The Press.
London, England, 1858-08-14 00:00:00

THE PRESS, AUGUST 14,1858.

THE WEEK.

In the foreign intelligence of this week her Majesty's visit to Cher-
bourg will naturally assume the prominent place with Englishmen. But
the news which we continue to receive from various parts of Europe is of
a highly interesting character, inasmuch as it betokens an unsettled and
disagreeable temper in many of the second-rate Powers of Europe, which
must inevitably be dangerous to the general tranquillity. In the North
the old quarrel between Prussia and Denmark has been revived, and
although, thanks to certain concessions made by the latter Power, matters
are at this moment less threatening than they have been, yet we cannot
disguise from ourselves that between these two States there is a con tinual
conflict of interest which nothing but the greatest tact and statesmanship
can prevent from ripening into hostilities. In the South the King
of NAPLES seems only to have been goaded into fresh cruelties and
illegalities towards his own subjects by the prompt and uncompro-
mising interference of Lord MALMESBURY in behalf of Her MA.
JESTY'S. Long accustomed to have his own way, it appears that
the resolute opposition to his will has maddened him. But unless
his infatuation be almost beyond that of even the most deluded de-
spot whom history records, he must be conscious of a powerful protector
somewhere, when he ventures to defy the public opinion of all Europe by
such atrocious severity as characterized his recent proceedings towards
NICOTERA and his compatriots. Turning Eastward, we see but too
many indications that the great Powers of Europe are still hovering,
like vultures over a dying man, around the supposed deathbed of
the Turkish Empire. The Principalities and Montenegro are names of
ominous import to the welfare of Turkey and to the peace of the world ;
and we only sincerely trust that before the next session neither of them
may have become standing topics of conversation throughout Europe.
The horizon is black. England, by maintaining a good understanding
with her continental allies, may avert the storm. But we must not pre-
tend to disregard the elements of danger which exist.

Poor Mr. ROEBUCK has been snarling again. We fear he is incurably
bilious. If his case is not quite hopeless, why doesn't he go—we won't say
to Bath, but to Cheltenham, and take the waters ? It would be better
than squinting at France through jaundiced eyes, and taking revenge for
his nausea by abusing and sneering at the allies with whom England has
just been exchanging graceful courtesies. We know that Mr. ROEBUCK'S
bark is worse than his bite ; but he does not seem to know how annoying
a cynical growl may be. There is a certain old-fashioned rule for dealing
with our neighbours which he quite loses sight of. He would not, nor
would any Englishman, be pleased at reading the report of a speech
similar to his own at North Shields, as delivered to a French audience
(let us say) by the celebrated avocat and deputy, M. DE CIIEVREUIL. After
premising that the speaker was affreusement enrhume, the reporter would
proceed to say that " the learned gentleman seemed impressed from what
he had witnessed at Cherbourg with a profound contempt for the insular
barbarians who had come to glance enviously at the mighty evidences of
French greatness. He had been struck at first with a sort
of bustling agility in the English sailors ; but, after all,
there was nothing worthy the name of a fleet. Ile went on board
some of the vessels, and what did he see there ? Men with trousers tight
at the hips and loose at the ancle, that reminded him of white-legged
bantams. And the women—such dresses ! such coiffures ! l etait effrayant !
And, as for their Members of Parliament (continued the learned speaker),
`je n'y trouvais point l'air noble,'" &c. We will not pursue the imaginary
parallel further, but suppose the French speaker, after eulogizing the
Zouaves, ridiculing the imperfect defences of the English coast, and ex-
tolling the marvels of French civilization, to conclude with " Enfln, je me
moque de ces Anglais! Je suis Francais, moi. Vive la France ! Vive
la guerre!" This would be much milder than Mr. ROEBUCK s actual
harangue, but how would it be relished on this side the water? Would
not Mr. ROEBUCK himself quote it in evidence of the implacable hostility
of France, that even her legislators had not the grace to be civil ?

Truth is stranger than fiction. The remark is not, perhaps, very
original, but it happens to be true--a matter of nearly equal importance.
With this brief preamble we proceed to endorse a letter that has lately
appeared in the Times under the auspices of Mr. KmairroN, the author of
" The Private Life of an Eastern King." Of course we do not accept the
narrative in its integrity, although we happen to be in a position to vouch
for its general veracity. At the unfortunate surrender of Cawnpore,
among the female members of the inhabitants of the intrenchments was a
young lady whose name we suppress for obvious reasons. According to
her own account, she became stupified with terror during the savage
attack upon the boats, and was only brought to consciousness by being
thrown into the river. With some difficulty she managed to reach the
land, where she endeavoured to secrete herself among the bushes and
underwood. By a strange coincidence she was shortly afterwards
joined by a daughter of General WHEELER, but within an hour
the poor trembling fugitives were discovered by a party of marauders,

