The Express.
London, England, 1866-11-05 00:00:00

THE ELECTIONS IN HOLLAND.

A correspondent of the A rruir National, writing
from the Hague on the 31st ult., says :
A telegram of this morning's date has made known to
you that, according to the first results known of the elec-
tions for the Second Chamber, the balance is equal between
the two parties. This equality seems likely to be main
tained. This evening we know of the election of 24 mi-
nisterialiats and 24 liberals. The result of eight yet re-
mains to be known. For 19 seats there will be a second
election, which will take place on the 14th November. In
fact, the result of Tuesday has been in no way decisive
the ministry has not succeeded, as it hoped, in driving out
the liberal majority, or at least in reducing it to an
insignificant minority. In vain has it used and abused
the name of the King, and made him sign proclamations
to the people, which they have distributed to all the
electors ; the royal word has had no power to destroy the
liberal spirit of a large number of districts. Another in-
fluence has been laid under contribution by the cabinet,
that of the catholic clergy who hitherto have habitually
acted in favour of the liberals. This time, hatred of pro-
gress has been stronger than religious animosity against
protestantism, and rather than favour the triumph of
progressive ideas the clergy have preferred to give a help-
ing hand to protestant fanaticism. This combination of
influences—l cannot disguise it—will probably injure
the liberal majority ; the fortnight which separates
us from the second election, will doubtless be employed
in an extraordinary canvass of the districts where the first
election did not prove decisive, and as the majority is
doubtful, these desperate efforts may enable the ministry
to gain some few votes. But that matters little to it ;
whatever happens the cabinet has decided to remain in power.
If it has not a majority it will do without. This is what
is whispered by its friends. And the budgets' Well, is
there not the Bismarck plan' If they are rejected,' or
not voted in time, they will he promulgated by royal
ordinance, that's all. In truth we are almost reduced to
the point of wishing the ministry final success in the
elections in order to spare the country a constitutional
crisis, certain as we are that the conservative party in
power will cut its own throat in a few years.

THE IRON TRADE. —The ironworkers strike still
continues in the north-eastern district of England, and
great distress prevails among the families of the men, and
much embarrassment among the tradespeople. A private
meeting of ironworkers was held at Middlesborough on
Friday, but nothing of moment transpired. Several of
the mills are getting into fast work, through men leaving
the union and guing in. At Middlesborough, Messrs.
Hopkins, Gilks, and. Co. are enabled to work ten furnaces,
both shifts. Messrs. Bolckow and Vaughan have 20 fur-
lnone* working night and day at the Witton-park. Messrs.
Fry, L'Anson, and Co. ,of Darlington, have six puddling fur-
naces under way. The Tudhoe Works have 20 puddling fur-
-1 Daces, their plate mill, and their merchant mill, working
night and day, and their guide mill working single shifts.
j The Consett Works are in full operation. On the Tyne,
the Walker Ironworks have nine puddling furnaces going.
Messrs. Abbott and Co. (limited), Gateshead, have nine
furnaces working, and Messrs. Hanks, Crawshay, and Co.,
iof the same place, have a considerable number in opera.
tiun. Meows. Fraser, Roberts, and Co., of Gateshead,
I have also a number of furnace. in partial operation.
Messrs. Palmer and Co. (limited), Jarrow Works, nine
puddling furnaces at work, and their plate mill and their
merchant mill on alternate weeks. Messrs. John Elliott
and Co., of Jarrow, have six puddling furnaces goi, and
a corresponding amount of mill work. Messra. Tysack
and Co.. of Monkwearmouth, are working four furnaces
and a finishing mill.
CZYSTAL RALF-A-CROWN DAY. --
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