The Express.
London, England, 1861-07-05 00:00:00

TO OUR READERS.

SPORTING INTELLIGE.NCE

A late edition of the llsprrm is published every
evening during the racing sea4on, containing the
i.taults of the day's races.

Tee dull season having set in this year not only
unusually early, but with unusual severity, it is
natural enough that those who cater for the public
should make special efforts to counteract its de-
pressing influence. Nothing of moment is stirring
on the Continent, Parliament has avowedly
given up work, and amidst the premature col-
lapse of public business and the total absence of
political excitement there is already leisure for
the discussion of social follies and foibles. The
yearly Carnival of correspondence which usually
begins about the middle of August has accord-
ingly already commenced, and ingenious letter-
writers are permitted and encouraged to masque-
rade in type for the amusement of the public.
There can be no objection to this plan of en-
livening the dead season if it is restricted within
proper limits. So long as the means employed
for the amusement of the public are legitimate, or
at all events harmless, it would be cynical,
if not churlish to complain. But all subjects
do not admit of this light and sportive treatment.
Some are far too sacred, too intimately connected
not only with the welfare, but with the very exist-
ence of society to be trifled with foe the presumed
entertainment of a fashionable clique or of a holi-
day crowd. The fundamental laws of morality, for
instance, are not yet so entirely exploded that they
can be treated from a purely literary point of
view. Vice is not yet regarded as a fashionable
foible, or virtue as a pleasant jest. There is still
a popular prejudice in favour of decency, both
of speech and behaviour, and however low the
tone of morality may have fallen in certain limited
circles, the holiest relations of life and the most
sacred institutions of society are not, and are not
likely to become, with Englishmen at large, "open"
lisestions.

It would be needless to repeat these truisms
had they not been called in quad:ion, and practi-
cally denied, by • correspondence which has dis-
figured the columns of • leading contemporary,
during the last few days. We can only express
our deep regret that such • correspondence should
ever have been permitted to appear, and would
gladly pus it by in silence but forthe conviction that
it ought to be protested against by all who value a
high standard of morality, or who wish to preserve
in their strength and purity the fundamental
elements of our social state. The chief letters
of that correspondence are not only • wanton
offence against good taste and proper feeling, but
an outrage on public morality, and • calainnious
caricature of English social and domestic life. The
subject dimmed is marriage and the general rela-
tion between the sexes—preciselythe most delicate
and sacred as well as the most important of all
social questions. Equal wedded love, and orderly
family life are at the basis of all that is best
in modern society, the characteristic and essential
features of Christian Livilization. And the exist-
ence of this family state, the fundamental unit of
social life depends altogether on the social position
women occupy. In heathen antiquity, as amongst
Oriental nations now, women were regarded as a
race of inferior beings--as mere instrumentsof plea-
_
sure, or con

ofatate. Socletiesbuilton oath
a false and injurious basis lack the most essential
elements of life and progr•sa, and are predes-
tined to stagnation or decay. Christianity may
be said to have first revealed the native worth
and dignity of womanhood, and to have assigned
ber a place of equal dignity and respect with
men. The full realisation of that position—the
lifting woman into a position of true dignity and
honour. and gathering around her as around an
ideal of purity and worth the ennobling tribute of
reverence and respect, of devotion and love—has
been the gradual achievement of centuries of
Christian activity and Christian progress. But its
aehieve:nent is the secret of our social strength, and
its preservation is the guarantee of our further social
advancement. Surely the relation on which all this
depends, and the institutions which represent it,
are entitled to the respect of all who are really
interested in the welfare and promotion of what is
best and most distinctive in modern social life.
But how is marriage treated in the correspondence
of our contemporary T As a needless and expensive
luxury which few can afford, which none need
cue about, and which is rapidly going out. Those
who are carefully trained to become virtuous
wives and mothers are assailed with covert and open
ridicule, contrasted unfavourably with the most
abandoned of their sex, and held up to contempt
for having invested their hopes in such a failing
enterprise u matrimony. For what really does
the insulting charge of these writers against
English maidens and gentlewomen amount to
Simply to this—that they decline to become mere
instruments of pleasure ; but in contemplating
marriage have some sense of self respect and
some regard fir the social position which,
as wives, they are to assume. The broad
assertions that the sole motives and objects
of marriage are the love of extravagance
end the passion for display, are in their generality
altogether false. ;They may be partially true
with regard to individuals, or families, or small
circles, but they are not in the least trne
of the great body of English society. Tye
real reason of them,' charges is sufficiently ob-
vious. The obj,r t of those who prefer
them is plainly to justify "establishments," and

