The Press.
London, England, 1855-04-28 00:00:00

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402

object of the mission upon which I set out, the mode in which I dis-
charged that mission, and the results at which I have had the honour
of arriving. Sir, the House is aware that, by a complication of cir-
cumstances to which it might be more painful than profitable to ad
vent, the Government of my Lord Aberdeen suddenly became extinct.
Without entering into the question whether the necessity—the con-
scientious necessity—which compelled me to withdraw from that
Administration had anything to do with its Decline and Fall—(laughter
from Mr. Macaulay)—l may say that the feeling out of doors was that
though it was a most beneficial thing that the Cabinet had fallen,
those who were instrumental in producing that event did not deserve
any overwhelming amount of gratitude. tinder all circumstances, I
felt that I might render myself more acceptable in the eyes of the
nation if I devoted myself to serving it abroad, and therefore I sug-
gested to my noble friend at the head of the succeeding Government
that I should cro as the representative of England at Vienna. My
noble friend, withl that candour which is his characteristic, admitted,
in the frankest manner, that I was, to use his own words, in a con-
founded ugly mess. (Laughter.)
Lord PALM ERSTON : I didn't say ugly. (Roars of laughter.)
Lord JOHN RUSSELL : My impression is that you did; but no matter.
My noble friend fully acquiesced in my views, and not only expressed
himself eager to get me out of the way, but with a consideration
based on an erroneous estimate of my lingual deficiencies, but for
which I am still most grateful, presented me with an invaluable little
rudimentary book of French lessons, by M. Isidore 13rasseur. I set
out for Vienna, and, after certain interviews at Berlin which convinced
me that the Prussian difficulty is one of gravity, I arrived in the
capital of Austria. Now, Sir, I must ask the House to recollect, for a
moment, a certain speech delivered by myself in the course of last
session—towards its close. In that speech, Sir, which was made early
in the evening, I declared—and the reiterated applause of the House
testified to its satisfaction—that there was no hope for the indepen-
dence of Turkey until Sebastopol should cease to be a Russian
arsenal; in other words, that Sebastopol must be destroyed. (Hear,
hear.) My Lord Aberdeen, then in office, had to speak on the same
subject in another place that evening, and, being apprised of the lan-
guage I had used, he sent me au urgent message, amounting to a
demand, that I should take an opportunity of greatly qualifying the
language. As a subordinate, I could not refuse compliance ; but,
before rising again, I mentioned the circumstance to the Noble Lord
now at the head of the Government. He evinced great indignation,
and observed, in reference to the Noble Lord then at the head of
her Majesty's Government—" What a thundering old pump !" (Roars
of laughter.)
Lord PALMERSTON : My noble friend's memory is a little at fault.
I neither alluded to thunder nor to pumps. What I said was, " Demet,
bungle your jump," meaning that my noble friend shoul TAW
neatly out of the consequences of his imprudence. I borrowed
the phrase from—a—a—a—the language of pantomime. (Great
laughter.)
Lord JOHN RUSSELL : I am at issue with my noble friend. I
considered his words highly important, as indicating his view of our
Crimean policy. I wrote them down on my ass's skin in my ports-

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—Fimax.
STATE OF THE COUNTRY.
Mr. Len= gave notice that at an early day he
should move resolutions to the effect that the state
of the nation is such as to cause serious alarm—
that the sacrifice of efficiency to family and party
interest is the cause of great misfortune and disgrace
to the country—and that the house will support any
Ministry which will enforce efficiency in the public
service, and the vigorous prosecution of the war.
MR. LAYARD.
On the question that the House adjourn till Mon-
day, a discussion of some length was raised on the
statements of Mr. Layard, in his speech at Liverpool ,
and in his letter in the Times on Thursday. Mr. '
Ewart complained that Mr. Layard had intimated
that his relative, Major Ewart, had been promoted
to the staff by parliamentary influence. Mr. Henry
Baring refuted his allegations as to the officers of
the Coldstream Guards by reading a detail of their
services; and General Peel at some length justified
the promotion of Colonel Hardinge without purchase,
by reference to the rules of the service, which had
been punctually followed, and according to which, in
promotions with or without purchase, there was of
necessity much good or bad fortune. Mr. F. Peel
followed up these statements, showing that no undue
influence had been used in any of the army promo-
tions referred to, in a speech full of the details of
military practices, and called on Mr. Layard manfully
to retract his statements.
Mr. LAYARD Mended himself on the ground of
the difficulty of his position, by which he was liable
to technical mistakes in dealing with true principles.
Few members or officers in the house dared express
themselves freely on the subject. He again asserted
that the rules of the Horse Guards in respect of pro-
motion were constantly broken through in favour of
privileged persons. There were chances, but those
chances generally fell on persons of rank and in-
fluence. He should show in a few days at length the
way in which the public interest was sacrificed to
private and party influences.
The discussion was continued on strictly personal
and technical subjects by Mr. C. Hardinge, Captain
Lindsay, Major Bp*, Colonel North) and Colonel

