The Press. — London, England, 1854-08-12 00:00:00

756 WEEK. THE As usual, towards the close of a session, Parliament has this week made rapid work with the business before it. Standing orders have been suspended, objections have been met by compromises, and bills and clauses which at an earlier period would have been contested night after night have been settled by common consent in a few minutes. The fatigue of more than half a year's parliamentary atten dance, with the lassitude from August heat, the faint air of the metro polis overloaded with noxious vapours, the rush from town, and the tempting letters from friends at the moors, dated from unpronounce able Highland localities, combine to silence the most sturdy objectors. Even to the last, however, new proofs are furnished of the impotence of Ministers to guide the Legislature, and the session retains its do nothing character. The Bribery Bill, introduced early in February, comes before the Lords, and, at the suggestion of a Cabinet Minister, an important clause is struck out which had received the support of his colleagues in the Lower House; but, to satisfy objections to the imperfect nature of the measure, its operation is limited to two years. Returned to the Commons, a Minister who voted for the clause moves that the Lords omission of it shall be agreed to. Further objection is met by further compromise, and a Bribery Bill, which of all bills should be of a permanent character, from the uncertainty attending the occurrence of elections, is passed, limited to a single year. Another Ministerial measure has been doctored by the Lords. After all the discussions between Government economists and lawyers on the Russian Securities Bill, Lord CAMPBELL discovered that to pass the bill as it stood. would be almost entirely nugatory, so a clause has been added to render dealings in Russian securities by British sub jects in any place abroad as illegal as if they took place in Middlesex. A short financial debate on Wednesday resulted in a statement by Mr. GLADSTONE that our expenditure for the last sixteen weeks, as compared with the corresponding period in 1853, had increased to the extent of three millions and a half, and that the moneys of the savings banks entrusted to Government were not to be regarded as trust funds, but only in the same light as cash in the till of a banker,—a statement which seems to have astonished not a little the now usually acquiescent veteran, Mr. JOSEPH HUME. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE on Thurs day endeavoured to elicit some information from Government on the part recently played by Austria in her negotiations with Russia and the Porte, but was met only by praises of Austrian sincerity. The speech of Lord CLANRICARDE was important in other respects. He coufirmad our statement of a fortnight back, that Admiral NAPIER had written Lome, not that the Baltic fortresses were impregnable, but that the fiebt could not act as he wished, through not being furnished with the gunboats required. Lord CLANRICARDE also showed that the commerce of Russia was in reality little interrupted by our blockades , a fact easily explicable, as the trade in her staple commodities is now carried on through neutral ports. The GORDONb are thriving. Lord ABERDEEN'S brother, the Admiral appointed to the command at Sheerness, has issued his farewell address to the electors, and Lord HADDO, the Premier's heir, is a can didate for the vacant seat. Sir BENJAMIN HALL'S support of the Go vernment has at last received recognition. He is nominated head of the now Board of Health, and a writ was last night moved for the borough of Marylebone Attention is once more concentrated on Sebastopol by the autho ritative announcement that that fortress is to be attacked by the allied forces by land and sea. Accounts from Constantinople and Varna to the end of July mention great preparations in progress for the trans port of troops, but there was much difference of opinion whether the movement would be made on Odessa, the Crimea, or Anapa. The best time for operations was past, and it seemed extremely doubtful whether the allied commanders would feel themselves strong enough for an attack upon the great stronghold of Russia in the Euxine, considering the vast forces which might be assembled for its relief. While trans ports of all kinds were mustering at Varua, and troops were being embarked, the Russians at Sebastopol were making mighty efforts to strengthen their defences, and strong bodies of troops were arriving from the interior. Sir G. BROWN, in a steamer, passed a night iu the waters of Sebastopol, concealed by the darkness : being dis covered at dawn, and fired on, he safely effected his retreat. The Russian steamer Vladimir has given proof of more courage and conduct than have yet been displayed by any Russian vessel of-war. She ran out from Sebastopol, crossed to the Asiatic coast, sank some Turkish vessels laden with corn, brought off the coal from others, and gave chase to the English steamer Cyclops. which had left her guns at Constantinople. This exploit shows that the Russians are more active and enterprising than we were inclined to suppose. That change in the command of our Euxine fleet which we exclu sively announced a fortnight back is now generally spoken of. Admiral STOPFORD sails