The Press. — London, England, 1858-05-01 00:00:00

42,4 the subtle management of the reflected lights, and the masterly execution of the detail, make this small picture one of the most interesting in the room. Everyone will be glad to find no less than six pieces by Mr. Hunt—wildflowers, a bunch of May, fungi, plums, grapes, and bird's•nests. Nothing more won derful or more exquisite than these for perfection of form, colour, and finish has ever been produced, or ever can be ; but the " View from Richn.ond-hill," • subject a little out of Mr. Hunt's usual track, draws, perhaps, on that account even more attention. There is nothing like composition about it; it is a literal copy of the scene. There is the straight gravel path across the foreground and the furze-bushes just beyond, and on the right are those shapeless trees which have stood there long enough, but seldom find their way into pictures. With less perfect execution, these objects would be unsightly ; but photography has accustomed us to this sort of absolutely true landscape, and we do not regard it as we should have done a few years back. Mr. Bartholomew sends two groups, one of fruit and the other of flowers ; he is most at home with the latter, and fully sustains his high reputation. II tt s i r. Tnz Vocal, ASSOCIATION gave its third concert yester day evening, the programme consisting chiefly of a selection of glees by Webbe, Elliott, Goss, Callcott, and Horsley. These were sung partly by the Vocal Union, of which Miss Moss, Messrs. Foster, Montem Smith, Winn, and Thomas are members, and partly by the full chorus of the Vocal Association. There was also Mendelssohn's ottett for stringed instruments, steadily but rather coarsely played by Messrs. Bla grove, Collins, Pollitzer, and others ; and Kalkbren - nor's concertente for two pianofortes, executed in a masterly style by Mr. Benedict, and Mr. Lindsay Sloper. Songs by Bishop, Balfe, Rossini, and Doni. zetti were interspersed ; and a young lady, named Gabrielle von Wendheim , played one of Ernst's fan tasias for the violin. She displayed a fair amount of ability, and this, joined to a prepossessing appear ance, gained her considerable applause. The concert was by no means so good as the preceding two. A number of glees becomes monotonous, especially if they are not of the best kind, nor chosen with a due regard to contrast. Mendelssohn's ottett, too, is rather dry and technical, and was but coldly received. Madame Castellon and Miss Messent sang well, but Mr. Tennant and Mr. Allan Irving are not the most brilliant of vocalists, and altogether the concert dragged rather heavily. Has MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—The event of the next week will be the revival of the Trovatore, which has excited the interest and curiosity of the musical connoisseurs of London. Mlle. Titiens will sustain the part of Leonora, so well adapted to display ber brilliancy as a vocalist and her genius as a tragedian. Mme. A lboni will appear for the first time this season as Azucena, the character which by universal con. sent she has pre-eminently made her own. Signor Ginglini resumes the part of Manrico, the beauty and pathos of which ore familiar to all who heard him last year. MR. CHARLES DICKENS gave a reading of the " Cricket on the Hearth " at St. Martin's hall on Thursday evening—the first be has undertaken for his own benefit. The hall was densely crowded, and the reading marked by all the feeling and all the drollery, the heartiness, the pathos, and the fun for which this most popular writer is celebrated. Pre viously to the reading, he delivered the following short address in vindication of the new character in which he appeared : Ladies and gentlemen,—lt may perhaps be known to you that, for a few years past, I have been accustomed occasionally to read some of my shorter books, to various audiences, in aid of a variety of good objects, and at some charge to myself both in time and money. It having at length become impossible in any reason to comply with these always accumulating demands, I have bad definitively to choose between now and then read ing on my own account as one of my recognized oc cupations, or not reading at all, I have had little or no difficulty in deciding on the former course. The reasons that have led me to it—besides the considera tion that it necessitates no departure whatever from the chosen pursuits of my life—are threefold. Firstly, I have satisfied myself that it can involve no possible compromise of the credit and independence of Literature. Secondly, I have long held the opinion, anti bare long acted on the opinion, that in these times, what ever brings a public man ann his public, face to face, on terms of mutual confidence and respect, is a good thing. Thirdly, I have had a pretty large experience of the interest my hearers are so generous as to take in these occasions, and of the delight they give to me, as a tried means of strengthening those relations, I may almost say of persocal friendship, which it is my great privilege and pride, as it is my great responsibility, to hold with a multitude of persona who will never hear my voice, or see my face. Thus it is that I come, quite naturally, to be bare among you, at this time. And thus it is that I promed to read this little book, quite as composedly as might tirocea4 to write it, or to pabliab OW imp THE PRESS, MAY 1, 1858. Vroachinys in (Varliannt. HOUSE OF LORDS-MONDAY. The Earl of ALBFMARLE presented a petition from Birmingham, praying for a better system of govern ment in India. He expressed his disapproval of the plan of a government for India proposed by the Ministry. The noble earl withdrew his motion for certain returns connected with the Indian Civil Service. Their lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS—MONDAY. INDIAN RESOLUTIONS. