The Press.
London, England, 1856-02-23 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

—so identified with Roman Catholic history—
have no M.Ps. amongst them. Nor have the
old Catholic commoners found favour in the
eyes of the Roman Catholic democracy. They
prefer to select either upstarts pushing,
noisy, and unscrupulous ; or else perverts to
the Roman Catholic faith, whom they have
rewarded for their apostacy from Pro-
testantism.

The consequence of this painful state of
facts is, that Irish popular members are not
respected either in England or Ireland. " Al-
" ways try and be looked up to," was the advice
of the late Lord METCALFE to a young man of
parts, commencing his career. Who "looks
up to " the titular representatives of the popu-
lar party in Ireland? Their squabbles vex,
weary, and interrupt business. Their speeches
prove them to be counterfeit Irish " orators."
Their want of talent is not compensated for by
high social standing, the inheritance of an
eminent name, or the possession of indepen-
dent fortune. It is notorious that many of
them are deficient in the means required for
sustaining the rank of Members of the Legis-
lature. The social representation of Ireland
in the Court, and the circles of high life, falls
entirely to members of the Conservative con-
nection.

These are facts that cannot be denied.
Nay, they are admitted even in the Roman
Catholic journals. Some of the most derisive
strictures we have ever seen on the state of
the Irish popular representation have ap-
peared in Roman Catholic newspapers. We
have read most galling comments made on
the want of social figure amongst Irish Liberal
M Ps. We shall not follow these censors into
those detailed statements about the want of
town residences and personal equipage suit-
able for London life manifested by those
Members of Parliament. But we may insist
upon the undeniable fact that the gentry of
Ireland, and that the public spirit of Ireland
iLelf, is miserably misrepresented by a certain
class of senators, who are entirely unsuited for
their responsible trusts.

We believe that a reaction is likely to take
place in Irish society, and that the best men
of the Roman Catholic community are every
day becoming more inclined to secede from
supporting a class of members from whom they
derive no social credit. The days of the
ostracism of the Irish Protestant gentry from
their proper political rank in Munster and
Connaught are drawing to a close. There are
twenty seven members for Munster in the
Irish representation, and of these only five are
Protestants, and but two Conservatives. Yet
the peerage, the gentry, the magisterial order,
and the property of the district, are Protestant
in an overwhelming proportion. There is but
one Roman Catholic Peer (the Earl of KEN-
MARE) in that part of Ireland, and all the great
landowners aro Protestants. But platform
influences, priestly arts, the ambition of ad-
venturers, have all combined to oust the legi-
timate social representatives from their pro-
per position. The Whigs in England patro-
nise the system, and end arse it with their ap-
probation. They shower down place, pay, and
patronage on the nominees of the Catholic
priesthood, and they orgapise a confederacy o'
representatives, who upon critical occasions
are able to extort an undue proportion of
influence for themselves and their servile
dependants.
Hence we have Tenant League Agitators
turned into placemen, and assailing (hum be-
hind a screen) the Judges on the Bench.
Hence we have—but there are other and for-
midable evils arising from a low class of Irish
Members which would require more detailed
exposition than we can now present. We may
return to the subject, which is of grave im-
portance in the working of the representative
system

The army estimates for the years 1856-7 amount
to 34,998,5041., being an increase of 6,3280071. over
those of last year. The land forces number
246,176 men, 30,378 over those tor 1855.6.

Parliamentary returns, published this week, show
that the balance of the Russian Dutch loan, due on
January 1, amounted to 15,000,000 florins, and of the
Greek loan the balance due amounted to 507,6491.,
while of the Sardinian loan there remained yet to be
paid to Sardinia 887,500/.

SATURDAY,

Comspouttuct.

