The Press.
London, England, 1856-04-19 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

SATURDAY,

knot ! On the whole, we would rather throw ourselves upon the
statesmanship of the Fleet-street Forum, where gentlemen discuss the
question, " Were Creation a Misstake ?. " Was Cardigan a Nero ?"
" Is the Port intittled to our Confidense ?" and other matters of similar
import, taking especial care to avoid the laws of spelling However,
that is matter of taste ; but as the Radicals are furious at having been
treated with contempt, and threaten to write down counts-out, we
humbly submit that they are doing good service in showing what kind
of men they can rally, and we are happy to lend them all the assistance
in our power.

Affliction in various forms has fallen upon the domestic circles of
several public characters. In the demise of his son, Mr. COBDEN has
experienced a most severe calamity, and the health of his active ally
Mr. BRIGHT requires cessation from public toil. The sudden death
of the Earl COWPER, son of Lady PALMERSTON (by her first marriage),
casts a deep gloom over the gay abode of the Premier, and will for a
time suspend its semi-public receptions. It is said, also, that Sir
GEORGE GREY'S health is also affected, and the Ministry must
officially suffer from the loss of his help. The weakness of the
Manchester connection is strikingly obvious during the temporary
absence of its chiefs, for symptoms are evident that certain intriguing
spirits in a subaltern department of the Liberal party are availing
themselves of the accidental opportunity for manoeuvring in cliques.

A discussion of considerable importance has been going on during
the past week in the Lower House of Convocation, on the subject of
the discipline of the clergy. Two generally admitted evils exist in
regard to ecclesiastical offences. First, that the machinery for dealing
with immorality, or other transgressions, not involving questions of
doctrine, is very inadequate; and, secondly, that where questions of
doctrine are involved, no satisfactory means exist of eliciting the
Church's opinion on the subject. The remedy proposed for the first•
mentioned defect is to appoint a court, of which the Bishop should be
a judge, assisted by a certain number of presbyters and the clerical
officers. In regard to the second point, touching appeals in matters
of doctrine, it was suggested by the Archdeacon of BERKSHIRE that the
appeal in such cases should first of all be heard by the Judicial Com-
mittee of the Privy Council, who should upon that frame a question
for the consideration of the Church in Council, on whose opinion they
should subsequently base their decision. This suggestion was re-
jected by Convocation, and the matter still remains undetermined.

The speech of the American Minister at the Mansion-house, on
Thursday last, is chiefly remarkable for its guarded tone. He was
not authorised to feel, and did not feel, any desire other than that of
giving his exertions and energies unreservedly to the restoration of
the most harmonious sentiments and friendly relations. But he
added that some impending State policy might render nugatory the
most uniform. untiring, and honourable efforts at conciliation. This
is preparing us for the worst. We have no doubt, however, that Mr.
DALLAS, like all sensible men, perceives the flagrant absurdity of the
two nations going to war for nothing—the ludicrous aspect of this
storm in a teacup to which some of his countrymen are endeavouring
just now to give such dignity—and that he will do all in his power to
allay the irritation. But if the worst comes to the worst we shall, at
least, have the satisfaction of knowing that we have kept our own
temper, and that that at least will give us one great advantage in the
struggle. Lord STANLEY uttered an emphatic protest against the
violation of that national alliance which had its root in no considera-
tion of temporary or political expediency, but which rested on the
common oriv,in, common language, and common aspirations of two
mighty empires. If they went on as they had d-ine for some time
past, the earth would be inhabited by 300,000,000 of the Anglo-Saxon
race—the most energetic, enterprising, and industrious people that
ever tilled its soil.

Another Conservative triumph—and at Athlone, too ! This is th•
third victory in the course of a few weeks ; and in this last case the
event is enhanced by peculiar circumstances. The Conservative can-
didate had actually retired from the canvass, when a number of inda.
pendent Roman Catholic voters requested him to come forward again,
and the Honourable Captain HANDCOCH was chosen over a Liberal
capitalist, Mr. JOHN ENNIS, though the latter was supported by the
Govcrniuent, and by his own extensive railway influence. This is a
most remarkable revolution of opinion in Ireland. The honest portion
of the Roman Catholic community is weary of being deceived by
demagogues, and we trust that a lasting reconciliation between the
various sections of Irish society will be the result of that extensive
change of sentiment to which these recent elections emphatically
testify.

