The Express.
London, England, 1866-05-01 00:00:00

THE GOVIONMLIT PROCTEDINO ON ?Ern:PORK WORTION.

The Timer describes the government as having put
itself in peril and hazarded the settlement of a great con-
stitutional question for a punctilio. The advice which Mr.
Bouverie gave last night was so sound that it almost de.
'pairs of its being adopted. 'When the Redistribution
Bill is brought on next week, it can, as he pointed out, be
referred with the Franchise Bill to one and the same com-
mittee, and the house will then have the whole scheme be-
fore it, and will be competent to deal with it as a whole.
It is, of course, undesirable that a Reform Bill should be
passed which is only a Reform Bill in name ; but it is
equally vain to think that the present parliament, or that
any parliament, will sanction legislation on the basis of
numbers or enfranchisement on the plea of • fellow huma-
nity. It would be idle to defer reform under the hope that
principles such as these can ever be accepted by statesmen
trained as ours have been to look to results. The Redistri-
bution Bill must be such that the joint effect of it and of
the Franchise Bill must be in harmony with Englialt tradi-
tions and English sentiments. The other condition indis-
pensable to the solution of the reform question is • deter-
mination on the part of the Opposition to help it forward,
and to abstain from snatching a victory even if it be thrown
in their way.
The Daily New remarks that the frankness and firmness
of the government dispose of all the objection of the com-
prehensive liberals, who demand all or nothing ; of the
thoughtful and cultivated liberals, for whose fastidious
superiority neither Mr. Mill is thoughtful enough, nor Mr.
Gladstone cultivated enough ; of the conservative-liberals,
who are in • transitional stage of opinion between the
courage of comprehensive bigots and the cowardice of
thoughtful pedants. On Monday next Mr. Gladstone will
bring in a bill for the redistribution of seats, and will, as

MAY 1, 181

Irinatter if folk fix tlatiommittee on the Tramiel* Bill
for the same day, in ordei to enable the house.iin $ full
Sieeeiderstios of • both *assures, taken separatek and
together, to deal with either of them, or both, as ay *hall
think fit. In Mimi words, the house will have lid "Warn,
Bin at its disposal, complete in all its parts—franchise,
seats, boundaries ; and in the next division it will be
clearly known to all the world that liberals who are
counted up by a tory " teller" have voted against a pure
and simple, a comprehensive and complete, Reform Bill.
This will simplify the question, and the votes upon it, in
a manner most convenient to the critical observation of
the constituencies.
The Post now thinks the ministry were undoubtedly
right in deciding to retain their sesta, especially as it
leaves the card of dissolution in their own hands which
resignation would have placed in the hands of their oppo-
nents ; and, apart from the question of reform, we see at
present no advantage that oould arise from exchanging for
another a ministry which contains so large &share of adminis-
trative talent as the present. As to the Franchise Bill in
committee the ministry will be able to yield upon many
points. The savings bank clause is probably not thought
to be absolutely necessary. The H. qualification may be
allowed to become 81., but upon the occupation franchise
in the counties they will probably hold firm, while it is
just this that is so distasteful to the country gentlemen.
But the objections will be vastly increased when the Re-
distibution Bill appears, though thelemon the government
have received will probably make them cautious in its
provisions.
The Herald begins to look to the House of Lords and
mays that though the government should succeed in over-
riding a large minority of the Commons, the House of
Peers, in which body conservatism has • permanent and
national majority, would not allow a resolution to be
carried through by a docen or • score of votes in the
lower house. Whether the conservatives come in now or
twelve months hence is of little moment compared with
the settlement of the question of reform on a con-
servative basis ; and of such • settlement a
double chance fs now afforded. In whatever way
the question of reform may be disposed of, it is now
obvious that the extent, the manner, and the time of
its settlement rest with the conservative party.
In the opinion of the Telegraph the government could
have adopted no course more satisfactory to the country
than that which Mr. Gladstone last night announced its
intention to pursue.
The Star assumes that when the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer talks of standing or falling by the bill, he means the
bill for the reduction of the franchise to 71. in boroughs
and 141. in counties. The adoption of any other franchise
makes a new and a different bill, and the country consents
to no such change. On this understanding the public will
approve cordially of the course taken by the government.
The question at issue is the question of the sincerity of
some thirty liberals. If these prove false, then let their
constituents have an opportunity of deaVng with them.
The government is doing its duty in making one more
appeal to the House of Commons ; but if any further ap-
peal be necessary, let it be made to the country.

Ette Court.

OSBORNE, APRIL 30.

