The Express.
London, England, 1868-06-11 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE 11, 1868.

party who gave Ireland an. independent Parlia-
ment, and who vainly resisted the Union, had no
more eloquent and energetic obasapion than Mr.
Speaker FOSTER. The LORD CEANCELLOR, who
is SPEAKER of the House of Lords, still
retains and exercises all, and more than ell
these rights. He speaks not only'whilo the Peers
are in Committee, and the CHAIRMAN presides,
but leave. the woolsack to do so, and votes with
his party. Perhaps, the fact recorded by Lord
CAMPBELL, appropriately enough, in his " Lives of
" the Lord Chancellors," that the House of Lords,
while the dullest is one of the most disorderly
legislative bodies in Europe—disorderly not as
being tumultuous, but as doing business in
a slip-shod and slovenly manner—may be
traced to the non-existence there of the salu-
tary usages established in the lower House.
If Mr. DISRAELI or Mr. GLADSTONE occu-
pied the chair, while they were ministers of
the Crown, their interest in the substance of the
debate might prevent their giving due attention to
to its forms. Be this as it may, the SPEAKER'S
vote yesterday afternoon scarcely deserved the irre-
gular enthusiasm of the Ladies' Gallery. The rat-
tling of fans against the bare of the cage, in which
those fair visitants to Parliament are shut up, ex-
premed a sentiment whieh might as reasonably
have been bestowed upon the devotion of a Tartar
praying machine, The casting vote was, so to
speak, automatic. Gratified as Mr. SPEAKER
doubtless was •by the approval which was
manifested, he must have been conscious in
his inmost soul of not having done anything to
deserve it. The nods, and becks, and wreathed
smiles which hovered above his full-bottomed wig,
and descended on the back of his head, were pre-
sent doubtless to his imagination. Perhaps it is
as well that his face was turned the other way ;
for the ladies were undoubtedly guilty of a broach
of order, and it might have been his painful duty to
commit the company of fair women to the gallant
custody of Lord CHARLES Rusexxx. The announce-
ment by the SPEAKER of his casting vote was not
the only occasion of an ebullition of feminine
feeling. Some very distinct hisses rewarded Mr.
assertion of the rights of husbands
to appropriate and waste their wives' property.
It is only fair to the ladies to say that they
have not been singular in these very undesirable
breaches of order. Sounds as irregular have been
heard from the opposite ends of the house, where
"strangers" confront the " persons" of the coming
Mru-ennium. Mr. Lows, Mr. COLERIDGE, and
Mr. Gi.kterroNe have on different occasions been
greeted with masculine clapping of hands, which
the fussy activity of the messengers has not been
able to repress.

The measure which fluttered the dove-cote be-
hind the Beware's chair was a very natural sub-
ject of interest. The merits of the case are clear ;
and the House of Commons though equally
divided in point of numbers was by no means
equally divided as regards weight of opinion.
Against the authority of Mr. Lowe and Mr. Mar,
who were present and spoke in favour of what
is an act of simple justice; of Mr. Resasr.r, Hue-
NET, whose name is on the back of the Bill ;
and of Sir Jose Beane:nem and Lord STAN-
LEY, who were members of the Social Science
Committee in which it originated, are to
be set the names of those legal Dioscuri,
the brothers HARSLAYE, the abler of them being
one of those law officers on whom Mr. OSBORNE
condoled with Mr. Marceau, and the less able
being the Member for Colchester, on
whom we may condole with the House; and the
wit and statesmanship of that truly English
squire and thoroughly Irish peer of the good old
school, Viscount GALWAY. The details of Mr.
Lasavez's Bill may require amendment, and will
doubtless receive it from the Select Committee to
which it has been referred ; but tho principle
of it is sound. Its object is to deprive
profligate and idle husbands of the power of
squandering the earnings and dissipating the
property of their wives. The iniquity of the com-
mon law is proved by the evasions of it which the
Courts of Equity have created and sanctioned. In the
case of the rich, acts of settlement partly mitigate
i a hardship. But they afford a remedy too cum-
brous, indirect, and expensive for the poor. The
spoliation to which women in the lower ranks of
life are exposed can be met only by giving them
exclusive rights over their own property. With
legal ownership, legal responsibility must be ad-
mitted. But women will not be the worse for ac-
quiring a sense of responsibility. We need not go
with Mr. JACOB BRIGHT, to France, to find
proofs of their busineea capacity. In every
county of England, while the lees edu-
cated class of farmers look after the out-door
work, their wives habitually pay the labourers
and keep the accounts. Mr. Larravax's Bill is
met by the arguments of the hareem and the
wigwam, aooording to which women are to be
the toys of the rich and the drudges of the
poor. The legal conservatism of Mr. KARSLAKE,
which finds in bad usages the justification for
continuing them, and which is as destitute of the
philosophy of law as of the sense of justice, de-
serve only the contempt which Mr. Lowe poured
upon it. " The question," as he justly said,
" is not whether the law can be traced up to a long
" succession of ages in the most barbarous times
"of which history gives us any account, and
" whether it has been confirmed and consolidated
" and built up into an edifice. The question is,
"on what is it founded ? Is it founded on justice
" and righteousness, equality and fairneas, or is it
" founded on injustice, tyranny, and oppression ?"
To these questions only one answer can be given.
It may be long in coming, but in spite of Mr.
KtiesLeax and Lord GALWAY it is certain.

