The Express.
London, England, 1867-02-14 00:00:00

lITSCELLVICOVIS TOPICS.

The resolution on ritualism adopted yesterday in the
upper House of Convocation is an unqualified condemna-
tion, says the Tines, of the innovations, and if the bishops
will but act fairly, the consideration which they enforce
ought to be sufficient to settle the question. At all
events if, after this appeal by the bench, the ritualists
should refuse to submit their practices to the arbitration
of their respective bishops, the public would have no
difficulty in pronouncing an opinion upon their conduct.
It is now for the bishops to see that their resolution is
made efficacious, by personally addressing themselves
to the clergy who have introduced these innovations, and
enforcing their submission. By asserting their authority
they must not forget they have assumed a proportionate
responsibility.

With regard to the confederation scheme to be proposed
by the ministers, the Alily News comes to the conclusion
that successive English governments have so thoroughly
ecunitittel themselves to the plan of a Federal union that
some such measure must doubtless be adopted, and the
affairs of Canada are in a state of so much uncertainty
and embarrassment that it is perhaps necessary that they
should pass through this stage if they are to become better.
Nobody, however, who has devoted any attention to the
affairs of British North America pretends to feel any
slum; confidence in the success of what is proposed.
The Post presses the government for more information
respecting the panic at Chester. It may be, as it has
been hinted, that it has been • sensation got up for the
benefit of the brethren in America. It would be a great
boast to be able to say that for a few hours the centres
here had been able to frighten • large city, and even
caused the despatch of a body of select troops to meet
them.

The dissolution of the Italian Chamber leads the Timm
to comment severely upon Italian deficiencies. Were it
not that during the two months which must elapse be.
twven the dismissal and the reconstitution of the
legislature such a combination may be entered into
between Ricasoli and Itataszi as may secure them
a strung majority among their respective partisans in the
new inaliament, it would be impossible, the Times thinks,
not to anticipate the direst calamities for the Peninsula.
Were this year to close, leaving the Italians no further
advanced in the solution of their financial and of their
church and state difficulties than they were at its opening,
he would be a rash man who would answer for the ultimate

success of their mitional union, of their hardly-bought,
but perhaps not sufficiently-valued independence.
The Telegraph thinks it probable that if Riessoli is to
retain office, he must mo..lify the policy to which he has
pledged himself with reference to the church question.
The vote of the Chambers was really, though not nomi-
nally, litected against Signor Scialoja's project.
Reviewing American affairs, the Daily News concludes
that any refusal on Mr. Johnson's part to execute the
measures in reference to the South on which Congress
1111 y finally decide, would be universally held to justify
his immediate impeachment. Yet it would be very hard
for Mr. Johnson to remove his own governments and to
carry out the policy he has so violently opposed, and he is
exceedingly likely to offer it a passive but ineffectual re-
sistance. That he will be removed if he resists it is hardly
possible to doubt ; that he will " arm his supporters," as
the " tall talk " of some democratic organ threatens, it is
impossible to believe. The more probable thing is that
Congress will decide upon a policy which will reconstitute
the Southern governments from their foundations up-
wards ; that Mr. Johnson will protest against it, but to
avoid a snore humiliating alternative will be obliged to
be the reluctant and unwilling executive of the national
will.