biglam/hmd_newspapers huggingface dataset:
The Press.
London, England, 1854-06-17

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF CANADA.

The second reading of the Canadian Legislative
Council Bill was moved by the Duke of NEWCASTLE
in the Peers on Thursday. The object of the mea-
sure is to repeal those clauses in the Union Act
which prohibit legislation by the Canadian Parliament
on this subject, and to leave the colonial Legislature
entirely free to act as they may think fit with respect
to the creation of a second chamber. The motion
provoked a considerable discussion, in which the
relationships between the mother country and Canada
were commented upon by the Earl of Desart, the Earl
of Malmesbury, the Earl of Ellenborough, Lord
Brougham, and other peers. Ultimately the bill
passed the second reading.
London, England, 1854-06-17

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110, Strand, London.
London, England, 1854-06-17

CASE OF THE BARON DE BODE.

ON Tuesday next the case of the Baron de BODE
will, we believe, be brought before the House of
Commons, and we trust, now that special pleading
is banished from our courts of law, it may not find
professors in the Legislature. CLEMENT Baron de
BODE, an English subject, was in 1791 possessed
in his own right of the lordship and lands of Soultz,
in Lower Alsace, in France. In the year 1793 that
Property was seized and confiscated by the Revolu
tionary Administration. At the close of the war the
French Government paid to England several millions
sterling for the purpose of compensating English
subjects whose property had been confiscated. An
act of Parliament was passed to carry the arrange-
ment into effect, and commissioners were appointed
to investigate the claims preferred. The case of the
Baron came before the commissioners, and, without
entering into the details, it may be sufficient to say
that the award went against him. not on the substan-
tial merits of his case, but on points of form, which
it is now acknowledged were erroneously interpreted.
It., is unnecessary to follow the case through all its
intricate windings for thirty years during which the
Baron was asking for justice, and the law officers of
the Crown were answering hint with quibbles.
Having been refused a mandamus, on the ground
that the money was in the hands of the Crown,
the Baron applied for a petition of right, "sup-
plicating " her Majesty to do justice ; but those
"intellectual gladiators," the law officers of the
Crown, contended that the money was in the
hands of the Lords of the Treasury, to be applied
in a particular matter, and not in the hands of
the Crown, and, therefore, a petition of right could
not be granted. But this was too audacious : the
Petition was endorsed "Let right be done," and it
*kg done, despite the clamorous opposition of the
Attorney and Solicitor Generals, so tar as the Crown
London, England, 1854-06-17

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Ills impossible to acknowledge the mass of letters we receive•
Their insertion is often delayed, owing to a press of matter ;
and when omitted, it is frequently from reasons quite inde-
pendent of the merits of the communication.
We cannot undertake to return communications of which we do

not avail ourselves.
Ccmmunications should always be legibly written, and on one
side of the paper only. If long it increases the difficulty of
finding space for them.
Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenticated by the
name and address of the writer, not necessarily for publica-
tion, but as a guarantee of his good faith.
Advertisements sent from the country must be accompanied by a
remittance or a reference for payment in town.
London, England, 1854-06-17

THE PRESS.

liettlhg: 6tol on West Australian. Wail very easily
by four lengths.
SWEEPSTAKES of 15 sous each, for three-year-olds.
Lord Exeter's Delia (Flamm') I
Mr. Death no. Cranbourne 2
Betting : 5 to 4 on Delia.
THURSDAY.
The " Cup " day was honoured by the presence of her
Majesty, accompanied by the king of Portugal and a dis-
tinguished cortege. The attendance was otherwise only
moderate, on account of the weather, which, though dry
while the races came off, was dark and threatening all day.
There were seven events on the list, beginning with
The Sx. JAMES'S PALACE STAKES of 100 soya each, for

three-year-olcht (52 subs.)
Mr. F. Knowles's Baalbec (Bumby) 1
Mr. Howard's Prince Arthur 2
Mi. J. M. Stanley's Lincoln's•inn
Betting: 5 to 2 on Prince Arthur, and 3 to 1 against
Blialbeb. Won Cleverly.
The VISITORS' PLATE (Handicapi.
Mr. E. R. Clark's Jujube , (J. Rogers) I
Mr. H. W. Des Vcaux na. Little Jack 2

The GOLD Cur, value SW SOTS, the surplus in specie.
(18 subs.)
Lord Londesborongh's West Australian.... (A. Day) 1
Mr. Moiris's Kingston
Mr. T. Parr's Rataplan 3
Orestes, Nabob, talfourd, and Cobnut also ran.
Betting: 6 to 4 on West Australian, 3 to 1 against
Rataplan, 6 to 1 against Kingston, 14 to 1 against Orestes,
and 20 to 1 each against Nabob and Cobnut. Upon round-
ing the turn into the straight, West Australian, Hataplan,
and Orestes drew together, and made towards the front;
Kingston maintained the lead to the Stand, where West
Australian went up, and, after a most exciting sct-to, won
by a head. The pace was very moderate throughout.
The NEW STAKES, for two-year-olds.
Mr. Drinkald's Monge , . (A. Day) 1
Mr. C. Fanning's Border Chief 2
The WINDSOR CASTLE STAKES, for three-year-olds
Lord Zetland's Hospodar (J. Marson) 1
Mr. J. Brown's Balmoral 2

SWEEPSTAKES of 50 sovs each, for three-year-olds.
Mr. Payne's Boer ( Flatman) 1
Duke of Bedford'i Pelham 2
Lord Derby's Meteors walked over for the last race, the
Windsor Forest Stakes.

FIUDAY.
SWEEPSTAKES of 50 BOYS.

