The Express.
London, England, 1858-03-25 00:00:00

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LONDON, TIEVIRSDAT, MANCE 25.

THE discussion that took place the night before
last on the Psasport system has had the beneficial
reeult of reducing the question to its true bearings.
The practical point for consideration is, not the folly
of foreign Governments in perpetuating a system.
the inutility and vexatiousness of which have

repeatedly been admitted by the most competent
foreign aathorities ; it is simply, what regulations
oar own Government ought to devise so as to render
the procuring of a British passport a matter of the
lout possible vexation and expense to British
citizens. After the deliberate testimony of many dis-
tinguished continental pabliciats--after the recorded
conviction of the Emperor of the Faviat him-
self—that passports are "an oppressive inven-
" Lion—an embarrassment and obstacle to the
" peaceful citizen, but utterly powerless against
" those who wish to deceive the vigilance
" of authority,"—the cue as against the Passport
system may be regarded as decisively established by
the very admission of those who are now employed
in enforcing it with renewed stringency. But this
is not the point. A considerable body of functiona-
ries on the Continent have a direct pecuniary inte-
rest in maintaining the syetem ; the inveterate pre-
judices of the foreign police are stubbornly arrayed
in its favour; and it is not likely that the EMPIOIOI,
however 'bong the opinion be may entertain as to
its absurdity, will, or indeed can, enforce the sudden
abandonment of • set of regulations, the carrying
out of which gives lucrative employment to many,
and the surrender of which would be regarded
as fraught with danger to the public safety
by all but the thinking few. The utmost that the
British Government can do in this direction is, by
friendly representation and reasonable remonstrance,
to press for a relaxation of those very objectionable
and vexatious regulations which have recently been
adopted on the other aide of the Channel. It is pro-
bable that the very practical arguments arising from
diminished railway receipts, deserted hotels, unoccu-
pied lodging-houses, and unvisited shops, will have
a greater weight in this direction than any formal
correspondence on the part of the Foreign-office.
When the panic originating out of the crime of the
Rue Lepelletier shall hare in some degree subsided,
common sense may be expected to resume its
sway in the councils of French statesmen ; and the
slightest exertion of common sense most suffice for
the discovery that nothing can be devised more. pre-
judicial for the best interests of France than to in-
terpose artificial barriers to her free intercourse with
her English allies.
The real question, however, for us to decide—the
question over the decision of which our Government
is supreme—is this : What regulations are to be
enforced here upon British subject' applying for a
passport to British authorities? This is the tree
point. As everybody knows, nine-tenths of the

embarrassment and vexation which have arisen sine*
the change in the system are owing to the absurdity
of oar own Foreign-office regulations. In comment-
ing the other day on these regulations, we put one
of two hypothetical cases of the possible hardship
that might be inflicted by !those rules on that very

numerous clams of our fellow-citizens who have near
relations living in France. One of the very cases so
put has actually occurred, and was stated by Mr.
itiONCKTON MILNES to the Moue. An English
gentleman received • telegram stating that his
daughter was dangerously ill at St. Omer's. He
went at once to his banker's and got the recom-
mendation. He hurried to the Foreign-office.
He arrived there before four o'clock, and
was told, in compliance with the rules, to
call there the next day at twelve. He did so, and
got off by the tidal train that night, but arrived at
Bt. Omer's two hours too late—his daughter was
dead. In this case there was no difficulty about the
recommendation ; the delay was caused by the
absurd rule which interposes a day between the
application for the passport and its delivery. An-
other instance cited by Mr. Miurts tarns on the
impracticable rule as to recommendation. A young
officer just returned from India, having very few
acquaintances in this country, received a telegram on
the Thursday that his father was at Boulogne, at
the point of death. He went at once to the Foreign-
office and stated his position. He was told he mast
have a recommendation. He spent the whole of
Friday in trying to procure one, and at last fell
in with a friend who recollected having once dined
with a police magistrate. A letter was written to
the functionary in question, and a recommendation
. . _

obtained. Oa the gatarday the young officer got
his passport, but not until it was too late to catch
the Volkeetone boat, and he did not reach his father's
bedside till Sunday.
Now this, it is quits clear, is utterly unendurable ;
and, indeed, Mr. germane FITZGERALD, in his very
sensible and creditable speech, did not attempt for •
moment to defend the CLARENDON regulations. Hs
admitted that in the estimation °flier Majesty's premmt
Goverment I British passport granted to & British
sable* stout to trays: ii:-Ntel was a mere sertigoste of
eitizenship—a certificate of the fact that the be N?
was a subject of the British Crown. He admitted
that Government felt it no part of their duty to
make any inquiry sato the antecedents of the appli-
cant for • passport. He admitted that it wee
a rest inconvenience that no British pup.
porta should be issued except in Imam eel
&clued the intention of Government to edehik,
several branch offices in the principal port. Re
....ted that it was the desire of the Cute.
—ITER to make such a reduction
for passports as would pleas

also intimated that it w
mina al the XXCIZQI
in the resent chap to
•