The Press. — London, England, 1855-02-03 00:00:00

ORDER OF MERIT. On Monday, in answer to a question from Lord Vivian, the Duke of NEWCASTLE stated that it was the intention of her Majesty to institute a cross of military merit applicable to all ranks of the army. The cross would be awarded on the opinion of a jury of soldiers, and would be attainable by all, from the highest general to the humblest private. THE PRESS AND ITS RATIONS. Mr. S. HERBERT then further stated in reply to another question that the Times correspondent had be allowed to purchase his provisions from the com missariat stores by order of Sir C. Trevelyau, who thought that otherwise he would be subject to great privation. The Government had given no order on the subject, nor could he state if any other newspaper correspondent had been allowed the same privilege. PACKAGES FOR THE CRIMEA. In the House of Commons on Thursday, in answer to Mr. A. Stafford, Mr. COWPER stated that instruction had been given to the authorities in the dockyards to receive packages addressed to the officers in the Crimea, and to for ward them as opportunity offered. RECEPTION OF THE SICK AND WOUNDED AT PORTSMOUTH. Mr. S. HERBERT on Monday, in answer to Mr. M. Milnes, stated that a strict inquiry had been insti tuted into the circumstances of the reception of the Himalaya at Portsmouth, and the alleged neglect of the authorities in the reception of the sick and wounded. The Himalaya had sailed into har bour before it was expected, and before the return of an officer who had been sent on board to inquire into her movements. The authorities had waited the return of the officer, and were taken by surprise. DURATION OF ENGLISH MINISTRIES. THE following account of the names and duration of the various Administrations which have governed England since the passing of the Reform Act of 1832 may, at this moment, be interesting to all parties. The Ministry of the late Earl Grey held office from November, 1830, to August, 1834, and was instrumental in carrying the bill for the reform of the representative system. On the resignation of Earl Grey, in August, 1814, the Whig Ministry was modi fied, and Viscount Melbourne was raised to the office of First Lord of the Treasury. This Ministry was dissolved by William IV., in November, 1834, when Sir Robert Peel was summoned by the King from Rome to form a nevi • Government on moderate Conservative principles. Sir Robert's tenure of offiee, however, was brief, for in the following April (1835 ) the right hon. baronet was der feated on the famous " Appropriation Clause " of the Irish Tithe Bill, and Lord Melbourne once resumed the reins of Government. This, the second Melbourne Ministry, endured from April, 1835, to August, 1841, or upwards of six years, exclusive of the week's interregnum in 1839, when Lord Melbourne temporarily resigned, and was rein stated on the refusal of Sir R. Peel to take office under circumstances which need not now be reverted to. In the summer of 1841 the Whigs were defeated in two Parliaments elected under their own auspices, and Sir R. Peel formed that Administration which carried the principle of free trade. and was eventually upset in 1846 by the secession of its protectionist supporters. Lord John Russell's Administration, which succeeded, lasted from June, 18411, to February, 1852, when a defeat on the Militia Bill induced his lordship to resign office. Then came the Administration of the Earl of Derby and the " country party," which lasted about nine months. It was dissolved just before Christmas, 1852, and the Earl of Aber deen succeeded as the head of a Coalition Ministry. This Administration has lasted a little more than two years. It will be seen that the second Ministry