The Express.
London, England, 1857-08-28 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY

„,-- -
bring her legislation into conformity with the
legislation of all enlightened countries, and of
preferring the bigotry of antiquity—introduced
at a time when her ancestors had some etiology
for bigotry in :the crafty and secretway in which
the Jesuits undermined the faith of Qom CHRIS-
TINA—to that freedom of religion” opinion which is
the forerunner of all true civil greatness. The na-
tion which poured forth its best blood in the
Thirty Years' War to establish the religious libert 4,
of Germany, and whose great Sovereign was knc,,,mi
as the bulwark of Protestantism, is now itscv the
victim of an intolerance even more intense than that
from which Ouvrtytts Anotruns rescued Gamany.
And Sweden retains this hateful legislation of her
own choice—by her own free will. !:Mg OSCAR,

we have said, has strongly recommended its mo.
dification, and his Government iatroduced a small
measure of religious liberty into the Swedish Diet.
That hod), our readers know, is divided into four
houses. by that of the Clergy the measure was of
course rejected on the selfish ecclesiastical prin-
ciple of keeping all they have got ; by
the Rouse of Nobles, in the interests of re
nen' Conservatism ; and, while it was adopted by
I the House of Citizens—that is,by the representatives of
the middle chums and of the intelligence of the
seentry—it was defeated in the House of Peasants,
where the prejudices of ignorance and the influence
d the clergy prevail. The defeat of this measure is
another proof of how unsuited to the wants and ex-
igencies of modern society the old framework of the
Swedish constitution really is ; and how idle it is to
aspect any resuscitation of Scan inavia under the
blsence of a legislature which has no inclination to
zeeseamodate the constitution of Sweden to the
perm of opinions and events, or to snatch the
emir: Item the plight of stagnation—of pie-
' Warps stagnation, if you please—iu which it has
stood for centuries, while everything around it,
even in Ruaaia, has been moving onwards. For,
strange to say, the opponents of Religious
Liberty in Sweden, the party which defeated this
attempt of the KING's Government to commence •
series of reformations on the adoption of which
depends the future usefulness of Sweden to Europe,
are the advocates and promoters of Scandiravianiem.
It is the very men who desire to revive in the nine-
teenth century that Union of Calmar which made
Scandinavia great in the fourteenth, who have had the
folly and inconsistency to refuse to prepare the way
by incorporating religions liberty in the government
of Sweden.
We say the inconsistency, not merely became et 1
the value to civil improvement and propose d
Religious Freedom, but because Denmark, or eves
Norway, cannot be expected to join a country se
retrograde in its religious legislation as Sweden I.
By the Constitution of 18.19 Religious Liberty—
freedom of conscience and of worship—were cow-
secreted in Denmark ; and, although in Norway thus
is still ranch to be accomplished to place that country
on a par with Denmark, Sweden is as far behind
Norway as Norway is behind Denmark.
It is but right that these Baltic states should
know that they are altogether disappointing
Europe in its expectations. Their students sad
their literature preach and encourage a dreamy
sentimentalism in favour of a united Scan-
dinavia capable of fulfilling the duties of • people
who boast of a distinct nationality and of heroic
traditions ; lint it is not by songs, by the excited
visits of enthusiastic boys to kindred universities--
it is not by the cultivation of feeling only that the
great end aimed at is to be accomplished. Sack
demonstrations are valuable accesearies when applied
in a sound and wholesome spirit ; but when we ass
that the spirit in which union and independence are
cultivated produces in Sweden a confirmation of
religious intolerance, and rejects in Norway cam-'
mercial freedom, the conclusion that the rest of
Europe will come to is, that what is passing in
these countries is a false and exaggerated imitation
of the post, and not a hearty and earnest desire to
rise equal to the emergencies of the present, and
to the expectations of the future.

PROROGATION
OF
PARLIAMENT.

(THIS DAY.)