The Queen, Princess Helena, Princess Louise,
and Prince Arthur attended divine service yesterdsv morn'
ing at Whippingham Church.
The Rev. George Prothero, assisted by the Rev. William
Jolley, administered the Sacrament of the Holy Com*
!minion. _ _

Sir George Grey returned to London this morning.

The Princess of Wales took a carriage drive yesterday
attended by Viscountess Walden.
The Prince and Princess of Wales went to the Italian
Opera in the evening, attended by Viscountess Walden
and Major Grey.
A deputation from Bradford, Yorkshire, consisting of
Alderman Farrar, Councillors Story and Robertehaw, with
the Town Clerk and Borough Surveyor, had an interview
with the Right Hon. T. Milner Gibson, at the office of
'the Beard of Trade, yesterday, upon the subject of the
proposed public Waterworks Bill. The Town Clerk of
Manchester bad also an interview with the Right Hon.
T. Milner Gibson on the same subject. . .

.. -.
Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office from the Governors of the West India Islands,
Canada, and the Bahamas.
Mr. Knatehbull-Hugessen was yesterday- Installed its
Under-Secretary in the Home-office, vice Mr. Baring,
appointed Secretary to the Admiralty.

BRI:9BBRLS, APRIL 30.—Prince Alfred is shortly
expected to visit this city, on his return from Coburg. His
royal highneu will take up his residence at the Palace
dining hie stay in Brussels.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge
honoured the Marquis and Marchioness of Clanricarde by
his company at dinner yesterday at the family residence
in Stratton-street, Piccadilly. There were present to meet
the royal duke :—The Earl and Countess of Clarendon and
Lady Emily Villiers, the Earl and Countess of Cork, the
Earl and Countess of Wilton, Viscount Lasalle., Viscount
Hamilton, Lord Bedesdale, Lord and Lady Cecilia Bing-
ham, Lord and Lady Stanley of Alderley, and Lord Dun-
kellin, M.P. ; and Colonel Tyrwhitt, in attendance on the
Duke of Cambridp. .

His Ezellenc; the Austrian Ambassador and the
Countess Apponyi were honoured by the presence of their
Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge and Princess
Mary at dinner yesterday evening at Chandos House-
Their royal highnesses arrived at 8 o'oclock, attended by
Colonel Purves. There were present to meet the illus-
trious guests him Highness Prince de Tack, the Nether-
lands Minister, the Hanoverian Minister, the Baroness
Biome, the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, the Mar-
chioness of Ely, the Earl and Countess of Malmesbury, the
Earl of Sefton, General and Lady Alice Peel, Lady Bloom-
field, Count Pahlen, Count Halnoky, Baron Hubner, and
Mr. William Peel

The Right Hon. Sir Robert Peel, M.P., and
Lady Emily Peel had a dinner party last evening at their
residence in Wbitehall•gardena There were present the
Duke of St. Albans, the Earl and Countess of Tanker-
•ille, the Earl and Countess Stanhope and Lady Mary
Stanhope, Lord William Hay, M.P., Lord Houghton,
Colonel 0. Higgins, Mrs. Henry Baring, Mr. Russell, Mr,
and Mrs. Baker, Mr. Deane, and Mr. B. Osborne.

Mrs. Washington Hibbert gave a ball last
Griming, at the family mansion in Dover-street, which
was attended by upwards of 500 of the elite of society.
The ball-room, situated at the rear of the mansion, was
brilliantly illuminated and decorated with festoons of
pink and white roses, with baskets suspended from the
roof, which were filled with choice ezotic:a and flowering
plants. _ _ _ --

The nuptials of the Hon- Mr. Cotton, son of
Viscount Combermere, with the wealthy heiress, Miss
Fletcher, will be solemnised in London in the (tonne of
the month, as ►oon as the health of Lord Kenyon, her
guardian, will permit of his assisting at the ceremony.
We regret to announce the death of Lord Rivers,
which occurred on Saturday, shortly before midnight. His
lordship's death was sudden, owing to heart disease. The
distress of the family was further increased by the death
of Lady Rivers, who expired shortly before 8 yesterday
morning, after a short illness, from congestion of the
lungs. The late Lord Rivers was a Lord in Waiting to
her Majesty the Queen from 1841 to 1846, and from 1853
to 1858, and was again reappointed in June, 1859. His
lordship was a deputy-lieutenant of the oonnty of Dorset,
and colonel-commandant of the Dorsetshire Yeomanry
Cavalry.

