The Express.
London, England, 1868-10-24 00:00:00

THE WEEKLY PRESS.

to far as outsiders have the means of guessing
there will. says the Saturday Review, be an incontestable
liberal majority in the new parliament, which, according
to present appearances, will consist of very much the same
kind of men as rat in the last parliament. There are,
indeed, only two sets of candidates who are trying to vary
this prevalent uniformity. There is a wonderful num-
ber of University men, of modest fortunes sail strong
liberal principles, who are trying to get returned ;
and there are some few working-men, or the special re-
preseutatives of working men. Both are fighting so up-hill
a game that our contemporary is certain not to do harm
by wishing them inweess ; and no one can doubt that an
infusion of University liberalism, and of the representa-
tives of working men, would give freshness, life, and
vigour to the House of Commons. The Saturday Review
even ventures to believe that those who think lightly and
contemptuously of these representatives of the working-
men have never seen or talked to any of them, and have
culy evolved a notion of them out of their own conscious-
ness. It would be difficult for a candid critic, willing to
learn wherever instruction is to be got, to talk to a fdir
specimen of them for at. hour and not to derive benefit.
And, if this is true of persons in private life, it will be
true of the House of Commons.
The Loudon Review observes that in the teeth of D^.
Manning's letter touching hi. el:atolls with Mr. ilia I-
stone, it will be of no use f•a the Ir: I. lie"eeeudent
sitionists, WI they term therisclves, to 1,0a,t a l.uli.•y of
ncn-intervention in any affairs tlcept third) of
and to brag that they will follow no mini•ter. The 1 dtor
gives them no alternative but to se'ea Mr. C. 'a I-
ntone as a leader, and to follow him loyally. The
testimonial appeared at an opportune season. It is
possible, indeed, that Mr. Disraeli or his friends m ray
endeavour still to make capital for themiel vet out of it.
They may, in pursuing their infatuated programme of
intolerance, have the Lad taste to prow an inuendo which
has doe them so much harm already ; but if they do it will
be still more for the benefit and advantage of the liberal
cau'e. Mr. I thiraeli is, indeed, so ingenious as to be con-
stantly outwitting himself; and if his admirers base their
respect for him on such performances, our contemporary
is willing to give them credit for knowing what they are
about; but the tAhibition is a barren ono at all times, and
a dangerous one at present.

The Spietatot thinks that no Englishman can venture to
predict the course of Spanish events, but it is becoming
clear, even to Englishmen, that the policy of delay is by
no means favourable to the cause of constitutional
monarchy. The absence of a fitting candidate may, of
course, only tend to secure the election of a Spaniard, but
it is much more likely to embolden the cities to demand a
federation, and it is the cities, and not the villages, which
impose their will in revolutionary times.
The Exiimitier is glad to notice that the military authori-
ties are, for rinee, unanimous in a generous recognition of
the merit of the Noncriuff gun shield, although it
springs, not from a professional soldier, but from an officer
of militia. The War-office is, it is Paid, equally well
disposed, and it is hoped that, pending further experiments,
the threatened expenditure for iron shields will be deferred.
for there can bo no doubt that, for defensive purposes, the
new invention will prove invaluable, whether on laud 0r
at sea.

The New York Herald of the 10th, discourses of
the fashions in that city:—"The great war," it says,
"which has been inaugurated between the rival opera
bounce, the Francais and Pike's, will be characterised
principally by the efforts of the modistes and the belles on
either aide. Box, draw circle, and parquet will shine with
rich toilets and jewels, and long hues of carriages will be
seen on Twenty-third and Fourteenth streets, when the
dashing Tostie dons her hussar jacket and the graceful
lime Bell appears in op'ra tomique. Dame Fashion has
been rather chary of novelties this season, and with the
exception of panniers, high-heeled boots, and the Eirecian
bend, all of which she utterly disclaims, there has boon
scarcely anything new. The round bat is fast superseding
tht diminished bonnet, as it should; for what prettier
ornament to the female face divine' could bo
designed than one of those bewitching little non-
sensical round hats I The Urand Duchess has set all
fein" hearts in a flutter, and we should not
Imo surprised to see her hussar jacket decorating the
,houhlena of our Broadway belles as well as her jaunty
little hat on their heads. Chignons are worn larger and
higher this season, and the winter will bring out promo-
nude suits of velveteen again on the avenue. 'rhe fall and
winter promise to be prolific in balls, parties, socialites,
3nd other reunions. If the holies would only abandon
the injurious practice of wearing high-heeled shoes and
panniers, which, after all, render the frightful Grecian
bend a necessity, no ono could find fault with the fashion
of the present day."