The Press. — London, England, 1854-06-03 00:00:00

JUNE 3, 1854. THE PRESS. ADOLPH (snatching) : Seven ! ECHOES : SEVEN—SEVEN—SEVEN—S EI - Ex _ simx. ADOLPH : A Bill for Reforming (he grows faint) tho U—niver—sity of Ox—ford. (He falls ) CASPAR (catching him) : Thanks, Zamiel ! [Thunder and lightning. A skeleton bill rushes across, followed by a pack of fiery clauses, and the Chairman if Committee rushes after it, brandishing a whip of fire. CASPAR : Horror! the Chairman! A fearful omen ! .1 shower of fire. Hideous apparition of HANSARD pointing to opinions expressed when CASPAR was a Conservative. A lwo•minute hourglass is seen flying in the air—the sand turns to sparks. A terrible voice is heard—" Ayes to the right! Noes to the left !" An artful pause, and then terrific shouting. The FIEND OF THE DIVISION appears bearing a scroll with the word " RESIG• NATION." Blue fire breaks out on all sides, CAsrea. and ADOLPH fall sensekse, and CURTAIN DROPS. CABINET CHARADE. (After PRAED.) From projects ne'er to action moved, From plans in vain designed,— From misty points that schoolmen loved, And twilight throes of mind, — From altar-cloths, wax-lights, and flowers, From faldstool, alb, and stole, The dearth of statesmen's truth and powers, To senates called my WHOLE. And had he come not at the call, Or spoke not when he came; Or had he half the head for all The schemes he tries to frame; The thunder cloud that looms to-day Perhaps might ne'er have burst, And hapless Englishmen who pay Had surely been my FIRST. But, BARING'S warning heeding not, Like sanguine NECKER he, So long as subsidies are got, But asks " four years," or three. And when the four short years are past, And all the " tottles" reckoned, We'll find he round our necks at last Has firmly hung my SECOND. THE POLITICAL " CASE OF CONSCIENCE." [As Lord John Russell on Monday night considered that he "betrayed no confidence " in stating that he had " gone to consult " Lord Lansdowne with respect to his join ing the Coalition, we can betray no confidence in printing the following, which seems to be a minute of the conversation which took place on the occasion.] LANSDOWNE : Am I to understand you that you come to rue for advice about turning again ? J. R.: Yes. Do you think it inconsistent with my political cha racter to join Lord Aberdeen? _ _ LANSDOWNE : No—nor anybody else. lam little of a mathemati cian, but must go to algebra to express your consistency. It is " minus a cipher." Have you been asked? Cetera (kuunt. Earl GRANVILLE stated that the Government bad no such intention. In answer to a question from the Marquis of Clan ricarde, who said that the establishment of a blockade in the White Sea could be effected with three ..hips, would seriously harass the enemy, and effectively hasten the conclusion of the war, The Duke of NEWCASTLE said that be could not now state how long the present intention of the Government not to blockade Archangel would last. It was formed after serious consideration, and in con cert with the French Government. Lord BEAUMONT protested against confining the war to single points, and deprecated the politeness of admirals exchanging notes, giving up prisoners, and sparing towns. The Earl of ABERDEEN said that no war on record would show more vigour and determination in its progress than the present. The Earl of ELLENBOROUOR pnt a question re specting the separation of the Ministries of War and of the Colonies, which he trusted was about to take place. The Earl of ABERDEEN said that the importance of the subject at the present crisis was fay felt by the Government. He would not now make a definite statement. He trusted, however, that a satisfactory plan would in due time be adopted. The house adjourned at seven o'clock. 517 J. R. I have. Tho Old Whig vessel has been made finally unseaworthy by the results of mutiny ; and, if the Coalition bears up to carry off some of us, you and I had better jump first. LANSDOWNE: But what of your messmates ? Will you desert Wood, Grey, —? J. R.: Do I want to set up another " happy family," agreeing very well in the face of the public, but as soon as they are by them selves giving the keeper no rest between keeping the monkey from attacking the owl and the jackdaw from sitting on the Scotch terrier's back? I tell you the vessel's going to pieces, and if you don't drop over the stern I will. [Here a heavy tramp on the stairs was followed by the entrance of a geatleatine in a snuPcoloured coat and green umbrella.] MACAUJAY . I have just called in to say that the Queen, in the exercise of her royal prerogative—that prerogative which, curtailed as it was by Magna Chula, nevertheless grew up again under the house of Tudor ; was finally established by the destruction of the nobility under Henry VII.; thence transferred through the bloodstained hands