The Press.
London, England, 1856-05-17 00:00:00

THE WEEK.

TOPICS have been abundant this holiday Whitsun week. PALMER'S
trial and PANMURE'S abominable ill-usage of the army—Pain's sudden
recollection of the Fourth Commandment, after his interview with a
deputation of Scotch members—the proposed pension of 5,000/. per
annum to Lord DALHOUSIE, after his enjoyment for eight years of a
salary, with allowances, amounting to some eighty thousand a year—
the discovery that Austria is closely and secretly leagued to France
and England, to the infinite chagrin of poor Sardinia—the letter of
Lord RANELAOH to the members of the Carlton Club—the pros and
eons. as to illumination of private houses on the 20th—the wonder
whether Sir BENJAMIN HALL will resign, now that his grand measure of
" Sabbath Reform " has been so unceremoniously snuffel out by the
Premier ;—these have been common subjects of conversation in all
circles.

Among politicians, the division on Mr. WurrEsinE's motion is not
yet forgotten. While Ministerial hacks and jobbers of every degree
are still applauding Pam's luck and glorifying HATTER'S zeal, a small
attempt is making to throw blame on Mr. WHlTmine for having
brought forward a motion sure to be decided in favour of the Govern-
ment by a very large majority. It is quite true that there was a differ-
ence of opinion among Conservative Members as to the prudence of
raising the question, but the difference was no greater than will always
exist on such points in every independent party. By his splendid
speech, Mr. WHITES= showed that he had not exaggerated the
strength of his case. The motion was made, not to obtain a majority
in the House of Commons, not to have a great party•fight, but to
place the whole case fairly before the country ; and, regard being
had to this object, the motion was eminently successful. To
suppose that the division has in any manner affected the
political situation, or strengthened the Government, is ridiculous.
Lord PALMERSTON is notoriously indifferent to defeats in the Legisla-
ture so long as he can obtain a majority on any question of confidence ;
and whether the majority be more or less, is to him a matter of supreme
indifference. " One's enough." When the Government of the country is
at stake, parties do not " crumble away " so easily as some persons
seem to suppose. The truth is, that the Kars motion was never meant
as a trial of strength, and the division has, therefore, decided nothing.
It was known beforehand that many Conservatives would vote
against it, while the whole Liberal strength would be arrayed on the
Government side. But it has had this good effect—it has shown the
public that the boasted freedom of the " Independent Liberals" is a mere
sham, and it has made the bulk of the "popular members" quake for
their seats at the next general election. We should not have made
these remarks but for the unfair attempt to disparage Mr. WHITESIDE,
who, we are well assured, has by his eloquent and masterly address
greatly raised himself in the estimation of the Conservative party,
and fairly established his reputation as one of the few distinguished
orators of his day. It is rumoured that he will be invited to stand
for Middlesex at the next general election. The county would certainly
do itself honour by the choice.

It is not doubted that, besides the published treaty between
England, France, and Austria, guaranteeing the integrity of the
Ottoman empire, there is a secret treaty between the same Powers.
Various speculations are hazarded as to its purport ; it may not
improbably guarantee the defence of the Austrian empire in case of
an attack from Russia. The published treaty is felt by Russia to be
" a smack in the face," coming as it does immediately after the signa-
ture of the treaty of the 30th of March. The Court of St. Petersburg
conceives, as it well may, that it has been treated with great indignity.
A sudden change has come over our Ministerial press. Austria is now
lauded to the skies. A small print of yesterday evening goes so far as
to remind its readers " that from the reigning family of Austria some
" of the most beneficial reforms which Europe ever witnessed, have
" emanated " " What next " from the Liberal journals ? Perhaps a
panegyric on the enlightened Government of the Kiag of Naples in
the Daily News!

Lord PANMIIRE'I3 last act of War-Administration has excited in our
brave and meritorious army the warmest and most justifiable indigna-
tion. It is absolutely inconceivable by what mental process an
English Minister can have brought himself to believe in the propriety
of treating our soldiers as Whitechapel tailors treat their workmen.
Yet such, without the slightest exaggeration, is the case. The
private soldiers were granted sixpence a day extra during the war.
The instant the peace is proclaimed that sixpence is stopped. We
speak literally. Not a single day's grace was given. Yet, surely it
would have been merely equitable, to say nothing of liberality, to
have continued this extra war pay until the soldiers felt some of the
benefits of peace ; until, at least, they had left the Crimea, and the
war was fully and formally, as well as virtually, concluded. The
~fficers have even more cause to complain that the privates. They
lave been compelled by Government to purchase horses, varying
in price from fifteen to fifty pounds or more, for which they
are now refused a passage home, and consequently compelled to part
with them at prices varying from one pound to five. The officers in
the first instance voluntarily gave up their own horses for the Land
Transport Service. They were then forced by Government to procure
others at their own expense, and are now, by the same parsimony,
driven to offer them for sale to the Russians (the only buyers) at a
loss of between eighty and ninety per cent. On the question of pro
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