The Express.
London, England, 1861-11-26 00:00:00

R. JAI

Tun Lyman. A Willi JOURNAL. Ifr, O. Vista, awl
N 1 Kass Trery.—Tas ma NOBLEMAN. Mr. A. Wigan.
—Aid KILL OK Cl'll. Wain. lisilmage. Robing. CuelcarvlL
Y. Maithaws. ]lts. Y. lialhows—Cammenie at 71.

11111UTAIIIIIA.
Td ILTIMING, TIM LAMM QUZIN. M L Ctaytam—
frumps of Dow aid Ye—Y. Malt.- 314113 a. C. Iteptsaa.
—Mr. J. rhuagaus.—Ttlit WIDOW+ SUN. Mrs. S. Laaa.—Aad
THE WILE AND - Comatesca at I.

RION 'Ana AT LONDON ISRLDOL
TI Dar —Mendm TL Um-- Aboroook IL Ha
TO-1110Si011 —Nora*" SC Um.— ahostais SI. Rio.

LONDON, TUESDAY, NOV. 26.

Tue difficulty in procuring suitable Liberal can-
didates for metropolitan boroughs, such as we
have just witnessed in Finsbury, and the
depreciation in the quality of the parliamen-
tary representation of the metropolis generally„
which, although much exaggerated, is real, ought
to prove very instructive to its electoral bodies.
Twenty years ago there was no higher honour
than to represent those great constituencies. Then
Dr. LUAHINGTUN, Sir HENRY SULWEIt, Sir W.
MULLKwU•TH, Mr. TENN% rioN D'EYNcolity, Sir
W. CLAY, Sir B. and other men of politi-
cal and social eminence, illustrated the metropolis ,
in the House of Commons, and made the cultivated
liberality of London felt in the Legislature of the
nation. Now, a great part of its representation is in •
the hands of inferior and second-rate politicians ;
and gradually as the older parliamentary notabili-
ties who sit for it disappear or are removed from
political life, its representation becomes worse and
worse, until at last it threatens to be a serious
reproach to the Liberal cause and party. The I
causes of this decline are, of course, various ; but I
there is one predominating reason so notorious, 1
that it behoves the more enlightened portion of
the constituencies to take it seriously to heart, ,
and make a resolute effort for its abatement.
We allude, of course, to the excessive cost of a
contest It is not many years since • defeated can-
didate for the City of Westminster was saluted by
bills amounting to nearly, if not quite, 7,0001.
When Lord Femme was elected for Marylebons,
he had to pay upwards of 3,0001. for his election ;
at the last contest for that borough nearly 5,0001. i
was spent by the candidates. Mr. Josue Loci• I
had, it is notorious, to pay very heavily for his
seat in Southwark. Sir MORTON Pero's audited
accounts reached a total, if we recollect aright, of
some 5,0001.; and it is generally understood that
• sharply contested election for Finsbury cannot
be carried on for much lees than 4,0001. a side.
Expenditure like this very properly makes
public men of acknowledged competency and
high character reluctant to present them-
selves to constituencies which require such heavy
draughts on their pockets, and limits the field of
@election. It drives the leading electors, when a
vacancy occurs, into • corner in which there is no
alternative but to make a choice that inspires uo
enthusiasm, and by the delay which it begets
it produces • struggle which creates no
general interest, but oftener general disgust.
Neither is this all, or, perhaps, the worst. The
largeness of the cost has • tendency to prolong and
perpetuate an inferior representation ; and thus
that representation is rapidly becoming a very hope-
less discredit to our parliamentary system.
The causes of this expenditure are equally noto-
rious. It does not arise from any venality or cor-
ruption in the main body of the metropolitan con-
stituencies ; it is much rather connected with their
helplessness to act with knowledge, promptitude,
and spirit when the emergency arises, with the
absence of general organisation, and with the fact
of electioneering agency in London having fallen
into lower hands than those who were formerly
entrusted with it. A recent contest has reminded
the public of the existence of a set at
extortionate persons, Wiio insist on employ-
ment on these ocessiona—who affect to have
influence and power they do not in reality
possess, and who have a set of inferior tools and
instniments quite as rapacious, ready to be let
loose on the electoral body and on the candidates.
The cost of these agents and of their followers, the
paid canvassers, constitutes one of the heaviest
items of the expendi.ure in metropolitan elections.
Next to it in enormity and scandal is the
public-house system, than which not'ing can be
worse. It is the fashion among many of the smaller
tradesmen of London to assemble in taverns in
the evenings after business for such refreshment
and recreation as they furnish, and the con-
•equence is that publicans aro supposed to exercise
very oonaide-able influence over their customers
as to wl.'ch of the Liberal candidates ought to be
supported. To conciliate the publicans, candidates
are induced by the electioneering agents to take
committee rooms at probably 100 taverns, each at
the expense of some 101. Thus an expenditure
of probably anotl•or 1,0001. is impel d on the
candidates. Then, there is a vast amount of
unnecessary printing, a good deal of drinking,
which appears as stationery in the auditor's ac-
counts, a paid clerk and messenger attached to
each committee room, and a host of small petty
charges, which easily aggregate into • substantial
sum by the time the contest is over. And on
the day of polling comes the abominable cab system;
for on that day electors who probably never ride
in • cab on any other occasion during the year,
have the meanness to insist on being conveyed
at the candidate's cost to the polling-booths.
It is because of this accumulation of expenditure
that election agents are able to warn would-be
candidates for Marylebone that a contested election
there costs each from 2,000/. to 3,0001., and to I
tell those who aspire to Finsbury that they must
have at least 4,000/. in their pockets to throw
away. It was but the other day a gentleman de-
sirous of submitting his pretensions to the electors
of Finsbury was plainly told that the 1,5001. to
which he proposed to limit his expenses would not
do, and that he must more than double that num
to have any chance of success.
Now, the real constituencies of the metropolitan

