The Express.
London, England, 1858-05-24 00:00:00

TEE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, MAY 24, 1858.

nal grimace will be denied to exist by Govern-
meat—the nine mad= of it will be nented as
sa bapntation ea the wisdom and justice at emir
policy. Every question relating to Mite `will
be dragged before Parliament, and there debated,
entirely irrespective of its merits—simply and
solely with a view to its effect on the balance of
Parliamentary Parties. Such a system of govern-
ment must inevitably produce and perpetuate mis-
rule and appeal*, in India I sal misrule and op-
pression most necessarily lead to the loss of that
dependency.
We are far from deprecating all Parliamentary
interference with India. It is the right and duty of
Parliament—and especially of the popular branch of

Parliameet—to canvass freely the actions of every
department of Government. To the occasional inter
&neer and censers of Parliamest, we are indebted
for much that le good in the Government of India.
But at the same time it has been of immense advan-
tage to India that the interference of the Home Go-
vernment and of the Legislature in its affairs has
been only indirect and occasional. We have no in-
tention to discuss at present the merits or demerits
of the Company's government. We do not insist
upon our readers admitting at present that the Com-
pany's rule has been honourable to itself and bene-
ficial to India. We do not ask them to conoede that
the Company is still as capable of wielding the dele-
gated sceptre of India as it has been at any period
of its existence. We reserve those questions for
future discussion. But we do claim their assent-
-now, without loss of time—to theproposition that
the Company, by being interposed between the
(aeoessarily) party Government of England and
India, has in a great measure saved the latter coun-
try from the dangerous inflames of English party
spirit ; and that if the Company is to be deposed,
good care should be previously taken to construct
and establish some machinery which, when substi-
tuted for it, may have the same effect.
To the necessity of framing such a substitute for,
the present Government of India, and to the miens
of doing it, the attention of the Legislature can
scarcely be said to have been directed as yet.
Nor are the Resolutions now before the House of
Commons either in form or substance such as a
legislative measure ought to be based upon. They
ere not so much Resolutions expressive of funda-
mental principles as the heads of a Bill. And the most
important of their provisions are yet to be discussed.
The debate upon them cannot be resumed before the
4th of next month. What time will the subsequent
part of the Session afford for debating them fairly
and freely in the House of Commons ? for obtaining
the sanction of the House of Lords to them in the
shape in which they may ultimately emerge from the
Committee of the Whole House? for patiently and
maturely scrutinising all the details of any Bill that
may be based upon them in both Houses P Any
measure for the Home Government of India that
can possibly be introduced and hurried through Par-
liament after this advanced period of the Session,
mast necessarily be imperfectly considered and
hastily patched together. It is not compatible
with the honour—with the safety of Eng-
land, that the decision of the Legislature regarding
the form and organisation to be given to the future
Home Government of India should be come to
in such a heedless and hasty fashion. The same Re-
awakening spirit of independent judgment which
has negatived the proposal of a rapacious and
spoliatory policy in Oude, ought to prompt a nega-
tive upon the attempt to improvise a new constitu-
tion of home government for India, originated solely
with a view to divert the attention of the Legislature
from the question of Parliamentary Reform.