Epaminoriclas
Weathere,,ek

Three ran.
FIRST-CLASS WOKINOHAM STAKES.
Hobby Horse 1
Octavio.
GREAT WESTER:: STAKES.
Diana and Kennyside Hero ran a dead heat. Diana
walked over for the deciding head.
London, England, 1854-02-11

Decimal Coinage. By a Retired Merchant. London :

Ridgway.
THE writer objects to the present monetary system,
and supports one fouaded on the decimal principle,
but disapproves of the committee's mode of carrying
out these views. Instead of pounds (equal to ten
florins), florins (equal to ten cents), and cents (equal
to ten mils), with the last-named coin, the mil, for a
concluding step, he advises pounds, shillings, and
centimes—the centime, according to his scale, being
equ;l to the one hundredth part of a shilling. We
see no advantage, and much inconvenience, in this
substitutiin, which, in fact, destroys the decimal no-
tation, since the next coin below the pound is the
twentieth and not the tenth part of that above it.
The argument "that accounts will he kept in three
" columns instead of four" is childish ; for every
schoolboy who understands decimals must see that
their use in account-keeping does away with columns
altogether. Take an example :
£3 15s. O'd.
Herz we have six figures, three letters, and a fraction,
all to represent a very inconsiderable sum. Let the
same be written decimally—
£3.77B,
andthe necessity for division into columns vanishes.
For it makes no difference whether the total be set
down thus—

V• 778,
or broken into separate sums as follows—

Florins. Cents. Mils.
A:3 7 7 8
except, indeed, that the former is by far the more
simple and easy method. The sole objection urged
against the committee's decision in which there is
any weight (and one which was by them fully con-
adered) relates to the abolition of that coin with
vhich the poor man is most familiar—we mean the
penny. But here the " Retired Merchant" coin-
cides, and passes lightly over the difficulty as one
unworthy of copsideration. His main object appears
to be the retention, unaltered, of the silver coinage—
to which we attachi comparatively little importance.
It was stated by the Maser of the Mint that there
were in circulation about 236,000,000 pieces of silver
coin, worth in all something like 6,000,0001. Of
these only the lialf-crowas are required to be called
in ; the retention of the rest being perfectly consistent
with a decimal notation.

The Works of Oliver Goldsmith. Edited by Peter
Cunningham. Vol. 11. London Murrny.
THE present volume, as the advertisement informs
us, contains the inquiry into the state of polite
literature published in 1759, when Goldsmith was
young and unknown ; and the series of letters en-
titled " The Citizen of the World," which were written
for a London newspaper called the Public Ledger;
and contains some of Goldsmith's most popular
papers—" Beau Tibbs," "The Night Scene," &c.
In respect of the latter, Mr. Cunningham has ful-
filled his promise of an accurate text by a collation
of three editions which Goldsmith himself taw
through the press, and to both be has restored
various notes which bad been unaccountably emitted.
This scrupulous attention we believe to be wisely
bestowed on an edition which strictly fulfils the pro-
mises in its prospectus of a beautiful and legible
type, fine parer, compnctness of bulk, and economy
of price.
London, England, 1854-02-11

122

JAMES GRAHAM. and Mr. GLADSTONE. In 1854,
the author of the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill,
sitting between the same Mr. GLADSTONE and
Sir JAMES GRAHAM, and serving under the
same Lord ABERDEEN, under the pretence
of effecting the admission of Jews into
Parliament by a side wind, proposee, among
other oaths, to annul that very one which
was devised and offered by Sir ROBERT
PEEL as a chief " security " for the Pro
testant Church and liberties of this country.
Is there less evidence now of a Papal conspi-
racy against our Protestant religion and liber-
ties than in 1851 ? On the contrary, there is
scarcely a country in Europe or America which
cannot afford subsequent instances of Roman
aggression. And are conspiracies of Rome
against Protestant faith and freedom things that
flourish and fade in the course of a few years ?
If Lord JOHN Russell. was justified in making
his memorable declaration, not only to hie
country, but to the world, in 1851, he is bound,
so long as he remains a public man, to devote
all his energies to resist that Ultramontane
contrivance which he denounced after so much
meditation and with so much energy. But
instead of this, with the prime patrons of
English cardinals for his colleagues, he criti-
cises the oath which asserts our fidelity t 3 our
Protestant dynasty and our Protestant Church,
in the spirit of Mr. GLADSTONE, and almost in
his language, as if the importance of that oath
were to he gauged by verbal criticism ! And
as if its abrogation would not be a triumph
in every consistory of Christendom, from
St. Peter's at Rome to St. George's-in-the-
Fields.
In 1851 the Coalition, then justifiably sug-
gested by the Court, could not be effected, be-
cause of a repugnance on the part of the Pusey-
ites to Lord J. RUSSELL'S Protestant principles.
In 1854, sitting between these same Puseyites,
this same Lord JOHN Russell. proposes to
omit all Protestant principles from our par-
liamentary oaths ! But what are foreign war,
or domestic revolution, or even Protestant
principles, compared with the advantage of
being governed by " ALL THE TALENTS"?
London, England, 1854-02-11

ESTABLISHED 183$.

VICTORIA LIFE OFFICE, 18, KING
WILLIAM-STREET, MANSION.HOUSE, LONDON.
The business of the Company embraces every description of
risk (Home or Foreign) connected with Life Assurance.
Loans continue to be made to assurers on undoubted Personal
Security; also on Freeholds, Leaseholds, and Life Interests, &c.
WILLIAM RAT RAY, Actuary.
London, England, 1854-02-11

THE COALITION SCANDALS.

