The Press. — London, England, 1856-02-09 00:00:00

- ft - 7 - • Pr 7 132 THE WEEK. As in tho narratives of early voyages, we read how indications of land grew stronger while the land itself was yet distant, we have had signs of peace multiplying, though the precise results of the Paris Congress seem far off. Doubt on the subject is gradually giving way to convic tion. The three great Continental Courts are evidently in earnest, and the choice of Paris as the capital for the Congress leaves scarcely a doubt of what the result will be. The protocol registering the acceptance of the Peace Propositions by Russia, was signed at Vienna on Saturday last. ISAM BEY, the Minister of the Porte, was the first to attach his signature, and the accounts from Constantinople leave no doubt of the eagerness of Turkey to conclude a peace on the proposed conditions. Passports have been issued by the French Government for the Russian Plenipotentiaries, who are now on their way from St. Petersburg. The nomination of Baron BRUNOW is of itself a guarantee of the sin cerity of Russia, and of her desire to play her part fairly in the nego tiation. When the protocol was signed at Vienna, Prince GORTSCHAKOFF expressed the wish of his Government that Prussia should be repre- sented in the Congress. The desire was seconded by Austria; the representatives of France and England could say no more than that they would refer the request to their respective Governments. Prac tically, no obstacle is likely to arise on the part of France. The question is, what course will our Government take ? The tone of the Russian press has become pacific and congratu latory, and, in place of mighty efforts for the continuance of the wad, we hear of preparations for the Emperor's coronation. It is rumoured that he will visit Paris on the conclusion of peace, and May has been named as the month when he may be expected. We apprehend this is carrying the "discounting " process a little too far. After all, it seems we shall have to wait longer for an armistice than was anticipated. Lord PALMERSTON has taken pains to calm the minds of Members who were struck with horror at the idea of au im mediate cessation of hostilities. First, the Congress must meet ; then the preliminaries of peace must be settled ; then an armistice must be agreed on. At this rate, we can scarcely expect that an armistice will be arranged before the date which some have fixed for its termination —the 31st of March But, meanwhile, will there not be a practical armistice independent of diplomatic sanction ? We hear from the camp in the Crimea that the news of the Russian acceptance had created great excitement in our army, and that an immediate sus pension of hostilities was anticipated. It is unlikely that the com manders on either side would undertake any offensive operations, whatever tempting opportunities might present themselves. Yet their position must be a perplexing one, and, if only to relieve them from the responsibility of attempting too much, or too little, it would be advisable that a suspension of arms should be authorised without delay. We are assured, however, that Lo .d PALMERSTON'S favorite foreign enlistment scheme is going merrily forward—with more activity than ever, indeed, writes the co. respondent of the Times at Turin. An imposing array is given of regiments and of their stations, and in conclusion it is stated that the " officer charged with " the purchase of mules for the Land Transport Corps, has received " instructions by telegraph to increase his operations to a large " amount.' It is pnzzliug to know what we shall do with these regi ments now we have got them. Singularly enough, the measure which was passed in hot haste more than a year ago to raise trained men for immediate service, is only become effective when a peace is concluded. Perhaps some time after a definitive Treaty is signed, Turkey kill be paid the loan which it was urged last year was required for her immediate necessities We hope that Mr. WALPOLE'S election for the University is now safe ; but so long as Mr. DENMAN'S committee determine to keep open the poll there is the probability that a stratagem is intended, and Mr. WALPOLE'S frionds must be on the alert. No great number of the con stituency have yet recorded their votes; and, if only as a testimony to Mr. WALPOLE'S undeviating honesty of purpose and high character, we hope to see his majority increase the longer the poll is taken. The advertisement of Mr. DENMAN'S committee that they hope to take advan tage of the pa) meat to Mr. WALPOLE'S voters of their expenses, looks as if they felt their chance to be desperate as regards a fair contest. The argument on that point in the Queen's Bench this week is curious. The judges put some ingenious cases, but one point they seem to have overlooked. Ti it is lawful for a candidate to hire con veyances to take voters to the poll, why should it not be lawful to allow the voter money for such hire himself ? Where is the distinc tion ? What difference can there be between putting into a- voter's hand a railway ticket to convey him to and - from Cambridge, and al lowing him the money which he has himself paid for the ticket? It is plain that if it be the wish c f the Legislature to prohibit such pay ments, the whole system of voting should be altered, and ballotting papers he sent to the electors that they may fill them up, and return them to the post. This would be the only way of avoiding the lichen lons anomalies which would result from a j udgment that it is lawful to the expense of carrying a voter to the poll except the .RES, last evening, took his seat in the House as the