The Express.
London, England, 1859-03-26 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 28.

WREN the history of the present Parliamentary
struggle for power shall be epitomised by some
analyst of the Carlylian school, Act the fourth,
scene the first, of the serio-comio drama will probably
be heeded—" Rub it all oat, and begin again."
Sir STAFFORD NORTUCOTE opened the debate
last night by an attempt to prove that there was no
particular part of the Bill important enough to be
dabbed " the principle of the measure." There
was first the town freehold franchise: to this, as
proposed in the Bill, new conditions had, before last
night, been appended by its authors, materially re-
stricting its operation. Well, if these did not prove
sufficient he was not prepared to say that further
amendments might not be added. Whether they
were or whether they were not, the freehold clause
certainly did not, he said, contain the principle
of the Bill. Then there was the 60/. savings
bank franchise. There was no indisposition on the
part of the Government to hear and consider all that
might be said respecting the minimumof deposits they
had named; the sum might be altered in committee;
but whether altered or not, the sum was assuredly
no part of the principle of the Bill. Then there was
the provision conferring the franchise on lodgers who
paid eight shillings a week, which would directly
enfranchise a numerous and valuable section of the
working classes; bat, as bad been already said by the
BECRETART for the Cotorms, if eight shilliegs was
thought too high, " suppose we say six, that is a
" question for committee." Lod of all there was the
104 franchise in counties, which, if it had been pro-
posed like any other detail of the Bill, without •
word being said of uniformity, gentlemen opposite
could not, and would not, have objected to: if
in committee Mr. WALPOLE or Lord Joan RUSSELL
should persuade the House to reduce the town Iran
chile to 61., while that for counties was kept at 101.
it would be absurd to ask Ministers beforehand to
say that they would positively thereupon smother
their child and put an end to their own existence, or
else pall the existing House down. " Uniformity of
" franchise was not a quack medicine like MORISON'S
" pills, puffed off as a cure for all disorders, or a new-
" tangled idol set up to be worshipped at all hasard
" and cost. Let them go into committee, consider
" the questioo, and see if they could not get rid of it

one way or the other, for neither in this lay the
. _ .

" principle of the Bill."
The SECRETARY to the Taxsotztv did not
actually declare in so many words that the
Bill contained no principle at all ; nor did he
venture specifically to announce what many have
suspected from the first, that its essential ingredient
was en approved preparation of legislative india-
rubber. But this was about the upshot of sinuous
and shifty argumentation. Didactic in delivery,
and not particularly dexterous in conception,
his performance was evidently distasteful to
the slow-minded squirearchy behind him, who felt
a vague suspicion that something new and unplea-
sant was preparing for them which, if they were
ultimately to swallow, they might as well not sit to
see mixed by the inexpert youth at the counter.
So country-gentlemanhood slowly put on its hat and
went to dinner, little suspecting that which it
refused to attend to was a new move by which to
save what they thought all but lost.
It were waste of time to dwell upon the common-

places that followed. Mr. CARDWELL and Mr.
STUART WORTLET are very well read and very well
meaning men, but they were ;obviously not in the
secret of what had half happened, end was about to
be finished ere the evening clewed. By the time the
country gentlemen had come back from dinner the
opportunity was ripe; and Lord PALMERSTON rose.
Every one knew he was pledged to vote for the
amendment which condemned the Bill as inadequate;
and Government knew that he all along meant to
vote for the second reading. He now declared
openly that be meant to do both. Oa the whole, be
thought the measure by no means a badoce; it might
be amended a little, no doubt, in committee, perhaps
a good deal ; but that could only be matter of detail
and degree, so that he saw no reason why the House
should not set about it in earnest. Let them paw;
the amendment as a direction to the committee, or a
general flourish in f►vour of Whiggery as against
Toryism, and that would do. As foe the notion that
Lord Joules resolution was to be deemed a vote of
censure, he for one had never agreed to
support it upon any such understanding. He
was willing to snub her 111siesvv's Ministere—
not to oust them ; he had no objection
to help Lord JOHN to frighten them out of their wits,
provided his noble rival did not succeed in forcing
them out of their places. There must be no mistake
upon that point. They need not resign, they ought
not to resign, and, in plain English, they must not
resign • for if they did, it was quite clear what would
come next, and that, he had made up his mind,
should not be. As for a dissolution, it was really
not to be thought of. They need not dissolve; they
ought not to dissolve; and, in short, they must not
dissolve. Was not this Hoes. of Commons hie own
House of Commons, the Hoes. he had peeked for
himself, and packed so well that it would certainly
pass a smaller and safer Bill than any other which
was likely to be elected for many a day to come ?

