The Press.
London, England, 1855-05-05 00:00:00

-7471* Tog.
rip

LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY 5, 1855.

POSTSCRIPT.

HOTJSE OF LOAM-FF.IIAL

The Loan Bill was read a third time. After some
lengthened comments from Lord MONTEAOLF. on the
impolicy of sinking funds, and their utter failure
whenever tried, and some comments on the same
subject by Earl Grey, the Earls of Stradbrook and
Malmesbury, and a reply from Lori Stanley, of
Alderley.— ['heir lordships adjourned at a quarter-
past seven o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—FaIDAY.

Mr. DISRAELI rose to complain of the delay in
laying the Etate papers on the table relative to the
negotiations at Vienna. if due care had been taken,
the papers might have been ready when the envoy
returned. This was the usual eourse; and, as it had
not been followed, he wished to know the reason of
the irregularity. He cited, as a precedent, the rupture
of the negotiation of 1796, when the papers relating
to the negotiation, though very voluminous, were
produced the day before Lord Malmesbury's return,
preceded by a royal message, and accompanied by a
Ministerial paper, containing a statement of all that
had taken place. He contrasted this willingness to
impart information to the liglessness now shown.
Up to this moment they were in ignorance of the real
basis on which the negotiations were going on. Why
bad not her Majesty been advised to deign a corn-
munieation with Parliament under such momentous
circumstances!
Lord PALMERSTON said that the precedent of 1796
referred to a Iran-action in which peace was hopeless.
The present negotiations had been conducted ender
the friendly auspices of Austria. The late confer-
ences were not broken off—they ME re adjourned, and
the elements of a conference still existed at Vienna.
The course recommended would be a good one, if it
was intended to shut the door on peace, but there
might yet occur opportunities, and through the inter-
vention of Austria the differences might yet be
accommodated. In 1796, the basis of negotiation
had been refused, but the basis is now accepted by
Russia. The difference is in the details. The
Government would not have done its duty if by fol-
lowing a fancied analogy it had declared that all
hopes had terminated of a peaceful issue. He was
anxious to grant every information to the country
consistent with its interests, but. would not be a party
to quenching all hopes of accommodation.
In answerto Mr. FRENCH, who prefaced a question
as to what the Government intended to do with Lord
Dundonald's proposal by an eulogy on his lordship's
merits, and said that Sir C. Napier had expressed his
.belief that he could take the Russian fortresses,
Lord PALMERSTON said that his plans had been
submitted to a scientific commission last year, which
had reported unfavorably. Lord Dundonald had
again brought forward his plans, which were far from
being free from doubt, but were at the moment under
attentive consideration.
Mr. H. BAIIA.IE called attention to the state of the
militia, advocating its recruitment by ballot as the
only means of making it efficient-
Mr. F. PEEL repeated the explanation of the con-
duct of the Government towards the militia, and said
that voluntary enlistment should be exhausted before
recourse was had to the ballot.

THE PRESS.

The discussion was continued on this subject by
several members, mingled with observations on the
negligence of the Government with respect to the
Foreign Legion.
Sir G. Gum( read a statement proving the improve.
ment of late in recruiting for the militia, and denied
that any inattention was shown by the War-office to
militia representations or accommodation, and re-
peated the statement that observations in Parliament
had proved the most serious obstacle to foreign en-
listment. Recently the prospects had become better,
and the Government had taken steps accordingly.
Mr. ADDERLEY proposed sending to the army select
volunteers from the prisons.
Mr. J. O.OONNEII. repiobated a statement which
had been made in the debate, that the militiamen in
the north and south of Ireland would not coalesce.
The adjourned debate on the Tenants' Compen-
sation Bill was resumed by dlr. GEORGE, WhD disap
proved of the measure, especially as to its retrospec-
tive clauses.
The SOLICITOR GENERAL contended that the
measure was a fair one, prospectively and retro-
spectively.
Mr. MALINS opposed the bill, as involvirg prin-
ciples equally new and dangerous.
Mr. DE VLRE supported it, saying that a time of
social peace was the fittest to correct social evils.
Mr. J. G. PHILLIMORE protested against the
retrospective clauses, which went back to an inde-
finite time.
Mr. BENTINCK said that the simple effect of the
bill would be to rob both landlord and tenant for the
benefit of the country attorney.
Mr. HORSMAN said that the bill was almost the
same as one passed by that house two years ago,
and introduced by the Government of Lord Derby.
The present Government, approving the preamble,
could not do otherwise than support it. Still he
thought some of the compensatory clauses, as they
stood, lead to litigation, and he suggested several

