The Press. — London, England, 1855-02-17 00:00:00

FEBRUARY 17, 1855. lortign 6orrtsponboat. FRLNKFORT, February. Tut reconstruction of the Aberdeen Ministry, even with Lord Palmerston as Premier, has in some degree reassured the downcast spirits of the Russo • Prussians. From the reported disrelish of Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Sidney Herbert to join Lord Palmerston without the company of the Presby terian leader, it is inferred they have stipulated that his Germanic policy is to be continued. Such corn pact is opposed to the sympathies of Lord Palmers ton for the Emperor of the French, and to the former policies of an earlier day, although strictly in keeping, with the late acts of Lord Clarendon, in whose bands England is far from adopting that virile energy which the Premier was wont to put in force with such happy effect. He will either conduct the foreign policy in direct contempt of the Gladstone clique, and of their German and Orleans tendencies, or be will have to continue the imbecility he con demned in others. The frank and fearless speech of Lord Derby, wherein he confessed the personal intimacy of Lord Palmerston with our imperial ally the Emperor of the French to be a Strong reason for desiring him to occupy a commanding position in his Ministry, has perfectly proved the justice of that apprehension with which the Russian and Prussian party regarded the advent to power of the great Con servative leader. Much astonishment, however, has been evinced in the "Judenstrasse " that Lord Derby should have proposed for Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Sidney Herbert to form a junction with Mr. Disraeli. There are connections with Liverpool, in this place, who say without reluctance that Mr. Gladstone has always made known his profound dislike to Mr. Disraeli, and that his friends and allies have generally asserted he would never act in concert with that particular person to whom the Peelites attribute the fall of their late leader Sir Robert Peel, and his loss of office. Besides, they turn to the published divisions of the Commons, and point to the name of General Peel, a pseudo Conservative, who deserts the party and votes against Mr. Disraeli whenever be divides the house, more faithful to personal enmity than political principle. At a recent contested election betwixt a friend of Mr. Gladstone and a Derby Con servative of unswerving fidelity and honour, it was boldly put forward by the Romanist and Gladstone party that a hope existed on their part for a reunion of Conservatives proper and improper, Derbyites and Peelites—that only one obstacle existed, Mr. Dis raeli—and when the time arrived the necessary sacrifice would be made. You perceive that even at Frankfurt information of English tactics is not other wise than correct, and none are better instructed than the Judaic brethren on passing events. The change in the English Ministry, and the anti cipated instability of the present, which is only a version of the last, coupled with the clear plan of the French future in regard to Germany, has given a new turn to affairs. They consist now of two dis tinct questions—Russo-Crimean and German exclu sive. Were there to be a peace to morrow the Pan- Germanists would force on the discussion of their claims and grievances. The separation betwixt north and south, Prussia and Austria, is increasing every hour. The letter of M. Drouyn de Lbuys has resuscitated the old central party which formerly proposed to elevate Hesse Darmstadt into a kingdom, and with 13avaria, Wurtemberg, and Saxony, create a balance of power betwixt the two Emperors; for Prussia, in that case, would have a Northern Im perial Crown according to the plan of the great Frederick. On the contingent question Bavaria and Wurtemberg have checkmated both Austria and Prussia, and, having found out their power, will not willingly quit their vantage ground. M. de Bismarck has i pened his game, with or without orders, with great inaiscretion, and he cannot control the eager advocates of the " Haus Politik," who cling as tenaciously to the rnemoried projects of aggrandisement of Frederick 11. as the Muscovites to the directions of the will of Peter the Great. The Austrian and Prussian officers walk about Ma)ence and Frankfort siler' When the struggle comes it will soldiers of Austria are apt to desik sians as "pfiffig," or sharper that with honesty, and in retort the Prussia the Southerne by the term " dumr When compliments of this nature bayonets they are a prognostication weather." The league of Western Euroi gradually augmenting in numerical sire directed against Russia and Prussia, Germany will have its fatherland par betwixt two magnificent French armies, recollections not favorable to that 15 require a searclung investigittOn— Ziond cries of , hear")—in order that th proper remedy should be applied, and that the blame—if blame there be—should fall on the right shoulders (Loud cheers.) These two points it behoves the Government to lose no time in attending to; but at the same time I must remark that it has been the fashion, perhaps too indiscriminate/y, to pour out blame on the heads of those actually engaged iu carrying on operations in the Crimea; and I would have the censurers to recollect that there are others besides those actually engaged in those operations who must bear their share of whatever blame may arise out of the mode in which they have been oarried on. Recollect that in time of peace