The Press. — London, England, 1854-03-04 00:00:00

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Whatever Is intended for insertion must be authenticated by the name and address of the writer, not necessarily for publica tion, but as a guarantee of his good faith. wijz :p) rirxig• LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 1854. POSTSCRIPT. HOUSE OF LORDS.—FRIDAY. THE REFORM BILL. The Earl of DERBY demanded what the Ministers intended to do with their bill for parliamentary re form. They had brought forward the question at a most inopportune moment, not contenting themselves with the measures required by the exigencies of the crisis, but going far beyond. The Ministry had said that war was no hindrance to the consideration of such a question ; that it was, on the contrary, a mag nificent spectacle to see a nation in the midst of arms attending to domestic improvements, and there was a peculiar fitness in the present juncture. Notwith standing this peculiar fitness it appeared that the bill was to be postponed. He wished to know if the Ministry intended to abandon or only to postpone their measure, and if it was intended to produce it at a late period of the session when the nation would be deeply engaged in foreign war. Lord ABERDEEN had long ago stated that the bill was to have been produced before the votes of the navy and army estimates, and then postponed to allow time for consideration. The Government had no reason to be dissatisfied with the reception of the bill by the public : it had met with general arproval. The calamity of war would interfere with social pro grass, yet it need not stop all domestic improvement The bill would be postponed till the '27th of April, when the second reading of the bill would be assuredly moved. Adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FRIDAY. POSTPONEMENT OF THE REFORM BILL. Lord J. RUSSELL moved that the order appointing the 13th inst. for the second reading of the new Reform Bill should be read from the chair, for the purpose of postponing the same to a more distant date. Two reasons were assigned by the noble lord for this delay—the state of public business, and of the foreign relations of the country. Increased esti mates had been voted for the military and naval services ; and on Monday next the finance statement would be made. The due consideration of that exposé would totally prohibit the proper discussion of the Reform Bill on the appointed day. The Em peror of Russia, moreover, was by this time in the receipt of a joint message from England and France, requiring the evacuation of the principalities within a limited period, and intimating that his refusal would be taken as a declaration of war. By the end of the month his answer might be expected, and its tenor might necessitate a royal message, informing the house that peace no longer existed between this country and some foreign power. With such preoc cupation at present, and possible exigencies in pros pect, he considered it inexpedient to press forward so important a measure as that for remodelling the popular representation. Lord J. Russell then ex pressed his intention of postponing the next stage of the bill until after Easter, and named the 27th of April for its second reading. By that day, he added, the Scotch and Irish Reform Bills would be intro duced, and the whole scheme could then be con sidered together. Sir J. 'V: SHELLEY disapproved of this delay, which he apprehended must prove fatal to the measure for the session. The step argued lukewarmness in the CUM 3 on the part of the Government, and he THE PRESS. challenged Ministers to prove that they had not deserted the standard of reform. Sir E. DERING justified the amendment of which he had given notice, reiterating his resolve, as an independent member, and without party promptings, to renew, upon whatever day the bill came on again, his resolution importing that the present moment was inopportune for the introduction of any =pot% tent measure. Lord A. LENNOX hailed the speech of the noble lord as being the funeral ovation of the measure, adding that Lord Palmerston seemed to be playing the part of mute in the ceremony. Mr. LABOUCHERE, for the sake of reform, called upon Reformers not to abandon a captain who had so often led them to victory. It was the truest policy to postpone the measure, which would be exposed to serious peril if forced upon a reluctant and preoccupied Legislature. After a few remarks from Colonel Sibthorp, Mr. PHINN concurred in approving of the policy of delay, and declared that if required he could appeal with confidence to his constituents on the question. Sir J. PAKINGTON condemned the Government for having excited andnisled the country. If not to be persevered with, tli% Reform Bill should never have been introduced. Mr. HOME denounced the injudicious partisans of reform who insisted upon considering delay a sacri fice. For his own part he retained full confidence in the Ministerial sincerity, and was willing to leave the cause in their hands. Sir G. GREY pointed out the inconsistencies of members opposite, of whom Sir J. Pakington had been the mouthpiece. If they believed Ministers to be weak and timid, why vote them enormous supplies without remonstrance? If not, why persist in weak ening their hands and disparaging their conduct by reiterating insinuations and vague allusions to pas sages in blue books? Turning to another section of critics, he remarked that they were risking the suc cess of the great object of their desire, by creating divisions in the Reform camp. Mr. DISRAELI inquired what new events transpired, or what better information came to hand, since the 13th of March was fixed upon for the next stage of the bill, which could have induced the Ministers to postpone it? Referring to past attempts and pro posals for representative reform, of which Lord J. Russell had been the prime mover, be contended that it was not the proper function of a member of Government to be perpetually assailing the con stitution he ought to administer. At present he thought the measure ought to be disposed of at once, and not kept dangling before Parliament and the country, amidst all the chances and perplexities of war. The right hon. member then proceeded to cite expressions that had fallen from previous speak ers on the Liberal benches during the debate, and enlarged upon the discordances