ItOGE RS'S "TABLE-TALK."
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS.
Sir,—ln your review of Mr. Rogers's "Table-talk"
in last Saturday's PuEss, you mention an instance in
which that gentleman has been guilty of plagiarism.
I do not write 'o defend Mr. Rogers, but I cannot
help remarking that in this case he has at least sinned
in respectable company. It has often struck me as
being somewhat remarkable that a sentiment origin-
ated by Horace should be echoed by poets so dissimilar
in many respects as Shakspeare, Byron, and Tennyson,
but I was not previously aware that the name of Mr.
Rogers was to be added to these. As it is interesting
to notice the way in which an idea may be varied, 1
subjoin the passages in which these poets have seve-
rally expressed the sentiment of Horace, that good
once enjoyed can never be entirely effaced. The
passage quoted from Air. Rogers ran thus :
But can the wiles of art, the grasp of power,
Snatch the rich relics of a well-spent hour ?
There is much energy in the words of Shakspeare :
Come what sorrow cal.,
It cannot countervail the exchange of jay
That one short minute gives me in her sight.
Then love-devouring Death do what he dare—
It is enough I may tut call her mine.
Romeo and Juliet, act ii., ac. 6.
Byron, in the " Giaour," utters the sentiment with
characteristic force :-
1 die—but first I have possessed,
And, come what may, 1 have been blessed.
And in the following lines from "In Memoriam" it
seems to harmonise sweetly with the tone of that
poem :
I bold it true whate'er befal,
I feel it when I sorrow most,
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.
After all, I do not think that any of these are equal
to the passage in Horace; there is something very
noble in his words :

Ille poteus sui
Lsetusque deget, cui licet in diem
Dixisse ; eras vel atra
Nube polum pater occupato
Vel sole puro; non tarnen irritum
Quodeunque retrO est etficiet ; neque
Dittiuget, intectumque reddet,
Quod ingiens semel hors vexit.
Cur., lib. in., ode 29.
But perhaps Horace himself only imitated some
other poet.—l am, sir, your obedient servant,
Livetpor,l, Feb. 19th, 1856. B.

THE BISHOP OF LICHFIELD AND PEACE;
THE Lord Bishop of Lichfield has lately published
the following earnest address to his clergy upon the
Proposals of Peace, and their duty under the circum-
stances of the approaching Conference :
TO THE

THE CLERGY DE TIIE DIOCESS OF'
LICHFIELD.

• Eccleshall, February 18.
My reverend brethren,—We arc at a crisis of no little
importance in our national state. The war, for the blIC•
cessful issue of which we not long ago implored the pro-
tection of Almighty God, has more than realised the anti-
cipations of difficulty and danger and loss with which we
entered upon it. While, therefore, we look Mick upon its
events we have much cause to be humbled. But we have
much cause to be thankful, also, for the signal deliverances
and successes with which our arms have been blessed, and
yet wore for the unparalleled ministrations of mercy
which the sufferings of our sick and wounded soldiers hate
called forth. The war still continues, but the Peace t.:on-
ference now about to be held at Paris opens a prospect of
its termination. To the issue of that conference we cannot
but look with no common anxiety, involving as it must
the best interests, not of this nation alone, but of Europe
and the world. It will not then, I trust, be regarded
otherwise than as " a word spoken in due season' if I
now ask you to " beseech and exhort " the people under
your pastoral care to be earnest in their supplications to
Hi.n who disposes the minds and hearts of men, that He
will be pleased to give such a spirit of moderation and
wisdom to those who are appointed to take a part in the
conference as may lead to a peace concluded upon right
principles, and therefore honourable and beneficial to
conducive to the security and prosperity of nations, and to,
the extension of Christ's kingdom of " grace and truth
upon earth. There is no need to enlarge upon the sub.
ject. It speaks for itself to the thoughtful and the patriotic,
to the benevolent and the religious. Earnestly comin end-
ing it to your consideration, I remain your affecuonate
brother and faithful servant,

J. Lice•

The official notification and list of French officers
of the Imperial army and marine appointed by lier
MNesty Honorary Members of the Military Di‘ision
of the First, Second, and Third Classes of the Order
of the Bath, appeared in last ni'ht's Gazette.
The Speaker of the House cf Commons will hold
levees at his house in Eaton-square, on Saturday,
the Ist, and Saturday) the Bth of March, each night
at 10 o'clock.

FEBRUARY 23, 1856.