Tax operations of the London General Omnibus
Company are conducted upon so extensive a scale
that the progress of the undertaking cannot fail to
be regarded with interest by the denizens of this
vast Metropolis. The capital of this Company is so
less than 900,0001.; its total receipts exceed 800,0001.
per annum ; it disburses upwards of 140,0001. per
annum in the mere wages of driven, conductors, I
housekeepers, and other labourers, and spends more
than 200,0001. per annum in provender for horses;
so that, excepting always the railways, all former
attempts towards providing London with the means
of communication sink into insignificance, compared
with this enterprise.
We all remember the sensation which was excited
amongst us Londoners when we first heard of the
invasion of our streets by this great French Associa-
tion. The event took puce at a time when our lively
neighbours on the other side of the Channel were
pluming themselves mightily upon their talent for
financial organisation. They professed to have dis-
covered some grand and bran new system, by the
application of which the financial sceptre hitherto
tacitly accorded to Great Britain by the nations of
the earth was to be stricken from her grasp and
transferred to France. The notion was not by any
means flattering to our insular pride, any more than
the means by which the change was to be brought
about were clear to our insular understanding. We
were assured, however, that this very downer of
comprehension merely furnished additional evi-
dence that we could not get on without
the light of the financial intellect which was work-
ing, or about to work, such wonders in France. We
were told to watch, with due respect and admiration,
the brilliant success so rapidly achieved by the
Credit Mobilise Society of France—which, solely
through the wonderful powers of organisation pos-
sessed by its founders, would pay in perpetuity
dividends at the rate of 40 and 60 per cent. per
saunas. In fine, we were assured that, whilst we
deserved the utmost credit for our painstaking and
indomitable perseverance, we really had no genius
whatever for the science of organisation and of grand
and complete combinations. Still, we were told not
to despond : the French would bt very happy to do
the needful for us in the cause of Metropolitan inter-
communication. By an organised system, simple
yet perfect, they would remodel and vastly improve
oar street conveyances, and ensure such expedition
and other economical advantages as London, in its
most sanguine mood, had never dreamt of.
Well, we all doubted, but were content to await
the upshot of the affair. We saw our streets in-
vaded, and our omnibuses premed by hundreds into
the service of the new Company. Whole regiments
of men found new masters, and thousands of hones
new owners. A reasonable period has been allowed
for the elaboration of the Company's arrangements;
and the result 6—public disappointment. We have
net secured any really important improvement'; the
fares are not lower; the slow rate of omnibus travel-
ling is still loudly complained of ; and although
some of the Company's vehicles have been
rendered more commodious, the Londoner fears
that the prospect of his obtaining a really comfort-
able public carriage Is almost as remote es ever.
But it is chiefly in its financial aspect that the un- 1
dertaking ha. fallen lamentably short of the expeo-
tations raised. The Company's capital stands at a
discount of more than five-and-twenty per cent in
the market—in other words, the 41. share commands
rather less than 3L. The natural question is, how
happens it that a project which promised so well his
beeoms so unremunerative to the original share-
holders P In seeking for an answer it may be useful
to giants at the last Report of the Gent* sad

