The Press.
London, England, 1856-05-03 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

421

Mr. PALMERSTON threw a huge bundle of papers upon the table,
and said that the meeting was quite welcome to look into the docu-
ments. This cavalier way of treating the subject, however, gave much
offence, and Mr. Palmerston finally promised that if those present
would meet him at Westminster, next week, he would, with the
assistance of the standing counsel to the firm, give such information
on this topic as would, he hoped, be satisfactory.
A Creditor wished to know, supposing that support were con-
tinued to the firm, on what it intended to trade?
Mr. PALMERSTON said, " Upon that support, of course." Murmurs
of disapprobation followed, upon which he added that the firm meant
to trade upon the proceeds of a good deal of British spirit which had,
by accident, been placed at their disposal.
A Creditor inquired whether this spirit were in dock?
Mr PALMERSTON said that there was hardly a dock in the king-
dom in which its presence had not been detected, to a most valuable
extent. He begged also to remind the meeting that there had been
an entire absence of opposition and competition, which showed that
the firm stood high in public opinion.
A Creditor observed that the firm had certainly received the
utmost fair play, but that this forbearance could not be always
reckoned on, as the public insisted upon being properly treated, and
if wronged at one establishment would demand that another be
set up.
Mr. PALMERSTON said that they might make up their minds quite
easy on that head, at least for the present.
A Creditor asked whether it was true that the firm had contem-
plated adding to its business the sale of ribbons?
Mr. PALMERSTON said, certainly not ; the rumour might have arisen
from his having secured a certain ribbon for a private decoration of
his own, but though he had showed that the firm was in no way ad-
verse to dealing in anything likely to bring grist to the mill, he had
no idea of extending his business.
A Creditor asked whether their partner Mr. Clarendon's expe-
rience had induced the firm to give up the sale of Irish prints ?
Mr. PALMERSTON said that it had done so in a great measure, and
he might add that they no longer adulterated any article with Birch.
Their yarns, he might mention, had not been very favorably received,
but they would be improved shortly, and would then go down.
Several creditors demanded upon what principle he proposed to
deal in future?

Mr. PALMERSTON replied that he hoped to sell by the Peace for a
long time to come.

-The meeting then broke up in no very good humour, but it was
agreed that the firm should receive a conditional support for the pre-
sent, provided its issue of bills were entirely limited to absolute
necessity. There is reason to believe, however, that it will speedily
appear in the Bankruptcy Court, when some extraordinary disclo-
sures, especially in regard to its Irish engagements, may be expected

K.A.RS.-" NO ONE TO BLAME."
Debate, Thursday, May 1, 1838.
" There's no one to blame," so the Commons has said,
Though Russia has boasted of Victory's glory,
Though Williams still lies on his famine-struck bed,
Though the nations still shudder at Kars' hideous story.
There's no one to blame ;
Pooh, the clamour is o'er !
Why search out for blame?
'Tis the fortune of war.
There's no one to blame, so the Times has declared,
Though nothing was done—but what could they do more?
Though Stratford his private dislike might have spared,
He was kept to browbeat where he browbeat before.
So there's no one to blame,
Nor place at man's door
Any share of the blame—
'Tis the fortune of war.
" What, no one in fault? will England exclaim ;
If no one's to blame in our deepest disgraces,
Why need we a Commons to guard us from shame?
Perhaps when the Whigs shall look out for their places,
And find them a-wanting,
When this Parliament's o'er,
The supporters of Kars
May set up a-chanting,
" There's no one to blame,
'Tis the same in all wars !"