this (*entry has always been most jealous of the existence of a standing army. We have had, in proportion to the extent, wealth, and power, of this country, perhaps the smelle,st finny of any Euro pean power, and,small as it was, it has always been looked upon with jealousy, has had every augmentation watched with the utmost vigilance, and, as a general rule, pre vented when prevention was possible. (Hear, hear.) We had, further, that army so used and so placed, that it was not likely, at the commencement of a war, to be perfect for the purposes of extended warfare. But our business now is to use every effort to repair the emirs that Dave been committed, to apply the proper remedies, to prevent their repetition, and so to strengthen and maintain our army, as that ultimately we may feel a moral certainty of success. If peace is to be obtained, those who are anxious for it should contribnte their best efforts towards the vigorous and active prosecution of the war. (Loud cheers.) You are aware that her Mejesty's Government has deputed one of the most eminent statesmen of the present day to negotiate—if negotiations be honestly sad fairly oonduoted—for a peace which may be honourable for England and honourable for the whole world. There is no doubt that if any country in Christendom has en interest in peace, it is England, with her thimense com mercial interests in all parts of the world, and, above all, with the strong religious feelings of the people, which make them pre-eminently desirous of peace. We have entered into the war reluctantly, but we have done so from a sense that the peace of Europe was threatened by a power which, if not resisted new, might become too powerfhl for resistance hereafter. ( Hear, hear.) The war was entered into from no selfish motives—although everything that in terests Ensland interests all Europe —no, fur the peace of Europe and the rest of the world have we entered into this contest, and whenever it is concluded it must be concluded on terms which will give us solid reasons for expecting that peace will not be again disturbed, or the progress of free intercourse and civilisation rudely interrupted. (Hear, hear.) The right honourable gentleman resumed his seat amid general cheering, mixed with a few dis cordant cries such sti " Who starved the soldiers?" " Green coffee ?" " Why spare Odessa," &o. The Seotsman sa"s :—Lord Raglan will, we have some reason to believe, return home immediately, though under what circumstances, i. e., what degree of compulsion, may he disputed. Lord Lucan, the commander of the cavalry, will certainly be recalled. Several of the superior officers iu the departments of the Quartermaster-General and the Commissariat have, we think we may staxe, been also removed from their commands and ordered home. Mn. W. S. LINDSAY, M.P., left Paris yesterday week for Maiseille A s and will probably extend his jouthey to Malta. Ills object is to organise a regu lar service of transports for the sick of the Crimea, direct to Marseilles, and to establish hospitals along the coast. LOAD GODERICH has declined to accept the Secre taryship of the India Board, vacated by the resigna tion of Mr. Lowe. MR. Bleussm, M.P., the Clerk of the Ordnance, bat resigned his office. THE REV. Ma. CHICHESTER, who succeeds to the vast estates of the last Lord O'Neil (valued at 40,0001. per annum, and wholly free from incurn brances), is at present incumbent of St. Michin's, one of the poorest parishes in Dublin, and to which he was but recently promoted from the still poorer incumbency of St- Michael's. By a late parlia mentary return it appears that the annual amount of " minister's money" to which the latter parish is liable is no more than 361. WE have been surprised that for some weeks past nothing has been heard of Mt. Nasmyth and his wrought-iron guns, but something—not the guns— has turned up at last; in fact, We cat has come out of the bag, although the guns bare not yet come put of the foundry, nor, if all we hear is correct, are they likely ever to attain that desirable liberty. Mr. Na smyth it appears some weeks back applied to the Duke of Newcastle upon the subject of indemnification for - of it indertaki - That VRESS. cry of " Viva Napoleon " in the Rhine lands will be an awkward sound, and at the slightest sign of duplicity or overt bearing to Russia by the kinglets of Germany the French will march right over them— a German promenade. The King of Prussia jocu larly remarked, over a beaker of Steinberger, that he could not answer the Eastern question. He will have to set it to music, in which his old friend Lord Westmoreland may assist him, and then he will have to dance and pay the French piper for playing the Strauss artillery. J. E. L. 61tttion THE TIVERTON ELECTION took place on Monday, when Lord Palmerston was returned in his absence and without opposition. The proceedings were en tirely formal, with the exception of two brief addresses of complimentary character by Messrs. Amory and Hall, respectively the proposer and seconder of the noble viscount's re-election. SIR G. C. LEWIS was returned, on the 4th inst., as member for the Radnor Boroughs, without opposi tion. In his address from the hustings he spoke against the proposal to make England a great mili tary power : It is our true wisdom '(he said) to limit ourselves to that amount of military force which shall enable us to de fend our own shores, and to protect our great dependen cies abroad. If we can maintain