of Viscount bourne held office for upwards of six years, that of Sir Peel ( the second Ministry) nearly five years, and of Lord John Russell nearly six years. During the S ort period in question—viz., from 1834 to 1854, three appeals were made by existing Ministries to the public opinion of the nation—by the usual constitutional course of a general election. Thus, Sir Robert Peel dissolved Parliament in December, 1834, and the result was a considerable. but not adequate, accession of parliamentary support; Lord Melbourne dissolved in 1841, but the country returned a majority of 100 against him; and the Earl of Derby's ap peal to the people, in 18.5'2, was, to judge from the result, similarly, though not equally, unsuccessful. ONE of the latest propositions of Sir James Gra - reconstruction of the Transport Board, ham was the reconstruction of the Transport Board, Dunlop, A. M. Mandeville, Vies. Welby, Sir U. E. PUY" ft iew weeas billet, rstsyn 411 C AV CM. A Ell MT ...1•••••••7 which the right hon. baronet broke up when Find Dnnne, Colonel Mangles, B. D. Whatman, J. while the crews of the American vessels were en- Lord of the Admiralty. The immense work of the Du Pre, C. G. Manners, Lord G. Whiteside, J. gaged in securing their cargoes, they were driven Admiralty victualling and transport service for the East, Sir J. B. March, Earl of Whitmore, H. away by an armed ship belonging to the Government war has been carried on by the comptroller of vic- Ebrington, Visc. Martin, .1. Wilkinson, W.A. of Venezuela, and the island taken possession of by Walling and transports, Mr. T. T. Grant, assisted Egerton, Sir P. Massey, W. N. Williams, W. a body of soldiers. Now, the question is, to whorl' Egerton, E. C. Masterman J. Willoughby, Sir H. does this island belong ? There is an island called by Mr. Leyburn, Captain Milne, the Junior Lord of . Sir H . tinley, Viscount Meuz, Sir H. Wise, A. the Admiralty, having the charge of that department Farnham , E. B. m . B F la , B. Woodd, B. T. Ayes just off the coast of Venezuela, which un- at the board ; and the value of the services of these Fa r, J. Miles, W. Wyndham, H. doubteuly belongs to that Government ; but the Isle gentlemen may be estimated by a knowledge of the F'ellowes , E. Mills, T. Wynn, Sir W. Ayes we refer to was formerly under the Danish flag, fact, that but for their arrangements the army in the Filmer, Sir E. Milner, W. M. E. Wynne, W. W. E. and has been claimed by the French. At all events, Crimea would have been literally starved, for that Fitzgerald. W. R. Milton, Viscount Yorke, Hon. E. T. it is pretty certain that Venezuela has no just claim army has been subsisting on vavy provisions, and in Ftzwllin.,Hn.C.W. Michell, W. to it. Here is a chance for Mr. Marcy ; and, as there spite of the Duke of Newcastle's blunders.—Herald, Fezwllta.,Hn.G.W. Mitchell, T. A. TZLLXRS. probably is more guano on this little island than on ANOTHER suspension in the Cape and Australian Floyer, J, S. Montgmery., Sir G. Berkeley, C. the whole group of Gallipagos, it is certainly worth H Drummond 0. , H. trade has been announced, the firm being that of Icalfl4 l3 . Morgan, his attention. It would be well enough to settle the Messrs. Walton, Viney, 04 CO. The amount of . 4 , • • • m —. floe •ktftec 1•1 ownership, so that our shipmasters may know who their liabilities is supposed to be moderate. 'IO/ * 5..... t ' -.