The Express.
London, England, 1867-11-06 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDOL
_ .

DAT-:iicenivit, 8d 44 ..—..Afternoon, 914 Um.
1012. 3ma.

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6.

THE traveller who enters Oxford from the
north, passing down one of the fairest avenues
by which ever city was approached, comes upon
a noble monument, whose form has evidently been
suggested by an ELEAsoit cross at Waltham or
elsewhere. This is the Martyrs' Memorial,
one of the best works of Gummy SCOTT, com-
memorating the faith and sufferings of LATIMER,
RIDLEY, and Cemorza, who within a year wit-
nessed to the doctrines of the Reformation at the
stake. The Martyrs' Memorial was erected five
and twenty years ago, which apparently was not
a year too soon. It is doubtful whether
at any subsequent date the project would
have found the necessary support. Ecclesi-
astical Oxford does not often speak of the great
Reformers of the sixteenth century, and when it
mentions them it is much if a disdainful apology for
them is heard instead of an insult. Anglican
Bishops write books to deplore the Reformation
as a schism ; Church newspapers traduce their
personal character ; and associations are openly
formed to undo their work. It is no wonder that
to these people the Martyrs' Memorial is a scandal
en! an offence. They might, however, bear it
with a little more patience than they do, espe-
cially while they consent to remain members of
the Reformed Church of England, and to eat its
bread. Quiet laymen, who do their worldly
duty all the week, and say their prayers on
Sunday, may not know with what virulence
the memory of the great men who
were put to death for their share in reforming the
Church of England is pursued by those members
of that Church who have devoted their energies to
the destruction of every trace of Protestantism
within its borders. This week the chief organ
of the Ritualistic party examines the question
whether CRANMER and his brother sufferers were
really martyrs at all, and finds that the name is
far too glorious a one to attach to " such cha-
" :actors as history represents the Reformers to
" have been." It is further found that they have
no title to be so honoured, inasmuch as the
cause in which they suffered was not that of the
truth. Their position under MARY is said to re-
semble that of the Fenians of our own day, with
whose political principles theirs are also alleged to
coincide. In a loose sense it may be per-
missible to call them martyrs, as we say
colloquially that Mrs. This is a martyr to
the tooth►che, and Mr. That a martyr to the
gout; but that is all. The true view of
the case is thus stated :—" Such monuments as
" the so-called ' Martyrs' Memorial' at Oxford
" should be regarded merely in the light of
" silent witnesses to the nutjesty of the lair, and
" thus on a par with that other heap of stones
" which indicated to posterity the pine, where
" ACHAN suii•red in days of old."
There is no mistaking the school in which this
style was learned. Unbelievers have ceased to
write thus virulently against Christianity, and
Roman Catholics do not thus abuse Protestants.
It is the ribaldry of VOLTAIRE adapted to the
use of the youngest of Church parties. The
blindness of the fanaticism which compares
ACHAi—the type of the bad and selfish citizen,
who for the sake of a Babylonish garment and a
piece of gold brings woe upon his people
—with men who gave up life itself rather
than renounce their convictions, is conspicuous
enough. But let it be noticed how
thoroughly admiration for Rome can obliterate
the manly sentiments natural to an English-
man. When a party has got to reverence the
" majesty of the law" in executions in the name
of religion, there is no depth of slavery to which
it will not be easy to betray the country. It is a
serious thing that such a party should be rapidly
gaining ground among the clergy of the National
Church. If, however, they are to remain in the
Church of England, they must of necessity destroy
the credit of the Reformers. Their hatred of
CRANMER shows that they have not forgotten the
last words he addressed to those who came to see
him die—" And as for the Poez, I refuse him as
" CHRIST'S enemy, and ANTICHRIST, and all his
" false doctrine."

Ir is time for Englishmen to wake up. While
we in the south doze on, or grumble over our
butcher's bills and the badness of trade, the Scots
are quietly taking the lead in our most im-
portant affairs. Edinburgh must not be per-
mitted without a struggle to become the capital
of the kingdom. It is in Scotland that our most
eminent men are choosing to make their appear-
ance/. The greatest political gathering of the
season been held in Edinburgh. Thither the

CSCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER went to make
his most elaborate defence of the Government,
and there Mr. Lows has just delivered his
brilliant address upon education. The latest
news from modern Athens shows the northern mind
alert and vigorous as ever. Grace and vivacity
still accompany the strength and depth of the
Scottish character. A happy innovation by ono of
the Lords of Session, at the banquet given to
Mr. LOWE, is too important to be passed over in
silence. Our report yesterday recorded, after the
detail of toasts in honour of the throne and the
great institutions of the country, that "at this
" stage of the proceedings Lord NEAVEN addressed
" the meeting, partly in song and partly in recite-
" live, on the Origin of Species.' The matter
" and its style of delivery were very amusing,
" and created much mirth." Let a niche be at
once got ready for Lord Nzav Es in the British
Walhalla. That ancient who for two thousand
years has been celebrated because he brought Phi-
losophy down from Heaven to converse with men,
did but introduce an impostor, as Mr. LEWES
has clearly explained. But honour to the
man who leads Science to the table, helps her
to the turbot, and prevails upon her to sing a song
over the wine and walnuts. " Silence, pray, for
" Anthropology." " Gentlemen, Thermo-Dyna-
" mica will oblige." The priests of Science will
be truly such when they can literally take up their
chant. Here, at last, we have a test for the
thousand and one " views " which clamour for a
hearing. Can they be stated convivially, " partly
"in song and partly in recitative ?" We could
name a few subjects which we should like to see
subjected and confined most stringently to the or-
deal, and never permitted to appear unless their pro-
fessors can be warranted to "be very amusing,
" and create much mirth." The Social Science
Association, and a few other bodies that might be
mentioned, should look to it. There can be no
receding from the advance which Lord Navas
has established. If even Mr. DARWIN'S recondite
Doctrine of Species can be made amusing, Dr.
Dayssnusr and his large family are likely to have
a hard time of it.

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.
(THIS DAY.)