The Express.
London, England, 1856-02-18 00:00:00

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LONDON, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18.

Tn meeting held in Willie's-rooms on Saturday
bat, to originate a memorial to JOSEPH Hum; poe-
m/en a twofold iotereet—stateemen and leaden of

public opinion amembled to do honour to a patriot,
and at the same time to express an affectionate
respect for the man which death cannot obliterate.
Dazzling talents and great achievements may com-
mand the admiration of the manse, but the qualities
which impress with cordial reverence colleagues and
intimate associates must be of a deeper and more
genuine stamp. The character that can awaken both
classes of emotions most stand high indeed. The
mere titles of some who took part in the proosed-
lags may serve to show what a change has been
produced in public opinion daring the forty years of
JOISEEII Ryan's labours. It is not merely thit men
of the highest rank and the most ancient lineage in
the land were there to do honour to one who, sprang
from the people, struggled incessantly for the people.
BEDFORD!' and GREER had identified themselves with
the popular cause before his time. But there is rea-
son for congratulation in the novel fact that Ministers
of the Crown moved and seconded a declaration—

"That the disinterested service. of Mr. Hums for
above forty years in the House of Commons, his suc-
cessful efforts to check the wute of publis money,
his constant support of all mama conducive to the
spread of moral and intellectual improvement, and
his unvarying advocacy of constitutional liberty,
claim • lasting record of the gratitude of hie coon-
trymen." JOSEPH Hums and his colleagues
have not straggled in vain, linos these are the
opinions and sentiments expressed, not
by
pioneer
of reform, contending against power on the one hand
and against ignorance on the other, but by the rulers
of the land. Much remains to be done; but what
has been accomplished will encourage others to
grapple with the task in the spirit of him of whom I
it was said by Lord PANNE/14 with equal truth
and fine feeling—" Strongly as be maintained his
political principles, he
enemy."
A more appropriate time than the present could
not have been selected for the lesson conveyed by
the words of Lord Patirms. Circumstances have
unhappily of late years introduced dissension and
recrimination into the Liberal ranks. One prolific
source of exasperatiog discussions appears likely
to pass away with the war. Would it not be
well in all shades and sections of the Liberal party
to embrace the occasion to draw near again to etch
other? Assuredly this would be the noblest monu-
ment they could erect to the memory of him who
never compromised a principle, and never made a
personal enemy. There is no necessity for any man
to yield up one principle, ce to cease demanding one
reform; enough if all can agree to differ with
mutual respect where they do differ, and to press on
with medial co-operation to the attainment of objects
which they agree are desirable. Let Ass emulate
in all discussions what the Duke of Bowman fell-
eitouly described as " the unflinching energy and
imperturbable good temper of Mr. Hums.'
Of the recognised merits of Mr. Hums It is
needless to speak. Of his imputed weaknesses
it is now, we hope, equally needless to take
notice. And yet such is the affectionate reve-
rence inspired by close peened aequiatance with
our lost friend, that we cannot help pro-
testing against °conical echoes of silly and un-
banded imputation which were uttered against
him in his lifetime. It was at ow time the fashion
among certain writers to affect to speak of Mr. Hums
as food of money. The charge was ridiculous as
brought against a man who. when he had scarcely
attained the prime of life, contented himself with a
moderate, self•seemed fortune—refused more thence
brilliant ear from wealthy fines in India and
Englaad—amd devoted himself to unremunerated
labours i• the public service. Mr. Hems, we have
nano to believe, occluded his public life a
poorer sea than ise began it—having spent mesh is
public objects, sot is private gratifications. This,
however, is no uncommes feature of English states-
men. He was more singular in his disregard of those
temptation which °Mom and pcsaissent station pre-
sent to minds of a higher order. Enthusiastic ad-
mines have expressed their indignation at his never
h►vieg received eves the titular bower of Privy
Councillor; bat hi. intimate Meads know t►at he
always discouraged mesh suggestion. An erroneous
statement has of late been *instated on this subject;
but the truth is, that the honour woe desired for not
by him. Nose knew better, or acknowledged more
cheerfully, than Mr. Hums himself that his true wort
was that of a pioneer, not that of an administrator;
that his true piece was ameept the people; and that
his true distinction wee to die, se be bed lived, midis-
tinguished by any decoration bat his good works.
It has been observed by some that the expression
of public feeling regarding Mr. Hums is quiet and
unimpassioned. It is not on that account the less
profound. The truth is, that noisy and vehement
assertions of the worth of a deemed stetson= gess-
rally imply the existence eta coati" current in pub-
lic opinion. The honours tendered to Pin and Fox,
at the thee of their respective deaths, partook quite
SS much of defiance to their opponents as of
sympathy on the part of their friend/. The
statesman who dies the leader of an moss.
pitted movement—the exposest of a pricipie
still hotly contested—the mark of party vituperation
yet unsileneed—is lauded with veheassaes and sager.
nese. Mem feel that in boaomeise the dead they
are at the same time *Amortise their own cane. Bat
the statesman who dies when his part in life has been
completely played oat, when principles which be first
expounded half • century ago amid Tidies& or abase
have been universally adopted, receives a different
homage-♦ homage as tranquil as it is cordial. The
balk of the denionreatione of respect for the memory
of Sir ROBERT PELL were rather blows levelled at
Protection, than genuine unalloyed expressioas of
respect for that great rasa. The memory Of JOU:PE
Buss is cherished by multitedes whoa cisme will
never be heard in public meetings, whose sum will
never figure on any subeeription list.

