The Press.
London, England, 1855-03-17 00:00:00

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No. 98.—VoL. 111.

LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1855.

PRICE SIXPENCE.

Cly rtss,

for a few months, been constantly in opposi
tion, and has had to struggle with the difficulty
arising from the desertion of most of its leaders
who had been trained to official life. Yet it
has made continual progress. Every Minis-
terial change has restored to it some of those
persons who, from connection and principle,
are its legitimate adherents. By acting to-
gether it has gained confidence in itself, and
acquired that common feeling which arises
from unity of sentiment and object, and from
mutual respect. It has borne no part in those
combinations which, since the fall of Lord
DERBY'S Administration, have proved fatal to
the reputation of many eminent public men,
and damaged the character of representative
government. Offers of place, freely made,
have failed to obtain recruits from its ranks ;
and this fidelity is one of those plain proofs of
public virtue which everyone can understand.
The fall of the Coalition and the construction
of a pure Whig Ministry have removed the
last pretexts for division among men of Con-
servative tendencies, and it is to this party
alone that they can now look for the main
tenance of their principles.
We regard this as a great point gained. The
union of the Conservative party is essential to
the safety of England, and perhaps to that of
Europe. It has never been divided without
producing some political convulsion, which has
frequently gone beyond our own shores. After
the dissension produced by the Emancipation
Bill in 1829, the Mike of WELLINGTON'S Go-
vernment fell into universal discredit. It was
deserted by a considerable portion of its
following. The " glorious days of July" in
Paris quickly succeeded ; and when the Reform
Bill was introduced, the party organisation
was destroyed by which alone it could have
been effectually opposed.
Again, the Conservative party was divided
by Sir ROBERT PEEL when he proposed the
repeal of the Corn Laws. His Ministry fell a
few weeks after the bill was carried. The
Whigs returned to power, and the throne of
LOUIS PHILIPPE—as he himself declared—
received a shock from which it never recovered.
That division was not healed when the Ad-
ministration of Lord DERBY was formed. The
consequence must be fresh in the recollection
of our readers. A fraction of the Conservative
party went over to the Opposition. the Coali-
tion, brought together with utter disregard of
principle, seized the Government, and the
Russian war, which may yet prove one of the
severest trials this country has ever known,
followed naturally on Lord ABERDEEN'S acces-
sion to power.
At the present moment the whole strength
of Conservatism is needed to meet the dangers
which threaten us. We cannot spare one unit
of its strength. We know not what turn the
war may take—how long it may endure—in
what social and financial difficulties it may
involve us. The extraordinary expenses of
the year will probably not fall short of twenty-
five millions sterling. It is in the nature of
war to become more costly as it proceeds, and
to bring scarcity and dearness in its train.
Our manufacturing industry which has swollen
to an extent that even in time of peace
could not be regarded without some iipprehen-

'sion, begins to exhibit symptoms of collapse.
In the manufacturing districts the revolu-
tionary passim' which invariably accompanies
operative distress, is rearing its head, stimu-
lated by the deplorable mismanagement of
the war, and the vile clamour which has been
raised against the aristocracy. To meet these
elements of danger we have the feeblest Ad-
ministration ever known,—a Premier without
a following,—an Executive without strength,—
a Government without confidence, and
indivi-
dual Ministers destitute of talent, energy, or
even of 'official experience, with no better
qualification for the posts they fill than can be
found in their connection with the worn out
stunted stock of Whig exclusiveness.
We insist on the necessity of strengthening
the Conservative party by all practicable means,
without reference to individuals. With the
late Ministers of the Coalition we have no
concern. Their few followers have for some
time past been gradually dropping away, and
this fact must alone be sufficient to convince
them how futile would be the attempt to raise
a banner of their own. They could retard the
movement we desire only by affecting to join in
it. The first requisite of Conservative union
must plainly he Conservative principle, and
while that basis is faithfully adhered to, the
structure can never be too comprehensive which
is raised upon it.

LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1855.

"PRESS" OFFICE,

Friday Night, March 16.

NOTWITHSTANDING the rumours afloat favor-

able to peace, the situation at Vienna re-

mains the same as indicated in our last
number. These rumours are partly from
financial sources interested in the Money
Market, and are partly the superficial con-
sequences of diplomatic gossip.
All the Powers, belligerent or otherwise,
are in favour of peace, and are willing to ac-

cept the conditions which RUSSIA, even with
humbleness, now offers, wax THE EXCEP-
TION OF FRANCE. Nor will the political
equilibrium be one whit more secured if
the policy of France be pursued and accom-
plished.
France will, however, succeed in pro-
longing the war ; for England, at present,
is " under her thumb," and Austria is in-
volved in dark and embarrassing engage-
merits with the French Emperor, from
which, however, she is endeavouring to
relieve herself. _ .

IRISH LEGAL APPOINTMENTS.
THE increased power gained by the ROMILII
Catholics under Lord PALDIERBTON'S rule has

been much discussed, and we are not sur-
prised at the feelings of elation manifested by
the politicians of that party on finding that
the practical government of Ireland has now
been flung into their hands. Our attention
has been drawn to some important facts illus-
trating the new Romanist promotions in Ire-
land.
In the legal representation of the Crown in
Ireland there are seven principal persons.
These are the Lord Chancellor, the Attorney
and the Solicitor General, the Counsel to the
Castle, and the three Sergeants-at-Law. The
duties of the three first of tbeselunctionaries
are similar to those appertaining to the same
officers in England. The " Counsel to the
Castle" has a peculiar post. His duty is to
confidentially advise the Chief Secretary on all
matters relating to prosecutions. He has to
attend daily at the Castle, and the letters
from the magistracy and chiefs of police are
all subject to his supervision. When the
higher law officers are absent in Parliament
his duties increase in onerous responsibility.
It is also worthy of notice that. (unlike the
rule at the English bar) the three Sergeants-
at-Law in Ireland are all Crown Sergeants;
they take precedency next after the Attorney
and Solicitor General ; they go circuit as
temporary judges ; and they have a presump-
tive claim to permanent possession of the
judicial ermine.
Of these seven influentiallegal fitnetionaries,
all connected with the department of the
Crown, there are at present only two Protes-
tants!
The statement of such a fact might at fi t
be received with incredulity, but we c
demonstrate its accuracy. Lord Chancel r
BRADY is a Protestant, and none other can by
act of Parliament hold that office. Mr.

At present our readers may rely that the
Emperor Louis has resolved to place himself
at the head of a French army of the highest
class and invade the Crimea at the com-
mencement of the early spring. His Ma-
jesty's departure is postponed for the present,
chiefly owing to the unwearied and strenuous
remonstrances of his oldest and best friend,

M. PERSIONY.
It is probable that the siege of Sebastopol
will be raised.
Before the departure of the Emperor
Louis for the Crimea we have reason to
believe that he will visit England, accom-
panied by the Empress.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER has
announced to-night that the Budget will not
be brought forward before Easter. Our
readers will, perhaps, recollect that we gave
this informati'n a week ago.

Lord PALMERSTON will shortly b© raised
to the Upper House.

Tim political history of the last nine years is
not without encouragement to the Conserva-
tive party. During that period it has, except