THE Coalition scandals, it appears, can be suppressed
no longer. Some friends of the Duke of NEWCASTLE
must have been unpleasantly surprised when they
found the Aberdeen organ of last Monday taking up
the discussion of the grave charges to which the
PRESS last week directed particular attention. Twelve
months since there was a vast outcry in the " Coali-
tion " journals about certain alleged irregularities,
and it was sought to vilify the Conservative party by
a systematic exaggeration of supposed peccadilloes.
On the other hand, the name and conduct of Mr.
JOHN SADI.EIR were as systematically avoided, though
we again and again pointed to the disclosures in the
case of " Dowling against Sadleir." The subsequent
charges against other Irish supporters of the Govern-
ment, to which we alluded last week, have at length
provoked discussion, and, in consequence of the
motion of Mr. BUTT, will now be investigated before
a parliamentary committee. We will not, however,
prejudge the case of the accused by a premature
discussion of those charges. Our notions of honour
and political equity are different from those exhibited
by certain malignant defamers, who have sought,
per faa aut nefas, to destroy the characters of some of
their Conservative opponents. In this case we
neither wish for, nor anticipate, assistance from Sir
BENJAMIN HALL. But we trust that, because this
scandal is really grave, and not a mere pretext of party
animosity, it will be silted effectually, if not to gratify
the vanity of a Welsh baronet, at least for the credit
of the Parliament of England.
London, England, 1854-02-11

Volitual antr Coma.

CONTROVERTED ELECTIONS COMMITTEE has been
appointed by the Speaker for the session. It corn
prises Sir G. Grey, Mr. NSW()Ie, Mr. J. W. Patten,
Mr. It. Pain er, Sir It. Ferguson, and Mr. Bramaton.
IT is now netessary that travellers to France
should be pi ovided with passports, verified by the
agents of that country in England.
THZ ATTENTION OF ALL FINANCIAL REFORMERS is
directed by the Times to an enormous abuse in the
printing and stationery departments of Government :
" We have received two enormous blue-books, pur
porting to he the report of the commission which has
investigated the alleged acts of corruption at Hull.
These two volumes constitute a load which a man of
average strength would hesitate to carry from St.
Paul's to Charing-cross. We find in them no less
than 82,000 cross-questions and crooked answers
with reference to the enormities of the Hullites.
Now, we should very much like to know the cost to
the nation of so bulky a report, Nobody will read
London, England, 1854-02-11

ELECTIONEERING AT HULL.

--- - -
Two enormous blue books have just been issued by the
Hull election commissioners, as the result of their pro-
tracted labours. They contain disclosures so disgrace-
ful to Hull and its constituency that it might almost be
suspected that the electors had bribed the members
of the commission to bury in such a load of paper
the proofs and details of their corruption. he
commissioners report that systematic corruption has
always prevailed at Hull. Before the Reform Act
there was a general practice of paying the freemen,
then the only voters, head money at the rate of
4/. 4s. for a plumper, and 2 guineas for a split vote ;
since that act the mode and amount of payment have
changed, but the system of corruption has not been
discontinued. It has prevailed at every election.
At the election of 1841 each party paid between 600
and 700 voters ; in 1847 about 1,20() were bribed ;
in 1852, of the 3,083 who voted, nearly 1,400 were
bribed. The constituency consists of 1,500 freemen
and 3,000 occupiers, and the commissioners state
that 1,100 of the freemen were bribed once at least,
and the greater number of them oftener, in the
course of these three elections. Not that the occu•
piers are clear. It appears that a great part of them
are always anxious for an expensive contest, and
would he dissatisfied without it. A witness says :
" If it had not been for the printers, and some few
lawyers, I believe we should not have had a contest
this last time." The commissioners state that the
mode of corruption is very much by employing voters
as clerks, canvassers, colourmen, or messengers,
more generally termed "runners," the employment
being real employment, if possible, but, if that is not
sufficient, colourable employment is found ; "but the
vote is the substantial consideration for the money."
"Almost every person actively engaged in the elec-
tion contests has not only been cognisant of, but a
party to, the prevalent corruption." They state that
at every one of the last three elections systematic
bribery was committed on behalf of Mr. Clay, with
his knowledge and assent; that in 1841 Colonel
Thompson, knowing of this systematic bribery for
Mr. Clay, coalesced with him, and thereby obtained
the advantage of Mr. Clay's purchased votes ; that
systematic bribery was committed for Mr. Baines in
1847, but without his knowledge and contrary to his
wish ; that in 1852 systematic bribery was commit-
ted on behalf of Lord Goderich, and he had know-
ledge of facts which should have caused him to
inquire ink the mode in which his money was being
expended ; that systematic bribery was committed on
behalf of Mr. Bramley Moore and the Hon. C.

I
London, England, 1854-02-11

142

been confirmed. by the Cabinet at Washington. The
Minister of Mexico in Londo i has written to the
committee of Mexican boulholders, stating that it
is the intention of the Santa Anna to pay off the
arrears of dividends, and to place the finances of
Mexico on a sound foundation, so that the foreign
debt may be extinguished.
Without placing too much faith in any Mexican
promises, which have been so often broken, we be-
lieve that the prospects of the bondholders are
brighter than they have been for some time past.
Mexican Stock has been done at 26, and closes to
day at 251.
Russian Stock has fluctuated, but the Five per
Cents. still remain at about 105. This would hardly
be the case if some hopes of peace did not exist.
Spanish Bonds remain heavy. In other foreign
stocks but little business has been transacted.

RAILWAYS.
The market for railway shares has been remark-
ably firm throughout the week. Some anticipations
as to favourable dividends have been fully realised.
Great Northern Stock has, perhaps, shown the
greatest amount of firmness, and has been done at
88. The London and North-Western dividend is 5
per cent., and a surplus of 85,0001. is to be carried
forward to the next half year.
The South-Western Company are offering to renew
their debentures at 44 per cent. interest.
The Railway Market to-day, although good, closes
rather lower, in consequence of the fall in Consols.
London, England, 1854-02-11

PARLIAMENTARY OATHS.