Midhurst, and joined the Opposition. His speech on his rday was a manly cxpreslion of opinion, thoroughly indc- pay any one tl voter himself. Mr. Ness Member for N return yester 1111111116 m THE PRESS. SATURDAY, pendent, yet thoroughly Conservative. We are gratified to learn that his literary reputation did him good service in his canvass, and that some electors who had hardly ever heard of Mr. Warren the " Q.C.," cordially promised their votes to the author of " Ten Thousand a Year." Mr. WARREN is an eloquent . speaker, and, we b e li eve , only wants the opportunity now afforded him to distinguish himself highly in debate. The murder of the unfortunate Mr. WAUGH by CHARLES WESTRON must be fresh in the minds of all our readers, Labouring under the delusion, or apparently labouring under it—for who shall say which: that he had been defrauded of his rights, the wretched criminal fired a pistol into the bosom of his intimate friend, and, though found guilty, has been recommended to mercy on the ground of insanity. On the 20th of December last THOMAS CORRIGAN, a man in the employ of the East India Company, murdered his wife under very peculiar circum stances, which led the public generally to suppose he was suffering from delirium tremens ; he has been tried, found guilty,'and sentenced to death. Now, without questioning the justice of either verdict, it will certainly occur to most men of common sense who have read the proceedings in each, that both cannot be right. We are happy to be able to quote the authority of the Times in favour of our own view. There r,eems to be, says that journal, but little difference between the two cases. But under any circumstances we feel bound to add our own protest to that of the leading journal, against the new practice attempted by jurymen of finding a prisoner guilty and then recom mending him to mercy. That is the business of the judge; and really we feel obliged in all conscience to remonstrate against the tendency to leave any such loop-hole for murderers. The knowledge that Lord LYNDHURST was to bring forward the whole question of " the legality," (and also "the constitutionality ") of life peerages, drew a crowded assembly to the House of Lords on Thursday It was a most interesting debate, the argument being treated with eminent ability on both sides. It is not often that so striking a sight is seen as that of the venerable Lord LYNDHURST addressing so illustrious an assembly in a style worthy of the place and of the man. His vigorous voice and distinctness of articulation are surprisin g at his time of life, and though the form i s s t oo p e d, t h e vast beetling brow is still full of muscular power, and is irradiated with the expression of intellect. His vindication of the profession which he adorned from the attempted indignity, produced great effect, and in his accustomed closeness of style ho touched the grave impolicy of the proposal. " You will create a new influence, a nett " species of subserviency, and you augment an evil which is already " sufficiently large." No phrase could more happily describe the im propriety of the proposal. It has been eloquently urged that there is, in the matter of decay, no analogy between the bodily powers and the mental functions. Lord LYNDHURST is a splendid exemplification of the truth of the argu ment. His complete mastery of a new subject, and his illustration of it in one of his finest orations, is a convincing and most gratifying evidence that the intellect may burn with undimmed brilliancy to the last stage of human life, and, according to WALLER'S fine image, may Let in new light through chinks that Time has made. Lord GRANVILLE had a difficult task in following the great ex- Chancellor. His exordium was at once courteous and artful, though not likely to please Lord JOHN RUSSELL. The Noble Earl compared his position to " taking charge of the Channel fleet, or any other act " indicating great courage, or rather great rashness." (How will the Bedford Whigs like that ? Lord JOHN used to boast that he took Lord GRANVILLE from the buckhounds). The head of the Gowers, however, made a reasonably good fight for his side, though he obviously laboured under the vast disadvantage of a layman talking from a legal cram. As is always the case in such instances, the speaker read out cut-and-dry passages, which he was unable to expound so as to make them reach the points at issue. He produced some transient effect by quoting from the pamphlet of Sir HARRIS NICHOLAS, but did not appear to be aware that Sir HARRIS was apt to be crotchetty in his views. We recollect that in one of his works Sir HARRIS NICHOLAS asserted that no family was supposed to have "high ancestral dignity" unless its forefathers were persons of great distinction in the reign of ELIZABETH. Families that became famous in the days of the Stuarts were not entitled to be called "old English families." EARLY - CLOSING-AMENDMENT. Put up the shutters—say I'm sick, I'm dead !—Pope. What ! shorten the debates ? • Shut the mouths of empty pates ? Of what can " the old man be thinking"? You propose the " muffs " to bridle ! Why, the Act is suicidal— Mr. Brothertou !—you never have been drinking? What ! no more iteration ? Repetition? botheration? Why, bless us, what'll come to the House ? No more said than's really needed ? No stale logic ever pleaded? All the speakers unmistakeable for nous ? Stay—this " Early-Closing Movement " May admit. of some improvement; If we might propose an alteration, Instead of " shutting shop " Tho " shutters " we would pop On the Members, by way of innovation. Wr.r. • ,11111..- 'WOA'WZri.• " .9 71; 7 MIWIT7 '110"."7 "19"'.