The Press.
London, England, 1858-02-20 00:00:00

THE PRESS, FEBRUARY 20, 1858.

officers to guide and direct it is difficult to engage the soldier in the
healthful exercise of the gymnasium. We would entreat those who
bays been smarting under unjust attacks to believe that the best
defence for themselves and the best refutation of the charges brought
against them will be to strengthen the hands of the Commissioners to
the utmost of their power, and enable them suco6ssfully to fight the
battle of the soldier against the immoveable redtapeism and perverse
obtuseness of a Secretary for War, who for the sake of " the public "
employs engineer officers to do the work of civil architects, who to
save the money of " the public " accepts tenders known to be below
the market value of the goods to be supplied, and who refuses to
cancel a contract because it is most advantageous to " the public"
although it is shown to be most disadvantageous to the soldier. It is
indeed time for " the public" to prove even to Lord PANMURE that, at
any rate, the people of England consider their interests and those of
their gallant defenders identical, and not antagonistic.

The interview between Lord PALMERSTON and the representatives
of the vast body of nobility and gentry in Ireland who felt aggrieved
1)3 the terms of Lord Chancellor BRADY'S recent letter on the tests for
magisterial station, was of a most interesting character. The deputa•
tion was courteously received, and the Premier seems to have spoken
with seriousness, and without any offensive jocosity. The accom-
plished Member for Belfast (Mr. CAIRNS) stated the views of the depu-
tation, and he was ably supported by Mr. NAPIER and Mr. WurrEsine.
Lords ENNISKILLEN, BELMORE, and CLAUD HAMILTON were also present,
along with several other distinguished persons. Lord PALMERSTON
knew one side of the question extremely well ; but the Noble Viscount
has much yet to learn about the way in which Lord Chancellor BRADY
makes magistrates. The Noble Viscount's views were too retrospec-
tive for the case actually before him ; and though of course the
deputation could not enter into a long debate, it is obvious that
Lord PALMERSTON was not aware that several of the appointments
to the magistracy under his own Government are really
more partial and onesided than if the authorities had taken its Irish
J.P.'s from the class represented by the deputation. " I am not
"myself," said the Right Honourable J. NAPIER, "a member of the
"Orange Association, but I would sooner cut off my right hand than
"sign the test of Lord Chancellor BRADY ;" and we cannot be surprised
at that expression of opinion, when even English Radicals have
denounced the letter of Chancellor BRADY as recalling the code of
the " Star Chamber."

It was well understood by the provincial Coppocks at the late
general election that the return of the Whig candidate for South
Northamptonshire was an exceptional event. The immense and legi-
timate influence of the house of Spencer, combined with the personal
popularity of a young and talented gentleman, produced a result
which, though for special reasons we regretted, was too much in
accordance with constitutional principles to elicit any general feeling
of chagrin. The return of Colonel CARTWRIOUT at the late election is
R sufficient proof that Conservatism is still predominant in one of
those English districts where it may naturally be expected to
prevail. Lord HENLEY, we believe, is a popular man in the
county, and has many good points in his character. But it was
mistake to suppose that Northamptonshire had really become
untrue to her political tradition simply on account of one election.
Various circumstances have conspired to invest Lord PALNIERSTON
with a meretricious greatness ; and under its influence several Liberal
successes have occurred whictA had not the peculiar reasons to warrant
them which applied to Lord ALTHORP. But as the true character of
the last dissolution becomes better understood we may expect to see
many such recantations even where the successful candidate has but a
tithe of Colonel CARTWRIGHT'S political and social recommendations.