This wag, therefore, the House to keep, and her
)Wen's kiloliters were the men to keep, until

some sort of a Bill was passed, whose pessicg,
no matter what it contained, would have the effect 11
of liberating himself, and others on his side of the
House, from their pledges, long since repented of, in
favour of some further Reform, and so put an end to
their only remaining difficulty as to the future. mu.
has Lord PALMERSTON virtually brought the party
game to an end. Shored the resolution be pressed
to a dirision it will of mums be carried ; but, as a
party more, the interest is over. A blind impa-
tient to seize upon office may prompt men like
Lord SUNLIT of ALDEILLT% brother to fin

random shots, or to lead forlorn hopes against the
Treessmy, *nth ; but the heavy battalions who
follow Lori Pausartwrott's lead have got the mot
d'urdre to ground their arms.

When, several days ago, we expreseed oar deep
regret that the earnest chiefs of the Liberal party
had not met the Ministerial Bill by a broad and
intelligible exposition of their principles, we were
told by many wise friends that we were mis-
taken. Day after day we have not ceased to urge
the unfurling of a flag which the country might see
and understand, but we were assured that to tempo-
rise wu better, and that for the sake of compelling
reluctant adhesions and swelling a nominal majority
on a division it was better to say nothing definite as to
the future. The result is now before na, and we feel
that we were too right.

THE tone and manner of the leading speakers on
the Opposition side of the House in their occasions
apostrophes to the Treasury Bench have been no.
commonly like a police magistrate reprimanding an
intended cue of felo de se. The indignation is sin-
cere, for it is dictated in both cues by a religious in-
stinct of self-preservation,and bye proper respect for
the sacredness of life. It is difficult to separate the
awful from the ludicrous in the juxta-position of a
human body rescued from eternity by the strong arm
of temporal law, and sentenced to ha•d labour for
the crime of attempting to get out of the
ugly scrape of hunger and poverty. But
when the attempt at suicide is a sham,
and carefully committed within easyreach of philan-
thropic drags, and of a policeman, who is taught to
treat death by any other process than legal sus-
pension u a misdemeanour, the ludicrous element
prevail., and we deal with the candidate for
"a watery grays" se a vulgar mendicant, and
punish him ea an aggravated species of " cadger."
Now, let us suppers that Lord PALMEISTON is the
police magistrate, and that her Marini's Govern-
ment are the intending suicides. I will be
drowned, and nobody shall save me, cries the
Ministry, with truly Irish sincerity; and Lord PAL•
MZEOTON, with the malicious dexterity of an officer
of the Humane Society, throws out hie drags, lands
the "cadger" on the bank of the Committee, not
without the marks of the grapples on his back, and
lectures him severely on the awful crime of self-murder.

