The Press. — London, England, 1855-09-08 00:00:00

SEPT. 8, 1855. FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE. If on this verse of mine Those eyes shall ever shine, Whereto sore-wounded men have louked for life, Think not that for a rhyme, Nor yet to fit the time, I name thy name, true victress in this strife: But let it serve to say That, when we kneel to pray, Prayers rise for thee thine ear shall never know; And that thy gallant deed, For God, and for our need, Is in all hearts, as deep as love can go. 'Tis good that thy name springs From two of Earth's fair things— A stately city, and a soft-voiced bird ; "Es well that in all homes, When thy sweet story comes, And brave eyes fill—that pleasant sounds be heard. Oh voice! in night of fear, As night's bird, soft to hear, Oh great heart ! raised like city on a hill ; Oh watcher ! worn and pale, Good Florence Nightingale, Thanks, loving thanks, for thy large work and will ! England is glad of thee— Christ, for thy charity, Take thee to joy when hand and heart are still ! HANDBOOK TO MINISTERIAL LONDON. THE following addenda will be introduced into the next edition of Mr. Cunningham's invaluable " Handbook to London." They have received the approbation of the distinguished personages they refer to : PICCADILLY. Thoroughfare from the Haymarket to Hyde-park Corner. It was so called after a tailor, and, in consequence, tailors have to call after some of the residents a great many times before they can get their money. Eminent Inhabitants.—Lord Palmerston, statesman. House on the terrace, where this historical character lived circ. 1855. The window is still pointed out at which he made the celebrated bon mot about his predecessor in office. Somebody remarking that the trees before them would soon shut out the old abbey, his Lordship replied, " I shut out an old Abby myself once." On this nobleman was made the well-known epigram by Lord Monteagle— E. A. • •, -•Pam Pam, He is a sham. Indeed, the witticisms of that age, either attributed to the said " Pam" or made upon him, are innumerable, and his jokes upon the subject of the Crimean disasters are among his best things. The house was after wards purchased by Tom Matthews, the wealthy clown, who, to his credit be it said, preserves a becoming reverence for his predecessor and rival. BROOK-STREET. So called from Master Brook, mentioned by Shakspere. Eminent Inhabitants.—Chancellor Cranworth, temp. Vic toria. He is said to have been so astonished at finding himself made Chancellor, that he could hardly believe it, and carried the Mace about with him everywhere for more than a fortnight, also wearing the Great Seal bag as an apron. He was only checked by a couplet addressed to him by the witty Premier of the day, who, meeting him in this grotesque guise, exclaimed— Cranny, Cranny, Are you shanny? Lord Granville (Statesman of the Great Exhibition, 413) records that he was a very humble-minded man, and if he had auy pride it was that he was ever ready to do as he was bid. Four doors off resided Lord Panmure, better known as Fox Maule, who must not be confounded with the celebrated judge of that name, who was called " the clever Maule," to distinguish him from the nobleman. Being very fond of shooting, this nobleman was made War Minister by Lord Palmerston as one of his practical jokes ; and it is recorded that Lord Panmure always supposed himself to have gained the celebrated battle of the Tschernaya (1855), because he remained in town, in his office, when it was fought. instead of hurrying off to the country. He held singular theological views, and the hats called Pantiles were called after him. CARLTON TERRACE. " Vawstly convenient residence for official men." (Political Dandy of 1850.) Eminent Inhabitant.—Duke of Argyll, statesman. He erected an altar to Self-conceit, which no spectator can fail to observe. Lord Granville records that he was called Rufus, but does not say why, and to him Goldsmith dedicated his " Sweet Auburn." He made himself a great reputation, when a very young man, by instructing the Bishops in the true principles of religion, in which he found them very ignorant when he entered the House of Lords, and to his unhesitating correction of their errors we owe, under Providence, the present efficient condition of the English Hierarchy. KNIGHTSBRIDGE. On the road to Hammersmith. Eminent Inhabitant.