The Press.
London, England, 1857-04-25 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

SATU RDAY,

they are now so fond of adopting. In the Church of England there is
room for many parties ; violent and narrow, indeed, must be the
prejudices of that man who conceives that either the sacerdotal or the
antagonistic theory is sufficient to exclude anyone from her pale.

The conferences on the Prusso-Neufehatel differences are not
satisfactory. They are an apt specimen of what may be expected.
from the adjudication of European Powers in congress on " lea
affaires d'autrui." As a matter of course, the litigants will be
dissatisfied with a just decision, and a partial one will be repudiated
indignantly by the injured State. Obedience would be conditional;
that is to say, a reluctant assent would be accompanied by a mental
reservation to seize the first opportunity to reverse the judgment, or a
protest might be boldly put forth at once with the plea of coercion.
It requires but a slight reflection to trace this evil, among many others
of a graver nature, to the incongruous policies adopted by Lord
CLARENDON. We have entered at greater length elsewhere upon this
point. The foreign journals maintain that the question is on the
verge of being " settled." We doubt it. The issue of the affair is still
pending, and may occasion further discussion on the part of the allied
Powers. Count WALEWSKI has submitted a proposition, the tenor of
which is to reverse the policy Dr. KERN declared himself disposed.
only to adopt. It remains to be seen whether the Federal Council
will not meet the proposition by a " contre-projet " for the discussion
and decision of the Congress. The consideration that Count
WaLwEsxes proposal involves a total reversal of the declared policy of
the Federal Council, can never escape the penetration of the Govern-
ment of Berne; and although the terms now laid before the Council
by Dr. KERN may not experience rejection, or be met with censure,
it is quite certain that they will not be received with approbation.
There is already a notable gathering at Rome of peripatetic
Royalists The Grand Duchess OLGA, with her consort the Prince
Royal of Wurtemburg, has been sedulously attentive to the pontifical
ceremonies of the Holy Week; neither has Queen CHRISTINA failed in
the Catholic observances.—Roman railroads and Paschal devotion
equally dividing her Majesty's anxious care. The Dowager Empre3s
of Rus3lA is daily expected, and the illuminations that are put off,
await her arrival. Not among the least conspicuous, is the
King of BAVARIA, the pupil of SCHELLING. There may be nothing
extraordinary in this accidental assemblage of royal personages. Their
accompaniments, however, are not idle, either in acquiring local in-
formation, or in putting forward liberal opinions with the intent of
conciliating the more active politicians of southern Europe. A high
authority has expressed himself by no means favourably on the Go-
vernment of Cardinal ANTONELLI.

In the Principalities the unionists and anti-unionists continue an
incessant warfare. Prince NICHOLAS VOGORIDES, having rigidly sup-
pressed journalism of any kind, the Liberal Boyards held a meeting,
and drew up statements that were embodied in a pamphlet, and
disseminated amongst the electors for their information and guidance.
Prince ALEXANDER GHIKA, in Wallachia, has shown a more liberal con-
duct. He has permitted the publication of La Concordia, and has
allowed the formation of committees to discuss the principles of elec-
tion, and to draw up the electoral lists. Many of the Boyards, under
the influence of certain European Governments, urge on the unwary
by bribes and threats to commit acts of violent insubordination that
may be quoted in order to nullify the result of the elections. At Con-
stantinople matters are not more tranquil. M. DE PROKESCH has per-
suaded REDSCHID PACHA to take up a resolute position, and to protest
against a Moldo-Wallachiam union, as incompatible with the integrity
of the Turkish empire. M. DE THOUVENEL is not less determined in per-
sisting that the clauses of the Parisian Congress shall be strictly
observed. Against him is opposed the unflinching antagonism of Lord
STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFE. The speech of Sir H. BULWER, in reply to the
Bucharest deputation, can hardly he said to coincide with the Con-
stantinopolitau policy of the English Embassy; neither is the
assurance " that the Sublime Porte desires with sincerity what it has
" declared without hesitation " exactly consistent with the dissatis-
faction of the Porte at the question of the union being submitted to
the Principalities.

In fact there is no getting at the intentions or the policy of the
English Government. They do not seem to possess a policy. It is quite
evident that Sir HENRY BULWER and Lord STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFE
differ totally in their views of every Eastern question. What is now
most to be feared is some compromise that will really content no
party, and will most certainly discontent the Principalities. From the
flattering terms in which Sir HENRY BULWER speaks of ALEXANDER
ERIKA, it is not possible that he can contemplate setting him aside.
It would be a strange upshot of all things, if the old family of STIR-
BEY or BIBESCO should resume under the Anglo-French alliance that
power which the Austro-Russian alliance had first procured for them.
But every absurdity is possible in the midst of the eternal conflict of
persons and confusion of ideas which the British Government is at
present exciting in the East.

