The Press. — London, England, 1856-01-19 00:00:00

JANUARY 19, 1856. tout mit lastion. ller Majesty the Queen, with the Court and junior members of the Royal Family, has remained at Windsor during the week. Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess and Prin cess Mary of Cambridge have been on a visit to the Queen during the week. The Maharajah Dhuleep Singh, with the Count of Flanders, remain at the Castle on a visit. A dramatic performance at the Castle took place on Thursday, when Colman's Jealous Wife was per formed before the Queen and Court. Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence is considered to be going on favorably. His lordship is relieved of gout, and great hopes are entertained of the noble lord's recovery. The Earl and Countess of Derby and Lady Emma Stanley leave Knowsley next week for Bretby-park, on a visit to the Earl and Countess of Chesterfield, after which the noble earl and countess come to town for the meeting of Parliament. The noble earl has issued cards for a political dinner on the 30th instant. Mr. and Mrs. Disraeli have arrived at Grosvenor gate for the season, from Hughenden Manor. The right hon. gentleman has issued cards of invitation to a parliamentary dinner for Wednesday the 30th instant. His Excellency the Ambassador of the Ottoman Porte and Madame Musurus have returned to the Turkish Embassy, from visiting the Earl and Countess of Harrington, at Elverston Castle, Derb,yshire. . _ _ Lord Napier, Secretary to the British Embassy at Comantinople, accompanied by Lady Napier and family, bas arrived in town from the Turkish capital. _ _ _ Earl Granville, Lord President of the Privy Coun cil, will give a parliamentary dinner to a party of Peers on Wednesday, the 30th instant, at his resi dence in Bruton-street.. The Countess Dowager of Erroll died at Edin burgh, after a brief illness of two days, while en route to London. The Countess of Stradbroke died on Tuesday last, at har ladyship's town residence, in Hertford-street, Mayfair. Sir Robert Peel and Lady Emily Hay were mar ried with great ceremony at the Chapel Royal, White hall, on Thursday morning. Vulitital. ADMIRAL. WALCOT, at the Stour Farmers' Club, held at Christchurch on Monday last, in replying to the toast of the " Army and Navy," remarked, with re ference to the war, that— For himself he desired to see the war prolonged no further than to that point which shall teach Russia that she shall not prove herself dominant among the nations of Europe, and that the territories of our neighbours and allies shall be secured against future aggression. For him self he had no desire to look on Russia as degraded or hu miliated. His desire was in harmony with England's high-souled magnanimity—it was to see the unscrupulous acts of aggrandisement on the part of the foe promptly and effectually repressed. This was indispensable for the peace of Europe and for the reputation of England. M. ELLICE, M.P., addressed the electors of Cupar in the County-hall, on Thursday last. In tho course of a long address, Mr. Ellice explained his past conduct in the House, and concluded by saying that-- He intended to give his steady and consistent, but inde pendent, support to the Government of Lord Palmerston, believing from the noble lord's great experience in public matters, his peculiar knowledge of foreign affairs, and his fixity of purpose, that he was the best man to carry the country safely through the war. MR. Poirrsi., M.P., at a public dinner given at Basingstoke, on Friday, to Captain Portal, 4th Light Dragoons, A.D.C. to General Lord G. Paget, on his safe return from the Crimea, said, in replying to the toast of " The County Members " We have lately heard much of coalitions, and of at tempts to force the Government to make peace. I will be no party to any such combination. I believe the war to be just, and, as your representative in Parliament, I have given my humble support to those who were carrying on the war. I do not believe in the prevailing rumours of peace. I much fear that Russia has not yet received such a lesson as will induce her to accede to such terms as we ought to insist upon—terms that will assure to us a lasting peace. It would be absurd and childish on our part if we withdrew our troops from the East without securing such terms as these, for, if we should lose the ground we have now gained, we should never get possession of it again. I am quite sure that this is the feeling of every English.. matt; and, so far as I am concerned, and acting con scientiously on your behalf, I will give my support to any tioveimuciit that is determined t o carry o n the war with vigour, and I believe the present Government are honestly anxious to do this. 