The Press.
London, England, 1856-11-22 00:00:00

THE WEEK.

Tax accounts which appear in our journals of the difficulties connected
with the execution of the Treaty of Paris must be received with
distrust. The Ministerial prints, whic:i are most vehement in de-
nouncing. the perfidy of the Court of St. Petersburg, are careful not
to enlighten their readers by any intelligible discussion of the points
really at issue. The organ of the Premier, which has often made itself
contemptible by frantic denunciations of " the diabolical policy of
Russia," has this week again exposed itself to ridicule by laboured
abuse of Russian dishonesty, without the slightest reference either to
the facts of the situation or to arguments on one side or the other.
The Brussels organ of Russia is much fairer. It puts forth intelligible
statements, and shows, perhaps purely from its own point of view,
what those matters are which require settlement. The Court which
fixed the terms of the Treaty of Paris seems the legitimate tribunal
for determining the sense which should be attached to disputed
particulars.
In reality, we believe, notwithstanding the vaunts of our Minis-
terial prints to the contrary, that the Conferences at Paris will be
renewed. The subject is still under discussion, but we do not appre-
hend that there can he any doubt as to the decision that will be taken.
The organs of Lord PALMERSTON'S Administration declare that it
is resolutely opposed to the admission of Sardinia and Prussia to the
renewed Conferences. On what account the exclusion of Sardinia is to be
justified it is not easy to understand. Sardinia had no right to expect
that the Government of this country would endeavour to detract from
its influence in Europe, or exclude it from a Council immediately con-
nected with the war in which Sardinia cast iu her part with the Allies.
For the moment Russian policy has achieved a great triumph in the
differences produced between her two great opponents, England and
France.

There is one fact connected with the frauds of the Great
Northern Railway which calls for special attention. The auditors of
the company, men of unquestionable credit, and presumed to be
eminent for financial ability, reported that the accounts were perfectly
correct, when in realit3 the most extensive system of fraud prevailed,
and in the assets of the company an actual deficiency existed to a
very large amount. The instance is not singular ; the same circum-
stance must have occurred in the accounts of the Crystal Palace
Company, where the direction was under the control of eminent
" Administrative Reformers." Happily, the administration of our
Government has been spared any similar scandal ; but is it quite
certain that no such frauds are possible, or can we feel absolutely
secure with such cases as those of Ronson and REDPATH before us,
that there may not be something wrong in the complex systems of
Treasury and Exchequer accounts? The state of the Audit-office was
last session the subject of some animated discussion in the House of
Commons, and the true safeguard against any possible malversation
was shown, with irresistible'strength of argument, to consist in bring-
ing the accounts of that office under the supervision of the House of
Commons. We do not know how much longer this eminently safe
and practical reform may be resisted by the 4 Government, but until
it is accomplished there can be no efficient security against possible
mistakes or malpractices. The cases of ROBSON and REDPATH also,
men filling the most responsible stations, and having hundreds of
thousands passing through their hands, yet remunerated with only
trifling salaries, show the expediency, even as a matter of commercial
policy, of raising the status of Government officers, and of animating
them by the prospect of distinctions and rewards proportioned to the
responsibilities of their duties.

Can any of our readers give us information respecting the diplo-
matic services of RICHARD LEVINGE Swirl, Esq., who has lately been
appointed Consul at St. Thomas's, then at Buffalo—a post extempo-
.rised expressly for him—and lastly at Riga? We believe that Mr.
SwlFr has not yet departed for either of these places ; and it is pro-
bable that he remains until the difference between the King of the
Two Sicilies has blown over that he may be appointed her Majesty's
Representative at the Court of Naples. Meantime, while the gentle-
man remains in this country, we may inquire, Who is Mr. RICHARD
LEVINGE SWIFT ?

The names of various clergymen have been mentioned in well
informed circles as likely to be appointed to the vacant see of Ripon.
A report is very pi e‘alent in Yorkshire that Dr. WHITESIDE, the vicar
of Scarborough, is likely to be the new Bishop. We believe this ap-
pointment would be very popular in the north, as Dr. WHITESIDE has
been in the diocese of Carlisle five and twenty years, where he has dis-
charged the duties of parish priest in three successive incumbencies
with great energy and success. The Rev. Gentleman is the brother of
the Member for Enniskillen, and a near relative of Mr. JOSEPH NAPIER,
M.P. The Rev. Dr. JEREM IE, Regius Professor of Divinity in the Univer-
sity of Cambridge ; Mr. BROWNE, Norrisian Professor of Divinity, and
Prebendary of Exeter; and Mr. SELWYN, Margaret Professor, and
Canon of Ely. The latter is the brother of the Bishop of New Zea-
land ; and certainly, if he is his equal in episcopal qualifications, the
clergy of Ripon would have no reason to regret the appointment. He
was distinguished at. Eton both for scholarship and bodily activity ;
and latterly not less for his liberal and kindhearted disposition. He