The Press.
London, England, 1854-03-25 00:00:00

THr.Ell TRESS

OMISSIONS • IF.ROM THE SECRET
CORRESPoNDNCE.

(COPJAIVIWATED.)
ImmemarEty on the arrival of Sir H. SEyafoca's despatch, in which
mention is made of the satisfaction felt by the Emperor of Itessta• at
the formation of the Coalition Ministry, and especially at finding his
friend of forty years was at its head;' Lord4oux RUSSELL addressed the
following note to Lord ABIESDREN
• ,
No. I.
. ,
LORD JOHN XIAISSELI. TO LORD ABERDEEN.
My dear Lord Ab erdeen,—l have a communication of interest to
make to you. At what time shall I call, or 'elan you be passing the
Foreign-office? Always yours, J. IL

No. IL

LORD ABERDEEN TO LOUD• JOHN RUSSELL.
Lord. ABERDEEN'S eareplinients to the Lord JOHN RUSSELL, begs to
acknowledge, his polite mate, and to express his regret that at the
present moment, Lord AUEILIMIIN is unable to :fu4 a period for the
interview the Lord Joss Russxm. is so good es to propose to him.

leo. M.
LORD JOHN RUSSELL TO LORD CLARENDON.
My dear C.,-1 ba+e 'frightened our Scotch friend. I did not
mean it. He likes you (smoke deducted),so I wish you would do
me the kindness tO trot.% on hini, arid explain that he' need not be
terrified. tfer *Ouris; R.
No. IV.
41191)1 1..)11. 1,11 LORD
, •
.L. CLARENDON TO LORD jOHN RUSSELL.
Dear Lord John.,—l have done as you, suggested; buthe is awfully
'afraid it is something about PiplEssTos. If it is, you had better
administer it in our own pleasing way, as the matter, is sure not to
be so disagreeable as' the manner. But if you tell me that it is not
about P., 1 will endeavour to make A. believe it.
Youri truly! '1 • C.
• • l,,


',i,;!! /.1i•

No. V.

LORD 404# IIitOWIF.L TO LORD CLARENDON.
Dear C.,—Palmerston ! What has ,he to do with it ? What is the
next piece of...nonsense .I *ball hosr? I am Ito very fond of PA LM E RaTON,
of course, that I
.ahould be. in a, hurry to marry messages from him. It
is from the Czar. , J. R.

No. VI.
LORD ABERDEEN TO LORD JOHN RTISSELL.
My dear Lord John,—l have this instant. seen Lord CLARENDON,
and will be with you almost before this note. Believe tie, as ever,
Most faithfully yours, ABERDEEN.
No. VII•
SECRET MEMORANDUM BY LORD SOHN IRAHHIELL.
The Earl of ABERDEEN did me the honour to visit me at the
Foreign-office at a quarter to two on Thursday. On his entry, I made
it a particular request to him that he would take a chair near the fire.
After some discussion—carried on, however, I am bound to record, in
tkamicable spirit—it was arranged that he should take i. place near
the south-west corner of the table ; and this position he retained
throughout our interview, with the, exception presently mentioned.
'lle then took the initiative in the conversation, and demanded whether
I did not think the afternoon 'one likely in turn out fine ? .1 carefully
abstained from committing myself, but observed that the glass had
risen, although I had no great, confidence in it, on account of the
younger gentlemen in the °Mee being, in the habit of poking it
violently with their sticks whenever- they passed. then asked his
Lordship whether he had seen the newspapers, to which he replied, I
thought with some little confusion; that he never saw but one. I did not
press the subject, butproceeded to apologise for having given him the
trouble to call on me ; but I distinctly reminded him that I had
proffered an option, and this he conceded, remarking thought in-
coneeqttentially) that it was a great pity that Lord CLARENDON was so
feud of. cigars. .1 merely rejoined that any habit pushed to extreme
Was objectionable ; and I produced the despatch: ban*. Petersburg,
'alit' apprised his Lordship that I. had antessage from the Czar to him.
His Lordship immediately arose, and stood in a respectful' attitude
during the time I was residing the message, and bowed IoW at its con-
clusion. As soon as I bad finished, he requested, if there was no
objection, to be permitted to read the words for himself, pledging him-
self, of course, according to our Coalition agreement, not to look at
any other part of the document, which could in no degree concern
him. Having obtained this undertaking, I handed him the despatch;
and it was impossible• for the most careless observer of human nature
not to sea that he was intensely gratified at the friendly expxessions

