The Press.
London, England, 1854-12-09 00:00:00

Tlit PRESS.

SATURDAY,

The PREMIER : Confound the press, whether spelt with a big P or
a little one.
FIRST LORD : Palmerston is troublesome. I never impute motives,
but I cannot forget that the militia debate must, in great measure, be
taken in hand by him. I don't say ho wants to evade his work, but—
HOME SECRETARY : But you mean it. Thanks, St. lago. I can
afford to say to you that I mean nothing of the kind; but that, as I see
an impending storm, which will come down like the very deuce, it
seems only friendly to recommend you all to have your umbrellas.
Please yourselves. As for the militia question (laughs) it is rather—
a—a—an awkward subject among us. Eh, Lord President?
PRESIDENT of the COUNCIL (with temper): I did not revive it, but
Graham loses no opportunity of showing that graceful tact which
makes him so dear to his friends.
FOREIGN SECRETARY : I want to know one thing. Does Aberdeen
go out before Christmas, or after.
The PREMIER (sulkily): Not before. Ido not recommend further
question on that subject.
HOME SECRETARY (mischievously): The question is a good deal
discussed in public places—as at the Horns, and elsewhere. As mere
matter of taste, I am given to understand that people would much
prefer the thing being done before Christmas ; but still they are
reasonable, and if it is very soon after, why, it is a season of forgive-
ness, and—and—
The PREMIER (fiercely): As Christmas has not come yet, and
there are some things we do not forgive except when compelled, give
me leave to tell you, my Lord Palmerston, that—
(General interference, and, subsequently, rather hasty
dispersion of the Council.)

adoption of the four articles as an insincere or in
sufficient concession, intended merely to disarm and
divide them, without any substantial compliance with
the just demands of the belligerent powers.

THE WAR.
The accounts from Paris speak of another division
which is to be added to the army in the Crimea. It
is to be formed principally of troops from Africa, and
to be placed under the command of General Brunet.
The army at Lyons is to be reconstituted, and is to
consist of three divisions of infantry and one of
cavalry. The troops are to winter in camp at Satory,
under the orders of Marshal Castellene, after which
they are to be prepared at a moment's notice to leave
France for the purpose of taking part in the next
campaign.
The Patric states that there is reason to hopo that
the Henri Quatre, which was driven ashore by the
tempest of the 14th, will-be floated off again.
The following despatch has arrived from Bucha-
rest, under date Dec. 6, but has not been confirmed
by any other communication :
Forty thousand Turks and 1(X) guns will be embarked at
Baltschick and at Varna next week, for the Crimea. One
regiment remains at Bucharest. Danisk Bey replaces
Mushar Pacha as commandant of the town. Mushar Pacha
superintends the embarkation. Omer Pacha will leave in
a few days.
I The Czar has ordered two more battalions to be
I added to the regiments of the Finland army. lie
has also ordered the formation of six battalion of
rifles.
••

---
An Odessa correspondent of the Frentden-Blatt
writes, thit a train of several hundreds of waggons,
laden with provisions and munitions for the Bussian
troops at Baktchi Serai, was "surprised by frightful
snowstorms in the steppes south of Perekop, and
annihilated."

THE political and fashionable circles in Paris have
been much excited by a rumour, which is daily gift-
ing ground, to the effect that the Princess LIENEN is
to be allowed to return to her apartments in that
capital. It is stated that this favour has been ac-
cbrded to her in consequence of letters which the
Princess wrote to both the Emperor and Empress of
the FRENCH, entreating their permission to return,
on the ground of her health, and disclaiming any
wish or intention for the future to "se meler" in
politics.

Jrtzs JANIN, the well-known writer of dramatic
criticisms in the Debate, is proud of his acquaintance
with Shakspeare, and rarely misses an opportunity
of letting his readers know it by the introduction of
quotations or allusions testifying to the extent of his
researches among the works of the English poet.
The accuracy of his Shaksperian knowledge may,
however, be guessed from a passage in the Janin
feuelleton a few days since. Reviewing the one act
play, Rosemonde, by M. Latour de St. Ybars, the
critic has to relate how Count Dither murdered his
guest—a performance which he illustrates thus, out
of Shakspeare :—" Enfln le jeune comte Dither agit
tout A fait comme Macbeth quand le roi Lear sou
hOte, eat couche dans l'appartement voisin 1."