-•-d ••;' t* sr esii .rtfira ; to deal yntb. THE PAESS. THE DIVISION. The following are the names of the members who voted respectively in the majority and minority, on Monday night, in the division upon Mr. Roebuck's motion : That a select committee be appointed to inquire into the condition of our army before Sebastopol, and into the conduct of those departments of the Government whose duty it has been to minister to the wants of that army. MAJORITY—AYES. Adderley, C. B. Forester, Colonel Mowatt, F. Alcock, T. Forster, C. Mowbray, J. R. Alexander, J. Forster, J. Mullings, J. It. Arbuthnott, Gen. Franklyn, G. W. Muntz, G. F. Archdall, Capt. M. French, F. Murrough, J. P. Arkwright, G. Frewen, C. H. Neeld, John Atherton, W. Gallwey, Sir W. Neeld, Joseph Bailey, Sir J. Galway, Viscount Newark, Viscount Bailey, C. Gardner, R. Newdegate, C. N. Ball, E. Gaskell, J. M. Newport, Viscount Baldock, E. H. George, J. North, Colonel Barrington, Viac. Gilpin, Colonel Oakes, J. H. P. Barrow, W. H. Gladstone, Capt. Ossulton, Lord Bateson, T. Goddard, A. L. Otway, A. J. Beckett, W. Goderich.Viscount Packe, C. W. Bective, Earl of Gooch, Sir E. S. Pakington, Sir J. Bellew, T. Graham, Lord M. Palk, L. Bennet, P. Granby, Marquis of Palmer, Robert 13entinck, Lord H. Greenall, G. Paxton, Sir J. Bentinck, G. P. Greene, J. Peacocke, G. M. Beresford, W. Gregson, S. Pellatt, A. Berkeley, Hon. F. Grenfell, C. W. Percy, Hon. J. W. Biggs, W. Gumness, It. S. Perry, Sir T. Blantlford, Marq. Gwyn, H. Phinn, T. Bohlen), Colonel Hadfield, G. Pigoi, F. Booker, T. W. Hale, R. B. Portal, M. Brady, J. Halford, Sir H. Powlett, Lord W. Brantley-Moore, J. Hall, General Pritcbard,J. Bramston, T. W. Hamilton, Lotd C. Ramaden, Sir J. Brocklehurat, J. Hamilton, G. A. Reed, J. H. Brown, H. Hamilton, J. H. Ricardo, J. L. Bruce, C. L. C. Hanbury,Hn. C. S. Ricardo, 0. Bruce, H. A. Harcourt, Colonel Rich, H. Buck, L. W. Hayes, Sir E. Robertson, P. F. Buller, Sir J. Y. Headlam, T. E. Roebuck, J. A. Burghley, Lord Henley, J. W. Rolt, P. Burke, Sir T. J. Herbert, Sir T. Sanders, G. Burroughes, H. N. Heyworth, L. Soholefield, W. Butt, G. M. Hildyard, R. C. Scobell, Captain Butt, I. Horafall, T. Scott, Hon. F. Cabhell, B. B. Horsmau, p. Seymour, H. D. Campbell, Sir A. T. Hallam, Lord Seymour, W. D. Carnac, Sir J. R. Hume, W. F. Shafto, RD. Cavendish, Hon.G. Hutchins, E. J. Shelley, Sir J. V. Cayley, E. S. Hutt, W. Sibthorp, Colonel Cecil, Lord R. Jolliffe, Sir W. G. Smijth, Sir W. Challis, Alderman Jones, Captain Smith, J. A. Chambers, M. Keating, R. Smith, M. T. Chambers, T. Keating, H. S. Smith, W. M. Chandos, Marquis Kelly, Sir F. Smyth, J. G. Chelsea, Viscount Kendall, N. Spooner, R. Child, S. Kennedy, T. Stafford, A. Cholmndly.,Ld. H. Kerrison, Sir E. Stafford, Marq. of Christy, S. King, Hon. P. J. L. Stanley, Lord Clifford, H. M. Kinnaird, Hon. A. Strickland, Sir G. Clinton, Lord C. Knatchbull, W. F. Stuart, W. Clive, R. Knight, F. W. Start, H. G. Cobbett, J. M. Knightley, R. Sullivan, M. Cobbold, J. C. Knox, Colonel Swift, R . Cocks, T. S. Lacon, Sir E. Taylor, Colonel Codrington, Sir W. ',titian, R. M. Thesiger, Sir F. Cole, Hon. H. A. Laing, S. Thornhill, W. P. Colas, H. B. Langton, W. G. Tollemache, J. Collier, R. P. Langton, 11. G. Tomline, G. Colvile, C. B. Laslett, W. Townshend, Capt. Compton, H. C. Laurie, J. Trollope, Sir J. Conolly, T. Layard, A. H. Tudway, R. C. Corry, H. L. Lee, W. Tyler, Sir G. Cranturd, E. H. J. Lennox, Lord A. Tyrell, Sir J. T. Crook, J. Lennox, Lord H. Uxbridge, Earl Cnbitt, Alderman Leslie, C. P. Vance, J. Davies, 1). A. S. Liddell, H. G. Vansittart, G. H. Deedes, W. Liddell, Hon. H. Verner, Sir W. I)ering, Sir E. Lindsay, Colonel Vernon, L. V. Deverenx, J. T. Lindsay, W. S. Villiers, Hon. F. Disraeli, B. Lockhart, W. Vyvyan, Sir R. R. Dod, J. W. Lowther, Hon. Col. Vyse, Colonel Dnckworth, Sir J. Lowther, Captain Waddington, D. Duke, Sir J. Lytton, Sir G. Waddington. H.S. Duncan, Viscount Macartney, G. Walcott, Admiral Duncan, G. Macgregor, J. Wahnsley, Sir J. Duncombe, T. Widahon, P. Walpole, S. H. Duncombe, Hn. A. M`Taggart, Sir