Osumi! of Supervision presented to the general,
amlirt the Geopanyfrwhisit was !g Paz
on t.
ax *et phi*, the Englich publi& as &general
1, el will not reps* confidence in an teatirpeise, the
lesalifgament d which is *elusively foreign, and
beyond their control. As the bulk of the shares are
held in England, why should the general meetings
be held in Paris? Practically, English shareholders
are totally deprived of a voice in the management
of their property. Remonstrances on this subject
have been repeatedly made, but hays as yet been
fruitless. The report remarks that the last "general
" meeting, on the motion of several shareholders,
" expressed • desire to see the Company
" transformed into an English Company, in
" order to reduce the general expenses by the sup-
"ipression of the Paris house se the central point of
" the Company, and to simplify the administration:.
This is a perfectly reasonable demand, for its adop-
tion would laid to an immediate saving of several
thousands of pomade annually. The only informa-
tion accorded by the Gdrants upon this most impor-
tant point is contained in the absurdly vague remark
that " A day will doubtless come when that question
" will be submitted to you at an extraordinary
" general meeting." A day will come !—yes, but
when ? It seems almost incredible that shareholders
will submit to be dealt with in this pick-tooth
fashion by their own servants. The reluctance of
the (threats and Council of Supervision to move in
the desired direction justifies • suspicion that the
gentlemen who enjoy the benefit of the Company's
large and unneosmary expenditure in Paris are very
loth to yield up their share of the loaves and fishes,
unless under strong pressure.
The chief point, however, which excites grave dis-
trust of the permanently remunerative capacity of the
undertaking is the lavish expenditure by which it
has been distinguished ever since its first inception.
For 600 "omnibuses and appurtenances" the Com-
pany has paid the enormous sum of 400,0001., or no
less than 6661. per omnibus. The sum includes, of
wares, the " goodwill" and " times" of the various
lines of omnibuses purchased by the Company, and
incorporated into its system ; but, after making
every allowance, the price paid seems perfectly pre-
posterous, especially if we bear in mind that, as the
Company has already found to its cost, our streets
are perfectly open to the competition of any person
or association of persons who may choose to place new
vehicles upon them. But even this 400,0001. repre-
sents only a portion of the expenditure of the Com-
pany upon its working stack. The balance-sheet',
includes in addition 17,7711. spent in " construe-1
" tion," 8,3711. for "sundry materials," 17,6911. for
" new and surplus omnibuses and improvements of
" rolling stook," 38,1611. for " horses" (balance of,
this account), no less than 47,0381. for " purchase of I
" leases and law charges thereon," and the utterly
unjustifiable sum of 78,1071. for the expenses atten-
dant upon the" first establishment" of the Company.
Pretty pickings some people must have had. Even,
within the last six months the "Capital Account"
has been burthened with an additional sum of
24,0001., described as "compensation to con-1
" tractors for relinquishing contract for de-
" livery of 210 omnibuses, as per award."
The addition of this amount to the already
exoessively swollen "Capital Account" is in par-
-11
wince of a Resolution which was obtained from a
general meeting of the shareholders prior to the
announcement of the arbitrator's award. The way
in which this sum is dealt with does not meet with
the entire acquiescence of the Council of Supervi-
sion themselves, who delicately hint at the " pro-
" priety of placing certain Rims to the Revenue or
" Profit-and-Loss Account, rather than the Capital
" Account," but remark that they " deem it right to
" respect the Resolutions of the General Meeting."
The point is of the more importance because this
24,0001. cannot be cavalierly disposed of as a perma-
nent addition to " capital :" according to the
Company's statutes, this sum, together with (as
we understand) the enormous amount of 76,1071.
set down for the expenses of the Company's
" first establishment," must be cleared off by the
annual operation of the sinking fund. In other
words, these sums represent an absolute charge upon
future profits. The extent of the Company's liability
in this respect may be estimated from the fact that
the total profits for the last twelve months are stated
at 63,4381., and that the half-yearly dividend of
3 per cent. recently declared absorbs 17,9981. The
meeting held on the 15th April, 1857, considered it
most convenient to postpone the obligation of forming
a reserve fund ; but this year the " regular course "
is returned to, and a sum of 3,2071., or the prescribed
16 per cent. of the net profits, is carried to the credit
of this fund.

Did space permit, it would be easy to enumerate
other points of an unfavourable character in the
Company's balance-sheet. The large sum of
20,8751. (or considerably more than the amount die-
tributed u dividend for the last half-year) charged
against revenue for " administration and chief
" abets," requires explanation. So does the 28,8161.
charged against the half-year's revenue for " main-
" tenance and renewal of hone stock." This
28,8131. is got at by the following proems: the
Company's horses had cost, up to the 31st Decem-
ber last, 180,9901., and were estimated at that
date to be worth 154,3751.; ergo, the depre-
ciation represents 28,8161. So much, however—in-
cluding the question of the bona fides of the
dividend—depends upon the accuracy of the 'elu-
tion, that the Gerants might surely have pat for-
ward some certificates from independent and trust-
worthy judges. There is still another point : of the
Compapy's nominal capital of 900,0001., shares to
the amount of 200,0001. have not yet been created, so
that the actual capital is 700,0001., of which shares
representing loopia remain In the Company'
hands. An open " capital 'mount" is always re-
garded with suspicion, and the knowledge that a
further large amount of shares may be thrown upon
the market must permanently prejudice the share-
holders' property. Why not finally close the
" capital account" at 800,0001. ?

In these remarks we disclaim all liretilty
towards the London General Omnibus Company.
In common with all Londoners, we should be de.
lighted to No an effectual remedy applied to the
inconveniences and shortcomings of the existing
system of Metropolitan onsinunieation from any
quarter. But the London General Omnibus Company
has been established and administered with such fla-
grant disregard of the first economical principle' that
the public, we fear, will never derive real advantage
from its operations.

