The Express.
London, England, 1868-02-08 00:00:00

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.

(THIS DAY.)

Mr. Bright's advice to the licensed victualler'
leads the Times to say that it is a part of his new character
—as the friend of moderation and patience. The Times is
not altogether prepared to say, however, that there is any
stAcient reason for desiring a change in the hours allowed
to public-houses on Sunday. The wholesome practice
is so widely spreading among the working class of taking
a run into the country on Sundays, that it would be hard
to deny them facilities for refreshment.
The Telegraph is surprised to hear the hon. gentleman
asserting, in reply to the deputation, that the " universal
mind "—not merely the teetotal community, but the "uni-
versal " public—feels that the continued opening of public
houses on Sunday is an evil. fir. Bright has mistaken the
views of a certain section of his constituents at Birming-
ham for the opinion of the universe.
The Star endorses all Mr. Bright's remarks, and contends
that there is no need even in London or its suburbs for
public-houses to be kept open on Sundays till so late an

hour as 11 o'clock.
The protestant defence demonstration In Dublin appears ,
indifferent lights to our contemporaries. The Dail!) Noes,
believing that the protestant church establishment is the
mainstay of Irish ultramontanism, and a barrier in the
way of the diffusion of English ideas and habits amongst
the Irish population, regards the meeting ea a mis-
chievous display. The Times also describes the meeting as
"one of those magnificent operations, which are every-
thing except politics, peace, or for the public advantage."
The &raid, on tho other band, rejoices that the pro-
testant& of Ireland have accepted the challenge flung at
them by the English radicals, and the Standard says if
anything could persuade or compel that class of politicians
to adopt a practice so essentially conservative as inquiry
and ru tiection, the Dublin meeting would do it.
The Abyssinian campaign is the subject of not very san-
guine criticisms with the Times, Daily Nero, and Post.
The Telefrnepla condoles with Mr. Doulton on the open
verdict which, it says, was returned in his case yesterday
by the Metropolitan Board of Works. To leave the accu-
sation suspended in mid-air reflects equally on the accused
and hie judges. The star has observations of a similar
character, censuring the Board for not publishing the
; fuII evidence.

THE WEEKLY PRESS.

The Examiner thinks Mr. Bright must enjoy the
precipitate rejoicings of some of his oontemporaries on his
supposed conversion to conservatism. Their conclusion is
too hurried. The liosnerges of Birmingham, lire all true
actors, bee a marvellous power of modulating his voice,
and, like all exi erienced politicians, he understands the
expediency of tuning the instrument on which be plays to
concert pitch, if be is to perform anything really worthy
of notice. He is a sort of intellectual steam hammer,
capable of dealing a crushing stroke, at the very
moment when by the nice regulation of power the
blo.v is but enough to crack half-a-dozen filberts.
flowerer, the Framiner does not see its way to what looks
like a tentative measure of compromise on the subject
of the Irish church. These things are kindly meant, but
they will not cure. " Lees than thorough will aot do it."
The wise words of the wicked Strafford are still true. So
long as we are not told how the bulk of church property in
Ireland is to be applied to the impartial benefit of all
creeds and classes of the community, we do not advance
one step nearer to peace, or to a settlement of the Irish
difficulty. To our contemporary the way has long seemed
clear and open; it only marvels that statesmen do not
take it.
The Sarantay firriew says Lord Willoughby is by no II
means the first person who, when he canes to balance
accounts with his youthful levities, finds it to be his pain-
ful duty to punish the partner of his pleasant vices. This
may be a duty, but it is one which requires a very austere '
temper, end an exalted estimate of that morality which
zealous though tardy converts to propriety sometimes ex-
aggerate ; as, for example, when a repentant prodigal acts
upon its stern behests so rigorously as to meet in • suit
of law the woman who has passed her best days
as his wife, rather than give her the trumpery
two or three hundred pounds worth of spoors
and forks to which she thinks herself entitled.
Mr. Willoughby, in the days of his youth and poverty,
when he could permit the woman whom he had seduced,
&ad who had the substantial attractions of money and
goods, to pay his tailor's bill, was a very affectionate '
gentleman, and appears to have been actuated by gene- '
rosity, or at least by honour ; but Lord Willoughby
d'Ensby, Hereditary Grand Chamberlain of England,
with " Lucy Wood in apartssents," and an estate of be-
tween 70,0001. and 80,0001. • year, selling his faithful
partner's chairs •nd tables, is, what we will not say, if
we may not, with "Junius," quote him as an instance of
shameless depravity of heart—but " what are we to think
of his understanding'!"
The Npertalor fears th►t the only hypothesis admissible
in the ems of the Rev. Mr. Speke, the only theory, that is,
which meets the facts, moral and physical, which have to
be taken into the account, is murder, murder of • cool, de-
liberate kind, murder planned on system, carried out re-
lentlewly, and dictated solely by the expectation of plun-
der. Supposed Mr. fipeke M have been decoyed into a
cab, in Birdcage-walk, it may be, as suggested, by some
story of a sick person awaiting him ; it may be, by an arrest
by sham detectives ; it may be by appeal for aid to • dying
person in the cab, and then put under chloroform, all
would be explained. His hat fell off in the momentary use-
less struggle after he had discovered that he was deceived,
and the body was driven away either to a house pre-
viously prepared, or to abridge whence it could be thrown
into the water, or fairly beyond town to some solitary
place, altogether beyond the range of police inquiry. The
extraordinary story related on Wednesday by the in.:lam-
bent of the Savoy Chapel, who was invited in Trafalgar-
square by a sham detective to enter • cab, end be driven
to Bow-street, where his presence was not required,
suggests that • form of 'rime has been invented in which
some confederate drives • cab. It is • wild theory, doubt-
less, but not a bit wilder than the fact testified to by Mr.
White ; and we will venture, at the risk of being thought
silly, to adds supposition even wilder still, namely, that
if any such form of crime is in operation, and it is difficult
after reading Mr. White's letter, to doubt it, the purple
tutors are foreig•ers.