The Press.
London, England, 1853-07-30 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

DISTRESSING STRIKE IN DOWNING-STREET
AND ITS VICINITY.
Wa regret to state that the uncomfortable feeling against employers,
now so prevalent in the country, has extended to a region where its
manifestation was least expected. It appears that on Wednesday
morning last, it being the first act of business that he has performed
since he joined the Coalition Cabinet, Lord JOHN RUSSELL rang his
bell, and ordered his servant to call a cab. On being immediately
apprised by his attendant of the important coup d Wilt which had just
taken place, and that a cab was now almost as rare a thing as a Whig,
his Lordship appeared much agitated, and, after walking up and down
the room for a short time in deep thought, muttered something about
Mr. Finaoy being a Peelite, and then left the house with the purpose
of visiting Lord LANSDOWNE.
The conference between the two Noble Lords was of some
length ; De Lolme, Blackstone, the " Life of Lord William Russell,"
and several other constitutional works, were called for and consulted ;
but, finally, Lord LANSDOWNE ordered his barouche, and, accompanied
by Lord JOHN, proceeded to pay a visit to Lord ABERDEEN, in Downing-
street, where, having arrived, they, without circumlocution, referred to
their unusual, not to say unconstitutional, position, in having seats in
the Cabinet without salaries, and struck for wages.
Lord ABERDEEN had not recovered from his astonishment or
annoyance when Lord GRANVILLE arrived and struck for the Foreign
Office, while a letter from Sir JAMES GRAHAM, which came in at the
same moment, signified that Sir JAMES had struck for the Home

Department.
Sir CHARLES WOOD almost immediately followed these announce
ments. The Right Honourable Baronet struck for an increase of
wages, and insisted that a President of the Board of Control should
receive 5,000/. per annum, instead of 3,500/. Ho founded this claim for
increased pay on the notorious poverty of India.
About noon Downing-street was so tilled by the equipages of
various Ministers, that it was at first thought that a Cabinet Council
was being held ; but this idea was dissipated by the arrival of Mr.
CARDWELL. It appears that gentleman struck for the Cabinet, but
Lord ABERDEEN broke it to him that, however various and varying
might at. times be the elements cf that body, a prig was never per-
mitted to be a member of it by any party, or under any circum-

stances.
The crowd continued to increase at such a rate that the Noble
Premier had some thoughts of sending to the Home Office for the
protection of the police, but he was assured that it was as much as
any man's life was worth to be seen entering the ►same walls that
shrouded Mr. FITZROY. Moms of the Whigs proposed that that unfor-
tunate Under Secretary should be given up to the vengeance of the
multitude, and that some ono of their body, even Mr Rim, should
be installed in his place, by way of cementing the Coalition, and making
the division more equal.
Lord SEYMOUR and Mr. VERNON SMITH, and soon afterwards Mr
COBDEN, Mr. BRIGHT, and Mr. GIBSON, arrived. Both these sections of
gentlemen struck. They said they could stand it no longer, and they
were resolved to vindicate the rights of labour against capital. In
future, therefore, it is understood, they will not work for the Govern
cent, but will invariably oppose the Treasury.
Mr. SADLEIR, Mr. MONSELL, and Mr. )(soon, said nothing should
prevail upon them to desert Lord ABERDEEN.
Mr. M'GREOOR, Mr. WILLIAM WILLIAMS, and Dr. PHILLIMORE, lend
the whole of their moral influence to the Government.

THE TWO COALITIONS ;
Oa, CABS versus CABINETS.

" The villany you teach me I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the
instruction."--Shylock.
Says Abby to Cabby, your conduct is shabby,
On abuse and extortion no longer we smile ;
So, to teach you good manners, henceforward a tanner's
The maximum profit we give you per mile.

Says Cabby to Abby, you talk like a babby,
You've shown us already the means of redress
Ere we stoop to be martyrs, we'll look to high quarters,
And do what our betters have done—coalesce.

GREAT statesmen have sometimes upset the coach : the more
moderate pretensions of Mr. FITZROY have only upset the cab.