The Press.
London, England, 1857-12-12 00:00:00

T TIE PRESS, DECEMBER 12, 1857.

1196

should his opinions differ from the diocesan.
Where the bishop is a High Churchman, the
Gorham and the Ditchers will soon
find a rival spring up to them, in the
shape of a zealous sacerdotalist, who will half
empty their churches, and wholly destroy
their usefulness. Where the bishop is a Low
Churchman, the Denisons, Liddells, and
Bennetts, we need not add, will experience a
similar fate. Such a state of things would be
intolerable. And, even were we disposed to
trust in the general good sense and modera-
tion of the bishops to avert such a consumma-
tion, the circumstances under which the mea-
sure has been brought forward preclUde us
from indulging such a hope.
The shameless preference recently dis-
played towards a particular patty in the
Church, and the all but avowed bargain be-
tween the lay head of that party and the head
of her Majesty's Government, leaves us no
room to doubt the spirit in which this innova-
tion is conceived. The facilities afforded by
its constitution would, we may depend, be un•
sparingly employed. Bishops continually
selected from the same school would be
in-
structed not to let the good cause lag. Barns,
platforms, and ball-rooms would soon ring
with Christian controversy, and half the spiri-
tual teaching of the country emanate from the
mouth of Lord SHAFTESBURY. _ _

This is not the first time that faction has
been enthroned in the guise of freedom, or
malice gratified in the name of toleration.
This, then, at least, let the Church and the
Conservative party unite to resist. The
strength of the Church of England lies in her
parocial clergy. And we sincerely trust that no
clergyman will allow his private theological
opinions to interfere with his duty to his bre•
thren, to his order, and to his Church ; but
that all will join heart and hand to make
common cause against the common enemy.
If they do this, they may be certain of finding
in the landed gentry of the kingdom a cordial
and unflinching support But if they will
continue to allow theological dissension to in-
terfere with their resistance to political hos-
tility, their doom is sealed. They cannot be
saved in spite of themselves.

rewards were too rapidly conferred. The sub-
ject would become invidious under detailed
illustration, and we shall not go into some spe-
cial cases that arise to the memory. It is
sufficient to say that the rule of prudence jus-
tifies caution, while the duty of gratitude ear-
nestly enforces generous and prompt recogni-
tion of great services.
Nobody will say that the Government have
outstripped public opinion in the nature of
their rewards to our India heroes; but it
must not be forgotten that the campaign is
not over, and we can only accept what has
been done as an earnest of the intentions of
the Government to act with becoming genero-
sity. Opinions differ widely as to whether
" names ought to be pressed forward or not.
Mr. GLADSTONE on Wednesday spoke in depre-
cation of doing so, and, on the other hand,
Sir JOHN PAKINGTON took a more popular view.
There can be no gainsaying the fact that as yet
Sir JOHN LAWRENCE has not got his proper re-
wards. It is impossible to over-estimate the
value of his services. He showed more
prompt foresight and prescient sagacity than
any other Indian official, and exhibited the
best qualities of a strategist and a statesman.
Such is the opinion of numbers of competent
authorities ; and not long since the Minis-
terial organ, the Globe, stated " that if the
"question were left to Indian opinion, the
" name of Sir JOHN LAWRENCE would stand at
" the head of the list of heroes who deserved
" the public thanks."
There is one practical suggestion in rela-
tion to this matter which we think should be
urged on the consideration of the Cabinet and
the Legislature. Military rewards of a high
class will be wanted in approaching years, and
the government of our various colonial de-
pendencies might with the greatest advantage
be given to distinguished generals. We do
not propose that military or naval officers
should monopolise the colonial governorships ;
but we do say that such official rewards would
be a cheap and effective way of paying off
debts of gratitude. We do not like seeing the
government of Nova Scotia handed over to a
courtier who has exhibited no political ability
in the House of Commons. There are gallant
generals and brave admirals who would be
glad to obtain such posts, who, from their ex-
perience, would be equal to emergencies,
and discharge their duties with professional
energy like men accustomed alternately to
obey and to command. These posts must he
filled by some persons, and to whom could
they be better assigned than to men who were
educated in discipline and exercised in ener-
getic toil ?
We think, also, that in all cases where men
have performed glorious deeds, and have nobly
died, their nearest survivors ought, as far as
is possible, to receive strong tokens of public
regard. Under the rule of the Duke of WEL-
LINGTON and of Lord HILL at the Horse Guards
field officers who had served with distinction
often got commissions without purchase for
one or more of their sons. It is compara-
tively easy in cases like that of the gallant and
lamented NEILL to reward the widow or
nearest relative of the departed brave. All
eyes are upon our officer in command, and
when he falls there is a universal desire that
his family should be rewarded ; but in the
case of the valorous SALKELD, and other
scarcely less brave subalterns sent on forlorn
hopes to the " imminent deadly breach,"
surely there should be consideration of some
honourable value for their survivors. It would
be an additional incentive to a heroic nature
if it were conscious that beloved kindred at
Lome might derive some advantage from
glorious exploits in which death had been the
result.

false, or at least premature. As to Russia and
France, I can only repeat what I have often told you
that the best understanding exists between these
two powers.