cause of individual liberty gains by the
contest. Powerful and eompactly-framod mole-
'babel corporations such as tie Prosisybeisaiforin
of Clkurch government facilitates aro sadly apt to
suppress individuality of opinion. We find our
contemporary be an amusing sketch of the late
Assemblies venturing upon a pretest against tho
monopoly established by those whom it terms the
" Assembly Fathers." This paternal element, it
seems, is too strong, and promising " brethren"
am wet-blanketed, not to say smothered, by it.
" There is no question," says the oritio, " that
" these grave and reverent seigniors are evincing a
" growing disposition to engross the speaking part
"of the business of the Assemblies, and to do so
"in a somewhat ex cathedra manner. Good old
"Dr. Writs, of Carluke, made a spirited remon-
" stream on this point in last General Assembly,
" but the knot of big-wigs around the table seemed
" this year still to monopolise considerably more
" than a fair share both of the direction and the
" talking. The fact that a man has been a mode-
" rater, and is a divinity professor or a metropo-
" litan clergyman, doe* not necessarily stamp him
" with the seal of exclusively superior wisdom."
This is a bard saying, and we admire the
courage of the Scot who utters it.

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.

'cram DAyj

FAIILLIMILMTAZY 111711171111111.
The Times 1. pretty much of Ms. 4:Mildetone's
opinion that the subject of the government mtmagement
of telegraphs is not sufficiently advanced ter legisla-
tion, and such a view of the case is fatal to the pro-
posal as now actually made. The Government Tele-
graphs Bill, in►tead of being • measure with only one
side to it, is a measure in which everybody recognises
very debateable points. Instead of being unopposed, it
was almost unsupported, except by ministers themselves.
Instead of comprising a self-evident proposition, it opens
a very doubtful controversy.
The Daily 11-efre represents Mr. Disraeli as having in-
troduced a new principle into our parliamentary system,
viz., that of government by hazard. His treatment of
the Boundaries Bill is • case in point. With regard to
the expediting of the registrations, the House might easily
enmigh an ange that the registers, without the smalls=
undue haste or inconvenience, should be completed
finally, appeals and all, early in October, so that
the elections might take place before November,
with its short and rainy days, is fairly upon us. Two
months of distraction to the country, and a whole year for
usaful legislation, could thus be saved. But to do it the
House of Commons must take the matter into its own
hands. It must resolutely pass an effective registration
bill through all its Magee, in a week or two, as that all
parties may know their work. Then it must settle the
boundary bill with equal decision, so that sU parties may
know their rights.
In the opinion of the Post there never was a case in
which the arguments were so entirely and exclumvely on
one side as in that of the Revenue Officers and Disabili-
ties Removal Bill. Among all the citizens of the country
it would be difficult, if not impassible, to find any clam
who give so many secaritim for their fitness to exercise the
franchise as these. They are already in positions of trust
and responsibility ; they are accustomed to exercise their
minds upon nice points of distinction; and their intelli-
gence is proved in the manner which is now considered
most conclusive, by the fact of their having all paired
through the ordeal of competitive examination.
The Standard argues that the right of the peers to give
their judgment upon the Irish church gumption is as free
and independent as that of the House of Commons itself,
and the majority of one chamber is as much entitled to
have its vote respected as the majority of the other.
There can be very little doubt as to what that judgment will
be, and we are persuaded that the country will insist that in
spite of liberal clamour it shall be treated with proper
deference.

The Star, while heartily approving of the Married
Women's Property Bill in its principle, thinks it quite
possible that some practical emendations may be intro.
duced in some of tht clause♦-for example, in the clause
referring to the legal settlement of questions between hus-
band and wife as to um or ownership of personal property;
and also in that which proposes to relieve a husband in all
cases, even apparently where the wife has no property, or
has conferred her property on him, from being liable in
damages for any wrong committed by her. In oases, for
instance, which are likely to be common enough, where
a woman hands over absolutely her fortune to her hus-
band and he invests it in some business or speculation in
hie own name, does it seem reasonable to froo him from
responsibility for damage done by the wife, who has no
longer any property of her own to meet the responsi-
bility le
The Herald does not believe that domestic happiness
would be promoted by giving every wife a distinct interest
in her money, or that aught would come of attempts to
enforce it but constant bickering' at home and frequent
misunderstandings with outsiders.

the Court.

