The Press. — London, England, 1854-05-27 00:00:00

THE PRESS. MAY 27, 1854. Mr. GIADSTONE : If you undertake the bill again, and make it a Cabinet question, I am unable to see that you can justify the exclusion of the Roman Catholic element. Sir C. WOOD : What's that ? Fire I suppose you mean, because Papists used to burn Protestants. But I thought the elements were abolished. _ _ Lord J. RUSSELL : Do be quiet. I cannot think with you, Glad stone. One does not want to be beaten twice running. Let the Lords do the work next year. Lord PALMERSTON : You don't see, my dear friends, that you are begging one very important question. Lord J. RUSSELL: Whether the Lords will throw the bill out? Lord PALMERSTON: Whether the Commons won't throw the Ministry out? [Great disgust, and the company recollect that it is time to go down to their respective Houses of Parliament.) THE GORDIAN KNOT. It was fourteen Councillors of State sate sighing in a row, For telegraphs brought messages of Russian overthrow ; And for want of cash and credit they sate in sad divan, When up arose their Chancellor and thus his tale began : " Oh ! friends who in the stormy talk of many a well-fought night Have watched my daring in the fray, my valour in the fight, Who still have stuck beside me in many an awkward fix, Anti cheered my fearless logic while I showed them five was six, " Bear with me now, the while I vow I've lost mine ancient cheek ; I can't bear Dizzy's taunting sneer another awful week; He won't be still while time I kill in my own graceful way, But makes my splendid speeches ' vox, et nil prEeterea.' course of next week, when it would appear that there was ample ground for the line of conduct which had lately been adopted towards that country. With respect to Persia, the Government was there repre sented by a man of great experience and zeal, whom the Government had no intention of displacing. Persia had given no reason for distrusting her pro fessions of neutrality, or suspecting any leaning towards Russia ; in fact, she had postponed several claims, some of them just ones, against Turkey, on account of existing circumstances. On the motion thatthe Landlord and Tenant (Ire• land) Bill be read a third time, The Earl of CLANCARTY moved the omission of the clause giving compensation to tenants for past im provements. The amendment underwent consider able discussion, and was negatived upon a division by 41 votes to 10. The bill was then read a third time and passed. The Leasing Powers (Ireland) Bill was also read a third time and passed. An amendment proposed by Lord MONTEAOLE, for limiting to twenty-one years the term for which life-tenants were em powered to grant loans, was, after discussion, adopted by a mejmity of 20 to 17. The Manning the Navy Bill went through com mittee. Lords ElLinborough, Hardwicke, and other peers, offered some objections on points of detail, but the bill ultimately passed the committee, on the understanding that the amendments were to be pro posed on bringing up the report. The Navy Pay Bill passed through committee. The Church Building Acts Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. The house adjourned at tive minutes to eleven. VIV O • - " (That's Latin, Wood ! but never mind) ; so, if we're to keep in, Perhaps some gentleman will say where I'm to find the tin ; New taxes, or Exchequer Bills ! the problem you may see, — We must get money, and we can't—wanted, a Q. E. 1). " I've essayed all I know, my friends, to borrow, beg, or rob, Telling John Bull I meant no harm with both hands in his fob; The honest man might find me out, but, to make sure he can't, Our friend has docked the schoolmaster and stopped the royal grant. " Five years must see the bills unpaid, and what's else to be done." Then with a smile unpleasant spake the Lord of Tiverton : " Speak fair to Bull, 0 Gladstone, and pat his hundred backs; If your obliged to tax his beer, of course he'll bear your tax." " Oh! don't be funny, Palmerston ! what say you, gentles grave?" And the thirteen Councillors of State thirteen opinions gave. Some were for selling Nicholas, and some the Baltic fleet, Until a strange Scotch gentleman rose on his hinder feet : " Pit out your bills, my 'addle, and get the siller in ; Dinna ye fash ! I'se warrant ye I ken the side maun win ; Ye needna trow ye'll come to pay—'gin we hand anither year, Ther'll be nae bonds to bore ye, and no bill-holders to swear." Oh ! first the thirteen Councillors were silent for a while, And next those thirteen Councillors they smiled a meaning smile ; But when the thirteen " took it " they cried at the same minute, " Lord Burleigh shakes his head, and, by St. George, there's something in it." That day the Exchequer Bills came out on the devoted town, — That day over his rum chuckled th' unconscious Brown ; And Gladstone dreamed that night he saw in motley triumph go The Pope along Westminster, and the Czar down Rotten•row. E. A. prehension had been entertained, had been made with perfect ease ; indeed the difficulty had been so small that the Government had made important reductions in the staff. The house went into committee on the Oxford University Bill. Clauses 20 and the following, giving to the Congre gation the power of discussing its amendments to the propositions of the Hebdomadal Board, gave rise to a lengthened discussion. Both were ultimately agreed to. The omission of clause 22, which permits of the debates in Congregation being carried on in English, was moved by Mr. WALPOLE. On a division the clause was ordered to stand part of the bill, by a majority of 134 to 70-64. An amendment was subsequently moved to clause 