The Express.
London, England, 1867-07-30 00:00:00

Che erpreoo.

THE

great masses who are interested in great questions,
we would rather not be forced to contemplate.

THE House of Lords is once more called to de-
cide upon the course it will take upon a Bill for
the Abolition of Church Rates. The measure
which will shortly be offered to it for a second
reading is the same which it has before rejected,
but it reappears because no other remedy has been
found for a flagrant evil. It is well known that a
majority of the Peers are hostile to the Bill, but
as much might have been said of other measures
which they pass from a sense of public duty. The
question of Church Rates has occupied some of
the best minds in both Houses of Parliament for
many years past, and while the result has been
to exhibit the incapacity of our legis-
lators to harmonize the compulsory levy of con-
tributions with the state of society, it cannot be
said that the continuance of the present law is not
productive of evil consequences to the Established
Church. Some of the Peers will no doubt con-
eider this subject as Englishmen ; but most will
no doubt approach it with the feelings of Church-
men. So far as they are wise, they will not
fail to ask themselves who has most to
gain by keeping this question, with all its
collateral issues, before the public. The
Times advises them to allow the ques-
tion the advantage of " a year's more considers-
" tion." But it has had many years' considera-
tion already, and has had nothing else. In the
Commons the party of compromise has abandoned
its attempts, not because compromise was resisted
by Dissenters, but because no practicable scheme
could bo devised. Under these circumstances the
proposal of new schemes of compromise in Church
Rates at this period of the session would inevit-
ably wear the appearance of a device to secure
delay ; and those who should promote it
would be bound to consider the probable
effect of such a policy upon the future
course of the controversy. The Ti,eca, which
now argues that before passing this Abolition Bill
something ought to be done to keep the Dis-
senter out of the vestry, is the only journal
which objected to his exclusion when Mr. GLAD-
srose proposed to accomplish that object. Our
contemporary argues that the evil is " sponta-
" neously curing itself by the judicious discon-
" tinuance of litigation for the recovery of Church
" rates." It is to be hoped that the Lords will
not be misled by a statement than► which nothing
could be more unfortunate. We are continually
asked to report cases of seizures for Church Rates,
and sales by auction of confiscated goods, and at
the present time there is lying in Whitecross-
street Prison a tradesman who is detained there in
conseqrence of having unsuccessfully resisted a
Church Rate. If the general cessation of levies in
large towns is referred to, the plea is nothing to
the point, since one of the principal objects of the
Arti Church Rate movement is to protect the Non-
conformist in the small towns and villages. It is
now several years since a Select Committee of the
Lords reported in favour of the exemption of
Dissenters from payment of Church Rates, and if
after so many delays the /settlement of the ques-
tion is still to be postponed, it ought to be on the
clear understanding that in the meantime the
compulsory powers of the existing law should not
'oe exercised.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.
Aviwthentente Intended for " The Ripreea," London Ironing
lOV:moat be at the Odic*, 10, Bouverieotreet, by Two
h on the dui of publication.

DRURY LANL
THIS Remain, TEAT RASCAL JACK. Mean. Rouse and
Neville Mesdames Albino and Thompeon.—To conclude with
THE GREAT CITY. Hewn Cowper, M'lntyre. Villiers, Irving,
Reuse, Mt:James. & Warner; Madames Robertson de Le There.

RATH ARK ET.
Ting EYlNnia THE LOVE CHAhI. Messrs Chippendale.
Howe. Rogers. Kendal, Clarke, Weathereby, etc.. Mesdames
Sedgwiet, Chippendale, Burke, de—TO PARIS AND BACK
FOB Ea.—And THE RIFLE, AND HOW TO USE IT.