SATURDAY,

monnaie. And when several members, including the Honourable Mem-
ber for Buckinghamshire, sought to fix me to the words I had used, I
obeyed my Lord Aberdeen, and explained that I only meant that the
power of Russia must be reduced. (Hear, heat.) Well, Sir, my noble
friend succeeded to my Lord Aberdeen, and I proposed to go to
Vienna. But, Sir, will any one in this House tell me that I had not
a right to believe that my noble friend's sentiments were the same as
those he professed when describing the Noble Lord as a thundering old
pump ? Had I any reason to suppose that the Noble Lord had adopted
the policy of a thundering old pump ? Could I imagine that I was to
be—if the House will allow me the metaphor—the handle for working
that pump—the medium for promulgating anew the principles of that
pump ? (Here the noble lord was visibly affected, and eat the skin of
an orange in mistake for the inside). No, Sir, I relied upon that
declaration, and I went to the Congress, determined that Sebastopol
should be destroyed. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. BRIGHT : I retract the cheering with which I greeted the Noble
Lord on his entrance. I believed that he had had the sense to
humble himself in earnest at the Conference.
Lord JOHN RIISIET.L : I am better cheered by my own convictions,
which, in the words of Cowper, cheer but not inebriate. (Laughter.)
Now, Sir, I come to the result. On my arrival in Vienna I received
despatches from the Government at home, in which the Noble Lord
reminds me that I am occasionally what he is pleased, in the height of
his discretion, to call indiscreet, that I must recollect that the present
Government had adopted all the traditions of its predecessor, of which
it was indeed but a continuation, that its composition was even more
exclusively aristocratic than that of the last, and that there must be no
nonsense about its representative. Enough, my noble friend con-
tinued, had been done in the way of demonstration by destroying an
army before Sebastopol, and there was nothing like moderation I
was, therefore, decided to consult the Austrian Minister, and to shape
my course, as fax as possible, in accordance with his views. ( Sensa-
tion.) Well, Sir, I was obleeged to obey. The interests of England
would not permit delay, and I obeyed the orders of the War Minister,
who had come into office to crush Russia, and who commanded me to
act towards her with the utmost courtesy, and, so far from forcing any-
thing upon her, to beg that she herself would have the extreme kind-
ness to consult her own wishes and dignity, and offer something
which would justify the War Minister in patching up a peace. The
rest is known, Sir. Russia affected to consider, in order to gain more
time, and it is understood that the bombardment waited her answer.
Then she contemptuously apprised us that at present she was the
victor in the struggle, and had no proposals to make, and, upon our
timidly hinting that her ships might be reduced in number, her repre-
sentatives flatly refused to hear of anything of the kind. Else the
1-lopse may be assured we should have effected a peace. I have only
radd, that nothing in the course of my noble friend, who has a right
to his own convictions, has shaken my confidence in him, and that I
return to office under him, assured that this Government, like any
other in which I have a Owe, is the very one most agreeable to Pro-
vidence, and most qualified to promote the interests of this mighty
nation. ( Hoar, hear.)
Lord PALDIZREITON rose, and was
( Left joking.)

Knox, who all agreed in their attacks on Mr. Layard
for his unfounded assertion, which he refused to re-
tract. At last Lord Palmerston rose to express his
regret that any member should have placed himself
in the position of Mr. Layard. He might have
thought himself justified in making his charges, but
after it had been proved that the charges were false
and calumnious it might have been expected that he
would have had the gallantry to retract them.
The Loan Fund Bill and the Customs Duties 13111
successively passed through committee, after Mr.
Jolm MACGREGOR had proposed, supported, and
withdrawn amendments to both measures.
The second reading of the Lord Advocate's
Scotch Education Bill was opposed by Mr. BLACK-
BURN, who deprecated disturbance of what was good
for the sake of introducing something better, and
especially objected to the composition of the pro-
posed Educational Board.
Mr. DUNLOP, saying that the votes of English
members had caused the division in the Scotch
Church, called on them to repair the mischief by
giving to Scotland common schools.
Mr. H. BAILLIE said that under this b ill school-
masters might be Jesuits, or of no religion at all.
Mr. BAXTER denied that the bill was a Free Church
measure; it was supported rather by the Dissenters
than the Free Church. He warmly supported it as
necessary to the religious liberty of Scotland.
Sir J. PAKINGTON objected to the violent abolition
of a system of schools which had worked so well, and
the substitution of a system with no religious cha-
racter whatever. The proposed arrangement would
lead to perpetual squabbles between the different
parties in Scotland. He admitted that an extension
of education was necessary for the great towns.
The LORD ADVOCATE went through the details of
the bill, with the view of correcting the misappre-
hension respecting it, in an eloquent and able
speech, which was loudly cheered.
Mr. WALPOLE argued that nothing had been said
to show any defect in the working of the national
system in Scotland, which might require extcnsion,
but not abolition.
The house divided—For, 210; Against) 171. Ad..
journed at ten minutes to two._

APRIL 28, 1855.

blurt anb jrastten.

