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

LORD JOHN RUSSELL

On Monday Sir. J. PAKINOTON complained that the
absence of the Colonial Secretary would be produc-
tive of serious inconvenience. Persons were in town
on important business connected with the new con.
stitutions of Victoria and New South Wales waiting
for a hearing.
Mr. ROEBUCK said that a gentleman from New-
foundland, charged with a mission of no less im-
portance than the removal of the Government, had
told his tale to three colonial secretaries, and was
waiting to tell it to a fourth.
Lord PLLUERSTON did not believe that the absence°
of Lord John Russell would be as protracted as was
supposed. There was a permanent under-secretary,
as well es a political under-secretary attached to the
office, and care would be taken that the department
did not suffer.
TRANSPORT SERVICE.
The Earl of HABDWICKE, on Tuesday evening,
made a long and forcible statement of the errors
committed by the Government agents, both in the
transpost arrangements, and in their bargains with
the steam-packet owners, in which last they had
committed the folly of paying after the builders'
measurement instead of after the registered tonnage.
He detailed a multitude of instances of mismanage-
ment and carelessness, to all which
Lord NNMURE replied by pleading that the late
Government were in a great hurry, and the present
was now inquiring into the matter.
Lord DERBY wished to know if a sufficient supply
of forage was insured. Lord PANNURE answered,
that a supply was now sent every fortnight.
LORD LIEUTENANCY OF IRELAND.

The Marquis of WESTMEATH elicited from Lord
Granville a declaration that the Government had no
intention of proposing any measure for the abolition
of this office.

On Thursday Mr. Rozaucx reported from the Sebas-
topol Committee that, in their opinion, the objects of the
inquiry and the•public interest would be best served if the
committee were one of secrecy. It was agreed that the
Lords be requested to permit the Duke of Newcastle to be
examined by the committee.
Mr. HArrna moved three new writs—for Stroud, in the
room of Mr. Horaman, who has become Chief Secretary
for Ireland; for Athlone, in the room of Mr. Keogh, who
has become Attorney-General for Ireland; and for Ennis,
in the room of Mr. John Fitzgerald, who has succeeded
Mr. Keogh as Solicitor• General.

AMONOsT the numberless new inventions of engines
of destruction to which the war has given birth, one
much talked of at present in the scientific world of
Paris is a shell invented by M. Chaslin, a member of
the Council-General of the Yonne, which he asserts
will not only double the force of the powder used, but
being without a match will have the inestimable ad-
vantage of falling on the spot desired without giving,
notice to the enemy by that stream of light in the air
which accompanies the present shell. Ignition is
brought about by a chemical process, which is said
to be so completely under control that a shell may
explode, according to the will of the projector, either
in two minutes or twenty-four hours after its being
projected. Thus it would be possible to throw any
number of shells successively upon a given point,
and to adjust the period of their explosiDn, so that
all should burst at the same moment. This shell
would explode as certainly under vater as on land,
and it is asserted that the principle will complete the
idea of the boulets asphixonts, which hitherto have
not been very effective.
THE bill to alter and amend the laws relating to
the stamp duties on newspapers, the printing and
publishing of newspapers, &T., has been printed by
order of Parliament. There are eight clauses in tl.e
bill, and a schedule annexed of the acts to be re-
pealed. The first section repeals the stamp duty on
newspapers and the acts relating to the printing and
publishing of the same. The second has reference
to the arrears of duty. The other sections state that
of printed books or papers the duty is to be one penny
for four ounces. A relief is granted to exist-
ing newspapers by the post exceeding four ounces.
Rates and duties are to be denoted by postage
stamps. Newspapers and other printed papers sent
by post not in conformity with the act are to be
charged the letter rates of postage. The day when
the new law is to come into operation is to be filled
up in committee.
A Bii.r.for the incorporation of an undertaking, to
be called the Fibre Company, for supplying the
serious want of a cheap material for paper by means
of the fibre of common flax, was introduced into
Parliament on Monday, after vain endeavours to
avoid that trouble and expense by obtaining a charter
of limited liability. The decision of the House of
Commons last year in lavour of such limitation acted
injuriously on all persons seeking to promote useful
enterprises, since, instead of inducing Mr. Cardwell,
the late President of the Board of Trade, to miugatis
the existing law as far as possible until a measure
could be introduced for the purpose, it had the effect
of causing him to refuse all applications whatever.

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