The Press.
London, England, 1856-02-09 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

SATURDAY,

pendent, yet thoroughly Conservative. We are gratified to learn that
his literary reputation did him good service in his canvass, and that
some electors who had hardly ever heard of Mr. Warren the " Q.C.,"
cordially promised their votes to the author of " Ten Thousand a
Year." Mr. WARREN is an eloquent. speaker, and, we believe, only
wants the opportunity now afforded him to distinguish himself highly
in debate.

The murder of the unfortunate Mr. WAUGH by CHARLES WESTRON
must be fresh in the minds of all our readers, Labouring under the
delusion, or apparently labouring under it—for who shall say which:
that he had been defrauded of his rights, the wretched criminal fired a
pistol into the bosom of his intimate friend, and, though found guilty,
has been recommended to mercy on the ground of insanity. On the
20th of December last THOMAS CORRIGAN, a man in the employ of the
East India Company, murdered his wife under very peculiar circum-
stances, which led the public generally to suppose he was suffering
from delirium tremens ; he has been tried, found guilty,'and sentenced
to death. Now, without questioning the justice of either verdict, it
will certainly occur to most men of common sense who have read the
proceedings in each, that both cannot be right. We are happy to be
able to quote the authority of the Times in favour of our own view.
There r,eems to be, says that journal, but little difference between the
two cases. But under any circumstances we feel bound to add our
own protest to that of the leading journal, against the new practice
attempted by jurymen of finding a prisoner guilty and then recom-
mending him to mercy. That is the business of the judge; and really
we feel obliged in all conscience to remonstrate against the tendency
to leave any such loop-hole for murderers.

The knowledge that Lord LYNDHURST was to bring forward the
whole question of " the legality," (and also "the constitutionality ") of
life peerages, drew a crowded assembly to the House of Lords on
Thursday It was a most interesting debate, the argument being
treated with eminent ability on both sides. It is not often that so
striking a sight is seen as that of the venerable Lord LYNDHURST
addressing so illustrious an assembly in a style worthy of the place
and of the man. His vigorous voice and distinctness of articulation
are surprising at his time of life, and though the form is stooped, the
vast beetling brow is still full of muscular power, and is irradiated
with the expression of intellect. His vindication of the profession
which he adorned from the attempted indignity, produced great effect,
and in his accustomed closeness of style ho touched the grave
impolicy of the proposal. " You will create a new influence, a nett
" species of subserviency, and you augment an evil which is already
" sufficiently large." No phrase could more happily describe the im-
propriety of the proposal.
It has been eloquently urged that there is, in the matter of decay,
no analogy between the bodily powers and the mental functions.
Lord LYNDHURST is a splendid exemplification of the truth of the argu-
ment. His complete mastery of a new subject, and his illustration of
it in one of his finest orations, is a convincing and most gratifying
evidence that the intellect may burn with undimmed brilliancy to the
last stage of human life, and, according to WALLER'S fine image, may

Let in new light through chinks that Time has made.
Lord GRANVILLE had a difficult task in following the great ex-
Chancellor. His exordium was at once courteous and artful, though
not likely to please Lord JOHN RUSSELL. The Noble Earl compared
his position to " taking charge of the Channel fleet, or any other act
" indicating great courage, or rather great rashness." (How will the
Bedford Whigs like that ? Lord JOHN used to boast that he took Lord
GRANVILLE from the buckhounds). The head of the Gowers, however,
made a reasonably good fight for his side, though he obviously
laboured under the vast disadvantage of a layman talking from a legal
cram. As is always the case in such instances, the speaker read out
cut-and-dry passages, which he was unable to expound so as to make
them reach the points at issue. He produced some transient effect by
quoting from the pamphlet of Sir HARRIS NICHOLAS, but did not appear
to be aware that Sir HARRIS was apt to be crotchetty in his views.
We recollect that in one of his works Sir HARRIS NICHOLAS asserted
that no family was supposed to have "high ancestral dignity" unless
its forefathers were persons of great distinction in the reign of
ELIZABETH. Families that became famous in the days of the Stuarts
were not entitled to be called "old English families."

EARLY-CLOSING-AMENDMENT.
Put up the shutters—say I'm sick, I'm dead !—Pope.
What ! shorten the debates ?
•
Shut the mouths of empty pates ?
Of what can " the old man be thinking"?
You propose the " muffs " to bridle !
Why, the Act is suicidal—
Mr. Brothertou !—you never have been drinking?

