The Press. — London, England, 1854-01-07 00:00:00

• . . go far to raise by precept or example the standard of American society. We should be sorry to see that great people degenerate to the level of Celtic rule, and enter upon retrograde courses, or embark ing in the hazardous experiments of trying to manu facture self-ruling republicans out of a social element, Papal in superstition, Celtic by race, Irish in its traditions, and revolutionary in its designs. In the British empire " the Irish question" has at last been satisfactorily settled. On an average of num bars property, and intelligence, Ireland is now predominantly Protestant, and politically British. " What are your politics, Paddy ?" was not long &nee asked of a witty Irishman. " I'm a United Kinydomer," was the answer; and a multitudinous majority of his countrymen would proclaim his reply to be representative of the popular sentiment around them. It would be a strange dispensation of Providence if, as a punishment for having "larrupped his nig gers" too long, Brother Jonathan should be sentenced to the ignominious Nemesis of being roughridden by Irish, who never could govern themselves ! Such unquestionably will be the case if any countenance or fostering encouragement be given by influential parties in the States to a man like MITCHEL, who close.; his harangue by announcing—" I mean to "make use of the freedom guaranteed to me as a "citizen of America to stimulate the movement of " European democracy, and especially of Irish indo " endence. I claim for the revolutionazy refu g ees "Mere that America shall be to them the very stand ing-ground prayed for by ARCHIMEDES, whereon " they may plant a lever that shall move the world." From the lips of a rebel of really heroic magnitude such words, or such a policy, might become some thing formidable ; but we do not think so meanly of the sense or spirit of the " United States" as that they would ignore the policy of GEORGE WASHINo- TON and adopt the views of the hot-headed zealot, who could not even get up a riot in Ireland. But it is absurd even to think of such a man " moving the " world," except with derision at his vanity and con tempt at the breaker of his word of honour, solemnly plighted to his guards, and sneakingly forfeited, be cause he had not the fortitude which once was cha racteristic of "An Exile of Erin." EAST GLOUCESTERSHIRE ELECTION. THE nomination of the candidates is appointed for Monday, the 9th, and the poll will be taken on Thursday, the 12th instant. The friends of Mr. Hom,Asn are forcing their candidate to the hustings without any other chance of success except that of the supposed indolence of the Conservative electors, on whose non-appearance at the poll in this ex. tremely wintry weather the hopes of the Radicals are placed. We not only believe that such calcula tions will be disappointed, but that the fact of this large constituency being forced to record their votes in one day in the depths of an unusually severe winter will rather stimulate than frighten every con stitutional elector to appear at the hustings (between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.) and record his suffrage for Sir MICHAEL BEACH. The electors should bear in mind that twenty years have elapsed since the last contest took place, and that the return of Sir M. 11F.Acit by a telling majority will secure them from similar in. convenience for another equally long space of time. We rely upon being able next week to report a victorious result, but shall not do so without regret should we find any selfish regard for personal ease inducing now-resident electors to sacrifice their evident and manifest public duty to stay at-home comforts. GAMBLING. TO TITS EDITOR OF " THE PRESS." Sir,—l quite 'agree in your strictures on the inefficiency of our present laws against gambling. It is, however, with me a matter of much doubt whether they can ever be made more effective. You cannot give the power of entering private houses where a private civil party may be going on: if granted by law, it could not be exercised ; and nothing is easier than to establish q "hell " under the semblance of a private house. Be this as it may, the question immediately at issue is, what should be done in the present state of the law ? The plan suggested by your contemporary is absurd. But there is another which seems calculated to attain the same end, only by somewhat different means. Let the keeper of the house, not his guests, be prosecuted; and let those who are found in it be called as witnesses. In this way their real names must come out ; and the purpose of exposure will be accomplished in the ordinary course of law. M. P. London, January 4, 1851. We understand that the I'eruvian Government has instructe,l its agents in this country to advance the price of guano to an amount equal to the advance iu the rates of freights during the past yoar.