24, for the purpose of extending to Convocation the privileges granted to the Congregation of debating in the vernacular tongue. This amendment was carried to a division, and negatived by 140 votes to 00-41. Clause 25, relating to college oaths, was agreed to. The Chairman was then ordered to report pro gress, and the house resumed. The Gaming-houses Bill was read a third time and passed. The Valuation of Land (Scotland) Bill passed through committee. RESUSCITATION OF THE VIENNA CONFERENCE. THE intelligence that the Vienna Conference had been roused to new activity, and that a protocol had been signed by the representatives of the four ;rest Powers at Vienna, on the 23rd inst., by which the separate treaties of England, France, and Turkey on one side, and of Austria and Prussia on the other, are recognised, seems to have taken our press by sur prise. Even the Ministerial journals hesitate to pronounce a decided opinion on this unlooked-for occurrence, and are divided u to the effect it will probably have on the conduct of the war. The Times of yesterday, while endeavouring to show that the consequence of this protocol will be to isolate Russia, admits "that the result is somewhat anoma " lous, and that it would not be easy to find any " precedent of so direct an engagement between four " Powers, two of which are at war with a fifth Power, " while the two others are at peace." The Morning Chronicle, with a juster perception of the effect which this protocol is likely to produce on our public mind, endeavours to disarm apprehen sion by intimating that this diplomatic movement is not likely to arrest the activity of the armed allies : " Some surprise will have been excited by the statement that diplomatic measures have been taken to connect the open and plain-spoken engagement between France and England with the ambiguous compact which has been formed by Austria and Prussia. It is not in general con venient to put four horses in harness, unless they are to move at the same pace, and in the same direction. In the present instance, however one is standing still or backing— a second is expected to start in a short time— and two only are already in motion and pulling steadily together. • • • • HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FRIDAY. In answer to Mr. Seymour Fitzgerald, Mr. Head lam, and Mr. M. Gibson, Sir J. GRAHAM said that gun boats being small, and containing but little accommodation, could not carry medical officers. They would not be engaged with the enemy except in conjunction with larger vessels. It was intended to institute a vigorous blockadA of all the Russian ports in the Baltic and the Black Seas. The Government had not received informa tion of any actual blockade, except of Riga. When any further blockades were effected they would be announced in the Gnzette. It was not intended to blockade the ports of the White Sea. In answer to questions from Lord Dudley Stuart, Lord J. RUSSELL, said that a protocol had been signed at Vienna between the four powers, in the text of which were inserted the treaties between England and France, and between Austria and Prussia. As soon as received it would be laid on the table of the house. He further stated that no con versation had been entered into with Turkey similar to that with France respecting captured vessels. The house then went into committee of ways and means, when Mr. WILSON explained the course proposed for the Scotch spirit duties. The Excise Duties Bill passed through committee after a division on one of the clauses. In committee on the Income Tax Bill, Mr. GLADSTONE stated that the collection of the income tax in Ireland, concerning which some ap. NEWSPAPER STAMPS. THE Return issued of Stamps supplied to Newspapers in 1853 exhibits the following comparative results : NEWSPAPERS. Stamps Issued. Average Weekly Circulation. Atlas Britannia Examiner John Bull Leader ... PRESS [From May 7th to December 31at—Eight Months.] Spectator 76,500 105,508 241,525 95,000 120,700 123,000 146.50 1,470 2,029 4,684 1,826 2,321 3,514 2,817 TO CORRESPONDENTS. It is impossible to acknowledge the macs of letters we receive . Their insertion is often delayed, owing to a press of matter ; and when omitted, it is frequently from reasons quite lode. pendent of the merits of the communication. We cannot undertake to return communications of which we do not avail ourselves. Ccmmunications should always be legibly written, and on one side of the paper only. If long it increases the difficulty of finding space for them. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenticated by the name and address of the writer, not necessarily for publics. tion, but as a guarantee of his good faith. Advertisements sent from the country must be accompanied by a remittance or a reference for payment in town. TERMS OF TOR Etc Vrtoo: Per Annum .. Half-Yearly .. Quarterly .. L 1 8 0 0 13 0 0 8 8 Payable in advance. Subscribers are requested to send their Orders through their News Agent; it direct to the Office, accompanied by a Remit. Lance. 'Money Orders to be made payable to Mr. ALFRED 'VI, /10, Strand, London. - n* rog+ LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY 27, 1854. POSTSCRIPT. HOUSE OF LORDS.-FRIDAY. - - In answer to the Marquis of Clanricarde, The Earl of CLABZNDON said that the treaties between Austria and Prussia bad been conducted in the first instance in profound secrecy, but bad just been communicated to the Conference at Vienna, and embodied in a protocol which had not yet reached the Government. With respect to Greece, very voluminous papers would be laid on the table in the ~,: M It 7 M I 7 t 2