The Express.
London, England, 1868-04-23 00:00:00

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LONDON, THURSDAY, APRIL 23.

THE IMPENDING ELECTIONS.

THE number of vacant seats, or seats about to
be vacated in Parliament and of impending elec-
tions, is unusually large at the present time. We
count ten in all. The character of our electoral
system, and the degree in which the Reform Bill
of 1867 needs to be itself reformed, so far as
regards the distribution of seats, is proved in a
very striking manner by this list. Of the ten cm-
stituencies, five are small boroughs whose claims
to remain independent centres of representation
will scarcely stand the scrutiny of the now Parlia-
ment. They are the boroughs of Clitheroe, Gran-
tham, Cockermouth, Leominster, and Stamford.
Two of these little towns contain populations of
over ten and under twelve thousand inhabitants ;
the remaining three are below this standard. One
great city consituency—that of Bristol—with &popu-
lation of over 150,000 inhabitants, and &constituency
numbering nearly 15,000, has to choose a repre-
sentative ; and a considerable Scotch group, that
of Stirling, with more than 30,000 inhabitants
and more than 1,200 electors, is also called upon
to exercise its constitutional privilege. The other
vacant constituencies are the great counties of
East Kent and South Lincolnshire, and the little
Welsh county of Radnor. Some of the gen-
tlemen who are retiring, or about to re-
tire, from the House of Commons, de-
serve • respectful parting word. Without
entering into the painful circumstances con-
nected with the resignation of Sir Moaros Pure),
or palliating the grave errors of judgment and
commercial conduct in which he seems to have
been led, we may yet say that Bristol loses in him
a faithful and efficient representative, the House
of Commons a steady Liberal, and one who was un-
til lately an excellent type of the enterprise, public
spirit, and munificence of the English merchant.
The candidature of Mr. SAMUEL liloaxxv gives the
people of Bristol the opportunity of sending to
Parliament a gentleman who possesses all these
and many additional claims to confidence and
respect. Bristol has seldom been untrue to
its liberal convictions ; and we cannot be-
lieve that, with so excellent • champion, it
will prove so now. Still, local influence,
both legitimate and illicit, is strong on the side
of the Conservative candidate. Mr. Maas is a
good neighbour, a benevolent patron, and a banker
who may prove accommodating or• the reverse. The
advanced Liberal who feels himself in need of ad-
vances must be very firm in his convictions if he
ventures to vote against a member of the firm of
Xmas, Mum, and Co. Waverer' can hardly be ex-
pected to be unaffected by the possible influence
of the Bank. Still, we cannot believe that, in the
present political juncture, the suffrage of Bristol will
be given against the just treatment and paci-
fication of Ireland. The community which
had 8172L1 for its member has an bib.

THE

torioal fame to preserve. _
the most estimable of banker-equkes Is .
that be may oppose • stolid apposition
measures, or be the dupe and iastrameut
new DISRAELI juggle would bo • political