What ! no more iteration ?
Repetition? botheration?
Why, bless us, what'll come to the House ?
No more said than's really needed ?
No stale logic ever pleaded?
All the speakers unmistakeable for nous ?

Stay—this " Early-Closing Movement "
May admit. of some improvement;
If we might propose an alteration,
Instead of " shutting shop "
Tho " shutters " we would pop
On the Members, by way of innovation.

Wr.r. • ,11111..-
'WOA'WZri.• " .9 71; 7 MIWIT7 '110"."7 "19"'.

FEBRUARY 9, 1850.

We might " early-close " a goose,
Ever gabbling " fast-and-loose,"
Like " Bob-addle," of intellects obfuscate ;
And of course extinguish quite,
Very early in the night,
Tho " gas " that from our Premier will coruscate.
And thus, just as well, who knows?
As if we were to close
The " Maison de Do-ill" itself,
We might be clearing space
For the athletes in the race,
By putting all the " bad-uns " on the shelf.

AMERICAN (SECRET) CORRESPONDENCE.
DOCUMENTS WHICH WILL PROBABLY NOT BE FOUND IN THE BLUE-
BOOK WHEN THE CORRESPONDENCE CONNECTED WITH THE
AMERICAN QUESTION IS LAID BEFORE PARLIAMENT.
No. 96.
LORD CLARENDON TO LORD PALMERSTON.

Tuesday.
My dear Palmerston,—Grampton's last I inclose. All seems
going on as you could desire, and Pierce is playing into your hands.
Excuse a hint, and don't overrun your game. What shall I say to C. ?
I mean, of course, privately.—Yours, always,

Foreign office.

No. 97.
LORD PALMERSTON TO LORD CLARENDON.

CLARENDON.

Wednesday.
My dear Clarendon.—Right as a trivet. Always hint anything
you like, or rather don't hint,—speak out, bang, Do you think we are
going a little too fast? Well, perhaps we are. But remember that
the peace negotiations will go on fast, also, and we must accumulate
our war capital, or we shall be on our backs. The Yankee sensation
must be got up immediately after Parliament meets. Shape the
letter your own way, but recollect—from the moment peace is signed
we are froze•out gardeners.—Ever yours,
Piccadilly.

No. 98.
LORD CLARENDON TO MR. CRAMPTON.
(Extract.)

PALMERSTON.

You will not fail to make it distinctly understood by the American
Government that propositions made on our part while a certain state
of things exists in Europe are liable to modification should that state
of things be altered. An apology, which we might have no difficulty
in making, while our fleets and armies are engaged in the northern
and southern seas, would be ridiculous and inadmissible were those
forces liberated. Should you be met by the argument that what is
right should be done irrespective of circumstances, you will admit the
general propriety of that proposition, but will show that the special
circumstances of the present case remove it from the ordinary category,
and exact an exceptional solution. It will be matter of regret with her
Majesty's Government should this view tend to irritation instead of
conviction, but we see no alternative.

No. 99.
THE SAME TO THE SAME.
(Private. Extract.)
Keep him on the simmer, my dear fellow ; but the pot must not
boil over just yet, if at all.

No. 117.
FROM MR. CRAMPTON TO LORD CLARENDON.
(Private. Extract.)
I can't make you understand these people. They are neither
Spaniards nor Russians. If you would tell me exactly what you and
Pain want—supposing you know yourselves—and would leave me to
work it out, I should know my way. But we shall all get into a mess
if you will insist in chalking out my course for me. As it is, or rather
as it was, we are in the right; but we are now doing our d—dest to
turn a good cause into a bad one. In a word, do you want a row?

No. 118.
LORD CLARENDON TO LORD PALMERSTON.
(Inclosing the above.)
My dear Pam,—Lege, domine, lege. He wants to know whether we
want a row. Ha! ha!—Yours, ever, c.
Foreign-office.

No. 119.
LORD PALMERSTON TO LORD CLARENDON.
(Extra Vt. Private.)
How good. Un veritable Arcadien. Make it clear to his weak
mind, but, 1 say, take care what you write. He is a man to explode.
Send him an article fi•om THE PRESS. or somewhere, in which the game
is shown, and hint to him that true words are often spoken in joke.
He can hardly misunderstand that. By the way, what is the force of
America ? I've forgotten all about it. Once more, be cautious what
you say to C.

