The Express.
London, England, 1868-08-28 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL MORALITY.

A PARLIAMENTARY return was published this
morning which is nob very flattering to the
metropolitan shopkeeper. It is a " black list"
of the number of persons in the metro-
politan parishes convicted during tie six
months between July, 1887, and January, 1868,
of practically defrauding either themselves or
their customers, the latter being the greatest suf-
ferers, by the use of false weights and measures.

The return contains a list of noless than 666 offenders
of this kind, and the practice, according to this
statement, seems to have been most rife in the dis-
tricts of Westminster, Deptford, Lewisham, and
Woolwich. On the other hand it would seem that
the Paddington, Hanover-square, and some of the
suburban divisions, have either enjoyed complete
immunity from offences of this kind, or have not
the advantage of a zealous police service for their
detection. In the return for the division of
St. Marylebone, which had thirty-four offenders,
the names are entirely suppressed, on the ground
that many of the offenders were not proved to
have had a fraudulent intention.

Tnß COLONIAL. EPISCOPATE.—A correspondent
of the Zeus calla attention to some facts connected with
the present state of the colonial eepipsecoooppaate. About the
middle of last year, be says, Dr. Dougall resigned the
bishopric of Labuan, and some time attar wee appointed
by the Dean and Chapter of Westminster to the vicarage
of Godmanthestes. Re memo' has been and
the diocese has long been without an head. Last
year the Bishop of -Mauritius came to resigned
his see, and was appointed to the arcbdeaoonry of uf-
folk and the rectory of Thwaite. Nothing is said
aboat his successor, and that diocese, tee, is without
episcopal nibs. Somei months ago the Bishop of Bom-
bay came to England, and resigned his see. It is said
that it has been offered to the Dean of Capetown, but
there has been no official confirmation of the fact. Two
years ago the see of Dunedin, New Zealand, was consti-
tuted, and a bishop consecrated in Canterbury Cathedral,
but he has not yet gone to see his new diocese. The
bishopric of New Zealand is vacant, and as there is no
endowment there may be some difficulty in filling it up.
Bishop Selwyn, who has gone out, will, however, probably
make the necessary arrangements. The bishopric of New
Westminster, which was announced two years ago as in
course of formation out of the diocese of British Colombia,
and for which Mr. Poetlethwaite gave up a Yorkshire
living on the understanding that he was to be consecrated
forthwitht seems to have come to nothing, and the bishop
nominate is still only a priest. For the see of Grafton and
Armidale, New South Wales, vacant by the lamented
death of Dr. Sawyer, no steps appear to be taken to pro-
vide a new bishop.
LeeoM7 AND PROPINTY Taff .—The net amount
of income and property to for the year ending the 6th of
April, 1867, amounted to 6,032,6631. in England and
Wake, and 500,2141. in Scotland. Of the former 131101,
3,818,721/. is collected under Schedules A, B D, and E,
' on assessment by the Commiasioners for General
457,3301. under Schedules D and E, on 11111011101287:Lx;g11;
Commissioners for Special Purpoeee; 642,0861. on dill-
den& on public annuities, on interest on Exchequer
bonds, and on dividends payable out of the revenue of
any foreign state; and 214,4261. under Schedule E on
offices and pensions assessed by the Commissioners of
ants. The total of income and property tax in
PreiLartcr for the same year amounted to 390,036/. of which
214,2731. is due under Schedule A, 18,6031. under Schedule
B, 18,688/. under Schedule C 117,6631. under Schedule D,
and 21,1091. under Schedule E.

OU R CONTEMPORARIES.
(THIS DAY.)

IMILSTIMILL
The Trmes has not for some time mot with a
more admirable sample of the truly provincial mind than
is to be found in the address of Lord John Manners to the
electors of North Leicestershire. It is a perfect study,
and the effect is heightened by the unoonsciousness of
the author that he is in any way amusing. It is
scarcely necessary, however, to say that the noble
lord has no more intention of being droll than
Don Quixote. The whole of his address is en exaltation
of the great deeds performed by the ministry of which he
le a member—deeds which would have been still greater
bad not unthinking and violent men interfered to limit
the usefulness of Mr. Disraeli's administration. Having
taken credit for the suppression of Fenianism, ho rapidly
piles up the memorials of ministerial suocesoes, in utter
forgetfulness of the fact that the present government have
only completed what either their predecessors, or seceded
members of their own cabinet, had begun.