The house was asked on Monday to go into com-
mittee on the subject of parliamentary oaths by
Lord J. RUSSELL, who expressed his wish to have
the general question discussed, with the view of
making, as he contended, the forms of affirmation
imposed upon members when taking their seats, or
on functionaries when assuming office, at once more
sensible, more simple, and more solemn. All oaths
taken on occasions of such serious oharacter should
be direct in meaning and intelligible in expression,
should have relevancy to the present state of things,
and should bind the taker of the oath only to what
he could engage to perform. Otherwise, his lord-
ship argued, the ceremony became a terrible mockery
and profanation. He then proceeded to examine in
succession the three parliamentary oaths of allegiance,
supremacy, and abjuration, as they were now im-
posed on Protestant members. The first he cha-
racterised as eminently fit and necessary, insomuch
that it might be almost supposed to supersede the
necessity of the two others, and had, indeed, been
held by Lord Eldon to include the oath of supremacy.
Respecting that second oath, Lord J. Russell con-
tended that it had become obsolete in many points,
and on others bore only reference to Roman Catholics,
who were now not called upon to take it. Dissecting
the terms both of this oath and that of abjuration, be
recapitulated, with much detail, the well-known his-
torical origin for every separate clause they contained,
and pointed out the special dangers they were de-
signed to repel. These dangers, he contended, were
now extinct. No English subject could be found
who believed that the Pope had authority to depose
the English Sovereign, or that the interests of the
Roman Catholic Church justified assassination, or
who could take up arms in behalf of the Pretender's
family, whose last scion died long since. He called,
therefore, on the Legislature to imitate the common-
sense proceedings of men in ordinary ,life, and
abandon precautions when the peril had ceased.
Lord J. Russell then presented the 'following simple
oath, which he proposed to substitute for the triple
form now imposed, and which he believed to con-
tain quite enough at least for the security of the
Crown:—

" I, A B, do swear that I will be faithful and bear true
allegiance to her Majesty Queen Victoria, and will defend
her to the utmost of my power against all conspiracies and
attempts whatever which may be made against her person,
crown, and dignity ; and that I will do my utmost to en-
deavour to disclose and make known to her Majesty and

I
London, England, 1854-02-11

[SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1854.

New Work by X. Guisot.
Inunediately, in 2 vols., Mo.,
"TORY OF OLIVER CROMWELL
111 AND
THE ENGLISH COMMONWEALTH,
FROM THE EXECUTION OF CHARLES I. TO THE DEATH OF
OLIVER CROWN ELL
(MA to 108).
By M. G U IZO T,
Author of " History of the English Revolution," " Shekspeare
and his Times," " Corneille and his Times."
RICHARD BENTLEY, New Burlington street,
Publisher in Ordinary to her Majesty.

On Monday, February 20, in 3 vols., poet Bvo.,
THE HEIRESS OF SOMERTON.
RICHARD BENTLItt, New Burlington-street.

Just published, in fop. evo. price se. ed., ,0
EM S. By MATTHEW ARNOLD,
Author of Poems by A. A New Edition, greatly altered
With a Preface.
*** More than one-third of the contents of this Volume
consists of Poems now first published.
London : LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, and Losoidews.

This day, post SVO., Is. Gd.; by post, 25.,
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. A Poem.
By JOSEPH MONIF.H. Canto the Second.
London: THOMAS BOSWORTH, 215, Regent street.
London, England, 1854-02-11

THE PRESS.

VENDERS, STOVES, and FIRE IRONS.
r Buyers of the above are reqnested, before finally deciding,
to visit WILLIAM S. BURTON'S SHOW-ROOMS, $9, Oxford-
street (corner of Newman-street), Nos. 1 and 2, Newman-street,
and Perry's-place. They are the largest in the world, and
contain such an assortment of Fenders, Stoves, Ranges,
Fire Irons, and General Ironmongery, as cannot be approached
elsewhere, either for variety, novelty, beauty of design, or exqui-
siteness of workmanship. Bright Stoves, with bronzed orna-
ments and two sets of bars, 21. 14e. to 51. 108. ; ditto, with ormolu
ornaments and two sets of bars, Si. 103. to 121. 125.; Bronzed
Fenders complete, with standards, from 7s. to 3/. ; Steel Fenders
from 21.155. to 61. ; ditto, with rich ormolu ornaments, froin 21.1 tos. to
71. 75.; Fire-irons, from Is. 9d. the set, to V. is. Sylvester and
all other Patent Stoves, with radiating hearth-plates. All
which he is enabled to sell at these very reduced charges,
Fir-:t —From the frequency and extent of his purchases ; and
Secondly—From those purchases being made exclusively fur
cash.

WILLIAM S. BURTON has TEN LARGE SHOW ROOMS
(all communicating), exclusive of the shop, devoted solely to the
show of GENERAL FURNISHING IRONMONGERY (u.-
eluding cutlery, nickel silver, plated and japanned wares, iron
and brass bedsteads), so arranged and classified that pur-
chasers may easily and at once make their selections.
Catalogues with engravings pent (per post) free. The 'limey
returued for every article not approved of.
39. OXFORD-STREET (corner of Newman-street) ; Nos 1
ant 2, N EWMAN-STRE ET ; and 4 and 5, PERRICS-PLA CE.
London, England, 1854-02-11

F FEBRUARY ll, 1854.

irtt Am.

WAR OFFICE, FED. 7.

