The Express.
London, England, 1861-12-25 00:00:00

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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, DEC. Z.

Tutu year the social festival of Christmas fol-
lows closely on the (lays of public mourning, and
finds the whole imbue saddened and subdued
under the chastening sense of loss. But, rightly
considered, there is perhaps nothing in the serious
feelings and deep sympathies which this public
bereavement excites really at variance with the
thoughts and memories peculiar to the day, or the
spirit in which it should be celebrated. The
Yates z of Fue!, whose advent the Church re-
calls with sacred joy this morning, is also the
Lotto of Life and Immortality ; and this assurance
enables all who receive it to look even on death
with feelings wholly different from the cold indif-
ference of the Stoic or the frivolous despair of the
Epicurean. The sense of loss, however deep, is
not enfeebling, nor is the profoundest sorrow
without hops. The shock of sudden grief may,
indeed, tend to check the tooardent pursuit of the
lawful prises and felicities of the world, by giving
scope foe the deeper reflection which enables us to
estimate them at their true worth. But a noble
sorrow does not unfit those who share it for the tree
duties or the sober enjoyments of life. On the
contrary, it strengthens every virtuous resolve, and
purifies every innocent pleasure. Every careful
observer must be familiar with the salutary in-
fluence which a peat sorrow thus produces in
private life. It not unfrequently, especially in
natures of a manly type, chastens the love of
pleasure, corrects the irregularities of passion,
checks frivolous pursuits, and gives unity and
purpose to an aimless or distracted career. A
great public calamity naturally tends to exert the
same kind of salutary and strengthening influence
on the national mind. Never, perhaps, were such
salutary influences more needful. The aspect
of public affairs is unusually grave. We do not
know what the future may bring ; but it may be
safely affirmed that we shall have to encounter
many difficulties and perhaps face some dangers ;
and to meet the responsibility of such a crisis we
require not only strength of will but dearness of
intelligence and sobriety of feeling. The great
national bereavement tends directly to cheek the
indulgence of passion, and to give that pause for
reflection in which the voice of reason and con-
science can be clearly heard. The reflection
produced by such a sorrow at such a season will
purify the patriotism of the nation from any un-
worthy taint of anger or resentment. Even if
the country had ever been disposed to listen to
violent counsels it could do so no longer. But
while the voice of passion is silenced, the national
resolve to follow the dictates of duty and honour
is but the more deep, concentrated, and universe/.
In another aspect the feeling produced by the
national loss is in perfect harmony with the mes-
sage of peace and good-will to men associated with
the commemoration of the day. The sense of
bereavement has a hi ne6cent effect not only
on the character of OE individual mourner, but
on his feelings towards others. The desolating
sense of all the worth and affection, all the good
qualities so suddenly lost to us by a swift and
natural reaction, enhances the value of what re-
mains, and naturally deepens our feelings of
esteem and affection for the members of our
own social and domestic circle. The voice that
comes from the open grave takes the same form as
the dying injunction of the aged disciple who
leaned on his MAPTE/e4 breast—" Love one
" another ;" and nixie is more powerful to crush
low, harsh, and unworthy thoughts. The little
jealousies and rivalries, the petty hatreds and ani-
mosities that sometimes separate us from
others, sink away, and wo are surprised and
saddened to think that such trifles should have
been allowed for a moment to estrange us from
others so worthy of our esteem, and whom we
must lose so soon. We venture to say that in
this way the grave that so recently closed has
opened new depths of sympathy and affection in
thousands of hearts, and given new strength and
tenderness to the bonds which unite the different
members of innumerable friendly and family circles
throughout the land. The universal feeling of
sympathy with the Royal Widow and bereaved
family operates in the same way. In every family
gathering to-day there will be many a kind thought
and kind word for the bereaved Lady and father-
less children who have to spend their first
Christmas alone. And these quickened feelings of
tenderness and sympathy, if they tend to make
the happiness of the day more quiet and subdued
than tuna, will at the same time increase its real
significance, and deepen its social influence.
Looking from the social circle to the nation at
large, there is good ground for congratulation
and thankfulness in the comparative prosperity
that still prevails. Though the war on the other
side of the Atlantic has stopped the regular
supply of ono of our greatest manufacturing
staples, fewer hands are out of employment
than this time last year. Then thousands
in Coventry and elsewhere were still de•
pendent on public charity ; but at the present
moment, though many mills in the North are work-
ing half time, few of any size or importance are
closed. As yet the voice of distress is scarcely
beard in the country. The weather has proved so
genial that there has been uo need to make the
usual appeal on behalf of the houseleas poor. This
morning last year the earth was ironbound,
and thousands of shivering outcasts were suffering
the extremities of cold and hunger. But to-day
our quiet Christmas enjoyment ia not clouded by
the remembrance of such terrible hardships. With
this comparative public prosperity there are, too,
it may be fairly concluded, brightening signs
of pubes. We desire to live at peace with all
our neighboues, and, above all, with those of our
kindred on the other side of the Atlantic. We
desire no advantage, but simply the recognition
of our rights, and honourable satisfaction for their
infringerneut. If our American kinsmen are as
peaceably inclined, the two nations may give each
other, as we heartily give our readers, the good
wishes of the MOM