The Express.
London, England, 1861-02-22 00:00:00

AT. JAMDII.

ir Tn L—TH ts iamm. MY In ANAE ME OP PT.
4,7 707;
Teurn Mesas. A. Wigan sad risen. Auckingham Whits.
And t 3 DV HIM. Yews. V. Yearns sad Soln3ure Mimes St.
Ciess.lierbat, and tourer.--Coonsesee at balf.past 7.

BRITANNIA.

Tins Drina, THE LIVE UY A AOLDILL.—And THE
PIII:YCE AND THE WEIL ?dram PM. Parry. Joan lAnia,
ltoby. and Newborn': WU'. C. alepasa. Miss A. Dowsing, lira
W. talaturd.

•IOS WATIA AT LONDON DRLDON
TNN DAT —lloching, Mt Mr..... Ationmoom,. Oh. Om
Toilsawar—Moratag. A. Sta.— Allonses.

DONDON, FRIDAY, PZB. 22.

Tat arrest of Monsieur MIRIA is ono of the
Pint results of the new constitutional liberties
which it recently pleased the Dereitot to grant
to his Chambers. Some six weeks or two months
back the sinking state of M. MIEN' credit be-
came known, and certain irregularities and defal-
cations of his by which the interests of the State
wore compromised, acquired increased import-
ance. An order was issued by the law authori-
ties to place hen under arrest. But interest was
employed, and the efforts of his son-in-law, espe-
cially, succeeded in preventing the execution of the
fatal mandate.

Mince the meeting of the Chambers, this lenience,
and the pecuniary and financial circumstances of

H. Mow, on which it was exercised, have been
canvassed and warmly animadverted upon in the
bureaux, or standing committees. It was proposed
to make of them a paragraph of the address, or an
amendment to it ; and Ministers, alarmed, have
insisted 011 the arrest of M. Mitre, as the best
answer to any charge of complicity or criminal
indulgence. The ministers without portfolios,
who would have to answer such charges, are
naturally on the alert, being anxious at the first
outset and exercise of their high functions not to
undertake a lame and untenable cause and so
incur the risk of defeat.

Certain difficulties begin to be felt by ministers'
not only as attaching to their temporary positions,
but as inherent in the system which the late im-
perial concession has established. For instance,
it has been found even by the experience of the
committees that no ono can efficiently defend •
budget, and especially sudden and abrupt objec-
tions to it, save the Minister himself. Appoint-
ing one man to form a budget, and another to
defend it, is found not to facilitate but obstruct
public business.

- It is against the finances, or rather the financial
statement of the Government, that the attacks of
the new opposition are directed. Nor are these
attacks confined to theories or figures. They go
to impeach certain portions of the administration,
and certain personage, connected with them who
have lost and made groat fortune' during the pre-
sent reign, and whom the public voice points out
as having enriched themselves at the public
sponse.

These animadversions, although as yet confined
to the committeos, have filled numbers of the Im-
perialists with alarm ; not only those whose con-
sciences declare them obnoxious to similar accusa-
tions, but those who dread to see the present sys
tem damaged by proofs of the corruption of its
satellites. The opposition leaders have deter-
mined to adopt the tactics of the leaden of our
Long Parliament—to aim their shafts at persons,
since they are forbidden to shoot at things, and
create or strengthen their own popularity whilst
punishing and exposing these ,r,falt.4 perdus of
despotism who have been so long dealing their
blows and venting their arrogance through the
press, without the possibility of their being re-
plied to.

- We now can perfectly understand why Messrs.
Ttiorunso and Ittaueur evinced strong dissent and
undisguised ill-humour with the Imperial conces-
sions. It exposes them to all the brunt of war.
Fur LD foresaw the storm, and withdrew from it
altogether. But the EMPILROR, if he cuts no shield
over weak and peccant parties, can but gain
by their exposure. However publicity was
obstructed, rumours of all kinds, and against all
parsons in office, circulated with the greatest
degree of rapidity and obtained ready belief. The
Exreaos wu considered personally implicated
with his Court and t otourar, and thus wu made
to bear a weight in great part of calumny and
falsehood, which would have borne down a less
resolute and powerful Prince.

It must be a relief to him to be able to shake
off this load. He indeed protected some four or
five of his old and reckless followers in habits of
speculation, which he seems resolved not to tolerate
in other'. And it may be that one of his reasons
for opening the door to Parliamentary inquiry was
to rid his court and administration of a class of
doers and doings whom he shrunk from exposing
and proscribing himself. We shall see great and
important changes. The &sesame may announce
that the Parliament, to which he has restored
freedom of motion and of speech, shall not
direct or modify the choice of his Ministers ;
but they may do so, nevertheless, by acting
upon his convictions and influencing his will.
Can he hope that the targets which he has placed
on the Ministerial benches of the Chambers can
stop the missiles fired at them, or that these will
not penetrate through mock Ministers to hit and
damage real ones, and even by rebound strike the
Throne itself
If NAPOLZON M. is to derive ease and
immunity, profit and strength, from the verity of
the constitutional system, he must place a real
statesman between him and his Chambers. And
such a politician would not accept the position of
a merely talking Minister. At the same time, to
open a Parliament and allow chiefs of Opposition
to distinguish themselves, the Sovereign being
predetermined and incapable of making use of
their services, this would be merely to erect a
machine for making formidable enemies without
the means of silencing or conciliating them.
The first dissolution of the French Chamber will
certainly see Camixis Puma returned as member.
Present circumstances strongly recall the great
orator and statesman who bore that name. The way
in which he led the opposition against M. irrxxsz.s
was to confine himself exclusively to finance, and
from that platform direct the unceasing fire of
his breaching battery against the Minister. By
this alone he destroyed VILLtL7N prestige and
power, and made himself the first and most
eminent politician of his tiine. His son is now