17th Light Dragoons--Major-General Sir James Maxwell
Wallace to be Colonel, vice Major-General Thomas Wm. Taylor,
C. 11., deceased.
Nth Regiment of Foot—Major-General Thomas Erskine
Napier, C. 8., to be Colonel, vice General Win. Carr, Viscount
Beresford, G.C.8., deceased.
6Uth Regiment of Foot—Lieut.-General Viscount Gough,
G.C.8., to be Colonel in Chief, vice General Viscount Beresford,
G.C.8., deceased.
OFFICE OF ORDNANCE, Fag. 6.
Royal Regiment of Artillery—Brevet-Colonel Wm. Brereton
to be Colonel, vice Gore Brown, deceased; Captain John McCoy
to be Lieutenant-Colonel, vice Brereton; Second Captain Henry
Clerk to be Captain, vise McCoy; First Lieut. George Sidney
Robertson to be Second Captain, vice Clerk; Second Lieut.
Edward Keate to be First Lieutenant, vice Robertson.
COMMISSIONS SIONID ST LORD-LIEUTINANTS.
John Robert Mowbray, Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant.
THE MILITIA.

North Durham Regiment—George Pearson Wilkinson, Esq.
to be Captain ; Wm. Jonathan De 'Pledge, Gent., to be Lieutenant.
Oxfordshire Regiment—Assist-Surgeon John James Ireland
to be Surgeon, vice Henry Thomas Titley Palmer, resigned.
Royal Monmouthshire—Henry Somers Morgan Clifford, Gent.
to be Ensign.
Hampshire Artillery—Ensign Fred. Brodie, late of the East
Middlesex Militia, to be First Lieutenant; Richard Clay, Gent.
to be Second Lieutenant.
London, England, 1854-02-11

THE PRESS.

argued, " Why apply to these clubs a different
" rule from that which holds good in the case
"of insurance offices? Theoretically, the
" situation of both is the same. You may in-
" sure a child's life and receive money on its
" death ; why forbid this practice in one shape
" and allow it in another?" We answer
simply—(l ) Because claims upon insurance
offices are investigated so carefully and with
so many precautions as to render fraud, at
least by such means as those here referred to,
well-nigh impossible. (2.) Because insurance
offices deal with a different class of applicants,
in regard of whom the same temptations do
not exist. The resemblance between the two
in theory we do not deny ; but we assert that
the practical working and results are wholly
different, and this difference existing in fact
may fairly be recognised by law.
London, England, 1854-02-11

26

•••••1•INIII•

the Crown; and he could conceive no greater injury result.
lug to the country than would arise from such a state of
things as that."
Lord J. RUSSELL concurred in the doctrine that
every salaried office should include the performance
of definite official duties. Waiving all personal con-
sid3rations, he 'wised on to consider the alleged un-
constitutionality of holding a seat in the Cabinet, and
representing the Government in the House of Com-
mons, without also holding responsible office. The
noble lord examined some of the historical prece-
cents adduced by Mr. Walpole, and combated the
conclusions he had drawn from them. As a general
principle he admitted the inconvenience of sepa-
rating the leadership of the house from official re-
sponsibility.
Mr. CAYLEY, after a few remarks in reply, con-
sented to withdraw his motion, which accordingly
fell to the ground.
London, England, 1854-02-11

THE PRESS.

from Commissioner Holroyd for his conduct since
his affairs were surrendered to that court. The ac-
counts given of his embarrassments were said to
pres,mt an unparalleled instance of waste and
sacrifice, through no fault of his own. The bankrupt
had possessed property of the value of 20,0001., and
was solvent. By an act of misplaced confidence he
assigned the stock as security for a debt. That
property, worth 20,000/., had, by a combination of
trickery, been sold by the sheriff for about 1,500/.
As illustrations of the sacrifice thus made it was
mentioned that a " Lactantius " of Henry VIII. was
sold in a "lot" for less than Od., and the " Aristotle"
of Edward VI. for the same sum. Many other
works of great value had been similarly sold for 2d.
and 20. per volume.
THE PROJECTOR OF THE ISLINGTON CATTLE MAR-
KET, Mr. It. WESTBROOK,obtained a second-class cer-
tificate from Commissioner Goulburn on Wednesday.
His honour in giving judgment commented on the
too frequent instances in which clever projectors
without capital incurred heavy liabilities in the hope
of organising a company to carry out their schemes.
In such cases the court could not affirm that the
bankruptcy which sometimes ensued had arisen
from unavoidable loss and misfortune, such as would
enable him to give a certificate of the first class.
Often, however, it occurred that the parties acted
in the honest persuasion that their speculations
would answer, and among these he willingly reckoned
the present bankrupt.
THE LATE FRACAS AT THE CONSERVATIVE CLUB
came before Sergeant Adams at the Middlesex
Sessions on Wednesday. The defendant, Mr. W.
H. Newman, a barrister, surrendered to take his trial,
and pleaded guilty of the assault, his counsel ex-
plaining that it had been committed in a moment of
irritation upon seeing Captain Garth, while standing
at the club window, put his hand to his face with
a gesture, which his client fancied to imply a pre-
meditated insult. That impression be now knew to
have been mistaken, and lie accordingly made before
the court an ample apology to the prosecutor in the
name of the defendant. The counsel for Captain
Garth announced the perfect absence of any vindic
five feelings on his part, and, the apology being
accepted, a nominal fine of ls. was inflicted on the
defendant, whom the judge ordered besides to give
recognisances that he would keep her Majesty's
peace for twelve months.
THE CASE OF LUMLEY v. GYE is specially fixed for
trial in the Queen's Bench on Monday week, the 20th
inst. It is expected to last more than one day.
Damages are laid at 30,0001. Sir F. Thesiger, Sir
Fitzroy Kelly, Mr. Hoggins, Mr. Cowling, and Mr.
Huddleston have been retained for the plaintiff; and
for the defendant the Attorney General, Mr. Willes,
and Mr. Creasy. A special jury has already been
uominated.
London, England, 1854-02-11

CAMBRIDGE.

