up."
"How," it asks, "if, when 1861 arrive., imps-
Anus circumstances should demand the maintenanes
of prohibition ?"--and ;certainly one pauses to think
how many things may intervene between the sup of
1858 and the lip of 1861. But what doss the
writer (M. Coquille) mean by this passage ?—" The
principle of protection is daily confirmed by name-
roue documents emanating from both England and
France." How from England? Is there such a
rare axis in England as a commercial protectionist ?

If so, he should be caught, killed, and mummified.
The next sentence, though false, is intelligible:

How many unreflecting people once led away by
the philanthropic mirage of fres trade, are now
convinced that it in a mere English manceuvre
to ruin French industry I The public has discovered that
England has two flags, that of free trade, which she waves
unceasingly, and that of protection, which she mimesis to
the best of her power, but of which she avails herself when-
ever her interests are mensoed with competition. Even in
India, which she genermuly throws open to nations who
don't want to go there, she defends herself by differential
tariffs against the importation of foreign produce simil►r to
her own. There is nothing sentimental is her policy; and
it is easy to see that free trade is nothing but the protection
of her commerce in disguise.

The version given by the Piedmontese Gazette of
the Villafranca lease affair, which I mentioned yes-
terday, is credited by the P , which remarks
that oar papers will now lose a promising theme of
invective, as they can no longer continue " to exhi-
bit to terrified John Bull the picture of a new
Sebastopol rising at Villafranca to command the
Mediterranean and threaten the liberties of Europe."
The Pays has private letters, which confirm this
account, and remarks that it is a matter which con-
cerns Austria much more than England. The Nord,
on this subject, after quoting the conces-
sion to the Americans at Spezia as a prece-
dent, observes that Piedmont has reserved to
herself the right, under certain contingencies, to
cancel the lease, though it is difficult to see how this
mends the matter, and says that to insist upon closing
the Mediterranean, after waging a bloody war to
open the Black Sea, would be in the last degree
inconsistent on the part of England. The Boer-
sirnhalls, of Hamburg, thinks the affair will form
the subject of diplomatic discussions. The Patrie
says the granting of the lease is a mere " friendly
act on the partof Sardinia towards Russia, than which
nothing can be more natural or easier of compre-
hension. Since the peace of Paris the most friendly
relations have existed between Sardinia and Russia,
and it was very natural that the Sardinian govern-
ment, being able at no inconvenience to herself to

afford Russia commercial facilities in the Mediter-
ranean, should readily do so."
The Augsburg GarAtte says the concluding ar-
rangements of the last Paris Conferences have been
satisfied by all the governments, and alludes to a fact
already mentioned, that England had proposed to
keep the protocols private, which proposal wu re-
jected. The same journal denies the truth of the
reports relative to a return to diplomatic relations
with Naples by France and England.
Ul.

and—to use a word coined
edation are in arms in Austria,

pro re nata-1

against the system of public insti action organised
by the Minister, Count Thun. We learn, that the
bishops have petitioned—or are about to petition—in
a body for its suppression. Something of the same
sort took place two years ago. To Rome in general
apply the Jesuits' motto :