The Express.
London, England, 1857-02-04 00:00:00

this point compelled Lord PALMERSTON to speak
out, and avow plainly that for the Persian war the
tome ministers were directly responsible, while the
hostilities in China were part and parcel of a pre.
concerted policy—that of opening up communication
with Canton according to the terms of the Treaty of
1842. Considerable attention was also paid to Lord
ABERDEEN'S Chancellor of the Exchequer when,
assuming the reductions contemplated in the Army
and Navy to leave the total for the two services at
23,000,0001., he denounced that expenditure as far
exceeding what could fairly be warranted by the
exigencies of a peace establishment, especially

now that the extension of the police force to
the counties and boroughs had enabled us to
get on with a smaller military force at home,
while the concession of free institutions ought to
have produced the same effect on the colonies, fins
posing the duty of self-defence on those to whom we
bad granted the right of responsible government.
To reduce expenditure, with a view to diminishing
that burden of taxation which is now pressing on the
country to a degree that is already detrimental, and
may soon become dangerous, was the main argument
of Mr. GL ADSTONE'S address; and the cheers which
followed the announcement of his intention to move

a resolution to that effect showed at once the telling
impression which had been made by his speech, and
the general feeling', in the House that a stricter
economy has now become absolutely indispensable.
What need we say of Lord PALMERSTON'S reply?
It was precisely what all who are in the slightest
degree conversant with the character of the man and
the speaker would d priori expect. Confident, alert,
and reckless—genial and off-hand—conversational

and courageous-Lord P toultsros is better calcu-
lated than any other debater to destroy the effect of

a laboured and oratorical attack. He comes to the
point at once ; glides with instinctive rapidity over
weak places ; and if he makes a stumble, con.
trivcs to turn the laugh that follows lava.
viably to his own advantage. As long as he
has only to deal with the lighter matters of charge
this manner serves him incomparably well. People
are infinitely amused at seeing a solemnly concerted
attack utterly discomfited by no other sleight of hand
than native; acuteness and conversational goad
humour. But there are charges too grave for
persiflage, and in replying to them Lord PALUSPft
srox is leas successful. His defence of the
China business—hard and business-like in tone,
with a dash of half contemptuous bluster—was
heard with complete and significant silence. Nor
was his explanation as to Switzerland or Naples
much better received. But with these exceptions
the Premier's speech may be regarded as a House of
Commons' success. It cannot, we think, be fairly
rated as anything higher than this. It is clear
that the aspect of affairs, even in the House
itself, is not reassuring; and it is, we think,
quite as clear that the country will demand a
thorough explanation of the Eastern entanglements,
and a rigorous pledge of reduced expenditure, sa
the only step to diminish taxation. Wo must re-
serve for a future occasion the consideration of Lord
Jens Itusszu's vigorous and statesmanlike obser•
vations on the Italian question.