The Express.
London, England, 1867-02-15 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 15, 1867.

of the Government, in theory at least, from
an untenable position. The distinction on
which Mr. DISRAELI then insisted between a
Ministerial question and a Parliamentary
question cannot be maintained. Every great
question belongs to both the Executive and
the Legislature. Ministers are indirectly the
nominees of the Parliament ; they are members of
one or other of the two Houses ; elected, in fact,
though not in form, by a vote of the House of
Commons, to lead its deliberations and to
conduct its business. If they fail in this
duty, they not only forfeit their personal title to
confidence, but throw the entire mechanism of
government out of gear. Except for the feeble
and temporary restraint supplied by the House
of Lords, the government of England, on
this new doctrine, would fall into the
hands of a single legislative chamber. The cha-
racteristic features of the monarchy would dis-
appear. If Ministers devolve upon the House
of Commons the responsibility which has
hitherto been held to attach to them, the
bare vote of, perhaps, a scanty majority in the
Lower Chamber may decide the most vital issues.
At present the possible refusal of Ministers to ac-
cept such a vote, the chalice of their resignation
or of a dissolution involving an appeal to the
country, and the alternative of the accession to
office of responsible statesmen who will assume
strict responsibility for legislation, are essential
checksupon precipitate and ill-considered measures.
Thu course adopted by the present Government
with respect to the reform of the representation
sensibly diminishes this indispensable safeguard.
Mr. DISRAELI yesterday evening qualified his dis-
claimer of Ministerial responsibility. He will not
go more than certain lengths in opposition to his
convictions. But he still accepts only a limited
liability ; and leaves it undefined where, in
his view, the responsibility of the House ends and
that of the Government begins. The true doc-
trine that both are responsible for the whole of
their joint action dues not seem to have occurred
to him.

In reply to Mr. OSBORNE'S question, what
are the new franchises which the Govern-
ment intends to propose, and what is the
re-adjustment of the old franchise ? the
CHANCELLOR of the Exim EQII ER replies that
" minute points of that character" are for dis-
cussion in C *ttee, and that if they are to be
debated upon the resolutions, " I must say I
" frankly confess that the expectation of her
" MAJESTY'S Ministers of soon introducing the Bill
" will be very much disappointed." Yet " minute
" points of this character " are the very
essence of Reform ; and the fact that
after a baker's dozen of resolutions has been
debated and carried, not a single step
will have been made towards their settlement, is
decisive against the procedure which Mr.
DIsRAELI has adopted. No one can either
approve or condemn an unspecified extension and
reduction of the suffrage. Everything depends
on the mode and degree ; and about these Mr.
DISRAELI declines to say a word. If his Resolu-
tions be passed as a whole, their adoption will
either mean nothing, or will amount to a declara-
tion by the House of Commons that it declines to
sanction any reduction of the franchise which is
not checked and neutralized by lateral exten-
sions, by plurality of votes, by the facili-
ties for coercion afforded by tho use of polling-
papers, and by a redistribution of seats and a
readjustment of the boundaries of parliamentary
boroughs, so contrived, possibly, as to deprive the
concession of all value ; and unfairly to weight in
the interests of a dominant class, the political
balance which the Government affects to redress.
The specific franchises, and the specific system of
grouping and readjustment, which the Govern-
ment may propose, alone deserve atten-
tion. "We do not suppose," said Mr.
DISRAELI, last night, " that, in passing these reso-
" Miens, we pass a Reform Bill. The Reform
" Bill must depend upon its own merits." Why,
then, make resolutions which settle nothing preli-
minary to a Reform Bill, which must depend not
upon them, but on itself? The only purpose
they can serve is that of delay and evasion. They
are an experiment upon the insincerity of Parlia-
ment and the patience of the country—an attempt
to ascertain how little needs to be conceded, and
by what means that little may be neutralised in
effect.

GREAT pains have been taken of late years to
give practical importance to the proceedings of Con-
vocation, and it may be affirmed that whatever
measure of success has attended the effort is due
to the publication of the debates of the two
Houses. On Wednesday the Upper House of the
Southern Province held a meeting, said on good
authority to have been the largest which has
assembled for many years, fourteen of the one-
and-twenty bishops having been present. The
subject was the most important that has engaged,
or could engage, the attention of the prelates
—the ritual observances which are gradually
changing the aspect and character of the Church
of England worship, and turning Lord SHATTER-
' BURT'S " bulwark of Protestantism " into the
most powerful engine in this country for undoing
the work of the Reformation. This tune, how-
ever, their lordships sat with closed doors, although
the reporters presented themselves as usual to per-
form their duty. The Bishops adopted a resolu-
tion which in itself looks very sensible—" that no
" alterations from long-sanctioned and usual ritual
" ought to be made in our churches, until the
" sanction of the bishop of the diocese has been
" obtained thereto." But if any one inquires
what reasons bishops, differing so notoriously in
their opinions and practice, severally give for con-
curring in it, ho will get no answer. The resolu-
tion was moved by the Bishop of OXFORD, but
the public will not readily believe in the zeal of
that prelate—the original of S. G. o.'s well-
known photograph, who is in the habit of publicly
appearing with a pastoral staff, and giving
his blessing with two extended fingers—to put
down histrionic performances in our churches.
The Bishops may frame wise resolutions, but if
they want them to carry weight and prevail against
the great ecclesiastical evil of the day, they must
be open in their dealings, speak out boldly, and,
above all, they must set a good example.