limitations.
Mr. DUFFY said that such limitations would so
completely destroy the bill, that he would rather have
none at all.
The debate was continued by Mr. Sadleir, Lord C.
Hamilton, Sir J. Fitzgerald, and Mr. Kennedy, when
Lord PALuzuszoN rose and asked the house, as it
seemed generally to approve of the bill, to proceed at
once to the second reading. The time was favorabl.•
for the settlement of the question ; it was a remedy
for evils which existed when the causes had passed
away.
Mr. GBOGAN moved, as an amendment, that the
bill be read a second time that day six months.
After some further discussion, the house divided,
and the bill passed the second reading by a majority
of 163 to 50-113.
The Customs Duties (or the Sugar and Coffee)
Bill passed through committee.
Adjourned at half-past one o'clock.

THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT ordered the dis-
tribution of 8,000 silver roubles to the poor of St.
Petersbu g, in order that they may pray for the soul
of the late Czar.
A Hones GUARD " MEMORANDUM " has been
issued, announcing, that in order to remove any
doubt AS to the rank and precedence of the officers of
the Company's service, it is her Majesty's pleasure
that officers of the H.E.I.C. service, whose commis-
sions may be signed by authorities duly deputed,
shall have rank and precedence with officers of her
Majesty's regular army, according to the dates of
their commissions, in all parts of her Majesty's
dominions, or elsewhere.
Tux RISIDAP OF GIBRALTAR has left Malta by the
City of London transport for Bulaklava, for the pur•
pose of consecrating the ground in which so many of
our brave troops lie interred. His lordship will
also consecrate the ground at Constantinople on his
return.
A MELANCHOLY CATASTROPHE has occurred at East
Clyth, a little fishing-station situated about nine
miles southward from Wick, caused by the swamping
of a boat, which resulted in the death of thirteen
youths, of ages varying from twelve to nineteen years.
On Tuesday the 24th ult., early in the morning, the
thirteen lads in question left East Clyth in a haddock
boat, to proceed to Skerriemore, an out-lying rock
on the coast, about two and a half miles to the south
of the station, for the purpose of collecting bait.
After the party had accomplished their object, and
when off Mabray Head, a projection of the land about
one mile distant from East Clyth, a sudden squall
caught the sails of the boat, and she instantly filled
and sank in deep water, every one of toe fated thirteen
going down with her, there being no human aid within
reach.
AT the village of Wheelock, near Sandhacb, in
Cheshire, on the morning of yesterday week, Mr.
James Sproston, a joiner and cabinetmaker, mur-
dered his wife with a sword, and afterwards blew out
his own brains with a pistol. The cause of these rash
acts appears to have been jealousy on the part of the
husband, for which there was not the slightest foun-
dation.

SATURDAY,

FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE.
Tuesday, May 1.

BANKRUPTS.— WIL WILALEY, Charles-street, Caatberwal
New road, builder—WM. BAKER, Cumberland-market, licensed
victualler —GRORCIE EDWARD N ‘L, Yembury.Bent, innkeeper
—Joao KENNEDY, Ahlersgate-street, priuter—Joszrm SALT
Lougton, Staffordshire, timber merchant—EDWAßD WESTON:
Dudley, hosier—JOSEPH MARSDEN, lialsall-heath, Worcester-
shire, licensed victualler—Clacton ISAAC Wain, Leicester, fish-
monger—floc:mot Ricaoßos, Aller, near Laugport, Somerset.
share, innkeeper—FßED. Wm. Houma, Leeds, wine and spirit
merchant—Wu. Jasaisaoa, Ecclestield and Sheffield, piper
manufacturer—Susi:lst, MAXAMT, Bonfield, Lancashire, cotton
spiuuer—JAMßS Houma, Lancaster, builder.
Iridoy, May 4.