This afternoon the east melon of the present parliament
was brought to a close. The prorogation was by royal
commission, end being simply a matter of form, It excited
none of the interest which Invariably steeds a prorogation
by the Queen in person.
Soon after ono o'ciock the Lords Commissioners, In their
peses robes, took their seats at the foot of the throne, and
the Usher of the Black Rod wee immediately directed to
,amnion the Commooa to attend at the bar to bear the com-
mie= for prerogidng parlimmat read. The Lords Coen-
telautoners were i —The Archbishop of Ceaterbary, the Lied
Chancellor, Berl Granville, the Earl of Harrowby, and
Lord Panama. After a brief delay, the Speaker, an/aided
by the Sergeant-at-Ansa, Lord Palmerston, the Chancellor
of the Richman, Sir Charles Wood, Sir Gee. they, Mr.
laboacheee, Mr. Bathes, Mr. Vernon Smith, Mr. Wilson,
sad several other members, appeared at the bar.
The royal Great was then given by commandos to the
Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Bill, sad a fow other bille
which bad been agreed to by both house*.
The royal COMUNAMON for the prorogation of parliament
was then reed by the clerk at the table, after which the Lord
Chancellor read the speech tram the throne as follows
"MT Loans AND °INTL/MEN,
" We are commanded by her Majesty to Memel you from
further attendance in parliament, and at the same time to
express to you her Majesty's cordial mknowledgmente for
the seal and assiduity with which you have performed your
important duties during a amnion which, though shorter
than usual, ham, nevertheless, been unusually laborious.
"Her Majesty commando us to express to you her sada-
faction that the premed state of atria, in Europe inspires a
well-grounded confidence in the continuance of peace.
" The arrangements connected with the full execution of
the stipulations of the treaty of Paris have, from venom
causer, not yet been completed; but leer Majesty trusts that
by the earnest efforts of the contratting partite to that treaty,
all that remains to be done with reference to its stipulation
may ere long be satisfactorily settled.
" Her Majesty commands us to inform you that the ex-
tensive mutinies which ban broken out among the native
troupe of the army of Bengal, followed by serious; distur-
bance, in many pens of that Presidency, have occasioned
to her Majesty extreme concern; and the barbarities
which have been inflicted upon many of her Majesty's
subjects in India, and the sufferings which have been
endured, have filled her Majesty's heart with the deepest '
grief; while the conduct of many civil and military officers
who have been plead In circumstance* of much difficulty,
sad have been exposed to great danger, has excited her
Majesty's warmest admiration.
" Her Majesty commands as to inform you that she will
omit no me sure calculated to quell these grave deciders;
and been Majesty is confident that, with the blessing of Pro-
vidence, the powerful means at her disposal will enable her
to accomplish that Ind.

" GIFT KKKKK OF TOO HOCIIZ OF CONIIONN,
" Her Majesty commands ea to thank you for the liberal
'applies which you hare voted kr the minion of the pretest
year ; end for the emereeme which you have given her of
your mediae= to efind her Majesty whatever support may
be necemery for the restoration of tranquillity to India.
"Ear Weedy has been gratified to dad that you have tom
enabled to provide the amount required to be paid to Den-
mark for the redemptka al the Bound Dace, without on that
account addiag to the mating debt.
"Yes LORDS LTD OIDITLIMEN,
" Hr Majesty cceemends we to oesiwy to you her Merit&
acknowledgmente for the provialem which you hem node for
her beloved daughter the Princess Royal as her approaching
minims wit► hie Royal Wilmer Prince Frederick William
of Prussia.

" Her Majeety commas us to inform you that -she hex
tea was malefaction that, although the present esesioa lase
beta short, you have boa able to pass massy act* of great
haportaisce, sod to which her Majesty has gives her cordial
aster.

Ths rota for establishing a wore "lent jurisdiction for
the proving of wills la England and Ireland, correct defects
whkh have for many ran been complained of.
.11e Act for .mending the law relating to DIVOT"e and
to Matrimonial Cans will remedy evils which hies long
been felt.

" The several Acta for the Punishment of Fraudulent
Breaches of Trust ;
" Far amending the law relating to secondary punish-
ments
" Fee amending the law concerning joint Mock banks;
" Foe comolidating and amending the law relating to
beakruptcy and humleency in Ireland ;
" Fer the batter care and treatment of Pauper Lunatics in
Scotland ;

For improving the orgsnimation of the County Pulite
in Scotland ;
"Together with other acts of lees Importance. but likewise
leading to the progreesive improvement of the law, have met
with her Majesty's ready anent.
We ere commanded by her Majesty to ezprees to you
her confidence that on your return to your several ouunties
you will employ that inflames witkh so justly belongs to
you to promote the welfare end happiness of her loyal and
faithful people ; and she prays that the blessing of Almighty
Mod may attend end prosper your endeavor e."
At the coocluelen of the speech the Lord Chancellor de•
dared it to be her Majesty's royal will sad pleasure, that
parliament should be prorogued until Friday, the Mb of
November, sad in the name of her Majesty he declared
the paliemest to stand prorogued scoordingly.

HOUSE OF COI

DAT.)

The home semobkot for the loot time thio Nooks at ome
rfebeit. Time w wee boot es moray attmgeaco of
resabse. emolderig " the Iste paled of the mehm" sod
Est the premptles we to Sas pine by cemsdielos.
NEW WALT.

On the mike t Yr. Gin, a rem writ wee ordered for
the bowleigh of Tseltook, la the roan of the Hon. George
Hoer) Bps trhe it Ms eked= has accepted the other
of (Reword of her lkiestes Law Northwick, in the
county of Yak
DECIMAL COINAGE.

T. mop. 61;;;11;4,Of the Enhequer
why the implies le Lard Overskee's questions upon the ded
awl erimese. while have bees some twee in print, RCM net