THERE will be an election of three scholarships on the
Bell Foundation on Friday, the 31st of March. The ex-
aminations begin on March 8.
THE Sierra PRIZES, given annually to the most profi-
cient in mathematics and natural philosophy, have been
awarded to De Routh, St. Peter's College, and Ds Maxwell,
Trinity College. The examiners consider both gentlemen
to possess equal merit.
ON Wednesday the Rev Thomas Jarratt, M.A., of St.
Catherine's-hall, and Professor of Arabic, was elected
Regius Professor of Hebrew. The professorship of Arabic
thus becomes vacant, and must be filled up within
thirty days.
MR. GEORGE POPE, B.A.' 20th wrangler, 1858, has
been elected to a foundation fellowship at Sidney Sussex
London, England, 1854-02-11

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS.

A committee was appointed on Tuesday, upon the
motion of Sir J. PAKINOTON, to consider whether the
despatch of public business could be more effectually
promoted by any alteration in the forms and pro-
ceedings of the house. The right hon. baronet con-
fessed that there was some truth in the impression
entertained out of doors that the members them
selves impeded business by their much speaking. In
the last session he remarked that three speeches had
occupied fifteen hours and a half. Describing the
multiplicity of work which devolved upon hon. mem
hers or absorbed the time of the house, in the shape
of committees, petitions, private bills, public plea-
sures, and prolonged debates, he contended that
seriout3 evils resulted from the present system,
among which he pointed to the postponement of im-
portant measures, the enactment of others without
due deliberation, and last, though not least, the
physical exhaustion of the representatives.
Sir G. GREY anticipated little benefit from the pro-
posed committee. The fact was that business, and
especially private business, had accumulated upon
the Legislature until it almost overwhelmed them.
Something, however, might be done if members
would practise self-denial, and never speak except
when they had something to say.
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY mentioned, as a proof of legis-
lative rapidity in certain cases, that an act was passed
last session at the rate of ten clauses a minute.
London, England, 1854-02-11

Railway Library-New Volume.

Price One Shilling, in boards,
MONEY LENDER (The), by Mrs. GORE.
Also, lately published in this Series :
PAUL CLIFFORD (Is. Rd.) by Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton.
CRICHTON (18.6 d.) by W. Harrison Ainsworth.
PELHAM fls. Gd.) by Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton
THADDEUS OF WARSAW (Is. Gd.) by Mis Porter.
ROCKINGHAM (Is.) by the Author of " Electra."
SCOTTISH CHIEFS (25.) by Miss Porter.
On the Ist March,
EUGENE ARAM (lc Gd.) by Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton.
London : GEORGE ROUTLEDGE and Co., 2, Farringdou-street.

Price Sixnce, sewed,
DAY AND NIGHT SONGS.
By WILLIAM ALLINGHAM.
Some of the pieces have appeared in Househoki Worth, and are
now reprinted by the kind permission of Chas. Dickens, Esq.
" Certainly no poetry of the present day is more purely class'.
cal than what little I have seen of Allingham,' and heartily do I
wish a good poet and good man success." Waller Savage
Lawlor.
London: Gronon RoulLnDoz and Co., 2, Farringdon-street.
London, England, 1854-02-11

THE CIVIL SERVICE.

TO THE EDITOR OF " THE PRESS."

Sir,—lt has been determined on that appointments to
India, in the service of the East India Company, shall be
regulated by public competition; and it is proposed to
throw open the civil appointments in this country to the
same competition.
By very high authorities and by many voices this system
is sanctioned, and large hopes are entertained of its success
in providing India and Cheat Britain with wiser, more
upright, and altogether superior and more able public
servants than were ever secured by any other scheme.
As they have long had this method in practice in China,
and by its means have succeeded in producing a greater
amount of cruel injustice and venality in appointing to
office, and a more terrible system of bribery, corruption,
legal robbery, and notorious lying and jobbery, than are to
he found in any equally civilised nation under heaven, I
should like to know why results so different are to be
looked for in India and Britain. I can imagine it being
alleged that Britons are Christians, and that therefore the
examiners will all be acute and honest, and the precocious
brilliancies will all be eminently trustworthy and perma-
nently laborious ; and I can fancy that a certain party feel
pretty sure that they will always prove the successful com-
petitors ; and I can suppose some are satisfied that the
respect due to talent, acknowledged in the officials, will
more than counterbalance the life of prestige which patron.
age at present casts as a protecting halo around the human
repositories of the Divine trust—power.
A judicious admixture of varied patronage and compe-
tition would more nearly harmonise with our complex yet
excellent constitution, and would probably escape the
dangers whilst it secured many of the advantages of each
method. I am, sir, yours respectfully,
GOOD IN EVERYTIIINC. !''

THE official report of the juries, published by the au-
thority of the directors of the New York Exhibition, reports
the distribution ofl6B silver medals, 1,084 bronze medals,
with about the same number of honourable mentions. Of
the 168 silver medals awarded, English exhibitors obtained
ten, viz. :—Sir Henry dela Beche, for geological maps ; A.
D. Edwards and Co., Scotland, for tow thread ; W. G.
Rogers, London, for superb carvings in wood ; Sitamox,
Pemberton, and Sons, Birmingham, for brass work ; El-
kington and Co., London, for electro plate work ; Garrard
and Co., London, for subjects in silver; Hunt and Co.,
London, for silver and fine jewellery ; T. Sharpe, London,
for silver cups, &cc.; H. Minton and Co., for encaustic
tiles ; De La Rue and Co., for excellent paper.
London, England, 1854-02-11

THE PRESS.

Vrotttbinp Varliantent.

