The Press. — London, England, 1856-03-29 00:00:00

THE EXILE OF ERIN • There came to the House a sharp Exile of Erin, The rents in his long robe were many and deep ; And he mourned o'er the names rather shady appearing Of some who'd contrived into office to creep. But he looked to the Premier with venal devotion As a Landlord and Peer pilf-Ahat Isle of the Ocean, Where lately, o'ercomlitioteen and emotion, He shouted for Tent : Right, Erin go bragh. " Sad is my fix," said the placeman in anguish, " O'Flaherty unquestion'd may bolt o'er the brine ; But I must for ever in green Erin languish— A seat and a party not long will be mine. Never &gain (as when erst I incurred your Wrath) shall I spout in that island of verdure, Voters to diddle, myself perhaps to injure, Shouting for Tenant Right, Erin go bragh. " Erin, my country ! 'tis true that I've sold thee, True o'er my conduct each patriot sulks ; Yet feel I somewhat abashed to behold thee, To think of each friend in concealment who skulks. Once to assist me the Priests gave their curses. Whiteboys their bludgeons. and Peelites their purses; But confederates (whose luck than their merits much worse is) Have fled to the backwoods or stayed for the hulks. " Yet from my troubles there's some consolation E'en 'mid my present distress I can draw ; Sown I may rise to a loftier station, Soon on the Bench I may lay down the law. Thence I may, perhaps, as the comedy ends, Tranquilly taking what Destiny sends, Sentence, like Hogarth's apprentice, my friends— Erin, mavotirnin—Erin go bragh !" POLITICAL LIFE ASSURANCE. (ADVBRTISIMENT.) AMID the various schemes which the progress of society and the spirit of the age have called into existence, nothing is more deserving of notice than the Political Life Assurance Society, full details of whose constitution and objects will shortly be submitted to the public. When we reflect upon the uncertainty of political life, and the numerous accidents which constantly occur therein►, cutting down alike the rising reputation, the made man, and the veteran statesman, the wonder is that in a utilitarian age the project has not earlier occurred to sore enterprising student of life. The above society has now been in existence little more than a twelvemonth, but the support it has received is of the most flattering and substantial character, and it is shortly about to appeal to the political public, with a larger scheme and extended resources. In the meantime, the society would respectfully call attention to one or two cases in which casualties have occurred, and in which the assistance of the society, which does not confine itself to fatal cases, has been of the most szngular value. The names of individuals are, of course. carefully withheld, in conformity with the laws of honour able confidence, but the circumstances will show the remarkable utility of such an association. "J. R, a House of Commons nobleman, of somewhat advanced age, and who had during a protracted political career been unhappily dieted to the use of ►italwk medicines fin• the constitution, remedies Bu ggested by .Tew advertisers, and the like, was suddenly seized with a determination to put an cud to his political existence. He hurried THE PRESS. MARCH 29, 1856• hanes in the popular opinion of the • Irish. The Whigs are detente the Sadleirites are ruined, and the Repealers are defunct. Th,.. Globe, of Friday, unsuccessfully attempts to turn these facts. Sligo, forsooth, is " capricious," and has " changed its Members some " half-dozen times in little more than the same number of years." But when, during the last twenty years, did Sligo choose a Conservative? The defeat was more striking on account of the lengths went to by the Premier's own supporters and tenantry. The absurd charge of the Globe, also, about Mr. TOTTENHAM being a "Young Irelander," shows how sore the Miuisterialists are upon the subject of these significant defeats. These last changes count four on a division, and it is not unlikely that the Conservatives will gain further victories in the seats to be vacated by the relatives of SAMAR& Lord SHAFTESBURY has received the thanks of the Manchester operatives feu• his exertions in shortening the hours of labour. The success of the Ten Hours' Bill is a striking contradiction to those who predicted that it would ruin the manufacturing interest. We now see a practical proof of the futility of those economic theories which cotton-spinners .could ram down our throats. The self-adjustment of labour, about which they talked with such tedious solemnity, turns out to be mere rubbish. It crumbles into dust like a preserved corpse, when the light of day is thrown upon it. This may teach us a whole some lesson,—not to trust too blindly to theorists. A theory is some times the expression of abstract truth, of which copious practical illustrations are at hand. But it is sometimes merely the figment of a sect or a class, wh -) register their private views in some cut-and dried formula, and boldly call it a theory. Against such beware. The economic school of politicians are specially prone to this kind of imposture. 