—Sitip ping Gazette. THE PRESS. UNIVERSITY REFORM. THE letter addressed by Lord Palmerston to his Royal Highness Prince Albert, as Chancellor of Cambridge University, and in reference to University Reform, has now been published in extenso. The following is the test of this important document:— " Whitehall, Dec. 12. " Bir,—Her Majesty's Government have had before them the letter addressed by my predecessor, on the 4th of October, 1852, to the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. " Your Royal Highness will, without doubt, remember that her Majesty was pleased, in her speech from the throne, on the 11th of November, 1852, to acquaint Par liament that she had caused to be transmitted to the Uni versities of Oxford and Cambridge, respectively, copies of the reports of the Commissioners of Inquiry upon those Universities, and had called the attention of those Univer sities to those reports, with a view to a deliberate exa mination of the recommendations contained therein. " A statemeut was subsequently made to the House of Commons, that the Government thought it desirable that ample time should be allowed for a full examination of those matters, and that it was not intended that any legis lation on the subject of the recommendations of the com missioners should be proposed to Parliament during the then current session. " At the same time, though it was not deemed expedient to discuss the various details connected with subjects so important and diversified as the matters iu question, yet reference was made to some essential points, with respect to which her Majesty's Government conceive that it would be the desire and expectation of Parliament, with a view to the public welfare, and to the extension of the useful influence of the universities, that plans of improvement should he entertained. " These points were : " 1. An alteration of the constitution of the universities with a view to the more general and effective representa tion of the several main elements which properly enter into their composition. " 2. The adoption of measures which might enable the universities, without weakening the proper securities for discipline, to extend the benefits of training to a greater number of students, whether in connection or not with colleges and halls ; and also to diminish the relative disad vantages which now attach within colleges and halls to students of comparatively limited pecuniary means. "3. The establishment of such rules with regard to fellowships, and to the enjoyment of other college en dowments, as might wholly abolish or greatly modify the restrictions which now, in many cases, attach to those fel lowships and endowments, and might subject the acquisi tion of such fellowships and endowments generally to the effective influence of competition. " 4. The establishment of such regulations with regard to fellowships thus to be acquired by merit as should pre vent them from degenerating into sinecures ; and espe cially the enactment of a provision that, after fellowships should have been held for such a time as might be thought reasonable as rewards for early exertion and distinction, they should either be relinquished, or should only continue to be held ou condition of residence, coupled with a dis charge of active duty iu discipline or tuition, or with the earnest prosecution of private study. " i. And, lastly, the establishment of provisions under which colleges possessed of means either particularly ample, or now only partially applied to the purposes of education or learning, might, in conformity with the views which founders have often indicated, render some portion of their property available for the general purposes of the university beyond as well as within the college walls, and might thus facilitate the energetic prosecution of some branches of study, the importance of which the university have of late distinctly and specially acknowledged. " It is obvious that for the attainment of these ends pro vision must be made for the careful adjustment of existing statutes, and for the abolition or modification of certain oaths which are now periodically administered in some of the colleges. " There are other changes tending to the in, ceased efficiency and extent of study which would naturally ac company or follow those to which I have adverted , but what I have stated may be enough to explain the general expectations which her Majesty's Government have been led to form under the influence of their sincere desire to acknowledge the services and to respect the dignity and due independence of these noble institutions, and to see their power and influence enlarged to the full measure of the capabilities indicated by their splendid endow ments. " Actuated by these views, her Majesty's Government did not hesitate to determine that, so far as depended upon them, a considerable interval of time should elapse, after the reports of the commissioners hail appeared, be fore any specific propositions should be discussed as to the degree and nature of the legislation respecting the universities which it might be requisite to submit to Par .. liatnent. " Her Majesty's Government. however, feel that the time has now arrived when it will be due, both to the coup• try of which these universities are such conspicuous ornaments, and to the well-understood interests of the universities themselves, that these questions should be de cided. " I therefore request that your Royal Highness will, in your capacity of Chancellor of the University of Cam bridge, have the goodness to take an early opportunity of informing me what measures of improvement that univer sity, or, so far as your Royal Highness's knowledge ex tends, any of its colleges, may be about to undertake, and what aid they may desire from Parliament, in the form either of prohibitions, of enabling powers, or of new enact ments. " Her Majesty's Government arc anxious to receive this information in such time as may enable them to give to this SATURDAY, important subject the careful deliberation it demands, and to be in a condition to advise her Majesty thereupon, if possible, by the month of February. " Her Majesty's Government, however, have no hesita tion in avowing their opinion that repeated and minute interference by Parliament in the affairs of the universities and their colleges would be an evil, and they are desirous to maintain the dignity of these institutions and to secure for them the advantages of freedom of action. For these reasons, therefore, as well as on other grounds, they ear nestly hope