TIM BALLOT Monox.—Many friss& of the
Ballot thought that the tote cm Mr. Crdwell's
motion would lead to an early dissolution of par-
liament, and that the motion for the ballot,now fixed
for Tuesday, June 8, would consequently not be
made. The proceedings of Friday evening, how-
ever, removed the impediment to Mr. Berkeley
bringing the measure before the house—and the
committee of the Ballot Society request ne to state
they hope their friends in the provinose will not
delay communicating with the members of peril*.
sort for their respective localities urging their at-
tendance at the house on the Bth June, that there
may be the fullest possible attendance and division
I on the question.

fat gratin*
OSBORNE, MAT 2*.
n. Prince Cowart kft Osborne yesterday man-
ia, ke Weybridee, sad astanded the funeral of the kete
_

MOtheas of Orleisa. The Prince warn attended by Lord
Baia, lord in waiting, and Lisa -Colonel Ponaonby.
Lord Polwarth, lord in waiting to the QUOIN also 'Angled
the bawd on behalf of her Majesty.
The Dachas of went, attended by Prince Laningen and
Prase Victor of Hohanlohe, arrival yesterday at a visit to
bar Majesty.
The Panes of Wass Maeda by Viscount Valletort and
Mr. Gibbs, and Prince Alfred, attended by Lieutenant
Cowell, have also arrived at Osborne.

The Priam Ccaeort will leave Oakum tar the Candased
as Thursday away mad will be attended by Lieutemat-
Coked Pomemby. His royal ideation wal proceed to
=cm a visit to hie lumber, the reigning Duke, where
meet the Priam and Primer Fredwick William of
Pamela.

- -Hi royal highness is spooled to return on Monday, the
lill ci Jain.

of Kant, attended by Lady Fanny Howard
and Sir George Cooper, iaft Clarence Hones, St. James's, on
Saturday mornin, for Osborne.

A Cabinet Council was held on Saturday at the
official residence of the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, in Downintstreet. The Minister, present
were —The Earl of Derby, the Lord Chancellor,
the Marquis of Salisbury,
,sthe Earl of Hardwicke,
the Chancellor of the FT hequer, Mr. Secretary
Walpole, the Earl of Malmeebury, Lord Stanley,
General Peel, Sir John Pakington, the Right
Han. J. W. Henley, and Lord John Manners.

The Bishop of Fredericton had an interview with the
Bad of Derby on Eistardsy, at his otScial residence, in
Downing-street.
A meeting of the Cambridge University Coinmiasioners
was held at 6, Adelphi-terrace, on Friday, the 21st Instant.
The commissioners present were—the Right Hon. Lord
Stanley, M.P., the Right Hon. Y. T. Banes, M.P., the
Right Ron. the Lord Justice Turner, the Right Ron. Sir
Lawrence Peel, Vice-Cbanotdlor Sir William Page Woed,
the Very Rev. the Dean of Ely, and the Rev. Dr. Vaughan.

SOUTHAMPTON, MAY 22.
We have had to-day an unusual number of visits
from royalty, and the royal yachts hare been peuMng up sad
down Southampton Water, or moored In our dock, frm an
early hoar. At lalf-past 10 this mornMg her Majesty's yacht
Petry, eceemanded by the Hon. Caps. Denman, entered the
dock, sad the Prince Consort, attended by Ikea.-Colonel
Pemeoeby, equerry in waiting, landed from her. His Royal
Highness was attired In deep mourning, and on landing; he
immedlately proceeded by 'peeled train to the Weybrtdge
Statlca, on his way to attend die funeral obsequies of the
horde mad unfortunate D.chs. el Orissa,.
. . . .

