The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-19 00:00:00

FREE TRADE TN STREET CARS.

The Daily News contends that the result produced by
leaving job-masters and coach-builders alone to manage
their own concerns, is satisfactory enough to illustrate the
propriety of extending a similar freedom to cab. Free
trade in horses and carriages jobbed for the year, the season,
the month, or the day, has succeeded in creating a supply
so absolutely suited to the demand for such carriages,
that we have the best and cheapest hired carriages in
the world. Why, then, should not free trade be ex-
tended to carriages let by the hour or by the mile ? Why
should not cab proprietors be allowed to become as thriving
and prosperous men as job-masters, some having ► thou-
sand pairs of well-fed horses in wholesome stabling, with
pleasant farms for lame cattle to get well, and snug
country houses for themselves, and round balances at their
hankers ? Many people who cannot afford to job a car-
riage even for one day would be often very glad to have a
decent and clean conveyance for an hour or two : and
there is no doubt whatever that our cabstand' would be
crowded, on fine days particularly, with light open and
close carriages of a far better class than those now seen
there, if their drivers were suffered to make their own
bargain with those who wanted them. Moreover, the new
cabs with higher fares would in no way interfere with the
cabs now running, which might continue to ply at their
present low fares, or even lower ones : for the new cus-
tomers would be principally people who now do not use
street cabs at all.

lU9 TOPICS.

The Times reminds us of the manner in which our eiffi•
culty with Abyssinia first arose, namely, partly from
official, partly from unofficial acts. Mr. Plowden, our
first consul at Maixowa, himself reported on the useless.
ness of his commission : but he was a friend of King Theo-
dore, and when be was killed the King gave him a proof
of devotion in slaughtering 1,500 persons in revenge for
his death. To the continuance of the consulate, however,

the King showed the strongest opposition, ordering Mr.
Cameron to Massowa, and seeking by every means to dis-
courage him in his milt/ion. After this Mr. Cameron went
on his own responsibility into the interior, interposed in
dangerous broils, and delayed forwarding a letter to the
Queen from Theodore. Then, contrary to the advice of
all competent persons, Mr. Rassam was sent as inter-
cessor, the King detained every one who went to him, and
in this state matters remain. With no intention of
espousing the cause of King Theodore, the Times thinks it
plain that the fault of this deplorable contention does not
rest exclusively with him.
Though the new conflict in America will not perms,
neatly hinder the policy of Congress, it may, the Daily
Noes observes, postpone the completion of Southern re-
storation. Mr. Johnson's impeachment would be so dan-
gerous as ► precedent that it will only be resorted to in the
last extremity. But one thing is quite certain. Congress
will not trust Mr. Johnson again. We shall certainly not
witness any more considerable adjournments during Mr.
Johnson's administration. Every time Congress has
trusted him he has abused the trust. Henceforth it must
either watch hint itself, or leave a committee on guard
with power to call it together whenever its presence is re-
quired at Washington.
The letter of Signor Matzini to the Peace Congress gives
the Herald a fresh opportunity for mirthful comments
upon the late gathering. There was one honest man there,
it concludes, Giuseppe Garibaldi ; and one honest man
absent from it, Giuseppe Massini. But as for the honesty
of most of their noisy disciples, either at it or away from
it, the Herald is inclined to classify it with " leather and
prunella," and dismiss it to the domain of—" equivoca-
tion."

To the Star it u painful to find a man like blazzini
adopting and echoing the absurd and ignoble charges which
certain classes in this country bring so constantly against
the Cobden and Bright school. One might have expected
better from a thinker and a politician whose isolated and
independent position in this country ought to secure him
a clear and impartial view of the realities of our political
life. War that we may have liberty is Signor Manini's
motto. Peace that we may have liberty is the motto of
the school he denounces.

The Standard lauds Mr. Forster as having the very rare
merit of being a radical with whom it is possible to confer
on common national grounds. As to the sentiments of his
late speech, the Standard cannot desire a better tribute
to the wisdom of the conservative policy, than that it
pleases all aides, and that it is thought such a great piece
of work that everybody must needs claim the paternity of
it. If the bill is what the liberals want, and what the
conservatives bavc approved, we can only congr►tulate
ourselves upon this most singular and happy agreement.

The Southampton papers record the death of
Mr. Lefeuvre, the leader of the conserv►tive party in that
town. He was a magistrate, ► deputy-lieutenant, a trustee
of several Southampton charities, and the Belgian Consul
at that port. For many years he held there the office of
Vice-Consul for France. He was the last mayor previous
to the passing of the Municipal Corporations Act, and was
one of the three surviving freemen of the borough. Mr.
Lefeuvre had been three times mayor of Southampton.
Dioczas or Cuesren.—The rectory of Wallasey,
Cheshire, vacant by the death of the late Rev. Frederic
}leggin, M.A., has been offered by the Bishop of Chester
to, and been accepted by, the Rev. Thomas Espinell Espin,
R. D., one of his lordship's examining chaplains, rector of
Hadleigh, Chelmsford, and Professor of Theology in, and
Warden and Vice-Principal of, Queen's College, Binning.
ham, formerly tutor and fellow of Lincoln College,
Oxford.

lIMULAND RIFLE MISOCIATION.—The Highland
Rifle Association's oompetitioai commenced at Inverness
on Monday. On Wednesday a competition with small-
bore rides took place between most of the best shots in
England and Scotland for the president's prize, at 200,
NO, 800. and 1,000 yards. The Hon. J. Gordon, brother
of the Earl of Aberdeen, made 21 bull's-eyes and two
centres, but missed the last shot Corporal J. Fraser,
Inverness, scored 20 bull's-eyes and four centres.

- ---
REFORM MEETING AT DUNDEZ.—A- reform meet-
ing was held in the Kinnaird-ball, Dundee, last night.
There was a good attendance of working men, and speeches
were delivered by Mr. Beales and Mr. Ernest Jones. Mr.
Beales, in bis address, expressed the hope that the move-
ment for reform would proceed in spite of the attacks of
venal reviewers, political buffoons, and ,lelirions Chelsea
philosopher,. He closed by attacking Thomas Carlyle and
advocating the ballot. Resolutions in favour of Scotch re-
form equality with England were passed unanimously.