The Press. — London, England, 1854-08-26 00:00:00

THE PRESS. AUGUST 26, 1854. THE CONDEMN kTION OF THE COMMONS. BY A MINISTERIALIST. It is a question whether with a free public, a free press, and a free executive, we need keep up this troublesome obstruction of a House of Commons.—Spectator, August 19, 1854. Of what use are M.P.'s in these go-ahead days? What's the use of our Constitution? Thus again and again new questions we raise, As we stumble along in these crooked byways, Which conduct us to revolution. Of what use are M.P.'s ? They are only a source Of discomfort to Berkeley and Hay ter; The Government has a much better resource; It can take its cue quite as a matter of course From the Chronicle, Times, and Spectator. Of what use are M.P.'s who won't cry " Hear, hear !" When the Treasury leader woos 'em, Who at Gladdy's long sermons profanely jeer, And smile at the constitutional tear Which fell upon Johnny's bosom ? Of what use are M.P.'s who will never vote As the Coalition wishes ; Who will not for convenience change their coat And take an oar in the Government boat Which carries the loaves and fishes ? Of what use are M.P.'s ? To discuss and divide And to " tell" into different lobbies ? Such processes Ministers cannot abide, For they're seldom themselves any two on a side When they mount on their several hobbies. Of what use are M.P.'s? To vote supplies, And furnish of war the sinews ? If the pensive public will shut its eyes We can help ourselves, O'Flaherty-wise, So long as the war continues. Of what use are M.P.'s? To appoint (as boons) Their constituents tax collectors ? We can skim their gruel with cheaper spoons : Our Sadleirs, Stonors, and Father M'Clunes Know how to deal with electors. Of what use are M.P.'s? The statesman to roar From the senatorial sapling? We see our way, as we fancy, clear, By examination and drill severe To get certified statesmen twice a year From the Bishop of Oxford's chaplain. Of what use are M.P.'s! To check or advise, Or to represent opinions? In the Cabinet we already comprise All that any one holds or denies, All the public truths or public lies That are known in the Queen's dominions. Of what use are M.P.'s Their countryfied spleen At our pretty inventions to show ? To be tangling the wires of the novel machine, Which, to govern the country, we speedily mean To place in a central Bureau? Of what use are M.P.'s I Who act as they please, And who don't know their proper level ? Who are learning to fathom our plot by degrees, And are perhaps even now preparing a breeze Which may whirl us away to the devil ? SCOTCH COMFORT IN RUSSIAN TROUBLE A PREMIER • • • HIS SECRETARY. Have you the morning papers there? Yes, my lord. Have you looked at the details of this affair at Bomarsund? I have, my lord, and you will bo glad to know that matters are more satisfactory than was stated. Eh? The Russians have not recaptured the forts ? The Russians, my lord ! No, certainly not. Have the poor prisoners escaped, then? Not one of them, my lord. Then, sir, where is this improved condition of things ? I meant, my lord, that the losses of the allies are more trifling than was at first supposed. The English, indeed, have scarcely lost anybody. Of course, sir, the loss of life on either side would be matter of regret to a humane person, but you may reserve your exultation. Meantime, I will thank you to read to me one of the accounts of the affair, for the shock which the news gave me prevented my examining the details. Certainly, my lord. (Beads). Bomaratuid"— 805 " The Russians burned the town of Stop ! How did the writer know that? To burn a town is a brutal thing, and men ought not to be lightly charged with it, Why not suppose the fire accidental ? "to prevent its affording shelter to the assailants." Ha! A bold and noble device, and an heroic sacrifice on the part of General Bodisco. Was the town his property, my lord ? Go on, if you please, sir. "There were four forts, mounting in all 150 guns." I dare say there were not half so many; but these press-writers love to exaggerate. " The disembarkation of our forces was brilliantly effected." Rubbish ! How can there be anything brilliant in putting a lot of men into boats and turning them out again? The Russians were too chivalrous to open fire upon them, I suppose. As far as I can understand, my lord, the boats seem to have been out of harm's way. I'll be bound they were. "The Amphion and Phkgethon moored themselves where none of the enemy's guns could be brought to bear, and opened a heavy fire of shot and shell." Well. A more cowardly manoeuvre I never heard of. I believe, indeed, that it was contrary to the practice of civilised war. "Several days were occupied in landing guns and stores." I wonder they don't call that dawdling " brilliant" also. The for- bearance of Bodisco all this time is beyond praise. " A spy was taken in the camp, attired as an old woman"— Perhaps it was an old woman. Poor thing ! It makes me sad to think that an old woman should have been maltreated. " and was hanged." Poor dear old soul ! Well; she is not the only old woman who has been shamefully treated through this wicked war. " On Sunday, the 13th, the French began to bombard in reality " Sabbath-breaking wretches ! How could they hope for any success ? I don't know, my lord, hut it seems that they obtained it. " Next morning the Chasseurs de Vincennes stormed the western fort, and the allied flags were seen waving over the first material guarantee extorted from Nicholas of Russia." The disgusting flippancy of these writers ought to be repressed by a censor. I quite agree with Cardinal Wiseman that the press has far too much freedom allowed it. " The Russians had asked for two hours' truce to bury their dead, but the French general would allow one only"— What ferocity ! As if Bodisco did not know better than Baraguay d'Hilliers how many poor fellows had to be buried. " and this one hour they used in getting in fresh powder and stores." And perfectly right. As the French had refused our demand—l mean the demand of the Russians—we, that is they, were not bound by the proposal first made. " They asked a second truce, but this was refused, as they had not respected the object of the first." What a mean cavil! How Nesselrode must despise such special pleading ! " When the French entered the fort they found the whole garrison raving drunk." And we have the impudence to charge this upon them Russians always get drunk at funerals, and we, knowing this, and slaughtering their companions, scoff at their piously rendering the last rites. If the garrison had not been drunk the Chasseurs would never have got into the fort. " On the 15th the English ships attacked the ~astern tower, and it was taken in the evening. This being the fête de Napoleon, a royal salute was fired, with shotted guns." Audacious mockery ! Salutes amid slaughter. " On the 16th tremendous fire was opened ou the long fort and on the smaller one, and soon after noon they surrendered. Two thousand prisoners were taken." That is well. They will come to England, where they shall be treated with all consideration, and John Bull shall see in the bills what he was about when he insisted on going to war in defence of the heathen. The governor shall come here, and I shall ask you to show him London life. He is an old man, my lord. What do you call an old man, sir? I hope you don't call a Mall old at seventy. He is eighty, my lord. Eh ? Ah ! Well, that may be called old. Too old, certainly, for his command. That explains the whole affair, and reduces our victory, such as it was, to nothing at all. Had Bodisco been ten years younger, Bomarsund would have been impregnable. Doubtless the Emperor will take care that no such mistake occurs again. You were quite right, sir, in saying that the news was more satisfactory than we had supposed. This poor old man, with a drunken garrison, was unable to hold out longer against the overwhelming forces of England and France, which, from a cowardly distance, battered down his forts. I think the less said about such victories the better, and I do not imagine that my friend of forty years will be much disheartened by this casualty. 1 will not detain you now; but you leave me iu excellent spirits. Good morning. I I I 4 '4l