The Press. — London, England, 1855-01-06 00:00:00

JANUARY 6, 1855. THE PRESS. TO THE OLD AND To 1854. Away to the dark limbo of the race Of unregretted and disastrous years! Without one kindly parting word to grace Thy dissolution. Thou but leav'st us tears And widow'd hearts and childless homes, and shame That they who hold our empire iu their hands Have blotted thee from out the book of Fame Whereon our brothers perished in strange lands To blazon thee. Alas ! their deeds of glory Have not sufficed to crown thee with the hays ; And, though their names shall ever live in story And in the nation's loftiest songs of praise, Thou brought'st no succour to those heroes' pain, But left'st them there to die and conquer all in vain! A DAY AT THE WAR-OFFICE. (From a Ministerial Paper.) Ws are happy to be able, from personal knowledge, to give the fullest refutation to the unfounded charges of incompetency which have been brought against his Grace the Secretary-of-War. We have reason to know that the utmost vigour and intelligence characterise the whole of his proceedings, and that the war is really being conducted by him in the most superior manner. We had occasion, yesterday, to pass several hours at his Grace's office, and we are guilty of no breach of confidence in declaring the pleasure with which we witnessed his unremitting efforts for the benefit of the expedition to the Crimea. Scarcely had the Duke taken his seat when his labours commenced, and a brief detail of what we witnessed is at once an act of justice to himself and a convincing answer to the assaults of his prejudiced enemies. The Duke, having himself hung up his hat upon a peg, observing that at this busy time he would not needlessly avail himself of the services of a single servant of the public, proceeded to open the despatches which had just arrived. He did not, certainly, tear off the envelopes in the reck less manner peculiar to a certain Viscount, but before reading the in closures he folded and laid away the covers, quietly remarking that they would do to write memoranda upon, and he added some 'observa tions upon the dearness of paper, and its reason, namely, the difficulty of procuring an adequate supply of rags, which showed that his Grace's mind is capable of embracing other subjects than the imme diate duties he discharges so well. Having looked through the despatches, he called in a clerk, and desired him to copy them, re marking (and this proves the earnest attention with which he had perused them), " I see, Gulkington, that in one of these letters Inkermann is spelt with one ' n,' in the other with two. Now, both cannot be correct, and you will much oblige me by examining the best maps, and rectifying whichever despatch may be inaccurate." Various subordinates then presented themselves one after the other for instructions, and to all his Grace gave the most affable yet dignified audience. One desired to know which should first be sent out to the army—a consignment of shirts, or one of coats. " Surely,`, said his Grace, " your own observation might be your guide, Mr. Balderpop. Does not a man put on his shirt before his coat? Clearly, let the vessel with the shirts be first despatched." Another came for directions about certain victuals that were going out, and the Duke dictated one of the most spirited and graceful state papers which we have ever read, and which was composed at the spur of the moment. It was, a suggestion to the official charged with the cutting the sandwiches (sent by the Duke's order for the officers' lunches), that, in honour of the alliance between France and England, he should for the future use French mustard instead of Durham. His Grace then went down into the yard behind the office, and, for nearly two hours, watched the process of fastening strips of iron around the packages for greater security, his eye not unfrequently detecting a nail without a head, or a crack insufficiently guarded, and in every case he promptly interfered, and insisted upon the defect being made good. Later in the day, Mr. Sidney Herbert came to visit his colleague. and it was most interesting to hear the two statesmen in animated yet friendly discussion for the benefit of their country. Among the points of argument was a di ffi culty which had occurred in Mr. Her bert's department. A number of pots of marmalade had . been . pre pared for the Crimea, when it was pointed out by an intelligent Catholic clerk that they were all labelled " Orange Marmalade," and this, it was feared, might give pain to the soldiery . of the Roman Catholic persuasion. After about an hour's discussion it was arranged that the labels should he cancelled, and the words " Marinalade from Oranges " substituted. Anoth er debate arose upon the question in what