and the narratrix never again beheld her companion. Her own story
sufficiently romantic, even when cleared of the evident interpolation;
introduced introduced by a half-caste scribe. It is, perhaps, a little too hasty to
speak of 11P
STUART in this manner, but, if he be not what we imagine, he
is assuredly a European born in the country. Of those interpolations there are
many intrinsic evidences, as, for example, the marching in open columns and
the manoeuvres in the Moulvie's camp. However interested the young lady
may subsequently have become in the success of AIIMEDOOL-LAII-KUAN, Shah
of Pyzabacl, it is hardly probable that she could at that time have been in
a mood to examine very attentively the movements of his troops. But in
spite of these and other most injudicious " amendments," we have reason to
believe implicitly in the genera authenticity of the tale. The sufferer, if
we are rightly informed, is herself an Eurasian, and has thus been
enabled to escape the horrible fate that awaited the "pale faces." Her
knowledge of the vernacular also stood her in good stead, though her
lessons in the Koran must have been as edifying to her.
self as the Book of Genesis would be to a South Sea Islander
unacquainted with English. The Koran happens to be written solely in
Arabic, though a Persian version is in some cases inscribed upon the
margin, but without being recognized as authentic. Portions of the
Mahommedan creed are learned by rote, without the slightest attention to
their intelligibility, and in this manner become the Shibboleth of Islam.
The discrepancies as to dates can only be accounted for by the mental
confusion likely to arise from the strange adventures to which this young
lady was subjected. The readers of Mr. EDWARDs' pathetic narrative will
have learned how difficult it was to obtain any certain intelligence as to
what was passing in the outer world, and will be disposed to make every
allowance for the shortcomings of one who told she knew not what. Her
apparent incapacity to observe rightly what was passing around her is one
of the most striking proofs of the veracity of her tale. No Eurasian ever
yet succeeded in appreciating the purport of the
.simplest events with
which he happened to be connected, and the narratrix is clearly no excep.
tion to the rule. But this only proves that the story was really indited by
one born in the country, and that its internal evidence is altogether in
favour of its authenticity.

The election intelligence of the present week, though not in the ordi-
nary sense of the word as applied to elections important, is still suggestive
of many satisfactory reflections to the Conservative party. In North
Cheshire, at Guildford, and at Leominster the language held by the Con-
servative candidates clearly enough shows that Toryism has struck fresh
root into the soil of public opinion. Indications are not wanting that now
as eighty years ago a great popular party is rapidly springing up whose
motto will be, not so much in the letter as the spirit, Delenda eat oligar-
chic. It is very interesting to compare the language held by Mr.
EVELYN, Mr. EGERTON, and Captain lIANBuny, at the three places we
have mentioned—the more so, that although every one of these three gen-
tlemen is, we believe, very well fitted for the performance of those duties
which he seeks to discharge, no one of them at present occupies a position
which need lead the world to expect of him any original theory of politics.
What they have all said is not attributable to individual speculation. It must
be accepted as evidence of a much wider public opinion. Now and then s
gifted individual arises whose theories, however true in themselves, are is
advance of the age in which they are enunciated, and cannot therefore be
taken to express the sense of any large section of the community. That,
however, is not the case in the present instance. The three gentlemen we
have mentioned are unquestionably speaking only the convictions of large
masses of that great British public whose most distinguishing attribute is
common sense. The people have at last found out that even if Toryism be
obstructive, Whiggery is not one whit the less so. Having so far cleared
away the mist which has long prevented them from forming a just
estimate of parties, they are proceeding to push their investigations a
little further, and have begun to question the original state-
ment propounded to them—namely, that Toryism is another name
for abuse-worship. It is possible John Bull begins to think that, if the
Whigs have deceived him in one case, they may have done so in another
too; that, if they have cheated him in calling themselves Liberal, they
may have cheated him just as much in calling their opponents the re-
verse. These thoughts have just begun to ferment in the British mind,
and we see the results in such speeches as those lately delivered
by the
gentlemen aforesaid.

The circumstances attending the lamentable death of the late Marquis
of QUEENSBERRY are curious. It is stated that the contents of one barrel of
his gun had penetrated his left side, and that the other barrel was found
loaded. From the fact of the accident having occurred in perfectly °Pen
ground, precluding the possibility of a mischance in crossing it gap or a ditch,
it is surmised that one barrel exploded while the Marquis was loading the
other. Our sporting friends, however, will not require to be told that,
under such circumstances, any but a left-handed man would
be shot
through the right breast, and not through the left. Was, then, the Mar-
quis a left-handed man ? It is indeed just possible that the deceased might
have held the gun away from him in such a position that the left-hand
barrel should have pointed to wards his left breast. But. if this were so,
in what condition would the other barrel have been found? It is hurdlY
likely that the final tap of the ramrod on the last wadding should have Clued