RAILWAY BILLEI.—The Board of Trade report
that the number of bills deposited for this session which
relate to railways in the United Kingdom is 156. Sixteen
of these authorise new lines by new companies, and 52 by
existing companies. The total length of new lines is 364
miles; and there are in addition 51 miles of deviation
lines, and 40 miles of tramways for streets. Only 10 bills
relating to railways within the Metropolitan Railway
District have been lodged at the Board of Trade. The
following schemes are mentioned as appearing to have
been laid out with a view of affording new and additional
means of transit between parts of that district :—The
Crystal Palace and East London High Level Junction
Railway Rill ; the North London Railway Rill, for widen-
ing the city branch of that railway. To these may be
added the Metropolitan Tramways Bill, for tramways to
be laid in several of the principal approaches to the city
and other parts of London, and to be used with animal
power.

OUR CONTEMPORARIER.
(THIS DAY.)

Cm Evart.

OSBORNE, las. 14.

The Queen, accompanied by Prince and Princess
Christian and Princess Louise, and attended by the
Duchess of Rozburglie, the Hon. Harriet Phipps, and Lord
Charles Fitzroy, drove yesterday by Blackgang Chine and
Nitou to the Underclitf, where her Majesty took luncheon
at the Orchard (the residence of Lady Willoughby Gordon).
From thence the royal party proceeded to Ventnor, and
returned by Arreton to Osborne shortly before six o'clock.
Her Majesty walked and drove this morning amour
ponied by Princess Christian.

Prince -0w Louise and Princess Beatrice also went out.

Viscount Halifax, General the Hon. Alexander and Mrs.
Gonlon, had the honour fuf dining with the Queen and
Royal family yesterday.
Lord Halifax left today for London.

The Prince of Wales presided yesterday at a meeting of
the council of his royal highness, held at the office of the
Duchy of Cornwall, Buckingham.gate, St. James's-park.
There were present the Lord Portman, Lord Warden of the
Stannaries ; Sir William John Alexander, Attorney-
General ; Lieutenant-General Kingly, Comptroller of the
Household of his royal highness ; Mr. Herbert Fisher,
Keeper of the Privy Seal, and the Earl of Leicester. Mr.
Bateman, the secretary, attended as Clerk of the Council.
A committee of the Lords of her Majesty's Moat Honour.
able Privy Council sat yesterday at Whitehall on the
subject of the Cattlo Plague. The Lords present were the
Right Hon. Spencer H. Walpole and the Right Hon. H.
Waddington.

A deputation consisting of Mr. Delay and Mr. Pariah
(churchwardens of Erith), the Rev. J. H. Berrien (incum-
bent of lkslvedere), Captain Mackillop, R.N., Dr. Hatton,
Mr. De Castro, and Mr.Plentish, had an interview with
the Earl of Belmore at the Home-office yesterday, upon
the subject of the storage of gunpowder in Erith Marshes.
Mr. Galt and a deputation from the North American
provinces had an interview with the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer in Downing-street yesterday.
Mr. Hodgson and Mr. Rokeby Price, the chairman and
deputy chairman of the Committee of the Debenture-
holders, with Mr. 0. C. Pell, had an interview with the
Right Hon. Sir Stafford Northoote and the Right Hon.
Stephen Cave, M.P., at the office of the Board of Trade
yesterday, upon the subject of the London, Chatham, and
lii Dover Railway Company.

A deputation from the Waterford sod New Rosa Her.
hour Commissioners, introduced by Mr. Blake, M.P., and
consisting of the Marquis of Waterford, the Earl of Shrews-
bury, the Earl of Huntingdon, Hon. Captain Talbot, R.N.,
Hon. Dudley Fortescue, M.P., Hon. L. Agar Ellis, M.P.,
Sir H. W. Barron, Bart., M.P., the Right Hon. James
Anthony Lawson, M.P., Mr. S. R. Graves, ALP., Mr. De
la Peer, M.P., Mr. Bagwell, M.P., Mr. Malcomson, Mr.
Jonathan S. Richardson, Mr. Joseph J. Richardson, Mr.
Piers. Cox, Mr. Ambrose, Mr. Delahunty, Mr. Edward
Carr, Mr. Michin, Mr. Stephens, Mr. Goode, C.E., and
Mr. Farrell, secretary of the Waterford Harbour Commis-
sioners,had an interview with the Right Hon .Bir S. Northoote
at the office of the Board of Trade yesterday, with a view to
induce government's,* undertake the deepening of a channel
through the Bar shoals of Waterford Harbour.
The same deputation had also an interview with Mr.
Ward Hunt, M.P., at the Treasury, Whitehall, on the
same subject.
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yester-
day. Present—Sir E. V. Williams, Sir R. Kindersley,
Sir J. Colvile, and Sir Laurence Peel.
The Duke of Buckingham, Lord President of the Coun-
cil, left Chandos House yesterday for Paris.

