The Press. — London, England, 1857-01-31 00:00:00

THE WEEK. THE details of the capture of Bushire show that our Indian troops have behaved with their accustomed gallantry. We have to lament the death of two distinguished officers, Colonels STOPFORD and MALET, though the total loss was slight compared with the importance of the success achieved. It is worthy of note, as indicating the real object of the expedition, that the first thing done upon entering Bushire was to proclaim it British territory ! Is Bushire to be regarded as a simple equivalent for Herat, or as a " material guarantee" for the future? The frank speech of the Emperor of the FRENCH last Sunday to FEROIIK KHAN indicates that his Majesty's desire for an arrange ment of our differences with Persia has not been diminished by the tone which the English Administration has thought proper to adopt. The report in the Ministerial papers of the submission of the SHAH, though not improbable in itself, requires confirmation. The continuance of the war in China is a matter of general regret. The destruction of the factories by the Chinese will entail upon Canton, measures of severe retaliation. As it is dear that the Imperial Commissioner and Sir JOHN BOWRING can never come to terms, might not a special Envoy sent from this country so arrange matters as to obtain for us the full benefits of past treaties, and the advantages of a general reconsideration of our relations with the Chinese Government? The selection of the French capital for the meeting of the Neufchatel Congress is satisfactory. Paris has been chosen, and the choice exhibits in a remarkable light the peculiar policy of Lord PALMERSTON'S Government, which in foreign affairs takes up an untenable position, raises difficulties, and makes an irresolute show of opposition only to give way when the question becomes more serious and the credit of the country has been in some degree compromised. The liberal amnesty granted by the Emperor FRANCIS JOSEPH, and the remission of two millions of taxation, is acknowledged by all Italians to be a step in the right direction towards the conciliation of his Lomhardo•Venetian subjects. The violent hostility displayed by the Sardinian press towards the Emperor on this occasion appears ungracious. We shall probably soon hear that the good offices of the English Government will be required to bring about a better understanding between the Cabinets of Turin and Vienna. We observe that the accuracy of our report of the Prince de LIONE'6 observations on Sir ROBERT PEEL has been called in question by some of the Belgian journals. We feel it due to our Brussels correspondent to state that we have no doubt whatever of the literal accuracy of the version published in our journal of last week ; and we are satisfied that this must be the conviction of every member of the deputation present. Into the reasons which led to the publication of a modified version of the Prince de LIGNE'B reply it is not our wish to enter. We respect the political influences which prevail at Brussels ; and if the late Secretary of Legation to the complimentary mission to the Russian Court, and present Lord of the Admiralty, can derive consolation from believing that the Prince DE LIONE only said of his language that lit " was less worthy of a gentleman than of a drunken pothouse orator," far be it from us to diminish his satisfaction by insisting on the harsher expressions that were really used. In justice to ourselves, however, we may say, that if our report was in any respect imperfect, it was on the side of sup pression. The answer given by Sir JOHN M'NEILL and Colonel TULLOCH to the address lately presented to them by the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce indicates a resolution to stand by all and every of their Ftatements in disparagement of certain officials employed in the Crimea during the late war. In our opinion they do not improve their position by assuming this dogged attitude. Sir RICHARD AIREY's " Addresses " and the letters of the Staff Officer have now opened the eyes of the public. They begin to see there are two sides to this question as well as to every other, and the influence which these publications have produced may be understood from the tone adopted on the subject by many of our leading periodicals. The Quarterly Review, the New Quarterly, Frater's Magazine, and the Dublin University Magazine all adopt substantially the same view :—That neither the Commissioners nor Mr. RUSSELL were free from certain human in. firmities ; that they took a great deal from hearsay, and were not too particular about the character of their witnesses. All this is excusable enough under the circumstances in which they were placed. But what cannot fail to prejudice their case in the eyes of all impartial persons is, the obstinacy with which they ignore the results of subse quent explanation, and cling to errors about as well grounded as ",Tack and the Beanstalk," or the " History of Puss in Boots." Sir JOHN MNEILL talks of the boundless resources of this country, and the abundant provision which the Turkish provinces were capable of Hfrording, and asks exultingly who can believe it was impossible to p ovide food and shelter for an army of 20,000 or 30,000 men ? But .sir JOHN conveniently forgets that it took from four to six months in getting out the goods that were required from this country ; and that whatever amount of provisions might have existed in the Crimea—and nobody ever alleged that there was a scarcity —were rendered unavailable from want of transport. For getting the army into a it suffered so greatly from these two causes some to blame ; but it was not Lord RAGLAN ) it was not it was not Mr. FILDEK. r. nosition in which b is very likely Sir R. AIREY, and i 1:, THE PRESS. SATURDAY, Most persons mixing in London society must have met some of the parties of native Indian Princes who are now in the capital seeking justice at the hands of the Government. Among them are the Princes of Oude, the Nawab of SURAT, ALI MOORAD (Talpoor of Khyrpoor, Upper Scinde), and his son, and the Carnatic stipendiaries. The Nagpore mission has lately been recalled. The