The Express.
London, England, 1857-04-25 00:00:00

MZILSTON—Iet us hear what he ha to say about the
prospects of the new Parliament. To the Liberal
party it opens, he assures us, " a glorious and
boundless future." It is, he avers, a Parliament
so well elected that it will not " be hurried into
rash and violent measures." In one page, indeed,
this underling in office will have it that it is for
Parliament to indicate what it wants, and for
the Government to supply the want ; but in another
he propounds the astounding theory that " the end
of all representative assemblies "is merely to pro-
vide a field of choice for ministries• This is simply
. .

a repetition of the cant with which we have of late
been nauseated by his brother sub-official in
the columns of the Economist: and the con-
clusion dell this farrago of words and of nonsense
is, that Lord PALMERSTON must pursue a liberal
foreign policy, and " deal with several momenLous
questions of domestic policy." What these questions
are, or by what spirit the domestic policy of Lord
PAUURSTON is to be animated—for up to this
time he has had none at all—this gentleman, who
scatters broadcast both his censure and his lauds-
tins, gives his readers not the faintest notion—pro-
bably for the best of all good reason'. In the
first place, it is most likely that he knows nothing;
and in the second, that, in spite of all his
smartness and glibness, he is afraid of predi-
cating anything of his superiors in office. The
best course an essayist in this predicament
could have pursued would have been to have
held his tongue. Instead of doing so, he betakes
himself to abuse of Lord Jon" and to sneers at
Civil and Religious Liberty—vainly imagining
that such declamation will best servo Lord PAL-
MER4TON.

This a all very agreeable and easy work in
the Edinburgh Review and in the Times news-
paper ; but something more will be required for
the new House of Commons. There is, for instance,

Parliamentary Reform. The first week of the
Session will bring that question before the House,
even if Ministers omit it from the QUEEN'S Speech.
Such an instalment as Mr. Lucre KING'S bill
might have been accepted. Then there is the
question of the admission of the Jews to
the House of Commons. The City of London
has again elected Baron Rontscumn. Four
times, in one form or another, has the House of
Commons sent bills to the Lords to abolish this last
remnant of ecclesiastical and religious intolerance.
In the new House the Liberal majority has been
very largely increased. The main argument in the
Lords for rejecting previous measures has been the
decreasing majorities on the question in the Commons.
Now, happily, there is an opportunity of showing the
Lords how deplorably those declining majorities
misrepresented the opinions and wishes of the con-
stituencies of England on this subject ; and if the
Government do not at once, without the smallest
avoidable delay, introduce a measure, Lord Jolty
RtssELL, despite the sneers of the Times, will, me
should hope, take up the question. The emanci-
pation of the Jews has a better chance of being car-
ried as part of a comprehensive measure of Parlia-
mentary Reform than as an isolated question.
Nor is the removal of Jewish Disabilities the
only subject connected with religious liberty
that must be speedily dealt with. The opinions
expressed at the hustings on the subject of
Maynooth indicate the utter impossibility of kee-
-1 ing that question as it now stands. Everyone feels
that the Act of 1846—like many other of the late
I Sir It. PEEL'S measures—either went too far or
I not far enough. It has not withdrawn from annual
parliamentary discussion this most distressing ques-
tion. If the Cabinet do not voluntarily bring the
subject before Parliament, it will be quickly forced
r upon Parliament. Legislation with reference to
Ilf•onneth—soontancous or comnulsorY—shawls to

be inevitable; and it does not appear how the larger
issues for Ireland involved in that petty question
can be leR untouched if it is dealt with.
The question of Church Rates is much in the same
position. It will pursue, perplex, and damage this ,
and every other Government until it has received
a solution in permanent legislation. Like Reform
of Parliament itself, like the Jew question, like
Maynooth, there is no escape from a settlement
of Church Rates. Law Improvement no doubt
pews; the subject of Local Port Dues must be
Nettled; the Estimates must be voted; and the
miserable blunders committed in the preparation
for Chinese hostilities show how much has yet to be
done in the way of Administrative Reform.
These are all subjects of the very highest in-
terest; but even they imply no adequate expression
of great principles. It is not in them that we shall
find any test as to what the domestic policy of Lord
PALMERSTON really is. We must insist on knowing
the line of conduct he means to pursue on the
higher class of great political questions; for
on that knowledge will depend the amount
and extent of support ho will receive from
the Liberal party. What we want are not
" consummate skill," " light touch," .• tine temper,"
' or " incomparable manners" only ; but sound prin-
ciples, deep and earnest convictions, and resolute
conduct in opening up to the Liberal party that
• glorious and boundless future," of which the
• writer (or writers) in the Edinburgh Review and
Times talk so glibly.

MEETING OF P,

The following circular hu been addreiwed by the
Premier to the presumed supporters d hie government in the
coning pmliam®t

.94, Piccadilly, 20th April, 1857.
"Sir,—l take Coe liberty of informing yon that the
House of Commons will meet on Thursday, the 30th of
this month, and will proceed on that day to the choke of •
Speaker; and that the address in answer to the Queen's
Speech 11 al be moved on Thursday, the 7th of Way.
" I hope it may be consistent with your convenience to
attend on those days.—l have the honour to be, your obe-
dient servant, " PALMMUITOII."

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.

(IT Rains AND 19.1118 NACINICTIC TILLIOZAPNI

11antgolscry -
1,649
Brady 986
688

Mn. WARNER AND ERE ELECTORS OF NOR-
wien.—Tbe fallowing letter (signed
_by a considerable num-
ber of electors) wee lately addressed to Edward Warner,
Eeq. :—" Honoured and dear Sir,—We, the undersigned
electors of Norwich, duke hereby to express our warm ap-
probation of your conduct as our late representative in
liament, and especially of your late conscientious vote rela-
tive to the Chinese war, in the propriety of which vote we
fully concur; and we deeply regret that your
_name should
have been withdrawn from the amyl candidates
at our present election. Norwich, March 27, 1867."
The following reply has slue been received, sddreessd
to Mr. J. W. Down, of this city Grosvenor-place,
April 16, 1867.—My deer Sir,—l have received through
your hands an address signed by =ay of my late con-
stituent., in which they do me the knee to 'sprees their
approval of my condact in parliament, sad their regret that
my political connexion with N should have been
brought to a close. May I beg you to convey to those gen-
tlemen my seams of their kindness in taking this opportunity,
amidst the political excitement of the times, to recognise my
humble efforts to &chirp faithfully the important trust
which was committed to me. Amidst the many difficulties
which escompared the questiou which led to the dissolution,
it is gratify's( to me to know that the course, which I
thought it rigid to take, however unpopular at the moment,
has met with your effincelou, sad that of so may of my
friends.—l am, my dear sir, very faithAtry yours, EDWAILD
Wautza."