dation. We - loot with confidence
Woe. Bristol will follow the

I
lately set it by Manchester, Birmingham, and
the other great towns of the country.
The return of a • Liberal member for the Stir-
ling group of boroughs is an absolute
certainty. Scotch boroughs always elect reformers.
The change of representatives will not involve
any voting loss to the party. Nevertheless the
retirement from Parliament through failing
health of a politician so full of promise as Mr.
LAWRINCH OLIPHANT is to be deplored. The loss
of his keen and quick intelligence, proved
in literature and diplomacy as well as in Parlia-
ment, and of his experience of political life on three
continents, in Europe and in our American and
Asiatic dependencies, will be severely felt
in the House of Commons. Mr. ROUN-
DILL'S candidature for Clitheroe, for which borough
Mr. FORT is expected, on account of failing
health, presently to vacate' his seat, will give
to that constituency the opportunity of re-
turning to the House of Commons a man
of a class too alenderly found there. A
large reduction of the suffrage has often
been deprecated on the ground that it would make
the attainment of a seat in Parliament by persons
of culture and refinement difficult, if not im-
possible. Mr. ROUNDELL, who has given proof of
business capacity, is at once a thoughtful and an
advanced Liberal, a man of popular sympathies
and high University reputation, a nh_silfg psi
Radical. In Grantham and Ceckermouth the
struggle batween the two parties is less one
of political principle than of local influence, and it
would be hazardous to predict the issue of
the contest. The Duke of RITTLAWD and
the WELBY family have hitherto had pretty
much their own way in the former place, and
Lord LICONPIELD has seldom been combatted with
Emcees by any less formidable Liberal candidate
than a local attorney. Still the Liberal reaction
has been felt even in small boroughs, and
there is no saying what they may not
do. Leominster, with its five thousand odd inhabi-
tants, will perform its penultimate act of political I
servitude in the return of Lord MAHON to succeed
Mr. Weise ; and if the Marquis of Exrrea cannot
find an able statesman and debater tosucceedthe pre-
sent Marquis of SALISBURY in the representation of
Stamford, or rather of Burleigh House, he will
have no difficulty in putting his hand on a thorough-
going Tory. Of the three counties vacated by the
three Diaraelite Peers, Radnor appears to be
an heirloom in the Weise family, and South Lin-
colnshire is in the hands of three or four Tory
peers and half-a-dozen Tory squires. Mr. W2LBY,
who has given up his seat for Grantham for the
higher dignity of the knighthood of that shire,
is not likely to be opposed. In East Kent, on the
other hand, Lord Frrzweiraa will probably have
a thoroughly Liberal successor. Half a century ago,
when almost all the boroughs of England were small
and corrupt, and before the CHANDOS clause had
handed over the shires to the landlords, the counties
were the sole refuge of politicalindependence. East
Kent, the most Saxon of counties, with its social
democracy and custom of gavelkind, has retained
something of this character until now. There is
every reason to feel confidence that its 'verdict
will be given in favour of the Liberal
leader and his Irish policy, on which the
contest ever/where is turning. There is no
doubt as to Um feeling of Ilie majority of the elec-
tors; and there is every ground for hoping that it
will overpower the territorial and social influences
which are marshalled against it.

TRIMS:

AY

chum]; to his countrymen UV; present day, • He
has been heard by most of them who take any Inte-
rest whatsoever on political and social questions.
But we may observe that speaking to the latgolet
assembly that he ever addressed under oover, he 1,
appeared to fill at once the vast space with Ais
voice and the ears of his listeners with sentiments
which brought responsive applause. He described
the Irish Church as a standing and gigantic )it
to Ireland, as a Church political rather than "reli-
gious, and as • hindrance more than a help to
the spread of Protestantism in Ireland. On each
of these points he received the enthusiastic con-
currence of the meeting, and when the fear of a
Roman Catholic domination was suggested by such
ies ea "No Popery," "No Maynooth Grant,"
not the least effective of his appeals was when he
told the meeting that Roman Catholicism was not
to be met by an established church, but that the
powers of a priesthood in general were to be over-
come by the wide-spread instruction and enlighten-
ment of the people. But by far the happiest allu-
sion was that which was suggested to him by the
building in which he spoke. Contrasting the great
results of the voluntary system as shown in Wales,
Scotland, England, the Colonies, and the United
States, with the little which had been done by the
Established Church in Ireland, he argued against
the principle of State Connexion. Then narrow-''
ing his of vizor to moue aii optla-41,51-6: tun
felicitous epitaph on Sir C. Waves monument in
St. Paul's, by saying "If you want a proof
"of what voluntaryism can do, and • monu-
" meat of what it has done, let us
" look around us." The audience were quick to
seize an allusion which at once contained an argu-
ment and a compliment, and they cheered again
and again.
There was an evident disappointment through-
out the meeting when Mr. BRIGHT announces that
Mr. SPURGRON was unable to be present ; and it
was not removed by a characteristic letter, read by
Mr. SPURGEON'S brother, expressing regret at his
inability to attend. He wrote that he was with the
object of the meeting " heart and soul ;" and
whilst heeibelieved the Irish clergy were, as a
body, amongst the best of the episcopal clergy,
and held evangelical truths most earnestly, he
would, "because they were the best, favour them
"first with the great blessing of disestablishment."
Such humorous satire from his sick room made it
the more regrettable that Mr. SPURGEON was
not in a condition to afford them further
specimens of his healthy comic vein. The
meeting was, however, addressed by Mr.
Maim! JONES, Mr. Fswczrr, the Rev. J. A.
SPURGEON, and Mr. T. B. Porn's, andtheir observe-
' lions were accepted with sympathy and approval.

