The Press. — London, England, 1855-11-24 00:00:00

16,-, r ifi • , ..„ • . . it ....,. '''''. "...- .1,•••••__.: ''''''lalk.. ' - ....4,1w40.140, , I. • - i . -nk f t#o,. ~.. . .. .. NOVEMBER 24, 1855. 1121 THE PRESS. idea of a metropolitan insurrection? A riot is a riot, and a mob is a mob. Let them be treated as such, and not magnified, nolens, vo!ens, ' into something far different, and far worse. Many persons, they tell us, were induced to go to the park "to assert a right which they " imagined to be impugned by the notice of the Police Commissioners." What right? The Commissioners certainly steer clear of any incon venient admissions either way. But why not openly declare that such rights as these are all nonsense. No one has any such right as this against the conservators of the peace. We might just as well remon strate against the closing of certain streets at the time of a procession. Sir GEORGE GREY comes out of this matter very little better. He was in communication with Sir RICHARD MAYNE, but he does not vouchsafe to tell us in his letter what his own recommendations were. The strongest ground of complaint was the crowding of so many persons into a small, dirty, and ill-ventilated cell. This is an abuse demanding prompt remedy. There is no reason why the police cells should not be kept as clean and wholesome as the wards of a goal, and the number be certified which each is calculated to hold. Confine ment through the night in a Vine-street "black hole" is too severe a punishment for thoughtlessly mingling with a mob in defiance of the warning of police commissioners. A military critical correspondent of the Times, signing himself " Palruam qui meruit ferat," expatiated last Monday on the import ance of the office of Quartermaster-General, and deprecated the appointment of Colonel HERBERT to that post in the army of the East. "On the Quartermaster-General," said the writer, " the safety "of an army has often depended. Sir JOHN IslooßE's Quartermaster " General separated his cavalry and artillery, endangered the entire " army, and actually occasioned considerable loss. The Duke's, on the " contrary, made such admirable arrangements at Vittoria, that the vie " tory is in a great measure to be attributed to his exertions." Well, there is nothing like a well-informed man who has studied history, says the reader. Unfortunately however, for our pseudo-military critic, it turns out that the Quartermaster -General was the same man in each case—i.e., the late Sir GEORGE MuRRAY. The well-informed gentleman preserves a dignified silence, and Colonel HERBERT his new position. THE COLONIES AGAIN. BY THE PREMIER. Who'll have the Colonies ? " Not I," said Lord Stanley, So honest and manly, " I'll not have your Colonies." Then, hang it ! who'll have them? There's none of my Whigs, Poor doctrinaire prigs, Who's worthy to have them. Will you have the Colonies? " Not I," said stout Sidney— " I'm not of a kidney To bo bribed by your Colonies." Will you have my Colonies ? " Not I," said Newcastle— " 1 . 11 not be your vassal For even the Colonies." At last to poor Labouchere " Will you have them ?" said I. He answered so ready— " Oh, won't I!" says Labouchere. Then the whole of the Colonies sigh'd in chorus, " What a stick he has chosen to come and rule o'er us." LABOUCHERIAN ORATORY. WITH what kind of a Colonial Minister it has pleased the Viscount Palmerston to bless her Majesty's outlying possessions, may be gathered from the following report of a brief discussion, in which the Right Honourable Secretary distinguished himself when Under- Secretary for the Colonies in the year 1839 (Tuesday, May 11). Sir ROBERT PEEL: Sir, in the absence of her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, I may be allowed to ask the Honourable Gentleman opposite (Mr. Laboucherej whether the delayed West Indian mails have yet arrived. Mr. LABOUCHERE : Sir, the question which the Right Honourable Baronet has done me the honour to ask me (an honour which I am conscious would not have devolved upon me but for the absence — I inay say the regrettable absence—of my Right Honourable friend, our youthful and beloved Sovereign's principal Secretary of State for the Colonies) is one which, though apparently it demands the simplest reply, is, in truth, an inquiry of no ordinary magnitude. Sir, when we reflect upon the vast importance of our Sovereign's colonial posses. ,ions,, when we revolve in our minds the vast waste of ocean that rolls its waters between this island—may I say this "tight little island"? — (laughter)—and the nearest and smallest of those possessions, we may well be struck with the extent of both themes. But, Sir, how is this importance, how is this extent magnified, when we consider that the West India islands are not only among the most remarkable of our Sovereign's possessions, but that they are separated from us by a world of' water, in some places, as recent investigations by scientific men have apprised us, of the depth of five miles, while in others, the sea, like the dream