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved a reso lution that the house would on Friday resolve itself into a committee to consider the Act of the 16th and 17th of Victoria, cap. 95, with the view of pro posing the resolutions he bad laid upon the table on the subject of the government of India. He briefly reviewed what had occurred daring the present ses sion with reference to this subject. Leave had been given to Lord Palmerston to introduce a bill to transfer the government of India from the East India Company to the Crown. Upon that occasion an amendment had been moved, affirming the inexpe diency at that time of legislating for the government of India. But, although there were very plausible and cogent reasons why that amendment should be favourably received, it was rejected by an overwhelm• ing majority, and Lord Palmerston bad permission to introduce his measure, but nothing more ; none of the details of the measure were sanctioned by the vote. It must be assumed, however, be observed, that the opinion of the house was iu favour of the transfer of the government of India to the Crown. Unexpectedly a change of Administration took place, and the present Ministers had to consider the effect of this vote upon both India and England. He then proceeded to compare the main features and prM nip les of the two bills—that of the late and that of the present Government—and observed that two schools had each laid down a formula for the govern ment of India. One boasted of the simplicity of their scheme. It consisted in the appointment of a Minister with undivided responsibility sitting in that house, assisted by a limited number of nominees—an under-secretary and clerks—asserting that India ought to be governed like other external possessions of the Crown. He denied that there was any analogy between India, an empire comprehending many dis tinct nations, and any other possession of the Crown, or that such a scheme of Indian government would work in a satisfactory manner. But the adherents of the simple school said it did not much signify, because India must be governed in India. Much, however, was involved in this proposition. If the principle were adopted, the Governor- General of India would be placed in a position of power which the Constitution of the country bad not yet contemplated. The more be reflected upon the simple plan, the more he was convinced of its danger and impracticability. The other plan which had been laid before the house in the shape of a bill had been stigmatized as complicated. He did not agree that this was a fault in a form of ad ministration, for Indian affairs. Our own Constitu tion was not a simple one, yet it worked well, and it the scheme of the Cabinet were proposed for the first time it would be condemned as absurd and unwork able. He assumed that the majority of the house was in favour of a council. If so, it must be in favour of a real council. It ought, then, to be numerous, for there were eight considerable heads of business which required to be managed by com mittees. Then, assuming that the council should consist of the number mentioned in the bill of the present Government, was the house prepared to intrust the nomination of these eighteen councillors to the Crown ? This was a proposition which the country would never approve. Then recourse must be had to the elective principle. This was objected to as unconstitutional. He felt immense difficulty, he said, in encountering such an objection, which baffled discussion. He admitted that the application of the principle was anomalous, but the house was dealing with one of the greatest anomalies of modern times. Then, who were to be the electors ? In the resclutions a constituency was proposed analogous in character to the present, but infinitely improved, representing 59,000,0001. of capital, all invested in India. It was objected that it would be impossible to canvass such a constituency. He believed so, and he thought this was one of the great recommenda tions of the plan. Passing under review various other objections to this part of the resolutions, he insisted that the proposition was a wise one ; that if there was to be a real council for India recourse must be had to the elective principle ; that this was an all-important portion of any scheme ; and that other questions—such as patronage and finance — wets subordinate and, comparatively, matters of detail. In conclusion, he urged upon the house OW PIM 5 O*olol4 C 04,0041 wet. otP91111 4 )( 1 . 