301 ['off to Germany, and deliberately exposed himself to the severest diplomatic weather, returning so damaged that his best friends gave up all hope of him. He had, fortunately, assured iu this society, and has been again upon his legs, and going about the House as well as ever." J. 8., a member of the Society of Friends, and of strong pugi listic propensities, went into a state of raving frenzy, at the idea of a war which would interfere with certain Manchester exports. His political condition was one of utter ruin, but by the aid of the society, concurrently with the restoration of peace, he has become about as vigorous as before, and has set up a newspaper." "H. J. P., an elderly tatesman, who has recklessly encountered during the course of a long life every gale which could meet him upon every conceivable tack, and whose political life had been sup posed to be all but extinct, had effected au assurance %with the society ; and the support rendered to him, when from circumstances and the behaviour of ungrateful friends he was cast, like Lear, upon the wide world, enabled him to regain his political health, and, with the aid of war stimulants, to take a prominent if temporary position in the political hemisphere." Numerous other cases can be cited, and in the detailed prospectus . about to be furnished these will be recorded. But as the immediate object of this announcement is to induce political men to join the society as speedily as possible, and as many persons are deterred from joining such associations from a reluctance to submit to the investiga tions which are preliminarily required, the society begs tc, state that, except in very extreme cases (such as those of Papist applicants from Ireland, and other suspicious instances), very few questions, besides the following, will be put to a proposer for assurance :- 1. Are you a Whig, Whig-Radical, Liberal, Independent politician, or under what class do you desire to rank yourself? 2. Have you ever been afflicted with Conservatism, hereditary respectability, or other disqualifying complaint? 3. Have you ever had a touch of patriotism, and how long (lid it last? 4. Are your politics temperate? 5. In what elections have you meddled, and have you ever been prosecuted for your conduct thereat? 6. Have you ever been infected with the ballot? 7. Are you a genteel person, or a man of the people ; and can you affect to he either as may be necessary ? 8. Were you, or any of your family, or any friend, or any acquaint ance of whatever remoteness, ever connected, in any way, with a member of the Irish Brigade ? This must be stated, as, though no disqualification, the frightful risk involves extra premium. 9. Can you weep pretty freely in the course of a speech? 10. Are you married, and, if so, was your wife's maiden name Grey, or Elliott, or anything akin to either? 11. Are yotia peer, and, if so, are you willing to place your proxy, withotm resOtve, in the hands of a Liberal Premier? 12. you want to be a peer, and, if so, are you willing to make yourself generally useful? 13. Have you any religious tenets of any kind. and, if so, would they interfere u ith your supporting any possible measure which your party might advocate? 14. Have you any brothers, fathers, nephews, cousins, uncles, or grandsons, and do you want to provide for any or all of them at the expense (if the public? 15. Have you any objection to attend Mr. Hayter, and be per sonally examined? References must be given to somebody who has heard the applicant speak in public, to a professional reporter who has taken dpivp.one or more of his speeches, and to two member* of Parliament (if Irishmen, six), who can vouch for the eligibility of the applicant. Further particulars may be obtained by addressing a private note to the Secretary, at the Reform Club. N.ll.—Policy not subject to any demand of duty. AFLOAT AND ASHORE. On the 13th September. in a letter dated "At Sea," I solicited instructions as to lodging and provisiouing the troops.— Mr. Fader's Remarks. The more that the matter is sifted Who doubts into War that w•e drifted? Mr. Filder, you see, Dated letters "At &a" Before ever a finger was lifted ! But there's Clarendon writing despatches, Ten to one he's met more than his match is; If he dates his " .IJ:hors " We'd best know it before, And not wait till we're all under hatches. SIR CHARLES WOOD AT SEA. The following signal was made by the First Lord of the Admiralty on taking command of the gun-boat flotilla, on Tuesday last, at Spi . - head : Lads,—Peace is declared. We shall not hare to meet a bold nor a numer.ms enem,. Should they offer us battle, it will be declined with thanks. Should they remain in port (we scorn to take an unfair advantage). we'll do the same. Success depends upon the precision and quickness of getting oat of range. Lads,—Blunt your cutlasses, and the day is yours, or anyone's who likes to take it. THE ANNEXATION OF OUDE. This tale of proprultorial greed Wien Clio tells—the Muse veracious— How will she designate the deed Except by this oue word—" Onde-acions: ■