BANKRUPTCY AN!..IULLE G.—Wm. HOLLADAY and JAMES
CLEW-ISOR. Watling-street, City, :nettle manufacturers.
B.tNKRUPTS.—JASES VERITI, Leicestar.etreet, Regent.
street, boot and shoemaker—CATHERINE Duos, Lytuington,
Southampton, tailor sad memoir— WIL HARDIRO, Holborn, baker
—HENRY OPPEINHEIM, Hantsgate, ship chandler—Jour FLATT,
Saimundhan, Sussex, draper—SAMUEL Horioson, Great May.
'abate-street, atattonar—GEonos EDWARD NEIL, Pambery,
Kea, innkeeper HAD( akar) JACKSON HEIDOES, Vauxhall
Bream v, Waiulsworth-road, brewer Wm. Hos, Bishopitgate-
street Without. stationer-OEO'mA PIED. LILLICRAP, Bishops-
gate-street Without, grocer HENRY ROBINSON, brewuod,
Stafford, 'lmitator—HENßY HARDEN, Kialersuurster, licensed
victualler—JOSE RICHARD. Bocastle, Cornwall. draper—RICHARD
HORGAN, Dowlais, grocer SAMUEL Lows, Derby, silk !bantam.
turstr—TmomAs Mannitins, Caldwell-court Mill, Staffordshire,
WiIIer—EDMUND STEVENS, Walsall, draper Jottnall
Little Bolton, Lancaster, cotton spinner- JOHN BURTON and
honor EDWARD itmEit, South Daudet, Gloucestershire, barge
and boat builders JOHN Boasts, Blackburn, Lancashire,
curr.er and leather cutter—HENßY HAWKER DYER, Boscastle,
Cornwall, grocer and draper.
SCOTCH SE.QUESTHATIONS.—Bavrix NicoL, Linlithgow,
merchant—RlCHAßD HATTB/W PRASE, Glasgow, steam-puke'
agent—JOHN CIL.IO WYLIE, Glasgow, commission merchant—.
Jamas caxPasm. mod Co., Glasgow, mrobine makers.

DESTRUCTION OF A FLOATING BATTERY.—The Etna,
one of the new floating batteries designed for ser-
vice in the Baltic, and which was to have been
launched this day, was totally destroyed by fire on
Thursday evening, in Messrs. Scott and Russell's yard
at Mil!wall, together with much other property. The
total loss is estimated at upwards of 120,0001. The
fire was first discovered about nine o'clock, raging
in the newly-built floating battery, whidi was ad-
joined on one side by another vessel, to be termed
the Wave Queen, and on the other by r screw collier.
The three occupied an immense space of ground in
the jard, and were in close proximity. The most
strenuous exertions were made to collect the various
hands together, but before any one could render the
least assistance the flames rushed between the iron
plates of the battery, firing every foot of timber from
the front to the stern, and e►entually the heat be-
came so great that the iron plates, 44 inches thick,
started in many places, when the flames rose up-
war.le of 100 feet high. The floating engine from
her Majesty's dockyard was soon in attendance,
together with other engines, and tons of water were
poured into the vessel, yet the conflagration con-
tinued its ravages ; and about eleven o'clock a fright-
ful scene took place, as the ponderous battery, in a
thorough state pf ignition, glided of the stocks into
the river, amidst the shrieks of some thousand per-
sons who were in boats at the mouth of the dock.
Several persons were so terrified that eight jumped
into the water, fearing that the blazing vessel would
fall upon them, and crush them to death. Fortu-
nately the whole were rescued by the Thames police
and watermen. The battery may be said to be a
total wreck, and both the other vessels were seriously
injured.
ON Tuesday week a young gentleman, named
Reginald Henry Whitworth, son of the Rev. W. H.
Whitworth, master of St. Mary's College, Winder-
mere, was drowned in Windermere Lake. The de-
ceased and some youths of the college bad been
amusing themselves with a sailing yacht and punt.
The punt was a leaky boat, and foundered as the
deceased, who had left the shore in her alone, was
endeavouring to reach the yacht.

