The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-27 00:00:00

MISCILLANEOIIM TOPICS.

The Daily News, glancing at the case of a workman who
has been charged at Bow-street for using seditious language
while drank after having been teased about him nationality,
expresses a hope that more regard will be paid on all sides
to the mischief which idle talking and writing may do at
the present juncture. Abundant evidence is received
from Ireland of the difficulties which are being prepared
for us there by the insufferable tone in which the people of
that country are referred to day by day in the English
preen. At one time they are described as savages, at an-
other it is coolly laid down that they have no right to ex-
pect to be governed as other people are, in accordance with
their character and traditions. For those who can thus
speak and write, the only excuse that can be made is that
which has availed Michael Finity. They are excited, their
words are idle bravado, and they do not mean what they say.
The Standard taxes the Russian government with the
authorship of the Candian insurrection and with fostering
disturbances in the dominions of the Sultan generally. The
Russian government prevents all reforms, and then de-
nounces the Turkish government as incorrigible because it
does not carry out wholesale ones ; and it will continue
this policy of intervention and irritation, so long as it has
any room for hope that France m►y be won for its
schemes.

The Tinter quotes the friendly reception which Mr-
Dickens has encountered in America as a reply to those
who would have us believe that the Americans are so
many spoiled children, who must not be criticised in any
portion of their social or political life. They are no longer
in that stage of immaturity through which all great nations
peas. They read criticisms of America written five.and-
twenty years ago as we read Macaulay's aocount of the
state of the English people in 168.5. It is a former genera.
tion, almost another race, whose portraits they look upon.
The rough pioneer or adventurer has gone away two
thousand miles to the westward, and the cities are full of
travelled men and men of culture and refinement. Mr.
Dickens has been to Boston and New York, but they are
not the Boston and New York he saw before.

It appears from the Star that Mr. Mason, who was for-
merly an envoy from the Southern States in England, is
still a believer in the possibility of something like a re-
storation of the slave system in the Southern States of
America. An invitation lately was made to him by some.
body or other to go and settle in Jamaica, and the
quondam envoy of Secessia explains in the Virginia papers
the reason why he declines to migrate to the West India
island. He looks forward to a time " when the reckless
and unscrupulous party in power at Washington will be
overthrown, and the Southern States again remitted to
full and exclusive control over their respective populations
without foreign intervention." The re-appearance of Mr.
Mason above the outface of political life leads the Star to
ask what has become of other Southern defender. in Eng-
land. Where is Mr. Spence? Does Mr. Prioleau still
dazzle Liverpool with the splendour of Confederate re-
sources? Is the Index living yet? Where is Sir Humphrey
de Hoghton ?
Mr. Grant Duff's recent lecture at Peterhead on Conti-
nental affairs, despite the example of egotism. which it
contains, is filled, the Daily Neers says, with much that is
alike curious and valuable. But those who have the
knowledge which hie recommendations display ought not
t., shrink from hearty co-operation with others having
simllar objects. At the present time the liberal party has
rather too many free lances enlisted under its banners.
But it urgently requires the services of men who, sinking
personal predilections and prepossessions, are ready to de-
vote their unquestionable talent. to the furtherance of
the common cause. If men like Mr. Grant Duff could be
classed among the trustworthy aad indefatigable working
members of their party, it would not be long before the
cause of liberalism would again be crowned with the laurels
of victory.