The Express.
London, England, 1861-10-15 00:00:00

Iltett WATIR AT LOJOOY
_ _

TWIN CAT —l4.inalue, ITN. Os._ Aftersoos. M. nue.
To sumo, —Mlgrass4 Alliavuosa. Via. Ma

LONDON, TUESDAY, OCT. lb.

TO OUR RRADRRS.

/SPORTING INTELLICIF-NCE.

♦ !ate edition of the Exprus is published every
'resin during the racing sewn, containing the
results of the day's races

Tee King of PIit*PISIA has just left the Castle
of C•unpii•gne, and already his place is filled by
the King of the NETHEILASInt, another Sovereign
of the North. Tho Ktsu, the Government, and
the people of Holland, although composing one of
the most advanced of European States, are at the
same tinie the least troublesome and the least noisy.
The Dutch are occupied almost with the same
political cares as the English. Their institutions
are as liberal and their population as free as
those of any republic, although they bear the
name and highly respect the principles of
monarchy. The Dutch, like ourselves, are free-
traders, although their colonial administration
is distinguished by certain exceptional features,
which it is the object of some of their chief
statesmen to get rid of. Their navigation lswa
are almost as liberal as our own, while the annual
discussions of their Chambers turn upon subjects
very much like those which occupy and perplex
legislators at Westminster—such as Education,
Poor-laws, and sanitary measures.
Holland is now but sli3htly interested in the
march of European polit;es. It hails, indeed, the
establishment of constitutional governments, and
is forward to recognise necessary changes, as well
as to conclude commercial engagements. Such was
its treaty with Sardinia, and its recent recognition
of the kingdom of Italy. Political rancour Hol•
land has none. It has negotiated a fair com-
mercial treaty with Belgium, and seems inclined
to be upon equally good terms with England,
France, and Ramie. Neither has it any
jealous differences with its German neighbours.
It has latterly exerted itself to gratify them
in their chief wish—the lowering of the tolls
and expenses on the navigation of the Lower
Rhine. And no sooner did Hanover and the
States of the Steurverein join the Prussian corn•
mercial union, than Holland adopted the same
commercial laws and relations for Luxemburg,
that important territory which it possesses, en-
closed by the territories of Belgium, France, and
Prussia.

If it were necessary to assume that the King of
HuLLAND must have business to transact with the
French Eerimoa, it would be a fair supposition
that their conversation has turned upon this
very Ducby of Luxemburg, and its commercial
position. Luxemburg belongs to Germany, and
makes part of the Confederation. It could not
but be affected by any change or new demarca-
tion of the French north-eastern frontier. Any
advance of the French empire which should
give it possession of the Prussian towns'
on the Sarre would have the effect of,
cutting off the fortress of Luxemburg from its
connexiou with Germany and with the Rhenish
Provinces. And this would be of still greater im-
portance
were Landau to be ceded to France,
as Luxemburg would then remainthe only German'
fortress of any importance south or west of Mayence.
We are by no moans certain that any such con-
cessions were talked of, much less negotiated, at
Compiegne; still the public mind has been led to
regard them ea possible, and that not by German,
but by French writers. It is, therefore, of im-
portance that their nature and bearing should be
known and discussed, lest t►e subject should start
up unexpectedly as ass imminent, if not imme-
diate.

It is probable, however, that the attention of his
klajesty of the Neesmuses has been more joints-
diately occupied wit► the great commercial changes
either recently concluded or at present in pro-
gress. Already the Commercial Treaty between
France and Belgium affects and disarranges the
relations of Holland with both countries, and
either the conclusion or the rupture of the Franco-
Prussian treaty might be also fraught with serious
consequences to Holland. Were it found impos-
sible to conclude that treaty, and were
Prussia in consequence seriously to re-
sume its project of breaking with the
disaffected countries of South Germany, to form •
compact union with the States of the North, Hol-
land would be strongly incited and tempted to
join in such a Bund. This, we must own, would
be untoward, for the Dutch tariff ii much more
liberal than that of Germany. But the accession of
Holland, with its necessary preference for low
duties, would strengthen the liberal commercial
tendencies of Prussia, and in the end be favourable
to free trade throughout the North of Europe.
There is, however, something much more im-
portant than tariffs in the question of a union,
more or less close, between Holland and Germany.
One has all that to give which the other most
seriously needs, and ardently aspires to. Holland
has colonies and a marine. Whether the one is pos-
sible without the other may be doubted. And
though Germany might buy some ships of war,
the benefits of colonies it can never procure,
except it fraternise with the Dutch. But the
Dutch are not German. They have a history,
a literature, national pride, and national
peculiarities which they would never sink. And
Germans are f►r too arrogant to make the fitting
concessions and allowances for an alliance, which
must be that of the two people., in order to lead to
great national results. Indeed for some years the
two countries have been separating and driving in
contrary directions, instead of approximating. 0