SUBSTANCE OF LORD CRANWORTH S SPEECH ON
TICKETS OF LEAVE.
I really can't see that it matters the least
By tickets•of--leave if your crime is increased;
There must be in this world, without tickets-of-leave, ill,
So 'tis hard to believe their results will be evil.

-~~___

APRIL 19, 1856•

"LUCAN'S FARCE-ALIA;"
OR, WHO NEXT, AND NEXT ?
What set a-foot this fatal War
For want of wit to see't afar,
And, having served its own ambition,
Laughs in its sleeve at " that Commission"?
(Echo) Coalition!

Who on the good ship Britain's deck
Steered, while she " drifted" to her wreck;
Of all her mingled crew most mean,
The Russ in Scottish gaberdine?
(Echo) Aberdeen !

Who from resolves resolved to swerve,
And God and Mammon strove to serve ;
With frightened fingers tied his sword on
The while his feet had got a cord on ?

(Echo) Why Gordon!
Who was the Duke (not born a Dux)
That shed his military lux
On us ; and took for business, bustle,
Strong in lace-coat, cocked-hat, and tassel ?
(Echo) Newcastle!
Was it that Duke who sent to Malta
The troops—and when affairs did alter
Unto this question answered " No !"
" Did you their destination know? "

(Echo) 'Twas so !

And while these blunderers go free—
Their error's victim—who is he?
Shall evidence be gravely took on
His case, while these demurely look on ?
(Echo) Lucan!

If he forgot to stable horses,
They overlooked food for the forces;
Who kills the rider gets off freer
Than he who lost the steed—oh ! Dea.
(Echo) lEstraea !

POLITICAL ILLUMINATIONS.

ALL parties being now actively engaged in preparing for the approach-
ing illuminations, any information upon the subject has general in-
terest, and we are happy to be able to subjoin a list of some of the
devices which will be exhibited by distinguished individuals.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer. A Budget in gas, with the in-
scription, Tax Vobiscum.

Sir Benjamin Hall. A Baronet's " Hand," in red lamps, with the
motto, Excelsior.

Mr. James Wilson. A transparency, representing a Hat, with the
legend, " All round my Hat I wear this week's Economist."
Sir Joshua Walmsley. A device, showing a farthing candle, extin-
guished.

Mr. W. Williams. A view of Hampton Court Palace, with a Lam-
beth jackass kicking his heels against a lady's door.
Mr. Labouehere. A very elegant transparency of the Sun that will
not set upon the Right Hon. Gentleman's dominions, and of the Colo-
nies that µ•ill not stand his interference.

Mr. Ewart. A device of new patent Gallows, for the reformation
of criminals, instead of their execution—the culprit is hung by the
waist, instead of the neck, while a lecture is delivered to him.
Mr. V. Smith. A Coronet, and the motto, Ver-non semper viret.
(Vernon will always be rather green.)
Mr. F. Peel. A remarkable Tapeworm, in red lamps.
Mr. Miall. An Allegory. Dissent presents her favorite child to
Britannia, saying, " I give you my all." Britannia replies, " Thank
you for nothing."
Mr. Bowyer. A great Spoon—motto, altered from Shakspeare,
" There's not much matter in these Convertites."
Lord John Russell. A transparency. The Genius of the British
Constitution, supported by Reform, and attended by Appropriation
Clauses, kicks Tests and Corporations, and leads the Jew into her
Temple, while Education guards the door, Diplomacy watches the out-
posts, and the City of London, sweetly smiling, congratulates her
Member upon his having done it all on his own hook.
Lord Panmure. Device representing a kind uncle watching over
an affectionate nephew—motto, " Take care of Dowb."

THE SLEEP-COMPELLING LEWIS.