J. Walsh, Sir J. B. Duncombe, Hn.O. Maddock, Sir H. Walter, J. Duncombe, Hn.W. Maguire, J. F. Warner, E. Dungarvan, Vise. Molina, R. Watson, W. H. , Dunlop A. M Mandeville, Vise. Welby, Sir G. E. SATURDAY, MINORITY—NOES. Adana, Sir T. D. Freestun, Colonel O'Connell, D. A'Court C. H. W. Freshtield, J. O'Connell, J Acton, J. Gladstone, W. Osborne, R. Adair, H. E. Glyn, G. C. Owen, Sir J. Adair, R. A. S. Gordon, Han. A. Paget, Lord A. Anderson, Sir J. Goulburn, H. Palmer, Bounden Ball, J. Gower, Hon. F. L. Palmerston, Via. Baring, H. B. Greene, T. Patten, J. W. Baring, Sir F. T. Grey, ir G. Peel, Sir R. Baring, T. Grosvenor, Ld. R. Peel, F. Barnes, T. Grosvenor, Earl Peel, General. Bass, M. T. Gurney, J. H. Phillimore, R. J. Berkeley, Admiral Hall, Sir B. Pilkington, J. Berkeley, C. L. G. Hankey, T. Pinney, W. Bethel!, Sir R. Hanmer, Sir J. Price, Sir R. Bonham-Carter, J. Harcourt, G. G. Rice, E. It. Bouverie, H. E. Harding°, Hon. C. Roche, E. B. Brand, Hon. H. Hastie, Arch. Russell, F. C. Brockman, E. 1). Heathcote, Sir W. Sadleir, John. Brotherton, J. Herbert, H. A. Scrope, G. P. Bruce, Lord E. Herbert, S Seymour, Lord. Buckley. General Hervey, Lord A. Shelburne, Earl Byng, Hon. G. H. Heywood, J. Sheridan, It. 11. Cardwell, E. Hogg, Sir J. W. Simith, J. li. Cavendish, Hon. C. Howard, Hon. C. Smith, C. V. Cheetham, J. Hughes, W. B. Steel, J. Clinton, Lord It. Ingham, R. Stephenson, R. Cockburn, Sir A. Jackson, W. Strutt, E. Cowper, Hon. W. Jermyn, Earl Sutton, J. H. M. Crossley, F. Johnstone, J. Thompson, G. Currie, It. Johnstone, Sir J. Thornely, T. Dalkeith, Earl Keogh, W. Trail!, G. Denison, E. Kershaw, J. Tynte, Col. C. J. K. Denison, J. E. Lebow:here, H. Vernon, U. E. H. Dent, J. 1). Locke, J. Villiers, C. P. De Vere, S. E. Lockhart, A. E. Whitbread, S. Drumlanrig, Via. Lowe, It Wickham, H. W. Duff, G. S. Luce, T. Wigram, L. T. Duff, J. Lushington, C. Wilson, J. Elcho, Lord. Mackinnon, W. A. Winnington, Sir Ellice, Rigt. Hu. E. M'Cann, J. T. E. Ether, E. Majoribanks, D. Wood, Sir C. Elliot, lion. J. E. Marshall, W. Wortley, J. S. Emlyn, Viscount Milligan, R. Wrightson, W. B. Fagan, W. Mines, K. M. Wyndham, W. Fenwick, H. Molesworth, Sir W. Wyvill, M. Fitzgerald, Sir J. Monek, Viscount Young, Sir J. Fitzgerald, J. I). Moncrieff, J. Fitzroy, Hon. H. Morris, I). TELLERS. Foley, J. H. H. Mostyn, Hon. E. Hayter, W. G. Fortescue, C. North, F. Mulgrave, Earl of FOR. Mr. Mundy. Mr. K. Seymer. Mr. Christopher. Sir G. Forster. Mr. Napier. Mr. Hudson. Sir G. Booth. Mr. Fuller. Mr. Grogan. Sir C. Burrell. Mr. Repton. Mr A. Smith. Sir G. Berkeley. Mr. Cairns. Mr. West. Lord Naas. Mr. K. King. Lord Annesley. Mr. B. Stanhope. Mr. Pugh. Lord J. Manners. Lord Bernard. Lord A. Vane. Mr. Parker. Mr Hawkins. Colonel Maimed'. Major Maxwell. Lord Lovaine. Mr. Forbes. Captain Bunhury. Mr. lrton. Lord E. Hill. AGAINST. Lord Waterpark. , Mr. Portman. Sir H. F. Davie. Colonel Caulfield. Mr. Sergeant O'Brien. Mr. Wells. Mr. Monsell. Mr. 0. Stanley. Mr. V. Scully. Sir C. Lemon. Mr. Matheson. Sir James Graham. Mr. Heathcoate. Mr. Heneage. Sir J. Mattlieson. Lord Castlerosse. Mr. Chaplin. Mr. H. Vivian. Mr. J. M'Gregor. Mr. Bagshsw. Mr. F. Dundas. Mr. O'Flaherty. Mr. Ponsonby. Mr. Feilden. Mr. J. Vivian. Mr. Moffat. Sir W. Somerville. Mr. Willcox. Mr. Beaumont. Mr. Grace. Sir R. Ferguson. Lord E. Howard. SEVERAL shipping houses in New York have lately been engaged in procuring guano from Isle Ayes, a small island situated in lat. 15, long. 00i, about 400 miles from the coast of Venezuela, 200 miles south of St. Thomas, and 150 miles west of Guadaloupe. This island contains a large quantity cf gnaw, and several cargoes of it have been recently brought to port. A few weeks since, says the New York Herald,