'lemur&
Tm! 110Tarao, THE DAY AFTER THE WEDDING.—THE
'IdAS 0' AI ELIE. James Harebell, Mr. Herman Veda; Messrs.
K. Price, Forrester, Gresham, Maclean, and Marion Misses E.
Stuart, Nell, Moore, dc.—And THE CLOCKMAKILICB HAT.

aw.
THU EVINDIG, REVERSES. M n)arra Emery. Parsons, Rob-
son, and Swanborough : Madmen Ada Swanboroagb and John.
atone.—Ant THE LATEST RDMON UP IRA MAVOLO.
Messrs. Morns dt James ; Mesdams Holt, Newton, An

BIUTANWI A.
Tirn ERWIN, SCARLET DICK ; OR, THE ROAD AND In
RIDER.s --Stesart.WoSainson and Craven ; Mr. B Mn. Wadi*:
the Champion Skaters—And JACK 0' LANTERN ; OR, THE
RACECOURSE, AND THY BLUR RIBBON Or THE TURF.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRYDOL
rags DAT —Morning. Ob. tha......Afternoon,
Tallottow—liorolqg, lk 2[l. Ls.

LONDON, TUESDAY, JULY 30.

Tue Hyde-park Bill lay for two months on
the table of the House of Commons, and just
before the discussion on the second reading
Government has afforded a fresh instance of
their want of a policy by withdrawing it
and proposing an entirely different measure.
There is not a single clause of the original
Bill which survives in the new one except the
formal saving of all prerogatives of the Crown.
The very title is metamorphosed from that of
"The Meetings in Royal Parks Aot, 1867," to
"The Parks Regulation Act, 1867."
But when we pass to the provisions of tho new
measure it cannot be said that they are such an
improvement as to reconcile us to the substitu-
tion, or to recommend the measure to the ac-
ceptance of the Liberal party. What vestiges
of liberty were reserved in the first
have disappeared from the second. The original,
scheme contemplated that meetings might be held
by special permission of the Crown ; the amended
proposition, in deference to the constitutional
timidity of Mr. NEATE and Mr. NZWDEGATE,
withdraws this possible license. On the other
hand, there is a laxity of language in the second
which may lead to some curious and unexpected
consequences. The first forbade all meetings of a
public character, which certainly would have ap-
plied to the celebrated betting-ring ; the second
forbids only meetings " for the purpose of making
" any political or religious demonstration, or for
" holding any political, religious, or other public
" discussion," which as undoulnedly fails to M-
ende moothig.o for the purposes of public gambling.
It may, indeed, be doubted whether a gentleman
so ingenious as Mr. Beitr.s has proved himself to
be may not discover that a single speech can hardly
be called a discussion, and that therefore meetings
to hear him cannot be prevented. And certainly
the preachers in the Parks may well argue that
since an ordinary service in a church could not be
designated either " a religious demonstration " or
a " religious discussion," it would be unwarrant-
able to put down their sermons on the sward
under either of these appellations. But if we
advert to these loopholes, it is only to point out
that the severe intentions of the Government have
been but ill-represented by the blundering of their
law officers who have penned the Bill. The pur-
pose of their measure is obvious—it is to deprive
the public of London of any place except the
streets, in which they can meet to show to the
governing classes the numbers who desire an
amendment in any of our laws ; and evidence
of their determination is found in the fact
that, whereas the contravention of the first
measure was dealt with as sufficiently punished
by a fine of 10f., or a month's imprisonment, the
offence under the second is raised to the rank of
a misdemeanour, and is thus subject to be visited
with a far heavier and indefinite punishment.
But this is a course which the commonsense of
the country will not long endure. If it should
happen that "pressure from without" is never
henceforth needed, there will be no occasion for
putting the Bill in force, for no one will wish to
make demonstrations in the Parks. But if it
should be the case that in some future year there
are made the same assertions respecting popular
feeling as were made last year, if it shall be
gravely maintained in Parliament that some mea-
sure is not desired by the country because there
have been no meetings in its favour, or because
the meetings have been slight in character, there
may then arise a necessity to give visible proof
that such assertions are unfounded. But upon
such occasions it cannot be pretended that the
metropolis ought to have no opportunity of show-
ing its wishes. If some thirty or forty thousand
men in it find a necessity to arise for showing that
there are so many of that opinion, it is unreason-
able and unconstitutional to impede them. The
question then becomes narrowed to the considera-
tion of the most convenient place. Mr. Manama
and Mr. HARDY argue that Primrose-hill is quite
convenient enough. But they choose to forget
that the necessity of an open-air meeting consists
in the necessity of making a visible exhibition of
numbers and earnestness, and that such an exhibi-
tion in an out-of-the-way hillock which nobody goes
sear is quite useless for its purpose. Mr. GLAD.
cross put the question more fairly when he said
that the practical choice lay between
Hyde-park and street processions. If the Park
is allowed, we know by the experience of last May
that there will be no crowding and no interruption
either to business or pleasure. And if the police
areonly as attentive as theyare on theoccasion of a
royal drawing-room, we know also that there will
be no disorder, and not even any pocket-picking.
On the other hand, if the Government have their
way and forbid access to the wide expanse of Hyde-
park. we know that there will be instead inter-
minable processions in the streets, a stoppage of
traffic for hours, and an interruption of business
for a whole day. This is the inevitable conse-
quence of the passing of the Government Parks
Bill if the time ever comes when it will need to be
enforced. Wo say inevitable, because in such a
time it is not to be presumed that oven a Tory
Government will venture on the experiment of
both shutting the Parks and clearing the streets
by police and soldiery. With due latitude for
" demonstration and discussion," agitation in
Engl.ind 14 a very harmless process. What it
may become if majorities like those in the House
of Commons last night deny every opportunity of
peaceful demonstration and discussion by the