The meeting at Dublin on Monday in defence of the menaced
Irish Viceroyalty exhibited a remarkable array of noblemen, gentry,
professional men, and merchants of opposite persuasions in religion
and politics. No address delivered on this occasion was so eloquent
as the brilliant oration delivered seven years since by Mr. WHITESIDE ;
but two excellent speeches were made by Lord TALBOT DE MALAHIDE
and by Colonel TAYLOR, M.P. The suggestion of Lord TALBOT DE
MALAHIDE for improving the working of the Viceroyalty by organising
the Irish Privy Council so as to employ it. on private bills deserves
attentive consideration. The remarks of Colonel TAYLOR were shrewd
and practial, and showed talent for public discussion which we hope
the Gallant Officer will not allow to lie idle. The Political Economists
were also ably represented by Dr. Haricoex, whose logical intellect
could not but perceive the evils certain to follow from the removal of
local Executive in a country like Ireland. On no other Irish question
could such a combined array be found, and such a demonstration
cannot but influence the decision of the Legislature upon the subject.
The introduction of such a question by private Members of Parlia•
meet is injurious to the authority of the Executive, and ought to be
discouraged by the House of Commons. We are sorry that our
esteemed contemporary the Dublin Daily Express has assailed the
iceroyalty, and has treated with disdain the meeting of the citizens
ot Dublin. We are aware that the onesided character of certain
'wept appointments has made some persons doubt the degree of pro-
tection afforded by the Viceroyalty ; but, as we said previously, from
the abuse of our institution we cannot argue against its use, and we
should be sorry to see Ireland handed over entirely to Lord Chancellor
BRADY.

THE CIVIS ROMANUS.
The Civis Romanus " by Shrewsbury clock "

His vaunts and excuses may stammer,
His S.P.Q.R , and the rest of his stock,
Will be shortly consigned to the hammer.
For, bankrupt in credit, his future is clear—
So clear there is nothing as plain as
The fact that a fiat will shortly appear
To wind up the Civis Romanus.

For, hear it ye ghosts of the Palatine Hill,
And hoot from your urns as we pea it,
This Roman is silent and perfectly still,
While the Gaul pulls his beard in the Senate.

181

The Gaul, whom he bragged he could pouud if he pleased,
Like a Cribb, or a Belcher, or Thurtell,
When his tongue was unloosed, and his whiskers were greased
With the fat of the Mansion-house turtle.

Such powers :lave Mansion-house punch and port wine
To prick with a twinge of romance
This butt of a Russian or Prussian design,
This English sous prelet of France.

The Civis, so plucky if peril's remote,
Romanus, so bold at a distance,
Had threatened to sink the poor Chinaman's boat,
And did it—with Gallic assistance.

But when the brave bully of China and Greece
Is threatened by neighbouriag legions,
Who call for free quarters au bords de Tamise,
And dominoes, too, in these regions,
When they call for their claret at Broadlands in Hants
From the bins of the great Bottleholder,
The Civis Romanus shrinks into his pants,
And trembles at every beholder.

They call him assassin No answer he sends
To Walewski's impertinent vapour,
For pressing occasion, or some other ends,
Have exhausted his time or his paper.

So fairly upset must the Civis be deemed,
So thoroughly shaken and flustered,
The " Palmerston Sauce " will be lightly esteemed
Henceforth—with the Palmerston mustard.

Thus, bankrupt in credit, and prostrate with fear,
No future event is so plain as
The fact that a fiat will shortly appear
To wind up the Civis Romanus.

And so the said Civis "by Shrewsbury clock"
His vaunts and excuses may stammer,
His S.P.Q.R., and the rest of his stock,
\Vill be shortly consigned to the hammer.

EX NIHILO NIHIL FIT.
The Right Hon. President of the Board of Control shakes his head: there's nothing in it
perhaps. but still bo shakes it —Vide Speech of Sir E. Buttoer Lytton.
In good Queen Bess's halcyon day,
We gather from The Critic play,
Sagacious Burleigh shook his head,
While statesmen great the lesson read,
Rejoicing in his nod to see
The wisdom of his policy.

Rememb'ring this historic myth,
A scion of the house of Smith
Essayed by similar pretence
To stay Sir Bulwer's eloquence—
Chafing, like schoolboy 'neath the rod,
Strove to subdue him by a nod.
But sad, indeed, to see and tell,
Was the result that then befel :
Though waved the venerable locks,
No sound came from the knowledge-box,
And Bulwer, rising on the minute,
Cried "Though you shake, there's nothing in it."
Oh, Smith, what madness thus could tempt ye
To demonstrate thy headpiece empty ?
Forgetful of the obvious fact
BAls have no music when they're cracked,
Or ancient saw that runneth so—
" Nihil fit ex nihilo."