The Express.
London, England, 1850-08-14 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 14, 1850.

erotica has suffered this melon, and that for its re-
trieval he must prepare to take some new line, is the
next.
' Impelled by the sot unnatural fear of being wholly
forgotten, Lord LINCOLN has re-appeared on the
some. It is said to have weaned to his hatthipla
mind (the idea was doubtless original, foe it could
saved have entered any other man's brain), that the
death of Sr ROBERT rzn, bad made room for him
OAS parliamentary leader. And to the Arent=
saes of this monomania his midden return to
is currently ascribed. We always knew that there
was folly in the family ; but we had no idea of any-
thing so truly lamentable as this. To wrestle with a
delusion so weak is impossible. To laugh at it is
almost unchristian-like. Theme's but two individuals
in the House of Commons intellectually capable of
Plaid the part of chief of the opposition—Mr.
and Mr. GLADSTONE; bat bow their rival
protmemisem mad conflicting ambitions oat be made to
word raisins tabs seen. To judge by the puquinadee
of their respective journals, no common hatred which
may be supposed to animate them towards the whip
is to be compared with the animosity they bear to
each other. It is edifying in the extreme to see their
parliamentary friendship illustrated in their daily
organs, by the interchange of such soubriquets as
those of "Jesuit in disguise," and "Aspiring Jew."
But whatever prejudices may exist, or be susceptible
of excitation against the tribe of BENJAMIN or the
creed of Rome, it were easier for either of the casuits
in question to win and wear the dignity of tory lead-
ership than for a doll duke's son like LINCOLN or
Gamow to attain that position. Even to guide the
country gentlemen of England, before all things it is
necessary that a man should have a head.
If the state of things, however, on the retrogressive
side of the house in obviously one of transition, the
condition of the eiri-disant progresistas is certainly not
less so. In the general thaw, all parties and persons
are slipping from their former holding ground.
Among the old whig clique, the English radical party,
and the liberal Irish section, the ties of common aim
and purpose have long been growing few and frail.
The arrogant monopoly of honours and emoluments
by those posesesthg hereditary pretensions to power,
has alienated man after man and class after class
from the existing administration. Nobody thinks ill
of Lord JOAN, or grudges him the pre-eminence he has
morally and intellectually won. But men of worth,expe-
nem*, and talent resent the assumption that the basis
of all political valuation is to be "the Bedford level."
If tie whigs will not be content with that moderate
portion of public trusts and profits of which intrinei-
tally they are deserving, the day is at band when
they must reap the reward of their inordinate covet-
ousness and presumption. The day of sinecures is
passed. To have and hold thousands a year of the
national money, or to be placed in stations of high
responsibility and confidence, public opinion has irre-
vocably decreed that men most possess ability, con-
duct, and judgment, me well as exalted parentage.
The regime of distinguished dullards is at an end ;
and no infatuation can be more suicidal than that
which prompts the expelled from the old Castle of
Indolence to haag as grumbling paupers retied the
gates.
Measures most be changed; bat s likewise must
men; and of both men and measures not a few.

Ascrrnts sanguinary battle is reported to have
taken place on the confines of Schleswig. Some ten
thousand lives, with incalculable misery and loos, will
have been sacrificed, because the stupid and selfish
statesmen of Europe have not been able either to re-
spat people's rights or define their allegiance. The
treaty of Vienna, that solemn act of Europe, told the
pnlation dwelling on the Eyder that they were
(iisrmans, attached to Germany, though subject to the
King of DENMARK, is Duke of riOLSTEIN. And
the King of Domani: in a üb:io proclamation
admitted that the same law of suecession did not
prevail in the duchies as in Denmark.
Such was the common, kaowo, proclaimed law, to
put down and alter which the Danes have twice
marched their armies into the duchies. It pleases
our tones to call the resistance of the latter rebel-
lion. All we can say is, that if so, the treaty of
Vienna, the German Diet, and the comma' law of
Europe, enjoined rebellion. The only revolutionists
that we can see are the Danes in the first instance,
and then the powers of England, France, and Russia
wh3 interfere by declaring that they will forcibly
alter the law of succession in the country, and that
they will forcibly subject the German population of
the dnehies to whatever rigour it may please the
Danish crown to octroy.
What was Lord PALMERSTON'S fair and impartia-
view of the question, has been put on record.
His lordship recommended the dividing the coun-
try into two parts, the Danish and the Ger-
man, governing the one from Copenhagen, and
giving the other representative states, and a separate
I government. If this could not be done, his lordship
recommended a division into three, and the admini-
stration of Denmark, of Schleswig, and of Holstein,
separately. Either of these was fair. But Russia
would allow neither, Russia wanting to establish a
new Danish monarchy for her own relative and pro-
tege, the Duke of OLDENBURG, setting aside for him
the claim of the rightful presumptive heir to the
duchies, the Duke of AtIOUSTZSBOBG.

