The Press. — London, England, 1853-05-28 00:00:00

.--~ ;s THE PRESS. MAT 28, 1853. . - • that sympathy which he might have found amongst the Whigs cashiered from the Cabinet. And thus. on the one hand a GLAosvosv. on the other a Moi.Eswoaxit, he is to conciliate the University of Oxford with the reforms that will satisfy the electors of Southwark ! This is his position, on this ground alone he holds office, lind to this, after seatteiing, subdividing the party that he led, does he com mit all the chance of their reunion ! But, Whigs and gentlemen, I have heard some of you take this comfort to yourselves- - Rely on it." you say. "rely on it that, with such colleagues as LANSDOWNE and ABERDEEN, Gi.ADSTONE and SIDNEY HERBERT, Lord ,lons's new Reform Bill will be so nominal that. even Conservatives may support. it." WeU, if that be so, why were democrats enticed to destroy a Conservative Government ? Have SO many votes been purchased by a bill at a year's date, which will then be dishonoured ! Possibly it may prove to he the fact. It is easy for one party to outbid another for popularity, when there is no intention to dis burse the difference between the offers. " What salary do you give to your secretaries ?" asked a French prince of anothergrand seigneur. - A hun dred crowns," was the answer. " A hundred crowns only ! How low ! Whatatrifle! I give two hundred to mine—hut to sure I serer pay them !' But in this case the secretaries will be ConnEs and BRIGHT—Mid have a strong suspicion that they intend to be paid. Look to it. MANILICS. A RECIPE FOR GOVERNMENT SOUP; OR, POTAGE A LA COALITION. (IN THE POSSESSION OF THE EARL OF AUEBJ)EEN.) To make a bowl of Coalition broth Take strawberry leares and carrots from the north Boil down a few old wigs. and then conceal Their flavour with some acid chips of peel. Then catch a little jack, and mix his brain With Irish stew and punch a la Romaine. Add then a stone ; a stick of seasond wood ; Both will combine to make the potage good : The stone, an Oxford Brilliant much alloyed, Would be a ybsd stone to be thus employed. And, lest from ancient recipes you swerve, Strong Radicals for radishes may serve. • Stir all up well, and let it seasoned be With sweets (of office) and high celery. And never be this principle forgot, Take loads of thyme before you go to pot. MEETING OF THE SPECIAL COMMISSION UNDER THE NEW ACT TO INQUIRE INTO THE PRACTICES BY WHICH HER MAJESTY'S MINISTERS OBTAINED THEIR PRESENT SEATS. Tim Commission was opened yesterday, in the old Star Cluimber. The Commissioners appointed to conduct the inquiry are Mr, CHISHOLM ANSTEY, Chief Commissioner, assisted by Sir BENJAMIN HALL and Sir ROBERT Ixous. Sir BENJAMIN represents the sincere Radical section, being understood to be adverse to all our ancient insti • tutions, except the order of Baronets ; and Sir ROBERT INGLIS Was appointed to watch over the interests of the Conservative party, against which he invariably votes. The Crown Officers attended on the part of the Government; Sir ALEXANDER COCKBURN on behalf of the Liberal element of the Administration, and Mr. BETHELL on that of the Conservative, with the views and feelings of which, from the many years he was a member of the Conservative Club, ho is inti mately acquainted. They were assisted by Mr. Corrocx. Considerable discussion took place as to the course of proceeding Sir BENJAMIN HALL being of opinion that no letters should be ad mitted as evidence which were not " private and confidential," and no oral testimony allowed which did not refer to after-dinner conversa tions. Sir ROBERT INGLIS deprecated all personality, but added, that, if inevitable, it should at least be preceded by prayer. The CHIKE COMMISSIONER said that there was only one way of doing business ; that because he was paid five guineas a day, that was no reason why there should be any indecent hurry, and that they must proceed, lstly, by proving that there was a Government ; 2ndly, if a Government, what were its principles? 