At 2 o'clock this afternoon the naohess of Kent arrived
hare by special train, accompanied by
ded Priam Leiningen and
Prince'Victor of Hoheolos, and attenby Lady A. Dawson,
Lady is Waiting, and by Colonel Hr George Cooper, Equerry
in Waiting. Her Royal Helmer and the primes and suite
embarked on board the yacht Fairy, and proceeded to Os-
borne on a vide to the Queen, to participate in the oelebra-
tke of her Majesty's birthday on Monday next. The
Dachas. of Kent and the Prinors mho accompanied her were
la mourning for the Durham of Orleans.
The Prince Consort returned here Ikons the funeral of the
Duchene' Orleans at 4 o'clock this stoormom and mound
to Caboose in the royal yacht Men, Master Commaador
11416t°11.

At 6, an., the Prime el Wake arrived hers by train he,
his rani sna, at Richmond, attended by Lord Velment,
Erma, in Waiting, and by Mr. Gib* his tutor, and pro-
ceeded to Osborne, in the royal yacht Fairy, to join the
family party now assembled at Osborne to celebrate the
Queen's birthday. The Prince of Wales wee also attired in
=weft for the Duchess of Orleans. Hu royal highness Is
now dressed es a rasa, and is much improved is appearance.
He wee, es usual, aside to the dock and railway ofilciala,
who bad provided for the conveniences of hie embarkation.
The Dachau of Kent and the Plume of Wales return
through Southampton to their respective residences on
y nest.
The Arrogant frigate, lying in Southampton Water, near
the Royal Victoria Hospital, saluted the royal yachts as
they passed to and from Osborne and Southampton.
Messrs. Godson and Beach, on the part of the South
Western Railway Company; and Mean. Hedger and Levy,
on the part of the Southampton Dock Company ; nosiest
the royal personages in the docks. The royal railway
terriers were Weight into the Sontheraptos Dock., and a
crimson carpet covered the pomp way on the dock quay
and steps which led to the plate of landing and embarkation.

It will be recollected that the Queen a short time
dace caused a monument to be tweeted to the Princess Eliza-
beth, daughter of Charles 1., in Bt. Thomas's Church, New-
pert, We of Wight. The monument, designed by Baron
Marooltetti, chiefly assisted of as exquisite reclining figure
of the unhappy and youthful princess. The Hoopspekint
distraitr states that her Majesty has now had two coloured
windows placed in the church, and that the softened light
from these windows toils on the peaceful and gentle face of
the princess and brings out the gentle repose so characteristic
of her feature'. On the window swat the attenuant are
the woods " Blessed am the died whisk die la the Lard,"
and " Sorrow not ss those which base as hops." Over the
wet door of the church a statue of St. Thomas the Apostle,
to wham the church is delicassi, has bean placed. This
statue is by Mr. Baker, a Southampton sculptor.
__. _ _ _

The Marquis of Dalhousie: accompanied by the
Lobes Bum and Edith Ramsay and Col. Ramsay, hie
enfold at the Albemarle Hotel (late Evora's) from Mahe.
—. _ _

The Marquis and Marchioness of Cholmondeley
ban left Carlton House-terreoe for Westbrook Howe, on a
vteltto the Hon. Mr. and Lady Georgians Ryder.

The Earl de Grey, as President of the Institute of
British Architects, bad a son season on Friday night at
hie house in St. Jamss'e•gsare.
The Earl of Powis received the Earl and Countess
Delswarr and Lady Arabella 8. West, the Countess of
Macclesfield, Lord William Graham, Lady Bray Foley,
Hon. G. Hamilton Russell, Mr. Grey, Mr. Knightley, Mr.
Chant, do., at dinimr, on Friday, at hie mansion in Barkeiry-
square.

_
The Berl Cowper ham left town an a ♦iait to
Frances Countess Waklemma and Mr. Heronut, M.P., at
Strawbarphill, Twickenham.

. .
Viscount end Vieconntees Contbermere will give
a grand entertainment to their Royal Highness the
Dachau of Cambridge and the Primer Mazy on the llilt
proximo.

Lord and Lady Foley have left town for Worksop
Manor, Nottingham, fora few days.

Sir Edward and Lady Caroline Kenison have left
lowa for Broom Hall, Norfolk, for a low days.

