The Press.
London, England, 1854-01-07 00:00:00

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go far to raise by precept or example the standard
of American society. We should be sorry to see
that great people degenerate to the level of Celtic
rule, and enter upon retrograde courses, or embark-
ing in the hazardous experiments of trying to manu-
facture self-ruling republicans out of a social element,
Papal in superstition, Celtic by race, Irish in its
traditions, and revolutionary in its designs. In the
British empire " the Irish question" has at last
been satisfactorily settled. On an average of num-
bars property, and intelligence, Ireland is now
predominantly Protestant, and politically British.
" What are your politics, Paddy ?" was not long
&nee asked of a witty Irishman. " I'm a United
Kinydomer," was the answer; and a multitudinous
majority of his countrymen would proclaim his reply
to be representative of the popular sentiment around
them.
It would be a strange dispensation of Providence
if, as a punishment for having "larrupped his nig-
gers" too long, Brother Jonathan should be sentenced
to the ignominious Nemesis of being roughridden by
Irish, who never could govern themselves ! Such
unquestionably will be the case if any countenance
or fostering encouragement be given by influential
parties in the States to a man like MITCHEL, who
close.; his harangue by announcing—" I mean to
"make use of the freedom guaranteed to me as a
"citizen of America to stimulate the movement of
" European democracy, and especially of Irish indo-
" endence. I claim for the revolutionazy refugees
"Mere that America shall be to them the very stand-
ing-ground prayed for by ARCHIMEDES, whereon
" they may plant a lever that shall move the world."
From the lips of a rebel of really heroic magnitude
such words, or such a policy, might become some-
thing formidable ; but we do not think so meanly of
the sense or spirit of the " United States" as that
they would ignore the policy of GEORGE WASHINo-
TON and adopt the views of the hot-headed zealot,
who could not even get up a riot in Ireland. But it
is absurd even to think of such a man " moving the
" world," except with derision at his vanity and con-
tempt at the breaker of his word of honour, solemnly
plighted to his guards, and sneakingly forfeited, be-
cause he had not the fortitude which once was cha
racteristic of "An Exile of Erin."

EAST GLOUCESTERSHIRE ELECTION.
THE nomination of the candidates is appointed for
Monday, the 9th, and the poll will be taken on
Thursday, the 12th instant. The friends of Mr.
Hom,Asn are forcing their candidate to the hustings
without any other chance of success except that of
the supposed indolence of the Conservative electors,
on whose non-appearance at the poll in this ex.
tremely wintry weather the hopes of the Radicals
are placed. We not only believe that such calcula-
tions will be disappointed, but that the fact of this
large constituency being forced to record their votes
in one day in the depths of an unusually severe
winter will rather stimulate than frighten every con-
stitutional elector to appear at the hustings (between
8 a.m. and 5 p.m.) and record his suffrage for Sir
MICHAEL BEACH. The electors should bear in mind
that twenty years have elapsed since the last contest
took place, and that the return of Sir M. 11F.Acit by
a telling majority will secure them from similar in.
convenience for another equally long space of time.
We rely upon being able next week to report
a victorious result, but shall not do so without regret
should we find any selfish regard for personal ease
inducing now-resident electors to sacrifice their
evident and manifest public duty to stay at-home
comforts.

GAMBLING.
TO TITS EDITOR OF " THE PRESS."
Sir,—l quite 'agree in your strictures on the
inefficiency of our present laws against gambling. It
is, however, with me a matter of much doubt whether
they can ever be made more effective. You cannot
give the power of entering private houses where a
private civil party may be going on: if granted by
law, it could not be exercised ; and nothing is easier
than to establish q "hell " under the semblance of a
private house. Be this as it may, the question
immediately at issue is, what should be done in the
present state of the law ? The plan suggested by
your contemporary is absurd. But there is another
which seems calculated to attain the same end, only
by somewhat different means. Let the keeper of
the house, not his guests, be prosecuted; and let
those who are found in it be called as witnesses. In
this way their real names must come out ; and the
purpose of exposure will be accomplished in the
ordinary course of law. M. P.
London, January 4, 1851.

We understand that the I'eruvian Government has
instructe,l its agents in this country to advance the
price of guano to an amount equal to the advance
iu the rates of freights during the past yoar.—Sitip-
ping Gazette.