The Press.
London, England, 1854-08-12 00:00:00

THE

As usual, towards the close of a session, Parliament has this week
made rapid work with the business before it. Standing orders have
been suspended, objections have been met by compromises, and bills
and clauses which at an earlier period would have been contested
night after night have been settled by common consent in a few
minutes. The fatigue of more than half a year's parliamentary atten-
dance, with the lassitude from August heat, the faint air of the metro-
polis overloaded with noxious vapours, the rush from town, and the
tempting letters from friends at the moors, dated from unpronounce-
able Highland localities, combine to silence the most sturdy objectors.
Even to the last, however, new proofs are furnished of the impotence
of Ministers to guide the Legislature, and the session retains its do-
nothing character. The Bribery Bill, introduced early in February,
comes before the Lords, and, at the suggestion of a Cabinet Minister,
an important clause is struck out which had received the support of
his colleagues in the Lower House; but, to satisfy objections to the
imperfect nature of the measure, its operation is limited to two years.
Returned to the Commons, a Minister who voted for the clause moves
that the Lords omission of it shall be agreed to. Further objection is
met by further compromise, and a Bribery Bill, which of all bills
should be of a permanent character, from the uncertainty attending the
occurrence of elections, is passed, limited to a single year. Another
Ministerial measure has been doctored by the Lords. After all the
discussions between Government economists and lawyers on the
Russian Securities Bill, Lord CAMPBELL discovered that to pass the
bill as it stood. would be almost entirely nugatory, so a clause has
been added to render dealings in Russian securities by British sub-
jects in any place abroad as illegal as if they took place in Middlesex.
A short financial debate on Wednesday resulted in a statement by
Mr. GLADSTONE that our expenditure for the last sixteen weeks, as
compared with the corresponding period in 1853, had increased to the
extent of three millions and a half, and that the moneys of the savings-
banks entrusted to Government were not to be regarded as trust funds,
but only in the same light as cash in the till of a banker,—a statement
which seems to have astonished not a little the now usually acquiescent
veteran, Mr. JOSEPH HUME. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE on Thurs-
day endeavoured to elicit some information from Government on the
part recently played by Austria in her negotiations with Russia and
the Porte, but was met only by praises of Austrian sincerity. The
speech of Lord CLANRICARDE was important in other respects. He
coufirmad our statement of a fortnight back, that Admiral NAPIER had
written Lome, not that the Baltic fortresses were impregnable, but
that the fiebt could not act as he wished, through not being furnished
with the gunboats required. Lord CLANRICARDE also showed that the
commerce of Russia was in reality little interrupted by our blockades ,
a fact easily explicable, as the trade in her staple commodities is now
carried on through neutral ports.
The GORDONb are thriving. Lord ABERDEEN'S brother, the Admiral
appointed to the command at Sheerness, has issued his farewell
address to the electors, and Lord HADDO, the Premier's heir, is a can
didate for the vacant seat. Sir BENJAMIN HALL'S support of the Go-
vernment has at last received recognition. He is nominated head of
the now Board of Health, and a writ was last night moved for the
borough of Marylebone

Attention is once more concentrated on Sebastopol by the autho-
ritative announcement that that fortress is to be attacked by the allied
forces by land and sea. Accounts from Constantinople and Varna to
the end of July mention great preparations in progress for the trans-
port of troops, but there was much difference of opinion whether the
movement would be made on Odessa, the Crimea, or Anapa. The best
time for operations was past, and it seemed extremely doubtful whether
the allied commanders would feel themselves strong enough for an
attack upon the great stronghold of Russia in the Euxine, considering
the vast forces which might be assembled for its relief. While trans-
ports of all kinds were mustering at Varua, and troops were being
embarked, the Russians at Sebastopol were making mighty efforts to
strengthen their defences, and strong bodies of troops were arriving
from the interior. Sir G. BROWN, in a steamer, passed a night iu
the waters of Sebastopol, concealed by the darkness : being dis-
covered at dawn, and fired on, he safely effected his retreat.
The Russian steamer Vladimir has given proof of more courage
and conduct than have yet been displayed by any Russian vessel-
of-war. She ran out from Sebastopol, crossed to the Asiatic coast,
sank some Turkish vessels laden with corn, brought off the coal
from others, and gave chase to the English steamer Cyclops.
which had left her guns at Constantinople. This exploit shows that
the Russians are more active and enterprising than we were inclined
to suppose.
That change in the command of our Euxine fleet which we exclu-
sively announced a fortnight back is now generally spoken of. Admiral
STOPFORD sails in the Harbinger for the Black Sea, and it is sup
posed Admiral DUNDAS will return and be rewarded for his ser-
vices (?) with a seat at the Admiralty. It is not usual to displace
commanders on active service, though their term may have expired,