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

A STANDING BRIDGE OVER THE RHINE AT COLOGNE,
the want of which is particularly felt in Wintry wea-
ther, is at length about to be substituted t'or the
bridge of boats that has hitherto constituted the
means of communication. In addition to the en-
gineering difficulties presented by the locality must
be taken the necessity of arranging for the railway
traffic between here and Brussels, and consequently
with London and Pails. Financial difficulties also
have hitherto stood greatly in the way of the under-
taking; one very considerable item in the outlay is
that for fortification, which the Government has
stipulated for as a sine qud non. The bridge is to be
built by the state architect Lescze, who constructed
the bridge over the Vistula, and oh the same plan,
viz , of connecting the piers, not by arches, but by a
species of trellis work.
Dn. COMARMOND, the conservator of antiquities in
the museum at Lyons, is taking measures for a gene-
ral classification of the antiquities of all kinds which
it is expected will be discovered in the cuttings and
excavations about to be made for forming conduits
and canals, and fur the underground passage of the
Lyons Railway.
THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT has just purchased
the last picture of M. Ingres, " Joan of Arc before
the High Altar at Rheims." After having formed
one of the attractions of tha Universal Exposition,
this fine work will be placed in the gallery of tne
Luxembourg.
M. DIEN, of the Paris Observatory, announces
that on Sunday evening, the 14th ult., he discovered
a telescopic comet in the constellation of the
Scorpion at 21 deg. to the south-east of the star
Gamma. The comet presents no appearance of a
tail, but has several centres of light.
AN INTERESTING ARCHEOLOGICAL discovery has
just been made at Contigny, near Lausanne, of a
Roman tomb containing a large earthern vase, in
which was another of glass of a square form. The
contents of this consisted of bones, ashes, two rings,
and four Roman coins—one of Faustina, the wife of
Marcus Aurelius, and the other three of Lucille, the
sister of Commodus. Between these lay a bronze
ring with the inscription " Vita," and close to this a
goluen ring set with a ruby, and a clasp set with
jewel 3. These trinkets denoted the tomb to be that
of a woman. All these objects have been bought by
the cantonal museum of Lausanne.
M. VICTOR LUZARCILE, an eminent antiquary, has
just published a drama of the 12th century in Anglo-
Norman,lately discovered among the manuscripts in
the public library at Tours, and said to be the earliest
known play written in any French dialect.
MADAME LOLA MONTES lives a quiet and apparently
cosy life in California, surrounded by her pet birds,
dogs, goats, sheep, hens, turkeys, pigs, and her pony.
The latter seems to be a favourite with Lola, and is
her companion in all her mountain rambles.

A GErtEr.Ar. ASSEMBLY of the proprietors of Drury-
lane Theatre was held on Tuesday in the theatre
saloon, Mr. B. B. Cabbell, M.P., in the chair, to re-
ceive a statement of accounts and elect auditors, dec.,
for the year ensuing. The report congratulated the
proprietors upon the unusual fact of the rent of the
theatre having been punctually paid by Mr. Smith, the
lessee, so that a nearly new theatre, inside and out,
had been obtained for an expenditure of about 2,000/. ;
although, owing to the decayed state of the timbers,
the repairs has cost 3001. more than the original
estimates. The quarterly payments hat been duly
made to the Duke of Bedford, and 650/. had also
been paid to the renters' trustees. The statement of
accounts, which extended over three half years, exhi-
bited a total receipt of 7,0761. 18s. 10d., and a total
outlay of 7,1191. 14s. 2d. The report having been
adopted, the six outgoing members of the committee
were re-elected, as were also the auditors and the
sub-committee.

THE reservoirs and lakes in the grounds of the
Crystal Palace have been completely frozen during
the past week, and were well attended by skaters.
The Skating Club have obtained permission to
appropriate to their special use a piece of water,
known as the intermediate reservoir, upon which a
number of the members have been daily practising.
THE members of the United Service Club, the
oldest military and naval club, intend to invite Lord
Cardigan to become an honorary member, in conse
quence of his distinguished gallantry at Balaklava
on the 25th of October last.
THE SOLICITOR-GENERAL FOR SCOTLAND, Mr. Tho-
mas Mackenzie, will, we have reason to believe, suc-
ceed to the vacant seat on the Scotch bench caused
by the death of Lord Robertson.—Globe.
THE BOARD OF ORDNANCE have had their atten-
tion drawn to a newly-invented revolving rifle, with
barrels as large as the Minie rifle now in use, and
chambers similar to the repeating pistol. This
weapon will discharge five shots in four seconds, and
MS be loaded with extraordinary facility.

PRE

s,_

Court ait/3 lastion.

