The Express.
London, England, 1868-03-17 00:00:00

gitt OrVeoo.

1/DV6ETISIVILYIS salt be tcevarded to Year& J. Y.
Jon &sox &ad Sow, J, Cestloetreet, Haber., sad be. BMWs-
wain, the specially &moulted besets.

AUDI RAI= AT LONDON BEMIS.
TM'S DAY —MoradoL 7R Idet......Afternoon. eb. 3315.
To-MOSlLOW—itarabd. 9b A. 66=

DRURY-LANR
Trrtm svinirsa, ROB ROY. Mr. T. Pointe. Mr. Tbetpt, Marra
W. Hardman. R. and Mum)
Barrett. and Ilmmtut Mee
attars R. Caw and Mum) Iluddart.—To conclude with THE

H A VEIAILICET.
TITT3 EVEI7IIII, DIY HUSBAND'S 01108 T —A 11110 OF
ROMANCE. Misers. Bothern, Buckskins, Compton, Chippendale,
Room sod Clark ; Mesdames animism, Burke, Chippendale ,
Fllewilliam, Laws, !a —And THE kiIOKAN-HEARTM. CLUB.
——- -

EiNCIVISII
tots Swarm. THE COLLEEN BAWL—Attee which THE
REETi ON LONDON. ME and Mrs. 0. Don_icoalt, Mr.
Vining, Mr. Dominick Murray. limn. Neville. ...bore. and Den
Leusou; McAdams. Eilswoctliy, Dorsett, Saucer, and Addle.

STRUM.
TEM EVENInd, ORANGE ELOSEOSOL Mears lame' sad T.T.
aer ; Mesdames 11 hes sad Gwyana—PAitP4 ; VIVE ULM
PRIER& Messrs, 1 , JllllOl. Robson, dc Fenton Mesdames
Ragland, Johnstone, Ruh, de.—Aad COAL AND COKE.

DAITAKITLL
Tau EVIIIIO, 7111 YOrTSO APPRIINTICIL Mn. 1 Lase,
J. F'eMA.—Aod THY GUILTY 7AKLakin!: Mao Kate Lithos; Mrs
K lirtaoTll YR Metara. Reynolds,
Bowe, Marlton, Ladle, de.: Madames Wart/say, Edwin, de.

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BIRHS. 11AltRIAGCS. a DISITR3, &re
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LONDON, TUESDAY, MARCH 17.

"THE HOU.SE" AND THE COUNTRY.

Ie we could confound parliamentary dexterity
with able statesmanship, and the trick of the de-
bater with the art of government, we should be
willing to recognise, in the PRIME Mlizerse s
display last night something more than an ex-
traordinary feat of • very ready wit and a very
supple tongue. Ingratitudehu been defined "the
" independence of the heart," and there is a cer-
tain sort of political versatility which may be
called the independence of the conscience. But
sword play is not strategy, and the finest sabmse
of a battle-field will not carry an army with
honour or success through the protracted
labours and difficulties of • campaign. Mr.
Dls It A ELI'S brilliant exhibitions belong to the
theatre, or to the mile d'ortnes; they will not bear
the sunlight, or the shock and struggle of opinions
and principles in open day. We can imagine
the most frivolous dilettante in the Stranger's
gallery surprised for a moment into the semblance
of serious convictions by the severity and earnest-
ness of Mr. °LAWTON E'S argument. But he would
be fascinated and charmed by the felicitous audaci-
ties of the PREMIER'S performance, and the infinite
variety of his moral and intellectual postures.
There can be no question which of the
two orators of last night would be preferred
by the public who cultivate their literary and dra.
matic tastes in playhouses addicted to burlesques
and in halls abandoned to comic melodist' and
dancers. The FIRST MI KISTEICR great speech on
the Irish question was a speech for • midnight
audience and a gas-lighted stage. Mr. GLADSTONE'S
speech was a speech addressed to the calm judg-
ment and the moral sense of a sincere and under-
standing people. According to the strict canons of
political oratory Mr. DIsR AELI 'S
speech—which we
have no hesitation in recommending to busy or idle
people who can only spare time for light reading—
was in manner rather that of the leader of
an Opposition than of the chief of a Cabi-
net. In spite of some solemn phrases here
and there, the dominant tone was that of banter '1
and mockery, a bitter gaiety too constrained
and too elaborate in its artful ease and some-
what metallic lustre, to resemble the vigorous and
buoyant indifference of Lord PA L MERETON. In
matter, the speech was that of a Minister intellec-
tually in advance of his party, and perfectly aware
of the set and strength of opinion out of doors ;
carelessly aura of his game within the House
for the remainder of this final session of a repre-
sentative body under sentence of death ; looking
with a sort of confident desperation to the chances
and changes of a general election with untried and
unknown constituencies ; adroit in playing, as on
an instrument, on all the prejudices of the dullest
of his own followers, yet throwing out vague
impalpable hints of a policy which in time to
come will scatter their prejudices to the winds.
To the Protestant interest he was an advocate of
the principle of religious endowments ; to the
Roman Catholic' he was for conferring a charter
on their University, and making their priests in
Ireland, not, indeed, stipendiaries of the State,
but independent sharers in the probable results
of the Irish Church Commission. On this part of
thesubject Mr.Diseszu observed discreetreticenoe.
He protesta against the destruction of the Irish
Church Establishment, both in principle and as a
measure of Irish policy ; but he contemplates
some considerable consequences of the Royal
Commission which is now investigating it.
revenues. He thinks that the status of
the Church of the vast majority of the
population towards the Establishment will have to
undergo 'modification and revision. And he is far
from regarding theactual position vi the Protestant
Establishment in Ireland as consistent with his
ideal of a National Church. Then, as to the Land
question ; theClovernment isprepared to legislate at
once in the sense of security and compensation for
tenants while awaiting the further inquiries of a
new Commission which will present full and accu-
rate materials for a larger and more lasting
settlement. To sum up 3lr. Diseasti's
sped fics—AS Tenant Right 11111; • Charter
for the 'Catholic University ; a Commission on
the Chu Establishment and on the Land ; and
sooner or' tater some other than pecuniary modifica-
tion of the status of the Catholic clergy. So much
for the moment. When the Chords and Land Com-
missioners have reported, there will be a new Par-
liament, .• new Tory party, and a new Liberal
party. Ind thus, as Hautir says, "if it be not
" now, yet it will come. The readiness is all."
To the threat of a distinctive motion on the
Irish Church, Mr. DI iRAZU replies by
a cheerful intimation as to the Opposition benches
that they have no moral right to dictate • policy to
their successors in the last momenta of their a:bu-
sses, and that the attempt to exercise such a right