It is Mr. Sandford's intention, on the motion for
going into committee on Representation of the People Rill,
to move, " That it be en instruction to the committee that
they have power to insert clauses establishing new con-
stituencies with a franchise calculated to give a direct
representation to the working classes."
On Friday, Mr. Baxter will call attention to the
large sum out of the assessment for the relief of the poor
in Scotland spent annually in litigation ; and ask whether
the government will undertake to provide a remedy for so
crying en evil."
On Civil Service Estimates, Class 4, Lord H.
Lennox intends to move the postponement of vote 19, for
the erection of buildings at South Kensington to contain
the natural history collections of the British Museum,
until the house is made aware of the nature of the trust
to which the management of the new museum le to be
entrusted, and of the measures recommended by ber
Majesty's government for the improvement of the consti-
tution of the British Museum, and for insuring proper
parliamentary responsibility in its management.

.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

' AUSTRIA, PRUSSIA, AND ITALY.
• The /ndipendancs contains the following :
• Judging of the situation, not from the resistance which
the populations still offer to the explosion of a terrible
struggle in Europe, but from the desires of some of the
statesmen who govern it and the acts to which they com-
mit themselves, it must be admitted that we were never
nearer war.

The Journal des DO.hate says :
The despatches of to-day are not more assuring than
those of yesterday and the preceding days. We learn from
Florence that all the soldiers who are out on unlimited
leave have been called in for sers Ice by an order of the
Minister of War.
The Arenir National says :—" Both Prussia and
Austria are determined not to disarm, but there is
a difference between the two—Prussia will not, and
Austria cannot."
The feeling of the Austrians is thus described in
a correspondence from Vienna :
Uneasiness, anger, and indignation are the feelings
which animate every class in Vienna. Austrians were never
so much Austrians as at the present moment. The manner
in which the Cabinet of Berlin is forcing on war, its base-
less recriminations and humiliating provocations have
roused the most peaceable and least excitable citizens, and
still more the army, the nobility, and the young men.
Every one has become a patriot. The Emperor, after
reading the last Prussian note, said to Count von Mena-
dorf, " Count, it only remains for us to fight, and fight we
will." It was under this feeling that Austria intimated to
Baron Von Werther that she would not disarm in Venetia.
On the other hand the following extract from the
Florence journal Italia breathes the spirit of all the
latest news from Italy :
Illusion is no longer possible. It is time to open our
eyes to evidence, although what we see appears incredible.
Italy is threatened and directly provoked by Austria.
And yet Italy has hitherto been altogether on a peace
footing. She has fewer men under arms than she had in
1861, 1862, 1863, 1864 and 1865. It is time, and humble
as we are, we take upon ourselves to say it—it is now time
to act. If Austria means war, Italy will not shrink from it.
The Opinions of April 30 says :
In the exceptional circumstances in which Italy is now
placed the ministers have thought it to be their duty to
resign their offiees and to place them at the disposal of the
President of the Council with a view of facilitating any
new combination which the King might consider desirable.
Upon this General La Marmon asked Baron Ricasoli if he
was prepared to form a cabinet, to which the latter replied
that he did not think the time was come for a new minis-
terial arrangement.
The Postzeitung of Frankfort contains a telegram
from Florence stating that the Italian government
had determined on the formation of a free corps to
be under the command of Garibaldi.

The following notice has been issued by the
Austrian authorities at Trevisa :

By imperial decree all soldiers on leave or os the reserve
list of the Lombardo-Venetian kingdom, of whatsoever
regiment, corps, or troop, are called to arms, and must
immediately present themselves in the respective military
offices, under pain of being treated as deserters. The pre-
sent notice will be published, not only in the usual way,
but from the church altars by the respective clergymen.
(Signed) nacre.

The Pangoio of Milan says :
All the information arriving from Venetia agrees in re-
presenting that even in 1859 there were not such move-
ments of soldiers, nor were military measures adopted with
so much haste and on so vast a scale. The Archduke Albert
has arrived in Verona. His staff speak openly and
haughtily of the approaching campaign. Here at Verona
they calculate on the commencement of hostilities within
ten days.

(aurag's rzaso asits.)

ITALY.

FLORENCE, APRIL 30, EvianNa.

The Chamber of Deputies to-day unanimously
approved the following resolution introduced by
Signor Mordini : " That at this momentous crisis
every preparation for war should be made."
The bill presented by Signor Scialoja, the
Minister of Finance, authorises the government
to provido by royal decrees, and by extraordinary
measures the financial means necessary for the de-
fence of the country. The Minister demanded that
the bill should be immediately discussed. The
Deputies are accordingly holding an extraordinary
evening sitting to discuss the bill.
It is stated that the Minister of the Interior has
made the necessary preparations for the mobilisa-
tion of the National Guard.