The Express.
London, England, 1868-07-18 00:00:00

THE WEEKLY PRESS.

Those who do not profess unlimited confidence
in Parliamentary panaceas will not, says the Saturday
Boring, be grievonsl7 disappointed it the only effect of
the Bribery Bill is to render the detection of that offence
somewhat more certain than it was before. To say that
the present measure will do much to prevent bribery is to
attribute to it a virtue which has never been claimed for
it, even by its authors. Stringent affirmations, like those
framed by Mr. Bonham Carter and others, would probably
be of some service in rendering corrupt practices the object
of the moral censure of the house ; but it is no doubt
true that affirmations of the sort have usually been un-
sue:earful wherever they have been tried, and that they
are somewhat objectionable in principle. Bribery,
however, is an exceptional kind of offence, against
which peculiar measures are needed, and in the last
resort an appeal to the conscience and honour of mem-
bers and candidates is not a remedy to be despised.
Speaking generally of the Bribery Bat, the London
Review says that the House of Commons has shown that
it is at last penetrated by a strong HIM of the mischief
of corruption, and is sincerely bent upon dis-
covering and applying the most efficacious remedy that
can be found. The proof that they are really in earnest
is supplied by the fact of their having consented to part
with a jurisdiction over election petitions. As a matter of
abstract principle, good COMM might be shown for the
maintenance of the present system, but our contemporary
believe. that the inconveniences of the new plan will be
much more than counterbalanced by the advantages to be
gained from referring election petitions to one of her Ma-
jesty's judges sitting where corruption is alleged to have
taken place. Such an investigation will not only be much
lees costly, but much more effectual in getting at the truth,
than one in London.

Mr. Roebuck and his connexion with the liberal party
is the subject of an article in the Spectator. Unless
certain constituencies are to be expected to sacrifice their

political faith altogether in order to offer a private testi-
monial to a fellow-citisen's audacity—an audacity one
great proof of which has been given by obstinately coun-
termining all the political measures of which they most
warmly approve—the Spectator certainly cannot see its
way to advising the liberals of Sheffield again to return to
Mr. Roebuck.

The Eremontist says there are many signs that English
capital, discontented with the long continuance of low
interest at home, is likely to go abroad in quest of greater
interest, and the question is where should it go ? Nothing
can be better or more desirable than that capital should
go from countries where it is plentiful to countries where
it is scarce, if only it goes to such countries as will be
honest and repay, and upon such terms as will be re-
munerative. Referring to the Egyptian and Swedish
loans, our contemporary observes that those who wish
to lend money should ask what are the characteristics
of a credit-deserving state I' Which of them does Sweden
want ? Which of them does Egypt possess P
Locking at the political aspect of affairs in Spain, the
Bateereleby Review says that Spaniards who !eel dishonoured
and degraded by the present condition of their country,
cannot, after a survey of all possible courses, help turning
their eyes in the direction of the Duke and Duchess de
Nontpensier. They find in this couple a royal pair of un-
impeached character, popular manners, and unosten-
tatious liberal principles. To proclaim the Prime of
Asturias king, and the duke and duchess joint regents,
would be to make the very slightest break apparently in the
present order of the dynastic succession, and yet would in-
sure moat effectually the introduction of a totally new
Policy.

Remarking that the attitudl of the Spanish government
is that of a man half foolish with fear led he should be
i attacked la a dark street, the Spectator Observe, that the
etpulsion of the Duke and Duchess de Montpetuder is as
set scarcely to be explained on any ordinary theory of
politics Its motive mast hate been to get rid of a danger,
yet it would meal to *Weider, as V the danger had been
tadsibitetts increased by the precaution. it Is natural
ibel the court iloski regard any pomade pre-
; dual meal dote with ampidan ;-fint why it
• • So-tes. the Quante dater se the asoal Maly pm-
-Modas, or why, if convinced of that fact, sit amid think
vid Id bleeds& AM joghiltrity, her freedom of action,.
aid tit inedia4l deimmolosiing with tha disoontented
s laurel 164• oeitiaidi shoat jairiptiosbic
Mmik veisth Is *1 vied of ihirdibisoireo condition of
silimin upon the country itself, it la clear that a country
with seventeen millions 44 brava sPecti*,.reeolums Prsc-
Willscot bruit, and pith its. roirsPhical situation,
bl WlStiq Plir&Vied Ay. ft/ labititt4lo4l, & direct and moat
;pm** Ides to the. fiendrel stock of reserved power In
i ltsospa.
. ,Elte *editor ,thaw isfoighlwast 91 an 048640
Primo as Xing, or Prkioe Consort; le lips* would be
looltert cr Loidit'!rapoleces. am a ploperntorY move-
ment iforts. Naked* ~the SEM& of Orleans
ln France. ILa *idea:, of a sum is military re-
volt in the Orleans interest in Spain might be
apt to lead to a similar movement in France. Add
to this that the French Goventaxed suspect England,
' ea well se Germany and Italy, of being favourable to such
, a change in Spain, and it will easily be seen that Louis
Napoleon must have felt as if an enemy were coming np
behind his back. It is characteristic of a despotic ruler to
be alarmed by the very shadows which are Sitting on the
wall. Bence the care be bas taken to aid Queen Isabella
in the suppression of the movement.

The total amount of fees received in the superior
courts of law during the year ended-Met March, 1868, was
114,3161. Be. Id.; and the total payments in the year for
salaries, petuloas, oompeasatioaa, be., exclusive of the
salaries of the judges, 88,079. 14e. bi
WIMECIFOTEIt ABBEY.—The
H preacher at the
July_
special evening service on Sunday;S will be the
Ray. Francis Pigou, Incumbent of St. Philip's, Regent-
street.
TuR EARL OF BittlitY.—We have to announce
the death of Lord Bantry, which occurred suddenly oa
Thursday last, while viastAng at Exmouth-house,
shire. Tbe late earl married on the 11th of OctobeS
Lady Mary O'Bryea, third daughter of William,
Marquis of Thomond. There is no knee by the seetriage,
consequently the family hone re and estates devolve upon
his brother the BOIL William Henry White-Hedges, of
Castle, County Cork, and Lieutenant-Colonel
of Walt Cork Militia Artillery.
A.kamkt.• - , •
oar or Woos& or ART AT
."7"..-Aleheite et admisaiime:—lPriday, ,I• 14 17,
aelmeirikihsbal AM: by PlintolitelTa. Taibie
le
. I

1-Nl/4

I'ARIAgiA !MKT A lIY
' (VMTICRIM r)
ON PETITION AND CORRUPT PRACTIONS
• ' AT,BLECTIONS BILL.
TAB PROPOSED PAYMENT OF JUDGES.
(In the Committee.)
Clause (provision as to payment of additional judges
and remuneration of judges for duties to be performed
under this act)—(Mr. Disraeli)—brought up, and read
the first and sooond time. Amendment prop,osed, to
leave out from the words "Admiralty Court ' to the
and of the Glenne. (Mr. Monk.) Question pat, "That the
words proposed to be left out stand part of the clause.
The committee divided: Ayes, 96 ; noes, 123.