to find, on the part of these bodies, such ma ture views and such enlarged designs of improvement as may satisfy the reasonable desires of the country ; and, by obviating the occasion for further interference, may relieve those persons in the universities who are charged with the weighty functions of discipline and instruction from the distraction which the prospect of such interposition must necessarily entail. " I am, sir, your Royal Highness's dutiful servant, (Signed) " PALMERSTON. " To Field Marshal his Royal Highness Prince Albert, ctc., Chancellor of the University of Cambiidge." MR. CARDWELL AT OXFORD. OXFORD has been visited by its representatives, the President of the Board of Trade and Mr. Langston, who have taken various occasions to meet different sections of their constituents. On Monday last they were present at the annual festival of the " Ancient Druids," and after dinner Mr. Cardwell, in acknow ledging the toast of the "City Members," embarked upon some political topics, although he repudiated any political meanings. The right hon. gentleman remarked : " We cannot but be sensible, in looking back to the year that has closed, and looking forward to that we are now entering, that we in England enjoy the proud privilege that all, from the highest to the lowest, under different circum stances, unite in constituting that public opinion which, after all, is the great governing principle of legislation iu this kingdom ; and therefore, without touching upon politics, I may congratulate you that in the course of th... past year measures have been passed which have equalises burdens, mitigated pressure, stimulated industry, promoted trade, tended more generally to diffuse prosperity, and, therefore, conciliated yet more fervently the loyal affections if the people to that exemplary Sovereign who sits upon the throne of these realms. The year that has closed has been, as I am bound particularly to know, an unexampled year for British industry, as attested by our exports to other parts of the world. And if we have had the misfortune to iustain a great diminution in the supply of food, what lave been the concurrent circumstances of that visitation ? Industry not checked, a people not complaining, but a sniversal submission to the dispensations of Providence, and a conscientious feeling and satisfaction that man has lad no part in inflicting the evil. With regard to the future we can only hope that industry will continue, and tlat those differences which unhappily disturb one part of tie kingdom, and that an important part, may happily be dispelled, and by a universal good understanding between tie employer and employed that labour may be set in mo. tion, which is the foundation of national wealth, and which, while it earns a present reward, enables the master manu facturer to lay by for a future day, and which is therefore tie source of increased labour and the means of circulating amongst the working classes increased prosperity. With regard to foreign affairs, this at least we know, that every year which it pleases God to continue to us peace is a year of increasing conquests to the commercial armies of Great Britain. New peoples are added year by year to the wide circle of our intercourse abroad, races to whom we are bound in common bonds stronger than ambition, in bonds of love and affection, in bonds of that universal brother hood which we believe it is God's will shall ultimately prevail amongst all mankind. Should any evil circum stance occur for a time to disturb this happy course of events, you know that it will not be due to any ambitious designs or to any unreflecting interference on the part of the Government or the Sovereign of these realms. We shall not forget that maxim, the merit of observing which truly belongs to this country, Beware of entrance to a quarrel ; and, if we do unhappily become involved in one, to bear ourselves so that tile adversary may beware of us. Thrice is he aimed that has his quarrel just ; and let the evil day come when it may, whatever the fate of England, I trust she will always be found clothed in the triple armour of justice, moderation, and truth. The aspect of foreign affairs is justifying anxious feeling. But let us hope that reason and justice may prevail as well abroad as here, and that the danger may happily be overcome. Whatever may be in store for us, depend upon it that, under Provi dence, the blessings bestowed upon this people will not be withdrawn if we continue to merit them by industry, energy, and steady perseverance at home, and by valour abroad—a valour it is unnecessary to speak of in an assembly of Eng lishmen, for when was that quality ever wanting to sustain the reputation of Great Britain in any war abroad? Let us, then, hope that in the year 15154 no circumstances, foreign or domestic, will disturb our career of industry, will disturb the operation of commerce, will prevent that diffusion of comfort now so remarkably going on among all classes of the community. For it is the principle of the times in which we live that wealth is not accumulated for the wealthy alone, nor is prosperity to be enjoyed only by thaw who have worldly prosperity, but it is to be used as the means of doing a public good, of stimulating trade, and of in creasing prosperity and contentment among all classes of the people. May that principle continue to prevail—may it manifest itself so that we shall avail ourselves of those circumstances of prosperity according to our conditions of life to promote that great end without which temporal prosperity would be of little avail—l mean the moral and intellectual prosperity of all classes. I know that is a question which is deeply at heart with you. I hope and U