The Express.
London, England, 1865-06-28 00:00:00

THE LORD CHANCELLOR AND THE

-LEEDS BANKRUPTCY COURT.

(From the Tints.)
With regard to these two gentlemen, Mr. Botha
and Mr. Welch, there can be little doubt as to whet ought
to he the course of thee* who have the guardianship of
public, and professional morals. Nor ca we demise Mr.
Miller from the inquiry with the readiness which the At-
torney-General attributes to the committee. The commit-
tee may not have done more than express their disepprobe-
tiOn of his mode of proceeding and his officiousness ce
seven/ ocossioes. Bat it is jest this " mode of processing"
and this " cifleieumem " that we should like to ben more
clearly explained. There is also a very ugly opieion of the
committee respecting tint gentlemre's letter-book. Mr.
Maur. part in the proceedings which led to end followed
the reeignation of Mr. Wilde, and his extraordinary of l-
aloneness in preparing appointment. for Ms. Bethel and
his confederate on a subsequent occasion, ere matters on
which we bops the published evidence will give no some
more light. "Whether there are grounds for a prosecute,.
against him," rye the Attorney-G*4mnd, "we shall be
better able to judge when we see the evideeen" It may
be that Meese. Bothell red Welch kept their secret,
but there an be no doubt that Mr. Miller
wee most useful to them in their P treemetiorni.
The reputation of these people, however, and of the
Bev. G. Harding—who whether his charge be true or files
must be equally infamous—is AA little homes:toe beside
that of her Majesty's Lord Cbaccsilor. Of this able and
eminent person it grieves us to speak in cosnexion with
such shameful trensections as have been proved spinet
the other actors or admitted by them. But (snidely the
"baste and went of caution" spoken of by the committee
is beyond anything that could ;have been believed even
of the most overworked or the most smileless official The
War from Mr. Miller suggesting to Mr. Wilde a retire-
ment ea the ground of ill health is extraordinary
enough, whether it was written by the authority
of
the Lord Chancellor or not. But the actual granting
of the pension and the filling up the place by the appoint-
ment of Mr. Welch ere still more wonderful Vit certifi-
cate given by the doctor is so worded that we wonder how
Mr. Wilde mould ever have ventured to send it is. Lord
Westbury ears his attendee was never celled to it, that if
it had been he would never have granted the pension. But
surely he knew that this Mr. Wilde was a man who bad
misceeduoted himself in his poet to such an extent that he
himself had threatened him with instant dismissal.
Is it not strenge, thee, that when this incapable
and untrustworthy public servant suddenly declared
himself afflicted with what we most all a most
convenient malady--one enabling him to enjoy in
idleness for life • pension equal to two-thirds of his
official nary—the Lord Chase Ater thould never leave
thought of looking at the certificate I' Mr. Wilde is eons.
fortably pensioned, sad on that very day Mr. Welch is ap-
pointed. The Lord Chancellor says be appointed Mr.
Welch from remembering his former applications. His
obtaining that Oleo after paying the 5001. to Mr. Bothell
was, therefore, • mere mincideme, sad My. Welch in come
sense threw away his mosey. Bat is it not extraordinary
that le such • we, where there bad aetoelly been inis-
°Deduct in the alto, sad where it was expedient
to appoint a tharoeghly efficient parson. the Lord
Chancellor should eat take a day to consider of
the matter? Instead, of making his choice among
the large number of Northern circuit banisters who
would have been glad of the post, he at coos, on the mere
dictum of Mr. Miller " that it ought to be filled up without
delay," pleas a perfect stranger in ft. Mr. Miller shows
his areal reel In the matter, and it is worthy of sottoe that
whether or no the payment of the 5001. influenced the ap- ;,.