Lord PALMERSTON was in his best mood and tem•
per, and spoke with all ,the buoyant vigour and
sparkling animation of his pre-historic days, when
he was a promising young Tory. With a voice se
rich and clear as the clarion of youth, and the keen
zest of an ardent novice in public life, he re-mewed
the Government as to the dikinterested motives of his
noble friend the author of the Resolutions, and pro-
tested, with the most winning bonhomie, 'Phut
the strange supposition that Resolutions conceived in
so indulgent a spirit, and framed in language so
moderate as to amount to nothing more than a
reversal of the original measure, could imply a vote
of censure on the promoters of the Bill, or render it
unfit for revision in Committee. The effect on all
ides of the House of this doctrine was doubtful
hat intense. In the Ministerial ranks a puzzled and
mystified satisfaction—among the Liberal majority a
suppressed sensation of relief, with here and there
a subdued pang of disappointment or a vague
air of surprise. Lord Jolt& was, of course,
charmed to be relieved by the highest and friendliest
authority from the odious charges of seeking
0 political aggrandisement and private advantage,"
and to find the Resolutions, which malignity bad
labelled " Poison," recommended to Ministers a, a
beneficial tonic and a harmless alterative. Inde-
pendent Reformers were of course delighted to hear
that a dissolution was impossible ; and expectant
Liberals were equally delighted to be told that
resignation was rather a duty for them, than for
the gentlemen in possession. What can be more
cheering than the present state of party politics? It
is no secret that the Tory Government has a minority
in the House, and certainly net a majority
in the country ; but in taking to the Whig
stables it accepted the Whig "engagement',"
and entered for the Reform Stakes. It is
obviously incumbent on the present Government,
under peculiar circumstances, to stick to their
seats, and to execute the will of the Liberal party,
whether expressed in simple Resolutions affirming
opposite principles to their own, or in a aeries of
amendments in committee. Scandal and exposure
WITI-never do: let us settle the question amicably ;
we will make the child, and you shall father it. And
thus the game of No child of mine is to end in a
mutual " settlement" of the Tory Reform bantling,
before it is big enough to cry.

EN Court.

OSBORNE, NAlcit 26.

Her Majesty and the Prince Consort, accompanied
by Prisons Helink rode on horeebatk yesterday afternoon.
Major-General the lion. Sir James Scarlet& and the Rev.
Gimp) Prothero had the honour of dining with her lasjesty.

A deputation on the pubjrel of the Sale of Potions Bill bed
aa intrewiew with Mr. Secretary Eatcourt yesterday, at the
Home-oitle•. The deputation consisted of Meow. George
Waugh and G. W. Sacdford, and the secretary, Mr. Brea-

ridge:
Despatches were receive,' yeaerilay et the Colonfol.office
from rho Governor of Malta end the Lord High Commie-
eitm•r of the loetsn Wands. Despatches were sent to the
Goventurs of the Neerla American provinces sad Bermuda.

Lord and Lady Lyndhurst were honoured by
the company of bin Heys! Highteu the Doke of Cambridge
at dinner lest main, at their residence In George -street.
The Marchioness of Londonderry, the Earl firsavale, the
Comtism of &Men aad Lady Cecilia Molyneax, Lord
Dunkellin, the Hon. Mr. Caltherpe, Colonel knaves%
sad Col anal the Hon. James Maulonsld, in attendance on
the Duke of Cambridge, were among the guests.
The Earl and Countess De La Wart have gone to
anckhurst for a few days. The noble nut VIII he In town
to receive her Majesty oa the remit of the court from Os.
horse next week. _ _

The Earl and Lady Constance Grosvenor have
arrival in °warenx•equate, franc Calmly Park,
Chabire.

The Earl and Countess Nelson and family have
arrived in town from Trafalgar House, Wilts, for the seams.

The Earl and Countess Howe have left CUTZ,

Hoar for °pall HAI, Leicetterthige.
The Earl of Chesterfield has taken a mansion in
Grosvenor-pave Lr the eeeeoe.

Viscountess Palmerston has issued cards for ao
aeseembly on Wolneadsy next, at Cambridge How*.
Viscount and VillCollolMil Doneraile entertained
' • " '

a alert circle at dinner at their re•tdeece, Park-line, Let
ermine.
Lord Ossalston has mired at Claridge's Hotel,
from ChiHingham Castle, Northumberland.
Sir William and Lady Middleton have arrived at
their residence in Grosvenor-place, from Shrubland Hall,
eaff4k, foe the mason.
Sir Thomas and Lady Arabella Hesketh have left
Claridpht Hotel, of a visit to the Earl of Pomfret.
The Speaker will hold his fleet levee this evening,
at half-put ten o'clock, at his official resident, in the new
PsLes id Westmins'e•..

