The Press.
London, England, 1854-07-29 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

JULY 29, 1854.

REASONS AGAINST AN AUTUMNAL SESSION.
BY A MINISTERIALIST.
If haply, as soon as the session is o'er,
We help the Turk as we helped him before,
If now that we have our " estimates" vote,
We should draw up another Vienna note,
What would the troublesome Parliament say?
Yea or nay?
Possibly—nay.
Therefore we'll give it a very long day.

If confident Gladstone again decries
The Turks to his Manchester allies,
Or his Peelite friends, like pumps as they are,
Are for throwing cold water upon the war,
What will the troublesome Parliament say ?
Yea or nay?
Possibly—nay.
Therefore we'll give it a very long day•

If, instead of seeking our foes in the gate,
We protocol and procrastinate,
Or if we trust to winning the day
With Reform Club chaff and contract hay,
What will the troublesome Parliament say ?
Yea or nay ?
Possibly—nay.
Therefore we'll give it a very long day.

If our gallant admirals fill up their logs
About Baltic shallows and Euxine fogs,
If one of them waits till the Russian begins,
And the other goes picking up single Finns,
What will the troublesome Parliament say ?
Yea or nay ?
Possibly—nay.
Therefore we'll give it a very long day.

If the den of the Bear we do not invade,
But only campaign in masquerade,
If we come away after all this stir
Without a little bit of his fur,
What will the troublesome Parliament say ?
Yea or nay ?
Possibly—nay,
Therefore well give it a very long day.

If, like the King of Spain and his men,
We march to the East and march back again,
If the " Talents," in short, turn out to be dull men,
And their promised thunder a mere brutum fulmen,
What will the troublesome Parliament say ?
Yea or nay ?
Certainly—nay.
Therefore we'll give it a very long day.

HOW COALITIONS WORK.

REPORT, BY ANTICIPATION, OF THE NEXT DEBATE UPON THE

I

700

seemed no objection to the bill, except that it was very obscure, and by
no means calculated to carry out its object.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said that his Honourable Friend's pecu-
liarity with the slapdash practice of assize courts blunted his
appreciation of scientific legislation. The bill was unexceptionable.
Lord JOHN Russatt said that he strongly approved every word
of the bill, and that it ought to be passed immediately.
Sir GEORGE GREY recommended his Noble Friend not to be in a
hurry. He was never in a hurry, except in speaking.
Lord Joni.; RUSSELL begged to explain. Ho had, perhaps, spoken
ambiguously, which he regretted. What he meant to say was, the
bill was introduced with a good motive, and that legislation on the
subject was desirable. (Cries of " Ole, oh ! " and " Sebastopol !")
Mr. GLADSTONE said that he, of course, advocated anything calcu-
lated to injure Russia, but, as guardian of the finances of the country,
he must pause before assenting to a bill which might have the effect
of checking expenditure in stamps, receipts, and postages, which iu
the aggregate proved an important item in the revenue. He had not
had the opportunity of consulting with his colleagues on the subject;
indeed, that was not the custom of the Ministry ; but he the ught that
whatever was done should be done on full consideration, and, at
least, that somebody on that bench should be able to explain what
were the views of Government, which lie professed himself ineom-
petent to do.
Mr. FITZROY said that he knew nothing about it, but his relative,
Baron Rothschild, had assured him that money matters were very
queer things, and that people who did not understand them had
better let them alone.

Sir CHARLES WOOD said that he must differ with his colleagues on
the present occasion, and this upon financial grounds, and his expe-
rience as Chancellor of the Exchequer—(a laugh)—entitled his opinion
to some weight. Now, what was the state of the case? If Russia bor-
rowed money she would do it in roubles, which are the gold coins of
this country. Eh? (A colleague here whispered him.) Oh, silver coins, of
course—when he said gold he meant silver. Now, the value of a
rouble was five and sixpence. He begged pardon—no, the value of a
rouble was four and ninepence. Well. Eh? (A colleague here whispered
him.) Oh, three and twopence, is it ? It made no difference ; and,
indeed, was the better for his argument. Well, taking the rouble at
four and ninepence, he meant two and threepence, it was clear that if
the coin were depreciated it would become of less value. (gear, hear.)
Just so. But if you were going to legislate for a coin now worth five
and ninepence, what became of your legislation when you could not
get that sum for your coin? (The Hon. Baronet sat down radiant with
triumph.)
Mr. HENLEY asked which way the Hon. Baronet meant to vote?
Sir C. Woon : 0, for the bill, of course—that is to say, I mean,
against the bill.
Mr. BERNAL OSBORNE Mad that this bill could not be a good one,
because Mr. Baring could not understand it, and therefore it was past
Baring ; but, at the same time, lending money to Russia was malting
ducks, in fact Russia ducks, and drakes with it. They might call the
Czar's bonds securities, but he called them insecurities, and people
who took such bonds might fancy they were in Bond-street, but he
could tell them they were in Queer-street. The Hon Member
adduced a few other arguments on the subject, and, the House divided.
and the committal of the bill was carded by 110 kin, five Ministers
voting each way, so as not to influence the deci en of the HOWL
The bill passed through committee, and the SolioltooGenetel
mised to explain its character on the third reading.

" ALL THE TALENTS "-•AND RATHER MORE.

" The answer which Russia was likely to make to the demands nasally made tiros bag li
the German powers must be one of these three—either a n 110, or SD Offifillatito, Of Mk
evasive answer."—Vide Lord J. Russell's speech at the meeting of 'Midst members 0% U.
17 tit inst.

Gentle Commons! cease your funning;
Opposition! be polite ;
Only lately we've discovered
Why Lord John was always right.
Coalition holds a prophet,
Telegraphs are passed and gone ;
There's " a Daniel come to judgment"
With a sibyl's mantle on.

Twelve times o'er the street of Downing
Cynthia's crescent bath appeared
Since this oracle sibyllic
Last in Downing's street was heard.
Twas a rash one asked concerning
Austria's message to the Russ,
And the sage's gracious answer
Came in Delphic accents thus :

" Do I think that Russia's Monarch
Means to bow to Austria still?
If he won't—doubtless he will not,
If he will—perchance he will.
One of these things he will answer,
Yes or no, or both, or neither;
Thus much saith the lore prophetic,
You can take your choice of either"