The resolutions proposed were adopted with Dna-
nimity. If we may judge from the numbers, the
enthusiasm, the sincerity, and the unanimitywhich
have been manifested at the meetings held on
the subject of the disestablished Church in Ireland
we should say that the country has already
decided the question. Never daring the anti-
corn-law agitation or the reform movement
were more crowded assemblies held, or
opinions more distinctly and emphatically
prono,:mood. That at the Metropolitan Tabernacle
last night was peculiar on many accounts. As a
lair and unbiassed expression of opinion, it cannot
fail to have weight amongst other manifestations
of the same kind. As a political spectacle, it stands
first and foremost.

WHATEVER may be the length and tone
of Mr. HUNT'S speech to-night in introdu-
cing the annual financial statement of the
administration, it is certain that the average
reader the next morning will only remember
two unpleasant points,—the deficiency, and
the means recommended to supply it. The
British taxpayer is patient and long suffering,
but he is very listless and uninquiring, and a com-

petitive examination of "well-informed men"
would show a lamentable amount of ignorance as
to the details of the national expenditure. To
those who only know that something like seventy
millions per annum is collected and spent, it
may be as well to give an analysis of this
outlay which is simple and easy to re-
member. Out of every sovereign received by
the tax-gatherer, the interest and charges on the
national debt claim and receive seven shillings
and ninepence ; the army and navy to-
gether (the first getting the largest half),
also receive an equal amount ; while the Civil
Service, which includes law and justice and educa-
tion, receives 3s. 9d., leaving 9d. as the balance
for the QUEEN and Government. These facts are
easily retained in the memory, but they must be
taken for what they are worth, as their tendency is
unquestionably to make a heavy and perhaps
criminal expenditure appear moderate and trivial.
To dwell upon the shillings and pence mentioned
above, and to forget the hard-earned millions
of pounds they represent, would please that
sophistical school of financiers who coolly tell us
that seventy millions a year is not much more than
two guineas a head upon our population.

Tim ardent logic of Englishmen, once roused,
is inexorable. " Who drives fat oxen," he.
Therefore, if Mr. DISIAELI claims to be the cham-
pion of the English Church, he must be • christened
men. We are now made aware that the right
honourable gentleman is an habitual communicant ;
but enlightened curiosity is still bent on knowing
whether he was ever brought to the font, with
sponsors, and all the rest of it. Apparently,
there is a lurking suspicion that if not a
Jew proper, he may Ail be a kind-of-
a-sort of a Jew. We recommend him, unless
proof that he was once christened can be
produced, to calm the public mind by getting
by heart the ceremony " for the bap-
" tism of such as are of riper years,"
and presenting himself to undergo the process In
due form. Might he not, otherwise, be
refused Christian burial after his death I By
the way, e. religious contemporary the other
day assured the world that it was quite cerhin-,
Mr. Gusneroits's father would never, under
any circumstances, have married a .lady of
Unitarian eonacsions. Is there no other serious"
contemporary with a sufficient faculty for being
retrospeetively sure of thfnige, to mini forward
and inform Mt, with the accent of authority, that.
Viviszt hairy never would have dared to exit
all these yew an unchristened being like Mr.
%WET T
Tan pro/Vitali,* dispute between Lord
Bsoronaw • tic.ltvpr wakhal by several
people Irieh more than emiesity; It
veva be larrirly ;ursine, ionised, far ant ma,

