The Express.
London, England, 1868-03-31 00:00:00

FALSE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

THE paper just presented to Parliament of the
number of persons convicted in the metropolitan
parishes of having used false weights and measures
during the first six months of last year is worthy of
public attention. It is as remarkable for what it
tells as for what it conceals. The information of
conviction is confined to Finsbury, St. Meryl.-
bone, St. Pancras, and Westminster; it will be
seen, therefore, that vast districts of the metro-
polis are omitted. In the four districts men-
' tioned 58 persons were • convicted in the
Finsbury division of Middlesex, 112 in West-
minter, 20 in Marylebone, and 30 in St. Pancras.
The fines vary in amount from ss. to 51., but it is
difficult to understand the principle uponwbich they
are levied. It is reasonable enough that a
defaulter should be fined more heavily for a
second or third offence than for the first, but the
scale of fines, as here set down, scarcely seems in
accordance with this obvious rule. We observe,
for example, a fine of 2/. for a first offence, and a
fine of 12s. 6d. for a second, the occupation of
the culprits being alike in both instances. But
this return, although not wholly intelligible and
very far from complete, has but too much signifi-
cance. The good faith of Englishmen was once
proverbial. It was either a special virtue of the
nation or it was believed to be so. But
of late swindling, to use a blunt word,
which, however, conveys no discredit in sporting
circles, appears to have grown into a fashion. And
this professional dishonesty is not confined to cul-
tureless tradesmen, but is to be met with, also, in
eminent contractors, railway directors, bankers,
and merchants. The disease is so widely spread
that it is difficult to avoid the taint, and it is
disease which is not likely to be cured without
some violent remedy. If everybody ceases to trust
his neighbour, society will be at a stand-still, and we
shall be forced to turn honest in self-defence. Fines
upon knavery are no doubt serviceable, but unfortu-
nately they rarely touch the worst defaulters. By
all means let us do what we can to punish the
crime of using false measures and weights, but do
not let us forget that there are even worse forms
of dishonesty against which the law is at present
powerless. The corruption of the lower walks of
society is no doubt due in large measure to the
corruption which pervades the higher. •

THE feeling of dissatisfaction with Lord Smear-
Lar's amendment existing amongst the minis-
terialists is faintly expressed in a substituted
amendment of which Sir HIGIVRY Hayes has given
notice. The hon. baronet the member for Coleraine
proposes to insert in the amendment of the FOREIGN
blizturrita words by which the House is made
to declare that it " considers that any expression
" of opinion by it on the Established Church of ire-
" land would be premature until the Commission

" appointed to consider the matter has laid itsreport
" upon the table of the House, more especially as a
" dissolution must precede practical legislation."
Lord STANLEY is ready to assume that " consider-
" able modifications " may be necessary as

the result of what he has termed, to
the discomfort of Mr. GrAnsroxa's literary
sense, " the pending inquiry ;" but the Protestant
member for Coleraine protests against even this,
and insists that the fairest course is to say nothing
about the Church at all. Perhaps by the end of
the week some Tory member, we would suggest
Colonel &tsar KNOX, may have summoned up
courage enough to propose a vote of confidence
in the institution.

A LETTER in the laddpendance Beige paints in
gloomy colours the soon of the colliery distur-
bances in Belgium. It says :
This slob tad splendid seestry of Charleroi has for the
mom rat an aspect of terror sad desolation. For an extent
of several leagues, the coal seises, factories, and furnaces
which, ordinarily, give prodigissusaduotion to the district,
an almost abaadoned. Ths Ithaca, popnlasio has laid
wide its working dress ler that of Jamie ; sad, naiad in
tie wine chew or peeped at the earners of the
roads, they regard with jeering or I testae looks say
penons when appearance indicates the middle
ekes. Besides, the whale place ho the sir ei a camp.
Patrols are S. be met on 'wry roots ; here is to be sou a
mounted shassenr, his carbine is his has d ; 'wades la
every direetios ; a detkohnient el foot soldi 'era hivoliath•
big is the mud ; a squadron of borethe r Eel shivering
(for the weather is atrocious) ; the gendarmes I gPaskilker at
the doors of the public houses, tamed into ptlMs for the
troops. Everywhere, in flee, the too faithtel image of •
country handed over to military occupation.
We are requested to state that owing -Co on ravuid-
able circumstances the Pint Lord of the Adni,
Ira*, which was announced for the 7th of April, In U sot
take place.
TELE LATE EARL OF CARMAN. —The remain; t at
the lets Earl of Cardigan will be intoned on Satoh IQ
His lordship, who made many wills,is lathed to have eth
the whole of►his ever whisk he had sward to h•
Countess el for life.
Tiut HEALTH OF ME, WHATMAI, M.P.—Vta`
are glad is hem that Mr. Whatnot, ILP., bas po far
recovered from the effects of his recent aerialist se to
be able to attend to his parliamentary duties. The
hoe. member was ma of a hip dapalatisa that
waited upon the Premier in Dowalagowera on
Toomic on the subject of rating ebsaliable
sod sa the mass mon, VIA la the
Mew fee the moms of s the
lad reading of Xt. CladsteeteuPT Get'ingludeh fieZerie. Yr.
lam we may assallasi, was she prevent with the Man
elfish ; bat as VW sublook was not hought on until kalt.
lob 1 Aka ea sad as it yam tag,
usdseshrod that ustings vela Thant% talus oa the final
slags el the hill, both the koriourable gesitiemen had left,
otherwise their votes would ham bon recorded in femur
of the measure, as the in the *say steam of do
MR—Bora &peters
ROYAL ACADY 4 Muaw.—