Her Majesty came to London on Wednesday morning in
order to be at hand during the Ministerial arrangements
which were pending on that day. In the afternoon the
Queen returned to Windsor, where, according to present
intentions, the Court will remain until the 14th inst., on
which day her Majesty purposes removing to Buckingham
Palace for the season. Yesterday the Queen paid another
visit to London for the same purpose of fitcilitating the
formation of a new Cabinet.
It is the intention of the Emperor of the French to
invite most of the crowned heads of Europa to the Exhibi-
don. The Emperor of Austria is said to have already
accepted.
Baron Von Usedom left England on Saturday last for
Calais, eu route to Brussels. According to the Prussian
eorrespondenz. his Excellency will return from Brussels
to London, instead of proceeding to Berlin.
Lord Stratford de Redoliffe has postponed indefinitely
his intended journey to England.

MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS.
Since Monday last every day has been busily occupied
by interviews, journeys, and consultations, among the
political leaders of almost every party. On Saturday last
a Cabinet Council sat, and another on Tuesday, at which
the Ministers consulted respecting the course to be taken
in consequence of the majority upon Mr. Roebuck's motion
on the previous night, and came to the determination to
resign in a body. Lord Aberdeen accordingly went down
to Windsor immediately after the Council broke up, and
placed the resignation of himself and his colleagues in the
hands of her Majesty, who was pleased to accept them.
In the course of the same evening a royal messenger was
despatched from Windsor, conveying the Queen's com-
mands to Lord Derby to be in attendance the following
morning at Buckingham Palace. Her Majesty reached
the palace at eleven o'clock on Wednesday, and within
half an hour afterwards Lord Derby arrived, and was ad-
mitted to an audience, remaining in consultation with her
Majesty an hour and a half.
The Earl of Derby afterwards proceeded to the residence
of Lord Palmerston, in Piccadilly, with whom he held a
somewhat protracted conversation, and then returned to
Buckingham Palace, where be had another interview with
her Majesty. No other Cabinet Minister, or Cabinet
Minister-expectant, visited the Queen during her short stay
in town.
After the return of the Earl of Derby from the Palace
his lordship received the Right Hon. B. Disraeli and several
other of his political friends.
The Marquis of Lansdowne visited the Earl of Derby in
the course of the afternoon, and at a later period of the day
his lordship was called upon by several of his usual sup-
porters.
kt an early hoar bn Wednesday, Viscount Palmerston
had an interview With the Marquis of Lansdowne at his
lordship's residence in Berkeley-square.
The Secretary of the Treasury, the Right Hon. G. W.
Hayter, was very busy during Wednesday at the clubs,
The right hon. gentleman paid a visit to the Earl of Aber-
deen during the morning, at Argyll-house.
The Marquis of Lansdowne visited Lord John Russell
at his residence in Chesham-place. The Earl Grey was
visited by several of his political friends. Lord John
Russell entertained a select circle at dinner. Lord I)un-
kellin, recently returned from St. Petersburg, was amongst
his lordship's guests.
A Queen's messenger left Windsor Castle in the course
of the evening, charged with a despatch for the Earl of
Aberdeen. The messenger returned to Windsor with the
noble's earl's zeply to her Majesty shortly after nine
o'clock.
Shortly before twelve o'clock that same night, Mr. Glad-
stone, and the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert arrived together
at the Admiralty, and had an interview with Sir James
Graham. The right hon. gentlemen came direct from the
Earl of Aberdeen (with whom they had had a lengthened
interview) to the Admiralty.
On Thursday the Earl of Derby left town at an early
hour, for the purpose of resigning into the hands of the
Sovereign the task with which he had been intrusted.
The noble earl returned to London in the afternoon,
and, en route to his residence in St. James's square, called
upon Mr. Disraeli, with whom his lordship had had an
interview prior to leaving London for 'Windsor.
At two o'clock a Queen's messenger arrived at Lans-
downe-house, bearing a despatch commanding the attend-
ance of the Marquis of Landsdowne at Windsor Castle.
The noble marquis immediately led London for Windsor,
and remained the guest of her Majesty for the night.
Yesterday morning the noble marquis returned to town
at an early hour, and sent a message to Mr. Gladstone,
who came to Berkeley-square a few minutes before eleven
o'clock. After holding a communication with Lord Lans-
downe they both proceeded to the residence of Mr. Sidney
Herbert, in Belgrave-square, whence at one o'clock the
noble marquis proceeded to the residence of Lord John
Russell, in Chesham-place, with whom he staid until
half-past one.
On leaving Lord John Russell's house the Marquis of
Lansdowne called upon Lord Palmerston, with whom he
remained in consultation until two o'clock. On leaving
Lord Palmerston, the noble marquis proceeded to Buck-
ingham Palace, where he had an audience of the Queen,
who had come up from Windsor for the special purpose
of assisting in the formation of a new Administration.

THE noble Lord Chamberlain's liberal gift of
9,000 bottles of Scotch whiskey and two tons of
potted meats for the Highland brigade serving in
the Crimea, the 79th and 92nd Highlanders, hare
been just shipped for Balakleva direct.

