The Press.
London, England, 1854-08-19 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

Vrattbings in arliamcnt.

THE GERMAN POWERS.
During the half hour that the Commons were wait-
ing on Saturday last for their summons to the Upper
House to hear the prorogation speech, Mr. HUME took
the opportunity of extracting some further informa-
tion touching the present diplomatic status between
Austria and the Western powers on the subject of
the war. He inquired especially what ground there
was for an intimation made a few days previously
in the Peers to the effect that the co-operation of
the Vienna Cabinet with England and France had
become more probable than was previously antici

pated ?
Lord J. RUSSELL explained the existing state of
our political relationships with the German powers,
so far as official discretion permitted him to do. The
Russian Minister at Vienna, he said, had very lately
communicated to the Austrian Government an as-
surance that the Czar had ordered his troops to eva-
cuate both the principalities, Moldavia as well as
Wallachia. Notwithstanding this assurance the
Austrian Secretary for Foreign Affairs had acquainted
both the British and French Envoys at Vienna of his
readiness to proceed with the interchange of the
"note" already prepared by the two Western powers,
in which the general nature of the securities to be
required from Russia, preliminary to any negotiations
for peace, were duly set forth. These securities had
also been described in outline in a state paper which
the Emperor of the French had caused to be pub-
lished in the Moniteur. The answer of the Austrian
Minister to this note implied that the Emperor his
master would not be satisfied by a return to the
status quo, and expressed also a general accordance
with the tenor of the securities demanded by Eng-
land and France. It remained, however, to be seen
whether Austria would deem it expedient to commu-
nicate the note to Russia, as a medium for further
negotiations, or would at once set her armies
in motion to obtain those guarantees which
the two allies required, and which he trusted that
the German powers would unite with them in de-
manding.

THE PROROGATION.
The session of 1854 closed on Saturday last, when
Parliament was prorogued by her Majesty in person.
At two o'clock the Queen entered the House of
Lords with the usual ceremonies ; and the House of
Commons, represented on this occasion by Lord J.
Russell, Mr. Walpole, and some sixty members,
having arrived at the bar, headed by the Speaker,
that right hon. gentleman addressed to her Majesty
the usual summary of the proceedings of his house
during the session. He said:—
" We, your Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, attend your
Majesty with the last bill of supply for the service of the year.
"In reviewing the labours of the past session, we have
humbly to thank your Majesty for your gracious permission to
bring under our annual review a large amount of the public ex-
penditure connected with the revenue departments which have
hitherto been exempt from parliamentary control. It will be our
duty in future years, with a just regard to economy, to make
ample provision for these important branches of the public
services.
" In obedience to your Majesty's commands, we have endea-
voured to impose an effectual check on bribery and corrupt prac-
tices at elections, and we venture to hope that the act lately
passed, which clearly defines these offences, applies to them an
adequate punishment, and places eleetiou expenses under effi-
cient control, will prove successful in repressing a practice
which is alike demoralising to the elector and subversive of the
integrity of representative institutions.
" We have given the most attentive consideration to &measure
for the just government and extension of the University of Ox-
ford, by which certain oaths now required to be taken by students
have been abrogated—provision made for the establishment of
private bills, and enlarged powers given both to the university
and its colleges. We have every confidence that these enact-
ments will be received by that learned body in the spirit in which
they have been framed, and that they will be able to extend the
benefits of academical education to classes of the community
who, from their circumstances or religious opinions, have
hitherto been precluded from the enjoyment of this privilege.
" Various other measures have been submitted to us,but it has
been found impossible to mature them during the session, as the
progress of our legislation has been interrupted by the com-
mencement of a war which, notwithstanding your Majesty's un-
remitting endeavours to maintain peace, has been
on presse
the d upon
n
us by the unwarrantable aggression f Russia Tur
empire.
Deploring most deeply the necessity of such contest, we re-
cognise the imperative duty of protecting an old and faithful
from oppresion, and of vindicating the rights of nations.
" And we believe it well becomes the character and honour 01
this great empire, adhering to the faith of treaties, to frustrate,
if possible, the designs of a monarch whose ambition, if uncon-
trolled, would endanger the security of every nation in Europe.
" Entertaining these views, your faithful Commons have cheer-
fully and without hesitation placed at the disposal of your Ma-
jesty whatever supplies have been deemed requisite to carry on
this just and unavoidable war, thus enabling your Majesty to
send forth fleets and armies complete beyond all former prece-
dent in discipline and equipment
" The efforts of your Majesty to strengthen the army and aid
the cause of Turkey have been cordially seconded by the Emperor
of the French, and the joint forces of England and France, their
ancient hostility converted into generous emulation, now threaten
the coasts and harbours of Russia to the most distant extremity
of her vast dominions.
" The issue of this momentous struggle is in the hands of an
over-ruling Providence. Confident in the justice of our cause,
we look forward with hope to its successful termination, acknow-
ledging, with the deepest gratitude, that whilst war, in all its
horrors, is raging abroad, your Majesty's subjects, uncle' your