-
The following offioere are to constitute the re-
ovoidal; commirsion —Liett...Gett. Lord Bottum, presideat ;
Meier-Osn. Forator, Doputy Adju ant. Goiter.' ; Coketel Air
A. M. Tokio* K.C.8., of the Penioner Force; Colonel J.
T. Ladle. C. 8., Bombay Artillery, now counaseding the
Indira Doped at Wail.),; Colossi D. Buell, C.B ,
epee*/ Field Ofibtr, Loudon Beerniang Diatriet; Carmel
0. entitle, tithe Sad Wiwi York Militia; and P. Bleakbern,
Pas, M.P. for &Li*.

itIaPRESS FROM PARIS.
Moositeur of to-day oontaine the following :

" Count Chaseeloup flubat hu been appointed
Minister for Algiers and the Colonies.
" The 3rd, 4th, 12th, sad 24th Regiments of the
Liss, intended to form part of the African army,
have received orders for their departure, and will be
in Algiers in the commencement of April."

MOW 0111, OWN COIRUPDXDINT.)
PARIS, FILIDAY ETZNINO.

The Moniteur has attained a reputation for equi-
vocation which it will not soon lose. In its recent
long articles there have been plenty of ambiguities
patent, but in the two lines in which it announces
the adhesion of Austria to the congress latent am-
biguities of very serious moment are suspected to
lurk. Has Austria agreed to the congress uncon-
ditionally ?—and if otherwise, are her conditions
accepted by France ?—all this is left in the dark
by the Moniteur. But the telegraph brings
wind both from Berlin and Vienna that the
acceptance is conditional, and mentions some
conditions which have a very serious aspect. In the
first place, the Out Deutsche Post, a semi-official
Vienna journal, says that the first condition of
Austria joining the congress is that Piedmont shall
discontinue her armaments. This might be a very
admissible condition if Austria were prepared to
reduce her force in Lombardy, bat of that not a
word is said. Then Austria insists that the new
congress is to be governed by the principles laid
down in the last congress of Aix-la-Chapelle. What
these principles are I am not at this moment able to
say, and the Paint(' I find pleads the want of the text
at the moment of going to prow as a reason for
reserving its opinion. But it is enough to know
that that protocol was signed by the ill-omened
names of Metternich, Castlereagh, and Capo d'lstria
to doubt very seriously whether its doctrines can be
acceptable for present purposes. It is supposed that
Count Cavonr is coming to Paris to consult with the
Emperor as to the terms upon which Piedmont is to
be admitted to take part in the congress ; but con-
siderable anxiety is felt on the subject. Whether the
Emperor his sent for him in a pacific or a warlike
spirit is a subject of great doubt. The Slide avows
a belief that nothing will come of the congress
Accidentally turning over a file of the P this
morning, I was struck with the following passage in
the number of Jan. 24 :

What result could be hoped from a congress? Would •
congress render to Italy the liberty for which she sighs?
There is the whole question—sad the answer can only be fa
the negative. A congress would do nothing more they
adjourn a digitally which would soon start up again more
materraseing and more teniLle than ever. The utmost that
• congress can do le to plaster over a rotten edifice, which
must fall to piecos with the first breath of a popular move-
ment.

It is instructive to recur to this paragraph on the
day when the Moniteur simultaneously announces
the adhesion of Austrio to the congress and the
arrival in Pat is of Count Civour. When the P
spoke so disparagingly of a congress, it was the
organ of Prince Napoleon and his new Sardinian
connexions. The journal has since changed hands,
and retains nothing of its former individuality but the
name. Have the opinions of their former patrons
undergone a corresponding transformation ? That
'3 very doubtful, to say the least of it.
Among the latest news of this evening I find the
following paragraph :
The war department has just given father and rely large
order* for Woozy clothing. The cowmen; previously made
are la course of exenttion. The manufectare of the now
arms with which all the regiments are to be provided is
going on actively. 400,000 new muskets are spoken of.
I hardly know whether or not to rank as a symp-
tom of peace, the abandonment of an ex officio pro-
secution against M. Felix Germain, whose pamphlet
pleading the cause of peace somewhat too warmly
(as it was considered) was seized a few days ago.