boroughs have nothing at all to do with this ex-
cessive expenditure at elections. It simply re-
presents the cost that certain combinations of
interested parties inflict on candidates, inter-
posing between them and the electors. It is
these combinations to fleece candidates which
lie at the bottom of the depreciation in the qua-
lity of metropolitan representation ; and unless
the constituencies will take elections more and
more out of such hands and into their own safe
keeping, the excessive expenditure will be main-
tained to their injury and discredit.
The remedy obviously consists in a sound and in-
dependent organization of the Liberal electors
amongst theme& res ; one which will relieve them
from this dependence on agents when a vacancy
occurs, and on public-houses when a contest is going
on. Look at Finsbury just now; there all is confu-
sion, discord, perplexity, and waste of strength,
because of the absence of any central organization,
because of the want of concert; because every
man who wishes to represent the borough consults
an agent in the lack of any Liberal Society. The
Liberal Registration Association of London has
hitherto saved the City from the evils we now
witness in Finsbury ; and such an organization
properly constituted would rescue that borough
from the plight into which Mr. DuNcomsz's death
has plunged it.

Vitt Court.

WINDSOR CASTLE, Nov. ES.

The Queen, accompanied by the Prince and
Priories@ of Leiniogen, drum, out this morning, attended by
Major-Osseral Seymour.

The Prince Coeeort, attended by the Hoe. Colonel A.
Hardinge, weal to Mullenley-hall, to visit the Prime of
Wales.

The Duke and Duchess of Somerset, the Right Hoe. W.
Cowper, ead Major-General Trollops, C.R, have left the
Castle.

Governor Wodeliouse had an interview with the Duke of
Newcastle, yesterday, at the Colonial-office.
Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial•offce
from the Governors of the North American Provinces aad
Bermuda.

VISIT OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE
PRINCE CONSORT TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS
THE PRINCE OF WALES.

CAMBRIINIE, Nov. 25.

