The Express. — 1867-12-23 (London, England)

TOPICS.  Commenting upon the report of the American Secretary to the Treasury, the Daily News deduces from it proofs that the protectionist theory is so obviously breaking down that the people are awakening to its fallacy. One of his recommendations is nothing leas than free trade in ships, which would establish an awkward precedent for the protectionists. When the merchants of New York and Boston can buy their ships in the cheapest market, how long will the agricultural population—the vast territorial democracy who rule the policy of the nation—consent to buy their tools, thee eloth;og, and their domestic articles in the dearest market!  The Time" has been favoured by " a very eminent legal authority " with some lengthened remarks on the law of arrest for treason-felony. The object, in brief, is to point out that a person charged with treason-felony, wheresoever found within the kingdom, may be taken and detained for trial upon probable cause of suspicion, without warrant ; and that if he resists to the death a known officer of the Law he will be guilty of murder. Decided eases establish the proposition that any private person can justify the arrest of another without a warrant if he can show that a felony had been committed, and that he had probable cause for suspecting, either from his own direct knowledge or from information derived from credible authority, that the person he arrests is the felon. The individual arrested may in the end be found net guilty, but the arrest is justifiable, and so is the detention from the time of committal until gaol delivery. The Telegram:a draws attention to an enterprise which has been set of toet in the suffering eastern district of the metropolis. At the suggestion of Miss Burdett Coutts, an association has been formed, based on the idea that wages paid for wort done are more welcome to the poor than gifts in charity. Men of various persuasions have met to perform a public service, and, with the unanimous vote of the dissenters, the chosen president is the Bishop of London. The work proposed is the cleansing of the streets, alleys, and courts, and the making or repairing of roads. The labour performed will be supplementary, and in excess of the ordinary proceedings under the local boards. In order to carry out the project money will be needed. Miss Burdett Coutts has undertaken to pay the wages of 250 persons for six months at Is. fid. a day ; she has guaranteed the rent of ground required for stone-breaking— employment suited to dock labourers--and has oontributed 3001. towards the mad-making fund. The Post is enabled to announce that the " agencies " in the Foreign-office are to be immediately abolished. The agencies, which have probably lasted since the time of Pepys, may now be numbered amongst the abuses of a bygone time.  The Standard advises Italy and France to be as civil to each other as people so often have to be, in spite of profound differences and even mutual dislike. If the moment ever come for using successful violence against France in order to obtain Rome, no doubt Italy would use it, and General Menabres would probably avail himself of it as eagerly as any other Premier. At present no such moment is approaching. General Menabres falls back uplk the old "moral means," but better fight France at once than again try to dupe her, the Pope, or anybody else. It is because the Standard believes General Blenabres to be an honest man, at well as a true Italian, that it preys for his continuance in office, notwithstanding the adverse ma. jority telegraphed from Florence yesterday. The action of Signor Rattarsi in throwing himself coin. pletely into the hands of the Left seems to the Star even more significant than the defeat of General Menabrea. Signor Rattazzi's conduct establishes beyond all question that the people of Italy are determined to have Rome, that they will shrink from no sacrifices to attain this end. and that the struggle for the predestined capital of the nation will baud together all true Italians and destroy every adverse and foreign influence.  The Calcutta Englishman says :—" The Viceroy has called upon all native princes to .übmit an explanation, showing what punishments are inflicted on witches in their various states. This measure has been taken in consequence of the cruelty inflicted upon twelve reputed witches, at a place called Goozerat, in the Cashmere territories. These unfortunates were last year sentenced, on suspicion of dealing in magio, to have their tongues slit. The common punishments in native states for this offence appear to be the slitting of noses and tongues and the amputation of ears."