Concurrently with this =titmice, I learn that the
• •• • • -

writer in question has been prohibited from con-
tributing to the Bulletin, de Paris, a lithographed
correspondence, to which he had recently given a
pacific impulsion.
The Bourse has lost all the ground that it gained
yesterday. The news of the adhesion of Austria
appears to have been completely "discredited" yes-
terday, and the speculators on that event showed
an almost unanimous disposition to realise their
small profits as soon as possible. The visit of Count
Cavour was next anxiously discussed, and a fall of
_ _

in Consols contributed to shake confidence. The
Rents fell 30c. for cub, and 40c. for account, closing
at 68fr. 90c. and 88fr. 80c. Mobilier fell Bfr. 26e.
With the exception of the Northern, which rose
Ur. 23c., the railways were from 2fr. 60c. to 6fr.
lower.

A letter from Rome states that when the Marquis
d'Azeglio waited on the Prince of Wales to present him wish
the collar of the ceder of the Aannuciado, he found his royal
higheere decked out with the insignia of the Golden Flea,
which the Emperor of Austria had tent to him on the previ-
ous day
The Prince Regent of Prussia having on Tuesday,
the 22nd, entered on his 63rd year, hie royal highness Be-
-1 creed In the morning the elegretula.ions of the royal
family, of the distinguished personages now in Berlin, ate
sainistre, great dignitaries of state, Ac. In the evening
Prince Frederick William and all the ministers gave grand
dinners in honour of the day ; all the members of the Cham-
ber of Deputies, without distinction of party, dined together,
as did else the members of the munk'pality ; and the Prince
Regent had a geoid with. In the d.rytime the grea'er part
of the houses of the capital were decked out with flay, and
at night were Meminstel.
The Marquis d'Azeglio had an audience of the
Pops on the 17th.
At Rome, on St. Patrick's Day, the Prince of
Wales drove to visit the Irish friars of St. Iddore, and the
members of the Irish c Alva at St. Agatha, between the
hours of religions service, wearing a large bunch of sham
rock in his Mr ta-bele, in commemoration of the national
festival. The prince left the friars, whoa Institution fa
en'iroly dependent upon charity. a generous souvenir of his
via t. At the college his royal high's. al bad an interview
with Archbishop Culla, who attended the prince to the
door upon lila departure.
M. Miani, member of the Geographical and
Scientific Society of Paris and President of the cambric*
which Is to proceed to the sources of tie Nib, has arrived at
Marseilles to embark fur Egypt. The French government
has placed at his disposal all the internments necessary for
his excursion.
The Duchess of Genoa, who has been since 1858
marrkd morganatically to the Marquis Outran°, aide-de-camp
to her Ire hrublud, arrived two days bock at Lynda, and
on the following day continued her journey to Dresden.
The Maharajah Daleep Singh is still in Rome,
std is going to have We bust mantel by Mr. Gibson, who,
although he has virtually ebendone I that branch of the
reutptorial art, has consented to m eke an eiceptlon in favour
of the young Indian prince, by transferring hie handsome
features to impi rideable marble.
CHESS TOERNAVENT I.r PARM—The chess ama-
teurs of the Café de la Regenee have arranged a tourney on
an unusually lave scale, the proceeds of which will be
devoted to the giving of Oh to Mr.Morphy.wlun the marble
bust of him by that ta'ented sculptor, M. 'Aquae, will, it
L said, be crowned. More than oae hundred gentleman
have Mae. Pe I their named on the list of compeitors who
contend (under lice direction of a coarnittar, presided over by
M. Legane) in five separate clam of different strength in
ptay. In the fire, we find many well-kown sarnee-111. de
Martin St. Leon, Journoud, Bradaharry, Laroche,
oesas, Re. In the second, Messrs. Polio'', Prod, Goibert,
Delaney, Boehm., Se. The conqueror in each class will
be piled eventually against the young champion, who le to
gore adds to all se vrding to areengemint. Tee result wal
be leaked fer doebtla with no little introits, and we shall
therein Ws etre to report the wpm made.—Era.