The wrong and the disgrace of England is that
after having accepted the office of mediator, and
after having as such proposed fair and equable terms,
it has abandoned this impartial view and flung itself
into a blind abettal of the scheme of Russia. The
excuse for doing this is simply that the cause of the
duchies was no longer upheld by the strength, unity,
and constancy which Prussia at first displayed.
Germany was a broken reed, on which there was no
longer any relying. It was not to be expected that
England should stand forth as the Quixotic
and solitary champion of Germans, whom the
German powers abandoned. " I cannot take part,"
ejaculated Lord PALMERSTON, " with the weak and
irresolute King of Peusqa against the strong and
determined Emperor of RUSSIA. ll foul hurler avec
lea &ups." This may be policy, this may be expedi-
ency, but it is neither honourable nor just.
We do not know what may be the immediate result
of the conflict about to ensue, but of this at least we
are certain, that every cannon shot, every bayonet
thrust, every life sacrificed, raises a barrier or hate
between the Danish and the German race in
the dueblea The avowed object of the powers
is to strengthen the Danish monarchy, and they do
this by sowing between the two races which share
the Peninsula between them, a mutual abhorrence
that no tyranny can extinguish and no conciliation
efface. There is no man of common reason who must
not see that the conquest or possession of the duchies
by Denmark, under such foreign protection and by
such facible means, is but adding immeasurable
weakness to Denmark, and rendering it for the future
altogether dependent for support upon Russia. No
more adroit scheme could have been conceived for the
destruction of Scandinavian independence, or for
making a second Finland of Denmark.
Nor is Russia proceeding with more unchecked
success towards the appropriation of Denmark than
to the utter enslavement of Germany. It is evident
that the power of Prussia to resist Russian dictation
is hourly on the wane. Austria, the mere tool of the
court of St. Petersburg, daily advances fresh ob-
stacles, fresh pretensions, and evidently prefer.
sacrificing German interests, and even her own repu-
tation as German, to the meaner desire of humbling
Prussia. Austria, we see, has at Russia's command,
signed the protocol, which takes the sett lament of a Ger-
man question out of German hands. It has at the same
time dissolved the plenum, or more open council,
which itself convoked at Frankfort, and insists upon
Germany being represented, as of old, by that narrow
council, which used to obey the orders of METTERNicn,
or MITNCII BELLINOIIAUSIN at Frankfort.

Prussia, indeed, still muntions a bold attitude of re-
sistance. The interposition of the federal or Austrian
commandant of Ma once to prevent a junction of
Prussian and Badish troops, and thereby cut
off Prussian connection with south Germany, hea ne-
cessitated military movements in month Prussia. But
Russia will not admit either of its two puppet. to
make more than the semblance of war. And the
CZAR keeps Austria and Promote, like two dogs, snarling
and quarrelling with each other, whilst he, the pre.
tended umpire, disposes of their property, and slowly
winds a chain around the necks of each, _

We use that the Prussian minister, MANTEMPIPEL,
who is striving for German independence, menaces to
resign, not finding in the monarch the support
which he thinks required. Vox RADowrrz so mode-
rate and conservative, is known to consider the crisis
u one that requires the boldest policy. As to what
the constitutional German party feel, that is soft.

