The Express.
London, England, 1867-08-14 00:00:00

THE REFORM QUESTION SI

The future historian of our times will hays to record, the
Daily News says, that the settlement of the reform ques-
tion was the result of the insincerity with which, from its
first reopening, it was treated by large sections of both
political parties. The total result of their insincerity
has been the production in parliament itself of
curiously unanimous repudiation of the doctrine of
finality. Nobody seems to hope that Mr. Disraeli's
settlement will last. A fortuitous concourse of

concessions and denials, it is vitalised by no
principle, and is the expression of no political faith.
Mr. Disraeli has created a new er► in English politics. He
has transformed a great party into a self-seeking faction.
Hitherto the bulk of the honest conservatism of the
country has been content to serve the country according to
its light, resisting wh►t it thought to be the fatal measures
of liberalism, and uttering loud lamentations over their
success ; but Mr. Disraeli has taught it to serve itself. If
the conservative statesmanship of the future is to be of
Mr. Disraeli's type—if it is to bid for popularity and to
worship success, the course of party warfare will leave
many wrecks behind it. But the Daily News is convinced
that the public mind of the country is in too healthy a
state to allow such statesmanship to characterise the
future.

The Post thinks that the session of parliament which is
rapidly approaching its close will at least leave this remark-
able effect :—lt has witnessed • moat extraordinary dis-
ruption of parties, • dislocation of political principles, and
a shifting of popular cries which leaves us in doubt at the
end of its existence whether the Reform Bill, which is its
greatest work, is the product of the government or the
opposition. But the chief question, after the experience of
this session. is whether we are now going to see any great
change take place in the form of government to which we
have been accustomed, and whether the position and responsi-
bilities of ministers to their supporters and to parliament are
to be permanently changed. Where the line will be drawn
which, after the reform question is settled, is to form the
future division of any two great parties in the state, it is
impossible at present to say. Parties must be reconsti-
tuted. Some reform in the executive reorganisation of
the House of Commons must follow that of its constituent
parts, if we are to preserve the vigour and honesty which
must ch►racterise the public action of a country ambitious
to be foremost in the civilisation of the world.

Eke Court.

OSBORNE, Accost' 13.

The Queen, the King of the Belgians, Princess
Louise, and Prineeis Beatrice drove out yesterday after-
noon.

Major-General P. H. Seymour was in attendance upon
horseback.

The Prince and Princess of Leiningen dined with the
Queen and the royal family in the evening. Count Van der
Stettin-Ponthoz bad the honour of being invited.
The King of the Belgians took leave of the Queen this
morning, on his return to Ostend.
His Majesty, attended by Count Van der Strattin-Pom
thou, H. Derain, M. Brewer, and Dr. Wimmer, embarked
at eleven o'clock at Trinity l'ier, Bast Cowes, on board
his yacht, which left shortly afterwards.

The LIOCI U9riuuor Sackville West and Major• General
F. li. Seymour attended his Majesty to Trinity Pier.
Mr. Desanges has had the honour of submitting to the
Queen's inspection his sketch in oil for a picture which he
is painting of her Majesty laying the foundation stone of
the Central Hall of Arts and Sciences at South Kensington.
The Prince of Wales, attended by General Sir W.
Knollys and Captain Ellis, left Marlborough-house early
on Monday morning for Sandringham.
His Royal Highness returned to Marlborough-house
yesterday afternoon.
The Prinoeu of Wales drove out yesterday afternoon,
attended by the Hon. Mrs. Harding..
A Committee of the Lords of her Majesty's Most
Honourable Privy Council s►t yesterday at the Privy
Council-office, on the subject of the cattle plague. The
lords present were the Lord President and Lord Robert
Montagu.
Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial
office from the Governors of Victoria, Tasmania, South
Australia, the Straits Settlements, the Mauritius, Natal,
Malta, and Gibraltar.

The Prince and Princess of Wales will leave
Marlborough House on Saturday next for Germany. The
carriage■ and horses have already gone to Wiesbaden.
Their royal highnesses will embark at Woolwich for Ant-
werp in the royal yacht Victoria and Albert, under the
command of the Prince of Leiningen. _

His Serene Highness Prince Teck, and her
Royal Highness the Princess Teck, visited Aldershot
yesterday, when s grand review of the troops of the divi-
sion took plaue.

Their Highnesses the Prince and Princess Waail-
ahikoff and family have arrived at Idaurigy's Hotel from
Ramie.

His Excellency M. Rogier, Belgian Minister
for Foreign Affairs, hen arrived at Maurigy's Hotel from
Brawls.

His Excellency G. W. S. Jerninghsm, her Ma-
jesty's Minister at Stockholm, has arrived at Manri47's
Hotel from Paris.

The Marquis Berlingieri and M. Morelli have
left the Clarendon Hotel for Paris.

The Earl and Countess Cowley have arrived at
the Cbusiolon Hotel from Paris.

We (Morning Post) are requested to contradict
the report which has appeared in several of our contempo-
raries of the marriage of the Hon. Barbara Yelverton and
Lord Petersham.

Lord and Lady Conyers and the Hon. Laura
Lane Fox have left Brown's Hotel for Homby Castle,
Yorkshire.

Lord and Lady Houghton have left town for the
B►ths at WildbadOn Ginmany.

Colonel Gilpin has arrived at the Alexandra
Hotel, Hyde•park-comet.

Mr. and Mrs. G. Talbot Olyphant and Dr. and
Mrs. Watts have returned to Catslea HoteL

Miss Scott Douglas has arrived at the Queen's
Hotel, Upper Norwood..
_

Her Majesty has been pleased to confer the
honour of knighthood upon John I. Mantell, Esq., of the
Middle Temple, late Chief Justice of her Majesty's Settle-
ments on the Gambia. Sir John Montell has served his
country with distinction for 27 years on the West Coast of
Africa, 20 years as chief justice, and seven yeas pre-
viously as law °Moe of the crown.