The Press. — London, England, 1856-02-16 00:00:00

THE WEEK. THE period rapidly approaches when all doubts and uncertainties must be dispelled on the great question of Peace or War. The Paris Congress will, it is believed, assemble on Saturday next, the 23rd instant, and the Plenipotentiaries may be expected to show their hands as soon as the opening formularies have been accomplished. Baron BRUNOW arrived in Paris on Tuesday last. He was warmly cheered by the Parisians when his equipage was recognised, while the confidence reposed in his pacific mission and intentions makes him popular in all circles. We are assured that he has expressed himself averse to any kind of unnecessary delay, and that his own belief is that all substantial points may be settled in a week or ten days from the date of the Congress being constituted. Count ORLOFF arrived at Berlin on Thursday last, and is most likely now in Paris. Count BUOL and Count CAVOUR were expected last night, and Baron BOURQUENEY has arrived. Lord CI.ARENDON leaves London for the French capital this morning; AALI PACHA is not expected from Con stantinople till the 22nd instant. As matter of fact, we may notice that the article in THE PRESS of last Saturday on the admission of Prussia to the Congress, has excited much attention in continental circles. The Globe of last evening, in its Paris correspondence, sup poses that Prussia will be admitted. It is probable, however, that she will not be invited to send a Plenipotentiary until after Preliminaries of Peace have been settled and signed. The discussion in the Commons last night, on the difference with America, produced an uneasy feeling, and was remarkable for the change in the tone and manner of Lord PALMERSTON, as contrasted with his address a week previously. Then he was spirited, sanguine, and confident in the goodness of his cause, and succeeded in carry ing the House with him. Last night he was troubled and confused, and spoke with evident constraint. Mr. ROEBUCK showed that the dispute was really serious, and, so far as American documents could be relied on, he established a strong case against our authorities in America. The Government at Washington have demanded the recal of Mr. CRAMPTON and two of our Consuls. The correspondence be tween the two Governments is proceeding, but there seems reason to apprehend that a diplomatic rupture will take place. Mr. DISRAELI spoke on the question with reserve, and helped the Government out of its difficulty by recommending Mr. ROEBUCK to withdraw his motion for papers. It is singular to remark how exactly the predictions made when the Foreign Enlistment Bill was urged through the Legislature, more than a year ago, have been fulfilled by the results. One of the strongest objections to it was, that it would tend to embroil us with neutral States. The objection was overborne, and the caution it should have suggested was disregarded. The Foreign Legion has up to this time been of not the slightest service to us, though it has involved us in a serious difficulty with America, and has unfortunately placed us primarily in the wrong. The Londoners were stirred by a spectacle on Wednesday which appeared inconsistent with the prospects of peace now generally entertained. At daybreak, reinforcements for the Coldstream and Fusileer Guards in the Crimea marched to the Waterloo-bridge station of the South-Western Railway, with their band at their head playing the airs now so familiar to our ears of "Cheer, boys, cheer," and the " Girls we leave behind us." They arrived at Portsmouth the same afternoon, and embarked at once on board the Indian steam transport for their destination. In other respects the preparation for war goes regularly on, and the Stock Exchange was yesterday startled by a notification—which ought surely to have been foreseen—that a new loan would be immediately required. The PREMIER and the CHAN CELLOR of the EXCHEQUER will attend at the Treasury on Monday next to explain particulars as to the amount of the loan, and the time and manner of the bidding. It is supposed that the loan will be for 15,000,0001., and as at the same time t offers will be received for the funding of Exchequer Bills, it is supposed that 5,000,0001. of these Securities at least will be added to the Permanent Debt. The effect of this announcement was to cause a decline in the price of Public Securities to the extent of two per cent. Sir JOHN SHELLEY'S motion concerning the Irish Bench, on Thurs day last, did not receive the cordial support even of his own party. It is indeed difficult to conjecture what the motive for such a motion could have been. The report of the Lord Lieutenant last year was to the effect that Barons. PENNEFATHER, LEFROY, and TORRENS performed their duties in a perfectly satisfactory manner. There is a large retiring pension attached to the Judgeships, so that any suspicion of these eminent men being actuated by unworthy motives is clearly impossible. And we have the testimony of competent members of the legal profession, that even blindness does not necessarily incapacitate a judge for the discharge of his functions. But the most remarkable speech in the whole debate was Lord PALMERSTON'S. He admitted he did not believe the charges adduced against the Irish Judges, but still he voted for the motion because it was " constitutional." It is consti tutional then to institute an inquiry upon false grounds into the con duct of a