The Press.
London, England, 1855-02-03 00:00:00

PACKAGES FOR THE CRIMEA.

In the House of Commons on Thursday, in answer
to Mr. A. Stafford,
Mr. COWPER stated that instruction had been given
to the authorities in the dockyards to receive packages
addressed to the officers in the Crimea, and to for-
ward them as opportunity offered.
RECEPTION OF THE SICK AND WOUNDED
AT PORTSMOUTH.
Mr. S. HERBERT on Monday, in answer to Mr. M.
Milnes, stated that a strict inquiry had been insti-
tuted into the circumstances of the reception of the
Himalaya at Portsmouth, and the alleged neglect of
the authorities in the reception of the sick and
wounded. The Himalaya had sailed into har-
bour before it was expected, and before the return
of an officer who had been sent on board to inquire
into her movements. The authorities had waited the
return of the officer, and were taken by surprise.

DURATION OF ENGLISH MINISTRIES.
THE following account of the names and duration of the
various Administrations which have governed England
since the passing of the Reform Act of 1832 may, at this
moment, be interesting to all parties. The Ministry of the
late Earl Grey held office from November, 1830, to August,
1834, and was instrumental in carrying the bill for the
reform of the representative system. On the resignation of
Earl Grey, in August, 1814, the Whig Ministry was modi-
fied, and Viscount Melbourne was raised to the office of
First Lord of the Treasury. This Ministry was dissolved
by William IV., in November, 1834, when Sir Robert Peel
was summoned by the King from Rome to form a nevi •
Government on moderate Conservative principles. Sir
Robert's tenure of offiee, however, was brief, for in the
following April (1835 ) the right hon. baronet was der
feated on the famous " Appropriation Clause " of the Irish
Tithe Bill, and Lord Melbourne once resumed the reins
of Government. This, the second Melbourne Ministry,
endured from April, 1835, to August, 1841, or upwards of
six years, exclusive of the week's interregnum in 1839,
when Lord Melbourne temporarily resigned, and was rein-
stated on the refusal of Sir R. Peel to take office under
circumstances which need not now be reverted to. In
the summer of 1841 the Whigs were defeated in two
Parliaments elected under their own auspices, and Sir
R. Peel formed that Administration which carried the
principle of free trade. and was eventually upset in 1846
by the secession of its protectionist supporters. Lord
John Russell's Administration, which succeeded, lasted
from June, 18411, to February, 1852, when a defeat on the
Militia Bill induced his lordship to resign office. Then
came the Administration of the Earl of Derby and the
" country party," which lasted about nine months. It was
dissolved just before Christmas, 1852, and the Earl of Aber-
deen succeeded as the head of a Coalition Ministry. This
Administration has lasted a little more than two years.
It will be seen that the second Ministry of Viscount
bourne held office for upwards of six years, that of Sir
Peel ( the second Ministry) nearly five years, and
of Lord John Russell nearly six years. During the
Sort
period in question—viz., from 1834 to 1854, three appeals
were made by existing Ministries to the public opinion of
the nation—by the usual constitutional course of a general
election. Thus, Sir Robert Peel dissolved Parliament in
December, 1834, and the result was a considerable. but
not adequate, accession of parliamentary support; Lord
Melbourne dissolved in 1841, but the country returned a
majority of 100 against him; and the Earl of Derby's ap-
peal to the people, in 18.5'2, was, to judge from the result,
similarly, though not equally, unsuccessful.

ONE of the latest propositions of Sir James Gra-
- reconstruction of the Transport Board,

ham was the reconstruction of the Transport Board, Dunlop, A. M. Mandeville, Vies. Welby, Sir U. E. PUY" ft iew weeas billet, rstsyn 411 C AV CM. A Ell MT ...1•••••••7
which the right hon. baronet broke up when Find Dnnne, Colonel Mangles, B. D. Whatman, J. while the crews of the American vessels were en-
Lord of the Admiralty. The immense work of the Du Pre, C. G. Manners, Lord G. Whiteside, J. gaged in securing their cargoes, they were driven
Admiralty victualling and transport service for the East, Sir J. B. March, Earl of Whitmore, H. away by an armed ship belonging to the Government
war has been carried on by the comptroller of vic- Ebrington, Visc. Martin, .1. Wilkinson, W.A. of Venezuela, and the island taken possession of by
Walling and transports, Mr. T. T. Grant, assisted Egerton, Sir P. Massey, W. N. Williams, W. a body of soldiers. Now, the question is, to whorl'
Egerton, E. C. Masterman J. Willoughby, Sir H. does this island belong ? There is an island called
by Mr. Leyburn, Captain Milne, the Junior Lord of . Sir H. tinley, Viscount Meuz, Sir H. Wise, A.
the Admiralty, having the charge of that department Farnham, E. B. m. B F
la , B. Woodd, B. T. Ayes just off the coast of Venezuela, which un-
at the board ; and the value of the services of these Fa r, J. Miles, W. Wyndham, H. doubteuly belongs to that Government ; but the Isle
gentlemen may be estimated by a knowledge of the F'ellowes, E. Mills, T. Wynn, Sir W. Ayes we refer to was formerly under the Danish flag,
fact, that but for their arrangements the army in the Filmer, Sir E. Milner, W. M. E. Wynne, W. W. E. and has been claimed by the French. At all events,
Crimea would have been literally starved, for that Fitzgerald. W. R. Milton, Viscount Yorke, Hon. E. T. it is pretty certain that Venezuela has no just claim
army has been subsisting on vavy provisions, and in Ftzwllin.,Hn.C.W. Michell, W. to it. Here is a chance for Mr. Marcy ; and, as there
spite of the Duke of Newcastle's blunders.—Herald, Fezwllta.,Hn.G.W. Mitchell, T. A. TZLLXRS. probably is more guano on this little island than on
ANOTHER suspension in the Cape and Australian Floyer, J, S. Montgmery., Sir G. Berkeley, C. the whole group of Gallipagos, it is certainly worth
H Drummond 0. , H.
trade has been announced, the firm being that of Icalfl4l3. Morgan, his attention. It would be well enough to settle the
Messrs. Walton, Viney, 04 CO. The amount of .4, • • • m
—. floe •ktftec 1•1 ownership, so that our shipmasters may know who
their liabilities is supposed to be moderate. 'IO/ * 5..... t ' -.-•-d ••;' t* sr esii .rtfira ; to deal yntb.