PEACE OR WAR.
Notice of a question whether the country was at
peace or war had been given by the Marquis of CLAN-
RICARDE for Monday. When the night arrived, how-
ever, the noble marquis forbore to press his inquiry,
in consideration of the slight hope of peace which
still remained. He asked, therefore, only for some
information touching the then present status of the
diplomatic negotiations.
The Earl of CLARENDON acknowledged the for-
bearance that had been exercised; and promised to
repay it by some definite statement in the course of
a few days ; meanwhile, he announced that the last
official despatches which hal arrived contained the
terms on which the Emperor of Russia expressed his
readiness to negotiate a peace. As these despatches
had only arrived that afternoon, the noble earl said
there had been no opportunity for him to consult his
colleagues, but he ventured to assert that the terms
in question were altogether inadmissible, and would
not even be communicated to the Porte. With re-
spect to the Russian Ambassador, he added :

"On Saturday evening Baron Brunnw called on mo at
the Foreign-office, and placed in my hands anote, in which
he announced that the answer which he had received from
me to the inquiries he was instructed to make by his Go-
vernment was not of a nature that permitted him to con-
tinue diplomatic relations with this country, and those di-
plomatic relations must, for a time, be suspended. He took
leave of me on Saturday, but said that it was then too late
to leave London, but I understood he would do so early
this morning (Monday). (Hear. )"
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH had believed from the
first that war would be the inevitable conclusion of
the dispute with Russia, and, now that it approached,
felt convinced that it must prove one of the most for-
midable in which the country had ever engaged.
The country, he feared, had as yet no idea of its pro-
bable magnitude, duration, and consequences, and he
conjured the advisers of the Crown to redouble their
efforts to prepare for its exigencies.
Some remarks followed from the Marquis of Clan-
ricarde, Earl Fitzwilliam, and Lord Beaumont. The
last-mentioned peer inquired whether any instruc-
tions had been given to the British Ambassador at
St. Petersburg to terminate his diplomatic functions?
The Earl of CLARENDON replied :

"As Baron Brunow only called upon me at half past six
on Saturday evening, and as was necessary in this as in all
other measures which we have adopted, or shall adopt, to
have a previous communication with the French Govern-
ment—(Hear, hear)—it has not been possible at this mo-
ment to send instructions to her Majesty's Minister at St.
Petersburg. But I have already had a communication
with the French Ambassador on the subject, and instruc-
tions will be sent over to Sir Hamilton Seymour to-morrow
and to the French Minister at the Court of St. Petersburg,
directing them to place themselves exactly on the same
footing as the Russian Ambassador here has done, and the
diplomatic functions of the two states will be suspended in
the same manner. (Hear, hear.)"
London, England, 1854-02-11

ttsir.

MR. W. STERNDALE BENNETT'S CONCERT. I
ON Tuesday last Mr. W. Sterndale Bennett gave the
first of his annual series of concerts. We candidly
confess we are not great admirers of this gentleman's
compositions. Not that we question his inventive
powers, which are, without doubt, of a high order, but
it is our opinion that he lacks fancy, imagination,
and the power of construction, and that, by absence
of these qualities, his music is rendered too laboured
and heavy ever to attain any lasting popularity. It
is not, however, solely upon his abilities as a composer
that Mr. Bennett's musical reputation rests. He is a
pianoforte-player of great eminence, and few pianists
of modern days excel him in the performance of
classical music of all periods. Moreover, Mr. Ben-
nett is entitled to general respect for the purely in
dependent course he has pursued in the politics of
the musical world; and his career may be cited as
an example of the success which invariably attends a
man of talent if his pretensions be not exaggerated
and his conduct uniformly temperate as well as
straightforward. Mr. Bennett performed pianoforte
music by Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, and Mendels
sohn, and several of his own compositions ; and the
programme was further varied by a quintett by Dus-
aek and vocal music executed by Mrs. Lackey.

EXETER-HALL.
MENDELSSOHN'S oratorio Elijah, advertised by the
Sacred Harmonic Society last night with a very
strong cast of singers, filled Exeter hall to the
brim, and, in spite of the absence of Mr. Sims Reeves
(who was to have sustained the principal tenor
part), occasioned by stress of weather at Boulogne.
we. question whether, taken as a whole, the oratorio
has ever been better performed in this country.
Miss L. Pyne is the first English singer of the day,
and she gave the principal soprano part with energy
and feeling it would be di i; cult for any one to surpass.
She was ably seconded by Miss Williams and Miss
Dolby, and the manner in which these three ladies
executed the trio was perfection itself. Signor Belletti
is by far the best Elijah we have ever heard : he
sings the music allotted to him with great expres-
sion and judgment, and enunciates the Eni,,lish
words with a distinctness and correctness of emphasis
which are quite extraordinary. In some instances,
too, his reading of the part was new, and he deserves
especial credit for his delivery of the words, " Call
him louder," which produced a great effect upon
all his hearers, and fully demonstrated the singer
to be a man of intelligence as well as a clever

THE PRESS.

vocalist. Mr. Sims Reeves's place was supplied by
a Mr. lierberte, whom we do not recollect to have
ever heard before. W e feel, however, much plea-
sure in recording that this gentleman, notwith-
standing the unfavourable circumstances under
which he appeared, acquitted himself with great
credit, and seemed to give satisfaction to the au-
dience. We must not omit to say that the band
and chorus left nothing to be desired. Their
execution of the music was excellent.
London, England, 1854-02-11

FEBRUARY 11, 1854.

BIRTHS.

