The Express. — 1868-05-25 (London, England)

MICHAEL BARRETT.  THE Home Secretary's decision in the case of MICHAEL BARRErr should take no one by surprise. The condemned man's guilt has been established by evidence conclusive to Judge and jury, whose verdict and sentence have been corroborated by the inquiries subsequently made. Neither during the inflated speech in Court, nor in the letter to the Glasgow alibi-witness has the prisoner denied that his was the hand which fired the fatal barrel ; and the casuistical assertions as to his innocence of the crime of murder are consistent with the theory that the outrage was I committed solely to free BURKE, and that its horrible consequence. were never contemplated by the conspirators. The only possible plea for not hanging Baaaarr is that he has been respited twice ; and in common justice to other condemned criminals this could not be permitted to prevail. Establish the precedent that inquiries made at the instance of the prisoner's counsel and friends followed by a reprieve entitles a guilty man to go free, and what Home Secretary is there who would not turn a deaf ear to petitions for further investigation ? That every loop-hole for legal escape should have been thrown open to BARRETT ; that the precise inquiries he declared necessary for the establishment of his innocence should have been instituted by the Crown; and that all should have proved fruitless furnish strong reasons that the law should take its course. Mr. HARDY'S task has been a painful one, but we are glad he has not shrunk from its logical conclusion.  THE political sky is changeable, and it is unsafe to rely upon its aspect. At present the air seems to have been cleared by last week's storms, and there is a promise of the session being brought to an early close, in order to allow of a dissolution in the autumn. The appointment of a select committee is talked of to consider what amendments are needed to hasten the registrations; and this step may be of geod service. The late difference as to the provisions of the Scotch Reform Bill is apparently arranged.  IT is understood that Mr. DIMHAELI was to have made a speech on Friday night, on the occasion of Mr. REAILDEN'S extraordinary motion, in which the right hon. gentleman was to have entered fully into the reasons for the QUREN'S departure for Balmoral, and into matters pertaining thereto, but he was relieved of the task by the outburst from the House which summarily disposed of the subject.  M. LOUIS BLANC, in a remarkable letter to the Temps on the death of Lord BROUGHAM, takes occasion to relate a very characteristic story of that extraordinary man, which has not yet, we believe, been published in England. M. Louts &Axe had heard it from the celebrated FRANCOIS AsAoo, who was one of Lord BROUGHAM'S old and intimate friends. Some years ago Lord BROUGHAM, who it may be remarked was an associated foreign member of the Academie des Sciences, sent ARAGO a manuscript with the request that he would read it and give its author his opinion onits merits. Theillustrious astronomer read the manuscript, and replied, "Throw it into the fire and say nothing more about it," advice, by-the-bye, which reminds us of Uncle TOBY'S mode of dealing with the production of a very youthful poet. The work in question treated of the influence exercised by the philosophical doctrines of LA HARPS, on the character, the aspirations, and the policy of the Czar