The Express.
London, England, 1859-03-25 00:00:00

solemnly of reform, while bestowing not a single
thought on the great people for whose sake reform
has become necessary ; all these ugly symptoms are
depressing enough ; but the worst of all symptoms
is the total absence of the old English glow, the
fervour and freedom of heart and lips which we expect
to see kindling public men when there is any ques-
don of extending our constitutional privileges.
We need not dwell on the House and its aspects,
during the Reform debate, or any other recent debate
which involves constitutional facts or feelings. The
general sense is of its being all a great sham by men
who are thinking of anything rather than deepening
the security of their country by extending those
popular liberties which are its very life.
In the midst of this insolence (whether of forget-
fulness or of insulting compassion) the exclusive
gentry are crossed by an emotion of surprise. The
Neapolitan exiles arrive, and it appears that at every
point where they touch--on the coast or inland—
everybody knows who they are, and all about them.
It is an endless wonder that silver and copper flow

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in wherever a word is said, and often before a word

is publicly raid, about aiding the strangers. How
could the girl MART Sreverrs possibly know or care
anything about Neapolitans? By what mesmeric
influence were working men moved to club their
wages in all parts of the country, and working
women heard talking of PoEßlo, and Berrumerwri,
and King BOMBA ? They would ask, " Why not ?''
" Where is the wonder ?" They have heard or
read—they have felt—they have consulted—they
know what they wish to be said by our Govern-
ment to that of Naples. This may be a great
wonder to great men; but it exhibits to other men
the great marvel of their ignorance. It was just the
same when HAYNAI: was here, and had such reason
to remember his visit. Among the compassionate
patrons of the people of England the question was
what in the world draymen could know about Aus-
tria and Hungary ? The answer had come before
the question; and it was really a difficult thing to
know what to say to it. It was shocking to think
of an old man being pulled by the beard in our
streets; and yet it was a manifestation of political
knowledge and spirit. The practical inference, as
far as we were politically concerned, was that all
the good would have happened, and none of the bad,
if the class to which the draymen belonged had en-

joyed their due rank and privilege in our polity. If
the people of England could have expressed their
desire and their will in regard to Hungary, there
need have been no outrage. If we had then been freed
from the curse of secret diplomacy, by which we are u
a nation rendered dumb and motionless till it is too
late to speak and act in a precautionary and peaceful
way, there would have been no temptation for
violence on HATNAD ; and HATNAC would have
been overlooked in controversy with more essen-
tial men. Lord' -PALMERSTON and CLARENDON,
crediting the people with the crass ignorance of
politics ascribed to them in Parliament, no doubt
conceive themselves perfectly at liberty to worship at
the Tuileries and visit at Compiegne without personal
consequences. If the people know nothing about
foreign Emperors they can be no judges of the
courtesies between such Emperors and expectau
British statesmen. Not the less has every thought-
ful working man an opinion on the relations of the
Emperor NsroLrox with all his English friends and
flatterers.

If theme lower "orders" understand and care for
the liberties of foreign peoples they must have a good
deal to say about their own which it is unsafe to
neglect. They have the sense, the spirit, and we
may add the will, to take their share in the organisa-
tion of our polity ; and the knowledge they evince
(leo defective than is generally supposed) could not
be acquired without such exercise of their political
faculties as is demanded in constitutional action•
To exclusives, sceptics, and especially heads of fac-
tions, we would recommend, for study in their turn,
a passage of English history which may yield them
timely instruction. There was once a period when
all that was wise, noble, and spirited in England was
engaged in civil war. Every man who had a poll-
tical existence was fighting under a red rose or a
white. There was a multitude below which could
understand nothing of such lofty affairs as their
superiors were struggling about. Below their per
sonal retainers the people had no faculties and no
interests concerned with public life. What
was the upshot? When the wars of the
Roses ended, thirty peers, and no more, assembled
in Parliament. Their retainers had disappeared by
hundreds and thousands. Yet was the kingdom
more populous, more wealthy, wiser, more free, and
really to start on a career of constitutional welfare
which should put to shame all the existing polities
of the civilised world. How did this happen ? The
working classes (the traders and manufacturers of
that age) had studied and consulted about their
case ; had planted and extended their industry, and
improved their intelligence, and strengthened their
wills, while the proud men were faction-fighting
over their heads : they set up their civic force against
the weakened aristocracy ; and they wrought out
the scheme of popular liberty which it is our present
business to confirm and extend. The spirit of Eng-
lish liberty was in the working men then : it is in
the working-men now : and every faction-fight tba
goes on over their heads gives them more power for
the.future realisation of their own wills. Whether
their action shall be constitutional or revolutionary
it is for our existing constituencies to decide.

Among the presents, aye the Stamford Mercury,
at the late marriage between Captain D'Eyncrort and the
Lady Henrietta Pelham Clinton, was an elegant diamond
ring, valued at upwards of 100 guineas, presented by the
Right Hon. C. Tennyson D'Eyntiourt (father of the bride-
groom); • magattleent candelobrom, from Louis D'Eyncourt,
Eirq.; an elegant and we!ul brougham, from the Duke of
Newecetk ; a ce,tly set of silver candlesticks, from Lord and
Lo ty Boyne ; and among the penults from those in humble
life wee a pincushion, worked by en old servant of the
family, now 90 years of age, a most besulifol article, which
wee graciously reoeivod by the bend le.
Aa the day for " sending in" to the Academy
approaches, the rumours anent the product'oas of the did
mynas of art beanie strooger and more (regent. Among
the 'Whitens (the Illustrated TiNfel says) will be Means
Stiedleid, Roberts, Elmore, Hook, Frith, Phillips, Ansdell,
Solomon, Egg, Waller, end MEAL The init.:tamed gen-
tlema• will hove two or three picture,. One, from which
great things are expected, is the remmentetion of an orchard
la full bloom, upon which the artist has laboured for three
successive springs. There la also • large picture, the subject
of which kr understood to be • nunnery garden in the full
eneoelight, with the nuns diggingtheir graves.
Cards have been issued for a eoirde at the Mary-
intake Literary and ScieetiOe Institution, on Monday even-
ing next, and a sob.eyeent exhibition of pictures. The
eatelegue of pictures, many of width belong to Jacob Bell,
Esq., comprises Ftith's "Derby Di)," and many tine
specimens of Sir Edward 'Andes. r, Charles Lindner, Rosa
Boehm, Sidney Cover, E. M. War), Erg, Elmore, Col-
lins, Leslie, Frank Stove, Comtable, W. Hunt, Lee, and
other..
All the Neapolitan exiles, with the single excep-
tion of Baron Peaks, will. we (ha) believe, have arrived in
London before the end of this week. Damn Perni4's hoslth
such that he is still confined to the room, nay, even to tie
bed in the Samoan's Refuge at Cork, where he was received
on landing; but he to), It le hoped, will be so far recovered
as to join his Minds in the course of • few days. The deli-
cacy and dire e'ion, the good tote and gentlemanly feeling,
of the exiles have made a very strong kopressi ix on all the
persons, especially on the members of the committee, who
have ootne fa contact with them.