His Royal Highness the Prince Consort, Chan-
cellor of the University, arrived here at mid-day on a visit
to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. The Prince
Consort, who was attended by Colonel the Hun. A.
Harding., travelled '• threegh* from Windsor in the saloon
menage built for the nee of her Majesty by the South
Western Railway Company, sod reached Cambridge et
thirty-seven minutes past one. The Prince of Wales,
attended by the Hon. General Bruce sod Major
Teesdale, met his august father at the station.
The royal train pulled up is the arcade on the Cam-
bridge side of the station, and thence the royal party
proceeded through • passage brilliantly festooned with
red cloth (by a doorway broken out for the purpose)
to one of the Royal carriages which was in waiting, and
drove straight to Madingley-kall. Mr. Love, the chairman
of the Eastern Counties Railway Company ; Mr. Robert-
son, general superintendent ; and Mr. Sinclair, locomotive
superintendent, accompanied the Royal train over the
Eastern Counties system, as did also Inspector Darwin, of
the South Western line. Mr. Sinclair had the control
of the engine. The arrangements at Cambridge went
under the direction of Mr. Sproele, district super.
intendent. and Mr. Fisher, station master. The
visit of the Primes Cessort is understood to be
distinctly private, mud ocainquently there will be no addi-
tions to the tEenee party at 1110;ogley this evening, but
there are indications that the royal party will honour the
performance of the Fitswillisai Musleal Society with their
presence at Sidney College Lodge in the evening. The
Prince Consort, attended as before, will leave Cambridge
for Windsor at eleven o'clock on Tuesday morning, and
shortly after his departure the Prince of Wales will set out
on a.nit to his Grace the Duke of Manchester, at
Kimboltoo Castle, returning on or before Friday, when he
will honour the Reverend the Master of Trinity with him
company to dieser.

THE Rit♦IOAATION OF Ma. JUrflell HILL—
This morning the fact of the resignation of Mr. Justice
Hill reached the members of the bar assembled is West.
minster Hall. Sir William At/rectors. the Attorney-Ge-
neral, has not, as it is generally supposed, as absolute right
to the judicial seat. Aa a matter of courtesy, the
Lord Chanoelke will, it Is supposed, offer the
judgeship to Sir William Atherton, who was the Solicitor-
Garnered while he (ea Sir Richanl Bothell) was Attoreey-
Gummi, and with whom he worked heartily daring the pro.
gross of the Bankruptcy Bill and other legal measures of re-
form. It is the opinion in Westminster Hall, that in mese.
queer* of the evenly balanced state of political parties and
the possibility of a miaisterial disruption nest session, Sir
William Atherton will swept the puisne judgeship in the
Court el Queue Bem►, sad that as a matter of course be
will Ds sesessisd is the Attorney-Geoendship by Sir R.
Palos; Q.C., M.P., ths present Solicitor-General, who will
her. te gs bast be his constituents at Richmond for re-else •
Mom For the MIN of Solicitor-Generol there will probably
be army spinets, prominently amongst them being Mr•
fferjsant Pigott. M.P. for Reading ; Mr. Collier, M. P. for
Plymouth ; and Mr. Make, M. P. for Nottingham. As the
meiection to psrliameat of either of these gentlemen would
he tolerably certain, no difficulty ma be raised to any of
them in that respect. Mr. Lush, Q.C., a leading member of
the her, who has not a seat in the home, is also spoken of.
Thu Queen has been graciously pleased to present
her portrait to the head-quarters of the Royal Artillery at
Woolwich. The picture was yesterday moroing hung in
the mes•ruom. In commemoration of the event a banquet
on an appropriate scale will be given this evening by the
officer*, at which his Royal Highness the General Coro.
mandi rig •i n •Chid, as colonel of the regiment, a :ll be peewit.
The picture, which represents her Majesty in coronation
rubes, is after the celebrated painting of Winterhalter, and
has been executed by Mr. Melville with admirable taste and
judgment. le order to adapt the features of the portrait to
the present day. her Majesty honoured the artist with three
sittings. Mr. Melville's picture differs from the original in
that adaptations only.

Their Royal ifigheemee the Duchese of Cam-
bridge and the Princess Mary arrived in town yesterday
trom Brighton.

The Earl awl Counter of Crayon and the Ladies
Craven arrived is to,, yesterday from Ashdown Park,
Bork,. The Countess sad the Indies Craven leave to-day
on a visit to the Earl sad Countess of Verulam at Gorham-
bar) Park, Harts. His lordship remains in town.

The Earl of Dudley arrived at hie mansion in
Park-Los cm flatarday from a tour on the Oominent.

The Earl Howe left Curzon House yeetertlay to
Joie his family at Gelman Hall, Leicestershire.