'IAA PRESS. Mr. PALS, M.P., at the Modbury Market Dinner on ➢londay, declared his intention to throw aside anything like party feeling, or a desire to raise any thing like factious opposition, to any Government which had for its object the vigorous prosecution of the war, and which exhibited a determination to accept no offer of peace on terms inconsistent with the honour of this country, and the principles that had actuated the allied powers in entering into the conflict. Mn. ROBERTS, M.P., and Mn. KENDALL, M.P. at the Wadebridge (Cornwall) Farmers' Club last week spoke strongly in favour of agricultural statistical returns being annually given in by the farmers. Mr. Kendall appealed to the general conduct of the land lords of the present day as sufficient proof to dispel any fears tenant-farmers might have that their rents would be raised in proportion to their gains. dropolitan. A DEPUTATION OF GENTLEMEN residing in the vicinity of St.James's-park waited upon Sir Benjamin Hall last week in order to ascertain the intentions of the Government with reference to the projected road across St. James's•park. Mr. Keating, Q.C., Mr. Benjamin Hawes, Mr. Whateley, Q.C., &c., accom• panied the deputation. Sir Benjamin Hall, in reply to the request of the deputation, explained that he personally had no authority in the matter, that he had been ordered by the Secretary of State for the Home Department to prepare from certain data a plan for such a road, and that beyond the prepara tion of the plan, which would be submitted to the House in due time, nothing further had been done. In conclusion, Sir Benjamin Hall assured the depu tation that he was not at liberty to exercise any judgment in the matter, but that in the meantime they might rely that nothing would be done in the execution of the work without the matter being brought under the consideration of the House of Comiiions. THE METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS held their usual weekly meeting on Monday last. The salaries of the engineer-in-chief and accountant were severally fixed at 1,0001. and 4501. per annum, including travelling expenses. The offices in Greek street, when repaired, were decided to be used as the permanent offices of the board, and the election of a clerk to the board was proceeded with, when it was finally determined that the actual election of both engineer-in-chief and clerk shall take place on Friday week. THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL'S RETURNS for this week show a decided improvement in the state of public health, compared with former years : 1,100 deaths, and 1,563 births, were registered for the past week. AT THE MEETING OF THE MIDDLESEX MAGISTRATES on Thursday a resolution was unanimously passed expressing the deep regret of the court at the death of Mr. Sergeant Adams. A copy of the resolution was ordered to be forwarded to Mrs. Adams. THE CAST IRON CARRIAGE-WAY PAVEMENT i MOM being laid down in Leadenhall-street. The invention is that of General Knapp, of the United States. Vrobzutial. LORD CRANBORNE delivered a lecture last week at Kilndown, Kent, to the members of the local reading room and library. The lecture excited great interest in the neighbourhood. The subject chosen by the noble.lord was " The Crusades." After a brief intro duction, explanatory of the sources from which the history of those times is derived, Lord Cranborne proceeded at once to sketch the later events of the Roman and Greek empires, the early history of France and England, the origin of the feudal system, the history of Mohammedanism, and the events of the first crusade. His lordship concluded by stating that he differed with Mr. Hallam, who said that these great events were injurious both to Eastern and Western Europe, because he (Lord Cranborne) believed they wrought a great good, morally, politi cally, and intellectually, by awakening men's minds to seek more anxiously after truth in religion as well as in science, by lessening the power of the nobles and reducing them to a position more subservient to the authority of the Crown, and by laying the basis for future progress both in science and literature from the vast stores of ancient learning which they brought to light. They also made Europe wealthier, by introducing commerce and trade amongst the people, and they even improved agriculture, by spreading abroad a knowledge of the best methods of cultivation then known. ADMINISIMATIVE AND ACADEMIC REFORM was the subject of a lecture delivered on Monday by Mr. Heywood, M.P., F.R.S., at the Mabchester Atheneum. The hon. member commenced by stating that we had arrived at an era in our history when favoritism and patronage were at length giving place to merit. Taking the various public departments in turn, Mr. Heywood read the current regulations for admission 57 into their several services, and pointed out that a proper system of competition was now introduced into many departments, an example which ie hoped to see followed up in all, and particularly in the army and diplomatic corps. With respect to the civil ser vice of India, Mr. Heywocd expressed himself in favour of permitting Hindoos to compete at the examinations, and stated as his belief " that