3rdly, if both points were ascertained, by what means the present occupants of the Treasury bench became seated there ? A gentleman was called to prove the first point, and was examined by the COMMISSIONER-IN-CHIEF, who, us a general rule, laid it down that no lawyer should talk during the proceedings except himself. Cumr CommissioNEß : Pray. sir, what is your name ? WITNESS: Grenville Berkeley. CHIEF COMMISSIONER : Have you any other name? WirsEss : They sometimes call are Stupid, but I never answer to it CHIEF COMMISSIONER: Are you a Lord of the Treasury? WraEss: \o; but I ought to have been one. CHIEF COMMIRSIONER : What are you, then ? • WITNEss: I am a Whip. CHIEF COMMIssIONER : DO you hold any otliee ? WrrsEtts: Yes; but they never let me attend it, and I don't exactly know what it is. CHIEF COMMISsIoNEB: HOW can ytgt 'wove there is a liarerlitnein ? WITNEss: BeeaUse when there is a bad division Mr. llayt.r swears at me, and says that. 1 shall upset the etateh. CHIEF COMMIssiONER : Is that the only proof you eau give ? WrnEss : Well. I think it is. Sir BENJAMIN HALL: Have you ever been applied to by any gentle man who wished to be matte a peer ? WrrsEms: No ; they wouldn't come to me for anything so tiptop. Sir ROBERT I Mitts : Nor Privy Councillors ? WitsEss : Nothing of that kind. Cum? CoustissioNEß : What do you, do, then ? WasEss: I sit on a chair at the doorway and pull gentlemen's tails who arc leaving the House ; 1 pair dead men, and swear that persons who are dining at the Cafe de Paris are dining at Bellamy's ; sometimes I troll at divisions when the numbers are small, but I alit not allowed to count beyond fifty. 'Jim Cum: CoMMIssioNER here declared that this was very un satisfitetory evidence, and that, it no better were offered, he .should Cer tainly summon Lord ABERDEEN, or the court newsman ; upon which the ATTORNEY-CrENERAL said there was a Witness oldie greatest at hand, if room could be made for him. After considerable bustle a young gentleman of very imposing appearance, with a very large cane. dame forwtird with great pomp, and scented to take as mach room as half a dozen ordinary mortals. It wits supposed at first, from his grand air, that he was certainly a Cabinet Minister, but he turned out only to be a. Lord of the Treasury, and was sworn as the lion. Fes:it:in CHARTERIs.I - CHIEF COMMISSIONER : I believe, Mr. Charteris, you are a Lord of the Treasury. Mr. CHARTER'S : I have considered, in this age of sacrifices, that it was my duty to accept that post. Cams COMMISSIONER: I believe not so eminent a one as publie ru mour first assigned to you ? Mr. CHARTER'S: I know nothing about p ublic tumour ; publie opinion assigned to me a place in the Cabinet, and I agree with my lamented friend, the late Sir Robert Peel, that public opinion in this age should be respected. Cif LEV COMMISSIONER : Notwithstanding you were not in the Cabinet, am I to understand, however, that the Government was Almost ? Mr. CHARTER'S: Somewhat strange to say,it Watt : there are, however, very important duties attached to the office which I have the honour to hold which were never before fulfilled by any of my predecessors. CHIEF COMMISSIONER : Have the goodness to state them. Mr. CHARTER'S: I must decline to do that ; they are strictly confi dential. Sir B. HALL : That is the very reason why they must be revealed our powers arc peremptory. Mr. CnawrEats : Ido so under protest. Well, then, I have to receive all the Scotch cousins of the First Lord, whom I address, if neees- Katy, in their native tongue ; I have to attend evening parties, concerts, and sometimes balls, and praise the Ministry and occasionally look in at the Opera, and declare that the Go vernment is very strong. CHIEF COMMISSIONER: YOU distinctly state that there is a Govern ment ? Mr. CHARTER'S : I:etat e'est M 01; I inn myself the Government. Sir H. Isca.is: Will you have the e%_reine kindness to stale, Mr. Charteris, whether the Commissioners are to understand that the cane you now hold is all official instrument? Mr. CHARTER'S: In a certain 'tense ; it is to distinguish me from the other Lords of the Treasury, who are mere sticks. CHIEF CommismtosEn: You may withdraw. We shall now proeeed to the second branch of our inquiry, and ascertain, it possible, the principles of the present Government. Luvd ABERDEEN is summoned, and is iu attendance. The Earful* Aberdeen, a Member if the House of Peers, morn. Cum? Commissiosss : I believe you are Prime Minister? Lord ABERDEEN : I am surprised to only I am. Cum/ Commissiossa: How came you to be Prime Minister ? Lord Am:moms: By the favour of her Majesty and the Duke of Bedfiml, CHIEF CommisstoNEß : The Commissioner►l wish clearly to under stand what are the principles on which your Lordship's Ad ministrmtion is formed ? Lord ABERDEEN : Those principles arc Conservative. 1 . ~‘ f‘: \~ ~~ 'i 7 /~ 1 V :10;