_
Lord and Lady Rendlesham have arrived at the
Clarendon hotel from Headleeham I.IaII, Woodbridge,
Suffolk.

Lord and Lady Clarence Paget have loft town
for their seat is aitzleses.
Lord and Lady William Osborne leave Hill-
'Meet tacky ea a tear of viola.

Lady riufferin has loft town for her villa resi-
dence at Highgate.

The Right Hon. Sir Edmund Head, Lady Head,
and the Misses Head have loft 111M210ell Hotel for Tbd-
marsh HOWICS Sending.

On Sunday, at 1, Grafton-street, the Countess of
Cork gave birth to twins, a son and heir and daughter.
The " Ahnanach de Gotha" for 1862 gives to
Victor Emmanuel the title of King of Italy.

We read in Gaiipiaiii .7-7` The Emperor three
dare back reviewed the prelims of CompVgne, emitting
of the regiment of Gull*, • battalion of Zooaves, the
Cent Gerdes, and Use Imperial Gendarmery. His Majesty,
accompanied by the Prince Imperial, in the uniform of a
Grenadier of the Guard, and mounted on a pony, rode along
the lines attended by a brilliant staff. The Empress was
also present, and the Scotch gentlemen who are now their
Majesties' guest. appeared in their national costume. The
Emperor distributed nineteen decorations of the Legion of
Honour, and forty military 'militia."

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 26, 1861.

CANADA.

From Canada we learn that on the 30th October
the following address was presented by the Quebec
Board of Trade to the newly-arrived Governor,
Viscount Moak

We, the Council of the Quebec Board of Trade, on our
own behalf and on that of the body we represent, beg re-
spectfully to tender to your Excellency • cordial welcome to
Canada. Your Excellency's administration of the govern-
ment commences at • period when events are occurring
which cannot fail to have great influence on the prosperity
of Canada, and to confer still ggrroea•tiesrr importance upon the
noble river by which your Excellency has reached our
shores. The Increasing demand for the means of convey.
ante of the bountifulharvests of the West, and the un-
happy state of affairs in the neighbouring republic, must
necessarily give • fresh impetus to the trade of the St.
Lawrence. Deeply interested as we are in the com-
mercial prosperity of Canada, we bail with plea-
sure the progress of that enlightened legislation which has
already done so much to develop the resources of the coun-
try and to improve our highway to the ocean, and we look
forward hopefully to the time when, by a direct railway
communicatioo with the Atlantic through British terri-
tory, another important step in advanoe will have been
effected, which we trust will be only the precursor to the
extension of similar facilities to the Pacific. We feel con-
fident that your Excellency will favourably receive Inch
suggestions as in the interests of commerce we may feel it
our duty from time to time to make; and we beg to congra-
tulate you, Lady Houck, and family, on your safe arrival in
Quebec, where we hope you may long enjoy health and
happiness.

- -
His Excellency replied a, follows :
I receive with much gratification your address of welcome
on my arrival in Canada. The great natural resources of
your province, and the facilities which nature has provided
111 your magnificent river for the transmission of your pro-
duce to the best markets, afford an inexhaustible field for
the application of the enterprise and industry of your
people ; and the progress which your trade has made within
the last few years gives proof that you do not fall behind
your fellow-citizens in other parts of the British empire
in the
.possession of those qualities. I had a strong
illustration of the strength of Canadian self-reli-
ance and energy in the magnificent vessel which
conveyed me acmes the Atlantic to your shores.
I am deeply impressed with the importance, both in an
Imperial and provincial point of view, of securing, as soon
as possible, a line of railway through British territory to a
port accessible to shipping during the entire year, and no
effort shall be wanting on my part to effect so desirable an
object. It will be at all times a plaints to me to confer
with you unreservedly on all questions affecting the trade of
the province. On behalf of lady Moock cud the other
members of my family, I beg to thank you for your kind
expressions of welcome, sod your good wishes for their health
and happiness during our sojourn amongst you.

.. _ .
The eteamebip John Bell, Scott, of the Anchor
line, from Glasgow on the 11th October, arrived at
Quebec on the 30th. She brought 85 passengers
and three of the crew of the schooner John Silvan,
of Halifax, picked up in the Strait., of Belleiale.