(IMPROMPTU BY MR. JAMES WILSON, M.P.)
A Bower.—Lewis is discovered sleeping.—" The Sainte Tragedy.*
How just is the fate by which mortals are led
To taste of the bliss that on others they bring
When a lawyer is hung, or a parson is wed,
Who grudges to either the rope or the ring?

Then slumber, my Lewis, too soon shalt thou wake
To it c 1 (14 e again that defeats are the mode.
Oh ! calmly. my Lell:e Fleep on and partake
Of the rest thou so cft hest on others bestowed.


373

DROITS DE COURONNE.

ENCOURAGED by the splendid success that has attended his attempts to
revive, in the matter of the Wensleydale Peerage, a long-disused and
obsolete privilege of the Crown, Lord Cranworth intends to work out the
idea in other directions. Instructions have accordingly been given to the
functionaries of the Record-office, the Signet-office, and other depart-
ments, to trace out all the seigneurial rights, tenures in serjeantcy, &c.,
under which estates were granted by the Tudor, Lancaster, and
Plantagenet sovereigns. These tenures it is the Lord Chancellor's
intention to revive and enforce, expecting therefrom to obtain a large
addition to the revenue—to say nothing of an augmentation in the
dignity—of the Crown. Search has, we understand, been already
made through the " Pleas of the Crown," " Dugdale's Antiquities," the
Exchequer Rolls, and various cartularies, and writs are about to issue
against sundry of the Crown tenants in capite who have too long
neglected to fulfil the conditions on which they held their lands.
Among many others, the heirs of Johannes Russell will be called
upon to prove that they still yearly feed two poor men to pray for the
souls of her Majesty's predecessors, under penalty of forfeiting the
two hydes of land granted on that tenure by King Edward I.
The Ailesbury family were bound to supply, three times a year, a
load of rushes for the King's chamber, and to furnish, moreover, three
eels in winter and two green geese at Michaelmas for the Royal use.
These payments have long been omitted, and the defaulters will be
called upon to pay up arrears, or forfeit the estates they hold in corn-
itate Bucks.

Certain lands in Dorset, now, it is believed, in the possession of
Lord Granville, were originally granted to Thomas, filius Richardi de
Cerberg, for the annual payment of one currycomb. On the ground
that nu//um tempus occurrit regi, his Lordship will be ordered to send in
three gross of the articles forthwith, under pain of confiscation.
An estate on the Marches, which fell into the hands of the
Campbells when they came south, was held on the serjeantcy of its
owner shooting with a balista in the King's armies, at his own cost and
charges, for forty days in times of war The ducal head of the house,
has, it is reported, offered to perform this service hencefori h regularly
if permitted to substitute the longbow for the clumsy balista.

Some property, appropriately situated in com. Hunt., was demised
by Henry 111 to a tenant who undertook the duty, " currendi ad
lupum, vulpem, et cattum," that is, exterminating wolves, foxes, and
cats in the Royal forests. The First Lord of the Admiralty now being
seized of the property will resume the function " currendi cattum."
About foxes he does not feel confident.

A considerable demesne in Suffolk was granted by Edward 11. on
condition that the holder should, every Christmas, in his Majesty's
presence, and for the royal diversion, perform " unum saltum, unum
suffiurn et unum bombulum simul et semel." This estate has since
descended, through the female branch, with the name of Osborne.
The messuages and lands in Norfolk will be forfeited unless the
owner pay up, with all arrears, the annual dues exacted by King John
namely, four and twenty herring pies, at their first coming in. The
writ to this effect will be directed to Sir G. C. Lewis.

Sir G. Grey will be required to explain why he has neglected to
keep the royal hogs, although holding the lands in Cumberland
granted by King Henry on that tenure.
The successors of Petrus de Baldewin, in return for estates in
Surrey, are bound to go wool-gathering for the Queen among the
thorns and briers—" ad colli gendam lanam Dominte Regime per albas
spinas." In this ease, however, the Colonial Secretary, present holder
of the land, pleads that he has always performed that service in-
differently well.