of Henry VIII., Mary, and Elizabeth, to the feeble grasp of James 1., and proved the destruction of that unspeakable tyrant Charles— LANSDOWNE : Come, come, come 1 keep that for Longman. We can get Pinnock's Catechism for sixpence. What is your news? And do not tell it us in Gibbon-run-mad. MACAULAY : has sent for Aberdeen. LANSDOWNE : And Aberdeen has sent for Russell? MACAULA4: We're in again ! J. It.: Nobody is asked for as yet but Lansdowne and myself. MACAULAY : Then go at once. I know you are not afraid of r es ponsibilities, but consider the responsibility of refusal in this instance. There is the responsibility of allowing the Tories to show how well they can conduct the public business. Then there is the responsibi lity of destroying the chances of all the honest fellows that might go into small offices under your wing. Then there is the responsibility to your Sovereign and to history. Moore has told you that you are " born of a Russell ;" and whatever may be said of your ancestor being apothecary to Henry V., or of Lord William's taking money from France— J. R.: Thank you—there's quite enough said. But there are certain contingencies. LANSDOWNE : Yes, the contingencies—let me see. are asked to Burke Reform ? Suppose you J. R.: I am only pledged to " bring in a bill" on that subject. LANSDOWNE : Precisely. But people get tired of seeing bills dis appear at the second reading. Then, as Macaulay says, you are not afraid of responsibilities, or some inconvenience might arise from your opposition to the late Government. Suppose you wish to call out the militia —that is a " contingency " that may operate awkwardly after your attack on the late Ministers on that subject. J. R.: Have I forgotten so soon the glorious principle that the militia is tyranny in the hands of the Tories and liberty in the hands of the Whigs ? LANSDOWNE : Then yetis intended chief, Aberdeen: how are you and he jointly to account for the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill? That is merely a contingency. And, as of course you had made up your mind before you came here, I am free to say that I don't think it would greatly injure the present political character of either of us to join the Coalition. MACAULAY: There's another contingency. I J. R.: Oh, we have had quite a sufficient list. I shall venture them all! HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FRIDAY. A discussion arose on a resolution by Lord J. Russell, that no writs should be issued to the bo roughs now without members upon accusation of bribery until after seven days' notice. Mr. T. Duw- COMAE proposed that the writs should be delayed till the new Reform Balottr thought that, as no legal means existed to punish bribery, it was not constitutional to suspend the writs, and suggested the trial of the ballot on the delinquent boroughs.— Lord JOHN RUSSELL said in reply that he hoped the bill now under consideration before the select com- mittee would prove a check to bribery.—The reso lution was then agreed to. In answer to various questions, Sir C. WOOD said the Indian Government had issued a commission respecting the salt duties.—Mr. F. PEEL said that the constitutions of the Australian colonies were now before the Government. From some of the colonies the constitutions had but just arrived, and were now under her Majesty's consideration.—Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that vessels under the lonian flag could not be considered a neutral, or allowed to take part in neutral operations. IN TITZ BALTIC. Mr. HritE asked the Right Hon. the First Lord of the Admiralty if he could give the house any infor mation of the operations of the fleet in the Baltic? Sir J. GRAHAX replied that to-day a despatch had TO CORRESPONDENTS. It is impossible to acknowledge the mass of letters we receive• Their insertion is often delayed, owing to a press of matter ; and when omitted, it is frequently from reasons quite inde- pendent of the merits of the communication. We cannot undertake to return communications of which we do not avail ourselves. Ccmmunications should always be legibly written, and on one side of the paper only. If long it increases the difficulty of finding space for them. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenticated by the name and address of the writer, not necessarily for publica tion, but as a guarantee of his good faith. Advertisements sent from the country must be accompanied by a remittance or a reference for payment in town. - 'l)v :I@ rtggi• LONDON, SATURDAY, JUNE 3„ 1854. POSTSCRIPT HOUSE OF LORDS.-FRIDAY. Lord MONTEAGIE, in moving for returns connected with the correspondence of the Government and the Bank, expressed his hopes that the Government would not in any case undertake the duties of a bank. • 0". „ ` " 1 I -MI II gii • -til .._ ~~ :~ I= ■ {