r

• .•• 1 SATURDAY,

of the EMperor. in regard to himself lam induced to think that, in
some degree, they softened down his habitual austerity, for, on return-
ing me the document, and resuming his seat., he said, with a smile,
" These testipaonialsi. my, Lord, are truly gratifying." .
I begged his. pardon, for reminding him that the value of a testi-
monial depended upon the estimation in which the giver was held.
Hereplied coldly; that in this case the giver was the Emperor of
all the RUSSIA& To this I assented, and there was a pause foe a
moment, He; continued, the sconversation_ by observing .010 there
could be no question as to the estimation in which that royal and
distinghished personage was held. I again assented, but with a
smile Which could in no degree leave him in the dark as to my Meaning,
but for greater security I repeated it, adding ironically, " 0 no! none
whatsoever."
His Lordship then said, severely, that it was very clear where I
had obtained my ideas, as it was matter of notoriety that had none
of .my own upon the subject.
. I replied, that no- idea was better.than a wrong one.
He, demanded who entertained wrong ideas?
I replied, that I was indisposed to be personal, or to name parties,
but that it was one of three individuals at present in that room, and
that it was neither myself nor my Scotch terrier, Snap, who lay near
him.
His Lordship made no immediate reply, but gave Snap a kick. .4.11
animated discussion between the two natives of North Britain ensued,
which ended in the withdra*al of the latter tinder the table in com-
pany with a portion of my Noble Friend's trousers. I then interposed
with the expression of a regret, which I am convinced I ought to 'have
felt. His Lordship replied that it was not to be expected that the dog
sheulduknow, good manners.

I demanded why ?
His Lordship requested that I would never mind. Declining to
accede to his request, I reiterated .my inquiry, but without result. His
Lordship thea prepared to depart., on which I casually observed that
I was going.to send his humbugging friend of forty years' stinger.
His Lordship then said that he should retire, if I used Such
expressions. I replied; that whether he used the word in reference
to the apartment or the Cabinet was all one to me. His Lordship
then went out, and would have been pursued by Snap, but for my
peremptory, dissuasions.
No, VIII.
LORD .Y 01414 RUSSELL TO SIR if. SEYMOUR.
[This appears in its place in the pUblished correspondence.]

.

AN EPITAPH
WHICH MAY BE WRITTEN IN A SCOTCH KIRRYARD

Here rests his head upon the lap of earth,
A Thane to 14E116CHIKOFF and Co. well known;
tritannia frown'd at his unhappy birth,
And foreign influence clium'd'him for its Own.

. •

His "role,"_ with its complicity, was dear;
Heaven did a recompense as clearly send:
He plotted with the CZAR for many a year,
But sold himself, and finally his friend.

. No further seek his frailties to.disclose
Nor heed the web t°oonspixacy." has spun ;
The "secret letters" his intent disclose,
And he lies here—detected and Undone.

.

" THE TIMES " ON MR. DISRAELI.
Ova conteMporary the Morning Herald has anticipated us in corn-
pdring'the following observations from leading articles in the Times on
the position and quali6cations of Mr. DisrtAmi

. •
Times, March 23, 1834. Times, December 4, 1812.
" Mr. Disraeli's mission we believe to be " Hed it been possible for the Chancellor
neither the recoustruction of the Tory of the Exchequer to surprise the House of
party, the regeneration of the Hebrew Commons, he would certainly have done so
Caucasian element finance, nor fereigni last Mn y -financial st lay*. which
fe
domestic policy. The one thing. fiii,evh ' ?le life f Cialcork t voileted on
he has shoWn himself Always to to , ufeer !eniAgi ircumetances
and in which he has never failed whenever and in one o is most exuberant moods.
he has chosen to attempt it, is the art and But for some recollections, which it is im-
mystery of tormenting and annoying his possible wholly to suppress, we might say
opponents. There have been keener that; iio far as cote:erns the annual oere-
satirists, closer logicians, and readier mony of the Budget, Mr. Disraeli has en-
speakers ; but, taking him all in all, we tirely filled up the lamentable gap left by
doubt if any one has carried the art of the mostillustriona of his recent predeces-
making himself unpleasant to the same sots. With Out committing ourselves at
perfection as Mr. Disraeli. He sat in the once to every item in the long and weighty
/loose of Commons for a good number of catalogue of financial referms now before
years and made no figure at all, merely ns, we must say that the Chancellor of the
because he- contented himself with striving Exchequer not only takes aivantage of his
to rise, after the thshion of ordinary Men, position with the dexterity of a master, but
by persuading or convincing, by informing has really succeeded in showing that a new
and enlightening the House. For none of position, new resources, and new capabilities
these things did he evince any vocation, are before us."
and he might have passed away like so
many hundreds of other able men who
haie miscalculated or mistaken their
sphere of action, if the repeal of the corn
laws, and the consequent irritation of the
Tories against Sir Robert Peel, had not
afforded him the opportunity of exercising
his ono undoubted talent. Weak in argu-
ment, be at once expanded into the giant of
invective."