DEPARTURE OF THE FRENCH EMPEROR
&ND EMPRESS.
THEIR Imperial Majesties took leave of the Queen
on Saturday morning, on their return to Paris. They
were conducted by her Majesty and Prince Albert
from their rooms to their carriage at the grand
entrance of the Palace, the Queen being accompanied
by the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, Prince
Alfred, the Princesses Alice, Helena, and Louisa,
Prince Arthur, and Prince Leopold.
The Duchess of Kent and the Duke of Cambridge
arrived at Buckingham Palace at a quarter before
ten o'clock, and accompanied the Emperor and
Empress to the grand hall, in company with the
Prince of Leiningen.
A guard of honour of the Grenadier Guards was
on duty in front of the grand entrance, and on the
appearance of the royal party, the band commenced
playing " Pedant pour la Syrie."
The Emperor and Empress took leave of the
Queen at the entrance, as also of the Royal Family
and Prince of Leiningen. The Empress was handed
into her carriage by Prince Albert and the Duke of
Cambridge, who were in uniform, and both wore the
grand cordon of the Legion of Honour. Their Im-
perial Majesties then proceeded to the railway station,
and were speedily conveyed by special train to Dover.
Here they embarked on board the Empress steamer,
and were conveyed across the Channel to Boulogne.
Prince Albert and the Duke of Cambridge accom-
panied the Emperor and ttlmpress to Dover, and
took leave of them on the pier where they embarked.
The town of Dover exhibited a scene of much ex•
citement, and their Majesties were greeted with
enthusiastic cheers by a vast assemblage. Thus
closed this memorable visit.
The Emperor Napoleon, before leaving Windsor,
caused to be placed in the hands of the Mayor the
munificent sum of 4001. for the relief of the poor of
the borough. His Majesty also gave 1001. for the
poor of Dover, and on the part of the Empress and
himself, presented 5001. in aid of the funds of the
Societe Francaise de Secours, of which the French
Ambassador is President. The Lord Mayor of
London and the Mayor of Dover have received
valuable souvenirs from the Emperor, in remem-
brance of his auspicious visit to England.
A supplement to the Gazette, issued on Tuesday,
contains a minute acc)unt of the " Investiture of
his Imperial Majesty Napoleon 111., Emperor of
the French, with the ensigns of the most noble order
of the Garter."
The Salut Public of Lyons says that her Majesty
has postponed her visit to Paris to the end of Sep-
tember, in order to he present at the distribution of
Exhibition prizes, which is to take place at the com-
mencement of October.
The birthday of the Duchess of Gloucester and of
the Princess Alice was kept on Tuesday, with the
customary observances.
Notices have been issued from the Lord Cham-
berlain's office, that her Majesty will hold a Drawing-
room on Wednesday next the 2nd of May, and on
Saturday the 19th of May. The latter will bs the
birthday Drawing-room, and a " collar day." The
Queen will also have a levee on Friday the 11th
of May.
The Princess Hohenlohe, half sister of the Queen,
arrived at Dover on Monday morning from Calais,
and afterwards proceeded to London on a visit to her
Majesty.
The Earl Granville, Lord President, is still suffer-
ing from the severe contusions be met with by being
thrown out of his cab, en route to the station to meet
the Emperor and Empress of the French. His
lordship is still unable to attend the ministerial
councils.
Cabinet Councils were held on Saturday and
Tuesday last.
The Right Hon Sir Henry and Lady Bulwer have
arrived in Paris from Florence, en route to London.
The diplomatic duties at the Tuscan capital are
now administered by the Marquis of Normanby,
who continues, however, in rather an indifferent
state of health.
Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston entertained
a distinguished party at dinner on Saturday, at their
mansion on the Terrace, Piccadilly. In the evening
the noble Viscountess had an assembly.
An entertainment of unusual splendour was given
by the Lord Mayor on Saturday evening, in the
Egyptian-hall, Mansion-house, to the Prelet of the
Seine, and the President and Deputation of the mu-
nicipality of Paris, who were met at the civic table
by nearly 300 English guests, including the mayors
of several of the largest towns in the kingdom.
On Tuesday it was announced in the City that her
Majesty had oeen pleased to confer the dignity of a
baronet on the Lord Mayor.

TEN BILWINGIAI MIIIIICAJ. FZSTIVAL is to SOM.
atones en the 28th of August*

THE PRESS.