The Press.
London, England, 1854-09-09 00:00:00

RUSSIAN SUCCESS AND ABERDEENIAN

SATISFACTION.
[FROM A MINISTERIAL PAPER.I
THE public will be rejoiced to hear that the Noble Earl at the head of
her Majesty's Government has not suffered in any appreciable degree
from the effects of the good news which has reached him in such
ample quantity this week. It was feared by his immediate friends
that the excitement consequent upon sudden and pleasurable emotion
might have been too much for the veteran statesman, and every means
which kindness and forethought could dictate was adopted in order to
break the fortunate tidings gradually to the individual to whom it was
felt that they would be so intensely welcome. It v as, therefore,
arranged that the despatches containing confirmation and detail of the
two signal victories obtained by the Russians in Asia should first be
imparted cautiously to his Lordship, and then that the triumphant
result of the Austrian negotiations should be as carefully announced.
We are honoured and happy in being able to state that these precau-
tions were rewarded by the most complete success. When the first
defeat of the Turks at Bayazid was mentioned to him, and the field of
battle sprinkled all over with Mahomedan fugitives was described, the
good and wise statesman's eye brightened, and his countenance
assumed a pleasant expression. But on listening to the news of the
second Russian success, and the utter rout of our allies, a deeper feel-
ing seemed to manifest itself, and he exclaimed in a low but energetic
voice, " Silistria is avenged !" This strong manifestation seemed to
make it desirable to delay the imparting the Austrian news until the
afternoon, when it was suitably announced to the Premier. Joy, pro-
verbially capricious, then took a different mode of expressing itself.
" I kenn'd it, I just kenn'd it !" exclaimed the venerable and Caledonian
statesman, and, playfully dashing a bundle of papers into the face of
the narrator, he sprang upon the table with youthful agility, and
executed the Highland fling with exceeding energy and precision.
" Hech, sirs !" be said, smilingly descending from the platform on
which he had thus distinguished himself, " there'll be a gay night in
store for ma freend o' forty year ! Siccan a spell o' luck ! Guid forgie
me that I should say sae—it's a a special providence. I did ma best,
but we manna be vain, we manna be vain. But we'll have a wee bit of
illumination the night." On consideration, however, of the present
state of national feeling it was thought better to illuminate the back of
the house only, and the feline travellers on the walls of the Argyll-
street gardens were, in addition to the Premier, the only aimiring
spectators of the large N and E and double-headed eagle which testified
that night to the pious joy of the Noble Earl at the new triumphs of
Russia in Europe and in Asia.

SEPTEMBER 9, 1854.

SPIRITS IN COUNCIL.
'Twas midnight by the clock of St. Paul's,
By the clock within the Abbey walls,
By the clock above the Horse Guard stalls—
Twelve, or a little after.
The Downing-street offices were closed,
The Downing-street messengers reposed,
And nothing was stirring, one would have supposed,
Beneath the official rafter.
The harvest moon
At its highest noon
Looked in at each upper story,
The same moon which upon dancing leaves,
And drooping flowers, and drowsy beeves,
And dusky shocks, and dewy sheaves,
Shone with a tender glory ;
That moon looked down on a different sight
In the heart of the sleeping town that night,
In the region of Whig and Tory—
A spectacle which shrunk from its light,
Of the softest, mellowest amber,
As too intrusive and searchingly bright--
In the Cabinet Council chamber.
'Twas shocking enough in the sight of day
To see in that chamber Ministers grey
Shuffle and wrangle and palter away
The hopes of a trusting nation.
But the imps and familiars there uncloaked,
Who by the " Junta" had been evoked,
Was a sight for consternation.
'Twas a dismal sight,
Yet there they were,
Perfectly bare !
And black as if they had come from the pit
Naked and shameless, each on his chair,
Plotting away with a confident air,
By the innocent moonbeams lit :
Spirits they were in number three,
And they held unwholesome colloquy.
" I'm come," said the first, " from Oxford halls,
From Magdalen walks and Christchurch stalls,
Where a pretty riot is brewing ;
To take advantage of the Bill
Which Gladstone framed with Jesuit skill
For Protestants' undoing.
Our list of candidates is ready,
And, if the young M.A.'s are steady,
The day shall come when Papal Rome
Shall read its Bulls beneath Sheldon's dome.
Item—to set another sail,
I've also prompted John M'Hale
To give his pastoral directions
About our Irish friends elections."
" And I," said the second, " from Clumber arrived,
Where a notable project we contrived—
To crush and allippress by an army of clerks,
Directed by certain official sharks,
The nuisance called public spirit'—
To cover the British oak with blights,
To nibble insensibly the rights
Which Englishmen inherit.
We've a plan to stifle and overwhelm
All freedom of action throughout the realm,
With a knot of red tape to tie up the helm,
To shape but one course in all weathers :
To draw up our bills we've a gross of goose quills,
And we'll smother dissent with the feathers.
We've got an understanding with Hayter,
And we've given the cue to the Times and Spectator."
"And I," cried the third, "have been longer away,
And only came back from the East to-day,
But I've done my share of the work.
Through camp and fleet I quietly past,
On the winp of a pestilential blast,
And many fine fellows have looked their last
Since I sent them to help the Turk.
The Euxine wave and Varna's mound
With a little management I found
A good diplomatic station:
I knew the convenience of delay,
That hope deferred judiciously may
Wear spirit and health and life away;
So I kept up negotiation.
As the pestilence helped me to my goal,
And I heard the moan of each passing soul,
I cheerfully thought that my new' Beau Role'
Was worthy of observation.
Since then I've made a more critical coup,
(I do not wish to alarm ye),
But I've hired the Times, between me and you,
To abuse and discredit the army."
" Say, brothers, then, are we now agreed
That so far all is right ?
Agreed ! Agreed ! Of course, agreed I
As I am spawn of Jesuit spite—