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

THE WEEK.

Tun awful intelligence of the death of the Emperor of RUSSIA was received in
town yesterday evening. The announcement reached us, in the first in-
stance, from Berlin.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL arrived at Berlin on Wednesday at noon. On Thurs-
day at noon he had an interview with the King of PRUSSIA, in presence of M.
MANTEUFFEL. His Lordship was to have dined with the King yesterday, but
the dinner was put off in consequence of the alarming illness of the Emperor,
who was reported to be past recovery. Yesterday evening a telegraphic despatch
was received, dated Berlin, five o'clock in the afternoon, stating that the Em-
peror had died that forenoon. Intense anxiety was manifested in both Houses
of Parliament as the rumour spread, and Lord CLARENDON, in the House of
Peers, and Lord PALMERSTON, in the Commons, announced that a despatch had
been received from the British Minister at the Hague, reporting the death of
the Emperor between twelve and one o'clock of that morning.
"La Russie c'est un despotisme modere par l'assassinat," said TALLEYRAND.
In the absence of all details it would be rash to speculate on the immediate
cause of the Emperor's death ; but an event so sudden, and, as perhaps some
portion of the Russian aristocracy may consider it, so opportune, must be viewed
with strong suspicion, more especially as it accords so exactly with the policy
of Russia on previous occasions.

There was some animated debate last night on the question whether the
committee of inquiry should be a secret or an open one. The committee itself
decided in favour of secrecy, but the feeling of the House was so strongly in
favour of publicity that when Sir J. GRAHAM on one side, and Mr. DISRAELI on
the other, declared in favour of that cause of procedure, the question was con-
ceded. Lord PALMERSTON, fearing apparently to commit himself, and to incur
the hazard of defeat, expressed no decided opinion, and thus left the House to
its own decision.

THE PRE ss was the first journal to announce last week that Lord PALMERSTON
was in communication by telegraph with Lord JOHN RUSSELL. The object, it
seems, was to secure the adhesion of the " Old, Old" Whigs to the Palmerston
Government, by persuading Lord JonN to accept a Ministerial post in it.
" Persuading "we wrote inadvertently. It is notorious that Lord JOHN needs no
persuasion to accept any office, or any number of offices, which may be offered
to him. He clutched at the post of Colonial Secretary, but was so enamoured at
the same time at the idea of acquiring diplomatic fame, that he determined to
proceed to Vienna. "Jack-of-all-Trades," he has now his hands tolerably full.
He has to treat of the difficult questions which relate to European peace
backed by the feeblest English Government ever known—with the English army
destroyed—with the Emperor NAPOLEON intent on proceeding to the Crimea—
with the Russian Government elated at our disasters—with Austria still
doubtful, and Prussia still intriguing ;—this might seem enough for an ordinary
mind. But the mind of Lord Joint is not of that cast. It is of a most extraordi-
nary order. The Plenipotentiaryship is not enough toed' it. It requires the go-
vernment of our colonial empire as well,"and that, too, at a time when the colony
of Victoria is in revolt—when immediate and emphatic instructions are required
from the Colonial•ofce to quench the spark which threatens soon to kindle
into a great blaze, and when all our colonial possessions require the greatest
attention to husband their military resources, and draw from them imperial
troops or native aids.

Can Lord JOHN effectively fulfil the duties of Colonial Secretary when he is
engaged in negotiations at Vienna? Common sense says—No! Why, then, is
the post thrust upon him? Is it to gain the assistance of such dives of
Lansdowne-house as Mr. 'VERNON SMITH? Perish the empire, so that Whigs
flourish. The Liberal, or Reform Association, or by whatever other name the
jobbing clique of tailors and drapers in the City are termed, who claim to have
the representation in their bands, are in raptures with Lord JOHN'S address.
They have met in solemn conclave to declare that he has their confidence. Two
or three weeks back no epithet in their mouths was too bad for them. He had
broken up Lord ABERDEEN'S Administration. Now they are in raptures with
this modern WARWICK—this Puller-down and Setter-up of Cabinets—for his fiat
has gone forth that PALMERSTON shall stand.
Rational men ask for what reason on earth can the Colonial-office have
been thrust upon him at this time ? Its duties are important or they are net.
If they are, why should they be neglected for an uncertain period ;—if they are
not, why should the office be retained? Is not one post at a time enough for
the grasping vanity of Lord Jour; ? The reality of his conceit has gone beyond
the invention of satire. SIDNEY Srarra supposed that he would be ready to
command the fleet or build St. Paul's—but never imagined that he would under
take both tasks at the same time.
The other offices of Administration have been filled up with due regard to
the claims of connection or of traditionary policy. Lord CLARENDON is quietly
establishing for himself an administrative, following. The Premier seems to
have been driven to his wits' end to get his-team into harness. Mr. LAYARD was
one day offered the post of Under Secretary of War, and the neat day told that
he could not have it. The benches below the gangway on the Ministerial side
are now ottfiousty filled,—Mr. LAYARD, Mr. RoEDUCK, Mr. BRIGHT, Sir JAMES
GRAHAM, Mr.. 1134.4p8T0NE, and Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT, are thickly clustered to-
gether. Why .4)t.Wd not, as in the case of shipping for sale, a broom be
hoisted above tthail)enches, or a board with the inscription, "To be sold to the
highest bidder?"
In the highest diplomatic circles a conviction prevails that terms of peace
have been virtually arranged, and that when the Plenipotentiaries assemble they
will only have to settle formalities, and decide on an armistice. About three
out of the " four points " there can be no dispute, and as to the remaining one,
concerning the limitation of Russian power in the Black Sea, it is confidently