class of men whom there ought to be the greatest delicacy about calling to account, even upon true ones ! At all events it must be admitted this is not, to use Mr. Disaarr.i's words, "one of those "irresistible cases which renders it the duty of the House to interfere." Anything more disheartening to men who have borne the toil and heat of the day we cannot conceive, than the motion of the Honourable Member for Westminster. To assume, A priori, that men of eighty S►nd upwards are ineeirpetent, is absurd, in the face of such instances THE PRESS. as LYNDHURST and MANSFIELD, RADESTRY and WELLINOTOI attempt to prove incompetency in the particular cases admitted by the political friends of the mover to failure. We believe it is now determined - that Mr. MONi charge of the Estimates in the House of Commons. the statement we made to that effect some months decision was not made without considerable resistance Mr. PEEL, whose office is now reduced to a mere sineei such circumstances it is not surprising that the Treasr beginning to ask why there should be an 3 longer two Under• Secretaries? There is no symptom of concession about the . American Senate. The most important is that of on the 31st of January. Mr. SEWARD'S remarks are deci to this country, though not expressed in such strong ► countrymen sometimes indulge in. In fifty years, he very latest, Great Britain will have disappeared from hemisphere. And war, he thinks, will rather retard the desired consummation. In regard to the Ceti) difficulty he repudiates the idea of arbitration—" that," hi "be surrendering our just rights." He goes on to event of war Canada could not refuse annexation, mends notice being given to Great Britain that cise of dominion in South America will be interfered " does not discontinue it within one year." On the CASS, Mr. CLAYSTON, and Mr. COLLAMER, all spoke to nr, effect. And the conclusion to which we are driven is. tha United States may not desire war, they will nct recede the position they have taken up. It is lamentable to countries on the verge of war about such a trifle. This the Americans must be met by calmness and friendly fram part. If they are bent on quarrelling, we hope the of provoking the war will rest upon them. The Marquis of BLANDFORD has introduced a bill int for the rearrangement of our parochial system. The existf evil it is proposed to remedy no one denies. And the pr new bill appears, as far as we can judge at present, objectionable character. It is a matter of notoriety tha, parishes so large and populous and ill-endowed as to be neglected, and others so small and so wealthy as to be ur jects of invidious comment. This state of things, howel those very rare events which may properly be cal fault. And the clergy will only then be to blame when ' needless opposition to the required reforms. Lord It poses to do away with the system of districts—to make district a parish in itself—and to create new ones—th( all cases to belong to the endower. We are far from defects may be apparent in the proposed measure whet experienced eyes. But we confess we ourselves regard as a step in the right direction. And surely no private venture to set their own temporary interests in opposition if it is shown to be thoroughly in accordance with Church and calculated to bind up and hold together the somewl incongruous materials of her modern system. A SECOND NEWS-LET TO A COUSIN IN FOREIGN PARTS, Dear coz, since my latest epistle The town's getting lively and full, And John Bull's had to swallow a thistle For which even his jaws are dull. For while Knighthood is given to heroes As scantly as Ministers dare, There are several fortunate zeroes Who've had an unmerited share. Dundas has been given the Order, Ben Hawes has accepted the same, Andrew Smith from the north side the Bordi Would have added a Sir to his name. But the cannie Scot scouted the honour; Quoth he, " A' the country will jeer, And the fees to that daft Heralds' College Mak' the knighthood bald' feckless and dear. "Apropos," as the French say, " of hoots," That is while of Scotchmen we speak, Have ye seen the grammatical gems That Panmure promulgated last week ? Decreeing in wonderful phrase An order of valour for those Whose bravery merits the praise Of their leaders when linked with their foe! The sense I cannot quite unfold Of the sentence beginning " Whereas," But this order I'm credibly told Won't be given to Chads or Dundas. Lord Lyndhurst, a lawyer of mark, Has carried his motion to sift The title of poor Baron Parke, And deterrairie its meaning and drift. SATURDAY, N s e G ar c'hw' (3 f oeor while t e tnP u complete el 1e ls be a e 48ELL is to have This ;but the eon c onfirms sinee _ meatthe part of re, Under be o usury should Parliamentary f th e speeches ° RD, r . sEwA . ec ; Md edlY host ile his us, at the ashingla tells m the Western than accelerate American ld ntral a, "would he say a, that 1 - 3 state, reeom. 1, e‘nhaer ifexsehre at with,r. red 28th "' the sam e muchthough the that inch fromgreat e one two ot its see petulance pe ss on our rankness responsibility re oil House he the into nee of the principle xiate of an. ,eof an few to ° re are at the unavoidably be unavoidably isone ofnobody's ever, __ ;ailed offer eruoj- , they,osoan R BL" existinge in e eyetrryonag,- no me pa that, by saying that present t 1 examinedatvill 1 it persons elm to to a reform tion, principlesand ure" loose what rE R s. ler ear' es. 111 156