in the Harbinger for the Black Sea, and it is sup posed Admiral DUNDAS will return and be rewarded for his ser vices (?) with a seat at the Admiralty. It is not usual to displace commanders on active service, though their term may have expired, THE PRESS. SATURDAY, when they are efficiently performing the work required from them. But the reports from the fleet are the reverse of satisfactory. The evacuation of the principalities by the Russians may now be taken as an accepted fact. The Turkish avant-guard entered Bucha • rest on the sth inst., the Russians having quitted it two or three days previously. The Russians are not interrupted in their retreat, and several regiments have already recrossed the Pruth. The ground being thus clear for Austria, her troops have entered, or are on the point of entering, the Danubian provinces, but evidently with no hostile intentions towards Russia. It is stated that Count Buot has exchanged notes with Lord WESTMORELAND at Vienna, recognising the bases laid down by the Western Powers for the restoration of peace, and engaging not to treat separately ; but, considering how long Aus tria has refrained from any act which could in the slightest degree tend to embarrass her northern neighbour, we must receive with sus picion any rumours similar to those which have been diligently circu lated in certain quarters for a year past, to the effect that even as far as diplomacy went she would decidedly join with France and England. The retreat from the principalities will give the Russian com manders an immense force to resist any attack of the allies on the Crimea, and it might be with a view to the probability of such attack that the retreat was decided on. The war has rolled from the banks of the Danube, and the whole disposable army of Russia will be free to defend her own territories. Intelligence from Varna will now be anxiously expected, as the expedition, if undertaken at all, must be undertaken at once. In the Baltic the allied fleets remained at the Aland Isles. The whole of the French troops under General BARAGUAY D'HILLIERS had joined, and accounts of the 3rd say that the attack on Bomarsund was expected to take place the next day. The sudden, perhaps violent, end of ABBAS PACHA is quickly suc ceeded by news of the death of the King of SAXONY. His decease from the injuries he received seems to have been almost instanta neous. The last accounts from Spain indicate that ESPARTERO'S dictator ship is likely to meet with more opposition from the revolutionary spirit which has been evoked than was anticipated. Queen CHRISTINA has been prevented from leaving the capital, and the Junta at Madrid demands that she shall be detained till she has been tried by the Cortes, and the Council of Ministers has acceded to the demand. O'DONNELL is supposed to view the ascendancy of ESPARTERO with jealousy. Among noticeable items of domestic occurrence is the cruise of the Queen, with her family, in the Channel. The royal yacht anchored off Alderney on Tuesday, and the Queen, with her party, visited the island the following day. The trial at Kilkenny for the Mountgarrett title and estates has terminated, to the surprise of most persons, in a verdict for the plain tiff, Mr. PIERCE BUTLER, thus affirming the validity of the pretended Scotch marriage between the Hon. HENRY BUTLER and Mrs. COLE BROKE. Our: journals seem to have paid little attention to the trial, though most interesting from the peculiar nature of the circumstances, from the points at issue, and from the extensive connections of the family. We imagine the whole case will shortly be brought before a higher court. The first court-martial on Lieutenant PERRY has resulted in his virtual acquittal. The second trial, not yet finished, has thus far proved more damaging to his character. The wretched woman, ANNE Baouon, who murdered six of her children at Esher, has been acquitted on the ground of insanity. The Times, which is always indignant when a maniac escapes the gallows, exclaims loudly against the verdict, and quotes the dictum of the judge, that the object of law should be to prevent criminal impulses. The dread of hanging, however, cannot be required to prevent mothers from murdering their children, and, should this wretched creature ever be raised to a healthier state of moral feeling, and be made to com prehend her loss and her guilt, her punishment would be far more se vere than the scaffold she has escaped. PARLIAMENTARY PROSODY. CAUGHT BY OUR OWN ECHO DURING THE PAST SESSION. JOE Hunts informs the House that he shall Oppose the bill for reasons " special," Feeling in conscience bound to meddle Both with the clauses and the "sheddle." Lord JOHN, though anxious to " obleege," Must still resist the Papists' siege, And ward from England's Church the doom Prepared for her and hers by "Room." PETO declares that doctrine very odd, Not fit for an enlightened " period." WILLIAMS inquires what such gross folly meant ; Such waste of profit and of " 'moliment." HEYWOOD, in tones quite conversational, Approves the phrase because 'tis " nitional." FITZGERALD rings his loud lIIRTUMS; Ireland he swears will be in "arrams." And BRIGHT proclaims, in his belief, The measure fraught with dire "mischief." Thus is it shown by many a talker The Commons' work is not all " W alker ." ••mmENMlllifill MK