The Press.
London, England, 1856-05-31 00:00:00

THE WEEK.

As journalists, we are thankful to be free from two subjects—the
trial of PALMER, and the Illuminations. The former caused more
excitement than was healthy—the latter is a form of rejoicing not very
well suited to modern habits. Both are happily over.
In PALMER'S case, the medical evidence for the defence, without
weakening one of the strong points on which the presumption of his
guilt rested, is sufficient to deprive the verdict of thit absolute
certainty which every one must. wish to see established when life is at
stake. The case against him is greatly overstated when it is said
that no circumstantial evidence could be stronger. This would be
true had strychnia been discovered in Comes body, but that it was not
discovered is the one weak point in the case. Might it not even yet
be possible to try another analysis? If strychnia be so easily detected
as some of the medical witnesses have asserted—if it be possible by
certain tests to detect the presence of one fifty-thotisandth part of a
grain in any matter capable of analysis—it would sothat the only
proof required to make the guilt of PALMER absol, certain might
yet be supplied. His friends are said to be makitit efforts to get up
a ease for the merciful consideration of the Crown. We imagine it is
quite impossible that such application can be listened to ; and it will
be charity to the wretched prisoner—who, probably, yet entertains
some hope that his life may he spared—to let him know that his
fate is absolutely determined on. The details of the trial
have been too universally criticised to call for comment at our hands.
To our thinking the " summing-up." as it is termed, of the Chief
Justice, was the least satisfactory feature of the trial. The
judge was partially lost in the advocate. Lord CAMPBELL'S mind is
not large enough to maintain that serene impartiality which so grace-
fully becomes the judgment-seat. We are occasionally reminded
in an unpleasing manner of his old habits of partisanship.
He is another instance of a principle often observed and
commented on, that there is nothing more rare than to
find a genuine Whig capable of clearing his mind from prejudice. In
this case his " summing-up " was rather stronger against the prisoner
than the reply of the Attorney-General. One point favorable to the
supposition that Coox might have died from natural causes seems to
have been overlooked by the Judge. On the Sunday night, Coox
was seized with symptoms of giddiness, which seemed
to anticipate the attacks of the two nights following. He
related the next morning that " he thought he should have gone
mad." If there were no connection between this seizure and the con-
vulsions of the succeeding nights, the coincidence was a strange one.
Had the Judge balanced the evidence with more care, and been less
explicit in his intimation to the jury of what their verdict should be,
the trial, as a great example of our criminal jurisprudence, would
have been free from flaw.

The illuminations and fireworks called all London and London's
eountry-cousins—the most remarkable spectacle of the whole—into
the streets and parks on Thursday night. The illuminations were
neither very general, nor much above the average of birthday nights.
There was less of novelty and of taste than might have been antici
pated. Many of the gas designs obstinately refused to show off all
their proportions. The fireworks continued for two hours, and cost,
in addition to the money expenditure, and the five lives lost at Wool
wich, one or two lives of pleasure-seekers, and a good deal of
mutilation. The socket-sticks struck one man dead, fractured
some skulls, and put out a few eyes. The metropolis was up
all night, the streets not being clear of vehicles and crowds
till long past daylight. The demeanour of the people was on the
whole exemplary, though not quite so " noble." " beautiful," " impos-
ing," " courteous," and " sublime," as the bombast of some contempo-
raries would represent. " They abandoned themselves," says the
Times, " to the celebration of a joyous epoch ;" and also, truth compels
us to add, to the consumption of a considerable quantity of gin and
beer It is rally worth considering, whether in the event of any oc-
casion of future rejoicing, the money set apart for festivities might no-
be spent in some manner better calculated to afford rational and
healthful recreation to the people.

If we were asked what was the most striking sight to be seen on
Thursday night, we should say, that it was at a house standing in a
fashionable quarter without a single light in window or on wall. We
allude to a mansion in Great Stanhope-street. There was a hatehment
over its door, and its dark walls contrasted with the brilliant
effects of the Marquis of ABERCORN'S (Chesterfield -house), and other
distinguished residences. It was the house of the late Field-
Marhhal Lord RAGLAN ! The gallant veteran had fallen in the cam-
paign which bad brought about " the Peace " for which London
wai then in a blaze. The house looked melancholy, and one could
'pot help thinking of the beloved " FITZROY SOMERSET," and all the
gallant spirits that had been sacrificed to obtain " the Peace " celc-
b ated by the splendours of the night.