BRACKLEY—On the Gth instant, in Grosvenor•street, the Vis-
countess Brickley, of a sun.
NEVILL--On the 7th instant, in tipper Grosvenor-street, the
Lady Dorothy*Nevin, of a daughter'.
at Piccadilly-terrace, the Lady
GOE—On the Itith instant,
Margaret Levesou Gower, of a daught. r, stillborn.
-

MARRIAGES.
SAVAGF:—RICHARDS--On the 7th instant, at Moseley, Wor-
cestershire, John Morrie Savage, Livut. lt.A., son of Lieut.-
Colonel Savage, R.A., to Mary Louisa, daughter of 'fheophilus
Richards, Esq., of Birmingham.
SH ERSON—TOWNSHI•:ND--On the 9th instant, at St. James's,
Piccadilly, Captain Alexander Nowell Sheraou, unattaehed,
late 72nd Highlanders, to Anne Maria, daughter of Captain
Townshend, R.N., M.P., of Raynham•hall, Norfolk.
Slill'fH--I...ANDEMAN—On the SW instant, at Kensington,
George Whiteley Smith, Esq., of Oporto, to Fanny, daughter
of the late George Sandeman, Esq., of London and Oporto.
DEATHS.

BRETON—On the 15th of December, at Port Elizabeth, Cape of
Good Hope, Captain Charles Breton, 74th Highlanders.
ENOCH—On the Gth instant, Captain lames John Enoch, late
of the 50th Regt., son of Lteut.•Colonel Enoch, Assistant-
Quartermaster-General at the Horse Guards.
HOPKIRK—On the 6th instant, Mary Elizabeth, widow of the
late Captain Thomas Hopkirk, aged 70.
JONES—On the 30th ult., at Dover, Lieut.-Commander H.
paget Jones, R.N., of the Violet, aged 61.
OAK 'LEY—On the 7th instant, Arthur De Lisle, son of I.ieu'.•
Colonel Oakeley, 56th Regt.
London, England, 1854-02-11

MAJOR BERESFORD.

WE do not insult Major BERESFORD with any
congratulations on the result of his mock trial,
because it would be a calumny against him to
suppose that the proceedings so long threat-
ened could lead to any other issue. But, in
the name of public justice, we do, as journal-
ists, enter our protest against so wanton an
abuse of the forms of law to oppress an inno-
cent person as that which was on Thursday
witnessed in the Court of Queen's Bench.
Let the facts be borne in mind. Major
BERESFORD, examined by a committee of the

House of Commons, in which his political
opponents predominated—examined under all
the disadvantages of a bitter exparte attack
delivered against him in Parliament, and there
left unreplied t p—at a time, moreover, when
the whole Liberal press of England had for
months past been accusing him, on the barest
grounds of suspicion, of gross political profli-
gacy—was by that, certainly not favourable,
tribunal acquitted of the charge of bribery,
and censured only for an act of obvious but
pardonable imprudence. We cast no blame
on the committee who found that verdict. A
certain amount of indiscretion in allowing his
name to be made use of by persons of whose
character lie knew nothing was frankly acknow-
ledged by the defendant. But on the real
question at issue—on the charge of corruption
. knowingly practised by himself—Major BEREs-
FORD quitted office wholly exonerated. To
attempt to reverse this decision in a law court
was an act only pardonable in the prosecutors
on the assumption that they had in their pos
session i:Tefragable proofs not before accessible.
• But party ranclur is not scrupulous. They
proceeded without proofs—they proceeded, we
verily believe, under a full consciousness that
th eir ea se, if brought. forward, must break down
—but that mattered little. An innocent and
honourable man, but one whose political zeal
rendered him obnoxious to the Liberal party,
was to be held up to public reprobation, aid
London, England, 1854-02-11

BRITISH FE
OFFIC

3 per Cent. Consols
Ditto for Account
8 per Cents Reduced
8} per Cents
Long Annuities
Bank Stock, 7 per Cent
India Stook,lol per Cot.
Exch. Bills, Id. per diem
India Bonds, (1,000)
London, England, 1854-02-11

THE COMBINED FLEETS.

In reply to Mr. French,
Lord J. RUSSELL stated that the return► of the
combined fleets to Beycos Bay had occurred in con-
sequence of the admiral in command being of
opinion that to remain in the harbour of Sinope
might disable the fleet. The conduct of the admiral
would, he believed, meet with the approbation of
the Government, and ships would be sent occa•
sionally to preserve the command of the Black Sea.

UNIFORM COLONIAL. POSTAGE.
Mr. WILSON stated that arrangements were in pro-
gress for the establishment of an uniform sixpenny
colonial postage. It would be proposed to allow one
penny for the inland postage, one penny for the colo-
nial postage, and threepence for the ocean convey-
ance ; the remaining penny to be for the profit of the
Post office.

THE REVORX BILL.
On the motion that the house at its rising adjourn
till Monday,
Lord JOCELYN inquired of Lord John Russell whe-
ther it was the intention of the Government to bring
on the above measure on Monday ? He urged its
postponement on the ground that it was of the last
importance at the present crisis that all parties
should be in accord, and that this measure would act
as a disturbing element. (Hear, hear.)

134

Lord JoaN RUSSELL replied that he should move
for leave to bring in the bill on Monday, but not
move the second reading until the 13th of March.
Mr. HUME having recommended immediate legis-

lation on the subject,
Mr. DISRAELI observed, on the part of the Opposi-
tion, that if the proposed measure should have a
tendency further to diminish the influence of the
landlord interest, already too much diminished by
recent legislation—(Hear, hear)—they would meet it
with the most determined opposition. (Hear, hear.)
They would not oppose the introduction of the bill,
because they were not desirous by protracted de-
bates to impede the consideration of measures neces-
sary to enable the country to carry on an impending
war; but, if on the 13th of March the measure should
be found to be of the character he had suggested,
they would oppose it—(Hear, hear)—and upon the
noble lord the leader of the house would rest the
responsibility of such opposition.
, Mr. Bniour was quite ready to receive a measure
whi3li went even in the direction of improvement.
Lord JOHN MANNERS urged the propriety of defer-
ring legislation on parliamentary reform, as the con.
troversy could only impede our preparations for carry-
ing on the war again 4 Russia.
The motion for adjournment was then agreed to.