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.
(THIS DAY.)

EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 30, 1667.

PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS.
HOME OF LORDS, JULY 21.
REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE BILL. •
Moved to resolve, that for the purpose of effecting a settle-
ment of the question of the redistribution of seats the
proposed scheme is inadequate, and that it is expedient
to provide the means of giving more representatives to
large and important oonstituencies than are given by
this bill—(The Viscount Halif►x). On question : Con-
tents, 59 ; Not-Contents, 100.

CONTENT

..... --.—.
DORI& EARL& St/HOP. LORD&
Cleveland Grey Chester wont Engle
aomerset Harrowby Login. 'Joslyn
NANDI& lihnberley Helper Northbrook
Nornsauby Lovelace Blantyre Overstate
RARLS. Mlnto Campy. Petre
Abingdon Russell Chaworth Ponsonhy!tellerl
Mate Spencer Clandehoye &mill,
Albemarle Suffolk & BerlDrlermont Saye and Sele
Cam clown shire Cranworth Seaton
Chichester Zetland De Manley SomerhUl
Clarendon Dunfermline Stanleyof Alder-
Cowper
De Grey Swann& Foley (teller) ley
Everslcy Houghton Sundridge
Dude Falmouth Leigh 'ranntou
F:Ellugham Halifax Lyttelton Vernon
Furtmmun Stratford de Lyveden Westbury
Gnmville Radcliffe ileredyth

NOSCONTENTS.
LD.CHANCELLOR SALLE VIIMONTS. LORDS,
Chelmsford. Graham Sidmouth Egerton
DE &Es. Hadd!roe Strathallan Yeremharn
Beaufort Hard cite BISHOr. ',oxford
Buckingham Harewood theory Gage
and Chanties Harrington tonna Grantley
Manchester Home Abinger Heytesbury
Marlborough Huntingdon Arundel' of II lton
Richmond Leven and Mel- Wardour
Rutland villa Audley Loyal
Wellington Lucan Ballot Lytton
mAzquiszs. Malmesbury Berner+ Monson
Abercorn Merton Blayney Northwick
Bristol Nelson Bolton Penrhyn
Exeter Ports Cairns Raglan
EARLS. Romney Chitin& Ravenaworth
Abergavenny Rome Clements Rayleigh
Amherst Shrewsbury Clinton Redesdale
Bathurst Stanhope Cloneurry Saltoun
Beauchamp Btradbroke Colonsay Hilchester
Selmore Tankerville. Colville of CuPticelmersdale
Bradford Vendam rose (teller) Sondes
Cadogan Winchilsea and Congleton Bout=
Cardigan Nottingham Crofton Stant
Dartmouth VISCOCRTs. Delamem Strathspey
Doncaster De Vend Denman Tenterden
Eldon Hardinge Ds Ros Waleingham
Ellenborough Hawarden Donsandle and Wemysa
Erne (teller) Clanoonal
Uainaborough Waster