The ratification of the treaty for the delimitation
of Bessarabia is again postponed, owing to some
difficulty in preparing the maps previous to the sig-
natures of the plenipotentiaries. It is, however,
expected that the ratifications will take place before
the end of the month.

There is a decided split in the republican camp.
The regenerators of social orders are now dividing
into old and young republicans. The former forbid
their candidates to the Legislative Body when elected
to take the oath ; whilst as peremptorily the other
insists on the oath being taken. It may with truth
be said that republicanism in France is at a great
discount; and it will require many such martyrs as
M. Peyrat of the Presse before it can be again re-
suscitated. M. Peyrat wrote the article whielicawed
the suspension of the Presse, with what the French
call connaissance de cause; and ifeel certain that he
would have been greatly disappointed had not the
Government given him the opportunity of becoming
a martyr. But, like St. Laurent, M. Peyrat deter-
mined to be broiled on both sides. He teels certain
of being elected in the place of Cavaignac ; he will
refuse to take the oath, and thus he will be a victim
to his pen and his conscience. The editors of the
greater portion of the French press are men of great
talent and high respectability, but they sometimes
commit certain vagaries, which would lead us to con-
clude that their political opinions are not yet fixed.
Thus, the Courrier de Paris, a paper which has
always passed as being undecided in its political
views, bas now passed the Rubicon, and in one of its
late numbers declares that the Imperial Govern-
ment is alone possible to govern France ; that the
Empire saved the country from the worst disasters ;
that it rendered it glorious, strong, and prosperous.
It is true that the editor, after this, recommends
that in the present tranquillity of the country a little
more liberty should be given to the press. lam in-
clined to think that you will find, before many months
shall have passed away, other journals, hitherto con-
sidered as ultra-Liberal, following the example of
the Courrier de Paris.
It is said here in the best circles that General
Van. Omphal has left the Hague for London, in
order to demand officially the hand of the Princess
Alice for the Mince of Orange. The hereditary
I'rince of Holland was born on the 4th September,
1848.

I think I may say with truth that the reported
rapprochement of M. de Thouvenel and Lord Strat-
ford de Redcliffe is, to say the least, premature.
Nor do I think it will take place previously to the
departure of Lord Redcliffe from Constantinople,
which, it is said, is fixed for the 12th inst.
It is given as certain that the health of the King
of Prussia is such as not to permit him to resume
the reins of Government at the expiration of the
power delegated to his brother. Several Cabinet
Councils have been held, and it is not yet decided
whether the power of the Prince of Prussia shall be
prolonged or a regent appointed.
The celebrated Russian General Todtleben has
met with a serious accident; he was thrown from
his horse at Wiesbaden on the sth, and broke his
right arm.
Prince Lucien Bonaparte, nephew to the Emperor,
has entered into holy orders ; he will be ordained at
Rome by the Pope on the 13th December.
Queen Christina of Spain intends leaving Paris
shortly for Italy. Thus falls to the ground all the
reports of her immediate return to Spain.
The following interesting estimate of the length
and cost of all the railroads in work on the Ist of
January, 1856, is given by the Journal des Chemins
de Fer

Length in kilometres.* Coat.
Francs.
France
England
Prussia
Austria
Saxony
Bavaria
Hanover
Wurteniburg 30:1
Petty German States 1,164
Belgium
Holland
Piedmont ..
Denmark
Russia
Other parts of Europe 1,980 ....

3:3,1.21
America

Total
Or 4:708,t6:3.686
It thus appears that up to the end of 1855 a capital
of 17 milliards 725 millions of francs had been spent
to obtain 04,215 kilometres of railroad.

• Four kilometres make a league.

I

rott6ings arliaincnt.

HOUSE OF LORDS—MosnA.Y.

Earl Sr. GERMANS, as Lord Steward of the House-
hold, read her Majesty's gracious answer to the
Address of their lordships in reply to the Speech
from the Throne.