4114 in knowledge and experience to the Court of Direc tors, it would be better not to renounce the existing machinery ; that unless a body was created in this country that could control the Government of India in India, and if they adopted the principles of the school of simplicity, they might depend upon it that the fate of our Indian empire was sealed, and it would be deservedly lost. Lord PALMERSTON should confine his observations, he said, to Mr. Disraeli's elaborate defence of his bill, and especially to the advisability of having a council of persons elected by parliamentary constituencies. He contended that the argument in favour of the elective principle was founded upon a fallacious analogy. It appeared to him that eighteen was esi inconvenient number for the council. Its functi ons were not to decide, but merely to advise in the de partment for the management of Indian affairs; not to control and overrule, for then the responsibility of the Executive Government would cease, and there would be, in fact, a double Government. Mr. GLADSTONE did not think that, after the de cision of the house in February in favour of termi- nating the existing form of government for India, the best mode of proceeding was by resolutions, which had the effect of making a new commence. ment of the work. No progress had been made in the settling of this question since it was first intro duced, and Lord Palmerston seemed to imply that the present session would not see its settlement. Looking at the state of public affairs and of public opinion upon this subject, be respectfully protested against affirming the motion before the house. He bad heard from Mr. Disraeli an ingenious and elaborate defence of his bill, but whatever scruples he felt towards the measure had not been removed by it. In neither plan, however, could he see any elements of a good scheme, and there was great difficulty in attempting to govern by one people another people separated not only by distance, but by blood and by institutions. The Court of Direc. burs had been practically a body protective of the people of India, and there ought not to be a less efficient provision for that object. He looked in vain, however, be said, in either plan for any protec tive power that could be compared with the Court of Directors. There should be a protection afforded to the people of India against the ignorance, error, or indiscretion of the people and Parliament of England. There had grown up, he observed, a system fraught with danger to the Parliament and to the liberties of the people of England, as well as to India, by the undue and unconstitutional exercise of power by the Executive here through the treasury and army of India, by which wars were commenced without the knowledge or consent of Parliament, and an accumulation of debt was cast upon India. There was no limitation on this power, or worse than none, in either plan, and he therefore remonstrated against the motion. Mr. GREGORY moved, as an amendment, a resolu tion, " That at this moment it was not expedient to pass any resolutions for the future government of India." _ Mr. W. EWART seconded the amendment. Lord J. RUSSELL submitted that notice should have been given of an amendment which would !a verse a previous decision of the house, and which ought to be fully debated. He did not see why the house should not proceed to consider the resolutions proposed by the Government, and come to some conclusion. In his opinion, the best mode of con• stitating a council was, with certain restrictions and+ qualifications, to make the Crown responsible for the nomination of the members. The debate was prolonged by Sir George Grey Mr. Walpole, Sir F. Baring, Lord Goderich, and Mr. Horsman, who opposed the amendment. Mr. V. SWITII also opposed the amendment, and in the course of his speecn, alluding to the proposal of Lord John Russell to proceed by resolutions, said " the noble lord was quite consistent, having pro posed to him (Mr. Smith) in December last to proceed by resolutions." The amendment was then withdrawn and the original motion agreed to. On the order for going into a Committee of Supply Mr. MONSELL moved an address praying her Majesty that no alteration may be made in the existing arrangements which regulate the admission, to cadetships in the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers. He urged at seine length the inex• pediency of altering a system which, he said , w orked perfectly well. Mr. Lefroy, Sir F. Smith, and Sir W. Williams spoke against any alteration. General PEEL, premising that he had made no alteration in the system, and that the principle et competitive examination would continue, explained the state of the case, dissuading the house from adopting the motion, although he suggested an inquiry as to the best method of educating the scientific branches of the army. The raotior, mos Imported by Mr, Twoos sod Air, Dihuy,