Our street improvements, sanitary regulations, and fine buildings
in every quarter, though they may possibly render London a pattern
city in 1056, yet, for the time being, by demolishing the haunts of the

SATURDAY,

poor before decent lodging is provided for them, drives them d
together in certain localities under circumstances of misery, vice, and
suffering almost incredible in this age of baths, washhouses, and
education. A case in point has
,just been exposed by Dr. LETHEBY.
One morning this week he visited Plumtree-court, between Shoe-
lane and Farringdon-street. In this court of two hundred and
forty feet in length and an average width of about eight feet six he
found twenty-five three-storied houses, containing from one to three
families in each room. The squalor, the filth, and the misery he
found these people living in, heried together from necessity, could
scarcely be believed to exist in London. The cause was clear—the
people had nowhere else to go. Their own dwellings had been pulledt
down to make room for new streets, and they gradually drew closer
and closer together. Is not this result too high a price to pay fo
street improvements? Why should not dwellings for the poor be firs
built before they are driven like beasts to herd in wretched hovels or
snore miserable cellars? It is pitiable to reflect that with all our
charitable institutions, schools, and societies, and all the efforts daily
made to ameliorate the condition of the poor, so much misery should
i still exist. Do we not, while aiming at moral mprovement, too surely
forget the physical sufferings of the class whose condition we would
ameliorate, and too often in our rage for an improved street archi-
tecture, neglect the interests of those for whom such improvements
are supposed to be undertaken ?

The Derby this year was attended by an enormous crowd. A
good Derby-day is, perhaps, the most characteristic sight of socia
England. The variety of classes, and the absolute equality of all ;
the free and familiar intercourse in the betting-ring, the equipages,
the boundless display of wealth and comfort, the buoyant heartiness
of the throng, are all matchless. Then, too, the sight of so many fair
women who can stand daylight make the Derby a rare sight, though
year after year it is becoming less aristocratic, as the railway has
increased the quantity but diminished the quality of the visitors.
A daily contemporary has moralised on the connection of PALMER with
the Turf. But it would be just as appropriate to have indicated
his connection with the medical profession. Without his
technical knowledge of sickness, PALMER could not have made his
sinister combinations in Coox's case. The Turf is no more discredited
by PALMER than commercial speculation by Sir JOHN PAUL or political
life by JOHN SADLEIR. There is more reason to regret that the Turf
should be used as a Stock Exchange, and it shows that the mercantile
classes are in nowise superior in wisdom to others in the community.

Yankee legislators are certainly behind the age in civilisation and
good manners. What is to be thought of a senator who first insults a
waiter at an hotel, and then, after a personal struggle with him, draws
a revolver from his breeches-pocket and shoots him down like a dog?
And yet such a scene occurred at Willard's Hotel at Washington on
the Bth instant. A Mr. HERBERT, member for California, ordered his
breakfast at the hotel at an hour when, according to the rules of the
hotel, no breakfast could be served without au order from the office. The
waiter explained this to the senator, and was struck between the eyes
for his civility. Th* waiter retaliated, and flung a plate at the
senator. The senator replied with a chair. They then "clinched "
and fought. Other persons interfered. HERBERT drew his revolver.
He was restrained for seine moments, but as soon as he got free
he rushed on the unfortunate waiter, and, seizing him round the neck.
put the pistol to his breast and shot him though the lungs. The man
died in a few minutes, and Mr HERBERT, after an excellent breakfast
at a friend's house, delivered himself up to justice, and after a
partial examination was remanded. The American papers, in com-
meliting upon this horrible murder, do not appear to regard it in any
other light than a questionable point of honour whether a gentleman
carrying a revolver be justified in provoking a quarrel with an unarmed
man. The better question for our American contemporaries to con-
sider would he whether carrying revolvers in one's breeches pocket is
at all consonant with the habits and customs of civilised society
The sooner Washington hangs one of its senators as an example, the
better for American society in general. An excellent opportunity
appears to be offered to them at present.

