The Express. — 1867-12-17 (London, England)

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 17, 1867.  reliance. This method may prevent the abuse of the provision for the relief of the poor, but unfortunately it also prevents its use. It has, however, been so far adopted that the administrators of the Poor-law, both local and central, are constantly in danger of forgetting that the relief of helpless distress is, after all, the one object for which their offices exist. A system of relief under which people die of starvation, or to which they prefer death, is a mockery. If the art of Poor-law administration does not consist in relieving distress, we are maintaining a moat expensive machinery for nothing. The funds raised by rates must be jealously protected from encroachment, but in order that they may be the more freely and confidently applied to the objects for which they have been collected. A general and systematic contraction of expenditure must not be confounded with true economy. And yet as long as the administration of relief is practically abandoned to an officer who is unable to examine individual cases, the work must resolve itself into a daily contest between that officer, as the guardian of the rates, and the crowd of applicants, deserving and undeserving, who seek access to the fund. The consequence is that the very object of a poorlaw is frustrated. Dr. STALLARD, whose experience in the official treatment of the London poor has been considerable, undertakes to affirm, in his instructive work on London Pauperism, that one individual dies weekly in the metropolis, either from starvation or by suicide, rather than take the relief offered in our workhouses. We believe the statement is not at all exaggerated. It is not three weeks since CHARLES Ma•uAox died of want in this same parish of St. Luke's. Let no one suppose that this inhuman system has the merit of cheapness. London pauperism is increasing, and it will increase until we think fit to provide that the administration of Poor-law relief shall be guaranteed and made effectual by that strict examination of individual cases which is impossible under the present arrangements.  Thomas and St. John, has been to acquire war porta as a security against European enemies. The islets lie in the very centre of the West Indian group, and nearer England than soy of our own colonies. This move on the part of the Americans has unquestionably altered all the relations between the countries in the event of a war, and is of fifty times more importance to England than all the manreuvres which have taken place about Turkey for the last hundred  The Standard quite approves the conduct of Dr. Kenenly in abandoning the defence of Burke and Casey.  Vitt Court.  WINDSOR CASTLE, Die. 16. The Queen walked in the grounds this morning, and drove, accompanied by Princess Beatrice. Princess Louise went out walking, attended by the Hon. Flora Macdonald. Prince Arthur, attended by Major Elphinstone, left the Castle this morning for Greenwich-park.  Despatches were sent yesterday from the Colonial-office to the Governors of the West India Islands, British Columbia, and British Honduras. The lords present at yesterday's sitting of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, were the Master of the Rolls, Sir J. W. Colvile, Sir E. V. Williams, Sir R. T. Kindereley, and the Judge of the Admiralty.