The Express.
London, England, 1861-10-09 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 9,186 L

' ducted amongst our neighbours. Brilliant specu- 1
lations and exquisite inventions were courageously
taken up from time to time by clever men, who
thereby pushed their rapid way to fortune. This
was the poetic age of French industry ; and it
may be truly said that the life of many a successful
French manufacturer or merchant was a species
of industrial romance. But a community can
never grow rich, or a country commercial, by
hazardous adventure, however glittering its hopes,
or patented inventions, however golden their mo-
nopolizing gains. It is in the sober, prosaic period
of a nation's life that it grows really rich, and into
that period we sincerely hope that the French are
at length entering. Small profits and a large
trade, many competitors, and enough fur them all
to do, are the true conditions of an industry that
is to be national and lasting. In England we
have long since become so accustomed to these
conditions that we are sometimes beguiled into for-
getfulness of the period when they did not exist ;
and we have been too apt to judge hardly the
difficulties which beset • government like that of
France, that seeks to lead its people into a more
excellent way before their ideas and habits have
fitted them to appreciate its superiority. There
are still amongst us, however, those who can recol-
lect the formidable resistance offered to the suc-
cessive steps towards freedom of tracts which were
made by Mr. HrSKISSON, Mr. POULIrrr THOMSON,
and Sir Roamer Peet ; nor could we have ven-
tured even last year to boast that the superstitions
of earlier times of trade were absolutely extinct
amongst us. Bearing in mind our own national
experience, and the tardy progress of our own legisla-
tion in what every schoolboy and apprentice is now
taught to regard as self-evident truth, we are bound
to say that the inauguration of the new system in
France, under circumstances far from being pro-
pitious, has been attended with far leas of excite-
ment, perturbation, or disquietude than might
reasonably have been feared. the whole,
perhaps, it is matter for gratulation rather than
regret that so great a change should be brought
about quietly and gradually, rather than amid a
whirlwind of mingled execration and applause.
As for our side of the account, the change has
literally taken place without anything that can
be even approximately termed national conscious-
ness. Not one luau in a hundred whom you meet
in daily life can tell you off hand what the precise
value of the commercial treaty is, or is to be, to
the producers of French merchandise, and to the
consumers thereof on British soil. We all know
that there has been a change for the better in the
commercial relations between the two countries;
some of us have enjoyed the luxury of light wine
at a low price in the hot weather ; and most of us,
if put to it, could make out a fair case of bene-
fits in detail. But it is our happiness to have
come to that point of social and commercial civili-
zation in which we intuitively take for granted
that what is in itself good for the many to have at
• moderate cost, the many are pretty sure to get,
without regard to the place of its origin or the
idiom or creed of its producer ; and the best we
can wish our French friends is a like condition
and feeling.

REPLY OP EARL RUSSELL TO THE MEMORIAL

ON MEXICAN AFFAIRS.

Subjoined is the stoner of Earl Russell to the
niemorial on Mexican affairs lately presented on behalf of
the commercial community :

" Foreign•ol6ce, Oct. 3.

" Gentlemen,—l have received and considered with the
greatest attention the memorial you have addressed to me.
You have described truly the evils which afflict Mexico—
the robbery and the bloodshed, the impunity of crime, and
the absence of any controlling authority in what is called
the government. Her Majesty's government have a right
by treaty, and by all the laws which govern international
relations, to require security for the persona and property
of British subjects, and the performance of specific engage-
ments on the part of Mexico. Her Majesty's government
will exercise this right. But her Majesty's government
cannot think it wise to interfere in the internal govern-
ment of Mexico. You seem to think that • protecting
force thrown into Mexico for the simple purpose of main-
taining public tranquillity would succeed in attaining that
object, and that even • small force might suffice for the
purpose. I am sorry to say that I think • very large
force would be insufficient to restore public tranquillity.
Thin is a task which the Mexicans must accomplish for
themselves. There are very few cases in which foreign
interference can be beneficial, and iu those few cases there
must be a large and numerous party in the country pre-
pared to avail itself of foreign aid. lam concerned to say
I see no proof of the existence of such a party ia Mexico.
Her Majesty's government, therefore, must confine their
action to the clear and legitimate purpose of demanding
from the de facto government of Mexico, however &anti.
toted, respect for the persons and property of British sub-
jects, and the fulfilment of recorded obligations.—l have
the honour to be, gentlemen, your mast obedient humble
servant, " Br.ShELL.

'To Messrs. Rothschild and Sons, Masan. Finlay,
Hodgson, and Co., and others.'

MR. LAING AND THE LANDHOLDIV.S"