The Press.
London, England, 1856-07-19 00:00:00

Rittrovolitau.

SIR WlLLitat',Liao was entertained by the
Reform Club at a grand bonquet on Saturday even-
ing last. Sir Alexander Cockburn took the chair
upon the occasion, and proposed the health of the
gallant general in a brief but energetic speech.
General Williams, in returning thanks, repeated his
opinion already so frequently expressed on similar
occasions, that the Turks were possessed of
abundant vitality, and that the Turkish authori-
ties only required a high tone to be taken towards
them to compel them manfully to set to work to put
a stop to tho corruption which has been the ruin of
the country, and honestly to reform themselves and
their institutions. With respect to the course he
should pursue in Parliament, Sir William Williams
said:—

THE PRESS.

I tell you, as I told my constituents, that I go into Par-
liament solely that I may on fitting occasions offer to the
country an opinion on military matters—on matters which
perhaps I understand, and also on the affairs of Turkey.
You may have read my address, and those are the two
points upon which I take my stand, and upon no other.
It is quite impossible for a man who has served his coun-
try in the army for thirty-two years, twenty•seven of which
have been passed abroad, to have anything to do with the
party politics of this country. I say it is quite impossible.
I told my constituents that I was untinged by personal
views or ambition; and, believe me, you will find that to
be the case. I think that I have now—l will not say a
certain influence, but I will say that think lam a man
who is looked on by the people of this country with a cer-
tain, I may presume to say, affection ; and the offering of
my opinions on these questions may do a certain amount
of good ' • but. 1 am equally sure that if I dabble in things
which I do not understand—if I go out of my depth—the
very moment I take such a course I shall lose the WW-
I ence which I now possess.

The healths of Colonel Lake and General Moura-
vieff were proposed and drank amidst much enthu-
siasm, and after many others the meeting broke up.
THE CITY COMMISSIONERS OF SEWERS, on a motion
by Mr. Ross on Tuesday, unanimously agreed that
the establishment of baths and washbouses would
eminently promote the health and morality of the
labouring classes of the City. Mr. Ross said that
he should submit the motion for reference to the
Improvement Committee at the next sitting of the
court.

THE COUNCIL OF KING'S COLLEGE, LONDON, have
received a letter inclosing a cheque for 5001., with an
intimation that it was; to be entered on the college
book, " as a small memorial to the late Right Hon.
Sir Robert Harry Inglis, Bart., from one whose
family loved him."
THE BOARD OF WORKS discussed the question of
Main Drainage on Monday for six hours, and ad-
journed without coming to a decision.
THE SEPTENNIAL CORPORATION VISIT to the Thames
and Medway will be made shortly. The Lord Mayor
on Tuesday, at the Court of Aldermen, hinted that
the visit should be made as quietly and economi-
cally as possible, and the period limited to one day
instead of three.

THE ERECTION OF A MEMORIAL to the fallen
officers and men of the Brigade of Guards will be
considered ac a meeting to be held on Monday next
at the United Service Museum, Whitehall-yard.
The Duke of Cambridge, Commander-in-Chief, has
consented to preside.
THE BISHOP OF LONDON has addressed a letter to
the clergy of his diocese, recommending, in accord-
ance with a suggestion made to him by the Arch-
bishop of Canterbury, that collections be made in
their churches on behalf of the National School
Society during the present year. The Bishop says,
in concluding his letter, " I feel assured that your
readiness to comply with my request will not be les-
sened by the peculiar circumstances under which I
make this communication to the diocese of London."
THE AUTHORITIES AT WESTMINSTER HOSPITAL are
at present engaged in a searching investigation into a
charge of neglect against the medical officers, for
having left for half an hour without examination a
poor child, Ann Booth, run over by a cab on the day
of the Guards' entry. The child died, and at the
request of the coroner, Mr. Bedford, an inquiry is
taking place.
A FIREWORK MANUFACTORY in the Hackney-road
blew up on Thursday afternoon. One boy received
such injuries that he died shortly after.

THE OFFICERS' WIDOW AND ORPHAN PERMANENT
FUND SOCIETY held a meeting on Thursday at the
Hanover - square Rooms. General Williams was
present, and addressed the meeting in an earnest
speech in favour of this excellent society. A balance
of 2,3491. 19s. Od. is on hand.
THE DECIMAL COINAGE QUESTION Was discussed at
a meeting of the City bankers on Thursday, their
opinion having been requested by the commissioners
appointed to report to the Government on the sub-
ject. The conclusion arrived at, with only one dis-
sentient, was that any legislative alteration would be
undesirable.

THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL'S RETURNS for the week
show a mortality of only 959, a rate no less than 109
below the average. The births amounted to 1,525,
bein 566 in excess of the deaths. ~1 C.

VroVinrial.

THE POTATOE DISEASE has reappeared in the
neighbourhood of Cheltenham. In some of the
market gardeners' grounds it has appeared in a very
virulent form.
THE REV. PROFESSOR FRASER has been elected
by the Town Council of Edinburgh to the chaii of
logic in that univk rsity, vacant by the death of Sir
William Hamilton, Bart.
A hilt. SHILLING AND HIS SON, of Town Malting,
were found drowned in the Medway on Saturday
morning. They left Aylesford, at 9 p.m., on Friday
night, in a pony chaise. The road lay along the
river side, and it is supposed that the pony took
fright, and dashed into the river. The chaise,