WINDSOR, FRIDAY.—WC learn by a telegram that
the Prince of Wales and Prince Teck were present at the
Windsor Steeplechases this afternoon. The company
was large, and the weather fine. The Prince will
sleep at the Castle to-night in apartments appropri-
ated to bia royal highness in the York Tower, and
on each day of the races will dine with the officers of the
Royal Horse Guards, at their mess at the Spittal barracks.
This meeting is expected to be an unusually brilliant one,
not only from the circumstance of the Prince of Wales
being present, but from the number of entries to the
various liberal stakes. The line of country will be as
nearly as possible over the same ground and leaps as last
year, and should the weather continue favourable the
course will be in excellent condition for the running.

The Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh,
and Prince Leiningen, accompanied by the Duke of St.
Albans, the Earl of Leicester, the Hon. C. Carrington, Major
Teesdale, and the Hon. E. Yorke, honoured the Princess's
Theatre with their presence last evening.
_ _

Their Royal flighnemea the Duchene of Cam-
bridge, Prince and Princess Tack and suite honoured the
performances at the New Adelphi Theatre last evening.

The Prince Royal of Prussia gave a grand soiree
in honour of the Count de Plandre, on the 11th, when th,
Lay of the Belt, by Schiller, was represented in a aeries of
tabled six•rira eta.

The Archbishop of Dublin has left Maurigy's
Hotel for The Palace, Dublin.

The Duke of Buckingham, Lord President of
the Council, left Chandoe House yesterday for Paris.
The Earl and Countess Granville have issued in-
vitations for a dinner party to-morrow evening.
_ -

. .
The Countess of Derby will give the first of a
series of four evening parties to-morrow at the noble Pre-
mier's residence in St. Jameeb-square.
The death is announced of General John Raw-
lins Coryton, senior officer of the Royal Marines. He died
on T'neaday last, aged 77.

Lord Rims, M.P., left town on Wednesday
evening by the mail train for Dublin.

-
Lord M. Win. Graham, brother of the Duke of
Montrose, was married yesterday, at St. Michael's Church,
Chester-square, to the Hon. lire. Daahwood, eldest
daughter of the late Lord Bateman and .lster of the pre-
sent peer, and widow of Captain George Dashwood,
brother of Sir Henry Daahwood, Bart., of Kirlington
Purl, Ozfordahin). The noble bridegroom was attended
by Captain the Hon. Wm. Herbert as " best man." Lord
Bateman conducted his sister to the altar. The ceremony
was performed by the Hon. and Rev. Arthur Hanbury,
brother of the bride, prebendary of Hereford, and rector
of Sbobdon.

The select committee on the Traffic Regulation
Metropolis Bill, to be proposed by the Earl of Behnore,
consists of the Earl of Mahnesbury, the Duke of Marl-
borough, the Earl of Tankerville, the Duke of Montrose,
the Earl of Luean, the Earl of Delmore, Earl de Grey,
Earl Granville, the Earl of Kimberley, Lord Methuen,
Lord Stinky of Alderley, Lord Houghton, and Viscount
Boyne.

Lord Naas has deferred until Monday his bills
to promote the improvement of land by occupying tenants
in Ireland, &c.

Mr. Baxter proposes to ask the Under Secretary
of State for the Colonies, on Monday, whether soy
despatch relative to the reduction of the ecclesiastical
establishment in Jamaica has been forwarded to the
Governor of Jamaica ; and if so, whether he is willing to
lay the same before parliament ; and whether be will lay
before parliament the circular relative to such reduction
addressed to the clergy by the Bishop of Kingston.

Mr. Thomas Hughes, on Tuesday, will bring in
a bill to amend the laws relating to selling and hawking
goods on Sundays.

_
On Monday Mr. M‘Lagan will ask the President
of the Board of Trade whether it is the intention of the
government to introduce any measure for carrying out the
recommendations of the select committee on trade in
animals.

It is the intention of Sir Roundell Palmer to call
attention, on Friday next, to the unsatisfactory state of
the different appellate jurisdictions in this country, as
exercised in the House of Lords, the Privy Council, the
Court of Exchequer Chamber, and the Court of Appeal in
Chancery, and to other defects in our judicial system, by
which the administration of justice in the superior courts
of law b now impeded.

On going into committee of supply on army eati-
m►tes Mr. Otway will move, " That this house, reserv-
ing for future consideration when requisite the question
of the exigencies of a state of war, is of opinion that it is
unnecessary that the punishment of flogging should be
awarded during the time of peace to soldiers of the army
or corps of Royal Marines serving on shore."

Lord Stanley, it is stated, has appointed Mr.
Charles Lever, the well-known author, who has for some
years filled the appointment of consul at Spezzis, as consul
at Trieste.

A circular has been issued by Mr. Brand sum-
moning the liberal party to meet at Mr. Gladstones on
Thariday next.