The Press. — London, England, 1858-02-20 00:00:00

I THE PRESS, FEBRUARY 20, 1858. o ffi ce rs to guide and direct it is difficult to engage the soldier in the healthful exercise of the gymnasium. We would ent r e a t th ose w ho b a y s been smarting under unjust attacks to believe that the best defence for themselves and the best refutation of the charges brought against them will be to strengthen the hands of the Commissioners to the utmost of their power, and enable them suco6ssfully to fight the battle of the soldier against the immoveable redtapeism and perverse obtuseness of a Secretary for War, who for the sake of " the public " e mploys engineer officers to do the work of civil architects, who to save the money of " the public " accepts tenders known to be below the market value of the goods to be supplied, and who refuses to cancel a contract because it is most advantageous to " the public" although it is shown to be most disadvantageous to the soldier. It is indeed time for " the public" to prove even to Lord PANMURE that, at any rate, the people of England consider their interests and those of their gallant defenders identical, and not antagonistic. The interview between Lord PALMERSTON and the representatives of the vast body of nobility and gentry in Ireland who felt aggrieved 1)3 the terms of Lord Chancellor BRADY'S recent letter on the tests for magisterial station, was of a most interesting character. The deputa• tion was courteously received, and the Premier seems to have spoken with seriousness, and without any offensive jocosity. The accom plished Member for Belfast (Mr. CAIRNS) stated the views of the depu tation, and he was ably supported by Mr. NAPIER and Mr. WurrEsine. Lords ENNISKILLEN, BELMORE, and CLAUD HAMILTON were also present, along with several other distinguished persons. Lord PALMERSTON knew one side of the question extremely well ; but the Noble Viscount has much yet to learn about the way in which Lord Chancellor BRADY makes magistrates. The Noble Viscount's views were too retrospec tive for the case actually before him ; and though of course the deputation could not enter into a long debate, it is obvious that Lord PALMERSTON was not aware that several of the appointments to the magistracy under his own Government are really more partial and onesided than if the authorities had taken its Irish J.P.'s from the class represented by the deputation. " I am not "myself," said the Right Honourable J. NAPIER, "a member of the "Orange Association, but I would sooner cut off my right hand than "sign the test of Lord Chancellor BRADY ;" and we cannot be surprised at that expression of opinion, when even English Radicals have denounced the letter of Chancellor BRADY as recalling the code of the " Star Chamber." It was well understood by the provincial Coppocks at the late general election that the return of the Whig candidate for South Northamptonshire was an exceptional event. The immense and legi timate influence of the house of Spencer, combined with the personal popularity of a young and talented gentleman, produced a result which, though for special reasons we regretted, was too much in accordance with constitutional principles to elicit any general feeling of chagrin. The return of Colonel CARTWRIOUT at the late election is R sufficient proof that Conservatism is still predominant in one of those English districts where it may naturally be expected to prevail. Lord HENLEY, we believe, is a popular man in the county, and has many good points in his character. But it was mistake to suppose that Northamptonshire had really become untrue to her political tradition simply on account of one election. Various circumstances have conspired to invest Lord PALNIERSTON with a meretricious greatness ; and under its influence several Liberal successes have occurred whictA had not the peculiar reasons to warrant them which applied to Lord ALTHORP. But as the true character of the last dissolution becomes better understood we may expect to see many such recantations even where the successful candidate has but a tithe of Colonel CARTWRIGHT'S political and social recommendations. The meeting at Dublin on Monday in defence of the menaced Irish Viceroyalty exhibited a remarkable array of noblemen, gentry, professional men, and merchants of opposite persuasions in religion and politics. No address delivered on this occasion was so eloquent as the brilliant oration delivered seven years since by Mr. WHITESIDE ; but two excellent speeches were made by Lord TALBOT DE MALAHIDE and by Colonel TAYLOR, M.P. The suggestion of Lord TALBOT DE MALAHIDE for improving the working of the Viceroyalty by organising the Irish Privy Council so as to employ it. on private bills deserves attentive consideration. The remarks of Colonel TAYLOR were shrewd and practial, and showed talent for public discussion which we hope the Gallant Officer will not allow to lie idle. The Political Economists were also ably represented by Dr. Haricoex, whose logical intellect could not but perceive the evils certain to follow from the removal of local Executive in a country like Ireland. On no other Irish question could such a combined array be found, and such a demonstration cannot but influence the decision of the Legislature upon the subject. The introduction of such a question by private Members of Parlia• meet is injurious to the authority of the Executive, and ought to be discouraged by the House of Commons. We are sorry that our esteemed contemporary the Dublin Daily Express has assailed the iceroyalty, and has treated with disdain the meeting of the citizens ot Dublin. We are aware that the onesided character of certain 'wept appointments has made some persons doubt the degree of pro tection afforded by the Viceroyalty ; but, as we said previously, from the abuse of our institution we cannot argue against its use, and we should be sorry to see Ireland handed over entirely to Lord Chancellor BRADY. THE CIVIS ROMANUS. The Civis Romanus " by Shrewsbury clock " His vaunts and excuses may stammer, His S.P.Q.R , and the rest of his stock, Will be shortly consigned to the hammer. For, bankrupt in credit, his future is clear— So clear there is nothing as plain as The fact that a fiat will shortly appear To wind up the Civis Romanus. For, hear it ye ghosts of the Palatine Hill, And hoot from your urns as we pea it, This Roman is silent and perfectly still, While the Gaul pulls his beard in the Senate. 181 The Gaul, whom he bragged he could pouud if he pleased, Like a Cribb, or a Belcher, or Thurtell, When his tongue was unloosed, and his whiskers were greased With the fat of the Mansion-house turtle. Such powers :lave Mansion-house punch and port wine To prick with a twinge of romance This butt of a Russian or Prussian design, This English sous prelet of France. The Civis, so plucky if peril's remote, Romanus, so bold at a distance, Had threatened to sink the poor Chinaman's boat, And did it—with Gallic assistance. But when the brave bully of China and Greece Is threatened by neighbouriag legions, Who call for free quarters au bords de Tamise, And dominoes, too, in these regions, When they call for their claret at Broadlands in Hants From the bins of the great Bottleholder, The Civis Romanus shrinks into his pants, And trembles at every beholder. They call him assassin No answer he sends To Walewski's impertinent vapour, For pressing occasion, or some other ends, Have exhausted his time or his paper. So fairly upset must the Civis be deemed, So thoroughly shaken and flustered, The " Palmerston Sauce " will be lightly esteemed Henceforth—with the Palmerston mustard. Thus, bankrupt in credit, and prostrate with fear, No future event is so plain as The fact that a fiat will shortly appear To wind up the Civis Romanus. And so the said Civis "by Shrewsbury clock" His vaunts and excuses may stammer, His S.P.Q.R., and the rest of his stock, \Vill be shortly consigned to the hammer. EX NIHILO NIHIL FIT. The Right Hon. President of the Board of Control shakes his head: there's nothing in it perhaps. but still bo shakes it —Vide Speech of Sir E. Buttoer Lytton. In good Queen Bess's halcyon day, We gather from The Critic play, Sagacious Burleigh shook his head, While statesmen great the lesson read, Rejoicing in his nod to see The wisdom of his policy. Rememb'ring this historic myth, A scion of the house of Smith Essayed by similar pretence To stay Sir Bulwer's eloquence — Chafing, like schoolboy 'neath the rod, Strove to subdue him by a nod. But sad, indeed, to see and tell, Was the result that then befel : Though waved the venerable locks, No sound came from the knowledge-box, And Bulwer, rising on the minute, Cried "Though you shake, there's nothing in it." Oh, Smith, what madness thus could tempt ye To demonstrate thy headpiece empty ? Forgetful of the obvious fact BAls have no music when they're cracked, Or ancient saw that runneth so— " Nihil fit ex nihilo."