In the division on the motion of Lord Cairns respecting
the lodger franchise, the Earl of Carnarvon, Earl Grey,
the Earl of Powis, the Earl of Harrowby, the Karl of
Shaftesbury, the Bishop of Chester, and Lord Denman
voted with the liberal minority for the 101. qualification.
In the majority, were two bishops, the Bishop of Gloucester
and Bristol, and the Bishop of Oxford, the Marquis of
Clanrioarde. Lord Arundell of Wardour, and Lord Petro.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-Jur 29.
PARKS REGULATION BILL

Order for committee read ; motion made, and question
proposed, " That Mr. Speaker do now leave the chair:"
—Amendment pro , to leave out from the word
" That " to the en of the question, in order to add the
words "this house deems it inexpedient to proceed
further at the present moment with any bill touching
the regulation of the p‘trics"—(Mr. Locke)—instaW
thereof :—Question put, That the words proposed to
be left out stand part of the question :"—The house
divided ; ayes, 133 ; noes, 88.

AYE&

Adderley, C. B. Greene, K. Mowbray, J. R.
Baggiillay, R. Griffith, C. D. Naas. Lord
Harlington, Visct. Gurney, R. Neville-OrtenUle, R.
Barrow, W. H. Hamilton, Id. Claud Newdegate, C. N.
Bathurst A. A. Bananas, Id. C. J. Nicholson, W.
Beach, Sir M. Hamilton, Viact. Noel, 0..1.
Beach, W. W. Hardy, O. North, Col.
Bentinck. 0. C. Hartopp. L B. Northcote, Sir 8.
Ben on, R. Harvey, R. B. ;rdit,,ol4ll.
Biddulph, Col. R. Harvey, R. J. , SirJ.
Bldduiph, M. Hay, Sir J. C. Parker, Major W.
Bonham-Carter, J. Henley, J. W. Patten, Col.
Brett, W. B. Herbert, Col. Paull, H.
Bruce, Lord E. Heaketh, Mr T. 0. Powell, Y. S.
Buller, Sir K. flnpte, Sir F. Lepton, G. W.
Capper, C. HiMyard, T. B. Robertson P. F.
Cave. S. Hoff, 11.-Col, Hassell, Sir C.
Cavendish, Lord G. Hotham. Lord Schreiber, C.
Cobbold, J. C Howes, E. Scharr- Booth, O.
Cole, H. Hubbard, J. 0. Selwyn, C. J.
Cole, J. L. Hunt, 0. W. Seymour, G. H.
Cony, H. L Jervis, Major Smith, A.
Cooper, Z. H. Jervolae. Sir J. Smith, J. A.
Cowper, W. F. Kamlake, Si, J. Smillett, P. B.
Cox, W. T. Karalake, E. K. Stanhope, J. B.
Dick. F. Kendall, N. Stanley, Lord
Dickson, Major Kennard, R. W. Stanley, P.
Mondale R. Knightley, Mr 2. Eitoptord, S. 0.
Disraeli, B. Knox, Cot. Stuart, Lieut-CoL
Duran, C. Knox, CoL S. /Burley, Eilr 0.
Dancombe, Col. Laird, J. Rumen, C F.
Dunne, Gm. Langton, W. G. Serum, H. Z.
Du Pre, C. G. Langan, C. Steroid, Si, J.
Egertm, A. F. Leader, N. P. Treeby, .1. W.
R. C. Legh, Major Turner, C.
terht4mo, LordLetroy, A. Walker, Major
Pane, Col. Lennox, Lord O. Walpole, 8. 11.
Fellowes, R. Lennox, Lord H. Walsh, A.
Ferguson, Sir J. Lindsay. Col. Walsh, Sir J.
Forester. Geu. Lopes, Sir M. Wise, H. C.
Frealffield, C. K. M•Ulgan, P. Wyndham, P.
o.olltylleoL,
0. Manners, Lord J.
Moller, Cot. TILLIMS.
Gore, .R. Montego, Lord R. Taylor, Col.
Grant,
A. Montgomery, Si, G. Whitmore, H.
ravea, 8. 2. Morgan, 0.