[RDA?,

LORD DERBY AND LORD JOHN RUSSELL.
A PAsskok; in Lord John Russell's speech on
Monday niot in reference to an incident in Lord
Derby's career while in connection with the Goderich
Administration was seriously misreported in the
Times. The version given in that journal was as
follows. Lord John said :

I remember a transaction in which I was not myself
engaged further than in being a spectator of it, of which
the history may be easily had by the right hon. gentleman,
and it referred to one whom he, at least, respects—l mean
Lord Derby. When Lord Derby was Secretary for Ireland
in Lord Grey's Administration, and when the great ques-
tion was impending—a question of no less importance than
the emancipation of the slaves in the West Indies—it was
thought desirable that the office of Secretary for the
Colonies should be held by a man possessing influence and
weight iu this house, and who could exert that influence
with the eloquence known to be possessed by Lord Derby.
The Earl of Derby had no hesitation in stating that to Lord
Goderich, and Lord Goderich, giving way to that impres-
Mon, accepted office, but I never heard that termed profli-
gate intrigue; if it were it would have been profligate in-
trigue on the part of the Earl of Derby to get posession of
the seals of the Colonial Secretary. It was for the public
benefit, and enabled Lord Derby to bring forward with
ability, which all who recollect it admire, the plan fur the
emancipation of slaves, of which he was the author.
More correct reports are given in other papers.
The Herald thus renders the passage

When Lord Derby held, in Lord Grey's Adminstration,
the office of Chief Secretary for Ireland, and when the
great question of negro emancipation was pending, it was
thought advisable that the office of Secretary of State for
the Colonies should be held by a person of the influence
and weight in this house possessed by the Eail of Derby,
and supported by the eloquence which he was well known
to possess. Lord Grey did nut hesitate to suite his con-
victions to Lord Goderich, and Lord Goderich gave way,
and accepted the office of Privy Seal iu the same cabinet.
( Hear, hear.) But I never heard that that was denominated
a profligate intrigue. If it was a profligate intrigue it
must have been a profligate intrigue on the part of the
Earl of Derby, who got possession of the Colonial Secre-
taryship. But it was for the public benefit that Lord
Derby should have been enabled to bring forward, with that
ability which we all admire in him, the plan for the eman-
cipation of the slaves of which he was the author and
mover.
The Morning Chronicle version is as follows:

I remember when the Earl of Derby held the office of
Chief Secretary for Ireland, under the Administration of
Earl Grey, the great question of the emancipation of the
slaves in the West Indies was before the Cabinet,
and It was thought desirable that the office of Secre-
tary of State for the Colonies should be held by a
man of the influence and weight possessed in this house
by the Earl of Derby, and Eari Grey had no hesitation in
stating his conviction to Goderich, who, giving way to that
opinion, accepted- the office of Privy Seal in the same
Cabinet. I never h sat as denominated a " pro-

aigate intrigue."
Other journals report the passage in a similar
sense, and the misrepresentation of the Times has
called forth the following letter from Lord Derby
himself :

TO THE EDITOR OF THE " TIMES."
Sir,—Your report of last night's debate in the House of
Commons, in this day's Times, attributes to Lord John
Russell an expression with regard to me which, I am con•
fident, was not used by the noble lord, both because it is
wholly at variance with the fact and because every other
paper which I have seen gives another, and, I have no
doubt, a correct version of the speech. In the Times he is
made to say that in 1533, when it was thought desirable
that a change should be made in the administration of the
Colonial-office, " Lord Derby had no hesitation in stating
that to Lord Goderich ," and yet he never heard that
called a profligate intrigue, if it had been, " it would
have been a profligate intrigue on the part of the Earl
of Derby to get posession of the seals of the Colonial
Secretary." In every other paper the name of Earl Grey,
the then head of the Government, is substituted, I
presume with perfect truth, for mine, as that of the
person who made the representation to Lord Goderich.
Had I made such a representation myself, it would have
been an act of gross impropriety ansi impertinence. Had
I taken any steps towards having it made, I should have
thought it partook of the nature of a discreditable he•
trigue ; but the facts of that case, though no interest may
now attach to them, are notorious. Some short time before
I had been compelled to represent to Lord Grey that, though
willing to serve him in any capacity, or to support him with-
out any office, I could not again return to Ireland as Chief
Secretary under the late Lord A ngelsey ; and this altogether
on public grounds. This was in January, on my return
from Ireland. In the following March Lord Ooderich
brought forward a scheme for the abolition of negro slavery,
which was not approved by the Cabinet ; and in conse-
quence, whether of his own accord or upon a suggestion
from any other quarter! know not, Lord Goderich resigned
his office, and accepted that of Privy Seal, which I think
had just been vacated by Lord Durham ; and on his resig
nation I was offered, and accepted, the office of Secretary of
State for the Colonies. I trust you will do me the justice
of correcting the passage in your report to which I have
adverted, whiA,though referring to a transaction long goi
by, places my conduct in a very erroneous and unfavour
able light. Dzaay.
St. James's-square, Jan. 30.

COLONEL THE Hon. R. BRUCE, of the Grenadier
Guards, has, it is said, been appointed Surveyor'
General of the Ordnance.

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