such a military power as shall protect the vast region of India, and our distant •colonies in Australia, and in America, and if we can com pletely defend our own coasts, it appears to nie that the objects of our national policy have been fulfilled. I should regret if we should embark in any mere ambitious projects. I wish to see the extinction of that inordinate and senseless desire which has been sometimes expressed of late, almost usurping the functions of Providence for going in all parts of the world to redress wrong and to see that right is done ; and that we should confine ourselves to the assertion of those legitimate international rights which a moderate military power will enable us to enforce. THE NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES FOR WINDSOR came off on Wednesday. Much excitement bad for some days prevailed in the town, in anticipation of a contest, Mr. Hope being expected to come forward as a rival to Mr. Ricardo to fill the vacancy in the re presentation caused by the retirement of Lord Chas. Wellesley. On the morning of the election, how ever, the friends of Mt. Hope announced that he would not persevere in the contest, and Mr. Ricardo was accordingly returned without opposition. In addressing his constituents after the proceedings, the new member said : He was a friend to political progress, to the education of the people, and indeed to every messure tending to improve the moral, social, and intellectual condition of the working classes of this country. All those measures he would support to the best of his abilty ; but at present the country was occupied with the consideration of a still graver question—that connected with the war. All he would say was, that he believed that the Ministry which bad been now formed was the only practicable Ministry under the existing circumstances of the country, and he believed that Ministers would carry out measures of im portance, by means of which they would secure the comfort and success of our troops in the Crimea, and would care fully watch for the time when an honourable and perma nent peace could be secured. (Cheers.) A general peace in Europe was most important for the mercantile interests in this country, and when it could be honourably ob tained, be (Mr. Ricardo) would be one of its most earnest supporters. Ix the event of a dissolution of Pariiiunent tile Right Hon. John Parker, ex-M.P. for Sheffield, will be requested by a numerous and influential body of electors to offer himself as one of the representatives of the West Riding in the room of Mr. Cobden, whose views on the question of the war have rendered him unpopular amongst a very large portion of the community. IN anticipation of a vacancy in the representation of Cavan, by the appointment of Sir John Young to the Lord High Commissionership of the lonian Islands, the Hon. Cavendish Butler, brother of Lord Lanes borough, has consented to come forward as a midi date in the Conservative interest. THE Souris WILTS ELECTION began and concluded on Thursday, Mr. Sidney Herbert being returned without opposition. The new Home Secretary after wards made a long speech. Alluding to the war, he Great. The Austrian and rrussian omez.rii wain wards made a long speech. Alluding to the war, ne •------- -r—: about May epee and Frankfort silent and tho u g htful. remarked: the necessary expenses a his undertaking. That When the struggle comes it will be severe. The There is no denying that the circumstances of the active man of business gave several sleepless nights soldiers of Austria are apt to deiknate the Prus. country are at this moment critical in the extreme. ( Hear.) to the application, and at length decided that the sians as "pfiffig," or sharper than is consistent The war in which we are engaged with a most powerful best thing to be done was to refer the matter to the with honesty, and in retort the Prussians affectionate enemy is one which requires at our hands every effort of Board of Ordnance, as the cost of making guns the Southerns by the term " dumm," or noodles. which this co untry is capable, and the exercise of every must clearly belong to that department. The Board . When compliments of this nature fly about amongst energy which its people possess. We have had to wage issued orders to Mr. Nasinyth to discontinue his bayonets they are a prognostication of "dirty that war with an army—one of the finest, noblest, that ever proceedings until the weighty matter of " Who's to left the shores of this country—one that never encouu• l weather." The league of Western Europe, which i s ay,"—Pall Mellor Whitehall'—could be considered. gradually augmenting in numerical strength, will be treecreednuthe met t enem o y l except to conquer ; but r which d has leanwhile, spring is coming round, the Baltic will , , an en_e m m e y e m n o d re ise e and uy e m .h o io e b our ang n ero ob u le s directed against Russia and Prussia, and Central than an Y mhumwani soon be open once more, strong gnus with long / Germany will have its fatherland paradise placed army ha y s Veen crippled foe. I n crippled to a fearful extent. That army ranges will be wanted, betwixt two magnificent French armies, animated by as they already are wanted at has had to encounter privations and hardships which have Sebasto p ol, and the Ordnance have not decided recollections not favorable to that paradise. The been borne with a heroism almost unexampled, but which which department is to bear the expense. L...