:ING, APRIL

!ate., °I)
Z pub Pieutmalio.
LAO, to take the wit inti
at' the end of hips eel
=Mit SlNieties and expoirtaladaliff and

we find Dr. CAIIIIIN speaking of letters bit the
thousand, we eon understand the =seinen to
which w• have referred. If we are not mistaken,
the wisest and most trustworthy of the ex-Oxitx-
cmuou's friends have long ouunaelled an intleanite
poetposement, and their advice until lately *-
Tailed. Whether the episode of the quarrel between
the noble lord and his editor will accelerate or defer
the appearance of the work seems at present un-
certain ; but probably if not issued in his lord-
ship's lifetime it would never see the light at all.

PARLIAMBNTARY DIVISIONS.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.— WEMIIISDAY, Aran V.

SUNDAY TRADING BILL.
Ords: for second reading read ; motion made, and question
proposed, " That the bill be nowread s second Bats :"
Amendment proposed, to lea,* out the word "now,"
and at the sod ci thu question to add the words " upon
this day six mouths: "--(1(r. Graham :)—Qusation pot,
" That tits word • Dow stand part of the question :"
The house divided ; ayes 68, noes 31.

ATM.
Agnew, Sir A. elm G. 6. Padatore, E.
Andover, That. Goddard, A. L E.
Barnett, R. Goldner, G. Parry, T.
Ding n, rid Gordon, E. S. Percy Major4en.
Bram H. A. Gurney, Z. Pim, i.
Burke Vint. Gum Potter, E.
cam* S. itTaiuld,"l%. Prim W. P.
Capper, C. load. C. S.
Cartwright. Col. Hardy, G. }Lebow, J. G.
Chambers, Si. Hardy. J. o=rn, D.
Cier, J. Mortar, A. D.
_, C.
Clive, G. Henley, J. W. Mmeon, Sir S.
5. Hood, Sir A. Seats, 8. 0.
al . ,111 .T. Hamby, W. IL ,W.
Dent, J. D. Howe., I. ==laxwell,Ellr
Dises O. wat, li. W.
Dooltoo. P. t
Llama. .H. Stuart, Col. C.
Edwards, Sir H. Leber, A. Treeby J. W.
= Si.
4,
I. Maxwell, W. H. Wile, H. C.
Mordant, Sir C. Wynn, C. W.
Pervasion, Sir J. Morgan, Major TV.LIRS.
Moyer, J. Neville-Grenville, B. Boehm, P.
Gamlen Serif.. O'Beirne, J. L Hamilton, 14. Claud

OSBORNE, Aram 22.
'Tallied by Princess Christian

Sad Prineeeelleategoe, drove cat Yesterday afternoon, arid
her Majesty walked in the grounds this morning, boom-
pealed by Pitmen Lodes and Prisons &atria%
Prbtee Christian' ase west eat.

A deputMios of members of the Church Institution,
heeded by Mr. H. O. Balks. (Asinine of isommittes), had
an interview with the Lord President of the Counell sad
the Duke of Buoldeghani and Checchi, at Die Privy
Councibcdtes, Whitehall, yesterday, on the subject of
Mr. Glailikone's Church Rat* Bill.
A meeting of the Judicature Commission was held on
Tuesday at the Westminster Palace Hotel—present, the
Lord Clumoellor, Sir William Erie, Lord Justice Wood,
Sir James P. Wilde, Mr. Baron Bramwell, Mr. Justice
Mashburn, Mr. Justice Smith, Sir Roundel' Palmer, Mr.
W. IL James, Br* Qualm, Mr. }Lathery, Mr. F. D.
Lowndrs, Mr. Bollatne, and Mr. Bradshaw, the secretary.

A Cabinet Council was held yesterday at the
official residence of the First Lordof the Treasury,
in Downing-street. The ministers present were
the Right Hon. B. Disraeli, the Lord Chancellor,
the Duke of Marlborough, the Earl of Mahnesbury,
the Right Hon. Gsthorne Hardy, Lord Stanley,
the Duke of Buckingham and Chendos, Sir S.
Northoote, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the
Duke of Richmond, and Lord J. Manners.

