The Express.
London, England, 1868-05-23 00:00:00

THE WEEKLY PRESS.

The Suturtfuy Renew says that even if the
House of Commons refuse to accede to the request of the
government to rescind their decision on Mr. Bouverie's
amendment relating to the Scotch Reform Bill, it is not a
case for dissolving or resigning. If both sides agree that
they are'to insert in the Scotch bill clauses as nearly
approaching to the English clauses about the payment of
rates as the circumstances of Scotland will admit, there is
no ground for treating this as • came of war between
the opposition and the ministry. With respect to
the threat of dissolution, however, both the theory and
the history of the constitution equally show, in the opinion
of the Saturday Review, that the notion of a minister hav-
ing an absolute and unconditional right to dissolve parß
ment elected before he came into dike, is • mere delusion.
If the right existed, however, ministers are bound to exer-
cise it only for the public good. The evil which the minis-
try do by remaining in office under existing circumstances
is apparent to all men, and the effect is to demoralise the
House of Commons, and lead the nation to despise its re•
presentative,.

What the Scotch members meant by supporting Mr.
Bouverie's amendment was, says the Examiner, practically
something wholly different from that which would follow,
were the question simply left where it lay on Monday
night. They knew that, in many parishes, to enforce as a
teat the payment of rates, would disfranchise some of thebeet
and wealthiest men in the community, simply because rates
do not happen to be there imposed. But the Examiner
more than suspects it will be seen when the whole case
comes to be reconsidered, that the representatives of Scot-
land have no particular anxiety to bring about universal
suffrage by a snatch division ; and that they are no more
disposed than their English or Irish brethren to force a
dissolution on the question.

The mingle cause of all the existing confusion, annoyance,
and danger to the constitutional equilibrium, says the
Spectator, is the personal ambition of the Premier. If he
were like ►ny other statesman who has ever obtained the
highest place in parliament, if he shrank as any other man
would from responsibility unaccompanied by power, if he
had the faintest reverence for the constitution under which
he has risen, or the feeblest conviction that the institution
he is defending is morally right, he would resign office, and
the majority regaining its legitimate authority, and ac.
cepting its legitimate responsibility, parliamentary govern-
ment would once more be firmly established. The Scotch
sad Irish Reform Bills would be passed, the Suspensory
Bill would be driven through, the registration would be
completed, and then the householders of the United
Kingdom would be called on to pronounce their final ver-
dict on the fate of the Irish church,

A deputation has waited on the Duke of Montrose
to complain of the exclusion of Penang from the new mail
contract with the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Com-
pany. It was introduced by Mr. Thorns, Baring, M.P.,
and included Mr. Horsman, M.P., Mr. Miller, M.P.,
Messrs. W. Napier, Chairman of the Straits Settlement
Association, Guthrie, Gilman, Travers, Barton, and others,
but it is understood that the Postmaster-General gave no
encouragement to any hope of an alteration being made.
The export and import trade of the settlement is said to
be equal to en aggregate of five millions sterling.
A bill has been or will be immediately filed in
Chancery against the Brighton Railway Company by par-
ties understood to represent the Union Bank, and other
holders of Brighton preference stock of 1865, complaining
of the misappropriation of large sums due to them—
through the payment of arrears of previous year', on
account of law and other expenses—out of the revenues of
1867; whereas the holders of these preferences allege
themselves to be entitled to 5 per cent, dividends out of
the profits of the year, from whatever balances may re.
main after payment of the next older preferences. The
bill also prays for the appointment of a receiver in Chan-
cery, and it is stated that an injunction will be at once
applied for, in order to arrest farther like pro-
meant,.

Not the least remarkable incident in connection
with the prosecution of ex-Governor Eyre is e donation of
2001. hf Lord Overtone to the Eyre Defence Fund. Sir
Roderick Murchisen is " delighted."