The Press. — London, England, 1855-08-18 00:00:00

THE PRESS. the destruction of one of the gun-boats while on a sand-bank neat Taganrog, and the flight of her crew from the fire of the Cossacks on shore, as well as the capture of her colours and two of her light guns. No doubt we cannot expect to escape without any casualties, but it seems incredible that the officers and crew would so hastily desert their vessel, without even taking her colours o r a tt em pti ng t o throw her guns overbeard in the manner that the Russian despatch indicates. The last resource in similar cases is usually to blow up the ship, which might have been easily done in this instance without loss of life, but no attempt of the sort appears to have been made. We anxiously await the particulars of this unhappy accident. THE WHITEBAIT DINNER. BY THE HEAD WAITER AT THE " TRAFALGAR." Dr. If , ay verses are dull, so is my subject. It is hard to draw a merry picture of dreariness.— It was an August evening, The Session work was done, And Pain with all his Paladins Resolved to have some fun, Went down to Greenwich on a spree— They were a goodly company. Dukes, Marquises, and Earls were there, And Baronets therewith, And the Patrician Commoner Whose noble name is Smith. In fact, you very seldom see Such an exclusive Ministry. But Coronets won't stand for brain, Nor Marquisates for wit, And never did a duller crew At dinner-table sit, So Mr. Hart declares to me, Thau Pam with all his Ministry. The Premier's witless jests that day Could scarcely raise a smile, And some were welcomed with a frown By the young Duke Argyll, Whom Nature must have made a Whig, He's such a solemn empty prig. Old Lansdowne's twaddling anecdotes Fell on most drowsy ears ; Ann Molesworth yawned most audibly, And so did all the Peers ; And Vernon Smith, with silly smile, Sat looking blandly all the while. In sooth, it was a weary feast, With little glee or sport: Panmure but grew the heavier The more he quaff'd of Port; Nor even Wood's ecstatic glee Could cheer this dreary Ministry. I'm but a poor Head Waiter, But I would rather dine On tripe instead of venison, On beer instead of wine, Than be a Lord of high degree To sit in such dull company. The only consolation left To Mr. Hart and me Is that this party at our house We never more shall see, For, ere next Session's over, we Shall have a better Ministry. THE PREMIER'S CIRCULAR. (EXCLUSIVE). THE following circular has been addressed by the Premier to his colleagues, in order to serve as a guide for their conduct during the 785 Lords who sit on appeals, and the former having severely rebuked his learned colleague for giving publicity to charges whivh the Chancellor asserts to be false. These specimens of Cabinet dissensions are but two among many which I could cite. You will agree with me that habitual occurrences of this kind are not calculated to increase public faith in the unanimity of our counsels. We have now separated, and I would therefore urge upon you and the other members of the Government to be particularly cautious in your actions and language during the approaching autumn. As a rule, pray refuse all invitations to festivities at which you will be expected to deliver political addresses, and, so far as may be consi dered with the safety of seats, I would recommend those who are unfortunate enough to have constituents, to avoid meeting them in public. But as there may be unavoidable occasions when some kind of speech cannot be withheld, let me earnestly beg of you, at such times, to combine the utmost heartiness and frankness of language with the most absolute vagueness of pledge or promise, actual or implied. Of course, you will take special care to remind your hearers that the war is the one great question of the day, and that it is impossible to give to other topics all the attention you could desire ; but do not make too much use of this, for I learn that some people are rather disgusted at finding the war pleaded as au excuse by officials who have nothing whatever to do with the least portion of its management, and as a reason why measures with which it can in no way interfere (as drain age, law reform, medical enactments, and the like), cannot be framed and introduced. Work the war, therefore, judiciously,—[like charity, it " covereth a multitude of sins," but will not cover every sin in the world ]* Yo - u can state that every Member of the Cabinet is earnest in the cause of progress, improvement, and enlightenment, and that no efforts will be wanting on our parts to amend while we conserve our ancient institutions, rendering them in conformity with the march of intellect and the slit-it of the age. Speak well of Church establishments and religion—[for, somehow, the people have been getting hold of prejudices in favor of this sort of thing]*; but intimate that the enabling the former to become more extensively useful is an object well worthy the attention of a Christian Government. I need not limit you in regard to Law Reform. Promise almost anything you like. The law advisers of the Crown will take due note of all that is undertaken for—(indeed, you had better transmit your speeches to Sir A, or Sir R.), and, when the proper time comes, will show why nothing can be done in the way of performance. I think that the ability they have displayed, during the session, in this respect must have excited your admiration ; such excuses for non performance are really better than performance itself. You can also promise Administrative Reform, of course avoiding the least detail. The words have no moaning, so far as I have been able to understand, and assuredly I have not sought to attach any to them ; but the phrase has laid hold of the public, and it is not impos sible that our successors finny have to give it a significance. Bo it ours to save them this trouble as long as possible. I would inculcate upon you to be very grave in all your speeches. The crisis is too solemn for jesting ; nor do the people willingly see the interests of the country in the hands of those who treat important matters with levity. I particularly urge this upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer and upon the First Lord of the Admiralty. [For Heaven's sake)* avoid all writing to the newspapers. In any difficulty write to me for direction. Ido not put this request upon the strength of my being the head of the Government, but upon the fact that, as no two of us think alike (and Wood and Smith never think at all), it is desirable that the Ministry should have a fugleman. [We've had the deuce's luck as well as our own to get on so well hitherto ; but, by Jove ! we mustn't tempt fortune. If all goes straight we shall tide over the holidays ; but I have a notion that we shall then have the old 'un to pay, and the pitch infernally hot]*. With the blessing of Providence upon our earnest endeavours to do our duty, I trust that we shall conduct affairs at this difficult period to conclusions worthy of ourselves and of the nation. Believe me ever, My dear --, Yours, faithfully, P-14M—RST—N. To the Right Hon. -, &e. • The passages between brackets are omitted in the copies sent to the religious Members of the Cabinet AUG. 18, 1855. recess: -- DOWNING•STREET, August 15, 1855. My dear --, The session having now happily terminated, I am induced to address to you, in common with the other members of her Majesty'e Government, a few words of advice, which may be useful during the time when we are precluded from mutual consultation. I would call your attention to the extreme undesirability of our displaying during the recess that marked disunion and difference of opinion which has characterised our conduct during the session of Parliament. This disunion has prevailed, I am sorry to say, up to the very termination of the sitting, for within the past week I find two remark able instances of it. The Marquis of Lansdowne and myself have been directly at issue on the Lords' amendments to the Limited Liabilities Bill, he thanking the Peers for their " valuable" improve ments, and myself declaring them to be most " objectionable." The Lord Chanecilltir and the Solicitor-General have been eq u a ll y at tariaiic9; the latter having indignantly censured the conduct of the LITERARY NOTICE. WE are happy to see that Lord John Russell has devoted his leisure hours to a selection of portions of our best poets, and to their adapts• tion to the meanest capacities. With but few alterations, our author has skilfully succeeded in the application, to passing events, of the flowing numbers of our bards. These selections will appear in monthly numbers. In the first number we have been much pleat dwi h the rendering of that beautiful lyric of our Whig foot R )6ers known as the ITALIAN SONG. Dear is my little native vale, Mazzini stabs and murders there ; Close by my cot he tells his tale To every passing villager. Leave the poor man to wander free, And flesh leis knife •t liberty. I. --