THE London and Portsmouth excursion-train on
Sunday last was so heavy that it was necessary to
leave several of the carriages behind, near Basing-
stoke. The carriages so left were run into by the
London and Southampton excursion-train, and about
a dozen of the Portsmouth passengers were seriously
injured.
THE loss of the Crcesus is thus reported on by the
Corriere Mercantile of Genoa :—She left Genoa at
ten a.m., and in about an hour atter her provision of
coal was found to be on tire, and after several vain
efforts to get the conflagration under, the steamer
was brought back to Fruchioso, which she reached
about noun. Everybody who remained on besrd was
saved ; but three or four soldiers who threw them-
selves into the sea have not been heard of since.
The captain and crew did their duty manfully, and
were aided as much as possible by the soldiers on
board, 287 in number, belonging to the engineer
corps and the commissariat. The Pedestrian, a largo
sailing transport, was in tow of the Crass., but she
returned safe to Genoa, being afterwards taken in
tow by the Nubia steamer. Three months' provi-
sions for the Sardinian expedition were lost in the
Crams on the 24th ult.

MAY 5, 1855.

yittraturt.

Memoirs of the Court and Cabinets of George 111.
By the Duke of Buckingham. Vols. 111.
and IV. London : Hurst and Blackett.
No publication of modern day possesses
higher historical value than these " Memoirs,"
as the work is termed, though a fitter title for it
would be the " Buckingham Correspondence."
It commences where the "Grenville Correspon-
dence," lately published by Mr. Murray, left
off, and thus carries on the history of one
of the most illustrious families in our annals
to the close of the year 1810. In the narrative
which connects the letters of the Buckingham
family in these volumes there are points
which criticism may carp at, though on the
whole it appears to us written with great fair-
ness an'l intelligence, but there can be no
question ..s to the importance of the corre-
spondence itself, and as to the light it throws
on a most interesting portion of our history.
Lord Grenville, his brother Mr. Thomas Gren-
♦ille, and their immediate friends, played a
prominent part in politics during the ten years
embraced by these two volumes—from 1800
to 1810—and in their confidential communica-
tions to the Marquis of Buckingham and to
Lord Temple there arc disclosed the motives
which influenced their conduct, and the
opinions they entertained on passing events
and the character of their contemporaries.
The correspondence of Lord Grenville repre-
sents him in a light at once noble and
engaging—scarcely ductile enough perhaps
for a politician, and too sensitive for the toil
of public life, but high principled, brave,
patriotic, and eminently sagacious. Of all
the statesmen of his day, he best understood
the character of Napoleon and comprehended
the nature of the terrific contest in which
England was engaged, but his mind never
faltered except when he perceived symptoms
of weakness in the country and Government.
The Grenville correspondence is occupied
with the career of that family which at-
tained such great political distinction in
the time of Chatham ; while this Bucking
ham correspondence is occupied with the
fortunes of the immediate descendants of that
family. The Grenvilles are of a noble stock.
Richard de Grenvylle, a follower of the Con-
querer, became proprietor of Wotton, and from
him the estate has descended through twenty
generations to the present Duke of Bucking-
ham. Several circumstances contributed to
aggrandise the family in the middle of the last
century, the chief one being the marriage of
Mr. Grenville with the eldest sister of Lord
Cobham, which brought "princely Stowe" to
her eldest son, and conferred on him the title
of Lord Temple. It is strange that the estate
acquired comparatively at so recent a date
should have materially contributed to the
ducal rank and political distinction of the
Grenvilles, and yet have gained by the diaper.
sion of its treasures such unenviable notoriety
in our day. The great wealth and extensive
connections of the first Earl Temple un-
doubtedly conduced greatly to the success of
his relatives in public life ; and it is remark-
able that Lord Grenville, the son of George
Grenville, should have held towards the
second Pitt much the same relation of friend-
ship and rivalry which George Grenville him-
self held towards Chatham. Mr. G. Grenville
was very prudent and precise in his expense,
and probably, as he married well, was able to
make adequate provision for his family. It
was a rule with him to make no addition to
his household when in office ; his salary, he was
accustomed to say, made no other difference
to him than that it added to the provision forhis
children. When his son, therefore, the Marquis
of Buckingham of these memoirs, succeeded
to the estates of Earl Temple, who died with-
out issue, his position must have been a mag-
nificent one. Probably Earl Temple, whose
liberality, whatever faults he had, was bound-
less, might have injured his fortune by his
munificence ; and the Marquis in this respect
seems to have resembled his uncle more than
his father, as there are many traces in these
volumes of his generous disposition. His
brothers, however, and particularly Lord
Grenville, seem to have been often hampered