—Sir G. Cornewall Lewis, statist and arithmetician. It was he who reduced the principles of finance to their present state of sim plicity, by enunciating the clear rule, namely, that the way to get money is to lay on taxes ; and, if you want more money, you must lay on more taxes. This discovery ranks with those of Newton and Fara- L. THE PRESS. 857 day; but, like all grand inventions, it was met by ignorant impatience on the part of the people. Lord Palmerston put him into office, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, merely because his name suggested a joke "We want tin," said the Premier; " then we must go to Corn wall for it." He was an eminently consistent man, however; and if the taxes he imposed were heavy, they were nothing to the heaviness of the speeches in which he recommended them. I3auToN STREET, Berkeley Square. Eminent Inhabitants.—The tenants of the Zoological Society's Museum, and Lord Granville. The former were in very good odour, chiefly camphor. The latter was also popular, being exceedingly good-natured. He was a good deal per secuted at one time by Lord John Russell, on account of his being able to speak French to Lord Palmerston, and the former nobleman always fancying that something was being said in ridicule of himself. On this ground he turned Lord Granville out of the Council chair, but he was reinstated on Lord John's fiasco. He joked, for Lord Palmerston, in the House of Lords, until the Premier was ennobled as Lord Collins de Malapert, when Lord G. devoted himself to writing introductions to pantomimes. Savile Row. Behind Burlington House. Eminent Inhabitant.— Vernon Smith. He was made President of the Board of Control, and, as soon as this was known in the distant provinces of India, a rebel lion broke out,—the natives thinking, from his name, that he was a mere plebeian. But this was appeased by Mr. Smith's writing a beautiful letter to the disaffected persons, containing an extract from one of his own speeches,wherein he praised the Biitish Constitution, which allowed him to mingle with plebeians in the morning, and to put on nice white gloves and join the aristocrats at night. This paci fied the District, and Mr. Smith's name will be remembered when Clive's and Bentinck's are forgotten. LITERARY NOTICE. LORD JOHN RUSSELL has, with his usual consideration, yielded to the wishes of his admirers, and consented to forestall the period of a month, originally intended to elapse before the publioadon of his second number. In the part before us we recognise his judicious selection from the beauties of our poets. We select for extract an adaptation of one of the songs of his literary, political, and social protégé, Mr. Thomas Moore NORA CREINA. Vernon hath a beaming eye, But no one knows fur whom it. beameth ; As his words at random fly, What they mean no mortal dreameth. Sweeter 'tis to gaze upon My Molesworth's lip that seldom rises ; Few his words, but every one, Like unexpected bray, surprises. Oh, Sir William Molesworth, Bart., My gentle, bashful William Moles worth, Beauty lies In many eyes, But love in yours, Sir William Molesworth. Vernon wears a coat of gold, But all around his neck he's lac'd it ; His whisker, curl'd iu Fashion's mould, Stays where the Bostrokeizon's plac'd it. Oh, Sir William's locks for me, That float as wild as mountain breezes, Leaving all his beauties free As overbounteous Nature pleases. Yes, Sir William Molesworth, Bart., My simple, graceful William Molesworth, Nature's dress Is loveliness— The dress you wear, Sir William Molesworth. Vernon hath his speech refin'd, But when its points are in their fulness, Who can tell if they're design'd As heavy wit, or jocund dullness ? Pillow'd on the Treasury Bench In safer slumber, Hobbes reposes— Man of speech, whose roughest wrench Is but the snoring of all noses. Oh, Sir William Molesworth, Bart., My mild, my artless William Molesworth, Apsley Pel.latt* Is not so flat When by your side, Sir William Molesworth ! Q. * M.P. for Southwark, and consequently colleague of the Colonial Secretary. Par nobile! VERNON SMITH'S ENTERTAINMENT. MR. VERNON SMITH, jealous of the superior fame of his namesake Albert, and fired with emulation of Mr. Gordon Cumming's entertain ment, has determined to givo one of his own, describing the joys and conquests of his Parisian experiences. As may be expected, it will be completely novel We have been favored with a sight of the programme. MR. VERNON SMITH'S LECTURE, illustrated with English, Irish, Scotch, and Ethiopian Melodies, and French Chansonettes. Under