The organ of the Premier has been labouring with some dexterity
this week to throw cold water on the idea of any advantage
resulting from that " crisis " in Italian affairs which the
Ministerialists have heretofore been so eager to precipitate:—
" British statesmen [Lord PALMERSTON'S Administration, of
" course] must be aware of being urged into the adoption of a hasty
" policy [the regeneration of Italy, to be sure], either by the
" earnest persuasion of foreign Powers [Sardinia alone can
"be intended], or the stress of a too impulsive public
" opinion at home [a plain hit at the Liberals]." Then
follows a disheartening list of the difficulties which the Premier
now perceives must retard the political regeneration of Italy. England
might have to go to war with Austria and solicit Russia as an ally ;
the task would be of gigantic difficulty from the discordant elements
prevailing in Italy!; land, above all, the "Powers of Europe can in no
" way lend themselves to the designs of the revolutionary party:
In fine, the Italian people are not yet ready for liberty, and must wait
until the necessities of the Liberal party here again require a crY•
" The Italian people must first shake off the thraldom of secret
" societies, and abandon the low node of political morals so assiduously
" cultivated by the advocates of insurrection." The meaning of all
this is, that in face of the Triple Alliance, Lord PALMERSTON finds it
impracticable to pretend longer to favour Italian Liberalism.

THOUGHTS ON ILLUMINATION NIGHT.
Still as we view the Whigs with strange caprice
Drifting to war, precipitate for peace ;
Now threatening Cronstadt o'er the drunken bowl,
Now warning cautious Charlie from his goal ;
Now grudging gun-boats for the Northern war,
Now launching myriads when the strife is o'er;
Now seeking soldiers mid a felon horde,
Dregs of all lands, by every land abhorred;
Now spurning loyal Canada's free sword ;
Now ranting for the freedom of the Turk,
Now the free press of Belgium wild to burke ;
Now propping rights by Russia overthrown,
And now to France surrendering our own ;
Still as these feeble, fickle Whigs I mark,
Observe their souls how small, their minds how dark,
I turn me sadly from the wild display
Of garish lamps that flout each public way,
And vainly sigh, " Oh, could this great expense
Enlighten them with honour, virtue, sense,
Illumine their murky minds with statesman wit,
On Palmerston reflect one ray of Pitt ;
For such illumination—but, alas!
These miracles no longer come to pass.
A Whig turn patriot ! nay, rather hope
To see in holy Rome a liberal Pope ;
Expect Argyll some modest doubts to feel,
Look for one generous impulse in Fred Peel ;
One spark of intellect in dull Panmure,
One speech of Cranworth's that's not mean and poor ;
Expect in Harrowby to find a sage,
In Lansdowne see aught reverend save his age.
For Whiggish wit and eloquence are dead,
With Fox and Sheridan their lights have fled."
Thus, musing sadly,--I went home to bed.

MR. PEPYS ON THE FIREWORKS.
(Extracted from his Diary.)
MAY 29.—Being the Anniversary of the Restoration of my Gracious
Sovereign King Charles the Second, I, Samuel Pepys, did ask leave of
the Janitor of the Elysian Fields to go upon earth for some few hours.
Which he granting with no great ado, did betake myself to the London
parks, and found vast crowds assembled there, it being then towards
nightfall, and preparations for firework playing, very great. Said to a
youth of smart appearance that I was glad to see the memory of King
Charles so well honoured. He stared, and spoke to a companion, who
observed, " Rum old buffer," and they laughed loudly, but at what I
knew not. Mixed in the crowd, and learned that the fireworks were a
rejoicing for a peace with Russia, with whom I had forgotten the nation
had gone to war. Asked who had taken clnduct of this peace, and
whether it were favorable, but found it hard to get any tidings. At
last an artisan told me that an opportunity for making a good peace
had been given, but that our managers had left it incomplete. " Then
why these rejoicings?" quoth I. " Who's rejoicing?" was his repartee,
with au oath. He added that he had come to see certain sanguinary
fireworks, and not, as he phrased it, to cackle. Was glad I was a
ghost, for there was some hint of punching my head, a process
abhorrent to me when in the flesh. Yet I think the fellow was not
naturally brutal, but simply discontent. Then, being spiritual,
did transport myself to a balcony, wherein were several persons
of quality, having State charges. They waited for the show,
but, Lord, to hear what folly they spoke ! There was a Minister
(I name him not for very shame) who was jesting about
an Archbishop, and asked a tall baronet they called Hall,
whether the lamps of Lambeth Palace were yet broken, offering the
other a wager. It seemed that the Minister had been holding up the