poiutmret, Mr. Welch, at any rate, thought it had, for be
afterwards renewed the offering of gratuities, under the
ITATIoNAL PORTRAIT Eimer/MS.—Thu Lords
name of loans, to Mr. Bothell, a erect:lee which nearly trans-
of the Committee of Council on Educetioo bare received a
Sigma him ~
_l° • ..._l2°l°_, lucrative Ve,, the ..tke in tAnxicm•, letter from the Earl of Derby, suggesting the formation of •
It most m allowed that Ilia mal'al"aa of "a national portrait
liexhibiees, from which letter the following
Wilde *medal and the Edmunds scandal is eel. extracts are male have long thought that a natimal
mted to ern poet pan to ap who on salons portrai t exhibition. :. oluenliefridet atjanttii might not
forthe purity of model life, Is both Guise the Lord only possesportra oy g:Tin`th's most eminent coaryarapor.2:2ettat
Chaseellor has by singular errors of judgment burdened respective ens, but might also serve to illustrate the pro-
the public with pensions to persons who in no way deserved gnus sad eredition, at various periods, of British art. My
them. Mr. F.dmnadit conduct was disgraceful to the lest id
ea,e would be to admit either portraits of eminent
degree, and Mr. Wilde, who chore to resign rather than 211 though
iftgril°ort "obi:cuwrea aruntocews Crritrdscalle!
face • charge expressed in th° mod severe and setting I have, of oeuvre, no means of knowwing. or estimating. the
terms, must be held to be no very favourable specimen of 'umber of such port site which may exist in the counection*try ;
the official world. Should the evidence beer out the report bet I sin persuaded that, exclusive of the large coll
of the committee that no imputation can fairly be made in manygreatheasse, there ere very matey sesterred eh int by
OE
against the Lord Chancellor, we shall rejoice extremely ; ones and two end threes in private braise, the ODDS?'
width, though they could not be persuaded to pert with
but it is due to him, as well as to the country, that the them. would willingly spare them for a few months for a
subject should receive the consideration of the House of public object. The qeerboa of one, two, or three exhibitions
Commons even during the few days that still remain to it. in mutinies years would, I appease:4h, mainly decided
by the result of future inquiries as to the probable number
(From the Morning Post.)
~,, of pictures which could be oblehed, and the spars shish
The circumstances attendant cm the resi&nation of Mr* could be found fur their exhibitiee. Bat whether the period
Wilde, and the great to that gentleman of a retirier preside, over wbich each exhibition (if more then me) should range
are those which undoubtedly press heaviest against the be longer tie shorter, . the
.polat 0.0. whith I lboalt!
Lord Chancellor. The committee have acquitted him of ro* as mastic panovtlivrm, awnouls: b: the adotunisr.
improper motives, but on his own admissions it is impose tenium of the obroedegjea, mi., I shell be very happy
@Me to say that he was not guilty of an amount if any suggestion of mine should lead the Comouttre of
of negligence which may well seem inconsistent Council to take an seriously, and carry out, with such at.
with that good faith towards the public for which the tersitiocs of detail as experience might sunset. • scheme
wiled committee bare give, him credit in their report. iti,°ll think couldbaveharroduleyhiPT of
beiiasgp="terepoa.ri)yinf'ere7t-
Mr. Wilde had committed indiscretions so serious as at" their disposal any portraits from my collection at
to justify the Lord Chancellor io calling on him to Beowsley which they might think suitable for their par-
chow came in open eosin why be should not be demised, pose." Their lordships state that they e mean. tins: erg.
permitted re gestions very valuable, and
.will c•sny bite effect, in toe
and yet within the very same weak he was
X 1666. 1866. a natimal portrait exhibitoe generally In se.
retire ort a pension of 6661. a year, or only one-third lees cordaace with them. They propose to cosatitate •orna-
than his working salary Lad Wrethm7r oil might hate nitre* of advice, and to nitrite the trainees of the National
imagined,
imagined, weld have beer nornewhat surprised that a Portrait Gallery to be members of it. Mr. Samuel Red-
gentleman whom he threateled with dismissal far miseou- grave, to whose valuable labours the smicendul formation
duet should by maws of pod petition to he allowed to ass of the collection of portrait miniatures is chiefly due, is to
be requeleed to undertake the special charge of earryieg
ere as en invalid, end curiosity to discover the ailment this • ste fete erreet
which bad so :opportunsly ismlacihnfed Mr. Wilda Warrermsrez, Anssr.—The following is the lilt
from discharging his functions as • public officer, of peach,,,,, for rye month of July at the media services is
one would have supposed, might ben prompted Westminseer Abbey:—y 2, the Bishop el Leedinii..eirdeal
him to examine ue. medical °stiletto ea which A
id the liev.l. ff. Erma D.D_i.. motor of St. MArt
the petitioe foe a retiring pewit= wee bared. But
.letugruatail..)kad,w, ::y St. Georges,
Lord Westbury told the committee that be never looked et July"
23, tb., D47.7.1-.ZZtabw.y ; Jut"4---7:74:
the certificate, and, further, that if be had done so be rzi„ B. Cato* priatipal of the Thee College et
wield not have acceded to Mr. Wikle's application. On Lichfield.