BALMORAL CASTLE, Rum 8.
The Queen went out in the morning with
Princess Beddow, and her Majesty drove out in the
afternoon, ameonipanied by Princess Louise, and attended
by Ihe niches. of Athole.

Prince and Princess Christian and Prince Teck, at-
tended by Lady Susan Melville and Lieutenant-Colonel
CL Gordon, went on Tuesday evening to a dance given by
M. and Madam Vun de Weyer, at New Lodge.,

A Cabinet Council was held yesterday at the
official residence of the First Lord of the Trea-
sury, in Downing street. The ministers present
were :—The Right Hon. B. Disraeli, the Lord
Chancellor, the Duke of Marlborough, the Berl
of Maimesbury, the Right Hon. Clathorne Hardy,
Lord Stanley, Sr John Fakington, Sir S. North-
cote, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Right
Hon. H. T. L. Corry, the Duke of Richmond,
Lord J. Manners, and the Earl of Mayo.

A meeting of the Judicature Commission was held on
Tuesday, at the Westminster Palace Hotel. Present:
Lord Justice Wood, Sir William Brie, War James P. Wilde,
Sir R. J. Phillimore, Mr. Baron Bramwell, Mr. Justice
Blackburn, Mr. Justice Montagu Smith, the Attorney-
General, M.P., Sir Bounden Palmer, Q.C., M.P., Mr.
W. M. James, Q.C., Mr. Bothery, Mr. F. D. Lowndea,
Mr. Hollams, Mr. W. G. Bateson, and Mr. Bradshaw, the
secretary.

Ilia Royal Ilighnesa Prince Arthur, accom-
panied by Lieutenant-Colonel Elphinstone, favoured
Meows. lifanll and Co. with a sitting for his portrait
in uniform yesterday.
The Duchess of Cambridge honoured the Earl
and Countess de Grey with her presence at dinner Last
evening at their residence in Carlton-gardens. A select
party was invited to meet her royal highness.

- The Earl Fortescue entertained the following
company at dinner hat evening at his residence in
Lowndes-square :—The Earl and Countess Amherst, the
Earl of Camperclown, Lady Mary Williams, Admiral
and Lady Mary Saurin, Mr. and Lady Mary
Egerton, Mr. Ogilvy, Mr. Ryder, Mr. and Mrs.
Hugh Seymour, Mr. Berne, Mr. John Abel Smith,
M.P., &c. On Tuesday evening hie lordship received
at dimmer the Earl and Counters Pltswilliam, the Countess
(Dowager) Fortescue, Lady Poltimore, lion. Mark and
Lady Oertrude Rolle, Sir George Stucley, Bart., M.P.,
and Lady Stucley, the Attorney-General, Mr. and Mrs.
Knight, Captain and Mrs. Sutton, Mr. M'Gregor, Mr,
alien, Ic.

The Right Hon. Gathorne Hardy, M.P., and
Mn. Hardy received Mr. and Mrs. Arkwright, Mn. and
Miss Graham, Mr. IL Graham, Mr. Hassey, Mr. and Mrs.
Wright and Mies Wright, Mr. and Mrs. Wickham, Mr.
Kenyon, Mr. C. Buser, Mrs. Haliburton Campbell, &e.,
at dinner last evening, at their residence in Grosvenor-
crescent.

The Lord Chancellor and Lady Cairns enter-
tained at dinner yesterday at their residence, Cromwell
Houses—The Right Hon. the Speaker of the House of
Commons and Lady Charlotte Denison, the Earl and
Counter of TankervMe, Lord Lytton, Lord John
Manners, ht.P., and Lady John Manners and M.
Hughan, Lord Stanley, M.P., Viscount Everaley and
Hon. Miss Shaw Leferre, Bight Hon. Sir John Paking.
ton, M.P., and Lady Pakington, Sir Boundell Palmer.
M.P., and Lady Laura Palmer• and Miss Palmer. Hon.
Captain and Lady Maria Fitselarence, Hon. and Bev.
William and Mrs. Blackwood, and Mr. and Mrs.
Later in the evening Lady Cairns received a select cirri..
of friends.