VISIT OF TEE PRINCE OF WALES TO
THE COLLEGE OP BURGEONS AND TO
MAYNOOTH.

DUBLIN, WEDNEfiDAT NIGHT.
At 1 o'clock to-day the Prince of Wales, accom-
panied by Viscount Hamilton, Lord in Waiting ;
the Earl of Mayo, Major-General Sir William
Knollys, and Captain Alexander H. C. Stewart,
A. D. C., arrived at the Royal College of Surgeons,
St. Stephen's•green. The Prince was conducted
in the first instance to the Albert Hall, where
Dr. J. Stannus Hughes, at the instance of Vis-
count Hamilton, introduced to his Royal Highness
the President, Vice-President, members of the
council, and professors and other officials of the
college. The Albert Hall was erected by the Royal
College of Surgeons in memory of the late Prince
Cowart, and in testimony of admiration of his
successful encouragement of the arts and sciences.
Over the president's chair is an admirable marble
bust of the Prince Consort, by Theed, which was
placed in that position by the express sanction of the
Queen. The Prince of Walesexpressed hisadmiration
of this noble hall, and the bust of his lamented father.
From the Albert Hall his royal highness was
conducted by the President and Dr. John Barker
through the museums, where he evinced consider-
' able interest in the various specimens to which his
attention was directed, more especially the wax
preparations presented to the college by the Duke
of Northumberland when Lord Lieutenant of Ire-
land in 1929. After passing through the library
the Prince inscribed his name in the visitors' book,
" Albert Edward P.," and soon afterwards thanked
the President for the pleasure afforded him, and
left the college.

At three o'clock this afternoon the Prince of
Wales, accompanied by Lord Mayo, Viscount
Hamilton, and Major-General William Knollys,
left Dublin Castle in one of the Viceregal carriages,
and proceeded to the Broadatone Terminus, where
his royal highness was received by Mr. Ralph S.
Cusack, J.P., Chairman of the Midland Great
Western Railway Company, with whom he cor-
dially shook hands. The other directors present
were the Earl of Clancarty, Messrs. Robert
Preston Bayley, George W. Harmsen, James
Sterling, Laurence Waldron, D.L. ; and Robert
Warren, jun., J.P. Mr. Beausire, secretary;
Mr. Skipworth, traffic superintendent ;
and Mr. Kirwan, solicitor, were also pre-
sent. The royal train consisted of the state car-
riage, two first-class carriages, and two breaks.
The locomotive engine was gaily decorated with '
evergreens and flowers. The journey to Maynooth
(15 miles) occupied about 18 minutes. At May-
nooth station the carriage of the Duke of Leinster
was in waiting to convey the Prince and party to
Carton, where they were entertained at luncheon.
There was a very large crowd awaiting the arrival
'of the Prince of Wales, and the station, its ap-
proaches, and the town generally, displayed festive
emblems. On his way home, his royal highness
called at Maynooth College, where he was enthu-
siastically received by the students, who presented I
him with a loyal and dutiful address, and obtained
exemption from the June examination. The
national ball is now going on, and is a great suc-
cess. The Prince and Princess were greeted with
the greatest enthusiasm.

DUBLIN, THURSDAY MORNING.

The ball is a brilliant success—crowded, but not
over filled. The Prince and Princess, the Lord-
Lieutenant and the Marchioness of Aberoorn, the
Duke of Cambridge, and Prince Teck, arrived
about 12 o'clock, and were cordially received.
About 4,500 persona were present.

THE EXPRESS. THURSDAY
r
To send a a v44* haerant
ekes to Parliasaent virialibbeAswed the grandeur of thellia;:;11
greition tepaperal it mite , a moral significance to the pc:ltr ef
Instrument 411 so me thk aasembl ed thousands and ora a
a political - &gra- miag the *tiering of the ere ttest \lt
onfidenoe to the is not neoessary to describe M.r.iiittonr. or his
w the example oratory or his opinions on the citieweon of the bah
. ..