this point the Lord Chancellor is cmitradicted by XL ARRIVAL 01 AN AFRICAN Eirrieultr. —The
Miller, who dates that he called the attention of lib lord. ettiaeive eulleutio• of Being ealaelu belonging to the
Zesiegical Society of Laedon has
j
roosived ea important
ship, to
_.the "la° ifact°•7._••tur° of, ,th° ceftlikat°4 hat addition in the shape of en Abhor elepimat. which Saliva
Mr. miners evidence SS so repose with 0111911 - from pal. in the night of tba skii that, bi amt. of tbe
a,
&Aloes that it cannot with safety be relied easiety's head keeperalik. J. Thosepose. The wheal is
spiny drimittisg, however, the ObaneelkoW ver- )(mei male, =Wm& to be hie or sin years old. and was
Una to be accurate, it must be OODOWitod that he die- übtshma
Plants. inhle the illoeffliiot Society grain tileitrio_l2 tee
charged a trust confided to him by the public with a cam- baba drimit rm bee, for stay
yawn wendian rai.oeeroe.
ll repeZelbid
I lillimees which justly exposes him to revere osmium The in the asehty's gardens sad is other collections of living
iesiintittee express the opinion that the chief object of all infinglaiffwifibesterte not aware that the African epecies, whisk
parties, the omeerned appeared to be rather to procure •is veer is form and parboils* remarkable for as
enermom else of its ears, has nor before been brought slim
1 money ass I. &cleanse the public intereeta sad the wto this toy.
I lesietrosat of Mr. Welch to the Vend vest Mow certainly Thirty-erten postmistresses were appointed in
net need to negative ail SnaaallAku4 Whir., however. the United States in April lard.—dessiesa paper.
1 the stirs vides,» addend Wore the commitem is QuispirrowN, jeurg The antra await
I published, a better opporteeity will be afforded to all par- steamer City of Clerk, boa New Tent ea the 144 h hat..
Ala of deciding on the judos of the geemal verdict pen- salved bare it 1190 p.m. today. She Wimp 100,060
useneed by Messiest oconealitte, • •
1 • - (Yrom the liforeingr Nereid.) .fobs
is meets sad 219 samsegers. the leaded 95 pas-
eserioagromeded et AO P.se.
vat, Juii 97.—Ths screw Steamer
We sincerely orodoir with tito Atiorney-Oessesl as the ChMari,lti dais from Klegetos, Jamaica, arrived off bore
isieseshie vespordlility he is eempelled to ammer as the Usloattirroa. lla atop LI sestrunsi sod a tall cap.
ellstader a Lori Westbury. We Roundel] Palms, be, sat- Du Berry's delicious health restoring Reesionts
werjur,
boa sbasiy traaas beranione astantents he boarded a Arabic...ad'. moat..."la ma. •°, with" 21141110 at
Aar weeks ago La the Home cf seamen.: sod we should shiallirW-"'"' arriiisr. Uwe. 521=111.111. elil
deeply regret to led Ids warm sal fors Wham blieding
+Wraawed WO 11.01, VD.... JD 99b111 SUMO& 111. met
• . •••••• • •.. "IL—fo— - •
=the isexpediray of ocienecting his own name sad lin gm st u. iltutalatifi=arld
4..,
With so illicreedtable an affair as the Wertisary , latverstirsast. 1

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