peculiarity of the cases of these petitioners for justice is, that there is no legal court to which they can apply. Their cases are political cases. The Indian Government has dealt with them as it deemed expedient and there is no tribunal to which they can appeal for redress• We have met with several of these Indian parties, and been much pleased with their intelligence and courtesy. Usually, the conversation com mences with his Highness hoping firsttliatyou arc well, and secondly that you are very well. In one interview we said, that we regarded visitors from India as our brethren, seeing how closely the two countries and races were now connected. The answer was immediate. His Highness regards you as more titan a brother, for his brother he sees constantly, you but seldom. We observed the Hindoo language was pleasing. The answer was, all languages are pleasing when just sentiments are expressed in them. As cite house in which we were, overlooked one of the parks, we said that the situation was agreeable; again we were checkmated in compliment. " All houses in London are agreeable, " but those of our friends especially so." When we came to closer converse, we found our Indian friends keen and cogent in their remarks. They stated that they had come to London from their own country, knowing that their cause was just: otherwise why should they have travelled so fin', and gone to so I.r,mt an expense? They said emphatically—" We believe in Gon. and we believe in justice ; there " fore we trust that right will be done us. If we believed in neither, "we should have none of that confidence which we now possess." When we said we hoped that they would not petition for right in vain, the answer was, " If all men had hearts like you, justice would have " been done us already." They particularly insisted that they wished for nothing so much as a searching but fair investigation of their claims, and repeatedly pressed the question, " Why are we here, if not " conscious of our right ?" These parties all labour under the great disadvantage of not speaking our language at all, or of speaking it but imperfectly ; and there is always danger of their falling under bad guidance. We can only hope, for the honour of English fair-dealing, that their claims will be impartially considered by the Government, and that no attempt will be made to shuffle them away by mere technical objections. Might is with us. If these Indian princes appeal to our sense of justice in vain, there is no earthly power that can give them relief. To the minds of English statesmen—especially those who are called to administer the affairs of our Indian empire— should the famous sentences delivered with such emphasis by Lord CHATHAM in the House of Lords be always present,—" Power without " right is the most odious and detestable object that can be offered to " the human imagination. It is not only pernicious to those who are " subject to it, but leads to its own destruction. lies detestabilis et " caduca." The death of the Princess LIEVEN, which took place at Paris last Monday evening, will be felt as a severe loss far and wide in the upper ranks of society, and especially in diplomatic circles. The deceased lady was well known for the part which she played in European politics for upwards of forty years ; but as this has been fully dis cussed in the columns of the daily journals, it may, perhaps, prove more interesting to our readers if we offer them some few particulars concerning the closing years of this illustrious lady. The breaking out of the Russian war was a great shock to the affections and sym pathies of the Princess. She had once been one of the stars of English society. She had still many friends in England, and, among others, had contracted a most intimate acquaintance with Lord ABERDEEN. She, like many others, could never bring herself to believe in the pos sibility of his declaring war against Russia, a country with which he had always advocated the closest alliance, and professed and felt the warmest sympathies. When the scales fell from her eyes, the blow was severe. Being compelled to quit France, she selected Brussels as the place of her sojourn, but she had been too long accustomed to the Parisian atmosphere to be at ease in her new domicile. Paris had become her home, and by the warm intercession of the Empress EUGENIE, she was at length permitted to return, on its being clearly demonstrated to the Emperor that she was no longer engaged in espionage. Although warmly attached to Russian interests, the demeanour of Madame DE Li EVEN, during the two trying years which succeeded her return, was rather that of one who mourned over the breach of an ancient friend ship, and the loss of an esteemed ally, than of one who shared in the sensations of either combatant. It is difficult for those unac quainted with Paris to realise the gap that this lamented lady will leave in its society. Few persons who had the privilege of admission to that small Sunday reunion will forget the intellectual hours there spent, where talent and rank vied with one another in their respectful homage to her, and where she did the honours with quiet grace, ap parently unconscious of the despotism she exercised on all around her. We have authority to state, with reference to the expected vacancy in the representation of Colchester, that Mr. JOHN TAVERNER MILLER, formerly member for Maldon, is the candnotte on whom the choice of the Conservative party has fallen, and there can be no doubt of his triumphant return. Mr. HAMILTON, who also issued an address to the electors as a Conservative, will not persevere on the present occasion, being very properly resolved in no way to divide the party. Mr. Guiuos liEnow is the Whig candidate. lie is a great partisan of Lord JOIIN RUSSELL, and at Brookes's is regarded as one of the aristo cratic fraternity which constitutes the Whig oligarchy. In 1817 ho stood for North Essex on Conservative principles, and had election cards printed, in which his name was coupled with that of Sir JOIIN TYRELL. But he managed to let the secret out as to his real sympa. thies, and he was disowned and soundly defeated accordingly. 108