780 THE PRESS, AUGUST 14,1858.
THE WEEK. and the narratrix never again beheld her companion. Her own stun,
sufficiently romantic, even when cleared of the evident interpolation;
introduced by a half-caste scribe. It is, perhaps, a little too hasty to
In the foreign intelligence of this week her Majesty's visit to Cher-
speak of /IPSTUART in this manner, but, if he be not what we imagine,' he
is assuredly a European born in the country. Of those interpolations there are
bourg will naturally assume the prominent place with Englishmen. But many intrinsic evidences, as, for example, the marching in open columns and
the news which we continue to receive from various parts of Europe is of the manoeuvres in the Moulvie's camp. However interested the young lady
a highly interesting character, inasmuch as it betokens an unsettled and may subsequently have become in the success of AIIMEDOOL-LAII-KHAN,S4
disagreeable temper in many of the second-rate Powers of Europe, which of Fyzabacl, it is hardly probable that she could at that time have been in
h a mood to examine very attentively the movements of his troops. But •
must inevitably be dangerous to the general tranquillity. In the North
spite of these and other most injudicious " amendmgoels,"swteeuthaxt•ehoru_ghnhitenor
the old quarrel between Prussia and Denmark has been revived, and believe implicitly in the general authenticity of the tale. The sufferer, if
although, thanks to certain concessions made by the latter Power, matters we are rightly informed, is herself an Eurasian, and has thus been
are at this moment less threatening than they have been, yet we cannot enabled to escape the horrible fate that awaited the "pale faces." Her
•
disguise from ourselves that between these two States there is a continual knowledge of the vernacular, also stood her in
les.epns in the Koran must have been as edifying to h
conflict of interest which nothing but the greatest tact and statesmanship er.
sett as the Book of Genesis would be to a South Sea Islander
can prevent from ripening into hostilities. In the South the King unacquainted with English. The Koran happens to be written solely in
of NAPLES seems only to have been goaded into fresh cruelties and Arabic, though a Persian version is in some cases inscribed upon the
illegalities towards his own subjects by the prompt and uncompro- margin, but without being recognized as authentic. Portions of the
raising interference of Lord MALMESBURY in behalf of Her MA-
Mahommedan creed are learned by rote, without the slightest attention to
their intelligibility, and in this manner become the Shibboleth of Islam.
JESTY'S. Long accustomed to have his own way, it appears that
The discrepancies as to dates can only be accounted for by the mental
the resolute opposition to his will has maddened him. But unless confusion likely to arise from the strange adventures to which this young
his infatuation be almost beyond that of even the most deluded de- lady was subjected. The readers of Mr. EDWARDs' pathetic narrative will
spot whom history records, he must be conscious of a powerful protector have learned how difficult it was to obtain any certain intelligence as to
what was passing in the outer world, and will be disposed to make every
somewhere, when he ventures to defy the public opinion of all Europe by
allowance for the shortcomings of one who told she knew not what. Her
each atrocious severity as characterized his recent proceedings towards
apparent incapacity to observe rightly what was passing around her is one
NICOTERA and his compatriots. Turning Eastward, we see but too of the most striking proofs of the veracity of her tale. No Eurasian ever
many indications that the great Powers of Europe are still hovering, yet succeeded in appreciating the purport of the simplest events with
like vultures over a dying man, around the supposed deathbed of which he happened to be connected, and the narratrix is clearly no excep-
the Turkish Empire. The Principalities and Montenegro are names of tion to the rule. But this only proves that the story was really indited by
one born in the country, and that its internal evidence is altogether in
ominous import to the welfare of Turkey and to the peace of the world ;
and we only sincerely trust that before the next session neither of them favour of its authenticity.
may have become standing topics of conversation throughout Europe.
The horizon is black. England, by maintaining a good understanding
with her continental allies, may avert the storm. But we must not pre- The election intelligence of the present week, though not in the ordi-
tend to disregard the elements of danger which exist. nary sense of the word as applied to elections important, is still suggestive
of many satisfactory reflections to the Conservative party. In North
Cheshire, at Guildford, and at Leominster the language held by the Coo-
Poor Mr. ROEBUCK has been snarling again. We fear he is incurably servative candidates clearly enough shows that Toryism has struck fresh
bilious. If his ease is not quite hopeless, why doesn't he go—we won't say root into the soil of public opinion. Indications are not wanting that now
to Bath, but to Cheltenham, and take the waters ? It would be better as eighty years ago a great popular party is rapidly springing up whose
than squinting at France through jaundiced eyes, and taking revenge for motto will be, not so much in the letter as the spirit, Delenda eat oligar-
his nausea by abusing and sneering at the allies with whom England has Chia. It is very interesting to compare the language held by Mr.
just been exchanging graceful courtesies. We know that Mr. ROEBUCK'S EVELYN, Mr. EGERTON, and Captain HANBURY, at the three places we