which they exhi bited. Ministers, he remarked, took office twelve months since upon four great principles—the exten sion of free trade, which bad not been extended ; the maintenance of peace, which had not been main tained ; a general system of education, which had not even been indicated ; and a large measure of parliamentary reform, whose feet now hung trem bling in the balance, Reform was the thread that had tied together the discordant elements of the Cabinet, and the cause that justified the alarming sacrifices which preceded its formation, and this was now to be severed and forgotten. Lord 3. RUSSELL addressed his reply in turn to the various members who had censured the conduct of the Government. Of Sir J. V. Shelley the noble lord remarked that he had no right to speak in the name of the Reformers of England. For him self he would add nothing to the assurances he had already given, but pointed to a long political career as showing the unswerving faith with which he had adways advocated Reform. The motion was then agreed to. SPIRITS FOR THE NAVY. On the motion for going into committee of supply, Mr. P. O'BRIEN moved a resolution to the effect that home-made spirits ought to be admitted for the use of sailors in the navy. Sir J. GRAHAM opposed the resolution, which was carried to a division after some debating, and nega tived by 47 votes to 38. ROMAN CATHOLIC SOLDIERS AND SAILORS. Mr. LUCAS directed attention to the grievances suffered by Roman Catholics in the army and navy. These grievances, which he detailed at great length, consisted principally of the disproportionate allow ance made for their religious services, and the bad pay and treatment of the Roman Catholic chaplains. Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT replied 011 behalf of the army, and Sir J. GRAHAM for the navy, explaining the principles on which the present arrangements were founded, and the difficulties that stood in the way of any alterations such as were proposed by the hon. member. The motion was not carried to a division, and the house went into committee of supply. SATURDAY, THE ARMY ESTIMATES. A vote of 15,000 additional men, as supplemental to the increase already sanctioned to the army, was moved by Mr. S. HERBERT and agreed to. Some other votes were passed, and the house resumed. COASTING TRADE. The Coasi ir,,f Trade Bill passed through com mittee. Sir J. TYRELL inquired whether any reciprocity clause had been introduced, or any attempt made to induce the United States to concede any correspond ing advantages to the British traders ? Sir J. GRAHAM replied in the negative. The house adjourned at ten o'clock. PREPARATIONS FOR WAR. The first battalion of Scots Fusilier Guards left London on Tuesday en route to the East. Their departure had been p stponed till seven o'clock by royal command, in order that her Majesty and Prince Albert might have the gratification of bidding them farewell as they passed by Buckingham Palace in full marching order. That same afternoon the men were embarked on board H.M.S. steamer Simoom, which started for Spithead and Plymouth next morning. The 77th Regiment left Glasgow on Tuesday morning by railway for Preston en route for the East; and on the same day the 33rd (Duke of Wellington's) Regiment left Dublin, being the second Irish contingent which has embarked for the seat of war. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge goes out with the expeditionary force with the brevet rank of lieutenant-general. The duke will command a division composed of two brigades—one of the Guards, and the other of regular infantry. Accounts from Malta state that active preparations are making there for the reception of troops. Sir Charles Napier, having received the command of the Baltic fleet, hoisted his flag provisionally in the Fisgard at Woolwich on Saturday. He after wards proceeded to Portsmouth, where the Duke of Wellington, 131, is to become his flag-ship. On Wednesday he departed for London, in company with Admiral Corry, both officers having been tele graphed for by the Admiralty. The squadron so long stationed in the Tagus, under Admiral Corry, arrived at length in the Chan nel on Monday last. The ships were ordered to proceed with all possible despatch to Spithead, and arrived there on Wednesday morning. The British war steamer Hecla has arrived at Copenhagen with the masters and pilots appointed to make surveys. England and France ask Denmark to allow the combined fleets to take up their station at Kiel. THE DUKE OF SAKE COBURG, brother to Prince Albert, left Brussels on Thursday for Paris, where he arrived M the evening of the same day. HIS EXCELLENCY BARON REHAUSEN, Envoy Ex traordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary from the Court of Sweden and Norway, died at his residence, 14, Halkin-street, Belgrave-square, on Thursday afternoon. His excellency was Minister for seven years, and lived in this country all his life. His father represented the King of Sweden in this country for seventeen years. LORD STANLEY, M.P., has offered to contribute 3001. for the erection of public baths and wash houses at King's Lynn—of which borough he is the representative—on condition that the Town Council contributes an equal sum to the same object. THE CARNIVAL SEASON 18 passing rather dully in Con stantinople. The French and English ambassadors, and the family of one wealthy banker, entertain, and do it very well and very handsomely. The hotels have weekly masked balls—rather melancholy assemblages, to which entrance is purchased at so many piastre' a head. The ceremony of dancing is gone through strictly aelon les regles, and with the observance of rather frigid etiquette. The women are all masked, but do not seem to know the advantage of that disguise. The gentlemen are almost all unmasked. There is, however, a sprinkling of male do minoes, who hover about in a mysterious. manner. They are by some supposed to be husbands; they do not dance. There ere also masked balls at the theatre. A Turkish woman was caught there in a domino. Her husband had some suspicions, which turned out true. She had gone to the Giaour ball. Half a dozen of the cavasses (police. men ) who haunt that building (they have the entrance to the theatre free, and sometimes form the bulk of the au dience) escorted her out, and she was marched home in tsars and distress by her angry husband. \