The Express.
London, England, 1868-02-22 00:00:00

THE WEEKLY PRESS.

Nothing is more striking, in the opinion of the
Saturday Review, in Lord Russell's Irish pamphlet
than the ignorenoe it betrays of the real state of the
liberal party. Anyone who read it and did not know the
recent history of Eugliah politics would imagine, as Lord
Russell evidently imagines. that if a scheme is proposed by
Lord Russell and adopted by Mr. Gladstone it forthwith
becomes the creed of the party to which they belong, and
will be warmly supported by the votes and speeches of
the party as a body. There is not • shadow of truth
in this sesumption. The liberal party is difficult to lead,
and becomes more difficult every year to lead, because its
members insist on thinking for themselves, and because
liberalism means snob • vast variety of things, and ranges from
socialism to • feeble preference for whig landowners. To
give six-eighths of the revenues of the Irish church to the
catholics may be a bed thing or • good thing, but it is a
proposal to which the bulk of the liberal party are by no
means prepared to commit themselves. Mr. Gladstone is
entirely powerless unless he acts in concert with • eon-
eidemble number of men with whom Lord Russell's recom-
mendation' are of no intrinsic value whatever. Mr.
Gladstone, if he is to carry great measures, must have
the support of the whig landowner', but be must alto
have the support of Mr. Bright, Mr. Mill, and Mr. Lowe.
In the opinion of the Examiner neither the present nor
any future parliament could be expected to sanction the
endowment of the Irish priests which Lord Russell de-
fends. On its proposal all the ordinary ties of party would
melt like wax in the fire. Conservatives and Radicals, Evan-
gelicals and sceptics, would coalesce in opposition to any
minister, however strong, who propounded such • raceme.
One half of the Liberal party and more than one half of the
Tory party would close their ranks to resist it ; while ia its
support there would be neither popular enthusiasm on the
one side of the Channel or upon the other. Every promise
of peace and loyalty in Ireland, held out by statesmen as
its probable consequent*, would be made a text for taunt
and scoff by the disaffected laity, to whom is now imputed
sympathy with Feni•niam. The priests would have
bad times of it so long as the matter was in discussion,
and they would be driven in spite of themselves to
protest and petition against it in order to save their
credit with the mass of the people. Meanwhile, if the
exigency in Ireland be such as to tempt • man of Mr.
Mill's character and position to say—" Rather than it
should continue, let there be a total revolution in the
ownership and occupancy of land," it is surely high time
for those who call themselves Conservatives to some
forward and tell us plainly and promptly what they would
do.

Briefly summarised, the Spectator says, the legal
patronage of Lord Derby's third government is repre-
sented by the following nominations :—ln England—three
times to the affirm of Lord Jostles of Appeal in Chancery,
and once to the poets of Chief Justice of the Common
Pleas, Chief Baron of the Exchequer, Vice-Cheneelkw,
Puha* Judgeship in the Queen's Bench, and ledge
of the Admiralty Court. In Ireland—twice to the
office of Lord Chancellor, three times to that of Lord
Justice of Appeal, and once to that of Master of the
Rolls, of Chief Justice, of Vice-Chancellor, and of Judges
in the Queen's Bench, Common Pleas, and Bankruptcy
Court. In Scotland—once to the post of Lord Judie,-
Genera, and once to that of Lord Justice Clerk. The
offices of Attorney and Solicitor-General for England and
Ireland and of Lord-Advocate and Solicitor-General for
Scotland have been filled and minted nineteen timer.
Thirteen of Lord Derby's parliamentary supporter, have
been rewarded with seats on the bench, and there is a
chance of the fourteenth now taking the vacant place In
the Court of Queen's Bench. The fortunate thirteen are
Sir W. Bovill, Sir Hugh Cairns, Sir F. Kelly, Sir E.
Malin., Sir John Bolt, Sir C. Selwyn, and Mesas. Chat-
tartan, George, Miller. Morris, Patton, Walsh, and White.
aide. The only instance in which professional standing
has been recognised as being superior to party fidelity was
In the ems of Sir Robert Phillimare.

THZ PROBILCUTIONB IN DUBLIN. DUBLIN,
FRIDAY NIGHT. Mr. John Marlin ymderday spoke
over an hoar in hie own &teem. He pretested
egainet the mode of empanelling the jury, and maw
Mined the right of the people to mires the healerr
with which they regarded the MasiarrAer cosautiows.
He, ea a loyal man, would not have In part in the pro-
! emnion did be not believe it wee eowslitatimml, and he
legality acknowledged by government. Kr. Ball replied
for the mown, and Judge Filngenid slimmed up. The
jury, atter four home debit teatime, were discharged with-
cone giving a verdict.