bark is worse than his bite ; but he does not seem to know how annoying have mentioned—the more so, that although every one of these three gen-
e cynical growl may be. There is a certain old-fashioned rule for dealing tlemen is, we believe, very well fitted for the performance of those duties
with our neighbours which he quite loses sight of. He would not, nor which he seeks to discharge, no one of them at present occupies a position
would any Englishman, be pleased at reading the report of a speech which need lead the world to expect of him any original theory of politics.
similar to his own at North Shields, as delivered to a French audience What they have all said is not attributable to individual speculation. It must
(let us say) by the celebrated await and deputy, M. DE CIIEVREUIL. After be accepted as evidence of a much wider public opinion. Now and then a
premising that the speaker was affreusement enrhume, the reporter would
gifted individual arises whose theories, however true in themselves, are is
proceed to say that " the learned gentleman seemed impressed from what -
he had witnessed at Cherbourg with a profound contempt for the insular advance of the age in which they are enunciated, and cannot therefore be
barbarians who had come to glance enviously at the mighty evidences of taken to express the sense of any large section of the community. That,
French greatness. He had been struck at first with a sort however, is not the case in the present instance. The three gentlemen we
of busthng agility in the English sailors ; but, after all, have mentioned are unquestionably speaking only the convictions of large
there was nothing worthy the name of a fleet. Ile went on board
some of the vessels, and what did he see there ? Men with trousers tight masses of that great British public whose most distinguishing attribute is
at the hips and loose at the ancle, that reminded him of white-legged common sense. The people have at last found out that even if Toryism be
bantams. And the women—such dresses! such coiffures! Mail effrayant ! obstructive, Whiggery is not one whit the less so. Having so far cleared
And, as for their Members of Parliament (continued the learned speaker), away the mist which has long prevented them from forming a just
`je n'y trouvais point l'air noble,'" &c. We will not pursue the imaginary estimate of parties, they are proceeding to push their investigations a
pal allel further, but suppose the French speaker, after eulogizing the little further, and have begun to question the original state-
Zouaves, ridiculing the imperfect defences of the English coast, and ex- ment propounded to them—namely, that Toryism is another name
tolling the marvels of French civilization, to conclude with " Enfln, je me for abuse-worship. It is possible John Bull begins to think that, if the
moque de ces Anglais! Je suis Francais, moi. Vive la France ! Vive Whigs have deceived him in one case, they may have done so in another
la guerre!" This would be much milder than Mr. ROEBUCK s actual too; that, if they have cheated him in calling themselves Liberal, they
harangue, but how would it be relished on this side the water? Would may have cheated him just as much in calling their opponents the re-
not Mr. ROEBUCK himself quote it in evidence of the implacable hostility verse. These thoughts have just begun to ferment in the British mind,
of France, that even her legislators had not the grace to be civil ? and we see the results in such speeches as those lately delivered
by the
gentlemen aforesaid.
Truth is stranger than fiction. The remark is not, perhaps, very
original, but it happens to be true--a matter of nearly equal importance. The circumstances attending the lamentable death of the late Marquis.
With this brief preamble we proceed to endorse a letter that has lately of QUEENSBERRY are curious. It is stated that the contents of one barrel of
appeared in the Times under the auspices of Mr. KNIGHTON, the author of his gun had penetrated his left side, and that the other barrel was found
" The Private Life of an Eastern King." Of course we do not accept the loaded. From the fact of the accident having occurred in perfectly open
narrative in its integrity, although we happen to be in a position to vouch ground, precluding the possibility of a mischance in crossing a gap or a ditch,
for its general veracity. At the unfortunate surrender of Cawnpore, it is surmised that one barrel exploded while the Marquis was loading the
among the female members of the inhabitants of the intrenehments was a other. Our sporting friends, however, will not require to be told that,
young lady whose name we suppress for obvious reasons. According to under such circumstances, any but a left-handed
her own account, she became stupified with terror during the savage through the right breast, and not through the left. Was, then, the
Mar-
attack upon the boats, and was only brought to consciousness by being quis a left-handed man ? It is indeed
Just possible that the deceased might
thrown into the river. With some difficulty she managed to reach the man would be shot
have held the gun away from him in such a position that the left-hand
land, where she endeavoured to secrete herself among the bushes and
underwood. By a strange coincidence she was shortly afterwards barrel should have pointed to wards his left breast. But. if this were so,
is
joined by a daughter of General WHEELER, but within an hour in what condition would the other barrel have been found? It hardly
the poor trembling fugitives were discovered by a party of marauders, likely that the final tap of the ramrod on the last wadding should have ca
used
_ 1

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