of one of the inimitable creations of the great poet of whom Britain is so justly proud, may be called Bottoms dream, " because it hath no bottom!" Under these circumstances, Sir, lam free to confess that I approach the Right Honourable Baronet's inquiry with a feeling akin to solemnity and to awe. If I am wrong, Sir, in permitting myself to entertain such a sentiment, I throw myself upon the indulgence of this House—(Hear, hear)—which is ever foremost to display the forbearance of Englishmen—l would say of Britons (without forgetting members of the noble sister country), towards one who at least speaks with sincerity, and without an attempt at pomposity and effect. (ironical cheers.) And now, Sir, to reply to the question of the Right Honourable Baronet, which I do without presuming to remind one who is far better verse in the pro ceedings and etiquette of this House than I can pretend to be, that notice of an important question (notice which he omitted to give) is sometimes the most direct means towards obtaining a satisfavtory answer. Sir, at the moment when I left the office in which it is my pride and honour to administer, in however subordinate a degree, the affairs of her Majesty's colonial possessions, I summoned, by the ordinary mechanical means, the official whose duty it is to be in constant attendance in the vestibule of that building. (Cries of "Name.") In answer to honourable members, I may say that, speak ing only from recollection, and reserving to myself the right to comet my statement, should the interest, of the Colonies appear to demand it, I believe that the individual's name is Pott. (Roars of laughter.) Yes, Sir, honourable members may laugh, but, as another English poet admirably remarks— Who would disdain To pick otiqtreasures fr;;aneartlie;Pot ? (Cheers.) From this individual—and as his humble patronymic has been received with good natured merriment, it is due to him that, I should say that he fulfils the duties of hall-porter to the perfect satisfaction of her Majesty's Government—(Hear, hear)-1 ascertained that, up to the period in question, namely, eight minutes before four, the post man had not delivered any letters from the West Indies. I may also observe in confirmation of his statement that, happening to have been standing at the window, I observed the postman, after delivering a letter or letters at the next door, pass that of the office in which I have the honour to sit. At the same time, I think it right to add that, inasmuch as upwards of three quarters of an hour have since elapsed, the succeeding postman may have brought letters, and, in order to satisfy the House and the country that her Majesty's Govern ment is desirous to withhold no information which can properly be made public, I have instructed one of my own menials to go down to my office, and ascertain whether any arrival has taken place since my departure. Should he, on returning, enable me to reply in the affirmative, it will give me pleasure to do so ; but should I remain silent, the Right Honourable Baronet will be pleased to accept that silence as an intimation that, so far as I am informed, the delayed West Indian mail has not yet come in. (Hear, hear.) A SONG FOR AN ADMIRAL. The Southwark voters presented Sir Charles Napier wit I a ooeced hat —Miming Paper. To Nelson, or Duncan, or Jervis, To Nelson, or Duncan, or Jervis, Folks used to award A rapier or sword, To acknowledge their valorous service. But to blustering Admiral Napier, To blustering Admiral Napier, We couldn't do that, So we gave him a hat Instead of a sword or a rapier. The sword that we used to bestow' then, The sword that we used to bestow then, Was an emblem of might They had shown in the fight, For our admirals closed with the foe then. But this hat, what's its signification? But this hat, what's its signification? Its meaning, I fear, Is uncommonly clear, — Charlie's " bonneted " by the whole nation. [Advertisement.] THE ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM ASSOCIATION, after having patiently waited —from the time of the decease of Policeman X 100—for a considerable period, in earnest daily expectation of the appointment of a successor to the important public post vacated by the death of that valued functionary, at length determined to declare its suspicion that the delay which had arisen was solely due to the cabals and intrigues of party ; and called upon the press of this great country to compel the Government at once to proceed to till the vacant high-lows, in a man ner worthy of itself and of the influence and importance of Great Britain and the force. The Association bas now much pleasure in recording its entire and cordial approval of the choice recently made by the Government, in pursuance of its directions, and begs to assure her Majesty's Ministers that its support will never be wanting—as per advertisement—so long as they shall continuo to exemplify in their public appointments the great principle of having " the right man in the right place." W. S. L-ND*--Y. S. M--AL-Y.