The Press.
London, England, 1857-10-10 00:00:00

of Commons, the two Irish orators, GRATTAN and PLUNKET, were intro-
duced as Members for Fitzwilliam boroughs. Possibly it was the
recollection of facts like these which stayed the uplifted axe in 1831.
For in Malton and Peterborough the Fitzwilliams reign with great
away, if not absolute control. They influence powerfully the Yorkshire
county elections ; and the present Earl has sat for the last few years
as M.P. for the county of Wicklow, his colleague being Mr. ‘VILLtANt
WENTWORTH FITZWILLIAM HUME, a stanch Conservative in spite of his
name. Many regret that the late Earl did not live long enough to
enjoy the intended honour of receiving her Majesty at Wentworth.
It was in Yorkshire, and not in London, that the Fitzwilliams exhi-
bited their splendid living, for of late years their connection never
aspired to any Ministerial ambition.

We have reason to believe that the republication of that v•ry
striking article upon " India and its Army," from the Edinburyh
Review of Jan., 1853, will shortly appear•, with the permission of and
with a preface by its talented author, the Rev. U. R. GLEIG, M.A.,
Chaplain-General to her Majesty's Forces. The tenor of this remark-
abie article, which attracted much attention at the time, and the fore-
bodings of which have been so terribly and so speedily fulfilled, was
to the effect that the Government of India could not continue in its
then existing state without sooner or later bringing about an alarming
crisis. The defective state of the organisation and discipline of our
native army, its inefficiency and its untrustworthiness, together with
the dangers arising from the rapid and continued extension of terri-
tory which every day diffused that native army over a wider extent of
country, thus proving that our sovereignty depended alone upon that
army, and rendering the application of a remedy most urgent, were
pointed out with great sagacity, and the day when the importance of
the question would be forced upon us was predicted to be " not far
distant." We trust that we shall have an cpportunity shortly of
bringing this pamphlet more fully before our readers.

The Government have at length adopted the proposition of the
Earl of HARDWICKE, and have despatched the first i►istalmeut of
troops overland; 250 officers end men of the Engineers embarked at
the close of last week on board the Peninsular Company's steamer
for Alexandria. To he sure, the necessity for this step, which
was urgent in June, is materially modified in October. The
detachment will arrive at its destination much about the same time
as the first troops despatched by the Cape. But what a painful
reflection it is that this nation, with all its boasted resources,
requires six months after a rebellion has broken out in
India to p►•epare for the conveyance of 250 soldiers by the shortest
route to the aid of our struggling fellow-countrymen ! We must not be
told that the " inconvenience and expense " of the measure have re-
quired a consideration of four months before the step could be defi-
nitely decided on. The country will not be deceived by any such
vague excuses. If ever in the history of this country an emergency
occurred which called for prompt. and vigorous action it was this revolt
in India. Each wasted day cost us thousands of treasure and torrents
of blood. And yet, with this appalling hazard staring them in the
face, the Government declared that it was not only a more safe and
certain measure to despatch the reinforcements entirely by the Cape,
but that it was positively more speedy, that they should be despatched
in sailing transports in preference to steamers. They would not even
employ the resources which the skill and invention of this country
and the improvements of civilisation had placed at their disposal ; but,
blind to the necessities of the moment, selected the slower and
more expensive route, and put by the cheaper and more rapid for
future consideration. After four months' deliberate discussion they
resolved to despatch two hundred and fifty men "upon trial !"

According to the latest news from America, Filibusterism would
seem to be at a discount. General WALKER, driven out of Nicaragua,
has failed in his attempts both upon Mr. BUCHANAN and Mr. JENKINS,
who distinctly disavow all sympathy with his designs, and of whom
the latter has given orders to intercept an expedition started by
filibustering adventurers. All this sounds well. Yet it is unques-
tionably a matter for doubt whether the roving spirit of a certain class
of Americans has received any decided check. It would be impossible,
naturally, for Mr. BUCHANAN to do other than openly discountenanca
such characters as General WALKER ; yet it remains to be seen how
much deference would be paid to his decree if a filibustering expedi-
tion were again to be set on foot. The so-called " Monro " doc-
trine is still the pet doctrine of the Yankees. And the
Supreme Government is treated with contemptuous disregard
whenever it interferes with a popular crotchet. Independently of
which, it is not a settled question that WALKER and his followers aro
the ruffians which they are often represented to be. Some persons, whose
opinions deserve respect, have held that the period of his domination
in Central America was one of comparative law and tranquillity. It
certainly could not be much worse than the period which preceded it.
But, however these things may be, we should ourselves be very sorry
to see WALKER re-established there. It must infallibly lead to em-
broilment with this country, and bring on, perhaps, a premature
arrangement of a question not yet ripe for settlement.

It is stated in the Irish papers that the Lord Chancellor of
Ireland, with the concurrence of the Lord Lieutenant, has directed
that in future every magistrate in Ireland shall, upon his appoint-
ment, be required "to disclaim all connection " with the " Orange
institutions," The Evening Mail can scarcely credit the announce-
ment. Taken in connection with the recent inquiry at Belfast, and
which, by the way, is still pending, it does certainly appear a most
extraordinary step. This absolute manner of prejudging a case
cannot but be regretted, and will, we fear, lead to very serious cum
plications.