No. 120.
LORD CLARENDON TO MR. CRAMPTON.
(Extract. Private.)
I regret that you should misunderstand the views of H.M. Govern•
meat, or suppose that we should deliberately direct you in a course
calculated, or at least intended, to bring on hostilities. At the same
time, actuated by a higher consideration than that of the mere pre-

133

servation of peace, we do not hesitate to look in the face the contin-
gency at which you hint. H.M. Government, aware of the feeling of
this country in regard to itself, has one great duty before it, namely,
the taking care that while Europe recovers herself from the agitation
of war, while the ruptured relations of States are granulating and
reuniting after their wounding severance, the process shall be pre-
sided over by no Government less skilful than that which has brought
the war to an issue. This—the retaining the present Ministry in
office—is due to Europe, and from that solemn and sacred duty we will
not flinch. Follow my argument, my dear Crampton, and now com-
prehend that, in the present state of the House of Commons and the
country, a war sensation is necessary to the endurance of Lord Pal-
merston's Government. To your able hands is confided the task of
providing that sensation, and I trust that I need scarcely add that we
must have it—harmlessly, if possible—but we must have it.

No. 139.
Mn. CRAMPTON TO LORD CLARENDON.
(Extract. Private.)
The President hinted—in fact, said—in the course of dinner, that
the policy of H.M. Government curiously resembled that which his
enemies had the cruelty to attribute to himself, namely, a desire to
appear quarrelsome, for the sake of popularity, even though such pre-
tence should lead to serious consequences.

No. 146.
LORD CLARENDON TO LORD PALMERSTON.
(Inclosing the above.)
Pierce is no fool But it was devilish uncivil to say such a thing
to poor Crampton. I think I put the matter neatly in my last—l
thought it would be better than sending a newspaper article, which
might have frightened him.

No. 147.
LORD PALMERSTON TO LORD CLARENDON.

...
(Extract. Private.)
Confound Pierce. I hope the story will not get wind. Don't you
go telling it to any of your smoky associates, mind that, there's a good
fellow. Well, things must go on. I'm afraid there is no chance of
escaping this infernal peace, but we will hope for the best ; and in the
meantime let Crampton nurse Pierce's wrath, and keep it warm. It
may turn out awkwardly, for he sees our game, and of course is the
less afraid to push his own. But the eara aura, after me the Deluge,
so sing whack.fol-de-rol, and the devil take the hindmost. Put that
into decorousness for our virtuous Crampton.

ORNITHOLOGICAL RECREATION.
Let dogs delight to bark and bite,
For God has made them so.—Dr. Wade.
(Suggested by a scene in the House of Commons last night.)
Let Cuckoos as they wing the sky
On thievish missions go,
Aud warm themselves in plundered nests,
For God h,..s made them so.

But, Mr. Lowe, you should not take
The Cuckoo for your guide,
Nor measures that you want " convey "
From men on t'other side.

•'II

That you may walk in honest ways
This lesson learn by heart,
'Tis shameful in a Minister
To play the Cuckoo's part.

AN OLD FRIEND WITH A NEW(S) FACE.

Who" Daily " writes the " News " writes trash—
'Twos his—and has been slave to thousands.—Othello.
(Appropriate Illustrations Understood.)
This is the Print that Boz cut.
This is the Smith who nicknamed the Print that Boz cut.
This is the Stuff that bored the Smith who &c.
This is the Flat who read the Stuff that bored the Smith who &c.
This is the Blunder of ..51 that astonished the Flat who &c.
This is the Scribbler who wrote the Blunder of '7)l that &c.
This is the Proprietor who turned out the Scribbler who &c.
This is the League that took up the Proprietor who Sc.
This is the Room that belonged to the League that &c.
This is the "Conductor" who "begged in the Room that" &c.
This is the Quaker who showed up the Conductor who &c.
These are the Changes (from No-Party to Whig—from Whig to
Radical—from Radical to Manchester—from Manchester to
Protectionist, &c. &c.) that disgusted the Quaker who &c.
These are the " Crashes " that led to the Changes that &c.
These are the Sums that were lost in the " Crashes " that &c.
And these are the Noodles all forlorn who found themselves pretty
closely shorn of the Sums that were lost in the Clashes that led
to the Changes that disgusted the Quaker who showed up the
Conductor who begged in the Room that belonged to the League
that took up the Proprietor who turned out the Scribbler who
wrote the Blunder that astonished the Flat who read the Stuff
that bored the Smith who nicknamed the Print that Boz cut.