Viscountess Paimerston "received" on Saturday
enntsgst Cambridge House. Previously to the ammably
the noble viscount and viscountess Illitartsiaed at dinner the
Marquisof Donegal, the Berl and Countess of Shaftesbury and
Lady Vidalia Ashley, Lady William Rural, Visoosat and
Vimountess Goderich, the Right Hon. Wm. Cowper, ILP.,
and Mrs. Cowper, Hon. Frederick Byng, Hon. R. Bdersrdes,
Hoe. Gilbert Heathcota, Sir James Brooks (the Itajah of
Sarawak), Kr. Arthur Ransil, to.

The Earl and Countess of Jersey entertained the
Bari d Fowls, Lord and Lady Forester, Lord mid Lady
William Powlett, Lord and Lady Charchill, Lord Join Mu-
ses, Lord Alexander Gordon Lemnos, Hon. F. and Lady
Elisabeth Villiers, Hon. Mies Hardioge, Sir Archibald and
Lady Alison, Major-General Sir R. Ahoy, Mr. Stanley, and
a select party at dinner, on Satarday, at the family mansion
In Berkeley-square. A small circle assembled after diuner.
_

Many of the gentlemen attending the funeral of
the nachos of Orleans on Saturday had come over from
Paris =primly. After the ceremony the Duke de Nemours,
the Prince de Joinville, and the Duke d'Aumale strolled
about the lawn, and shook hands with each of the visitors
very oxdially.
The extensive estates of the Earl of Granard,
situate In the county of Westmeath, have been sold by pri-
vate contract to Colonel Folks Griville, Y.P. The per
money was 12.5,0001.

An article on University Reform in the Dublin
Uniformity Yegazine for May hu sorely Irritated the Heb-
domadal Board at Hobbit. Taking a het from our neigh-
bolus ammo the Straits of Dover, as auks Ix libel 'guinea
the editor of the =guise wee line thought of, but the Idea
wee dismissed as untenable. The stabsppy publish.s, who
an the (allege bookseller% were the ant mast obvious
victim°. They wens summoned behee the board, end sow-
palled to abandon the publics.n of the magealais—a logs
which, estimating the prate MA, small we of 10/. per
imam, may be set down as a peonalary sant of 6001.
The Mll imposing a penny stamp on &Kase is to
mum into operatics so-morrow messing. Is caw whets
money is paid error the counter to the drawer of a cheque
himself, rich cheque being "10 self," sad sotto alder, ao
stamp Mil be nquisita, the awes eeetemspialed to the various
gasp eels bag them cal, la which s Wed party is em-
award, and which ere bald es lAso oat of treeseetleea at
pleat. Treader greets for Customs gad older payments
trued by Wakens against stamped elegem fen the anus of
'security will also bs exempt.

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(nom ova OWN 001DANPONDINT.)
?dila, SUNDAY Enema.

The Emperor and Empress, the Queen of Hol-
land, the Prince Royal of Wurtemburg, and the
court, left the Tuileries at two o'clock this evening
for Fontainebleau.

M. de Pane passed a very bad night, and was at
one moment at death's door. He is better this
morning, but his state is most dangerous. I have now
to transmit to you some very extraordinary facts
in relation to this affair. It would appear that
the letter of MM. °rangier and de Commingues,
officers of the Guides, withdrawing their
challenges against M. de Pine, when they heard
he was mortally wounded, has been con-
strued in certain quarters as a weakness on the
part of those officers. The Constitutionnei contains
a paragraph which must be " communicated " from
some more or lees authoritative source, which depre-
cates the supposition that MM. " the officers of the
Guides did share the sentiments of their comrades
in other regiments on the subject of the duel with
M. de Pane." Their only intention "was to with-
draw after the calamity which had happened, and
to express their hope that the result might not be
fatal." That is precisely what they said in their
letter, but the object of this communique is mani-
festly to affirm that they approve of the system of
hunting a man to death by successive challenges
from military men. Yesterday forty-two officers in
uniform went to the office of the Industrie, of St.
Germain, and delivered in person the following