elently shown by the bold step of its first men, VON
CIAORRN and VON ARNIM, repairing to the es Dv of the
Schleswig Holstein army to fight as volunteers.
The fact is, that every man of sense and heart in
Germany at present feels that Russia is now trdating
their 'country as she treated Poland, :neutralising its
princes and making nee of their mutual blekeriage
and fears to enslave and to rob thorn. What is taldng
place in Denmark is bet the oouatsrpsrt of what has
taken place in Hungary. The German King, who
might have resisted them, by a cordial understanding
with his people, unfortunately found this difficult, and
tried to make a stand by a league of German princes.
But three princes have faint heats and selfish aims,
and snook one after another from the national can..
to hoist the flag of Russian protection. Russia is, in
feet, the arbiter of Germany. Her word is law. The
CZAR overrides Mitosis as a conquering general;
and, sad to relate, England and Francs appear on the
same field u the CUR'S aide-de-camps and satellites

Taw House of Commons hu voted that the evidence
taken during the present session by the Ceylon com-
mittee ought not to be published. A plain unimpas-
sioned statement will suffice to plus the nature and
consequences of this vote in their true light.
The third session is now about to close since the
attention of parliament was directed to the misgo-
vernment of Ceylon. At the opening of the year 1849
the incapacity and cruelty of Lord Tonainorox were
as distinctly proved as they are now. To confirm
this assertion we will not appeal to the expressions of
the impartial ; we will refer to the columns of the
nines, which attempted to palliate Lord TORRING-
Twee misconduct, and defend the proceedings against
the angelus accused of participating in the riots
of 1848.

The Times, on the Bth of February, 1849, repre-
sented Ceylon as" smarting from the effects of • policy
which is too obscure to be thoroughly known, and too
revolting to be much relished." On the 22nd of the same
month the nmes affected to believe that " the real
fault of Lord TORRINGTON might be that, after he
had acted with such severe rigour, he did not dress
up
the record of his actions in language at which par-
liament would not have ben shocked." On the 23rd
the Time. declared, "That the pretensions of the
Cingalese to the royal dignity should ever be seriously
supported by Kandyan chiefs is quite impossible, and
Lord TORRINGTON did no more (cruelty_ apart) in
flogging ,GONEGOLLZGODE BANDA:than HENRY VIL
did in making a turnspit of LAMBRRT SIMNEL." In
January and February, 1849, the apologist of Lord
TORRINGTON admitted that he had been guilty of r
mockery of the feelings of the Cingalesc analogous to
the mockery inflicted on LAMBERT SIMNEL by
HENRY VII., and of cruelty from which HE.NRY had
abstained; and that Lord TORRINGTON had not even
enough of delicacy of sentiment to see the expediency
of veiling what was revolting in his conduct by decent
language. The Blue Book of Ceylon presented to
parliament explains why the Times was so candid in
its admissions: the facts were proved beyond the
possibility of denial.
The committee of 1849 closed its inquiries into the
affairs of Ceylon by recommending the appointment
of a royal commission to investigate matters on the
spot. To evAde this, government, at the commence-
ment of the present session, took the initiatiie, pro-
posed the re-appointment of a committee, carried their
point, and took care that there should be oa it
• majority composed of their own friends, and
of members of the East India directory, a body
proverbially as averse to letting in any light
upon the affairs of the east as any government can be.
We will not affect ignorance of the nature of the
information collected by the committee ; but for our
present argument it will be sufficient to state
only so much of its proceedings as the committee has
allowed to transpire. The first step was to start the
question of Captain WATSON'S guilt or innocence;',
the failure of that device for diverting '
attention from the question really at issue is well '
known. The rest of the session was con-
sumed, if the committee's own word may be
taken, in listening to tales of personal scandal and re-
criminations between officials of Ceylon which had
no bearing on the case and ought not to have been
allowed to be made. In short, the committee repre-
sents itself as engaged throughout the session in
listening to irrelevant tales of slander. Be that as it
may, at the close of the session, government finds it
hopeless to persist longer in its support of Lord TOR-
RINGTON and Focal' him; after wasting a whole year
government reluctantly does what every person who
has read the blue book—the lime, among the rest—
admitted ought to have been done a year and a half
ego.
Matters standing thus what does the committee
do ? Although appointed by the House of Commons
to collect information respecting the affairs of Ceylon,
it takes upon it without consulting or asking leave of
that house from which alone it derives any power it
possesses, to withhold all knowledge of the evidence
it has taken from the house, and impart it confi-
dentially to government as a cabinet secret. In vain
did the SPEAKER point out the incompetency of the
committee to act thus ; in vain did he declare in effect
that such conduct was a breach of the house's privi-
lege. On Monday sight the small body of confidential
adherents of ministers, kept in attendance to guard
against surprises and unpleasant adverse majorities at
the cad of a session, voted that the house acquiesced
in the irregularity, in the contempt and violation of
its privileges.
For such conduct there can be no palliation. To
the plea that the evidence was such • violation of
confidence that it could not bear publication, there are
two obvious and conclusive answers. In the first
place, if the evidence is of the character described, the
committee ought not to have received it ; whereas
the committee received, had it printed, enjoyed it,
and only discovered its objectionable nature when
reminded of the risk of the publio'm being admitted
to participate in the revelations. In the second
place, if the evidence ought not to have been taken,
it ought not to hays been acted upon; and yet go-
vernment profess to have acted upon it, for to it they
attribute their read of Lord Tomtit:Gros. By doing
so, government places itself in an awkwari dilemma.
If it is to be believed, it has recalled a governor upon
secret and confidential deletions, involving a breach
of confidence; if it is not to be believed, it has kept
that governor in office at least a year and a half
after it was convinced of his misconduct.

