The Press.
London, England, 1857-07-11 00:00:00

THE WEEK.

Vistus England with arrested breath pauses for intelligence from
India, Europe is once more startled with the sound of the Republican
fusillade in Italy. A vast conspiracy for the establishment of the
Red Republic, and extending from Paris to Italy, Hungary, and Spain,
has been discovered. The plot of the Reds, who agreed upon means
peculiar to themselves to insure their success at Paris, was there
first abruptly disturbed by the arrest of the leading conspirators.
The planned European revolution broke out immediately afterwards
at Leghorn and Genoa. At both places the attempt was promptly
suppressed with more or less bloodshed. It was tried in Naples with
as little success; and the Italians will once more be taught, through
the scaffold and the platoon of infantry, the fruitless-
ness of insurrection. It is time that the people of Italy

were convinced that to achieve their independence by force of arms,
alone and unassisted, is an illusion. If they rely upon Lord PAL-
MERSTON, let them bear in mind the Noble Lord's relations with the
Government of Vienna, or recall Brescia and the Sicilian insurrection
of '4B. Will Lord PALMERSTON help them more now than then? The
Italians may rest assured that, so far from assisting them, the British
feet, in event of any extended movement, will, in conjunction with
the Austrian and French forces, assist in preserving the status quo.
The sympathy of England for the political degradation of Italy may
be sincere, but it is limited to its sincerity. Never was there a period
when revolt was more hopeless, or more calculated to aggravate exist-
ing complications, which will inevitably lead to the most perilous con-
sequences, and result in the overthrow of that constitutional system
in which at this moment are centred the hopes of all patriotic
Italians.

A discussion of a highly interesting character on an Important
point of " Order," took place on Wednesday, with reference to the
expenses of the Persian war. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
suddenly presented estimates to the amount of a million, and Mr.
ROEBUCK took objection, taunting " a Liberal Government with throw-
" ing a slur and stigma upon the House of Commons." Sir H. WIL-
LOUGHBY understood that the sum to have been moved was 265,000/.
Then Sir CORNEWALL LEWIS pleaded the inconvenience of a discussion
upon the estimates. After some telling practical remarks from Mr. F.
Soorr (Berwickshire), Sir J. PAKINOTON rose to the point of " Order,"
and moved that the debate be adjourned. Conflicting opinions were
given on both sides as to whether the course followed by the CHAN-
CELLOR of the EXCHEQUER in presenting the estimates on Wednesday
was right. Sir JAMES GRAHAM came to the aid of the Chair, and deli.
vered an opinion with all the weight due to his experience and know -
ledge. At intervals during the discussion there were cries of
" Chair," and the explanation given by the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHE-
QUER was lame and unsatisfactory. At last the SPEAKER rose to
decide the point of " Order," and began by observing
" that the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER intimated his intention (to
" whom ?) to present these estimates on Tuesday ; but, not seeing him
" before the Bar of the House before the commencement of public
" business on Tuesday, he omitted to call the name of the Right Hon.
" Gentleman." This is certainly a singular explanation. After some
vague evasion of the point of " Order," Speaker DENISON then threw
the question to the Members at large :—" It was for the House to
" decide whether there was anything in this proceeding which inter-
" fered with the regular course of business." It may have been for the
House " to decide," as it alone has the final power, but we respectfully
submit that it was for the SPEAKER to have delivered his ruling on the
point ; and it is plain that on this occasion, as in some others (like the
Rochdale Petition a few days since), the Right Honourable Gentleman
had not made up his mind. Hitherto, the decisions of Speaker DENI-
• sox have been rather wanting in firmness and precision, and it must
be recollected that many doubted whether the Right Honourable Gen-
tlemau was sufficiently versed in Parliamentary knowledge to fill the
Chair with efficiency. As yet, Speaker DENISON can scarcely be said
to have made any status for himself ; he depends upon his position,
and hardly supports it with adequate force. At his age, in one who
has previously held no office of magnitude, improvement will be diffi-
cult ; and beyond doubt, in present times, the Speakership of the
Commons requires to be filled with energy.

Sir CHARLES WOOD'S reply last night to Sir JOHN PAICINGTON with
reference to the state of affairs in China is a pleasant commentary upon
Lord PALMERSTON'S declared opinions upon the Canton quarrel. The
loroha affair occurred last autumn—this is July in the succeeding year
and Sir CHARLES WOOD, with charming complacency last night, says
" that nothing further has taken place." We have hitherto, in common
with our countrymen, laboured under the delusion that the justifica-
tion of Sir JOHN BowalNo was based upon the necessity of " prompt
measures " when dealing with Asiatics. It is now obvious how hollow
was the argument. Where is all the promptitude of the Palmerston policy ?
Nothing has been done in China beyond our having been driven out
of Canton, and compelled to remain on the defensive for six months, if
net for twelve. We confess that wo are at a loss to perceive the fore-
sight of Sir JOHN BOWRING, when be expreasea his opinion that