The Persian account of the famous battle of Kooshab, allowing
fur the usual exaggeration of numbers, is, on the whole, too near the
truth to be pleasant or palatable. Private accounts from the came
hive confirmed the unfavourable impression produced by General
OUTRAM'S despatch. The fact is, the whole affair was a blunder.
General OUTRAM was not only deceived by false information, 'but
he wai very nearly beaten by superior strategy, and it was the
most Intunate thing for that " prestige" of which we are
so proud, that the Persians committed one blunder the more,
and let us get buck to Bushire with the credit of a gallant cava!ry
charge to uphold our fame. Failure and success in war rests upon an
"if." The Persians probably know the value of the conjunction by this
time ; for " if " they had continued their fire upon our wearied squares

APRIL 25, 1857.

on the night of their flank attack, or "if" they had made a dash at
Bushire, they would probably in some measure have verified their
version of the whole affair. As to their " fleeing in a disorganised
" state" after the battle, that would appear highly improbable, for they
carried off sixteen out of their eighteen guns. Our men, it is an
undeniable fact, immediately after the battle became thoroughly die-
organised. They dropped into Bushire by " twos and threes," worn
out, dispirited, and " panicstruck." This is not the usual appearance of
a victorious army. With respect to that splendid charge of the 3rd
Cavalry and Poonah horse, we do not think it can be accepted as a
practical solution of the question whether cavalry properly led can or
cannot break a square. That the cavalry should only lose seventeen
men in the charge is one proof that the fire of the infantry
in this case could neither have been accurate, nor of long range ;
nor could it even have been sustained. Then, again, the Persian Infantry,
though well drilled, are not well armed. One musket between two
men is a common provision, and, if that was the case at the battle of
Kooshab, it can scarcely be mantained that the cavalry charge, imme-
diately preceded as it was by the fire of our field-guns playing on the
square, must be accepted as positive and final proof of the incon-
testable superiority of the one arm over the other.

The conduct of the war with China—for it is no longer denied
that we are at war with China—is attracting the attention of jour-
nalists impatiently waiting for the opening of Parliament. The Post
speculates upon the obstinacy of YEH, and with wise foresight, calcu-
lating upon the unhealthy nature of the season timed for the arrival of
our Crimean soldiers florid with beef and beer, suggests that hospital-
ships and lady nurses should instantly be despatched for any emergen-
cies that may arise. The Times, looking at it from another point of view,
questions the ability of the general selected to command, and asks who
is General ASHBURNHAM? Many replies in detail have been given,
which, on the whole, are more creditable to the gallant General's dis-
cretion in field operations, than to his valour. But more remarkable
circumstances it is even said owe their origin to General ASH BURN-
HAM'S recent appointment. Just previous to the Dissolution one of
the most severely-contested elections occurred in a southern county.
The powerful influence of a relative of the gallant General was
upon that occasion given to the Conservative candidate. Meanwhile
arose the China debate, and then came, rapidly following the vote, the
Dissolution and a Chinese war. A second contest occurred in the
same county, and this time the influence as well as the honour of
General ASHBURNHAM'S relative was thrown into the opposite scale,
and the Ministerial candidate as warmly supported as he had been,
previously opposed. General ASHBURNHAM had been appointed to the
command in China. During the dull days of next week, we would
suggest " PALMERSTON and Patronage " as a fit subject for journalistic
reflection. The Noble Lord's mode is varied, but his principle is the
same.

A reverend gentleman of the name of RULE—which seems a
singular misnomer—has been recently lifting up his voice in favour
of the burning and bombardment of Canton. This gentleman,
who is " understood to be intimately connected with the
" Methodist religious press," said that "by pouring shells into
" Canton the Chinese were brought to their senses, and that
" our guns had cleared the way for our admission into
" that corrupt city, to plant in the midst the standard of the Cross."
Is it by such barbarous inhumanity that this man believes he
serves his Maker? Of a surety Dr. RULE has been born
some centuries too late ; he ought to have been sword bearer to
MAHOMET ; and would certainly have made a most worthy companion
to Balfour of Burley. Seriously speaking, is this sort of thing
" Christianity ?" or have we all along been in a dream ? To punish
the body in this world for the good of the soul in another
one has been the doctrine both of Eastern asceticists and Western
Romanists, but never, to our knowledge, of either Prates tants or
independent Catholics. It has been reserved for Dr. RULE to belie
the spirit of his sect, to preach proselytism by the sword, to uphold
persecution, and to exhibit the lamentable spectacle of a Christian
man, who professes that he belongs to the ministry, justifying the
means by the end, and equalling in spirit the worst sophistries of
the Jesuits.

Mr. HORSMAN'S retirement is, we have reason to believe, now quite
certain. Various reasons have been assigned for his secession. On
one hand we hear that Mr. HORSMAN has ceased to be a Minister
because he thought Lord PALMERSTON a lukewarm Reformer. On
another that it was because Lord PALM ERsToN thought Mr. HORSMAN
indifferent to the Liberal interest in Ireland. Wo do not think the
Premier has any real reason to regret Mr. HORSMAN'S absence from the
Emerald Isle, where we are convinced he would have done more harm
than good to the Liberal cause. But, at all events, this little split is
a symptom of the thofough want of cordiality between Lord PALMERS-
TON and the Liberals, and the growing indifference of the Liberals
themselves to their own principles.

CABINET CERTIFICATES.
(From a Government Organ.)
WHETHER the Minister will deem it expedient to bring in a Reform
Bill or not is still uncertain, nor do we pretend to be morA deeply in
his confidence than he himself is ; but we have been informed, upon
good authority, that he has consulted his colleagues individually upon
the subject, and that their recommendations have assumed various
shapes. The following will, we have reason to believe, be found a
iiithful analysis of the opinions of the members of the Government