The vote of Monday night is one of the heaviest
blows ever struck at the dignity of parliament, and
at the reliance the people are disposed to place on it.
A committee appointed to collect and report for the use
of the House of Commons on a grave charge against
the local government of a colony—a committee, num-
bering among its members the Under Secretary of
State for the Colonies, the Secretary of the Board of
Control, and the Chairman of the East India Com-
pany, with a number of firm friends of government—
takes upon it to refuse to report to the House of Com-
mons, and open an irregular and unwarranted com-
munication with ministers. The public is left to infer
the nature of this oommunication, from the fact, that
shortly after it is made, the governor is recalled, and
his recal attributed to it. Ministers and the friendly
committee refuse to allow the House of Commons to
know anything about the communication ; and the
House, by a deliberate vote, declares that they are
quite right in treating it thus contumeliously. With
such a compliant House of Commons, what complaint
or demand for justice on the part of the people may
not ministers contrive to baffle and evade ?

Tfis Oitiow.—The trial of the officers of this ill-
fated ship has been appolated to take place at Edinburgh, on
Thursday, the 29th of August. The persons to be indicted
are Henderson, the ; Lenglands, the first mate ; and
the matte. The precognition or prating-
my inquiry has balm the lergest ever taken in Scotland.
The movie's( • ware examined before
leaving Portgaleish. the as to what should
have bees the peeper mode the Firth of Clyde,
under the eiresmsamess is which Asa was plead, has
been taken in Glsegew. The Procurstoe•Piscal has been en-
gaged six weeks Is this work, during which almost all the
spas-beat eaptains end mates 'melodist the Clyde have
bees examined, with the view of filing when the culpabi-
lity really lay. A beautiful model of the Oriea hes been
made is Greenock, sad will be wed at the trial, ea whisk the
mast 'airiest mss ea both sides of the flootash bar will he
'alleged. The eases an eat ea bail. It I. barely possible
the trial may be delayed a day en account °llia Mejesty's
MTarrival to idlahurgh on the 29M.
POTATO DISUSE, we 11111 sorry to say, hu
IWO Ns appearsnee spin In this district. In many in-
seams% when the tubers are not apparently affected at ell,
the potatoes are all dimmed, and in ether instance It Is
rim term It prevails toe greeter event than last year,
sad net tee than two bushels oat of tour sr* effected by it
GM net esalsed to an. locality or elm of potatoes, ere to
sae dsmelptica of culture, but them set under the =Oil
Ihmagabis elresaulaness and attentive, equally with Wee
ems amid, have felt Its influent,. The am crops are
begisming to parMhe of the yellow hue, indicating the erm-
ine harvest, mad leek well. Peas is many !esteems ere •
O, jord Carom.