In compliance with a numerous and influentially
signed requisition, the Lord Mayor bas consented to wn-
vene, and preside at a meeting of the citizens of London,
to be held at the Guildhall, on Monday, 22nd inst., "to
ezprees their sentiments upon Mr. ULtdstone's Iriab
Church Bill."

Mr. Allen on the 3rd of July will call the atten-
tion of the hones to the large area of certain boroughs,
and move "That, in the opinion of this house, it is
desirable that the boundaries of certain parliamentary
boroughs should be reduced, so as to exclude all purely
agricultural r.ariahes."
Mc. Watidn intends to move in committee on
Regulation of Railways Bill the following clause :—"That
all disputed question" as to any costa, charges, and ex-
penses of and incident to any arbitration or award made
under the provisions of ' The fonds Clauses Conso-
lidation Act, 1F14.1,' or of any special act of par-
liament incorporating the same, whether the fille4.
tion in dispute arise as to compensation to
ke made for lands required to be purchased and actually
taken by any railway company or any corporation, or in
respect of the injurious affecting of other lands not taken,
or otherwise in relation thereto, shall, if either party so
requires, be taxed and settled as between the parties by
one of the masters of the Court of Queen's Bench." And
to move clauses enabling railway companies to establish
provident savings banks.

- Sir John Gray on Friday will auk the Chief
Secretary for Ireland "if he will place upon the table of
the house a copy of the communication by which the
Moat Reverend Dr. Leahy and the Most Reverend Dr.
Deny, acting on behalf of the Roman catholic prelat% in
Ireland, broke off the negotiations carried on between
them and the government for the granting of a charter to
a catholic university in Ireland; and, if there be no letter
or communication on the subject other than
those already published, if he will point to any pamage in
any letter from theme prelate(' which was understood as in-
timating a wish to have the negotiations broken off ; and
whether the communication from Dr. Leahy and Dr.
Derry, dated the Slat of March, 1868, was asked for by
the government, and lent by them as suggestions and the
expression of opinions on matters then under considera-
tion, or as a final and complete scheme from which they
could not deviate."

The Marquis of Hastings, before quitting Paris.
left with the Jockey Club a Rum of 10,000 fr., of which
7,500 fr. were for the poor of Paris and 2,500 fr. for the
English church at Chantilly.
The Journal des Cunnaissanees Medicales stator
that on the first of January, 1868, Europe could boast
102,061 miles of railway@ ; and that, for all the five parts
of the world the grand total is 182,500 miles. This length
would be sufficient to encircle our globe twice round the
equator, and as many time' round a meridian provided
with the necessary complement of polar and tropical
yarallela ; and it has taken loss than 50 years to form this
immense iron girdle, the end of which the uezt generation
is not likely to see.

Mine. Taglioni has suddenly left Paris for her
villa on the Lake of Como, there to see her daughter—at
present seriously ill—the Princess Alexandro Troubetskoi,
wife of the author of "La Runde Rouge."
The musical season at Florence has ter:Ablated
brilliantly at the Pergola with Marta.

A new opera by Wagner, to be entitled the
Singer of Ictirembery, wild be produced at Munich on the

The arrival in Paris of Bliss Menken is announced
for next week. She has been engaged by M. Hostein to play
the Queen of the Amazons, a pantomimic part in Theo-
dora; to be produced in October.

The Abbe Liszt is expected at Weimar in the
autvian, when his oratorio of Ste. Eli:;:rd.th will be per-
fumed.

" THE ONAND Duelriten."—On Saturday week,
the 20th hut., Offenbach's Grilled Decimal will be produced
.n English et the Olympic Theatre, with Mrs. Howard
Faul in the i rincipal character, Mr. Russell having made
anangrments with Mr. 11. Webster for its production at
that holtse, end on Monday. June 22, it will be given for
the thit Cale at the St. James's Theatre, in French, with
Mar': 1113 Schneider in the chief pert.
The United States man-of-war Swatara has been
lying in Sonthampten Water foe the last fortnight. It is
a small mew steamer, and its crew and camas number
nearly WI. It has ten Dahlgren gam, with iren:rarriages,
and a swivel Parrott igun, of extensive range. Its
irr.a ler ffresums are all of the most approved pattern. Its
machinery in below the water line. It has been in oom.
11,i-iron three years, and has traversed during that period
400 mike. It conveyed John Suratt from Egypt to
Anicries to be tried for being concerned in the murder of
Pier dent Lincoln. Suratt's mother was hung as an WM.
wry to the murder. On Saturday last the medieval prac-
.Cee at Southampton of hoisting the glove by the Omporate
uthorities to open a chartered fair in that town took
pines, and the netimg-oommander of the Swallow., Limit.
ganshicla, waapremnistu Sinew glvenby Sas autho.