• al&
A silos%
damsestes.
meld
MP"
iOlllll/41
) iavits•
) este&
MOM
MN

more intimately known, and mere thoroughly appre-
ciated, than out of doors. A national tribute to his
memory, paid by the Legislature, would be eminently
appropriate. A proposal to this effect has, we know,
been mooted, and has already received the signatures
of two hundred and forty members of the House of
Commons. The unanimous coccurrence of the Hones
in such a vote would be a stimulus to all present and
fature members to emulate his " unflinching energy
and imperturbable good temper."

THE two bills brought into the House of Com-
mons by Mr. Lows—relating, the one to the Law of
Partnership, the other to Joint-stock Companies—do
Not seem likely to raise much opposition. Some few
members who represent the great capitalists express
a suspiciously paternal anxiety lest their poorer fel-
low-cotizens should engage in ruinous enterprises. But
the majority of the community feel satisfied that if a
rata rains himself, he has himself alone to blame;
and that however proper it may be for the State to
protect infants or women, the State has nothing
whatever to do with the protection of adults.
Adults must protect themselves. The freedom of
oontract should be established as • legal principle.
Law should be confined to its proper province; and
that province doss not extend beyond furnishing the
means of enforcing the various agreements which
may be entered into by any one man or body of men
with any other man or body of men. The creditor
should be furnished with ample means to sue his
debtor; the debtor should be furnished with ample
means to enforce the contract of his creditor. Nor,
indeed, are we by any means satisfied that, where the
existence of gross fraud is demonstrated, an indict-
ment should not lie against the fraudulent contractor.
For it seems a reasonable principle to declare, that
the more a man is trusted the more serious ought to
be the oonameenese of violating that trust.
As we have before observed, the Partnership Bill
is intended to correct only one hardship in the pre-
sent law—that principle by which a dormant partner
is liable to his uttermost ferthieg. At present,
any individual contracting to take a share of the
profits in • concern is • partner; and Mr. Lowe
proposes to declare generally, that where the ad.
yawn of capital has been made, upon a contract with
a trader that the person eo advancing shall share the
profits, such advance shall not of itself render the
person making it liable as a partner; and that an agent
of a trader who is to be remunerated by a share in
the profits shall not thereby be constituted a partner.
Them provisions, mit seems to us, will effectually pro-
teat what are called dormant partners—that is, per-
sons who do not interfere with the business except by
lending their money. This proposal, it will be ob-
served, does not protect those who, although they do
not openly interfere with a business, tliekm
interfere privately. The law of agency is not affected,'
and therefore the undieclomod principal will remain
subject to the same liabilities as heretofore. Indeed
it is apparent that this hill is a mere corollary of
the Act abolishing the Usury Laws. As a man
may now lend his money at any rate of
interest, it is clear that be may lend his money
on the condition that be shall, at the end of the
year, receive 60 per cent. upon his advance, but that,
if the business dose not yield a profit sufficiently large
to allow of such a return, he shall, at the end of
the year, receive as much by way of interest as the
trader himself receives on his whole outlay. For-
merly a person making an advance could not receive
more than 5 per cent.; but now homey receive 50 per
sent. It is obvious, therefore, that a man may, even
glider the present law, protect himself from un-
limited liability by a skilfully constructed contract
such as we have indicated. In other word', he may
enjoy all the advantages which the proposed law
is intended to confer en a dormant partner;
and, therefore, it is only jut that that bane-
, fit which is within the reach of those commer-
eial men who are well advised as to the law, should
be placed within the molt of all commercial men,
by being transferred from the domain of mutual
contrast to the domain of general law. In this view
it is, moreover, clear that no further restrictions, such
es registration, ought to be imposed, unless, indeed,
some new restrictions are also to be imposed upon
persons entering into suc► contracts as those indi-
cated above.