we should never thoroughly gain the affections or the confidence of the people of India unless we gave some places to natives." At the conclusion of his lecture, the hon. member read a memorial addressed to Prince Albert by a deputation from a public meeting recently held at Birmingham, proposing a more liberal government of the Universities, and, alluding to their state, said he did not believe that the Oxford Act had at all improved the condition of things in that university, and unless Government in terfered more directly than hitherto, he feared no change could be effected. THE ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM ASSOCIATION held a public meeting at Rochester on Friday last, with a view of placing the aims and objects of the associa- tion before the electors previous to the approaching election. A deputation from the London society attended, with Mr. Jacob Bell at their head. Mr. Bell, Mr. R. Moore, and other gentlemen addressed the meeting at some length, expressing the usual sentiments of the association, and stating that a bill had been prepared and would be presented at the ensuing session proposing a system of competitive examinations, and asking for a royal commission of inquiry into the present system of appointing officers in the army and navy. THE REFORMATORY SCHOOL MOVEMENT is making great progress in Essex and Kent. A committee has been appointed by the magistrates for the latter county, while the High Sheriff of Essex has convened a preliminary meeting on the 21st to consider the question, when a public meeting and an appeal to the county will be decided on. THE MIDLAND INSTITUTE held its annual meeting on Tuesday, at Birmingham. The council in their report announced that a difficulty had arisen with reference to the possession of a portion of the new site, but the building fund, already amounting to 11,0001., would permit them to continue the erection of a certain portion of the hall. Several additions and changes in the classes for students were men tioned, and the Earl of Dartmouth elected pre sident for the ensuing year. AN INFLUENTIAL MEETING AT MANCHESTER WBB held on Thursday, to determine upon wbat steps should be taken by that city to promote the objects of the Nightingale Fund. Mr. Sidney Herbert, M.P., Lord Stanley, M.P., Mr. Monckton Milnes, and the leading gentlemen of the town and neigh bourhood, were present. Mr. Sidney Herbert, in addressing the meeting, explained the aim and in tention of the Central Committee of the Fund, which was to establish and create a " Profeesi n of Nurses " —to found a central institution in London, to which nurses might be sent from the country, there to be taught and trained to hospital duties. This, Mr Sidney Herbert explained, was the object of the Central Committee, and he trusted that the nature and amount of the subscription would be such as to enable them to extend the anticipated advantages of the plan over the whole country. With respect to the management and, arrangement of the institu tion, he believed that if we wanted the thing well done, we could not do better than intrust the details entirely to Miss Nightingale:— Don't shackle and fetter her (said the hon. member) by yourselves making minute regulations, which her ex perience may show to be impolitic or perhaps impractica ble. You must trust her with all the details and arrange ment, and for this reason, that she is more competent than anybody else. You have got, to use the slang term of the day, " the right woman in the right place," and, having got her, trust her. And trust her—why ? Trust her for your own interest, because she is the one who will carry out this reform the best. Trust her for another reason—because the whole grace of your compliment to her consists in the oonfidence the people of England have to place in her, having seen what her talent, her integrity, her selfdevotion can accomplish. Lord Stanley, M.P., in a brief but brilliant speech, disclaimed all desire on the part of the committee, to share Miss Nightingale's popularity. Pointing out that Miss Nightingale, "working for a large and worthy object in the pure spirit of duty towards God, and compassion for man," was one who held the faith of universal brotherhood in action as well as speculation, and by breaking through custom and convention had opened out for her sex a new sphere of usefulness, the noble lord earnestly appealed against the popular belief that a woman's sole sphere of duty lay at home. On the detail and working and plan of the institution proposed to be formed, Lord Stanley observed : _ have heard it said that, before applying for money in a city like Manchester, we ought to have been prepare d with a plan more definite and detailed than that laid before you. My answer is, much must be left undecided, if free play is to be given to the judgment and experience of Miss Nightingale. It is not rulus, not forms, not paper checks or guarantees, that make an enterprise prosper; it