The Press.
London, England, 1857-02-07 00:00:00

FEBRUARY 7, 1857.

The Emperor of the French responded in a spirit
worthy of the occasion, and, instead of seizing the
opportunity and calling out a French army to march
upon the Rhine, he used his influence to terminate
the dissension, and it was term:nated in a way to
vindicate the honour of the King of Prussia and to
remove a difficulty from the political system of
Europe. But all this happened at a dead time of
the year. The quastion of Neufchatel would never
have become a difficulty had it not been for the Go•
vernment of the noble lord, for the moment the
Swiss were counselled to adopt a course by France
the English authorities counselled a course entirely
different. They said to the Swiss, "The eyes of
Europe are upon you. The Kiug of Prussia is
taking a course that all Europe condemns, and that
England sees with dissatisfaction. Reject this pro-
posal. Rise, and make a stand. Think of your
great ancestors—have confidence in the English Go-
vernment." The Swiss took the advice thus coun-
sslled. An army of 50,000 or 100,000 men were on
the eve of invading Switzerland, which might have
led to consequences regarding France of the most
important character. But, although the Swiss were
distinguished for their patriotism, they were equally
remarkable for their prudence, and before the first
gem was fired the Swiss determined to ascertain
from the Government of the nohle lord what were
the nature and degree of assistance on which they
might reckon. (A laugh.) They had heard of
Neapolitan assassinations and Sicilian insurrec-
tions—( Hear, hear )—of Paris protocols and speeches
lathe House of Commons, of sympathy with free
nations and the Liberal cause. So they said, `• What
are you going to do for us in the moment of trial?
We do not expect that the Guards should be sent to
Basle as they were sent to Gallipoli. That is geo
gzephically impossible, but there are other means of
assisting us besides sending us troops. We are not
rich ; we are a republican people, and therefore
proverbially satisfied with little. But you are very
rich people. Eminent as you are for valour, you are
still more celebrated for wealth. You have at this
moment extraordinary resources at your command.
The golden galleons of Australia crowd your ports.
You have other sources of supply which a people
will endure from none but a Liberal Government—
war taxes in time of peace. ( A laugh, and cheers.)
Let a few crumbs fall from the rich man's table."
The noble lord was the friend and pupil of Canning,
and he proved an admirable councillor and friend on
the occasion. " I give you sixpence," said the noble
lord ; " I —," and the house knows the rest.
(Great laughter.) We live in an age of telegraphs,
and the Swiss authorities telegraphed to Paris and
accepted the terms offered them by the Emperor.
Thus ended the Swiss affair, and that was our
Christmas-box. (Laughter.)

The whole year during which we were to enjoy
that blessing for which we illuminated, that blessing
which alone could have justified our great
expenditure upon fireworks, passed away, and
we heard nothing until Christmas but rumours of
wars. During the whole year there was a conviction
on the part of the people of this country that they
were on the eve of a struggle in Italy, or on the
Rhine, or on the Danube ; that those memorable
scenes upon which the utmost efforts of human
skill and valour had in former times been displayed
were again to become the theatre of war ; and with
so much at stake, with a future of so much danger,
what, they asked, is the use of examining such
questions as that of education, or even of secondary
putishments ? What is garotting compared with
that slaughter which must infallibly take place when
there is such a fearful state of things in Europe, not-
withstanding the sacrifices we made to conclude a
peace which we thought would be perpetual? ( Hear,
hear.) And all this time the tranquillity of Europe
is so profound and complete that even a firebrand
Minister cannot disturb it. (Hear, hear.) All the
populations of Europe are devoting themselves in a
manner unprecedented in history to the toils of
industry, the chief Governments of Europe have an
anxious desire to develop those industrial instincts,
and to assist the:r subjects in arriving at what
Governments themselves affirm to be the truest
sources of wealth and power. In this state of
affairs—which, as any man versed in the study of
these matters will tell you, has never, perhaps, been
surpassed in the promise it gives of peace—this
innocent, suffering, energetic, industrial, commercial,
over-taxed people of England are reconciled to their
position, and are oven enthusiastic in favour of the
noble lord because they think that the burdens they
bear are the natural consequences of the enormous
dangers surrounding them, and that the noble lord
is the only man who can extract them from diffi-
culties which necessarily result from the condition
of Europe. (Cheers.) So much for the rumours
of war.

Some people may have supposed that the noble
lord is such a complete master of his art that he
could succeed in distracting the attention of a country
from its domestic affairs—that he could resist the
progress of internal ameliorations—tbat with his