form tobacco ought to be sent out. Mr. Herbert, as might be expected from his elegant nature, contended for cigarettes, but his somewhat rougher-cast colleague declared that these would not be ac ceptable to the private soldier , and urged Cubes. But we ought to - ''''g' ,-- i THE NEW YEAR. To 185 5. Fain would I welcome thee with a kindlier greeting, Uncertain guest ; for though thou com'st in gloom, And tears instead of smiles must mark our meeting — For. I was weeping o'er the old Year's tomb — I think that thou wilt bring with thee a solace For all that we have suffered, and a scourge To chasten our misrulers' wicked follies; And true men shall be heeded who will urge How England's honour must be righted ; fools must Or break,—l care not,— at the storm of wrath Thou wilt unloose upon them ; thou wilt end The dynasty of blunderers; thy path Shall be in the old footprint► of our Fame ; Then Victory and Peace shall crown thy honoured add, as evidence that neither statesman was inclined public money, that as neither happened to be precisely relative prices of the articles, they caused twenty of the , men of the office to come up and give evidence, when, it tained that cigarettes could be had for a penny a piece, whk were double that sum, the Duke gave way. Mr. Herbert his leave, having to assist in packing some pickles for the also to decide upon what pictures were to be vested upo• Bordeaux plums about to be sent out from Fortnum any the staff. The Duke then visited in person every one of the rooms, to ascertain that every clerk was at work. •To some encouragement, others he gently rebuked. One gentleman whether there was anything new, the Duke, not for a momen off his guard, said " A new mo on last ni g ht," and the but caustic hint took full effect. Observing another gentleman using his blotting-paper to a letter, his Grace evinced displeasure, remarking that, supposing the letter contained a secret, that this should be trans ferred to the blotting-paper, and that a porter or other servant should steal the paper and sell it to any leading member of Opposition, the gravest results might occur. To several officials he expressed his cheering conviction that the war was going on very well, and that one of these days something would perhaps happen which would astonish some people. We need hardly say that his Grace alluded to the capture of Sebastopol, or reassert our certainty that with sta t esmen of energy, intelligence, and industry, men like the Duke of Newcastle an d Mr. Sidne Herbert, thus devoting their best abilities to the pro secution of th e war, no result will astonish us. England is happy in being so served. THE MORNING CROW OF THE " lORANIN CHRONICLE." True we have grumblers among us still, but their cavillings are confined to the mode of carrying on the war ; and even here so prompt has been the action of the so decided their measures, and so popular the course they have adopted, that the criticisms make no impression. The voice of public opinion can hardly be said to ou goes fully along with the steps which the Government have taken. In particular, the popular innovations which the Duke of Newcastle has Introduced Into the mode of publis formation as to the progress of the struggle, ac.--Morning Chronicle, Tuesday, Jan. 2, MIL Peace, ye brawling factions ! Hear the Peelite view Of the Peelite actions — Cock a-doodle dot, ! For our naval stormers, For the hosts they slew (Graham's "two Reformera")— Cock-a doodladoo Let their Pelham charm ye, That official screw, Starver of your army— Cock-a-doodle doo For our baffled schemers, Haywards . looking blue, __. For our Digby Sernours-- Oook-a-dood/adoo! Herbert, baggage-master, Lint-purveyor, too, Parent of disaster— Cock-a-doodle-doo ! For their ancient Abby, Daub'd with Russian glue, Diplomatic babby— Cock-a-doodle-doo ! For the Stonor scandal, For the Sadleir crew, Giving folks a handle— Cock-a-doodle-doo ! For a saint's endeavour In a shocking stew, For the over-clever-- Cock-a doodle-100 For a jobbing Gladdy, For your taxes due, For a close teacaddy Cock a-doodle doo ! For financial sermons, " Cheapest markets," too, Contract hay and Germans— For surpassing folly, For dishonour, too, Now, then, let's he jolly— Cock-a doodle doo ! For the hire of transports, From Valetta due, For blockade of Hause ports— For our deep disgraces, For a thorough do, For our dismal faces — Cock a-doodk-doo. X~ If the plunder small is, Flahertys are few ; • Make it up with Lawleys— Cock-a-dood/s-doo! I 19 • • n, ; st bend, red name ! . to waste t aware of the young gentle- t being ascer- whereas Cubits )ert then took the army, and di the boxes of ud Mason's to •ooms, in order he expressed :man inquiring ioinent thrown ,e polished but 01711111 itaincr his I , A :. . ~ ti