The Press.
London, England, 1857-05-02 00:00:00

DISTRIBUTION OF PATRONAGE.

A NEW cry is heard in a portion of the Liberal
party, "If the Ministry really be Liberal, let
" the fact be boldly proclaimed by the way in
" which its patronage will be bestowed." In
other words, the choice of public servants
must entirely be subordinated to " the last
" state of the poll." We believe that Lord
PALMERSTON, with all his defects, is too proud
a man to truckle to the clamorous cry of
hungry outsiders, and there is no part of his
administrative rule which will be more vigi-
lantly scrutinised than his mode of promoting
individuals for offices not connected with
" party." The Church, the Law, the Army
and Navy, and other great departments,
should not be degraded by being made
refuges for fiercely factious friends, or
treated as places of retirement for super-
annuated partisans.
A Minister with a great majority (supposing
that the Premier is in that condition) can
afford to set at nought the claims of cliquism,
and the petitions of ambitious incapacity.
Hitherto the Prime Minister has advised the
Crown to bestow the ecclesiastical patronage
in one particular direction. High blood and
Low Church seems to have been his test for
assaying the merits of a MoNTAGU VILLIERS,
a BARING, BICKERSTETH, and PELHAM. On the
other hand, in the law, a different course has
been acted on in the selection of non-political
barristers (with some exceptions.) For some
of these nominations praise is due to Lord
PALMERSTON. On others we say nothing ; and
this brings us to a consideration of consider-
able importance.
For the first time we have a Liberal party in
office which may be said to exist without fear
of the Irish popular members. Lord Pat.
M EASTON knows well that there are grave objec-
tions to the mode in which portions of tae
Irish patronage have been bestowed, and he
must have seen that the elections in Ireland

423

show a strong reaction in favour of the gentry,
of propertied classes, and against adventurers .
The same system of place-giving which was
tolerated in the days cf " the tail," would not
be fair now. Nothing stands more in need of
practical redress than the system of Irish
official patronage ; and imperial interests of
high importance are involved in its consi-
deration.

Should Lord PALMERSTON continue a system
of mere partisanship, and should he succumb
to the importunate demands of thorough-
going factionists, we believe that powerful
influence can le interposed to recall him to a
more equitable exercise of the authority given
to him by the present dispensation of events.
" All power, even the most despotic, rests ul-
" timately on opinion," and even the largest
majority crumbles when undermined by an
active sense of public wrong working on the
generous instincts of a great community, pa•
triotic, spirited, and free.

424

`Vractbings in Varlianunt.

THE NEW PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF LORDS.

The first session of the fifth Parliament sum-
moned in her Majesty's reign met on Thursday, at
two p.m., in both houses. In the Lords the session
was inaugurated by commission, the Commissioners
being the Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Argyll, Earl
Spencer, the Earl of Harrowby, and Lord Stanley of
Alderley. Amongst the very Itnv other peers present
were the Bishop of Gloucester, Earl Beauchamp,
Lord Pantnure, Lord Belper, Lord Aveland, and Lord
Godolphin. . . . .

The letters patent constituting the commission
having been read, the Commons were summoned in
the usual form. On their arrival at the bar,

The LORD CHANCELLOR said :

My lords and gentlemen, I have the commands of her
Majesty to let you know that, as soon as the members of
both houses are sworn, the cause of her Majesty's calling
the present Parliament will be declared to you. It being
necessary that. a Speaker of the House of Commons
should first be chosen, it is her Majesty's pleasure that
you, gentlemen, shall proceed to your place of meeting,
and there make choice of a fit and proper person, whom
you shall present here at two o'clock to-morrow for her
Majesty's royal approbation.

The Commons then retired, and the Commis-
sioners having unrobed, the Bishop of Gloucester
said prayers. The Lord Chancellor then took the
oaths and signed the roll.
_

The return to the writ to elect the sixteen Scotch
representative peers was then presented and read.
Their lordships present then took the oaths, and
the swearing in of the peers continued during the
ternoon.

Their lordihips rose at twenty minutes past four.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Half an hour before the time appointed the mem-
bers began to enter the house, and before two
o'clock upwards of 400 were present. Amongst the
first who entered were Lord Hotham, Sir James
Duke, and Colonel French. Mr. Hayter followed,
then Mr. A. Stafford, Lord Elcho, Admiral Walcott,
Sir James Graham (who took his old seat on the
second bench of the Ministerial side below the gang-
way), Sir Joseph Paxton, Mr. Keating, Q.C., Mr. W.
Jackson, Mr. W. J. Crawford, Baron Rothschild (who
was warmly received by a crowd of members), Mr. S.
Herbert, and Mr. Gladstone.
By two o'clock the house had becomo well filled.
Amongst the occupants of the Treasury benches,
were : the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir George
Grey, the Attorney• General, Mr. Fitzroy, C. Wood,
Mr. Labouchere, Mr. B. Osborne, Mr. V. Smith,
Lord Alfred Paget, Sir B. Hall, Mr. M. T. Baines,
Mr. Massey, Mr. Hayter, Lord Mulgrave, and Mr. R.
Lowe.

On the Opposition benches were Sir Wm. Jolliffe,
Mr. Hamilton, Sir F. Kelly, Mr. Newdegate, Mr.
Butt, Major Beresford, Sir F. Thesiger, Mr.
Walpole, &c.
The old members chiefly occupied their own seats;
the new members either stood in groups on the
floor or seated themselves near their friends.

After a short time spent in shaking of hands,
mutual introductions and congratulations, the Deputy
Usher of the Black Rod appeared at the bar, and,
approaching the table, summoned the House to
att3nd in the House of Lords to htar the Royal Com-
mission read.

Sir Denis Le Marehant, the chief clerk, followed
by about one-third of the members present, imme-
diately proceeded to the House of Lords.
On their return, at a quarter after two, Sir Denis
took his seat at the table, the Speaker's chair remain-
ing vacant.