_ .
NOM.
Acland, T. D. Gametes, Bee t. Mills, J. It.
Adam, W. P. Gilpin, C. Moffatt, G.
Agar-hilia, L G. Gladstone, W. IL Monk, C. J.
Mien, W. S. Gladstone, W. H. Neate, C.
Amberley, Inset. Olyn, G. O'Beirne, J. L.
Antrobus, X. Goldtraid, Sir F. Otway, A. J.
Ayrton, A. 8. Goschen, G. J. Owen, Sir H.
Aytoun, X. 8. Graham, W. Philips, X. N.
Baines, X Gray, Sir I. Pim, J
Bowyer, Sir 0. Grove, T. F. Polbud-. Urquhart,W
Bright, J. Hadfield, G. Potter, E.
Bruce, H. A. Monkey, T. Pritchard, J.
Butter, C. 8. Harris, J. D. Pug
iai D.
Candlish, J. llayter, A. D. R en, D. J.
Cavendish, Lord F. Henley, Lord Seymour, A.
Chambers, T. Holden, I. Sheridan, H. B.
Childers, H. C. Hughes, T. Smith, J.
Clay, J. Jackson, H. Y. Stansfeld, J.
Cowen, I. Enstchbull- Rages- Sykes, Col.
Cowper, H. F. soot, X. Taylor, P. A.
Crawford, R. W. Labouchere, U. 114, W.
Dering, Sir E. Lewd, A. H. Villiers, C. P.
Dixon. O. Lwrencc, W. Weguelln, T. M.
linneld, Vise. Leathern, W. H. Whalley. 0. 11.
Erskine, Vice-Ad. Leeman, 0. White, J.
Esanonde, J. Lefevre, 0. J. Wyld, J.
EOM', B. Lewis, H. Young, R.
Fawcett, H. Leak, A.
Forster, C. M•laren, D. TILLM.
Forster, W. E Maguire, J. F. Locke, J.
Fortescue, D. F. VIII , J. S. Torrent, W. ICC.

The further debate in the House of Lords on the
motion for the second reading of Earl fihafteabury's
Clerical Vestments Bill is fixed for Thursday next.

. -
On Thursday Lord Portman will present a
petition to the House of Lords, from residents of the
diocese of Salisbury, and will all attention thereto.

Lord Stratford de Radcliffe intends on Monday
next to move that an humble ►ddress be presented to her
Majesty for each further correspondence between her
Majesty's government and the governments in alliance with
her Majesty as may have occurred since the date of the
sth February in this year respecting the insurrection of
Candia, the means employed for its pacification, and the
assistance afforded to the insurgents either by the Greeks,
the Greek government, or the natives or governments of
say other countries.

In committee on Parka Regulation (re-oom-
mitted) Bill, Sir Edward Bering will move the following
clause, "That Victoria•park be omitted from the schedule,
and that henceforward the public shall have full permis-
sion to hold meetings therein, as well as on Primroos•hill,
without the intervention of any authority, so long as the
proceedings are conducted in an orderly and peaceable
manner."

On going into committee of supply, Mr. Monaell
will ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether her
Majesty's government intend to propose any measure for
the consolidation of the Irish railway system.
On Thursday Mr. MOTISOII will ask the Chief
Secretary for Ireland whether he can state the names of
the commissioners appointed to inquire into the revenues
of the Irish Established Church ; and when he will lay
upon the table of the house the instructions to be given to
the commission.

Mr. Hunt proposes to move Poet Office Packet
Service, elan 4, Irish Education Vote, and Supplemectary
Civil Service Estimate (in committee of supply) on Thurs-
day._

Major Anson, on Friday, will ask the Attorney-
General "whether he indorses the opinion of his prede-
cessor with regard to the criminal prosecution of Mr. Eyre,
published in the Times of July 29 ; and, whether, in
consequence of that opinion, and taking into consideration
the fact that more than one ineffectual attempt has been
made by certain persons styling themselves the Jamaica
Committee, to carry out the objects they have in view, the
government will now undertake to defend Mr. Eyre against
any further persecution."

Mr. Gra;es has given notice of a motion, that
cattle arriving from Spain and Portugal may be removed
by rail from Liverpool to Manchester and Salford, under
somewhat similar regulations to those in force ►t Harwich
and Southampton for conveyance of foreign cattle to
Loudon.

-;.;ri.

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