"THE RIGHT Mate Ix um RIGHT PLece—Thia
somewhat bachaeyed ptrass appears to be usissatly ap-
plie ibis to the appoistment et Serseast Brodie. by Vle
Seezetary for Wsr, to be Inepeeties Feremea of Saddlery
at Woedos-Beck. The timearriag testimony Oman of all
nabs i• the army %prom s him embody Bahl ia the
invention and 'nastiness* of horse equipmeate. sere
becks in bane have been unknown in thole resimmate for
which be sated as regimental saddler. The appohtment
therefor, set merely a cos peneation far harsh sad oddest
bestowal, bat a boon to the service besides. Lord Pea.
man, is ladmatiair the appointment to &Ernst Brodie,
said that did set wealth* lila ee haviag left the ser•
vies with any stain IS his ebareetes, bat thought en the
embrery, he saw no reams why his services dunal:l set be
sea red, should they be avaGable for the Willa Menem ;"
and these words we are aimed were uttered with a freak
and amireeted seedislity that &gabled their vale*.

Laid Falmentoo Will thatim, at twelve o'clock. to•
money, at his Tesithees in Piesodi/ly, • deputation hem
the Maaehestsr Cemmercisl ASIOISHOW, se the r %Mem MI
ear relations with Brasil. The shiest M the &wades e
to proem the repeal of the Bth sad kith Ala, cap. 123, se
log as seam to Ike Breathier severemmet, by whom it is
thought enfleisetly Mosier eel mosearfal Worts ham
Mem meetly made to pet an sad to the trace la slams.
Thi thrushes will Winds Kr. J. H. De Castro, Mr.
Swish's Jades, Kr. W. Marling, Ms. R. J. Partridge,
Mr. Wm. ands, and Mr. Hugh Flarafag, worelery of the
meesiatite. At two o'clock temerrow, else. the same do
moults have ma !atomiser appoieted at the board of
Trade, with Kr. Laws IS the *ablest of the 'hippies bill
mad sirs ea the *ablest Of the Attie to import desire. Ac-
es/dins to a letter width bee eons to the heads of the saes
Blades, the imememed ad valorem duties of 3 per mat ,
=by the hohkehre ceased at Cape Coast Castle is
It maesholume. was 'beady drivthrt the trate tate
the heads of the DM* ma the worm/ of the mall Detail
to,. of Mauro% Mae ea tour mike hem Cape Cease, had
gime some of theletDrh reddest Illevebaats mentag there
hem Caps Came pcem7tiw to weepy the Pert, m soaditios
of Maples kb oiysk. Vowels were already puMse Cap,
ONO" sm mmasepemes of the =aortae* sad restristioas is
Ittedeby thomper moulatioss.
RAPIKINIK'ATION Or L2011111111221.--(Pront oar
Cur apendeat.) Laow masa, OSTIMIDAT..— Tee two
modidetes to the Said kw the seat by death of
Mr. Asintefight seem adermiaed go b
Aged he Tessa" meat, the aembotlea tali. plane es
Meedsy. It mesas that a was &awarded to
Mr. J. E. Arltwright, sea of the he. membur (.1. wee
highly respected, emd mteassated w Musty& he lemma
gaze), 'skies Ids halm limed' teas pat
is aembetiew.
that sastlmess la a modest eaves—. I regret at
at gamest I de net feel myself es expertmeredth is
ma& 'Main as ualestalte those hawks, dudes which at
Wm withal period meet devolve epee a numbs r of parlia-
ment." Mr. Arkwright only a few amen. ago attalaed he
asejortte. He le a mascreative in p lilies, sad would is all
proesbility have !sea retereed had he showed himself to be
pot la soosiaetim. P.blie misshape have be.. held, at
width both tumadidatie Is the fold—hr. Campbell (libe-
rel) sad Mr. Berl, (miservativej—havo addressed the
siselaws ; sad the Mos& party atneite moral's ef Man-
* their me. st the heed of Me,
MAITUDONS VrsrlT.—Oa Saturday the vestry
▪ Merylettom elected its modish Miser. There were
ray :for! of Maeda had .fstaluro ":1117' that s
ter
els thou"
sadomrva
Mr. Whitmorn to so to rne sharer, whisk wee at ease
terelszed opened. At its eon earatimers were appointed,
and, after 101110 dam. th. lash somber, wore semaseed to
be se follow.:—For Dr. Robert Dead= Thomism, 71; for
Mr. Jobe Wilmer', 37; majority for Dr. Tbeewee, $4.1
Ths anaseammest was meting with applems by Dr.
Thenisee's Meade; sad the thatruaa bailee declared mat
matemea duly gloated 'Mery of health for the parish of
Marelsbeee. Dr. Themes was 'Wad before the tome, sod
the meek wee emeevoesol to Me, lee Irbil* be briefly
re-
tamed Omsk,. Altar prolog s reasktiew mom*, against
the sew Peaks Bill, the miry myseeted.

It appears to m that the eogaidgratioa of a
~
menial to Mr. Hum la ties, to a certain a
:grooved from the category of popular domes
floes. And it ia cm this gecomt that we I
wish attention to Le paid alsewhas to • sal
tion thrown out on Saturday by Sir Jot
WALMSLIIT, which m it MUMS the timid the I.
tire to the meeting rendered it impassible to e
tain. The Home of Commons wag the groat i
of Yr. Howes labours. There his merits
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