alieit connexions. The affected regret at the ox-
idises of these things, and the plea of corrective
exposure of the mums which have produced them,
put forth by some of the writers, is, indeed, the
worst part of these letters. Take the letter signed
" BLAU JoLAIS" for example. The writer is
throughout most severe in his strictures on the
virtuous. He lashes their lofty notions, their
miserable deference to the expectations of the circles
they move in, and condemns them as the mercenary''
victims of worldly pride and fashionable preju-
dice. Yet this gentleman is not ashamed to boast
that he had dined the day before with a friend,
the unwedded partner of whose joys and sorrows
was well educated, accomplished, skilled in house-
wifery, economical, diligent, and in all respects,
fitted for an admirable wife. A simple question
here naturally suggests itself, which at once de-
strops the meaning and professed obj ectof the writer's
letter. If this lady discharged the duties of the
household so well, and was in all respects so fitted
to be a wife, why did not, why does not, his
friend marry her f Why does he degrade her and
dishonour himself by • connexion he cannot

avow f Why is he guilty of this cruelty and in-
jubtice, with the prospect of its aggravation a
thousandfold if the connexion lasts ? The only
reason is that very worldly pride and conventional
prejudice which the writer affects so much to despise
and deplore, but which he unconsciously supporta and
even applauds in its worst and most guilty excesses.
The pretext on which these approving references
to a vicious way of life are introduced is thus
utterly hollow and worthless. It is unfortunately
but too clear, that the real object in this, as in
other letters of the series, is but to familiarise the
public with details that in the interest of
morality ought never to be known, and thus gain
a kind of recognition for that worst species of self-
indulgence which confounds the distinctions of
virtue and vice, and is a practical denial of all
that is sacred and essential iu the relationships of
domestic and social life.
It is curious to observe how those who swallow
the camel of real vice strain at the gnat of fancied
verbal offence. " A Brother " of " BILAII JOLAIS,"
we may fairly imagine, complains of a sermon
preached by the Dean of WESTMINSTER last Sun-
day, on the ground of " indelicate " allusions to
the social evil. Now, everyone who knows any-
thing of the Dean of Weermitorrsit need scarcely
be told that any references of his to such
a subject would be marked by perfect
delicacy and discretion. They would be made
not on the spur of the moment for any
ad eaptandun► purpose, but only on the most
serious reflection and from the most imperious
sense of duty. The only object would be to do
some real good, and that would in all likelihood
be the actual result. Yet for the sake of direct-
ing public attention to the subject, " A Brother "
must needs take exception to an alleged want of
delicacy in the language. If a clergyman alludes
to such a subject he is to be condemned. But a
writer in the columns of a widely-circulated jour-
nal may discuss it ad nauseant for mere amuse-
ment, and without reproach. What makes the
difference Do wives and daughters read the
Times ; and if so, on what ground does
" A Brother" venture to condemn the Dean of
Wzinussna

TEI REPRESENTATION OP RICHMOND.

Mr. Rich has issued the following address to the
41110401111 whom be bu so lons represented. Mr. Bounden
PI the sew .Solicitor-General, is • eaactidete in the
tog= J Mr. Rich :

" Cina4iisa,-1 am about to resign my mat ia penis-
Inn It is now thirty years since I first "nod for Hearn-
borevei, and more than fifteen years sine I have bad the
honour al coninuously representing Richmond. During
Shia long period I hate endeavoured to do my duty to you,
to the great liberal party, an to my country. lam sen-
sible al much failure on my part and of much Indulgence
012 R . JOU
Under ordinary circumstaacen I would willingly, under
your sanction, have continued to verve on. But within the
list few years an affection of the eyes, which renders pro.
kluged reading both painful sad injurious, has more and
mere unfitted me for parliamentary duties and debate. I
have felt, therefore, that I was not adequately fulfilling my
Any. and have frequently contemplated retiring. Probably
I should still have hesiti.ted, but just note an opportunity is
offered of strengthening the government by the accession of
ea season' authority, whose services, however, can be
resimed available only by his obtaining a seat in parlia-
ment. On hearing this, I considered that the time was come
sties I could bee. serve you and my party by tendering the
assignation of ray seat, in order that you might have an
Illoportusity, if you nought fit, of replacing your old mem-
loor by a more able and active *December.
"I have acted without solicitation, hut not without the
hwierledge, necessarily of only • few, of my friends at Rich-
mad. I need hardly add that, however right and just I
nap deem this step to be, I cannot take it without much
pia et thus suddenly closing my own public life, and the
keg rod happy political conoexion with you, gentlemen,
theseghout the whole of which I cannot remember ever to
have tint with one unkind word or to have received one
inks application.
" I trust, although this political connexion is now to close,
that the friendly intercourse which has grown out of it may
be continued ; and with every sentiment of respect and
gratitude " I have the honour to be, gentlemen
" Yours faithfully sad gratefully,
"HURT RICH.
" 2A, Chapel-street, Grosvenor-nears, Jell 3."
Rich rood is a very' small borough, baying less than 250
registered electors, and • contest is unknown there. A
writ for an election in the borough wee ordered last night,
and by Tuesday or Wedoeeday next the new Solicitor-
l;etberal will in all probability have taken his seat as mem-
ber for Richmond.